Shares of Microsoft and ServiceNow are trading at attractive prices after the steep sell-off in software stocks.The S&P North American Technology Software Index, which tracks 111 software stocks, has fallen 30% from the all-time high it hit in September. The puts the index in bear market territory, and artificial intelligence (AI) is the root cause.Specifically, investors worry AI tools will reduce demand for existing products. The selling started months ago, but accelerated when Anthropic released Cowork i ...

Core Viewpoint - SoftBank Group is anticipated to report a significant profit from its investment in OpenAI during its upcoming quarterly results announcement, with particular attention on its strategies for financing its artificial intelligence initiatives [1] Group 1 - SoftBank Group's investment in OpenAI is expected to yield a healthy profit [1] - The market is keenly focused on how SoftBank will fund its ongoing spending in artificial intelligence [1]

Senior U.S. Treasury officials concluded a high-stakes visit to Beijing last week, clearing a diplomatic path for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to engage in direct trade negotiations with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.Laying The GroundworkThe recent staff-level mission was designed “to strengthen channels of communication and advance the dialogue between our nations,” Secretary Bessent announced Monday.The discussions focused heavily on technical preparations for the upcoming ministerial meeting, which ...

Key TakeawaysTech giant Alphabet (GOOGL) is making a significant move in the debt market with a rare 100-year sterling bond and its debut Swiss franc debt offering, part of a multi-currency strategy to fuel its ambitious artificial intelligence investments.Luxury conglomerate Kering (KER) experienced a substantial surge in its shares, rising 14%—the most since 2020—driven by reassuring financial results and renewed market confidence in the turnaround strategy spearheaded by its new CEO, Luca de Meo, particu ...

Core Insights - ams OSRAM reported Q4 results that exceeded the mid-point of guidance, indicating strong performance in the semiconductor sector [1] - The company achieved EUR 144 million in free cash flow (FCF) for FY25, showcasing effective cash management and operational efficiency [1] - A new EUR 200 million 'Simplify' transformation and savings program has been launched, aimed at enhancing operational effectiveness and profitability [1] Financial Performance - The 'Re-establish-the Base' program was completed one year ahead of schedule, contributing to improved profitability despite challenging market conditions [1] - The semiconductor core business grew in alignment with overall semiconductor market growth, reflecting the company's competitive positioning [1]

Core Viewpoint - Ford's stock has increased nearly 50% over the past 12 months, despite facing challenges in 2025, including tariffs, supplier issues, and electric vehicle asset write-downs. Investors are hopeful for a more stable 2026 as management prepares to address these concerns [1]. Group 1 - Ford's stock performance has shown significant resilience, rising almost 50% in the past year [1]. - The company encountered various challenges in 2025, such as tariffs, supplier problems, and write-downs related to electric vehicles [1]. - Investors are looking forward to management's insights during the upcoming earnings call, anticipating a smoother operational outlook for 2026 [1].

Market Overview - Asian stocks ended mostly higher, driven by post-election optimism in Japan and a strong rebound in the sector [1] - The U.S. dollar index eased following reports of Chinese regulators limiting U.S. Treasury bond holdings [1] - Oil prices were subdued after a previous rise of over 1 percent due to a U.S. advisory warning of potential supply disruptions [1] Regional Indices - China's Shanghai Composite index increased by 0.13 percent to 4,128.37, fueled by stimulus expectations and investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence [2] - Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.58 percent to 27,183.15, led by gains in pharma and tech stocks [2] - The Nikkei average surged by 2.28 percent to 57,650.54, reaching a new record high amid rising equities and a recovering yen [3] - The broader Topix index settled 1.90 percent higher at 3,855.28, with expectations of increased government spending and tax cuts [3] Company Performance - SoftBank Group's stock soared by 10.7 percent ahead of its earnings results due on Thursday [4] - Furukawa Electric's shares jumped nearly 23 percent on robust earnings [4] - Seoul's Kospi average finished marginally higher at 5,301.69, with anticipation of U.S. retail sales, jobs, and inflation data that may influence Federal Reserve policy [4] Other Markets - Australian markets ended little changed after a relief rally, with software and data center stocks attracting fresh demand while healthcare stocks underperformed [5] - New Zealand's S&P/NZX-50 index rose by half a percent to 13,513.68 [5] - U.S. stocks ended on a firm note, with tech stocks rebounding from previous concerns regarding AI spending [5] U.S. Market Highlights - The Dow inched up marginally to reach a new record ahead of key earnings and economic data [6] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed by 0.9 percent, while the S&P 500 advanced by half a percent [6]

Drugmaker Lupin has entered into a Settlement and License Agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc, involving a patent infringement dispute over its product ‘Mirabegron’.“Lupin will pay Astellas $90 million, which includes a Prepaid Option Payment of $75 million, and a Prepaid Per Unit License Fee for each unit of Lupin Product sold from the date of the settlement through September 2027,” the company told the stock exchanges.The product is indicated for treating an overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary ...

Core Viewpoint - Cisco Systems has launched a new chip and router aimed at enhancing data transmission in large data centers, positioning itself to compete with Broadcom and Nvidia in the $600 billion AI infrastructure market [1] Group 1 - Cisco's new products are designed to accelerate information flow within massive data centers [1] - The launch is part of a strategic move to capture a share of the growing AI infrastructure spending [1] - The total market for AI infrastructure is projected to reach $600 billion [1]

Core Insights - Cisco announced a significant evolution of its security portfolio aimed at enabling enterprises to adopt agentic AI confidently, focusing on agent protection, interaction governance, and resilient connectivity for AI-driven workflows [2][3]. Group 1: Security Enhancements - The expansion of Cisco AI Defense introduces new features to secure agents and the AI supply chain, helping teams inventory and govern AI assets while identifying vulnerabilities earlier in the development lifecycle [5]. - AI Defense has aligned with leading AI frameworks from organizations like NIST, OWASP, and MITRE, and now includes mapping to Cisco's Integrated AI Security and Safety Framework [6]. - New runtime protections include integration with NVIDIA NeMo Guardrails, providing a modular architecture for real-time protection of AI systems in production [7]. Group 2: Governance and Risk Management - Cisco's AI BOM (Bill of Materials) offers centralized visibility and governance for AI software assets, enhancing the security of the AI supply chain [9]. - The MCP Catalog helps discover and manage risk across MCP servers and registries, strengthening AI governance [9]. - Advanced algorithmic red teaming expands AI security assessments, while real-time guardrails monitor agent interactions to detect unsafe behavior [9][10]. Group 3: Connectivity and Performance - Cisco's IOS XE 26 introduces full-stack post-quantum cryptography (PQC) protections, aligning with evolving regulatory guidance and defending against device tampering [13]. - The new capabilities in Cisco SASE are designed to govern agent interactions and ensure reliable AI traffic, addressing the complexities of AI-driven workflows [11][12]. - AI traffic optimization techniques are implemented to maintain low-latency interactions during high-load periods, ensuring predictable performance [17]. Group 4: Additional Features - Cisco Duo is enhancing visibility and protection for on-premises identity infrastructure, addressing legacy gaps in modern controls and multi-factor authentication [18]. - New agentic capabilities in Cisco Security Cloud Control will proactively analyze firewall traffic and configurations to surface recommendations and autonomously remediate issues [18].