Last month, the Federal Reserve (FED) raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point pushing it to a target range of 3.75%-4.0%. Experts are anticipating at least another quarter point hike before the end of the year. The rising interest rates are meant to slow the economic growth that is driving inflation. However, slow economic growth historically works against for profit companies, causing many investors to remain sidelined in these uncertain economic times. According to Merriam - Webster, inflation is defined as “a continual rise in the general price level of goods and services.” This is usually attributed to an increase in the volume of money and credit relative to available goods and services. In July 2022, the inflation rate in the U.S. was 8.5%. That means that the costs of goods rose by an average of 8.5% year- over-year. One of the Fed’s primary functions is to maintain a low inflation rate and unemployment rate in the U.S. which it does by controlling interest rates or the federal funds rate. By increasing the federal funds rate, the Fed makes it more expensive for banks, and therefore consumers and businesses, to borrow money. Businesses may pull back on borrowing and investing, which means consumers and businesses would start spending less and eventually bring demand back down to a level that’s commensurate with supply. When consumers spend less, businesses tend to produce less. This typically results in businesses hiring less or laying off employees, which could lead to a recession. One of the major markets affected by the rising rates is the housing market. Higher interest rates make borrowing costs more expensive. A quarter point increase in interest rates typically raises monthly mortgage payments and increases the total interest paid over the life of the loan. A quarter point will increase your monthly mortgage payment by $17 per $100,000 borrowed every month. So if you borrow $500,000.00 to buy a home, (multiply 17x5), your monthly mortgage payment will increase by $85 each month for a quarter point interest rate increase. That equates to $1020.00 increased interest paid over a year. The increase in payment makes home buying difficult especially to individuals working within a specific budget, making investing in homes less attractive. Government bonds, also known as Treasury Bonds, or T-bonds, are issued and backed by the Federal government. When an individual buys a bond, they are essentially loaning money to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Repayment of the bond is made with interest, and paid out every six months, until the bond matures. Interest rates can impact the bond market. Rising interest rates offer investors the chance to earn higher yields on fixed income investments. Bond prices have an inverse relationship with interest rates. When interest rates increase, the prices of existing bonds drop. This can negatively affect existing bondholder’s portfolios. Longer term bonds are more significantly impacted by interest rates. Bonds with a longer duration pay a fixed amount of interest regardless of ongoing market trends. Therefore, when interest rates increase, these bonds can decrease in value more sharply. Shorter-term bonds that are maturing sooner experience less price volatility as interest rates fluctuate. Conversely, if interest rates fall, longer-term bonds tend to be much more appealing and can increase in value more significantly than shorter-term bonds. It is always possible to lose money when investing, but the chance of that happening with a government bond is close to zero . Historically, the U.S. has an excellent record of repaying bonds. However, since the risk in bond investment is low, so is the payout. Returns on government bonds tend to be lower when compared to stocks, exchange traded funds (ETF’s) and mutual funds. Over the past century, returns on the stock market have averaged about 10%. As of August 2026, interest rates on a 20 or 30 year Treasury bond is 5%. Bottom line, no investment is ever 100% risk-free, but government bonds are about as safe as it gets. They're backed by the full faith of the U.S. government. Gains tend to lag behind riskier investment, but government bonds can help diversify your portfolio and provide reliable returns. Tickers to consider: PPCB , ATLX , BMNR , GLND , SOAR , FLYX , SCNX Sylva Disclaimer: https://www.sylvacap.com/disclaimer

The Federal Reserve (FED) will have its quarterly meeting on September 16, 2026. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will determine its next move. However, that next move has been a topic of uncertainty for the past few weeks. Will they raise the rates, will they keep the rates at the current level, or will they cut the rates? The FOMC is unusually divided. At the July 29 meeting, the committee voted 9-3 to hold rates at 3.50%-3.75%. The dissenting votes came from the presidents of the regional Fed Banks in Dallas, Minneapolis, and Cleveland. All three pushed for a rate hike, not a cut. This is a significant change from the Fed’s 2025 focus on when would be the right time to lower rates. It might be a close call, but predictions are indicating that the “powers that be” will raise the federal fund rate for the first time in more than three years. This “about face” move from the Fed would be focused on inflation, which is still above the 2% target that the Fed desires. In a nutshell, the message behind a rate increase would blame inflation forcing the Fed’s hand. The new statement will likely continue to call growth “solid” and describe the labor market as little changed after the rebound in August payrolls. Its inflation warning will be amplified. The pledge to restore price stability will stay. