Friday concluded a prosperous month for U.S. stocks, witnessing a general uptrend in all major indexes. Despite this positive trend, Treasury yields initially dipped to their lowest point since September before rebounding. Meanwhile, the Stoxx 600 index in Europe saw a rise of 1.01%. Notably, Rolls-Royce shares surged to a 52-week high of 248 pence (308 cents) during trading, marking a remarkable 190% increase over the course of a year.
OpenAI Leadership Transition
The CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, officially stepped down from his position, leading to the appointment of Mira Murati, the technology chief, as the interim CEO, as announced by the company’s board of directors on Friday. Following Altman’s departure, there was a swift push from OpenAI investors, including Microsoft, Tiger Global, and Thrive Capital, to reinstate Altman as the CEO.
Legal Action Threat by Musk Against Media Matters
In response to a report by Media Matters for America revealing the display of corporate ads next to antisemitic content on X (formerly known as Twitter), several major companies, including Apple, Disney, and IBM, suspended their advertising campaigns on the platform. Elon Musk, in a strong reaction, threatened to pursue legal action, describing it as a “thermonuclear lawsuit” against Media Matters.
Potential Hostage Exchange Between Israel and Hamas
There are indications that a potential agreement to release some hostages between Israel and Hamas may be on the horizon, as suggested by some U.S. officials. During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” Jewish ambassador Michael Herzog hinted at the imminent release of “a sizable quantity of hostages” in the coming days. Currently, around 240 captives, including individuals from various nations, are under Hamas’s custody.
Nvidia Earnings Focus
Following a series of inflation reports last week, the upcoming week appears relatively subdued in terms of economic data releases, especially with the closure of U.S. markets on Thursday for Thanksgiving. However, the highlight of the week will be Nvidia’s earnings report on Tuesday, generating significant anticipation within the financial sphere.
Recapitulation
The positive momentum from last week’s favorable inflation data continued to resonate across various sectors. Notably, U.S. Treasurys reflected this optimism, with the 10-year yield, a key indicator of long-term interest rate expectations, trading at 4.379%, the lowest level since September 20, indicating a downward trend in yield pressure.
While Friday’s stock market performance was relatively subdued, major indexes managed to eke out marginal gains, showcasing a reluctance to end the week on a negative note. The S&P 500 recorded a modest 0.13% increase, the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a slight uptick of 0.01%, and the Nasdaq Composite registered a 0.08% gain.
However, a broader perspective reveals more substantial movements in stock performance over the week. The Dow and S&P both saw a 1.9% and 2.2% increase, respectively, marking their first three-week winning streak since July. Similarly, the Nasdaq surged by 2.4%, achieving its first three-week run of gains since June.
Looking ahead, the outlook appears promising for the remainder of the year, despite ongoing developments such as the leadership changes at OpenAI. The turbulence within OpenAI, triggered by Sam Altman’s sudden departure, is perceived more as a reflection of internal dynamics rather than fundamental technological challenges.
According to Zachary Lipton, a machine learning and activities studies professor at Carnegie Mellon University, while there are elements of corporate and intellectual discord in this narrative, there is no indication of diminished potential. As pointed out by business researcher Patrick Moorhead, even if OpenAI faces challenges, there are other players in the AI field like Anthropic or Google ready to step up.
Investors concerned about disruptions in the AI landscape may find reassurance in Nvidia’s recent report, released on Tuesday, which could provide a sense of stability amidst the current uncertainties.
