Wall Street Breakfast

Seeking Alpha’s 2025 year in review spotlights the stories that mattered most to subscribers, tracking the headlines that shaped markets month by month. From AI and tech debates to tariffs, bond market volatility, political clashes, and an historic government shutdown, investors were forced to constantly reassess risk and opportunity.Episode transcripts seekingalpha.com/wsb.Show links: Top Stocks 2026January: Chinese AI lab DeepSeek rattles Silicon Valley February: Trump administration tells U.S. agencies to prepare for ‘large-scale’ layoffs March: What's next for quantum computing stocks?April: Trump announces tariffsMay: Wall Street slides, Dow falls 800 points as bond sell-off & fiscal fears batter sentimentJune: Trump, Musk in public spat over spending billJuly: Westinghouse plans to build 10 large nuclear reactorsAugust: Trump moves to fire Fed Governor Lisa CookSeptember: Google not required to sell Chrome in antitrust remedy rulingOctober: Bureau of Labor Statistics to shut down during government shutdownNovember: Michael Burry to shut down hedge fundDecember: Cannabis stocks selling off as Trump signs rescheduling orderSign up for our daily newsletter here and for full access to analyst ratings, stock quant scores, dividend grades, subscribe to Seeking Alpha Premium at seekingalpha.com/subscriptions.

SoftBank has finalized its colossal $40 billion investment in OpenAI, raising questions about tech funding dynamics. In entertainment, Warner Bros. is set to reject Paramount's latest offer. The automotive landscape sees China surging past Japan in global sales, largely fueled by electric vehicles. Societe Generale warns that silver may be in a bubble, suggesting a cautious approach. Plus, Michael Burry praises Molina Healthcare’s potential, likening it to Geico’s success, while Benchmark touts Genius Sports as a promising pick for 2026.

Meta is making big moves by acquiring Manus to enhance its AI capabilities. Boeing has landed an impressive $8.6 billion contract to supply F-15s to the Israeli Air Force. Novo Nordisk is slashing prices for Wegovy in China ahead of potential competition from generics. In market trends, silver and gold are experiencing significant declines, while SpaceX's stock viability is up for debate. Meanwhile, Samsung gains approval for shipping chipmaking tools to China, shaking up the tech landscape as the market keeps a close watch.

Silver prices took a sharp downturn after a significant rally, dropping 9% after an impressive December rise. The increase in retail activity raises concerns about potential market volatility, with experts cautioning about a pullback. Meanwhile, SoftBank's $4 billion acquisition of DigitalBridge aims to enhance AI and telecom infrastructure. Looking ahead, major companies like NVIDIA and AMD prepare to showcase innovations at CES, while analysts predict toy manufacturers will thrive with upcoming movie tie-ins.

Coupang announces a staggering $1 billion in compensation for victims of a major data breach, leading to its CEO's resignation. Meanwhile, China's LandSpace aims to challenge SpaceX with reusable rockets, despite setbacks. In New York, new regulations mandate mental health warning labels on social media, addressing rising concerns over user addiction. The show also touches on Ukraine peace talks and notes that silver has ascended to become the third most valuable asset globally.

Jack Bowman, founder of Bowman Capital Management and a keen market commentator, dives into the current economic landscape. He discusses the surprising drop in consumer sentiment alongside rising inflation expectations. The conversation heats up around massive AI CapEx investments by tech giants like Meta and Amazon. Bowman also unpacks the implications of tariff actions and the ongoing trade truce regarding China. Finally, he offers a bullish outlook for the S&P 500, predicting a significant increase by 2026.

BP is making waves by selling a 65% stake in Castrol to Stonepeak. Big moves in the stock market with UiPath and Versant Media joining the MidCap and SmallCap indices respectively. Waymo is set to enhance its software after facing challenges during a blackout. The discussion touches on GDP growth predictions and the resurgence of a secondhand clothing retailer. Sanofi's acquisition of Dynavax also makes headlines, highlighting the dynamic shifts in various sectors.

Novo Nordisk celebrates as the FDA approves an oral version of Wegovy for obesity management, promising a January launch. Mercedes faces a $150M settlement for its diesel emissions scandal. ByteDance outlines a massive $23B plan for AI investments by 2026, focusing on infrastructure. Meanwhile, the market buzzes with news of stocks like Zim surging on strategic proposals, as the Santa Claus rally hints at a hopeful January effect.

Microsoft's Satya Nadella is getting hands-on with AI as competition ramps up, attending meetings to steer engineers' efforts. Meanwhile, Larry Ellison has backed Paramount's bold bid for Warner with a massive investment. In global news, Cuba faces dire economic challenges tied to its reliance on Venezuelan oil. Lastly, a lighthearted look at 2026 predictions reveals some humorous and surprising forecasts about the future of technology and finance.

Gold prices skyrocket past $4,400, fueled by Fed rate-cut expectations and geopolitical tensions. Silver mirrors this surge, reaching historic highs. Waymo resumes its robotaxi service following a power outage in San Francisco, while Baidu partners with Uber and Lyft to launch robo-taxi tests in the UK. In business news, Apple's hefty antitrust fine makes headlines, and James Grant hints at his top stock pick for 2025. The market awaits key moves in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq with their quarterly rebalancing approaching.