In my previous breakdown of the quantum computing industry, I argued that the “Holy Grail” general-purpose quantum computer (the one that could crack every encryption and simulate molecules at a scale unimaginable for today’s machines) is still years, maybe decadesI’m passionate about finance and investing, focusing on business analysis, fundamental analysis, valuation, and long-term growth, especially in sectors like AI, fintech, finance and tech. I study finance and economy and have hands-on experience in ...

Economic Overview - The U.K. economy experienced volatility in early 2025 but has shown an upward trend since April, with the FTSE 100 up approximately 12% year to date and 5.2% from July to September 24, although it remained flat in September [1] - Following stronger-than-expected growth in the first half of 2025, S&P Global raised the U.K.'s growth projections for the year to 1.2% from 0.9%, with a further expected growth of 1.3% next year [2] Economic Challenges - High unemployment and inflation at 3.8% year on year in August are negatively impacting the U.K.'s economic outlook, with the flash PMI for September indicating a decline in business activity to 51.0, a four-month low [3] - The PMI survey highlighted slowing growth, falling trade, declining business confidence, and continued job losses [3] Inflation and Monetary Policy - The PMI's composite selling prices index suggests that inflation may begin to ease from the current 3.8%, with September's selling price index being the second lowest in 11 months [4] - S&P Global anticipates that the Bank of England (BoE) may adopt a more dovish approach, with expectations of two rate cuts over the next year, likely waiting until the first half of 2026 for further cuts [5] Investment Opportunities - The U.K. government secured £150 billion in U.S. investment through the "Tech Prosperity Deal," aiming to create 7,600 jobs and enhance cooperation in key sectors like AI and quantum computing [7][8] - Major contributions include £90 billion from Blackstone over the next decade, £5 billion from Google for data center expansion, and $30 billion (£22 billion) from Microsoft for AI infrastructure [9][10] ETFs to Consider - iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF has an asset base of $2.83 billion, a dividend yield of 3.72%, and has gained 4.29% over the past month and 15.49% over the past year [14][15] - Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF has an asset base of $837.9 million, a dividend yield of 3.48%, and has gained 3.41% over the past month and 16.69% over the past year [16][17] - First Trust United Kingdom AlphaDEX Fund has an asset base of $71.6 million, a dividend yield of 3.35%, and has gained 3.44% over the past month and 20.35% over the past year [18][19] - iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF has an asset base of $40.7 million, a dividend yield of 3.78%, and has gained 0.71% over the past month and 7.54% over the past year [20][21]

Core Insights - SciSparc Ltd. (NASDAQ: SPRC) is experiencing a significant stock surge, with a trading volume of 58.21 million compared to an average of 2.49 million [1] - The company is initiating an innovative project to advance 3D protein modeling using quantum computing technology, aiming to create new intellectual property [2] - The initial focus will be on refining quantum algorithms for simulating protein dynamics and binding interactions, particularly in drug discovery for neurological and rare diseases [3] Quantum Computing Initiative - SciSparc's new initiative will leverage quantum computing to improve the accuracy of predicting protein structures, which is challenging with traditional computing methods [4] - Quantum computing is expected to simulate the energy dynamics of proteins with greater precision, capturing complex movements and interactions more accurately [5] - The initiative aims to develop quantum-enabled tools to accurately predict protein folding, model protein-drug interactions, and accelerate drug discovery [6]

Core Insights - HSBC reported a 34% improvement in bond trade price prediction accuracy using IBM's Quantum Heron processors compared to traditional algorithms [2] - The application of quantum computing in financial markets is still in early stages, but it shows significant potential for advancements [3] - IBM's stock has increased by 29% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500, with a recent rally of over 5% [5][6] Company Developments - IBM plans to establish a large-scale quantum computing center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. by 2029 [4] - IBM is collaborating with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to develop quantum-centric supercomputing technology [4] - The stock has formed a 13-week cup pattern, with a buy point identified at 296.16, indicating a potential return to previous high levels [6] Market Context - The interest in quantum computing has surged, with major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet announcing breakthroughs in the field [4] - IBM's recent stock performance reflects a strong recovery, advancing 16% since the beginning of September [6]

Core Insights - Quantum computing stocks have experienced significant gains over the past year, indicating a potential watershed moment as major investment banks recognize their long-term potential despite many being pre-revenue [1] Market Overview - The global quantum computing market is expected to grow from $3.52 billion in 2025 to approximately $20.20 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.8% [2] Company Highlights - **IonQ (IONQ)**: - Leading quantum computing startup developing trapped-ion quantum computers, with a price target raised from $75 to $100 by B. Riley analyst Craig Ellis, maintaining a "Buy" rating [4] - Stock has increased by 833% over the past year, supported by significant cash raises to expand its operations and partnerships with major cloud platforms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google [6] - **D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)**: - Emerging as a frontrunner in quantum computing, particularly in quantum annealing systems, with a stock increase of 2,715% over the past year due to breakthroughs and effective public relations strategies [9]

