Seeking Alpha·2025-12-22 12:28Market Trends - Gold has reached a new high, surpassing $4,400, driven by increasing expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts and heightened demand for safe-haven assets due to geopolitical tensions [3] - The latest Seeking Alpha Sentiment Survey focuses on investment strategies for 2026, covering stock sectors, capital allocation, and macroeconomic themes [3] Company Updates - OpenAI is enhancing profit margins from its paid products, while SoftBank is making significant efforts to fulfill its funding commitments to AI startups by the end of the year [4] - SpaceX's recent rocket explosion in January has been revealed to pose a greater risk to air travel than previously understood, and Bill Ackman is advocating for a SpaceX IPO through a SPARC merger [4] Infrastructure Issues - San Francisco experienced a major power outage due to a fire at a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) substation, affecting around 130,000 customers, which is approximately one-third of the utility's customer base in the city [6] - The outage disrupted traffic and led to temporary business closures during a peak holiday shopping period, with power restoration expected to be completed by Monday afternoon [6] Autonomous Vehicle Developments - Waymo temporarily suspended its robotaxi service in San Francisco due to the power outage, which immobilized several vehicles and exacerbated traffic congestion [7] - The incident highlighted the reliance of autonomous vehicle fleets on external infrastructure, raising public skepticism about the safety and reliability of such technologies [8] Other Notable Events - Clearwater Analytics is set to be taken private in an $8.4 billion deal [9] - Uber and Lyft are planning to test Baidu's robotaxis in the UK [10] - Interactive Brokers has applied for a National Trust Bank Charter [11]