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US stock market today: Wall Street opens higher as investors await Nvidia earnings – The Times of India

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US stock market today: Wall Street opens higher as investors await Nvidia earnings – The Times of India


US Wall Street’s main indices opened higher on Wednesday, recovering after recent volatility as investors weighed concerns surrounding the AI trade and uncertainty over tariffs ahead of Nvidia’s earnings later in the day (local time).The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 183.1 points, or 0.37%, to 49,357.63 at the open. The S&P 500 gained 25.1 points, or 0.36%, to 6,915.15, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 141.3 points, or 0.62%, to 23,005.008.Nvidia remains at the centre of the AI-driven market narrative, with its chips playing a pivotal role in the ongoing surge in artificial intelligence investments. The company has become one of the most influential stocks on Wall Street.Analysts are projecting another strong earnings performance, with Nvidia’s profit expected to jump nearly 70 per cent year-on-year to $37.52 billion. Such a result would translate into daily earnings exceeding $400 million during the three months through January 25.Nvidia’s earnings reports have increasingly served as a barometer for broader market trends, given the company’s size and AI’s outsized influence on equities. In recent years, enthusiasm around AI helped propel markets to repeated record highs, driven by expectations of productivity gains and improved corporate profitability.However, investor concerns have intensified over the sustainability of heavy AI-related spending. Market participants are closely watching whether major technology companies such as Alphabet and Amazon can generate sufficient returns on their substantial investments in AI infrastructure and chips. Any slowdown in capital expenditure could directly impact Nvidia.Investors have also begun reassessing sectors perceived as vulnerable to AI-led disruption, triggering sharp sell-offs across industries ranging from software to logistics and legal services.“While those concerns are real, we believe investors would be wise to balance them out with offsetting trends that may be underappreciated in the current wall of worry headline cycle,” said Darrell Cronk, Chief Investment Officer for Wealth & Investment Management at Wells Fargo.One such offsetting trend has been the steady growth in corporate earnings reported by large US companies, which has supported segments of the market previously overshadowed by AI-focused stocks, particularly smaller firms.Shares of Cava Group surged 18.6 per cent after the Mediterranean restaurant chain posted stronger-than-expected profit and revenue. The company also reported annual revenue exceeding $1 billion for the first time, marking a 22.5 per cent increase from a year earlier.Similarly, Axon Enterprise jumped 16.5 per cent following better-than-expected earnings, aided by demand for its Tasers, body cameras, and AI-powered solutions.The gains helped counterbalance weakness in First Solar, whose shares fell 14.2 per cent after reporting profit below market expectations.



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Oil jumps above $100 as US to blockade Iranian ports after peace talks fail

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Oil jumps above 0 as US to blockade Iranian ports after peace talks fail



The failure of negotiations at the weekend has raised concerns that the global energy crisis will deepen.



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The Dutch village at risk of being demolished

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The Dutch village at risk of being demolished



Moerdijk has been earmarked for removal, to make way for a vast electricity substation.



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War in Gulf, layoffs hit discretionary spends – The Times of India

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War in Gulf, layoffs hit discretionary spends – The Times of India


MUMBAI: Consumers seem to be cutting back on discretionary spends, allocating more budgets to essentials and value purchases as a mix of war-driven uncertainty and layoffs have nudged people to tighten their purse strings and save more. Even as the US and Iran agreed upon a two-week ceasefire last week, the prospects of a peace deal faded as talks between the two countries held in Pakistan failed to produce desired results. Analysts said that caution will prevail until there’s clarity on a full-fledged de-escalation. “Post mid-March, discretionary offtakes slowed down,” said Satyaki Ghosh, CEO at Raymond Lifestyle, pinning hopes on the upcoming wedding season to support demand going ahead. “We are running some value-based offerings but no direct discounts as yet,” Ghosh said. Consumers are not just curbing overall spending at stores, but are also gravitating more towards affordable options and value-driven choices, prioritising essentials over indulgences, said Tarun Arora, CEO & whole-time director at Zydus Wellness, maker of brands such as Complan and Glucon-D which is looking at smaller and more accessible formats where relevant. People are not necessarily trading down although there is some tightening of spends with simpler routines and fewer impulse additions, said Shankar Prasad, CEO at D2C beauty brand Plum. “What we are seeing is a gradual shift in consumer preference towards essential categories, with relatively higher spends on everyday, need-based products, while discretionary and indulgent purchases have softened a bit, which is typically the case during periods of uncertainty,” said Mayank Shah, chief marketing officer at Parle Products. For the time being, the company is focusing on pushing value packs of premium products so that even indulgent purchases remain accessible, said Shah. The war-led surge in crude oil has already pushed up costs for companies with firms pointing to inflationary pressures and looking to implement price hikes. Many firms across spaces such as edible oils, bottled water, beverages and consumer durables have already taken some price increases, straining middle class households. Analysts at Nuvama expect a post-election uptick in inflation across the country. “Footwear players shall likely face margin pressure as roughly 30% of their raw material inputs are crude-linked. QSRs may also experience cost headwinds from increased energy, packaging and secondary input expenses,” they said in a recent note. Alongside price hikes, the job market is also likely to see a slowdown as some companies freeze hiring amid uncertainty while AI-led tech layoffs continue to bruise the salaried class. Unilever, for instance, has frozen global hiring for three months due to the war.



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