DALY: Federal Reserve faces different types of risks when setting interest-rate policy.

Key News 1. Federal Reserve's Kashkari: Believes it's time to start gradually raising interest rates, but does not call for a sharp rate hike. 2. US July ADP employment change was 44,000, below the expected 70,000 and the previous value of 98,000. 3. Regional sources and US officials say the US, Iran, and Oman are "close to reaching" a provisional agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the US hopes to announce the agreement on August 5. Individual Stock News 1. According to reports, the tight supply of memory chips is expected to continue until 2027. Industry sources revealed that Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, the three major memory chip manufacturers, have basically completed negotiations on next year's capacity allocation. 2. SpaceX (SPCX.O) reported a 90.2% year-on-year increase in revenue to $7.8 billion in the second quarter, with a loss of 9 cents per share; capital expenditures reached $18.369 billion, of which $15.828 billion was invested in AI computing infrastructure. 3. According to reports, Anthropic confirmed that it is building an internal chip team for Claude. 4. AMD (AMD.O) reported second-quarter revenue of $11.54 billion, a 50% year-over-year increase, with net income of $2.3 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $1.66. The company expects its first rack-mount AI system, "Helios," to begin shipping soon. 5. Samsung Electronics: Actively exploring ways to sustainably improve shareholder returns. 6. Novo Nordisk (NVO.N) reported second-quarter adjusted sales of 7% year-over-year to DKK 78.488 billion, and adjusted operating profit of 11% year-over-year to DKK 33.389 billion; the company raised its full-year 2026 earnings guidance. 7. Eli Lilly (LLY.N) reported second-quarter revenue of 48% year-over-year to $22.97 billion, with adjusted earnings per share of $8.38. The company also raised its 2026 revenue guidance and profit margin.

Japan's finance minister Katayama said U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent told her he views Japan's fiscal position as improving. Katayama cited Bessent's recent interviews following Washington's assistance to Tokyo in supporting the yen and rejected suggestions the U.S. applied policy pressure, adding that Bessent has long supported Japan's strategy to promote growth and believes Japan is moving toward fiscal discipline.