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Elon Musk’s decision to have SpaceX acquire artificial intelligence startup xAI has sent ripples across global financial markets, reviving long-standing speculation about whether his sprawling corporate empire could eventually be consolidated into a single technology conglomerate.

The acquisition, announced earlier this week, already comes amid reports that SpaceX is pursuing an initial public offering valued at over $1 trillion as early as this summer.

But almost immediately, attention has shifted beyond the IPO to a more ambitious possibility: a merger between Tesla and SpaceX.

Polymarket currently places the odds of a Tesla–SpaceX merger being announced by June 30 at 17%, highlighting that while the probability remains low, it is no longer dismissed as implausible.

Dan Ives, global head of technology research at Wedbush, suggested that Musk’s strategy may be moving toward deeper integration across his companies.

“SpaceX and xAI combine…Tesla next? In our view there is a growing chance that Tesla will eventually be merged in some form into SpaceX/xAI over time. The view is this growing AI ecosystem will focus on Space and Earth together…..and Musk will look to combine forces,” Dan Ives, Global Head of Tech Research at Wedbush, posted on X earlier this week.

In a separate note, Ives said that “Tesla now is laser focused on autonomous and robotics in this key era for Musk & Co.” and predicted “more cross-pollination between Tesla and SpaceX over the coming year.”

He went further, arguing that Musk’s long-term objective may be consolidation.

“Musk wants to own and control more of the AI ecosystem and step by step the holy grail could be combining SpaceX and Tesla over the next 12 to 18 months in some form,” he wrote.

AI the common denominator between Tesla, SpaceX and xAI

Analysts say Tesla has increasingly repositioned itself as a “physical AI” company rather than a traditional automaker.

The company launched an AI-trained robo-taxi service in Austin, Texas, in June and plans to begin producing significant volumes of its humanoid robot, Optimus, later this year.

Analysts at Barclays wrote in a report on Thursday that while autos may still be the company’s core business, the end of the Model S and X “marks the symbolic baton pass” into “physical AI.”

“In case it wasn’t clear before, it’s more than abundantly clear now that Tesla is not an auto company,” the analysts wrote.

At the same time, SpaceX is expanding its ambitions beyond rockets and satellites.

The company intends to use capital from a potential IPO to accelerate the development of a space-based AI data centre business, positioning itself as a key infrastructure provider in the AI economy.

xAI, meanwhile, is building large-scale AI systems, including the Grok chatbot, which competes with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Alphabet’s Gemini.

A history of corporate convergence

Although Musk has publicly dismissed merger speculation in the past, his corporate track record suggests a pattern of consolidation.

When an X user polled Tesla investors last year on whether the company should merge with xAI, Musk responded simply: “No.”

Over the years, however, Musk has repeatedly shown a tendency to integrate his businesses.

Before SpaceX’s merger with xAI, the latter was merged with X last March. Not to forget Tesla’s acquisition of SolarCity in 2016.

Musk himself has openly acknowledged that his companies are increasingly coming together.

“My companies are, surprisingly in some ways, trending toward convergence,” he wrote on X last November.

Market analysts say this convergence is becoming increasingly visible.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said, “Elon Musk has a clear ambition to bring all his companies under one umbrella. The merger is a big step in this direction.”

He added that it is “highly likely that Tesla and the SpaceX group will find themselves combined in due course once the latter has listed,” potentially consolidating Musk’s position as both a technological and financial powerhouse.

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, framed the idea in more colourful terms.

“Everything under one roof creates the idea of a Musk Metropolis – a vision of the future, with one man and a white cat wanting to rule the world,” he said, while noting that a single corporate structure could also help Musk manage his sprawling portfolio more efficiently.

Financial ties deepen across Musk’s companies

Beyond strategic rhetoric, the financial links among Musk’s companies have grown substantially in recent years.

Tesla announced a $2 billion stake in xAI in January and has established a framework to evaluate future collaborations.

