Market Wrap up

What’s Going On Here? Microsoft and Alphabet announced stronger-than-expected quarterly results late on Tuesday, as they sold investors on the benefits of working from home all over again. What Does This Mean? Microsoft grew revenue from its computing and gaming segment by a better-than-expected 9%, its cloud computing business by 30% (even if that particular area was still smarting from the loss of a $10 billion US government contract), and its productivity business – services like Office 365 that continued to benefit from remote working – by 25%. Alphabet’s ad business across Google and YouTube likewise came good, shooting way beyond investors’ expectations – as did its … Continue reading Market Wrap up

America’s $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan Is Picking Up Speed, And These 17 Companies Are Along For The Ride

What’s going on here? If passed by his Democratic Party-controlled Congress, US president Joe Biden’s $2 trillion-plus infrastructure spending plan will unleash $750 billion worth of spending on the energy sector alone. Happily for investors, many of the companies in line to benefit … Continue reading America’s $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan Is Picking Up Speed, And These 17 Companies Are Along For The Ride

Should You Invest In Robinhood’s IPO?

Robinhood is one of Silicon Valley’s most valuable and fastest-growing startups. And the fintech firm that pioneered commission-free stock trading is soon selling shares of its own in an initial public offering (IPO) that could value the company as high as $40 billion. But the big question is: will it make a good investment? Why should you invest? Impressive growth Founded less than a decade ago, Robinhood today boasts almost 18 million active monthly users – double its user count just a year ago. Explosive trading volumes amid the “meme stock frenzy” at the start of 2021 pushed its first-quarter revenue 300% higher than in 2020, and … Continue reading Should You Invest In Robinhood’s IPO?

Stocks Retreat as Amazon Stokes Big-Tech Concern

U.S. equities retreated at the tail end of a big earnings week as investors worried about slowing growth at the megacap technology companies that have helped drive the market to record highs during the pandemic. Amazon.com Inc. dropped 7.6% in its biggest decline since May 2020, contributing the most to declines in the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 indexes, after the company’s sales outlook missed expectations. Tech stocks including Microsoft Corp. also weighed down the Dow Jones Industrial Average. European equities dropped from a record and Asian stocks slid amid China’s regulatory clampdown. Amazon announced weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings late on Thursday, and the … Continue reading Stocks Retreat as Amazon Stokes Big-Tech Concern