Europe’s markets and politics jolted into motion as a dramatic US intervention in Venezuela rippled across global finance and diplomacy.

London stocks pushed toward historic highs amid a rush into defence and gold, while regulators intensified scrutiny of AI abuses and leaders from Copenhagen to Budapest warned of far-reaching consequences.

From energy prices to Arctic security, the continent is grappling with a fast-shifting geopolitical landscape that shows little sign of cooling.

FTSE 100 bears 10,000 as Venezuela crisis lifts defence stock

London’s blue-chip index climbed to the brink of 10,000 on Monday as geopolitical tensions from the US capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro sent traders scrambling for safety.

Gold miners like Endeavour Mining and Fresnillo jumped over 4%, while defence heavyweights BAE Systems surged 4.5% and Babcock hit all-time highs.

The precious metals rally reflected classic risk-off positioning, investors piling into haven assets as headlines turned dark.

Gold futures shot up 2.6% to $4,443 per ounce, while oil initially dipped as markets weighed longer-term Venezuelan supply implications.

The overall reaction suggests measured concern rather than panic.

UK regulator demands answers from Elon Musk’s Grok

Britain’s media watchdog Ofcom issued urgent demands to X and xAI on Sunday, seeking explanations for how Grok generated sexually explicit imagery of children and undressed photos of real people without consent.

The controversy erupted after the AI chatbot’s December feature enabled users to digitally remove clothing from images, a capability swiftly weaponised across the platform.

Grok acknowledged “lapses in safeguards” but stopped short of a genuine apology.

The backlash has turned international: France reported the content to prosecutors, India demanded corrective action within 72 hours, and the EU called the material “illegal.”

Creating or distributing such deepfakes violates UK law, and platforms face legal liability for failing to prevent distribution.

Elon Musk’s deflection only intensified scrutiny.

Denmark PM warns Trump’s Greenland threat is genuine

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued an urgent statement Sunday, asserting that President Trump genuinely intends to seize Greenland, this time backed by military muscle after capturing Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.

“It makes absolutely no sense,” Frederiksen declared on Facebook, demanding Washington cease “threatening a historical ally.”

Her warning came hours after Trump doubled down aboard Air Force One, citing national security and claiming Denmark couldn’t handle Arctic defence.

Greenland’s PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen fired back, calling Trump’s rhetoric “disrespectful” and firmly rejecting annexation fantasies, though notably open to dialogue through “proper channels.”

Orban sees energy windfall as Venezuela coup stabilises oil

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban praised the US military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday, framing it as an energy policy masterstroke for global markets.

Speaking at Budapest’s annual international press conference, Orban argued that Washington and Caracas combined would control 40-50% of world oil reserves, sufficient to significantly depress energy prices.

For Hungary, perpetually dependent on Russian oil and gas, cheaper global crude translates directly into relief on energy bills ahead of April elections, where inflation has battered its poll numbers.

Orban has secured a one-year Trump exemption from US sanctions on Russian energy imports, but lower global prices would provide additional relief.

His calculation: Trump needs cheaper energy to fund his economic agenda, and Venezuela’s integration into the Western orbit could deliver it.

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Markets lurched across energy, tech, and geopolitics as Washington injected fresh volatility into global trade and supply chains.

Trump’s vow to reopen Venezuela’s oil fields sent US refiners and Chevron surging, while tariff threats against India rattled emerging-market confidence.

In tech, Nvidia faces a defining moment at CES amid rising custom-chip competition, as Samsung deepens its all-in bet on Google’s Gemini.

Power, policy, and platforms collided in a high-stakes start to the week.

Chevron, US refiners soar as Trump promises Venezuela oil access

Energy stocks exploded higher Monday as President Trump pledged unfettered American access to Venezuela’s oil fields following Nicolás Maduro’s capture.

Chevron, the lone US major still operating in Venezuela, jumped 7.3%, while refiners Marathon Petroleum, Valero Energy, Phillips 66, and PBF Energy surged 5-16%.

Trump declared on Air Force One that US oil companies would “spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure,” implying sanctions relief was coming.

