• Market recap: All 3 main indices gained around 0.5% yesterday, with the Dow in particular climbing 228 points. AI stocks were particular winners, with Micron (MU) up 4% and Oracle (ORCL) up 3%. Source: CNBC.
• FDA greenlights Wegovy weight-loss pill: Novo Nordisk (NVO) has gained approval for a pill version of its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, marking the first oral GLP-1 therapy for obesity. Shares rocketed 7% premarket. Source: WSJ.
• Nvidia plans Chinese shipments: Nvidia (NVDA) aims to begin shipping H200 AI chips to China by mid-February, pending Beijing’s approval, under a Trump policy allowing sales with a 25% fee — reversing a Biden-era export ban. Shares rose 1.5%. Source: Reuters.
• Wind companies tank on turbine decision: Dominion Energy (D) fell 4% yesterday after the Trump administration killed numerous offshore wind turbine projects already under construction. Equinor (EQNR) fell 1%, and Orsted (CPH:ORSTED) plunged 12%. Source: CNBC.
• Google buys Intersect: Google (GOOGL) is acquiring data center company Intersect for $4.75B in cash to expand its AI data center and energy infrastructure. Shares are up 64% YTD. Source: NY Times.
• Starfighters Space soars post-IPO: Supersonic aircraft operator Starfighters Space (FJET) surged over 370% after raising $40M in its IPO. Source: CoinCentral.
• J&J hit with $1.5B talc verdict: A jury awarded a record $1.5B to a woman who allegedly developed cancer from using Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) talc products, sending shares down 1.2% premarket. The company, facing over 67K similar suits, plans to appeal. Source: Reuters.
• Instacart ends price testing: Following consumer backlash and an FTC settlement, Instacart (CART) has scrapped a tool that showed users various prices for the same items. Shares fell 2%. Source: WSJ.
• Janus Henderson acquired for $7.4B: Asset manager Janus Henderson (JHG) will be bought by Trian and General Catalyst for $49/share in cash — a 6.5% premium. Shares rose 3%. Source: CNBC.
• CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ story: CBS (PSKY) abruptly shelved a “60 Minutes” segment on a Salvadoran prison housing U.S. deportees, prompting accusations of editorial censorship. The segment is now surfacing online after airing abroad. Sources: WSJ / The Verge.
• Korean shipbuilder surges on Navy deal: Hanwha Ocean (KRX:042660) jumped 12% after President Trump announced that the South Korean firm will build new frigates at its Philly shipyard as part of a Navy expansion. Source: CNBC.

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• SpaceX may nab part of wildlife refuge: The Trump administration is considering giving SpaceX 775 acres of a Texas wildlife refuge to expand its Starbase site in exchange for some of the company's property. Source: NY Times.
• Jim Beam to pause main distillery: Jim Beam will halt production at its flagship Kentucky site in 2026 amid rising bourbon inventories and tariff-related trade uncertainty. Source: CNN.

• Car loans go up in price and duration: With average new car prices topping $50K and monthly payments exceeding $750, more U.S. buyers are turning to ultra-long loan terms — some as long as 100 months — raising concerns about rising consumer debt and affordability. Source: WSJ.
• European car sales: New car sales in Europe rose 2.4% in November, marking a 5th straight monthly increase, as battery EVs reached a 21% E.U. market share. Source: Reuters.
• Mexican inflation: Mexico's inflation cooled to 3.72% in mid-December, below forecasts. Core inflation also fell to 4.34%. Source: Bloomberg.
• Singaporean inflation: Singapore’s headline and core inflation remained flat at 1.2% in November, below forecasts of 1.3%, as lower electricity prices offset rising service costs. Source: CNBC.

• Japan to restart world’s largest nuclear plant: Japan has approved putting an 8.2 GW nuclear plant back online, marking a key return to nuclear energy nearly 15 years after Fukushima. Source: Reuters.
• U.S. bans Chinese drones: The FCC has banned new drone imports from China over national security concerns, triggering backlash from U.S. users and fueling urgency for domestic alternatives. Source: WSJ.
• Plane crash in Texas: A Mexican Navy aircraft on a medical mission crashed in fog near Galveston, TX, killing 5 and leaving 1 missing. Source: BBC.

• 8:30 AM: Durable Goods Orders MoM & Durable Goods Orders Excl. Transp. MoM
• 8:30 AM: GDP Growth Rate & Price Index QoQ 2nd Est.
• 8:30 AM: Corporate Profits QoQ Prelim.
• 9:15 AM: Industrial Production MoM (Oct. & Nov.)
• 10:00 AM: CB Consumer Confidence
• 4:30 PM: API Crude Oil Stock Change

• There are no major recent earnings to report today, but you can check the earnings calendar for a complete list.

• There are no upcoming earnings to report today, but we'll be back tomorrow with forthcoming earnings.

• Confirmed today: Social Commerce Partners Corporation (SCPQ), a blank check company focused on the social commerce industry.
• Confirmed today: Silicon Valley Acquisition Corp. (SVAQ), a blank check company focused on fintech, AI infrastructure, auto, and mining.
• Estimated Tuesday, Dec. 23: Newbridge Acquisition Limited (NBRG), a blank check company focused on small-cap businesses.