Wall Street Breakfast

A major chip equipment maker plans roughly 1,700 job cuts while also reporting record orders and higher sales guidance. AI merger chatter lifts an AI software company as automation deal talk boosts its stock. A big retailer reshapes grocery strategy, expanding Whole Foods and same-day delivery while closing other stores. Markets watch Nvidia chip imports, potential big tech investments, and notable pre-market movers.

UnitedHealth tumbles after a weak revenue outlook and Medicare rate surprise. Boeing posts mixed results with heavy segment losses. UPS beats earnings but warns of falling volumes. GM shows profit plus EV-related write-offs. Consumer confidence drops to a decade low. Apple explores AI partners for Siri. Silver sees a meme-driven rally that may be fleeting.

A look at Meta testing paid subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp with new AI features. Coverage of higher US tariffs on South Korean goods and market reaction. Reports on two restaurant companies filing Chapter 11 while keeping locations open. Quick takes on big movers, silver chatter, Microsoft data-center news, and upcoming events to watch.

A major global restaurant chain makes its U.S. debut with openings in Los Angeles and New York. Market moves spotlight AppLovin upgrades, a rare earth company teaming up with U.S. agencies, and CoreWeave scaling AI infrastructure. Apple unveils a second‑generation AirTag with improved range and sound. Morgan Stanley shares big AI and macro predictions for 2026.

Political brinkmanship raises the odds of a government shutdown as lawmakers clash over DHS funding. A massive winter storm halts Senate votes and disrupts travel. Canada rules out a free-trade push with China while tariff threats escalate. Gold surges past $5,000 as investors seek safe havens amid market volatility.

Big-tech earnings take center stage with Apple, Microsoft and Meta set to report and AI-driven growth in focus. A pivotal Fed decision and a White House probe into Powell add political and market suspense. A massive winter storm snarls travel for millions. Trade tensions and rapid workplace AI adoption round out the week’s major headlines.

A winter storm watch has people flocking to Costco, boosting its sales as consumers stock up. Capital One makes headlines with its $5.15 billion acquisition of fintech Brex. Intel impresses with its Q4 earnings but warns of a weaker outlook for Q1. Meanwhile, Amazon prepares for another round of layoffs, and a Las Vegas casino gets creative to entice Canadian visitors. Plus, insights on market futures, commodities, and upcoming economic indicators keep listeners informed in a shifting market landscape.

Rates are climbing as core PCE holds steady at 2.8%, indicating persistent inflation. Analysts voice concerns over GE Aerospace's slower margin expansion despite solid earnings. Updates on Q3 GDP reveal a revision to 4.4%, while jobless claims see notable movements. Abbott Labs faces a revenue miss and a disappointing outlook for Q1. Meanwhile, EU regulators gear up for parallel reviews of competitive Warner bids, with J.P. Morgan and Allen & Company expecting to profit regardless of the outcome.

Intel's impressive 11% surge fuels excitement in the semiconductor sector ahead of its earnings report. Trump is contemplating a tariff-free zone to aid in rebuilding Ukraine's economy. Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance extends its tender offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, creating waves in the media landscape. Prediction markets are leaning towards Netflix in this competition, highlighting the shifting dynamics in entertainment. Additional discussions include Apple’s Lunar New Year promotions and the U.S. plans for nuclear waste management.

Trump's about-face on Greenland tariffs boosted stocks significantly. A massive 1,000% surge from Sandisk highlights its pivot to cutting-edge, AI-driven storage. Natural gas prices soared over 50% due to a deep freeze ramping up heating demand. NVIDIA's CEO emphasizes the immense infrastructure needs for AI, while praises for Anthropic's Claude and ChatGPT at Davos underline their importance in development. Netflix faces mixed guidance, but analysts remain optimistic about its growth potential.