The math is compelling: Venezuelan heavy crude aligns perfectly with Gulf Coast refinery configurations, and diesel shortages from Russian and Venezuelan sanctions have created acute demand.

However, analysts cautioned that actual production revival requires massive investment and faces political uncertainty. Venezuela pumped just 1.1 million barrels daily last year versus its historical 3.5 million peak.

Nvidia CEO Huang faces rivals at CES as competition intensifies

Jensen Huang takes the stage at CES Las Vegas on Monday, the tech world’s biggest showcase, as Nvidia’s AI fortress faces its fiercest assault yet from hyperscalers building custom silicon.

Google and Meta are hemorrhaging vast sums into proprietary chips to chip away at Nvidia’s 80%+ data center dominance, with Alphabet’s TPUs and Meta’s Trainium competing on cost and performance per watt.

AMD’s Lisa Su, presenting Monday evening, is positioning her MI300 series as a viable alternative, though still light-years behind Blackwell in real-world deployments.

To complicate matters, Nvidia just acquired Groq’s engineering talent and technology last month, itself a Google spin-off that built blazingly fast inference chips.

The irony stings: Huang must prove Nvidia’s next-generation accelerators beyond Blackwell outpace customer-built silicon, without alienating hyperscalers who are simultaneously funding competitors.

Samsung doubles down on Google Gemini

Samsung’s new co-CEO T.M. Roh declared Monday that the company will double its Gemini-powered devices to 800 million units this year, expanding from 400 million in 2025.

The aggressive push reflects Samsung’s desperation to reclaim the smartphone crown from Apple while fending off Chinese rivals across phones, TVs, and smart home products.

“We will apply AI to all products, all functions, and all services as quickly as possible,” Roh told Reuters in his first interview since November.

The strategy massively benefits Google, which locked in Alphabet’s latest Gemini 3 model against OpenAI’s GPT-5.2 in a fierce developer war.

Consumer awareness of Galaxy AI jumped from 30% to 80% in just one year, validating Samsung’s ecosystem bet.

Trump escalates tariff threats on India

US President Trump ratcheted up pressure on India Monday, warning of “very quick” tariff hikes if New Delhi doesn’t halt its Russian oil imports, claiming PM Narendra Modi personally assured him the cuts were coming.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said Modi “knew I was not happy” and wanted to “make me happy,” framing energy trade as a quid pro quo for tariff relief.

India’s IT stocks plummeted 2.5% on the threat, with exports already hit by a 50% US tariff split evenly between retaliation for Russian oil and other trade demands.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham backed legislation imposing 500% tariffs on Russian oil importers unless Moscow agrees to ceasefire terms.

Yet India refuses capitulation: despite heavy sanctions on Russian suppliers Rosneft and Lukoil, refiners continue buying from non-sanctioned entities, keeping imports at 1.6 million barrels daily.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged more than 800 points, or roughly 1.7%, to breach an all-time record above 49,000 on Monday.

The historic rally came as Wall Street assessed the US military’s weekend capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a contained geopolitical event unlikely to spark global instability.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq climbed 0.8% each as investors rotated aggressively into energy, financials, and defense stocks.

The move signals confidence that markets can compartmentalise the Venezuela operation without triggering broader economic spillover.​

Energy and financials lead broad market rally

The catalyst was unmistakable: Chevron, the only major US oil firm still operating in Venezuela, rocketed 6% in midday trading.

The other energy services like Schlumberger surged 8% and ConocoPhillips jumped 7% on speculation about reconstruction contracts and asset recovery.

Financial stocks equally participated, with Goldman Sachs climbing 4% and JPMorgan Chase posting solid gains as traders positioned for a potentially less constrained capital market.​

More broadly, the Russell 2000 small-cap index outperformed, rising 1.04% at market open and extending gains throughout the session.

The energy sector emerged as the clear winner: Halliburton, Schlumberger, SLB, Valero Energy, Baker Hughes, and other oilfield services companies each gained 8% or more.

Even refiners like PBF Energy, which specialise in Venezuelan heavy crude, advanced 5.2%.​

Yet the broader equity rally suggests the market sees far more than just energy upside.

