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- 📣 SpaceX now most valuable private company
📣 SpaceX now most valuable private company
Google pushes FTC to breakup Microsoft & OpenAI
Today’s top stories:
US courts supports banning TikTok
Musk’s xAI races to catch up with OpenAI
China has the biggest rate cut in 10 years
Mag7’s profit growth to drop to 18% in 2025
Google pushes FTC to breakup Microsoft-OpenAI exclusivity
SpaceX now the most valuable private company at $350B
Trade wars heat up between US and China
Our top stories are now offered as a podcast, if you like to listen on the go. Hit play below to give it a try and let us know what you think!
Market Pulse
Markets of top 5 GDPs. All numbers are as of closing previous day, except for Gold, which shows opening of current trading day.
🗓️ Economic Calendar
Important economic events for the world's top 5 economies. Timings in red are most important meetings. All times US EST.
🔥 Top Stories
1. 🚫 US court greenlights TikTok ban in historic social media ruling
Source: Pew Research Center
⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:
Federal Appeals court confirms US can ban TikTok over national security risks.
TikTok expected to appeal to the Supreme Court but justices are under no obligation to hear the case.
Ban starts mid-January unless ByteDance sells US operations.
China refuses to allow sale of TikTok's algorithm and source code.
Companies face $5,000 fine per US user if they defy the ban.
Trump's stance shifts from 2020 ban attempt to current TikTok support.
💡 How it impacts you:
Existing TikTok users won’t be able to access the app.
Content creators need backup platforms for their audience.
No new downloads from Apple or Google app stores after ban.
User data might still be accessible to Chinese authorities.
🔮 Industry prediction:
Social media's Berlin Wall moment - first major platform split between East and West
Who's Moving:
🏃♀️ Leading: Meta, YouTube (ready to absorb creators)
🚶♂️ Following: Regional social platforms
⌛ Waiting: Other Chinese-owned apps in USWhat's Next:
Now: Supreme Court emergency stay attempts
6 Months: Creator exodus to alternative platforms
1 Year: New geopolitical boundaries in social media
⚡ The bottom line: The US just pulled a reverse Uno card on China's great firewall, and 170 million Americans are caught in the middle.
2. 🏗️ Musk's $50B AI startup races to catch up with OpenAI after $11B funding boost
Source: Financial Times, Techonomy Barista research
⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:
Musk launched xAI after cutting OpenAI's access to X data post-ChatGPT success.
Poached top talent from DeepMind and OpenAI, including Igor Babuschkin.
Built Memphis data center in 122 days with 100,000 Nvidia GPUs to outpace rivals.
Currently at $100M revenue vs OpenAI's $4B, showing massive catch-up needed.
Sued OpenAI over its shift from non-profit status and alleged investor interference.
💡 How it impacts you:
If you're an X subscriber, you get exclusive access to Grok AI chatbot.
Developers can now build products using Grok's API with special discounts.
Coming standalone app could offer new AI assistant choice beyond ChatGPT.
🔮 Industry prediction:
AI infrastructure race turning into Fast & Furious but with data centers instead of cars.
Who's Moving:
🏃♀️ Leading: xAI, Meta (building at breakneck speed)
🚶♂️ Following: OpenAI + Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Traditional data centers
⌛ Waiting: Other AI startups without massive fundingWhat's Next:
Now: Speed-built data centers with temporary power solutions
6 Months: Environmental concerns spark local resistance
1 Year: New standards for rapid infrastructure deployment
⚡ The bottom line: xAI's Memphis data center is what happens when you mix Silicon Valley speed with Southern hospitality and a dash of Musk's trademark rush.
3. 📉 China's deflation battle sparks biggest rate cuts in 10 years
Source: People’s Bank Of China, Bloomberg
⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:
Wall Street predicts China to cut rates by 40 basis points in 2025 - the largest drop since 2015.
Faces longest deflation streak this century.
10-year debt fell under 2% for first time ever.
Trump return raises fears of second trade war impact on Chinese economy.
💡 How it impacts you:
US tariffs would increase prices of Chinese-made consumer goods in American stores.
Investment portfolios with Chinese bonds could see value changes.
Companies doing business with China might face pricing pressures.
🔮 Industry prediction:
Deflationary pressure + trade tensions → aggressive monetary easing → global ripple effects
Key Players:
🎯 Moving Markets: People's Bank of China
⚡ Making Moves: Wall Street banks
👥 Worth Watching: Chinese real estate developersTimeline:
Q1: Initial rate cuts to combat deflation
Q2: Real estate support measures kick in
2H: Trade policy impacts become clear.
⚡ The bottom line:
China's central bank is pulling out all stops to fight deflation with historic rate cuts, but success hinges on both monetary and fiscal firepower working together.
4. 🎢 Magnificent 7's profit growth set to drop to 18% in 2025, sparking investor exodus
⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:
Mag7 tech companies face slowing profit growth, dropping to 18% in 2025 from 34% in 2024.
Without Nvidia, the other six project only 3% profit growth in 2025.
Mag7 stocks trade at 41x projected earnings, highest since early 2022.
Nvidia stands alone with projected 49% profit growth and 52% revenue growth in 2025.
💡 How it impacts you:
Investment portfolios heavily weighted in tech stocks may need rebalancing.
Job market in tech sector could cool in 2025 as growth decelerates.
Smaller tech companies might offer new opportunities for both careers and investments.
🔮 Industry prediction:
Big Tech's giving us real boy band breakup vibes – Nvidia's going solo while others try to find their new sound.
