“Can the US markets rebound again soon?”

“Is the recent market crash a sign of worse things to come?”

Yes - these are some of the questions I got during the recent market sell-down…

Unfortunately, I don’t have a crystal ball (no one has) and can’t predict what’s going to happen in the short term.

On the other hand, I am lucky to have found this chart which simply means…

It’s not about timing the market and the time in the market that counts in the long run.

With that, lets hop over to the juicy news and a new section I have included for this newsletter - Analyst Reports! For those who are looking to see my excel comparison for DBS, UOB & OCBC - scroll down to the ‘Download of the Week’ section~

• US Market News

• Asia Market News

• Analyst Reports

• Editor’s Stock Pick*

• Download of the Week [2Q2024 Banks’ results comparison]

P.S. But first, do support our hard work by clicking on the advertisement link below… every click is a free kopi for me ☕❤️

Big Hits [U.S.] 📉

Here are the news that shocked the world…

Market Correction or Not: The S&P 500 surged 2.3% in its best day since Nov. 2022, and the Dow added 683 points. Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) were up over 6%, Meta (META) jumped 4.2%, and Eli Lilly (LLY) vaulted 9.5%. [Read More]

Airbnb crashes 15% on weak guidance: Airbnb Inc. shares plunged by the most ever after the company issued yet another disappointing outlook and warned of slowing demand from US vacationers. [Read More]

Google an illegal monopoly?!: Google lost its antitrust suit over search, marking a key win for the Justice Dept. in the first big tech anticompetitive standoff in decades.

U.S. District Court found Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act "by maintaining its monopoly in two product markets in the United States - general search services and general text advertising -through its exclusive distribution agreements.". [Read More]

Disney raises streaming prices: The price hikes come as Disney continues to push its customers toward bundles to get a bigger bang for their buck.

“We’re seeing growth in consumption and the popularity of our offerings, which gives us the pricing leverage we believe we have,” Iger said. [Read More]

Starbucks gains with Activist’s new stake: Starboard Value, an investment firm with a history of taking activist positions in companies, has a stake in Starbucks Corp. Starbucks is already contending with activist Elliott Investment Management.

The chain is struggling with a pullback in demand that has resulted in 2 consecutive quarters of sales declines at stores open for at least a year. The company has also faced criticism from Howard Schultz, its former CEO and biggest individual investor, as he publicly chided senior leadership for the company’s performance. [Read More]

Big Hits [Asia] 📊

Here are the news covering the Asia market…

CapitaLand Ascott Trust - first lodging trust to secure OCBC 1.5°C loan: CLAS is the first lodging trust to secure an OCBC 1.5°C loan. With this S$165 million sustainability-linked multi-currency revolving credit facility, CLAS will receive interest rate reductions upon meeting the agreed annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets. [Read More]

Xiaomi smartphone to use Google’s Gemini AI model: Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi is working with Google to integrate its Gemini large language model (LLM) into the Chinese firm’s next flagship series for international markets, intensifying competition in the nascent segment for handsets with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. [Read More]

CSE Global deliver ‘electrifying’ results: Technology solutions provider CSE Global reported a profit of S$15 million for the first half of FY2024, up 36.4% from the corresponding period in 2023.

The electrification business segment grew 32.4 per cent year-on-year to S$216.7 million in H1 2024. The group attributed the growth to higher project revenue achieved from major contracts secured in 2023.. [Read More]

Chinese EV makers get an uplift: Hong Kong can serve as a super-connector to help Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers increase their market presence overseas, according to a government official and industry experts.

The city aims to leverage its proximity to the mainland to help companies in the intelligent-vehicle supply chain gain a foothold in export markets, said Lillian Cheong Man-lei, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry. [Read More]

Analyst Reports 📝

See below for our handpicked analyst reports:

Editor’s Stock Pick* 🎲

Have you been out on a cruise post-covid?

Yes, the stock i want to share is none other than Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL).

It has made a triumphant comeback from the pandemic, posting record-breaking bookings and financial performance. This cruise giant is experiencing a surge in demand, fueled by pent-up travel desires and a rejuvenated appetite for luxury experiences.

• Strong Financial Performance: RCL has delivered impressive financial results, including record-breaking bookings, expanded margins, and substantial cash reserves.

• Robust Growth Prospects: The company is aggressively expanding its global footprint, investing in innovative ships, and targeting new markets, particularly in Asia.

• Customer Focus: RCL prioritizes customer satisfaction, building loyalty through exceptional experiences and exclusive perks.

• Positive Investor Sentiment: Analysts are bullish on RCL, citing strong growth potential, improving financials, and a favorable industry outlook.

Despite industry challenges like inflation and economic uncertainty, RCL's resilient business model, coupled with its strategic initiatives, positions the company for sustained growth.

To top it off, they released an infographic for their recent 2Q 2024 results and they are really firing on all cylinders as shown in the pic below:

With a clear path to profitability and a strong foundation for future growth, Royal Caribbean Cruises is well-positioned to capitalize on the ongoing travel resurgence.

*Disclaimer: This information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investors should conduct their own due diligence before making any investment decisions.

Download of the Week 😂 

Our 3 local banks [DBS, UOB, OCBC] are like the 3 Musketeers in Singapore Exchange…

Everyone likes to talk about their financial performance and dividends… just like me…

You can also click on the link here to download the google excel sheet.
*Remember to go “File → Make a Copy”.