Group 1: Novo Nordisk - The US FDA has approved an oral version of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide), marking it as the first GLP-1 oral treatment approved for obesity [3][4] - The approval was based on the OASIS 4 trial, which demonstrated a mean weight loss of 16.6% in adults who were obese or overweight with comorbidities when taking 25 mg of oral semaglutide daily [4] - Novo Nordisk's shares rose approximately 7% in premarket trading following the announcement [4] Group 2: Mercedes-Benz - Mercedes-Benz USA and parent company Daimler AG have agreed to a settlement of $149.6 million over diesel emissions allegations with 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia [4][5] - The settlement includes a payment of $120 million to the attorneys general, with an additional $29 million payment suspended pending the completion of a consumer relief program [6] Group 3: ByteDance - ByteDance plans to allocate approximately 160 billion yuan (~$22.77 billion) in capital expenditure for 2026, focusing primarily on AI infrastructure development [6][7] - About half of the budget, around 85 billion yuan, is aimed at advanced AI processors, while the remainder will support AI model training and data center expansions, including overseas facilities [7] - ByteDance is considering purchasing 20,000 NVIDIA H200 chips at about $20,000 per unit, which could lead to an increase in capital expenditure if access to more chips is granted [8]

Today, all eyes are on the Commerce Department’s initial estimate of third-quarter gross domestic product, set to be released in a couple of hours. The GDP report was delayed by two months due to the government shutdown. Notably, the agency will not release third-quarter GDP in its usual sequence of three successive estimates and will instead publish only two readings. Economists, on average, forecast that U.S. GDP growth will stand at +3.3% q/q in the third quarter, underpinned by robust consumer spending ...

“The trend remains positive, and a Santa Claus rally into the year-end won’t surprise anyone. I am expecting nothing less than a strong finish to the year and a strong start to 2026,” said Louis Navellier at Navellier & Associates. Notably, since 1928, the S&P 500 has advanced 75% of the time during the final two weeks of December, averaging a 1.3% gain, according to data from Citadel Securities.In Friday’s trading session, Wall Street’s major equity averages ended in the green. Carnival (CCL) surged over + ...

Core Insights - India is advancing towards a significant initiative in autonomous vehicles while also addressing the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) [1][4] - The government is developing the Connected Commercial Vehicle (CCV) protocol to enhance communication between vehicles and infrastructure [1][2] Group 1: Autonomous Vehicles and V2X Connectivity - The CCV protocol aims to bridge the gap between smart vehicles capable of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity and non-responsive infrastructure [2] - Discussions involving the Union road transport ministry, NHAI, NITI Aayog, and industry representatives are underway to refine this plan [3] - The focus is on V2X platforms that facilitate communication between vehicles and infrastructure without relying on cellular networks [13] Group 2: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure - The plan includes creating regulatory and technical frameworks for seamless connectivity between electric vehicles and advanced highway infrastructure [8] - India is preparing for large-scale long-haul electric mobility, emphasizing interoperability protocols for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure [9][16] - The government aims to install over 72,000 additional public EV charging stations by FY28 under the ₹10,900-crore PM E-Drive scheme [20] Group 3: Market Growth and Investment Opportunities - India's EV market is projected to be worth approximately $55 billion in 2025, with expectations to double by 2029 [18] - The rise in EV adoption is evident, with over 2 million EVs sold in 2025, marking an increase from 1.9 million in 2024 [17] - The initiative to upgrade road transport infrastructure is expected to create investment opportunities for local companies in various sectors, including automotive suppliers and communication infrastructure providers [21][22]

Bankruptcy Developments - Rad Power Bikes has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, indicating potential shutdown without new funding, while planning to sell the business within 45-60 days [1] - Luminar, a lidar manufacturer, has also filed for bankruptcy after experiencing layoffs, executive departures, and a legal dispute with Volvo, with plans to sell off its business and semiconductor subsidiary [2][3] Industry Trends - Despite the bankruptcies, the year 2025 has seen innovation and growth in the emerging robotaxi industry, with new autonomous vehicle-adjacent companies expected to trend in 2026 [4] - Waymo's rapid growth has significantly driven the scale of robotaxis, with Zoox and Tesla also entering the market, leading to increased competition and scrutiny over safety in the coming year [5] Automotive Sector Adjustments - Ford is shifting its strategy by ending production of the fully-electric F-150 Lightning, focusing more on hybrids and gas-powered vehicles, while introducing an "extended range electric vehicle" version of the truck [6][7] - The company is also venturing into the energy storage business and remains committed to launching a midsized electric truck by 2027 [7]

