Fed clues for investors, China reportedly bans companies from purchasing Nvidia AI chips

Group 1: Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates for the first time since 2024, with traders anticipating further cuts ahead [1][11][14] - Markets are pricing in a 25 basis point cut, with expectations of additional cuts in the coming months [11][15] - Investors are focused on the Fed's policy statement and economic projections, particularly regarding GDP, unemployment, and inflation [17][18] Group 2: US-China Trade Relations and Nvidia - China has reportedly instructed its tech companies, including Alibaba and ByteDance, to stop purchasing Nvidia's AI chips, escalating US-China trade tensions [2][8][24] - Nvidia's CEO expressed disappointment over the situation but acknowledged the geopolitical complexities involved [27][28] - The directive affects Nvidia's RTX Pro 6000D chips, which are tailored for the Chinese market, amid accusations of antitrust violations against Nvidia by China [25][26] Group 3: TikTok's US Operations - TikTok's US operations are set to be acquired by a consortium of companies, including Oracle and private equity firms, with a valuation between $35 billion and $40 billion [38][40] - The acquisition aims to satisfy US regulations requiring ByteDance to reduce its stake in TikTok to below 20% [40] - The deadline for TikTok's ban has been extended until December, allowing more time for the acquisition process [4] Group 4: US Tech Investments in the UK - President Trump's visit to the UK coincides with significant US tech investments, estimated at around $42 billion, including commitments from Microsoft and Google [32][33] - Microsoft plans to invest approximately $30 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in the UK, while Google has pledged nearly $7 billion for a new data center [33] - The investments come as the UK seeks to boost its economy, which has shown sluggish growth [37] Group 5: Company-Specific Developments - Workday shares rose following an analyst day, with activist investor Elliot Management building a stake of over $2 billion in the company [42] - FedEx was downgraded by Evercore ISI due to ongoing demand headwinds, impacting near-term EPS estimates [43] - Unilever faces a high-profile exit as Ben & Jerry's co-founder resigns, citing stifled freedom to speak on social issues [44]