November 30 (Thursday)

Latest Morning Briefing Executive Summary: MegaCap-8, AI & Gates On Climate Change
The MegaCap-8 stocks are approaching their highest collective market capitalization ever, having already hit a record high in terms of their share of the S&P 500’s capitalization. … Also: Jackie discusses Google’s AI initiatives and election-year challenges. … And: Our Disruptive Technologies segment recaps Bill Gates’ practical and innovative approach to climate-related investments as the annual COP28 climate change conference kicks off in the UAE. Three innovations seem particularly promising.
(subscribers’ link)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on November 27.

Markets
S&P 500 Slips, Halting November Gains | W
Notable investor says ‘the top of growth stocks is coming’ | C
Investors Lose Legal Bid Against Exchange Over Nickel Market Blowup | W
Oil prices edge higher as OPEC+ meets to discuss supply cuts | R
OPEC+ agrees preliminary oil cut deal of over 1 million bpd, sources say | R

Central banks
Here’s what it would take for the Fed to start slashing rates in 2024 | C
Fed starting gun for $6 trillion dash from cash | R

US
Consumers Likely Pulled Back Spending in October | W
Trump financial watchdog tells judge money transfers | C

Europe
Europe Needs More LNG to Ease Tight Market, Uniper CEO Says | B
Euro zone inflation tumble pits ECB against markets | R

China
China’s Manufacturing PMI Edged Lower, Signaling Continued Weakness | W
China’s Economy Faces a Sour End to the Year | W

Geopolitics & trade
No Strings Attached? Conditions on Israel Aid Split Democrats | W

Industries & companies
Airlines: Spirit Airlines offers buyouts to salaried employees | C
Autos: UAW launches union campaigns at Tesla, 12 other automakers in the U.S. | C
Media: Iger explains Marvels flop, too many Disney sequels | C

Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI’s New Board Takes Over and Says Microsoft Will Have Observer Role | W
Talking to Chatbots Is Now a $200K Job. So I Applied. | W

Corporate finance
Cigna, Humana in Talks for Blockbuster Insurance Merger in Stock-and-Cash Deal | W
European Debt: ‘Zombie’ CLOs New Hurdle | B

Climate
COP28 opens with plea to work together on fossil fuels | R

Beyond markets
Henry Kissinger, Who Helped Forge U.S. Foreign Policy During Vietnam and Cold Wars, Dies at 100 | W
Elon Musk says advertisers trying to ‘blackmail’ him | C