Economic Calendar: Key Market Movers (week of 01Sep25) Public Holidays There are no public holidays in China, Singapore and Hong Kong. America celebrates Labor Day on 1st September 2025 (Monday). Observations (Economic Calendar) Several key economic indicators are on the horizon, offering a comprehensive look into both the manufacturing and services sectors. Manufacturing The S&P Global Manufacturing PMI is forecasted to be 53.3, indicating an expansion from the prior period. The ISM Manufacturing PMI is at 48.6, which suggests a contraction in the U.S. manufacturing sector. The previous ISM Prices Paid sub-index was 64.8, signalling inflationary pressures. The upcoming release of this data will be a key indicator for future inflation trends. Services The S&P Global Services PMI is

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ( $Alibaba(BABA)$ , BUY) - Strategic Investments Weigh on Profit, but Core Growth Engines Accelerate; Maintain BUY and $145 PT—Tiger ResearchWe are maintaining our BUY rating and $145 PT after Alibaba reported June quarter FY2026 results that showed a solid print despite headline profit softness, as the company’s heavy investments in quick commerce weighed on margins.Revenue reached RMB247.7 billion, up 10% year-over-year on a like-for-like basis excluding Sun Art and Intime, while adjusted EBITA fell 14% as management leaned into scaling Taobao Instant Commerce. The underlying message from the quarter is that Alibaba’s two strategic pillars—consumption and AI + Cloud—are gaining real traction and management’s outlook re

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$Alibaba(BABA)$ $MEITUAN(MPNGF)$ The market is buzzing as September 2025 unfolds, with Alibaba (BABA) soaring 12% to $142.30 after a stellar earnings report, while Meituan-W (03690) slumped to HK$92.90 following a profit warning and an 89% net profit drop. Wednesday’s earnings from Meituan revealed intense competition eroding margins, yet CEO Wang Xing’s bold claim—“In a big competition, being the underdog is the most exciting position to be in”—ignites debate. With BABA riding a major trend and Meituan eyeing a comeback, investors face a pivotal choice. Should you chase BABA’s momentum or bet on Meituan’s resilience? This deep dive explores the stakes, risks, and rewards, backed by data and market shift

Markets are full of contrasts, and this past week highlighted it perfectly. On Wednesday, Meituan (03690) reported earnings that disappointed investors. Profits took a hit. The market responded swiftly: the stock plummeted. MEITUAN-W (03690) Just a day later, Alibaba (BABA) released its results, and the market cheered—a 12% surge in the share price. Alibaba (BABA) Meituan CEO Wang Xing offered a compelling perspective on this dichotomy: “In a big competition, being the underdog is the most exciting position to be in. That’s why this is so thrilling.” This raises a critical question for investors: do we follow the trend, or do we bet on the underdog? The Underdog Advantage: More Than Just Emotion Investing in underdogs isn’t just about rooting for the little guy. It’s about strategic opport

A potential September 2025 rate cut is more than just a monetary tweak—it is a strategic inflection point. Market expectations are high, with many analysts and investors already pricing in the move. The key for investors is to understand how different asset classes react and to position their portfolios accordingly. In this article, I would like to share some of the strategy I planned to use to capture this potential major trend shift. How to React to a Potential Rate Cut Understand the "Why": The most crucial question is why the Fed is cutting rates. Soft Landing: If the Fed cuts rates to "recalibrate" policy as inflation moderates and the economy remains resilient, this is generally a bullish sign for stocks. Hard Landing: If the Fed is cutting rates to combat an economic slowdown or rec

$MEITUAN(MPNGF)$ eituan's Q2 2025 earnings revealed a 21% revenue jump to RMB 82.35 billion but a sharp profit drop due to delivery wars, sending shares down 5%, while Alibaba's 12% surge to $121.30 after beating estimates with $247.652 billion revenue (up 5.8%) highlights its resilience. Meituan CEO Wang Xing's "underdog excitement" comment amid fierce competition from Alibaba and JD.com contrasts with Alibaba's AI chip unveil and cloud growth. With the S&P 500 at 6,512.34, Nasdaq at 21,918.45, and Bitcoin at $123,456, the VIX at 14.12 reflects calm, but tariffs (30% on EU/Mexico, 35% on Canada) and oil at $74.50/barrel stir caution. Will you bet on Meituan's underdog comeback or Alibaba's major trend? This deep dive explores the earnings, r

$MEITUAN-W(03690)$ $Alibaba(BABA)$ Investing is never just about numbers. It’s also about narratives, conviction, and the trade-off between safety and opportunity. This week, that age-old question resurfaced in dramatic fashion as two of China’s biggest internet companies, Meituan (03690.HK) and Alibaba (BABA), unveiled earnings that sent their stock prices in opposite directions. The divergence was striking. Meituan’s latest report showed pressure on profitability, triggering a sharp sell-off in its shares. In contrast, Alibaba surprised to the upside, rallying more than 12% in a single day after its earnings release. On the earnings call, Meituan CEO Wang Xing tried to reframe the market’s disappointme