Who's Moving:
🏃♀️ Leading: Nvidia (the Justin Timberlake of tech)
🚶♂️ Following: Health care sector, materials, industrials
⌛ Waiting: Rest of Magnificent 7What's Next:
Now: Tech giants spending big on AI infrastructure
6 Months: Market rotation into smaller, value-focused companies
1 Year: New market leaders emerge beyond traditional tech
⚡ The bottom line: While Nvidia drops chart-topping hits, the rest of Big Tech is singing backup in Wall Street's remixes.
5. 🔒 Microsoft's OpenAI cloud deal faces FTC scrutiny as Google pushes for breakup
⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:
Google directly asked U.S. government to break up the exclusive arrangement.
FTC investigating Microsoft's exclusive cloud hosting deal with OpenAI.
OpenAI's deal grants Microsoft 20% of its revenue.
Companies must use Microsoft Azure to access OpenAI tech, creating extra costs.
Companies like Snap and Intuit shifted cloud spending to Azure to access OpenAI.
🔮 Industry prediction:
Cloud wars turning into streaming service drama – it's Netflix vs Blockbuster but with AI models instead of movies.
Who's Moving:
🏃♀️ Leading: Microsoft (the Netflix of AI computing)
🚶♂️ Following: Google, Amazon (launching their own shows)
⌛ Waiting: Traditional cloud customers (stuck with multiple subscriptions)What's Next:
Now: Forced exclusivity driving market consolidation
6 Months: Increased regulatory pressure on tech partnerships
1 Year: Multi-cloud AI access becomes industry standard
⚡ The bottom line: Microsoft's OpenAI cloud deal is giving "streaming exclusives" energy while Google and Amazon watch their customers change the channel.
6. 🚀 SpaceX hits $350 billion value as private startup breaks valuation records
⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:
SpaceX’s total insider share sale reaches $1.25 billion at $350B valuation.
Per-share price jumped to $185 from $112 in less than three months.
Company offering up to $500 million worth of common stock purchases.
Company's core business spans rocket launches, satellite networks, and space transport.
SpaceX now world's most valuable private startup with Musk's personal wealth at $384 billion.
💡 How it impacts you:
Starlink internet service might expand faster with new funding.
Space travel costs could decrease as company scales operations.
Job market in aerospace sector likely to grow.
🔮 Industry prediction:
Space tech becoming the new sneaker game - limited drops, sky-high resale values, and everyone wanting a piece of the action
Who's Moving:
🏃♀️ Leading: SpaceX (the Supreme of space tech)
🚶♂️ Following: Traditional aerospace companies (trying to catch the hype)
⌛ Waiting: Other space startups (hoping to catch some spillover attention)What's Next:
Now: Private investors scrambling for shares
6 Months: More space companies going public
1 Year: Space tech becomes standard part of investment portfolios
⚡ The bottom line: SpaceX stock just pulled a Birkin bag move - rare, expensive, and everyone wants in.
7. 🔄 Trade tensions heat up as China fires warning shots at US tech sector
⏳️ The deets in 30 seconds:
China launched a probe into Nvidia and banned rare mineral exports to the US.
US restrictions on AI chip components triggered Beijing's response.
China's export control now mirrors US tactics, applying bans to companies both inside and outside its borders.
Beijing's moves appear strategic - threatening enough to send a message but careful not to damage bilateral relations.
Companies rushing to move goods before potential new tariffs take effect after January 20.
💡 How it impacts you:
Tech product prices could rise if trade restrictions expand, affecting everything from smartphones to gaming consoles.
Investment portfolios with exposure to US tech giants like Nvidia may see increased volatility.
Raw material costs for everyday products may increase due to rare earth export restrictions.
🔮 Industry prediction:
This US-China showdown is giving major Great British Bake Off energy - everyone's trying to create the perfect recipe, but someone's soufflé of semiconductor supply chains is about to dramatically collapse.
Key Players:
🎯 Moving Markets: China's Ministry of Commerce
⚡ Making Moves: US tech giants
👥 Worth Watching: Rare earth processorsTimeline:
Q1: Tech companies scramble to adjust supply chains
Q2: New trade barriers emerge
2H: Supply chain diversification accelerates
⚡ The bottom line:
Beijing's calculated moves show it's ready to play hardball in trade negotiations while trying to avoid economic self-harm.
🗞️ Speed Reads
🤖 AI & Tech
OpenAI releases Sora but access is limited.
OnePlus launches OxygenOS 15 with AI features.
iPhone 17 Air will be 25% thinner per report.
Apple Watch Ultra could have satellite texting and blood pressure reporting.
OpenAI just launched Canvas for all users to take writing and coding to the next level.
💼 Startup & Business
Oncology startup, Tasca Therapeutics, raises $52 million.
Speak, an AI startup, raises $78M Series C to reach unicorn status.
GM pulls plug on Cruise due to losses in its driverless business.
APAC markets investors wait for key Chinese policy meeting.
$25B Kroger-Albertsons merger blocked by Federal judge.
Quantum chip breakthrough at Alphabet.
🏢 US Politics
Trump’s tax cuts would be a ‘major mistake,’ says Biden.
US Treasury secretary says broad tariffs could derail inflation progress.
🌏️ Global Affairs (non-US)
Japan shows resilience as BOJ thinks of rate hike timing.
💫 Mind Candy
Google just announced that their quantum chip Willow was able to do a computation in 5 minutes that would take current top-tier computers 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years to figure out - that’s way longer than the age of our universe! 🤯
Source: Linas Beliunas
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