MICROSOFT RESEARCH ASIA
Is AI selloff a window to buy? Morgan Stanley sees multiple buying opportunities on Wall Street
Morgan Stanley sees the recent AI stock selloff as an overreaction and recommends selectively buying the dip across hyperscalers, semiconductor and infrastructure companies. The brokerage expects some US data centre projects to shift from 2028 to 2029 following Democratic election victories, potentially extending the AI capital expenditure cycle and reshaping investment opportunities.
AI meltdown: Kospi crashes 9%, hits 9-month low as Wall Street bloodbath after midterm elections spills to Asia; circuit breaker triggered
The sell-off followed a global market rout on Thursday, which saw the Nasdaq 100 plunge 6.4%, wiping out a record $2.3 trillion in market value. The weakness extended across Asia on Friday, with chip-heavy indices coming under pressure. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average and Taiwan's Taiex were also on course to enter technical bear market territory, having fallen 20% from their respective peaks.
Nvidia's web of AI bets: smart strategy or bubble risk?
Nvidia's $3 billion investment in Meta's share sale, announced Tuesday, is the latest addition to a portfolio of stakes, loans and guarantees that has made the chip giant what some analysts describe as the central bank of the artificial intelligence boom. Nvidia also has around $36 billion in cloud backstops and a guarantee of up to $105 billion linked to an OpenAI data center, according to US media.
D-St set for a negative opening as GIFT Nifty signals weak start
Benchmark Nifty experienced a marginal decline after recovering from a significant low during the trading session. Analysts believe Indian equities may remain range-bound. The rupee weakened against the US dollar due to rising crude oil prices and a strengthening dollar. Foreign portfolio investors were net buyers on Wednesday, with significant purchases noted.
Global Market Today: Wall Street gains lift Asian stocks as Fed decision looms
Gauges in Japan and South Korea advanced, helping the broader MSCI Inc.’s Asia Pacific equities gauge rise 0.6%. Equity-index futures for US stocks also climbed in early trading.
Big Tech’s AI push faces a $1 trillion profit test, says UBS
UBS Global Research indicates that major cloud companies must generate an additional $1 trillion in operating profits by 2031. They are expected to invest $7.7 trillion between 2026 and 2030 to achieve these returns. A decline in returns on invested capital is anticipated as AI infrastructure dominates investments. The largest firms face challenges in securing electricity for expanding data centres.
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India’s family offices bet on homegrown AI firms to gain ground
India’s tech landscape is witnessing an influx of investments from family offices and wealthy individuals. Key players like Premji Invest and Claypond Capital are funding promising AI startups. With at least six companies achieving unicorn status, the environment for AI is becoming increasingly supportive. This shift highlights the need for sustained investment in India’s AI ecosystem. The growth potential is significant, despite challenges in funding and competition.

CoreWeave's slump puts spotlight on debt behind AI boom
The loss-making AI cloud company, burdened with about $50 billion in debt, has become the poster child for mounting concerns that the data center boom is being fueled by credit, straining newer players and pressuring cash flows even at giants such as Alphabet and Meta Platforms.

US stocks: CoreWeave's slump puts spotlight on debt behind AI boom
CoreWeave's financial distress is highlighted by its $50 billion debt and significant default risks, causing stock prices to drop. Investors express concerns about how the AI industry's expansion is financed, especially with rising interest rates. The company's efforts to secure an investment-grade rating indicate attempts to access more capital. Analysts project a bleak future for many neoclouds, with potential shutdowns by 2030.

Could Iran target the Gulf’s digital backbone? The risks to data centres and internet cables explained
Iran's warning raises concerns about the vulnerability of Gulf data centres and digital infrastructure to potential attacks. Recent escalations have already disrupted Amazon Web Services facilities in the UAE and Bahrain, highlighting the risk. The Gulf has invested significantly in emerging technologies, making security a critical focus for governments and companies. Developing alternative routes for connectivity will be essential to mitigate these threats.

India's tech push: five things to know
India has committed billions of dollars in semiconductors, electronics manufacturing and artificial intelligence in a bid to become a global technology powerhouse. India's electronics production rose from about $31 billion in 2014-15 to $133 billion in 2024-25, according to the government, which wants the country to become a tech manufacturing hub.

Alaska Airlines takes its battle for Seattle with Delta overseas
Alaska Airlines is expanding aggressively into long-haul international travel from Seattle, using widebody aircraft acquired through Hawaiian Airlines to challenge Delta for premium passengers. The airline plans at least 15 intercontinental destinations by 2030, betting that higher-margin international, premium-cabin and loyalty revenue can offset fuel pressures and narrow the profitability gap with larger US rivals.

Indian executives are gaining clout in US corporate boardrooms
The landscape of S&P 500 boards has seen a noteworthy shift, with Indian men now occupying a record 16 seats. This development reflects the increasing preference for directors equipped with CEO-level expertise. In contrast, Indian women's representation on boards continues to stagnate. Compounding these dynamics, future entry for Indian executives into the US job market may face challenges due to prevailing immigration policies.

