Breakfast | Apple has risen for five consecutive weeks, with a market value exceeding $3.8 trillion, and Tesla has increased by 3.6% again!

Market Overview

U.S. stocks halted their upward momentum ahead of the Federal Reserve's decision, with the Nasdaq bidding farewell to record highs and the Dow experiencing its first nine consecutive declines since 1978. Broadcom fell over 4%, Nvidia recorded four consecutive declines, while Tesla rose over 3%, hitting new highs for three consecutive days. Chinese concept stocks rebounded nearly 2% against the trend, with Pinduoduo rising nearly 3% and Bilibili increasing over 4%.

U.K. wages accelerated beyond expectations, with the two-year British bond yield rising by 10 basis points in one day. U.S. retail showed strength, leading to a rebound in the dollar index, while U.S. bond yields turned downward. The crisis deepened with the resignation of Canada's finance minister, causing the Canadian dollar to hit a new low not seen in over four years since the pandemic; the offshore yuan fell below 7.29 but rebounded by over 100 points at one point; Bitcoin surged past $108,000 during trading, setting a new historical high for two consecutive days.

Crude oil fell for two consecutive days, with U.S. oil dropping over 2% at one point; gold continued to hit a new weekly low.

Quantum Computing Company QUBT Up 1700% This Year

Quantum Computing rose 51.53%, with a trading volume of $2.876 billion. The stock has increased approximately 1740% year-to-date. Following Google's announcement of breakthrough progress in its quantum chip, market enthusiasm for quantum computing technology has surged.

On Tuesday, Quantum Computing announced that it has signed a contract with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to use the company's entropy quantum computer Dirac-3 to address "advanced imaging and data processing needs."

Nvidia Launches AI Supercomputer for Only $249, Generative AI Performance Increased by 1.7 Times

Nvidia launched a generative AI supercomputer called Jetson Orin Nano Super on Tuesday. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stated that this developer kit achieves higher performance and lower prices through software upgrades, priced at only $249, compact enough to fit in the palm of a hand, and can enhance generative AI performance by up to 1.7 times.

Apple Rises 0.97%, Hits New Historical High, Market Value Exceeds $3.83 Trillion

According to media reports on Tuesday, the African country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known for its rich mineral resources, has filed criminal charges against Apple in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using metal minerals from criminal organizations in its supply chain.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the main sources of tin, tantalum, and tungsten, collectively known as "3T minerals," which are essential raw materials for the production of smartphones and computers. According to a United Nations report and research from various monitoring organizations, there are small-scale mines operated by armed groups involved in crimes such as the massacre of civilians.

In response, Apple stated on Tuesday that it strongly questions the allegations regarding the use of conflict minerals in its products and informed suppliers earlier this year to stop sourcing these minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

Tesla Rises 3.64%, Sets New Historical High for Three Consecutive Trading Days

Wedbush analysts significantly raised Tesla's target stock price from $400 to $515 Mizuho Securities has upgraded Tesla's stock rating from "Neutral" to "Outperform," with a target price of $515. Mizuho analyst Vijay Rakesh stated that the relaxation of the autonomous driving regulatory framework provides Tesla with more upside potential for FSD/Robotaxi valuations. Additionally, the new policies from the Trump administration are expected to put Tesla in a more favorable position, as Tesla's electric vehicle cost structure is lower compared to its peers. It is believed that with a more profitable electric vehicle roadmap, Tesla is likely to surpass global competitors, including the launch of the low-cost Model Q/Cybercab in 2026-2027.

Bitcoin Drops Over $2,000 After Rising to $108,000, Cryptocurrency Stocks Fall

The cryptocurrency "meme stock" Youdao Interactive rose 57.14%, Riot Platforms fell 0.43%, Bitdeer Technologies fell 8.3%, and Canaan Creative fell 3.88%. Cryptocurrency exchange giant Coinbase fell 1.16% after delisting wBTC due to unacceptable risks brought by Sun Yuchen. "Bitcoin whale" MSTR fell 5.41%, and BTC Digital fell 14.48%.

Pfizer (PFE) Soars 4.67%, Expects Revenue of $61-64 Billion in 2025

Pfizer (PFE) expects revenue of $61 billion to $64 billion in 2025, with market estimates at $63.23 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are expected to be between $2.80 and $3.00 in 2025.

ASIC Booms, Tech Giants Compete for 3nm Projects

Morgan Stanley: TSMC will participate in all production, and the growth potential for World Semiconductor is greater. Morgan Stanley believes the ASIC market size is expected to grow to $30 billion by 2027. Currently, several key 3nm projects are nearing finalization. Analysts expect that World Semiconductor's 3nm project tape-out in early 2025 will serve as a strong catalyst for stock prices, helping to alleviate investor concerns about competition from Marvell in the 3nm project.

iFlytek's Subsidiary iFlytek Healthcare Seeks to Raise HKD 583 Million Through Hong Kong IPO

iFlytek Healthcare has applied to issue 7.04 million shares through a Hong Kong IPO, with an issue price set at HKD 82.80 per share. The stock is expected to begin trading on December 30.

The company is an AI-powered healthcare solutions provider, offering products and solutions that support a range of healthcare services.

Huatai International, GF Securities (Hong Kong), and Jianyin International are the joint sponsors. According to Bloomberg calculations, the company seeks to raise approximately HKD 583 million (about USD 75 million) through the IPO, with an option to exercise an over-allotment option

U.S. November Retail Sales Up 0.7% Month-on-Month, Exceeding Expectations and Hitting a New High Since September

U.S. retail sales in November showed steady growth, with Wall Street believing it reflects the continued resilience of consumer spending. A surge in automobile purchases and strong growth in online shopping were the main drivers of November's retail sales, while spending in other areas was mixed. The combination of retail sales and rising inflation suggests that the Federal Reserve may pause interest rate cuts in January next year.

$180 billion asset management giant T. Rowe Price: Fiscal conditions are deteriorating, and U.S. Treasury yields will soon reach 6%. T. Rowe Price's Chief Investment Officer for Fixed Income, Husain, believes that the likelihood of a U.S. economic recession is "very low," further diminishing the attractiveness of U.S. Treasuries, while declining global demand also indicates a bleak outlook for U.S. bonds. He expects that the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries may reach 5% in the first quarter of next year and then continue to climb, possibly reaching 6% soon.

Major Restructuring in the Automotive Industry, Nissan and Honda Considering Merger

Honda and Nissan are considering operating through the establishment of a holding company and plan to eventually include Mitsubishi Motors under the holding company. Nissan is currently the largest shareholder of Mitsubishi Motors, holding a 24% stake. However, both Nissan and Honda have stated that the reports regarding the merger do not reflect any announcement from either company. If this merger is successfully achieved, it would become the largest merger in the global automotive industry since the formation of Stellantis from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Group in January 2021