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When Affirm Holdings took a tumble on Wednesday despite a great quarterly report at the consumer-lending company, Mizuho Securities analysts saw a buying opportunity.<figure class="image"><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/BB_1i2a3_A_57cbe1ba22.jpg" alt="BB1i2a3A.jpg"></figure>Now another Wall Street team is saying the same.J.P. Morgan analysts Reginald Smith and Charles Pearce upgraded shares of Affirm to Overweight from Neutral and lifted their target for the price to $43 from $41 in a Thursday report titled “Not Letting a Good Sell Off Go to Waste.”A day prior, Affirm stock fell 9.5% to $31.58. “Following a fantastic F3Q with better than expected GMV and an upbeat outlook, AFRM is trading lower in sympathy with&nbsp;SHOP, which is seeing a -19% decline in the stock&nbsp;amid soft guidance&nbsp;and operating expense concerns,” Mizuho analysts wrote on Wednesday.Affirm stock’s reaction to&nbsp;Shopify’s results is overblown, they continued, saying that sales via the company account for about 10% of its gross merchandise value, a metric that tracks usage of the service.The team maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a target of $65 for the price.J.P. Morgan says investors believe Shopify contributed to Affirm stock’s decline, adding that a Bloomberg article about the dangers of buy now, pay later may also have weighed on the shares.“Zooming out, Shop Pay, which offers AFRM’s financing solutions, posted another quarter of &gt;50% volume growth, and the notion people are prioritizing BNPL repayment is actually good for companies like AFRM (and supported by their own credit trends), and, we believe, speaks to the perceived utility of the product,” J.P. Morgan said.Affirm stock is down about 35% this year, giving back most of the gains since its analyst day in November despite strong results for multiple quarters, they said. That creates “an attractive entry point,” they added.Affirm stock was up 3.9% at $32.86 Thursday, while the S&amp;P 500 was up 0.4%.

When Affirm Holdings took a tumble on Wednesday despite a great quarterly report at the consumer-lending company, Mizuho Securities analysts saw a buying opportunity.

Affirm stock surged after J.P. Morgan upgraded the shares despite a recent earnings tumble. Discover the key reasons behind the upgrade and what it means for investors.

Affirm Stock Jumps. Why J.P. Morgan Upgraded Shares After Earnings Tumble

Expectations were high heading into Nvidia's (NVDA -2.10%) fiscal 2025 second-quarter financial report. The company has become the de facto standard bearer for the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Its graphics processing units (GPUS) provide the computational horsepower necessary to create the large language models (LLMs) that make generative AI possible.<img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/download_1_579168b04d.avif" alt="download (1).avif">The surging demand for AI has propelled Nvidia's stock into the stratosphere. The stock has gained more than 150% so far this year and more than 750% since the accelerating adoption of AI kicked off early last year (as of this writing).In recent weeks, however, investors have become concerned that Nvidia has simply come too far, too fast, and they are wondering whether the hectic pace of AI adoption could continue. Nvidia answered that question with a resounding "yes," but given the stock's parabolic gains, blockbuster results simply weren't enough.<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">By the numbers</h2>In the second quarter, Nvidia generated record revenue of $30 billion, which surged 122% year over year and 15% quarter over quarter. This gave rise to adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.68. The results sailed past analysts' consensus estimates for revenue of $28.6 billion and EPS of $0.64. Revenue also eclipsed management's forecast of $28 billion.The headliner was Nvidia's data center segment -- which includes chips used for AI -- as revenue of $26.3 billion soared 154% year over year and 16% sequentially, fueled by strong AI adoption among cloud computing and hyperscale data center operators.It wasn't just AI that fed Nvidia's growth, though the data center segment dwarfed results from the company's other segments (all segment gains year over year):<ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>The gaming segment grew 16% to $2.9 billion.</li><li>The professional visualization segment jumped 20% to $454 million.</li><li>The auto segment climbed 37% to $346 million.</li><li>Original equipment manufacturer increased 33% to $88 million</li></ul>Nvidia's gross margin of 75.1% was up compared to 70.1% in the prior year quarter, largely due to the company's enormous pricing power. That said, the measure edged lower sequentially from 78.4% in Q1. The company had previously signaled margins would moderate throughout the remainder of the year. CFO Colette Kress cited inventory provisions for its Blackwell chips and product mix for the decline.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/screenshot_1724923093_2b59e4e07b.png" alt="screenshot_1724923093.png"></figure><h2 style="margin-left:0px;">What the future holds</h2>CEO Jensen Huang noted that demand for its current Hopper chip "remains strong," calling anticipation for its next-generation Blackwell architecture "incredible." He went on to note that in recent industry testing, Nvidia's Hopper H200 and the Blackwell B200 chips "swept" the MLPerf benchmark results for AI inference. Despite the best efforts of its rivals, Nvidia chips remain the gold standard for processing AI.Media reports suggested that the new Blackwell chips might be delayed by as much as three months due to design flaws, but Nvidia put those fears to rest. "We shipped customer samples of our Blackwell architecture in the second quarter. We executed a change to the Blackwell GPU mask to improve production yield. Blackwell production ramp is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter and continue into fiscal 2026."Another by-product of Nvidia's growth trajectory is the tremendous amount of cash the company is generating, as free cash flow more than doubled to $13.5 billion. As a result, Nvidia is increasing its returns to shareholders. The board of directors approved an additional $50 billion in share buybacks, adding to the $7.5 billion remaining on its existing authorization.These factors have combined to fuel a robust outlook for the third quarter. Management is guiding for revenue of $32.5 billion, which would represent year-over-year growth of 80%. That's a deceleration from the triple-digit growth Nvidia has delivered in each of the past five quarters -- but investors have long known that growth of that magnitude couldn't continue indefinitely. Yet, the numbers show investors were seemingly disappointed.Nvidia stock was down roughly 7% in after-hours trading (as of this writing,) but it's too early to tell what tomorrow will bring. Taking a step back, the company's results continue to defy the odds, but a deceleration in its parabolic growth rate was inevitable. Nvidia's star is still burning brightly, and the long-term investing thesis is intact.Taken together, Nvidia's durable competitive advantage, strong results, and robust outlook show the company still has a long runway for growth ahead.

