Key Takeaways

• Deutsche Bank elevated First Solar (FSLR) from Hold to Buy, increasing the price target from $245 to $272
• Deutsche Bank’s Corinne Blanchard highlighted the company’s $2.1 billion net cash reserve and described it as “fundamentally strong”
• Shares declined 1.6% to close at $229.28 on Tuesday, extending 2026 losses beyond 12%
• An upcoming Section 232 decision regarding foreign polysilicon imports, anticipated by early August, could serve as a major catalyst
• Wells Fargo increased its price objective to $320 while maintaining an Overweight stance, pointing to potential earnings growth from tariff outcomes

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Shares of First Solar continued their descent on Tuesday, dropping 1.6% to finish at $229.28, despite receiving an upgrade from Deutsche Bank that elevated the stock to Buy status alongside a price target increase from $245 to $272.

First Solar, Inc., FSLR

Corinne Blanchard, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, characterized the solar manufacturer as a “fundamentally strong” investment opportunity, emphasizing its substantial $2.1 billion net cash position recorded in the second quarter. She views the current valuation as an attractive entry point for investors with medium- to long-term horizons.

FSLR has tumbled more than 12% year-to-date in 2026, significantly underperforming the S&P 500’s 9.4% gain during the same timeframe.

Blanchard noted that the momentum generated by a clean-energy sector rally in May has dissipated. However, she emphasized that the company’s core investment thesis remains intact.

Trading well below its 52-week peak of $320.95, the stock’s recovery trajectory may depend heavily on developments in the nation’s capital.

Federal Polysilicon Ruling Could Unlock Stock Performance

Blanchard anticipates a positive stock reaction following clarity on the federal government’s Section 232 investigation examining foreign polysilicon imports. The decision, projected to arrive by early August, would enable company leadership to finalize strategic decisions regarding domestic and overseas operations — both currently in a holding pattern.

The solar manufacturer has already begun relocating equipment to domestic facilities after committing to onshore its finishing operations last year. Blanchard forecasts an “acceleration of financial performance” in upcoming quarters, with 2027 positioned to represent a more normalized operational year.

First Solar holds a unique position as America’s sole thin-film solar panel producer. This status provides significant advantages under Section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code, which provides cumulative manufacturing tax incentives for U.S.-based solar production.

This domestic manufacturing footprint has garnered additional attention during the Trump administration’s national security examination of Chinese-manufactured energy inverters. As a producer operating without Chinese technology dependencies, First Solar could gain considerably if domestic content requirements become more stringent.

Wells Fargo Projects $320 Price Point

Wells Fargo joined the bullish chorus, elevating its price target from $255 to $320 while reaffirming an Overweight recommendation. The firm’s analyst pointed to “asymmetric upside” linked to the Section 232 determination, suggesting a positive outcome could elevate domestic solar module pricing and generate substantial earnings growth.

This upgrade came on a day when options trading volume in FSLR was notably elevated at market open, indicating some market participants were positioning themselves ahead of the analyst action.

Broader market strength provided supportive backdrop. The Nasdaq advanced 1.1% while the S&P 500 climbed 0.8% during the session when Wells Fargo released its analysis.

The solar industry has experienced significant headwinds recently. The Zacks Solar sector had plummeted over 23% in the month preceding the Wells Fargo commentary. FSLR’s analyst-driven momentum represented a notable sentiment shift for the industry, albeit temporarily.

Wall Street consensus on the stock tilts decidedly positive. Among 37 analysts monitored by FactSet, 23 assign Buy or Overweight ratings, 11 recommend Hold, and two rate it Underweight. KeyBanc Capital Markets stands alone with a Sell recommendation.

Notwithstanding the recent upgrades, FSLR shares have declined by double-digit percentages since early June. The stock’s next significant movement likely hinges on the timing and substance of the forthcoming polysilicon tariff determination.

