WEEK OF DECEMBER 23, 2024
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Important Prices
What’s Moving The Markets?
Apple Explores AI Partnerships in China
Apple (AAPL) is in early talks with Tencent (TCEHY), ByteDance, and Baidu (BIDU) to integrate local AI models into iPhones sold in China, addressing regulatory hurdles and competition from domestic brands like Huawei amid declining market share.
The Fed’s Hawkish Rate Cuts
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25% but signaled caution on further reductions, citing persistent inflation challenges and uncertainties around Trump-era policies like tariffs and tax cuts, which could elevate inflation and hinder aggressive rate easing.
Europe Faces Tougher Emissions Rules
European automakers are raising petrol car prices and discounting EVs to meet stricter EU emissions targets requiring at least 20% EV sales, but weak market growth, high production costs, and declining subsidies threaten profits, forcing strategies like “pooling” emissions and price adjustments to avoid massive fines.
Rising Competition For Weight-Loss Drugs
As Novo Nordisk’s (NOVO) and Eli Lilly’s (LLY) blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs face cheaper generic competition in markets with lax patent protections, global price pressures and market share challenges loom, despite soaring demand and expanding production efforts.
Union Strikes Challenge Amazon
Thousands of Teamsters-represented Amazon (AMZN) workers across the U.S. are striking for better wages and conditions during the peak holiday season, highlighting ongoing tensions over unionization efforts and Amazon’s resistance to collective bargaining.
Bitcoin’s Strategic Reserve Hopes
Bitcoin (BTC) hit a record $107,148 after President-elect Donald Trump reiterated plans for a U.S. bitcoin reserve, fueling optimism among crypto bulls. MicroStrategy’s (MSTR) inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 further boosted sentiment, driving the cryptocurrency market to a record $3.8 trillion in value.
S&P Outlook
EARNINGS RELEASE CALENDAR
FOR WEEK OF DECEMBER 23rd
