NVIDIA Outlook: GTC Comes to Paris

The Nvidia GTC (GPU Technology Conference) is a global AI event for developers, bringing together engineers, researchers, inventors and IT professionals.

During the event, Nvidia highlighted an acceleration in investment across the EU. "Earlier this year, the EU launched a €200 billion initiative for AI investment," with €20 billion allocated to support five AI gigafactories.

The company also announced plans to build "the world's first industrial AI cloud for European manufacturers", along with new AI hubs in Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain, the UK and Finland.

Morgan Stanley commented that Nvidia's presentation marked a shift towards "robotics and physical AI," adding that "investment is happening now." The firm estimates that GPU revenue in Europe could increase eightfold or more between calendar year 2024 and 2026.

Boeing 787 Crash Raises Engine Concerns

A Boeing (NYSE:BA) 787-8 operated by Air India crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday, raising questions about engine performance as investigators begin to examine the cause of the fatal accident.

The aircraft, powered by GE Aerospace's GEnx-1B engines, fell just beyond the airport perimeter after an emergency call, according to India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

There were no reports of adverse weather conditions, and both pilots — Captain Sumit Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar — were experienced professionals.

Flight tracking data showed a slow ascent followed by a sudden drop, consistent with a possible engine failure.

Middle East Conflict: Markets React to Israel–Iran Escalation

Israel and Iran have entered a new chapter in their long-running conflict. Early Friday morning, Israel launched a major air offensive, triggering explosions in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

The strikes reportedly killed military leaders and nuclear scientists, amid rising tensions. Israel sees Iran's rapid nuclear programme expansion as an existential threat.

The geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran have caused a surge in risk aversion across global markets.

Following Israel's attacks on Iran on Thursday night, oil prices spiked as much as 14%, while gold rose by around 1.6%, reaffirming its status as a safe haven asset.

Regulatory Shift Gives Tesla a Boost

Tesla shares rose 2.6%, hitting a session high on Friday, after reports that the US government plans to ease regulations currently hindering the deployment of driverless vehicles.

According to Bloomberg, the Trump administration is simplifying the exemption process for carmakers seeking to deploy autonomous vehicles designed without traditional steering wheels or brake pedals. This regulatory shift could significantly benefit Tesla's robotaxi ambitions.

China Drives Short-Term Momentum for Apple

Apple shares could see short-term gains, with deep discounts in China driving better-than-expected iPhone and iPad sales, according to Morgan Stanley.

"iPhone and iPad sales in China are outperforming this quarter due to promotions linked to the 618 Festival," analysts wrote, adding that the trend could lead to up to $4 billion in additional revenue in June.

Specifically, Morgan Stanley now forecasts 3 million additional iPhone shipments and 2.5 million more iPad shipments for the June quarter.

Key Dates in China: The 618 Festival

The 618 Shopping Festival, running from 1–18 June, is China's second-largest e-commerce event after Singles' Day in November. It features massive discounts and national subsidies, significantly boosting consumer activity.

Retailers use this period to offer heavy promotions across a wide range of products, attracting both domestic and international shoppers and strengthening Q2 sales for global tech brands.

US Steps Into Israel–Iran Conflict

US President Donald Trump stated on Friday that Iran failed to meet a 60-day deadline to reach a deal, while praising Israel's recent military strikes as "excellent".

Trump said he had given Iran "chance after chance" and warned that any escalation would be "worse than anything they have ever known, expected or been told."

He also said: "The US makes the most advanced and lethal military equipment in the world — BY FAR — and Israel has plenty of it, with more on the way."

The conflict has sent US index futures tumbling, following reports that Israel targeted Iranian nuclear facilities to prevent the Islamic Republic from developing a nuclear weapon.

Walmart and Amazon May Launch Stablecoins

Shares of Visa Inc and Mastercard Inc fell around 5% on Friday after The Wall Street Journal reported that retail giants Walmart and Amazon.com are considering launching their own stablecoins, potentially bypassing traditional payment networks.

According to the report, other firms like Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE) and major airlines are also exploring stablecoin issuance in the US.

Such a move could redirect billions in payment volume away from banks and card networks, allowing major retailers to cut transaction fees and gain greater control over their payment infrastructure.
Final decisions are expected to hinge on the progress of the Genius Act, a bill aimed at regulating stablecoins, which recently cleared a procedural vote but still needs approval from both houses of Congress.

Musk Issues Apology

"I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. I went too far," wrote Elon Musk on his social media platform X.

The apology came days after Trump accused Musk of having "lost his mind" and threatened to revoke government subsidies and contracts with Tesla and SpaceX.

Meta Invests in Scale AI

Meta has completed a "significant investment" in Scale AI, valuing the startup at over $29 billion. As part of the deal, Scale AI's CEO, Alexandr Wang, will join Meta (parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) to work on AI-related initiatives.

Though the investment amount was not disclosed, several US outlets estimate that Meta acquired a 49% stake for $14.8 billion.

What Is Scale AI?

Scale AI, founded in 2016, specialises in transforming raw data into structured, high-quality information — a critical step for training and optimising modern AI systems.

The company's clients include OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Meta itself.

Its teams annotate and curate data from images, text, and other sources, ensuring that AI models receive precise and relevant inputs. This directly impacts the accuracy, quality and usefulness of generative AI systems such as chatbots and smart assistants.