TradingKey

• Merck's sac-TMT combo shows positive Phase III lung cancer trial results. • Upcoming ASCO meeting will present extensive oncology data for Merck. • Merck's Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations, revenue guidance raised.

• Dell's AI infrastructure and server business shows strong growth. • Analysts remain positive, raising price targets and maintaining buy ratings. • New AI solutions and expanded customer base support future performance.

• Alibaba reported a Q4 fiscal 2026 EPS of $0.09, missing expectations. • Aggressive AI investments caused an operating loss and negative free cash flow. • DCF analysis suggests Alibaba is significantly overvalued.

• IBM partners with Commerce for quantum chip foundry. • IBM's Q1 earnings show 6% revenue growth, exceeding expectations. • Recent announcements reinforce AI and hybrid cloud offerings.

TradingKey - On May 22, SanDisk Corporation (SNDK) edged down 0.13% to close at $1,542.69, pausing just under its fresh records after what appears to be a significant transformation cycle. The 2-hour chart shows a bullish hammer formation, confirming that a retest of the lower end of its sharp ascen

TradingKey - During the pre-market session on Friday, May 22 (ET), the three major U.S. stock index futures rose, while European index futures also climbed. Asian stocks moved higher for a second consecutive day. South Korean stocks closed slightly higher, and the Nikkei 225 surged 2.68%, primarily driven by an 11% gain in heavyweight SoftBank Group.

TradingKey - Walmart (WMT) reported first-quarter total revenue of $177.8 billion, a 7.3% year-on-year increase, exceeding market expectations of $174.98 billion. However, as full-year earnings guidance fell short of analyst estimates and fuel costs continued to rise, shares tumbled 7.27% to close at $121.34, marking the stock's largest single-day decline in nearly two years.

TradingKey - IBM surged 12.4% on a proposed $1B CHIPS Act quantum foundry award targeting fault-tolerant quantum by 2029. Q1 EPS $1.91 beat, Red Hat AI services launched. Trendline breakout. Target $263–$277.

Driven by a $2B CHIPS Act quantum foundry breakthrough, IBM is shifting from legacy hardware to high-margin hybrid cloud and AI, targeting a $321 Wall Street consensus.

TradingKey - AI leader OpenAI is reportedly accelerating its IPO process and could confidentially file a draft registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as early as today. If the review process proceeds smoothly, the company is expected to list by this September, a timeline significantly ahead of previous market expectations of the fourth quarter or later.

Tradingkey - On May 22, Asian equity markets strengthened across the board, with Japanese and South Korean stocks approaching all-time highs. An overnight surge in U.S. quantum computing stocks drove significant gains in related Japanese shares. The U.S. government reportedly plans to provide approximately $2 billion in funding to nine quantum computing-related companies through equity investments. Additionally, market sentiment was further bolstered by easing geopolitical tensions as the U.S. and Iran move closer to an agreement. A senior Iranian official stated that negotiators are very close to reaching a deal and are currently drafting the text.

TradingKey - On May 22 (ET), the U.S. will release the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for May. Market expectations currently project the index to remain at 48.2, unchanged from the preliminary reading. While the indicator reflects consumer sentiment regarding the economy, income, and purchasing conditions, investors in the current market environment are focusing more on the 1-year and 5-year inflation expectations, as these will directly influence Fed policy expectations, U.S. Treasury yields, and the performance of the U.S. Dollar and gold.

Mark Cuban offloaded Bitcoin and slammed it as a "failed hedge," but remains bullish on Ethereum due to its support from real-world DeFi applications and on-chain utility.

TradingKey - On May 21, Eastern Time, the U.S. government's plan to provide approximately $2 billion in funding to nine quantum computing companies through equity investments became a focal point for the technology sector this week. Driven by this news, IBM shares surged 12.43% on Thursday, marking a significant single-day gain. Other quantum-related stocks, including D-Wave (QBTS), Rigetti (RGTI), and GlobalFoundries (GFS), also strengthened, signaling a market re-evaluation of quantum computing’s transition from a long-term scientific concept to a strategic industrial asset.

TradingKey - Driven by the strong catalyst of a sustained explosion in global demand for AI computing power, chip architecture giant Arm (ARM) has reached a historic milestone. This has yielded the most stellar returns of their investment careers for Arm’s majority shareholder, SoftBank Group, and its founder, Masayoshi Son.

Amidst volatility and broader weakness in the cryptocurrency market, HYPE has staged an independent rally, capturing the attention of global investors. What exactly is HYPE? What is driving this aggressive surge, and can the upward momentum be sustained?

Tradingkey - Nearly three months since the outbreak of the Iran war, oil prices continue to fluctuate at high levels, with WTI crude futures hovering around $100 and Brent crude around $105. The primary reason for prices maintaining current levels is a market consensus: while the escalation in the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global supply, it has also suppressed demand, with the two forces offsetting each other to create a delicate dynamic balance. A recent Morgan Stanley report noted that although net exports from major Middle Eastern producers have declined, other producers—led by the U.S.—have significantly increased export supplies. Simultaneously, major importers like China have reduced their import volumes, collectively sustaining the current supply-demand equilibrium in the crude oil market.

TradingKey - In early Friday trading, Japanese and South Korean stock markets extended the previous day’s rally, continuing to trend higher. The Nikkei 225 Index opened 0.35% higher, with intraday gains quickly expanding to 1%. The Seoul Composite Index opened up 0.7%, steadily advancing toward the 7,900-point psychological level.

U.S. markets edged higher alongside a massive quantum computing rally, while investors navigated rising stagflation risks, geopolitical tensions regarding Iran, and controversy surrounding the SpaceX IPO.

• Coherent Corp. beat fiscal Q3 2026 expectations for revenue and EPS. • NVIDIA partnership includes $2 billion investment for optics and manufacturing. • Analysts raised price targets; company expands indium phosphide capacity.