Seoul stocks renew record high on AI confidence amid U.S. tariff woes - UPI.comTrending[China, Myanmar][LA Chargers][Minnesota refugees]['Little Miss Sunshine'][Board of Peace][Mountain lion][UNRWA demolition][Lottery bouquet][World News]Jan. 30, 2026 / 4:57 AMSouth Korea's KOSPI index closed at a record high on Friday, as seen on a board at the dealing room of Woori Bank in Seoul. Photo by YonhapSouth Korean stocks closed a tad higher Friday to extend their winning streak to a fourth session to a new recor ...

Sometimes in discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) hardware providers, Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) gets left out of the conversation. ...

Discover why Nvidia might still be one of the most powerful long-term AI opportunities despite rising risks.Nvidia (NVDA +1.50%) continues to lead the AI hardware industry as Blackwell adoption grows, partnerships expand, and free cash flow accelerates. With major AI factory projects, government initiatives, and new collaborations with Anthropic and Microsoft, Nvidia is positioned for continued growth.*Stock prices used were the market prices of Dec. 1, 2025. The video was published on Dec. 5, 2025. ...

Core Insights - Nvidia is investing $2 billion into Synopsys to enhance their partnership and integrate AI capabilities into Synopsys's software [1][2] - The investment aims to transition Synopsys's platform from CPU-based computing to GPU-based systems, improving chip-design workflows [2] - The deal positively impacted Synopsys's stock, indicating long-term growth potential despite recent weaknesses in its IP segment [3] Company Developments - Nvidia purchased Synopsys shares at $414.79 each as part of a multi-year partnership [2] - The investment strengthens Nvidia's influence over Synopsys's electronic design automation (EDA) tools amid increasing competition in chip design [3] - The deal follows significant sell-offs of Nvidia positions by major investors like SoftBank and Peter Thiel [3] Industry Context - Analysts are scrutinizing the rise of circular AI-industry deals, raising concerns about a potential bubble [1] - The investment reflects a broader trend of companies seeking to enhance their technological capabilities through strategic partnerships [1][3]

Core Insights - A recent trend of exits by prominent investors from NVIDIA Corp. has raised concerns about the stock potentially peaking [1][3] - Notable investors such as Michael Burry, Masayoshi Son of SoftBank, and Peter Thiel have all made significant moves to sell their positions in NVIDIA [1][4] Investor Actions - Michael Burry's firm, Scion Asset Management, disclosed substantial put options against NVIDIA, indicating a bearish outlook and a perceived disconnect between NVIDIA's valuation and reality [5] - SoftBank completely exited its $5.8 billion position in NVIDIA, reallocating capital towards "application layer" AI investments, suggesting a belief that the chip infrastructure market may be saturated [5] - Peter Thiel's hedge fund, Thiel Macro, also closed its entire stake in NVIDIA, drawing parallels between the current tech environment and the Dot-com bubble, suggesting that the AI hype cycle may be overextended [5] Market Sentiment - The consensus among these investors indicates that NVIDIA's stock may be overvalued in a potentially bubble-like market [4] - While the exits are alarming, they do not necessarily signal an imminent crash, as "smart money" often sells to lock in gains after significant price increases [3]

Market Overview - US stock markets experienced a broad decline, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling about 1.18%, the S&P 500 down 0.92%, and Nasdaq retreating roughly 0.84% [8] - The S&P 500 is off over 2% for November after six consecutive months of gains and is now more than 3% below its all-time high, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq has declined over 5% from its peak [5][8] Investor Sentiment - Investor focus remains sharply fixed on upcoming Federal Reserve decisions, delayed economic data, and major earnings reports, which are expected to guide market sentiment in the near term [8] - There is a notable decrease in risk appetite among investors, as evidenced by Bitcoin's decline of over 2%, dropping below the critical $95,000 level for the first time since early May [4][8] Earnings Reports - Upcoming earnings reports from Nvidia, Walmart, and Home Depot are anticipated to provide clarity on corporate margins amid economic headwinds [6][8] - Nvidia's shares fell over 2%, reflecting market apprehension ahead of its upcoming earnings report and concerns about AI hardware demand sustainability [8] Economic Indicators - Investors are closely watching the September nonfarm payrolls report, the first major economic data release following the US government shutdown, and the Federal Reserve's October meeting minutes [8] - Market expectations for a Fed rate cut in December have diminished, with futures traders pricing roughly a 45% probability compared to the 60–70% range priced earlier in October [8]

