Core Insights - Nvidia has entered into a licensing agreement with Groq to utilize its chip technology and has hired Groq's CEO, a former Google executive [1][3] - Groq specializes in inference technology for AI, an area where Nvidia faces increasing competition from both established companies like AMD and startups such as Groq and Cerebras Systems [2] - Groq's valuation has surged to $6.9 billion from $2.8 billion in August last year, following a $750 million funding round in September [4][8] Company Developments - The licensing agreement with Nvidia is described as "non-exclusive," allowing Groq to continue operating independently with its current leadership [3][4] - Groq's technology utilizes on-chip memory (SRAM) instead of external high-bandwidth memory chips, which helps mitigate the memory constraints affecting the global chip industry [6] - Groq's primary competitor in this technology space is Cerebras Systems, which is also planning to go public soon [7] Market Context - Nvidia's CEO has emphasized the company's strategy to maintain its leadership position as the AI market transitions from training to inference [5][7] - The competitive landscape for inference technology is intensifying, with both traditional and new players vying for market share [2]

Waymo is rolling out a fleet-wide software update after a massive San Francisco power outage exposed a critical bottleneck in its autonomous system — forcing the Alphabet-owned company to halt robotaxi service as driverless cars stalled at darkened intersections across the city.The update is designed to help Waymo’s self-driving software better recognize and respond to large-scale power outages, allowing vehicles to move through dark intersections more decisively without overwhelming the company’s remote hu ...

Stocks stocks closed higher on Wednesday, as the Dow Industrials and S&P 500 registered record closing highs in a broad rally during a holiday-shortened session.The blue-chip Dow rose 288.75 points, or 0.60%, to 48,731.16. The S&P 500 gained 0.3% to end at 6,932.05 points, while the Nasdaq climbed 0.2%.Indexes have been climbing in recent days, buoyed in part by a rebound in AI-related names after last week’s selloff that was triggered by concerns about inflated valuations and high capital expenditures dent ...

Core Viewpoint - The US auto safety regulator has initiated a defect investigation into Tesla Model 3 vehicles due to concerns regarding the accessibility and identification of emergency door release controls [1][4]. Group 1: Investigation Details - The investigation covers approximately 179,071 Model 3 vehicles from the 2022 model year [1][4]. - The probe was prompted by a defect petition claiming that the mechanical door release is hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive to locate during emergencies [2]. Group 2: Design and Safety Concerns - Tesla vehicles primarily utilize electronic door latches that operate via buttons instead of traditional mechanical handles [4][7]. - Although Tesla includes a manual door release for emergencies, experts have criticized the visibility and intuitiveness of these mechanical releases, especially for rear-seat passengers [5]. - The company is facing multiple lawsuits related to fatal crashes, including a case where occupants were allegedly trapped in a Model S due to a design flaw [5][7]. Group 3: Regulatory Process - The initiation of a defect petition does not guarantee a recall but signifies the beginning of a regulatory review process that may lead to further actions if safety defects are confirmed [8]. - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) previously opened a preliminary evaluation into about 174,290 Model Y vehicles due to reports of inoperative electronic door handles [8].

Core Insights - Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, purchased approximately $3 million worth of Nike shares, increasing his stake in the company and indicating confidence in Nike's turnaround strategy under CEO Elliott Hill [1][2] - Following the announcement of Cook's purchase, Nike's shares rose by 5% [1] - Cook's acquisition of 50,000 shares at $58.97 each is noted as the largest open market stock purchase by a Nike director or executive in over a decade [2] Company Performance - Nike has reported weaker quarterly margins and declining sales in China, despite efforts by CEO Hill to boost demand through new marketing strategies and innovation [3][4] - The company's margins have been under pressure for over a year, and its stock has decreased nearly 13% since the results were announced on December 18, indicating ongoing challenges [4] - Nike's shares were trading at $60.19 on Wednesday, reflecting a trend of declines over the past four years [4] Strategic Moves - CEO Elliott Hill is focusing on reviving Nike's market position by phasing out underperforming lifestyle brands and strengthening relationships with wholesalers like Dicks Sporting Goods [3] - Tim Cook has been closely involved with Nike's strategic decisions, including advising on key appointments such as Hill's [6][8] - Other board members, including former Intel CEO Robert Swan, have also made significant stock purchases, indicating confidence in the company's future [8]

A Baltimore jury ordered Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries to pay over $1.5 billion to a woman who claimed decades of exposure to asbestos in the company’s talc-based products caused her peritoneal mesothelioma, a form of cancer.Jurors in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Md., on Monday found the company, two of its subsidiaries and spinoff Kenvue liable for failing to warn plaintiff Cherie Craft that its baby powder contained asbestos.Johnson & Johnson said it will appeal the jury’s decision, whic ...

