The beginning of the week saw fairly muted trading, as investors awaited Wednesday's highly anticipated interest rate decision. The central bank cut rates by 25 basis points for the third -- and final -- time this year, bringing the target range to 3.50% - 3.75%. According to the central bank's dot plot, the Fed projects one rate cut in 2026, though the CME Fedwatch tool is pricing in a 68% chance of two rate cuts next year. Though the broader market enjoyed the Fed-induced lift, AI valuation concerns broug ...

Market Overview - The Dow is up about 100 points, indicating a potential record close after a record yesterday [2][3] - The S&P 500 also closed at a record yesterday but is down about a third today, while the Nasdaq is down about half a percent [3][4] - The S&P equal weight index is outperforming the S&P 500, suggesting broadening participation in the market [4] Federal Reserve Insights - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point, with dissent from three members [8][10] - Chicago Fed President Austin Goulby expressed a desire to wait for more inflation data before further cuts, indicating optimism for significant reductions in rates over the next year [9][10] - Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid believes inflation remains too high and the economy shows momentum, suggesting that policy is not overly restrictive [10][11] Technology Sector Performance - Broadcom's disappointing earnings report has significantly impacted the tech sector, contributing to its decline [6][7] - Despite the drop, Broadcom's stock is still up year-to-date due to investor confidence in its AI-related prospects [7] College Athletics and NIL Legislation - The Hustle Act aims to protect college athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL) earnings by creating tax-advantaged savings accounts and capping agent fees [36] - NIL has become a multi-billion dollar business for college athletes, necessitating legislative measures to provide structure and support [37][38] - The legislation seeks to address the challenges faced by student-athletes in managing their new commercial opportunities while balancing academic commitments [39][41] Corporate Developments - Citigroup received an upgrade to overweight from JP Morgan, citing expected benefits from a solid economy and market activity [60] - Alphabet's price target was raised to $350 by TD Cowan, driven by increased search engagement and the success of its Gemini chatbot [61][62] - FMCC was double upgraded by Wedbush, with expectations of near-term action from the Trump administration to recapitalize the mortgage giant [63] Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin is rebounding after dipping below 90,000 earlier in the week, with analysts noting it has been stuck in a range of 85,000 to 95,000 for about a month [64] Electric Vehicle Sector - Rivian's stock is up significantly after NEM raised its price target, citing momentum in AI and autonomous driving [65][66] Banking Sector - UBS shares are rising after Swiss lawmakers proposed easing capital rules, which would lower funding costs for the bank [68]

Disney Stock rose after a $1 billion OpenAI deal, signaling investor optimism.VCG via Getty ImagesDisney stock has been dead money in 2025 – inching up 2.3% so far in 2025 while the S&P rose 17%, according to Google Finance. Even that tiny increase was due to mild investor enthusiasm for Disney’s announcement of a $1 billion investment in OpenAI and a three-year license to let users generate videos of Disney and Marvel characters, noted the Wall Street Journal.For long-suffering Disney shareholders, this ra ...

Our next guest says, "Buy high and sell low." The opposite of the old Wall Street outage. Adam Parker, founder and CEO of Trivari Research, joins us this morning for Think from the Road. Adam, good to see you.>> Hey, Carl. Hey, Sarah. How are you.>> All right, so explain that one to us. >> You know, valuation really doesn't work from picking stocks. We've seen that.You can't buy super cheap stocks. And we know that you also can't uh buy stocks that are down from 52- week highs. They they underperform.So the ...

Core Insights - Disney has entered a three-year agreement with OpenAI to create generative AI videos featuring over 200 characters from its franchises, including Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, alongside a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI [1][2] Group 1: Partnership Details - The collaboration aims to extend Disney's storytelling reach through AI, allowing fans to engage with characters in innovative ways [2] - Disney will become a major customer of OpenAI, gaining warrants for additional equity and access to OpenAI's tools for product development [2] - The partnership will potentially allow fan-created videos to be streamed on Disney+ [5] Group 2: Legal Context - Disney has been protective of its intellectual property, having previously sued AI image creator Midjourney and sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google for copyright infringement [4][3] Group 3: Future Implications - The partnership is expected to launch in early 2026, with concerns about copyright infringement already raised following the launch of OpenAI's Sora app [6] - Both companies emphasize a commitment to responsible AI use, aiming to protect creators' rights while promoting innovation [7] Group 4: Market Reaction - Following the announcement of the partnership, Disney's shares increased by nearly 1.5% amid a broader market rally [9]

