Recently, Beijing-based startup Zhipu AI, specializing in artificial intelligence solutions, secured over 1 billion yuan (approximately USD 137.22 million) in a fresh round of financing. This funding round follows just a few months after the company received 3 billion yuan in previous investments, underlining the robust momentum in its development and the growing market interest in its technology.
Overview of the Deal
This round of funding comes at a time when competition in China’s AI sector is intensifying. The emergence of competitor DeepSeek, known for its large language models that are said to rival Western counterparts at a lower cost, has further energized the market. The new investments will empower Zhipu AI to upgrade its proprietary language model, GLM, and expand its overall AI ecosystem.
HP Inc $HPQ has embarked on a new phase of growth by exceeding Q1 revenue forecasts, buoyed by robust performance in its personal systems segment and a surge in demand for AI-powered platforms. Despite these promising financials, market shares fell by over 3% in after-hours trading following subdued earnings guidance for Q2.
Financial Performance and Restructuring Measures
The solid revenue figures in Q1 were largely driven by a notable upswing in the personal systems segment. The increased interest in integrated AI solutions has stimulated demand across both corporate and consumer sectors. In parallel, HP Inc has announced plans to lay off between 1,000 and 2,000 employees as part of a previously disclosed restructuring initiative. This move is projected to generate savings of approximately USD 300 million in the 2025 fiscal year, reflecting the company’s commitment to cost optimization and maintaining competitive strength in a dynamic market.
PC Market Outlook and Future Prospects
Meta Platforms $META , the tech giant behind social media powerhouse Facebook, is reportedly considering a massive expansion in its data center infrastructure to support its growing artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. According to sources cited by The Information, the potential cost of this expansion could exceed an astonishing $200 billion.
Why Meta Is Investing in Data Centers
The ever-increasing demand for advanced AI capabilities has driven Meta to explore innovative solutions and infrastructure enhancements. Here's what fuels this ambitious plan:
1. AI-Driven Growth: Meta's commitment to AI research and development is at the core of this expansion, as data centers are critical in processing complex AI algorithms and data.
The American pharmaceutical giant Amgen $AMGN is once again demonstrating its commitment to global growth by investing approximately 200 million dollars in a new technology hub in southern India. This move reinforces the company’s ambition to strengthen its presence in the so-called "pharmacy of the world" and leverage innovative technologies for drug development. During the event on Monday, CEO Robert Bradway emphasized that additional significant investments are planned in the coming years.
New Technology Hub in India
The inauguration of the hub in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, marks a pivotal milestone for Amgen. Presently, around 300 employees are working at the site, and the number is expected to reach approximately 2000 by the end of the year. This facility will focus on advancing artificial intelligence and data science applications in pharmaceutical research, thereby accelerating the process of creating new medical treatments.
Grab Holdings $GRAB recently released its annual revenue forecast, which fell short of analysts' expectations. This announcement led to a sharp decline in the company's stock, dropping over 9% after the market closed. The primary drivers behind this forecast are intense competition in the food delivery and ride-hailing sectors, alongside ongoing macroeconomic instability.
Challenges for Grab Holdings
Grab is facing increasing competition from smaller but agile companies like Foodpanda and Indonesia's GoTo $GOTO.TA. These players are actively expanding their market presence in food delivery by offering attractive deals and competitive pricing to consumers.
On Tuesday, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced the allocation of $1 billion to a fund aimed at supporting the private sector of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This fund is designed to finance sustainable growth in Latin America and the Caribbean. Notably, this is the largest private sector fund of JICA in the region and the first joint fund with IDB Invest.
Significance of the New JICA Fund
This step marks a significant milestone as it targets the development of the private sector and the attraction of new investments in the region. This is particularly important for Latin America and the Caribbean, which face an annual sustainable finance deficit as estimated by the OECD.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase $COIN ended the fourth quarter of 2024 with record profits, significantly surpassing analysts' expectations. According to data compiled by LSEG, the company earned $4.68 per share in the last three months of the year — more than double the forecasted $1.81.
The primary drivers of growth were:
- Increased trading volumes of Bitcoin and other digital assets.
- A sharp spike in interest in cryptocurrencies following the U.S. election, including Donald Trump's victory.
Juniper Networks $JNPR strongly refuted allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice that its acquisition by Hewlett Packard Enterprise $HPE could suppress competition in the networking equipment market. On Monday, the company filed a formal response in a federal court in California, stating that the regulator's complaints do not accurately reflect the realities of the market.
The $14 Billion Deal in Focus
Under the terms of the agreement, Hewlett Packard Enterprise was set to acquire Juniper Networks for $14 billion in cash. This decision raised concerns within the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed a lawsuit last month seeking to block the merger. The agency argues that the completion of this merger would create a market monopoly, with over 70% of the U.S. networking equipment market falling under the control of HPE and Cisco Systems $CSCO.
Juniper Networks' Defense
Monday marked significant developments in the stock market as the shares of energy giant BP $BP experienced a noteworthy increase. The stock rose by 7% in the morning trading session, driven by Elliott Management's decision to boost its stake in BP. This move has caught the attention of investors and analysts who anticipate changes in BP's strategy and board composition.
Stock Dynamics
As of 09:01 GMT, BP shares climbed to 462.85 pence, recording the largest daily gain since February 2023. The rise in stock price is linked to Elliott Management, known for its active investments in the energy sector, possibly aiming to influence BP's strategy to enhance market efficiency.
Franklin Templeton Investments, a well-known name in asset management, has recently announced plans to seek regulatory approval for launching a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on cryptocurrency indices. This strategy emerges in response to shifts in the political landscape, particularly following Donald Trump's recent victory in the U.S. presidential elections.
Donald Trump's campaign has ushered in a new era of enthusiasm for digital assets. Key points about his influence include:
- Policy Support: Trump has expressed support for cryptocurrencies, pledging to position the United States as the "crypto capital of the planet."
- National Initiative: His promise to establish a national reserve of Bitcoin has caught significant attention.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently made a decision that carries significant implications for the nation's economy. This marks the first reduction in the key interest rate in nearly five years, symbolizing a strategic move toward stimulating economic growth amidst falling inflation expectations.
India's Monetary Policy Committee, comprising three RBI representatives and three external members, approved a 25 basis point cut in the REPO rate to 6.25%. This move is the first of its kind since 2020, following eleven consecutive meetings where the rate remained unchanged. The decision also aligns with forecasts from over 70% of economists surveyed by Reuters.
Objectives and Outlook
Santander Bank $SC has revealed plans to return substantial funds to investors through a share buyback program scheduled for 2025 and 2026. The total amount intended for return to shareholders is set at 10 billion euros (approximately 10.39 billion USD). This move is facilitated by the bank's record profit levels and expected surplus capital.
Santander's net profit for the fourth quarter grew by 11% compared to the same period last year. The primary growth drivers included successful retail operations in Spain and Brazil, along with increased income that offset a decline in consumer lending volumes.