D-St set for a cautious opening as GIFT Nifty signals muted start
Benchmark Nifty declined by 1.6% due to rising global uncertainties and elevated crude prices. Analysts predict weakness in Indian equities amid geopolitical tensions and market fluctuations. The immediate support level for the index is identified at 23,000, with resistance at 23,200. Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth Rs 5,027 crore, while domestic investors bought shares worth Rs 4,201 crore. The rupee also weakened against the US dollar amid these developments.

Satya Nadella addresses “IDEAS4INDIA”: Indian American Tech CEOs Forum hosted by CGI Seattle
India’s Consulate in Seattle brought together more than 40 Indian-origin technology CEOs and CTOs, including Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, to discuss ways to deepen the India-US technology partnership. The forum focused on AI infrastructure, semiconductors, quantum computing, data centres, aerospace and skilling, as US technology majors expand investments and operations in India.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella lauds Seattle tech community's strengthening ties with India
Nadella was the guest of honour at a special event organised by the Consulate General of India in Seattle under the leadership of Consul General Prakash Gupta.

AI slowdown trade hits Nvidia, SoftBank, SK Hynix as global tech stocks fall up to 10%
Global tech and AI-linked stocks plummeted as investors reacted to growing safety concerns and calls from industry leaders like Anthropic’s CEO to decelerate AI development, threatening the equity rally built on expectations of rapid growth and productivity.

An anonymous Connecticut family gave Americares $50 million to plug part of the aid gap
An anonymous family has gifted fifty million dollars to Americares, marking its largest donation ever. This significant contribution will fund healthcare access for one hundred million people globally. The organization also plans to bolster health centers within the United States. This private funding arrives after US government aid cuts impacted several projects. The donation signals continued trust in humanitarian efforts amidst shifting global priorities.

French AI company Mistral hits $24 billion valuation in funding round
Mistral said that the round was jointly led by existing investor PSG Equity, along with South Korea's Samsung Electronics and the EU-backed Scaleup Europe Fund, which both invested in it for the first time.

Adobe’s next boss joins a powerful club: Meet the Indian-origin CEOs running the world’s biggest companies
Adobe’s next CEO Anil Chakravarthy is joining a powerful club. From Microsoft and Google to Chanel, FedEx and Micron, Indian-origin executives now run companies spanning technology, banking, luxury, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. Here are the leaders occupying some of the biggest corner offices in global business.

AI adoption surges in Asia as companies set up new hubs in Singapore, India
AI and generative AI investment in Asia is projected to reach $175 billion by 2028. Many employees across Asia-Pacific already use AI at work weekly. Singapore and India are becoming important bases for AI development and deployment. Companies are increasingly using AI tools to transform their business workflows.

Microsoft retreats in China, but AI boom helps it keep a window open
The year was 2010 and Google was about to exit due to concerns over censorship and cyberattacks. That decision was lauded by democracy activists, but not Bill Gates and Microsoft's then-CEO Steve Ballmer, who suggested Google was overreacting. In the past five years, however, at least 15 Microsoft branch offices and joint ventures in China have been shut, corporate filings show, and Microsoft is pursuing what five company sources described as a strategy of retreat.

Microsoft launches fourth India cloud region in Hyderabad
The new 'India South Central' cloud region makes Microsoft the provider with the largest hyperscale cloud presence in the country, adding to its existing regions in Pune (central India), Chennai (south India), and Mumbai (west India).

Microsoft opens its largest India data center hub as AI race heats up
Microsoft launched its largest India data center in Hyderabad on Thursday. This new facility brings Microsoft's cloud regions in India to four. Adani Group and HDFC Bank are among the early users of this new center. Microsoft has committed $20.5 billion to expand its India operations. Rivals Alphabet and Amazon are also investing in India's data center capacity.

Here's where China's DeepSeek hired its talent from in training its AI chatbot, and it has a U.S link
DeepSeek's rapid success in the AI industry has raised concerns over its connections with former Microsoft employees from Microsoft Research Asia. With its low-cost AI technology and potential IP risks, critics are wary of the US-China tech relationship and national security implications.

ByteDance AI research head to leave as pressure mounts on TikTok
Beijing-based ByteDance said on Tuesday the head of its artificial intelligence lab will leave the company, as its short-video app TikTok faces U.S. scrutiny over security and privacy issues.

Top Microsoft China executive Zhang Yaqin "defects" to rival Baidu
Yaqin currently serves as a corporate vice-president and the chairman of Microsoft Asia-Pacific Research and Development Group, headquartered here.

New language translator converts signs into speech
The translator uses a computer and a Kinect camera that recognises signing gestures, then gives a spoken and written translation of languages.
Gates marks anniversary of Microsoft research arm
Bill Gates visited Hong Kong on Tuesday to mark the 10th anniversary of Microsoft Corp's Asian research arm.
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