MONEY MASTER

Singapore shares opened slightly lower on Friday, even as  US tech stocks surged to fresh highs , with investors balancing  AI-driven optimism against geopolitical and trade uncertainties . STI Edges Lower Amid Mixed Market Breadth The  FTSE Straits Times Index  slipped  0.12% to 5,001.82  in early trade. Market breadth was mixed: Advancers: 88 Decliners: 79 This reflects a  cautious tone , despite strong global cues. Wall Street Hits Record Highs on AI Momentum US equities extended their rally, led by technology stocks: Nasdaq Composite   +0.4% (record high) S&P 500   +0.3% (record high) Dow Jones Industrial Average   +0.2% The Nasdaq marked its  12th consecutive gain , its longest streak since 2009. The rally was driven by AI-related developments, led by  Advanced Micro Devices , which surged  7.8%  after securing a  French government AI deal . Other tech gainers included  Oracle ,  Microsoft , an...

Asian markets surged at the start of April as  hopes of easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East  boosted risk sentiment, while strong economic data from North Asia added further support. Equities Rally on War De-escalation Signals The  MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index jumped 2.7% , snapping a four-day losing streak as investors reacted to signs that the  US-Iran conflict may be nearing a resolution . US President  Donald Trump  indicated that military operations could  end within two to three weeks , improving market sentiment despite ongoing hostilities. Regional markets responded strongly: South Korea’s Kospi surged up to 5.5% Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed as much as 3.9% The rebound followed a strong session on Wall Street, where the  S&P 500 rallied 2.9% , reflecting global optimism over a potential diplomatic path forward. Korea’s Data Surprise Fuels Tech-Led Gains South Korea led regional gains, supported by  robust economic da...

Quick Take Big Tech’s 2026 capital spending plans have  blown past expectations , sparking a sharp market reaction. Investors still believe in AI — but they now want  clear proof of returns , not just long-term promises. The CapEx Shock Across recent earnings, mega-cap tech companies pushed 2026 CapEx from  “already massive”  to  “historically extreme” : Meta Platforms : US$115–135B vs US$110B consensus Stock jumped ~10% initially, but gains faded →  investors want evidence, not AI rhetoric Microsoft : US$140–150B vs US$109B consensus Stock fell ~10% →  ROI timing now under scrutiny Alphabet : US$175–185B vs US$115B consensus Shares slipped as markets adjusted to a  more capital-intensive Google Amazon : ~US$200B vs US$146B consensus Stock dropped ~11% after-hours on cash flow concerns What Investors Are Really Worried About This is no longer about believing in AI — it’s about  financial optics and timing . Key Market Fears CapEx is rising fa...

China has  conditionally approved  its leading AI startup  DeepSeek  to purchase  Nvidia ’s  H200 artificial intelligence chips , a move that could significantly shape China’s next phase of AI development — and intensify US-China tech scrutiny. What Happened Chinese authorities granted  conditional approval  for DeepSeek to buy Nvidia’s  H200 AI chips Regulatory conditions are still being finalised , according to sources Approvals were issued by China’s industry and commerce ministries, with conditions set by the  National Development and Reform Commission The H200 is Nvidia’s  second most powerful AI chip  and has become a sensitive focal point in  US–China tech relations . Bigger Picture: Not Just DeepSeek Reuters previously reported that: ByteDance Alibaba Tencent were also given approval to collectively purchase  over 400,000 H200 chips , though shipments remain subject to final regulatory sign-off. Nvidia: Licenc...

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 fell on Wednesday as the Magnificent 7 tech giants led declines, while the Federal Reserve’s July minutes pointed to a split on the path forward for monetary policy. Key Index Performances Nasdaq Composite : -0.8% to 21,172.86 S&P 500 : -0.2% to 6,395.78 Dow Jones Industrial Average : +0.06% to 44,938.31 While the Dow managed a narrow gain, risk appetite was clearly weaker in growth-heavy indices. The Magnificent 7 Lead the Retreat Apple (AAPL) : -1.97% Intel (INTC) : -6.99% Nvidia (NVDA) : -0.14% Amazon (AMZN) : -1.84% Other top underperformers included Micron (MU), with tech, consumer discretionary, and communication services sectors all ending in the red. Energy stocks, on the other hand, emerged as the  top gainer , buoyed by rising oil prices. Fed Minutes: Mixed Signals, Lingering Inflation Concerns The  July 29–30 FOMC meeting minutes  revealed a division among Fed officials: Some focused on  inflation risks Others flagged concern...

 The upcoming earnings season is shaping up to be a high-stakes moment for U.S. tech giants. Eyes are on  Netflix, NVIDIA, Meta Platforms, and Alphabet , all poised to deliver impactful results.  Netflix Kicks Off Earnings Season  Netflix will be the first major tech name to report, officially launching this quarter’s earnings wave. Expectations are high: Revenue : $11.04B (+15.51% YoY) EPS : $7.07 (+44.8% YoY) Strong growth and expanding margins suggest confidence in subscriber and content strategies.  NVIDIA: AI Powerhouse Still Charging Ahead NVIDIA continues to lead the AI wave with: Revenue growth : +51.86% EPS growth : +38.66% This reflects sustained enterprise demand for AI chips and infrastructure, positioning NVIDIA as a core AI winner. Meta & Alphabet: Digital Ad Titans Stay Resilient Despite economic pressure, both companies are expected to post solid numbers: Meta : +14.25% revenue growth Alphabet : +10.73% revenue growth Both platforms benefit f...

  Market Highlights: The  Nasdaq 100  climbed  1.9% , hitting a record  20,050 , while the  S&P 500  rose  0.8% , nearing its all-time high. Tech Giants Lead:  Stocks like  Tesla ,  Amazon , and  Meta Platforms  hit all-time highs, driving the market surge. The  Dow Jones Industrial Average  dipped  0.2% , as healthcare and select consumer stocks weighed on performance. Economic Updates: Inflation in Focus: The  Consumer Price Index (CPI)  rose  0.3%  month-over-month in November, in line with expectations. Core CPI  (excluding food and energy) also rose  0.3% , maintaining an annual rate of  3.3% , signaling steady progress toward the Fed’s 2% inflation target. Fed Rate Cut Odds: Traders now place a  97% probability  on a quarter-point rate cut at the Fed’s December meeting. Analysts expect this move to be accompanied by a cautious outlook for further cuts in...

  Market Milestone: The  Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC.US)  surged past  20,000 points  for the first time, closing at  20,050 , up  1.77% . This historic high was powered by strong performances from tech giants. The  S&P 500 (.SPX.US)  closed at  6,090.27 , just shy of its record high, while the  Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI.US)  dipped  0.2% . Economic Updates: Inflation Data:  November’s  Consumer Price Index (CPI)  met expectations, rising  0.3% monthly  and  2.7% year-over-year . Core CPI (excluding food and energy) increased  0.3%  monthly and  3.3% annually , reinforcing expectations for a Fed rate cut next week. Sector Highlights: Tech Giants Lead the Charge: Alphabet-A (GOOGL.US):  Gained nearly  5% , leading the "Magnificent Seven." Tesla (TSLA.US):  Surged  5.9%  to a record  $424.77 , driven by optimism about EV prospects and i...