Market Trends 26 July 2025 - 12 February 2026

Willow Lane II Quiet. SPAC Deadline Stands Out
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Willow Lane II Quiet. SPAC Deadline Stands Out

Willow Lane Acquisition Corp. II shares sat near flat before the open Tuesday, with investors looking past the price and watching the company's cash and timeline for a deal. WLII last traded at $10.1801, up 0.3% from its previous close. That’s important for Willow Lane II, a SPAC. SPACs, or special purpose acquisition companies, go public as cash shells, raising funds before they name a merger target. The share price usually sticks close to the cash in trust up to the point when a deal shows up, terms come out or holders vote.
June 2, 2026
Lithium price ticks up in China; Albemarle, SQM climb as earnings near
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Lithium price ticks up in China; Albemarle, SQM climb as earnings near

New York, Feb 11, 2026, 12:52 PM EST — Regular session U.S.-listed lithium stocks climbed Wednesday, buoyed by stronger prices in China that drew buyers back into a sector hoping its rebound has legs. Albemarle rose 3.2% to $174.02, Chile’s SQM added 5.8% to $74.36, and Sigma Lithium surged 13.2% to $13.12. Meanwhile, Lithium Americas edged down 1.5% to $4.67.
February 11, 2026
Ethereum price tumbles, but NFT museums and creator royalties are creeping back into the story
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Ethereum price tumbles, but NFT museums and creator royalties are creeping back into the story

Ether dropped roughly 3% on Wednesday, slipping to about $1,946. Bitcoin mirrored the decline, dipping close to $66,828 during early trading in New York. This move is significant as crypto seeks solid ground following a steep selloff and ongoing ETF withdrawals. These exchange-traded funds allow investors to gain crypto exposure without owning the tokens themselves.
February 11, 2026
Memory chip prices could nearly double this quarter as TrendForce lifts DRAM forecast to 95%
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Memory chip prices could nearly double this quarter as TrendForce lifts DRAM forecast to 95%

Market researcher TrendForce on Monday sharply increased its forecast for memory chip prices, now predicting a 90% to 95% jump in conventional DRAM contract prices in Q1 compared to the prior quarter. This is a big step up from its earlier estimate of a 55% to 60% rise. The firm cited “persistent AI and data center demands” as key drivers that are intensifying supply shortages and strengthening suppliers’ pricing power. DRAM, or dynamic random access memory, serves as the primary working memory in PCs and servers. Contract prices refer to the rates that major buyers settle on with chipmakers in supply agreements, usually adjusted during periodic negotiations.
February 2, 2026
Average smartphone price tops $400 for the first time as premium phones lift revenue
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Average smartphone price tops $400 for the first time as premium phones lift revenue

For the first time ever, global shoppers shelled out an average of $402 for a smartphone in Q4 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. That’s a jump from $350 just three months earlier. Meanwhile, worldwide smartphone revenue hit an all-time high of $135 billion, marking a 7% increase year-over-year, even though shipments only rose 4%. “The premiumization trend remained the key driver,” said Shilpi Jain, highlighting how consumers are opting for pricier models. Unit growth remains slim, making this shift significant. Vendors are betting on higher-end phones — with extra storage, memory, and improved cameras — to boost revenue, while rising component costs are driving prices up, too. Counterpoint’s ASP figures reflect wholesale prices, not the final consumer cost at checkout.
February 1, 2026
Brace for pricier smartphones: memory chip crunch squeezes 2026 launches
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Brace for pricier smartphones: memory chip crunch squeezes 2026 launches

Smartphone production is set to drop 7% in 2026 as brands hike prices to counteract tightening memory supplies, according to market researcher TrendForce on Thursday. The company noted that price increases on recently launched models will begin to impact production starting in the second quarter. It also flagged that some top brands are carrying higher finished-goods inventory following shipment delays in late 2025. TrendForce downgraded its forecast from a 2% decline projected in November, pointing to softer demand and steadily rising memory costs. This forecast is crucial since memory and storage chips are central to today’s smartphones, and price fluctuations can rapidly wipe out the slim margins in mid-range devices. When costs spike, phone manufacturers often have to make tough
January 16, 2026
Smartphone Prices Could Rise Nearly 7% in 2026 as AI Memory Shortage Forces Shipment Cuts, New Forecasts Warn (Dec. 17, 2025)
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Smartphone Prices Could Rise Nearly 7% in 2026 as AI Memory Shortage Forces Shipment Cuts, New Forecasts Warn (Dec. 17, 2025)

