What the US-China trade truce means for markets and the economy, plus Big Tech's massive AI spend

Market Overview - The US-China trade truce is expected to create more stability in the relationship, although it is characterized as a truce rather than a breakthrough [9][11][12] - The Federal Reserve cut rates by 0.25 percentage points, with indications that further cuts are not guaranteed [2][4] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained over 200 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq experienced slight declines [3][4] Big Tech Earnings - Meta's shares fell by 11% after announcing increased capital expenditures for the upcoming year, exceeding the $72 billion planned for this year [6][32] - Microsoft also reported a 2.2% decline in shares despite good underlying metrics, as it ramped up spending to meet demand [7][32] - In contrast, Alphabet's shares rose by 5% due to a 15% increase in search revenue and growth in its Gemini AI platform [8][32] US-China Trade Negotiations - President Trump expressed satisfaction with the progress made in trade negotiations, focusing on issues like fentanyl tariffs and soybean purchases [9][10] - The meeting between Trump and Xi was brief, lasting only about 90 minutes, and did not address significant topics like Taiwan or Russia [13][14] - The long-term trajectory still points towards decoupling between the US and China, with both nations leveraging their positions [15][19] Corporate Earnings Insights - Meta's Q4 guidance was perceived as soft, leading to investor skepticism about its future AI investments [36][39] - Google's AI mode has seen rapid adoption, with 75 million daily active users, contributing positively to its search business [41][44] - Amazon's upcoming earnings report is anticipated to focus on AWS growth, which needs to exceed 19% to regain investor confidence [50][52] Cardinal Health Performance - Cardinal Health reported a 22% increase in quarterly revenue, driven by strong demand across all operating segments [105][106] - The company is focusing on specialty pharmaceuticals through strategic acquisitions, contributing significantly to profit growth [107][110] - The firm remains optimistic about future growth despite potential regulatory changes affecting the healthcare landscape [111][115]