The latest Market Talks covering Technology, Media and Telecom. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

0817 GMT - Bitcoin recovers only marginally after hitting a five-week low overnight as investors look ahead to the Federal Reserve's policy decision on Wednesday and big tech earnings this week. The Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged but markets will be looking for any clues about possible future rate cuts. President Trump is also expected to announce his choice for the next Fed chair in coming days. Tech earnings include Telsa, Microsoft and Meta on Wednesday followed by Apple on Thursday. Meanwhile, there's a risk of another U.S. government shutdown and speculation that U.S. and Japanese authorities could intervene to support the yen. Bitcoin rises 1.7% to $87,946 after hitting a low of $86,021 overnight, LSEG data show. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0757 GMT - The smart-glasses market could reach 78 million units annually by 2030, Barclays analysts say in a research note. That represents an estimated 3.8% penetration of the global smartphone user base. The analysts think smart glasses are an extension of smartphones and could gain consumer traction quickly. "An increasing application set, owing to generative AI, and a broader range of product and price-points are driving outsized demand," the analysts say. Apple currently leads in seamless ecosystem integration while Google has a strong software stack and offerings such as Google Search and Maps, they note. Competition among China's Xiaomi, Alibaba, Baidu and Li Auto will likely remain broadly confined to their home market, the analysts say. TSMC and Samsung could be the biggest beneficiaries due to higher chip demand, they add. (sherry.qin@wsj.com)

0652 GMT - Artificial intelligence is expected to remain a key driver of share-price performance in 2026, mainly across online platforms, advertising agencies and software subsectors, Berenberg analysts write in a note. Earnings upgrades will be crucial, while companies cutting guidance are likely to face greater scepticism, even if the reasons are not AI-related, they say. Berenberg also expects increased private-equity interest in the space. (najat.kantouar@wsj.com)

0622 GMT - Baidu's 4Q results will likely be unsurprising, so investors are expected to focus on updates to its capital return plan and artificial-intelligence chip unit's IPO, Nomura analysts Jialong Shi and Rachel Guo say in a note. Total revenue is likely to have declined by 5.7% on year in 4Q, while operating profit is likely to have fallen 43% on weakness in its ad business, they say. Nomura expects Baidu's shares to continue to rally ahead of Kunlunxin's listing. But it says the Chinese search-engine operator needs to offer new catalysts such as a regular dividend or making Hong Kong its primary listing to retain investors after Kunlunxin's IPO. Nomura maintains a buy rating on Baidu's ADRs and raises their target price to $196.00 from $178.00. The ADRs last closed at $161.44. (jason.chau@wsj.com)

0503 GMT - CelcomDigi shareholder Telenor may sell its 33.1% stake if the price is right, CIMB Securities analyst Choong Chen Foong says in a note. This follows Telenor's exit from Thailand after selling its 30.3% stake in True Corp., reinforcing its strategy to refocus on the Nordic markets. Completion of merger integration following the combination of Axiata's Celcom and Telenor's Digi should be largely completed by 1H 2027, suggesting a potential exit window for Telenor in 2027-2028, the analyst says. This could be viewed negatively due to the loss of a strategic shareholder, though the impact is likely to be more muted than in Thailand given CelcomDigi's localized management. A sale could also trigger a mandatory takeover offer, which may support or lift the share price depending on valuation, he adds. Shares are 0.3% lower at MYR3.35. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0347 GMT - Goldman Sachs raises its 12-month Taiex target to 34,600 from 32,400, citing earnings upgrades driven by AI-related capital spending. TSMC's stronger-than-expected 4Q results and solid 2026 capex plans point to sustained demand for its AI chips, the analysts say. "This intensified AI‑driven capex cycle is supporting earnings across the supply chain," they add. Gains have also spread beyond TSMC to other chipmakers and tech hardware stocks, showing broader participation in AI demand. While foreign investors have trimmed TSMC holdings, they have shifted into other supply-chain names to keep exposure to Taiwan's AI theme, they note. The Taiex index is up 0.5% at 32109.60. (sherry.qin@wsj.com)

0233 GMT - A stronger Malaysian ringgit against the dollar could make the country's equity market more attractive, Public Investment Bank analyst Eltricia Foong says in a note. Foong says capital rotation will shift from developed markets to higher-growth and more fiscal disciplined emerging economies. The analyst also notes that companies dependent on imported raw materials through lower production costs and those with significant dollar-denominated borrowings will benefit from a firmer currency. Gains may be partly offset by lower translated overseas revenue, she adds. While the KLCI has historically been negatively correlated with ringgit strength, this has reversed in recent months, reflecting renewed fund inflows, she says. Public IB favors index stocks such as Malayan Banking, CIMB Group, Tenaga Nasional and Telekom Malaysia. The KLCI is 0.7% higher at 1732.00. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0227 GMT - A potential initial public offering of Alibaba's T-Head could unlock significant value for the tech giant's chip business, Nomura analysts say in a research note after media reports of the listing plan. T-Head is one of the top Chinese chip designers alongside Baidu's Kunlunxin and Cambricon Technologies, the analysts note. Nomura estimates the combined valuation of Baidu's cloud business and Kunlunxin at $63 billion, implying 9.4X combined estimated 2027 sales. The analysts think AliCloud, which includes T-Head, should at least deserve the same multiple as its Baidu counterpart. Nomura maintains a buy call on Alibaba and raises its ADR target price to $237.00 from $193.00. Shares last ended at $173.23. (sherry.qin@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 26, 2026 04:20 ET (09:20 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.