Google’s parent to buy cybersecurity group Wiz in its biggest ever deal

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

🌐 Google’s parent to buy cybersecurity group Wiz in its biggest ever deal: Google’s owner, Alphabet, has agreed to buy the cybersecurity group Wiz for $32 billion (£24.7 billion), the biggest acquisition it has ever made. The search company’s purchase of the Israeli startup comes as Google attempts to catch its competitors Microsoft and Amazon in the competitive cloud services market. The Guardian reports.

⚡ Nvidia GTC: Here's what Wall Street is saying about Jensen Huang's performance: Did Nvidia do enough to reawaken the bull narrative on the chipmaker's stock at its annual developer event? Wall Street is weighing in on that. Yahoo Finance reports.

⚖️ Investors look to Fed and Powell Wednesday for new clarity as markets waver: The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates steady Wednesday and retain its estimate for two interest rate cuts later this year as policymakers stay cautious amid the uncertainty of President Trump’s economic policies. Yahoo Finance reports.

💊 Pfizer sells entire Haleon stake for $3.24 billion: Drugmaker Pfizer has sold its entire stake in Haleon for about 2.5 billion pounds ($3.24 billion) to institutional investors and the consumer healthcare firm at 385 pence per share, a bookrunner for the deal said on Wednesday. Reuters reports.

💶 Volkswagen raises €360 million in Traton unit stake sale: The company raised about €360 million ($393 million) through the sale of a 2.2% stake in Traton SE. The German carmaker offered around 11 million shares in its truck unit through an overnight placement, in a bid to enhance liquidity in the stock, Volkswagen said in a statement Tuesday. Yahoo Finance reports.

✂️ US companies announce layoffs to cut costs: U.S. companies have initiated layoffs across sectors as they attempt to streamline operations amid economic uncertainties, following similar cutbacks seen last year. Reuters reports.

📊 Tencent posts Q4 revenue and profit above estimates as gaming business rebounds: Chinese technology giant Tencent Holdings posted an 11% rise in fourth-quarter revenue on Wednesday, driven by growth in its gaming business. Yahoo Finance reports.

(All pricing and percent gains are based on Early Pre-Market from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM Eastern Time)
Benzinga reports.

1) $LSE: Leishen Energy Holding
Total gain: +79.53%

2) $XHLD: TEN Holdings
Total gain: +42.25%

3) $VRPX: Virpax Pharmaceuticals
Total gain: +31.07%

4) $BDRX: Biodexa Pharmaceuticals
Total gain: +28.53%

5) $MSN: Emerson Radio
Total gain: +28.4%

*Estimate and Actual numbers represent Earnings Per Share in US Dollars

FIVE: Five Below
4Q 2024
After Market Close
Estimate: 3.370
Actual: N/A

YY: JOYY
4Q 2024
After Market Close
Estimate: 1.020
Actual: N/A

LQDA: Liquidia
4Q 2024
Before Market Open
Estimate: -0.400
Actual: N/A

Time (ET) / Report / Period

2:00 pm - FOMC interest-rate decision
2:30 pm - Fed Chair Powell press conference

“Our favorite holding period is forever.”

- Warren Buffett

Sourced in: “Berkshire Hathaway Letters to Shareholders”, by Warren Buffett, published in 2023.