SpaceX paid Tesla at least $2.5 million between 2024 and 2025 for commercial, licensing, and support agreements, while Tesla paid SpaceX $800,000 in 2024 to use an aircraft owned by the aerospace company.

xAI has also become a major customer of Tesla’s energy business, purchasing more than $620 million worth of Tesla’s Megapack batteries over the past two years to power its data centres.

Tesla has integrated xAI’s Grok chatbot into its electric vehicles and humanoid robots, further blurring the boundaries between the companies.

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas argued that these ties are strategically significant.

“Tesla’s relationship with xAI (financially and strategically) is deterministic to the long-term success of Tesla due in part to the natural synergies of data, software, hardware and manufacturing in recursive loops,” he said.

Implications for a SpaceX IPO

The prospect of a Tesla–SpaceX merger raises questions about whether SpaceX even needs to go public.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, suggested that a combination could alter the IPO calculus.

“Speculation about a further combination with Tesla to build an effective MuskCorp, which could remove the need for a SpaceX IPO, has been bubbling away,” he said.

However, most analysts believe an IPO remains the more likely outcome in the near term. SpaceX has clear capital requirements, and preparations for a listing appear well advanced.

Ben Kallo of Baird argued that the acquisition of xAI could actually delay merger discussions.

He suggested that Musk’s immediate focus is likely to be on executing a SpaceX IPO targeted for mid-year, rather than pursuing a complex corporate restructuring.

Investor concerns and structural hurdles

Despite the strategic logic, a Tesla–SpaceX merger would face formidable financial and governance challenges.

Brian Mulberry of Zacks Investment Research told MarketWatch that Tesla’s energy business could provide a buffer for cash flows in a combined entity, and that Tesla could repurpose production lines to support both robotics and aerospace manufacturing.

“Bottom line, it makes sense to me but the financials would have to work out for the privately held shares currently in SpaceX,” he said.

However, others are more sceptical.

Gary Black, managing partner at The Future Fund, warned through a post on X that a merger would likely require Tesla to issue additional shares, diluting existing investors.

“We still believe that a shareholder vote to combine $TSLA with SpaceX / xAI would fail because of the potential huge dilution (~45%) to TSLA shareholders. TSLA can get numerous benefits from SpaceX / xAI without merging the companies. Math matters,” he said.

Black also said that all Tesla shareholders might not want to make a bet on space exploration and may sell their shares.

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The software sector is currently weathering a violent storm, characterized by a rapid sell-off that some are calling a “SaaSapocalypse.”

The panic intensified this week as AI startup “Anthropic” introduced advanced capabilities to its Claude Cowork agent, fueling fears that traditional software-as-a-service models are on the brink of obsolescence.

However, Wedbush’s senior analyst Dan Ives is standing firm against the tide of pessimism.

He argues that the market is overreacting to a “doomsday scenario” that ignores the deep structural moats surrounding established players.

While acknowledging that AI presents a near-term headwind, Ives insists the magnitude of the rout is a “major head scratcher.”

He maintains that enterprise customers are far too entrenched in their existing digital architectures to abandon them for unproven AI models that currently lack the capacity to handle massive data structures or guarantee absolute security.

Palantir stock: the “Messi of AI” remains unmatched

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) has found itself caught in a broader software downdraft, yet Dan Ives remains remarkably bullish, famously labeling the company the “Messi of AI.”

Despite the stock’s premium valuation (nearly 200x forward earnings) and recent volatility, Ives maintains an “outperform” rating and a robust $230 price target.

According to him, Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) is not just another software tool but a “foundational moat” that competitors cannot easily replicate.

While skeptics worry about the high cost of entry, Ives believes the “Software Armageddon” narrative misses the mark regarding PLTR stock’s unique position in the Department of War and large-scale commercial sectors.

“Palantir is helping lead the AI Revolution into the use case phase,” the Wedbush analyst noted –  emphasizing that as enterprises move from mere experimentation to actual production, Palantir’s speed-to-deployment and outcome-driven ROI will make it more relevant than ever.

