Investing Updates : Alibaba, Grab, Walmart Earnings; Fed Minutes; Manufacturing Update: What to Watch This Week

Source:

https://ttm.financial/news/2512515499?lang=en_US&edition=fundamental

Apple Intelligence:

• Market Closure: U.S. markets will be closed on Monday for Presidents Day.

• Earnings Reports: Arista Networks, Devon Energy, Medtronic, and Occidental Petroleum report on Tuesday, followed by Analog Devices and Garmin on Wednesday. Alibaba Group Holding, Block, Booking Holdings, Newmont, and Walmart will be Thursday’s highlights.

• Economic Indicators: Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee’s late January meeting will be published on Wednesday afternoon. S&P Global will release both its Manufacturing and Services Purchasing Managers’ Indexes for February on Friday. Housing data to watch this week will include the National Association of Home Builders’ Housing Market Index for February on Tuesday, the Census Bureau’s housing starts for January on Wednesday, and the National Association of Realtors’ existing-home sales for January on Friday.

• Market Closure: Equity and fixed-income markets are closed on Presidents Day.

• Earnings Reports: Companies like Arista, Cadence Design Systems, Celanese, and others will release quarterly results on Tuesday.

• Economic Indicators: The National Association of Home Builders releases its Housing Market Index for February on Tuesday, and the Census Bureau reports new residential construction data for January on Wednesday.

• Earnings Reports: Akamai Technologies, Alibaba, Baxter International, Block, Booking, Builders FirstSource, CenterPoint Energy, Cheniere Energy, Copart, Epam Systems, Hasbro, Insulet, LKQ, Live Nation, Newmont, Nu Holdings, Pool Corp., Quanta Services, Southern Co., Targa Resources, and Walmart hold conference calls to discuss quarterly results.

• Economic Indicators: S&P Global releases Manufacturing and Services Purchasing Managers’ Indexes for February.

• Housing Market: The National Association of Realtors reports existing-home sales for January.

Opinion:

Should be a normal sideways week for markets.

Alibaba, Walmart and Grab will be grabbing attention.

Grok 3 chatbot would be an interesting AI development.

LifeStyle Updates : Citi Rewards Credit Card + Amaze Combo

Image Source:

https://milelion.com/2024/01/25/the-blip-amaze-x-citi-rewards-bonus-points-now-posting/

DeepSeek:

The Citi Rewards + Amaze combo is a popular strategy among credit card users in Singapore to maximize rewards and cashback on their spending. This combination leverages the strengths of two products: the Citi Rewards Credit Card and the Amaze Card. Here's a detailed breakdown of how this combo works and why it's beneficial:

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1. Citi Rewards Credit Card

The Citi Rewards Credit Card is known for its focus on earning rewards points, particularly for online and contactless spending. Key features include:

- 10X Rewards Points: Earn 10 Citi Miles per SGD 1 spent on online shopping, contactless payments, and selected categories.

- 4 Miles per SGD 1: When converted, 10X rewards points typically translate to 4 miles per SGD 1 spent.

- Cap on Rewards: The 10X rewards are capped at SGD 1,000 per statement month (i.e., you can earn up to 10,000 bonus points per month).

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2. Amaze Card

The Amaze Card is a multi-currency payment card issued by ICBC Singapore in partnership with Mastercard. It acts as a "bridge" between your credit card and the merchant, allowing you to earn rewards even on spending categories that might not typically qualify for rewards. Key features include:

- Converts Transactions to Online Payments: When you link your Citi Rewards Card to Amaze, all transactions made through Amaze are treated as online transactions. This means you can earn 10X rewards points on spending categories that would otherwise not qualify (e.g., groceries, dining, etc.).

- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Amaze offers competitive currency exchange rates and no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for overseas spending.

- Seamless Integration: You can link multiple credit cards to Amaze and switch between them as needed.

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How the Combo Works

By combining the Citi Rewards Card with the Amaze Card, you can unlock the following benefits:

1. Earn 10X Rewards Points on All Spending:

   - Since Amaze converts all transactions into online payments, you can earn 10X rewards points on almost any purchase, even at physical stores or non-qualifying categories.

   - For example, if you spend SGD 100 on groceries using Amaze linked to your Citi Rewards Card, you'll earn 1,000 Citi Miles (10X rewards).

2. Maximize Rewards Cap:

   - The Citi Rewards Card has a monthly cap of SGD 1,000 for 10X rewards. By using Amaze, you can maximize this cap by earning rewards on a wider range of spending categories.