Expectations were high heading into Nvidia's (NVDA -2.10%) fiscal 2025 second-quarter financial report.

Why Is Nvidia Stock Down After Reporting Parabolic Growth?

Following a disastrous first-quarter deliveries report, electric vehicle specialist Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is being kicked while it's down by analysts. Analysts at HSBC took the opportunity to cut its price target on Tesla stock from $143 to $138 while maintaining a reduce rating.That new price target implies a downside of nearly 17% from the current stock price.<figure class="image"><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/Tesla_Model_S_Plaid_S_Apex_d7e1fe303c.jpg" alt="Tesla Model S Plaid S-Apex.jpg"></figure><h2 style="margin-left:0px;">Lower prices aren't helping Tesla</h2>Tesla delivered 386,810 vehicles in the first quarter, down about 8.5% year over year. There were some unusual circumstances, including shipping diversions caused by conflicts in or near the Red Sea and an arson attack at the company's factory in Berlin. However, it's becoming clear that Tesla is not immune to a sluggish demand environment for <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/consumer-discretionary/automotive-stocks/electric-car-stocks/?utm_source=yahoo-host-full&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;referring_guid=11ff0048-89c3-4d10-8d00-5967bab33ac5">electric vehicles</a>.HSBC noted that Tesla's deliveries in the first quarter were 13% below the consensus analyst estimate, mainly due to weak deliveries for the Model 3 and Model Y. HSBC also said that Tesla had cut prices by about 9% on average so far this year, but that price reductions are not driving increased volumes.Other automakers have pulled back on their EV plans as they cope with a tough demand environment. General Motors gave up on its goal of manufacturing 400,000 EVs through mid-2024, delaying production of some models and adding some plug-in hybrids to its product plans. Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company is cutting or delaying about $12 billion of EV spending as it reacts to slowing consumer demand.<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">Should you sell Tesla stock?</h2>Tesla has always been a stock that required a certain amount of mental gymnastics to justify buying. The company says it's "between two major growth waves," but it's not clear what's going to drive growth in the future.Tesla is valued at about $530 billion, or more than 5 times sales, a mesmerizing valuation for a capital-intensive automaker. With Tesla's growth story unraveling, the stock could plunge far more than 17% if the company can't get back on track.

Following a disastrous first-quarter deliveries report, electric vehicle specialist Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is being kicked while it's down by analysts. Analysts at HSBC took the opportunity to cut its price target on Tesla stock from $143 to $138 while maintaining a reduce rating.

Tesla Stock Has 17% Downside, According to 1 Wall Street Analyst

You're a very happy investor if you've owned Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) or Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI) over the past year. Since the start of 2023, Nvidia's stock is up 530%, while Supermicro's has risen an astounding 1,300%.<figure class="image"><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/R_4_f0faeb9663.jpg" alt="R (4).jpg"></figure>In other words, if you invested $10,000 in each company on Jan. 1, 2023, you'd have nearly $205,000. But after that kind of performance, many investors may wonder if they can still invest in these two AI leaders without the risk of losing serious capital in just a few months.Nvidia and Super Micro Computer are not competitors Nvidia makes best-in-class graphics processing units (GPUs) that are perfect for training AI models. GPUs can process intense calculations efficiently, making them the best tool for the job. When a client wants to build a supercomputer capable of training AI models, it doesn't order a handful of GPUs; it orders thousands. With Nvidia's flagship GPU, the H100, costing an estimated $30,000 a piece, that's a massive growth driver for Nvidia. However, you can't just connect these GPUs together with a few cables and call it a day. You need a specialized server that properly networks these devices and combines them in clusters to maximize efficiency. That's where Super Micro Computer comes in.<figure class="image"><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/R_5_492c1ca7d9.jpg" alt="R (5).jpg"></figure>While some tech giants may have this expertise in-house, many do not, so they contract Supermicro to build their servers. Supermicro has many different server designs based on the application and expected workload size, so customers of all varieties can find what they need.This highlights the first difference between these two investments: Nvidia is a company that nearly all AI-focused businesses work with, while only some work with Supermicro. This doesn't mean Supermicro is doomed to fail, but it is a risk factor investors should consider. Supermicro could be dethroned by a competitor undercutting pricing, while Nvidia might only be knocked off its pedestal by someone creating a more powerful GPU -- something competitors have been struggling to do for a long time.When examining each company's financials, Nvidia also starts to pull away.<h2>Nvidia's stock is cheaper than Supermicro's</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/BB_1j_Euoy_6c5d08fec2.png" alt="BB1jEuoy.png"></figure> Both companies are growing rapidly, and their projections for the next quarter are also quite strong. In Q4 of FY 2024 (ending Jan. 28), Nvidia's revenue rose 265% year over year to $22.1 billion. It also gave guidance for Q1 revenue of $24 billion, indicating 234% growth.Supermicro also delivered strong results, with its Q2 FY 2024 (ending Dec. 31) revenue rising 103% to $3.67 billion. For its next quarter, Supermicro projects growth of 188% to 219%, placing it in the same realm as Nvidia.While Nvidia experienced the first wave of GPU demand, Supermicro's growth is just starting. However, the stock already responded with strong price appreciation because investors know what kind of growth to expect based on Nvidia's performance over the past year.<figure class="image"><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/super_micro_computer_5_a07141a33f.webp" alt="super-micro-computer-5.webp"></figure>As a result, Supermicro's stock is much more expensive than Nvidia's on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) basis.Using a forward P/E ratio when a company is undergoing a massive change is wise, as it uses analyst projections to value it. There is still room for error (as no one has a crystal ball), but it gives investors an idea of what they're paying for.Because Nvidia is cheaper from this metric and has stronger growth and vital product positioning, I think it's a much better buy than Super Micro Computer.Should the strong AI demand persist for a few years, both stocks could be excellent picks, but Nvidia remains the king of AI investment opportunities right now.

