Tobias

SoftBank Group divested its entire $5.83 billion stake in Nvidia, selling 32.1 million shares in October. This move aims to bolster SoftBank’s AI investments, including its significant backing of OpenAI. While Nvidia shares saw a slight dip, analysts suggest the sale is driven by SoftBank’s need to rebalance its portfolio and fund ventures like the $500 billion Stargate AI data center project. SoftBank’s Vision Fund reported a $19 billion gain, contributing to doubled profits in the fiscal second quarter, reflecting its aggressive expansion in the AI sector.

AI stocks rebounded Monday, led by Nvidia, Broadcom, and Microsoft, as investors focused on long-term growth despite valuation concerns. Sentiment shifted towards future earnings potential. The market anticipates a potential end to the U.S. government shutdown, further boosting optimism. However, CoreWeave’s mixed earnings highlight profitability challenges in AI infrastructure. Putin ordered accelerating rare earth metal production in Russia, which has the world’s fifth-largest reserves.

Apple removed gay dating apps Blued and Finka from its Chinese iOS App Store following directives from China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC). Apple cited compliance with local laws, stating the apps were already unavailable elsewhere. A lighter version of Blued remains. This follows the 2022 removal of Grindr and stricter app regulations in China, including mandatory registration and licensing. The CAC also requested the removal of WhatsApp and Threads in April 2024. This action reflects increased scrutiny of LGBTQ content and the challenges multinational corporations face in navigating diverse regulatory landscapes.

SoftBank Group reported a significant $19 billion gain on its Vision Fund for Q2, exceeding expectations and driven by strategic investments. Profit reached 2.502 trillion yen, surpassing last year’s 1.18 trillion yen. Despite market anxieties, SoftBank is doubling down on AI, including a reported $30 billion investment in OpenAI, and remains committed to Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), though facing potential regulatory and ethical concerns. The company’s stock, while volatile, is up over 140% YTD, reflecting confidence in its tech investment arm.

Sony Group reported a strong Q2 operating profit exceeding expectations, driven by music and imaging businesses, with a surprising drag from its animated movie, ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’ Operating profit rose 10% YoY, and revenue increased 5%. A share buyback of up to 100 billion yen was announced. The full-year outlook was revised upwards, projecting an 8% increase in operating profit. Despite robust sales in gaming, profitability slightly decreased. The picture business saw a profit contraction due to licensing the streaming rights of a highly successful film to Netflix.

Tesla shareholders approved a substantial compensation package for CEO Elon Musk, potentially worth $1 trillion in stock over the next decade. While approved, support decreased slightly compared to a similar 2018 plan. Excluding insider holdings, roughly 66.9% of shares voted for the plan, down from 73% previously. Concerns included slower sales growth, Musk’s political views, and increased competition. Despite these factors, investors see Musk as crucial to Tesla’s success and were unwilling to risk his departure. The plan’s size and milestones attracted criticism from proxy advisory firms.

Ripple Labs, under CEO Brad Garlinghouse, is aggressively bridging Web3 and traditional finance. Speaking at Ripple Swell 2025, Garlinghouse outlined a strategy leveraging blockchain’s benefits for financial services, fueled by acquisitions like Hidden Road and GTreasury, totaling $4B. The company launched Ripple Prime, a brokerage for U.S. institutions. This move aligns with increased institutional digital asset interest and a more favorable regulatory environment. Ripple also aims to license XRP Ledger technology, despite regulatory delays hindering broader institutional adoption.

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit, has appointed Steve Fieler as its new CFO. This move signals Waymo’s focus on expansion and potential funding opportunities. Fieler’s experience at Google and HP will be crucial as Waymo scales its robotaxi services across multiple markets, including upcoming launches in Miami and Washington, D.C. The company aims to solidify its position amid technological and regulatory challenges, balancing growth with financial sustainability in the competitive autonomous vehicle industry. Waymo’s recent financial reports show significant investment in R&D.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rallied, recovering from recent losses, driven by optimism surrounding a potential resolution to the government shutdown. Nvidia led the gains, supported by CEO Huang’s expectation of increased wafer demand. This demand highlights the importance of wafer starts as an indicator of semiconductor market health, benefiting companies like Qnity Electronics. Sector performance was broad, with consumer discretionary and materials showing strength. Attention now turns to upcoming earnings reports and developments in Washington regarding the government shutdown.

CoreWeave, an AI-focused cloud provider, reported strong Q3 earnings, exceeding revenue expectations with $1.36 billion, a 134% year-over-year increase. While reporting a net loss, it was significantly improved compared to the previous year. The company boasts a $55.6 billion contracted backlog and secured major partnerships with OpenAI and Meta. Since its March IPO, the stock has risen 164%. However, a proposed acquisition of Core Scientific was rejected. Investors are watching for updates on capacity expansion and profitability strategies.