Good morning, you're tuned in to Markets Desk.
The Pentagon has a logistics problem brewing. The US Space Force is scrambling to adapt as SpaceX phases out its workhorse Falcon nine rocket in favor of the far larger Starship system. The Space Force has signaled openness to Starship eventually, but the transition timeline is creating real operational uncertainty for government launch contracts.
Shifting to defense technology, Palantir is drawing serious scrutiny after a senior executive confirmed to Reuters that the company has no kill switch to disable NATO's military AI software. That disclosure lands just days after an already alarming slowdown in Starlink service raised fresh questions about the reliability of commercial tech infrastructure underpinning allied defense systems. The combination is unsettling for European military planners and investors watching Palantir's government contract exposure closely.
And in the commodities pits, corn futures are extending a modest bounce into Thursday morning trade, up one to two cents, holding gains from Wednesday's close despite headwinds from a softer wheat complex. Cotton is moving the other direction, slipping forty-seven to sixty-two points after posting solid gains Wednesday, with crude oil offering little support on the session.
That's the tape. Markets Desk, signing off the floor.