3. Overseas Spending:

   - When traveling or making overseas purchases, Amaze eliminates foreign transaction fees and ensures you earn 10X rewards points on all spending.

4. Flexibility:

   - You can link multiple credit cards to Amaze and choose which card to use for specific transactions, giving you greater control over your rewards strategy.

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Example Scenario

- You spend SGD 500 on groceries and SGD 500 on dining in a month.

- Without Amaze: You might earn minimal or no rewards on these categories.

- With Amaze: All SGD 1,000 is treated as online spending, earning you 10,000 Citi Miles (10X rewards).

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Key Considerations

- Amaze Fees: The Amaze Card itself is free, but you need to ensure you're using it strategically to justify the effort.

- Citi Rewards Cap: Be mindful of the SGD 1,000 monthly cap on 10X rewards. Plan your spending to maximize this limit.

- Exclusions: Some transactions (e.g., insurance, utilities, etc.) may still not qualify for rewards, even with Amaze.

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Conclusion

The Citi Rewards + Amaze combo is a powerful way to maximize rewards and cashback on your spending. By converting all transactions into online payments, Amaze allows you to earn 10X rewards points on almost any purchase, making it an excellent tool for savvy credit card users. If you frequently spend on categories like groceries, dining, or overseas purchases, this combo can significantly boost your rewards earnings.

Opinion:

This is still the best card rewards combo for 2025 imo.

Recently, Chocolate Finance debit card is interesting too for education, medical, insurance payments, IRAS, etc.

So my strategy as of now:

1. Citibank rewards + amaze 

2. Posb everyday for sheng siong, geneco

3. SCB smart card for public transport (Till 31st Mar). Might change to Chocolate.

4. Platform specific if available e.g. Maribank credit card for promotional discounts/points.

5. Chocolate finance for education, medical, insurance, IRAS.

Entertainment Updates : Andor Season 1

Reference: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andor_(TV_series)

DeepSeek:

Andor Season 1 Review Summary:

Andor Season 1, a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, was widely praised by critics and audiences for its mature storytelling, complex characters, and gritty tone. It diverged from the typical Star Wars formula by focusing on espionage, political intrigue, and the grassroots origins of the Rebellion. Here's a breakdown of its reception and highlights:

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Critical Reception:

- Rotten Tomatoes: 96% critics score (as of October 2023), with critics calling it "the best Star Wars show yet" and praising its depth and character development.

- Metacritic: 74/100, indicating generally favorable reviews.

- Common Praise:

- Strong writing and character arcs, particularly for Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly).

- A darker, more nuanced take on the Star Wars universe.

- Stellar performances, especially from Stellan Skarsgård as Luthen Rael.

- Thoughtful exploration of themes like oppression, sacrifice, and rebellion.

- Criticisms:

- Some viewers found the pacing slow in the early episodes.

- The show's darker tone and lack of Jedi/Sith action might not appeal to all Star Wars fans.

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Top 5 Quotes from Andor Season 1:

1. "That’s what a reckoning sounds like."

   — Luthen Rael, reflecting on the inevitability of rebellion.

2. "Power doesn’t panic."

   — Mon Mothma, highlighting the calculated nature of the Empire.

3. "I’ve made my mind a sunless space."

   — Luthen Rael, revealing the personal cost of his fight against the Empire.

4. "The axe forgets, but the tree remembers."  

   — Maarva Andor, emphasizing the lasting impact of oppression.

5. "One way out."

   — Kino Loy (Andy Serkis), a rallying cry during the prison breakout.

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Why It Stands Out:

Andor Season 1 is often regarded as one of the most mature and well-crafted entries in the Star Wars franchise. Its focus on the moral complexities of rebellion, combined with stellar performances and a gripping narrative, has set a high bar for future Star Wars projects. 

Fans and critics alike are eagerly anticipating Season 2, which will lead directly into the events of Rogue One.

Opinion:

It's quite different from other Star Wars shows. 

I feel the pace is quite slow though.

Still like the Mandalorian show more.

Investing Updates : Retirees should build nest egg of at least S$550,000 for ‘conservative’ needs, but Gen Zs, millennials could fall behind: DBS

Source:

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/globalfoundries-sinks-red-us730-million-q4-loss-due-impairment-charge

Apple Intelligence:

• Retirement Savings Goal: A 65-year-old retiree would need a nest egg of at least S$550,000 to meet expenses based on “conservative needs” for 20 years.

• Younger Investors’ Savings: Younger investors are saving the smallest proportion of their monthly income for investment among all pre-retirement age groups.

