The news that two of the world's four largest advertising groups plan to merge in a $13.3 billion all-stock deal got me thinking: here's another industry that we don't invest in, or follow at all.

WPP is the largest global ad agency, with annual revenues of $18.5 billion. Publicis Groupe is next, with $15.8 billion. Omnicom is the third-largest, raking in $14.7 billion in 2023 and Interpublic is fourth with $10.9 billion. In this deal, number 3 is teaming up with number 4 to take the new top spot.

We have no interest in this industry as it seems to be in trouble. They are rushing to consolidate because they have to, not because they want to. More consumer brands are booting ad agencies and bringing that service in-house, on platforms and AI tools offered by Meta and Google.

Using generative AI to create brands, images and video is challenging. Smaller agencies that have better tech skills are nipping at the heels of the industry leviathans.

In summary, I'm glad we have no skin in this game.

Weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Zepound have been so effective that they are starting to impact the fashion industry. According to Vogue, secondhand marketplaces are experiencing a surge in the supply of plus-sized women's clothing.

Poshmark, one of these marketplaces, said that their data has shown a 103% increase in 3XL listings, an 80% increase in 4XL and a 73% rise in 5XL. The data, however, shows that orders for smaller items are not increasing. This probably means that weight shedders are selling their oversized clothes and buying flashy new garments from the likes of Lululemon and Nike.

I am finding it fascinating to follow the ripple effects of these weight-loss drugs which we believe are going to play a big role in shaping society over the next decade.

Tech companies have been working on quantum computing chips for years, but they are far from being useful. On Monday, Google revealed their latest chip called Willow. The chip takes just five minutes to complete tasks that would take 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years for some of the world's fastest conventional computers to complete.

In previous chips, adding size increased power but also increased errors. With this new chip, Google has cracked the code, allowing the chip to become more powerful without increasing the error rate.

Given the speed of development, some researchers estimate that we could have useable quantum chips in the next five years. One use case, according to Google, is allowing MRI scans to be read in atom-level detail, unlocking new caches of data about human bodies and diseases for AI to process.

If you think AI has been a big change, quantum computing will be even more significant. The market agrees, Google was up over 5% yesterday.

Apple is set to elevate its Apple Watch Ultra with satellite connectivity in 2025, allowing off-grid messaging without a phone. The feature, leveraging its partnership with Globalstar, builds on Apple's satellite innovations first introduced with the iPhone 14. Shares of Globalstar jumped 15% on the news.

Apple is also working on a blood-pressure monitoring feature for its watches, which may also arrive in 2025. Unlike traditional monitors, it will notify users of potential hypertension without providing detailed readings. This adds to Apple's focus on health tech, complementing efforts like its noninvasive glucose tracker which is still in development.

With these innovations, Apple continues to push its premium Ultra model at $799, distinguishing it from budget options like the Watch SE ($249) and Series 10 ($399). These advancements reflect Apple's strategy to stay ahead of competitors like Samsung, whose health features have faced scrutiny over accuracy.

We are happy Apple holders.

Weight loss drugs continue to power Denmark's economy. Exports of Ozempic and Wegovy are driving GDP growth - Danish pharma shines.

Heard of extreme travellers? These individuals want to visit every country in the world - Most travelled people.

Asian markets saw mixed movements this morning. South Korean stocks gained for a second day, rebounding from last week's political turmoil. Meanwhile, Hong Kong and mainland Chinese equities fluctuated as investors eyed Beijing's annual economic meeting, which started today.

In local company news, Wesizwe Platinum is dealing with a cyberattack that compromised its finance, legal, procurement and HR systems. The breach occurred on Monday, and the company is investigating the source while working to contain the damage. They should call up Crowdstrike immediately.

US equity futures are marginally lower pre-market. The Rand is trading at around R17.80 to the US Dollar. Don't forget to externalise those Rands before year-end.

All eyes are on US CPI data this afternoon, as it gives the Fed fresh inflation data ahead of their meeting next week. Markets are currently pricing in an 85% likelihood of a December quarter-point rate cut.

Enjoy your Wednesday.