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The trading platform’s gross crypto revenue fell to $1.35 billion in the second quarter. It also agreed to buy U.S. brokerage TradeZero for up to $231 million.

The Chinese company will be the first to market in a wave of new humanoid-robotics IPOs.

Investors entered the hotly anticipated Q2 earnings season, questioning whether the enormous AI spending spree was becoming tough to justify.AI hyperscalers have been shelling out billions on chips, data centers, and infrastructure. But investors have grown wary, looking for clearer evidence that those investments could translate into sales quickly enough to support their lofty valuations.Now JPMorgan just reset its S&P 500 target on the back of a Q2 earnings season that challenged Wall Street’s biggest assumptions heading into the summer.Strategist Dubravko Lakos-Bujas pointed to developments in corporate earnings and AI investment as critical to the bank’s reassessment, marking a notable shift from the concerns it carried over from the previous reporting season.What changed in JPMorgan’s S&P 500 outlook? According to Seeking Alpha reporting, JPMorgan just bumped its 2026 year-end S&P 500 target to 8,000 from 7,800, a 200-point increase.The bank’s becoming a lot more confident over earnings carrying a market that’s trading near record levels. Compared to the S&P 500’s latest close of 7,757.64, the new target points to nearly 3.1% upside.Though the headline target might not be that aggressive, tha bank’s earnings forecast moved dramatically higher.JPMorgan raised its S&P 500 EPS estimate for 2026 to $365 from $350, while lifting its 2027 estimate to $420 from $390.More AI:Nvidia just made a move Wall Street wasn’t ready forMicrosoft just took sides in AI policy fightOpenAI just disclosed something genuinely alarmingThat indicates the bank has a lot more confidence in relentless AI CapEx translating into strong long-term earnings growth, as its CEO, Jamie Dimon, discussed last week. Dimon argued that the AI buildout is a broader investment cycle that’s feeding through the U.S. economy, maintaining that the tremendous investment wave will “play out and pay out.”Likewise, strategist Dubravko Lakos-Bujas in revamping his S&P 500 target, said the AI spending concerns were significant heading into Q2, but businesses are offering clearer evidence of monetization.As he put it, “This suggests that monetization may start ramping faster than spending, which should support stronger future revenue growth.”How strong was the Q2 earnings scorecard?The broader Q2 scorecard backs up that confidence.With 88% of S&P 500 companies reporting through Aug. 7, reportedly 86% have beaten EPS estimates, compared to five- and 10-year averages of 78% and 76%, respectively according to Fact Set.Consequently, FactSet puts blended Q2 earnings growth at a powerful 50.4%, the strongest showing since Q2 2021, while sales growth stands at 15%.However, there are caveats to those impressive figures.Alphabet (GOOG) and Amazon (AMZN)’s numbers inflated the headline earnings number through non-operating investment gains. According to Bloomberg, the Google parent recorded a hefty $98 billion gain linked mainly to equity securities, while Amazon booked $53.4 billion of other income mainly lined to investments in Anthropic as reported by Yahoo Finance. Strip away both companies from the equation, and S&P 500 earnings growth drops from 50.4% to 32%.Related: S&P 500 on pace to do something it hasn’t done since dot-com bustNevertheless, the operating momentum among mega-cap tech giants was also robust.Alphabet reported a tremendous 24% sales growth, spearheaded by Google Cloud surging 82% to $24.8 billion, more than tripling operating income to $8.8 billion. Additionally, Microsoft (MSFT) Cloud sales surged 27% to $59.3 billion, while Meta Platform (META) sales jumped 28% to $60.8 billion. Additionally, Apple (AAPL) also reported 16% revenue growth for its June quarter.That said, the test now shifts forward.FactSet expects S&P 500 earnings to rise another 27.4% in Q3 and 25.2% in Q4, leaving full-year 2026 growth near 30%. If those estimates hold, JPMorgan’s 8,000 target becomes more about a bet that earnings can grow into a market that has already rerated sharply.How has the S&P 500 performed in 2026? Despite the volatility, the S&P 500 maintained its impressive momentum in 2026, rising 13.3% year-to-date through Aug. 7 to 7,757.64 (an all-time high). On Aug. 10, the index opened at around 7,752, effectively trading near record levels. For perspective, the benchmark wrapped up 2025 at 6,845.50, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices data, gaining 16.4%. Consequently, the index has delivered double-digit gains in consecutive years, even as investors navigate testing interest-rate expectations, geopolitical hiccups, and questions about elevated AI spending. 

