For Immediate Release <\/p>\n
Chicago, IL \u2013 June 30, 2026 \u2013 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Apple AAPL, Tokyo Electron TOELY, Advantest ATEYY and Infineon IFNNY. <\/p>\n
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog: <\/p>\n
Do AI Stocks Work in the 2nd Half? Global Week Ahead <\/p>\n
What happens across this short four-day Global Week Ahead? <\/p>\n
A wild first half of the year is almost over, with focus shifting to how central banks, especially the Federal Reserve, steer markets in the months ahead. <\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The new Fed chief attends the European Central Bank’s Sintra conference, while <\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U.S. June Federal nonfarm jobs numbers <\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Eurozone consumer inflation readings <\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 British politics, and <\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tech AI is in focus <\/p>\n
Next are Reuters’ five world market themes, re-ordered for equity traders\u2014 <\/p>\n
(1) On Thursday, the U.S. June Federal Nonfarm Jobs Report Gets Released <\/p>\n
This week’s U.S. employment report will be released against a backdrop of increased speculation over whether the Fed will hike rates this year. <\/p>\n
And traders have one day less to wait, with the June nonfarm payrolls data released on Thursday because of Friday’s U.S. Independence Day. <\/p>\n
After the May report marked a third straight month of solid job gains, markets may be more wary of an overly strong number that highlights the economy’s resilience than a weak reading. A surprisingly hawkish June Fed meeting showed policymakers laser-focused on controlling inflation. <\/p>\n
As it stands, traders’ price in a rate hike from the Kevin Warsh-led central bank potentially as soon as September. <\/p>\n
(2) The First Half of 2026 Kept Traders On the AI Stocks. Now What? <\/p>\n
Markets cross the year’s halfway marker after a volatile six months dominated by U.S.-instigated turmoil from Venezuela and Greenland to Iran and the seemingly unstoppable rise of AI stocks. <\/p>\n
That AI bull run means world stocks are now worth $7 trillion more than at the end of 2025, and that even after a $9 trillion wipeout in March triggered by the Iran war, which drove oil to $120 a barrel and dashed hopes for lower global interest rates. <\/p>\n
South Korean stocks have surged a whopping +100%, SpaceX blasted \u200coff whereas the Magnificent 7 tech stocks are down as a set. <\/p>\n
Treasuries are flat and gold has lost its shine. <\/p>\n
The second half of the year promises to be lively too. <\/p>\n
Britain’s nervy bond markets await a new prime minister, currency traders remain on yen intervention watch, the Fed sounds hawkish and traders are bracing for President Donald Trump’s U.S. midterm election plan. <\/p>\n
(3) What Happens to the Major Asian Chip Stocks? <\/p>\n
Asia chipmaker stocks remain in the spotlight as volatility rises across the region, particularly in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. <\/p>\n
Apple’s\u00a0hefty price hikes reveal the downside of booming chip demand. <\/p>\n
Investors are on the lookout for the next catalyst after index compiler MSCI opted against putting South Korea on the watchlist for an upgrade to developed market status. <\/p>\n
Attention turns to economic data including Wednesday’s South Korean monthly manufacturing and export figures, a temperature check on global demand which will be closely watched after stellar export orders from Taiwan, which nevertheless fell short of even heftier expectations. <\/p>\n
Japan’s flash PMIs indicate new orders are still rising across Asia as customers stockpile products to avoid supply chain disruptions, indicating the region is shrugging off the Iran war. <\/p>\n
Memory chipmaker SK Hynix will also hit the road ahead of a U.S. secondary listing on July 10 in which it hopes to raise $29.43 billion. <\/p>\n
(4) A New U.K. Prime Minister, Manchester’s Andy Burnham, Takes Office <\/p>\n
Britain has just marked the 10th anniversary of the Brexit vote that took the country out of the European Union, and is about to welcome its seventh prime minister in a decade. <\/p>\n
Keir Starmer stepped down after two years in the job, given plummeting popularity both nationally and within his ruling Labour Party. <\/p>\n
Enter Andy Burnham, Starmer’s replacement. Burnham gave a speech on Monday, whereby he promised the “biggest rebalancing of power” as he sets up a new hub of central government at No. 10 North in Manchester. Burnham considers his hometown as the “nerve center of a rewired Britain.” <\/p>\n
The former Greater Manchester mayor, who earned his “King of the North” nickname for his leadership during COVID, is seen as more left-leaning than Starmer. <\/p>\n
He has called for nationalization of key industries and for Britain to rejoin the E.U. Who he crowns as finance minister is going to be crucial for the nation’s finances and its markets. <\/p>\n
