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Nintendo's Switch 2 has powered a $39 billion rally this year
CNBC· 2025-06-18 07:26
Core Viewpoint - Nintendo's newly launched Switch 2 console has generated significant consumer interest and excitement, leading to a record high in the company's stock price and a substantial increase in market capitalization [1][2]. Sales Performance - Nintendo sold 3.5 million units of the Switch 2 within the first four days of its launch, indicating strong demand [3]. - The company has forecasted sales of 15 million units for the fiscal year ending March 2026, although analysts believe this estimate may be conservative [3]. Stock Market Impact - Nintendo's shares have increased by 46% this year, adding approximately $39 billion to the company's market value [2]. - Since the launch of the original Switch in March 2017, Nintendo's stock has surged nearly 470%, resulting in an increase of over $81 billion in market capitalization [6]. Historical Context - The original Switch console, launched in 2017, has sold over 152 million units, making it Nintendo's second-most successful console [4]. - The hybrid nature of the Switch, allowing for both TV and portable play, has contributed to its popularity [4]. Strategic Advantages - Nintendo has leveraged its strong franchises, including Super Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon, to enhance the success of its consoles [5]. - The company has also expanded its intellectual property into movies and theme parks, further boosting its core video game products [5].
Stellantis' Ram brand to offer industry-leading pickup truck warranty as part of turnaround plan
CNBC· 2025-06-18 04:01
Core Point - Ram Trucks is set to introduce an industry-leading warranty for its 2026 vehicle lineup as part of an 18-month turnaround plan for the Stellantis-owned brand [1] Warranty Details - The new warranty will cover the engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, differentials, and axles for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, replacing the previous five-year or 60,000-mile warranty [2] - This change comes in response to the rising costs of vehicles, particularly pickup trucks, which often leads to longer financing terms that exceed the duration of existing warranties [3] Financing Trends - A significant 85% of truck buyers are financing their purchases for seven years or more, with many keeping their vehicles for up to 12 years due to increased costs [4] - Data from Edmunds.com indicates that 84-month loans for new-car buyers reached an all-time high of 19.8% in the first quarter, while 67.4% of new-vehicle financing loans were between 60 months and 75 months [4]
AWS' custom chip strategy is showing results, and cutting into Nvidia's AI dominance
CNBC· 2025-06-17 20:50
Group 1 - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is set to announce an update to its Graviton4 chip, featuring 600 gigabytes per second of network bandwidth, the highest offering in the public cloud [1] - Graviton4 is a central processing unit (CPU) developed by Amazon's Annapurna Labs, aimed at competing with traditional semiconductor players like Intel and AMD, while primarily targeting Nvidia in the AI infrastructure space [2] - AWS has invested $8 billion into backing the AI startup Anthropic, with the goal of reducing AI training costs and providing an alternative to Nvidia's expensive graphics processing units (GPUs) [3] Group 2 - Project Rainier, an AI supercomputer built for Anthropic, is powered by over half a million Trainium2 GPUs, which would have traditionally been supplied by Nvidia [4]
JPMorgan moves further into crypto with stablecoin-like token JPMD
CNBC· 2025-06-17 19:00
Core Insights - JPMorgan Chase is advancing into the cryptocurrency sector with the introduction of its own stablecoin-like token named JPMD [1][2] - The bank plans to launch a deposit token on Coinbase's public blockchain Base, which operates on the Ethereum network [2] - JPMD is designed to represent a digital version of a commercial bank deposit and will be available exclusively to institutional clients [3] Product Features - JPMD will provide clients with 24/7 settlement capabilities and the potential to earn interest on holdings [3][4] - The token is classified as a "permissioned token," distinguishing it from many publicly available stablecoins [3] - The introduction of interest-bearing deposit tokens aims to enhance compatibility with existing deposit products used by institutions [4] Market Implications - JPMorgan anticipates that institutions will utilize JPMD for on-chain digital asset settlement and cross-border business-to-business transactions [3]
AI will shrink Amazon's workforce in the coming years, CEO Jassy says
CNBC· 2025-06-17 18:18
Core Insights - Amazon's corporate workforce is expected to shrink in the coming years due to the adoption of generative artificial intelligence tools, leading to efficiency gains [1][2] - The company has already laid off over 27,000 employees since 2022, with recent cuts including approximately 200 employees in the North America stores unit and 100 in the devices and services unit [2] - As of March, Amazon's global workforce consisted of 1.56 million full-time and part-time employees, in addition to temporary workers and contractors [3] AI Investment and Impact - Amazon has made significant investments in AI, launching numerous products and rapidly expanding data centers to meet increasing demand for the technology [3] - CEO Andy Jassy described generative AI as a "once-in-a-lifetime reinvention of everything we know," emphasizing its potential to save companies substantial amounts of money and transform various sectors [4] - Jassy noted that the pace of AI development is unprecedented, moving faster than any previous technology [4]
Meta to release smart glasses with Oakley and Prada, extending Luxottica partnership
CNBC· 2025-06-17 18:12
Core Insights - Meta and EssilorLuxottica are set to launch AI-powered smart glasses under the Oakley and Prada brands, expanding their wearable technology offerings [1][2] - The Oakley glasses will target athletes and active consumers, building on the success of the second-generation Ray-Ban glasses released in 2023 [2][3] - The Oakley version is expected to retail around $360 and will feature technology similar to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses [4] Group 1 - The partnership with Prada marks Meta's first venture into high-end fashion eyewear, following a renewed 10-year licensing agreement between Prada and Luxottica [5][6] - The Oakley glasses will be more weather-resistant than Ray-Ban counterparts, appealing to outdoor and sports enthusiasts [4] - Meta's strategy includes leveraging the popularity of its Ray-Ban glasses among users engaged in sports activities [3] Group 2 - Luxottica, which has licensing agreements with over 150 brands, plays a crucial role in the development and distribution of these new eyewear products [5] - The design of Prada glasses, featuring thick temples, is advantageous for housing necessary components for smart glasses [6] - The announcement date for the Prada product line remains unspecified, indicating potential future developments in Meta's fashion collaborations [6]
Tesla stock slips after report EV maker is halting Cybertruck and Model Y production
CNBC· 2025-06-17 16:34
A Tesla Cybertruck sits on a lot at a Tesla dealership on April 15, 2024 in Austin, Texas.Tesla shares slid more than 2% Tuesday after a report that the electric vehicle maker was halting production of Cybertruck and Model Y models for a week in Austin, Texas.The production stoppage begins June 30, Business Insider reported, citing a staff meeting where the announcement was made. The pause, which is for maintenance on production lines, would be the third such shutdown at the Austin facility in the past year ...
