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☆ China has launched new drills encircling Taiwan. Why now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Tensions are once again ratcheting up in the Taiwan Strait, with China launching military drills encircling Taiwan just days after the democracy swore in a new leader long loathed by Beijing. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it launched joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force in areas around Taiwan early Thursday morning. The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait – a narrow body of water separating the self-ruling island with mainland China – as well as north, south and east of Taiwan. The Chinese guided missile frigate Nantong, one of the vessels in the series of military drills around Taiwan. The defeated Nationalist Party fled to Taiwan, moving the seat of their Republic of China (ROC) government from the mainland to Taipei.

Persons: ”, Lai Ching, China’s, Xi Jinping, Li Xi, Lai, Wu Mei, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Tsai Ing, Tsai –, Mike Gallagher Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Eastern Theater Command, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, People's Liberation Army, Weibo, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Nationalist Party, US, Communist, Beijing, Tuesday Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Kinmen, Taipei, People’s Republic of China, Republic of China, Xi, Washington

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia shares top $1,000 on AI boom
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Nvidia to split stock, sales to soarShares of Nvidia rose more than 7%, topping $1,000 for the first time, in after-hours trading after its first-quarter earnings and sales beat analysts' expectations. The company plans to split its stock 10 for 1. The media outlet went public in 2021 and has seen its shares fall 94% since then.

Persons: OpenAI, Vivek, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Goldman Sachs Organizations: CNBC, Nvidia, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Dow, Google, GOP, Securities and Exchange Commission

☆ Microsoft’s UAE deal could reportedly involve transfer of key U.S. chips and AI technology abroad
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. officials have said that AI systems could pose national security risks, for example by making it easier to engineer chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The Biden administration in October required the makers of the largest AI systems to share details about them with the U.S. government. Microsoft executives said the agreement has safeguards to protect Microsoft's technology and prevent it from being used by Chinese entities to train AI systems. The Commerce Department already requires notifications and, in several regions, export licenses to send AI chips abroad. Microsoft executives said the company welcomes a debate on a new legal framework governing the transfer of AI technology and that the deal with G42 requires the UAE firm to comply with U.S. regulations as they evolve.

Persons: Brad Smith, Smith, Biden, Michael McCaul, we're Organizations: Microsoft, United Arab, Reuters, U.S ., U.S . Department of Commerce, U.S . House, Commerce Department Locations: Madrid, Spain, United Arab Emirates, U.S, UAE

☆ Home sales slipped unexpectedly in April, despite big gains in supply
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sales of homes priced below $100,000 fell 7.1% year over year, while sales of those priced over $1 million jumped 40%. The median price of an existing home sold in April was $407,600, an increase of 5.7% year over year. The median price in the Northeast was $458,500, up 8.5% year over year. The median price in the West was $629,600, up 9.3% from April 2023. Correction: The supply of homes priced at more than $1 million was up 34% year over year.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Realtors Locations: Issaquah Highlands, Issaquah , Washington, US, Midwest, West

☆ GM all-electric Chevy Equinox goes on sale as the latest test for EV production and demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Equinox EV is launching with higher-priced models that start at roughly $43,000 to $51,100 (without any incentives). The Equinox EV is arriving to market following the Blazer EV and alongside GM's more than $96,000 Silverado EV RST. Equinox EVAll of that being said, the Equinox EV is an Equinox in name only. Outside of the U.S., the Equinox EV will be sold in Canada, Mexico, the Middle East and some South American markets such as Brazil. GM's 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV (right) next to a gas-powered Chevy Equinox on May 16, 2024 in Detroit.

