Business-process outsourcing companies in the Philippines are spending about 1.4 billion pesos ($24 million) a year to upskill their workers, as the industry grapples with talent shortage, artificial intelligence and increased competition. Each member-company of the 400-strong IT & Business Association of the Philippines has a learning and development team tasked to train new employees, Jack Madri...
Business-process outsourcing companies in the Philippines are spending about 1.4 billion pesos ($24 million) a year to upskill their workers, as the industry grapples with talent shortage, artificial intelligence and increased competition. Each member-company of the 400-strong IT & Business Association of the Philippines has a learning and development team tasked to train new employees, Jack Madrid, the group’s president, told reporters on Wednesday. The amount the firms spend on upskilling is a conservative estimate and is comparable to that of India, the nation’s top competitor, he said. “Our industry has gone beyond communication. To me, knowledge has become much more important,” Madrid said. Upskilling is now increasingly crucial as the Southeast Asian nation pushes to defend its turf in an industry that has helped bring in dollars and expand its middle class since the 1990s. Outsourcing accounts for around 8% of the Philippines’ gross domestic product. The Philippines corners about a fifth of the global outsourcing market. But over the years, companies have been looking to new outsourcing destinations such as South Africa, Colombia, Costa Rica, Egypt and Poland, Madrid said. In Southeast Asia, Malaysia and Vietnam have also been carving a niche. “Vietnam is a bigger threat,” he said, citing the country’s “quite advanced” educational system and the perception that it is “extremely strong in technology talent.” The Philippine outsourcing group aims to increase its total workers to nearly two million this year and boost revenue to $42 billion this year from a forecast $40 billion in 2025. “My concern is to make sure that we are a strong number two,” next to India, Madrid said.
When things seem too good to be true for Wall Street's hottest artificial intelligence (AI) stock, they often are. For three years, no catalyst has fueled Wall Street's bull market rally quite like the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Giving software and systems the necessary tools to make split-second decisions without human oversight is a technological leap forward that should benefit most ...
When things seem too good to be true for Wall Street's hottest artificial intelligence (AI) stock, they often are. For three years, no catalyst has fueled Wall Street's bull market rally quite like the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Giving software and systems the necessary tools to make split-second decisions without human oversight is a technological leap forward that should benefit most global industries. Statistically, we're talking about a multitrillion-dollar opportunity that's going to result in a laundry list of long-term winners. Although graphics processing unit (GPU) titan Nvidia is typically viewed as the face of the AI revolution, an argument can be made that there's been no greater success story than that of AI-data mining specialist, Palantir Technologies (PLTR 1.06%). Since the beginning of 2023, shares of Palantir have rallied by over 2,500% and added close to $400 billion in market value. At its peak, Palantir had become one of the 20 most valuable publicly traded companies on U.S. stock exchanges. The issue with high-flying stocks is that when things seem too good to be true, they often are. While Palantir has clear competitive advantages that I'll touch on in a moment, historical precedent offers two undeniable clues of what's to come for Wall Street's hottest AI stock in 2026. Palantir's competitive advantages have set the bar high Whereas investors have focused a lot of their attention on AI data center infrastructure, Palantir has led the way with the application of AI solutions. The leading factor that's helped Palantir stand out is the irreplaceability of its two core software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms, Gotham and Foundry. While select competitors do exist, no company comes remotely close, at scale, to matching the services Palantir can provide with its AI- and machine learning-driven SaaS platforms. For the moment, Gotham is the breadwinner. This SaaS platform enables the U.S. military and its allies to plan and oversee military ...
When things seem too good to be true for Wall Street's hottest artificial intelligence (AI) stock, they often are. For three years, no catalyst has fueled Wall Street's bull market rally quite like the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Giving software and systems the necessary tools to make split-second decisions without human oversight is a technological leap forward that should benefit most ...
