Market Performance - The S&P 500 rose 13.3% from President Trump's inauguration day last year through January 20 of this year, marking the weakest start to a presidency in 20 years [1][4] - In contrast, during the first year of Trump's first term, the S&P 500 increased by 24.1% [2] - Last year, the S&P 500 achieved 39 record highs, compared to 62 all-time highs in 2017 when Trump first took office [4] Economic Factors - International stocks outperformed the US market for the first time in years, attributed to Trump's tariff announcements causing market volatility [4][13] - The stock market gains are seen as a positive aspect of the current economy, driven by AI optimism, interest rate cuts, strong corporate earnings, and a resilient economy [6] Tariff Impacts - New tariffs and geopolitical tensions have raised concerns among investors, with a noted volatility in the markets following Trump's tariff announcements [5][8] - The S&P 500 experienced a significant drop near bear-market levels after the announcement of "Liberation Day" tariffs, but rebounded sharply when tariff threats were paused [9][10] Investor Sentiment - Analysts have indicated that market volatility is largely due to the Trump administration's inconsistent foreign trade policies [8] - Investors have shifted towards safe-haven assets like gold and silver amid market fluctuations, with gold prices surpassing $5,000 for the first time [11]

Core Viewpoint - The 2026 stock market is expected to provide more gains but at a slower pace compared to 2025, characterized by a choppy year with political dynamics influencing market performance [1][8]. Group 1: Market Performance and Predictions - The bull market is slowing down, but claims of its demise are exaggerated; world stocks gained over 21% in 2025, with Europe leading at 35% [2][5]. - The S&P 500 has surged 86% since the end of 2022, but concerns about a potential tech bubble are unfounded as the bull market is broader than just technology [3][4]. - Annualized returns for US stocks over the last three years have been 23%, and 2026 is expected to land between long-term averages and bull market averages [6]. Group 2: Sentiment and Forecasts - Among 72 professional forecasts, only four predict a decline of more than 1% for US stocks in 2026, with a median forecast of 9.6% [7][10]. - European forecasts are more pessimistic, with a median prediction of 5.3% for the Euro Stoxx 50 [7]. Group 3: Economic Factors - The global yield curve is steep, and US loan growth is doubling the previous year's pace, which supports economic growth [11]. - Economists express concerns about tariffs and inflation, leading to lower growth expectations, particularly in Europe, which may create opportunities for beating these expectations [12]. Group 4: Political Influences - Midterm elections are expected to create initial market uncertainty but will likely lead to a "midterm miracle" where stocks perform well after the elections due to increased gridlock [13][16]. - Historically, stocks tend to perform modestly in the first three quarters of midterm years but see significant gains in the fourth quarter and the following year [14][16].

Core Viewpoint - Google and Apple are facing legal repercussions for secretly recording users' conversations without consent, leading to a combined settlement of $163 million to resolve the lawsuits [1]. Group 1: Apple - Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement for a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of eavesdropping on users who did not activate Siri with the prompt "Hey, Siri" [1][4]. - Users who purchased Apple devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, and experienced unintended Siri activations are eligible for compensation, capped at $20 per device, with a maximum of five devices per person [7][8]. - Apple reported a net income of $93.74 billion in the last fiscal year, indicating that the settlement amount represents approximately nine hours of profit for the company [8]. Group 2: Google - Google has reached a tentative $68 million settlement related to a lawsuit claiming that Google Assistant recorded users without the activation phrase "OK Google" [4][15]. - The settlement is part of a lawsuit filed in 2019 and is pending approval from a federal judge [4][15]. - The class-action suit against Google includes all users in the U.S. who purchased a Google device and had Gmail accounts linked to Google Assistant-enabled devices between May 18, 2016, and December 16, 2022 [15]. Group 3: User Experience and Advertising - Users reported receiving targeted advertisements for brands they discussed in conversations that were recorded, such as Olive Garden and Air Jordan [3][9]. - The lawsuits allege that recorded discussions were shared with third-party businesses, leading to these targeted ads [9]. Group 4: Company Responses - Both Apple and Google have denied any wrongdoing regarding the allegations made in the lawsuits [5]. - Apple has since implemented a policy requiring users to opt in before their recorded audio can be used to improve Siri's functionality [5].

