U.S. CPI: +2.9% YEAR-OVER-YEAR (EST. +2.9%); U.S. CORE CPI: +3.2% YEAR-OVER-YEAR (EST. +3.3%)

According to Bit.com market data, U.S. stocks closed on Tuesday: the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a preliminary gain of 0.02%, the S&P 500 rose 0.38%, and the Nasdaq advanced 0.9%. Sandisk (SNDK.O) and Micron Technology (MU.O) climbed around 5%, while SK Hynix ADR (SKHY.O) surged 27.2%. The optical communications sector rallied sharply, with POET jumping more than 10% and LITE up over 6%.

U.S. Central Command disclosed that the U.S. military has resumed a naval blockade on vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas at 4 p.m. ET on the 14th (4 a.m. Beijing time on the 15th). Currently, more than 20 U.S. Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft are deployed in the Middle East. The U.S. military remains on high alert, possesses lethal strike capabilities, and is ready to act at any time. Earlier, at 3 p.m. ET on the 14th (3 a.m. Beijing time on the 15th), the U.S. military launched a new round of strikes against Iran, targeting to weaken Iran's ability to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The naval blockade targeting Iranian ports and coastal areas will be launched at 4 p.m. ET.

According to people familiar with the matter, OpenAI’s first consumer hardware will be a portable, screenless smart speaker positioned as a new type of home computer for the AI era. It is expected to launch as early as this year and hit the market in 2027. The device will run an advanced GPT-Live voice system, enabling natural conversations, proactive information provision, and continuous learning of user habits by integrating data such as emails and environmental perception, serving as an "AI companion". It supports functions including smart home control, media playback, and message replies. OpenAI aims for this device to become a physical manifestation of ChatGPT, and the company also plans to launch AI terminals that can replace smartphones, wearables, and home robots in the future. Meanwhile, Apple is suing OpenAI over trade secret issues. Court documents show that OpenAI poached more than 400 employees from Apple, further intensifying competition between the two companies in the AI hardware sector.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that more than $130 million in digital assets belonging to Iran have been frozen.

According to Bitget market data, South Korea’s KOSPI index opened 239.58 points higher on Wednesday, July 15, surging 3.49% to 7096.41 points. SK Hynix rose 10% and Samsung Electronics gained 7%.

According to Bitget's market data, South Korea's KOSPI index has broken through the 7,200-point mark, rising 6.05% intraday.