Key Takeaways

• Semiconductor stocks experienced widespread declines as profit-taking swept through the AI chip sector
• SpaceX shares slipped following its Nasdaq-100 addition in a textbook “sell the news” scenario
• Nvidia continued its decline amid reports of DeepSeek developing proprietary AI processors in China
• Micron remained under selling pressure even as AI memory market fundamentals stay robust
• Samsung’s impressive quarterly earnings growth couldn’t reverse negative sentiment in chip equities

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Understanding Tuesday’s Semiconductor Sector Weakness

Technology stocks experienced broad-based weakness on Tuesday as market participants secured profits following an extended rally in artificial intelligence-related equities.

Major players including Nvidia, Broadcom, AMD, Intel, and Micron all posted declines, dragging the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index significantly lower.

The selloff wasn’t triggered by any particular catalyst. Rather, market participants seemed to be booking gains after an impressive run that elevated many chip stocks to elevated valuation levels ahead of upcoming quarterly reports.

Data center and AI infrastructure spending by major cloud platforms remains at elevated levels, indicating that underlying demand for semiconductor products continues to show resilience.

Nvidia Faces Mounting China Competition Concerns from DeepSeek

Nvidia captured significant attention during Tuesday’s session following news reports that Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek is developing its own AI processing chip.

This development sparked renewed worries about competitive pressures in China, which represents a strategically important market for Nvidia’s international operations.

While Nvidia maintains commanding market leadership in the global AI accelerator space, market participants remain vigilant regarding potential threats to this dominance, particularly as China accelerates efforts to develop indigenous chip manufacturing capabilities in response to American export controls.

Near-term business momentum remains supported by sustained purchasing from cloud service providers, enterprise customers, and governmental entities.

SpaceX Stock Retreats Following Index Addition

SpaceX garnered market attention as its shares declined after officially joining the Nasdaq-100 Index.

The pullback caught some market watchers off guard, since index inclusions typically generate purchasing activity from exchange-traded funds and institutional investors. However, traders evidently decided to take profits after several weeks of anticipatory buying pushed shares higher.

SpaceX continues to attract significant investor interest due to its innovations in reusable rocket technology, the expanding Starlink satellite internet service, and lucrative government launch agreements. Industry observers generally view the company as a compelling long-term opportunity in the commercial aerospace industry.

Micron Technology Caught in Sector-Wide Decline

Micron shares also retreated on Tuesday as the semiconductor sector’s broad weakness persisted.

The memory chip manufacturer has emerged as a primary beneficiary of AI-fueled demand for high-bandwidth memory products. However, solid underlying business conditions couldn’t shield the stock from Tuesday’s selling wave.

Micron produces cutting-edge memory components essential for AI server infrastructure, where demand has regularly exceeded analyst projections. Industry experts continue to forecast that memory chips will represent one of the semiconductor industry’s fastest-growing segments in coming years.

Market Shrugs Off Samsung’s Impressive Profit Growth

Samsung announced a substantial jump in quarterly operating profits, yet the positive results failed to energize the semiconductor sector.

Typically, robust financial performance from one of the planet’s largest memory chip producers would provide support for related stocks. Instead, market participants remained preoccupied with valuation concerns and intensifying competition in AI hardware markets.

The muted response illustrates how elevated expectations have become for semiconductor companies following a year of exceptional stock performance. Solid quarterly results alone are insufficient — investors now demand compelling forward-looking guidance as well.

Nevertheless, Samsung’s financial results validate that worldwide demand for advanced memory products utilized in AI infrastructure remains healthy.

Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK’s Reform party, announced that he would resign as a member of Parliament and stand in the by-election that could replace him.

On Tuesday, Farage announced that he would resign as MP representing Clacton in response to what he called “foul means” by established politicians. The UK lawmaker’s resignation followed reports that he had personally received millions of dollars’ worth of donations and gifts from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster linked to a crypto casino.

“Let me be absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong,” said Farage in an X livestream. “I have not broken the law in any way at all. I have not misused public money.” 