Copper futures jumped alongside gold, which surged 2% to near $4,440 per ounce, and silver exploded 7% higher.

These moves signal investors are hedging against longer-term geopolitical risk while simultaneously bidding up stocks, a classic “risk-on” positioning that reflects confidence in near-term containment.​

Technologically, growth names also participated.

Tesla rallied 4%, joining the broader market’s climb as traders favoured a rotation back into higher-beta names, assuming that geopolitical tension will remain localised.

Intel jumped 6.7% on chip sector strength, extending the semiconductor gains carried from January 2.​

US markets: Contained risk, no systemic threat

The muted Treasury yield response underscored investor discipline.

The 10-year yield dipped just two basis points to 4.17%, while the 2-year held at 3.46%, indicating that traders do not price in inflation spirals or forced Fed action as a result of the Venezuela operation.

Oil itself behaved unexpectedly: WTI crude rose 0.82% to $57.79 per barrel, and Brent gained 0.67% to $61.16, both recovering from early-session declines as traders parsed supply dynamics.​

Oil prices remain the key barometer: any signal that Venezuela’s production recovery is accelerating faster than consensus could prompt equity rotation back into defensives and high-yield names.

Central bank commentary from the Fed and ECB this week will matter equally, as interest rates ultimately drive valuations far more than a single geopolitical event.

The investors are betting that the Venezuela operation will succeed in stabilising the region and opening energy assets to American capital.

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Rolls-Royce share price started the year well, rising by over 4% on Friday and moving to a record high of 1,197p. It has now soared by 17.45% from its lowest level in November last year and by 115% from its April lows. This article provides a forecast for the stock this year and what to expect.

Rolls-Royce share price surges amid strong fundamentals 

The RR stock price has jumped as its fundamentals improve across the board. Its defence business is set to benefit from the new geopolitical events after Donald Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro during the weekend.

The attack could lead to more defense spending as investors anticipate more geopolitical issues in Europe, North America, and the Asian region. For example, China could be emboldened to invade Taiwan, while Russia may consider more regional attacks. There is also fear that Trump may attack Greenland and Cuba soon.

Rolls-Royce Holdings is one of the biggest players in the defense industry in Europe, where it makes propulsion systems, aircraft engines, submarines, and other land equipment.

The company will also benefit from the ongoing demand for power equipment amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom in the United States and other countries. Indeed, the company is now building power solutions that will come online, possibly in 2027 or 2028. The products will help companies in the data center industry ensure continuity in case of power outages.

Most importantly, Rolls-Royce’s civil aviation industry is doing well as demand for its engines and flying hours jumps. Companies like Airbus and Boeing are expected to deliver more jets this year, which will benefit the company since it is a major engine supplier.

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has become a big player in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) industry, which is expected to keep growing as countries and companies invest in nuclear power. Some American SMR companies with little experience in the nuclear industry, like NuScale and Oklo have already received a multi-high valuation as their R&D continues.

Analysts are bullish on Rolls-Royce 

Some analysts tracking the company are bullish on it and are expecting it to keep rising, helped by its strong fundamentals. JPMorgan analysts believe that the stock has more upside to 1,245p, up by 17% from the current level. 

Analysts note that Rolls-Royce has become a momentum company with a combination of strong fundamentals, including strong revenue growth and profit margin expansion.

The most recent results showed that the company’s business is on track to hit the management’s targets, and odds are that it will surpass them. 

In a statement, the CEO, Tufan Erginbilgic, said that the company will make between £3.1 billion and £3.2 billion in operating profit and between £3.0 billion and £3.1 billion in free cash flow. These numbers will be much better than what it made in 2024, when its revenue rose to £17.8 billion, and its operating profit moved to £2.4 billion.

Rolls-Royce stock price technical analysis 

The daily timeframe chart shows that the Rolls-Royce stock price has rebounded in the past few weeks, moving from a low of 1,019p on November 25 to the current 1,197p. 

It has jumped above the key resistance level at 1,192p, the highest point on September 29, and the neckline of the inverted head-and-shoulders pattern. 

