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Microsoft (MSFT.US)  is heading toward its  worst quarterly performance in 17 years , falling roughly  23% , as investors grow increasingly concerned over its  AI strategy, cloud growth, and heavy spending . Cloud Growth Slows Amid Capacity Constraints A key concern is Microsoft’s  Azure cloud business , which is facing  growth limitations due to constrained AI computing capacity . The company has prioritised  internal AI development over external cloud services , reducing available resources for customers and  delaying near-term revenue growth . Analysts highlight that  there is “no quick fix” , with meaningful improvement likely only in the  second half of the year , when new data centre capacity comes online. AI Monetisation Still Uncertain Despite aggressive investment,  returns from AI remain unclear . Microsoft’s AI assistant  Copilot  has yet to gain strong traction compared to competitors like  Anthropic , rai...

Intel reported mixed second-quarter earnings, with a slight revenue beat offset by  record-low margins , continued losses in its foundry business, and cautious guidance. Shares swung in a wide range after-hours before settling down over 4%. Key Q2 Financials: Revenue:  $12.9B (+0.2% YoY, -9.8% QoQ), above guidance Gross Margin (GAAP):  27.5%, down sharply from last year Operating Loss (GAAP):  $3.18B (includes $1.9B restructuring costs) Net Loss (GAAP):  $3.02B, sixth consecutive quarter of losses Free Cash Flow:  -$1.1B, fourth straight negative quarter Business Segment Breakdown: Client Computing (PC CPUs):  $7.87B (-3% YoY, +3% QoQ) Operating margin hit a low of 26.1% Datacenter & AI (Server CPUs):  $3.94B (+4% YoY, -5% QoQ) Operating profit up 162% YoY; margin improved to 16.1% Intel Foundry:  $4.42B (+3% YoY, -5% QoQ) Operating loss widened to $3.17B (-71.7% margin) Mobileye:  $0.51B (+15% YoY) Altera (FPGA):  $0.45B (+24% ...

What to Expect from Sea’s Performance on March 4 Sea Limited (SE)  is set to announce  Q4 2024 financial results before the market opens on March 4 (ET). Analysts expect  revenue of $464 million , reflecting a  28.42% YoY increase , and  earnings per share (EPS) of $0.435 . Sea’s stock has surged nearly 20% YTD,  following a  160% gain last year . Shopee: E-Commerce Growth & Market Expansion Shopee remains  a key growth driver , benefiting from: Expanding market leadership  amid  potential slowdown in social commerce in ASEAN . Investment in logistics  to sustain long-term growth. Continued investment in Brazil  to strengthen market presence. J.P. Morgan expects Shopee to leverage network effects  for sustained growth and  has raised its FY26E GMV forecast by 4%. However,  intensifying competition  from regional and global players  could impact short-term performance. SeaMoney: Digital Finance Expan...

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) , the world's largest contract chipmaker, reported a forecast-beating 54% jump in Q3 profit , driven by booming demand for AI-related chips . The company expects sustained strong growth, forecasting fourth-quarter revenue of US$26.1 billion to US$26.9 billion , up from US$19.62 billion a year earlier. In Q3, TSMC's net profit hit a record T$325.3 billion (RM43.39 billion) , surpassing analyst predictions of T$300.2 billion . Revenue for the quarter rose 36% year-on-year to US$23.5 billion , above the company's previous estimates. TSMC, a key supplier for Apple and Nvidia , has been significantly investing in production capacity, forecasting capital expenditure for 2024 at over US$30 billion . The company is building three factories in Arizona , with the first expected to start production in 2025 and the second by 2028 . Despite challenges from rivals Intel and Samsung , TSMC remains a dominant player, and its shares have ...