CrowdStrike stock: the gold standard for the AI era

In the cybersecurity realm, CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ: CRWD) is facing its own trial by fire, with shares sliding significantly as part of the sector-wide retreat.

Nevertheless, Ives views this as a “table pounder” buying opportunity, reiterating an “outperform” rating and a $600 price target.

He views CRWD stock as the “gold standard” and the likely “operating system” for security in the AI age.

The fear that AI agents will bypass existing security frameworks is, in Ives’ view, a bit too “overblown.”

He contends that new AI players “don’t have the current capacity to hold all enterprise data” or the proven track record to protect organizational structures from sophisticated malware.

For Dan Ives, the current sell-off is a temporary disconnect from reality as CrowdStrike’s platform is too deeply ingrained in the global enterprise ecosystem to be displaced by the current wave of AI disruption, making it a primary winner when the dust finally settles.

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Tech stocks have struggled in recent days amid fears of overspending on artificial intelligence and a sharp selloff in software and semiconductor names.

Apple, however, has emerged as a rare outperformer, bucking the broader downturn and attracting renewed investor interest.

Shares of Apple were up about 6% this week as of Thursday morning, making it the only “Magnificent Seven” stock in positive territory.

Over the same period, the Nasdaq has fallen roughly 3%.

On Wednesday alone, Apple beat the Nasdaq by four percentage points, its biggest single-day outperformance in more than a year, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

Apple stands out amid tech rout

The rally marks a notable shift for the iPhone maker, whose stock had underperformed for much of the past year due to concerns that it was lagging peers in artificial intelligence.

Apple shares rose 8% in 2025, well below the S&P 500’s 16% gain.

This week’s performance comes as a wave of selling hit the software sector after Anthropic launched a new legal tool for its Claude chatbot, stoking fears that AI could disrupt traditional software businesses.

Since Tuesday, the selloff has erased more than $1.2 trillion in market value from software and semiconductor companies, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

At the same time, investors have grown uneasy about the scale of AI-related capital spending announced by Big Tech firms.

Meta Platforms recently forecast up to $135 billion in capital expenditures for 2026, while Alphabet said it could spend as much as $185 billion next year on AI investments.

Against that backdrop, Apple’s comparatively restrained approach has become a selling point.

The company is expected to spend about $13 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, far less than its largest peers.

Earnings boost and rotation within tech

Apple’s gains have also been supported by a strong earnings report released last week.

The company posted record iPhone sales and delivered stronger-than-expected guidance on revenue and gross margins, easing worries that rising memory costs would squeeze profitability.

“Shares of Apple may be benefiting as investors move money out of software stocks and look for new opportunities within the tech sector,” Andrew Graham, founder and portfolio manager at Jackson Square Capital, said in a MarketWatch report.

Anthropic’s recent release, he added, has “only added more fuel to a software-sector meltdown that’s been going on since July.”

Apple briefly reclaimed its position as the world’s second-largest company by market capitalisation on Thursday, with a valuation of about $4.05 trillion, narrowly ahead of Alphabet’s $4.00 trillion.

The stock’s resilience has come even as questions linger around its AI strategy and its partnership with Google to power Apple Intelligence.

Critics have argued that outsourcing key AI capabilities could limit Apple’s long-term competitiveness.

Still, the company’s lower spending profile has resonated with investors as concerns mount over whether massive AI investments will generate near-term returns.

Pricing questions loom amid memory chip shortage

Looking ahead, Apple faces another strategic decision as a global memory chip shortage pushes component prices higher.

CEO Tim Cook acknowledged on the company’s earnings call that memory costs are expected to rise sharply but declined to say whether Apple would pass those costs on to consumers.

“There are different levers that we can push, and who knows how successful they’ll be, but there’s just a range of options,” Cook said.

Analysts believe Apple’s scale and long-standing supplier relationships could allow it to secure enough memory chips, even as rivals struggle.