When things seem too good to be true for Wall Street's hottest artificial intelligence (AI) stock, they often are. For three years, no catalyst has fueled Wall Street's bull market rally quite like the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Giving software and systems the necessary tools to make split-second decisions without human oversight is a technological leap forward that should benefit most global industries. Statistically, we're talking about a multitrillion-dollar opportunity that's going to result in a laundry list of long-term winners. Although graphics processing unit (GPU) titan Nvidia is typically viewed as the face of the AI revolution, an argument can be made that there's been no greater success story than that of AI-data mining specialist, Palantir Technologies (PLTR 1.07%). Since the beginning of 2023, shares of Palantir have rallied by over 2,500% and added close to $400 billion in market value. At its peak, Palantir had become one of the 20 most valuable publicly traded companies on U.S. stock exchanges. The issue with high-flying stocks is that when things seem too good to be true, they often are. While Palantir has clear competitive advantages that I'll touch on in a moment, historical precedent offers two undeniable clues of what's to come for Wall Street's hottest AI stock in 2026. Palantir's competitive advantages have set the bar high Whereas investors have focused a lot of their attention on AI data center infrastructure, Palantir has led the way with the application of AI solutions. The leading factor that's helped Palantir stand out is the irreplaceability of its two core software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms, Gotham and Foundry. While select competitors do exist, no company comes remotely close, at scale, to matching the services Palantir can provide with its AI- and machine learning-driven SaaS platforms. For the moment, Gotham is the breadwinner. This SaaS platform enables the U.S. military and its allies to plan and oversee military ...
Key Points Intel's comeback was interrupted by disappointing Q4 results. Meanwhile, AMD continues to gain market share on multiple fronts. AMD's agility gives it a better chance of success in the AI era. 10 stocks we like better than Advanced Micro Devices › Once upon a time, Intel(NASDAQ: INTC) reigned as the king of chipmakers. However, the tech giant no longer sits on the throne. Nvidia(NASDAQ:...
Key Points Intel's comeback was interrupted by disappointing Q4 results. Meanwhile, AMD continues to gain market share on multiple fronts. AMD's agility gives it a better chance of success in the AI era. 10 stocks we like better than Advanced Micro Devices › Once upon a time, Intel(NASDAQ: INTC) reigned as the king of chipmakers. However, the tech giant no longer sits on the throne. Nvidia(NASDAQ: NVDA) took its spot. That's not even the worst news for Intel. The company isn't the top contender against Nvidia. Instead, another agile chip challenger looks far better positioned for the next wave of growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) market – Advanced Micro Devices(NASDAQ: AMD). Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » A comeback interrupted Until recently, a strong argument could be made that Intel was gaining ground. New CEO Lip-Bu Tan wrote to employees in March 2025 about seizing "an opportunity to fundamentally reinvent an industry icon." Intel made progress toward building a world-class foundry. The company unveiled its Panther Lake architecture, the first platform for AI personal computer chips built on Intel's 18A technology. Intel's stock performance also looked promising. Shares soared 84% in 2025 and vaulted more than 45% higher during the first few weeks of 2026. However, Intel's stock momentum screeched to a halt last week, with shares sinking more than 20%. The company reported a 4% year-over-year decline in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025. Intel expects even further revenue erosion in the first quarter of 2026. The harsh reality is that only a few years ago, Intel held a commanding 85% to 95% market share of the server CPU market. Two quarters ago, Tan revealed that this percentage had fallen to around 55%. Those results don't further the turnaround story Tan envisioned when he became Intel's CEO last year. He hop...
Intel could resume its turnaround. However, AMD appears to be the better pick for investors. Once upon a time, Intel (INTC +3.39%) reigned as the king of chipmakers. However, the tech giant no longer sits on the throne. Nvidia (NVDA +1.10%) took its spot. That's not even the worst news for Intel. The company isn't the top contender against Nvidia. Instead, another agile chip challenger looks far b...