You're a very happy investor if you've owned Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) or Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI) over the past year. Since the start of 2023, Nvidia's stock is up 530%, while Supermicro's has risen an astounding 1,300%.

Better AI Stock: Nvidia vs. Super Micro Computer

Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously said that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' So it might be obvious that you need to consider debt, when you think about how risky any given stock is, because too much debt can sink a company. We note that Schlumberger Limited (NYSE: SLB) does have debt on its balance sheet. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating?<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">Why Does Debt Bring Risk?</h2>Debt and other liabilities become risky for a business when it cannot easily fulfill those obligations, either with free cash flow or by raising capital at an attractive price. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. Of course, debt can be an important tool in businesses, particularly capital heavy businesses. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">What Is Schlumberger's Debt?</h2>The chart below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that Schlumberger had US$13.4b in debt in September 2023; about the same as the year before. However, it also had US$3.74b in cash, and so its net debt is US$9.65b.<figure class="image"><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/1701004722705_4d8e39d986.png" alt="1701004722705.png"><figcaption><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgba(38,46,58,0.5);font-family:Roboto, -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">NYSE:SLB Debt to Equity History November 26th 2023</figcaption></figure><h2 style="margin-left:0px;">A Look At Schlumberger's Liabilities</h2>Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Schlumberger had liabilities of US$12.5b due within 12 months and liabilities of US$13.6b due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of US$3.74b as well as receivables valued at US$8.05b due within 12 months. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by US$14.3b.Of course, Schlumberger has a titanic market capitalization of US$75.1b, so these liabilities are probably manageable. But there are sufficient liabilities that we would certainly recommend shareholders continue to monitor the balance sheet, going forward.In order to size up a company's debt relative to its earnings, we calculate its net debt divided by its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) divided by its interest expense (its interest cover). Thus we consider debt relative to earnings both with and without depreciation and amortization expenses.Schlumberger has a low net debt to EBITDA ratio of only 1.4. And its EBIT easily covers its interest expense, being 13.1 times the size. So we're pretty relaxed about its super-conservative use of debt. On top of that, Schlumberger grew its EBIT by 43% over the last twelve months, and that growth will make it easier to handle its debt. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Schlumberger can strengthen its balance sheet over time.Finally, a business needs free cash flow to pay off debt; accounting profits just don't cut it. So we clearly need to look at whether that EBIT is leading to corresponding free cash flow. During the last three years, Schlumberger produced sturdy free cash flow equating to 59% of its EBIT, about what we'd expect. This cold hard cash means it can reduce its debt when it wants to.<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">Our View</h2>Schlumberger's interest cover suggests it can handle its debt as easily as Cristiano Ronaldo could score a goal against an under-14 goalkeeper. And the good news does not stop there, as its EBIT growth rate also supports that impression! Zooming out, Schlumberger seems to use debt quite reasonably, and that gets the nod from us. After all, sensible leverage can boost returns on equity. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet.Source: <a href="https://simplywall.st/">https://simplywall.st/</a>&nbsp;

Is Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB) A Risky Investment?  We note that Schlumberger Limited (NYSE: SLB) does have debt on its balance sheet. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating?

Is Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB) A Risky Investment?

