When asked about stocks with the top returns this century, most people probably first think about technology companies. And it's true that shares of Apple returned 28,200% while putting iPhones in over a billion people's hands, while Amazon returned 6,200% from its leadership in e-commerce and its head start on the cloud computing revolution through Amazon Web Services. Shares of Alphabet trade up 13,400% since its 2005 IPO, thanks largely to Google's spot as the dominant search engine, while shares of N ...

As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, it’s worth asking a deceptively simple question: Which companies helped build the America we recognize today? From the brands that powered the Industrial Revolution to the ones that reshaped how we shop, ride, eat, listen and connect, these American companies have long been more than just businesses. They’ve been cultural forces, economic engines and mirrors of the country’s evolving identity. Explore American Journeys: We retraced iconic trips that hel ...

There are a few different ways to tap into the coming quantum computing revolution. You can invest in a pure-play stock like Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: QUBT) and hope that it is among the ones that break out and don't get gobbled up by a bigger fish or go out of business. Think of all the dot-coms there were before things started consolidating. Another option is to find an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests in a pool of cutting-edge quantum computing stocks for that diversification and active, ...

Group 1 - Baidu's chip unit has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong, indicating a strategic move to raise capital and expand its semiconductor business [1] - The filing comes amid a competitive landscape in the chip industry, where companies are increasingly focusing on innovation and production capabilities [1] - The IPO is expected to attract significant investor interest, reflecting the growing demand for advanced technology solutions [1] Group 2 - Trump has delayed tariffs on furniture, which may impact the pricing and supply chain dynamics within the home goods sector [1] - This decision could provide temporary relief to manufacturers and retailers, allowing them to adjust their strategies in response to market conditions [1] - The delay may also influence consumer behavior, as pricing stability could lead to increased spending in the home furnishings market [1] Group 3 - Google is making changes to its home listings sector, which could disrupt traditional real estate practices and enhance user experience [1] - The shake-up may lead to increased competition among real estate platforms, pushing them to innovate and improve their offerings [1] - These changes are likely to affect how consumers search for and purchase homes, potentially reshaping the real estate market landscape [1]

Market Overview - Asian markets started the new year with gains, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng rising 2.2% to 26,189.79, driven by a strong rally in tech shares [1] - South Korea's Kospi increased by 1.5% to 4,277.94, while the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia edged up 0.2% to 8,727.30 [2] - Expectations of growth in artificial intelligence are boosting demand for computer chips and infrastructure [2] Company Highlights - Alibaba's shares climbed 3.2% following the announcement of plans to spin off its AI computer chip unit Kunlunxin, which is set to list in Hong Kong in early 2027, pending regulatory approvals [1] - Baidu's stock surged 7.5% after the same announcement regarding Kunlunxin [1] Economic Indicators - Recent manufacturing data in the region has been weak, but trade remains resilient, with exports from most countries surging in recent months [3] - The near-term outlook for Asia's export-oriented manufacturing sectors is considered favorable [3] US Market Performance - The S&P 500 futures rose by 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures increased by 0.3% [4] - The S&P 500 closed 2025 with a 16.4% gain, setting 39 record highs, while the Nasdaq and Dow gained 20.4% and 13% respectively [5] - Strong corporate profits and three interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve contributed to market gains [7] Commodity Prices - US benchmark crude oil prices increased by $0.35 to $57.77 per barrel, while Brent crude rose by the same amount to $61.20 per barrel [9] - Silver prices gained 3.5% after a previous decline, closing the year with a 140% increase, while gold rose by 1.1% with a 63.7% annual gain [8]

Funding - Lore 公司融资 110 万美元，用于构建个性化的粉丝文化搜索引擎 [1]

Digital China Plan - In May 2025, China released its Digital China Plan, focusing on "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Plus" applications and data infrastructure development [1] - The goal is to increase China's computing power and grow the digital economy's share of GDP beyond 10% [1] - This initiative creates a favorable environment for leading tech firms to scale their platforms [1] Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) - In 2Q 2025, TME reported a revenue growth of nearly 18% YoY to approximately US$1.2 billion [2] - Net profits increased by 43.2% YoY to US$336 million [2] - Revenue from online music services surged by 26.4% YoY to US$957 million, with music subscription revenue climbing 17.1% YoY to US$611 million [3] - Successful product innovations, particularly for Super VIP customers, contributed to this growth [3] - TME's acquisition of Ximalaya, a leading online audio platform, is expected to enhance its long-form audio services [4] - A renewed strategic partnership with Galaxy Arena supports TME's live entertainment segment growth [5] NetEase Inc. - In 2Q 2025, NetEase reported a revenue increase of 9.4% YoY to US$3.9 billion [7] - Net profit rose by 27.3% YoY to US$1.2 billion, driven by gaming services revenue growth of 13.7% YoY to US$3.2 billion [7] - The educational technology segment, Youdao, saw a revenue increase of 7.2% YoY to US$198 million, attributed to AI integration [8] - The announcement of Blood Message, a AAA single-player title, positions NetEase competitively in the global gaming market [9] Baidu Inc. - In 2Q 2025, Baidu reported revenue of US$4.6 billion, a decline of 4% YoY, but net profits increased by 33% YoY to US$1 billion [10] - The profit increase is linked to successful AI initiatives, including the AI transformation of Baidu Search [10] - Monthly active users of the Baidu App rose by 5% YoY to 735 million [11] - Non-online marketing revenue, including Baidu AI Cloud and Apollo Go, grew by 34% YoY to US$1.4 billion [11] - Strategic partnerships with Lyft and DeepX aim to expand Baidu's AI capabilities and market access [12]

The bloc’s antitrust regulators say the search giant may need to divest parts of its business https://t.co/asAUcS8Y8k ...

Alphabet shares hit an all-time high Wednesday, a day after a federal court ruling that the company didn't have to divest its Google search engine over concerns it was a monopoly. https://t.co/jnM6PJkQOb ...

Regulatory & Legal Landscape - A federal judge's ruling that Google won't be forced to separate from its Chrome browser is positive for Google, Apple, and Meta [1][2] - The adtech case represents approximately 9% of Google's business, with a potential impact of around 5% due to lower profitability [6] AI & Search Technology - Google is making progress in AI overviews and AI mode across its search interfaces [2] - Click-through rates with AI overviews and AI mode are nearing the levels of traditional search from a couple of years ago [12] - Apple could potentially benefit from AI by developing its own AI search product, with Perplexity being a possible acquisition target [7][8] Market Dynamics & Competition - Microsoft's Bing has struggled to significantly increase its search share despite substantial investment over 15 years, remaining at 4% [5] - Google's search share remains above 90% [6] - The market believes Google's valuation had a significant gap compared to other major tech companies (Mag 7), partly due to regulatory concerns and search progress [10][11] Apple-Google Search Deal - Apple currently receives $20 billion annually from the Google search deal, which is renegotiated yearly [6] - The Google search deal accounts for about 15% of Apple's operating income [4]