Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on October 17, 2025 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images News | Getty Images
This is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox. Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:
1. Pump the breaks
2. Fed head
U.S. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 13, 2025. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
President Donald Trump has said he knows who he will nominate to be the next Federal Reserve chair, but the public will have to wait. Even so, people seem to be coming to the same conclusion: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett. Across the board, prediction markets are placing a high likelihood that Hassett will succeed Jerome Powell in the role. Hassett told Fox News this weekend that he'd "be happy to serve" if asked. As CNBC's Jeff Cox writes, the central bank's next chair will enter the role at a pivotal time for the U.S. economy. They will also have to navigate a Fed that is currently divided on the direction of monetary policy.
3. Charging ahead
Hakan Nural | Anadolu | Getty Images
Apple said yesterday that its head of artificial intelligence, John Giannandrea, is stepping down and will be replaced by Microsoft and Google alum Amar Subramanya. As CNBC's Kif Leswing writes, it's the biggest shakeup to the company's AI efforts since it launched the Apple Intelligence suite last year. The move also comes as experts warn that Apple's AI technology is lagging that of its peers. Meanwhile, Nvidia announced that it bought $2 billion of Synopsys stock as part of a partnership to accelerate computing and AI engineering work. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called the agreement a "huge deal" on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" yesterday. Synopsys shares surged nearly 5% in Monday's session, while Nvidia added more than 1%.
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