When the stock market reaches record highs, investors may want to look beyond the popular and high-performing "Magnificent Seven" stocks and consider smaller businesses that are also doing well. Shopify is a top e-commerce platform with a constantly expanding market, making it an attractive growth stock. However, there are arguments for both bullish and bearish outlooks on the company.

Investors are seeing a strong growth trajectory for Palantir Technologies. The data analytics company, which specializes in helping government agencies and corporations sort through large amounts of data, saw its stock surge 167% last year and continues to deliver strong results. Revenue grew by 20% to $608.4 million in the fourth quarter and the company reported a profit margin of 15%.

Bitcoin's price target of $100,000 for 2024 may have seemed like a sure thing at the start of the year, but recent developments have challenged this belief. The launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January has not resulted in a surge in Bitcoin's price as expected. However, the investment thesis continues to evolve and new catalysts could potentially push Bitcoin's price up.

Sonam Srivastava, fund manager at Wright Research, believes that the allocation towards infrastructure and PSU stocks is likely to continue for FY25. In the run-up to elections, these sectors could see a boost from the government's policies. She also suggests being cautious with Paytm stock, which has been under pressure following regulatory penalties and speculated violations in the company.

The saying "a penny saved is a penny earned" emphasizes the importance of saving money. Taxes can significantly impact one's returns, making tax-saving an important part of financial planning. ELSS, also known as tax saving mutual funds, have become a popular option for tax-saving in recent years. They offer a low lock-in period, high potential returns, tax benefits under Section 80C.

Last week saw fluctuations in financial markets, influenced by shifting expectations regarding the Federal Reserve's actions and economic indicators from China. Despite some comments from Fed officials hinting at no urgent need for rate cuts, US equities reached new highs, driven by strong earnings reports and data. Gold prices started on a downward trend but managed to avert significant losses.

Many top companies including M&M, Coal India, Eicher Motors, and BHEL are set to release their quarterly reports this week. This includes a variety of industries such as finance, auto, and pharmaceuticals. Investors will be paying attention to see how these companies have performed in the last quarter.

The S&P's 500 Index finished this past week with a big flourish, closing above 5,000 for the first time. Bulls are ecstatic, seeing an economy coping with high interest rates that the Federal Reserve seems likely to cut some time this year. Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research has been among the most bullish of the bulls, calling for the S&P 500 to reach 5,400 this year and 6,000 in 2025.

Jeff Bezos filed a statement with federal regulators indicating his sale of nearly 12 million shares of Amazon stock worth more than $2 billion. The Amazon executive chairman notified the U.S. SEC of the sale of 11,997,698 shares of common stock on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8. The collective value of the shares of Amazon, which is based in Seattle was more than $2.04 billion, per the listed price totals.

Tech stocks are soaring, leading to fears of another dot-com crash. However, experts say the current hype is not the same as the 1999 bubble, due to key differences such as the profitability of mega-cap tech firms and a different financial environment. Tech companies today are more solid and valued on their growth potential rather than just promises.

ONGC reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 10,748 crore in the December quarter with a 2.2% decrease in revenue from operations. The company announced a dividend of Rs 4 per share for eligible shareholders by March 10. This marks a dip from the previous year's revenue of Rs 1,69,213 crore. This is an ongoing story.

ECB's inflation and growth outlook for March will determine when interest rates will be cut, as stated by Governing Council member Pablo Hernandez de Cos. The projections will also play a crucial role in achieving the bank's 2% target and setting a compatible rate path. ECB officials are considering a loosening of monetary policy in summer based on an update of their medium-term inflation outlook.

CBIC warns against fake GST summons, asks taxpayers to verify communication. DGGI has noticed individuals creating fraudulent summons with DIN numbers. DGGI taking action and advising taxpayers to report suspicious summons. Taxpayers can verify communication using 'VERIFY CBIC-DIN' window or DIN Utility Search. Report suspicious summons to DGGI/CBIC office for necessary action.

Indian equity markets closed lower for the week ended February 10 amidst high volatility as hopes of early rate cuts by the US Fed and RBI diminished. Analysts expect markets to remain volatile in the coming week with focus on Q3 FY24 earnings, January inflation numbers in India and the US. Nifty fell 0.32% to close at 21,782.5 while BSE Sensex dropped 0.67% to finish at 71,595.49.

Corporate debt investors should focus on mid-rated bonds, especially 'A' rated ones, as these companies have improved their debt protection metrics. This perception may be due to higher volatility and default risk, but recent studies have shown that mid-rated issuers have strong financials. This presents a win-win opportunity for both investors and issuers.