• Younger Investors’ Investment Strategy: Younger investors who do start planning early are overly conservative and concentrate more than half their investments in fixed-income instruments.

• Investment Habits of Young Investors: Investors aged 25 to 44 invest the smallest proportion of their monthly income (15-17%) among pre-retirement age groups.

• Investment Allocation of Young Investors: Young investors tend to be overly conservative, allocating over half their investments to fixed-income instruments like T-bills and SSBs.

• Recommendation for Young Investors: Young investors are advised to allocate a larger portion of their investments to equities for potentially higher returns and consider diversifying into global and regional equities.

• Investment Performance Comparison: Equities historically offer significantly higher returns than bonds, with a 10-15% return over 15 years compared to bonds’ 0.7%-2% return.

• Equity Investment Advice: Younger investors should embrace equities despite volatility, as a long-term investment horizon mitigates short-term fluctuations.

• Retirement Income Generation: Older investors should focus on building passive income streams, such as unlocking equity from property, to ensure a sustainable retirement income.

Opinion:

I do agree that younger investors are taking too less risk. Just a personal feeling.

Everyone's "enlightenment" will occur differently.

I think wider reading and research will make the process faster.

Investing Updates : Here's the Breakdown for January CPI, in One Chart

Source:

https://www.moomoo.com/community/feed/here-s-the-breakdown-for-january-cpi-in-one-chart-113991310704645

Apple Intelligence:

• Inflation Rate: The annual inflation rate in the US increased to 3% in January 2025.
• Food Costs: Food costs rose by 2.5% YoY, consistent with the previous month’s data.
• Energy Costs: Energy costs increased by 1.0% YoY, after a 0.5% decrease in December.

Opinion:

Everyone thinks trump's policies will increase inflation even further 😅

More positive data is now required to boost market sentiment. End of wars might do it too.

Volatile times ahead.

Investing Updates : MAS review group proposes tax perks to boost Singapore’s equities market as a start

Source:

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/mas-review-group-proposes-tax-perks-boost-singapores-equities-market-start

Apple Intelligence:

• Tax Incentives for Listings: The MAS review group proposes tax incentives to attract enterprises and fund managers to list in Singapore.

• Tax Incentives for Funds: The group aims to encourage the launch and growth of funds with substantial investment in local equities.

• Review Group Composition: The review group, chaired by Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat, includes private-sector stakeholders and public-sector representatives.

• Market Competitiveness Improvement: Aiming to enhance the competitiveness of the Singapore equities market by attracting investor interest and boosting the supply of quality listings.

• Growth Capital Access: Developing measures to help Singapore enterprises access growth capital and attract quality enterprises with a regional presence to list in Singapore.

• Tax Incentives Limitation: Tax incentives might not fundamentally alter the decision-making process of companies deciding where to list, which is primarily based on market valuations.

• Positive Market Sentiment: Local banks’ outperformance indicates sufficient liquidity from Singapore investors for companies with good results.

• Regulatory Streamlining: Streamlining the listing process is seen as positive, but other factors like pricing, valuation, and market liquidity also need to be considered.

• GIC Investment Strategy: GIC should not be required to invest in local equities if it negatively impacts returns, as its primary objective is to preserve and enhance Singapore’s reserves.

• Sustainable Market Growth: Chee believes in strengthening market fundamentals for sustainable growth instead of relying on short-term “pump-prime” approaches.

• Upcoming Update: A fuller update on the review group’s first set of measures will be provided on February 21.

• Review Group’s Focus: The review group aims to foster long-term development and sustainable growth of Singapore’s equities market by encouraging listings, increasing investor participation, improving trading liquidity, and facilitating fair valuations.

Opinion:

I feel that the picture doesn't look good enough for the topic? 😂. 

I think the recent discussion on more options for CPF investing is a good thing.

The country has come a long way. Citizens are more educated and informed to make prudent financial decisions.

Investing Updates : What to Expect in the Week Ahead (COIN, APP, SMCI Earnings; US January CPI)

Source:

https://www.moomoo.com/community/feed/what-to-expect-in-the-week-ahead-coin-app-smci-113978437927718?global_content=%7B%22promote_content%22%3A%22mm%3Afeed%3A113978437927718%22%2C%22invite%22%3A103096561%7D&is_recommendation=0&is_recommend_pos=0&futusource=news_headline_list

Apple Intelligence:

• Earnings Release Date: Coinbase will announce its Q4 2024 financial results on February 13, 2025, after the market closes.
• Revenue and EPS Projections: $1.75 billion in revenue (83.80% year-over-year increase) and an EPS of $1.90 (82.82% year-over-year increase).
• Key Highlights: Strong double-digit growth in transaction revenue and subscription & services.

