LiveWire

Sales jumped 32% to USD75.3 billion in the fourth quarter, topping the average estimate of USD72 billion. For the full year, Alphabet's sales rose 41% to a record USD258 billion. The strong sales number show advertisers increased ad spending significantly as economic conditions improved. Google Cloud increased quarterly revenue by 45% to USD5.5 billion, but the unit still logs in a loss overall. Alphabet also announced it will undertake a twenty-to-one stock split. The stock jumped 9.1% in after-hours, at USD3'005, erasing losses from the January sell-off. Similarly, Alphabet' strong advertising numbers increased interest for Meta shares (FB), which leaped 3.5% higher in after-hours. It will report earnings today after the market close. 

The CSI 300 index represents the top 300 stocks listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzen Stock Exchange. Since the regulatory crackdown, supply chain issues, energy shortages, and the Evergrande issue, these stocks became almost untradable. Are they set for a new path in 2022?

PayPal's business benefited greatly during the pandemic. Its stock recently faced heavy headwinds amidst a rush for investors to sell stocks with higher valuation multiples. Valuation has come down with the stock down by approximately 38% since July 2021. From a technical analysis perspective the stock has maintained its key support level of $180. Price earnings ratio multiples are now close to pre-pandemic levels, but remain high given the payment leader's high growth profile. Earnings will be out early February 2022. 

Technical analysis reveals Nasdaq 100, the tech heavy indice remains in a strong technical uptrend. Pre-market advance of +2% suggests sell-off is behind us as investors are re-positioning for a December-January 2022 rally, in what is usually a very favorable period of the year for stocks. Nasdaq100 held well in the sell-off as investors view the mega cap tech stocks as less vulnerable than emerging new tech players due to their high profitability, strong balance sheets, and typically lower price earning ratio multiples. 

Alibaba, which has just replaced its CFO, was worth almost USD900bn in October 2020. It's now at ~USD300bn. It started with the derailing of the ANT IPO and worsened with the regulatory crackdown on internet companies. Authorities have been going after unfair practices used by big tech such as Alibaba and Meituan that squeeze small businesses. Investing in the region is high-risk amid the political agenda of Beijing to tamper the influence of Big Tech and tackle “unfair” practices. E-commerce is also fiercely competitive with the emergence of players such Pinduoduo, which has now surpassed Alibaba in terms of annual active users. Comparably, tech player in Southeast Asia Sea Limited has continued to expand rapidly and has remained a market darling.