The knock on Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) stock in 2026 is self-explanatory: Capital expenditures (capex) are ballooning, Azure growth is moving a half-step slower than Wall Street demands, and an uncomfortable portion of the cloud backlog is tied to a single unprofitable partner, OpenAI. The stock has shed roughly a third of its value from all-time highs -- its worst drawdown since 2008 . On the surf...
The knock on Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) stock in 2026 is self-explanatory: Capital expenditures (capex) are ballooning, Azure growth is moving a half-step slower than Wall Street demands, and an uncomfortable portion of the cloud backlog is tied to a single unprofitable partner, OpenAI. The stock has shed roughly a third of its value from all-time highs -- its worst drawdown since 2008 . On the surface, the panic seems fair. But smart investors are looking at things beyond rising infrastructure costs and quarterly cloud growth. Let's explore some themes that deserve closer inspection at Microsoft to help determine whether this sell-off is warranted or a once-in-a-decade opportunity to buy the dip. Continue reading
Tourists visit the Confucius Temple in Nanjing on April 6, 2026. Photo: VCG China’s domestic tourism during the Tomb-Sweeping Day holiday saw steady growth as an extended break for students fueled a surge in family trips and long-distance travel. During the three-day holiday from April 4 to April 6, domestic tourist trips rose 6.8% year-on-year to 135 million, while total tourism spending increase...
Tourists visit the Confucius Temple in Nanjing on April 6, 2026. Photo: VCG China’s domestic tourism during the Tomb-Sweeping Day holiday saw steady growth as an extended break for students fueled a surge in family trips and long-distance travel. During the three-day holiday from April 4 to April 6, domestic tourist trips rose 6.8% year-on-year to 135 million, while total tourism spending increased 6.6% to 61.4 billion yuan ($9 billion), according to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Magdalena Wygralak GSK plc ( GSK ) Wednesday said that China has approved its drug Exdensur (depemokimab) as an additional treatment for adults with chronic sinus inflammation and nasal polyps who haven’t found relief from standard steroid treatments or surgery. The stock was up 1.3% in London. This comes after China recently approved Exdensur for severe asthma in adults and teens aged 12 and olde...
Magdalena Wygralak GSK plc ( GSK ) Wednesday said that China has approved its drug Exdensur (depemokimab) as an additional treatment for adults with chronic sinus inflammation and nasal polyps who haven’t found relief from standard steroid treatments or surgery. The stock was up 1.3% in London. This comes after China recently approved Exdensur for severe asthma in adults and teens aged 12 and older, further expanding GSK’s ( GSK ) presence in respiratory care in the Chinese market. The approval is based on ANCHOR trials showing clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in nasal polyp size and nasal obstruction. More on GSK GSK: Chinese Expansion And Fine Financials GSK plc (GSK) Presents at Goldman Sachs 9th Annual Biopharma Innovation Summit Transcript GSK Expanding Fast - Oncology, HIV, And Smart Acquisitions UK reaches agreement with US for British drugs to be tariff free Former CDC advisor says White House pulling back on vaccine policy
BYD has been added to Brazil's "dirty list" for alleged labour violations linked to a factory construction project. The listing exposes BYD to reputational and operational scrutiny in one of its important international markets. The development may influence how lenders, partners, and ESG focused investors assess the company. BYD (SEHK:1211), trading at HK$103.9, is facing fresh attention after bei...
BYD has been added to Brazil's "dirty list" for alleged labour violations linked to a factory construction project. The listing exposes BYD to reputational and operational scrutiny in one of its important international markets. The development may influence how lenders, partners, and ESG focused investors assess the company. BYD (SEHK:1211), trading at HK$103.9, is facing fresh attention after being linked to alleged labour issues in Brazil. The company has delivered a 44.4% return over 3...
bo feng/iStock via Getty Images CVS Health Overview CVS Health's stock ( CVS ) was in turmoil upon my last check following the CMS's "flat" proposal change for 2027. In January, the CMS issued an Advance Notice that proposed a near-flat 0.09% net average Medicare Advantage, or MA, payment increase for 2027. Given rising medical costs/claims, this was a disastrous proposal for MA-associated compani...
bo feng/iStock via Getty Images CVS Health Overview CVS Health's stock ( CVS ) was in turmoil upon my last check following the CMS's "flat" proposal change for 2027. In January, the CMS issued an Advance Notice that proposed a near-flat 0.09% net average Medicare Advantage, or MA, payment increase for 2027. Given rising medical costs/claims, this was a disastrous proposal for MA-associated companies. Fortunately for CVS, as you can see for yourself when driving past some street corners, its business is diversified (i.e., its high-margin Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness segments), its stock isn't "expensive," and CVS's dividend yield offers solace for income-focused investors. Things have since brightened after it was announced that the Trump administration "will increase average MA payments by 2.48%, or more than $13B, in 2027." Below, I revisit CVS (in spirit) to see how the payment change impacts its business. Recent Developments The 2.48% is "bittersweet" because it still falls below the 5.06% finalized for 2026. But, as my mother used to tell me as a child, "It's better than nothing!" Before I go any further, it's important to contextualize CVS's dependence on Medicare-related businesses (via its Aetna/Health Care Benefits segment). CVS generated $402.1B in total enterprise revenue last year (up 7.8% YoY). Government premiums (predominantly from MA + Part D) made up $103.4B of that, or ~26% of total company revenue. This also represents 72% of CVS's Health Care Benefits segment ($143.4B total revenue). So, while this is, for sure, a material amount, it is a moderate exposure compared to "pure-play" MA insurers. All together, CVS's Health Care Benefits segment generated $2.9B in adjusted operating income in 2025. So, how exactly do rate changes impact the full causal chain? Author Estimates The table above assumes stable membership, a rate applied to the full government block, and flat medical costs. The CMS payment rate is added directly to the denominator (premium ...
Markets now forecast one rate rise this year, down from two on Tuesday, although mortgage rates may not fall quickly Business live – latest updates City traders have cut their forecasts for UK interest rate rises this year, after the US and Iran agreed a two-week ceasefire . The money markets are now fully pricing in only one rise in UK interest rates by December, which would take the Bank of Engl...
Markets now forecast one rate rise this year, down from two on Tuesday, although mortgage rates may not fall quickly Business live – latest updates City traders have cut their forecasts for UK interest rate rises this year, after the US and Iran agreed a two-week ceasefire . The money markets are now fully pricing in only one rise in UK interest rates by December, which would take the Bank of England’s base rate back up to 4%. On Tuesday, two rate rises were fully priced in, as Donald Trump threatened that a “ whole civilisation will die ” unless Tehran complied with his demands to reopen the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...
United Microelectronics ( UMC ) reported March revenue of NT$20.83M, up 4.89% Y/Y YTD, the Taiwan-based semiconductor company's total revenue reached NT$61.04M, reflecting a 5.49% Y/Y jump. The stock price moved ~4% higher to $9.31 on Wednesday during pre-market trade. More on United Microelectronics United Microelectronics: A Clash Of Expectations And Reality; Reality Wins (Rating Upgrade) United...
United Microelectronics ( UMC ) reported March revenue of NT$20.83M, up 4.89% Y/Y YTD, the Taiwan-based semiconductor company's total revenue reached NT$61.04M, reflecting a 5.49% Y/Y jump. The stock price moved ~4% higher to $9.31 on Wednesday during pre-market trade. More on United Microelectronics United Microelectronics: A Clash Of Expectations And Reality; Reality Wins (Rating Upgrade) United Microelectronics Corporation 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript UMC appoints new CEO, scraps its co-president model in new leadership strategy United Microelectronics falls amid mixed Q4 results