Investing Updates: What to Expect in the Week Ahead (Earnings from Oracle, Broadcom and Adobe; FOMC Rate Decision)

Source:

https://www.moomoo.com/news/post/62525703/what-to-expect-in-the-week-ahead-earnings-from-oracle?level=2&data_ticket=1764549203534962

ChatGPT:

The upcoming week is dominated by the Federal Reserve, with Wednesday’s FOMC rate decision taking center stage as markets gauge the next phase of U.S. monetary policy. U.S. equities ended last week higher, supported by resilient large-cap tech and optimism around potential rate cuts, despite mixed labor signals.

A dense lineup of corporate earnings accompanies the macro focus. Key reporters include Oracle, Adobe, Broadcom, Costco, Lululemon, AutoZone, GameStop, AeroVironment, Chewy, Synopsys, and Ciena — offering insights across cloud computing, AI hardware, retail demand, and semiconductor design cycles.

Tuesday features earnings from AutoZone, GameStop, and AeroVironment, shedding light on consumer auto trends, meme-stock retail strategy, and defense-drone momentum. Macro releases include the NFIB Business Optimism Index and the long-delayed JOLTS report, both influential for rate expectations.

Wednesday is the biggest inflection point. Chewy, Oracle, Adobe, and Synopsys headline earnings with heavy emphasis on cloud adoption, AI-driven software, and chip-design demand. Macro catalysts include the Employment Cost Index, the federal budget statement, and most importantly, the FOMC decision (forecast: 3.75%) followed by Chair Powell’s press conference. Markets are primed for volatility, with any dovish signal likely to lift growth and tech sectors.

Thursday brings results from Ciena, Broadcom, Costco, and Lululemon. These will highlight trends in 5G infrastructure, AI accelerators, retail resilience, and global athleisure demand. Jobless claims and the U.S. trade deficit arrive the same morning, providing further context for labor tightness and currency pressures.

Friday lacks major earnings but includes speeches from Fed regional presidents and wholesale inventory data, rounding out a macro-heavy week.

Last week’s market heat list saw strong gains from CoreWeave and Oracle, while Netflix slid on acquisition concerns, underscoring shifting sentiment across tech leaders.

Travel Updates: Cross-border taxis more attractive with flexible drop-offs but concerns remain on scheme’s viability

Source:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/cross-border-taxis-more-attractive-with-flexible-drop-offs-but-concerns-remain-on-schemes-viability

ChatGPT:

Singapore and Malaysia’s decision on Dec 5, 2025, to allow cross-border taxis to drop off passengers anywhere in the destination country—and to raise taxi quotas from 200 to 500 per side—has sparked optimism but also lingering concerns about the scheme’s long-term viability. Drivers and passengers on both sides welcomed the added convenience, hoping it will shift demand away from illegal operators who have long provided door-to-door services that licensed taxis were not allowed to offer.

Previously, taxis could only perform flexible drop-offs if they were registered in the destination country. Otherwise, passengers were limited to Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru or Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore, forcing many travellers to take a second trip. Some Singaporeans said the new flexibility makes them more inclined to consider cross-border taxis when trains are unavailable. Malaysians echoed similar sentiments, saying the update removes hassle and confusion.

Licensed drivers, however, stressed that the real appeal has always been door-to-door service—a feature illegal operators once provided and legal taxis could not. Many hope the new rules will finally allow them to compete fairly and earn more. Older and mobility-impaired passengers also said the move would greatly ease their journeys.

Still, observers and cabbies flagged issues: worsening Causeway congestion, limited parking at terminals, unpredictable demand, and long waits that already make the route unattractive for some drivers. Transport economists noted that while the rule changes improve convenience, fixed pricing and current regulations still constrain the scheme. They warned of supply-demand imbalances, competition concerns between Singapore- and Malaysia-registered taxis, and the need for deeper liberalisation—possibly including true door-to-door service.

Experts added that a better-functioning cross-border taxi ecosystem could deliver wider benefits, such as making Singapore’s airports more accessible for Johor residents, ultimately strengthening cross-border economic ties.

Opinion:

Pls make this service work people!

I need it! 😄

Entertainment Updates: Are Singaporean Chinese Men “Least Attractive”? Viral Chinese Sketches Stir Unnecessary Debate

Source:

https://www.8days.sg/entertainment/asian/singaporean-chinese-men-least-attractive-851141

ChatGPT:

A set of colourful sketches comparing the “typical” appearances of men from different regions of China unexpectedly triggered a wave of online debate involving Singaporeans — even though the drawings had nothing to do with Singapore. The illustrations, which depict men from China’s Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast and Xinjiang, went viral on social media for their exaggerated differences. The Southeast Chinese man was drawn with a flatter nose and a more rounded, protruding jawline, while the others were given sharper features resembling C-drama heartthrobs.

