NASDAQ turning lower this hour down more than one and a half% as the president posts on Truth Social that China is becoming hostile over rare earths and trade talks comes just hours after China announced an antitrust probe into US chip giant Qualcomm. Mackenzie Sagalos has more on that in today's tech. Hey Mac. Hey Carl.So, Qualcomm is plunging, down more than well, nearly 5% at this point as investors digest what's looking like collateral damage in this escalating trade war between the US and China. Beijin ...

Key Points Americans spend hundreds of dollars annually on lottery tickets. Jackpots are expanding, and lottery organizers are incentivized to keep up the growth. Nvidia stock has been hot, rising nearly 40% in 2025. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Got $321 for a chance to supercharge your wealth? That amount is how much the average American spent on lottery tickets in 2023, according to research conducted by The Motley Fool using the most recent data available from the U.S. Census Bureau. ...

Key Points In September, Nvidia made a $5 billion investment in Intel stock. By partnering with Intel, Nvidia seeks to level up its AI chip capabilities. Nvidia recognizes data centers require upgrades to meet the demands of AI systems. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › When Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), was getting started in the 1990s, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) was dominating the semiconductor chip industry. Now, the fortunes of these companies have flipped. Today, it's Nvidia that's dominating, thank ...

(Reuters) -The U.S. is planning to push chipmakers to match the volume of semiconductors that their customers currently import from overseas providers through domestic production, or pay a tariff, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. President Donald Trump has doubled down on his efforts to reshore semiconductor manufacturing, offering exemptions from tariffs of roughly 100% on chips to firms that produce domestically. Companies that fail to sustain a 1:1 domestic-to-import ratio over time would fa ...

Core Viewpoint - Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC) have reached an all-time high of $286.00, indicating strong market performance and investor confidence in the company [1] Company Summary - TSMC's stock price has achieved a record level, reflecting its significant position in the semiconductor industry and potential growth prospects [1]

Group 1: Intel and Semiconductor Industry - Intel's stock increased by 6.4% following reports of discussions with Apple regarding a potential stake purchase [3] - The rise in Intel's shares was also supported by Micron Technology's positive outlook for PCs and traditional servers, which are key markets for Intel [3] - Over the past month, Intel's stock has gained more than 25%, driven by significant investments from the U.S. government, SoftBank, and Nvidia [3] Group 2: Mining and Commodities - Freeport-McMoRan's shares fell by 17% after the company lowered its forecasts for quarterly copper and gold sales due to issues at its Indonesia unit [4] - The company declared force majeure at its Grasberg mine following a mud flow that blocked access and resulted in fatalities [4] Group 3: Law Enforcement Technology - Axon Enterprise's shares dropped by 10% after announcing the acquisition of Prepared, an AI-powered emergency communications platform [5] - Analysts from Needham maintained a "buy" rating on Axon stock, while Piper Sandler initiated coverage with a bullish "overweight" rating [5] Group 4: Energy Sector - Xcel Energy's shares rose by 6.7% after the company agreed to settle litigation related to the 2021 Marshall Fire for approximately $640 million [6] Group 5: Health Insurance - Centene's shares increased by 5.8% after its subsidiary Meridian Health paid $15 million in value-based care incentives, indicating improved health outcomes for Medicaid members [7] Group 6: Agricultural Chemicals - Shares of agricultural chemical companies Mosaic and CF Industries Holdings rose by 5.8% and 5.2%, respectively, following reports of bipartisan support for stabilizing fertilizer markets [9]

Group 1: U.S. Government's Strategic Moves - The U.S. government is negotiating for a potential 10% equity stake in Lithium Americas Corporation (LAC) as part of efforts to reduce reliance on China for lithium supply [2][10] - This move aligns with the government's broader strategy to secure control over critical minerals essential for electric vehicle (EV) production and national security technologies [6][16] - The Thacker Pass lithium project is seen as a cornerstone for building a domestic supply chain for EV batteries, with an expected annual production of 40,000 metric tons of battery-quality lithium carbonate [4][10] Group 2: Market Reactions and Implications - Following the news of the potential government stake, shares of Lithium Americas surged approximately 80% in after-hours trading [2] - The government's involvement in companies like LAC is expected to strengthen investor confidence and align corporate strategies with national security priorities [6][13] - The pattern of government equity stakes in critical industries, such as semiconductors and rare earths, suggests a consistent strategy to bolster U.S. production and reduce foreign influence [16][17] Group 3: Comparisons with Other Industries - The recent acquisition of a 10% stake in Intel Corporation by the government highlights a precedent for similar investments in strategic sectors [7][8] - MP Materials, the only vertically integrated rare earth producer in the U.S., has also benefited from government backing, which has turned it into a national champion [12][13] - The strategy extends to smaller players like United States Antimony Corporation, indicating a willingness to support niche minerals critical for defense and technology [14][15]