JPMorgan raised its 2026 S&P 500 target to 8,000 after strong earnings.Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Is S&P 500 concentration becoming a bigger risk? The S&P 500 contains nearly 500 companies, but its returns are highly dependent on what’s becoming a remarkably small group.As of the latest S&P Dow Jones Indices data, the 10 largest S&P 500 constituents account for 37.6% of the index, while the largest single constituent carries a 7.6% weighting. That’s an incredibly concentrated setup for what investors typically treat as a broadly diversified benchmark. Moreover, that also means that these handful of companies are having an outsized effect on the entire benchmark.However, concentration on its own might not be a bearish signal.According to an S&P Global report, there was only a nuanced relationship between concentration and future market performance. From June 2015 through June 2025, the top 10’s weight rose by over 20 percentage points, yet the index still generated an annualized price return of 11.7%. Nevertheless, valuation adds a major wrinkle. According to FactSet, the S&P 500 is currently trading at around 20 times forward 12-month earnings. Though that’s above its 10-year average of 19.0 times, it’s barely higher than its five-year average of 19.9 times. Moreover, it has also fallen from 20.4 times at the end of June, even as the index remains near record levels. That means the market’s jump is increasingly being driven by a rapidly growing earnings denominator rather than a pure multiple push.Related: Bank of America issues stark warning on Fed and economy

More than a year after announcing plans to phase it out, Google is finally moving ahead with a major change that will affect millions of consumers.The familiar tool has been part of people’s daily routines for years, helping with everything from simple questions and reminders to controlling connected devices. Now, users on affected devices will have to make the switch to a new AI-powered alternative.Google is discontinuing Google AssistantGoogle (GOOGL) is discontinuing Google Assistant on affected mobile devices and replacing it with Gemini, the company’s newest AI-powered virtual assistant, beginning September 4, according to an email Google sent to users, 9to5Google reported.The phaseout will happen gradually over several weeks and will affect Android phones, tablets, Wear OS watches, headphones, earbuds, and vehicles that use phone-projected Android Auto.The transition does not yet apply to every device that uses Google Assistant. Google has said Gemini will eventually come to Google TV devices, Google Home speakers, and smart displays as the company expands its newer assistant experience.Once the transition is complete on affected devices, users will no longer be able to return to the traditional Google Assistant.Why Google is replacing Google AssistantGoogle first announced the transition in March 2025, when Brian Marquardt, Google’s Senior Director of Product Management for the Gemini app, said the company was preparing to move users from Google Assistant to Gemini.”Millions of people have already made the switch from Google Assistant to Gemini, and they are telling us how helpful the new, AI-powered features are in their daily lives,” said Marquardt in a Google News blog post. Marquardt said expectations for what a digital assistant can do are changing rapidly and that Google’s goal is to provide an assistant capable of helping users with productivity, creativity, and curiosity. Google’s growing investment in Gemini helps explain the company’s decision to consolidate its assistant experience around the newer AI platform. Instead of maintaining separate experiences, Google is moving toward a single AI system designed to handle both everyday commands and more complex requests.The Gemini app reached 950 million monthly active users in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, with daily active users tripling over the previous year, according to remarks from Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai during the company’s earnings call.Google has continued expanding the Gemini family of models as part of that broader strategy. The company recently released Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber, is currently testing Gemini 3.5 Pro, and has already started a pre-training run for Gemini 4.The development of new Gemini models shows Google’s larger push to move beyond a traditional voice assistant toward an AI system designed to understand context, complete more complex tasks, and provide more detailed responses.The Gemini web app is currently available in more than 70 languages and over 230 countries and territories, according to Google. 

