Workflow
CNBC
icon
Search documents
The Fed has a rate cut plus a bunch of other things on its plate this week. Here's what to expect
CNBC· 2025-10-28 19:12
Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a 25 basis point interest rate cut, but faces challenges in determining future monetary policy direction due to differing opinions among policymakers and a lack of economic data [2][3][4]. Group 1: Interest Rate Decisions - Markets are pricing in a nearly 100% probability of a 25 basis point reduction in the federal funds rate, currently targeted between 4%-4.25% [2]. - There is a divergence of opinion among Federal Reserve officials regarding the timing and extent of future rate cuts, with some advocating for immediate cuts while others prefer a more cautious approach [4][7]. - Newly appointed Governor Stephen Miran is likely to support a larger cut, while other regional Presidents have shown reluctance to pursue further reductions [6][7]. Group 2: Labor Market Concerns - Concerns over the labor market are a significant factor driving the Fed's inclination to lower rates, despite a lack of recent data [11][15]. - The chief economist at Wilmington Trust anticipates multiple rate cuts in the coming months, potentially bringing the rate down to a neutral range of 2.75% to 3% [12]. - The Fed's focus on job market stability is heightened, even as inflation remains above the 2% target, with the annual inflation rate reported at 3% in September [15]. Group 3: Data Challenges - The ongoing government shutdown has resulted in a data blackout, complicating the Fed's ability to make informed policy decisions [16]. - The absence of key economic reports, such as the September nonfarm payrolls, adds uncertainty to the Fed's dual mandate of maximizing employment and maintaining price stability [16][17]. - The Fed is expected to communicate uncertainty regarding future policy paths, indicating readiness to adjust rates based on incoming data [17]. Group 4: Balance Sheet Management - The Fed is nearing the end of its quantitative tightening (QT) process, which involves reducing its $6.6 trillion balance sheet primarily composed of Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities [18][19]. - Recent statements from Chair Jerome Powell suggest that the Fed may soon signal the conclusion of QT, as financial conditions show signs of tightening [19][20]. - Market commentary is divided on whether the Fed will announce an immediate end to QT or indicate a future cessation date [19].
Lucid targets industry-first self-driving car technology with Nvidia
CNBC· 2025-10-28 18:30
Core Insights - Lucid Group aims to be the first automaker to offer advanced self-driving capabilities, referred to as "mind-off" driving, allowing vehicles to operate autonomously under normal conditions without human intervention [1][2] Group 1: Self-Driving Technology - The "mind-off" driving system will enable occupants to engage in activities like playing cards or watching TV while the vehicle drives itself [2] - Lucid plans to utilize Nvidia's "Drive AV" platform along with a multisensor suite, including cameras, radar, and lidar, to enhance the vehicle's perception of its environment [3] - The new self-driving system is expected to debut in the coming years, specifically in Lucid's upcoming midsize vehicle, with plans to expand to other models thereafter [4] Group 2: Strategic Partnerships and Development - The interim CEO of Lucid emphasized the importance of leveraging Nvidia's technology to expedite the development of the self-driving system, citing time to market and cost considerations as key factors [5] - Lucid will continue to enhance automated technologies in its existing models, the Air sedan and Gravity SUV, in collaboration with Nvidia [6]
Eli Lilly, Nvidia partner to build supercomputer, AI factory for drug discovery and development
CNBC· 2025-10-28 18:30
Core Insights - Eli Lilly and Nvidia are collaborating to create the pharmaceutical industry's most powerful supercomputer and AI factory to enhance drug discovery and development [1][2] - The partnership aims to reduce the time and costs associated with bringing new drugs to market, which typically takes about 10 years [2] - Eli Lilly expects the supercomputer and AI factory to be operational by January 2026, with significant benefits anticipated by 2030 [3] AI and Drug Discovery - The pharmaceutical industry's use of AI is still in its early stages, with no AI-designed drugs currently on the market, but there is progress in AI-discovered drugs entering clinical trials [4] - The supercomputer will utilize over 1,000 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra GPUs, creating a high-speed network to support AI model development for drug discovery [5] - Eli Lilly's Chief AI Officer described the supercomputer as a novel scientific instrument that will enable unprecedented scale in drug discovery [6] Opportunities and Platforms - The new tools will focus on discovering new molecules, which is seen as a significant opportunity for the industry [7] - Eli Lilly launched the Lilly TuneLab platform to provide biotech companies access to AI models trained on its proprietary research, valued at $1 billion [7][8] - The TuneLab platform employs federated learning, allowing companies to utilize AI models without directly sharing data [9] Precision Medicine - The company aims to support researchers with new AI agents and advanced medical imaging to develop new biomarkers for personalized care [10] - Precision medicine is a key goal, tailoring treatment based on individual genetic and lifestyle differences, which requires a robust AI infrastructure [11]
Jensen Huang says Nvidia's AI chips are now being manufactured in Arizona
CNBC· 2025-10-28 18:01
