Core Viewpoint - The legal battle between Google and Epic Games centers on allegations of Google's monopolistic practices in the app store market, with a federal appeals court set to hear Google's appeal against a ruling that favored Epic Games [1][2][3]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - Google is appealing a 2023 antitrust ruling that found it had stifled competition, arguing that the trial judge made legal errors that unfairly benefited Epic Games [1][2][12]. - The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals is considering Google's appeal, which includes a request to overturn a judge's order requiring changes to its app store [3][11]. - Epic Games is opposing Google's appeal, asserting that the company has engaged in a long-term strategy to suppress competition in app stores and payment solutions [6]. Group 2: Judge's Ruling and Implications - US District Judge James Donato described Google's actions as "deeply troubling" and issued an order for Google to allow rival app stores within its Google Play store [3][4]. - The judge's order is currently on hold pending the appeal, but it mandates that Google make its app catalog available to competitors [3][4]. - Google contends that the judge's ruling impacts users and developers nationwide, rather than just Epic, and argues that it is acting as a "central planner" for product design [4][14]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Google claims that its Play store faces significant competition from Apple's App Store, and argues that the trial judge allowed Epic to misrepresent the competitive landscape [4]. - In September, Epic filed a second antitrust suit against Google, alleging collusion with Samsung to hinder rival app developers [13]. - Microsoft, the US Justice Department, and the Federal Trade Commission have filed briefs in support of Epic Games in this legal dispute [10].

Meta Platforms is in discussions about moving its incorporation from Delaware to Texas or other states, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.The social media giant has talked to Texas officials about the potential changes, WSJ said, adding that the discussions predate President Donald Trump’s new administration.The paperwork change would not relocate its corporate headquarters.Meta has reportedly talked to Texas officials, and the discussions predate President Trum ...

Core Points - Costco Wholesale plans to increase pay for most US workers to over $30 an hour following union threats of a strike [1][3] - The pay increase will be implemented over three years, starting with a $1 raise to $30.20 in the first year, followed by an additional $1 in each of the next two years [1] - Low-scale employees will also see a pay increase of 50 cents to $20 an hour [2] Union Actions - The Teamsters union, representing over 18,000 Costco workers, voted 85% in favor of a nationwide strike due to stalled contract negotiations [4][7] - Union leaders accused Costco of not sharing its record $7.4 billion annual profits for 2024 with workers, citing complaints about pay and benefits [5] Company Position - Costco stated that the planned wage increases will ensure that its hourly wages and benefits remain competitive within the retail industry [3]

The Trump administration is reportedly probing whether DeepSeek bought Nvidia’s advanced computer chips through Singapore – despite US export controls blocking the sale of the powerful technology to China-based firms.Key tech leaders, including Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey, have been skeptical of DeepSeek’s claim that it trained an AI model on par with US rivals for less than $6 million and without Nvidia’s most powerful chips.Officials at the White House and the FBI are investigating whether DeepSeek may ha ...

Microsoft has started firing its low-performance workers – some without severance — as the tech firm takes a more aggressive approach to its workforce, according to a report.“The reason(s) for the termination of your employment include your job performance has not met minimum performance standards and expectations for your position,” the termination letters, which were obtained by Business Insider, said. “You are relieved of all job duties effective immediately and your access to Microsoft systems, accounts ...

Core Viewpoint - Apple shares increased in after-market trading following a forecast of higher sales than Wall Street anticipated, indicating expectations for a recovery in iPhone sales driven by the rollout of artificial intelligence features [1][2]. Sales Forecast - Apple executives project sales for the current quarter to rise in the low- to mid-single digit range, surpassing the 5% increase to $95.3 billion expected by analysts after adjusting for a 2.5 percentage point impact from foreign exchange rates [2]. - The company's total sales for the fiscal first quarter reached $124.30 billion, slightly exceeding Wall Street's target of $124.12 billion, with earnings per share of $2.40 beating the consensus target of $2.35 [7]. iPhone Sales Performance - In the recently concluded fiscal first quarter, iPhone sales slightly declined to $69.14 billion, below the expected $71.03 billion, while Greater China sales fell to $18.51 billion, down from $20.82 billion a year earlier and below the anticipated $21.33 billion [5][6]. - CEO Tim Cook noted that the decline in China revenues was partly due to changes in inventory levels held by resellers [10]. AI Features Impact - The introduction of AI features, termed Apple Intelligence, is believed to be driving sales of new devices, with Cook stating that markets where these features have been rolled out saw stronger year-over-year performance for the iPhone 16 family [8][14]. - Apple is gradually rolling out AI capabilities, with plans to introduce them in new languages by April, although there is no timeline for availability in China [8]. Product Segment Performance - Sales of iPads and Macs exceeded expectations, with Mac sales benefiting from a new lineup featuring the M4 chip, reaching $8.99 billion, above the estimated $7.96 billion, while iPad sales hit $8.09 billion, surpassing the $7.32 billion estimate [11]. - The services segment, including iCloud and streaming services, generated $26.34 billion in sales, reflecting a 13.9% increase from the previous year and exceeding estimates of $26.09 billion [12]. - The wearables segment, which includes Apple Watch and AirPods, reported $11.75 billion in sales, slightly below analyst expectations of $12.01 billion [13]. Gross Margin Guidance - CFO Kevan Parekh indicated that gross margins for the current fiscal second quarter are expected to be between 46.5% and 47.5%, with the upper end exceeding estimates of 47.01% [4].

