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Strategy slides after bitcoin briefly dips below crypto firm's key breakeven level
CNBC· 2026-02-02 15:19
Michael Saylor, chairman of MicroStrategy, speaks at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 26, 2024.Strategy plunged 8% on Monday after bitcoin dipped below the cryptocurrency treasury company's average purchase price per token.  Bitcoin traded at about $74,500 at its bottom on Monday – its lowest price since last April.That's slightly below Strategy's average purchase price of $76,052 per bitcoin, according to its regulatory filing dated Feb. 2, raising concerns that the Michael Sayl ...
Disney signals its next CEO will take over a company with strong momentum
CNBC· 2026-02-02 15:17
Core Insights - Disney is preparing for a leadership transition as CEO Bob Iger is set to name his successor, with the company positioned for growth and momentum [1][3] - Iger expressed pride in the company's achievements over the past three years and emphasized the importance of preparing for future opportunities [2][4] - The Disney board is expected to vote on the next CEO soon, with an announcement anticipated in the first quarter of the year [3] Financial Performance - Disney exceeded Wall Street expectations for revenue and earnings in its fiscal first quarter [4] - The experiences division, which includes theme parks, resorts, and cruises, achieved over $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time [5] Leadership Context - Iger returned as CEO in late 2022 after a previous succession plan with Bob Chapek failed, leading to significant changes being reversed [2] - Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, is considered a frontrunner for the CEO position [5] Future Outlook - The company is focused on not only fixing past issues but also on creating opportunities for future growth [4]
The metal sell-off, Disney earnings, the 'Melania' movie and more in Morning Squawk
CNBC· 2026-02-02 13:18
分组1 - Gold prices continued to rise as investors sought safety amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties, with silver nearing $120 [2] - Disney reported better-than-expected earnings in its first fiscal quarter, with its experiences division generating $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time [2][3] - The entertainment industry is anticipating the announcement of Disney's new CEO, with the board expected to vote on the successor this week [3] 分组2 - The government partially shut down due to Congress's failure to pass a funding bill, with the House expected to address the Senate-approved spending package [4][5] - Food producers are restructuring by splitting or divesting underperforming businesses in response to regulatory scrutiny and declining consumer demand for processed goods [8] - A Bain survey indicated that 42% of merger-and-acquisition executives in the consumer product sector are preparing to sell assets within the next three years [9] 分组3 - Amazon's documentary "Melania" achieved $7 million at the domestic box office in its debut, marking the highest-grossing opening for a non-music documentary in over a decade [10] - The film's audience was primarily women and individuals over 55, who together accounted for more than 70% of ticket sales [11] - Amazon invested an estimated $40 million to acquire the film and an additional $35 million on marketing, despite mixed critical reviews [11]
Family offices brace for higher inflation with real estate and alternative investments
CNBC· 2026-02-02 13:00
Group 1: Investment Strategies - Many family offices are shifting towards real estate and alternative investments, particularly private equity and hedge funds, to protect their portfolios against inflation [1][3] - U.S. family offices reported holding 40% of their investments in public equities, while 34% are in private investments, including private equity, venture capital, private credit, and real estate [5] Group 2: Concerns and Risks - A significant number of family offices are concerned about inflation and geopolitical risks, with 64% citing interest rates and 61% citing inflation as major risks to their portfolios [2] - Nearly three-quarters (72%) of family offices surveyed reported having no exposure to gold, indicating a reluctance to invest in gold despite its recent price surge [6][7] Group 3: Focus on Technology - Artificial intelligence (AI) is a prominent investment theme for family offices, with 65% including AI in their portfolios or prioritizing it for future investments [4] - There is a strong belief among family offices that AI should be a central part of their investment strategy, although there are concerns about concentration risk [6] Group 4: Cash Management - Family offices are maintaining large amounts of cash and cash equivalents, with some holding cash to prepare for potential downturns and to capitalize on opportunistic investments if asset prices decline [8] - Concerns about inflation are leading some family offices to prefer holding cash, as higher rates could result from inflationary pressures [9]
Nvidia shares are down 2% after a report that its OpenAI investment stalled. Here's what's happening
CNBC· 2026-02-02 11:45
Group 1 - Nvidia's stock fell by 1.8% in premarket trading due to uncertainty surrounding a $100 billion investment deal with OpenAI [2] - The agreement announced in September included plans to build at least 10 gigawatts of computing power for OpenAI [2] - Jensen Huang indicated that the $100 billion investment was non-binding and not finalized, expressing concerns about OpenAI's business strategy and competition from other firms [3] Group 2 - Reports from insiders suggest that there is uncertainty regarding the deal between Nvidia and OpenAI [2] - Huang's criticism of OpenAI's business strategy reflects broader concerns within the industry about competition from companies like Alphabet's Google and Anthropic [3]
