Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU), a leading memory and storage chipmaker, closed Thursday at $248.55, up 10.11%. Trading volume reached 63.9 million shares, about 139% above its three-month average of 26.7 million shares. Micron Technology IPO'd in 1984 and has grown 17,528% since its initial public offering. Today's move followed record fiscal Q1 2026 results and a blowout revenue outlook. Micron beat estimates on both earnings per share and revenue.  Investors will be watching how high-bandwidth memory growt ...

Market Overview - Australian shares have increased by +0.5% in futures, marking the first rise this week, influenced by positive trends in Wall Street [1] - The U.S. economic data showed core consumer prices rising by 2.6% in November, while overall CPI increased by 2.7%, impacting Federal Reserve's rate cut plans [2] U.S. Market Performance - The Dow Jones rose by +0.1%, the S&P 500 increased by +0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite surged by +1.4%, breaking a four-day losing streak [3] Central Bank Actions - Japan's central bank is expected to raise rates to 0.75%, contrasting with the Federal Reserve's easing plans, which may influence the Reserve Bank of Australia [4] Company News - Meg O'Neill has been appointed as the first female CEO of BP, leaving her position at Woodside Energy, which saw its shares drop by -2.7% following the announcement [5] - ANZ Group may retain executive pay despite shareholder dissatisfaction over compliance failures, indicating potential negotiations for a middle ground [6] - Boss Energy's shares plummeted by -24% after a negative update on uranium extraction, indicating lower grade and more challenging extraction processes [7] - Amaero Ltd secured a $4.6 million order for refractory powder from Titomic as part of a five-year partnership, with shipments expected in Q3 and Q4 FY26 [7] Commodity Prices - The Australian dollar is trading at 66.1 U.S. cents - Iron Ore prices increased by +1.3% to $105 per tonne, while Brent Crude remained stable at $59.72 per barrel, and Gold is priced at $4,333 per ounce [9]

One of the most important stocks in the market, and still one of the most valuable companies in the world, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a company I'd argue investors can't ignore. ...

Core Viewpoint - Apple stock has seen significant price appreciation over the last three years, doubling from approximately $130 to nearly $275, despite relatively flat revenues during the same period [2][3]. Financial Performance - Revenue growth for Apple has been sluggish, with an annual increase of only about 2.4% over the last three fiscal years [3]. - Operating margins have improved from 30.3% in 2022 to 31.9% currently, primarily due to product mix rather than increased demand [4]. - Profitability has increased as services have expanded faster than hardware sales, indicating that Apple is benefiting more from pricing strategies than from volume growth [4]. Product and Innovation Challenges - Apple is perceived to be lagging in the AI sector, with significant delays in upgrades to Siri and a general perception that its AI capabilities are behind competitors like Google [5]. - The Vision Pro, Apple's first major new product in nearly a decade, is expected to have disappointing first-year sales, projected at only 400,000 to 500,000 units [5]. Capital Allocation - Over the past three years, Apple has spent approximately $280 billion on share buybacks, significantly reducing the number of shares outstanding and boosting earnings per share (EPS) [6]. - In the most recent fiscal year, Apple allocated $91 billion for buybacks, compared to $34 billion for research and development (R&D) and only $13 billion for capital expenditures [6]. Valuation Concerns - Apple is currently trading at about 9.9x price-to-sales, close to all-time highs and significantly above historical levels, even during the Steve Jobs era [8]. - The high valuation suggests expectations of strong, sustainable growth, which is inconsistent with the company's flat revenues, sluggish AI execution, and underperforming new product efforts [9]. Investment Considerations - The disconnect between Apple's current valuation and its financial and operational performance raises concerns for potential investors [9].

Core Insights - Apple is allowing alternative app stores and external payment processing for digital goods in Japan due to the enforcement of the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) [1] - The changes in Japan are part of a broader trend where Apple is being compelled to adapt its App Store practices in response to antitrust regulations in various regions, including the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) [2] - Apple has implemented a complex fee structure to maintain App Store revenue while complying with legal requirements [4] Regulatory Changes - The MSCA in Japan mandates that Apple must allow alternative app stores and payment processing options [1] - In the U.S., a court ruling related to a lawsuit from Epic Games has also pressured Apple to modify its in-app payment system [3] Fee Structure - The new App Store commission rates include: - 10% for transactions from specific programs and auto-renewable subscriptions after the first year [5] - 21% for sales of digital goods or services using alternative payments [5] - 5% for payments processed by Apple In-App Purchase [6] Developer Reactions - Epic Games' CEO Tim Sweeney criticized Apple's fee structure, stating that Fortnite will not return to iOS in Japan due to the 21% fee on third-party in-app purchases [7] - Sweeney expressed concerns about Apple's approach, comparing it unfavorably to other game store providers like Microsoft [8] Developer Agreement - Developers must agree to the updated Apple Developer Program License Agreement, which includes the new options for Japan, by March 17, 2026 [9]

