Tech

Rising electricity prices across the US are fueling discontent, coinciding with the rapid growth of energy-intensive AI data centers and the upcoming midterm elections. Data from the EIA shows residential utility bills increased by 6% nationally in August, with states like Virginia, Illinois, and Ohio, where data centers are concentrated, experiencing significantly steeper rises exceeding 12%. The scale of data center energy consumption strains local grids, impacting prices. Politicians are responding, scrutinizing tech companies and their energy usage, leading to headwinds for data center expansion. PJM, the largest grid operator, faces imbalance, contributing to increased consumer costs.

Bitcoin fell below $95,000 amid a wider market pullback driven by AI spending concerns, mirroring a decline in tech stocks and highlighting growing interconnectivity. The sell-off, impacting crypto-linked stocks as well, reflects broader economic anxieties and deleveraging. Animoca Brands’ Yat Siu suggests institutional investors, unlike previous Bitcoin enthusiasts, may see this correction as a buying opportunity, potentially altering historical price cycle patterns and providing a buffer against downturns. They are less likely to expect a drop to $60,000.

StubHub’s stock plummeted 24% after it withheld current quarter financial guidance, citing a “long-term” focus, unsettling investors despite reporting solid Q3 revenue and GMS growth. Revenue rose 8% to $468.1 million and GMS increased 11% to $2.43 billion, exceeding expectations. A net loss of $1.33 billion was attributed to IPO-related stock compensation. Concerns persist around near-term visibility, competition and achieving sustainable profitability. Wedbush maintains an outperform rating despite expressing surprise at the lack of guidance.

Govini, a defense software startup, terminated founder Eric Gillespie’s board position after his arrest on charges related to soliciting sexual contact with a minor. The company emphasized its commitment to security and clarified that Gillespie, 57, hasn’t had access to classified data since stepping down as CEO years ago. The Pentagon is investigating potential security risks. The news comes after Govini surpassed $100 million in ARR and secured a $150 million investment. They also hold a $900 million government contract for supply chain risk analysis.

JPMorgan Chase has finalized agreements with fintech intermediaries, including Plaid and Yodlee, representing over 95% of data pulls from its systems, to guarantee compensation for customer data access. This resolves a long-standing dispute over data sharing. The agreements, while touted as a free market solution by JPMorgan, are viewed by some as anti-competitive and a barrier to entry for smaller fintech companies. The move could influence other banks to charge for data access, reshaping the open banking landscape, sparking concerns about its impact on innovation and consumer costs.

Wall Street experienced a volatile Friday, with the S&P 500 recovering from early losses amid tech sector concerns. Jim Cramer advised focusing on profitable companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Alphabet. The CNBC Investing Club is considering exiting Disney due to linear TV challenges and is reducing its BMY position after trial pause and management concerns. This week, the Club is monitoring earnings from Home Depot, TJX, Nvidia, and Palo Alto Networks, focusing on specific growth drivers and management strategies.

D.R. Horton is partnering with AI startup Prophetic to expedite land acquisition and development analysis amidst a national housing shortage. Prophetic’s AI platform automates zoning regulation analysis, reducing assessment time from hours to seconds. The platform aggregates zoning rules from various cities and counties, providing developers with crucial insights into development potential, like lot sizes and density regulations. This aims to enable faster, more informed decisions in land acquisition, addressing the complex challenges of expanding housing supply and affordability.

With tech giants investing heavily in AI data centers, depreciation of AI GPUs is a crucial accounting concern. Unlike traditional servers, the lifespan of these rapidly evolving components is uncertain, impacting profitability and investment decisions. While some, like CoreWeave, see long-term value, short seller Michael Burry suggests companies may be inflating useful life for earnings. Factors like new chip releases and wear-and-tear could accelerate depreciation. Companies are adopting varied strategies, and auditors are scrutinizing depreciation claims closely.

Coinbase joins Tesla and SpaceX in leaving Delaware, spurred by concerns over legal uncertainties highlighted by a court ruling against Elon Musk’s compensation. While Nevada emerges as a popular alternative, data indicates Delaware remains a dominant incorporation hub, attracting many new entities despite the high-profile departures. Delaware defends its business-friendly environment built on decades of established corporate code and experienced judiciary, citing its commitment to adapting to modern business needs.

Yesterday’s market saw a broad decline, with the Nasdaq, Dow, S&P 500, and Russell 2000 all experiencing significant losses amid AI rally fatigue. Disney’s weak revenue and doubts about Oracle’s AI prospects contributed. Expectations for a Fed rate cut diminished. Consumer spending shows mixed signals, while housing faces potential distress. Labor disputes see Boeing workers ratifying a contract, and Starbucks baristas striking. Delivering Alpha insights revealed optimism about AI and concern about the IPO market.