CNBC

SanDisk stock recorded a 3,150% rally while the company projected mid-to-high-teens revenue growth through 2030. David Tepper’s Appaloosa fund sold AI memory positions and added to Magnificent Seven holdings in the second quarter, according to filings that also reference prior AI bets ahead of a portfolio sale to Citadel.

The Hormuz ceasefire has expired with Iran ruling out any interim deal extension and threatening escalation. Brent crude has risen above $90 per barrel, U.S. gasoline prices have reached historic August highs above $4 per gallon, tanker traffic through the Strait has dropped sharply, and major U.S. equity indices have declined while the 30-year Treasury yield hit multi-decade highs.

On Tuesday, August 18, the US 30-year Treasury yield reached an intraday high of 5.321 percent while Brent crude futures traded above $91 per barrel. Asian equity indexes declined and the 60-day US-Iran negotiating ceasefire expired without extension. A reported vessel incident in the Strait of Hormuz remains disputed between sources.

U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited the USS Lincoln on Saturday and issued a statement the following day praising the crew's resilience and leadership focus on mental health. The carrier has been at sea for more than 240 consecutive days supporting U.S. operations in the region. Reports of mental health incidents aboard the ship have appeared in Navy Times and Stars and Stripes.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed plans for more than $500 billion in partially backstopped data center financing deals with firms including Apollo Global, Blackstone, and KKR. The arrangements follow recent SEC guidance on data center debt exemptions and build on Nvidia's prior commitments exceeding $100 billion to AI companies. Parallel reports detail SpaceX plans to expand computing capacity from 2 gigawatts to 10 gigawatts by 2027.

Official data from China's National Bureau of Statistics showed industrial production expanding 4.5 percent year-over-year in July, down from 5.3 percent in June. Retail sales rose 0.6 percent, below both the prior month's 1 percent and Reuters poll expectations of 1.5 percent, while urban fixed-asset investment contracted 6.7 percent in the first seven months.

The Houthis stated via Telegram that they attacked a Saudi military ship and four escorts near Mocha with missiles. Straits Times reported the claim alongside details of a prior Bab el-Mandeb Strait incident and a July naval blockade. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the latest incident.

US President Donald Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth via Truth Social to substantially reduce the scope of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises with South Korea. The drills, involving approximately 18,000 South Korean personnel, began on Monday and are scheduled to conclude on August 27. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated that maintaining peace remains the priority and described the exercises as defensive in nature.

A 60-day U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding expires Monday, coinciding with verified data showing vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz at multi-month lows. Shipping volumes fell from a pre-February 28 average of 130 daily transits to a five-day average of 13, with zero transits recorded on Sunday. Oil prices showed minimal movement while separate diplomatic contacts involving Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were reported.

Supported claims confirm that Ferrari's first all-electric vehicle, the Luce, had its initial production chassis sold for $40 million at a charity auction during Monterey Car Week, with all proceeds directed to the Ferrari Foundation for educational programs. The base price is €550,000, the model was unveiled May 25, 2026, and the buyer remains unnamed. Multiple technical specifications and transaction details remain unverified.

The JAB Trust holds a 17.8% ownership interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, with Jeanie Buss designated controlling owner under a 2017 court order that requires co-trustee approval for any transaction and mandates maintaining at least 15% ownership. An earlier ESPN report indicated the family had decided to sell its stake, while subsequent reporting from CNBC and the New York Post presents conflicting accounts of whether a sale to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner is under consideration or opposed by Jeanie Buss. No transaction has been confirmed.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, reported as 36 years old, stated she has not ruled out future Senate or presidential campaigns. Typical U.S. egg-freezing cycle costs range from $10,000 to $20,000 according to available data. Claims of specific Instagram videos and costs paid by Ocasio-Cortez originate from a single unverified source.

Single-source reports from the New York Post describe a proposed sale of the Buss family's remaining Los Angeles Lakers ownership to Mark Walter and partners including Bob Iger and Josh Kushner for $12.5 billion. CNBC reports that Jeanie Buss opposes the transaction. The family trust's majority-vote rule and NBA governor ownership requirements are cited as central factors in the reported outcome.

Home Depot posted revenue of $47.86 billion for the quarter ended Aug. 2, up from $45.28 billion a year earlier and above the $47.24 billion consensus estimate. U.S. comparable-store sales rose 1.3 percent while net income reached $4.77 billion. The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance amid a housing market slump that began in 2022.

Rivian launched its in-vehicle AI assistant on May 12, 2026, and stated that its Autonomy+ system has surpassed General Motors' Super Cruise while remaining behind Tesla's Full Self-Driving in non-highway and point-to-point scenarios. The company hosted an Autonomy and AI Day event in December 2025 and projects point-to-point capability later in the year. Available data come from two sources representing one bias category.

Anthropic's annualized revenue run rate reached $65 billion by the end of July 2025, a sevenfold increase from the prior year, according to investor updates reported by CNBC and Bloomberg. The company also recorded $11.5 billion in preliminary Q2 revenue and maintains a $965 billion valuation ahead of a planned IPO. All figures originate from left-center sources with no coverage from center or right outlets.