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Many business leaders have told me they are deeply concerned about incidents of harassment against Jewish students that have taken place at and around universities like Columbia and appear to be increasing. Inside corner offices, there has been a lot of hand-wringing about the most blatant examples, like antisemitic signs and chants or the assault of an Israeli student. But there has been little action from corporations, which have a synergistic relationship with the schools where they recruit employees. Some executives are privately pondering what they can do. The most common course of action so far has been to pull back on individual donations.

Persons: Robert Kraft Organizations: New England Patriots, Columbia University, ” Locations: Columbia

An effort to give Trump more say on ratesThis week, investors had planned to examine the latest inflation data, due out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern on Friday, for clues about when the Fed would start cutting interest rates. The Wall Street Journal reports that allies of Donald Trump are devising ways of watering down the central bank’s independence if he is re-elected president. But it also raises questions about whether such a plan is possible — or whether Trump’s Wall Street supporters would back it. Among the most consequential would be asserting that Trump had the authority to oust Jay Powell as Fed chair before Powell’s term is up in 2025. While Trump gave Powell the job in 2017, he has since soured on his pick for raising rates, and has publicly said he wouldn’t give Powell a second term.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Jay Powell, Powell, wouldn’t Organizations: Trump, Street Journal, Wall

Meta’s A.I. But for investors, that’s not enough — and that’s a warning to other tech giants set to announce their own financial results in the coming days. That makes clear that while Wall Street loves the opportunities that A.I. The company plans to spend $35 billion to $40 billion this year — much of that on the technology — up from a forecast of $30 billion to $37 billion. It also expects second-quarter revenue to come in at $36.5 billion to $39 billion, below analyst estimates.

Persons: Meta’s, Meta, that’s, Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: Facebook, Wall, Meta

☆ How Dan Doctoroff transformed New York City
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | 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 EmailHow Dan Doctoroff transformed New York CityCNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin sits down with Wall Street veteran Dan Doctoroff to discuss his time working for Michael Bloomberg, how he transformed New York City, his fight against ALS, how the diagnosis changed his view on life, and more.

Persons: Dan Doctoroff, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Michael Bloomberg Organizations: Wall Street, ALS Locations: New York City

The winners from the TikTok battleThe countdown to TikTok disappearing from the United States is about to start. The Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation to force the divestment of the video app by its Chinese owner, ByteDance, within a year or be banned. Barring the app from U.S. shores could take months, or even years — if it actually happens. The road ahead is complicated, and any disruptions to the app could bolster its American rivals. Analysts at Bernstein have estimated that, should TikTok be banned, Meta could draw up to 60 percent of TikTok’s American ad revenue, while YouTube could take another 25 percent or so.

Persons: Biden, Bernstein Organizations: Google, Meta, YouTube Locations: United States

Campus unrest spreadsTop American colleges are in turmoil, with dozens of pro-Palestinian student protesters having been arrested at N.Y.U. and Yale amid new worries about antisemitism on campus. The latest: Police were called in to break up pro-Palestinian protests at N.Y.U. Harvard shut Harvard Yard and Columbia will make classes at its main campus hybrid until next week. Encampments were growing at other schools, including M.I.T., the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley.

Organizations: Palestinian, Yale, University, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Police, Columbia, University of Michigan, University of California Locations: N.Y.U, Columbia, Berkeley

Tesla investors’ nerve-racking rideTesla has hardly been keeping quiet as it prepares to announce earnings on Tuesday. These developments are the latest signs that Tesla is confronting its toughest stretch in years — and many shareholders aren’t convinced that the company and its C.E.O., Elon Musk, are taking the right steps to address it. The latest: During the weekend, Tesla cut prices of several models in China, the U.S. and Europe. Those moves came a day after Tesla voluntarily recalled nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks over a faulty accelerator pedal that could get stuck. It’s all apparently keeping Musk so busy that he canceled a trip to India, during which he was expected to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce plans to build a factory there.