Intel could resume its turnaround. However, AMD appears to be the better pick for investors. Once upon a time, Intel (INTC +3.39%) reigned as the king of chipmakers. However, the tech giant no longer sits on the throne. Nvidia (NVDA +1.10%) took its spot. That's not even the worst news for Intel. The company isn't the top contender against Nvidia. Instead, another agile chip challenger looks far better positioned for the next wave of growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) market – Advanced Micro Devices (AMD +0.23%). A comeback interrupted Until recently, a strong argument could be made that Intel was gaining ground. New CEO Lip-Bu Tan wrote to employees in March 2025 about seizing "an opportunity to fundamentally reinvent an industry icon." Intel made progress toward building a world-class foundry. The company unveiled its Panther Lake architecture, the first platform for AI personal computer chips built on Intel's 18A technology. Intel's stock performance also looked promising. Shares soared 84% in 2025 and vaulted more than 45% higher during the first few weeks of 2026. However, Intel's stock momentum screeched to a halt last week, with shares sinking more than 20%. Expand NASDAQ : INTC Intel Today's Change ( 3.39 %) $ 1.44 Current Price $ 43.93 Key Data Points Market Cap $219B Day's Range $ 43.10 - $ 44.53 52wk Range $ 17.66 - $ 54.60 Volume 122M Avg Vol 98M Gross Margin 34.77 % The company reported a 4% year-over-year decline in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025. Intel expects even further revenue erosion in the first quarter of 2026. The harsh reality is that only a few years ago, Intel held a commanding 85% to 95% market share of the server CPU market. Two quarters ago, Tan revealed that this percentage had fallen to around 55%. Those results don't further the turnaround story Tan envisioned when he became Intel's CEO last year. He hoped to "pull off a comeback that will be studied in business schools for generations to come." Perhaps that goal will s...
Funtap/iStock via Getty Images The January FOMC is one session away, and similarly to the September Meeting, Forex Market action is quite volatile ahead of the event. Traders are still reflecting on the many themes ongoing in Markets, including Trump Administration chaos, generational runs in Metals, Q4 Earnings, Iran, and global trade deals that are getting all over the place. This week began on ...
Funtap/iStock via Getty Images The January FOMC is one session away, and similarly to the September Meeting, Forex Market action is quite volatile ahead of the event. Traders are still reflecting on the many themes ongoing in Markets, including Trump Administration chaos, generational runs in Metals, Q4 Earnings, Iran, and global trade deals that are getting all over the place. This week began on a significant gap down in the US Dollar, with the past week's steep selling flows extending to test a significant 2025 Support (on the Dollar Index). Dollar Index (DXY) 4H Chart, January 27, 2026 – Source: TradingView Over the past week, post-Greenland threat selling flows have gathered such traction ahead of the FOMC that no mean reversion can take place. Look for reactions around the 97.00 level after the meeting: a close above should signal further upside, and vice versa. Discover further details for the Dollar Index through our latest in-depth analysis. Some factors influencing the Dollar include the anticipated announcement of the next Fed Chair. In the meantime, there aren't many reasons except for Dollar bulls to push their bids ahead of the meeting (14:00 E.T. tomorrow). Other FX currencies are also doing their own thing, with picture-changing releases for Antipodean currencies, the Swissie reaching its second-highest level ever against the USD, FX intervention fears in Japan, and more. We will dive into an intraday chart outlook for all Major FX Currency pairs and provide trading levels for the upcoming huge FOMC event. Read More: How long can the Fed still defend its independence? Chart alert: Silver 13% flash crash has not damaged its bullish trend Markets Today: EU/India Reach Trade Deal, Gold Holds Highs, Puma Soars 19%, FTSE 100 Eyes Further Gains All FX Majors Charts with the key levels in play for the September FOMC NZD/USD 4H Chart and technical levels – Holding a Tight Bull Channel NZD/USD 4H Chart, January 27, 2026, Source: TradingView FOMC Trading Levels...