Core Insights - Nvidia is set to release its earnings report in one week, which is highly anticipated by investors and analysts [1] - Foxconn has reported strong sales in AI hardware, indicating a growing demand in the sector [1] Company Summary - Nvidia's upcoming earnings report is expected to provide insights into its performance and future outlook, particularly in the AI segment [1] - Foxconn's emphasis on strong AI hardware sales highlights its strategic focus on capitalizing on the increasing demand for AI technologies [1] Industry Summary - The AI hardware market is experiencing significant growth, as evidenced by Foxconn's sales performance, suggesting a robust trend in the industry [1] - Nvidia's earnings will likely reflect broader industry trends and the company's position within the competitive landscape of AI hardware [1]

Group 1 - Dow Jones futures increased slightly, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures experienced minor declines [1] - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Astera Labs (ALAB), Arista Networks (ANET), Lumentum (LITE), and Super Micro Computer (SMCI) reported earnings related to AI hardware [1] - The stock market faced significant losses on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq leading the declines [1] Group 2 - Super Micro Computer missed Wall Street's targets for its fiscal Q1 and provided mixed guidance for the current period [2] - AMD reported a beat-and-raise quarter, but its stock price fell [4] - Astera Labs exceeded targets, but concerns over margins led to a drop in its stock price [4]

Core Viewpoint - NVIDIA Corporation has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first company to reach a market capitalization of $5 trillion, driven by strong demand for AI technology and strategic investments [1][4][5] Group 1: Stock Performance - NVIDIA's stock price increased by 4.5% to $210, following a 5% rise the previous day, reflecting positive market sentiment [1] - The stock has seen a remarkable increase of over 50% since the beginning of the year and has surged by more than 44,000% over the past decade, significantly outperforming major indices like the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 [3] Group 2: Strategic Investments and Partnerships - NVIDIA announced a $1 billion investment in Nokia and partnerships with Oracle and Palantir Technologies to enhance AI infrastructure and develop AI supercomputers [2][5] - These strategic initiatives are expected to bolster NVIDIA's position in the AI market and contribute to its growth strategy [2][5] Group 3: Market Position and Customer Base - NVIDIA's market value now surpasses Germany's GDP of $4.6 trillion, positioning it ahead of major global economies [4] - The company's largest customers include OpenAI, Tesla, Meta, Amazon, and Oracle, highlighting its strong presence in the AI industry [4]

Core Viewpoint - Interactive Brokers is demonstrating impressive growth metrics and is positioned to outperform Nvidia in the long term due to its lower valuation and strong business fundamentals [2][3][11] Financial Performance - Interactive Brokers reported a 20% year-over-year increase in net revenue to $1.5 billion and a 24% rise in net income, with a pre-tax profit margin of 75%, up from 72% in the previous year [5] - Key customer metrics showed a 27% increase in commission revenue, a 32% rise in accounts to 3.87 million, a 34% increase in client equity to approximately $665 billion, and a 49% jump in daily average revenue trades (DARTs) to 3.55 million [6] Recent Trends - Monthly metrics for September indicated further strengthening, with DARTs reaching 3.86 million (up 47% year-over-year), client equity at $757.5 billion (up 40% year-over-year), and margin loans rising to $77.3 billion (up 39% year-over-year) [7] Competitive Positioning - Interactive Brokers benefits from scale, automation, and global reach, allowing it to operate as a low-cost provider and gain market share [4] - The company has a price-to-earnings ratio of 37, compared to Nvidia's 53, making it a more attractive investment option [8] Long-term Outlook - Despite Nvidia's strong revenue growth of 56% year-over-year, its cyclical nature and higher valuation present risks that may hinder its long-term performance compared to Interactive Brokers [8][10] - Interactive Brokers' combination of accelerating fundamentals and lower valuation positions it well to potentially widen its lead over Nvidia in the next decade [11]