AMSTERDAM - Investors are preparing for the first full trading week of 2025, with significant attention on the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's largest technology trade fair, held this week in Las Vegas.
Additionally, on the Amsterdam exchange, Unilever is under scrutiny following a downgrade by RBC Capital Markets. The investment bank lowered its recommendation for the consumer goods giant from "sector perform" to "underperform," citing concerns over the company’s ability to meet its ambitious growth targets.
Analysts at RBC described the stock’s price increase in 2024 as “excessive” and reduced their price target for the company. This downgrade is expected to affect Unilever's stock performance as trading resumes, with investors monitoring the company's ability to maintain its market momentum amidst shifting expectations.
In the meantime, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to dominate the agenda at CES. From self-driving tractors and boats to AI-enabled household devices like refrigerators and ovens, the integration of AI into various products will be a key focus. “Everyone will be talking about AI,” said a Creative Strategies analyst to French news agency AFP. “From refrigerators to ovens and everything in between, everyone will mention AI, whether it’s truly present or not.”
The event begins officially on Tuesday but has already kicked off with media presentations. A highlight of the program will be a keynote speech by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Nvidia, a leader in AI chip technology, is anticipated to unveil major innovations that could further cement its status as a key player in the industry. Other chipmakers, including Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, are also expected to present announcements that could impact the global semiconductor market.
From fully self-driving cars to smaller autonomous devices like golf carts and lawnmowers, the auto industry is expected to highlight its progress in integrating automation. Additionally, futuristic gadgets designed for home use, such as AI-powered herb dispensers that adapt to a chef’s preferences and increasingly “intelligent” robot vacuum cleaners, will also take the spotlight.
CES 2024
Last year, a delegation of fifty Dutch growth companies, accompanied by Minister Dirk Beljaarts of Economic Affairs, participated in CES in Las Vegas. Representing various sectors, including the circular economy, cybersecurity, and sustainable mobility, these companies aimed to showcase innovative solutions to an international audience.
“The CES is the global stage for innovative companies to present their solutions to both the general public and investors,” said Beljaarts at the time. Among the Dutch participants was DuckDuckGoose, a company that developed technology to detect deepfakes and combat identity fraud. Veridis, which specializes in industrial-scale plastic recycling analysis, and E-Magy, a firm advancing next-generation batteries for electric vehicles, also took part.
Minister Beljaarts emphasized the importance of CES for stimulating innovation and supporting startups and scale-ups in achieving growth and securing funding. “The event fits perfectly with the government’s goal to promote innovation,” he said, highlighting how CES increasingly focuses less on gadgets and more on groundbreaking technologies shaping the future.
