13F: Soros bets on US growth and reduces exposure to China.

Billionaire investor George Soros makes significant adjustments to his portfolio in the fourth quarter, indicating a shift toward growth while reducing defensive bets. The latest 13F filing from Soros Fund Management reveals new positions in Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and small-cap companies, along with a significant reduction in his position in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:SPY). Meanwhile, the fund decreased its holdings in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA) (NYSE:BABAF) and completely exited Oracle Corp (NYSE:ORCL), reflecting a change in attitude towards Chinese technology.

Increasing bets on Alphabet and small-cap companies
Alphabet has become one of Soros’s biggest buys, with the fund increasing its stake by 2.55%. The firm also raised its exposure to the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:IWM), which is a bet on smaller, fast-growing companies. This move suggests that Soros is betting on the continued recovery of both tech giants and smaller, more volatile stocks.

Reducing market hedges and adding fixed income
Soros Fund reduced its position in SPY puts by nearly 15%, signaling a less negative sentiment towards the broader market. The fund also trimmed its holdings in The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLF) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:IVV), while increasing its exposure to Ford Motor Co (NYSE:F) bonds and options on the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:TLT) — steps that suggest an evolving fixed income strategy.

Reducing exposure to China by trimming positions in BABA
Alibaba shares took a hit in the fourth quarter as Soros reduced his holdings, joining other investors in reassessing Chinese technology. Meanwhile, Smurfit WestRock PLC (NYSE:SW) remained the fund’s top holding with 5.71% of the portfolio, while Alphabet and AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) occupy spots in the top 3.

Soros’s recent moves indicate a more optimistic outlook on U.S. growth stocks while reducing market hedges and bets on Chinese technology.