The stock remains slightly above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA), while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the MACD indicators have continued rising.

It also remains above the Supertrend indicator, a sign that bulls remain in control for now. Therefore, the stock will likely continue rising as bulls target the next important resistance level at 1,200p. 

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The IRS has quietly handed most American workers a modest tax break starting this month, but fewer are likely aware of it.

Inflation adjustments and changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have lifted 2026 tax brackets and the standard deduction, meaning many taxpayers could keep slightly more of each paycheck.

But, here’s the catch: whether you actually benefit depends entirely on updating your tax withholding, and most people won’t do that until April.​

What changed for American taxpayers: Brackets rise, but rates stay put

The seven federal income tax rates, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%, remain unchanged.

What moved are the income thresholds where you enter each bracket.

Single filers now enter the 12% bracket at $12,400 instead of $11,925. Married couples filing jointly move into that bracket at $24,800 instead of $23,850.

The top 37% bracket for single filers begins at $640,600, up from $626,350.​

For most workers, the real story is the standard deduction.

Single filers get $16,100 in 2026, a $350 bump from 2025. Married couples filing jointly claim $32,200, also up $350 from 2025.

Heads of household get $24,150. That additional deduction means more of your income escapes taxation before the IRS calculates what you owe.​

The IRS is essentially using inflation adjustments, roughly 2.7% across all brackets, to prevent “bracket creep,” a phenomenon where wage growth pushes you into higher tax brackets even though your purchasing power hasn’t budged.

It’s a fairness mechanism that’s been automatic since 1985, but most people don’t notice it because the math happens silently at the agency level.​

The bigger legislative change came through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed late last year.

That law made permanent the increased standard deduction and the permanent elimination of personal exemptions.

It also introduced new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and car-loan interest, provisions that now appear on the redesigned 2026 Form W-4.​

Practical impact: Check your withholding now

Here’s where Americans typically stumble.

The IRS can’t adjust your paychecks automatically. Your employer does that based on the Form W-4 you filed, probably years ago.

If you haven’t updated yours since 2020, your withholding likely reflects old brackets and old deductions.

That means you are probably having too much tax withheld each pay period.​

Worse, most people don’t realise this until they file taxes in April and get a refund. That refund is actually an interest-free loan you gave the federal government all year long.

To fix this now, take three quick steps.

First, review your most recent paystub and compare your year-to-date withholding against your actual tax liability. The IRS offers a free withholding estimator tool on its website.

Second, fill out a fresh Form W-4 if you want more take-home pay. The new 2026 version includes explicit lines for tips, overtime, new car-loan interest, and additional deductions for seniors 65 and older.

Third, submit it to your payroll department before the end of January so the changes take effect on your next paycheck.​

Many Americans may see slightly fatter paychecks in 2026, but that benefit evaporates if your employer is still withholding using a 2019 W-4.

The adjustment is real. The opportunity is now. Check your withholding this week, and talk to payroll or a tax professional if anything looks amiss.

Waiting until April to discover you’ve overpaid the IRS all year serves no one but the government’s cash flow.

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The Hang Seng Index continued its uptrend on Tuesday as it jumped to H$26,822, its highest point since November 13. It has jumped by 6.90% from its lowest point in December and is hovering near last year’s high of $27,392.

Why the Hang Seng Index is soaring 

The Hang Seng Index continued its strong rally this year, mirroring the performance of other global indices like China’s CSI 300, Japan’s Nikkei 225, and the US’s Dow Jones.

Its rally was mostly because of the strength of the Chinese economy, which authorities hinted that it hit the target of 5% in 2025 despite the trade issues brought about by the Trump administration.

One sign of the global economic growth is the ongoing performance of copper, a metal seen as a barometer for the global economy. Copper jumped to $13,000 a ton for the first year.

The index has also jumped as investors anticipate more stimulus from Beijing this year. Analysts expect that the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) will cut interest rates, while Beijing will implement some key stimulus measures during the year.

Most importantly, there is optimism that the artificial intelligence (AI) boom will accelerate this year. AI companies have led the recent rally in China and the United States.