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the U.S. economy is projected to add 5.9 million jobs from 2025 - 2035. A Fed rate hike can lead to higher borrowing costs, which may slow down business investments and consumer spending. Lower consumer spending can lead to a decreased demand for goods and services. This could potentially result in slower job growth and even job losses in certain industries. The investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been driving the economy. The United States appears to be “all in” when it comes to investing in AI. According to the White House’s AI Action Plan, “Whoever has the largest AI ecosystem will set the global standards and reap broad economic and security benefits…our Nation will win, ushering in a new Golden Age of innovation, human flourishing, and technological achievement for the American people.” This all sounds fine and wonderful, but this could be a driving force which causes the Fed to increase rates on September 16, 2026. According to Ed Yardeni, President of Yardeni Research, the AI buildout “has created an insatiable demand for capital.” Jobs in AI-related fields are growing, as are those in the construction and manufacturing sectors, as new data centers get built. Yardeni projects that in the long run, AI-related fields should deliver disinflationary productivity growth, keeping the economy thriving. However, in the present, the AI boom seems to be fueling the Fed’s hard line to control inflation by slowing down economic growth through interest rate hikes. A Fed rate hike can increase the cost of capital, creating roadblocks by making it more expensive for companies to finance their investments in AI. This could slow down the rapid growth in AI -related spending, as higher interest rates typically diminish investment in capital intensive projects. How will a Fed rate hold affect inflation? A Fed rate hold keeps borrowing costs steady. This can maintain current inflation levels. Should the Fed hold the rate, this could be indicative that the Fed is focusing on price stability above employment support. A Fed rate hold can also impact the Labor market. A Fed rate hold can lead to stabilizing borrowing costs. This in turn can boost business investment and encourage hiring, leading to job growth. However, an unchanged rate for an extended period of time could indicate economic stagnation. This would negatively affect the Labor market. A rate hold by the Fed can both support and temper the AI capex boom. Keeping interest rates steady, helps maintain elevated financing costs for data center construction and equipment. This can encourage companies to lock in their investments at current rates before risking future rate increases. At the same time, holding the rate can slow down investment in AI. Companies may be cautious about taking on new projects if borrowing costs are high. This could lead to a decrease in the pace of AI growth. It is unlikely that the Fed will cut the rate on September 16, 2026. A rate cut would likely boost consumer spending potentially leading to a rise in inflation, which the Fed is adamantly opposed to. A cut could also reduce borrowing costs, which would encourage business spending and investments. This could result in an increase in both the labor market, creating more jobs, and in AI investment spending. There might be strong indicators one way or the other to predict the course the Fed will take on September 16th. It would be nice to have a crystal ball. In the end, only time will tell what the Fed will decide to do, and whether its decision will have a positive or negative impact on the economy. Tickers to consider: JTAI, PPCB, ATLX, BMNR, GLND, SOAR, FLYX Sylva Disclaimer: https://www.sylvacap.com/disclaimer

Investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly boosted economic growth, particularly in the United States. There are several factors that contribute to the surge in AI investment to AI and its impact on the economy, including capital spending, tensions between the United States and China, volatility in energy prices, geopolitical influences, and inflation. Today, AI related investments look more like an industrial buildout rather than speculative tech spending. Morgan Stanley estimates that global data construction costs could reach $2.9 trillion through 2028. This feeds directly into industrial output, power investment and services spending—providing real macro support with an expected contribution of ~25% of U.S. GDP growth this year. Significant capital spending is expected to support the development of AI infrastructure, which contributes to productivity improvements. Tensions between the United States and China are reshaping AI investment and economic