Market Review - The Nikkei 225 index opened at 53023.28 points, down 1.53% [1] - The Korean Composite Index opened at 4997.54 points, up 0.1% [1] - Spot gold surpassed $5000 per ounce for the first time, increasing by approximately 1% [1] - Spot silver also reached a new high, rising over 2% to a maximum of $106.541 per ounce [1] - On January 23, the US major stock indices closed mixed, with the Dow Jones down 0.58% at 49098.71 points, the S&P 500 up 0.03% at 6915.61 points, and the Nasdaq up 0.28% at 23501.24 points [1] - For the week, the Dow Jones fell 0.52%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.35%, and the Nasdaq decreased by 0.06% [1] - In Europe, major stock indices closed mixed, with the DAX up 0.18% at 24900.71 points, the CAC40 down 0.07% at 8143.05 points, and the FTSE 100 down 0.07% at 10143.44 points [1] - For the week, the DAX fell 1.57%, the CAC40 dropped 1.4%, and the FTSE 100 decreased by 0.9% [1] Upcoming Events - The Federal Reserve is set to hold its first monetary policy meeting of 2026 on January 29, with expectations that it will maintain current rates [2] - Market focus for Tesla's earnings report has shifted from financial data to advancements in Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems, humanoid robots, and Robotaxi technology [2] - Microsoft and Meta will address whether companies are beginning to benefit from AI investments [2] Institutional Insights - Goldman Sachs has raised its 2026 gold price forecast to $5400 per ounce from a previous estimate of $4900 per ounce, citing diversification in private investment as a key factor for gold's upward movement [3] Company News - Nvidia's founder Jensen Huang visited the company's new office in Shanghai, engaging with employees and addressing their concerns [4] - Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the FSD system requiring driver supervision is expected to be approved in China as early as next month, aligning closely with its approval timeline in Europe [4] - Amazon plans a second round of layoffs as part of a larger plan to cut approximately 30,000 jobs, with the latest round expected to be similar in scale to the 14,000 white-collar positions cut in October 2025 [4]

Group 1 - The upcoming week will see a total reverse repurchase maturity scale of 11,810 billion yuan, with specific maturities on each day from Monday to Friday [1] - On January 26, a press conference will be held by the State Council Information Office regarding the 2025 business work and operational situation [2] - On January 27, China will release the year-on-year profit data for large-scale industrial enterprises for December 2025 [3] Group 2 - A press conference on January 28 will introduce the high-quality development of state-owned enterprises [4] - On January 30, preliminary GDP data for Hong Kong for the fourth quarter will be published [5] - On January 31, the official manufacturing PMI data for January will be released, with December's PMI recorded at 50.1%, an increase of 0.9 percentage points from the previous month [6] Group 3 - A total of 30 companies will have their restricted shares unlocked next week, with a total market value exceeding 40 billion yuan, with January 27 being the peak unlocking date [6] - The companies with the highest unlocking market values include Haibo Shichuang (23.154 billion yuan), Fostar (5.367 billion yuan), and Yifang Biotechnology-U (4.251 billion yuan) [6] - Three new stocks will be issued next week, including Beixin Life on January 26 and Linping Development and Electronic Science and Technology Blue Sky on January 30 [6] Group 4 - The upcoming week will feature a "super earnings week" for U.S. stocks, with major tech companies like Microsoft, Meta, Tesla, Apple, and others reporting earnings [8] - The Federal Reserve is expected to announce its interest rate decision on January 30, with a low likelihood of rate cuts in the first quarter [8] - The U.S. government faces a risk of shutdown by January 31, with a 75% probability of closure due to recent political tensions [9]

