What’s happening? Heavy recent drop: Palantir plunged ~9–9.4% on Tuesday (August 19), marking its worst daily drop in the S&P 500 and extending to a five-day losing streak, amounting to a 12–15% pullback from its August 12 all-time high of $190. Why the slide? Valuation concerns: Palantir's valuation sits at ~214 times forward earnings—well above the S&P 500 average (~22×) raising alarm among analysts. Profit-taking after a strong run-up: The stock has soared ~118% YTD (and ~409% over the past year), prompting investors to lock in gains Barron's. Short-seller pressure: Andrew Left of Citron Research called Palantir “detached from fundamentals,” suggesting a valuation closer to $40—a sharp contrast to current levels. Broader tech sell-off and AI fatigue: The decline is also tied to

$Intel(INTC)$ & $Softbank Corp.(SOBKY)$ https://www.reuters.com/commentary/breakingviews/softbank-throws-intel-its-next-best-lifeline-2025-08-19 1. SoftBank’s $2 B Investment What happened: On August 18–19, 2025, SoftBank signed a definitive agreement to invest $2 billion in common stock of Intel at $23 per share, acquiring roughly a 2% stake and becoming one of Intel’s top-six shareholders. Strategic rationale: This deal is part of SoftBank’s broader vision to bolster U.S. semiconductor production, deepen ties to AI and infrastructure projects like Project Stargate, and reinforce its role in the AI hardware ecosystem. Market reaction: Intel stock jumped about 7% following the announcement. 2. U.S. G

Market Recap: Why Is BTC Falling? Bitcoin has slipped to approximately $115,000, down about 7% from its record high (~$124,000), amid profit-taking, forced deleveraging, and uncertainty surrounding Federal Reserve policy. Investors are watching closely whether $112,000–$113,000 will hold as a crucial support zone, with technical indicators pointing to a possible further dip toward $108,000. Market sentiment remains cautious: analysts highlight macroeconomic jitters, Fed watch, and looming geopolitical risks as key headwinds to a rebound. Still, the broader narrative retains a long‑term bullish tilt holding below its all-time high, Bitcoin continues its uptrend with institutional interest and adoption as tailwinds. The Trump Family’s “Buy the Dip” Messaging: What It Means On August 2, 2025,

What Just Happened? On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, $Intel(INTC)$ Intel stock sank 7%, leading losses across the S&P 500. The slide erased gains from the prior day's SoftBank-backed rally and was fueled by rising investor concern around possible government stake-taking in exchange for chip‑funding under the CHIPS Act. What’s Behind the 7% Drop? $Softbank Corp.(SOBKY)$ SoftBank’s $2B Lifeline Meets Rising Uncertainty On August 19, SoftBank announced a $2 billion equity investment in Intel, acquiring roughly a 2% stake this had initially boosted the stock. But the rally reversed following reports that the U.S. government may take a 10% equity stake in Intel by converting previously granted CHIPS Act fun

Market Snapshot Shanghai Composite just closed at a decade-high of ~3,771 the strongest since August 2015 The CSI 300 edged up ~0.4%, buoyed by fintech and stablecoin-related shares amid early approvals for yuan-backed stablecoins Driving Forces Policy tailwinds: Expectations of stimulus and easing U.S.–China tensions are tipping investor sentiment Retail surge: Domestic inflows are growing, aided by low bond yields, property-sector frustrations, and attractive valuations Dividend culture shift: Beijing is pushing dividends and share buybacks to boost investor confidence dividend yields are now near 3%, highest since 2016 Warning signs linger: retail sales and fixed-asset investment are lagging, real estate remains frozen, and credit growth is weak. Meanwhile, Bridgewater liquidated its ~$

1. $Estee Lauder(EL)$ Earnings Season & Retailer Divergence: What’s Driving the Stock? Quarterly Results & Guidance EL reported a 12% drop in sales to ~$3.41 billion and a deepening operating loss, prompting a ~5% stock drop. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.09, meeting expectations but guidance disappointed, projecting $1.90–$2.10 EPS versus ~$2.20 expected, which triggered a further ~7.6% slide. The net loss reached $546 million (or $1.51/share), driven by restructuring charges (~$527 million), impairment, and tax adjustments. Full-year sales declined 8% to $14.3 billion. Gross margins improved to ~74% thanks to cost-efficiencies and pricing, while net profits were hurt by restructuring. Tariff headwinds are expected to shave $100

Pop Mart $POP MART(09992)$ just delivered stellar H1 2025 results, making a powerful statement in global retail and collectible toy spaces. Key Financial Highlights Revenue surged ~204% YoY to RMB 13.9 bn (≈ US $1.93 bn) in the first half of 2025 more than triple the previous year. Net profit climbed nearly 400% to around RMB 4.6 bn (~US $636 million) smashing expectations. Gross margin expanded too up from 64% to a strong ~70%. The Labubu Effect & Global Expansion The Monsters IP (led by Labubu) generated RMB 4.81 bn (~US $670 million), accounting for ~35% of total revenue. Plush toys (driven by Labubu keychains and plush variants) saw over 1,200% growth, now representing ~44% of revenue. International revenues soared: Americas grew ~1,100%,

ASX falls as Megellan and CIMIC plunge; China cuts benchmark loan rate - ABC News ASX Nears 9,000 - What’s Fuelling the Rally On Thursday, 21 August 2025, the S&P/ASX 200 officially closed above 9,000 points for the first time inching up 1.1% to 9,019.10. This milestone was driven by widespread strength across sectors, especially in financials, industrials, and consumer discretionary, powered by upbeat corporate earnings and supportive rate‑cut expectations. However, the jubilation was short‑lived: markets retreated the next day, sliding about 0.57% to around 8,967, as some post‑earnings profit‑taking and underwhelming results triggered a pullback. Must-Watch ASX Stocks (Potential Buys) Zip (ZIP) Why: Delivered a blockbuster result EBITDA more than doubled to A$170.3M, driven by a 41.6

