Core Viewpoint - President Trump is considering reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug, which could significantly impact the cannabis industry and research opportunities [1][6][10]. Industry Impact - Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug would ease the buying and selling of cannabis, potentially increasing profitability for the cannabis industry [6][7]. - The reclassification would lower barriers to research, allowing for more extensive studies on marijuana [2][6]. - Cannabis stocks surged following reports of Trump's consideration to ease federal restrictions on marijuana [9][12]. Legislative Context - The Biden administration had previously pursued reclassification but did not implement changes before Trump left office [15]. - Various bills have been introduced in Congress to lower marijuana's classification or decriminalize it, but none have been signed into law [15]. Public Sentiment and Political Commentary - Senator Ron Wyden criticized Trump for misleading the public regarding the legality of marijuana, emphasizing that reclassification does not equate to decriminalization [10][11].

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell outlined how the central bank is viewing the labor market after it cut interest rates last week for the third straight time, with a fresh jobs report due out on Tuesday. Powell spoke at a press conference after Federal Reserve policymakers voted to lower the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, amid signs of a weakening labor market and emerging risks to the half of the Fed's dual mandate that focuses on promoting maximum employment ...

Traders on the prediction market platform Kalshi place the odds of President Donald Trump selecting Kevin Warsh to succeed Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at 42%, a 27 percentage point increase this week. Kevin Hassett remains the frontrunner to lead the world’s most powerful central bank, holding a 50% chance despite a 20-point drop.The trading volume, or the total dollar amount wagered on this market, is a little over $10.2 million. TRUMP SAYS HE’S CHOSEN NEXT FED CHAIR AS AFFORDABILITY PRESSURES R ...

Group 1 - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell aims to leave the economy in good shape before his term ends in May 2026, focusing on controlling inflation and maintaining a strong labor market [1][2][4] - Powell has not indicated whether he will remain on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors after his term, emphasizing his focus on his current responsibilities [4] - The question of succession is significant as President Trump considers potential candidates for the next Fed chair, with Kevin Warsh and Kevin Hassett being the leading options [6][8] Group 2 - Trump expressed his desire for the next Fed chair to be honest about interest rates, stating that the U.S. should have the lowest rates in the world [8]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount and Netflix are both pursuing the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, but they are likely to encounter significant antitrust challenges that may require adjustments to their plans to satisfy regulatory bodies [1][3]. Acquisition Details - Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to sell its film and television studios and HBO Max to Netflix in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $27.75 per share [2]. - Paramount has made an all-cash tender offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $30.00 per share, claiming it to be a "superior" offer [2]. Antitrust Considerations - Scott Wagner, an antitrust expert, indicates that both Paramount and Netflix will face considerable regulatory scrutiny due to their market shares in the streaming sector [3][5]. - Paramount's acquisition would include the entirety of Warner Bros. Discovery, including CNN and other cable assets, while Netflix is only interested in the studio and streaming divisions [5]. Market Share Implications - Paramount's control over both CBS News and CNN would significantly enhance its position in traditional media, although newer media outlets may also be considered in market evaluations [6]. - Wagner suggests that the relevant market for antitrust considerations may extend beyond legacy media to include broader media platforms [9]. Regulatory Approval Timeline - The approval process for such a merger typically takes one to two years, followed by an additional period to finalize the deal if approved [14]. - Regulatory scrutiny will not be limited to the U.S.; the EU and other jurisdictions will also evaluate the acquisition, potentially requiring changes or divestitures [15].

President Donald Trump said Friday that he is focusing on two candidates to chair the Federal Reserve next year, with former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett the leading contenders. Trump was interviewed by The Wall Street Journal and said that Warsh is at the top of the list, adding that he and Hassett are at the forefront of the decision."Yes, I think he is. I think you have Kevin and Kevin. They're both – I think the two Kevins are great," Trump said. "I think ...

President Donald Trump is touting improvements in mortgage costs since he took office as he looks to address Americans' concerns about affordability amid persistent inflation in the economy. Trump spoke at a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday and blamed the Biden administration for high housing costs, saying that "America is winning again" because of his policies. The president also displayed a chart showing that annual total mortgage payments increased over $14,600 during former President Joe Biden's term, wh ...

Lululemon Athletica Inc. announced Thursday that CEO Calvin McDonald is stepping down early next year as the brand struggles to compete in the highly competitive sector. McDonald will step down on Jan. 31, 2026, but will continue to serve as a senior advisor to the company through March 31. Lululemon Chief Financial Officer Meghan Frank and Chief Commercial Officer André Maestrini will serve as interim co-CEOs as the board of directors looks for McDonald's replacement. The company said Frank and Maestrini h ...

Core Insights - Instacart is implementing AI-enabled pricing experiments that result in significant price discrepancies for identical products among different customers, with differences reaching up to 23% [1][2][6] Pricing Discrepancies - A family could potentially pay an additional $1,200 annually for groceries due to these pricing differences, exacerbating the grocery affordability crisis [2] - The pricing experiments are part of Instacart's strategy to help retail partners understand consumer preferences and identify areas for price adjustments [6][11] Research Methodology - The investigation involved simultaneous online shopping sessions with hundreds of volunteers across major grocery retailers, including Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Target [4][6] - Volunteers compared prices for the same grocery items, and the data was analyzed to calculate average price differences [6] Company Responses - Instacart acknowledged the pricing tests but emphasized that they are short-term and randomized, aimed at understanding consumer preferences [6][12] - The company clarified that these pricing variations are not based on personal characteristics or supply and demand factors [12] Retailer Involvement - Target stated it is not affiliated with Instacart and does not control prices on the platform, while Instacart uses Target's publicly available prices as a baseline [8] - Instacart mentioned that it has concluded its pricing tests on the Target storefront during the review period [9]

Core Insights - The housing sector is facing ongoing challenges, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicating that interest rate cuts are unlikely to significantly improve inventory and affordability issues [1][2][5] - Powell emphasized that the primary issues affecting the housing market are low supply and high mortgage rates, which are not directly influenced by the Fed's monetary policy [5][9][13] Interest Rate Cuts - The Federal Reserve has cut the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points for the third consecutive meeting, but Powell expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these cuts in addressing housing market weaknesses [1][3][9] - The Fed's "dot plot" projections suggest only one additional rate cut in 2026, indicating a cautious approach moving forward [10] Housing Supply and Demand - Powell noted a long-standing shortage of housing supply in the U.S., stating that more diverse housing options are needed to meet demand [6][9] - Many homeowners are reluctant to sell due to having low-rate mortgages from the pandemic, which contributes to the ongoing supply constraints [5][13] Market Dynamics - The housing market has seen a significant increase in delistings, with a 38% rise in October compared to the previous year and a 45% increase in delistings for 2025 to date compared to 2024 [14][15] - Approximately 6% of listings have been removed from the market each month since June, marking 2025 as the year with the highest delisting rate since tracking began in 2022 [16]