Welcome to Markets Desk, your midday read on the stories moving the conversation.
The human toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes continues to climb, with the death count now reaching two thousand five hundred ninety-five. Rescue operations remain active following what officials are calling the country's strongest seismic event in over a century, and damage estimates are still mounting as crews reach more affected regions.
Turning to markets, SpaceX made history this week with the largest initial public offering on record, pricing shares at one hundred thirty-five dollars and raising seventy-five billion dollars in its debut. The company carries a striking distinction, however — it remains deeply unprofitable, raising serious questions about whether its valuation reflects long-term fundamentals or purely the weight of ambition and brand.
Meanwhile, AppLovin shares surged this week after a prominent analyst issued a strong buy call on the stock, reigniting enthusiasm for the digital advertising and mobile technology platform. The company has been one of the more closely watched names in the tech space, and a single high-conviction call was enough to send the stock racing higher in a relatively thin holiday week.
That's the tape. Markets Desk, signing off the floor.
