MM #261: Are Big Tech Stocks Still Safe? EYL Africa Recap, AI Chips, Gold, & The Hidden Recession Signal

This week on Market Mondays, we’re breaking down a pivotal moment in the markets. After Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft reported earnings, we’re asking: are these tech giants still long-term compounders, or are buybacks and creative accounting hiding peak performance? Alphabet’s $70 billion stock buyback is under the spotlight, and Tesla’s stock jumped on Robotaxi hype — even as its fundamentals weakened. Elon Musk says Tesla doesn’t need to buy Uber, but is that a strategic power move or a missed opportunity in autonomous transport? Meanwhile, Huawei’s new AI chip spooked Nvidia investors — are cracks forming in the king of semis, or will U.S. geopolitics protect its dominance?

Beyond tech, we explore the consumer and macro landscape. Spotify is nearing a breakout — is this real growth or macro-fueled momentum? ARK Innovation is surging again — is Cathie Wood making a comeback or just catching a Nasdaq wave? Domino’s missed on same-store sales, DoorDash made a $3.6B bid for Deliveroo, and e.l.f. just bought Hailey Bieber’s Rhode brand for $1B. Is global consolidation the next growth phase in food delivery? Are influencer-led beauty brands the future — or a risky bet on hype? And with Monster, Celsius, and Vita Coco battling for beverage dominance, who really has the edge in a slowing economy?

We also dive into the economic outlook. U.S. GDP contracted by -0.2%, inflation appears mild but sentiment is at historic lows, and Treasury yields are climbing. Are we heading into recession, stagflation, or just a soft patch? Is now the time to rotate into risk or go defensive? Gold topped $3,400, oil prices dipped despite demand, and Palantir landed a $795M federal AI contract — is this the beginning of a broader AI-government integration wave? Plus, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq surging while the Dow lags behind, we ask: is this the start of a real breakout — or another trap before the next downturn?

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