Source: Nigel Farage

Farage already had ties to the crypto industry before reports of the scandal. He spoke at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas and is an investor in London-listed Bitcoin (BTC) treasury company Stack. When reports began circulating in May that the Reform leader had received a $6.7 million gift from Harborne, he initially called it a “reward” for campaigning for Brexit, the 2016 referendum that led to the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Related: Crypto billionaires bankroll Nigel Farage’s pro-crypto party

The UK lawmaker confirmed that he was the subject of two probes by the UK’s parliamentary standards commissioner following reports of what he called “gifts” from Harborne and Cottrell, which he claimed were given “on an unconditional basis.”

He said that he would use Harborne’s gift for funding related to his security, describing threats and attacks, and that the by-election triggered by his resignation would give voters the opportunity to choose whether or not he will continue to represent them:

“I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions […] I will be putting my name forward to stand in this by-election.”

According to The London Standard, the election determining Farage’s fate as an MP could take weeks or months given the logistics of his stepping down and calling for a by-election. He won in Clacton with 46.2% of the vote in July 2024 against the Conservative and Labour candidates.

Countdown to US elections with crypto money hanging over candidates

While Farage faces probes in the UK, money from crypto companies and figures tied to the industry could continue to influence US races in November’s midterm elections.

According to a June report from US consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, the crypto industry had spent about $189 million to support candidates considered favorable to digital asset policies as part of the 2026 election cycle. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump faces criticism from many lawmakers over his 2025 financial disclosures, which included reporting $1.4 billion in earnings related to crypto.

Magazine: Nobody knows if quantum secure cryptography will even work

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

• KuCoin partners with UAE Team Emirates–XRG ahead of Tour de France.
• KuCoin debuts Tour de France sponsorship with UAE Team Emirates–XRG.
• KuCoin expands global sports push with UAE Team Emirates–XRG deal.

KuCoin announced that it has become the official cryptocurrency partner of UAE Team Emirates – XRG, marking a new sports sponsorship agreement that will debut publicly during the 2026 Tour de France.

The partnership gives KuCoin exclusive rights in the Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Blockchain Trading Platforms and Crypto Wallet Services categories.

The company’s branding will appear across the team’s buses, support vehicles and fleet cars throughout the three-week Tour de France.

The agreement expands KuCoin’s sports sponsorship portfolio as the cryptocurrency exchange seeks to strengthen its global brand presence through partnerships with internationally recognized sporting organizations.

KuCoin secures exclusive sponsorship rights

Under the agreement, KuCoin will serve as UAE Team Emirates – XRG’s sole partner across cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain trading platforms and crypto wallet services.

The partnership brings together two organizations that said they share a focus on innovation, precision and long-term performance.

The collaboration will make its public debut at the 2026 Tour de France, one of cycling’s most prominent events, where KuCoin branding will be prominently displayed on the team’s transportation fleet throughout the race.

Commenting on the partnership, BC Wong, Chief Executive Officer of KuCoin, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with UAE Team Emirates – XRG and launch this collaboration on cycling’s grandest stage.”

He added that, “World-class achievements are never solitary; they require a dedicated team moving in unison toward a shared vision. These are the very values that have fueled KuCoin’s growth, and we look forward to empowering the team as they chase victory at the Tour de France.”

Tour de France provides global platform

The partnership will be introduced during the 2026 Tour de France, a three-week race regarded as one of the most prestigious events in professional cycling.

KuCoin said the competition reflects values that align with its business, including discipline, teamwork, trust and strategic coordination.

According to the company, success in the Tour de France depends on collaboration among riders, coaches, mechanics and support staff, principles that it said also underpin its approach to building a global digital asset infrastructure.

The sponsorship gives KuCoin visibility throughout the event by placing its branding on team buses, support vehicles and fleet cars used during the race.

Partnership expands KuCoin’s sports strategy

The agreement represents the latest addition to KuCoin’s global sports sponsorship initiatives as cryptocurrency companies continue using major sporting events to increase brand awareness.

