S&P 500 Gains, Crude Falls Ahead Of Fed's Expected First Hike Since 2023: Stock Market Today

Shares of chip companies are trading higher amid overall market strength, falling yields and declining oil prices. The industry may be boosted by recent talks between Intel and SK Hynix regarding U.S. chip manufacturing.

ALAB Broadens Leo Portfolio: Can It Stay Ahead of MRVL & CRDO?

Astera Labs (ALAB) has expanded its Leo Smart Memory Controller portfolio with new X-Series and Leo 2 E/P Series products targeting agentic AI and cloud workloads. The company reported record Q2 2026 revenue growth and expects Q3 revenues between $540-560 million, representing ~40% sequential growth. ALAB faces competition from Marvell Technology and Credo Technology in the AI connectivity space.

Grab to Gain From Majority Stake Buyout in Atome Financial: Here's How

Grab Holdings has agreed to acquire a 60% stake in Atome Financial for $1.49 billion, with completion expected by Q3 2027. The deal will merge Atome's consumer lending business (BNPL, cash loans, digital lending) with Grab's Financial Services segment, providing access to 25 million users across five Southeast Asian markets. The combined entity is projected to achieve over $6 billion in gross loan portfolio and $500 million in adjusted EBITDA by 2028. Grab also has an option to purchase the remaining 40% stake approximately two years after Phase 1 closing.

Coherent's Datacenter Business Powers its Revenue Growth

Coherent reported fiscal Q4 revenues of $2.05 billion, with datacenter and communications segment generating $1.62 billion (79% of total revenue), up significantly from $1.02 billion a year ago. The company's stock has surged 171% over the past year, driven by strong AI and optical transition demand. Peers Lumentum and Fabrinet are similarly benefiting from the datacenter boom, though supply chain and inventory concerns persist.

Mistras Group, Strategy, Hyperliquid Strategies And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Friday

U.S. stocks were mixed as the Dow fell 150 points; Mistras surged on a $20.35/share buyout deal, while crypto and tech stocks gained.

Bull of the Day: AXT (AXTI)

AXT, a semiconductor substrate manufacturer, is positioned as a critical supplier for AI data-center optical interconnects, particularly in indium phosphide (InP) substrates. The company reported record Q2 2026 revenue of $47.6M (up 165% YoY) with 44.9% gross margins and a 170% EPS beat. With a >$100M backlog, planned capacity expansions to $35M quarterly by end-2026 and $65-70M by 2027/early 2028, and progression toward 6-inch wafers, AXT is transitioning from a cyclical substrate maker into a critical AI infrastructure supplier. However, risks include potential slowdown in AI optical spending, China export controls, and margin sustainability.