If Apple holds prices steady while competitors raise them, iPhones could become more attractive, potentially boosting market share. A price increase, however, could give rivals room to follow suit.

“This is the biggest question for the industry now,” said Nabila Popal, a senior research director at IDC in a Reuters report. “This is a two-sided sword because if Apple doesn’t raise prices, while it will help grow market share, it will also upset investors.”

For now, Apple’s combination of strong iPhone demand, cautious spending, and relative insulation from the software selloff has positioned it as a haven within a turbulent tech sector, even as broader questions about AI, pricing, and supply chains continue to hang over the industry.

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The Dow exploded higher on Friday, surging roughly 1,000 points as a targeted rebound in chipmakers eased a bruising week for US markets.

After several sessions of sharp tech-led selling, investors stepped back into large-cap semiconductors and cyclical names.

The rebound lifted the Dow to one of its strongest single-day advances this year and pushed major indexes back toward weekly equilibrium.

Nvidia, Broadcom lead the tech repair job

The turnaround was concentrated as chipmakers did the bulk of the work.

Nvidia and Broadcom posted solid rebounds from recent pain, stanching the rout that had hit AI-related and software names hardest.

Traders said the moves reflected a combination of dip-buying, renewed confidence in AI infrastructure spending, and bargain-hunting after outsized declines earlier in the week.

While some software names recovered, the rally was selective; not all technology stocks joined the bounce.

Rotation into value supports the Dow’s outperformance

The Dow’s outsize gain partly reflects its sector mix as heavyweights in industrials and financials rallied alongside the chip rebound, so the blue-chip index outpaced the S&P 500 and Nasdaq.

Names tied to the economic cycle, including construction and bank stocks, drew fresh buying as investors rotated from high-growth plays into perceived value.

Small caps also saw strength, with the Russell 2000 rallying as traders chased broader market participation, a sign that Friday’s move had some breadth.

Bitcoin’s partial recovery helped calm risk-off sentiment, though strategists cautioned against reading Friday’s moves as a full trend reversal.

Market participants said follow-through will hinge on whether earnings reports and macro data validate Friday’s optimism.

Not every headline was rosy.

Retail and cloud behemoth Amazon plunged after management outlined aggressive capital spending plans for the year, a development that unnerved investors and trimmed some broader tech exposure.

Other enterprise software names that had been at the center of AI-driven valuation debates remained patchy in their performance, underlining that the market’s recalibration is likely to be uneven and selective.

Still, volatility remains elevated.

Options pricing and intraday swings suggest investors are far from complacent, particularly around big technology names.

With inflation data and central bank commentary ahead, traders say markets remain vulnerable to sharp moves in either direction despite Friday’s powerful relief rally.

Friday’s surge was an emphatic rebound, not a clean reversal.

The Dow’s 1,000-point advance shows how deeply sentiment can swing when investors rotate between growth and value, and how concentrated rebounds in a few market leaders can lift headline indices.

Traders will watch the coming days for earnings follow-through, central bank signals on rates, and whether the chip-led bounce spreads across other corners of the market.

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BigBear.ai (NYSE: BBAI stock) surged about 18% on Friday after a string of company announcements and heavy trading activity rekindled interest in the beaten-down AI stock.

Volume witnessed considerable growth versus recent sessions, a sign that both news-driven buyers and short-covering traders stepped in.

The move left investors debating whether today’s rally marks the start of a durable recovery or a momentum-fuelled pop vulnerable to reversal.

BBAI stock: Why the price surged

In late January, BigBear.ai said it acquired certain CargoSeer technologies, describing CargoSeer as an AI software specialist in cargo-scanning enhancement.

BigBear.ai positioned the purchase as a way to broaden its capabilities for customs authorities and trade flows, i.e., a logical extension into logistics use cases.

Separately, also in late January, BigBear.ai announced a strategic partnership (via its UAE business) with Maqta Technologies, the digital arm of AD Ports Group.

