Money
Zoom snaps up cloud call center firm for $14.7 billion
Zoom is pressing the answer button on a major acquisition
The video conferencing application is taking advantage of an impressive rise in its stock price in the past year and is now set to make its first major acquisition.
Zoom, which was valued at about $9 billion at its IPO two years ago, confirmed it has agreed on a deal to buy cloud call centre service provider Five9 for approximately $14.7 billion in an all-stock transaction.
Five9 will become an operating unit of Zoom after the deal, which is expected to close in the first half of 2022.
The planned buyout is Zoom’s latest attempt to expand its offerings.
In the past year, the video conferencing software has added several office collaboration products, a cloud phone system, and an all-in-one home communications appliance.
Reports state that the acquisition of Five9 will help Zoom enter the “$24 billion” market for contact centers.
“We are continuously looking for ways to enhance our platform, and the addition of Five9 is a natural fit that will deliver even more happiness and value to our customers,”
said Eric S. Yuan, founder and chief executive of Zoom, in a statement.
Joining forces will offer both firms “significant” cross-selling opportunities in each other’s respective customer bases.
COVID pandemic sees the rise in video call platforms
As the world continues to work remotely, many from home – the world has seen a rise in video call platforms.
From Microsoft Teams, Google Meet’s, Skype and even Apple’s Facetime, which is set to launch on Android – the race is on between the tech giants to maintain a strong and viable product.
Zoom’s competitors have launched hybrid work features in a race to accommodate companies’ needs.
Microsoft has unveiled design changes to its Microsoft Teams platform in order to improve remote workers’ interactions in meetings, while Google has revealed updates to its Workspace productivity suite, including new tools for its Meet video conferencing system.
Money
Global markets outperform US stocks by largest margin as AI tech rallies in 2025
Global markets outperform US stocks in 2025, marking widest gap since 2009 as international gains surge
Global markets outperform US stocks in 2025, marking the widest gap since 2009 as international gains surge
– Global markets outperformed U.S. stocks in 2025, with international equities showing significant gains.
– Helen Jewell highlighted that international performance was key, aided by the U.S. dollar’s decline.
In 2025, U.S. investors watching AI stocks closely may have missed the bigger picture: international markets delivered their strongest performance against U.S. equities in over three decades. While the S&P 500 rose just 15%, foreign markets outperformed by more than 10 percentage points, led by South Korea, Peru, and other European nations.
Helen Jewell, BlackRock’s CIO, highlighted that the dollar’s 13% decline earlier in the year further amplified returns for Americans holding foreign assets. This marked the widest performance gap since 2009 and reminded investors of the value of diversification beyond domestic tech giants.
Continued Tech Rally
Nvidia, Tesla, and Palantir Technologies emerged as the most-viewed ticker pages on Yahoo Finance in 2025. Nvidia alone attracted 250 million page views, while Palantir soared an eye-popping 140% for the year. Despite this hype, the S&P 500 lagged behind global peers, showing that concentrated U.S. tech gains can mask broader market opportunities.
U.S. stocks saw a boost after Micron Technology exceeded earnings expectations, jumping 10% on strong AI-related demand. The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund also gained 1.5%, driven by semiconductor optimism. However, analysts warn investors to avoid over-concentration in U.S. tech, even if AI-driven rallies persist into 2026.
As portfolios prepare for next year, the key question is whether semiconductor demand will expand beyond AI applications. Diversification remains essential, balancing excitement over tech gains with the risks of narrow market exposure.
Money
Australia’s sharemarket set for weakest annual return in three years
Australia’s sharemarket set for weakest return in three years; gains from gold and critical minerals offset blue-chip losses.
Australia’s sharemarket set for weakest return in three years; gains from gold and critical minerals offset blue-chip losses.
Australia’s sharemarket is on track for its weakest annual return in three years, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index expected to finish 2025 up around 6 per cent. Investors are feeling the impact of major losses from blue-chip companies, including Commonwealth Bank and CSL, which have dragged overall performance.
Despite the slow year, certain sectors provided a boost. Gains were largely driven by surging gold prices and rising interest in critical minerals, helping offset some of the losses from larger companies.
Smaller companies in the resources sector outperformed their larger counterparts, highlighting a shift in investor focus towards niche opportunities and high-demand commodities.
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Money
US stocks surge amid AI hype despite market volatility
US stock market bounced back, S&P 500 up 16% in 2023, driven by AI excitement amid policy uncertainties.
US stock market bounced back, S&P 500 up 16% in 2023, driven by AI excitement amid policy uncertainties.
The US stock market has experienced a rollercoaster year, with the S&P 500 nearly entering a bear market in April due to tariff concerns. Investor sentiment shifted following policy changes from President Trump, setting the stage for a dramatic rebound.
By June, the S&P 500 was hitting new records, fueled by excitement over artificial intelligence and its impact on the tech sector. Corporate profit forecasts improved, contributing to an overall annual gain of 16%, despite ongoing market fluctuations.
Yet, the S&P 500 still trails international markets, reflecting lingering policy uncertainties in the US.
Investors are watching closely to see how domestic and global factors will shape the next year.
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