When the South China Morning Post (SCMP) highlighted the sketches, it posed a provocative question: Are Singaporean Chinese men the “least attractive”? The leap occurred because many early Chinese immigrants in Singapore historically came from China’s Southeast region. Singaporeans reacted almost instantly, flooding the comment section to reject the premise and roast the comparison.

One netizen questioned how Singapore was dragged into the conversation at all, noting that the sketches represent Chinese men from China, not Singapore’s diverse, multicultural population. Others responded with humour, taking playful jabs — including one referencing Hong Kong’s recent football loss to Singapore. Some Hong Kong commenters even defended Singaporean men, saying they encountered more attractive men in Singapore than back home, and reminding critics that both places share similar ancestral roots.

Still, opinions varied. While many dismissed the comparison as unnecessary and silly, a few commenters leaned into old stereotypes. One revived the familiar “prawn” insult — that Singaporean men have good bodies but less attractive faces.

Ultimately, reactions across both regions show the debate is less about objective looks and more about online culture, humour, and how easily viral content sparks cross-border chatter over subjective beauty standards.

Entertainment Updates: Monument Valley 3: The Garden of Life expands on the award-winning puzzler as it arrives on mobile soon

Source:

https://www.pocketgamer.com/monument-valley-3/the-garden-of-life-out-now/

ChatGPT:

Monument Valley 3: The Garden of Life is set to arrive on mobile on December 3rd, marking the return of the acclaimed puzzle series to iOS and Android after previously being exclusive to Netflix. This release is more than just a comeback—it introduces a substantial new expansion titled The Garden of Life, enriching the third installment with additional story content and fresh puzzle experiences.

Ustwo Games, best known for the award-winning Monument Valley franchise, brings back the signature blend of mind-bending architecture, optical illusions, and atmospheric storytelling that defined the series. The Garden of Life expansion adds four new story chapters, giving fans more areas to explore and deepening the emotional narrative the series is known for. Beyond the primary chapters, players will also discover hidden bonus puzzles, which can be uncovered with the help of a companion named Boatem. These puzzles aim to reward completionists and extend gameplay beyond the main storyline.

The return of Monument Valley 3 to the open mobile market comes after confusion among fans when the game was removed from Netflix’s library last year, despite the franchise's popularity and cultural recognition—including a cameo in House of Cards. With its revival and expanded content, the latest release attempts to balance Monument Valley’s atmospheric world-building with a greater emphasis on rich puzzle design.

For long-time fans and newcomers alike, this expansion signals a renewed focus on what makes Monument Valley compelling: elegant puzzles, immersive visuals, and thoughtful storytelling. And if players are looking for more challenging puzzle experiences after completing The Garden of Life, the article recommends exploring some of the best puzzle games available on Android for additional brain-teasing fun.

Technology Updates: Apple Launches Tap to Pay on iPhone in Singapore

Source:

https://www.macrumors.com/2025/12/02/apple-launches-tap-to-pay-iphone-singapore/

ChatGPT:

Apple has officially launched Tap to Pay on iPhone in Singapore, enabling individuals, small businesses, and large merchants to accept contactless payments directly on an iPhone without needing additional hardware. The feature, first introduced in the United States in February 2022, transforms compatible iPhones into secure payment terminals, supporting Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and digital wallets.

All Tap to Pay transactions are encrypted, and Apple does not collect information about purchases or buyers, maintaining user privacy. The system uses the iPhone’s built-in NFC technology to authenticate contactless payments and also supports PIN entry, with accessibility features included to accommodate different user needs.

At launch, Tap to Pay in Singapore supports several major payment platforms and providers, including Adyen, Fiuu, HitPay, Revolut, Stripe, and Zoho. Apple also announced that Grab will integrate Tap to Pay on iPhone early next year, expanding its reach into one of Singapore’s most widely used payment ecosystems.

To use Tap to Pay on iPhone, merchants simply open a participating app, key in the transaction details, and present their iPhone to the customer, who then completes the payment using Apple Pay or any other supported contactless method. The feature works on iPhone XS or newer, making it broadly accessible to most modern iPhone users in Singapore.

With this rollout, Singapore becomes one of the markets where Tap to Pay on iPhone is available, joining a growing list of 50 countries and regions worldwide. Apple continues to maintain an updated list of supported countries on its website as the service expands globally.

