From Investing.com: 2025-05-12 07:15:00

1. The Federal Reserve chose to keep interest rates steady, citing solid US economic growth despite a weak Q1. Chair Powell faces pressure from President Trump as other major central banks ease policy. Markets now expect a rate cut by July, with June probability dropping to below 24%.
2. Alphabet’s stock dropped 7% amid concerns it could follow outdated tech giants. Apple is exploring AI search tools for Safari, potentially moving away from Google. Melius’s Reitzes sees a possible turning point for Alphabet.
3. US retail investors are on a record 21-week buying streak of domestic stocks, while hedge funds are reducing positions at a historic pace.
4. US companies are buying back stocks at record levels, with buyback announcements reaching all-time highs.
5. Skype, once a video call leader, is being shut down as Microsoft shifts focus to Teams. Zoom’s rise and Windows 11 integration contributed to Skype’s decline.
6. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway holds $305 billion in US Treasury Bills, owning over 5% of the entire market.
7. China’s industrial production in 2024 surpassed the US, Germany, and India combined, highlighting its manufacturing dominance. Underestimating China’s industrial power could lead to strategic miscalculations in trade and geopolitics as globalisation continues.

Read more at Investing.com: Markets Doubt Fed’s Patience as Rate Cut Odds Slide