Morning Brief

US stocks hold steady ahead of the Fed’s 2 p.m. ET decision, with a 25 bp rate cut widely expected — the first since 2024. Markets are also bracing for Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference and the updated dot plot as traders price in up to six cuts over the next year. The Financial Times reports China has ordered companies including Alibaba (BABA) and TikTok parent ByteDance to cancel orders for Nvidia (NVDA) AI chips, escalating tensions just as President Trump prepares for a call with Xi Jinping on TikTok’s US operations. Oracle (ORCL) is expected to remain a key cloud partner under the proposed $35–$40B deal. Meanwhile, gold prices climb as deficits and de-dollarization fuel demand. In trending tickers, Workday (WDAY) rises on analyst upgrades and an Elliott stake, FedEx (FDX) dips on a downgrade ahead of earnings, and Unilever (UL) faces the exit of Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield as it prepares to spin off the ice cream unit.

Takeaways:

Fed expected to cut 25 bps today; Powell’s guidance and dot plot in focus

China bans Nvidia chip sales; TikTok deal talks move forward with Oracle, A16Z, Silver Lake

Gold rallies as deficits widen, central banks boost reserves

Workday pops on Elliott stake, FedEx slips, Unilever faces Ben & Jerry’s exit

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US stocks look to extend record gains as the Fed kicks off its two-day policy meeting, with a 25 bp rate cut widely expected. Newly confirmed Fed Governor Steven Myron joined the board, while a federal court blocked President Trump’s attempt to remove Governor Lisa Cook ahead of the decision. August retail sales rose 0.6%, topping estimates as back-to-school shopping boosted apparel and online sales, though Moody’s warns that high-income households now account for nearly half of all US consumer spending. Meanwhile, President Trump filed a $15B libel lawsuit against The New York Times (NYT), more than the paper’s market cap. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) falls after a TD Cowen downgrade, and Disney (DIS) takes a 2% stake in Webtoon as part of a broader content partnership.

Takeaways:

Fed expected to cut 25 bps Wednesday; Myron confirmed, Cook remains on board

Retail sales beat with back-to-school boost; spending led by top earners

Trump sues New York Times for $15B, more than its market cap

Warner Bros. downgraded, Disney buys into Webtoon with 2% stake

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US stocks edge higher ahead of the Fed’s policy meeting this week, with a quarter-point cut expected Wednesday. President Trump continues to pressure the central bank while seeking to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook, and the Senate votes on Fed nominee Steven Myron today. Elon Musk discloses a $1B open-market purchase of Tesla (TSLA) shares, his largest insider buy ever, lifting the stock. Trade talks between the US and China resume in Spain, with TikTok and tariffs on the agenda, as Beijing escalates pressure on Nvidia (NVDA) with an anti-monopoly probe into its 2020 Mellanox deal. China also launches investigations into US analog chipmakers Texas Instruments (TXN) and Analog Devices (ADI) for dumping. Meanwhile, President Trump floats ending quarterly earnings reports in favor of semiannual disclosures. In trending tickers, Hims & Hers (HIMS) sinks after the FDA flagged a misleading Wegovy ad.

Takeaways:

Fed expected to cut 25 bps Wednesday; Trump pressures central bank, Senate to vote on nominee Myron

Musk buys $1B in Tesla shares, his largest insider purchase

China probes Nvidia, Texas Instruments, and Analog Devices amid trade talks

Trump proposes scrapping quarterly earnings reports; Hims & Hers falls on FDA ad warning

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US inflation came in slightly hotter than expected in August, with headline CPI up 0.4% month over month and core CPI up 0.3%, keeping annual inflation at 2.9% headline and 3.1% core. The data underscores sticky price pressures in services and shelter, while food and apparel show tariff-driven gains. Still, markets expect the Fed to cut rates by 25 basis points next week as jobless claims hit a four-year high. Stocks continue to hover near records, with Oracle (ORCL) powering the AI trade after its blowout forecast. Klarna’s ([KLAR]) IPO delivered a 43% pop before easing, and blockchain lender Figure ([FIGR]) prices its debut at a $5.3B valuation. In trending tickers, Opendoor (OPEN) jumps on leadership changes, Kroger (KR) beats on food sales, and Centene (CNC) rallies on Medicare quality ratings.

Takeaways:

CPI rises 0.4% in August; inflation still above Fed’s 2% target

Fed expected to cut 25 bps next week despite sticky services prices

Oracle leads AI-fueled rally; Klarna and Figure highlight IPO momentum

Opendoor, Kroger, and Centene move on leadership, earnings, and health ratings

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US stocks push higher with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq at record highs after Oracle (ORCL) surges more than 30% on blowout AI-driven cloud guidance, adding $200B+ to its market cap overnight. Wall Street strategists rush to lift forecasts: Deutsche Bank raises its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,000, Barclays hikes to 6,450, and Wells Fargo sees double-digit gains into 2026. Inflation data adds fuel as the Producer Price Index unexpectedly declines for the first time since April, reinforcing bets on a Fed rate cut next week. Meanwhile, Klarna launches its long-awaited IPO under ticker [KLAR], valued at $15B after pricing above range. On the regulatory front, a judge blocks President Trump’s attempt to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook, keeping her on the board ahead of next week’s policy meeting. In trending tickers, Synopsys (SNPS) plunges on a weak China outlook and job cuts, Novo Nordisk (NVO) sheds 9,000 jobs while cutting guidance, and Chewy (CHWY) falls on rising costs despite higher sales.