Key Points Intel's comeback was interrupted by disappointing Q4 results. Meanwhile, AMD continues to gain market share on multiple fronts. AMD's agility gives it a better chance of success in the AI era. 10 stocks we like better than Advanced Micro Devices › Once upon a time, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) reigned as the king of chipmakers. However, the tech giant no longer sits on the throne. Nvidia (NASDA...
Key Points Intel's comeback was interrupted by disappointing Q4 results. Meanwhile, AMD continues to gain market share on multiple fronts. AMD's agility gives it a better chance of success in the AI era. 10 stocks we like better than Advanced Micro Devices › Once upon a time, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) reigned as the king of chipmakers. However, the tech giant no longer sits on the throne. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) took its spot. That's not even the worst news for Intel. The company isn't the top contender against Nvidia. Instead, another agile chip challenger looks far better positioned for the next wave of growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) market – Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD). Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » A comeback interrupted Until recently, a strong argument could be made that Intel was gaining ground. New CEO Lip-Bu Tan wrote to employees in March 2025 about seizing "an opportunity to fundamentally reinvent an industry icon." Intel made progress toward building a world-class foundry. The company unveiled its Panther Lake architecture, the first platform for AI personal computer chips built on Intel's 18A technology. Intel's stock performance also looked promising. Shares soared 84% in 2025 and vaulted more than 45% higher during the first few weeks of 2026. However, Intel's stock momentum screeched to a halt last week, with shares sinking more than 20%. The company reported a 4% year-over-year decline in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025. Intel expects even further revenue erosion in the first quarter of 2026. The harsh reality is that only a few years ago, Intel held a commanding 85% to 95% market share of the server CPU market. Two quarters ago, Tan revealed that this percentage had fallen to around 55%. Those results don't further the turnaround story Tan envisioned when he became Intel's CEO last year. He ...
USA Rare Earth is a young company operating in a strategically vital industry. Is it one to add to your portfolio? In the artificial intelligence (AI) investment bonanza of 2025, several industries that support AI but are not directly involved in the software or even in the hardware side of the business got ignored. Rare earth minerals is one such industry. Rare earths are a group of 17 minerals t...
USA Rare Earth is a young company operating in a strategically vital industry. Is it one to add to your portfolio? In the artificial intelligence (AI) investment bonanza of 2025, several industries that support AI but are not directly involved in the software or even in the hardware side of the business got ignored. Rare earth minerals is one such industry. Rare earths are a group of 17 minerals that have become vital to modern technology. Advanced alloys, batteries, ceramics, lasers, magnets, and many other critical components can only be made with rare earth minerals. Many advanced weapons systems rely on rare earths, and China produces the vast majority of them. In fact, China produces more rare earths annually than the next nine top producers (including the U.S.) combined. I'm sure you can see why the U.S. military considers that a problem. Fortunately, the government is solving this by investing heavily in American rare earth mineral production. In fact, just this month, a bipartisan group in Congress proposed a new $2.5 billion agency, with the goal of boosting American rare earth production. The United States does have reserves of rare earth minerals, and companies like USA Rare Earth (USAR 1.39%) are working to extract them. Expand NASDAQ : USAR USA Rare Earth Today's Change ( -1.39 %) $ -0.37 Current Price $ 26.35 Key Data Points Market Cap $3.9B Day's Range $ 24.77 - $ 29.69 52wk Range $ 5.56 - $ 43.98 Volume 39K Avg Vol 14M Oklahoma! Founded in 2019 and based in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA Rare Earth is a relative newcomer to the American rare earth industry and only had its initial public offering (IPO) in March 2025. However, it has enormous potential to reshape that industry. The company's Round Top rare earth mineral deposit in western Texas holds 15 of the 17 rare earth elements and other useful materials that aren't rare earth like lithium. The company is working to build a mine at the deposit and doesn't yet generate any revenue. However, it does hop...