UAE Team Emirates – XRG is one of the leading professional cycling teams and includes several high-profile riders, including multi-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar.

KuCoin said the collaboration marks a significant expansion of its international sports sponsorship portfolio and is intended to reinforce the company’s global brand presence.

The company also said additional collaborative initiatives involving UAE Team Emirates – XRG and Tadej Pogačar will be announced later in the season, although no further details were disclosed.

The announcement comes as cryptocurrency firms continue pursuing partnerships in global sports as part of broader efforts to expand their visibility among mainstream audiences through internationally followed competitions and teams.

Tether has invested $20 million in Brazilian crypto platform Mercado Bitcoin to support the company’s expansion into tokenized assets, stablecoin payments, lending and other blockchain-based financial services across Latin America.

Since its 2013 launch, Mercado Bitcoin has expanded beyond crypto trading into regulated financial services, including tokenized assets, credit, stablecoin payments and cross-border services.

The company said it has more than 4.5 million users, has issued more than 2 billion Brazilian reais (about $370 million) worth of tokenized assets, and operates under nearly a dozen licenses across Brazil and Europe, including a payment institution license from Brazil’s central bank.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said Mercado Bitcoin has built one of Latin America’s most comprehensive regulated onchain financial platforms, citing its licensing, tokenization infrastructure and integrated financial services.

In February, Mercado Bitcoin announced it had deployed more than $20 million in tokenized private credit, one segment of its broader tokenization business, on Bitcoin (BTC) sidechain Rootstock.

Related: Former Tether CIO seeks to sell stake in stablecoin issuer, Bloomberg reports

Tether using profits for strategic investments

The Mercado Bitcoin investment aligns with Tether Investments’ strategy of backing companies developing blockchain-based financial infrastructure.

Tether issues USDT (USDT), the world’s largest stablecoin, with about $184 billion in circulation. In the first quarter of 2026, the company reported approximately $1.04 billion in net profit, which it is tapping for strategic investments.

In April, the firm participated in a $134 million funding round for Stablecoin Development Corporation, a NYSE American-traded company focused on expanding access to the stablecoin economy and digital asset infrastructure.

A month later, Tether invested in remittance platform LemFi to support the integration of USDT as a settlement layer for cross-border payments across Africa and Asia. The companies said the partnership would expand stablecoin-based payment infrastructure across key remittance corridors.

Later in May, Tether announced plans with the Government of Georgia to launch a stablecoin pegged to the Georgian lari under the country’s digital asset framework.

Beyond stablecoin-related initiatives, Tether has also invested in sectors including artificial intelligence, energy, biotechnology and digital media through its investment arm.

Despite speculation about a potential listing, CEO Paolo Ardoino has said the company has no plans to go public.

Source: DefiLlama

Magazine: AI is banking the unbanked in Africa… faster than crypto

“To deliver on President Trump’s goal to ensure that the United States is the crypto capital of the world, we are embracing innovation to bring more products onshore, creating clear rules of the road for capital raising with crypto assets, and providing clarity as to how market participants can custody and facilitate trading of tokenized securities onchain,” Atkins said in a statement on Tuesday, mentioning his agency’s crypto agenda before any other specific rulemaking effort.

As the process to advance a crypto market structure bill has languished in Congress, the SEC has been a bright spot for the industry’s regulatory hopes, though the agency has sometimes moved more slowly to issue policies than expected. When Atkins addressed this coming regulation almost four months ago in mid-March, he said it would be proposed in the “coming weeks.”

The busy new SEC agenda has “Regulation Crypto” slated for July, though it’s still under review at the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. When proposed, it would mark the first major crypto-specific rulemaking pursued under Atkins’ leadership. Though the regulator has established a wide range of staff statements and guidance on crypto, those positions don’t carry the weight of a full rule, which can’t be changed as easily when future leaders arrive at the agency with different ideas.