Industry Overview - The U.S. cannabis market is projected to approach $45 billion in sales by 2025, with analysts expecting double-digit annual growth through 2030 [1] - More states are supporting recreational cannabis access, and medical adoption is expanding nationwide [1] - Recent news indicates that President Trump may issue an executive order to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, which could ease restrictions on research, taxation, and investment [1] Trading Insights - Traders are advised to adopt a disciplined process, utilizing technical analysis to identify momentum before volume surges [2] - Key indicators include moving-average curls, trendline breaks, and heavy bid stacking near support [2] - Position sizing should remain small due to the high volatility associated with penny stocks [2] Company Highlights AYR Wellness Inc. (AYRWF) - AYR Wellness is a multi-state cannabis operator based in Miami, Florida, focusing on medical and adult-use cannabis [6] - The company has a vertically integrated structure with cultivation, processing, and retail operations across several states [6] - Financially, AYR reported stagnant revenue year-over-year, with losses expanding due to increased operational costs and competitive pricing pressure [8] FLUENT (CNTMF) - FLUENT is a vertically integrated cannabis company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with operations in cultivation, manufacturing, and retail [9] - The company has a significant presence in Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania, operating over thirty dispensaries [9] - Recent financial results showed nearly flat revenue year-over-year, with margins compressed due to pricing mix and processing inefficiencies [10] Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CURLF) - Curaleaf is one of the largest cannabis retailers in the U.S., with about 150 retail locations and a diverse product offering [12] - The company has seen revenue growth as new adult-use markets opened, although profitability remains uncertain due to high compliance and operational costs [13] - Curaleaf's extensive retail network provides a competitive advantage, positioning the company well for future growth as federal reforms progress [13] Market Sentiment - The cannabis trade in December focuses on positioning rather than certainty, with stocks like AYRWF, CNTMF, and CURLF providing exposure to real dispensaries and revenue [14] - Improving state access and consumer demand could lead to a stronger industry outlook in 2026 [14]

That points toward a terrific increase of around 66% from TSMC's current CoWoS capacity of 75,000 wafers. Importantly, the higher capacity that TSMC is set to bring online throughout next year is said to be fully booked out, as reported by market research firm TrendForce. This isn't surprising as the foundry giant needs to fulfill orders for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) chips from companies like Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon , MediaTek, Google, and others.The first major reason why TSMC's growth ...

Core Insights - Each property owned by the company is valued at over $1 million [1] Group 1 - The company has a portfolio of properties, each exceeding a valuation of $1 million [1]

In response to Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google-parent Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) have announced significant changes. Japan's MSCA Opens App Store CompetitionThe MSCA, which took effect on Thursday, introduces new options that allow developers to distribute apps through alternative app stores and handle payments for digital goods and services outside Apple's in-app purchase system.These changes, while providing new opportunities for develope ...

Core Insights - Warren Buffett is stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, leaving behind a portfolio that includes several high-quality AI stocks [1][2] Company Analysis Berkshire Hathaway - Buffett has led Berkshire Hathaway since 1965, achieving a valuation of over $1 trillion through strategic acquisitions and stock purchases [1] - The company's portfolio is valued at $317 billion, with significant investments in AI-driven companies [4] Amazon - Amazon constitutes 0.7% of Berkshire's portfolio and is heavily investing in AI to enhance efficiency and explore new opportunities, particularly in cloud computing [6][8] - The Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform has a $200 billion order backlog and is set to spend $125 billion on infrastructure to meet demand [8] - Amazon's stock price has more than doubled since Berkshire's acquisition, indicating strong potential for future growth driven by AI [8] Alphabet (Google) - Alphabet makes up 1.7% of Berkshire's portfolio and has adapted its Google Search to incorporate AI features, which has led to accelerated revenue growth [9][12] - The company has a $155 billion order backlog for its Google Cloud services, which competes with AWS [12] - Alphabet's stock has increased by 62% this year, reflecting strong momentum from AI initiatives [13] Apple - Apple represents 20.6% of Berkshire's portfolio, with a significant investment of approximately $38 billion made between 2016 and 2023 [14] - The company has launched its own AI software suite, Apple Intelligence, and is uniquely positioned in the consumer AI market with over 2.35 billion active devices [16][17] - Despite selling more than 70% of its Apple stake, Berkshire still anticipates significant returns from its remaining investment [18]