Trending Market News

Mercedes-Benz will launch its MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO system in the U.S. later this year, enabling supervised autonomous driving on city streets. The system costs $3,950 for three years, positioning Mercedes as Tesla's first major competitor in urban self-driving technology for consumer vehicles. The technology uses 30 sensors and Nvidia-powered computing to navigate intersections, traffic lights, and city conditions.

• Mercedes' system is priced at $3,950 for three years compared to Tesla's Full Self-Driving package at $8,000 one-time or $99/month, making it competitively positioned
• The technology uses approximately 30 sensors feeding data to a computer processing up to 508 trillion operations per second, with Nvidia DRIVE AV software powering the system
• Drivers must remain alert and ready to intervene at all times, as full autonomy without human supervision remains constrained by safety concerns and regulation

Nvidia announced plans to launch a robotaxi service with an unnamed partner by 2027, marking a significant expansion into autonomous vehicles beyond its current chip sales. The service will feature Level 4 self-driving capability, meaning cars can operate without human intervention in designated areas. CEO Jensen Huang has identified robotics and self-driving cars as the company's second-most important growth category after AI.

• Nvidia's automotive and robotics chip sales totaled only $592 million in Q4 2024, representing just 1% of total revenue, indicating significant room for growth in this sector
• The company's Drive automotive computer costs approximately $3,500 per chip and will power Mercedes-Benz models launching in late 2026 with urban navigation capabilities
• Nvidia is using dual AI systems for safety: an 'end-to-end' vision-language model for primary driving and a rule-based safety stack that takes over when the AI is uncertain

Microchip Technology raised its Q3 fiscal 2026 revenue outlook to approximately $1.19 billion, above its original forecast range of $1.11-$1.15 billion, driven by strong bookings and recovery in end markets. The upgrade reflects customers completing their excess chip inventory drawdown from pandemic-era stockpiling. The company plans to report full quarterly results on February 5.

• New revenue guidance of $1.19 billion exceeds the previous range by roughly 3-7%, with CEO noting December quarter bookings were 'very strong' and March quarter backlog started 'much better' than December
• Recovery driven by customers finishing work through excess chip stockpiles accumulated during the pandemic that had previously pressured demand
• Company has significantly reduced internal inventory to lower write-offs and plans to ramp up factory production in March quarter to reduce under-utilization charges

Texas-based electricity producer Vistra announced the acquisition of Cogentrix Energy and its 10 natural gas-fired power plants for approximately $4 billion. The deal includes $2.3 billion in cash, $900 million in Vistra stock, and assumption of $1.5 billion in debt, partially offset by tax benefits. This acquisition will expand Vistra's geographic presence and add 5,500 megawatts of capacity across major North American power regions.

• The transaction values Cogentrix at about $4 billion through a combination of $2.3 billion cash, $900 million in stock, and $1.5 billion in assumed debt
• The acquisition adds 5,500 megawatts of net generation capacity from 10 natural gas-fired power plants
• Vistra will diversify its footprint by expanding into key power markets including PJM and ERCOT regions

The U.S. has awarded air traffic control radar contracts to RTX Corp and Spain's Indra Sistemas to modernize the aging system, with most current radars dating back to the 1980s. The contracts will support replacing up to 612 radars by June 2028, with installations beginning this quarter and prioritizing high-traffic areas. Contract values were not disclosed.

• Up to 612 outdated radars will be replaced by June 2028, with rollout starting this quarter in high-traffic areas
• Most current U.S. air traffic control radars date from the 1980s, and a 2023 report noted the FAA could no longer obtain spare parts for many systems
• Congress authorized funding last year to overhaul the air traffic control system, though specific contract values were not revealed

A U.S. district judge in Seattle rejected Amazon's motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging the company enabled price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic. The judge found Amazon's argument that Washington state consumer protection laws were too vague to be unpersuasive, allowing the case to proceed.

• Judge Robert Lasnik ruled against Amazon's claim that Washington state consumer protection laws were vague as applied to pricing practices
• Consumers allege Amazon failed to prevent third-party sellers from charging excessive prices on its platform during the pandemic
• The lawsuit is structured as a proposed class action, potentially affecting numerous consumers who claim to have suffered financial losses

Hilton shares dropped after the Department of Homeland Security criticized the company on social media for a cancelled hotel reservation in Minneapolis, claiming DHS agents were denied service due to their immigration enforcement work. Hilton stated the hotel is independently owned and operated, and that the actions do not reflect company values. The incident occurred amid a massive DHS deployment of approximately 2,000 agents to the Minneapolis area for investigations into alleged Medicaid fraud exceeding $9 billion.

