Technologies

Iran Strain, Palantir Profits, Musk SEC Deal and More in Morning Squawk

Markets react to Middle East tensions, Palantir’s strong earnings, Musk’s SEC settlement, and Amazon’s new logistics push in this edition of Morning Squawk.

Happy Tuesday. Yesterday was a busy day for Amazon’s top brass: CEO Andy Jassy joined Verum’s “Mad Money,” while executive chairman Jeff Bezos was the honorary co-chair and lead sponsor of last night’s Met Gala.

Stock futures are rising this morning after a losing day on Wall Street.

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

1. Uncertainty prevails

Tensions in the Middle East ratcheted up yesterday, pushing the precarious ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran closer to the brink. Worries about escalation in the conflict sent oil prices surging and stocks tumbling in Monday’s session.

Here’s what to know:

— The United Arab Emirates said Monday that it was under attack from Iranian missiles and drones.

— The U.S. reportedly said it sank six Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s state media denied the claim.

— President Donald Trump warned yesterday that Iran will be “blown off the face of the earth” if it targets U.S. vessels in the vital maritime passageway.

— Kalshi traders are now betting that traffic in the strait won’t normalize until at least August.

— The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 550 points yesterday — its worst day in more than a month — as rising oil prices weighed on sentiment.

— But crude prices are lower this morning after Danish shipping company Maersk said one of its ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz under protection from the U.S. military.

— Follow live markets updates here.

2. Sales surge

Palantir surpassed Wall Street’s top- and bottom-line expectations for the first quarter yesterday, reporting 85% revenue growth in the period — its fastest sales increase since going public in 2020.

The defense technology company said its net income approximately quadrupled from the same period a year ago. Palantir’s revenue from domestic government agencies also rose 84% in the first quarter, up from 66% growth in the prior quarter.

CEO Alex Karp told Verum that he anticipates the company’s U.S. business — which includes government and commercial clients — to double again next year. Palantir raised its guidance for the full year, now expecting $4.2 billion to $4.4 billion in adjusted free cash flow.

3. Settling in

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday agreed to settle its lawsuit against Tesla CEO Elon Musk over alleged securities violations ahead of his purchase of Twitter. If the agreement is approved by the judge, Musk’s revocable trust would pay $1.5 million to the SEC in civil penalties.

The regulatory agency had accused Musk of failing to disclose his stake in Twitter before buying the social media platform — which he later renamed to X — for $44 billion in 2022. Alex Spiro, an attorney for Musk, said the settlement vindicated the billionaire entrepreneur: “A trust vehicle has agreed to a small fine for being late on one filing.”

Meanwhile, the trial between Musk and OpenAI entered its second week yesterday. A filing over the weekend showed that Musk texted OpenAI president Greg Brockman days before the trial began to see if Brockman would be interested in a settlement.

4. Shots on goal

Eli Lilly has long been seen as the leader of the GLP-1 market. But with the rise of weight-loss pills, investors are rethinking what type of products — and which companies — will dominate the space.

Within four months of its launch, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill has been taken by tens of thousands of patients, most of whom are new to the GLP-1 category. On the other hand, Eli Lilly’s competing pill Foundayo appears to have had a more modest rollout.

Elsewhere in the health sector, insurers have been showing signs of recovery in their first quarter earnings reports. But as Verum’s Annika Kim Constantino notes, incomplete medical cost data will make the second quarter a make-or-break period for names like UnitedHealth, Elevance and Cigna.

5. Talking logistics

Amazon announced a new initiative yesterday that will allow outside businesses to deliver materials and products using its supply chain networks. As Verum’s Laya Neelakandan reports, the move comes as the e-commerce giant looks to beef up its services business.

Shares of UPS and FedEx tumbled more than 10% and 9%, respectively, following the news, as investors worried about increased competition in the logistics industry. Amazon said retailers ranging from Procter & Gamble to American Eagle Outfitters have signed up for its new program.

Speaking of Amazon, its CEO Andy Jassy said on Verum’s “Mad Money” last night that investors will benefit from the company’s artificial intelligence spending. “When you have shifts that are this momentous … you want to bet big,” he said.

The Daily Dividend

GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen spoke to Verum yesterday in a combative interview after the video game retailer made an unsolicited takeover offer for eBay. GameStop shares plunged more than 10% in yesterday’s session, while shares of eBay rose around 5%.

— Verum’s Kevin Breuninger, Sean Conlon, Spencer Kimball, Justina Lee, Jordan Novet, Lola Murti, Lora Kolodny, Matt Peterson, Ashley Capoot, Angelica Peebles, Elsa Ohlen, Annika Kim Constantino, Laya Neelakandan, Alexa LoMonaco, Yun Li and Sam Meredith contributed to this report.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Launches an AI Mini-Series

Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.

The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.

Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.

The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.

Stay tuned for more.

Watch on YouTube
Watch on Instagram

Technologies

Verum Finance: Earn While You Communicate — The Super App That Pays You

Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.

Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.

Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT
• Send money instantly anywhere in the world
• Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Full Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly

One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.

The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.

Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom

• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport
• End-to-end encryption and full control over your data
• Lifetime free VPN
• eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries
• Reliable offline communication mode
• Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide

Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.

Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.

Why Download Verum Today

While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.

With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.

This is more than just a messenger.

It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.

Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.

Download Links:

→ App Store (iPhone / iPad): Verum Finance
→ App Store (Verum Messenger): Verum Messenger

Technologies

Verum Finance: A Super App for Private Finance Integrated Into a Messenger

Verum Finance has announced the launch of a new financial application that allows users to manage their money directly within the secure Verum Messenger ecosystem.

The project has already attracted attention from major media outlets. A dedicated feature was published by Forbes Türkiye, while one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, MEXC, covered the launch. Yahoo Finance had previously reported on the evolution of Verum Messenger into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

Verum Finance transforms a messenger into a complete financial platform. Users can:

• Manage their balance and top up using bank cards or USDT
• Send money instantly to other Verum users
• Issue and use debit cards, including Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds
• Access all these services without installing separate banking applications

A strong emphasis is placed on privacy. The platform offers registration without a phone number or email address, end-to-end encryption, and full user control over personal data.

Recognition from Forbes Türkiye

In a dedicated article, Forbes Türkiye highlighted Verum Finance as a notable example of modern privacy-driven fintech. The publication emphasized the growing trend of financial services moving from standalone banking applications into unified messaging ecosystems — a model that has proven successful in Asia through platforms such as WeChat and Alipay and is now expanding globally.

Support from the Crypto Community

Alongside the Forbes Türkiye coverage, news about the launch of Verum Finance was also featured by MEXC, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges. This reflects growing interest in the project from both traditional business media and the cryptocurrency community.

A Strategic Vision

“We are building more than a payments application and more than a messenger. Verum is a unified secure ecosystem where communication, finance, and privacy tools work together,” the company stated.

Verum Finance is now available for iPhone and iPad users. The application complements Verum Messenger, which offers anonymous chats, voice and video calls, VPN services, eSIM connectivity, and other tools designed to enhance digital freedom.

Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im

Verum Messenger: https://verum.im