• SMCI Earnings Release: SMCI will release its fiscal Q2 2025 update on February 11, after the market close.
• SMCI Earnings Forecast: Analysts expect SMCI to report revenue of $5.78 billion, a 57.60% increase, and an EPS of $0.53, up 4.71%.
• Applovin Earnings Release: Applovin will release its Q4 financial results after market close on Wednesday.

• Shopify Earnings Release: Shopify will release its Q4 and full-year 2024 financial results on Tuesday, February 11.
• Analyst Expectations: Analysts anticipate a strong performance with a 27.4% year-over-year increase in revenue to $2.73 billion and a 71.2% rise in EPS to $0.43.
• Shopify Business Strategy: Shopify focuses on e-commerce software and services, reducing exposure to tariffs, and leveraging strategic growth drivers like attracting enterprise-level businesses and enhancing its platform with AI and automation.

Opinion:

Quite a few important companies are reporting earnings this week.

Plenty of data tabled for release also.

Markets should be volatile.

Sports Updates : Electric Line Calling Coming to Clay in 2025 | TC Live

DeepSeek:

The number of times tennis players have complained about line calls on clay courts is not systematically tracked, making an exact count impossible. However, the nature of clay courts—where the ball leaves a visible mark—reduces disputes compared to other surfaces. Here’s a breakdown of key factors:

1. Clay Court Dynamics:  

   - Players and officials can inspect ball marks to verify line calls, which minimizes ambiguity. This system often leads to fewer complaints than on grass or hard courts, where electronic challenges (e.g., Hawk-Eye) are used.

2. Tournament Context:  

   - At clay-court events like the French Open, players request mark inspections instead of electronic reviews. While data on complaints isn’t public, umpire inspections typically resolve disputes quickly, reducing prolonged arguments.

3. Anecdotal Evidence:  

   - High-profile disputes (e.g., Serena Williams’ 2018 French Open incident) show that disagreements can occur when players contest an umpire’s interpretation of a mark. Such cases are rare but memorable.

4. Comparative Frequency:  

   - Studies suggest clay courts have higher call accuracy due to visible marks, leading to fewer overall complaints. However, occasional disagreements persist, often tied to human judgment in reading marks.

In conclusion, while complaints on clay courts are less frequent than on other surfaces, they still occur sporadically. The exact number remains unquantified due to lack of centralized tracking, but the clay surface’s inherent transparency generally fosters fewer disputes.

Opinion:

I think it's a good move to use electric line just like Hawkeye.

It takes away human subjectivities.

Don't think players will be against it.

Investing Updates : Here's the Breakdown for US January Nonfarm Payrolls, in One Chart

Source: 

https://www.moomoo.com/community/feed/113962924245001?global_content=%7B%22promote_content%22%3A%22mm%3Afeed%3A113962924245001%22%2C%22invite%22%3A103096561%7D&is_recommendation=0&is_recommend_pos=1&futusource=news_headline_list

Apple Intelligence:

• Job Market Performance (January 2025): The US economy added 143,000 jobs, falling short of expectations and revised December figures.
• Sectoral Performance: Healthcare, retail trade, social assistance, and government employment experienced job gains.
• Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate decreased to 4.0%, reaching its lowest point since May 2024.

Opinion:

So many things happening in the world right now. DeepSeek, Trump Tariffs/Policies, etc.

Not sure how important data is for market actions 😂.

For FED, this is probably quite important.

LifeStyle Updates : S’pore brand included in New York Times’ list of best instant noodles

Source: https://mustsharenews.com/singapore-best-instant-noodles/

Apple Intelligence:

• NYT Instant Noodle Ranking: The New York Times ranked the best instant noodles in the US, including Prima Taste Singapore’s Laksa La Mian.

• Prima Taste Singapore Laksa La Mian Review: The noodles were praised for their taste and texture, but some may find the seafood smell unpleasant.

• NYT Instant Noodle Selection Process: A panel of experts and kitchen staff with well-honed taste buds selected the noodles based on texture and flavor balance.

Opinion:

Interesting win for Singapore.

Might try it for lunch in office.

I think $9.95 is quite expensive, https://www.fairprice.com.sg/product/prima-taste-la-mian-premium-instant-noodles-laksa-4-x-144g-13259121?srsltid=AfmBOopkXR70Y_BMZotPIov3q8e2CQ3D9apyw9e1TOn46URN3vwTlu6u