Alphabet reported fourth-quarter and full year results that exceeded expectations, with revenue climbing 18% and annual sales surpassing $400 billion for the first time.

HOOD​​​​​​​ transformed from an upstart stock-trading app that became famous in the early months of Covid into an S&P 500 giant and a direct competitor to Fidelity and other online brokerages. 

This analysis compares China’s official GDP against alternative activity indicators, highlighting a growing divergence. While official figures remain steady, satellite data and trade proxies suggest a more significant economic cooling.