<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">These two companies are making all the right moves, and patient investors could be handsomely rewarded.</h2>2023 has been a solid year for the stock market overall, but it remains to be seen if we've truly started another bull market. But there are some stocks that look extremely promising over the long run, throughout the next bull market and for years beyond.With that in mind, here are two truly disruptive companies that have executed very well in recent years despite difficult market conditions. Both still have tons of potential and could become home runs for patient investors if things go well.<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">A fintech with massive potential</h2><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/R_13_145c21d343.jpg" alt="R (13).jpg">SoFi (SOFI -0.58%) went public as part of the 2021 SPAC boom, but unlike most of the others that did the same, this company is the real deal. In addition to its core lending business, SoFi offers excellent checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and a highly competitive investment platform. A major differentiator between SoFi and other online banks is that SoFi aims to completely replace its customer's relationships with the big branch-based banks.To say that SoFi's growth has been impressive would be a massive understatement. Its membership base has more than tripled since the start of 2021, and in the third quarter of 2023, SoFi added more than 1 million new products to its portfolio between loans and financial services.&nbsp;Not only has SoFi's growth been incredible, but the company's economics have been improving dramatically, and management has said SoFi will achieve profitability for the first time in the fourth quarter.Since officially becoming a bank at the beginning of 2022, SoFi's growth has been very impressive. In fact, according to recent Federal Reserve data, SoFi went from being the 449th largest bank at the end of March 2022 to the 80th largest bank at the end of the third quarter of 2023. However, it's still rather small, with assets in the same ballpark as Eastern Bancshares or Atlantic Union Bank. If you just said "Who?" -- that's kind of the point. SoFi could still be in the very early days of realizing its true potential, and if it continues to attract new customers at this rate, it will continue moving up the list.<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">This disruptor is finally showing a path to profitability</h2>The insurance business is clunky at best. Shopping for homeowners insurance or auto insurance can be confusing, and if you actually need to use your insurance, the claims process can be an absolute nightmare.That's where Lemonade (LMND 1.38%) comes in. The company uses AI technology to make every aspect of the insurance process easy and as affordable as possible. It pays out most claims in seconds and makes it incredibly simple to get a quote and buy coverage.

Bull Market and Beyond: 2 Stocks Just Waiting to Soar: Whether we’re entering a new bull market or not, these two companies are producing impressive results.

Bull Market and Beyond: 2 Stocks Just Waiting to Soar

<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">These stocks provide steady growth that will increase the value of your portfolio and provide you with a tidy sum for your retirement.</h2><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/download_08a8b8db96.webp" alt="download.webp">You may have heard of instances where investors grew their investments into a tidy sum over the years. To do so, you need to park your money in solid businesses that have a long <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/types-of-stocks/growth-stocks/">growth</a> runway or that can latch on to sustainable tailwinds. Over time, $10,000 invested in these companies could multiply into a large sum that you can use for retirement. All you need to do is be patient and select the right companies to invest in.What types of stocks could compound your wealth over the next decade? You should choose companies with strong market-leading positions, a reputable brand name, a stellar track record of growing their revenue, and a management team that can take the business to the next level. Here are three stocks that fit the bill. And the bonus is that this trio also generates healthy positive free cash flow that should give investors even more confidence in their ability to deliver steady, growing returns.<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">Coupang</h2><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/1x_1_587cbd96e8.jpg" alt="-1x-1.jpg">Coupang (<a href="https://www.fool.com/quote/nyse/cpng/">CPNG</a> 0.56%) is one of the largest e-commerce players in South Korea with services that include delivery of merchandise and groceries along with prepared foods and video streaming. Coupang has been growing rapidly over the past few years with total revenue rising from $12 billion in 2020 to $20.6 billion in 2022. Net loss has also narrowed significantly from $555.9 million to $92 million over the same period. The number of active customers climbed from 14.9 million in 2020 to 18.1 million in 2022 while revenue per active customer increased from $256 to $294.The momentum has continued for the e-commerce player in the first nine months of 2023. Total revenue increased by 16.8% year over year to $17.8 billion with the company registering an operating and net income of $341.9 million and $327.3 million, respectively. Investors will also be pleased to know that Coupang generated a positive free cash flow of $1.4 billion for the nine-month period, a sharp reversal from the free-cash outflow of $718.7 million in the prior year. What's more, active customers have risen further to 20.4 million, up 14% year over year, while revenue per active customer came in 7% higher year over year at $303. These numbers are encouraging and point to Coupang's growing presence as it increases both its customer count and average spend. Just this month, the company opened its second fulfillment center in Taiwan and is slated to open a third in the first half of 2024. This opening marks its successful entry into Taiwan in 2022 and Coupang's app ranked No. 1 in Taiwan's shopping app downloads in the second quarter of 2023. With the e-commerce company's market-leading position and clout, investors can look forward to consistent growth in the coming years.<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">Shopify</h2><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/106851305_16153034722021_03_09t145859z_1207388438_rc2q7m98ixbe_rtrmadp_0_usa_climate_directaircapture_a6a6ec81bd.jpeg" alt="106851305-16153034722021-03-09t145859z_1207388438_rc2q7m98ixbe_rtrmadp_0_usa-climate-directaircapture.jpeg">Shopify (<a href="https://www.fool.com/quote/nyse/shop/">SHOP</a> 1.76%) offers an e-commerce platform for aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools and functions needed to run their businesses. Shopify has demonstrated healthy top-line growth with revenue climbing by 21.4% year over year to $5.6 billion for 2022. However, a sharp rise in marketing and research and development expenses in that year caused the business to report an operating and net loss. Shopify picked itself up again in the first nine months of 2023 with a 27.2% year-over-year jump in revenue to $4.9 billion. Net income after adjusting for the impairment loss for the sale of Shopify's logistics business came in at $815 million, a healthy turnaround from the $2.8 billion loss in the year before. Moreover, both operating and free cash flow for the period were positive at $496 million and $459 million, respectively. Management also raised its revenue growth outlook for the remainder of 2023.Shopify is continuously improving its product and service offerings to its clients and recently launched a new retail pricing plan called the Retail Plan for brick-and-mortar businesses selling in person. Meanwhile, the company also expanded the availability of its mobile point-of-sale system to the U.K. and Ireland while releasing new enterprise-grade payment hardware for the U.S. and Canadian markets. Shopify Audiences, which is available to Shopify Plus customers who use the company's payment infrastructure, can now connect to major advertising platforms such as TikTok, Snap, and Criteo. This functionality can halve customer acquisition costs and allow businesses to advertise better to find new customers. Shopify also partnered with Amazon to launch a "Buy with Prime" app to allow shoppers to shop on Shopify and check out with their Amazon account. These upgrades and collaborations should position Shopify well for further growth in 2024 and beyond.