The collaboration includes pursuing international commercial opportunities with customs authorities, government agencies, and port operators beyond their home markets.

At the same time, BigBear.ai’s capital-structure story remains front and center.

The company has an outstanding shareholder vote on increasing authorized shares, and that dilution context has made the stock prone to bouts of volatility.

Market-structure forces amplified the headlines.

BBAI carries high short interest, and when options dealers see heavy call buying, they hedge by buying the underlying.

Short covering and above-average options volume were visible around Friday, which explains how modest fundamental news turned into a major intraday gain.

Sustainable turnaround or speculative bounce?

Analysts and market participants struck a cautious tone.

On one hand, the CargoSeer assets and the AD Ports collaboration are tangible wins that could materially improve BigBear.ai’s growth profile.

On the other hand, the company carries a recent history of reporting and accounting scrutiny that has weighed on confidence.

BigBear.ai disclosed the need to restate prior financials related to convertible-note accounting.

The episode left investors sensitive to headline risk and made the stock more volatile.

Until the company delivers confirmed contract revenue and clearer financials, many sell-side and independent watchers treat rallies as tentative.

Experienced traders we spoke with described Friday’s rally as a hybrid, which was partly driven by fundamental re-rating and partly by momentum trade.

That combination often produces sharp one-day gains that can either be the start of a broader recovery or a short-lived squeeze.

Volume, subsequent options open interest, and whether institutional players step in will be the best short-term tests of durability.

Investors will look to confirm whether CargoSeer assets convert into revenue-bearing contracts or pilot programs.

Moreover, the outcome and market reaction to the February shareholder vote on authorized shares will also weigh on the sentiment.

Trading volume and options open interest over the next two sessions will reveal if Friday’s surge was genuine accumulation or one-day speculation.

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The Japanese yen slipped as traders positioned for Sunday’s snap election, with markets expecting Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to extend her hold on power and keep a reflationary policy mix in place.

According to MUFG Bank analysts, Japan’s political backdrop is adding “downward pressure on the yen,” while Polymarket pricing cited by Benzinga shows near-certainty that Takaichi remains prime minister.

Election expectations and market odds

Benzinga reports that Polymarket traders assign a 99% probability that Takaichi is prime minister after the vote.

In the governing parties market, the Liberal Democratic Party stands at 99%, while the Japan Innovation Party is at 22%.

Those probabilities imply what Benzinga calls a “Supermajority” scenario, suggesting the LDP may not need a coalition partner.

That would give Takaichi a “clear runway” to pursue her agenda without extensive legislative negotiations.

Currency and bond market signals

MUFG Bank’s Lin Li, Michael Wan, and Lloyd Chan said USD/JPY is “drifting back toward 160 after its brief correction to 152.”

They warned that local reports of Takaichi’s coalition securing a lower-house majority could raise expectations for government spending.

MUFG cautioned that such expectations “may fuel upward pressure on USD/JPY and long-end JGB yields,” citing concerns over fiscal discipline if markets anticipate larger stimulus.

Policy continuity, defense build-up

Benzinga says traders expect continuity in an aggressive policy stance, including massive fiscal stimulus, a slower path to Bank of Japan rate hikes, and a tougher security posture.

The yen has been “trading heavy,” with USD/JPY near the 157 level heading into the vote.

On the security front, Benzinga notes the Cabinet has already signed off on a record ¥9.04 trillion ($58 billion) defense budget for FY2026, putting procurement plans in focus.

US names tied to defense include Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Northrop Grumman, while Japanese groups include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Mitsubishi Electric.

Political backdrop and international ties

Benzinga also reports that US President Donald Trump endorsed Takaichi on Truth Social and plans to host her at the White House on March 19.

The endorsement is a rare intervention by a US leader in a G7 ally’s election.

Some analysts cited by Benzinga warn of a potential “triple dip” if markets decide the government’s “Sanaenomics” stimulus threatens fiscal sustainability.