Persons: Michael Wayland, Mark Reuss, Tesla, Kathleen Murawski, Chevy Bolt, It's, We've, Rory Harvey, we've, Marissa West, West, Paul Waatti, Waatti Organizations: CNBC DETROIT, General Motors, GM, CNBC, Chevy, GMC Hummer EV, Blazer, Global, Silverado EV RST, Silverado, GM North America, Chevrolet, Motors, EV Locations: Detroit, China, U.S, Canada, Mexico, Brazil

☆ This unexpected corner of the market offers quality dividend payers, Bank of America says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Investors hunting for income ought to look to small-cap stocks for a few high-quality dividend payers, according to Bank of America. There are names within it that offer quality dividend yields, according to Jill Carey Hall, equity strategist at Bank of America, in a Monday research report. Further, once the Federal Reserve begins cutting rates, yields paid on cash will fall, and that will make these dividend payers even more attractive for income. Finally, Bank of America added Essential Properties Realty Trust to its list of buy-rated dividend payers. The stock has a dividend yield of 4.2%, and shares are up 7.5% in 2024.

Persons: Russell, Jill Carey, Peter Galbo, Utz, Alton Stump, Stump, Nick Joseph Organizations: Bank of America, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Brands, Properties Realty Trust, Citi Locations: West, Midwest, Southwest, Hanover , Pennsylvania, comps

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Target, Urban Outfitters, Tesla, Shopify and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Urban Outfitters — The clothing retailer slid 4.6% despite posting a fiscal first-quarter beat, after trading higher before Tuesday's opening bell. Urban Outfitters reported adjusted earnings of 69 cents per share, higher than the 52 cents per share analysts polled by LSEG had expected. First Solar — Shares surged more than 18% in midday trading. Other alt energy stocks also surged, in part owing to enthusiasm that AI will lift power demand. Bloom Energy surged 18%; Sunnova Energy added 14%; and Enphase Energy , Fluence Energy and Sunrun were all up 10%.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, LSEG, —, Alex Harring, Lisa Kailai Han, Jeff Greenberg Organizations: Goldman, Urban Outfitters, Garmin, Bank of America, —, Toll, Citi, Tesla, Elon, Bloomberg, UBS, Bloom Energy, Sunnova Energy, Enphase Energy, Fluence Energy, Sonoma, Universal, Getty Locations: Massachusetts, Europe, FactSet, Miami Beach , Florida

☆ Transition to next-generation AI chips and 2 other pressing questions ahead of Nvidia's earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Nvidia's Hopper chips include the H100, which was announced in 2022 and faced severe supply shortages last year as the AI gold rush intensified. Tuesday's AWS news represents a pushout in demand for Nvidia chips, not a loss of it. That would be the so-called "digestion" phase for AI chips that Wall Street has been speculating about since last year. If anything, AWS deciding to wait for the more-powerful Blackwell chips could mean the digestion phase is further out on the horizon than initially thought. Unlike last year, when Nvidia's chips were in such short supply, there are now rival chips out there, such as AMD's MI300X, which is angling for a corner of the inferencing market .

Persons: you've, it's, Jim Cramer, Hopper, Blackwell, Nvidia's Hopper, There's, Grace Hopper Superchip, Kimberly Powell, Powell, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Jensen Huang, Justin Sullivan Organizations: Nvidia, Blackwell, Amazon Web Services, CNBC, NVIDIA, AWS, Club, SAP Center Locations: Hopper, Ceiba, San Jose , California

☆ Embattled AI firm Appen loses more executives, months after Alphabet cut ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Appen, the embattled artificial intelligence firm that once helped train AI models for tech giants including Microsoft , Nvidia and Google , has lost its executives in charge of revenue and marketing. The departures follow Alphabet 's announcement in January that it was cutting all contractual ties with Appen, which once helped train Google's chatbot and other AI products. Two weeks after that decision, Appen CEO Armughan Ahmad left after just 12 months on the job. After a "strategic review process," Alphabet notified Appen in January of the termination, which went into effect March 19, according to a filing from Appen. Companies are spending far more on processors from Nvidia and less on external AI training from companies like Appen.

Persons: Andrew Ettinger, Alicia Hale, Ryan Kolln, Google's, Armughan Ahmad, Appen's, Kolln, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Appen didn't Organizations: Microsoft, Nvidia, Google, CNBC, Apple, Amazon, Appen, Australian Securities Exchange Locations: Australian

☆ Inflation is biting into Target’s ‘Tar-zhay’ luster
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Target has spent decades building a reputation for cheap chic home goods, clothing and other merchandise. It was the fourth-straight quarter of sales declines at Target (TGT). More than half of Target’s merchandise is discretionary. Target is trying to lure back shoppers by cutting prices on some key items and adding its own brands. The company also recently created a new house brand called Dealworthy to take on dollar stores and Walmart.

