<ul>
<li data-start="0" data-end="385">Abu Dhabi&rsquo;s Etihad Airways plans to launch a $1 billion IPO this week, marking the first major Gulf airline listing in nearly two decades. The airline aims to sell&nbsp;20% of its business through 2.7 billion new shares, with proceeds funding its expansion. Owned by Abu Dhabi&rsquo;s $225 billion wealth fund ADQ, Etihad has not yet commented on the offering.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-start="387" data-end="900">The IPO comes as Etihad's net profit more than tripled to $476 million last year, reflecting its post-restructuring growth under CEO Antonoaldo Neves. The carrier plans to expand to 125+ destinations by 2030, supporting Abu Dhabi&rsquo;s push to become a global travel hub. This includes a new multibillion-dollar terminal at Zayed International Airport, which tripled capacity to 45 million passengers. If launched, Etihad would be the UAE&rsquo;s second IPO this year, following Alpha Data&rsquo;s 40% stake sale.</li>
</ul>

Upcoming IPO

<ul>
<li data-start="0" data-end="661">Chinese companies are rapidly increasing orders for Nvidia's H20 AI chip, driven by soaring demand for DeepSeek's low-cost AI models. Major tech firms like Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance have significantly ramped up purchases of the H20&mdash;a chip designed specifically for China due to U.S. export controls&mdash;since DeepSeek gained global attention last month. Smaller businesses in healthcare and education are also adopting AI servers equipped with DeepSeek models and Nvidia H20 chips, broadening the technology&rsquo;s reach. While concerns initially arose that DeepSeek&rsquo;s efficiency could reduce demand for AI chips, the surge in adoption is proving otherwise.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-start="663" data-end="1207">Despite U.S. regulatory threats to further restrict H20 sales to China, Nvidia remains dominant, shipping an estimated 1 million units in 2024, generating over $12 billion in revenue. Analysts highlight that while DeepSeek models optimize computational efficiency, Nvidia's H20 chip remains the industry standard in China. Meanwhile, Chinese companies, including Tencent and Great Wall Motors, are actively integrating DeepSeek&rsquo;s AI into platforms like WeChat and connected vehicle systems, signaling a deeper expansion of AI across industries.</li>
</ul>

Chip Demand Surge

<ul>
<li>Silicon Valley is witnessing a significant surge in investment towards humanoid robots, with major tech players like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Tesla leading the charge. These companies are developing advanced humanoid systems capable of performing complex tasks, which could revolutionize industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and domestic services. Despite the promising potential, experts caution that widespread adoption may take decades due to challenges in technology, including bipedal movement, dexterity, and battery life. The current focus is on creating robots that can seamlessly interact with human environments, addressing labor shortages and enhancing productivity.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The competitive landscape is intensifying as companies like Figure AI, which recently secured $675 million in funding, aim to produce 100,000 humanoid robots in the next four years. This influx of capital highlights the growing belief in the long-term viability of humanoid robotics. However, the industry faces hurdles such as regulatory challenges and the need for extensive data to train these robots effectively. As the technology matures, it could lead to significant shifts in labor dynamics and operational efficiencies across various sectors, making it a critical area for investors to monitor.</li>
</ul>

Humanoid Robotics Surge

<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>

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