Author: Jack Mulligan
Snowflake (SNOW) stock surged over 12% on Thursday following the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report, which exceeded Wall Street expectations. The enterprise software maker reported better-than-expected revenue and provided strong guidance for fiscal 2026, signaling renewed growth momentum. Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations Snowflake reported adjusted earnings of 30 cents per share for Q4, down 14% from the previous year but well above analysts’ estimates of 18 cents per share. The company’s revenue climbed 27% to $986.8 million, surpassing Wall Street’s projection of $956.9 million. RBC Capital analyst Matthew Hedberg noted that Snowflake’s Q4 revenue beat estimates by 3%, although this was…
Egg prices are expected to surge by 41.1% this year as the bird flu epidemic continues to ravage the U.S. agricultural sector, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This projection more than doubles the 20% increase predicted in January, reflecting the worsening impact of the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak. Why Egg Prices Are Skyrocketing The bird flu outbreak, which began in 2022, has intensified significantly. In January 2025, the virus affected 18.8 million egg-laying hens, marking the highest monthly total since the crisis started. As a result, egg shortages have grown more severe,…
Europe’s luxury sector is finally showing signs of revival after a difficult 2024, bolstered by an upbeat earnings season. High-end brands like Hermes, LVMH, and Gucci-owner Kering exceeded expectations, signaling a potential turnaround. However, uncertainties in Chinese consumer demand and looming U.S. tariffs threaten to complicate the road to recovery. Upbeat Earnings Spark Hope for Recovery Luxury brands delivered strong fourth-quarter performances, sparking optimism for a sector that struggled throughout 2024. Hermes led the pack with impressive sales figures, continuing its market outperformance. Even beleaguered giants like LVMH and Kering posted better-than-expected earnings, suggesting a cyclical recovery may be underway.…
On February 24, 2025, Alibaba Group announced its plan to invest RMB380 billion (US$53 billion) over the next three years to enhance its cloud computing and AI infrastructure. This substantial investment underscores Alibaba’s commitment to technological innovation and solidifies its market position as a leading global cloud provider. Strategic Implications of the Investment Alibaba’s massive investment aims to strengthen its cloud and AI capabilities, positioning the company to better compete with global tech giants. The move is expected to drive significant growth in Alibaba’s cloud business while bolstering its AI-driven products and services. This strategic initiative could also have substantial…
Bluebird Bio announced on Friday that it will sell itself to private equity firms Carlyle and SK Capital for about $30 million, marking the end of its journey from a high-flying biotech firm to a company on the brink of insolvency. Details of the Acquisition Shareholders will receive $3 per share with the potential of earning an additional $6.84 per share if Bluebird’s gene therapies reach $600 million in sales within any 12-month period by the end of 2027. Bluebird’s shares closed at $7.04 on Thursday but plunged 40% following the announcement of the sale. Rise and Fall of Bluebird…
Gold prices surged to a record high on Thursday as escalating trade war fears, fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats, increased safe-haven demand for the precious metal. Gold Prices and Market Performance Spot gold rose 0.4% to $2,944.38 an ounce by 11:28 a.m. ET (1628 GMT), after hitting an intraday high of $2,954.69, marking its tenth record high this year. U.S. gold futures gained 0.9% to $2,962.30. Gold has gained 12% so far this year as investors seek safety amid geopolitical uncertainties. “Ongoing trade tensions continue to stoke inflation and growth concerns and therefore safe-haven interest in gold,”…
U.S. Federal Reserve officials remain uncertain about how tariffs might influence inflation, but they are increasingly concerned about risks to supply chains, public expectations, and overall price levels as the Trump administration’s tariff plans unfold. Trade War and Monetary Policy During President Donald Trump’s first term, the trade war led the Fed to lower interest rates due to slowing global and U.S. economic growth. However, with inflation still a key concern and consumer spending remaining strong, Fed officials are now more sensitive to how supply disruptions may lead to persistent inflation. The administration’s piecemeal approach to tariffs could be particularly…
Elon Musk’s xAI on Tuesday introduced its latest artificial intelligence model, Grok 3, claiming it surpasses offerings from OpenAI and China’s DeepSeek based on early standardized tests in math, science, and coding. Grok 3 and Deep Search Launch “We’re very excited to present Grok 3, which is, we think, an order of magnitude more capable than Grok 2 in a very short period of time,” Musk said during a live demonstration streamed on his social media platform, X. The team also introduced a new product called “Deep Search,” which they described as a next-generation search engine. Grok 3 will be…
A little-known biotech company stunned the industry last spring when Summit Therapeutics announced its experimental cancer drug showed greater effectiveness than Merck’s Keytruda. The drug was licensed from Chinese company Akeso Inc., highlighting a growing trend of U.S. companies sourcing breakthrough medicines from China. Surge in Biopharma Deals with China Almost 30% of Big Pharma deals with at least $50 million up front involved Chinese companies in 2024, a significant rise from 20% the previous year and none five years ago, according to DealForma. “That’s stunning to me,” said Chen Yu, managing partner at TCGX. He noted that 20 years…
German authorities confirmed on Friday that the suspect in Thursday’s car ramming incident in Munich had an “Islamist motive.” However, prosecutors stated that there was no evidence linking the attack to terrorist organizations such as the so-called “Islamic State.” Suspect Admits to Intentional Act The 24-year-old Afghan suspect reportedly uttered the phrase “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest) to police officers, according to prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann. “He has admitted that he deliberately drove into the participants of the demonstration,” Tilmann added. She also stated, “I’m very cautious about making hasty judgments, but based on everything we know at the moment, I…