$10,000 Invested in These Growth Stocks Could Make You a Fortune Over the Next 10 Years

Market

Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose on Friday despite the plunge in all three benchmarks in the U.S. over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff plans.In another sign of a trade war escalation, Trump threatened to enact 200% tariffs on all alcoholic products coming from the European Union in retaliation for the bloc’s 50% tariff on whiskey. Trump said he would not be changing his mind on a broader group of tariffs set to be implemented on April 2.Australia’s S&amp;P/ASX 200&nbsp;gained 0.35%, reversing course from losses in the previous session.Over in Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.18% while the broader Topix index gained 0.29%.South Korea’s Kospi index lost 0.21% in choppy trade while the small-cap Kosdaq advanced by 1.72%.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index began the day 1.1% higher while Mainland China’s CSI 300 reversed course from losses in its previous session to rise 0.97%.The S&amp;P 500 dropped 1.39% to settle at 5,521.52. The index ended the day in correction, 10.1% off its record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 537.36 points, or 1.3%, marking its fourth day of declines and closing at 40,813.57. The Nasdaq Composite shed 1.96% with shares of Tesla and Apple lower.The disorderly rollout of Trump’s U.S. trade policy has rattled markets this month. The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq are respectively on track for losses of 4.3% and 4.9% week to date. The Dow is off about 4.7% in the period, tracking for its worst week since June 2022.

Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose on Friday despite the plunge in all three benchmarks in the U.S. over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff plans.

Asia-Pacific markets rise despite fall in Wall Street following escalation in Trump’s tariff threats

S&amp;P 500 futures ticked lower early Thursday after the index posted a winning session in what has been a rocky week.Futures tied to the broad market index dropped 0.66%, while futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 187 points, or 0.45%. Nasdaq 100 futures declined 0.95%.<img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/20250313_Chi_so_S_and_P_500_giam_nhe_sau_phien_phuc_hoi_giua_tuan_bien_dong_306c0a6d97.jpg" alt="20250313 Chỉ số S&amp;P 500 giảm nhẹ sau phiên phục hồi giữa tuần biến động.jpg">In extended trading, Intel popped about 10% after the company said it had appointed Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO. Adobe slipped roughly 4% after forecasting weaker-than-expected earnings in the fiscal second quarter.In Wednesday’s regular trading, beleaguered tech stocks caught a bid as investors snapped up shares, lifting the Nasdaq Composite to a 1.2% gain and carrying the S&amp;P 500 to a 0.5% advance. The tech sector was the top performer in the session, up nearly 1.6% as Nvidia and Palantir Technologies surged. The 30-stock Dow was an outlier, however, notching a third straight losing day and falling 0.2%.February’s reading of the consumer price index, a wide-ranging measure of costs across the U.S. economy, came in softer than expected. Headline inflation rose 0.2% from the prior month and 2.8% on an annual basis.The results may have eased traders’ concerns about the direction of the economy and the impact tariffs could have on inflation. Indeed, President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs went into effect on Wednesday, and Canada slapped a 25% retaliatory levy on more than $20 billion of U.S. goods.Though market strategists have been watching for a technical bounce after the recent sell-off, some say the latest inflation print likely isn’t enough to lead to a sizable rebound. Concerns over Trump’s trade policies remain a key hangover on investor sentiment, and they throw into question how the Federal Reserve may proceed on interest rates.“We still believe the next Fed rate move is lower, but it is hard to have high confidence with the impact of tariffs still uncertain,” said Scott Helfstein, Global X’s head of investment strategy. “The key question is whether tariffs will have a greater impact on growth or prices. In recent weeks, the rates market has signaled that weaker growth is the bigger concern with three cuts now being priced for this year.”Week to date, all three major averages are on pace for steep declines. The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq are on track for losses of about 3%. The Dow is off 3.4% in the period, heading for its worst week since March 2023. The broad market index briefly dipped into correction territory on Tuesday, down 10% from a record set in February.A couple of key economic reports are due on Thursday, with weekly jobless claims and the February producer price index on deck.On the earnings front, Dollar General and Ulta Beauty are slated to report Thursday.

S&P 500 futures ticked lower early Thursday after the index posted a winning session in what has been a rocky week. Futures tied to the broad market index dropped 0.66%, while futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 187 points, or 0.45%. Nasdaq 100 futures declined 0.95%.