From PopMart to JD.com: Britain and China rush to forge business deals as diplomatic thaw takes hold
CNBC· 2026-02-02 11:20
Investment and Partnerships - Chinese businesses have pledged hundreds of millions of pounds in investments in the U.K. during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit, leading to significant bilateral business activity [2][3] - Starmer's visit resulted in £2.2 billion ($3 billion) worth of exports and £2.3 billion in market access for British businesses [3] - Pop Mart plans to establish a regional headquarters in London and open 27 new stores across Europe, creating over 150 jobs in the U.K. [8] - Chery Commercial Vehicles intends to set up a regional headquarters in Liverpool, potentially partnering with Jaguar Land Rover [8] - Asymchem is planning a major expansion in the U.K., adding 150 jobs in advanced research and development over the next five years [9] - HiTHIUM has pledged to invest £200 million in the U.K. and create 300 jobs, focusing on energy storage technologies [10] Market Access and E-commerce - The U.K.-China agreement includes promises from Beijing to broaden access for British businesses into the Chinese consumer market [12] - JD.com will assist British brands in selling to Chinese consumers and will launch its online retail platform Joybuy in the U.K. [13] - British companies have reported a deteriorating business environment in China, but a third of respondents plan to increase investments, particularly in operations and partnerships [14][15] Industry-Specific Developments - AstraZeneca announced a $15 billion investment in China to expand local R&D capabilities and increase its workforce [11] - British asset manager Schroders signed a memorandum with CATL to develop battery energy storage systems in Europe [11] - Birmingham Biotech expects around £20 million in sales in China as it scales its operations [16] - Octopus Energy Group plans to form a joint venture with China's PCG Power to trade renewable energy [17]
Bitcoin is under pressure after a brutal week. Here's why
CNBC· 2026-02-02 10:48
Market Overview - Bitcoin was trading at $77,494.65, having fallen as low as $74,876, marking a decline of about 12% over the last seven days, which equates to a loss of more than $200 billion in market value [1] - This decline represents Bitcoin falling below $80,000 for the first time since April 2025 [1] Market Dynamics - The recent drawdown in Bitcoin's price coincided with a broader risk-off sentiment across global markets, influenced by thin weekend liquidity rather than specific crypto developments [2] - U.S. stocks, particularly in the tech sector, experienced declines, with Microsoft shares dropping 10% following disappointing earnings, which contributed to the negative sentiment [2] Global Impact - The negativity from the U.S. market extended to European and Asian stock markets, with gold and silver also experiencing losses [3] - Silver saw a significant drop of 30%, marking its worst day since March 1980 [3] Liquidation Effects - Bitcoin's price decline was exacerbated by forced liquidations, with over $2 billion in long and short positions liquidated since Thursday [3][4] - Liquidations can create a cascading effect in crypto markets, leading to rapid price declines as traders' positions are closed [4] Investor Sentiment - Digital asset investment products recorded outflows totaling $1.7 billion for the second consecutive week, with year-to-date outflows reaching $1 billion, indicating a deterioration in investor sentiment towards cryptocurrencies [5] - Analysts suggest that the recent selloff in Bitcoin is driven by rising geopolitical risks, declines in tech equities, and a breakdown in precious metals, which have been considered safe-haven assets [6]
Oracle dips 3% after announcing $50 billion fundraising plans. Here's why
CNBC· 2026-02-02 10:21
Core Viewpoint - The hyperscaler industry is experiencing a surge in data center investments, with Oracle planning to raise up to $50 billion to expand its capacity amid a competitive AI infrastructure landscape [1][3]. Group 1: Investment Plans - Oracle intends to raise between $45 billion and $50 billion in gross cash proceeds during the 2026 calendar year to meet the demand from cloud customers such as Nvidia, Meta, OpenAI, AMD, TikTok, and xAI [3]. - The funding will be sourced through a combination of debt and equity [3]. - Oracle has previously raised $18 billion in a bond sale and secured a $300 billion deal with OpenAI, indicating its commitment to AI infrastructure [4]. Group 2: Layoff Considerations - An analyst note indicated that Oracle is contemplating laying off between 20,000 to 30,000 employees, which could generate an additional $8 billion to $10 billion in free cash flow [2]. - Layoffs are considered one of several strategies to improve cash flow, alongside asset divestitures and vendor financing [4]. Group 3: Stock Performance and Investor Sentiment - Oracle's stock has declined by 50% since its peak in September, with an 11% drop following disappointing quarterly results in December [5]. - Concerns have been raised regarding Oracle's aggressive investment in AI and the associated debt, leading to investor dismay [6]. - The current investment strategy is seen as a high-stakes gamble, with analysts suggesting that investors must choose to either support or divest from these stocks [6].
