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Asian markets mostly rise but worries over tariffs, AI linger,
Asian markets mostly rise but worries over tariffs, AI linger,
by  AFP

Most Asian markets edged up Friday at the end of a week beset by volatility after China's DeepSeek unveiled a groundbreaking chatbot, while sentiment was dampened after Donald Trump confirmed he hit Canada and Mexico with hefty tariffs. As such, we view the advancements made by DeepSeek as promising and healthy for the overall ecosystem."

Chipmaker Intel beats revenue expectations amidst Q4 loss
Chipmaker Intel beats revenue expectations amidst Q4 loss
by  AFP

Intel reported a fourth-quarter loss on Tuesday, but better than expected revenue as the US chip giant continues to struggle to stake its place in the artificial intelligence revolution. The company's Client Computing Group, which includes PC chips, saw revenue fall 9 percent to $8 billion in the fourth quarter.

Samsung Electronics posts 129.85% jump in Q4 operating profit
Samsung Electronics posts 129.85% jump in Q4 operating profit
by  AFP

Samsung Electronics said Friday its operating profits surged 129.85 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2024, but fell from the previous quarter as it struggled to meet demand for chips used in artificial intelligence servers. But the company's Q4 operating profit was lower than that of the previous quarter, which stood at 9.18 trillion won.

Trump to decide on oil tariffs on Canada, Mexico
Trump to decide on oil tariffs on Canada, Mexico
by  AFP

US President Donald Trump said he expected to decide Thursday whether to include crude oil imports in tariffs on Canada and Mexico that are due to take effect within days. Canada and Mexico supplied more than 71 percent of US crude oil imports in 2023, with nearly 60 percent coming from Canada alone, a congressional report said.

French luxury billionaire sparks tax debate with threat to leave
French luxury billionaire sparks tax debate with threat to leave
by  AFP

Bernard Arnault, the billionaire boss of the world's biggest luxury conglomerate LVMH, has picked a fight with the French government by suggesting that companies could flee France for the United States to escape a planned tax hike. In stinging remarks, Arnault dismissed Bayrou's plan as "a tax made in France" and offered an unfavourable comparison between France and the United States.

Trump blames deadly Washington air collision on 'diversity'
Trump blames deadly Washington air collision on 'diversity'
by  AFP

US President Donald Trump -- speaking as the bodies of 67 people were being pulled from Washington's Potomac River -- launched a political attack Thursday blaming diversity hires for the midair collision between an airliner and a military helicopter. Asked again by reporters whether he was blaming workplace diversity for the crash, Trump answered: "It could have been."

Apple profit climbs but sales miss expectations
Apple profit climbs but sales miss expectations
by  AFP

Apple reported its revenue was a whopping $124.3 billion in the year-end holiday quarter but sales growth fell shy of market expectations as the iPhone faces stiff competition, particularly in China. Revenue growth was powered by Apple's service and digital content unit, with iPhone sales slipping in markets like mainland China where they tallied $18.5 billion. gc/arp

Lula says if Trump hikes tariffs, Brazil will reciprocate
Lula says if Trump hikes tariffs, Brazil will reciprocate
by  AFP

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday that if US counterpart Donald Trump hiked tariffs on Brazilian products, he would reciprocate -- but that he would prefer improved relations over a trade war.

Mexican economy shrinks for first time in three years
Mexican economy shrinks for first time in three years
by  AFP

Mexico's economy suffered its first contraction in three years in the fourth quarter of 2024, official figures showed Thursday, as the country braces for US President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs. For the whole of 2024, Latin America's second-largest economy grew by 1.3 percent compared with the previous year, it said.