S&P 500 futures fall even after index posts first winning session in three: Live updates

The cost of goods and services in the U.S. rose at a&nbsp;slower-than-expected pace in February, as consumers and businesses remained wary of the inflationary impact of tariffs.According to a report from the&nbsp;U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the&nbsp;Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.2% month-over-month and 2.8% year-over-year, both&nbsp;0.1 percentage points below forecasts.Excluding food and energy, the&nbsp;core CPI also rose&nbsp;0.2% on the month, falling short of economists' expectations of&nbsp;0.3%. On a year-over-year basis,&nbsp;core CPI climbed 3.1%, slightly below the&nbsp;3.2% forecast.<img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/20250313_Tin_vui_cua_Fed_CPI_My_tang_yeu_hon_du_bao_1_e61fed880a.jpg" alt="20250313 Tin vui của Fed CPI Mỹ tăng yếu hơn dự báo 1.jpg"><img src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/20250313_Tin_vui_cua_Fed_CPI_My_tang_yeu_hon_du_bao_2_a69b0eeffa.jpg" alt="20250313 Tin vui của Fed CPI Mỹ tăng yếu hơn dự báo 2.jpg">Markets React PositivelyU.S. equity markets responded positively to the news, with&nbsp;futures gaining across the board.In February,&nbsp;housing costs rose by 0.3%, a softer increase compared to January, though still accounting for nearly half of the CPI’s monthly gain.&nbsp;Housing costs make up over one-third of the CPI basket.Food and energy indices both&nbsp;rose 0.2%. Notably,&nbsp;used car prices surged 0.9%, while apparel prices climbed 0.6%.In the food category,&nbsp;egg prices soared 10.4% from the previous month, marking a staggering 58.8% increase year-over-year. This surge pushed the broader food index, including&nbsp;meat, poultry, and fish, up&nbsp;7.7% from a year ago.&nbsp;Beef prices also rose 2.4% in February.Economic Crossroads Amid Trade TensionsThis report comes at a&nbsp;critical juncture for the U.S. economy and financial markets. Recently,&nbsp;equity markets have suffered sharp declines as President&nbsp;Donald Trump escalated trade tensions, fueling&nbsp;recession fears among investors.On March 12, Trump’s&nbsp;25% tariff on steel and aluminum took effect, prompting&nbsp;retaliatory measures from the European Union.Fed officials are&nbsp;closely monitoring these developments. Policymakers generally view&nbsp;tariffs as having a modest, one-off impact on inflation, with&nbsp;limited long-term effects on key economic indicators.However, an&nbsp;expanded trade war could alter that outlook if&nbsp;price increases become more entrenched in the economy. Markets currently&nbsp;anticipate the Fed to cut rates in May, with a total of&nbsp;75 basis points in reductions expected for 2025."The February CPI report provides further evidence of progress in core inflation, with price pressures easing following January’s strong data," said Kay Haigh, Co-Global Head of Fixed Income and Liquidity Solutions at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. "While the Fed is likely to hold rates steady at this month’s meeting, the combination of cooling inflation and growth slowdown risks suggests the central bank may need to continue its easing cycle."Fed’s Next Moves &amp; Growth OutlookThe Fed is set to meet next week and is widely expected to&nbsp;maintain its benchmark rate at 4.25%-4.5%.Meanwhile, according to the&nbsp;Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model, the&nbsp;U.S. economy could contract by 2.4% in Q1 2025, marking the&nbsp;first quarterly decline in three years.By: Vu HaoTrans: Info Finance

The cost of goods and services in the U.S. rose at a slower-than-expected pace in February, as consumers and businesses remained wary of the inflationary impact of tariffs.

Fed’s Positive News: U.S. CPI Rises Less Than Expected

Emirati state-owned investment firm MGX announced a $2 billion investment into Binance, in what marks the cryptocurrency exchange’s first institutional investment and the “single largest investment” ever paird in crypto.In a joint press release, the firms said the minority stake would be paid for in stablecoins, making it the “largest investment ever” paid in cryptocurrency. Stablecoins are a type of digital asset designed to hold a constant value, typically with a peg to a fiat currency.&nbsp;Abu Dhabi launched the MGX investment firm last year with a focus on AI technology. In September, MGX partnered with the likes of BlackRock&nbsp;and Microsoft&nbsp;to launch a more than $30 billion AI fund, but it had yet to invest in the cryptocurrency industry and blockchain sectors.&nbsp;“MGX’s investment in Binance reflects our commitment to advancing blockchain’s transformative potential for digital finance,” Ahmed Yahia, managing director and CEO at MGX, said in a statement.The press release added that “by partnering with the leading industry player, MGX aims to enable innovation at the intersection of AI, blockchain technology and finance.”Binance and MGX did not immediately comment on the size of the stake or what stablecoin would be used for the payment. Binance has not responded to an inquiry on whether the deal had been completed.As part of the UAE’s broader ambitions to become a global technology leader, it has been growing into a regional crypto hub.&nbsp;Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, has grown its Middle East footprint as it faced regulatory hurdles and enforcement measures in other jurisdictions in recent years,&nbsp;According to the press release, Binance employs approximately 1,000 of its roughly 5,000 global workforce in the UAE. It adds that it now boasts over 260 million registered users and has surpassed $100 trillion in cumulative trading volume.&nbsp;Binance CEO Richard Teng is scheduled to take part in a panel session at CNBC’s CONVERGE LIVE in Singapore at 2:40 p.m. local time (2:40 a.m. ET) on Thursday.Cre: CNBC

Emirati state-owned investment firm MGX announced a $2 billion investment into Binance, in what marks the cryptocurrency exchange’s first institutional investment and the “single largest investment” ever paird in crypto.