• DHS alleged a Minneapolis Hilton property cancelled reservations for immigration officers using government credit cards, sharing screengrabs of messages stating 'we are not allowing any immigration agents to house on our property'
• Hilton responded that most of its 9,000+ properties are independently operated by franchisees, and the company is investigating the matter with the individual hotel
• The incident coincides with a major federal investigation in Minnesota involving roughly 2,000 DHS agents examining potential Medicaid fraud totaling approximately $9 billion since 2018

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is scheduled to speak at CES on Monday, where he may reveal new product plans as the world's most valuable listed company faces mounting competition from rivals and customers developing their own AI chips. The speech comes after Nvidia recently hired key executives from startup Groq who previously helped Google design competing AI chips.

• Nvidia recently hired executives from Groq who were instrumental in helping Google design its own AI chips, which now pose a significant threat to Nvidia's AI chip dominance
• The company is expected to showcase newer chips like the H200, which President Trump has allowed to flow to China and serves as the predecessor to Nvidia's current flagship 'Blackwell' chip
• Other major tech CEOs speaking at CES include AMD's Lisa Su, highlighting the competitive landscape in the semiconductor industry

Wall Street's main indexes surged Monday, with the Dow jumping 713 points to hit an all-time high of 49,095 following the capture of Venezuelan leader Maduro. Investors anticipate potential U.S. access to Venezuela's massive oil reserves, driving gains in financial, energy, and defense stocks despite an ongoing oil embargo.

• The Dow rose 1.5% to 49,095, S&P 500 gained 0.8%, and Nasdaq climbed over 200 points (1%) to 23,458, with financial stocks leading gains - Goldman Sachs up 4.75%, JPMorgan up 3%
• Energy stocks gained 1.3% and defense stocks rose 1.2% to record highs, with Lockheed Martin up 2.5% and General Dynamics up 2.8% following U.S. military action in Venezuela
• Markets are pricing in about 60 basis points of Fed interest rate cuts in 2026, with key jobs data due Friday; the three main indexes posted double-digit gains for the third consecutive year in 2025

Phillips 66 has agreed to acquire the assets of Lindsey Oil Refinery in northern England following its liquidation, but will not restart standalone operations at the site. Instead, the U.S. refiner will integrate storage and infrastructure from Lindsey into its existing Humber Refinery complex to improve supply flexibility and support both traditional and renewable fuel production.

• Phillips 66 determined the Lindsey site is unviable as a standalone refinery due to its scale, facilities, and capabilities after a detailed review during the bidding process
• The integration is expected to create hundreds of new construction jobs over the next five years and boost UK domestic energy security
• Remaining Lindsey staff have been guaranteed employment until the end of March 2026, following the refinery's liquidation managed by FTI Consulting after receivers were appointed in June

Incyte announced on January 5 that its experimental combination therapy met the primary endpoint in a late-stage trial for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, an aggressive blood cancer. The combo treatment of tafasitamab, lenalidomide, and standard chemotherapy improved progression-free survival in newly diagnosed patients. The company plans to seek expanded approval in the first half of 2026.

• The trial demonstrated improved progression-free survival, meaning patients lived longer without disease worsening
• The treatment targets diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients as an initial therapy for newly diagnosed cases
• Incyte plans to pursue expanded approval for the combination therapy in the first half of 2026

Mobileye secured a deal with an unnamed top-10 U.S. automaker to supply its next-generation EyeQ6H chip for advanced driver-assistance systems across mass-market and premium models. The agreement significantly raises Mobileye's production forecast to over 19 million units, including 9 million from this new customer and existing Volkswagen Group programs. The deal reflects accelerating adoption of hands-free highway driving technology as automakers compete in the U.S. and European markets.

• Mobileye's estimated future deliveries now exceed 19 million EyeQ6H-based Surround ADAS systems, with approximately 9 million units tied to the new U.S. automaker deal and existing Volkswagen contracts announced in March
• The Surround ADAS system consolidates multiple driving and safety functions onto a single chip, offering hands-free, eyes-on highway driving with features like automated lane changes and traffic-jam assistance while reducing complexity and costs for automakers
• Mobileye is pivoting focus toward advanced driver-assistance systems as a near-term growth driver amid slower-than-expected rollout of fully autonomous vehicles

Novo Nordisk will offer its Wegovy weight-loss pill in the U.S. starting January 5, 2026, at $149 per month for lower doses (1.5mg and 4mg) and $299 for higher doses (9mg and 25mg) for self-paying patients. The FDA approved the pill on December 22, giving Novo Nordisk a competitive advantage against rival Eli Lilly. The 4mg dose price will increase to $199 per month starting April 15.

• Lower-dose pills (1.5mg and 4mg) priced at $149/month initially, with 4mg rising to $199/month from April 15, 2026
• Higher-dose pills (9mg and 25mg) available at $299/month for self-paying patients
• The oral pill contains the same active ingredient (semaglutide) as injectable Wegovy and Ozempic, helping Novo regain market share from competitor Eli Lilly

Honda Motor is extending production shutdowns at three Chinese plants by two weeks until January 19 due to ongoing semiconductor shortages. The factories, operated jointly with Guangzhou Automobile Group, were originally scheduled to restart January 5. This disruption underscores persistent supply chain vulnerabilities affecting Japan's second-largest automaker.