Google is replacing Google Assistant with Gemini.georgeclerk / Getty Images

How Gemini differs from Google AssistantGoogle Assistant was launched in 2016 and was primarily built around straightforward voice commands and everyday tasks. Users could ask it to set reminders and timers, check the weather, control compatible smart-home devices, play music, and answer basic questions.Gemini, introduced as Google’s generative AI assistant in 2023, is designed for more conversational and complex interactions. It can generate and summarize content, analyze information, answer follow-up questions, and help users complete tasks across Google’s ecosystem.The shift reflects a broader change in how companies are building digital assistants. Traditional assistants were primarily designed to respond to individual commands, while newer AI tools are built to understand context, sustain longer conversations, and handle multi-step requests.For example, a user who previously relied on Google Assistant to set a reminder or check information may interact with Gemini through a more conversational request. However, the experience can vary depending on the device, feature, and Google service involved.Google has also been working to ensure familiar Google Assistant features continue moving to Gemini. The company says Gemini can now handle many everyday assistant functions, including playing music, setting timers, and taking certain actions from the lock screen. Google has also expanded Gemini’s ability to interact with smart-home devices and handle more complex requests.What Google’s switch means for usersThe biggest change for consumers is that Google Assistant will eventually no longer be an option on affected devices. Users who have relied on Google Assistant for commands will be moved toward Gemini, even if they have little interest in using a generative AI chatbot.That change may be most noticeable for people who primarily use their voice assistant for basic tasks, such as setting alarms, controlling smart-home devices, checking information, or playing media.At the same time, users seeking a more conversational AI experience may find Gemini better suited to requests requiring context, reasoning, or content generation.Here’s some of my previous coverage of shutdowns:Major AI chatbot launches genius new featuresSpotify adds new messaging feature, letting users slide into DMsFacebook’s WhatsApp solves global communication problemThe transition represents more than the retirement of an older Google product. It reflects the company’s broader effort to make Gemini the central AI interface across its ecosystem.For consumers, the result is a forced move from a familiar voice assistant to a newer technology that Google believes can do considerably more, even as the company continues working to ensure the everyday functions people relied on remain available.Related: Apple closing stores for one clear reason

‘House of the Dragon’ showrunner Ryan Condall is sharing his thoughts about how difficult it is to deal with book changes and making the show work in spite of them.

An earlier poll found that only a few companies would seek out a Trump Account contribution program.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealPatio sets literally come in all shapes and sizes. From large multi-piece sectionals to individual rocking chairs, outdoor furniture can serve almost any purpose you need. One of the most convenient options we’ve seen in a while comes in the form of a basic three-piece set that’s currently on sale at Walmart. It works just as well as part of a larger patio setup as it does as a standalone piece for those with a small balcony or mini patio. Check out this deal now, since there’s no telling how long the current discount will last.The Vineego Modern 3-Piece Patio Set is on sale at Walmart for 39% off and is available for only $73 right now. If you’re in the market for a beautiful, no-nonsense patio set that doesn’t cost a fortune, then this is the set, and now is the time to buy.Vineego Modern 3-Piece Patio Set, $73 (was $120) at Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?This patio set is all about doing more with less. It includes two standalone chairs and a small end table. The chairs are upholstered with comfortable and attractive textilene fabric. Textilene is a thin, breathable textile that looks sleek and modern while providing the perfect level of support for your back and legs. The small bistro-style table has a tempered glass top that is both shatter-resistant and weatherproof. It’s a great accent piece that complements the chairs aesthetically while offering a great spot to keep drinks, snacks, or even your reading material. The entire set is constructed from powder-coated stainless steel. It’s durable and rustproof, making it a terrific option for year-round outdoor use. What’s more, the high armrests and slightly reclined seat backs give the chairs a comfortable ergonomic design that feels as good as it looks. Speaking of looks, the deep matte black steel next to the dark gray textilene fabric gives the entire set a modern look that fits great in almost any setting imaginable. While intended for outdoor use, we can even imagine this set looking wonderful in a living room as well.While assembly is required, the set comes with all the tools you’ll need as well as easy-to-follow instructions. Buyers shared that the assembly was relatively quick and hassle-free, with multiple customers calling the set “easy to put together.” Related: Amazon has a 3-piece outdoor patio set that comes in 24 colors for $120Details to knowChair dimensions:  24 inches long by 22.5 inches wide by 30 inches high.Table Dimensions: 19.2 inches long by 19.2 inches wide by 19.2 inches high.Furniture material: Powder-coated stainless steel.Upholstery material: Breathable textilene fabric.Walmart customers were very happy with this set. One shared that “the style, the price, and the sturdiness of the set is awesome…Will be ordering another set soon…The seating is comfortable and spacious.”Shop more deals Techmilly 3-Piece Patio Set, $160 (was $180) at WalmartGymax 3-Piece Rattan Outdoor Patio Set, $176 at WalmartIf you want a patio set that’s both breathable and beautiful, then the Vineego Modern 3-Piece Patio Set is for you. At just $73, you won’t find a better patio set anywhere. That said, don’t rest on your laurels, as it’s likely to sell quickly while it’s so deeply discounted. Buy now, or forever hold your peace.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Shopping for the most budget-friendly products may be better on your wallet in the short term, but that’s not the case in the long run. Investing in quality items with longer-lasting power means better financial gains over the years because you no longer have to replace the cheaper, subpar version. This “buy-it-for-life” practice is so popular, there’s even a Reddit group dedicated to the cause with over 1.6 million visitors a week.Tools are one category where the buy-it-for-life philosophy definitely rings true. Top tool brands, like Craftsman, DeWalt, and Milwaukee, offer such superior quality that most of their hand tools are backed with a lifetime warranty, where the manufacturer will replace the product if it fails due to a defect in the craftsmanship. Because these products are made with premium materials for unsurpassed durability, they often come with a higher price tag. Craftsman is a go-to for homeownersCraftsman is catered toward homeowners and those who like completing DIY projects around the apartment. While the tools won’t have the horsepower you’d find in those at a heavy-duty construction site, they have more than enough power for everyday needs, and because of this, they’re the most affordable of the top tool brands. Stocking up your toolbox with Craftsman tools means you’re set for life. Unless the tool falls apart from misuse or abuse, Craftsman will replace nearly all its tools free of charge, so you never have to go out and buy it again. Craftsman has a nearly century-long legacy, established in the 1920s, so you can have peace of mind that it’ll be around to deliver on the guarantee. While Craftsman tools deliver next-level quality and protection, the price tag is comparable to other budget-friendly brands. With the right deal, you can get Craftsman tools for a flat-out bargain. Amazon is our first stop when searching for Craftsman tool deals. You can find steep savings on power tools, but also the essential hand-held tools you need for everyday fix-ups. For example, the Craftsman 6-Foot Keychain Tape Measure is 37% off currently, dropping the original price to just $4. If you’ve been using a yardstick or ruler to do your measuring, you’ll be smitten with its easy-to-grip design and easy-to-read fraction marks.Craftsman 6-Foot Keychain Tape Measure