Market Recap & Key Themes Big Rebound Unlocked: Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole address on August 22, 2025 delivered a surprise dovish tilt markets interpreted his tone as paving the way for a possible September rate cut, igniting a strong rally. Key Remarks & Signals: Powell emphasized rising downside risks to employment, noting job growth had slowed to around 35,000/month versus 168,000 in 2024. He described inflation impacts from tariffs as likely a “one‑time shift”, not a persistent threat. His message was unequivocally more dovish than expected, suggesting the Fed is considering easing if jobs weaken further. Market pricing for a September cut jumped 89% probability, up from ~70% earlier in the day. Market Reaction: Equities surged: S&P 500 popped ~1.6%, Russell 200

Key Dates & Estimates Earnings Release: Confirmed for Wednesday, August 27, 2025, after market close Quarter Focus: Q2 of fiscal year 2026 (ending July 2025). Consensus Estimates: Revenue: ~$45.8 billion, ~52% YoY growth. EPS: ~$1.00–1.01 per share. Company Outlook: Former Q1 posted $44.1 B in revenue with an $8 B hit from H20 export restrictions; Q2 guidance anticipated at ~$45 B, ±2%, and non‑GAAP gross margin around 72% Why "Leap" or "Trap"? Bullish Catalysts (“Leap”) $NVIDIA(NVDA)$ (Nvidia) remains the AI infrastructure leader and is central to the “AI trade” momentum. Analysts continue raising price targets on long-term AI optimism. Strong backlog from data-center, enterprise, and international demand remains intact despite macro pressure

Nvidia’s stock plunged 3.5% on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, dragging broader tech indices lower as investor confidence faltered. A striking MIT report revealed that 95% of organizations investing in generative AI are seeing zero financial return, significantly denting AI momentum. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman amplified caution by likening today’s AI fervor to the dot-com bubble, prompting a sharp rotation out of high-flying tech stocks. Expanded Insights 1. Tech Pullback & Market Rotation The Nasdaq tumbled 1.4%, its worst day since early August, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.7%. Mega AI-linked names took hits—Palantir dropped ~9.4%, Arm fell ~5%. At the same time, investors sought safety in defensive sectors, such as utilities and consumer staples. Crypto also weakened, with Bitcoin falling ~

$XIAOMI-W(01810)$ Xiaomi Delivers Record Q2 - Will Stock Follow Through to New Highs? Key Highlights (Q2 2025, ended June 30): Revenue soared ~30.5% YoY to a record RMB 116 billion (~US $16.2 billion), beating consensus (RMB 114.7 billion) . Adjusted net profit surged ~75% to RMB 10.8 billion, exceeding estimates (RMB 10.1 billion). Smartphone revenue softened ~2.1%–2.2% to RMB 45.5 billion, on lower ASPs though shipments rose (~42.4 million globally). IoT & Lifestyle ahoy Revenue jumped ~45% to RMB 38.7 billion, powered by appliances, wearables, tablets The Wall Street Journal. EV segment tripled revenue to RMB 20.6 billion with 81,302 units delivered; losses narrowed from RMB 500M to RMB 300M. Gross margin in EVs improved to ~26.4%, approac

China's Pop Mart, maker of the Labubu doll, says profit soars nearly 400% in first half - CNA $POP MART(09992)$ Market Snapshot & Catalysts New Highs: Pop Mart stock recently hit record highs HK$320–HK$321 following the buzz around the imminent Labubu mini launch. Hang Seng Index Entry: Pop Mart will join the Hang Seng Index (and the China Enterprises Index) on September 8, 2025, joining only two other new entrants a move typically favoring higher institutional demand. Revenue & Profit Surge: Pop Mart’s H1 2025 net profit spiked nearly 400%, while revenue tripled, and full-year revenue is projected to exceed 30 billion yuan (~US$4.18B) well above prior targets. Analyst Sentiment: Analysts remain bullish, with an average target of HK$372,

Valuation & Market Context Alibaba ( $Alibaba(BABA)$ ) trades around 14.2× forward P/E as of August 23, 2025. Barron’s recently reported a forward P/E of 13×, which is notably below its five‑year average, highlighting an attractive valuation setup. Pinduoduo ( $PDD Holdings Inc(PDD)$ ) presents more mixed figures: Yahoo Finance notes a forward P/E near 13.9×. TipRanks/ SimplyWallSt show a P/E of about 13×, well below the peer average of 56.8×. Seeking Alpha and Nasdaq sources have pegged forward P/E anywhere from 8× to 12.8× - depending on the growth expectations baked in. Bottom line: Both Alibaba and Pinduoduo appear cheap or at least modestly valued meaningful if China's consumer recovery kicks into

1. AI & Tech Under Pressure A sobering MIT report shows only 5% of generative AI pilots achieved rapid revenue growth a stark reminder of the hype surrounding AI investing. This triggered renewed selling in high‑fliers like Nvidia and Palantir, as investors recalibrate valuations. 2. Tech Sell-Off Continues Wall Street endured fresh declines as Nvidia and Palantir tumbled further amid growing concern of overvaluation in AI and tech sectors, extending earlier losses. 3. Retail & Housing Bright Spots Retailers TJX and Lowe’s bucked the trend: TJX rose after beating earnings and raising guidance, while Lowe’s gained on its earnings beat and an $8.8 billion acquisition of Foundation Building Materials. 4. Semiconductors Showing Strength? Some optimism emerges industrial and analog semi