growth. Samy Chaar, Partner and Chief Economist at Lombard Odier, pointed out that strategic competition between the United States and China is a powerful driver of investment. According to Chaar, “Competition leads to Capital Expenditures (Capex). Capex leads to demand. Demand leads to profits.” Both countries feel strategically vulnerable in different domains, from rare earth’s elements and energy to computing power and advanced chips. That mutual insecurity is likely to prolong the race for technological leadership – and with it, the investment cycle supporting global growth. The increasing integration of AI into the energy industry has contributed to the AI and energy markets becoming more interconnected. AI models are becoming exponentially larger, which means that more data center energy is being used to train them and to process data. This surge in energy costs is leading to higher electricity bills for consumers and influencing significant investments in data center infrastructure by major tech companies. The fluctuation in energy prices are a major concern, impacting both consumer spending and business costs. Geopolitical factors significantly impact AI development and economic growth. Events in the Middle East are significantly boosting AI investments. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are investing heavily in AI infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to reduce reliance on oil revenues by integrating AI into various sectors of the economy. UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031 focuses on embedding AI across education and healthcare. However, such forecasts remain speculative and highly uncertain. Should AI technologies impact economic development as projected, the benefit is likely to be unevenly distributed. With Saudi Arabia and UAE investing so heavily in technology, they are poised to outpace other countries in the region. The countries lagging behind are likely to be those grappling with debt and socioeconomic crises, and those vulnerable to shifting regional labor market dynamics in the region. Inflation can influence AI investment and economic growth by increasing demand for AI technologies. However, the short-term effects of AI development spending may be inflationary, as the economy experiences heightened demand before realizing productivity benefits. The overall effect on inflationary pressures will also depend on households’ and businesses’ anticipation of future gains from AI. If individuals do not fully anticipate future increases in income, they will increase today’s consumption only modestly. Demand effects could therefore lag increases in supply. In other words, AI would act as a disinflationary force in the short run. In contrast, if households anticipate future gains, they will consume more, making AI’s initial impact inflationary. Evidence from past GPTs suggest that the disinflationary scenario appears more likely. But in either scenario, the demand for capital and labour steadily increase as economic capacity expands and wages rise over time. Overall AI investments seem to be playing a crucial role in economic growth. This trend is expected to continue. AI-related expenditures are becoming a significant driver of economic expansion in the future. Tickers to consider: JTAI, PPCB , FBRX , ATLX , BMNR , GLND Sylva Disclaimer: https://www.sylvacap.com/disclaimer

A semiconductor is a material that has electric conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator, allowing it to control the flow of electrical current. They are the foundation of modern technology. They power smartphones, computers, cars, gaming devices, and servers that support Artificial Intelligence (AI). In the last few years, the price of semiconductors has gone through the roof. The increase in price cannot be attributed to one single cause, but a combination of several factors. One of the major reasons for the price hike is the rapid growth of AI. According to the research firm, Garter, global semiconductor revenue is expected to exceed $1.3 trillion in 2026. This is a 64% increase from 2025. AI-related semiconductors alone are expected to account for roughly 30% of total semiconductor revenue. According to Garter, Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) prices will rise 125% in 2026. Additionally, NAND (Not AND) flash memory is a non-volatile storage technology that retains information without a power source. NAND is commonly found in USB flash drives, memory cards, and SSD cards. These prices are expected to rise 234% in 2026. Both DRAM and NAND prices significantly affect the price of AI semiconductors. The rising costs of raw materials is also a contributing factor to the increasing semiconductor prices. Broad-based increases in the costs of precious metals, packaging materials, energy, and logistics mean most manufacturers report they can no longer absorb these expenses internally. Therefore, manufacturers have chosen to pass the costs onto the purchasers. Finally, the increase in demand for semiconductors is rapidly driving up their costs. There is a booming demand for AI data centers, which require high current and high power products. The increase in demand for chips in electric vehicles