Duolingo enters ‘major leagues’ with $6.5 bln valuation in strong debut

Language learning app Duolingo Inc (DUOL.O) notched a valuation of $6.5 billion after its shares surged nearly 40% in the company’s Nasdaq debut on Wednesday, becoming the latest education technology startup to impress Wall Street.
Robinhood’s meme stock status fuels IPO uncertainty

Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD.O) thrived thanks to the popularity of so-called meme stocks such as GameStop Corp (GME.N) with retail investors. Becoming a meme stock itself comes with trading volatility that is giving pause to some potential investors in its initial public offering.
Analysis: Tesla hikes electric car prices in U.S.; holds line in China

Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) showed signs of divergent strategies in the world’s two biggest automotive markets, raising prices to boost profit margins in the United States while keeping prices steady in China and hoping to grow sales there.
US dollar, stocks dip as Fed keeps taper timing close to chest

U.S. stocks and the dollar slipped on Wednesday in listless trade after the Federal Reserve gave no clue about when it might start reducing its purchases of government bonds, even as it said the economic recovery is on track.
Google parent Alphabet reaches record quarterly revenue, profit in ad boom

Google parent Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) quarterly revenue and profit surged to record highs, the company reported on Tuesday, powered by a rise in advertising spending as more consumers shopped online.
Microsoft sees steady cloud growth after record quarterly profit

Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) posted its most profitable quarter on Tuesday, beating Wall Street expectations for revenue and earnings, as PC sales declines stemming from a global chip shortage were more than made up for by a boom in cloud services.
EXCLUSIVE Rivian ready to invest $5 billion in second U.S. assembly plant -document

Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O)-backed Rivian plans to invest $5 billion initially in its second U.S. electric vehicle assembly plant, according to a company document shared with state economic development officials.
Robinhood says U.S. watchdogs probing staff meme stock trading, registration

Robinhood Markets Inc disclosed on Tuesday it has received inquiries from U.S. watchdogs asking whether employees traded GameStop Corp. (GME.N) and AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC.N) before the online broker publicly announced it was restricting trading in those and other meme stocks on Jan. 28.
China state-owned daily urges calm after market rout

A Chinese state-owned securities newspaper urged calm on Wednesday after investors dumped mainland shares for a second day on worries over the impact of tighter government regulations.
Asia shares sit at 2021 lows ahead of Fed verdict

Asian shares stayed stuck at seven-month lows on Wednesday, as markets continued to digest a storm in Chinese equity markets, while the dollar rested with traders reluctant to place large bets ahead of the outcome of the Federal Reserve meeting.