The First Slice for Monday, February 3, 2025

Tech Titans, Blockbuster Pharma, and the Fed’s Big Watchlist

It’s a high-stakes week on Wall Street, with earnings reports rolling in from some of the biggest names in tech, media, and pharmaceuticals. Alphabet (Google’s parent company) and Amazon are set to reveal how they fared, and all eyes will be on Disney’s numbers as streaming competition heats up. Meanwhile, weight-loss drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly could make headlines with updates on their blockbuster medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. These reports won’t just impact stock prices—they’ll shape how investors and consumers think about the future of AI, entertainment, and healthcare.

Beyond earnings, the Federal Reserve has its eyes on the labor market. On Friday, the January jobs report drops, showing whether the economy is still riding the hiring wave or starting to cool off. Last month’s surprise 256,000 job gain made economists take notice, and now investors are wondering: Will the trend continue? The answer could influence future interest rate decisions, affecting everything from mortgages to credit card debt.

In the tech world, AI spending is causing ripples, especially after a Chinese startup’s lower-cost model rattled Wall Street last week. Palantir, a major AI software firm, will kick off earnings on Monday, with chipmakers AMD and Qualcomm following suit. Meanwhile, Disney’s earnings call could reveal more about its streaming battle plan, as FuboTV is set to merge with Hulu + Live TV. And let’s not forget MicroStrategy—the company that’s gone all-in on Bitcoin—reporting on Wednesday. With a recent buy of over 10,000 bitcoins, their numbers could give a fresh look at the crypto market’s direction.

As this jam-packed week unfolds, the markets will be juggling economic data, corporate performance, and Federal Reserve signals. From tech to pharma, AI to streaming, these earnings and reports will paint a picture of where the economy—and your money—might be headed next………. [read more]