Market Overview - European stocks are expected to open higher, with London's FTSE 100 projected to rise by 0.5%, Germany's Dax by 0.3%, and France's CAC 40 by 0.6% [1] - U.S. futures increased overnight as key economic data is anticipated, including the personal consumption expenditures index and the fourth-quarter GDP report [3] Earnings Reports - Several European companies are set to report earnings on Friday, including Air Liquide, Danone, Sika, Anglo American, and Kingspan Group [2] Economic Data - Traders are awaiting important economic data, such as U.K. retail sales figures, German producer price figures, and PMI flashes for the U.K., France, Germany, and the euro zone [2]

Core Viewpoint - A federal grand jury indicted three Silicon Valley engineers for stealing trade secrets from Google and other tech companies, transferring sensitive data to Iran [1][2] Group 1: Indictment Details - The defendants are identified as Iranian nationals, with one being a U.S. citizen and another a legal permanent resident [2] - Charges include conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, theft and attempted theft of trade secrets, and obstruction of justice [2] Group 2: Exploitation of Positions - The defendants allegedly exploited their roles at leading tech firms to obtain hundreds of confidential files related to processor security and cryptography [3] Group 3: Employment Background - Samaneh and Soroor Ghandali worked at Google before moving to a third unnamed company, while Khosravi was employed at a separate firm developing system-on-chip (SoC) platforms [4] Group 4: SoC Technology - SoC integrates various components into a power-efficient package, with examples including Qualcomm's Snapdragon and Apple's A-series [5] Group 5: Company Response - Google detected the alleged theft through routine security monitoring and referred the case to law enforcement [5] - The company has implemented enhanced safeguards to protect confidential information, including restricted access to sensitive data and two-factor authentication [6]

Core Viewpoint - The private credit market is experiencing significant stress, highlighted by Blue Owl Capital's decision to restrict withdrawals from its retail-focused debt fund, indicating potential issues within this rapidly growing sector [1][2]. Group 1: Company Actions - Blue Owl Capital has permanently restricted withdrawals from one of its retail-focused debt funds, leading to a nearly 6% drop in its shares following the sale of $1.4 billion in loan assets from three private debt funds [1]. - The sale primarily involved the Blue Owl Capital Corporation II, a semi-liquid private credit fund, which will cease offering quarterly redemption options to investors [2]. Group 2: Market Concerns - The restriction on withdrawals has sparked discussions about the potential resurgence of stress in the private credit market, which has been one of the fastest-growing areas on Wall Street [2]. - Dan Rasmussen from Verdad Capital described the situation as a "canary in the coal mine," suggesting that the private markets bubble may be beginning to burst [2]. Group 3: Industry Trends - The private credit market has expanded to approximately $3 trillion globally, driven by years of ultra-low interest rates and narrow yield spreads that encouraged lenders to take on riskier loans [3]. - Investors have increasingly ventured into riskier credit territories, leading to what Rasmussen refers to as "fool's yield," where high yields do not equate to high returns due to the elevated risk of borrowers [3].

Group 1 - Shares of Sumitomo Pharma fell over 12% following profit-taking after government endorsement of its iPS cell-based therapy for Parkinson's and heart disease [1] - The stock rose more than 300% in 2025, reaching its highest level since 2019 due to increasing confidence in its Parkinson's therapy [2] - Analyst Hidemaru Yamaguchi from Citigroup Global Markets Japan noted that while the treatment has potential for widespread use, it is expected to contribute almost no profit in the near term, indicating that recent stock gains have been excessive [3] Group 2 - The endorsement of the therapy follows years of research, including the work of Nobel Prize winner Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells from mice in 2006 [4] - Sumitomo Pharma is involved in developing and marketing prescription medicines across various therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, oncology, and regenerative medicine [4]

