Core Insights - The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has designated Google as a "strategic" player in the online search advertising market, indicating its substantial market power and paving the way for potential regulatory changes [4][5] - Google holds over 90% of the UK's online search market, with more than 200,000 businesses relying on its search ads to reach customers [6] Regulatory Context - The CMA's investigation concluded that Google possesses "substantial and entrenched market power" in general search and search advertising, marking the first use of this designation under new U.K. digital rules [4] - The designation does not imply any wrongdoing but allows the CMA to consider targeted measures to enhance competition in the search services market [5] Potential Regulatory Actions - The CMA plans to initiate discussions later this year regarding potential remedies, which may include providing users with choice screens for rival search services and ensuring fair and non-discriminatory search result rankings [7] - Google has expressed concerns that proposed interventions could hinder innovation and growth in the U.K., potentially leading to increased prices for consumers [8] Related Investigations - Google is also under investigation alongside Apple to determine if their mobile ecosystems should be granted strategic market status, with a decision expected by October 22 [9]

BofA Securities analyst Justin Post maintained a Buy rating on Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL with a price forecast of $185 on Monday.Google kicks off Online advertising earnings season on April 24. With tough comps & tariff uncertainty, Post recently lowered his 2025 forecast.The analyst projects first-quarter revenue and GAAP EPS of $74.1 billion and $1.93, below the Street’s $75.5 billion and $2.01, with search revenues up 7% (versus the Street’s 9%).Also Read: Google GenAI, AI Cloud Services Drive Analyst Conf ...

Core Viewpoint - Alphabet Inc.'s stock is showing strong bearish signals, with a potential 'Death Cross' formation indicating a possible downtrend ahead [1][2]. Stock Performance - Alphabet's stock has fallen to $146.75, significantly below its 50-day simple moving average of $174.39 and 200-day SMA of $174.21 [1]. - The stock has dropped nearly 5% over the past week, resulting in a year-to-date loss of 22.5% [3]. Technical Indicators - The stock is trading below all key exponential moving averages, with a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 29.94, indicating it is in oversold territory [2]. - The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) shows a negative reading of 6.71, reinforcing the bearish outlook [2]. Strategic Moves - Alphabet's recent $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz has raised questions among investors regarding its strategic intent in a competitive cloud market [4]. - The upcoming annual cloud conference on April 9 is anticipated to address generative artificial intelligence developments, although current sentiment remains muted [5]. Macro Environment - Concerns over tariffs and rising recession risks are negatively impacting Alphabet's core advertising business [6]. - JPMorgan has reduced its price target for Alphabet from $220 to $180 and lowered 2025 search ad growth estimates from 9% to 3% [6]. - Alphabet continues to face antitrust scrutiny from the Department of Justice, further eroding Wall Street's confidence [6].