Mark HulbertMark Hulbert is a columnist for MarketWatch. His Hulbert Ratings service tracks investment newsletters that pay a flat fee to be audited. ...

Core Insights - American Express reported steady growth in spending for its fourth quarter, driven by increased retail and travel purchases by cardholders [1] Group 1 - The company experienced growth in consumer spending, indicating a positive trend in customer engagement and economic activity [1] - Cardholders are increasingly leaning into retail and travel purchases, suggesting a shift in consumer behavior towards these sectors [1]

Both Chevron and Exxon Mobil both said production of oil and gas reached historic levels, but also saw profit and revenue decline as energy prices fell. ...

SoFi's home-loan originations nearly doubled in the latest quarter. ...

Core Viewpoint - The selection of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve signifies a shift in leadership towards a critic of the central bank, which may impact economic policies and market reactions [1]. Group 1: Leadership Change - President Donald Trump has appointed Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor, as the new chair of the Fed, highlighting a preference for leadership that challenges the current central banking approach [1]. Group 2: Implications for the Economy - Warsh's appointment could lead to significant changes in monetary policy, potentially affecting interest rates and inflation management strategies [1]. Group 3: Market Reactions - The market may respond to Warsh's selection with volatility, as investors assess the implications of his critical stance on the Fed's previous policies [1].

Core Insights - Verizon Communications experienced a significant increase in subscriber gains during the recent quarter, indicating strong performance in customer acquisition [1] - CEO Dan Schulman emphasized that the company will no longer act as a "hunting ground" for competitors, suggesting a strategic shift towards retaining customers and enhancing competitive positioning [1] Subscriber Growth - The article highlights the impressive subscriber growth achieved by Verizon, which is a key indicator of the company's market strength and operational success [1] Strategic Direction - The statement from CEO Dan Schulman reflects a commitment to focus on internal growth and customer retention rather than allowing competitors to benefit from Verizon's subscriber base [1]

Core Viewpoint - The recent rally in gold and other precious metals is experiencing a slowdown due to rising expectations that Kevin Warsh will be nominated as the next Federal Reserve chair, impacting the dollar debasement trade [1] Group 1: Gold Market Reaction - Gold prices fell more than 3%, decreasing by $171 to $5,179 an ounce, marking a potential end to a nine-session upward trend [1] - On the previous day, gold had reached a record high of $5,318.40 an ounce, with a gain of $14.80, or 0.3% [1] Group 2: Market Context - The decline in gold prices reflects changing market sentiments influenced by anticipated leadership changes at the Federal Reserve [1]

OpenAI is eyeing an initial public offering before the end of the year, hoping to beat rival AI startup Anthropic to the punch, the Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday. ...

Core Viewpoint - Apple's stock has risen following CEO Tim Cook's comments during the earnings call, which addressed investor concerns regarding the company's ability to manage rising memory prices while maintaining strong gross margins [1] Earnings Results - Apple projects gross margins that exceed Wall Street's estimates, indicating effective management of increased memory costs [1] - The company is experiencing better-than-expected revenue growth despite a shortage of iPhones and other products [1] - A favorable mix of high-end hardware and services growth is helping to buffer against rising memory costs [1]

Core Insights - The storage maker's revenue guidance was nearly 60% higher than Wall Street consensus [1] - Profit guidance from the company was more than double what analysts had anticipated [1]