Key Takeaways
- U.S. and China have reached a "framework" agreement on TikTok's ownership, aiming to transfer the popular social media app to U.S.-controlled hands and avert a nationwide ban, with Presidents Trump and Xi expected to finalize details this week.
- Anthropic's CEO is urging the U.S. to prioritize domestic access to advanced AI chips, advocating for stronger export controls to secure America's lead in artificial intelligence against rival nations, a stance that contrasts with some major chipmakers.
- New Zealand's housing market experienced a dip in August 2025, with national average home values falling 0.8% over three months, and buyers remaining cautious despite lower interest rates.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly informed U.S. President Donald Trump prior to a strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, contradicting initial White House claims of notification only after the attack.
In a significant development for global tech and trade, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a "framework" deal with China concerning the ownership of the popular social media platform TikTok. This agreement aims to transition TikTok to U.S.-controlled ownership, thereby preventing a looming nationwide ban. The deal is anticipated to be finalized during a scheduled call between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that a framework agreement had been reached, noting that commercial terms between the private parties involved were settled, although China had presented "aggressive asks" during negotiations. President Trump has previously extended the deadline for ByteDance (private), TikTok's Chinese parent company, to divest its U.S. operations multiple times, with the most recent deadline set for September 17, 2025. He suggested that the resolution of the TikTok issue could foster closer ties between the U.S. and China. Companies like Oracle (ORCL) have been involved in discussions, with Oracle currently hosting Americans' TikTok data. Microsoft (MSFT) had also previously pursued an acquisition of TikTok's U.S. arm.
Meanwhile, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is actively lobbying U.S. lawmakers and administration officials to bolster domestic support for advanced chip measures. Amodei argues that America should secure its access to advanced semiconductors before other nations, particularly to maintain its lead in artificial intelligence development against China. Anthropic's recommendations include refining the existing three-tier system for chip export controls, reducing the no-license compute threshold for certain countries (Tier 2), and increasing federal funding for the enforcement of these regulations. This position diverges from some major chip manufacturers, such as Nvidia (NVDA), who have expressed concerns about the impact of stringent export controls on innovation. Other key chip players like Intel (INTC) and AMD (AMD) are also closely watching these policy discussions.
In geopolitical news, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly informed U.S. President Donald Trump about Israel's intention to strike Hamas leaders in Qatar before the attack took place. This account, reported by Axios citing Israeli officials, contradicts earlier statements from the White House, which suggested President Trump was only notified after the missiles were airborne. President Trump has since stated that Netanyahu will not launch another strike against Qatar, emphasizing Qatar's role as a "great ally" and mediator in regional negotiations. However, Netanyahu has not publicly ruled out future operations against Hamas leadership, regardless of their location. The strike, which targeted Hamas leaders reportedly discussing a U.S. ceasefire proposal, drew significant international condemnation.
On the economic front, New Zealand's housing market experienced a notable slowdown in August 2025. The national average home values dipped by 0.8% over the three months ending in August, settling at NZ$906,977. While this represents a marginal 0.2% increase compared to the same period last year, it remains 13.4% below the market's peak in January 2022. Sales volumes also saw a substantial decline, falling 11.1% from July and 3.7% year-over-year. Buyers are reportedly maintaining a cautious stance despite recent reductions in interest rates. Major urban centers like Wellington and Auckland recorded significant drops in property values, although some regions, such as Queenstown, experienced modest gains. Experts suggest that while the market is more accessible than its peak, widespread caution persists, and a rapid resurgence in prices is not anticipated for the remainder of 2025.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.