Persons: Tesla, aren’t, Elon Musk, Narendra Modi Locations: China, U.S, Europe, India

Labor painsAfter a “summer of strikes” last year that stretched from Detroit to Hollywood, unions are on a roll, flexing their growing might. Friday will bring a new test of that power as workers at a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee vote on whether to join the United Automobile Workers. Victory there would mark perhaps the first time a foreign carmaker’s U.S. plant became unionized and form a beachhead for organized labor in the anti-union South. But it could also resonate well beyond the car industry as President Biden cultivates labor in battleground states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. A yes vote would be a big win for the U.A.W.

Persons: ”, Biden, Shawn Fain, they’ve Organizations: Volkswagen, United Automobile Workers, Big, Detroit carmakers, Toyota, Tesla, Automotive News Locations: Detroit, Hollywood, Tennessee, U.S, Michigan, Pennsylvania

The clock ticks for TikTokThe push to either split TikTok from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or ban it in the U.S. is gaining momentum thanks to a legislative maneuver by the House Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill’s progress comes as The Times reveals more details about the video platform’s origin story — and the central role played by the Chinese subsidiary of the trading firm of a Republican donor, Jeff Yass. Johnson has bundled the TikTok bill into a foreign aid package. The speaker said on Wednesday that he would put up for a vote this weekend a spending measure for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan that includes a modified version of the TikTok divestment legislation. The move may force the Senate’s hand: The House overwhelmingly passed the bill last month, but the Senate hasn’t been in a rush to take it up.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Jeff Yass, Johnson, hasn’t Organizations: Times Locations: U.S, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

Tesla tries again on Musk’s record pay packageNearly three months ago, a Delaware court voided Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package that Tesla’s board — and most shareholders — had given him in 2018, contending that the process to decide it was “deeply flawed” and that the company didn’t properly disclose it to investors. On Wednesday, Tesla said that it would ask shareholders to vote again on that same pay package, now valued at about $47 billion, at its annual meeting on June 13. The company’s board is effectively asking shareholders, now armed with all of the information that was revealed about the negotiations in court, to make the court’s ruling moot. The vote is likely to set off a bitter battle among investors and governance experts over whether shareholders should provide Musk with the richest pay package in U.S. corporate history. It comes as Tesla faces new challenges, especially slumping sales that have erased billions off its market value in recent months.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk’s, — Locations: Delaware

deal as a diplomatic weaponA relatively small deal — by Microsoft’s standards, anyway — is leading to big geopolitical ripples on Tuesday. The tech giant is investing $1.5 billion in G42, an Emirati artificial intelligence company. On its face, that may appear to be just another effort by the tech giant to claim a foothold in a fast-growing A.I. The terms of the deal: G42 will be able to sell Microsoft services that use powerful A.I. chips; in return, it will use Microsoft’s Azure cloud services for its A.I.

Persons: OpenAI, Biden Organizations: Microsoft Locations: Beijing, China

But the calm could be short lived, as world leaders and markets focus on Israel’s response. Military clashes don’t always sink the markets, as was the case when Hamas attacked Israel in October and Israel retaliated. “We may be entering one of the most treacherous geopolitical eras since World War II,” Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s C.E.O., warned last week. “Take the win,” President Biden reportedly told Israel’s embattled prime minister after the attack was rebuffed with American help. Iran has signaled that the attack was a one-and-done, but Israel’s war cabinet hasn’t indicated its next move.

Persons: Israel, ” Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, hasn’t, Helima Croft Organizations: JPMorgan, ”, RBC Capital Markets Locations: Israel, Ukraine, United States, Iran

Housing gloomThe higher-for-longer inflation predicament has hit the U.S. housing market like a thunderbolt. More economists are paring their bets that the Fed will cut rates after the latest Consumer Price Index report. They all argue that sticky inflation will force the Fed to keep borrowing costs higher for longer. The country is growing faster than many peers, but voters are zeroing in on inflation to explain their disapproval of President Biden’s handling of the economy. (Some DealBook readers in recent days have emailed to say that they’re strongly feeling the pain of housing inflation.)

