Nvidia, the key backbone in global AI infrastructure and 2024's most important stock, has a new distinction: giant corporate ping pong ball caught up in U.S.-China tensions.
Why it matters: Geopolitical forces bearing down on the U.S. tech giant could have far-reaching ripple effects for investors and tech ecosystems.
Gas prices haven't been this low since spring 2021.
Why it matters: Displayed prominently on big signs everywhere you drive, prices at the pump are a key economic indicator for the general public.
The recent lows are a big sign that inflation is increasingly in our rear-view mirror.
And, of course, the lower prices are happy news for drivers — especially ahead of the holiday driving season.
By the numbers: The average gallon of gas cost $2.98 on Monday, and has been under $3 since Saturday, according to GasBuddy data.
Between the lines: The good news comestoo late for the Biden administration, which suffered politically when inflation and the war in Ukraine drove prices above $5 a gallon in 2022.
Instead, low gas prices are more likely to benefit President-elect Donald Trump, who campaigned on bringing them down.
Stunning stat: The average American worker now needs to put in just 5.44 minutes of work to buy an average gallon of gas, GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan writes.
Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic (when fewer people were driving and prices plummeted), that's the fewest since 2015.
What's next: Gas prices typically drop in autumn and winter, as Americans drive less in cooler weather, reducing demand.
"We'll likely continue to see additional downward pressure on gas prices, with the national average potentially falling another 10 to 15 cents by Christmas," De Haan writes.
The U.S. military is again pausing Osprey aircraft flights following a near-crash last month.
Why it matters: This is the latest setback for the U.S. Osprey fleet, which was temporarily grounded last year following a series of fatal crashes in recent years.
The Chinese government is turning to an old strategy to stimulate activity: easier money and more fiscal spending.
Why it matters: China's economic challenges include a massively overbuilt and debt-heavy property sector, overreliance on export-oriented manufacturing, and inadequate consumer demand.
Why it matters: Europe's economic powerhouses, Germany and France, no longer look like the reliable centers of political and economic stability of years past.
GovSignals, a startup that uses AI to help clients find and bid on government contracts, has raised $5.5 million in seed funding led by Unusual Ventures.
Why it matters: Federal government procurement may be at an inflection point, thanks to the DOGE effort being spearheaded by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
President-elect Trump used a photo of first lady Jill Biden to sell his new line of perfumes and colognes in a post on Sunday.
The big picture: The image was taken from when they sat one seat away from each other at the reopening ceremony for Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral on Saturday with his new "Fight, Fight, Fight" fragrances superimposed on it and the caption "A FRAGRANCE YOUR ENEMIES CAN'T RESIST!"
President-elect Trump reiterated his promises to impose tariffs and increase oil production, even if it impacts consumers.
Why it matters: By sticking to his campaign pledges, Trump would all but assure a fresh spike in inflation, which was a deciding factor in the election.
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