Kuaishou Technology has been the best-performing stock in the Hang Seng Index this year so far as it jumped by 17%. It has jumped by over 85% in the last 12 months.

China Life Insurance stock has jumped by 13%, while Longfor Group, Baidu, JD Health, Ping An Insurance, and China Resources Land. Baidu stock jumped after the company announced plans to spin off and launch an IPO for its AI semiconductor business.

Just a handful of companies have retreated this year. PetroChina stock has slipped by 2% this year, while China Merchants Bank, Link Real Estate, Hengan International, and Geely Automobile have all dropped by over 1%.

Hang Seng Index technical analysis 

The daily timeframe chart shows that the Hang Seng Index has rebounded in the past few days, moving from a low of $23,148 to the current $H26,815. It formed a triple-bottom, which is made up of three swings and a neckline at $H27,181.

The index has remained above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) and the Major S&R pivot point of the Murrey Math Lines. It has jumped above the Supertrend indicator, while the Relative Strength Index and the Stochastic Oscillator have continued rising this year.

On the flip side, a move below the crucial support level at H$26,000 will invalidate the bullish outlook and point to more downside over time.

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Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) is facing mounting regulatory scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions after its Grok chatbot was used to create and share AI-generated sexualized images of children and women.

Authorities in Europe, India, and Malaysia have launched investigations, while officials in Brazil and the UK have also raised concerns, marking one of the most serious global regulatory challenges yet for Musk’s AI ambitions.

The controversy centers on Grok Imagine, a recently updated feature that allows users to generate images from text-based prompts directly on X.

Over the past few weeks, the tool has reportedly been used to produce and circulate nonconsensual, intimate images (NCII), including content depicting minors.

Many of these images have spread widely on the platform, prompting intervention from regulators and safety advocates.

Regulators move across Europe, Asia and Latin America

In Europe, the issue has drawn sharp criticism from officials.

At a press conference on Monday, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said the authority was “very seriously looking into this matter,” adding that X and Grok were offering a “spicy mode” that produced explicit sexual content, including childlike images.

“This is not ‘spicy,’” Regnier said. “This is illegal. This is appalling. This is disgusting.”

Britain’s media watchdog Ofcom confirmed it has requested information from X regarding the Grok issues.

In India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ordered X late last week to conduct a “comprehensive technical, procedural and governance-level review” of Grok, setting a Jan. 5 deadline for compliance.

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission said it is investigating the platform and will summon company representatives, urging stronger safeguards aligned with local laws.

In Brazil, a member of parliament said she had asked the federal public prosecutor and the country’s data protection authority to suspend Grok’s use until an investigation is completed.

Musk, xAI and the safety debate

While safety experts and technology critics condemned the proliferation of exploitative images, Musk appeared to mock the controversy by sharing Grok-generated images on X, including one depicting himself in a bikini.

X later issued its first public response via its official Safety account, stating it takes action against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), through removals, account suspensions, and cooperation with law enforcement.

Musk separately warned that anyone prompting Grok to create illegal content would face the same consequences as uploading such material.

An xAI employee said Grok Imagine had been updated, but did not specify whether changes addressed the generation of harmful explicit images.

In the US, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation called on the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to investigate.

While federal agencies declined to comment, NCOSE said existing laws banning the creation and distribution of CSAM could apply even to virtually created content in certain circumstances.

Traffic rises despite the controversy

Despite the backlash, X’s user engagement has not suffered.

Data from Apptopia shows daily downloads of Grok have risen 54% since Jan. 2, while daily downloads of X climbed 25% over the past three days.

Critics argue the episode highlights weaknesses in X’s trust and safety infrastructure, particularly around AI-generated content.

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Asian markets extended a record-breaking rally on Tuesday, taking cues from Wall Street’s latest highs, even as investors digested geopolitical shocks linked to Venezuela and fresh developments from Nvidia in autonomous driving.

The day’s trading reflected a market largely driven by momentum and macroeconomic expectations, with limited spillover so far from rising political risk in Latin America.

