Media Battles, AI Chip Innovation, and Market Moves: A Daily Business Rundown

Sep 18, 2025 at 10:46 AM
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This report offers a concise overview of significant events impacting the business and technology sectors. Disney's ABC Network made headlines by suspending 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' following public outcry over the host's political comments, reflecting the growing intersection of media and politics. Meanwhile, global technology competition intensified as Huawei unveiled ambitious plans for its new AI chips, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Nvidia, especially as China imposes new restrictions on foreign chip purchases. Adding a touch of unexpected market volatility, Krispy Kreme's stock experienced a notable rise driven by an unusual endorsement from a high-ranking government official. These developments, alongside Nucor's less-than-stellar earnings forecast and a general market update, paint a picture of a complex and rapidly evolving economic landscape.

Disney's ABC Network recently took the decision to remove 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' from its broadcast schedule. This move came after host Jimmy Kimmel faced significant public backlash for remarks he made concerning Republican activist Charlie Kirk's death. The controversy escalated when Nexstar Media Group, a major owner of ABC affiliates, announced its intention to indefinitely preempt the show from its stations, deeming Kimmel's comments "offensive and insensitive."

Adding fuel to the fire, Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, suggested in a podcast that there was a strong case to penalize Kimmel, ABC, and Disney for the incident. Former President Trump also weighed in on the situation via Truth Social, hailing the news as "Great News for America" and even suggesting similar actions against other late-night hosts. This incident underscores the challenging political climate media companies navigate, reminiscent of Disney's previous $15 million settlement in a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump.

In parallel, the technology sector witnessed a major shake-up as Huawei Technologies introduced its SuperPod technology. This innovative system boasts the capability to connect up to 15,488 graphics cards, all powered by Huawei's proprietary Ascend-branded artificial intelligence chips. This launch directly challenges Nvidia's long-standing dominance in large-scale AI infrastructure, a move made even more significant by recent directives from the Cyberspace Administration of China.

The Chinese internet regulator has reportedly instructed the nation's leading technology firms, including giants like ByteDance and Alibaba, to cease purchasing Nvidia's AI chips. This ban specifically targeted the RTX Pro 6000D, Nvidia's custom-made product for the Chinese market. Furthermore, Huawei announced an aggressive roadmap for its future AI chip releases, with plans to introduce new Ascend chips annually through 2028, intensifying the global competition in the AI hardware space.

In a more peculiar market development, Krispy Kreme's stock experienced an unexpected surge. The doughnut giant's shares ended a volatile trading day with a 1.0% gain, propelled by comments made by FBI Director Kash Patel during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. When asked about investing in stocks while serving in an active official capacity, Patel cited Krispy Kreme as a "good investment opportunity."

This casual endorsement led to Krispy Kreme's stock briefly climbing as much as 8%, with trading volume soaring 50% above its typical daily activity. It's worth noting that Patel had previously disclosed his investments in Krispy Kreme and ON Semiconductor in July. While ON Semiconductor also saw a brief afternoon spike, its gains were modest. Krispy Kreme, however, continued its upward trajectory in premarket trading, riding high on the publicity generated by Patel's remarks.

The day's financial headlines were dominated by a mix of political fallout in the entertainment industry, significant advancements and competitive shifts in the AI chip market, and unusual influences on stock performance. These events highlight the interconnectedness of media, politics, technology, and market sentiment, each playing a crucial role in shaping the daily economic narrative. Investors continue to monitor these diverse factors, ranging from government regulations and geopolitical tensions to consumer behavior and unexpected public statements, as they navigate an ever-changing global market environment.