This past week’s J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference featured dozens of drug and device firms, cash-starved biotechs, and one computer chip maker: Nvidia

Why was the semiconductor producer at a medical conference? Healthcare could become a billion dollar a year market for Nvidia’s number-crunching and artificial intelligence products, writes J.P. Morgan’s semiconductor analyst Harlan Sur, in a note about the chip maker’s Thursday presentation.

Microsoft MSFT +0.47%  is reportedly set to join the ranks of technology companies which have kicked off 2023 by reducing their workforces.  

Microsoft (ticker: MSFT) is planning to announce a round of layoffs as soon as Wednesday morning, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Microsoft declined to comment when contacted by Barron’s.

Amazon AMZN –2.11%  Web Services has partnered with Ava Labs in a bid to accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology by enterprises, institutions, and governments.

The move has sent the linked Avalanche AVAXUSD –3.43%  token soaring higher in recent days, outperforming even Bitcoin amid a major bull run in the biggest cryptocurrency.

The U.S. is careening into a profits recession and investors need to “to play defense” in 2023, with stocks of companies that produce necessities in the healthcare, staples, and utilities sectors, according to Richard Bernstein Advisors in New York.

It is also a year to look for opportunities outside the U.S. and consider investing in real assets, said Richard Bernstein, RBA’s founder and CEO, during a call with clients about the firm’s recent report on its 2023 outlook.