Corning Soars on Verizon’s Multibillion-Dollar AI Fiber Deal

‼️ 🧠 BREAKING: Corning jumped more than 7% to close at $165.72 after securing a multi-billion-dollar fiber supply agreement with Verizon. The 2027–2032 deal covers over 80 million miles of high-density optical fiber and connectivity solutions for broadband, long-haul networks and AI hyperscaler infrastructure, strengthening Corning’s exposure to data-center demand.

Brent Nears $100 as Middle East Strikes Rekindle Oil Supply Fears

‼️ 🇮🇷 🇸🇦 BREAKIKG: Brent crude climbed to its highest level since late July, rising about 1% to settle near $98 a barrel after briefly touching $98.99, as fresh strikes on Middle East energy infrastructure— including reported explosions at Iran’s key export terminal on Kharg Island—renewed supply-disruption fears. The rally was further supported after Saudi Arabia said Houthi attacks forced temporary halts at several of its energy facilities, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to escalation.

Bessent’s Bond-Market Remedy: Treasury Buybacks to Cool the Fever, Not Cap Yields

‼️ 🇺🇸 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Treasury’s expanded buyback program for older US government bonds is intended to ease a “fever” in the market and help restore equilibrium—not to alter the underlying level of yields. Speaking ahead of the first scheduled longer-dated buyback operation since the program was increased last month, Bessent rejected claims that the initiative amounts to quantitative easing or is a response to concerns over heavy US borrowing. Instead, he characterized it as a Treasury-led version of the Federal Reserve’s former “Operation Twist,” aimed at improving market functioning and smoothing distortions across the yield curve.