US–China Sanctions Escalation Over Iranian Oil
Jack Prandelli argues that 90% of Iran’s oil exports go to China, prompting a US sanctions escalation aimed at Beijing. The US has built a multi-step pressure strategy including sanctions on shadow fleet vessels, teapot refineries like Hengli Petrochemical, and networks of front companies across Asia. It has also issued warnings to Chinese banks about potential secondary sanctions if Iranian oil payments continue flowing through their systems. Full secondary sanctions on major Chinese banks remain a possible next step, which could significantly escalate US–China financial tensions. Outcome depends on Beijing.
Republicans surge past Democrats in Senate midterm odds projected to remain in power.
Source: Polymarket
Megacap Tech gets more powerful.
This Q1 earnings season, the contribution has made an outsized impact. Megacap Tech about 17.3% of the total S&P 500 earnings - close to double that of Q4, 2025. Here, Megacap Tech = AMZN, AAPL, META, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL Source: Ayesha Tariq, CFA, Factset, S&P
The hyperscalers' combined free cash flow is expected to fall to ~$4B in Q3.
Their free cash flow this year will likely be at its lowest level since 2014, when revenues were about a seventh of their current size. Source: Edward Conard, FT
Since the start of 2026, the S&P 500 has risen by +8%, consensus forward 12-month EPS estimates have risen by +13%, and the P/E multiple has declined from 22x to 21x.
Source: Neil Sethi, Goldman Sachs
World's Largest Data Centers ▶️
Source: Mack
Asset class returns as of 8/5/2026
Source: Charlie Bilello
Another day and another new all-time high for Korea Kospi with Samsung and Hynix again on fire.
AI memory changed the rankings fast. Samsung Electronics is now a $1T+ company. SK Hynix is sitting near JPMorgan by market cap. Korea is not a side story in AI anymore. Source: koreanstockguy on X
