Apple CEO Tim Cook joins Apple employees at the Apple store as customers line up for the release of Apple new iPhone 17 models in New York on Sept. 19, 2025.Apple has acquired Israeli artificial intelligence startup Q.ai, a company representative confirmed on Thursday. No purchase price was disclosed.Q.ai was secretive and had not publicly shared a product, but its website suggests it was working on something related to audio. The startup was led by CEO Aviad Maizels, who previously sold PrimeSense to Apple ...

Core Viewpoint - American Airlines is set to resume flights to Venezuela for the first time since 2019, marking a significant development in U.S. airline operations in the region following recent political changes [1]. Group 1: Company Actions - American Airlines will be the first U.S. airline to restart services to Venezuela, which had been isolated due to previous airline service cuts amid unrest [1]. - The airline plans to provide more details about its return to service in the coming months, as it collaborates with federal authorities for necessary permissions and security assessments [2]. Group 2: Industry Context - Prior to American Airlines' announcement, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines had suspended their services to Venezuela since 2017 and did not provide immediate comments regarding the situation [3].

Apple CEO Tim Cook gestures as he departs after a business leaders reception with the US President on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2026.Apple reported fiscal first-quarter earnings on Thursday that surpassed expectations, with revenue soaring 16% on an annual basis.  Shares of the company were up as much as 3% in extended trading. Here are the results versus what Wall Street was expecting according to LSEG consensus estimates for the quarter ending i ...

Core Viewpoint - Waymo's driverless vehicle was involved in an incident where it struck a child near an elementary school, prompting an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [1][2]. Incident Details - The collision occurred on January 23, within two blocks of an elementary school during school drop-off hours, with other children and a crossing guard present [2]. - The child ran across the street from behind a double-parked SUV and sustained minor injuries [1][2]. Investigation Focus - NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigations will evaluate whether the Waymo vehicle exercised appropriate caution given its location and the presence of young pedestrians during school hours [3]. - The investigation will analyze the intended behavior of Waymo's driverless vehicles in school zones, particularly during pick-up and drop-off times, as well as the company's response after the incident [3]. Waymo's Response - Waymo stated that their technology detected the child as they emerged from behind a stopped vehicle, and the vehicle braked hard, reducing its speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact [4].

Industry Overview - Software stocks are experiencing a significant sell-off, with the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) dropping approximately 5% in morning trading, marking its largest one-day decline since last April [2] - The ETF is now down about 21% from its recent high, indicating that the software industry has entered bear-market territory [2] Company Performance - ServiceNow reported fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations, yet its shares fell more than 11% on the day of the announcement [2] - Analysts from Morgan Stanley commented that while ServiceNow's performance was good, it was not sufficient to change the negative narrative surrounding incumbent application vendors [3] Market Sentiment - Investor concerns regarding the potential impact of artificial intelligence on traditional software business models are overshadowing positive earnings reports [3] - The sell-off has also affected major tech companies, with Microsoft experiencing a 10% decline after reporting a slowdown in cloud growth and providing softer-than-expected guidance for operating margins [4]

Core Viewpoint - The earnings season highlights contrasting performances of major companies in the AI sector, with Meta Platforms benefiting from AI investments while Microsoft faces challenges in justifying its spending [1]. Group 1: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms' shares surged by 8% following strong guidance and plans to invest between $115 billion and $135 billion in AI this year, nearly doubling its spending from 2025 [2]. - The company reported a 24% year-over-year revenue growth, primarily driven by online advertising, alleviating previous investor concerns regarding its ambitious spending [3]. - CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicated that the investments would support the development of new products and the mission of "building personal super intelligence" [3]. Group 2: Microsoft - Microsoft shares declined as the company struggled to justify its recent spending plans to investors and reported a slowdown in its cloud segment [1].

Core Insights - Starbucks is reintroducing a tiered loyalty program in North America to encourage more frequent visits from coffee drinkers as part of its broader turnaround strategy [1] - The loyalty program, Starbucks Rewards, has been a significant contributor to the company's revenue, accounting for 60% of total revenue in fiscal 2025 [2] - The previous two-tiered system was eliminated in 2019 to engage new members, but the company now believes it did not adequately reward its most loyal customers [3] Company Strategy - The tiered loyalty program will be reintroduced on March 10, featuring three levels to better reward frequent customers [4] - The company aims to balance enticing rewards for members while maintaining profit margins [3] - Executives are sharing plans to drive future sales growth and profitability, emphasizing the importance of the loyalty program [1]

Core Viewpoint - General Motors (GM) is successfully navigating challenges in the automotive industry, achieving record stock prices and strong financial performance despite market headwinds [2][4]. Financial Performance - GM's 2025 results led to a new record high for its stock, with a projected 20% increase in dividends and a new $6 billion stock buyback authorization [2]. - Shares of GM have increased by over 70% in the past year, with analysts raising price targets, including a 10% increase to $122 per share by TD Cowen [4]. Competitive Positioning - GM is attracting more investor interest compared to its peers, such as Ford and Stellantis, due to its strong execution, resilience, and high earnings quality [3][4]. - Analysts highlight GM's superior earnings performance and capital execution relative to Ford, which has seen a 35% increase in shares but has lower adjusted earnings forecasts [6]. Analyst Ratings - Analysts rate GM as "Overweight" due to its best-in-class execution among North American auto OEMs, consistent management, and strong product portfolio that supports above-industry pricing and margins [5].

Core Viewpoint - Crude oil prices increased over 2% due to rising tensions involving potential U.S. military strikes on Iran, an OPEC member, which could disrupt crude supplies in the region [1][2]. Group 1: Oil Price Movement - U.S. crude oil rose by $1.56, or 2.5%, reaching $64.77 per barrel [1] - Global benchmark Brent crude increased by $1.59, or 2.3%, to $69.99 per barrel [1] Group 2: U.S. Military Actions - President Trump is considering targeted military strikes on Iranian security forces to encourage anti-government protests and potentially facilitate regime change [1] - The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has been deployed to the Middle East as a warning to Iran regarding its nuclear program [2] Group 3: Iranian Unrest - Iran has initiated a security crackdown to suppress protests, resulting in thousands of deaths [2] - The oil market is closely observing the situation, as unrest and possible U.S. intervention could lead to supply disruptions [2]

分组1 - U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's press conference revealed limited insights, with stock futures showing little change and major indexes posting modest gains [1][2] - Meta's shares rose over 8% after beating fourth-quarter earnings expectations and providing strong sales guidance, although its Reality Labs unit reported a wider operating loss of $6.02 billion compared to the expected $5.67 billion [2][3] - Microsoft shares fell 7% despite surpassing Wall Street predictions, attributed to cooling cloud growth and light operating margin guidance [4] 分组2 - Tesla reported stronger-than-expected earnings and revenue for the fourth quarter, leading to a 2% increase in shares, but also noted its first full-year sales decline on record [5][6] - CEO Elon Musk announced the discontinuation of Model S and X production, reallocating resources to build Optimus humanoid robots, and Tesla plans to invest around $2 billion in xAI, a startup competing with OpenAI [6][7] 分组3 - The U.S. dollar index regained some ground after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied intervention reports, despite the index falling over 10% in the past year, leading some to view the dollar as being in a bear market [9][11] - JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo committed to matching the U.S. government's contribution to tax-advantaged savings accounts for children, with additional support from Altimeter Capital and rapper Nicki Minaj [12][13][14]