The head of Airbus has warned staff that the plane maker must be ready to adapt to unsettling new geopolitical risks after facing “significant” logistical and financial damage from US protectionism and US-China trade tensions last year.“The beginning of 2026 is marked by an unprecedented number of crises and by unsettling geopolitical developments. We should proceed in a spirit of solidarity and self-reliance,” CEO Guillaume Faury said in an internal letter seen by Reuters.“The industrial landscape in which ...

Group 1 - Meta is temporarily halting teens' access to artificial intelligence characters, with the change expected to take effect in the coming weeks [1][3][7] - The restriction applies to users identified as minors based on their provided birthdates and those suspected to be teens through age prediction technology [1] - Despite the ban on AI characters, teens will still have access to Meta's AI assistant [3] Group 2 - This decision comes ahead of a trial in Los Angeles involving Meta, TikTok, and Google's YouTube regarding the impact of their apps on children [3] - Other companies, such as Character.AI, have also implemented similar bans on teens accessing AI chatbots due to concerns over child safety [4][6]

Core Insights - Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon received a compensation package of $47 million in 2025, marking a 21% increase from $38 million in 2024, reflecting a rebound in the bank's investment banking activities [1] Compensation Details - Solomon and Goldman president John Waldron each received $80 million in stock-based retention bonuses to ensure their continued presence at Goldman until January 2030 [2]

Intel shares plunged by as much as 17% on Friday after the chipmaker admitted it was struggling to meet demand for its high-powered AI chips.The Santa Clara, Calif.-based firm, which makes chips needed for data centers, is in the midst of a turnaround effort as it looks to capitalize on surging demand from tech giants who need chips and servers to power the artificial intelligence boom.During a call with investors, Intel executives, including chief financial officer David Zinser, admitted that supplies had ...

Core Viewpoint - Tesla has discontinued its basic driver-assistance system, Autopilot, in Canada and the US, pushing customers towards the more advanced Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, which will now only be available through a monthly subscription model priced at $99 [1][4]. Group 1: Changes in Driver-Assistance Features - Tesla's new vehicle configurations now only include Traffic Aware Cruise Control, which maintains speed and follows traffic at a safe distance, while Autosteer is no longer a standard feature [2][3]. - The California Department of Motor Vehicles has imposed a 60-day deadline for Tesla to revise its marketing practices, including ceasing the use of the "Autopilot" name, which regulators argue misleads consumers regarding the system's capabilities [3]. Group 2: Subscription Model and Market Strategy - The subscription price for FSD is expected to increase over time as the software's capabilities improve, positioning it as a key profit driver for Tesla [4][7]. - Currently, only 12% of Tesla customers have opted to pay for the FSD software, indicating a potential area for growth as the subscription model becomes more accessible [7].

Core Viewpoint - Amazon is planning a second round of job cuts, aiming to reduce its corporate workforce by approximately 30,000 employees, following an earlier reduction of about 14,000 jobs in October 2022 [1][10]. Group 1: Job Cuts Details - The upcoming job cuts are expected to affect positions in Amazon Web Services, retail, Prime Video, and human resources, although the full scope of the layoffs remains unclear [3][9]. - The total number of job cuts this time is anticipated to be similar to the previous round, which was part of a broader strategy to streamline operations [1][10]. - If the full 30,000 jobs are cut, it would represent nearly 10% of Amazon's corporate workforce, which is a small portion of its total 1.58 million employees [8][11]. Group 2: Context and Reasons - The October job cuts were initially linked to advancements in artificial intelligence, with the company stating that AI is enabling faster innovation [4][7]. - However, CEO Andy Jassy later clarified that the layoffs were not primarily driven by financial or AI factors, but rather by a need to reduce bureaucracy and improve company culture [4][5][6]. - Jassy has previously indicated that the corporate workforce is expected to shrink over time due to efficiencies gained from AI [6][7]. Group 3: Historical Context - The planned layoffs would mark the largest in Amazon's history, surpassing the approximately 27,000 jobs cut in 2022 [10]. - Affected employees from the previous round were informed they would remain on payroll for 90 days, during which they could seek other internal positions or external employment [10].

JPMorgan Chase said Thursday its longtime CEO Jamie Dimon’s 2025 pay package climbed about 10% to $43 million.His compensation included a base salary of $1.5 million and $41.5 million in incentives.Jamie Dimon’s compensation included a base salary of $1.5 million and $41.5 million in incentives. Getty Images for America Business ForumThe head of the largest US lender received $36 million in pay for 2023 and $34.5 million in both 2021 and 2022 against the backdrop of economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensio ...