OpenAI's artificial intelligence models could help power Amazon's digital assistant Alexa and other internal projects at the e-commerce giant, CNBC confirmed on Wednesday. The collaboration between the two companies is being discussed in tandem with Amazon's ongoing talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, according to a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the details are confidential. OpenAI could also use Amazon's AI chips and compute as part of the deal, the person said. ...

Core Viewpoint - Hedge funds are significantly increasing their short positions against software stocks, leading to a substantial decline in the sector, with a total market value loss of $1 trillion this year [1][3]. Group 1: Hedge Fund Activity - Hedge funds have realized a $24 billion profit from shorting software stocks in 2026 [1]. - Analysts indicate that hedge funds are currently net short on software stocks, reflecting a bearish sentiment in the industry [4]. Group 2: Market Performance - The iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (IGV) has experienced an 8% drop this week, contributing to a year-to-date loss exceeding 21% [3]. - Since reaching its all-time high in September of the previous year, the ETF has declined by 30% [3]. Group 3: Focus of Short Selling - The primary targets for short selling are companies offering basic automation services that can be easily replicated by emerging AI technologies [2].

Core Viewpoint - Crude oil prices increased approximately 3% following reports of a potential collapse in planned talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding nuclear negotiations [1][2]. Group 1: Oil Price Movement - U.S. crude oil rose by $1.80, or 2.9%, reaching $65.01 per barrel [1] - Global benchmark Brent increased by $1.88, or 2.8%, to $69.21 per barrel [1]. Group 2: Negotiation Details - The U.S. and Iran had initially agreed to meet in Istanbul with other Middle Eastern countries as observers, but Iran proposed a change to a bilateral meeting in Oman, which the U.S. ultimately rejected [2]. - The breakdown in talks follows recent military tensions, including the U.S. shooting down an Iranian drone and Iranian gunboats attempting to board a U.S. merchant vessel [3]. Group 3: Potential for Future Talks - There remains a possibility for talks to occur this week or next if Iran agrees to the original meeting format in Istanbul [3].

Market Overview - Stocks are facing pressure due to fears that AI disruption may negatively impact traditional enterprise software companies, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq down 1% and 2% respectively [1] - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares fell over 16% despite reporting a beat and raise, indicating that the market expected even stronger guidance [1] - Eli Lilly shares rose nearly 10% following a significant earnings beat and raise, with further analysis to be released [1] Sector Rotation - The rotation away from technology stocks is benefiting industrials, with Eaton experiencing volatility but closing nearly 1% higher after a mixed fourth quarter and light guidance [1] - Dover, another industrial stock, saw shares increase nearly 3% due to the same rotation [1] Company-Specific Updates - GE Vernova shares dropped 7.5% to around $722 despite an upgrade from Baird to outperform, with a new price target set at $923, up from $701 [1] - Analysts at Baird noted that concerns about overcapacity are not immediate, and the energy infrastructure cycle is still in early stages [1] - GE Vernova was upgraded to a buy-equivalent rating after solid earnings, with a reiterated price target of $800 based on confidence in its power and electrification businesses [1] Additional Stocks Covered - Other stocks mentioned include Advanced Micro Devices, Chipotle, Uber, Amgen, and Five Below, indicating a broad market interest [1]

The Microsoft logo and lettering can be seen on the Microsoft Deutschland GmbH headquarters building in Parkstadt Schwabing in Munich.Microsoft said Wednesday that top security leader Charlie Bell will take on a new role and that Hayete Gallot will return to the company to run security after a stint at Google.Bell joined Microsoft in 2021 after 23 years at Amazon, where he played a key management role inside Amazon Web Services. He was seen as a candidate to become CEO of AWS, but Amazon picked former execu ...

A 'help wanted' advertisement is displayed in Manhattan on Jan. 9, 2026, in New York City.The January jobs report delayed by the brief government shutdown will be released next week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday.The closely watched report now will come out Feb. 11, five days later than its original release date, according to a revised schedule.In addition, the BLS will release the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey on Thursday, after it originally had been scheduled for Tuesday. There a ...

Core Insights - ElevenLabs has raised $500 million at an $11 billion valuation, significantly increasing from its previous valuation of $3.3 billion after a $180 million Series C round in January 2025 [1] - The funding round was led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from existing investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Iconiq, as well as new investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Evantic Capital, and Bond [1] Company Overview - Founded in 2022, ElevenLabs is a London-based AI startup that initially focused on AI text-to-speech models and has since expanded into speech-to-text, sound effects, dubbing, music, and conversation [2] - The company provides products that enable enterprises to deploy voice and chat agents, along with a platform for brands and creators to generate and localize audio, with notable clients including Time and Nvidia [2] Financial Performance - ElevenLabs reported over $330 million in annual recurring revenue for 2025, driven by enterprise adoption from companies such as Deutsche Telekom and Revolut [3] - The recent funding is aimed at enhancing the company's capabilities beyond voice technology, with aspirations for an IPO [3] Future Plans - The company intends to broaden its offerings to creators, allowing businesses to develop agents that can talk, type, and take action [4] - ElevenLabs plans to continue its international expansion, with offices in Europe, Brazil, Mexico, India, South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. [4]

Core Viewpoint - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Lisa Su defended the company's forecast, indicating a recent increase in demand for chips, particularly in the AI sector, despite a significant drop in share price [1][2] Group 1: Demand and Performance - AMD has experienced a notable increase in demand over the last two to three months, particularly in its datacenter business [1] - The demand for AMD's central processing units (CPUs) is described as "going gangbusters," driven by businesses rapidly increasing compute capabilities for AI enterprise work [2] - The company's fourth-quarter results exceeded Wall Street expectations, although the outlook was perceived as weak by some analysts [2]

Core Insights - Rivian is facing challenges including the end of federal support for EVs, increased hybrid vehicle sales, and significant cash burn rates, but the CEO emphasizes that the situation is more complex than it appears [1] Vehicle Performance and Features - The R1 model is the best-selling premium electric SUV in the U.S. and has also been a top seller in California, with the R1S starting at nearly $80,000 [2] - The upcoming R2 model is designed to be a more affordable option, targeting the midsize, mid-price SUV EV market, with a starting price of $45,000 [9] - The R2 features a familiar design language, five seats, and is described as agile and capable of off-road driving, though not as extreme as the R1 [3][4][6] Cost Structure and Manufacturing - Rivian has significantly reduced the number of computing units in its vehicles from over 60 in traditional cars to seven in the R2, which has also led to a reduction in wiring length by 2 miles [7] - The company has achieved a dramatic reduction in the cost structure, enabling a ramp-up in production volume while maintaining a focus on quality and customer satisfaction [8][9] Market Outlook and Financials - Analysts are divided on Rivian's ability to compete with Tesla, with expectations of selling around 15,000 R2 units in 2026, although some believe this number could be exceeded [10] - Rivian burned through $3 billion in cash in the first three quarters of 2025, with projections of burning $5 billion in 2026, but has secured a $5 billion deal with Volkswagen that could bring in an additional $2 billion [11][12] - The company aims to capture significant market share with the R2, similar to the R1, which could lead to production challenges if demand exceeds supply [13]

Core Insights - Amazon has officially launched Alexa+ for all U.S. consumers, nearly a year after its initial preview release [1] - Alexa+ is an enhanced version of the original Alexa, capable of handling multiple queries simultaneously and performing tasks like booking services [2] Pricing and Access - Starting Wednesday, Amazon will charge $19.99 per month for Alexa+ access, while Prime members can use the service for free [2] - A free trial of Alexa+ is available through a dedicated website and app, but usage will be limited [2]