Economic Indicators - The U.S. durable goods orders for November are expected to show a month-on-month increase of 3%, a significant recovery from the previous decline of -2.2% [3] - China's industrial profits for December are anticipated to decline by 13.1% year-on-year, indicating ongoing pressure on profitability in the industrial sector [3][4] - The U.S. PCE inflation data for December will be released on January 29, providing insights into price pressures in the economy [9] Major Financial Events - The upcoming week is termed "Super Earnings Week," with major tech companies like Microsoft, Meta, Tesla, and Apple set to report earnings, shifting focus from traditional financial metrics to the efficiency of AI capital expenditures [6][10] - The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain interest rates during its meeting on January 30, with Chairman Powell's comments likely to clarify the outlook for future rate cuts [7][10] - The OPEC+ monthly meeting is scheduled for February 1, where oil production policies will be discussed [17] Corporate Earnings - Key tech giants such as Tesla, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple will report earnings, with a focus on AI-related capital expenditures and hardware cycle recovery [10][11] - Storage companies like SanDisk, Western Digital, and Seagate, along with South Korean firms Samsung and SK Hynix, will also report, with market attention on the impact of AI on storage pricing and profitability [10][11] Geopolitical Events - The U.S. Treasury Secretary is expected to announce the new Federal Reserve Chairperson candidate during the week of January 26, which could influence market sentiment [12] - The EU-India summit may announce a historic trade agreement, reflecting the EU's strategic pivot in response to U.S. trade policies [12] - Political tensions and geopolitical risks, including developments in Greenland and the potential for another U.S. government shutdown, are expected to create market uncertainty [12][13] Industry Conferences - The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology will hold a seminar on space computing power on January 26, focusing on the integration of space information and intelligent computing [16] - The European Parliament will host a fusion energy conference on January 27, discussing the EU's fusion strategy [17]

Company Overview - Quantum Computing (QCi) has experienced significant stock volatility since its uplisting to the Nasdaq on July 15, 2021, starting at $6.60 per share and dropping to a low of $0.42 by July 1, 2024, before rebounding to around $12 [1][2] - QCi's photonic quantum chips, which utilize light for data processing and are manufactured in conventional chip fabs, differentiate themselves from other quantum chips that require cryogenic refrigeration [3] Technology and Market Position - Theoretically, QCi's chips are expected to be cheaper, more scalable, and require less maintenance compared to traditional electron- and ion-driven systems, but they currently produce more errors and are more expensive to manufacture in small batches [4] - Despite opening its first foundry and beginning chip deliveries, QCi primarily generates revenue from professional services and its cloud-based Dirac-3 platform rather than chip sales [5] Financial Performance and Valuation - Analysts project QCi will generate only $2.8 million in revenue for 2026, while its market cap stands at $2.69 billion, resulting in a valuation of 960 times the revenue estimate, which may limit upside potential and attract short sellers [6] - As of the end of 2025, nearly 22% of QCi's outstanding shares were shorted, with expectations that this ratio could increase as the company faces challenges in scaling its chipmaking business [7] Comparison with Competitors - IBM is highlighted as a more stable investment in the quantum computing sector, having expanded its quantum business over the past decade and offering a healthy dividend, contrasting with QCi's volatile stock and overvaluation [8][9]

Core Viewpoint - Analysts expect IBM to report quarterly earnings of $4.33 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 10.5%, with revenues projected at $19.2 billion, up 9.4% from the previous year [1] Earnings Estimates - Changes in earnings estimates are crucial for predicting investor reactions, with empirical research showing a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock performance [2] Key Metrics Projections - Analysts project 'Revenue- Software' to be $8.90 billion, indicating a year-over-year change of +12.4% [4] - 'Revenue- Consulting' is expected to reach $5.43 billion, reflecting a +5% change from the prior year [4] - 'Revenue- Other' is estimated at $32.55 million, showing a +12.3% year-over-year change [4] - 'Revenue- Infrastructure' is forecasted at $4.67 billion, suggesting a +9.8% increase year over year [5] - 'Revenue- Infrastructure Support' is projected to be $1.31 billion, with a +0.7% change [5] - 'Revenue- Transaction Processing' is expected to reach $2.55 billion, indicating a +6.4% change [5] - 'Revenue- Hybrid Infrastructure' is anticipated to be $3.36 billion, reflecting a +12.1% change [6] Segment Profit Projections - 'Segment Profit- Software' is expected to reach $3.62 billion, compared to $3.10 billion in the same quarter last year [6] - 'Segment Profit- Infrastructure' is projected at $1.16 billion, up from $1.06 billion year over year [6] - 'Segment Profit- Financing' is estimated at $97.25 million, compared to $94.00 million in the previous year [7] - 'Segment Profit- Consulting' is expected to be $685.71 million, up from $606.00 million in the same quarter last year [7] Stock Performance - Over the past month, IBM shares have recorded a return of -3.3%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has changed by +0.6% [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the journey of an individual transitioning from a potential career in politics to a focus on value investing, emphasizing the importance of risk management and long-term wealth growth [1] Group 1: Career Transition - The individual initially pursued a career in politics but faced challenges that led to a shift towards finance and investment [1] - After experiencing financial setbacks in 2019, the decision was made to study value investing to create wealth and mitigate risks [1] Group 2: Professional Experience - From 2020 to 2022, the individual worked in a sales role at a law firm, where they became the top-grossing salesman and managed a team, contributing to sales strategy [1] - The experience gained during this period was instrumental in assessing company prospects based on sales strategies [1] Group 3: Investment Advisory Role - Between 2022 and 2023, the individual served as an investment advisory representative with Fidelity, focusing on 401K planning [1] - Despite excelling in this role and passing Series exams ahead of schedule, there was frustration due to the reliance on modern portfolio theory, which conflicted with the individual's value investing approach [1] Group 4: Current Endeavors - In November 2023, the individual began writing for Seeking Alpha, sharing investment opportunities and insights with readers [1] - The articles serve as a platform for the individual to document their investment journey and the opportunities they pursue [1]