Persons: Target, pare Organizations: New, New York CNN — Target, Walmart, Costco, Target Locations: New York

☆ Nvidia shares pass $1,000 for first time on AI-driven sales surge
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Earnings Per Share : $6.12 adjusted vs. $5.59 adjusted, per LSEG consensus estimates. : $6.12 adjusted vs. $5.59 adjusted, per LSEG consensus estimates. Revenue: $26.04 billion vs. $24.65 billion expected by LSEG Nvidia said it expected sales of $28 billion in the current quarter. Wall Street was anticipating earnings per share of $5.95 on sales of $26.61 billion, according to LSEG. Nvidia said its data center category rose 427% from the year-ago quarter to $22.6 billion in revenue.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Blackwell, Nvidia, David Paul Morris, Colette Kress, Lama, Kress Organizations: Nvidia, Nvidia Corp, Technology Conference, Bloomberg, Getty, Google, Microsoft, Meta Locations: San Jose , California

☆ AI darling Nvidia reports after the bell. What Wall Street is watching
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Wall Street will be keeping close watch on what Nvidia says about demand for its artificial intelligence chips when the market-moving chipmaker reports quarterly results after the bell Wednesday. Nvidia is expected to surpass expectations again, with analysts polled by LSEG calling for earnings of $5.59 per share on $24.65 billion in revenue. "As long as it tops analyst expectations, NVIDIA is likely to remain a key tailwind for the overall U.S. stock market." NVDA 1Y mountain Shares over the last year For multiple quarters, Nvidia has shocked Wall Street with the robust demand for its tools. "We continue to expect a strong beat-and-raise quarter from NVIDIA as Hopper demand remains robust before the Blackwell transition," wrote Morgan Stanley's Joseph Moore.

Persons: they've, Wolfe, Chris Senyek, Hopper, Blackwell, Morgan Stanley's Joseph Moore, Piper Sandler's Harsh Kumar, Rosenblatt's Hans Mosesmann, Baird's Tristan Gerra, Tom O'Malley, Baird's Gerra, Nvidia's Blackwell, America's Vivek Arya, Arya, Timothy Arcuri, Rosenblatt's Mosesmann, O'Malley, Morgan Stanley's Moore Organizations: Nvidia, NVIDIA, Blackwell, Barclays, Bank, America's, UBS Locations: Nvidia's

☆ 9 little-known growth stocks with exposure to AI or other transformative trends, according to a top-5% fund manager in the last 10 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Industry analysts think the AI revolution is still in its early stages, and longtime fund manager Chris Retzler agrees. But the market veteran believes small, under-the-radar growth stocks—not the well-known companies that have already surged — are the best way to play the AI boom. AdvertisementHow to invest in small caps — and where to find themSince 2008, Retzler has single-handedly managed the Needham Small Cap Growth Fund (NESGX). Plus, investors are overlooking small-cap stocks' exposure to key growth opportunities like AI, data center buildouts, military modernization, and telecommunication improvements, in Retzler's view. "Money doesn't go immediately to small caps — it goes to the next market cap, generally," Retzler said.

Persons: —, Chris Retzler, Retzler, he's, Morningstar, doesn't, Rogers, Lumentum, that's, Generac Organizations: Service, Nvidia, Business, Industry, Growth, MKS, Aspen Locations: ROG

☆ Target shares slide as consumers buy fewer groceries and home goods
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Target on Wednesday posted a year-over-year sales decline and missed Wall Street's earnings estimates, as consumers fatigued from high prices bought both fewer discretionary items and groceries. On a call with reporters, CEO Brian Cornell said the company's results reflect "continued soft trends in discretionary categories." Target also announced Monday it was cutting prices on thousands of everyday items, including milk, bread, paper towels and diapers. Like other retailers, Target has tried to win over consumers who are not spending as freely on clothing, home goods or other discretionary items. Walmart, for example, has gained market share from higher-income shoppers and recently introduced a premium food brand with most items under $5.