is also contributing to the surge in semiconductor prices. Industrial automation in various industries is further driving the need for semiconductor components. How is the increased demand for semiconductors and their rising prices affecting the Nasdaq? The Nasdaq, the traditional index of technological innovation, has evolved into a barometer of AI confidence. In 2025, AI companies captured 80% of all U.S. Stock Market gains. The recent rally reflects a shift in market psychology: initial uncertainty regarding the profitability of AI applications is giving way to the realization that this technology is essential for any business's survival. The market is no longer just investing in the promise of AI, but in the tangible benefits that companies are reaping from automation. On July 1, 2026, semiconductor stocks declined after a first half surge exceeding 80%. The pull back reflected investors quarter -end positioning and profit-taking rather than a change in fundamentals. The retreat concentrated in the t echnology-heavy Nasdaq Composite, which fell 0.66% to 26,040.03. However, on July 6, 2026, the Nasdaq gained 1.12% as semiconductor stocks were bouncing back. This advance indicates that market leadership remains concentrated in AI-linked technologies and semiconductor stocks. In general, the trend illustrates that there is a positive correlation between the price of semiconductors and the Nasdaq. When the price of semiconductors increases, then the Nasdaq tends to remain strong. When the price of semiconductor decreases, then the Nasdaq tends to fall. As the demand for AI increases, the indication is that the Nasdaq should remain strong. Tickers to consider: JTAI, PPCB , FBRX , ATLX , BMNR , AGPU , GLND Sylva Disclaimer: https://www.sylvacap.com/disclaimer

Economic growth, the current labor market and high interest rates significantly impact the stock market by influencing borrowing costs, consumer spending and corporate earnings. To date, the US economy has demonstrated resilience amid moderate growth and inflationary pressures. Due to business investments in areas like artificial intelligence and steady consumer spending, forecasters have projected a 2.0-2.2% growth for 2026. The growth of the US economy typically leads to increased consumer spending and business investment. This can boost corporate earnings and stock prices. Six months into 2026, the labor market remains relatively stable. However, it is showing signs of a gradual decline. In recent months, the unemployment rate has lingered around 4.3-4.5%. Healthcare, construction and certain service areas have seen positive growth. Whereas manufacturing has faced the most challenges. Typically, a robust labor market with low unemployment can increase consumer spending, which positively impacts corporate revenues and stock performance. However, current inflation, driven by energy and service costs, has thrown a wrench into the mix. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, has risen 2.6-2.8%. Elevated energy prices have contributed to this rise, thereby complicating the disinflation process. In May, the U.S. added 172,000 jobs , which is nearly twice what economists were expecting. After stalling out last year , the job market has reaccelerated in 2026 despite the economic obstacles created by the war in Iran and the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. According to data released the first week in June, the number of job openings surged to a two-year high in April.  Higher interest rates raise the cost of borrowing for both consumers and businesses. This can constrain capital investments, slow earnings growth, and reduce overall profitability, directly affecting stock prices. Higher interest rates make large purchases such as homes, vehicles and capital equipment more expensive. This lessens demand in interest-sensitive industries such as real estate, and non-essential goods and services. On June 5, 2026, stocks sold off as investors shifted their interest-rate expectations for the remainder of the year. The S&P 500 was down more than 2% in recent trading, weighed down by a roughly 4% decline for tech stocks. It wasn't just the AI rally taking a break. Some two-thirds of the stocks on the New York Stock Exchange were recently in the red. Investors should view interest rates as one factor in the entire market atmosphere. Borrowing costs, consumer spending, bond yields, tax policy, energy prices, and sector fundamentals are all influencing stock prices at the same time. A disciplined investment approach can account for that full picture rather than relying on one piece of the puzzle. Overall, the economy seems to be avoiding the recession zone. Yet persistent higher interest rates are fostering a more selective stock market. Value stocks, (stocks sold below intrinsic value) and companies with a strong balance sheet buying power and tend to fare better despite the higher interest rates. Speculative and highly leveraged companies tend to struggle under these conditions. Investors should navigate the current landscape with careful thought and intention. Tickers to consider: JTAI, PPCB , FBRX , ATLX , BMNR , AGPU , BESS, ACTU , GLND Sylva Disclaimer: https://www.sylvacap.com/disclaimer