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Nvidia’s Stock Plunge Highlights Global Market Concerns

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Nvidia's Stock Plunge Highlights Global Market Concerns

Global markets experienced a sharp downturn on Wednesday, with UK shares following suit after significant losses in Asian and US markets. The declines were driven by increasing concerns about the state of the world’s largest economy, as recent data revealed continued sluggishness in US manufacturing activity. Investors are now anxiously awaiting the release of US jobs figures on Friday, which could provide further insight into the economy’s trajectory.

American technology giant Nvidia, known for its dominance in the AI chip market, was particularly hard-hit, with its shares plummeting by nearly 10%. This decline reflects waning optimism about the AI boom, despite Nvidia’s stock still being worth double what it was a year ago.

The FTSE 100, representing the largest companies on the London Stock Exchange, fell by 0.55% by midday, with major European indices also suffering losses. Germany’s DAX dropped by 1.41%, France’s CAC 40 by almost 1%, and Spain’s IBEX by 0.51%.

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In the US, market sentiment was further dampened by uncertainty over how the Federal Reserve will respond to economic growth concerns during its upcoming meeting to decide interest rate policy. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq both closed significantly lower, with Nvidia losing 9.5% of its value, a drop that erased $279 billion from its market capitalization. Despite this, Nvidia’s shares remain nine times higher than they were in November 2022, when the launch of AI technologies like ChatGPT sparked a surge in demand for its chips.

Other major US tech companies, including Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft, also saw their shares tumble. The impact of these declines rippled across Asian markets, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 falling by 4.2%, South Korea’s Kospi losing more than 3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropping by 1.1%. Leading Asian technology firms such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Tokyo Electron experienced significant losses as well.

Julia Lee of FTSE Russell noted that growth concerns are heavily influencing market movements, particularly in exporting countries in Asia, which are being hit hard by these global economic worries. Investors are now closely watching next week’s US interest rate decision and Friday’s jobs report for further indications of the US economy’s direction.

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Swetha Ramachandran, a fund manager at Artemis Investment Management in London, suggested that Tuesday’s sharp decline in US shares indicates growing investor skepticism about the likelihood of substantial interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

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Logan Paul Faces Scrutiny Over Cryptocurrency Promotions and Investments

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Logan Paul Faces Scrutiny Over Cryptocurrency Promotions and Investments

Logan Paul, a prominent social media influencer with over 23 million YouTube subscribers, is under fire for his involvement in cryptocurrency projects. Accusations have surfaced that Paul may have profited by allegedly misleading fans into investments that caused token prices to spike.

Paul’s influence in the crypto space has been growing over the past three years, as his videos increasingly reference blockchain technologies and investment opportunities. However, some critics argue his endorsements lack transparency, fueling speculation that he may have sold tokens at inflated prices after his promotions.

Adding to his challenges, Paul is embroiled in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit over CryptoZoo, a failed crypto project he backed. The venture was marketed as a play-to-earn game, but investors claim they lost significant sums when the project collapsed.

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Paul has denied any wrongdoing in connection to both CryptoZoo and his other cryptocurrency activities. Despite the controversy, he remains a major figure in the influencer world, leveraging his platform to shape conversations and trends across various industries.

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Walmart Raises Full-Year Outlook as Holiday Shopping Boosts Sales

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Walmart Raises Full-Year Outlook as Holiday Shopping Boosts Sales

Walmart has once again raised its annual sales forecast, citing stronger-than-expected consumer spending on non-grocery items, increased home delivery orders, and early holiday shopping. The retail giant now anticipates net sales growth between 4.8% and 5.1% for the fiscal year, up from its previous projection of 3.75% to 4.75%.

The updated outlook was announced alongside third-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street expectations. Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey noted that general merchandise sales increased year-over-year for the second consecutive quarter, reversing a decline that spanned 11 quarters. However, he highlighted that customers remain price-sensitive, waiting for deals, particularly as food prices remain elevated.

“We’re expecting this holiday period to be very consistent with that,” Rainey said, emphasizing shoppers’ focus on price and value.

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Walmart’s strong performance propelled its shares up by about 3% in early trading, reaching a 52-week high and setting a new all-time intraday record since the company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972.

For the quarter ending October 31, Walmart reported a sharp increase in net income, rising to $4.58 billion, or 57 cents per share, compared with $453 million, or 6 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue climbed to $164.05 billion, up from $160.80 billion in the same period last year.

Comparable sales, a key industry metric, grew 5.3% for Walmart U.S. and 7% at Sam’s Club (excluding fuel). Walmart also reported higher customer engagement, with U.S. transactions rising 3.1% and average ticket size increasing 2.1% year-over-year.

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Spirit Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Amid Financial Struggles

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Spirit Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Amid Financial Struggles

US budget airline Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy protection, citing prolonged financial losses and failed merger attempts. The Florida-based carrier announced on Monday that it has secured an agreement to restructure its debt and raise funds during a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, expected to conclude by early 2025.

Spirit assured customers that its operations will continue as normal throughout the process, with no impact on passenger travel, employee wages, or payments to aircraft leasing firms.

This marks the first bankruptcy filing by a US airline in over a decade, with the last major case being American Airlines’ 2011 filing to address labor costs and high fuel prices. Spirit, however, has faced unique challenges, including intensified competition in the budget travel sector and engine-related mechanical issues that have grounded aircraft and increased operating expenses.

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The airline has not posted a full-year profit since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and reported losses of approximately $360 million (£285 million) in the first half of 2024, despite strong demand for budget travel.

As part of its restructuring, Spirit will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in the near future, and its stock shares will be canceled without value.

The airline remains optimistic that the Chapter 11 process will help it emerge more financially stable, ensuring continued service to its customers and support for its employees.

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