Key Takeaways
- Markets Stay Resilient Amid Trade Concerns – The S&P 500 and Bitcoin posted gains despite investor uncertainty over Trump’s tariff policies and the risk of a trade war.
- Berkshire Hathaway Adjusts Investments – Warren Buffett’s firm held onto its Apple stake but reduced positions in major banks while making a new $1.2 billion investment in Constellation.
- Walmart Strengthens Market Position – The retail giant is expanding its e-commerce business, attracting wealthier shoppers, and increasing revenue from memberships and advertising.
- U.S. and Russia Move Toward Peace Talks – Senior officials from both countries will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss a potential Trump-Putin summit aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
- Trump’s Tariff Plan Puts Pressure on the UK – New U.S. tariffs could cost the UK £16 billion, threatening economic growth and challenging Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s financial strategy.
IPO’s in the week
- OdysightAI (Nasdaq: ODYS), a pioneer in advanced imaging solutions, is launching its IPO at $6.50 per share, offering 2,529,411 shares on February 11, 2025. Founded in 2019, OdysightAI specializes in highly resilient small cameras, AI-driven analysis, and cutting-edge technologies. With state-of-the-art production facilities, ISO 7/8 cleanrooms, and testing capabilities with 1-micron accuracy, the company is set to redefine imaging innovation.
- Archimedes Tech SPAC Partners II Co. (Nasdaq: ATIIU), a blank check company formed to facilitate mergers and acquisitions, is launching its IPO at $10.00 per share, offering 20,000,000 shares on February 11, 2025. The company aims to identify and execute strategic business combinations, leveraging its expertise to drive value creation.
- Aureus Greenway Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: AGH), a Nevada-based holding company, is launching its IPO at $4.00 per share, offering 3,750,000 shares on February 12, 2025. The company owns and operates Kissimmee Bay Country Club and Remington Golf Club, spanning 289 acres of premier recreational property just south of Orlando, Florida.
- TEN Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: XHLD), a leading provider of event planning, production, and broadcasting services, is launching its IPO at $6.00 per share, offering 2,500,000 shares on February 13, 2025. Specializing in virtual, hybrid, and physical events, the company delivers seamless and high-quality event experiences.
- SailPoint Technologies Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: SAIL), a leading identity governance platform provider, is launching its IPO at $23.00 per share, offering 50,000,000 shares on February 13, 2025. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, SailPoint delivers cutting-edge identity security solutions, helping organizations mitigate cyber risks, enhance IT efficiency, and streamline workforce onboarding.
- Maywood Acquisition (Nasdaq: MAYAU), a Cayman Islands-based blank check company, is launching its IPO at $10.00 per share, offering 7,500,000 shares on February 13, 2025. Formed to pursue mergers, acquisitions, and business combinations, the company aims to identify and partner with high-potential enterprises for strategic growth.
- Karman Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KRMN), a leading provider of integrated systems for space and defense programs, has raised $506 million in its initial public offering, pricing shares at $22.00. Offering 21,052,632 shares on February 13, 2025, the company, backed by Trive Capital, aims to drive innovation and growth in aerospace and defense.
- Artius II Acquisition (Nasdaq: AACBU), a blank check company, is launching its IPO at $10.00 per share, offering 20,000,000 shares on February 13, 2025. Formed to facilitate mergers, acquisitions, and business combinations, the company seeks to identify and partner with high-growth businesses for strategic expansion.
- Aardvark Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AARD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is launching its IPO at $16.00 per share, offering 5,888,000 shares on February 13, 2025. Focused on developing novel small-molecule therapeutics, Aardvark targets innate homeostatic pathways to treat metabolic diseases and alleviate hunger.
- Northpointe Bancshares (NYSE: NPB) has officially launched its IPO at $14.50 per share, with a total offering of 8.8 million shares on February 14, 2025. The company operates primarily through its banking subsidiary, Northpointe Bank, offering nationwide mortgage programs, residential loans, digital deposit banking, and custodial deposit services for loan servicing clients.
Markets this week
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- The S&P 500 gained 68.23 points, or 1.13% during the week.
- The Russell 1000 rose by 2.82 points reflecting a 0.85% gain for the week.
- The Russell 2000 dropped by 9.40 points, showing a 0.41% loss for the week.
- The CBOE fell by 1.81 points, reflecting a 10.92% loss for the week.
- Bitcoin (USD) rose by $1,009.51, reflecting a 1.05% gain during 5 days trading.
- Ethereum (USD) rose by $97.44, reflecting a 3.71% gain during 5 days trading.
- Gold (USD) rose by $19.40, reflecting a 0.68% gain week.
- Silver (USD) rose by $0.49, reflecting a 1.52% gain for the week.
- WTI (West Texas Intermediate) rose by $0.52, reflecting a 0.73% gain for the week.
