TikTok’s future in the U.S. took a major turn after President Donald Trump approved a new deal that creates a U.S.-based joint venture — but with ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent, still playing a central role. While American investors will control the app’s operations, ByteDance will reportedly receive about half of TikTok U.S.’s profits. Key Points ByteDance keeps control of profits:  Despite ceding majority ownership, ByteDance could capture ~50% of TikTok U.S. profits through licensing fees and its minority equity stake. Valuation lower than expected:  The deal values TikTok U.S. at $14 billion, well below analyst estimates of $35–60 billion. National security debate continues:  Lawmakers question whether the structure meets U.S. divestiture requirements. Why is TikTok U.S. valued at only $14 billion? Vice President JD Vance announced the U.S. TikTok entity would be valued at $14 billion — far less than prior Wall Street estimates of up to $60 billion. Analysts say t...

President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs that will hit pharmaceuticals, furniture, and heavy trucks, signaling an aggressive expansion of his trade agenda. The measures, set to take effect on October 1, 2025 , could reshape several key industries and spark ripple effects across global markets. Key Points Pharmaceutical imports face a 100% duty , unless the company is actively building a U.S. manufacturing plant. Furniture and building products like cabinets and vanities will be hit with tariffs of 30% to 50%. Heavy trucks will face a 25% tariff, designed to shield U.S. manufacturers like Peterbilt and Freightliner. Why are pharmaceuticals facing a 100% tariff? The most eye-catching move is Trump’s decision to slap a 100% duty on imported branded and patented drugs . However, there’s a major exception: companies that are currently building U.S. manufacturing plants won’t be taxed. This “loophole” means that large drugmakers like Merck ( MRK ), Eli Lilly ( L...

Costco Wholesale ( BA ) reported another quarter of strong profits and revenue, but its stock slipped as investors focused on slowing same-store sales growth. The retail giant continues to prove its resilience, though questions about its lofty valuation are resurfacing. Key Points Costco posted adjusted earnings of $5.87 per share on $86.2 billion in revenue, topping Wall Street expectations. Same-store sales rose 5.7% , slightly below forecasts, marking the second straight quarter of slower growth. Membership income surged 14% , with e-commerce sales climbing 13.6% , showing strength in digital channels. Why did Costco stock drop after an earnings beat? Costco’s earnings per share and revenue both beat forecasts, yet the stock fell over 2% after the release. Why? The culprit was slower same-store sales growth. These sales, which measure performance at existing stores, increased by 5.7%, shy of the 5.9% analysts expected and well below last year’s 6.9%. Investors tend ...

Boeing ( BA ) shares climbed this week after regulators signaled a shift in oversight and major global airlines unveiled sizable aircraft purchases, marking important steps in the company’s recovery. Key Points The FAA will allow Boeing to resume issuing safety certificates for some 737 MAX and 787 jets, easing years of strict oversight. Turkish Airlines announced a landmark deal for up to 225 Boeing aircraft, including 100 737 MAX and 50 Dreamliners. Norwegian Airlines placed its first direct Boeing order since 2017, securing 30 737 MAX jets. Why did Boeing stock jump this week? Boeing’s stock rose more than 4% as investors welcomed news that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to partially restore the company’s authority to issue airworthiness certificates. For years, the FAA had retained this responsibility following two fatal 737 MAX crashes and ongoing quality concerns. Starting next week, Boeing will again be able to approve some of its 737 MAX and 787 aircr...

Bitcoin and the wider crypto market stumbled this week, with billions wiped out in liquidations and investor sentiment turning cautious ahead of key U.S. inflation data. Key Points Bitcoin slipped under $110,000, while Ethereum and Solana saw steeper losses. Over $1.6 billion in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated, intensifying selling pressure. Traders now await U.S. inflation data that could influence the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate move. Why did Bitcoin fall below $110,000? Bitcoin slid more than 3% on Thursday, briefly dipping under $110,000 for the first time in weeks. Ethereum dropped nearly 6% to $3,887, its lowest point since August, while Solana and Dogecoin each fell more than 7%. This sharp downturn erased over $140 billion from the crypto market in just days. Analysts point to cascading liquidations — when leveraged bets are forcibly closed — as the main culprit. According to CoinGlass, more than $1.1 billion in long positions were wiped out w...

