CNA Correspondent - Reviving Hong Kong's Dying Crafts
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Market Insights - Possibilities in a Changing World
22:02 Min Which investment trends are setting 2025 apart amid rapid economic and tech shifts? Find out where the future's wealth could be made. Market Insights About the show: Join a panel of financial experts as they unpack the key investment trends defining the second half of 2025 amid rapid economic and technological shifts. Discover how AI and deglobalisation are reshaping opportunities. Learn how to navigate market volatility, build resilient portfolios and position your investments for growth. Brought to you by UOB Privilege Banking.
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Duolingo surges as AI-led growth, forecast raise boost investor confidence
Duolingo shares surged nearly 30 per cent before the bell on Thursday, after its annual forecast increase buoyed investor confidence in its ability to drive user growth through AI features and social engagement, while enhancing monetization. The company is maintaining user growth by experimenting with app features, using social engagement strategies and optimizing its subscription offerings to retain users and attract new ones. Duolingo runs experiments to determine which of its subscriptions are shown to which user and when, with the goal of maximizing long-term platform value rather than pushing any single plan. Average revenue per user grew 6 per cent in the second quarter, driven largely by users migrating to Duolingo's higher-priced Max tier, which offers features such as AI-powered video calls for practicing conversational skills. It also saw growth in its $12.99-per-month Super plan. "While we maintain a more cautious stance on near-term user growth, we see several sources of upside still in the model, most notably across monetization efforts (price and improving paid conversion) and margins," Raymond James analysts said in a note. Duolingo's gross margin declined 100 basis points during the quarter, less than the 300-basis-point fall it had anticipated, due to lower-than-expected AI costs and stronger performance in ads business. "We did better on gross margin, in part because AI costs that power Max were lower than we expected, the cost of calling AI tools has come down a lot," Chief Financial Officer Matt Skarupa told Reuters. The company posted adjusted profit per share of 91 cents, surpassing analysts' estimate of 58 cents, prompting them to boost earnings expectations. It is set to add roughly $4.6 billion to its $15.62 billion market valuation, if premarket levels hold. Still, as of Wednesday's close, Duolingo shares traded at 85.21 times profit expectations before the results, above internet services companies such as Uber's 26.54 and DoorDash's 79.38.
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Deutsche Telekom partnering with Nvida, Brookfield on AI data centre -CEO
Deutsche Telekom is partnering with Nvidia and Canadian private equity fund Brookfield in a bid to build one of the EU's AI "gigafactories" in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, its chief executive said on Thursday. "We have partnerships with Brookfield and also with Nvidia – these are our big partners for this gigabit factory," CEO Tim Hoettges said in a call with reporters following the company's second quarter results. Although discussions with North Rhine-Westphalia about building the data processing center in the state are ongoing, a final decision has yet to be made. "This is where we currently see our factory. But, of course, that could still change during the selection process," Hoettges said, adding that the company would proceed as quickly as possible once a decision is reached. The company is looking at existing production sites where electricity and water regulatory approvals are already in place, Hoettges said. "Discussions are happening here, for example with RWE," he said. In May, the Bonn-based company said it had teamed up with SAP, web hosting firm Ionos, and unlisted retailer Schwarz, but in June it was reported the companies would submit separate EU bids instead. Hoettges dismissed media reports that it had been in talks to join such a consortium.
