Happy Tuesday! Meta Platforms is making waves with its latest acquisition of Manus AI, a fast-rising Chinese startup focused on autonomous agents. Manus develops general-purpose AI agents designed to function like digital employees, capable of handling research, automation and multi-step tasks with minimal prompting.

Also, Sen. Bernie Sanders pushed the needle forward, arguing that companies like Amazon are replacing workers with robots to boost profits while avoiding human labor costs.

Plus, if you’re looking to navigate the complex market environment, check out Benzinga Edge.

In Today's Edition

• MARKET RECAP

• MARKET HEATMAP

• FIVE ZINGERS

• MARKET HISTORY

Meta Doubles Down On Escalating Rivalry With OpenAI

Following Meta Platforms’ acquisition of Manus AI, management announced plans to operate and commercialize the Manus service.

Thanks to the integration of the advanced tech into Meta AI and other products, it’s a shot across the bow against heavyweight OpenAI.

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Yesterday: U.S. indexes finished lower Monday, with the S&P 500 falling for the second consecutive day. Investors trimmed exposure to some of this year’s top-performing mega-cap stocks, with artificial intelligence–related names leading the selloff. Economic data was more supportive, as the pending home sales index climbed to 79.2 in November, the highest level since early 2023, signaling improving housing demand amid gradually easing mortgage rates. In commodities, gold slid more than 4%, but remains on track for a gain of 60% this year. Lastly, the U.S. dollar continues to weaken, with the Dollar Index down more than 9% this year, reflecting ongoing political and fiscal uncertainty.

On Our Radar: Analysts will be watching the S&P Case-Shiller home price index for signals on housing market momentum, as well as the Fed’s December FOMC minutes being released as investors look for insights into the central bank’s policy outlook.

Shares of Palantir (PLTR), Tesla (TSLA) and Newmont (NEM) led the drop Monday, while Sea (SE) and Micron (MU) were the outperformers on the day, with notable gains despite the indexes tumbling. But those weren’t the only companies making big moves. Here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers on Monday.

Discover how the market is moving with our interactive heatmap. Filter by market cap, or click on any box to explore specific sectors or assets in more detail.

Busted Show: AMC Entertainment stock is down on Monday, with the price trading near its all-time low of $1.60. Learn about rising concerns regarding its financial health. 

Stalled Out: Electric vehicle giant Tesla could struggle to follow up on a record third quarter marked by strong customer demand. Learn about the weakness potentially clouding the EV manufacturer.

Tempers Flare: President Donald Trump on Monday warned Iran not to try to rebuild its nuclear program. Read about the potential concerns of this latest geopolitical tension.

Gold Fever: Junior gold and silver mining ETFs quietly became one of the most extreme macro trades in 2025. Click here to learn more about what this reveals about investor psychology.

Low Bar: While Intel Corp had a 2024 to forget following its ouster from the Dow Jones, circumstances have now changed for the better. Read more about the chipmaker's big comeback.

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On This Day In 1993…

First Republic Bank acquired Silver State Thrift, expanding its operations into Nevada and reflecting the broader trend of bank consolidation in the early 1990s. The acquisition helped First Republic grow its customer base and diversify its portfolio, setting the stage for expansion over the next two decades. However, amid the height of the 2023 banking crisis, the bank faced a severe liquidity shortfall. Regulators stepped in to take control and transferred most of its deposits and assets to JPMorgan Chase, bringing the First Republic brand to an end.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The secret to investment success is discipline, patience, and following a simple formula.“

— Joel Greenblatt

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