Global stock markets are recovering as easing political tension in Washington and a more stable macro environment restore investor confidence after a turbulent few weeks. The progress toward a U.S. funding agreement has helped remove a key overhang that weighed on risk assets, allowing equities to stabilize and attract renewed buying interest. Political Clarity Restores Calm The long-running government shutdown had pressured global markets through uncertainty over spending an

China’s newly unveiled 15th Five-Year Plan (2026 2030)  marks one of the most ambitious overhauls in recent memory, blending economic modernization with a sharper focus on self reliance, advanced technology, and energy security . According to analysts, the plan’s mix of industrial policy and fiscal strategy will reshape global trade patterns and could alter investment flows for years to come. Three Strategic Pillars Beijing’s latest roadmap is built around three core prioriti

UBS analysts project that AI-related capital expenditures (CapEx)  will surpass $500 billion by 2026 , marking a historic shift in global technology investment priorities. The surge, they say, will reshape the hierarchy of tech leadership favoring firms that control data, chips, and cloud infrastructure. The AI Investment Supercycle UBS notes that AI spending has expanded far beyond traditional software budgets, with hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta  ac

Two of the market’s biggest winners, Apple and Nvidia , faced renewed selling pressure this week as traders rotated out of high flying tech names, questioning whether the AI driven growth story  has reached a short term plateau. Profit Taking After an Explosive Run Both Apple and Nvidia have surged in 2025, leading major indices to record highs. But after months of relentless inflows, investors are locking in profits  and repositioning into sectors less exposed to tech volati

Several of Wall Street’s top executives sounded the alarm this week, cautioning that U.S. equity valuations are flashing red  after months of relentless gains. Despite steady earnings and optimism around AI driven growth, institutional leaders say investor positioning now looks “dangerously one sided.” C Suite Concerns Emerge Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick and JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon both warned that equities are “priced for perfection” leaving little margin for error if earnings

Palantir Technologies posted stronger than expected quarterly earnings this week but the stock still fell sharply, as investors questioned whether its high profile AI contracts can deliver lasting, scalable growth. The company’s results reflect a broader pattern in the tech sector, solid numbers, weaker conviction. Earnings Snapshot Palantir reported another profitable quarter, marking its sixth straight period in the black , a milestone for a firm long known for heavy R&D sp

Tech heavyweights Apple  and Microsoft  led Wall Street’s rebound this week, signaling that investors are once again crowding into the sector’s safest growth names after a volatile earnings season. Both companies have become the center of a fresh market rotation away from speculative small caps and back into AI, cloud, and ecosystem stability . Apple’s quiet comeback After several muted quarters marked by slowing iPhone sales and weaker demand in China, Apple’s latest earning

The e-commerce and cloud giant Amazon reported a strong quarter, powered by growth in its cloud service unit and a bullish forward outlook across its business lines. Yet, despite the upbeat numbers, investor reaction was muted in some segments highlighting how market sentiment about tech leadership has shifted. Key Storylines Amazon’s cloud division (AWS) grew faster than expected and helped lift overall results a signal the company is regaining momentum in the “big tech infr

Equities traded with a mix of excitement and caution as Nvidia  once again dominated headlines this time for becoming the first company of its kind to break into an unprecedented valuation range, fueled by insatiable demand for AI hardware and data infrastructure. The move wasn’t just another tech rally it’s a sign of how deeply artificial intelligence has reshaped investor psychology . Nvidia’s growth now sits at the intersection of hardware dominance, software partnerships,

U.S. and Asian equities extended gains led by the tech and semiconductor sectors , following strong earnings from Qualcomm , AMD , and Alphabet . Investors appear confident that AI demand and improving trade conditions will sustain momentum but valuation risks remain front and center. Key Drivers Earnings boost:  Qualcomm’s 11% surge after better than expected data-center chip sales reinforced the AI investment theme. Global optimism:  A softer dollar and improving supply ch

