Google's 2025 Expectations 🚧

And, Pharma CEO defends company.

December 30, 2024

Today is Monday, December 30, 2024.

The Early Bird Index today is 81.36

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Google's 2025 Expectations 🚧

The new year could be challenging for Google parent Alphabet (Nasdaq: GOOGL) as the technology giant faces new hurdles in the artificial intelligence race.

Details: CNBC reported on Friday that Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees at a recent meeting that “the stakes are high” next year with increased competition and potential new AI regulations coming down the pike.

  • Pichai also reportedly said during the employee meeting that “2025 will be critical” and “it’s not lost on me that we are facing scrutiny across the world.”

Stock Price: Alphabet’s stock is up 39.51% this year, including a 14.09% gain in the last 30 days.

Early Bird’s Nest Egg Gains: Google is encountering increased competition in its core markets, particularly from AI-driven platforms.

  • OpenAI poses a substantial threat to Google's dominance in the search market and its position as a leader in AI technology.

  • The company is facing unprecedented levels of regulatory challenges globally.

  • Google is also facing challenges in scaling its AI platform Gemini.

Final Thoughts: While Google faces AI challenges, the rest of its business still looks solid.

New Decentraland desktop client for Mac and Windows

  • Enhanced avatars and social interactions

  • Improved performance and upgraded environments

  • New features: badges, daily quests, and mini-games

Notables

Notable Earnings Today: N/A.

Notable IPOs Today: Willow Lane Acquisition Corp. Class A Ordinary Shares (Nasdaq: WLAC).

Notable Equity Crowdfunding Campaigns Ending Today: The Rustik Collective (Honeycomb), Overthrow Hospitality (StartEngine), Truevana (StartEngine), Coronavax (PicMii), Hard Pressed (Honeycomb), Marshall Grain Company (Honeycomb).

Notable Economic Events Today: Chicago PMI (9:45 a.m. ET), Pending Home Sales (10:00 a.m. ET).

Pharma CEO Defends Company

Despite several setbacks in 2024, the CEO of the pharmaceutical company Roche (OTCMKTS: RHHBY) seems to have a positive view of the company’s future.

Details: In an interview with the Switerzland newspaper NZZ am Sonntag on Saturday, CEO Thomas Schinecker said the business of Roche is healthy and there are no plans for job cuts.

Background: It’s been a rough year for Roche (and the broader pharmaceutical market). Some of the company’s upcoming drugs did not perform well in trials this year.

Final Thoughts: With its stock down 3.52% in 2024, Roche better have a stronger 2025.

Avalanche Falls Amid Market Correction

The price of the cryptocurrency Avalanche fell about 4% on Sunday coinciding with a larger correction in the digital assets market.

Details: There’s been a lot of profit-taking in crypto lately. Investors have seen their crypto prices jump this year, so it only makes sense that selling would occur.

Also: Altcoins, including Avalanche, can be very volatile.

Final Thoughts: Avalanche is negative for the year. The price is down 10% in 2024, contradicting the gains seen in other crypto prices.

Crypto Correction: Bitcoin dips below $94K level, bears now in control? (Cointelegraph)

Car Promotions: Discounts on the Dealership Lot Lift Car Sales (Wall Street Journal)

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