Binance secures ‘largest investment ever’ in crypto as Abu Dhabi’s MGX pledges $2 billion

The&nbsp;S&amp;P 500 slid in a head-spinning session for traders as they grappled with new tariffs proposed by&nbsp;President Donald Trump that were in flux throughout most of Tuesday. The trade policy uncertainty has brought the benchmark to the brink of a&nbsp;correction, which is defined as a decline of&nbsp;10% from its high.The&nbsp;S&amp;P 500 ended the session&nbsp;0.76% lower, falling to&nbsp;5,572.07. At its low of Tuesday’s session, the index was&nbsp;10% below its record close. The&nbsp;Dow Jones Industrial Average lost&nbsp;478.23 points, or&nbsp;1.14%, to close at&nbsp;41,433.48. The&nbsp;Nasdaq Composite slipped&nbsp;0.18%, closing at&nbsp;17,436.10.Market Turmoil Over Tariff UncertaintyThe&nbsp;S&amp;P 500 was in the green at one point during the trading session before&nbsp;Trump declared on Truth Social that Canadian steel and aluminum duties would double to&nbsp;50% from 25%, effective Wednesday. The president made the move in response to&nbsp;Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s surcharge on electricity exported to the U.S.<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://infofinance-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/20250312_Pho_Wall_Chao_Dao_Dow_Jones_Mat_Hon_450_Diem_S_and_P_500_Ghi_Nhan_Hai_Phien_Giam_Lien_Tiep_Vi_Bat_On_Thue_Quan_Duoi_Thoi_Trump_2_efc99f967e.jpg" alt="20250312 Phố Wall Chao Đảo Dow Jones Mất Hơn 450 Điểm, S&amp;P 500 Ghi Nhận Hai Phiên Giảm Liên Tiếp Vì Bất Ổn Thuế Quan Dưới Thời Trump 2.jpg">Later in the day,&nbsp;Ford announced he was temporarily suspending the&nbsp;25% surcharge after discussions with&nbsp;Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.Finally, top&nbsp;Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro stated on&nbsp;CNBC Tuesday afternoon that Trump would&nbsp;not hike the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to&nbsp;50%. However, the&nbsp;25% duty that was originally planned would still take effect.This is the&nbsp;latest in a series of disorderly trade policy moves that have rattled&nbsp;corporate and consumer confidence, weighing on markets over the past&nbsp;three weeks.Market Sell-Off and Investor SentimentOn Monday, the&nbsp;Nasdaq experienced its worst day since September 2022, dropping&nbsp;4%. The&nbsp;30-stock Dow fell nearly 900 points.Citigroup this week&nbsp;lowered its rating on&nbsp;U.S. stocks from&nbsp;overweight to&nbsp;neutral, citing a&nbsp;“pause in U.S. exceptionalism” as the primary reason.“There’s clearly a tolerance for pain on the part of the administration in pursuit of trade goals that are not necessarily entirely economic in nature,” said&nbsp;Ross Mayfield, Baird investment strategist.&nbsp;“At this point, I’m still in the camp that we’re not on the doorstep of a recession, but maybe a slowdown or growth scare. Non-recession sell-offs tend to be shorter and milder than the recessionary ones.”Recession Fears MountingDelta Air Lines added to recession concerns Tuesday as the airline&nbsp;slashed its earnings outlook due to&nbsp;weaker U.S. demand, causing its stock to drop&nbsp;7.3%. Other&nbsp;travel-related stocks followed suit, with&nbsp;Disney and&nbsp;Airbnb both falling&nbsp;5%.Trump Dismisses Market ConcernsAlong with haphazard tariff moves, comments from the administration in recent days have&nbsp;stoked investors’ fears about the economy. On Tuesday,&nbsp;Trump appeared unconcerned by the recent market sell-off.“Markets are going to go up and they’re going to go down but, you know what, we have to rebuild our country,” Trump said when asked about the stock market, according to the&nbsp;White House pool report.Investors Await CPI DataInvestors are&nbsp;eagerly anticipating the release of&nbsp;February’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) due Wednesday.“It’ll be really important that we don’t see an upside surprise on CPI because at this point, the Fed does have plenty of dry powder to step in to cut rates and try to boost demand if the economy were to meaningfully slow,” Mayfield added.&nbsp;“But they can only really do that if they feel that inflation expectations and inflation are well anchored.”With market volatility remaining high, all eyes will be on&nbsp;key economic indicators and further trade developments in the coming days.Cre: CNBC

The S&P 500 slid in a head-spinning session for traders as they grappled with new tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump that were in flux throughout most of Tuesday. The trade policy uncertainty has brought the benchmark to the brink of a correction, which is defined as a decline of 10% from its high.

Dow Drops More Than 450 Points, S&P 500 Posts Back-to-Back Loss Over Trump Tariff Uncertainty

