(Kimihiro Hoshino/Getty Images) |
Breakin' up is hard to do |
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Londoners fed up with tourists taking over their favorite restaurants started leaving glowing fake reviews for an infamously mediocre steakhouse chain. Now the tourists who took their Tripadvisor recommendations have a bone to pick. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose yesterday, powered by Big Tech gains, though the Dow fell amid rising US-Russia tensions. Nvidia shares popped 5% ahead of the chip titan's earnings today. |
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Not feeling lucky… The Justice Department is reportedly going to ask Google to sell off its Chrome browser. After a judge ruled this summer that Google has an illegal search-engine monopoly, the DOJ has been whipping up suggestions for how the tech juggernaut could pare down its industry dominance. The most extreme options said to be on the table: Google sheds Chrome or its Android OS. Another remedy could be ending its exclusive multibillion-dollar deal with Apple that makes Google the default search engine in Safari. Google could also let rivals tap its search results and data. |
- Countdown: The DOJ's plan for Google's makeover is set to be decided in April and finalized by August.
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No place like Chrome… Chrome is the world's most popular browser and commands ~60% of the US market. It's also a huge boost to Google's search biz, which makes up the biggest chunk of its ad revenue. Google's the default search engine on Chrome (natch), and when users are logged into Google accounts in Chrome, their web activity can be tracked to target them with search ads. Google's also the default engine on Safari, and pays a hefty price for the privilege: the search giant is said to fork over 36% of its Safari ad revenue to Apple ($20B in 2022). Back-of-the-napkin math: Google could be making $50B+/year through the partnership, and Apple also stands to lose billions if it gets nixed. |
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A lot can change before a major change… FTC Chair Lina Khan, who led recent crackdowns on Big Tech, is expected to be replaced when Trump takes office. A shakeup at the DOJ is also in the cards. Before the changing of the guard, regulators are said to be upping the pressure. Pushing Google to sell Chrome may be a negotiating tactic. |
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Cboe® couldn't be more excited to bring you access to index options on Robinhood's brokerage platform (Robinhood Financial LLC). We have you covered with your index options education needs. From webinars to step-by-step guides, take your learning to the next level, and prepare your trading strategies for launch. Have you checked out these resources to potentially enhance your trades? 🌐 Get access to all index options resources in one place including a free guide and trading strategies 📺 Watch these videos to learn about index options products and their benefits. Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Customers must read and understand the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before engaging in any options trading strategies. |
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Cboe® couldn't be more excited to bring you access to index options on Robinhood's brokerage platform (Robinhood Financial LLC). We have you covered with your index options education needs. From webinars to step-by-step guides, take your learning to the next level, and prepare your trading strategies for launch. Have you checked out these resources to potentially enhance your trades? 🌐 Get access to all index options resources in one place including a free guide and trading strategies 📺 Watch these videos to learn about index options products and their benefits. Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Customers must read and understand the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before engaging in any options trading strategies. |
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Better than a BOGO deal… Walmart shares hit an all-time high yesterday after America's largest retailer stocked up a Q3 earnings beat. Walmart's sales jumped 5%, to $169B, as shoppers spent more per visit. Strong demand for curbside and same-day delivery drove a 22% jump in online order revenue. Walmart's discretionary sales (products beyond the grocery aisles) also rose for the second straight quarter after over a year of declines. |
- Good tidings: Walmart boosted its annual sales and profit forecast for the third time this year, partly crediting its quarterly growth to higher-income shoppers ($100K+/year).
- Tarrifying possibilities: Yesterday Walmart joined the list of retailers that've said they might raise prices if Trump's proposed tariffs are implemented.
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New fits > stocked fridge… Walmart is often viewed as a bellwether for US consumer spending, and its results suggest Americans are trending discretionary. Since the pandemic, consumers have prioritized essentials like groceries and TP over nice-to-haves like new laptops, decorative pillows, and fuzzy robes. That's shifting: in September, US discretionary spending grew for the fourth month in a row (though still below 2021 levels). Target, which reports today, topped expectations in August after more of its shoppers treated themselves to fresh outfits and beauty products. |
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Big spenders are pushing the cart... While consumer spending is healthy overall, high-income Americans — who've benefited the most from rising stock and home values — are leading the charge. Walmart said that in nearly every product category, wealthier households led its market-share gains. |
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They're not buying houses or having kids, but they're surprisingly good at saving. Read more. |
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- Netflix's Paul-Tyson match set a record for boxing and MMA in-person ticket sales outside Vegas, notching $18M+ in gate revenue.
- Lowe's shares fell after the home-improvement retailer said it expected lower annual sales. Home Depot recently said that consumers keep delaying big projects.
- Novo Nordisk launched its blockbuster weight-loss drug, Wegovy, in China for a fraction of the med's US price.
- HarperCollins is asking some authors to allow their books to be used for AI training after the publishing powerhouse reportedly made a deal with Microsoft.
- Options on spot bitcoin ETFs began trading for the first time yesterday, with the potential to draw investors in search of crypto-hedging opportunities.
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- Earnings expected from Nio, Target, TJX, Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, and Jack in the Box
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Authors of this Snacks own bitcoin and shares of: Alphabet, Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Walmart |
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Robinhood Financial LLC (registered broker-dealer and Member SIPC) and Cboe Global Markets are unaffiliated entities.
There are important risks associated with transacting in any of the Cboe® Company products discussed here. Before engaging in such transactions in those products, it is important for market participants to carefully review the disclosures and disclaimers contained at https://www.cboe.com/us_disclaimers. |
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Sherwood Media, LLC produces fresh and unique perspectives on topical financial news and is a fully owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc., and any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of any other Robinhood affiliate... See more |
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