Group 1 - Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) announced a collaboration with JSR Corporation to enhance semiconductor manufacturing [1] - The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of next-generation patterning technologies, particularly dry resist technology for extreme ultraviolet lithography, essential for AI and high-performance computing chips [2] - The collaboration will integrate JSR's innovative semiconductor materials expertise with Lam Research's strengths in deposition, etching, and EUV patterning, focusing on metal oxide resists and advanced chip nodes [3] Group 2 - Lam Research Corporation is recognized as a leading global supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and services [4] - While Lam Research is seen as a potential investment, there are opinions suggesting that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Group 1 - Intel stock experienced a significant rally, surging nearly 30% on Thursday, but closed the week down more than 3% at $29.58, despite a weekly gain of over 20% [1][2] - The surge was primarily driven by investor enthusiasm surrounding Intel's $5 billion deal with Nvidia, marking the largest single-day jump in Intel's share price in decades [2][7] - Intel's 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) climbed above 71, indicating the stock is in overbought territory, which typically signals a potential short-term pullback [2][4] Group 2 - The stock faced resistance near the $30.50 level, suggesting it may have reached a temporary peak, with downside risks becoming more pronounced [5] - Potential support zones are identified around $25, where the 20-day simple moving average is positioned, and a deeper retreat could push the stock toward the $23 region near the 50-day average [6] - In addition to the Nvidia deal, Intel has lowered its 2025 non-GAAP operating expense outlook, strengthened its balance sheet through asset sales, and tied major foundry investments to firm customer commitments, reflecting greater financial discipline [7][8]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The focus of the conference call is on the technology sector, particularly the impact of AI-related capital expenditures (capex) on economic growth in the United States [1][2]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Impact of Data Center Investment**: Investment in data centers is projected to contribute approximately 10-20 basis points (bps) to annual growth rates, with a significant evaluation of its actual contribution in the first half of 2025 [2]. - **Tech Capex Contributions**: The broader category of business investment in technology products and software is highlighted, with a notable contribution from data centers and AI software sales. However, personal computer spending is currently contributing less to GDP growth compared to business spending [3][5]. - **AI Productivity Gains**: There is skepticism regarding the immediate realization of productivity gains from AI investments, suggesting that while substantial funds are being allocated, the expected productivity improvements may not yet be evident [4]. - **GDP Contribution from Tech Investment**: Despite the heightened focus on AI since the launch of ChatGPT in Q4 2022, tech investment contributed only 0.1% to GDP growth in 2024, with a more substantial contribution of 0.5% in the first half of 2025 [5][6]. - **Domestic Final Sales**: The contribution from domestic final sales of tech is particularly significant, adding 1.3% to GDP growth in 1H25, indicating limited growth in final sales outside the tech sector [6]. Additional Important Insights - **Measurement Challenges**: There are concerns regarding the accuracy of measuring tech investment in GDP, including issues with the price deflator for software and potential undercounting of domestic value-added in US-branded semiconductors manufactured abroad [14][15][16]. - **Hyperscaler Capex Growth**: Hyperscaler capital expenditures have been growing faster than reported NIPA measures, suggesting that actual tech spending may be understated. This discrepancy raises questions about the accuracy of GDP contributions from tech investments [22][27]. - **Future Projections**: While hyperscaler capex is expected to remain high, growth rates are projected to decelerate significantly from approximately 60% in 2024 and 2025 to 19% in 2026 and 9% in 2027. This deceleration could impact reported GDP contributions [27][29]. Conclusion - The technology sector, particularly driven by AI investments, is playing a crucial role in economic growth, but measurement challenges and the timing of productivity gains present complexities for accurate assessments of its impact on GDP. Future growth in tech investment is anticipated, albeit at a slower rate, with significant implications for overall economic performance [20][29].