Chapter 1: What new tech advisors has Trump appointed to his science council?
Welcome to Seeking Alpha's Wall Street Lunch, our afternoon update on today's market action, news, and analysis. Good afternoon. Today is Wednesday, March 25th, and I'm your host, Kim Kahn. Our top story so far. President Donald Trump has named some of the biggest figures in tech to a new President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
The appointees include Meta Platform CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison, and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Wang. Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su and Google co-founder Sergey Brin will also serve. Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Chapter 2: How are memory chip stocks reacting to Google's new AI algorithms?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps? We do! The White House said the panel will focus on the opportunities and challenges posed by emerging technologies, with an emphasis on ensuring the American workforce benefits in what it calls a golden age of innovation.
The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure.
Chapter 3: What advice did BlackRock CEO Larry Fink give to private credit investors?
The council will be co-chaired by David Sachs, the White House AI and Crypto Czar, and technology advisor Michael Kratzius. Thirteen members have been appointed so far, with the total expected to reach 24. NVIDIA welcomed the move, saying it looks forward to helping advance American leadership in AI and highlighting the importance of collaboration between researchers, developers, and industry.
Among active stocks, memory-related names are under pressure after Google unveiled new algorithms aimed at reducing the memory required to run large language models and vector search engines. Micron, Western Digital, Seagate Technology, and SanDisk are all under pressure. Chewing missed estimates in his fourth quarter report and issued mixed guidance.
However, shares were sharply higher as investors focused on management's confident tone, highlighting expanding margins and strong cash generation. And Sarepta Therapeutics is surging after reporting initial Phase 1 and 2 data for experimental treatments targeting two rare forms of muscular dystrophy.
And in other news of note, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink had some blunt advice for investors frustrated by limited redemptions in private credit funds. Deal with it. On the front page of the contract, you're investing in something that has less liquidity, he told the BBC's Big Boss interview podcast. You have to accept that redemptions are going to be limited to 5% a quarter.
Chapter 4: What are the implications of Meta's executive compensation tied to stock valuation?
Those are the rules. Live with it. Fink also stressed that unlike the financial crisis, private credit does not pose a systemic risk, despite recent redemption pressure in some retail funds. The financial crisis in 2007 was based on hidden leverage, gigantic leverage on balance sheets, he said. This is not a leverage balance sheet problem.
While some retail investors are seeking to exit, Fink said institutional demand remains strong. More people are trying to get in, he said, adding that its H-Lend fund saw more subscriptions than redemptions. And senior leaders at Meta Platforms could earn hundreds of millions of dollars if the company reaches a $9 trillion valuation within five years.
Meta awarded new stock options to seven top executives, excluding CEO Zuckerberg. The options vest only if the stock rises at least 88% by 2031.
Chapter 5: How is the current market environment affecting investor behavior?
Executives could capture the full payout if shares climb more than 500% over that period, according to a filing. And join the elite community of real investors to unearth great investing ideas. Just head to SeekingAlpha.com slash subscriptions.