<ul>
<li>Saudi Arabia's SMC Hospitals is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Riyadh stock exchange, joining a wave of healthcare companies seeking to capitalize on the growing demand for healthcare services in the kingdom. The IPO is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2025, with SMC collaborating with banks such as SNB Capital and EFG Hermes to facilitate the process. This move aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to diversify the economy and enhance the healthcare sector's capacity to meet the needs of a growing population.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia is experiencing a significant boom, with recent IPOs from companies like Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital and Al-Mousa Healthcare attracting substantial investments. The successful IPOs have not only raised capital but also increased investor interest in the sector, as evidenced by the strong performance of newly listed healthcare stocks. SMC Hospitals operates multiple facilities in Riyadh and is poised to benefit from this trend, potentially enhancing its market position and financial stability as it seeks to expand its operations.</li>
</ul>

IPO Plans

<ul>
<li data-start="0" data-end="678">Alibaba shares jumped Thursday after reporting a sharp profit increase, fueled by strong growth in its Cloud Intelligence and e-commerce divisions. Net income for the December quarter surged to 48.95 billion yuan ($6.72 billion), far exceeding expectations of 40.6 billion yuan and tripling last year&rsquo;s figure. Revenue reached 280.15 billion yuan, slightly above forecasts. The stock has risen 50% year-to-date, with U.S.-listed shares up 8.5% after the earnings release. CEO Eddie Wu credited the growth to Alibaba&rsquo;s "user-first, AI-driven" strategy, highlighting 13% cloud revenue growth and continued triple-digit AI product revenue gains.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-start="680" data-end="1357">Investors are closely watching Alibaba&rsquo;s AI and cloud expansion, especially after its partnership with Apple to bring AI features to iPhones in China. The company recently launched Qwen 2.5, claiming it surpasses a rival model from Chinese startup DeepSeek. Wu announced plans to significantly increase AI and cloud investments over the next three years. Meanwhile, Taobao and Tmall Group revenue rose 5%, while international e-commerce, including AliExpress and Lazada, surged 32%. As China&rsquo;s economy faces uncertainty, retail sales rose 3.7% in December, aided by government stimulus, though concerns over consumer spending remain.</li>
</ul>

Revenue Soars

<ul>
<li data-start="0" data-end="593">Palantir shares plunged 12.5% Wednesday after CEO Alex Karp adopted a new stock trading plan, allowing him to sell nearly 10 million shares over the next six months. The stock also reacted to a report that the Pentagon has been ordered to prepare for 8% annual defense budget cuts over the next five years. Palantir, known for its defense contracts, saw its stock close down 10% at $112.06, with an additional 5% drop in after-hours trading. Before this decline, the company had been one of the top-performing U.S. stocks, gaining nearly 50% year-to-date.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-start="595" data-end="1047">Investor sell-offs continued Thursday, raising concerns that Palantir, a recent favorite among retail traders, may be losing momentum. The stock dropped another 9%, marking its worst decline since May and extending Wednesday&rsquo;s&nbsp;slide, which followed an all-time high earlier that day. Despite Wednesday&rsquo;s drop,&nbsp;Palantir remains a major player in the tech sector, with a market cap exceeding $255 billion. The company reported $828 million in Q4 2024 revenue, with adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share. Palantir has benefited from strong demand for its software and technology services in defense. However, concerns remain over its valuation, as the stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of nearly 600-to-1.</li>
</ul>

Budget Cut Looms

<ul>
<li data-start="58" data-end="530">Etihad Airways' net profit in 2024 soared to $476 million, more than tripling, fueled by $5.7 billion in passenger revenue, $1.1 billion in cargo earnings, and improved operational efficiency. While the airline did not confirm IPO plans, sources suggest it may sell a 20% stake this quarter as Abu Dhabi ramps up efforts to position itself as a global travel hub. The UAE capital is investing heavily in tourism and aviation as part of its strategy to diversify away from oil.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-start="532" data-end="926">Following years of restructuring and management changes, Etihad is aggressively expanding its network, adding over 20 new routes in 2023 and aiming to serve more than 125 destinations by 2030. The opening of the multibillion-dollar new terminal at Zayed International Airport in 2023 has tripled annual capacity to 45 million passengers, further supporting the airline&rsquo;s ambitious growth plans.</li>
</ul>

Earnings Triple

<ul>
<li>Nvidia's stock is predicted to decline following its earnings report on February 26, 2025, as analysts express concerns over the sustainability of its high valuation amidst increasing competition and potential market saturation in the AI accelerator space. The company's current valuation exceeds 40 times expected earnings, raising questions about whether the anticipated growth in AI demand can justify such a premium. The recent surge in AI investments from major tech players like Microsoft and Amazon, while beneficial for Nvidia in the short term, may not be enough to maintain its market dominance if returns on these investments do not materialize.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The emergence of competitors like DeepSeek, which offers AI solutions at a fraction of the cost, has intensified scrutiny on Nvidia's market position. This situation has led to a broader sell-off in tech stocks, as investors reassess the long-term viability of high spending on AI infrastructure without guaranteed returns. Analysts are particularly cautious about Nvidia's ability to sustain its growth trajectory in light of these developments, suggesting that any signs of weakness in the upcoming earnings report could trigger a significant stock price drop.</li>
</ul>

Earnings Concerns

<ul>
<li>The 2025 stock market rally is showing signs of broadening beyond the previously dominant 'Magnificent Seven' tech stocks, as nearly half of the companies in the S&amp;P 500 are outperforming the index. This marks a significant shift from the last two years, where only about 30% of companies managed to outperform, indicating a more diverse market landscape. Investors are increasingly looking at global equities, gold, and small-cap US stocks, suggesting a potential stock picker&rsquo;s market where individual company performance is becoming more critical.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Despite ongoing concerns about Federal Reserve interest rate policies and geopolitical tensions, the overall market remains resilient. The Bank of America's recent survey indicates that cash levels among fund managers have dropped to a 15-year low, reflecting a bullish sentiment towards equities. This shift in investment strategy could lead to increased volatility as managers navigate the changing landscape, particularly with the Fed's cautious stance on rate cuts and the potential impact of tariffs on economic growth.</li>
</ul>

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