Core Insights - Nvidia is in discussions to invest up to $30 billion in OpenAI, potentially valuing the AI startup at a $730 billion pre-money valuation [1] - This investment is separate from the previously announced $100 billion infrastructure agreement between OpenAI and Nvidia [2] - The $30 billion investment is not tied to any deployment milestones and is still subject to change [4] Investment Details - The $30 billion investment is distinct from the September agreement, which involved Nvidia investing over several years as new supercomputing facilities come online [3] - Nvidia's first investment of $10 billion from the September agreement was contingent upon the completion of its first gigawatt [3] - The potential $30 billion deal is not finalized, and further details are still being discussed [4] Agreement Status - There have been questions regarding the status of the $100 billion infrastructure agreement, especially after reports indicated that the deal was "on ice" [5]

Market Overview - U.S. markets experienced volatility due to escalating tensions with Iran and concerns over private credit stability [1][2] - The S&P 500 decreased by 0.28%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.54%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 0.31% [3] Oil Market - Oil prices increased by nearly 2% amid fears of supply disruptions due to potential military action in Iran [2] Private Credit Market - Blue Owl Capital sold $1.4 billion in loan assets, which raised concerns about liquidity and stability in the private credit market, leading to a nearly 6% decline in its stock [2] - Other asset managers, including Blackstone and Apollo Global Management, also saw their shares retreat [2] Technology Sector - Software stocks, including Salesforce, Intuit, and Cadence Design Systems, ended the trading day lower [2] International Economic Indicators - Japan's headline inflation rate fell to 1.5% in January, the lowest since March 2022, and below the Bank of Japan's 2% target for the first time in 46 months [4] - Investors are awaiting China's loan prime rate decision, which is expected later in the day [4]

Shop owners of a 70-year-old "takoyaki", or octopus balls, restaurant chat while cooking along a street in the Taito Ward area of Tokyo on February 21, 2025.Japan's headline inflation rate fell to 1.5% in January, its lowest level since March 2022. The reading ended a run of 45 straight months in which inflation had remained above the Bank of Japan's 2% target.Core inflation rate, which excludes fresh food prices, eased to 2%, the lowest level since January 2024 and matching the 2% forecast by economists po ...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary holds up a study from The Lancet during an announcement of the FDA’s intent to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation’s food supply during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 22, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzElizabeth Frantz | ReutersA version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news s ...

Canadian filmmaker James Cameron poses during a photocall for the opening of the exhibition entitled 'The Art of James Cameron' at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris on April 3, 2024.Legendary "Titanic" director James Cameron is likening the theatrical experience to a "sinking ship" if Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery's film studio. Cameron penned a letter to Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, last week, which was obtained by CNBC, in which he argues Netflix's proposed acquisition of WBD's studio and streaming ...

Core Insights - Walmart's fourth-quarter earnings were positively impacted by digital advertising and its third-party marketplace, highlighting its focus on higher-margin businesses beyond traditional retail [1] - Walmart's market value recently surpassed $1 trillion, a significant milestone achieved through a 21% increase over the past year, positioning itself similarly to tech companies like Amazon [2] - Walmart's revenue for the most recent fiscal year was reported at $713.2 billion, just shy of Amazon's $716.9 billion, marking a shift in the competitive landscape as Amazon overtook Walmart in annual revenue for the first time [6] Digital Strategy and AI Integration - Walmart's digital business grew by 27% in the U.S. during the fiscal fourth quarter, benefiting from its extensive store network of over 4,600 Walmart stores and approximately 600 Sam's Club locations [3] - The retailer is actively expanding its third-party marketplace in response to Amazon's dominance, while also exploring new frontiers in AI to enhance efficiency and customer appeal [7] - Walmart has partnered with OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini to improve product discoverability, and has introduced its own AI shopping assistant, Sparky, which has led to a 35% increase in average order value for users [8][9] Competitive Landscape - The rivalry between Walmart and Amazon is intensifying as both companies adapt to changing consumer preferences and the rise of AI in retail [5] - Amazon's diverse revenue streams, including cloud computing and advertising, have contributed to its growth, with third-party seller services accounting for 24% of its total sales in 2025 [4] - Amazon has invested heavily in AI infrastructure, planning to spend up to $200 billion this year on AI initiatives, while also developing its own shopping assistant, Rufus, which has generated nearly $12 billion in incremental annualized sales [15][16]