October 15, 2025

finance  
openai, palantir and scale ai Updates

The stock market experienced a dynamic Monday, with AI-related companies and easing trade tensions driving significant movements. Broadcom's stock surged following a multi-year agreement with OpenAI for custom chips and networking equipment, a development that also boosted the broader chipmaker sector. This AI optimism, coupled with a softening stance on trade with China, helped lift U.S. markets. However, not all AI firms saw gains, as BigBear.ai dropped over 21% amid concerns about its revenue growth, despite investor hopes for performance akin to Palantir. C3.ai's stock initially jumped on positive trade news but reversed course, highlighting its volatility and ongoing investor lawsuits alleging misleading statements about financial health and CEO health issues. In the autonomous vehicle space, Pony AI gained over 9% after receiving a buy recommendation from Jefferies. Meanwhile, Regal Asian Investments reported strong September returns, largely attributed to AI-focused stocks in Asia. On the product front, Broadcom unveiled its Thor Ultra, an 800G AI Ethernet network interface card designed for large-scale data centers. Walmart's stock rallied on news of a partnership with OpenAI, enabling purchases directly through ChatGPT. Looking ahead, the Nasdaq Composite shows strong momentum, with Meta Platforms and Netflix being watched for potential stock splits, a move that could further energize the AI-driven market.

Key Takeaways

  • Broadcom secured a multi-year deal with OpenAI for custom chips and networking equipment, boosting its stock and the AI infrastructure sector.
  • U.S. stock markets rose on Monday, influenced by easing trade tensions with China and optimism surrounding AI companies.
  • BigBear.ai's stock fell over 21% due to concerns about its ability to generate revenue growth, despite comparisons to Palantir.
  • C3.ai's stock experienced significant volatility, initially rising on trade news but later reversing amid investor lawsuits alleging misleading financial and health-related statements.
  • Pony AI's stock increased by over 9% following a positive analyst initiation from Jefferies and inclusion on Citigroup's upside catalyst list.
  • Regal Asian Investments reported a 10.6% net portfolio return for September, driven by AI stocks, particularly in Korea and Taiwan.
  • Broadcom launched Thor Ultra, an 800G AI Ethernet network interface card for large-scale AI data centers, supporting Ultra Ethernet Consortium standards.
  • Walmart's stock rallied due to a new partnership with OpenAI, allowing purchases directly via ChatGPT.
  • The Nasdaq Composite shows strong momentum, with Meta Platforms and Netflix being closely watched for potential stock splits.
  • Global markets faced volatility due to AI excitement clashing with trade tensions and the start of the third-quarter earnings season.

Global Markets Face Volatility Amid AI Boom and Trade Tensions

Global markets experienced increased volatility as excitement around artificial intelligence clashed with ongoing trade war concerns and the start of the third quarter earnings season. The VIX, a measure of stock market volatility, reached its highest point in nearly four months. Major U.S. banks are set to release their quarterly earnings, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to give a speech. Chipmakers like Broadcom saw significant gains following news of an OpenAI partnership, reinforcing AI as a key market theme despite broader uncertainties.

Stocks Surge on Easing Trade Fears and AI Optimism

U.S. stock markets saw a significant rise on Monday, recovering from previous losses as the Trump administration softened its stance on trade with China. Chipmakers and AI infrastructure companies led the rally, with Broadcom experiencing a notable increase after announcing a multi-year agreement with OpenAI for custom chips and networking equipment. Gold prices also reached a new all-time high, driven by various economic factors including the ongoing U.S. government shutdown and expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts. Investors are now focused on upcoming trade news and the start of the third-quarter earnings season.

C3.ai Stock Surges on Easing China Trade Tensions, Then Reverses

C3.ai's stock price jumped significantly on Monday following President Trump's announcement of easing trade tensions with China. This rally, however, proved temporary, with the stock reversing course within 24 hours amid renewed sector concerns. The company's shares have experienced extreme volatility throughout the year, with numerous price swings over 5%. C3.ai's stock is down substantially year-to-date, trading near its recent lows. The company's performance remains sensitive to global trade policy developments and broader market sentiment towards AI software companies.