Core Insights - IBM has launched a comprehensive platform and consulting service called "IBM Enterprise Advantage" aimed at enhancing coordination for the surge of internal AI projects within enterprises [2][3] Group 1: Service Overview - IBM Enterprise Advantage integrates previously scattered AI projects, which were often limited to proof of concepts or specific applications [3] - The service allows AI managers to quickly build AI readiness processes on top of existing cloud providers, AI models, or core infrastructure without dismantling current systems [3][4] - The service is designed to address various types of enterprise debt, including technical, skill, data, and process debt, which have accumulated over years [3][4] Group 2: Market Potential - The service represents a new category of AI applications termed "service as software," which is expected to grow to $1.5 trillion in the next decade [5][8] - This category is characterized by automated, composable, and managed delivery methods, moving beyond traditional custom consulting [5][6] Group 3: Application Scenarios - Key use cases for IBM Enterprise Advantage include customer service automation, compliance and regulatory workflows, document-centric processes, supply chain optimization, and claims management [7][9] - The service is particularly valuable for medium to large enterprises with complex systems, regulatory requirements, or stalled AI projects [7][9]

Company Overview - Proactive is a financial news publisher that provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company operates with a team of experienced and qualified news journalists, ensuring independent content production [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The news team delivers insights across various sectors, including biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Core Insights - IBM is expected to report higher revenues in its Consulting segment due to increased demand for technology consulting and business transformation services [1] Group 1: Consulting Segment Performance - The Consulting segment includes Strategy and Technology and Intelligent Operations, providing consulting and application management services that leverage industry and technology expertise [2] - IBM's partnership with Microsoft has been extended, enhancing its consulting capabilities through the integration of Microsoft's Copilot with IBM Consulting Advantage [3] - The integration of AI tools has resulted in significant efficiency gains, saving IBM 250,000 hours annually, which translates to $35 million in value [4] Group 2: Revenue Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Consulting revenues is projected at $5.43 billion, an increase from $5.17 billion in the same quarter last year [5] - Total revenue for IBM is estimated at $19.22 billion, up from $17.55 billion in the prior-year quarter, with earnings expected to grow to $4.33 per share from $3.92 [5] Group 3: Earnings Predictions - Current analysis does not predict an earnings beat for IBM in the fourth quarter, with an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [6]

Core Insights - IBM is expected to report higher revenues in the Software segment for Q4 2025, driven by product innovation and the increasing influence of watsonx.ai across various sectors [1] Group 1: Software Segment Performance - The Software segment encompasses Hybrid Cloud (previously Red Hat), Automation, and Data and Transaction Processing [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Software revenues is projected at $8.9 billion, up from $7.9 billion in the same quarter last year [6] - New AI partnerships with S&P Global and Groq are anticipated to enhance the utility of watsonx.ai in major industries, contributing to revenue growth [8] Group 2: Strategic Partnerships and Acquisitions - IBM partnered with S&P Global to integrate AI-powered tools for supply chain management, aiming to improve decision-making processes [3] - Collaboration with Groq focuses on accelerating AI deployment by integrating Groq's inference technology into IBM's offerings, addressing challenges in speed, cost, and reliability [4] - The acquisition of Confluent, Inc. is expected to modernize IBM's streaming data capabilities and expand its client base, further boosting Software segment revenues [5] Group 3: Overall Financial Expectations - Total revenue for IBM is estimated at $19.22 billion, an increase from $17.55 billion in the prior-year quarter [6] - The consensus estimate for earnings per share is $4.33, reflecting growth from $3.92 in the same quarter last year [6]