Persons: Brian Cornell, John David Rainey Organizations: Target, LSEG, Walmart, Aldi Locations: Miami , Florida, Minneapolis

☆ Nvidia reports earnings after the bell: Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNvidia reports earnings after the bell: Here's what you need to knowJoseph Moore, Morgan Stanley semiconductor analyst, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss what to expect from Nvidia's quarterly earnings results, if there will be a pause in sales from Nvidia, and much more.

Persons: Joseph Moore, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Nvidia

☆ China’s 618 shopping festival begins with biggest-ever Apple price cuts and a boycott
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Apple is offering unprecedented price cuts in China as big brands and retailers launch promotions for the annual “618” shopping festival in the face of sluggish consumer demand. The JD.com Inc. headquarters during a ceremony marking company's 20th anniversary and 618 shopping event in Beijing, China, on Sunday, June 18, 2023. The 618 shopping festival, a key barometer of consumption in the country, has seen growing competition by e-commerce sites and retailing brands to offer discounts. One statement, issued by 10 publishing houses in Beijing, said the boycott was a necessary move to “maintain the stability and prosperity” of the book publishing market. Even major state-owned publishing companies voiced opposition to “chaotic” price wars.

Persons: Apple, Alibaba —, Alibaba, Rihanna, iPads, ”, Jefferies Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Apple, Huawei, Vivo, JD.com, Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, Counterpoint Research, Xiaomi, Shanghai Century Publishing Locations: Hong Kong, China, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ Nvidia’s incredibly pricey shares are about to get much cheaper
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Samantha Delouya | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Nvidia announced a 10-for-1 stock split on Wednesday, making buying shares in the red-hot semiconductor company more accessible for individual investors. Five years ago, an investor could have purchased Nvidia stock for less than $50 a share. Nvidia’s (NVDA) announcement, which came in its quarterly earnings report, means that each common share will be split into 10 smaller shares, effectively cutting the price of investing in the company. Nvidia shares rose as much as 4% in after-hours trading following the report. Still, some investors had raised questions ahead of Wednesday’s report about just how long Nvidia could keep the rally going.

Persons: Nvidia’s, ”, Thomas Monteiro Organizations: CNN, Nvidia, Microsoft Locations: China

☆ Home sales: Prices in the US housing market continue to climb
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —Rising US home prices are heightening the housing affordability crisis for Americans, especially first-time buyers. Housing affordability takes into account prices, household incomes and mortgage rates. Sales fell in April for the second month in a row as mortgage rates surged past 7%. Mortgage rates track the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note, which moves in anticipation of the Fed’s decisions on interest rates. Low housing affordability typically crimps demand.

Persons: it’s, ”, Lawrence Yun, Freddie Mac Organizations: Washington CNN —, National Association of Realtors, Global, NAR, Federal Reserve, Fed, Treasury Locations: San Diego, Chicago, Detroit, America, ”

☆ Why Tesla is losing share in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy Tesla is losing share in EuropeJon McNeill, DVx Ventures CEO and former Tesla president, joins CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss Tesla's weak Europe sales, the company's competition with China EV makers, CEO Elon Musk's outlook on autonomous vehicles, and more.

Persons: Tesla, Europe Jon McNeill, Elon Organizations: DVx, China EV Locations: Europe

☆ A Microsoft under attack from government and tech rivals after 'preventable' hack ties executive pay to cyberthreats
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Trevor Laurence Jockims | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

The decision by Microsoft to link executive compensation to successful cybersecurity performance is another is prompting discussions at other firms. One change the tech giant is making in response: linking executive compensation more closely to cybersecurity. In recent years, many Fortune 500 companies, including Apple, have added bonus pay tied to ESG metrics. The conversations about cybersecurity-linked executive pay have started taking place at other companies since Microsoft made its move, according to Aalap Shah, managing director at executive compensation consultant Pearl Meyer. Madnick's research shows that gaps in corporate culture are often culprits in high-profile hacks, not just the Microsoft example.