Core Insights - Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang announced that the company's fastest AI chips, Blackwell GPUs, are now in full production in Arizona, marking a shift from previous manufacturing solely in Taiwan [1][2] - The production move aligns with a request from former President Trump to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. for national security and job creation [2] - Nvidia expects $500 billion in GPU sales from the Blackwell generation and next year's Rubin chips combined, with 6 million Blackwell GPUs shipped in the last four quarters [5] Manufacturing and Partnerships - Nvidia's Blackwell-based systems will also be assembled in the U.S., emphasizing the company's role in the U.S. technology landscape [3] - A partnership with Nokia was announced, where Nvidia will invest $1 billion to build telecommunications gear, focusing on 5G and 6G technologies [6][7] - The collaboration aims to reduce reliance on foreign technologies, particularly from China's Huawei, which has faced restrictions in the U.S. [8] Technology and Innovation - Nvidia's new product, Nvidia ARC, will integrate its Grace GPU, Blackwell GPU, and networking components for future base stations [9] - The company is positioning itself as a leader in the U.S. AI infrastructure, with a focus on quantum computing advancements through partnerships with various startups and the Department of Energy [15][16] Market Challenges - Nvidia has faced significant challenges in the Chinese market, with the company currently "100% out of China" and no market share there due to U.S. export restrictions [14] - The U.S. government has imposed licensing requirements on Nvidia's H20 chip, which could have generated approximately $10.5 billion in sales over two quarters [12][13] - Despite receiving licenses for the H20 chip, Nvidia has not introduced a newer chip for the Chinese market based on the current Blackwell generation [14]
This investing move is the ‘holy grail of retirement planning,' advisor says
CNBC· 2025-10-28 17:07
Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for long-term investment and retirement planning, highlighting their tax benefits and the growing trend of investing HSA funds [1][6][4] HSA Overview - As of December 31, 2024, over 59 million Americans had an HSA, with the expansion of HSA eligibility due to recent legislative changes [3] - HSAs provide triple-tax benefits: contributions are tax-deductible, funds grow tax-free, and withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free [6] Investment Trends - Despite the tax advantages, most HSA participants do not invest their funds, with only 20% investing in 2024, an increase from 18% in 2023 [8] - Two-thirds of employers offered investment options for HSA contributions in 2024, but minimum balance requirements hinder participation [8][7] Retirement Costs - The average healthcare cost for a 65-year-old retiring in 2025 is projected to be $172,500, reflecting a more than 4% increase from 2024 [4] - The rising costs of medical expenses in retirement underscore the importance of utilizing HSAs for long-term savings [4]
San Francisco is making a comeback. So are these stocks from the City by the Bay
CNBC· 2025-10-28 16:36
Core Insights - The search for profitable stocks in San Francisco revealed unexpected results, with a focus on biotech and other sectors rather than solely A.I. related companies [1][2] Company Performance - Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) is the top performer, with a 150% increase in the past 90 days, focusing on treatments for dermatitis and Alopecia areata, with a bullish price target of $93.60 from analysts [5] - Sunrun (RUN), a solar power company, has doubled in value over three months, experiencing significant volatility, with shares fluctuating from $6 to above $20 [6] - The RealReal (REAL), a resale company for luxury items, is trading slightly above the median price target set by analysts, indicating potential caution for investors [7] - Planet Labs (PL), an 'earth intelligence' company, has seen its stock nearly double in a year, with sales more than doubling over the last four years, though it has experienced volatility [8] - Other notable companies include Fastly (FSLY), Maze Therapeutics (MAZE), Olema Pharmaceuticals (OLMA), Septerna (SEPN), and Cytokinetics (CYTK), all of which have performed well recently, particularly in the biotech sector [9]
GitHub unites OpenAI, Google and Anthropic AI agents in one place to bring 'order to the chaos'
CNBC· 2025-10-28 16:10
Thomas Dohmke, CEO of Microsoft-owned GitHub, speaks at the Collision conference in Toronto on June 27, 2023.Microsoft's GitHub unit on Tuesday announced Agent HQ, a new "mission control" interface that will allow software developers to manage coding agents from multiple vendors on a single platform. An artificial intelligence agent is a tool that can independently complete tasks on behalf of a user. Several companies, including GitHub, have built and released popular agents that are specifically designed f ...
Ray Dalio says a risky AI market bubble is forming, but may not pop until the Fed tightens
CNBC· 2025-10-28 15:54
Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio on Tuesday warned that a bubble could be forming around megacap technology in the U.S. amid the artificial intelligence boom, but said that it may not end until the Federal Reserve reverses its current easy policies."There's a lot of bubble stuff going on," Dalio told CNBC's Sara Eisen in an exclusive interview from the Future Investment Institute in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "But bubbles don't pop, really, until they are popped by tightness of monetary policy and so on. ...
Watch: Jensen Huang delivers keynote speech for Nvidia GTC
CNBC· 2025-10-28 15:51
[The stream is slated to start at 12 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.]Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will deliver a keynote speech from Washington at 12 p.m. ET Tuesday for the company's second GTC conference this year.Although the event is typically held in San Jose, California, Huang said during the keynote pregame that the conference was moved to the capital so that President Donald Trump could attend. Trump, however, was unable to attend due to his five-day Asian ...
Nvidia takes $1 billion stake in Nokia
CNBC· 2025-10-28 15:39
Core Viewpoint - Nvidia will purchase $1 billion in new Nokia shares, strengthening their partnership for developing cellular equipment and next-generation 6G technology [1] Group 1: Investment and Financials - Nvidia is set to acquire over 166 million new shares of Nokia as part of the $1 billion investment [1] - The proceeds from the share issuance will be utilized by Nokia to fund AI initiatives and other corporate purposes [1] Group 2: Company Background - Nokia, originally known for its early cell phones, has transitioned to primarily supplying 5G cellular equipment to telecom providers in recent years [2]