Persons: Goldman Sachs, ” Lawrence Yun, Biden’s Organizations: Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, National Association of Realtors

☆ Amazon CEO Andy Jassy spurns regulators after failed iRobot deal: 'It's a sad story'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy on Thursday took aim at regulators who are increasingly blocking mergers, including the company's planned acquisition of robotic vacuum maker iRobot , which fell apart earlier this year amid antitrust concerns. "I think it's really kind of a sad story," Jassy said in an interview with CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin on "Squawk Box." Jassy said the move showed that regulators "trust these two large Chinese companies with maps of the inside of U.S. consumers' homes more than they do Amazon." As megadeals have slowed to a crawl, tech companies have made a flurry of investments in artificial intelligence startups, seeking to gain a foothold in the burgeoning market. When asked how Amazon is tackling returns fraud, Jassy said the company has teams charged with examining returned goods to make sure they're "appropriate."

Persons: Andy Jassy, Jassy, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, iRobot, Anker, Ecovacs, Biden Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Big Tech, Microsoft, Regulators, FTC, Amazon, CNBC, National Retail Federation, Appriss Locations: U.S, China, OpenAI

The dollar spiked overnight and traders slashed their bets on when — or whether — the Fed would cut interest rates this year. Such uncertainty could last for months and complicate President Biden’s bid for a second term. Traders this morning were pricing in less than two rate cuts for 2024 — down from more than six at the start of the year — possibly starting in July. The growing view on Wall Street is that inflation will need to get closer to the Fed’s 2 percent target before the central bank makes a move. Some are going even further: Larry Summers, the former Treasury secretary and a critic of the Fed’s handling of inflation, told Bloomberg that a rate increase can’t be ruled out.

Persons: Biden’s, Larry Summers Organizations: Fed, Biden U.S, Treasury, Bloomberg

Deal making runs into presidential politicsPresident Biden holds talks on Wednesday for Fumio Kishida, Japan’s prime minister, part of a state visit designed to show the U.S.’s commitment to a staunch ally. Despite the pomp and ceremony, the presidential election will loom over the meetings, with Biden’s opposition to Nippon Steel’s bid for U.S. Steel showing how the chase for votes is affecting deal making and economic policy. The summit will be just the fifth state visit of his administration, and reflects a different approach to that of his predecessor, Donald Trump. Both Biden and Trump have courted union workers, notably during the auto industry strike last year. Biden is the first sitting president to visit a picket line.

Persons: Biden, Fumio, Donald Trump, It’s, Trump Organizations: Nippon, U.S, Steel, Nippon Steel’s, Pennsylvania, Biden Locations: U.S, Japan, China, South Korea, India, Europe, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

What next on inflation and rate cuts? The mood music on rate cuts has changed again. All eyes now are focused on the upcoming Consumer Price Index data for clues on when the Fed might finally start cutting interest rates. Economists on Tuesday are forecasting higher growth but also higher-for-longer inflation and rates. Traders are penciling in fewer than three cuts this year — lower than the Fed’s own projection — with the first coming not before July.

Persons: That’s

Jamie Dimon sees America at a ‘Pivotal Moment’Jamie Dimon’s annual letter to JPMorgan Chase shareholders has just been published. The economy is resilient but the government underpinning it is a red flag. Consumers are spending and investors expect a soft landing. But Dimon warns that the economy is being fueled by government spending and rising deficits. “These markets seem to be pricing in at a 70% to 80% chance of a soft landing — modest growth along with declining inflation and interest rates,” Dimon writes, adding that the odds are actually a lot lower.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Jamie Dimon’s, Dimon, ”, ” Dimon Organizations: JPMorgan Chase Locations: America, Ukraine

☆ Tesla shares have tanked 34% this year. Investors raise doubts over whether the EV maker will return to form
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Disappointing investors Tesla's inability to meet estimates and boost demand for its models has spurrred the newfound skepticism. The comments from Wood came one day after her firm purchased nearly $40 million worth of Tesla shares. A lack of investor understanding of the value of these alternative businesses and their future contribution to Tesla profits is plaguing Tesla shares, according to Corestone Capital's Will McDonough. TSLA 1Y mountain Tesla shares over the last year "Valuing Tesla as a car company is akin to valuing Amazon as a book sale company," the investor said. "There are definitely concerns in the marketplace around demand" for Tesla vehicles, said Robert W. Baird senior research analyst Ben Kallo.