Persons: Brad Smith, Charlie Bell, Aalap Shah, Pearl Meyer, It's, I've, Shah, —, Stuart Madnick, Madnick, Ryan Kalember, unavoidability, Jen, Kalember, ransomware, Mike Doonan, Doonan Organizations: Microsoft, U.S, Hill, Google, U.S . Department of Homeland, Initiative, Microsoft Security, Team, Companies, Fortune, Apple, MIT, Infrastructure Security Agency, CNBC, Technology, State Department Locations: China, Russia, cybersecurity, U.S

☆ Nvidia, Powered by A.I. Boom, Reports Soaring Revenue and Profits
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Don Clark | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nvidia, which makes microchips that power most artificial intelligence applications, began an extraordinary run a year ago. Fueled by an explosion of interest in A.I., the Silicon Valley company said last May that it expected its chip sales to go through the roof. They did — and the fervor didn’t stop, with Nvidia raising its revenue projections every few months. Its stock soared, driving the company to a more than $2 trillion market capitalization that makes it more valuable than Alphabet, the parent of Google. On Wednesday, Nvidia again reported soaring revenue and profits that underscored how it remains a dominant winner of the A.I.

Persons: sevenfold Organizations: Nvidia, Google, Revenue Locations: A.I

☆ E.l.f. Beauty posts first $1 billion year, but shares fall on weaker-than-expected guidance
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Beauty posted its first billion-dollar fiscal year on Wednesday as sales spiked 77%, but the retailer's shares fell as it said it expects its growth to slow. Sales rose to $321.1 million, up about 71% from $187.4 million a year earlier. For the full year, the company's sales grew to $1.02 billion, an increase of 77% from the year-ago period. Its guidance reflects that sentiment, but even so, the company expects to grow at a slower pace than Wall Street anticipated. expects net sales to be between $1.23 billion and $1.25 billion, which would be an increase of 20% to 22%.

Persons: Tarang Amin, Dave Kimbell, Estée Lauder, Coty, Kimbell, JPMorgan Chase, Read Organizations: LSEG, Walmart, Target, Wall, JPMorgan Locations: E.l.f

☆ Chinese EV company Xpeng shares surge 13% after forecasting growth in car deliveries
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — Chinese electric car company Xpeng saw its shares soar after reporting an improvement in profit margin and an upbeat outlook for second-quarter deliveries. The company's Hong Kong-listed shares rose more than 13% in morning trade Wednesday. Xpeng reported that vehicle margin rose 5.5% in the first three months of the year, from a negative 2.5% in the prior quarter. Vehicle margin is a measure of profitability — the higher the margin, the greater the profit the company is making on its car sales. The company forecast deliveries of 29,000 to 32,000 cars in the second quarter, a year-on-year increase of at least 25%.

Persons: Xpeng Organizations: U.S Locations: Beijing, BEIJING, Hong Kong, U.S

☆ Compass CEO Robert Reffkin on housing market: We are now seeing 'more sellers than buyers'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCompass CEO Robert Reffkin on housing market: We are now seeing 'more sellers than buyers'Robert Reffkin, Compass co-founder and CEO, joins CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss the latest on the existing home sales report, the health of the housing market, implementation of AI, and more.

Persons: Robert Reffkin

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Target, Lululemon, Shopify and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Target — Target's shares tumbled more than 7% after first-quarter earnings missed estimates, driven by a year-over-year sales decline of about 3% as consumers bought fewer discretionary items. Shopify — The retail software stock rose 2.6% following a Goldman Sachs upgrade to buy from neutral. Urban Outfitters — The clothing retailer added 1.8% after beating Wall Street estimates for fiscal first-quarter results. PDD — PDD Holdings, the Chinese parent of discount retailer Temu, gained 7.6% after reporting a 131% increase in first-quarter revenue. Analysts surveyed by LSEG were looking for $4.14 per share on $2.53 billion of revenue.

Persons: —, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Alex Harring, Jesse Pound, Sarah Min Organizations: Outfitters, Wall, Urban, PDD Holdings, Toll, Citi, Wall Street Journal

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