Stock Futures Slip on Geopolitical Developments Ahead of Big Tech Earnings Week, Fed Decision; Gold Tops $5,000 for First Time

Bill Gates Issues Warning on AI Investment Hype, Urges Caution

FROM 24 minutes ago

Bill Gates has warned AI investors that not everyone will be a winner in what he calls a “hypercompetitive” market.

The Microsoft (MSFT) cofounder cautioned in December that “a reasonable percentage” of today’s pricey AI stocks can’t justify their valuations. “Not all of these valuations will end up going up. Some of them will go down,” Gates told CNBC.

Gates’ concerns came as the so-called hyperscalers—Microsoft, Alphabet (GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), Meta Platforms (META), and Oracle (ORCL)—spent $400 billion on infrastructure in 2025 and are set to spend a third more in 2026.

Some investors worry the sheer size of those figures has encouraged speculation on Wall Street, causing some AI stocks to trade at eye-watering valuations.

Read the full article here.

–Colin Laidley

USA Rare Earth Stock Soars on Commerce Department Stake

FROM 56 minutes ago

The U.S. government is taking an equity stake in USA Rare Earth (USAR). Investors are pleased with the development.

USA Rare Earth shares surged 21% in premarket trading after the Stillwater, Okla.-based company signed a non-binding letter of intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce to receive $1.6 billion in federal funding in exchange for issuing the agency 16.1 million shares of stock and about 17.6 million warrants.

In addition, USA Rare Earth raised $1.5 billion in private sector investment via a PIPE transaction “anchored by Inflection Point with participation from large mutual fund complexes,” it said.

“The LOI with the U.S. Government reflects the strategic importance of USAR’s mine-to-magnet platform and its role in closing the rare earth element and critical mineral supply gap for essential industries that underpin U.S. national security, including semiconductors, other critical technologies, and advanced manufacturing,” the company said.

The news confirmed media reports over the weekend that the Trump administration planned to invest $1.6 billion into the company in exchange for a 10% stake, which caused USA Rare Earth’s shares to soar more than 35% earlier Monday.

USA Rare Earth shares entered Monday having more than doubled thus far in 2026 to $24.77 apiece.

Stock Futures Point Lower on Geopolitical Developments Ahead of Big Tech Earnings Week, Fed Decision

FROM 1 hr 44 min ago

Futures contracts connected to the Dow Jones Industrial Average pointed fractionally lower.

S&P 500 futures were 0.2% lower.

Nasdaq 100 futures were down 0.4%.