In that scenario, stocks and bonds could fall together while the yen breaks past 160 against the dollar.

Sunday’s result will shape expectations for fiscal policy, the path of Bank of Japan tightening, and defense outlays.

For now, MUFG’s view of a softer yen and the risk of higher long-end JGB yields underscores how political outcomes are feeding directly into currency and rates pricing.

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Atlassian stock price continued its strong downward trend, mirroring the performance of other software companies. TEAM plunged to a low of $100, down sharply from last year’s high of $325 and the all-time high of $482. So, will the stock rebound or crash after earnings?

Atlassian stock has plunged ahead of earnings

Atlassian, the parent company of products like Jira, Confluence, the Browser Company, Loom, and Trello, has crashed in the past few years as its insiders continued dumping the shares.

Most recently,  the stock has plunged as demand for software companies has continued to wane amid growing concerns about the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.

There are also concerns about the company’s business and the soaring competition.  At the same time, investors are concerned about the rising competition in the software space.

As we wrote on these software stocks, fears that AI tools will disrupt its business are not real. In reality, these software companies will use the AI tools to complement their businesses.

TEAM stock price has crashed as the company has moved into an acquisition spree as it seeks to grow its AI tools. It acquired The Browser Company, the creator of Arc and Dia browsers. It also bought DX, a company that helps engineering teams to improve their work.

The next important catalyst for the Atlassian stock price will be the upcoming financial results, which will provide more color about its business. Wall Street analysts expect the revenue to come in at $1.54 billion, up by 20% YoY.

If this is accurate, Atlassian’s annual revenue will be $6.31 billion, up by 20% YoY. The most optimistic analyst expects the annual revenue will be $6.45 billion.

Atlassian’s earnings per share (EPS) is also expected to continue growing, reaching $1.14 from 96 cents in the same period in 2024. Also, the annual EPS will come in at $4.88, up from $3.68 in 2024.

Atlassian valuation has improved 

A key benefit for the Atlassian stock is that its valuation has become favorable, with the forward price-to-earnings ratio 21, lower than the sector median of 25. The valuation multiple is much lower than the five-year average of 111.

The company’s forward PEG ratio is 1.05, much lower than the sector median of 1.52. At the same time, the company’s rule-of-40 multiple is also favorable as its operating margin is 22.5% while its forward revenue growth is 20%, giving it a multiple of 42%. 

Therefore, the most likely scenario is where the stock bounces back after its financial results. This rebound will happen if it publishes strong financial results.

Analysts are largely bullish on the company, with the average target of $224, much higher than the current $105.

TEAM stock price technical analysis

Atlassian share price chart | Source: TradingView 

The weekly chart shows that the TEAM stock price has crashed from a high of $325 in February to a low of $105. It has moved below the important support level at $113, its lowest level in February 2022.

The stock has remained below all moving averages, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has moved to the oversold level of 30.

Therefore, technicals suggest that the stock will continue falling, potentially to $100. However, a rebound is also possible, especially if the company publishes strong financial results. 

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Nvidia stock traded higher on Thursday, supported by fresh signals of heavy spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure from Google-parent Alphabet, even as much of the broader technology sector came under pressure.

At the time of writing, Nvidia shares were up around 0.6%, outperforming major peers.

In contrast, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, and Advanced Micro Devices were down between 2% and 4%.

The broader market also weakened, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite each falling about 0.7%.

Investors have recently rotated out of high-growth names amid valuation concerns and uneven earnings results.

Alphabet’s capex guidance lifts AI suppliers

Nvidia’s relative strength followed Alphabet’s announcement of sharply higher capital expenditure guidance, which underscored sustained demand for AI-related infrastructure.

Alphabet said it expects capital spending of between $175 billion and $185 billion this year, up from $91 billion to $93 billion in 2025.

The company said the bulk of the investment will be directed toward artificial intelligence data centres and the chips required to power them.