• The production halt is linked to delays in chip shipments from Nexperia, a Dutch subsidiary of Chinese firm Wingtech, which has forced multiple automakers to reduce output in recent months
• Honda previously halted or reduced production at North American plants from late October through November 2024 due to similar chip shortages
• The extended shutdown highlights Honda's continued vulnerability to semiconductor supply chain disruptions despite industry-wide efforts to stabilize component availability

President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. could raise tariffs on India if New Delhi does not reduce its purchases of Russian oil. Trump stated that Indian Prime Minister Modi understands his displeasure with the trade relationship. India is now seeking weekly disclosures of oil purchases and expects Russian crude imports to fall below 1 million barrels per day as it pursues a trade deal with Washington.

• The U.S. raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% last year due to India's Russian oil purchases, yet Indian exports to the U.S. increased despite the tariffs
• India is requesting weekly disclosures of Russian and U.S. oil purchases and anticipates Russian crude imports will drop below 1 million barrels per day
• Modi has spoken with Trump at least three times since tariffs were imposed, but discussions remain inconclusive with Indian officials maintaining a firm stance on U.S. trade demands

Samsung Electronics plans to double the number of mobile devices featuring Google's Gemini AI to 800 million units in 2026, up from 400 million by the end of last year. The expansion strengthens Google's position in the competitive AI race against OpenAI and other rivals. Samsung aims to integrate AI across all products to reclaim market leadership from Apple and counter Chinese competitors.

• Consumer awareness of Samsung's Galaxy AI brand surged from 30% to 80% in just one year, signaling rapid adoption of AI features including search, image editing, translation, and productivity tools
• A global memory chip shortage is pressuring margins across Samsung's consumer electronics divisions, with the company not ruling out price increases as the shortage affects smartphones, TVs, and home appliances
• Samsung controls nearly two-thirds of the foldable smartphone market as of Q3 2025, though growth has been slower than expected due to engineering complexities and limited suitable applications

The FAA lifted airspace restrictions that had stranded tens of thousands of travelers in the Eastern Caribbean after U.S. strikes on Venezuela forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights during the busy post-holiday travel period. Airlines rushed to add extra flights and deploy larger aircraft, but many passengers found no available seats for days, highlighting how quickly military action can disrupt civilian aviation beyond conflict zones.

• Over 400 flights were cancelled at San Juan alone on Saturday, with airlines scrambling to add dozens of recovery flights including American Airlines deploying Boeing 777-300s that seat 304 passengers
• Some travelers couldn't find available seats until the end of the week and faced additional hotel costs they couldn't afford during peak holiday pricing
• The incident followed U.S. military action in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, with Maduro facing narco-terrorism charges

OPEC+ kept oil production unchanged at a brief Sunday meeting, maintaining its pause on output hikes through March despite political turmoil affecting multiple member nations. The decision comes after oil prices fell over 18% in 2024, their steepest yearly decline since 2020, amid oversupply concerns and geopolitical tensions involving Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela, Russia, and Iran.

• Eight OPEC+ members reaffirmed their November decision to pause output increases for January-March, avoiding discussion of crises affecting Venezuela, Russia, and tensions between Saudi Arabia and UAE
• The group had planned to raise output targets by 2.9 million barrels per day in 2025 (nearly 3% of global demand) but delayed increases due to weak winter demand
• Analysts note oil markets are currently driven more by political uncertainty than supply-demand fundamentals, with OPEC+ prioritizing stability over action amid the multiple member crises

Airbus delivered 793 aircraft in 2025, surpassing its revised annual target of 'around 790' jets, according to Bloomberg News sources. The world's largest planemaker accelerated deliveries in the final days of 2025 after lowering its target from 820 jets in December due to fuselage panel issues.

• The company reduced its 2025 delivery target from 'around 820' to 'around 790' aircraft last month following a glitch with fuselage panels
• Airbus accelerated deliveries during the final days of the year to meet the revised target, with official audited data expected January 12
• The 793 deliveries represent a recovery after production challenges, maintaining Airbus's position as the world's largest planemaker

Tesla lost its position as the world's top EV maker to China's BYD after experiencing its second consecutive year of declining sales, delivering 1.64 million vehicles in 2025 compared to 1.79 million in 2024. The decline was driven by intensifying competition, expiration of U.S. tax credits, and brand damage from CEO Elon Musk's political rhetoric.

• Q4 deliveries fell 15.6% to 418,227 vehicles, missing analyst expectations of 434,487, while BYD's global EV sales rose 28% with international sales up 150%
• U.S. EV demand softened after $7,500 federal tax credits expired in September, prompting Tesla to launch stripped-down 'Standard' models priced $5,000 below base versions
• Tesla is pivoting focus to robotaxi and self-driving technology to justify its valuation, with the company testing its Cybercab in Austin