In short
Squawk Pod Episode Summary
Episode Title
5 Things to Know Before the Opening Bell 11/28/2025
Podcast Overview Squawk Pod offers daily highlights and insights from CNBC's morning show, *Squawk Box*. Hosted by Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin, the podcast features interviews, analysis, and discussions on market trends and news, with context provided by Senior Producer Katie Kramer.
Episode Highlights In this episode, Becky Quick is joined by Steve Leesman and Robert Frank to discuss five important market updates before the stock market opens.
- CME Trading Halt
- Issue: A data center problem led to a temporary halt in trading for futures and options on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
- Current Status: Trading for stock futures, foreign exchange, and commodities was suspended, though BrokerTech U.S. has restored service for treasury trading.
- Implications: Investors are encouraged to stay tuned for updates as the situation evolves.
- SEC Investigation of Jefferies
- Context: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is investigating Jefferies' relationship with the bankrupt auto parts manufacturer First Brands Group.
- Focus: The investigation centers around whether Jefferies adequately disclosed its financial exposure to the failed company to its investors.
- Alibaba's AI Smart Glasses
- Launch: Alibaba has begun selling its new AI smart glasses in China, marking a significant entry into the wireless market dominated by Meta.
- Price Point: The glasses are priced starting at approximately $270 and are designed to integrate with Alibaba's applications, including Alipay and Taobao.
- Apple Challenges India's Antitrust Law
- Overview: Apple is contesting India's antitrust penalty law, which could impose fines of up to $38 billion based on global revenue.
- Allegations: Investigators allege that Apple is abusing its monopoly in the iPhone app market. Apple has denied any wrongdoing and seeks to challenge the law's implications.
- Disney's Zootopia 2 Opening Day Success
- Financial Performance: Disney's *Zootopia 2* earned over $81 million globally on its opening day, setting a record for the largest opening day for a Hollywood animated film in China with $34 million.
- Discussion on Viewing Experience: The hosts humorously discuss 4D theater experiences, highlighting audience reactions and the high cost of tickets for family viewings.
Conclusion The episode wraps up with a lighthearted discussion about the *Zootopia* franchise and its relevance to audiences today. The hosts note the success of the film's sequel while reflecting on personal experiences related to family entertainment.
Key Takeaways
- Monitor developments regarding the CME trading halt; this could have significant market implications.
- The SEC's scrutiny of Jefferies emphasizes the importance of transparency in financial disclosures.
- Alibaba is making strides in technology with its new AI products, indicating competitive dynamics in the tech sector.
- Apple's legal challenges in India may set precedents for antitrust regulations affecting global tech companies.
- The record-breaking success of *Zootopia 2* reflects strong audience interest in animated films and innovative cinematic experiences.
Additional Information Be sure to tune in for more insights and updates on future episodes of Squawk Pod and the broader discussions from Squawk Box.
Listen to Squawk Pod for the best moments and analysis, available wherever you get your podcasts.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:01Hi, I'm Becky Quick, co-host of Squawk Box. Today I'm with Steve Leesman and Robert Frank And this is five things you need to know before the opening bell. Listen up if you are just waking up. A data center issue has halted trading of futures and options on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. That means that stock futures, foreign exchange and commodities are currently not available to trade. But in the last few minutes, BrokerTech U.S., which is the CME unit that deals in electronic trading of treasuries, has had its service restored. So you can see yields, we believe, that are accurate at this point.
0:37We're going to continue to bring you updates on that story as we get them. In the meantime, the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Jeffrey's relationship into a bankrupt auto parts maker, First Brands Group. That's according to an FT report that said the regulator is looking into whether Jeffries gave investors enough information on its funds exposure to the failed auto business. And Alibaba has started selling its new AI smart glasses in China. That's its first attempt to break into the wireless market dominated by Meta. Prices for the cork glasses started about 270 U.S. dollars.
1:11Alibaba says that they'll be integrated with its apps, including Alipay and its shopping site, Taobao. And Apple is challenging India's antitrust penalty law, under which the company could face a fine of up to$38 billion. This is the first challenge since that law went into effect last year, allowing regulators to use global revenue when calculating fines. Investigators say Apple is abusing its monopoly in the iPhone app market. Apple has denied all wrongdoing. And Disney's Zootopia 2 taking in just over$81 million globally in its opening day on Wednesday. That included$39.5 million in domestic ticket sales.
1:52The release marks the biggest opening day in China ever for a Hollywood animated film at$34 million. And guys, I guess there are different ways that you can see this one. You see it in 4D, as my brother and sister-in-law and their kids did. What is that? It smells? It smells. The seats move. My brother said he was almost going to vomit at times because of the way it moved around. But you've been into those 4D theaters where, like, water sprays in your face as you're doing some of these things along the way, too. I think that's what they're thinking the future is, these experiences. And by the way, it was$100 for four tickets.
2:27So they get you for a matinee with two kids. $25 a ticket. $25 a ticket for two little kids and a matinee in the middle of the day, too. I don't have to worry about it because I don't think I'm the target audience. Maybe not for Zootopia, too. The first one was great. It was. It was really good. Zootopia? Yeah, and then Shakira's song, Try Anything, that was good. And I guess she has a new song for the new one. So that's... Much to see there. Very hip, Robert Frank. I was not expecting it. You have two daughters. You know, they were both younger when that came out. It was 10 years ago when the first one came out.
3:01Yeah, so they're teenagers. Are they going to go to the second one? I don't think so. Too old? Yeah. They might listen to the song. Yeah. We'll be back later today with Squawk Pod, our daily podcast featuring the best of Squawk Box. Stay tuned to your feed wherever you get your podcasts and listen anytime.
From the publisher
The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: the CME temporarily halted trading for futures, foreign exchanges, and commodities due to a data center issue, the SEC is investigating Jefferies’s relationship with a bankrupt auto parts maker, Alibaba has begun selling its AI smart glasses in China, Apple is challenging India’s antitrust penalty law, and Disney’s ‘Zootopia 2’ clocked the biggest opening day in China for any Hollywood animated film.
Squawk Box is hosted by Joe Kernen, Becky Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Follow Squawk Pod for the best moments, interviews and analysis from our TV show in an audio-first format.
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