New Car Launches - Hongqi HS6 PHEV launched with a price range of 178,800 to 228,800 yuan, featuring a family design style and dimensions of 4925/1970/1740mm [3][4][6] - Ora 5 launched with a price range of 99,800 to 133,800 yuan, offering five models and a limited-time trade-in subsidy of 8,000 yuan [15][16][18] - Ford Mustang Mach-E launched with a price range of 229,800 to 282,800 yuan, available in both pure electric and range-extended versions [24][25][27] Company Developments - BYD's 15 millionth new energy vehicle rolled off the production line, achieving this milestone in 17 years, with the last 5 million produced in just 13 months [65][66][70] - Honda plans to suspend or reduce production at its factories in Japan and China due to semiconductor shortages [71][72][75] - Lantu Motors and CATL signed a ten-year deepening cooperation agreement to advance battery technology [76][77] - GAC Group announced the establishment of a new business unit combining its high-end brand Haobo and mass-market brand Aion for better resource synergy [80][81] - Li Auto is establishing an AI R&D center in Silicon Valley, focusing on smart driving technology [82][85] Industry News - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has issued new regulations limiting hidden door handles in vehicles, effective from January 1, 2027 [98][99][102] - The European Union has decided to relax its 2035 ban on internal combustion engines, allowing plug-in hybrid vehicles to continue being sold [103][105][107] - Japan plans to impose a weight-based tax on electric vehicles starting May 2028, with tax rates increasing based on vehicle weight [108][110][112]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles highlights that the retail sales in the province have shown a year-on-year growth of 3.8% from January to November, driven by increased consumer subsidies and the impact of the "Double Eleven" e-commerce promotional activities [2][4]. - The total retail sales of consumer goods reached 42,586.8 billion yuan during the same period, reflecting the effectiveness of policies aimed at expanding domestic demand and promoting consumption [4]. - The new round of subsidies for automobile consumption has significantly boosted the retail sales of new energy vehicles, which saw a year-on-year increase of 26.2% in November, accelerating the growth rate by 44.3 percentage points compared to the previous month [4]. Group 2 - Online retail sales have continued to strengthen, with a year-on-year growth of 16.3% from January to November, driven by the "Double Eleven" promotions and the demand for upgraded consumer electronics [6]. - The offline retail sector has also shown promising performance, particularly with the rapid expansion of warehouse membership stores like Sam's Club and Costco, which saw a year-on-year increase of 14.5% in retail sales in November [6]. - Discount stores, which focus on affordability and high cost-performance, have gained popularity among consumers, with retail sales increasing by 78.2% year-on-year in November, marking a 13.3 percentage point acceleration from the previous month [6].

Group 1 - Apple responds to concerns about iPhone storage issues, stating that users should maintain at least 1GB of free space for optimal performance [3][4] - ByteDance is advancing partnerships with hardware manufacturers like Vivo and Lenovo to develop AI phones, aiming to pre-install AIGC plugins [4] - Alibaba's DingTalk has initiated a secret project called "D Plan," potentially targeting AI hardware, with speculation about launching a product similar to "Doubao phone" [4] Group 2 - Over 500 stores of Mooson Milk have closed, with the founder Zhao Bohua completely exiting the company [6] - SF Express has confirmed its exit from the Douyin e-commerce return service, stating that the contract naturally expired [6] - XREAL won a lawsuit against VITURE for patent infringement, leading to a ban on VITURE products in nine European countries [6] Group 3 - Li Auto has restructured its supply chain department, merging the "Parts Cluster" into the "Manufacturing" department, with nearly 1,000 employees affected [7] - Xiaomi has obtained an L3 level road testing license for its autonomous vehicles in Beijing [7] - Neta Auto is undergoing bankruptcy restructuring, with a management trustee selected to oversee the process [7] Group 4 - Apple's first foldable phone, iPhone Fold, is delayed in mass production until the second half of 2026, with potential supply shortages expected [9] - SoftBank is racing to fulfill its $22.5 billion funding commitment to OpenAI by the end of the year [9] - Elon Musk predicts the gradual extinction of traditional fuel vehicles, emphasizing the future competitiveness of smart vehicles [9] Group 5 - Ford is recalling over 270,000 electric and hybrid vehicles in the U.S. due to parking function issues that could lead to rollaway risks [9] - Geely's autonomous driving unit is undergoing personnel changes, with key scientists leaving the company [9] - ChatGPT mobile app user spending has surpassed $3 billion, with projections for significant growth in the coming years [9] Group 6 - Meta's former chief AI scientist Yann LeCun plans to raise €500 million for his new AI startup, aiming for a valuation of around €3 billion [12] - OpenAI is reportedly planning to raise up to $100 billion, potentially reaching a valuation of $830 billion [12] - Galaxy Z TriFold, Samsung's new foldable phone, has launched in China, starting at ¥19,999 [18]

Foxconn’s vehicle design subsidiary is set to acquire full control of Taiwanese car marque Luxgen, reported Nikkei Asia. The move will give the contract electronics giant an in-house brand as it expands further into electric vehicles in its domestic market. Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, a joint venture created by Foxconn and automaker Yulon in 2020, has agreed to buy 100% of the Luxgen brand for T$787m ($24.9m). Foxtron has until now been responsible mainly for research, development and design of elect ...

Core Viewpoint - The AI-focused themes are expected to remain prominent in 2026, with Toyota Industries (TYIDY) identified as a potential investment opportunity due to its recent performance and privatization bid [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Toyota Industries is headquartered in Kariya-shi, Japan, and manufactures textile machinery, materials handling equipment, automobiles, and automobile parts, with significant markets in Japan, the United States, and Europe [3]. - For the fiscal year 2025, Toyota Industries reported revenue of 4,084 billion yen and a profit of 262.3 billion yen [3]. Group 2: Recent Developments - In June 2025, Toyota Group announced a 4.7 trillion-yen ($30 billion) deal to take Toyota Industries private, which has led to a 40.5% increase in TYIDY stock for the year [2][4]. - Elliott Investment Management increased its stake in Toyota Industries from 3.26% in September to 5.01% in December, indicating growing interest from activist investors [2]. Group 3: Market Reactions and Valuation - Following the announcement of the privatization bid, Toyota Industries shares initially fell by 13%, reflecting market disappointment regarding the deal's value [5]. - Arun George, a global equity research analyst, noted that the offer price was below the midpoint of the valuation range provided by independent financial advisers, suggesting the offer may be unattractive [5]. - Zennor Asset Management highlighted that Toyota Industries has substantial real estate assets valued at 1.5 trillion yen, which could support a higher deal value [6].