Oracle ( ORCL ) is doubling down on artificial intelligence infrastructure, raising billions in fresh debt while joining forces with OpenAI and SoftBank ( SOFI ) to build massive U.S. data centers under the ambitious Stargate Project. Key Points Oracle plans to raise $15 billion through a multi-part bond sale , including a rare 40-year bond, to fund AI cloud infrastructure. The Stargate Project now totals $400 billion in investment and nearly 7 GW of planned capacity , on track to hit its $500 billion goal ahead of schedule. Despite near-term cash flow pressure, Oracle stock has surged 97% year-to-date , outperforming Nvidia ( NVDA ) and cementing its role in the AI race. Why Is Oracle Raising $15 Billion Now? Oracle is tapping the bond market for $15 billion, one of its largest debt offerings ever, to support massive spending on AI-related cloud infrastructure. Proceeds may go toward data center construction, acquisitions, or debt repayment. This move comes as Orac...

Micron Technology ( MU ) closed out fiscal 2025 with record results, riding the AI wave to soaring revenue and profits. But despite the blowout quarter, shares slipped as investors weighed whether the good news was already priced in. Key Points Micron posted Q4 revenue of $11.3 billion , up 46% year-over-year, with earnings more than doubling. AI-driven high-bandwidth memory (HBM) sales nearly doubled from last quarter, reaching almost $2 billion. Strong guidance for Q1 2026 shows continued momentum, though shares dipped as expectations were sky-high. Why Did Micron’s Stock Fall After a Blowout Quarter? Micron crushed estimates with Q4 revenue of $11.3 billion and earnings of $3.03 per share, far ahead of last year’s $1.18. Full-year revenue hit $37.4 billion, nearly 50% higher than 2024 , while net income surged more than tenfold to $9.5 billion . The driver? AI demand. Micron’s HBM business soared, bringing in nearly $2 billion in Q4 alone. Its data center segment, ...

Alibaba Group ( BABA ) shares jumped after the company revealed plans to ramp up artificial intelligence spending well beyond its original $53 billion target. The announcement underscores the Chinese tech giant’s strategy to transform itself into a global leader in cloud and AI services. Key Points Bigger AI Bet: Alibaba will spend more than $53 billion over three years to expand AI infrastructure and models. New AI Model: The company launched Qwen3-Max, a trillion-parameter language model positioned as its most advanced yet. Stock Momentum: BABA shares have nearly doubled this year, boosted by AI optimism and stronger sentiment in China’s tech sector. Why is Alibaba Spending Billions More on AI? Alibaba said it is pushing ahead with a three-year, RMB 380 billion ($53 billion) AI infrastructure plan — and will likely spend more. CEO Eddie Wu described this as preparation for the coming “artificial superintelligence” era, projecting that global AI spending could top ...

AutoZone ( AZO ) shares slipped after the auto parts retailer missed Wall Street’s earnings expectations for the fifth straight quarter. Still, strong sales growth, international expansion, and ongoing store openings suggest the company’s long-term strategy remains on track. Key Points Earnings Miss Again : Q4 EPS came in at $48.71, below the $50.93 expected. Sales Hold Up : Revenue was $6.24 billion, with same-store sales up 5.1% year-over-year. Expansion Continues : AutoZone opened 141 new stores in Q4 and plans 325–350 new locations in FY 2026. Why Did AutoZone Miss Earnings Again? AutoZone’s earnings were hit by a hefty $80 million LIFO charge — an accounting adjustment tied to rising inventory costs. This shaved profits and pushed gross margins down to 51.5% from 52.5% last year. Net income for the quarter dropped 7.2% to $837 million, while operating expenses grew as the company invested in new stores, bigger distribution hubs, and faster delivery systems. For ...