Qualcomm surprised markets on October 27 by announcing the AI200 and AI250 rack scale AI inference accelerator solutions, marking its formal push into the data center and generative AI infrastructure market. The stock surged ~11-20% on the news, reflecting investor enthusiasm for a new growth vector beyond mobile chips. What changed The AI200 rack will be commercially available in 2026, with its successor the AI250 slated for 2027. Both are designed to integrate advanced memo

U.S. equities continue their upward push as earnings from major tech & semiconductor companies roll in, while the trade sentiment boost (above) adds further momentum. The setup The rally isn’t broad yet, but high quality growth names with visible demand (data centres, AI chips) are outperforming. On the flipside, companies failing to deliver on margins or backlog risk are being punished. Important themes Execution matters  more than ever, With valuations elevated, companies m

Intel’s recent earnings beat and operational updates have the market excited: shares jumped nearly 9-10%  in pre market trading after a robust third quarter, driven by cost cuts, strategic investments and improved demand in PCs and data centers. The story Intel posted a stronger than expected Q3 profit as cost-cutting initiatives and investment in next-gen manufacturing started to show signs of payoff. The company’s share price has gained nearly 90% in 2025 , outperforming ma

The healthcare sector is showing signs of selective rebound: while the broader category has under-performed for some time, key companies are delivering results and ratings upgrades offering potential inflection points for investors. Company Results Spark Interest One standout today: Healthcare Services Group Inc. (HCSG) reported an impressive third quarter with earnings per share of US $0.59 , far above the forecast of US $0.21 a surprise of 180.95%. Revenue came in at US $46

Europe’s large cap luxury goods sector caught attention this week as Kering, owner of flagship brand Gucci, reported signs of improvement at the brand and signalled possible strategic inflection. The stock surged roughly 5 % on the news, marking one of its strongest daily moves in recent months. What’s Behind the Move Analysts at Citi noted that Kering has experienced fewer earnings downgrades at Gucci and other brands compared to prior years. This shift suggests the brand ma

What’s happening Apple’s shares recently surged ~4% to a record high, pushing the company’s market value close to $4 trillion , aided by strong early sales of the iPhone 17 series in both the U.S. and China. According to research firm Counterpoint, iPhone 17 sales outpaced the iPhone 16 by about 14 % in the initial launch period in both major markets. Apple is scheduled to release its Q4 2025 results on October 30 , which will wrap up its fiscal year. Analysts are pointing to

Indian equities soared as major banks reported strong earnings and global trade tensions appeared to moderate, triggering a risk-on wave in the region. Key Takeaways The BSE Sensex jumped over 650 points and the Nifty 50 crossed the 25,900 mark. The rally was driven by solid quarterly reports from banks such as HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, along with improved investor sentiment from easing U.S. China trade tensions. Implications & Risks For India: Financial sector strength plus

According to the International Monetary Fund, global growth is set to decelerate modestly over the next two years reflecting structural headwinds despite pockets of resilience. Key Takeaways Global growth projected at ~3.2% in 2025 and ~3.1% in 2026. Advanced economy growth is expected around ~1.5% while emerging markets growth just above ~4%. Implications & Risks Slim margins for error: slow growth limits policy room and increases the importance of non-cyclical investment th

Asian equity markets opened the week strongly, with Nikkei 225 jumping nearly 2.9% after a new Japanese coalition government was announced. Meanwhile, China’s GDP data offered mixed signals. Key Takeaways The Nikkei rose ~2.9% to a record 48,970.40 on optimism about pro stimulus policy moves. China’s annual GDP growth clocked in at ~4.8% in the latest quarter. Other Asian indices: Hong Kong’s Hang Seng +2.5%; South Korea’s Kospi +1.3%. Implications & Risks Easing trade tensio

Global hedge funds are making a strong comeback in the Hong Kong equity market, reengaging in local listings at the highest rate since 2021. This signals renewed confidence in Asian capital markets after a period of relative dormancy. Key Takeaways Hedge fund participation in Hong Kong IPOs has risen to ~14% of total flows, approaching 2021 levels. Financial Times The shift comes as firms like Oaktree Capital Management and Millennium Management act as cornerstone investors i