Asian markets ride Wall Street momentum

Asian equities climbed to new peaks after the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit an all-time high overnight, supported by gains in US oil majors and financial stocks.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares rose 1.1% to its highest-ever level, led by Japanese equities.

Japan’s Topix index jumped 1.5% to a record, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 1.6%, mainland China’s CSI300 gained 1.16%, and Australia’s benchmark rose 1%.

South Korea’s KOSPI gained 0.8%.

US S&P 500 futures edged up 0.14% following a 0.6% gain in the cash session, with Chevron shares surging more than 5%.

Despite heightened geopolitical headlines, analysts said risk sentiment remained resilient.

“Venezuela’s relatively small economy seems to have convinced investors that global markets are unlikely to be directly affected,” wrote Yusuke Matsuo, senior market economist at Mizuho Securities.

Currencies were steady ahead of Friday’s US employment report, a key input for expectations around Federal Reserve policy.

The dollar hovered near ¥156.37 and €1.1724, while the dollar index eased slightly to 98.23.

Traders currently expect two Fed rate cuts this year, according to LSEG data.

Oil prices eased after a sharp overnight rise triggered by a US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Brent crude slipped 17 cents to $61.59 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate fell 22 cents to $58.10.

Traders assessed the longer-term implications for Venezuelan oil flows, noting that any material increase in production would take years.

Precious metals remained near record levels.

Gold held around $4,449 an ounce, less than $100 from last month’s peak, while copper hit record highs in London and Shanghai amid supply concerns following a strike at a Chilean mine.

Venezuela’s new regime tightens grip

In Caracas, Venezuela’s government moved quickly to reassert control after Maduro’s capture by US forces and his transfer to New York, where he has pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges.

Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president, backed by ruling party institutions and, notably, US President Donald Trump, who has said she would work with Washington.

Security forces and pro-government colectivos were seen patrolling the capital, and at least seven journalists were detained, according to press unions.

The Supreme Tribunal of Justice classified Maduro’s removal as a temporary forced absence, allowing Rodríguez to exercise executive authority for up to 90 days, with a possible extension that could delay elections until mid-year.

Nvidia outlines robotaxi ambitions

Nvidia said it is working with robotaxi operators to deploy fleets powered by its AI chips and Drive AV software as early as 2027.

The company is targeting “Level 4” autonomy in defined regions and sees robotics, including self-driving cars, as its second most important growth area after AI infrastructure.

Automotive and robotics chips accounted for about 1% of Nvidia’s revenue in the quarter ended in October, but partnerships with companies such as Uber and Mercedes-Benz signal longer-term ambitions.

Nvidia demonstrated a self-driving Mercedes-Benz vehicle in San Francisco, showcasing gradual advances toward higher autonomy.

Trump lays out plans for Venezuela

In Washington, the White House announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead US efforts to implement economic and political reforms in Venezuela under President Trump’s direction.

Senior adviser Stephen Miller said the US was receiving “full, complete and total” cooperation from Caracas, though details of the administration plan remain scarce.

Trump has said the US would temporarily “run” Venezuela until elections are held and suggested major oil companies could invest billions to rebuild its energy sector.

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting to discuss the operation, with several countries voicing concern over respect for international law.

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Duolingo stock price jumped by 5% on Monday as American equities bounced back and as investors reacted to a bullish research note by Bank of America analysts. DUOL jumped to $185, a few points above this year’s low of $174. Still, it remains 66% below its all-time high after having a disastrous year in 2025.

Wall Street analysts are bullish on the Duolingo stock

Duolingo share price crashed last year, a move that erased billions of dollar in value as its market capitalization tumbled from over $24 billion to the current $8.54 billion. 

Some Wall Street analysts believe that the company has now become a bargain and that it will rebound this year. The most recent note came from Bank of America, which booted the rating from neutral to buy.

In the note, the analyst argued that the company had more room to grow, especially if it was viewed a mobile gaming company. Also, the analyst noted that the company was adding more subject ike chess, math, and music, which will broaden its apeal among users. 