My Investing Muse (01Sep25) Layoffs & Closure news Pfizer lays off 100 workers at former Seagen HQ in Seattle area - Fierce Pharma ANZ Group Holdings Ltd. is being forced to accelerate planned layoffs after automated emails were mistakenly sent to some employees before they were told of their termination. - Bloomberg Nike is taking the layoff route again this year, and this means job cuts for less than 1% of its corporate workforce. The company was recently reported to have 77,800 employees, but it remains unclear just how many from this expansive workforce will be affected by the cuts. - The HR Digest Intuitive to lay off 331 employees in California   The robotic surgery company, which filed a WARN notice with the state in August, plans for the layoffs to be effective in late Oct

Market Outlook of S&P500 (01Sep25) Technical observations: MACD - currently shows a downtrend as the price ranges. Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) lines are showing an uptrend. Both the 50 MA line and the 200 MA line are showing an uptrend. This speaks of a bullish outlook for both the short and long term. The CMF is positive at 0.21, indicating more buying pressure over the past 20 periods. Using technical analysis, 11 indicators indicate a “Buy” rating, while 3 indicate a “Sell” rating. Using the Daily interval, it has a “Strong Buy” rating. Emerging Patterns (from Grok) Bearish Engulfing (1D, Current, August 27, 2025) Implication: A bearish pattern indicating strong selling pressure, often marking the start or continuation of a downtrend. Doji (1D, 1 candle ago, August 26, 2025) I

This is a classic investor’s dilemma: bet on the underdog with higher risk–reward potential, or ride the major trend with more stability but possibly less upside. Let’s unpack both sides using your Meituan (03690) vs. Alibaba (BABA) example. --- 1. The Underdog Play – Meituan Why consider it: After sharp drawdowns, valuations may be compressed, offering larger rebound potential if fundamentals recover. The CEO’s framing — “thrilling to be the underdog” — underscores management’s willingness to fight for market share, innovate, and possibly surprise on the upside. For contrarians, buying quality companies during periods of pessimism can yield outsized returns. Risks: Profit pressure may persist due to food delivery price wars and subsidy-heavy strategies. Competition (Douyin, Alibaba’s Ele.

You are weighing two classic investment mindsets—contrarian (underdog) versus momentum (major trend). Both have merit, but the context matters. --- The Underdog Case (Meituan) Valuation Compression: After a steep sell-off, the stock may be trading at a discount relative to its fundamentals, making upside potential more attractive if execution improves. Asymmetric Payoff: Negative sentiment may already be priced in, so any positive catalyst (e.g., easing competition, better margins, regulatory tailwinds) could trigger outsized gains. Long-Term Positioning: If you believe Meituan can defend market share and eventually monetise new initiatives, the current weakness could be a buying opportunity. Risk: Catching the underdog requires patience and conviction, as underperformance can persist for

Let us weigh both sides more systematically: --- 1. Betting on the Underdog (Meituan) Pros: Valuation discount: After a steep sell-off, the stock may already price in weaker earnings. Upside potential could be significant if the market overreacted. Longer-term optionality: Underdogs often innovate aggressively to gain market share. If Meituan successfully adapts, the turnaround could be rewarding. Favourable risk-reward (if entry is well-timed): Buying into pessimism may yield higher multiples once sentiment improves. Cons: Business headwinds remain: Food delivery competition is intense, margins thin, and regulatory pressure in China is non-negligible. “Falling knife” risk: Underdogs can stay undervalued or decline further if fundamentals do not improve. --- 2. Riding the Surge (Alibaba) P

This week, the market gave us a tale of two tech titans—and two very different outcomes. 📉 Wednesday, August 27: Meituan (03690) dropped its Q2 earnings. Revenue rose 11.7% YoY, but net profit plunged 89%, crushed by soaring sales expenses and brutal competition in food delivery. The stock tanked 💥📉. 📈 Friday, August 29: Alibaba (BABA) released its Q1 FY2026 results and jumped 12.9% 🚀💰. Investors cheered its cloud growth, AI momentum, and strategic pivots. The surge was swift—and loud. But the real twist came from Meituan’s CEO Wang Xing, who said: “In a big competition, being the underdog is the most exciting position to be in. That’s why this is so thrilling.” 🧠 So… Do You Bet on the Underdog or Ride the Surge? Let’s break it down: 🐾 Why Bet on the Underdog? Potential for high

🌟🌟🌟Meituan vs Alibaba : Dumplings, Chips & a Comeback Twist. 2025's instant commerce war is no quiet noodle fight.  Meituan, the scooter slinging local champ, stunned with a 63% profit jump in Q1 but Q2 brought margin erosion, ballooning logistics costs & a 12% stock drop.  Overseas bets (Keeta in Saudi Arabia & Brazil) adds spice but also cash burn. Then came Alibaba's plot twist : a stellar Q2, 12% stock surge & a surprise AI Chip launch.  Taobao Instant Commerce hit 80 million daily orders, backed by RMB 50 billion in subsidies. Alibaba now looks like it is rewriting the play book. So who wins? Meituan is the quiet compounding bao.  Alibaba is the phoenix with silicon wings.  Analysts are torn, regulators are watching and investors are recalibra