Rewards Updates: New Kris+ Gift Box Challenge: Win up to 100 KrisPay miles daily

Source:

https://milelion.com/2025/12/01/new-kris-gift-box-challenge-win-up-to-100-krispay-miles-daily/

ChatGPT:

Kris+ has introduced a new Gift Box Challenge, replacing the long-running Check-in Challenge, which ended in November 2025 after 3.5 years. The new system allows users to open one daily digital Gift Box containing a random prize worth 1–100 KrisPay miles (equivalent to S$0.01–S$1). The Challenge resets at midnight Singapore time, and prizes must be spent within six months on Kris+ since they cannot be transferred to KrisFlyer. Gift Boxes are accessible via the Challenges section in the app.

While the reward range may seem attractive, users should expect the algorithm to favor the lower end. Early testers report receiving just 1 KrisPay mile, suggesting the odds of higher-value prizes are likely low. Nonetheless, the daily format eliminates the previous requirement of completing three weekly check-ins, which many users found easy to forget.

Comparatively, the former Check-in Challenge awarded a guaranteed 20 KrisPay miles weekly, translating to S$10.40 per year with perfect consistency. In contrast, completing the Gift Box Challenge daily for a year guarantees at least S$3.65, though users could earn more depending on luck. Without transparency on the prize distribution algorithm, it remains difficult to judge which model is more rewarding overall.

The article also highlights recommended credit cards to maximise Kris+ earn rates, such as Citi Rewards + Amaze and DBS Woman’s World Card for general spending at 4 mpd, and several dining-focused cards like HSBC Revolution and UOB Lady’s Card, which also earn 4 mpd with category conditions. Choosing the right card can significantly boost overall value, especially when spending at dining, retail, or wellness merchants.

In summary, the new Gift Box Challenge offers a simpler but potentially less lucrative way to earn daily KrisPay miles, trading predictability for a luck-based mechanic that may appeal to casual users.

Opinion:

Still worth to click daily for rewards e.g. during commutes since it's a low amount of effort 😋

Investing Updates: What to Expect in the Week Ahead (Earnings from Marvell and Salesforce; ADP, Core PCE and Initial Jobless Claims)

Source:

https://www.moomoo.com/community/feed/what-to-expect-in-the-week-ahead-earnings-from-marvell-115637666643974

ChatGPT:

This week’s U.S. market outlook is driven by key economic data and major corporate earnings, as investors evaluate the likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December. With October CPI and GDP data unavailable due to the government shutdown, markets will lean heavily on ISM manufacturing and services surveys, ADP private-sector payrolls, and the September Core PCE report to gauge inflation and labor-market strength. These indicators will shape expectations around how tariffs and softer economic conditions may influence Fed policy.

Corporate earnings will also be in focus, especially from cloud software, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and retail. MongoDB and Credo Technology kick off the week on Monday, offering insights into AI-driven database adoption and demand for 5G/AI networking modules. On Tuesday, CrowdStrike and Marvell Technology report post-market, with investors watching cybersecurity spending trends and AI server interconnect demand.

Mid-week, Macy’s, Salesforce, and Snowflake will provide signals on consumer resilience, enterprise software momentum, and cloud data-platform growth. Salesforce’s Copilot AI rollout, Snowflake’s lakehouse adoption, and Macy’s holiday-season margins will be key highlights.

Economic data intensifies from Wednesday to Friday with ADP employment, Services PMI, ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI, weekly jobless claims, and the closely watched Core PCE Price Index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge.

Last week, U.S. equities rallied strongly: the Dow rose 3.18%, the S&P 500 gained 3.73%, and the Nasdaq climbed 4.91%. Active names included NVIDIA, Tesla, Intel, Meta, Alphabet, AMD, Oracle, SoFi, and Coinbase. Intel jumped over 10% after reports it may supply entry-level M-series chips for Apple by 2027, while Alphabet rose nearly 7% on optimism around Gemini 3 and reports of Meta considering large TPU purchases. SoFi surged 17% after launching in-app crypto trading.

Opinion:

It's the most wonderful time of the year..... 

Year-end bull let's go... 😙

Entertainment Updates: Made-In-Singapore Indie Game ‘SEDAP! A Culinary Adventure’ Plates Up Major Update

Source:

https://geekculture.co/made-in-singapore-indie-game-sedap-a-culinary-adventure-plates-up-major-update/

ChatGPT:

SEDAP! A Culinary Adventure, the made-in-Singapore indie cooking-combat game by local studio kopiforge, has released its largest update to date. Called “The Seasoning Update,” the patch lands first on PC, with console updates arriving in December 2025. The update follows the game’s console debut and expands on a title already known for its chaotic co-op gameplay, 42 levels across three biomes, over 50 Southeast Asian recipes, and flexible split-screen modes.

