Qualcomm in talks with Samsung Electronics for contract manufacturing, South Korean newspaper says

🌍 Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq edge down with eyes on Trump’s Venezuela oil deal, looming jobs data

US stock futures tilted lower on Wednesday, backing away from record highs as investors absorbed a promised deal to send Venezuelan oil to the US and waited for fresh jobs data ahead of the all-important monthly report.

Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 slipped 0.3%, while those on the S&P 500 nudged down 0.1%, coming off a record-high close for the benchmark.

Meanwhile, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures traded broadly flat after the blue-chip index closed above 49,000 for the first time. Yahoo Finance reports.


💾 Why SanDisk rocketed higher, yet again

Shares of NAND flash storage manufacturer SanDisk rallied 27.6% on Tuesday.

While the stock was the best-performing name in the S&P 500 index last year, that momentum does not appear to be slowing SanDisk’s meteoric rise in 2026.

More positive news for the flash storage sector emerged from the news wires and CES, as the generative AI revolution continues to drive an unprecedented surge in demand for high-speed storage. MSN reports.


🏦 US bank profits surge on investment banking jump in fourth quarter

The largest U.S. banks are expected to report bigger fourth-quarter profits next week, fueled by a surge in investment banking revenue as dealmaking accelerates.

JPMorgan Chase will kick off earnings season for banks on Jan. 13. Citigroup, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo will report on Jan. 14, followed by Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on Jan. 15. Results are likely to be boosted by a revival in mergers and acquisitions.

“The fourth quarter shaped up to be a perfect recipe in the consecutive buildup for investment banking revenues,” said Stephen Biggar, a banking analyst at Argus Research.

He cited an improving IPO calendar, a surge in M&A activity, and continued elevated trading across commodities, fixed income, and equities as factors lifting earnings. MarketScreener reports.


💊 Eli Lilly in advanced talks to buy Ventyx for over $1 billion; Ventyx shares jump pre-bell

Eli Lilly is in advanced talks to acquire Ventyx Biosciences for more than $1 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Ventyx develops pills to treat diseases such as Crohn's and rheumatoid arthritis, the report said, adding that one of its drug candidates is in testing to treat cardiovascular disease linked to obesity.

Lilly and Ventyx did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ventyx shares were up 68% in recent premarket activity Wednesday, while Lilly was little changed. MarketScreener reports.


♻️ Comstock Metals receives final air quality permit for first-of-a-kind industrial-scale solar panel processing facility

Comstock and Comstock Metals, a leader in the responsible recycling of end-of-life solar panels with a certified zero-landfill solution in North America, announced that it has received its Air Quality Permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Air Pollution Control for the processing of waste solar panels and photovoltaics at its industrial-scale materials recovery facility in Silver Springs, Nevada.

The approval keeps scale-up plans for commissioning the first industry-scale facility in Silver Springs on schedule.

The Air Quality Permit follows a recently received notification of eligibility for a Written Determination Permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management, which is currently in the public notice period. MarketScreener reports.


🥚 Cal-Maine Foods fiscal Q2 earnings and net sales fall; shares rise pre-bell

Cal-Maine Foods reported fiscal second-quarter earnings Wednesday of $2.13 per diluted share, down from $4.47 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected $1.95.

Net sales for the quarter ended Nov. 29 were $769.5 million, compared with $954.7 million a year earlier.

Four analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $796.6 million.

Shares of the company were up nearly 5% in recent Wednesday premarket activity. MarketScreener reports.


🤖 Nvidia CEO Huang says purchase orders likely to indicate Chinese approval of H200 chip

Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang said he does not expect the Chinese government to make a formal announcement about allowing local companies to import the company’s H200 artificial intelligence chips, adding that evidence of approval would instead come through purchase orders, Reuters reported Tuesday.

“My expectation is that we’re not expecting any press releases or any large declarations,” Huang reportedly said. “It’s just going to be purchase orders. If the purchase orders come, it’s because they’re able to place purchase orders.”

Nvidia executives have recently said demand for the H200 chip is strong among customers in China, according to news reports.

The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. MarketScreener reports.


🛢️ Chevron and Quantum Capital Group plan swoop for $22 billion of Lukoil assets, FT says

Chevron and private-equity firm Quantum Capital Group are planning a bid to buy the international assets of Russia's Lukoil, the Financial Times reported, citing unnamed sources.

The offer price could not be determined, but Chevron and Quantum plan to divide the assets - valued at $22 billion by Lukoil - between them, according to the report.

Chevron said it does not comment on commercial matters, while Quantum declined to comment. Morningstar reports.


💳 SoFi Technologies stock drops as analysts reassess price targets

SoFi Technologies stock is falling fast today, down 9.1% to $26.62, a sharp reversal following a positive start to 2026 as analysts adjust their outlook on the fintech company. Asktraders reports.

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– Benjamin Graham

Sourced in: The Intelligent Investor – Investopedia Summary.

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