Pony AI Stock Gains 9% on Analyst Buy Recommendation

Autonomous vehicle technology company Pony AI saw its stock price increase by over 9% on Monday. This surge was largely driven by Jefferies analyst Johnson Wan initiating coverage with a buy recommendation and a price target of $32.80. Wan highlighted a favorable business environment in China and singled out Pony AI for its ability to navigate regulatory landscapes and manage costs effectively. Citigroup also recently added Pony AI to its 30-day upside catalyst watch list, indicating positive sentiment towards the company's future performance.

Regal Asian Investments Reports Strong September Returns Driven by AI

Regal Asian Investments achieved a net portfolio return of 10.6% for September 2025, largely due to strong performance in Korean, Chinese, and Australian stocks, particularly those involved in artificial intelligence. Investments in Korean memory stocks and Taiwan's TSMC were key contributors to these gains. Despite the positive results, the company remains cautious about potential market corrections. Regal Asian Investments also announced a share buy-back program and a fully franked dividend, underscoring its commitment to shareholder value.

BigBear.ai Stock Drops 21% Amid Revenue Growth Concerns

BigBear.ai, an artificial intelligence company, experienced a significant stock price drop of over 21%. Investors are reportedly hopeful that the company can achieve results similar to those of Palantir. However, the AI company is currently facing challenges in generating revenue growth. The stock's performance reflects ongoing concerns about its ability to scale and translate its AI capabilities into consistent financial success.

Broadcom Unveils New 800G AI Networking Chip Thor Ultra

Broadcom announced its new Thor Ultra, the industry's first 800G AI Ethernet network interface card designed for large-scale AI data centers. This chip supports data speeds of 800 gigabits per second and complies with Ultra Ethernet Consortium standards, aiming to provide high performance and interoperability without vendor lock-in. Thor Ultra complements Broadcom's existing AI networking platform, including its Tomahawk and Jericho switch families. The company also recently introduced a new co-packaged optics product for AI data centers and Wi-Fi 8 silicon solutions.

Walmart Stock Rallies on OpenAI ChatGPT Shopping Partnership

Walmart's stock experienced a rally following the announcement of a new partnership with OpenAI. This collaboration will allow shoppers to make purchases directly through ChatGPT, integrating e-commerce capabilities with the popular AI chatbot. The move positions Walmart to leverage advancements in artificial intelligence to enhance the customer shopping experience and potentially drive sales.

Nasdaq Poised for Breakout; Netflix, Meta, AI Stocks Eye Splits

The Nasdaq Composite is showing strong momentum, with analysts predicting continued growth into 2026, fueled by the ongoing AI boom and potentially friendlier Federal Reserve policies. Companies like Netflix and Meta Platforms are being closely watched for potential stock splits, a move historically shown to boost share performance. Netflix, already experiencing significant growth, may split its stock to increase liquidity and become eligible for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Meta Platforms, which has never split its stock, is also expected to consider a split. Other AI-related companies like ASML Holding and AppLovin are also candidates for stock splits.

C3.ai Faces Investor Lawsuit Over Alleged Misleading Statements

Enterprise AI software company C3.ai and its senior leadership are facing a new class action lawsuit alleging they misled investors about the company's financial health and growth prospects. The lawsuit claims that C3.ai and its executives provided an overly optimistic outlook, downplaying risks associated with CEO Thomas M. Siebel's health. The stock price reportedly dropped significantly after the company announced disappointing first-quarter results and lowered its revenue guidance, citing reorganization and Siebel's health issues. Investors who purchased C3.ai securities during the specified period and suffered losses are urged to come forward.

Sources

AI Artificial Intelligence Stock Market Volatility Trade Tensions Earnings Season Chipmakers Broadcom OpenAI C3.ai Pony AI Autonomous Vehicles Regal Asian Investments BigBear.ai Palantir Networking Chips Data Centers Walmart ChatGPT Nasdaq Netflix Meta Platforms ASML Holding AppLovin Enterprise AI Software Federal Reserve Stock Splits