Most importantly, Bank of America analysts believe that the company has a large total addressable market (TAM). It based this view on the fact that over 1 billion people from around the world were considering learning additional languages over time.

BoFA joins other analysts who believe that the company has more upside going forward. Data compiled by Barchart shows that the consensus estimate for the Duolingo stock price is $314, much higher than th e current $184.

Jefferies’ John Colantuoni has a target of $220, while Evercore’s Mark Mahaney has a target of $330. Other bullish analysts are from Scotiabank, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James, and Citi.

Duolingo’s business is growing at a lower pace than expected

The ongoing Duolingo stock crash accelerated after the company published its financial results that were weaker than expected. Its numbers showed that it had over 11.5 million paid subscribers, up by 34% from the same period in the previous year.

Duolingo’s revenue rose by 41% to $271 million, while its net income was up by over 100% to $292 million. This profit growth was primarily because the company released the valuation allowance recorded against its federal and state deferred tax assets.

While Duolingo’s numbers were strong, they missed analysts’ estimates. Its guidance was also weaker than expected. Yahoo Finance data shows that the company’s growth will slow. The average estimate is that its annual revenue growth for last year was 37% to $1.03 billion. This growth will then slow to 22.42% to $1.26 billion. 

DUOL stock technical analysis 

The daily chart shows that the Duolingo stock price has been in a free fall in the past few months. It has crashed from a high of $544 to the current $185, which explains why it has remained below all moving averages.

On the positive side, the stock has formed an island reversal pattern, which is a rare reversal pattern. This pattern happens after a stock makes a big gap, which is then followed by a consolidation. 

The stock has also formed a double-bottom pattern at $174.10 and a neckline at $213. Therefore, there is a likelihood that it will rebound, and possibly hit the neckline. A move above that level will raise the odds of the stock jumping to $250.

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TheraVectys SA is exploring a potential initial public offering in Hong Kong, reported Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, a move that would be unusual for a non-Chinese biotech company.

The France and US-based immunotherapy firm is working with advisers on a possible share sale that could raise a few hundred million dollars.

A listing could take place as soon as this year if the plans progress.

The deliberations reflect changing dynamics in global biotech funding, as Hong Kong regains relevance amid stronger market conditions and rising interest in health care stocks.

A shift away from traditional biotech hubs

Non-Chinese biotech firms have historically gravitated toward Europe or the US when going public, drawn by deeper capital markets and a more established investor base.

Against this backdrop, Hong Kong represents a less conventional option for TheraVectys.

Choosing the Asian financial hub would signal a reassessment of where growth capital can be accessed efficiently, particularly at a time when global investors are rebalancing exposure across regions.

Any Hong Kong listing would underline how international biotech companies are becoming more flexible in their approach to public markets, especially as competitive pressures and funding needs evolve.

Hong Kong’s renewed appeal to biotech firms

Hong Kong has been working to reassert itself as a destination for biotech listings following several years of muted activity. A rebound in sector valuations and successful recent offerings have improved sentiment.

According to Bloomberg, around $13 billion was raised through health care share sales in Hong Kong last year, largely from biotech initial offerings and follow-on deals.

Market performance has reinforced this trend.

The Hang Seng Biotech Index has surged 82% over the past 12 months, reflecting stronger investor appetite for drug developers and life sciences companies.

This recovery has encouraged both issuers and advisers to revisit listing plans that may have previously seemed less viable.

China’s growing influence on biotech investment

China has also made rapid advancement in the biotechnology sector.

Increased spending on research, faster clinical development, and a growing pool of scientific talent have narrowed the gap with Western peers.

As Chinese drugmakers gain prominence, investors looking for exposure to biotech innovation are increasingly active in Hong Kong.

For overseas firms like TheraVectys, this environment offers access to a broader and more diverse investor base than in the past.

Company background and financial backing

TheraVectys was spun out of Institut Pasteur and focuses on developing lentiviral vectors designed to prevent and treat cancer and other diseases.

The technology places the company within a competitive segment of immunotherapy, where funding requirements can be substantial as research advances.

The company’s backers include Tethys Invest SAS, the investment arm of L’Oreal SA heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and her family.

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