The global smartphone market is heading toward a rare double hit in 2026: fewer devices shipped and higher prices. New forecasts published this week point to an AI-driven memory crunch that’s already pushing up component costs—especially for budget phones. A wave of new research and reporting is converging on the same warning for consumers and phone makers: 2026 could be a more expensive year to buy a smartphone, with fewer low-cost options on shelves.
December 17, 2025
Apple iPhone 17 Drives Record 2025 Shipments as IDC Warns of Smartphone Slowdown in 2026
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Apple iPhone 17 Drives Record 2025 Shipments as IDC Warns of Smartphone Slowdown in 2026

Published: December 4, 2025 Apple’s iPhone 17 is turning what was supposed to be a sluggish year for smartphones into a record-breaking one — at least for Apple. At the same time, fresh data from research firm IDC shows storm clouds forming over the broader market in 2026, as component shortages and rising memory costs push prices higher and unit sales lower. Reuters+1
December 4, 2025
AI Boom Sparks Global Memory Chip Crisis: Samsung Hikes Prices Up to 60% and Smartphones Face a 2026 Price Shock
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AI Boom Sparks Global Memory Chip Crisis: Samsung Hikes Prices Up to 60% and Smartphones Face a 2026 Price Shock

The AI race that’s powering chatbots, image generators, and massive data centers is about to hit you in the wallet. A wave of reports over the last few days – capped by new analysis published today – paints a clear picture: a global memory chip crunch is here, and it’s set to make smartphones, PCs, and SSDs noticeably more expensive through 2026. Digital Trends+2TrendForce+2 From Samsung quietly raising memory prices by as much as 60%, to smartphone brands freezing RAM orders, to PC makers panic‑buying modules for 2026, every part of the supply chain is feeling the squeeze. Reuters+2Tom's Hardware+2
November 17, 2025
Bitcoin Near $120K, Altcoins Soar as New Crypto Law Sparks Market Frenzy – July 27–28, 2025 Crypto Roundup
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Bitcoin Near $120K, Altcoins Soar as New Crypto Law Sparks Market Frenzy – July 27–28, 2025 Crypto Roundup

The crypto world saw surging markets and landmark regulatory moves over the past two days. From Bitcoin’s price flirting with record highs to major laws passed in the U.S. and beyond, the July 27–28 period brought a flurry of significant developments. Below is a comprehensive roundup of the key news, including global regulatory updates, market trends, project milestones, security incidents, and expert insights from credible sources. United States – First Federal Crypto Laws: In a historic step, President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law – the first major U.S. federal legislation on cryptocurrency cbsnews.com cbsnews.com. The GENIUS Act establishes strict guardrails for stablecoin issuers, requiring 1:1 backing with dollars or Treasuries and banning interest on regulated stablecoins reuters.com
July 28, 2025
Crypto Whales, ETF Hype and Hacks – Late July 2025 News Roundup
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Crypto Whales, ETF Hype and Hacks – Late July 2025 News Roundup

Bitcoin’s rollercoaster continues, Ethereum attracts record inflows, and altcoins whipsaw amid breaking news in crypto. Over July 26–27, 2025, crypto markets digested a whale-sized Bitcoin sale, sharp altcoin swings, and fresh all-time highs. Regulators from Washington to Hong Kong advanced major crypto laws, while DeFi showed signs of life with NFTs rebounding strongly. A high-profile exchange hack kept security top-of-mind, even as institutions doubled down on crypto – from ETF optimism to billion-dollar fund launches. Below is a comprehensive roundup of the weekend’s most significant crypto developments, spanning prices, policy, DeFi/NFTs, exchange updates, hacks, expert insights, and new projects. Prominent analysts and industry figures weighed in on the week’s events, offering perspective on where the market might head next:
July 27, 2025
Bitcoin Whales Bet Big, Ethereum ETFs Shatter Records – Crypto News Roundup July 25–26, 2025
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Bitcoin Whales Bet Big, Ethereum ETFs Shatter Records – Crypto News Roundup July 25–26, 2025

Bitcoin’s rally took a breather late this week, dipping below $115,000 – its lowest in two weeks – amid fading hopes of immediate U.S. rate cuts fortune.com. Despite the pullback, bullish sentiment remains strong. In fact, an anonymous “whale” trader placed a massive $23.7 million options bet that Bitcoin will soar to $200,000 by year-end coindesk.com coindesk.com. The whale bought 3,500 December call options at a $140K strike and sold 3,500 at $200K, creating a bull call spread that caps profits above $200K but signals confidence in a six-figure BTC price coindesk.com coindesk.com. Bitcoin hit a record $123,000 on July 14 and has since consolidated in the $116K–$120K range coindesk.com. Options market activity is booming – open interest on Deribit
July 26, 2025
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