Core Insights - Used car pricing is experiencing seasonal movements with significant changes in hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs) as of early 2026 [2][4] - The December 2025 data indicates a reset in pricing dynamics for hybrids and EVs, driven by demand shifts and supply changes rather than just seasonal factors [3][10] Pricing Dynamics - December is historically a volatile month for used car pricing due to dealers' calendar-driven sales goals, leading to increased negotiation flexibility for buyers [5][6] - Hybrids and EVs saw the largest price declines among used vehicles in December, indicating a broader market adjustment rather than typical seasonal changes [7][10] Demand and Supply Factors - The end of tax incentives for clean vehicles after September 30, 2025, led to a decrease in buyer urgency, resulting in softened demand and less pricing power for dealers [8][9] - The used hybrid and EV market is expected to remain competitively priced in 2026 due to the absence of incentive-driven demand and increasing inventory [10][12] Year-over-Year Trends - Despite a decline in December, used hybrid and EV prices were still up 2.1% year-over-year, although this increase lagged behind overall inflation of approximately 2.7% in 2025 [11]

Key Takeaways Investor activity in the housing market can make it more difficult for ordinary homebuyers to compete for homes. President Donald Trump provided the first details of his plan for "aggressive†reforms to the housing market on Wednesday. Trump wrote in a social media post that he is taking steps to ban large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. He also said he is asking Congress to write it into law. "People live in homes, not corporations,†he wrote. Why This Matters for t ...

Once a borrower defaults, their entire loan balance, including both principal and interest, becomes immediately due. Wage garnishments will continue until the total loan balance is paid off or the borrower takes action to bring the account up to date. In addition, once defaulted, a borrower can no longer pause their payments through deferment or forbearance. Why This Matters Wage garnishment can reduce take-home pay by up to 15%, making already tight household budgets harder to manage. For borrowers in defa ...

Core Insights - The U.S. plans significant changes for Venezuela's oil industry following the ousting of its president, with U.S. companies likely to benefit from the situation [2] - Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that the U.S. will control Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely, redirecting proceeds to American banks and easing sanctions that have limited the country's crude exports [2] Companies Positioned for Gains - Chevron (CVX) is the only major U.S. oil company still operating in Venezuela, managing joint ventures that account for about 25% of the country's oil output, producing approximately 140,000 barrels per day [7][10] - ConocoPhillips (COP) and Exxon Mobil (XOM) could potentially return to Venezuela to recover up to $12 billion and $1.4 billion in outstanding claims for expropriated assets [8] - Halliburton (HAL) and SLB (SLB) are positioned to benefit from reconstruction contracts due to the need for significant investment in Venezuela's aging oil infrastructure, estimated to cost at least $100 billion over a decade [9][10] Refiners Capable of Processing Venezuelan Heavy Crude - Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) operates 15 refineries with a capacity to process 3.2 million barrels per day of heavy crude, making it well-suited for Venezuelan oil [11] - Phillips 66 (PSX) has refineries in Louisiana and Texas capable of processing hundreds of thousands of barrels per day of Venezuelan grades, although full potential realization may take years [12] - Marathon Petroleum (MPC) has the largest heavy crude processor in the region, with analysts estimating it could capture 20% to 30% of any increased Venezuelan oil flows [13] Economic Considerations - The current oil price range of $57–$60 per barrel poses challenges for investment in Venezuela, with estimates suggesting it would cost $53 billion to maintain production levels of just under 1 million barrels per day over the next 15 years [14][15] - New projects in Venezuela require oil prices around $80 per barrel to be profitable, making investment less attractive compared to other regions with lower breakeven costs [15]

For Trump, meanwhile, it's the latest addition to the list of public-company matters—he also on Wednesday tackled executive compensation—over which the White House would like greater control. (He separately today also suggested a ban on large investor purchases of homes.) WHY THIS MATTERS TO YOU The Trump administration's direct involvement in the affairs of chipmakers and minerals companies have moved their respective stocks. Shares in defense shops were in the spotlight on Wednesday. Trump's hands-on appr ...

