The $1.5 Trillion IPO, 16,000 Layoffs, and a Trade Deficit Shock

Money Masters' Market Pulse Week 5

January 30, 2026

In partnership with

Dear Money Master,

This week delivered a sharp contrast across markets. Big Tech flexed its dominance, with Meta, Microsoft, and IBM beating expectations as advertising and cloud demand powered earnings higher. Meanwhile, Tesla’s revenue slide exposed growing pressure in the EV race, even as it topped profit estimates.

Outside tech, retail stress intensified. Allbirds is shutting every full-price U.S. store, Saks’ landlord is fighting for unpaid rent in bankruptcy court, and Amazon is cutting another 16,000 jobs, signs that cost-cutting is accelerating across consumer-facing businesses.

On the macro front, the U.S. trade deficit nearly doubled in a single month, reigniting concerns over global imbalances. And looming over everything? SpaceX’s rumored June IPO at a $1.5 trillion valuation!!🌍💼

📰 Your Daily Financial Digest - January 30th, 2026

🌍 Economics, Finance, & Retail:

  1. U.S. Trade Deficit Surges Nearly 95% in November 📊
    The deficit jumped to $56.8B after hitting a multi-year low in October. About one-third of the increase came from the EU, while the goods gap with China narrowed by roughly $1B. Read More

  2. Simon Property Group Moves to Terminate Saks Leases 🏬
    The mall giant is asking a Texas bankruptcy court to recognize lease terminations tied to more than $7M in unpaid rent, escalating tensions tied to Saks Global’s bankruptcy proceedings. Read More

  3. Allbirds to Close All Full-Price U.S. Stores 👟
    Once operating over 60 locations, the brand will exit all U.S. full-price retail by February, leaving just four company-run stores globally as it pivots further away from brick-and-mortar. Read More

💻 Technology:

  1. SpaceX Eyes June IPO at $1.5 Trillion Valuation 🚀
    Elon Musk reportedly wants the offering to align with his birthday and a rare planetary alignment. The deal could raise at least $50B, making it one of the largest IPOs in history. Read More 

  2. AI Security Startup Outtake Raises $40M 🔐
    The Series B round was led by Iconiq and backed by top tech and finance leaders, including Satya Nadella and Bill Ackman, highlighting surging investor appetite for enterprise AI security. Read More

  3. Amazon to Cut Another 16,000 Jobs 🧑‍💻
    The latest round follows 14,000 roles eliminated last fall, extending Amazon’s cost-cutting drive as leadership continues reshaping teams amid slower growth expectations. Read More

💹Earnings:

  1. Meta Crushes Q4 Expectations on Ad Strength 📈
    Revenue climbed 24% year-over-year as advertising generated nearly 97% of total sales. Management guided Q1 revenue above estimates, citing strong momentum heading into 2026. Read More

  2. Microsoft Beats Estimates as Azure Growth Accelerates ☁️
    Quarterly revenue topped $81B while Azure cloud growth guidance landed above expectations, reinforcing confidence that enterprise AI demand continues to fuel cloud spending. Read More

  3. IBM Posts Double-Digit Revenue Growth 💼
    Sales rose 12% year-over-year, with free cash flow expected to climb another $1B in 2026. Management forecast full-year growth above analyst expectations despite slowing momentum. Read More

  4. Tesla Beats EPS, but Revenue Continues to Slide 🚗
    Quarterly sales fell 3% year-over-year as auto revenue dropped 11%. Full-year revenue declined amid weaker deliveries and shrinking regulatory credit income. Read More

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To your financial empowerment, The Money Masters Team

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DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of actions taken based on the information provided. Always conduct your own research or consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.