On August 13, 2025, U.S. equity futures pointed higher as investors digested a surprisingly favorable inflation report and the continued upward momentum in major indices like the Nasdaq and S&P 500. The optimism stemmed from inflation appearing well contained, which encouraged expectations of near-term Federal Reserve easing.
A standout—though puzzling—move came from AI firm Perplexity, which announced a shock all-cash bid of $34.5 billion to acquire Alphabet’s Chrome browser. Despite the asking price being well above Perplexity’s valuation, the market responded positively, sending Alphabet shares up.
In stark contrast, two public companies took a hit: CoreWeave plummeted nearly 9% after reporting larger-than-expected losses per share, despite beating revenue expectations. Meanwhile, CAVA Group’s shares dropped almost 25% as same-store sales disappointed, prompting them to lower their full-year outlook.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) also caught attention by revising upward its global oil supply forecasts for 2025 and 2026—underscoring a slowdown in demand due to ongoing low consumer confidence.
This one-day snapshot underscores a bifurcated market: bold corporate maneuvering, volatile financials, and macroeconomic anxieties riding alongside a still relatively resilient stock market.
Why the story matters – Key takeaways:
- Inflation stabilization boosts rate-cut expectations
- Perplexity’s huge Chrome bid shakes up tech M&A landscape
- CoreWeave and CAVA’s reversals highlight execution risks
- Energy excess signals demand weakness amid supply growth
- Reflects broader market chasm between hype and fundamentals
Key outcomes:
- Perplexity bids $34.5 billion for Chrome browser
- Markets rise on implications of Fed easing
- CoreWeave posts wider-than-expected losses
- CAVA retreats after disappointing sales outlook
- IEA projects higher oil supply amid soft demand
Outlet: Investopedia (via news article)
Publication Date: August 13, 2025 (today) Investopedia