Warning

As the forex market continues to grow, many new investors join with hopes of making a profit from trading. However, this also provides an opportunity for fraudulent brokers (scam brokers) to operate with increasingly sophisticated schemes to swindle investors. One of the most common forms of fraud today is demanding additional payments under the guise of "income tax" or "financial proof" before allowing withdrawals.The Scam of Tax Payments and Financial Proof RequestsMany investors, after trading for some time and seeing profits in their accounts, often face difficulties withdrawing funds due to scam brokers. A widely used tactic is requiring traders to pay an upfront fee labeled as "income tax" or "financial proof" to "ensure transaction security." These brokers often present fake documents or official-looking notices, falsely claiming they are mandated by tax authorities to pressure investors into paying.In reality, no legitimate financial authority or licensed forex broker requires traders to pay personal income tax directly to the broker. Any tax obligations (if applicable) are the responsibility of the investor in their country of residence and must be settled according to local tax regulations. If a broker insists on tax payments before allowing withdrawals, it is a strong indication of a scam.Fake Accounts – A Psychological Trap to Encourage More DepositsAnother deceptive tactic used by scam forex brokers is creating fake investor accounts within trading communities or chat groups. Investors often see others in the group claiming they have paid the required “tax” or “financial proof fee” and then successfully withdrawn their profits. This creates a false sense of security, leading real investors to believe the process is legitimate and convincing them to follow suit.In reality, these so-called investors are fake accounts operated by the scam broker’s employees to manipulate trust. They use multiple social media accounts to post fabricated success stories, reinforcing the illusion that withdrawals are being processed. Once multiple investors are convinced and deposit additional funds, the scammers disappear, leaving traders unable to access their money.Legitimate Forex Brokers Will Never Charge Additional Fees from InvestorsIt is crucial for investors to understand that reputable and regulated forex brokers never request additional payments beyond standard trading fees. Fees, taxes, or so-called “financial proof” requirements do not exist in the withdrawal process of legitimate brokers.If a broker asks you to deposit extra funds before processing withdrawals for any reason, be extremely cautious and verify its legitimacy. Investors should only trade with brokers licensed by reputable financial authorities such as the&nbsp;FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), or CySEC (Cyprus) and check reviews from the trading community before committing funds.Key Advice for InvestorsDo not deposit additional money upon request – If a broker asks for extra payments to release withdrawals, stop trading immediately and investigate the broker's credibility.Verify the broker’s license – Check if the broker is regulated by a well-known financial authority.Do not trust social media groups blindly – People claiming successful withdrawals in community groups may be scam brokers’ employees.Consult trusted forex trading forums – Read reviews on reputable forex forums to assess the broker’s reputation.Report suspicious activities – If you suspect you have been scammed, report the broker to financial authorities for assistance.Forex scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and investors must equip themselves with the knowledge to safeguard their funds. Always stay alert to enticing promises and only trade with licensed brokers to ensure financial security.

As the forex market continues to grow, many new investors join with hopes of making a profit from trading. However, this also provides an opportunity for fraudulent brokers (scam brokers) to operate with increasingly sophisticated schemes to swindle investors. One of the most common forms of fraud today is demanding additional payments under the guise of "income tax" or "financial proof" before allowing withdrawals.

The Deceptive Tactics of Scam Forex Brokers – Don’t Fall Victim

Ethereum remains under selling pressure, struggling to reclaim the key $2,300 resistance level. Technical indicators still suggest a bearish trend, with BBTrend showing signs of improvement but remaining negative, indicating that bullish momentum has yet to fully develop.At the same time, the number of Ethereum whales has seen a slight uptick, possibly in response to the White House Crypto Summit, as investors anticipate regulatory shifts or the potential inclusion of ETH in the U.S. strategic crypto reserves. For Ethereum to shift into an uptrend, it must break key resistance levels and sustain strong buying pressure.BBTrend Indicates Uptrend Has Yet to FormEthereum’s BBTrend has improved to -2.6 from -5.12 just a day ago. BBTrend, short for Bollinger Band Trend, is a technical indicator used to assess price trends and momentum by measuring price deviations from the moving average.A deeply negative BBTrend suggests strong bearish momentum, while a positive reading signals increasing bullish strength.For Ethereum to gain upward momentum, BBTrend needs to break above 0 and push into higher levels. Two days ago, it briefly turned positive, reaching 1.98 before reversing downward, signaling weak buying pressure.If BBTrend can surpass its previous high and maintain positive territory, it would confirm stronger momentum, increasing the likelihood of Ethereum sustaining a bullish trend.Whale Accumulation Increases, But Overall Trend Remains BearishThe number of Ethereum whales—addresses holding at least 1,000 ETH—has risen slightly to 5,768 from 5,762 on March 5. However, the overall trend remains downward, as there were 5,828 whale addresses on February 22.Tracking large investors is crucial, as whale activity often signals shifts in market sentiment. Accumulation typically reflects confidence in price appreciation, whereas distribution suggests potential selling pressure.The recent uptick in whale numbers may be linked to the White House Crypto Summit, with large investors positioning themselves ahead of potential regulatory developments and the possibility of ETH being added to the U.S. strategic crypto reserves.If whale accumulation continues to rise, it could indicate renewed confidence in Ethereum’s long-term outlook. However, for a stronger bullish case, sustained accumulation is needed to reverse the recent downward trend.Could the White House Crypto Summit Benefit Ethereum?Ethereum has struggled to reclaim the $2,300 level in recent days. Its EMA indicators still point to a bearish trend, with short-term moving averages remaining below long-term ones.If selling pressure intensifies, Ethereum could test support at $2,077, and a break below this level could push it further down to $1,996, reinforcing the bearish outlook.On the flip side, if Ethereum reverses course, it could challenge resistance at $2,550 and potentially climb to $2,855.A strong breakout above these levels could pave the way for ETH to reclaim the $3,000 mark, a level not seen since February 1, 2025, signaling renewed bullish momentum.

Ethereum remains under selling pressure, struggling to reclaim the key $2,300 resistance level. Technical indicators still suggest a bearish trend, with BBTrend showing signs of improvement but remaining negative, indicating that bullish momentum has yet to fully develop.

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