[iHub News]

U.S. Futures Climb as Iran Truce Reports Ease Tensions Ahead of Key Economic Events: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street

June 29, 2026 6:19 AM
IH Market News

U.S. equity futures traded higher early Monday as investors looked ahead to a packed week of economic releases and central bank commentary, while reports that the United States and Iran have agreed to suspend recent military action helped improve market sentiment.

Futures Move Higher

As of 03:11 ET (07:11 GMT), Dow Jones futures were up 107 points, or 0.2%, S&P 500 futures had advanced 36 points, or 0.5%, and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 223 points, or 0.8%.

Wall Street finished last week on a weaker note after reports suggested the planned initial public offering of ChatGPT developer OpenAI (NASDAQ:OAI) could be postponed. The news pressured artificial intelligence and data centre stocks, which have led markets higher on the back of significant AI-related investment.

“The deterioration in sentiment around AI has certainly weighed on the Nasdaq and capitalization-weight S&P, but by diminishing the stranglehold this industry has had on markets, money is being liberated to shift into more neglected areas,” analysts at Vital Knowledge said in a note.

Reports Suggest Diplomatic Progress Between Washington and Tehran

Media reports indicate that the United States and Iran have agreed to suspend military strikes around the Strait of Hormuz, reducing immediate concerns over one of the world’s most important energy shipping lanes.

According to The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials and sources familiar with the negotiations, the two countries are preparing to restart diplomatic talks, potentially in Doha, although final arrangements are still being discussed.

The latest tensions followed attacks near the Strait of Hormuz last week, disrupting shipping activity through a route that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies, making developments closely watched by financial markets.

Oil Prices Stay Supported

Energy markets remained firm, with Brent crude rising 0.5% to US$72.32 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gaining 1.0% to US$69.91.

“The oil market has seen only modest gains this morning despite the re-escalation between the U.S. and Iran […],” analysts at ING said in a note to clients.

“Even so, we continue to believe the market is too optimistic about the timeline for a recovery in Persian Gulf supplies[.]”

Focus Turns to Central Banks and Jobs Data

Investors will now focus on the ECB’s Sintra Forum, where President Christine Lagarde is scheduled to deliver the opening address and Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will participate later in the week.

Attention will also centre on key economic indicators, including Eurozone inflation figures and Thursday’s U.S. non-farm payrolls report. Economists expect 114,000 jobs to have been added in June, while the unemployment rate is forecast to remain at 4.3%.

Ahead of the payrolls release, markets will also digest data on consumer confidence, job openings, private-sector hiring and manufacturing activity.

“Ultimately, the key directional catalyst will be June’s payrolls,” the ING analysts said in a note.

The post U.S. Futures Climb as Iran Truce Reports Ease Tensions Ahead of Key Economic Events: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street appeared first on US Editors.

Original: U.S. Futures Climb as Iran Truce Reports Ease Tensions Ahead of Key Economic Events: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street

[iHub News]

OpenAI’s Costs Soar to $34 Billion Ahead of Anticipated IPO

June 16, 2026 5:52 AM
IH Market News

OpenAI (NASDAQ:OAI) spent approximately $34 billion during 2025 as the artificial intelligence company continued to invest heavily in technology development, infrastructure and customer acquisition ahead of its expected stock market debut later this year, according to a report from the Financial Times.

The ChatGPT developer reportedly allocated around $19 billion to research and development activities, while sales and marketing expenses approached $6 billion. The remainder was attributed to other operating costs associated with the rapid expansion of the business.

Spending Growth Outpaces Revenue

The latest figures represent a substantial increase from the previous year and highlight the scale of investment required to maintain OpenAI’s position in the increasingly competitive AI sector.

Despite strong revenue growth, the company’s expenditure continued to significantly exceed income. Previous reports indicated that OpenAI generated roughly $13 billion in revenue during 2025.

As a result, the company is reported to have posted a net loss of approximately $39 billion for the year.

Efficiency Measures Underway Before Public Listing

The size of OpenAI’s losses has reportedly prompted management to focus on improving operational efficiency and tightening spending controls as preparations for an initial public offering gather pace.

The company has been reviewing its cost structure while balancing the need to continue investing in advanced AI models and infrastructure.

Competition Drives Pricing Strategy

OpenAI is also facing increasing competition in the artificial intelligence market.

A report published last week suggested the company is preparing significant reductions in pricing for some AI services as it seeks to attract customers from rival Anthropic and strengthen its market position.

Non-Core Projects Scaled Back

As part of broader efforts to manage costs, OpenAI reportedly reduced investment in several non-core initiatives during late 2025 and early 2026.

Among the projects affected was Sora, the company’s video-generation platform, as management prioritized resources toward its core AI offerings and sought to curb rising expenses ahead of its planned IPO.