Streaming surpasses combined broadcast and cable viewing for first time ever
CNBC· 2025-06-17 15:13
Core Insights - Streaming services have surpassed the combined share of broadcast and cable TV viewing for the first time, representing 44.8% of total TV viewership in May 2024 [2][10] - The growth of streaming has been significant, with a 71% increase over the past four years, while broadcast and cable viewing have declined by 21% and 39%, respectively [2][4] Streaming Growth Factors - The rise of streaming is attributed to three main factors: the popularity of free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels, the growth of YouTube, and the adaptation of legacy media companies to cater to streaming-centric consumers [4][8] - In May 2021, only five streaming platforms exceeded 1% of total TV viewing, but this number has increased to 11 platforms as of the latest report [4] Popularity of Free Streaming Options - Free channels like Pluto TV, Roku Channel, and Tubi accounted for 5.7% of total TV viewing in May, surpassing any individual broadcast network [5] - YouTube has seen a remarkable 120% increase in viewership since 2021, representing 12.5% of all television viewing in May, marking its highest share to date [6][7] Transformation of Traditional Media - Traditional media companies are increasingly transforming into streaming-first entities, with platforms like Hulu, Paramount+, and Peacock complementing linear TV rather than competing with it [8] - Major media companies are undergoing restructuring, with Warner Bros. Discovery planning to separate into a streaming and studios company and a global networks company, while Comcast is spinning off most of its NBCUniversal cable network portfolio [9] Subscription Service Performance - Netflix has emerged as the leading paid subscription service, with a 27% increase in viewing over the past four years, maintaining its position as the top provider in total TV usage [10]
Reddit stock jumps after company rolls out new AI advertising tools
CNBC· 2025-06-17 15:00
Core Insights - Reddit shares increased by approximately 5% following the introduction of new AI-powered advertising tools [1] - The new features aim to enhance brand engagement by utilizing discussions on the platform through a system called Reddit Community Intelligence [1] Tool Summaries - The first tool, Reddit Insights, provides real-time insights to marketers, enabling them to identify trends and effectively launch campaigns [1] - The second tool, Conversation Summary Add-ons, allows brands to display "positive" user-generated content alongside their advertisements [1] Marketing Strategy - The company emphasizes that these tools represent a new era of community marketing, allowing brands to connect authentically with engaged communities globally [2]
GM unveils quickest Corvette ever with ZR1X 'hypercar' going 0-60 mph in less than two seconds
CNBC· 2025-06-17 14:00
Core Insights - General Motors is expanding its Corvette lineup with the introduction of the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, a high-performance hybrid variant of the Corvette [1][2] - The Corvette ZR1X features a twin-turbo V-8 engine and incorporates electrification technologies for improved acceleration [2][3] - The vehicle is positioned as a "hypercar," boasting a top speed of 233 mph and a 0-60 mph time of under two seconds, with a total output of 1,064 horsepower [3][4] Performance Specifications - The Corvette ZR1X is equipped with an LT7 twin-turbo V-8 engine, delivering 1,064 horsepower and 828 foot-pounds of torque [3] - An electric axle contributes an additional 186 horsepower and 145 foot-pounds of torque, making the vehicle all-wheel drive [3][4] - The combination of performance features aims to enhance the driving experience, drawing from learnings of previous models [4] Market Positioning - The introduction of the ZR1X expands the Corvette lineup to five models, the broadest range since its inception in 1953 [4] - The pricing strategy includes a starting price around $70,000 for the base model, with the ZR1 potentially exceeding $200,000 [4][5] - GM has indicated that the Corvette remains a highly profitable vehicle for the company, reinforcing its position in the performance market [5] Future Developments - GM has plans for an all-electric Corvette, although the timeline and status of these plans remain uncertain due to slower EV adoption rates [5] - Consideration for a Corvette SUV has also been ongoing for several years [5] - Pricing details for the ZR1X will be announced closer to its dealership availability later this year [5][6]