Recapping the APAC Trading Week, Amazon Earnings, US Jobs Data
Feb 7, 2025
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Mary Nicola, Bloomberg MLIV Strategist based in Singapore, kicks off a discussion on the fast-paced APAC trading week. Arun Sundaram, Vice President at CFRA, analyzes Amazon's earnings, highlighting challenges and future tech investments. Keith Buchanan, Senior Portfolio Manager, dives into the upcoming U.S. jobs report, emphasizing its significance for financial markets and Fed policies. The discussion uncovers the resilience of the Japanese yen and the impact of tariffs on e-commerce, painting a complex picture of global market dynamics.
The recap of a busy APAC trading week highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Chinese e-commerce stocks due to looming tariffs.
Amazon's substantial investment in AI and cloud computing underlines its strategic focus on long-term growth amidst short-term market pressures.
Deep dives
Open Source AI's Global Potential
Open source AI is accessible to everyone, contributing to innovations like Meta's Metatron model. By utilizing Meta's open source AI, a tool was developed that facilitates collaboration among clinicians worldwide, delivering precise medical information when needed. This initiative underscores the democratization of technology, enabling not just tech giants but also smaller entities to harness AI for global health benefits. Such collaborations exemplify how collective efforts across organizations can lead to advancements that significantly impact communities.
E-commerce and Chinese Tariffs
Recent reports indicate that Chinese e-commerce stocks are facing pressure due to new additional levies on packages sent from China and Hong Kong to the U.S. Although there was initial uncertainty with U.S. Postal Service operations, the pressure on e-commerce companies persists as they brace for a potential 30% tariff. Despite these challenges, optimism surrounding AI and robotics continues to drive an exciting wave in the market. The government’s involvement is also noteworthy, as it signals an ongoing commitment to support the equity market during these fluctuating conditions.
Amazon's Future in AI and Cloud Computing
Amazon is set to continue its significant capital expenditure (CapEx) on AI and cloud computing, projecting a budget that exceeds previous expectations. Despite potential headwinds in the short term, the company is bullish about the long-term returns from its investments. The rapid growth of AI technologies is creating a robust demand for cloud computing services, which positions Amazon advantageously as the largest cloud provider. Additionally, investing in energy infrastructure to meet the increasing power demands for data centers reflects Amazon's proactive approach to sustain its competitive edge.
On today's episode, we recap a busy trading week in the APAC region with Mary Nicola, Bloomberg MLIV Strategist in Singapore. We also take a look at Amazon's earnings with Arun Sundaram, Vice President of Equity Research at CFRA. Plus - a preview of the January US jobs report with Keith Buchanan, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager at Globalt Investments.