Although Alphabet has developed its own tensor processing units, or TPUs, which compete with Nvidia’s graphics processing units, the company continues to offer both options to its cloud customers.

“We offer leading infrastructure for AI training and inference to our cloud customers with the industry’s widest variety of compute options, from our own seventh-generation Ironwood TPU to the latest Nvidia GPUs,” Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said on an earnings call.

Analysts said the scale of Alphabet’s planned investment reinforces expectations of sustained demand for high-performance computing hardware, benefiting suppliers such as Nvidia.

Goldman Sachs reiterates bullish view

Separately, Goldman Sachs reiterated its Buy rating on Nvidia in a research note published on Thursday, maintaining a price target of $250.

The investment bank said it expects a “beat-and-raise” quarter from the chipmaker, citing favourable supply and demand indicators across the industry. However, it noted that investor expectations are already elevated.

With Nvidia’s earnings report scheduled for February 25, Goldman said the stock’s near-term performance will depend largely on visibility into revenue growth in 2027, as much of the upside for 2026 appears to be priced in.

The firm pointed to Nvidia’s recent revenue growth of 65.2% over the past twelve months as evidence of its strong momentum.

Goldman also identified several potential catalysts for the first half of 2026, including continued upward revisions to hyperscaler capital expenditure plans extending into 2027 and rising confidence in demand from non-traditional customers such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

In addition, the bank highlighted strong results from large language models trained on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture as a factor that could reinforce the company’s technological leadership.

Gaming chip plans face pressure

While Nvidia’s data centre business continues to benefit from surging AI investment, its gaming segment is facing headwinds.

According to reporting by The Information, Nvidia will not release a new gaming graphics card this year for the first time in its history.

The report said the decision reflects a global shortage of memory chips, as AI-related demand squeezes supply.

The company is also reportedly cutting production of its existing gaming chips as it prioritises higher-margin data centre products.

The development follows Micron Technology’s announcement in December that it plans to exit the consumer chip business, highlighting ongoing strains in parts of the semiconductor supply chain.

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Europe’s news agenda turns on policy signals, capital markets, regulation and geopolitics.

The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% but cracked the door to cuts, jolting sterling and bond markets.

Corporate focus shifts to Hong Kong as Syngenta revives IPO ambitions. Regulators tighten their grip on Big Tech with Slovenia moving to bar social media for under-15s.

Meanwhile, a rare prisoner swap offers a tentative diplomatic thaw in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

BoE holds rates at 3.75%

Bank of England policymakers voted 5-4 to keep Bank Rate at 3.75%, but signalled easier policy ahead.

The MPC said cuts are likely if the coming drop in inflation looks durable, and Governor Andrew Bailey said there should be room to reduce rates later this year.

Investors read the split as a hint of an earlier move, pushing sterling lower and dragging two-year gilt yields down.

The Bank also trimmed its 2026 growth outlook and noted higher unemployment while arguing inflation pressures are fading.

Markets lifted March-cut odds toward 50% and still saw around two cuts priced for 2026 overall.

Syngenta Group 2026 IPO plan

Syngenta Group is aiming for a Hong Kong IPO worth up to $10 billion in 2026, setting up one of the year’s largest global public offerings.

As per a Reuters report, the Swiss agrichemicals and seeds firm, owned by China’s state-backed Sinochem, could float up to 20% of its shares, though the timing and size remain fluid depending on market conditions.

The company is in talks with Goldman Sachs, UBS, CICC, Morgan Stanley, and HSBC about managing the deal. Part of the proceeds will go toward debt reduction.

This follows Syngenta’s withdrawal of a $9 billion Shanghai listing plan more than a year ago.

Slovenia moves to ban social media for under-15s

Slovenia is drafting legislation to strictly ban social media access for children under 15, becoming the latest European nation to crack down on digital platforms.

Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon announced the move on Thursday, citing growing concerns over screen addiction and mental health risks for minors.

The proposed law, spearheaded by the Education Ministry, mirrors recent aggressive regulatory shifts in Australia, Spain, and Greece.

