Business and Finance News - 1.22.25

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Netflix added a record 19 million subscribers in Q4 2024, surpassing 300 million paid memberships and driving a 16% year-over-year revenue increase to $10.25 billion. The company raised its 2025 revenue forecast to $43.5–$44.5 billion and announced it will replace quarterly subscriber reporting with bi-annual engagement reports. (CNBC)

Key Insight → Netflix's record-breaking addition of 19 million subscribers in Q4, surpassing 300 million paid memberships, underscores its strong content slate and growing global appeal. The company’s revenue and subscriber growth, alongside an expanded focus on advertising and live events, signal a strategic pivot to diversify revenue streams and enhance its competitive edge. For the broader market, Netflix’s success highlights the evolving dynamics of the streaming industry, emphasizing the importance of premium content, audience retention, and innovative monetization strategies like ad-supported tiers.

OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, along with partners like Microsoft and NVIDIA, are investing $500 billion in "The Stargate Project," an AI data center initiative starting in Texas. The project aims to build advanced AI infrastructure in the U.S., with Microsoft securing extended partnership terms and rights of first refusal for new capacity. (The Verge)

Key Insight → The launch of "The Stargate Project," a $500 billion AI data center initiative by OpenAI, SoftBank, and key tech collaborators like Nvidia and Microsoft, signifies a massive investment in U.S.-based AI infrastructure. This effort underscores the escalating demand for computing power to support advanced AI models, setting a benchmark for public-private partnerships in cutting-edge technology. For the broader market, it highlights the competitive race to dominate the AI space, likely accelerating innovation while reshaping global data center strategies and technology supply chains.

Stripe cut 300 jobs, or 3.5% of its workforce, primarily in product, engineering, and operations, but plans to grow headcount by 17% by year-end. The company, valued at $70 billion, continues to expand despite previous downsizing and has surpassed $1 trillion in total payment volume in 2023. (CNBC)

Key Insight → Stripe's decision to cut 300 jobs while planning to expand its workforce by 17% highlights a strategic realignment, focusing resources on key growth areas despite recent layoffs. This move reflects broader trends in the tech industry, where companies balance cost-cutting with long-term investment amid economic uncertainty. For the larger market, it underscores evolving priorities in fintech, with a focus on efficiency, innovation, and adaptability in an increasingly competitive payments sector.

President Trump expressed openness to Elon Musk purchasing TikTok, as the app faces a mandated sale by its Chinese owner ByteDance due to national security concerns. TikTok, used by 170 million Americans, remains offline in the U.S., with ongoing debates about data security and market imbalances between the U.S. and China. (Reuters)

Key Insight → Elon Musk’s potential purchase of TikTok, endorsed by Trump, could profoundly reshape the tech and social media landscape, merging Musk's influence with a platform hosting 170 million American users. This move addresses national security concerns tied to TikTok’s Chinese ownership, reflecting broader tensions in U.S.-China relations and the global data privacy debate. If executed, such a sale might also set a precedent for U.S. policies on foreign-owned tech companies, reshaping market dynamics and highlighting the intersection of politics, innovation, and regulation.

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Here’s how the major indexes did yesterday:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 44,025.81 +537.98 (+1.24%)

• S&P 500: 6,049.24 +52.58 (+0.88%)

• Nasdaq Composite: 19,756.78 +126.58 (+0.64%)

• Russell 2000: 2,317.97 +42.09 (+1.85%)

Here’s how The Magnificent Seven did yesterday:

• Nvidia (NVDA) [3.449T]: 140.83 +3.12 (+2.27%)

• Apple (AAPL) [3.348T]: 222.64 -7.34 (-3.19%)

• Microsoft (MSFT) [3.186T]: 428.50 -0.53 (-0.12%)

• Amazon (AMZN) [2.426T]: 230.71 +4.77 (+2.11%)

• Alphabet (GOOGL) [2.424T]: 198.05 +2.05 (+1.05%)

• Meta Platforms (META) [1.556T]: 616.46 +3.69 (+0.60%)

• Tesla (TSLA) [1.361T]: 424.07 -2.43 (-0.57%)

Here’s how Bitcoin and Ethereum did yesterday:

• Bitcoin (BTC): $105,731.78 (10:00PM PST on 1/21/25)

• Ethereum (ETH): $3,322.00(10:00PM PST on 1/21/25)