$Intel(INTC)$  Great moment. What is going to be ahead?

This year marks Singapore’s 60th birthday, a milestone that feels both personal and national. It got me thinking about my own investment journey here, and how it mirrors the growth of the country. Over the years, my portfolio has shifted from simple savings and a few stock picks into something more structured, something I call my Singapore Investment Map. It is not just a collection of tickers, numbers, or dividend yields. It is a living picture of how I see opportunity in different sectors of our economy and how they fit together to form a balanced whole. When I first started investing, I naturally gravitated toward the familiar names. The big banks like DBS, OCBC and UOB were the pillars I trusted. They were visible in our daily lives and had reputations for stability and consistent divi

$Tiger Brokers(TIGR)$ There’s one trade that still makes me smile whenever I think about it. Not because it was life-changing in terms of profits, but because everything — the timing, the setup, the execution — lined up in a way that reminded me why I love trading in the first place. It started on an ordinary weekday morning. The broader market was mixed, with no clear direction. I wasn’t even planning on making a big move that day, but I had been tracking this particular stock for weeks. It had been consolidating in a tight range, and the technicals were building up pressure like a coiled spring. Volume was drying up, price action was clean, and the chart was giving off that quiet-before-the-storm vibe. Then came the catalyst — a small but signif

Growth investors just got a painful reminder of how fast momentum can turn. This earnings season has been brutal for high-valuation, high-expectation names — and the scoreboard so far shows the shorts firmly in the lead. Companies that entered Q2 with lofty multiples and optimistic outlooks have been hammered when results didn’t absolutely crush expectations. Even small revenue misses or cautious guidance have been met with double-digit percentage selloffs. That’s the reality when stocks are priced for perfection — anything less feels like failure. Why the Wipeout? Guidance Shock – Many growth names are signaling slower revenue ramps into the second half of 2025. With rates still relatively high, funding costs and discount rate effects hit these valuations harder. Margin Squeeze – Higher i

$Figma(FIG)$ Figma just took a brutal 18% nosedive after its long-anticipated public debut. What was supposed to be a moment of triumph quickly turned into a sharp correction. Investors who had been riding the IPO hype now face a sobering reality: high valuation + zero profits = high volatility. The drop is catching attention, not only because of the size, but also the timing. Figma’s option market is now live, and with it comes an entirely new playbook. The ability to short, hedge, or speculate on volatility is no longer limited to just stock sales — traders are now armed with puts and calls. And guess what? Some are clearly betting on more downside. Let’s break this down. 1. IPO Hangover? Figma came to market with strong design community support

$UnitedHealth(UNH)$  Few would have expected UnitedHealth Group (UNH), a long-time Wall Street darling and a symbol of stability, to be among the worst-performing large-cap stocks this year. Yet here we are in 2025, and the stock has collapsed by over 52% year-to-date — a shocking reversal for what was once considered a defensive powerhouse. The big question now? Has UNH hit bottom, or is more pain to come? What's Driving the Meltdown? The selloff didn’t happen in a vacuum. Investors have been spooked by a combination of real business headwinds and shifting macro trends. Among the most pressing concerns: Rising Medical Costs: Post-pandemic, there's been a surge in elective procedures, hospital visits, and utilization

$Palantir Technologies Inc.(PLTR)$  As Palantir Technologies gears up to report earnings, investor excitement is heating up — especially after Citi upgraded the stock with a bullish outlook. But will the actual results live up to the optimism? Palantir has become a symbol of AI-driven transformation across government and enterprise. Its platforms — Gotham, Foundry, and AIP (Artificial Intelligence Platform) — are increasingly seen as strategic tools in defense, cybersecurity, and corporate data intelligence. That’s why Wall Street is watching this quarter closely: will the numbers justify the hype? Citi’s recent upgrade hinges on Palantir’s growing commercial traction. While government contracts have long anchored its revenue, the narrative i

$SoFi Technologies Inc.(SOFI)$  SoFi Technologies just surprised the Street — and the stock responded with a 15% surge. With a strong Q2 earnings beat and improving profitability metrics, the once-beaten-down fintech is back on investor radars. Could this mark the beginning of a sustained rally toward the long-awaited $25 level? The company reported robust revenue growth, driven by its lending and financial services segments. More importantly, net income came in stronger than expected — a sign that SoFi is making real progress toward sustainable profitability, not just top-line expansion. SoFi also raised its guidance for the rest of the year, a signal that management sees momentum continuing across student loans, personal loans, and cross-se