How to trade the market spiral as investors dump gold, silver and oil
CNBC· 2026-02-02 10:06
Core Viewpoint - Precious metals and oil prices are experiencing significant losses, primarily triggered by U.S. President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as the successor to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell [1][11]. Precious Metals Market - Spot gold prices fell 3.2% to $4,713.39 per ounce, following a historic drop of over 9% on Friday, marking the sharpest one-day decline since 1983 [2]. - Spot silver prices decreased by 2.7% to $82.29 per ounce, having dropped over 31% on Friday, which is its worst daily performance since 1980 [2]. - Analysts suggest that the recent downturn in precious metals is part of a broader market decline, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 index reflecting losses from Asia-Pacific markets [3]. Investment Strategies - JPMorgan's global investment strategist, Grace Peters, emphasizes the importance of geopolitical hedges and safe-haven assets, asserting that gold remains the best geopolitical hedge [4]. - Peters maintains a forecast of $6,500 per ounce for gold by year-end, driven by factors such as central bank buying and institutional investor support [5]. - The current allocation of gold in institutional and retail portfolios is around 3%, indicating potential for increased investment in gold [8]. Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - The sell-off in precious metals began due to fears regarding the Federal Reserve's independence and expectations of a declining U.S. dollar [10]. - The nomination of Warsh has led to a reevaluation among investors, as he has advocated for reducing the Fed's balance sheet, creating uncertainty in the market [11][12]. - Some analysts view the recent sell-off as a "healthy correction," suggesting that prices may stabilize and recover in the coming months, with expectations of gold reaching $5,020 per ounce and silver at $88 per ounce by year-end [15][16]. Oil Market - Oil prices also declined, with Brent crude futures falling 5% to $65.88 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures down 5.3% to $61.76, marking the steepest single-session decline in over six months [18]. - The decline in oil prices is attributed to signals of de-escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions, as President Trump indicated that the two nations are "seriously talking" [17].
From Clawdbot to Moltbot to OpenClaw: Meet the AI agent driving buzz and fear globally
CNBC· 2026-02-02 09:43
Core Insights - OpenClaw has rapidly gained attention as a leading open-source AI agent, previously known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, launched by Peter Steinberger [1][2] - The rise of OpenClaw reflects a growing interest in AI agents capable of autonomously completing tasks and making decisions without constant human oversight [2][3] Functionality and Features - OpenClaw is designed to automate various tasks such as managing emails, calendars, and web browsing, requiring installation on a server or local device and integration with large language models [4] - It features "persistent memory," allowing it to recall past interactions and adapt to user habits for personalized functions, and is open-sourced for developer modifications [6] Adoption and Market Impact - The open-source nature of OpenClaw has facilitated its adoption, with over 145,000 GitHub stars and 20,000 forks, indicating significant developer interest [7] - Initial adoption was strong in Silicon Valley, with expansion into China, where major AI companies are integrating OpenClaw into their services [9][10] User Experience and Perspectives - Early users report significant time savings on routine tasks, with some experts suggesting it could lead to AI agents managing entire companies [3][12] - However, there are concerns regarding its complex installation and high computational demands, with some experts labeling it as overhyped [11] Security Concerns - Security experts have raised alarms about potential risks associated with OpenClaw, including access to private data and the ability to execute commands that could lead to data leaks [13][14] Related Developments - The launch of Moltbook, a social network for AI agents, has generated buzz and debate about the future of AI autonomy and human-AI interactions [15][16] - Discussions around Moltbook have influenced public perception of AI agents, with some viewing it as a significant step towards AI autonomy [17][18]