Squawk on the Street SOTS 2nd Hour: 2025's Charts of the Year, Tech/Retail Playbooks, & AI Headlines to Know 12/30/25
Dec 30, 2025
Dan Greenhouse, Chief Market Strategist at Solus Alternative Asset Management, shares his insights on the bullish case for stocks, driven by AI spending and consumer resilience. The discussion also delves into SoftBank's massive $40 billion commitment to OpenAI and what it means for the tech landscape. They explore Meta's recent acquisition aimed at enhancing AI agents and highlight Guggenheim's unexpected retail picks for 2026, while examining the impacts of holiday return trends on retailers and the innovative role of AI in restaurants.
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Tariff Windfall Altered The Fiscal Picture
- Tariff revenue surged in 2025 and added significant unexpected federal receipts without causing the inflation spike many feared.
- The cost was split between consumers, companies, and foreign suppliers, muting headline inflation impacts.
Power Costs Threaten Affordability Gains
- Electricity prices rose sharply in 2025, driven partly by data-center demand, creating affordability pressure for consumers and businesses.
- Rising power needs may complicate anti-inflation efforts and could push rates higher if capacity tightens.
Three Rate Cuts Shaped Market Sentiment
- The Fed cut rates three times in 2025, prioritizing the jobs market amid continued inflation concerns.
- Rate cuts supported markets but left ambiguity about future inflation risks and policy direction.