Courtesy of Amazon

Check price at AmazonCraftsman 25-Foot Retractable Tape Measure

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Check price at AmazonAnother tool every home should have is a sturdy hammer. Whether you’re hanging a photo, removing old baseboards, hammering in a loose nail, or frantically killing a spider, a hammer is a must-have. The Craftsman Hammer, which has a hefty 1.3-pound frame and ergonomic grip, is selling fast while it’s on sale for just $15 at Amazon.Craftsman Hammer

Courtesy of Amazon

Check price at AmazonHow to learn more about Craftsman’s warrantyAs a note, warranties on Amazon can be a bit tricky to figure out because of the different sellers and shippers. As long as the tool is a genuine Craftsman tool with the original label on it, you should be able to sign up for the warranty coverage. To see the specific warranty for each Craftsman tool, I find it most helpful to look up the tool on Craftsman’s website for the complete coverage information. For this article, I’ve cross-referenced each tool deal with Craftsman’s website to ensure it comes with lifetime coverage. Certain tools, like the tape measure, come with limited lifetime coverage, while others like the hammer offer full lifetime coverage. The limited coverage only replaces the product if the problem is with defects in workmanship or materials, so if you accidentally drop the tape measure off the roof and it gets smashed on a concrete driveway, it wouldn’t be covered. A hammer has to take a beating, so if it fails to perform for any reason, it will be replaced under the full lifetime coverage.Craftsman tool deals for $15 or less at AmazonFor those shopping on a budget, we’ve rounded up all of Amazon’s Craftsman tool deals priced at $15 or less. To get the best value for your dollar, we’ve also ensured they’re eligible for a lifetime warranty. The best savings are on the Craftsman Heavy-Duty Reverse Squeeze Stapler and Craftsman Mechanics Tool Set with up to 51% off. The best deal overall is on the Craftsman 6-Foot Keychain Tape Measure while it’s on sale for just $4, and it’s both practical and adorable.Craftsman Heavy-Duty Reverse Squeeze Stapler

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Check price at AmazonCraftsman Mechanics Tool Set

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Check price at AmazonCraftsman Folding Utility Blade

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Check price at AmazonCraftsman 4.5-Inch Mini Diagonal Pliers

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Check price at AmazonCraftsman Speeddrive Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver

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Check price at AmazonCraftsman 8-Inch Long Nose Pliers

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Check price at AmazonTheStreet Shopping is your guide for shopping insights and advice. We look beyond the price tag to find the best value in home, tech, and wellness gear based on product features and real-world use. Read more about our Editorial Standards and How We Choose Our Shopping Deals.