While specific enforcement mechanics are still being finalized with digital experts, the ban targets major engagement-driven platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.

For Big Tech, this signals a deepening regulatory headache in the EU, where child safety is increasingly trumping engagement metrics.

Prisoner swap marks thaw in Russia-Ukraine war

A glimmer of progress in Abu Dhabi as US, Ukrainian, and Russian delegations have agreed to exchange 314 prisoners, the first swap in five months, according to President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Brokered during trilateral talks in the UAE, the deal signals that Washington’s renewed diplomatic muscle is yielding “tangible results,” even as Witkoff admits “significant work” remains to end the war.

For markets and geopolitical watchers, this is a critical confidence-builder, while fighting rages on, the successful mediation suggests the diplomatic channel is finally open and functional.

Discussions are set to continue in the coming weeks.

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Markets are being jolted across asset classes as risk appetite frays.

Bitcoin has cracked a key support level, deepening fears the crypto sell-off has further to run. In equities, Hims & Hers has ignited a price war in weight-loss drugs, rattling Big Pharma.

Commodities are back under pressure as gold and silver slide sharply after a volatile week.

Meanwhile, aviation heats up as Saudia weighs a historic aircraft order that could reshape global jet markets.

Bitcoin’s $67K breakdown

Bitcoin has capitulated below the critical $67,000 support, and technical analysts warn the bottom isn’t in yet.

The sell-off is being driven by a “perfect storm” of macro headwinds as Treasury Secretary Bessent’s explicit rejection of a crypto bailout, relentless ETF outflows, and over $16 billion in forced leverage liquidations.

Chart watchers are now eyeing the $62,000–$65,000 zone as the next logical floor.

With the 200-week moving average under siege and sentiment firmly in “extreme fear” territory, the market lacks the immediate buy-side liquidity to stage a reversal, suggesting this correction has more room to run.

Hims & Hers starts a weight-loss price war

Hims & Hers just nuked the GLP-1 pricing model.

By launching a compounded oral semaglutide pill for $49 a month, they aren’t just undercutting Novo Nordisk; they are brazenly challenging Big Pharma’s moat.

This is a direct shot at Novo’s newly launched oral Wegovy, which runs nearly $200 even with discounts. Investors see the threat: Novo shares slumped 6% immediately.

While Novo’s CEO dismisses the copycat as a “waste,” Hims is betting that consumers, tired of navigating insurance hurdles and shortages, will flock to a cash-pay option that costs less than a gym membership.

The regulatory fight over “compounded” drugs is about to get very ugly.

Commodities face another sell-off

Gold’s recovery attempt hit a wall on Thursday, with prices sliding back into the red as volatility continues to grip the precious metals market.

After briefly reclaiming the $5,000 level, spot gold gave up those gains to trade down 0.8% at roughly $4,926 an ounce, finding itself unable to sustain momentum against a wave of profit-taking.

Futures for April delivery mirrored the weakness, hovering near $4,942 after a wild session that saw prices swing by over $200.​

Silver, however, bore the brunt of the damage.

The metal capitulated in a violent 13% drop to around $73.60 an ounce, effectively wiping out the relief rally seen earlier in the week.

Traders are now watching the $4,700–$4,800 zone for gold as a critical line in the sand; failing to hold that floor could signal that the correction has further to run.

Saudia eyes historic fleet expansion

Saudia Airlines is negotiating a potential blockbuster order for at least 150 jets, pitting Airbus against Boeing in a winner-take-all contest.

The airline is shopping for both narrowbody and widebody aircraft to modernize its fleet and support Vision 2030’s aggressive tourism targets.

This deal would eclipse its previous record-breaking purchase of 105 Airbus jets in 2024.

While talks are early and fluid, the scale is massive, potentially reshaping order books for years.

Meanwhile, Riyadh Air is also hunting for 50 widebodies, signalling a coordinated Saudi push to dominate regional skies.

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