Core Insights - Chipotle's stock has seen a significant decline of nearly 40% in 2025, prompting investors to reconsider the company's potential as it implements promising business strategies [1][4][7] Business Strategies - Analysts from Oppenheimer and Deutsche Bank highlight that limited-time offers and new high-protein menu items could attract more diners, particularly those focused on weight loss [2][3] - The introduction of smaller, lower-cost options may appeal to a broader audience, including consumers on GLP-1 medications [2] Market Outlook - Despite current challenges, analysts expect conditions for restaurants to improve in 2026, driven by events like the World Cup and tax changes that may benefit consumers [5][7] - Oppenheimer has set a price target of $51 for Chipotle, while Deutsche Bank's target is $49, with Wall Street's consensus around $46 [4] Consumer Trends - The restaurant industry faced difficulties in 2025 due to pressures on low-income and younger consumers, exacerbated by restrictive immigration policies [5] - Analysts believe that spending at restaurants may remain stable for a few months, with potential catalysts for growth emerging later in the year [4][5]

Then, in August, a chummy meeting between Tan and President Trump changed everything. The Trump administration announced a nearly $10 billion investment in the company, making the U.S. government Intel's largest shareholder. A month later, Nvidia (NVDA) came on board, agreeing to invest $5 billion and collaborate with its competitor. Investors liked the infusions of cash, as well as the optics of support from the federal government and the world's most valuable company. Shares soared out of their slump, mor ...

Core Insights - Nvidia is eager to sell its H200 AI chip in China after receiving approval from President Trump, which includes a 25% cut of sales to the U.S. government [2] - The Chinese government has ordered a halt on H200 orders, potentially mandating firms to purchase domestic chips instead, which poses a significant challenge to Nvidia's plans [3][4] - The Chinese market represents a potential $50 billion annual opportunity for Nvidia, which could significantly contribute to its growth, although current forecasts do not include sales from the H200 chip [5] Market Access and Political Challenges - Nvidia's access to the Chinese market is seen as a multibillion-dollar revenue opportunity, but political hurdles remain a significant barrier to realizing these sales [4] - The H20 chip, designed specifically for the Chinese market, has also faced challenges despite receiving U.S. backing, with bipartisan efforts in the U.S. to block sales [6][7] - Analysts from Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, and Bernstein acknowledge the potential upside from AI chip sales in China but remain cautious due to ongoing political uncertainties [7] Stock Performance - Nvidia's shares rose approximately 1% recently, maintaining a stable position after a nearly 40% increase last year [8]

Core Insights - Big tech stocks have seen a decline, but investor interest in momentum stocks remains strong, particularly in data storage following Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's comments on AI demand for memory and storage hardware [1][6] Group 1: Stock Performance - Sandisk (SNDK) shares surged over 27% on Tuesday, following a remarkable increase of more than 500% in 2025 and an additional 43% in the first three sessions of 2026 [2] - Western Digital (WDC) and Seagate Technology (STX) stocks, which tripled in value last year, rose 17% and 14% respectively on the same day [2] - Despite these gains, all three stocks experienced a pullback on Wednesday [2] Group 2: Market Dynamics - The AI sector has faced challenges, with concerns about an AI bubble impacting stock performance; as of Tuesday, all stocks in the Magnificent Seven, except Amazon (AMZN), were down this year [3] - Huang indicated that AI-specific storage and memory represent an unserved market, which is expected to become the largest storage market globally [4] - The demand for memory and data storage devices significantly outpaced supply last year, leading to a rise in prices; Micron's (MU) gross margins increased to 56% from 38% year-over-year [4] Group 3: Future Outlook - Companies like Sandisk, Western Digital, and Seagate are poised to benefit from the increasing data generated by AI, which is expected to double globally between 2024 and 2029 [5] - Analysts from Bank of America predict that the active data stockpile will continue to grow as organizations retain more information for AI training and analytics, forecasting 2026 as a significant year for AI inferencing [6]

Core Insights - Alaska Airlines has placed its largest order ever with Boeing, ordering 110 planes, including 105 Boeing 737-10 and five 787 Dreamliner aircraft [1][5] - The order is intended to replace older aircraft and expand the airline's fleet, securing delivery slots through 2035 [2][3] Group 1: Order Details - The order includes options for an additional 35 Boeing 737-10 planes, which can be exercised within the same delivery timeframe [3] - By 2035, Alaska Airlines expects its fleet to grow from 413 to 550 aircraft [3] Group 2: Significance of the Order - This order follows a recent incident involving a Boeing plane operated by Alaska Airlines, which experienced a door plug detachment due to missing bolts, leading to investigations and production slowdowns [2] - The new order may indicate renewed confidence in Boeing's leadership and supply chain stability [2] Group 3: Financial Context - Boeing's order backlog has increased to over 5,900 commercial airplanes, valued at $636 billion [4] - In the past year, Alaska Airlines shares have decreased by nearly 25%, while Boeing shares have increased by over 30% [5]