- Brent Crude Oil rose by $0.20, reflecting a 0.27% gain for the week.
- Uncertainty over Trump’s tariffs keeps investors buying stocks, with markets near records despite trade war risks.
- Meta is prepared to involve Trump if the EU targets its products under new digital rules, escalating transatlantic tensions.
- Asian central banks rely on derivatives to defend currencies as the strong dollar and Trump’s protectionism heighten risks.
- The president of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region signaled oil exports may resume next month, ending a shutdown that cost $19 billion.
- Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski says the firm is exploring crypto, reversing his previous skepticism.
- U.S. Bitcoin miners face equipment delays as heightened scrutiny of China’s Bitmain disrupts shipments, threatening competitiveness.
- Bonds rallied as weak retail sales fueled Fed rate cut bets, pushing the 10-year yield below 4.5%.
- Corporate America’s profit outlook is dimming, with guidance trailing forecasts amid trade war risks, sticky inflation, and Fed uncertainty.
- Berkshire Hathaway held onto its Apple stake but trimmed positions in BofA, Citi, and Capital One. It also took a new $1.2 billion stake in Constellation.
- Intel’s stock surged 22% this week after Trump’s AI push, but fixing its manufacturing woes remains tough.
- The Magnificent 7 are out, cash-rich companies are in. Investors are shifting focus to firms returning big cash to shareholders, giving value investing a fresh twist.
- Walmart is reclaiming retail dominance by expanding e-commerce, attracting wealthier shoppers, and increasing revenue from memberships and ads.
- More homes are being pulled from sale as buyers hesitate, with nearly 73,000 delistings in December 2024—a 64% jump from 2023—signaling a weakening housing market.
- Trump orders U.S. Treasury to stop minting pennies, calling it a waste of money as production costs jumped 20% in fiscal 2024.
- Chinese tech stocks rally as DeepSeek and tariff relief boost sentiment, pushing the Hang Seng Tech Index up 24% this year to a three-year high.
Politics Weekly
- President Donald Trump is defending his executive orders against lawsuits alleging constitutional overreach.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rebuked U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s criticism of European migration policy, citing historical parallels and fueling tensions.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU can counter U.S. tariff threats but prefers a negotiated solution to avoid a trade war.
- Trump’s threats and rhetoric have reshaped Canada’s election race, pushing Conservatives toward a ‘Canada First’ stance as their once-clear lead narrows.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskiy rejected a U.S. draft deal on critical minerals, citing lack of investments and protections.
- Senior U.S. and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia next week to lay the groundwork for a potential Trump-Putin summit on ending the war in Ukraine.
- The African Union elected Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf to lead its executive arm amid calls for reform to boost self-reliance.
- Trump is fast-tracking a deal with Putin, sidelining Europe, as European leaders struggle to respond.
- Trump’s tariff plan could cost the UK £16 billion, threatening growth and pressuring PM Keir Starmer’s economic agenda.
- Argentine President Javier Milei promoted a crypto token for small businesses but deleted the post amid scam concerns.
- The White House barred AP from events over its use of Trump’s “Gulf of America” label.
- Three hostages, including an American and a Russian, and 369 Palestinians were freed in a ceasefire swap, preserving the truce.
- The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary, tasking the vaccine critic with tackling obesity, chronic disease, and cost cuts.
- House Republicans unveiled a bill to cut taxes, reduce spending, and boost border funding, proposing $1.5 trillion in cuts and $4.5 trillion in tax reductions.
- Trump plans to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum starting Monday, with Mexico and Canada also facing trade measures.
Technology Advancements this week
- OpenAI is set to launch its new AI model, GPT-4.5, in the coming weeks, according to CEO Sam Altman. The release follows delays faced during development last year.
- Apple has launched its TV+ streaming service on Android phones for the first time, aiming to grow its subscriber base.
- Temu is overhauling its supply chain in response to tariffs, requiring merchants to handle shipping goods to the U.S. themselves. This shift could lead to higher prices for consumers as vendors adjust to increased logistics costs. As a result, some sellers may choose to exit the U.S. market altogether, potentially reshaping the platform’s product offerings.
- Apple’s Beats has introduced the Powerbeats Pro 2, featuring heart-rate monitoring for the first time. The new model also includes AirPods features like transparency mode, making it the first pair of Apple earbuds to offer heart-tracking capabilities.
- Google CEO Sundar Pichai predicts that practically useful quantum computers are still five to ten years away. He likened the current stage of quantum computing to where artificial intelligence was a decade ago, highlighting its potential for future breakthroughs.
- Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai has confirmed that Apple will integrate Alibaba’s AI technology into iPhones sold in China. The move comes as Alibaba works to regain momentum following years of challenges and market turbulence.
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