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Futures Steady as Tech Selloff Eases; Amazon Drops on AI Spending Surge

U.S. stock futures held steady in early premarket trading after a sharp tech-led decline earlier in the week, giving investors a moment to reassess the sector’s rapid pullback. Major index futures hovered near flat, suggesting a more measured tone after days of volatility. While sentiment remains cautious, some traders appear to be stepping back in following the recent selloff in high‑growth names. Amazon shares slipped in premarket action after the company signaled a significant increase in capital expenditures tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure. The planned investment highlights Amazon’s push to expand its AI capabilities, but the scale of spending raised concerns about near‑term pressure on margins. Market attention now turns to upcoming economic data and corporate earnings, which could help determine whether tech stocks regain momentum or continue to face headwinds. For the moment, futures point to a steadier start as investors look for the next catalyst.

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Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years for Defrauding FTX Investors

 



In a stunning turn of events, Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder of the FTX Cryptocurrency Derivatives Exchange, has been handed a 25-year prison sentence. This once-prominent billionaire now faces the consequences of orchestrating one of the largest frauds in financial history.

Bankman-Fried’s downfall began when FTX, the exchange he helped create, collapsed. Users were left reeling as their investments vanished. The court found him guilty on seven criminal counts in November, leading to his detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

In a federal courtroom in lower Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan delivered the verdict. He dismissed the defense’s arguments as misleading and logically flawed, emphasizing that Bankman-Fried had obstructed justice and tampered with witnesses during his defense. Clad in a beige jailhouse jumpsuit, Bankman-Fried expressed remorse, admitting to a series of “selfish” decisions that ultimately led to his downfall.

Prosecutors initially sought a staggering 50-year sentence, while Bankman-Fried’s legal team pushed for no more than 6½ years. The judge’s decision landed in the middle, sending a clear message: financial crimes will be met with swift justice and severe consequences.

One victim, whose name remains redacted, penned a heartbreaking letter: “My whole life has been destroyed. I have 2 young children, one born right before the collapse. I still remember the weeks following where I would stare blankly into their eyes, completely empty inside knowing their futures have been stolen through no fault of our own. I did not gamble on crypto. I did not make any crypto gains” .

As the crypto world grapples with the aftermath, Bankman-Fried’s sentence serves as a stark reminder: integrity and accountability are paramount in financial systems. Let this be a cautionary tale for all who tread the treacherous waters of high finance.

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