Persons: Tesla, Morgan Stanley, Adam Jonas, Wedbush's Dan Ives, Ives, Michael Sansoterra, Tim Pagliara, EVs, Sansoterra, that's, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Cathie Wood, Wood, Brad Gerstner, Elon Musk, Corestone Capital's Will McDonough, Robert W, Baird, Ben Kallo, We're Organizations: Elon, Silvant Capital Management, Wall, Motors, Ford, Toyota, Silvant, Ark Investment Locations: U.S, China

Oil spike ripples through global marketsThe price of Brent crude rose again on Friday, at one point topping $91 a barrel. Growing tensions in the Middle East have pushed the global benchmark to levels last reached in October. Some analysts believe the oil rally is just beginning, creating a fresh inflation risk for central bankers who are struggling to keep price-increases in check. JPMorgan Chase forecast last week that oil would climb above $100 by September. And, in a bad sign for motorists, gasoline prices in the U.S. have climbed 6 percent in the past month just ahead of the North American summer driving season.

Persons: Brent, Biden Organizations: JPMorgan Chase Locations: U.S

Disney fended off the activist investor Nelson Peltz for the second time in two years, as its shareholders rejected his effort to win two seats on its board. The House of Mouse claimed a “substantial” margin of victory, after a bitterly fought contest with Peltz and his major backer, the former Marvel chair Ike Perlmutter. Based on preliminary results from Wednesday’s annual investor meeting, Disney’s board candidates won the backing of 75 percent of individual shareholders, an outsize investor base. But like any good Disney tale, the board fight provided a series of lessons for the future — for companies and activists alike. That included cost-cutting efforts, an investment in the video game giant Epic Games and a shake-up in the struggling movie division.

Persons: Iger, Nelson Peltz, Mouse, Peltz, Ike Perlmutter, Bob Iger Organizations: Disney, Marvel, Wall Street

☆ Cathie Wood buys more Tesla, says now 'is not the time to run for the hills'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Now is not the time for investors to bail on Tesla , according to Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood. Tesla shares have slumped more than 33% since the start of the year as it faces rising competition in China and slowing demand for electric vehicles, with the Elon Musk-run company reporting an 8.5% year-over-year decline in first-quarter deliveries earlier this week. Despite this recent pressure, Wood believes that the stock could hit $2,000 in the next five years. TSLA YTD mountain Tesla, YTD That's evident from recent moves at the investment firm. Wood snatched up 182,052 shares for the flagship ARK Innovation ETF , 42,744 shares for the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF , and 10,202 for the ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF , according to the firm's daily trading data from Tuesday.

Persons: Cathie Wood, it's, Tesla, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Wood Organizations: Ark Invest, Elon, Innovation, ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics Locations: China

☆ Steve Cohen says it's early to judge Mets season, sees making team a winner as a 'civic responsibility'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The New York Mets and their revamped roster are languishing in this young baseball season, but owner Steve Cohen isn't panicking, not by a longshot. "It's only four games into the season right?" Cohen told CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin during an interview Wednesday on "Squawk Box" that touched on his thus-far winless team that he purchased in 2020. "Nobody wants to start zero and four, but you know, it's early. During the season, you're going to have losing streaks.

Persons: Steve Cohen isn't panicking, Cohen, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin Organizations: New York Mets, Mets, National League East

☆ Steve Cohen says his financial firm can already save $25 million by using AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

You can count billionaire investor Steve Cohen among those who believes artificial intelligence is already making an impact on the business world. The Point72 founder told CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin on "Squawk Box" that his financial firm has found ways for even the early AI models to save the company money. My CTO comes to me and says I can save the firm $25 million by using these LLMs to improve our efficiency," Cohen said, referencing his chief technology officer and the large language models like ChatGPT. "Now, we're a nice sized firm. And that's just one thing, so it gives you a little bit of a look into what's possible," he added.

Persons: Steve Cohen, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Cohen, We're

Tesla’s woes prompt an E.V. reassessmentWall Street has sounded the alarm for weeks that the transition to electric vehicles may be stalling, despite billions in government subsidies and huge investments by auto giants. Tesla’s latest sales figures suggest that the pullback may be worse than thought — and beyond one company’s ability to fix. Tesla’s numbers undershot forecasts. That has contributed to a more than 30 percent decline in Tesla’s stock, which has made it one of the worst performers on the S&P 500 this year.

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