Meta's policy chief said the company would loop in Trump when it feels targeted by regulators abroad.The company believes Trump would defend US companies he views as being treated unfairly.Meta has previously faced billions of dollars in fines from European Union regulators.The European Union has been a huge pain for Meta over the years as it's faced billions of dollars in fines from its regulators. The Facebook owner may now have a new weapon in its artillery to defend itself from future enforcement abroad ...

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway reduced its investments significantly in the last quarter, indicating challenges in finding attractive investment opportunities in a strong market [1][6][9] Investment Adjustments - Berkshire Hathaway cut its stake in Bank of America to 680 million shares, down from over 1 billion, resulting in a decrease in ownership percentage from over 13% to below 9% and a decline in value from approximately $41 billion to under $30 billion [2][3] - The company also sold 74% of its Citigroup stake, 18% of its Capital One holding, and 54% of its Nu Holdings position, along with trimming positions in Charter Communications, Louisiana-Pacific, and T-Mobile US [3][4] Exits and New Investments - Berkshire exited its position in Ulta Beauty, which was established only in the second quarter of the previous year, and sold its holdings in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF [4] - The company established a new $1.2 billion stake in Constellation Brands, the producer of Corona and Modelo beer, while increasing its investment in Domino's Pizza by 86% and Pool Corp. by 48% [4][5] Portfolio Value and Cash Position - Despite the reductions, the total value of Berkshire's US stock portfolio increased to $267 billion due to gains in several positions [6] - The company sold $133 billion of stocks in the first nine months of 2024 while acquiring less than $6 billion, and spent less than $3 billion on share buybacks, leading to a cash pile exceeding $300 billion for the first time [6][7] Market Conditions - Buffett has noted that high company valuations have made it difficult to find compelling investment opportunities, leading to a preference for holding cash and Treasurys due to higher interest rates [8]

Analysts say Tesla's tariffs exposure remains uncertain and could hurt its margins — and its competitors' more.Tesla is also likely to be impacted by the removal of Biden-era EV tax credits and the removal of emissions targets for automakers.However, Tesla could benefit from Elon Musk's ties to Trump, especially when it comes to self-driving regulations.Some of President Donald Trump's policy proposals are on a collision course with Telsa. However, Elon Musk appears to be betting the EV maker can weather an ...

Core Viewpoint - 2025 is anticipated to be a pivotal year for Tesla, particularly in the realms of autonomous artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and fully self-driving cars [1][2]. Group 1: Autonomous Technology and Production Goals - Musk believes that 2025 could be viewed as the most important year in Tesla's history, emphasizing the company's leadership in real-world AI [2]. - Tesla aims to produce around 10,000 Optimus robots, although Musk acknowledges this target may be unrealistic, expecting to produce several thousand instead [5]. - The company plans to utilize the Optimus robots internally for various tasks, which will inform future production designs expected to launch in 2026 [5][6]. - Musk envisions a significant ramp-up in production, potentially reaching 100 million units annually if growth continues at a rapid pace [7]. Group 2: Fully Autonomous Vehicles - The rollout of fully self-driving cars is expected in 2025, with unsupervised FSD anticipated to be available in many markets, limited primarily by regulatory issues [8][9]. - Musk asserts that thousands of Teslas are already operating autonomously at the company's California factory, with plans for broader deployment in Austin and California by the end of the year [10]. - The technology for FSD is claimed to be ready, with Musk expressing confidence in delivering on previous promises [10][11]. Group 3: Affordable Vehicle Launch - A more affordable Tesla model, estimated to cost around $25,000, is on track for launch in the first half of 2025, which could help boost sales amid increased competition [11][12]. - The lower-cost vehicle is expected to be built on Tesla's next-generation vehicle platform, sharing production lines with the upcoming Cybercab robotaxi [13]. - Details on the design of the lower-cost vehicle remain unclear, as Tesla does not plan to simply create a version of the Cybercab with traditional driving controls [14].

Brian Niccol, Starbucks' CEO, said the company is considering a large expansion in the Middle East and China.The brand will open 500 new outlets in the Middle East in the next five years, he said.Starbucks' sales in the Middle East have taken a hit due to boycotts over the war in Gaza.Brian Niccol, Starbucks' CEO, said the coffee chain is eyeing a major expansion into the Middle East and Chinese markets. In a Friday interview with Bloomberg, Niccol said that the chain's franchise operator in the Middle East ...

The State Department wants to buy $400 million worth of armored Tesla vehicles.The department's procurement forecast for 2025 listed a five-year contract with Elon Musk's company.Musk's companies have received billions of dollars from government contracts and subsidies.The State Department is looking to buy $400 million worth of vehicles from Elon Musk's EV company, Tesla. The department's procurement forecast for 2025 listed a five-year contract with Tesla. The order would see the department purchasing "Ar ...

Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, said the Trump administration's tariffs will hurt the auto industry.Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada "would be devastating" for Ford, said Farley.Farley said South Korean, Japanese, and European automakers would benefit from Trump's tariffs.Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, said President Donald Trump's latest tariffs on Mexico and Canada could deal a serious blow to his company and the auto industry. Farley, who was speaking at a conference organized by Wolfe Research in New Yor ...

Kimbal Musk sold 75,000 Tesla shares worth about $28 million, filings show.The disposals by Elon Musk's brother reduced his stake by almost 5% to 1.46 million shares.Tesla stock is up almost 40% since the election but has slid 13% since the start of January.Elon Musk's brother sold Tesla stock worth about $28 million in a single day, a Securities and Exchange Commission filing revealed on Monday. Kimbal Musk, a Tesla director, cashed in 75,000 shares of the electric vehicle company on February 6. The latest ...

Netflix is exploring licensing video podcasts as it looks to its next phase of growth.YouTube's success with video podcasts has shown they're not just for listening.Podcasts could offer Netflix cheap content and potential ad revenue growth.Netflix has spent the past two decades upending the TV business. Could video podcasts be next? Netflix has been exploring potential deals with podcasters, four industry insiders familiar with Netflix's strategy told Business Insider. The effort comes as YouTube's rise as ...

Core Insights - McDonald's $5 meal deals are successfully increasing customer spending beyond the initial price point, with average checks exceeding $10 [1][7] - The company is expanding its value meal offerings globally, with positive results reported in various international markets [2][3][4] Group 1: US Market Performance - The $5 meal deal includes items such as a McChicken or McDouble, chicken nuggets, a small drink, and fries, and has been made a permanent part of the McValue menu [1] - Other value meal options, like the "Buy one, Add one for $1" deals, are performing well and meeting expectations [2] - Despite a 1.4% decrease in same-store sales in the US, the overall strategy is aimed at attracting cost-conscious consumers [4] Group 2: International Market Performance - In Canada, the McValue menu features a $5.79 meal bundle and a $1 coffee, which has contributed to market share gains [3] - Germany has seen success with the McSmart menu, offering meal bundles at competitive prices, such as €4.99 for a double cheeseburger meal [3][4] - A similar GBP5 meal deal has been introduced in the UK, indicating a broader strategy to enhance value offerings across different regions [4] Group 3: Financial Performance - McDonald's reported a global fourth-quarter revenue of $6.39 billion, with a slight increase of 0.4% in global same-store sales [4] - The company's stock price rose approximately 4.8% following the earnings call, reflecting positive market sentiment towards its value strategy [5]