Semiconductors are once again leading the market charge — and two names dominate the spotlight: Nvidia and AMD. Nvidia may have captured the AI crown with its record-shattering valuation and meteoric rise past the $4 trillion mark, but AMD is quietly building momentum of its own. The question on traders' minds now: can AMD close the gap, or even outrun Nvidia in the race to $200? Nvidia’s edge has been its stranglehold on AI training chips, notably the H100 and upcoming Blackwell. But AMD’s MI300 series is gaining traction fast. Major cloud players — including Microsoft, Meta, and Oracle — have started adopting AMD’s hardware in their AI workloads, signaling a potential shift in market share. If AMD continues to prove its chips can deliver high performance with lower power consumption and

Earnings season is heating up, and this round is anything but ordinary. With the S&P 500 and Nasdaq flirting with all-time highs, market expectations are sky-high — and the pressure is now on the biggest names across tech, crypto, and finance to deliver. On the tech front, all eyes are on the usual heavyweights: Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla. Investors are especially keen to see if AI-related momentum can justify soaring valuations. Nvidia, for example, continues to ride the GPU demand wave — but with its market cap pushing new heights, even a small earnings miss could trigger a sharp pullback. Microsoft and Alphabet are also under scrutiny as they ramp up cloud and AI investments. Any signals of slowing enterprise demand or margin compression will be diss

The race is on between two of the biggest chip giants in the AI revolution — NVIDIA and AMD. With both stocks riding the AI wave, investors are asking a simple question: who gets to $200 first? And more importantly, which one has the better risk-reward profile from here? NVIDIA: The King with Momentum NVIDIA has already made headlines this year with its explosive rally, record-breaking market cap, and near-monopoly in AI training chips. With strong datacenter demand and growing software revenue, it’s hard to argue against its dominance. But with the stock already priced for perfection, the question is whether there's still enough fuel to keep climbing. AMD: The Challenger Rising AMD is the underdog in market cap, but not in ambition. Its MI300X chip is gaining traction, and partnerships in

DBS is making headlines again — surging toward the SGD$50 mark as investors cheer its strong capital position, digital growth, and dividend momentum. But beneath the surface, there’s a key risk developing for the broader sector: Net Interest Margin (NIM) compression. So while DBS flies, will OCBC (and even UOB) be dragged down? DBS Still the Star DBS has managed to outperform thanks to its diversified earnings, tech investments, and cross-border growth. Despite a softening NIM, its fee income and wealth management segments continue to support earnings. The stock’s momentum shows investors still trust its long-term story. But OCBC Feels the Pressure OCBC, more sensitive to pure lending margins, might feel a deeper impact from falling NIMs as rates peak and loan growth slows. Its China expos

It’s the kind of week that can move markets — earnings from Big Tech, major crypto players, and top financial institutions are all dropping within days. Volatility is expected, surprises are likely, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for Q3 positioning. So… what’s your top watch? Big Tech: Still the Anchor? All eyes are on names like Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft. Can AI momentum continue to fuel their revenue growth? Watch for updates on cloud, ad spend, and capex — they’ll hint at the broader tech sector’s health. Crypto Giants in Focus With Bitcoin around record highs, crypto firms like Coinbase and stablecoin players are also under the spotlight. Revenue from trading, custody, and blockchain infrastructure will give clues about whether this bull cycle still has fuel — or is running

With Trump pushing a national AI agenda and companies racing to expand their infrastructure, capital expenditure is surging again — and Nvidia is back in the spotlight. After a volatile stretch, the stock is rebounding. But is this just a relief rally, or the start of a renewed bull run? What’s Driving the Rebound? Policy tailwinds: Trump’s AI push is expected to unlock funding, accelerate federal adoption of AI, and incentivize private sector investments — all of which mean more demand for chips. Capex surge: Major tech firms, cloud providers, and even startups are boosting spending on GPUs, data centers, and AI infrastructure. Nvidia remains a key beneficiary at the center of this ecosystem. Resumed China sales: Loosening export concerns and resumption of shipments to China add another s