Core Insights - Copper prices have reached a record high of over $12,000 per metric ton, driven by trade uncertainty, tight supply, and rising demand, leading to increased cost pressures across various sectors [1][3][5] Supply Chain Impact - Tariffs imposed by the U.S. government, particularly a 50% duty on semi-finished copper products, have disrupted global trade flows and tightened supply for U.S. manufacturers [3][4] - The industry has faced years of underinvestment, resulting in a shortage of new mines, further exacerbating supply issues [5][6] Demand Dynamics - Demand for copper is surging due to its essential role in electric vehicles, power-grid upgrades, renewable energy projects, and data centers, with analysts predicting that prices will remain elevated due to limited new supply projects [6][12] Consumer Costs - Higher copper prices are inflating costs for home renovations, with rewiring a house costing between $6,000 to $30,000 depending on size and age [8] - Major household appliances, which rely heavily on copper, are also experiencing price increases as manufacturers face higher material costs [10] Automotive Sector - Traditional gasoline vehicles contain approximately 50 to 55 pounds of copper, while electric vehicles use significantly more, complicating efforts to reduce EV prices for consumers [12] Electronics and Utilities - Electronics, including smartphones and desktop computers, are affected by rising copper prices, impacting manufacturers, especially in the lower-end market [13] - Higher copper costs could eventually lead to increased electricity delivery charges as utilities upgrade systems to support electric vehicles and renewable energy [14]

Economic Growth - The US economy grew at an unexpectedly strong pace of 4.3% in the third quarter, marking the highest rate in two years [1][6] - This growth rate represents an increase from 3.8% in the previous quarter and surpassed analyst expectations of 3.2% [2] Consumer Spending - Vigorous consumer spending on services such as health care and products like recreational vehicles contributed significantly to the GDP surge [1] Employment and Retail Sales - The jobs market has faced challenges, with unemployment rising to 4.6% in November, the highest level in over four years [4] - Retail sales have slowed, even as upper-income households continue to spend, leading to weaker-than-expected earnings and outlooks from major businesses like Home Depot [4] Inflation and Price Trends - Inflation remains a concern, hovering above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, although consumer prices rose only 2.7% year-over-year in November, a smaller-than-expected increase [4][5] - The inflation data may be distorted due to challenges in data collection during the recent government shutdown [5] Tariff Impact - Businesses are uncertain about how much of the tariff costs to pass on to consumers, complicating the assessment of the full impact of tariff policies on prices [7] - The average annual rate of economic growth since President Trump's return to office is 2.5%, comparable to the 2.4% average recorded last year under former President Biden [7]

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery's board is set to review an offer from Larry Ellison to personally guarantee Paramount Skydance's $78 billion hostile takeover bid, amidst a competitive landscape that currently favors Netflix [1][6]. Group 1: Offer and Review Process - Larry Ellison's personal guarantee, valued at over $250 billion, is part of the strategy to bolster Paramount Skydance's bid, which has been extended to January 21 for investors to tender their shares [6]. - The board's review is anticipated due to the contentious nature of the bidding war, which may lead to legal disputes [2][10]. - Paramount Skydance is reportedly considering increasing its bid from $30 per share by up to 10%, but has no immediate plans to do so [7]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The Netflix offer is seen as facing regulatory challenges and relies on a stock component that has been declining in value, contrasting with Paramount Skydance's all-cash bid [11]. - WBD's cable properties are expected to be valued at up to $4 per share in a spin-off deal, potentially raising the overall value of the Netflix offer above Paramount Skydance's bid [12]. - Concerns have been raised regarding the debt levels associated with WBD's cable properties, which amount to $18 billion, suggesting that the valuation may be inflated compared to similar deals [14]. Group 3: Investor Sentiment - Only a small fraction of Paramount Skydance's investors have supported the bid, with just 400,000 shares voted out of 2.6 billion [7]. - Some investors, including Mario Gabelli, have expressed a preference for the Paramount offer and have called for Netflix to revise its proposal [14]. - There are allegations from Paramount Skydance that WBD's bidding process was biased in favor of Netflix due to personal connections between executives [16][17].

Gold and silver futures have exploded to record highs in 2025, capping one of the most dramatic rallies in the history of the precious metals market as investors piled into hard assets amid shifting monetary policy, geopolitical turmoil and tightening supply.Gold futures surged past $4,470 an ounce on Monday, up roughly 70% for the year — the metal’s strongest annual performance since 1979, according to market data cited by Bloomberg News.Silver outpaced even gold, soaring more than 130% year-to-date to aro ...