Core Viewpoint - Blackstone's investments in data centers remain strong despite the emergence of low-cost AI models from DeepSeek, as the need for physical infrastructure for AI is still critical [1][3]. Group 1: Company Strategy - Blackstone has $80 billion worth of leased data centers and emphasizes a "very prudent approach" in its strategy for this segment [2][5]. - The company highlights its partnerships with major global firms, reinforcing its position in the data center market [2][5]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The rise of DeepSeek has raised concerns about potential slowdowns in data center investments due to its low-cost AI offerings [3][5]. - However, Blackstone's COO Jonathan Gray believes that lower costs could lead to increased AI adoption, ultimately boosting demand for data centers [3][4]. Group 3: Industry Outlook - As AI usage increases significantly, the necessity for data centers remains vital, according to Blackstone [4]. - Analysts from Jefferies support this view, indicating that the data center segment will continue to be important [4].

Group 1: AI Investment Strategies - Meta plans to invest "hundreds of billions of dollars" in AI-related infrastructure, including computer chips and data centers, as stated by CEO Mark Zuckerberg [3] - Microsoft has earmarked $80 billion for AI-related efforts in fiscal 2025 and continues to express confidence in long-term profitability from AI investments [5] - SoftBank is reportedly in talks to invest an additional $15 billion to $25 billion in OpenAI, indicating strong interest in AI development [6] Group 2: Market Reactions and Competitor Dynamics - Following the rise of DeepSeek, Nvidia and other AI leaders face concerns about potential decreased demand for their products due to cheaper alternatives [2] - Microsoft shares fell by 6% after providing weaker-than-expected revenue guidance, despite its ongoing investment in AI [4] - Tesla's stock increased by about 2% after CEO Elon Musk hinted at significant AI-related plans for the future [9] Group 3: Competitive Landscape and Challenges - DeepSeek claims to have trained an advanced AI model for less than $6 million, raising questions about the true costs and competitive dynamics in the AI sector [7][8] - The US tech sector experienced significant pressure, with major companies like Nvidia losing a collective $1 trillion in value in a single day due to concerns over DeepSeek's advancements [3]

Core Viewpoint - Comcast experienced a significant decline in broadband subscribers due to competition from telecom firms bundling 5G mobile services with internet plans, leading to an 11% drop in its shares despite positive overall financial results and a $15 billion share buyback announcement [1]. Subscriber Losses - Comcast lost 139,000 broadband customers in the fourth quarter, exceeding FactSet's estimate of a 91,000 loss, with additional impacts from Hurricanes Milton and Helene disrupting Florida businesses [2][3]. Revenue and Financial Performance - Total revenue for Comcast rose by 2.1% to $31.92 billion, surpassing estimates of $31.64 billion, while adjusted profit was 96 cents per share, exceeding estimates by 10 cents [5]. Strategic Initiatives - The company plans to introduce new pricing packages that bundle wireless and internet services in upgraded markets, adopting a strategy similar to that of wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon [3][4]. - Comcast aims to unchain its main profit drivers, such as the studio and theme parks business, from the declining cable TV unit by spinning off select NBCUniversal cable networks [7]. Studio Performance - The film "Wicked," a movie adaptation of the Broadway prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," was Universal Pictures' biggest grosser in the quarter, earning approximately $700 million globally and contributing to a nearly 7% rise in Comcast's studio revenue [6][7]. - Peacock's revenue increased by 27.8% due to price hikes implemented last year ahead of the Olympics [7].

Product Development and Launch - Tesla is on track to roll out new, cheaper electric vehicle models in the first half of 2025 [1] - The company will start testing an autonomous ride-hailing service in June, with initial tests in Austin, Texas, and unsupervised tests in other states including California [1][3] - Tesla plans to use its current electric vehicle platform and production lines to produce more affordable models this year, instead of building a new cheaper vehicle platform [7][8] - Commercial-scale production of a robotaxi is planned for 2026 at its Texas factory [7][8] Financial Performance and Cost Management - Tesla's fourth-quarter profit margin from vehicle sales, excluding regulatory credits, fell to 13.59% from 17.05% in the prior three-month period [10] - Revenue for the October-December quarter was $25.71 billion, below estimates of $27.27 billion [10] - Costs of goods sold hit their lowest level ever in the fourth quarter, at less than $35,000, driven by lower raw material costs [4] - The company has been able to execute on cost reduction, which cushioned the impact of lower profit margins [5] Market and Competitive Landscape - Tesla's market value has soared with the election of President Trump, who is a close ally of CEO Elon Musk [2][6] - The company's annual deliveries dropped for the first time last year due to higher borrowing costs and intense competition [11] - Rivals such as China's BYD, as well as European manufacturers BMW and Volkswagen, have launched new cheaper models to capture market share [11] - Tesla expects the vehicle business to return to growth this year after a small drop in 2024, with vehicle sales projected to grow 20% to 30% in 2025 [12] Investor Sentiment and Future Prospects - Shares rose 5% as Tesla announced cost-cutting measures and progress on new vehicle development [2] - Investors are optimistic about the potential of Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) technology and robotaxi services in the next couple of years [9] - Prospects of self-driving technology and a forecast for a 50% jump in deployments at the energy storage unit are encouraging investors [13] - Tesla's recommitment to delivering new vehicles in the first half of the year and reduced costs have been positively received by shareholders [4]