On December 17, 2025, SpaceX began a regulatory quiet period as it weighs a 2026 IPO, instructing employees to avoid discussions about growth and valuation. The company is targeting more than $30 billion, implying around a $1.5 trillion valuation, with funds outlined for Starship launches and space-based AI data centers.

On December 17, 2025, the article highlights a cooling white-collar labor market as the Labor Department put unemployment at 4.6% following Tuesday's report, with tech and finance shedding roles in October and November. A November New York Fed survey shows degree holders now assign a 15% layoff risk versus 11% three years ago, and only 47% expect to find new work within three months, down from 60%.

Microsoft, valued at $3.59 trillion, is projected to reach about $5 trillion in market capitalization by 2026 as it expands artificial intelligence across Azure, Office, Windows and other products. The company has invested roughly $13 billion in OpenAI and holds a 27% stake, yet most of its AI revenue already comes from Azure AI services rather than reselling OpenAI models. Microsoft is also spending heavily on AI infrastructure, including a planned $80 billion outlay through fiscal 2025 and a $5 billion commitment to Anthropic.

Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, is set to log another sizable unrealized gain after a recent SpaceX share sale valued the private rocket firm at roughly $800 billion. SpaceX reportedly sold insider shares at $421 each, a steep rise from prior deals that had already helped Alphabet record an $8 billion gain earlier in 2024. At the same time, TD Cowen has lifted its price target for Alphabet to $350, citing stronger expectations for AI-driven growth in Google Search and the expanding Gemini user base.

Major crypto executives gathered in Abu Dhabi last week to pitch wealthy Middle Eastern investors as the sector hunts fresh capital, with attention on a United Arab Emirates sovereign wealth fund valued around $330 billion. The UAE’s interest was also evident in November when a Mubadala unit said its bitcoin position was about $518 million, while Binance secured full regulatory approval to operate from the capital.

In 2025, WPP's shares have fallen 60% amid concerns that AI will automate core agency work, while Publicis and Omnicom also declined. Analysts say large brands will still need agencies to manage complex, multi‑platform campaigns, and lower AI production costs could spur bigger ad budgets and competition for standout experiences.

AI-driven shopping assistants are projected to influence $263 billion in global online holiday sales, representing 21% of seasonal e-commerce. Retailers including Walmart, Target and Etsy are enabling purchases via ChatGPT, while AI-referred traffic in the U.S. shows higher conversion, longer browsing, and greater revenue per visit.

On December 10 2025, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point for the third meeting in a row, prompting public pushback from several officials. Two regional presidents voted against the move and, according to internal projections, six of 19 policymakers would have preferred to leave rates unchanged. The Fed board also moved on December 11 2025 to reappoint 11 regional bank presidents ahead of schedule, a step that may shape the central bank's stance on inflation and future policy into 2026.

Broadcom is set to report quarterly earnings on Thursday after the close, following a fiscal fourth quarter that ended on October 31. The stock has climbed more than 180% since April 4 and now trades at about 42 times forward earnings versus a 10-year average of 17. Analysts expect earnings per share of $1.87 and roughly $17.5 billion in revenue, with the AI business projected to generate about $6.2 billion. That AI contribution would represent growth of around 68% year over year, according to analyst forecasts.