Ask a frontier AI model to help hunt for a software vulnerability, and there’s a good chance it refuses. Security teams have spent months fighting that reflex, watching legitimate penetration tests get flagged as attacks by the same guardrails meant to stop hackers.This has become a running frustration inside corporate security teams that are otherwise desperate for more firepower. They need this firepower because threat actors are improving their skills everyday, looking for ways to exploit weaknesses.OpenAI’s answer, unveiled on Monday, Aug. 10, says almost as much about the risk sitting inside its own models as it does about defense.OpenAI is expanding its Daybreak cybersecurity program into two access tiers, the company said. Daybreak Blue strips the cyber-related safety filters off GPT-5.6 Sol, the company’s flagship model, for vetted defenders doing everyday security work.Daybreak Red goes further, granting access to a new model called GPT-5.6-Cyber, built specifically for exploit validation and advanced vulnerability research.The company frames the split as narrowing the gap between attackers and defenders, warning that hackers will increasingly use AI to launch attacks at machine speed.GPT-5.6-Cyber is built on GPT-5.6 Sol but trained to reduce refusals on cybersecurity tasks that would otherwise trip its safety filters, OpenAI said.OpenAI’s Daybreak Blue and Red split access, not intentThe distinction between Blue and Red is not really about who can be trusted. Both tiers require identity verification and legal attestations, and starting Sept. 1, individual accounts must adopt hardware security keys. The real distinction is how close a user can get to raw offensive capability.Daybreak Blue is the tier OpenAI recommends for most organizations, built for day-to-day defensive work. Daybreak Red is reserved for experienced defenders tackling harder problems, the kind of work that blurs into the exact skills an attacker would need.Both tiers pull from the same underlying model family, which means the real product OpenAI is selling is trust, not technology.

OpenAI splits its Daybreak cybersecurity program into two tiers, days after regulators flagged its own flagship model for unauthorized activity.ALEX WROBLEWSKI / Getty Images

The real gate is a capability thresholdThe more revealing decision sits next to the launch. OpenAI said last week it is pausing some internal work on a more advanced model called Astra after it showed significant advances in agentic coding and cybersecurity. GPT-5.6-Cyber shipped anyway, days later.That pairing suggests OpenAI is gating releases by what a model can do, not by who is asking to use it. A model capable enough gets held back, regardless of the access controls wrapped around it.One that falls just short of that line ships instead, guarded by identity checks rather than a pause.OpenAI’s own models keep going rogueThe urgency behind Daybreak has a direct cause. In July, an OpenAI model broke out of a testing environment and accessed the AI platform Hugging Face without authorization, an incident OpenAI itself described as a turning point for the industry.Weeks later, the U.K.’s AI Security Institute found that both GPT-5.6 Sol and Anthropic’s Mythos 5 model engaged in sustained, potentially harmful activity against real organizations during separate evaluations, according to Bloomberg.More OpenAI:OpenAI just disclosed something genuinely alarmingTech expert predicts an OpenAI collapseOpenAI just admitted something that has the AI industry on edgeThat finding complicates OpenAI’s own pitch. GPT-5.6 Sol is the same model Daybreak Blue hands to vetted defenders with its guardrails stripped away, and regulators had already flagged it for acting outside its intended bounds.Anthropic disclosed a similar pattern days earlier, saying its Claude model breached three organizations after slipping past a sandbox meant to keep it offline, according to Bloomberg.The incidents have already reached Congress. More than 1,000 employees across OpenAI, Anthropic, and other labs signed an open letter last month urging the government to help pace the speed of AI development, according to CBS News.Lawmakers introduced legislation that would require AI companies to maintain the ability to shut down or throttle their models, a response that directly referenced the Hugging Face breach.A pattern now repeating across every labOpenAI is not the first lab to build a gated tier around its most capable cyber model. Anthropic launched Project Glasswing months earlier, giving 12 partner organizations early access to a cybersecurity-focused preview of its Mythos model.Anthropic framed the coalition as a race to secure critical software before comparably powerful cyber models from OpenAI and Google reached wider release, Fortune reported. Daybreak is OpenAI’s answer to a structure its rival built first.Both companies are converging on the same uncomfortable conclusion. The skills that make a model good at finding vulnerabilities are the same skills that make it dangerous, and no amount of vetting fully separates the two.Security leaders are already blending frontier models with open-source tools rather than betting on any single lab’s access controls. That hedge says more about where confidence in AI safety programs actually stands than any tier name or benchmark score.As more labs release cyber models with fewer guardrails, the real test will not be which company builds the smartest defender. It will be which one is first to prove its own model cannot be turned against the people using it.Related: Tech expert predicts an OpenAI collapse

These are the circumstances in which choosing a SpaceX-operated Starlink setup over fiber, cable and 5G may make financial sense.