Markets rallied on the Fed’s 25bp cut: Dow jumped nearly 500 points while the S&P 500 edged near record levels and the Nasdaq led gains in tech. Volatility slipped as liquidity injections and dovish signals buoyed cyclicals and energy — oil rallied after a tanker seizure — while AI and chip names drove sector rotation.
U.S. forces seized a tanker off Venezuela, marking a sharp escalation in Washington‑Caracas tensions. Declassified footage and official confirmations have amplified political fallout and market moves in oil and defense sectors.
25 bps — Fed cuts benchmark rate to 3.50%–3.75%.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates, but signaled a narrower path ahead amid internal dissent. Policymakers also restarted short-term Treasury purchases to ease money-market strains.
Paramount and Netflix are locked in a protracted bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, drawing investor attention and political scrutiny. Shareholder letters and strategic positioning suggest the fight will be lengthy and complex.
Adobe posts strong Q4 growth — AI adoption drives revenue beat
Adobe beat Q4 revenue forecasts as enterprise clients accelerate use of its AI tools, lifting guidance and validating recurring‑revenue strength across Digital Media and Experience segments.
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SpaceX is moving toward an IPO that could reshape public markets and reward early investors. Analysts flag massive valuation upside — and big payoffs for corporate backers like Google.
The White House relaxed controls on Nvidia H200 chip exports, reopening China markets and prompting big tech buyers to circle. Chinese companies are already probing orders, testing the limits of U.S. export strategy.
Oracle shares tumble as AI spending outpaces returns
Oracle’s stock slid after the company missed key expectations and warned of sharply higher AI capital expenditure, raising funding and execution concerns around its cloud push.
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Oracle’s quarterly results and rising AI capital spending unnerved investors, sparking a sharp stock selloff. Analysts question whether capex plans and financing choices can deliver expected AI returns.
China is doubling down on cheap power and infrastructure to anchor an AI and chip manufacturing push. That strategy is drawing renewed U.S. investment into select Chinese AI firms despite geopolitical friction.
Major policy moves: Fed resumes T‑bill purchases to stabilize money markets and cut rates; U.S. proposes five‑year social‑media checks for visa‑free visitors; Mexico greenlights higher tariffs on select Asian imports.
President Trump intensified pressure on the Warner Bros. sale, publicly demanding CNN be divested. His intervention raises regulatory and political hurdles for bidders and the deal’s timeline.
Hong Kong’s IPO market continues to swell with major listings, while the territory’s monetary authority eases policy in step with global moves. Listings and policy shifts are reshaping capital flows in Asia.
There’s been a ‘systematic overcount’ in payroll numbers that will be corrected.
— Jerome Powell
Coca‑Cola unveiled a management succession, naming Henrique Braun to take over as CEO. Investors and competitors are watching for strategic shifts as the beverage giant navigates soft demand.
Kyiv sent a fresh, detailed plan to the U.S. for ending the war, while sharing responses that parse the latest American proposals. Diplomacy and reconstruction discussions are intensifying as political actors press for solutions.
Congress pushed through a massive defense package as Speaker Mike Johnson navigated internal GOP dissent. The bill includes troop pay raises and procurement reforms, clearing a key legislative hurdle.
The U.S. is proposing social‑media checks for visa‑free visitors, sparking privacy and diplomatic debates. Customs and Border Protection’s plan would require multi‑year histories for many tourists, prompting legal scrutiny.
Markets and policymakers are watching Japan for a pivot in policy as economists forecast BOJ hikes. Strong demand at long‑dated debt auctions signals improving appetite for Japanese government paper.
Major consumer platforms and retailers faced fresh data‑security headaches this week. Executive departures and emergency takedowns have pressured operations and customer trust in Asia and the U.S.
China showcased new naval capabilities while regional airspace tensions spiked after joint Russian‑Chinese bomber sorties. The moves have raised alarms in Tokyo and Seoul and sparked defense planning talks.
Global markets cheered the Fed cut but digested mixed signals on future easing, lifting U.S. indices and Hong Kong stocks. Risk appetite rose for cyclicals even as safe‑haven flows boosted commodities and energy.