(5) The European Central Bank (ECB) Hosts Annual Gathering in Portugal <\/p>\n
The ECB hosts a central banking gathering in Sintra, Portugal, welcoming Warsh in his first trip anywhere since becoming the new Fed Chief. <\/p>\n
It is an opportunity for those attending to reconnect with a figure many of them know well from his past stint at the Fed. <\/p>\n
Markets are keen to assess what kind of Fed Warsh will run, and how proactive he will be at times when global financial stability is at risk. <\/p>\n
Having talked the talk of favouring monetary easing during the Fed Governor nomination process, Warsh made clear at his first press conference that he takes inflation fighting seriously. <\/p>\n
Bond traders got the message, pricing in a rate hike by year-end. <\/p>\n
Of course, ECB Chief Christine Lagarde will also speak in Sintra, while Eurozone June inflation data on Wednesday could show whether the ECB needs to mull another near-term rate hike. <\/p>\n
Zacks #1 Rank (STRONG BUY) Stocks <\/p>\n
Next are three Zacks #1 (STRONG BUY) large cap tech stocks, benefitting from fresh covering analyst earnings upgrades. <\/p>\n
Have these shares run too far? It looks like it to me. <\/p>\n
(1) Tokyo Electron : This is a $216 a share stock, with a market cap of $158.3B <\/p>\n
It is found in Zacks Electronics-Miscellaneous industry. The stock holds a Zacks Value score of F, a Zacks Growth score of C, and a Zacks Momentum score of A. <\/p>\n
F12M P\/E: 45.2. <\/p>\n
Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) is a company mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of electronic products for industrial uses. <\/p>\n
TEL is the largest manufacturer of IC and FPD production equipment in Japan and the third largest in the world. <\/p>\n
The Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment segment is engaged in the provision of coaters and developers for wafer processing, plasma etching equipment, thermal processing systems and others. <\/p>\n
The Flat-panel Display (FPD) Manufacturing Equipment segment is engaged in the provision of coaters and developers for FPD manufacturing, plasma etching\/ashing apparatus and others. <\/p>\n
The Electronic Component and Information Communication Equipment segment provides semiconductor products such as integrated circuits (ICs), computer and network equipment and software. <\/p>\n
In addition, the company is also involved in logistics, facility management and insurance businesses. <\/p>\n
(2) Advantest : This is a $216 a share stock, with a market cap of $158.3B <\/p>\n
Advantest is found in the Zacks Electronics-Measuring Instruments industry. The stock holds a Zacks Value score of F, a Zacks Growth score of C, and a Zacks Momentum score of B. <\/p>\n
F12M P\/E: 43.7. <\/p>\n
Advantest Corporation is one of the world’s leading automatic test equipment (ATE) suppliers to the semiconductor industry, and is also a producer of electronic and optoelectronic instruments and systems. <\/p>\n
A global company, Advantest has long offered total ATE solutions, and serves the industry in every component of semiconductor test: tester, handler, mechanical and electrical interfaces, and software. <\/p>\n
Its logic, memory, mixed-signal and RF testers, and device handlers, are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor fabrication lines in the world. <\/p>\n
(3) Infineon : This is a $94 a share stock, with a market cap of $122B <\/p>\n
It is found in the Zacks Electronics-Semiconductors industry. The stock holds a Zacks Value score of D, a Zacks Growth score of F, and a Zacks Momentum score of F. <\/p>\n
F12M P\/E: 46.3. <\/p>\n
Infineon Technologies designs, produces and sells semiconductors, the microchips which have enabled the information age, and have led to a vast increase in the speed, portability and capabilities of computers and a myriad other electronic devices. <\/p>\n
Infineon is active in providing application-oriented semiconductor solutions for use in sectors such as speech and data communications, peripherals, wireless communications, automotive and industrial electronics, security and chip cards as well as memory products. <\/p>\n
Media Contact <\/p>\n
Zacks Investment Research <\/p>\n
800-767-3771 ext. 9339 <\/p>\n
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed\u00a0that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and\u00a0is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https:\/\/www.zacks.com\/performance\u00a0for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. <\/p>\n
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report<\/a> <\/p>\n Apple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report<\/a> <\/p>\n Infineon Technologies AG (IFNNY) : Free Stock Analysis Report<\/a> <\/p>\n Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TOELY) : Free Stock Analysis Report<\/a> <\/p>\n Advantest Corp. (ATEYY) : Free Stock Analysis Report<\/a> <\/p>\n This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).<\/a> <\/p>\n