📈 Mega merger

Hess investors sign off on $53 billion Chevron takeover, Samsung Electronics' union threatens first ever walkout, Nvidia's market value surges closer to Apple, GameStop shares jump 30+%, and Ex-OpenAI, and ex-OpenAI safety leader joins rival Anthropic…

Good morning.

The Fast Five → Hess investors sign off on $53 billion Chevron takeover, Samsung Electronics' union threatens first ever walkout, Nvidia's market value surges closer to Apple, GameStop shares jump 30+%, and ex-OpenAI safety leader joins rival Anthropic…

Calendar: (all times ET)

  • THU, 5/30: Initial jobless claims, 8:30a

  • FRI, 5/31: PCE Index, 8:30a

Your 5-minute briefing for Wednesday, May 29:

BEFORE THE OPEN

As of market close 5/28/2024.

PRE-MARKET

MARKETS

  • US stocks closed mixed yesterday as investors weighed rate cut doubts against Nvidia-driven AI hype

  • The Nasdaq closed above 17,000 at an ATH

  • US yields spiked after weak US 5Y and 2Y Treasury auctions

  • Crude rose for a fourth day to a four-week high

EARNINGS

  • CAVA issued a Q1 beat-and-raise despite declining same-store sales growth as consumers reduce spending on dining out (link)

  • What we're watching this week:

    • Today: Salesforce, HP

    • Thursday: Costco, Dell, Dollar General, Kohl’s

  • Full calendar here

NEWS BRIEFING

Investors’ green light clears one hurdle for the tie-up to happen but a challenge by Exxon makes final outcome uncertain.

Samsung Electronics' union in South Korea will begin escalating strike action next week over demands for higher wages, union officials said on Wednesday.

  • Wall Street shifts to faster settlements; bumps seen ahead (link)

  • Catalyst quant fund shorts US 10Y as key macro bet (link)

  • Rating firms stay cautious in ratifying private credit loans (link)

  • AI darling Nvidia's market value surges closer to Apple (link)

  • Blacklisted Chinese firms rebrand as American to dodge crackdown (link)

  • China financial firms unusually cash-rich as savers pile in (link)

  • Japan external assets hit record high to remain world's top creditor (link)

  • US consumer confidence unexpectedly improved in May (link)

  • GameStop shares jump more than 30% after $933M stock sale (link)

  • IMF upgraded China's 2024/25 GDP forecasts after 'strong' Q1 (link)

  • Mongolia defends plan to tap mining riches for new SWF (link)

  • OpenAI creates oversight team with Sam Altman on board, begins training new model (link)

    • Ex-OpenAI safety leader to join rival Anthropic (link)

  • Activist Elliott disclosed a $2.5B stake in Texas Instruments (link)

  • Major proxy firms recommended voting against Toyota chairman (link)

  • Robinhood launched a maiden $1B stock buyback (link)

  • Chicago to offer most generous subsidies to save downtown (link)

CRYPTO

  • Crypto VC and hedge funds are launching at the fastest pace since 2021 (link)

  • Ex-FTX exec Ryan Salame was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison (link)

You Can Sponsor this Newsletter details here.​

BULLISH BITES

💸 Record high: How the world got into $315 trillion of debt

🍎 Neverending: Why Epic’s lawsuit against Apple just won’t quit.

⚡️ High energy: Germany is generating so much solar power that electricity prices are going negative.

🚬 Pass the dutchie: Marijuana surpasses alcohol in daily use for Americans, says a new study.

DAILY SHARES

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