Wednesday's News Links

[Yahoo/Bloomberg] Nasdaq Sinks as AI Results Don’t Match Hype: Markets Wrap

[Reuters] Investors punish Microsoft, Alphabet as AI returns fall short of lofty expectations

[Reuters] High-flying chipmakers hit after AMD's forecast falls short

[Yahoo/Bloomberg] China Stocks Sink to Five-Year Low as Traders Unwind Rescue Bets

[Reuters] AI companies lose $190 billion in market cap after Alphabet and Microsoft report

[Yahoo/Bloomberg] Gold Demand to Hit Record With Central-Bank Buying, WGC Says

[Reuters] Fed Chair Powell faces tough communications task on rate cuts ahead

[AP] Federal Reserve is likely to show little urgency to cut interest rates despite market’s anticipation

[Reuters] Fed's faith in 'immaculate disinflation' narrative put to the test

[AP] Iran threatens to respond to any US strikes as Biden weighs how to react to a base attack in Jordan

[CNBC] Private payroll growth slowed to just 107,000 in January, below expectations, ADP reports

[CNBC] Weekly mortgage demand drops as buyers struggle to find affordable homes

[Dow Jones] Employee costs in the U.S. rise at slowest pace in 2 1/2 years

[Reuters] China's major state banks defend yuan as stock markets slide - sources

[Reuters] China unveils new property support measures amid concerns about Evergrande fallout

[Reuters] China's factory activity shrinks again, weak demand hobbles economy

[Yahoo/Bloomberg] China Merges Hundreds of Rural Banks as Financial Risks Mount

[Yahoo/Bloomberg] BOJ Signals Rate Hike Is Approaching With Ramped-Up Exit Talk

[Yahoo/Bloomberg] Dollar Bond Sales in Asia See Worst Start to Year Since 2016

[Reuters] Chinese hackers are targeting US infrastructure, FBI chief to testify

[Reuters] The logistics of war: How Washington is preparing for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan

[Reuters] Taiwan angered at 'unilateral' China change to Taiwan Strait flight path

[Bloomberg] US Increases Quarterly Debt Sale, Sees No More Boosts Coming

[Bloomberg] China Home Sales Slump Persists After Evergrande Liquidation

[NYT] The Federal Reserve Meets Wednesday. Here’s What to Watch.

[NYT] China’s Censorship Dragnet Targets Critics of the Economy

[WSJ] Where Are Interest Rates Headed? What to Expect From the Fed Meeting

[WSJ] China’s Economic Pain Worsens as Real-Estate Sales Plummet

[FT] Chinese investors buy gold as property and stock markets fall

[FT] Taiwan’s military drills focus on Chinese naval threat after election