US Markets: After-hours

July 26, 2025

Published 24 days ago

TL;DR

Tesla’s robotaxi rollout blocked in California; US-UK trade deal announced; $9B bitcoin sale absorbed.


Highlights

  • California regulators blocked Tesla from launching its robotaxi service to the public, restricting operations to employees and invited guests only 1.
  • Tesla has not applied for required permits to deploy commercial driverless vehicles in California, stalling its Bay Area rollout 1.
  • President Trump announced a completed US-UK bilateral trade agreement; terms have not been disclosed 2.
  • Trump will meet EU officials Sunday to discuss a potential US-EU trade deal; outcome uncertain 2.
  • Galaxy Digital executed a $9 billion sale of 80,000 bitcoin for a long-term holder, one of the largest such transactions 3.
  • Bitcoin fell only 1–3% intraday on the news, trading near $117,000, indicating strong market absorption 3.
  • Meta hired OpenAI veteran Shengjia Zhao as chief scientist for its new Superintelligence Labs, focusing on advanced AI models 4.
  • Trump criticized European immigration and wind energy policies during his UK visit 5.

Commentary

Tesla ’s planned robotaxi rollout in California has been halted by state regulators, limiting the service to internal use and invited guests 1. The lack of required permits and regulatory pushback introduces further uncertainty for Tesla ’s autonomous vehicle ambitions in a key US market, which may weigh on sentiment for both Tesla and the broader autonomous vehicle sector in upcoming sessions 1.

On the trade front, President Trump’s announcement of a finalized US-UK trade deal is a notable development, but the absence of details limits immediate market impact 2. Attention now shifts to Sunday’s US-EU trade discussions, which could introduce headline risk for USD, GBP, and EUR pairs, as well as for sectors sensitive to transatlantic trade policy 2.

In crypto, Galaxy Digital ’s execution of a $9 billion bitcoin sale for a long-term holder was absorbed with minimal price disruption, underscoring robust liquidity and institutional participation in the market 3. This resilience may support continued institutional interest in digital assets 3.

Meta’s recruitment of Shengjia Zhao, a key AI researcher from OpenAI, highlights the ongoing competition among US tech giants for AI talent and leadership in advanced model development 4. While not an immediate market mover, it signals continued investment and focus on AI innovation among mega-cap tech 4.

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