Alphabet (Google) just delivered a solid Q2 earnings beat, silencing the skeptics with strong topline growth and impressive margins. But one number stood out — a massive $10 billion in capital expenditures. Now, the market is split: is this aggressive investment a bullish AI bet, or a red flag on cost? The Good News First Google’s core businesses — Search, YouTube, and Cloud — all showed healthy momentum. AI integration across products continues to deepen, and advertising demand held up better than feared. EPS came in above expectations, reinforcing Google's ability to execute in a complex macro backdrop. What’s With the $10B Capex? The heavy spending is largely targeted at data centers, AI infrastructure, and custom chips — all essential to competing in the next wave of generative AI. For

After a relentless rally, tech stocks are finally showing signs of fatigue. With profit-taking, rising geopolitical risks, and macro jitters creeping in, the selloff in high-growth names has left many wondering: Is this the start of a deeper correction — and how do you hedge now? Option 1: Buy the VIX The VIX — often called the “fear index” — typically spikes when markets drop. If volatility picks up, buying VIX-related ETFs or calls can provide upside when markets go risk-off. It’s a relatively straightforward hedge when you expect broad-based panic or rapid moves. Pros: Simple exposure to volatility, works well in sudden market drops. Cons: Timing is tricky. VIX spikes are often short-lived and can decay fast. Option 2: Buy Puts Buying put options directly on tech ETFs (like QQQ) or indi

$Circle Internet Corp.(CRCL)$ After a red-hot run that saw Circle rocket back into the spotlight, the mood has shifted — and fast. With several brokerages issuing fresh downgrades, investors are now asking if the rally is over, and whether the stock could retreat back to $180 or lower. What Sparked the Downgrades? Valuation concerns: After Circle surged on stablecoin momentum and regulatory optimism, analysts now warn that prices may have gotten ahead of fundamentals. Profit-taking pressure: With early backers and high-profile funds taking profits, the selloff may not just be technical — it could be strategic. License hype priced in? Some believe the recent excitement around banking license applications and regulatory clarity has already been fact

With Tesla's Q2 earnings just around the corner, market expectations have rarely been this muted. Analysts have slashed delivery and margin forecasts, citing intense price competition, soft demand, and Elon Musk’s ongoing political distractions. But when expectations are low — surprises can hit hard in the other direction. Why the Bar Is So Low Delivery dip: Tesla’s Q2 deliveries came in at 443,956, slightly above the most bearish estimates but still down year-on-year. Margin pressures: Continued price cuts in key markets have weighed on gross margins, and few are expecting a dramatic recovery this quarter. Muted guidance: The company’s full-year delivery outlook remains cautious, giving analysts little to cheer about. But Could Tesla Surprise? Model Y “L” momentum: The new variant in Chin

As Q2 earnings season kicks off, investors are asking the tough questions: after a strong YTD rally, can the tech giants still deliver? And when it comes to Alphabet — the parent company of Google — the debate is heating up. With the stock hovering around $185, is it still a buy… or has it run too far? What’s Working for Google AI Momentum: Google has quietly made strides with Gemini and its integration across Search, Workspace, and Android. The company is also pushing into AI infrastructure with custom chips and data centers. Search & Cloud Strength: Core Search continues to print profits, and Google Cloud has turned the corner on margins — finally profitable and gaining market share. YouTube Power: YouTube remains one of the most valuable media platforms globally, and its Shorts stra

Tesla’s Q2 earnings are fast approaching, and all eyes are on whether the EV giant can reignite investor confidence. After a shaky start to the year, declining deliveries, and intense price competition, Tesla needs a strong narrative — and many are hoping the Model Y “L” variant can be that bright spot. What’s the Model Y “L”? Dubbed as a long-range, low-cost refresh of Tesla’s most popular SUV, the Model Y “L” variant is designed to meet regulatory incentives in China while offering a better driving range and improved affordability. The vehicle is already generating strong buzz in local markets, with reports of rising test drives and orders. Why It Matters for Q2 China momentum: Tesla has been under pressure in China, losing ground to BYD and other domestic players. A successful Model Y r