The Rundown

Market dynamics are heating up as Trump threatens to ban large investors from buying single-family homes. Defense stocks are reacting strongly to his ambitious $1.5 trillion military budget proposal. Meanwhile, NVIDIA is on the brink of regaining access to China with its H200 chip potentially about to secure approvals. Lastly, Anthropic's impressive $10 billion funding round hints at a promising future in the AI space, possibly outpacing OpenAI. Stay tuned for insightful market analyses!

In today's discussion, storage stocks skyrocket after NVIDIA's CEO highlights memory demand. Discord takes a big step by filing confidentially for a U.S. IPO, reflecting a budding tech IPO market. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's xAI secures a staggering $20 billion in funding, with major support from NVIDIA and Cisco. Mobileye makes headlines with a $900 million acquisition in humanoid robotics, while Deckers faces downgrades due to Hoka's sluggish growth. Lastly, ChatGPT experiences a 22% drop in web traffic as competition ramps up.

Energy and defense stocks are surging following pivotal changes in Venezuela's oil production. Nvidia makes a bold move with new AI chips aimed at revolutionizing robotaxis, while Meta faces challenges in launching its Ray-Ban smart glasses due to production delays. Zeta Global sees a stock boost from a partnership with OpenAI to enhance marketing with AI. Meanwhile, natural gas prices drop as warm weather dampens demand, and condo prices experience their largest decline in a decade.

Market dynamics take center stage as the U.S. oil sector rallies with hope for Venezuela's energy rebound. Despite a political shake-up, oil prices remain steady due to oversupply. Novo Nordisk introduces a groundbreaking oral weight-loss pill, sparking a potential shake-up in the GLP-1 market. Meanwhile, Mobileye celebrates a major deal with a top U.S. automaker, as CES showcases exciting AI innovations. Comcast's cable spinoff meets investor skepticism, highlighting a transformative tech landscape.

Bold predictions for 2026 are unveiled, sparking excitement and unease on Wall Street. Healthcare emerges as the top sector, driven by groundbreaking drug innovations. Anticipation builds for a record year of IPOs featuring major players like SpaceX and Databricks. A controversial take suggests the Magnificent Seven could underperform as industries shift. Could Google become the most valuable company? And there’s speculation about Sam Altman’s future at OpenAI, with rumors of a possible ousting.

Tesla faces a setback as Q4 deliveries drop by 16%, sparking investor concerns. Saks is on the brink of bankruptcy after missing a key debt payment, casting a shadow over the luxury retail scene. Meanwhile, furniture stocks soar following a delay in tariff hikes, giving a boost to retailers like Wayfair. Oil prices are falling due to an oversupply, while Disney celebrates a triumphant year at the box office, raking in $6.5 billion with hits like Zootopia 2.

Nvidia is ramping up production of its H200 chips due to skyrocketing demand from China. Warner Bros. Discovery is rejecting Paramount's revised takeover bid, setting the stage for a potential corporate showdown. Nike's stock saw a boost thanks to insider buying, while Rivian's shares dipped following CEO stock sales. In other news, Warren Buffett officially retires, marking the end of an extraordinary investing era that began in 1965.

Today, market volatility takes center stage with silver and gold trading like meme assets. Meta shakes things up by acquiring AI startup Manus for over $2 billion, aiming to enhance its integration with innovative technology. Copper prices hit record highs, driven by soaring demand from AI data centers. Meanwhile, Tesla faces another year of declining deliveries, raising eyebrows about future growth. Plus, international stocks outshine U.S. equities by a significant margin, revealing intriguing shifts in the market landscape.

Lululemon's founder is shaking things up with a proxy fight for board control, following a significant stock drop. Nvidia makes waves with a huge investment in Intel, while DigitalBridge sees stocks soar after a SoftBank buyout. Silver experiences wild fluctuations, fueled by a mix of speculation and industrial demand, sparking interest in this once-traditional metal. Meanwhile, children's show Bluey continues to dominate streaming charts, showcasing the power of kids' viewing habits. It's a lively mix of finance and fun!

In a lively discussion, Jason Ware, Chief Investment Officer of Albion Financial, shares insights on market trajectories into 2026. He explores whether AI investments will sustain the success of Big Tech and argues that fears around AI-driven debt are largely overstated. Ware also addresses the surprising resilience of markets amidst tariff concerns and offers perspectives on Federal Reserve dynamics. Plus, he predicts a healthy future for IPOs and M&A despite fluctuating performances in tech. With his expertise, Ware navigates the intricate landscape of market evolution.