OpenAI IPO

Original: OpenAI’s Costs Soar to $34 Billion Ahead of Anticipated IPO

[iHub News]

OpenAI’s Sam Altman to Hold AI Strategy Talks With Samsung Executives in South Korea (OAI)

June 11, 2026 6:40 AM
IH Market News

OpenAI (NASDAQ:OAI) Chief Executive Sam Altman is expected to meet senior executives at Samsung Electronics (USOTC:SSNHZ) next week during a visit to South Korea, where discussions will centre on expanding the use of artificial intelligence across the technology giant’s operations, according to a report from Yonhap News Agency.

The visit highlights Samsung’s growing focus on AI-driven transformation as it seeks to integrate advanced technologies more deeply into its business processes and workplace practices.

Altman Scheduled to Visit Samsung Headquarters

According to Yonhap, Altman will travel to Samsung’s offices in Suwon, located south of Seoul, on Monday.

During the visit, he is expected to deliver a presentation addressing the impact of artificial intelligence technologies and outlining strategies for implementing AI-led innovation within the workplace.

The discussions are expected to align with Samsung’s broader efforts to modernise internal operations through greater use of AI tools, automation and data-driven decision-making.

Samsung Accelerating AI Integration

The meeting comes as Samsung continues a company-wide initiative aimed at reshaping workflows and corporate culture through increased adoption of artificial intelligence.

The South Korean technology group has been investing heavily in AI capabilities as it looks to improve productivity, streamline operations and strengthen its competitive position across a range of technology markets.

Altman’s visit is expected to provide Samsung executives with insights into emerging AI trends and practical applications for enterprise-wide implementation.

Return Visit After Eight Months

The upcoming trip will represent Altman’s first visit to South Korea in approximately eight months.

During his previous visit in October, the OpenAI chief met separately with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won as part of efforts to strengthen relationships with major South Korean technology and industrial groups.

Those meetings underscored OpenAI’s interest in expanding its presence in Asia and collaborating with key partners involved in technology, infrastructure and semiconductor development.

AI Infrastructure Partnerships Continue to Develop

Following Altman’s meetings last year, OpenAI signed letters of intent with both Samsung and SK Group to cooperate on the development of global artificial intelligence infrastructure, Yonhap reported.

The agreements established a framework for broader strategic collaboration and reflected growing interest among major corporations in supporting the infrastructure required to power next-generation AI systems.

The latest visit suggests that discussions between OpenAI and Samsung continue to advance as both companies explore opportunities to accelerate AI adoption and expand cooperation in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector.

OpenAI IPO

Samsung stock price

Original: OpenAI’s Sam Altman to Hold AI Strategy Talks With Samsung Executives in South Korea (OAI)

[iHub News]

OpenAI Considers AI Pricing Cuts as Competition With Anthropic Intensifies (OAI)

June 11, 2026 6:35 AM
IH Market News

OpenAI (NASDAQ:OAI) is reportedly evaluating substantial reductions to the pricing of its artificial intelligence services as it seeks to strengthen its competitive position against rival AI developer Anthropic, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the discussions.

The company behind ChatGPT is said to be reviewing lower pricing for tokens, the measurement unit used to calculate and bill customer usage of its AI models.

Potential Price Reductions Under Review

According to the report, internal discussions remain ongoing and no final decision has been made. However, OpenAI is reportedly exploring meaningful price cuts in anticipation of similar moves by Anthropic as competition within the generative AI sector continues to increase.

The deliberations reflect growing pressure across the industry as businesses become more focused on the cost of adopting and scaling artificial intelligence technologies.

Customers Increasingly Focused on AI Costs

OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman recently acknowledged that the expense associated with deploying AI systems has become a major concern for enterprise customers.

AI operating costs have emerged as a key issue as companies evaluate the return on investment from increasingly sophisticated models and applications.

Altman previously described AI-related spending as “a huge issue” for customers and indicated that OpenAI was exploring ways to provide greater value while reducing costs.

Margin Pressure Could Increase Across the Sector

Any broad-based pricing reductions could create additional pressure on profitability throughout the AI industry.

Both OpenAI and Anthropic continue to invest heavily in the computing infrastructure required to train and operate advanced AI models, making margins particularly sensitive to pricing decisions.

A more aggressive pricing environment could force providers to balance customer acquisition and market share objectives against the substantial costs of developing and maintaining next-generation AI systems.

Enterprise Market Becomes Key Battleground

The Wall Street Journal report noted that OpenAI is looking to reinforce its position in the enterprise segment, an area where Anthropic has recently gained momentum through its Claude Code software development platform.

Competition between the two companies has intensified as corporate customers increasingly adopt AI-powered tools for software development, automation and business operations.

The report also indicated that both OpenAI and Anthropic are preparing for potential future public market listings, adding further importance to their efforts to expand market share and establish long-term revenue growth.

Original: OpenAI Considers AI Pricing Cuts as Competition With Anthropic Intensifies (OAI)

[makinezmoney]

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