Gaekkul

Uncertainty Rocks U.S. Equity Markets in Q1 The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have recorded their worst quarterly performances since 2022, driven by escalating fears over the Trump administration’s aggressive economic policies, particularly new tariffs threatening a global trade war. Investors witnessed a volatile first quarter of 2025, with the S&P 500 tumbling 4.6% and the Nasdaq Composite plummeting 10.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped a more modest 1.3%. These declines, the most significant since December 2022, reflect growing unease about how Trump’s tariff plans could disrupt economic growth and fuel inflation worldwide. On a single day, March 31, 2025, markets showed mixed signals: the S&P 500 climbed 0.55% to 5,611.85, the Dow surged 1% to 42,001.76, yet the Nasdaq dipped 0.14% to 17,299.29, underscoring the unpredictable nature of this tariff driven turmoil. The Trump administration’s economic agenda, particularly the introduction of sweeping tar...

How Taiwan’s Semiconductor Giant Balances Global Expansion Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s leading chipmaker, has unveiled its latest domestic fabrication plant in Kaohsiung, igniting excitement with a promise of 7,000 high tech jobs boosting Taiwan’s economy. Announced by Y.P. Chyn, TSMC’s executive vice president and cochief operating officer, during a ceremony at the southern Taiwan facility, this development underscores the company’s commitment to expanding its footprint on the island. Broadcast across Taiwanese television stations, the event spotlighted the new factory’s cuttingedge 2 nanometer technology, positioning it as a cornerstone of TSMC’s advanced semiconductor production capabilities. Amid growing concerns over its massive $100 billion investment in the United States, TSMC reassured stakeholders that Taiwan remains its unshakable home base, with plans to further enhance its local presence. Chyn emphasized that the Kaohsiung fab is on sch...

The Relentless Rise of Traditional Automakers in the Electric Two-Wheeler Market The electric vehicle (EV) two-wheeler industry in India, once a thriving hub for innovative startups, is now witnessing a seismic shift as traditional automakers like Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor assert their dominance, leaving smaller players scrambling for survival. Analysts at Bernstein have issued a stark warning: while many Indian electric vehicle startups are still chasing ambitious public listings with aggressive valuations, their long-term viability hangs by a thread. What began as a promising revolution driven by nimble newcomers capitalizing on government subsidies and first-mover advantages has morphed into a brutal battleground where scale, distribution networks, and policy incentives favor established giants. This in-depth exploration dives into the current state of Indian EV two-wheeler startups, their mounting challenges, and why traditional manufacturers are poised to claim the lion’s share o...

How Economic Uncertainty Could Reshape Online Retail Growth Rising recession fears are casting a dark shadow over the US e-commerce sector, sparking widespread concern among investors and prompting a urgent reassessment of growth expectations for online retail businesses, according to a recent note from Bernstein analysts. The firm warns that "recession fears are growing again, or at the very least the expectation for an economic slowdown has increasingly become the base case narrative," signaling a pivotal shift in market sentiment that could dramatically alter the trajectory of e-commerce growth in the United States. This mounting anxiety has already triggered a steep 15% decline in e-commerce and retail stocks since mid-February 2025, underscoring the tangible impact of these economic headwinds on the digital marketplace. The Bernstein analysts delved deep into the potential implications of a looming recession on US e-commerce growth trends, drawing critical less...

Glass Lewis Slams $160 Million Retention Awards as Excessive Proxy advisory powerhouse Glass Lewis has ignited a firestorm by urging Goldman Sachs investors to cast advisory votes against the compensation packages of top executives, spotlighting what they call the Wall Street titan’s “continued inability to align pay with performance” and slamming hefty retention awards as outrageously excessive. At the heart of this controversy are the jaw-dropping $160 million retention bonuses handed out in January 2025 to CEO David Solomon and President John Waldron, a move that has raised eyebrows and sparked heated debate across the financial world. Glass Lewis, in a scathing report released late Friday, pointed to these combined awards, noting that the bank’s proxy statement offers a justification that falls flat, lacking the depth and clarity investors deserve. “While we will review the impact of the additional $160 million on the company’s pay and performance alignment within the full scope...

Unpacking the Satellite Business Consolidation Drama In a shocking turn of events, the stock prices of Airbus (EPA:AIR), Thales (EPA:TCFP), and Leonardo DRS (NASDAQ:DRS) have taken a noticeable hit following the emergence of preliminary merger talks centered around their satellite business operations. Airbus saw its stock decline by 1.5%, Thales dropped by 1.3%, and Leonardo DRS experienced a steeper fall of 2%, as reported by Investing.com via Reuters. These declines come as the aerospace giants engage in early discussions with European Union antitrust regulators, entering what’s known as a pre-notification phase for a potential consolidation of their satellite manufacturing divisions. This phase, a critical step in assessing regulatory viability, is not expected to produce concrete results until well into next year, leaving investors jittery about the future implications of this high-stakes move in the European aerospace sector. The aerospace industry is no stranger to consolidati...

A Strategic Move That Redefines AI and Social Media Synergy Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence powerhouse, xAI, has officially acquired his social media giant, X, previously known as Twitter, in a staggering allstock deal valued at $33 billion, marking a seismic shift in the tech landscape. This acquisition, announced by Musk himself on X, merges two of his flagship ventures, intertwining their futures to accelerate AI innovation and reshape the social media ecosystem. With xAI valued at $80 billion and X at $33 billion (accounting for $45 billion total minus $12 billion in debt), the deal underscores Musk’s relentless drive to consolidate his empire, leveraging X’s vast user data to supercharge xAI’s flagship AI model, Grok. Industry experts and investors are buzzing about the implications of this merger, which could redefine how artificial intelligence and social media platforms collaborate, while raising questions about valuation, regulatory hurdles, and Musk’s growing influence ...