Group 1: Lululemon and Costco - Lululemon announced the departure of CEO Calvin McDonald, effective end of January, with interim leadership in place while searching for a permanent successor [1] - Lululemon reported better-than-expected earnings for Q3, but has been underperforming for over a year, with shares up more than 9% following the earnings report [2] - Costco exceeded Wall Street forecasts for its first quarter, driven by e-commerce growth, with Black Friday marking a record-breaking day for its digital business [2] Group 2: Disney and OpenAI - Disney made a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI, allowing users on OpenAI's Sora platform to create content featuring Disney's copyrighted material, including over 200 characters [3][4] - Disney CEO Bob Iger stated that the deal provides a pathway into AI and helps reach younger consumers, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman mentioned there will be restrictions on the use of Disney characters in Sora videos [4] Group 3: Fiber Market Trends - There is a growing consumer focus on fiber, with 22% of shoppers listing high fiber content as a top-three factor when shopping, up from 17% four years ago [9] - Companies like Coca-Cola and Nestlé are launching fiber-focused products, and PepsiCo plans to introduce high-fiber versions of Smartfood and SunChips next year [9]

Core Insights - iQIYI has announced a strategic partnership with the UAE BRIDGE Alliance during the "BRIDGE" Global Media Summit, aiming to build a media, technology, and cultural bridge between China and the Middle East and North Africa [1][3] - The partnership will leverage iQIYI's content and technology capabilities alongside BRIDGE Alliance's platform advantages, focusing on key areas such as intellectual property development, film content production and distribution, virtual production and VR technology applications, and media technology research and exchange [1][3] Summary by Categories Strategic Partnership - iQIYI's collaboration with the UAE National Media Office and BRIDGE Alliance is seen as a recognition of its content and technology capabilities, marking a significant step in enhancing international presence, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa [3][4] - The establishment of a North Africa and Middle East station by iQIYI in May 2025 aims to provide better localized services in the region, reflecting the company's commitment to expanding its market presence [3] Areas of Collaboration - The partnership will focus on four main areas: 1. Joint development and operation of intellectual property, aiming to incubate and operate internationally viable film IPs to maximize cross-regional value [3] 2. Joint production and distribution of film content, integrating resources to develop globally appealing films and expanding distribution networks [3] 3. Advancements in virtual production and VR technology applications, enhancing content production efficiency and immersive experiences [3] 4. Establishing a regular technical exchange mechanism for next-generation media technology exploration and facilitating interaction among industry talents and creative resources [3] Industry Impact - The UAE National Media Office's Director General and BRIDGE Alliance Vice Chairman expressed confidence that this partnership will effectively connect creative industry resources between China and the Middle East, accelerating the integration and implementation of media technologies, which aligns with BRIDGE Alliance's goals of fostering global collaboration and economic diversification [4]

Group 1 - Disney is integrating AI into its licensing deals, indicating a strategic shift towards technology-driven solutions in content distribution [1] - Broadcom has reported earnings that exceeded market expectations, showcasing strong performance in the semiconductor industry [1] - The Trump administration is focusing on regulatory changes targeting financial industry watchdogs, which may impact compliance and operational frameworks within the sector [1]

Core Insights - Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar have pledged $24 billion to support Paramount's $18 billion hostile bid for Warner Brothers Discovery, covering nearly 60% of the $41 billion equity in the deal [1][2] - This collaboration among Gulf rivals could reshape the global media landscape and establish the Gulf as a significant player in Hollywood [2] - Gulf sovereign funds are actively acquiring major entertainment and media assets, with Saudi Arabia already investing billions in sports teams and other high-profile investments [2] Group 1 - The Gulf states are aiming to build a media empire to compete with Qatar, which owns Al Jazeera, the most-watched news channel in the Arab world [3] - Qatar also has ownership of the French football team Paris Saint-Germain, indicating its investment in both media and sports [3] - Abu Dhabi is looking to expand its media assets following a failed bid for Britain's Telegraph newspaper, which led to changes in UK media ownership laws [4] Group 2 - The UAE is home to several Arabic language outlets and Euro News, showcasing its media presence [4] - Abu Dhabi has significant influence in football as the owner of Manchester City and has attracted major film productions, including the F1 movie "Dune" [4]

It is time for money, power, politics. This one is a biggie. We are tracking more major media news.Earlier today, Walt Disney announced that it will pour $1 billion dollars into Open AI and license hundreds of its iconic characters to the company's generative AI video platform, Sora. The deal is a massive endorsement of Open AI from one of the biggest media companies on the planet and makes Disney not only an OpenAI customer, but now an investor. Here's what their CEO, Bob Iger, told CNBC about the deal ear ...