Core Insights - Rigetti Computing (RGTI) has gained attention after B. Riley analyst Craig Ellis raised the price target to $35, significantly above the consensus forecast of $21, reflecting confidence in the company's market potential and execution [1][4]. Company Developments - Rigetti recently launched the Cepheus-1-36Q, a 36-qubit processor that achieved 99.5% fidelity and halved two-qubit gate errors, validating its chiplet-based scaling approach [3]. - The company aims to deliver a 100+ qubit chiplet system by the end of 2025, indicating strong growth potential while maintaining performance [3]. Financial Performance - RGTI's market cap is valued at $10 billion, with a one-year price performance increase of over 4100%, significantly outperforming the sector's 15% [4]. - The stock's price-to-sales (P/S) ratio has reached 893, far exceeding the sector median of 4, suggesting that the stock may be overpriced compared to peers [5]. Market Behavior - RGTI's stock has exhibited extreme volatility, with sharp price swings linked to funding developments, partnerships, and advancements in quantum computing technology [4].

Core Insights - HSBC has achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing for finance, demonstrating its potential in algorithmic bond trading [2][3] - The collaboration with IBM has produced the first empirical evidence of quantum computers' value in solving real-world financial problems [2][3] Group 1: Quantum Computing Breakthrough - HSBC's Head of Quantum Technologies described the achievement as a "ground-breaking world-first in bond trading," indicating a tangible application of quantum computing in business [3] - The trial results showed a 34% improvement in predicting trade fulfillment at quoted prices compared to traditional classical techniques [5] Group 2: Quantum Computing Fundamentals - Quantum computing utilizes the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in a vastly more complex manner than classical systems [4] - This technology can tackle problems that are beyond the capabilities of even the most advanced classical supercomputers [4] Group 3: Industry Implications - The results highlight the potential of quantum computers to provide superior solutions for the financial services sector, surpassing standard classical methods [6] - Recent advancements in quantum hardware, cloud access, and software frameworks are driving financial institutions to move from research to operational pilots [7]

The price of Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) is down by more than -2% at a 2-week low, ahead of the expiration of monthly options. More than $17 billion in notional open interest tied to Bitcoin is set to expire on Friday, according to derivatives exchange Deribit.Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid signaled the Fed may not need to lower interest rates again soon and said the current stance of Fed policy is “slightly restrictive, which I think is the right place to be as inflation remains too high while the labor marke ...

Core Insights - The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly impacted the tech market, particularly benefiting memory manufacturers like Micron, which does not produce AI software or GPUs but supplies essential memory components [1] - Micron is the third-largest supplier of memory chips, including DRAM, NAND, and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), with HBM chips being crucial for the AI market due to increasing demand driven by powerful GPUs [1] - The company reported a 46% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 of fiscal 2025, reaching $11.32 billion, indicating strong performance and momentum heading into fiscal 2026 [3][6] Financial Performance - Micron's Q4 revenue was $11.32 billion, up from $7.75 billion in Q4 2024 [6] - Net income for Q4 was $3.20 billion, compared to $887 million in the same quarter of the previous year [6] - Diluted earnings per share increased to $2.83 from $0.79 year-over-year [6] - Operating cash flow rose to $5.73 billion from $3.41 billion in Q4 2024 [6] - Gross margin improved to 44.7% from 35.3% in Q4 2024 [6] Market Outlook - The company anticipates a meaningful increase in demand for high-capacity enterprise SSDs, which are built with NAND flash memory chips, addressing a shortage of hard drive storage for hyperscalers [5] - Analysts from Bank of America have raised Micron's price target, citing strong support from surging AI demand and improved pricing in the memory industry [8][9] - The resurgence in traditional server CPU sales, driven by AI applications, is also seen as a positive factor for Micron's growth [9]

Core Insights - HSBC Holdings Plc has achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing with the first real-world trial in bond markets, showing up to a 34% improvement in predicting customer inquiry outcomes in the European corporate bond market [1][2][4] Group 1: Quantum Computing Breakthrough - The trial demonstrated the world's first-known quantum-enabled algorithmic trading in collaboration with IBM, utilizing both quantum and classical computing resources [2][4] - HSBC's group head of quantum technologies described the achievement as a "Sputnik moment," indicating a pivotal point for quantum technology in financial markets [4][9] - The trial's success suggests that quantum computing can solve practical financial problems, moving beyond theoretical applications [7] Group 2: Industry Implications - Other banks are also reporting advancements in quantum computing, indicating a growing interest and competition in the sector [6][8] - The trial's results could lead to increased activity in the financial sector as firms seek to leverage quantum technology for trading strategies [4][5] - JPMorgan has also made strides in quantum computing, generating truly random numbers for potential applications in encryption and trading [8] Group 3: Market Response - Quantum technology stocks, such as IonQ, D-Wave, and Rigetti, have seen significant gains this year, reflecting investor optimism despite warnings about the timeline for practical quantum computers [10] - The quantum computing market is expected to grow substantially, with projections indicating a total addressable market of US$8.95 billion by 2028 and US$1.3 trillion by 2040 [13]