Nvidia Drops as Markets Look Past Forecast; CDC Firing Uproar

On today's podcast: 1) Nvidia shares drop after the chip giant signals a slowdown in A-I spending. Meanwhile, markets shrug off the Nvidia disappointment and trade near record highs. Stocks shook off an initial drag from Nvidia Corp.’s sales outlook missing lofty expectations, indicating that momentum behind the record-breaking rally remains intact. The yield on 30-year Treasuries fell four basis points to 4.89% as pressure on long-dated debt eased, and European bonds staged a broad advance. 2) US companies plan to buy back shares at a historic pace, a sign of Corporate America’s confidence in the economy. Announced buybacks surpassed $1 trillion on Aug. 20, marking the shortest amount of time needed to reach that level, according to data compiled by Birinyi Associates. 3) The head of the CDC is fired in a dispute over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine policy. The Trump administration fired CDC Director Susan Monarez just weeks into her tenure, and at least three senior CDC leaders, including Demetre Daskalakis, Deb Houry, and Dan Jernigan, told coworkers they were resigning, citing reasons such as the "weaponizing of public health." The removal of Monarez and the resignations of senior leaders have intensified concerns about scientific integrity at the public health agency and underscore the growing distrust between many longtime agency scientists and Secretary Kennedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.