The Seasoning Update introduces six major features, along with game balance tweaks, UI improvements, bug fixes, and Steam Trading Cards. Key additions include:

The Bestiary – A new chapter in the in-game Makanomicon that catalogues Khaya Island’s monsters with fresh artwork, names, and detailed descriptions.

In-Game Map – A quick-access aerial view showing ingredient spawn points and a dynamic respawn timer, helping players plan their cooking-combat strategies more effectively.

Herb Mode & Spice Mode – New difficulty options. Herb Mode offers a more relaxed experience with reduced damage, slower freshness decay, and lenient order timing. Standard difficulty is now named Spice Mode, and only in this mode can players earn Pink Stars. Difficulty can be switched at the start menu or in settings.

Four New Charms – Jade Earrings, Five Stones, Yadom, and Kerosang join the charm roster. With the charm weight limit increased from 5 to 7, players can equip more perks such as slowing food decay or starting with combo streaks.

The update also expands language support to 20 languages, covering major Asian languages plus Spanish, German, French, Italian, Turkish, Brazilian Portuguese, and more.

To celebrate, the game is offering a 35% discount on Steam, bringing its price to under US$10. SEDAP! first launched on PC in May with a soundtrack bundle, and online multiplayer for consoles is planned for early 2026.

Opinion:

Nice casual game?

Entertainment Updates: Haven is out now for mobile, breaking the escape room genre down to its unnerving essence

Source:

https://www.pocketgamer.com/haven-escape-room-game/out-now/

ChatGPT:

Haven, a new mobile escape-room game for iOS and Android, strips the genre down to its purest, most unsettling form. Developed by IzumiArtisan, the game removes the elaborate storylines and dramatic settings common in modern escape titles, focusing instead on a single room, a handful of puzzles, and the player’s own problem-solving skills.

In Haven, you wake up in a sparse, pale-walled room containing only a few pieces of furniture and no explanation of how you got there. The game’s core loop mirrors classic escape-room challenges: explore every corner, discover clues, and gradually unlock the sequence of puzzles that stand between you and freedom. While some escape games rely on tension, horror, or looming threats, Haven opts for calmness. Its relaxing background music, minimalistic environment, and lack of danger make the experience feel soothing yet strangely urgent, as the quiet atmosphere heightens your desire to break out.

The article notes that while escape rooms can vary wildly—from spaceships to fantasy dungeons—digital escape games don’t require countless reinventions. Mobile screens lack the immersive props and physical interactions of real-life escape rooms, so a strong digital puzzle game needs solid mechanics, coherent design, and intuitive progression rather than spectacle.

Haven delivers these essentials. It offers an accessible hint system, tactile mechanics that enhance immersion, and a simple, relatable setting. Best of all, the game is completely free to play, making it an easy entry point for anyone curious about escape-room puzzles.

For players who enjoy Haven and want more challenges, the article recommends checking out Pocket Gamer’s list of the best escape games available for Android.

Opinion:

Want to backlog this game into Backloggd but it's not found there 😅

Technology Updates: You can play classic Nintendo games on these custom SNES-inspired Nike sneakers

Source:

You can play classic Nintendo games on these custom SNES Nike sneakers | The Verge

ChatGPT:

Designer Gustavo Bonzanini has created the AIR SNES, a custom sneaker that fuses ’90s fashion with retro gaming tech to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Super Nintendo (Super Famicom). Based on the Nike Air Max 90, the sneakers draw inspiration from other gaming-themed footwear like Bull Airs’ ShoeBoys, but Bonzanini’s version goes much further: the shoes function as a fully playable SNES console.

Instead of trying to fit original SNES hardware into a wearable shoe—an impossible task given the console’s size and large cartridges—Bonzanini opted for emulation. A Raspberry Pi Zero W runs a customized version of RetroPie, tailored to match the visual style and theme of the sneaker. Despite its tiny footprint, the Pi has more than enough power to run classic 16-bit SNES games.

All electronics, including a battery supporting up to 30 minutes of gameplay, are cleverly tucked into the tongue of the shoe, not the sole. The Raspberry Pi’s Mini HDMI is adapted through a small analog converter so the AIR SNES can connect to a TV using classic RCA cables, enhancing the nostalgic ’90s feel.
For controls, the sneaker pairs wirelessly with an original SNES controller. Bonzanini upgraded the gamepad using an 8BitDo Bluetooth Mod Kit, avoiding messy cables and keeping the retro aesthetic intact.

A demo clip shows Super Mario World running on a TV hooked up to the sneaker, proving the quirky hybrid actually works. While sneaker culture and retro gaming fans would likely buy these instantly, Bonzanini’s AIR SNES is strictly a one-off art piece, with no plans for commercial release.

Opinion:

No real use case other than for celebrations, I guess?