Google launches Gemini 4 Carbon: powerful but paid

On November 10, Google opened access to its new flagship model, Gemini 4 Carbon. Paid developers, companies, research institutions, and Google AI Ultra subscribers can now connect via the Gemini API in Google AI Studio, Gemini for Business, the Gemini app (including AI in Search), and the Antigravity platform. The model had previously been available only to cybersecurity specialists.

Google introduced an aggressive promo price through November 30: $2 per 1M input tokens and $10 per 1M output tokens, with rates set to double after the promotion. Versus competitors, the entry price looks attractive: roughly one-fifth the token cost of OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra and about one-quarter the price of Anthropic's Fable 5.2. It is not yet clear whether Carbon will be included in lower-tier plans or a free tier. Follow the link for more details.

Local tech rally and strong dollar

Tech stocks received a powerful lift after CoreWeave's quarterly report: revenue surged by 168% to $3.7 billion, the company raised its full-year outlook, and earnings beat estimates. That boosted the stock in US trading and lifted the Nasdaq 100 by nearly 2%. The rally, however, remains localized: broad-based buying is absent, valuations of large tech names are still strained, and financing, regulatory, and energy risks persist.

At the same time, the dollar is strengthening on a repricing of Fed policy expectations. Hot inflation prints and hawkish official comments have pushed the odds of a December interest rate hike to roughly 85%, leaving little room for a pause. So tech optimism is coexisting with a strong dollar and ongoing market uncertainty. Follow the link for more details.

Throne, chips, and Singapore

Microsoft has overtaken Nvidia in market capitalization for the first time since June 2025 and reclaimed the No. 2 global spot. Apple remains the leader, while Nvidia slid to third after the spy-related scandal involving its CEO Jensen Huang, which rattled investor confidence.

The scandal also exposed a deeper issue: for years, Chinese firms have been bypassing US export controls via Singapore and a web of intermediaries to gain access to Nvidia's top chips. Officially, the equipment was shipped to regional cloud providers "for local use," but in practice, it was leased and routed to China. A chain of multiple legal entities and resellers makes Washington's controls practically unenforceable and export bans ineffective. Follow the link for more details.

Nvidia scandal and hawkish Fed send global markets reeling

Global equity markets are again moving lower, and the primary trigger is the unprecedented crisis at Nvidia. Amid reports of the CEO's alleged extramarital relationships — one partner reportedly under suspicion of spying for China — the board has launched an emergency probe and is vetting successors. The scandal not only hammered the chip giant's shares but also dragged down the entire AI sector, which had just started to recover on positive headlines from OpenAI and Anthropic.

Further pressure comes from the Federal Reserve's tightening. Traders now price in a December rate hike almost fully, and amid a stronger dollar and speculation about even more aggressive action, investors are locking in profits. In this macro environment, Asian currencies and emerging-market assets are under notable strain, forcing some central banks to intervene to support their currencies. Follow the link for more details.