Key Takeaways
- Intel (INTC) announced significant advancements at CES, including the shipment of its first 18A products on schedule and the upcoming availability of Core Ultra Series 3, boasting 60% higher performance than Lunar Lake.
- Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang confirmed that the Groq asset acquisition will not impact its core business, while highlighting strong demand for its H200 chips in China amidst ongoing U.S. regulatory reviews.
- Japan's Monetary Base experienced a notable contraction in December, falling 9.8% year-over-year to ¥596.2 trillion, indicating a tightening monetary environment.
- The UK BRC Shop Price Index rose slightly more than expected in December, reaching 0.7% year-over-year, up from the previous 0.6%.
- Acer launched a new AI mini workstation powered by AMD (AMD) Ryzen AI Max+ 395, further expanding the market for AI-powered PCs.
Technology giants Intel (INTC) and Nvidia (NVDA) dominated headlines from CES with major announcements regarding their latest advancements in AI and chip technology, while global economic data presented a mixed picture with a significant contraction in Japan's monetary base and a slight uptick in UK shop prices.
AI and Gaming Innovations Take Center Stage at CES
Intel (INTC) made several key announcements at CES, confirming it has shipped its first 18A products on schedule. The company is also ramping up its Core Ultra Series 3, which is expected to deliver 60% higher performance compared to Lunar Lake Series 2, with orders for first consumer designs commencing soon. Further solidifying its push into AI PCs and gaming devices, Intel unveiled Arc B390 next-gen integrated graphics and a new handheld gaming platform powered by Panther Lake.
Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang, speaking at CES, addressed the company's recent Groq asset acquisition, stating it would not impact its core business but could potentially spark new innovations. Huang also highlighted robust demand for Nvidia's H200 chips in China, even as the company navigates U.S. regulatory reviews for shipments and has filed necessary license applications.
Expanding the AI PC market, Acer introduced its new Veriton RA100 AI Mini Workstation. This device is powered by AMD (AMD) Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and is designed as a Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, offering advanced AI performance for professional users.
Global Economic Indicators Show Divergent Trends
In Japan, the monetary base experienced a significant contraction in December, falling 9.8% year-over-year. The end-period monetary base stood at ¥596.2 trillion, a decrease from ¥608.5 trillion in the previous period and a sharper decline than the prior month's -8.5% year-over-year. This data suggests a tightening of monetary conditions in Japan, potentially reflecting shifts in the Bank of Japan's policy stance or market liquidity.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the BRC Shop Price Index for December showed a year-over-year increase of 0.7%. This figure was slightly above the estimated 0.6% and marked an uptick from the previous month's 0.6%, indicating persistent, albeit modest, inflationary pressures in retail prices.
In commodity markets, gold prices steadied as market participants shifted focus from geopolitical tensions in Venezuela to upcoming economic data releases in the U.S.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.