Week Ahead: Big Tech back in the spotlight

• 4 of “Magnificent 7” tech companies set to publish earnings

• Combined market cap of 4 tech titans over $9.5 trillion
  

• Meta could move over 7% ↑ or ↓ post-earnings

• Apple second largest company in the world reports results Thursday

• Beyond earnings, central banks & Trump in focus

Major central bank decisions and earnings from the largest companies in the world will dominate the week ahead:

Monday, 27th Jan

• CN50: China industrial profits, manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMI
• GER40: Germany IFO business climate
• EUR: ECB President Christine Lagarde speech
• SG20: Singapore unemployment

Tuesday, 28th Jan

• USDInd: US consumer confidence, durable goods
• US30: Boeing earnings

Wednesday, 29th Jan

• AU200: Australia CPI
• EU50: ASML earnings
• CAD: Canada rate decision
• SEK: Sweden rate decision
• US500: Tesla, Microsoft, Meta earnings, Fed rate decision

Thursday, 30th Jan

• EUR: ECB rate decision, consumer confidence, unemployment, GDP
• GER40: Germany GDP
• ZAR: South Africa rate decision
• USDInd: US GDP, jobless claims
• NAS100: Apple earnings

Friday, 31st Jan

• GER40: Germany CPI, unemployment
• JP225: Japan unemployment, Tokyo CPI, industrial production, retail sales
• RUS2000: US personal income & spending, PCE inflation

Big tech earnings may hijack the headlines with the likes of Tesla, Microsoft, Meta and Apple set to reveal their latest quarterly results.

These major players with a combined market cap of over $9.5 trillion could provide fresh insights into how the industry fared last quarter.

Artificial intelligence is still a hot topic, but investors should consider a new variable President Trump. Whether it’s tougher tariffs or softer regulations, Trump is bound to influence big tech over the next four years.

Here is what you need to know:

  1) Microsoft

Microsoft reports its fiscal second-quarter earnings on Wednesday 29th after US markets close.

Its shares are up 6% year-to-date, adding to the 12% gains secured in 2024. Microsoft has invested tens of billions of dollars into AI, but investors have yet to see the returns expected. So, the tech giant has little room for error with exceptional results required to justify its $3.32 trillion valuation. Much focus will be on the Azure side of the business which is likely to remain the driver of growth.

Markets forecast a 3.6% move, either up or down, for Microsoft stocks post-earnings.

  2) Meta

Meta is set to report fourth-quarter earnings after US markets close on Wednesday 29th.

Shares of the tech company have gained 9% this year, trading very close to all-time highs. Markets expect a year-over-year increase in earnings and revenue growth, but all eyes will be on the advertising business. Any insight into how the TikTok ban in the US will impact Meta’s ad sales and updates on Llama 4 will be welcomed by investors.

Markets are forecasting a 7.4% move, either up or down, for Meta stocks post-earnings.

  3) Tesla

Tesla is also set to release its fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday after the close of US trading.

A few weeks ago, Tesla reported its first decline in annual deliveries which hit sentiment toward its shares. Prices are up only 2% year-to-date, adding to the 62.5% gains secured in 2024. Any updates on the autonomous driving software, new vehicle launches, and revenues will be perused by investors to evaluate its business outlook.

Markets are forecasting an 8.2% move, either up or down, for Tesla stocks post-earnings.

  4) Apple

The second most valuable company in the world with a market cap of $3.36 trillion reports its fiscal first-quarter earnings on Thursday 30th after US markets close.

Apple kicked off 2025 in a rough fashion, falling over 10% YTD amid growing concerns over lagging sales. Still, first-quarter revenues are expected to rise 3.8% year-on-year to $124.2 billion compared to $119.6 billion in the same quarter last year.

Nevertheless, investors will keep their eyes on the performance of iPhone sales and any initiatives integrating AI across its ecosystem.

Markets are projecting a 4% move, either up or down, for Apple stocks post-earnings.