Takeaways:

Oracle skyrockets on AI cloud outlook; S&P 500 targets raised across Wall Street

PPI falls for first time since April, boosting Fed rate cut bets

Klarna IPO prices at $40/share, values firm at $15B under ticker KLAR

Synopsys slumps, Novo Nordisk cuts jobs, Chewy drops on costs

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US stocks edge higher with the Nasdaq (^IXIC) at a record as investors await revised jobs data and key inflation reports later this week. Apple (AAPL) headlines with its iPhone 17 launch event, unveiling a thinner “Air” model alongside new Apple Watches and AirPods, while analysts debate pricing and AI features. Oracle (ORCL) reports earnings after the bell, facing high expectations following a $30B cloud deal with OpenAI. GameStop (GME) also reports as it pursues its turnaround strategy. Meanwhile, investors brace for the Bureau of Labor Statistics' annual jobs revision, expected to show as many as 900,000 fewer jobs created between March 2024 and March 2025, a potential catalyst for Fed policy. In trending tickers, CoreWeave inks a $17.4B GPU capacity deal with Microsoft (MSFT), UnitedHealth (UNH) rallies on Medicare Advantage star ratings, and Nasdaq Inc. (NDAQ) invests $50M in Gemini’s upcoming crypto IPO.

Takeaways:

Apple launches iPhone 17 lineup, thinner Air model leads event

Oracle earnings test AI-fueled rally after OpenAI cloud deal

Jobs revision could show 600K–900K fewer positions, pressuring Fed

CoreWeave, UnitedHealth, and Nasdaq move on major deals and upgrades

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A weaker-than-expected August jobs report cements expectations for a September Fed rate cut, with just 22,000 jobs added versus forecasts for 75,000. Bond yields tumble, the dollar sinks, and gold rallies to record highs as traders weigh the labor market slowdown. Broadcom (AVGO) jumps after topping estimates and revealing a $10B custom chip deal with a new client, while President Trump warns of “substantial” chip tariffs but exempts Apple (AAPL) for expanding US production. Tesla (TSLA) unveils a proposed $1 trillion pay package for CEO Elon Musk tied to ambitious milestones including robotaxis, AI, and boosting market cap to $8.5T. Meanwhile, Lululemon (LULU) slashes guidance, Figma (FIGM) plunges on weak revenue outlook, and Samsara (IOT) soars after raising its full-year forecast.

Takeaways:

August jobs report falls short, boosting odds of a September Fed cut

Broadcom surges on record results and $10B chip customer win

Trump warns of new semiconductor tariffs, Apple spared

Tesla proposes unprecedented $1T Elon Musk pay package

Lululemon slumps, Figma sinks, Samsara rallies on earnings

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google parent Alphabet (GOOG) rallies after a judge ruled it will not have to divest Chrome in the DOJ’s antitrust case, though the company must end exclusive search deals. The decision also lifted Apple (AAPL), which benefits from its search partnership while gaining room to work with AI rivals. US bond yields climb, with the 30-year brushing 5% amid inflation, deficit, and geopolitical concerns. Macy’s (M) jumps on its strongest same-store sales growth in 12 quarters and raised guidance, while Dollar Tree (DLTR) slips despite a beat and higher full-year outlook as its Q3 profit forecast disappoints. In trending tickers, Campbell Soup (CPB) rises on better-than-feared results, Polestar (PSNY) posts a wider loss but reaffirms growth targets, and Kraft Heinz (KHC) gets an upgrade as it prepares to split into two companies.

Takeaways:

Google avoids Chrome breakup but faces new competition in AI search

Bond yields near 5% as markets price in long-term inflation risks

Macy’s rallies on strong sales; Dollar Tree sinks on soft profit outlook

Campbell Soup, Polestar, and Kraft Heinz move on earnings and upgrades

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US stocks open the month lower after August gains, with September historically the weakest month for equities. Gold prices hit a record as investors seek safety amid tariff uncertainty, after a federal appeals court struck down most of President Trump’s trade levies — a case now likely headed to the Supreme Court. Kraft Heinz (KHC) announces plans to split into two companies: Global Taste Elevation Co., housing brands like Heinz ketchup and Philadelphia cream cheese, and North America Grocery Co., home to Oscar Mayer and Lunchables. PepsiCo (PEP) faces pressure from activist investor Elliott Management, which built a $4B stake and is pushing for changes. Meanwhile, Nestlé (NESN.SW) ousts CEO Laurent Freixe over a relationship with a subordinate, naming coffee division head Philippe Naël as his successor.

Takeaways:

Stocks dip as September begins, with gold surging to record highs

Kraft Heinz to split into two companies, highlighting the big food breakups trend

Elliott Management takes $4B stake in PepsiCo, presses for growth and margin gains

Nestlé CEO ousted; leadership shifts amid industry headwinds

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US stock futures dip after the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, core PCE, rose 2.9% year over year — in line with estimates but still above the central bank’s 2% target. Fed Governor Christopher Waller backed a September rate cut and signaled more easing ahead. Fed Governor Lisa Cook faces a court hearing today as she fights President Trump’s attempt to oust her over mortgage fraud allegations. Marvell Technology (⁠MRVL⁠) sinks on Wall Street after weak guidance and disappointing data center revenue, echoing Nvidia’s (NVDA) report earlier this week. Dell (DELL) also falls on lighter AI server sales and margin pressure, while Affirm (AFRM) jumps on strong earnings and an upbeat outlook.

Takeaways:

Core PCE inflation holds at 2.9%, keeping Fed cut bets alive

Fed Governor Lisa Cook’s legal fight with Trump heads to court

Marvell, Dell earnings show cracks in AI hardware demand

Affirm rallies on buy now, pay later growth and strong outlook

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices