Trump's Greenland considerations, Nvidia's China demand, xAI's latest funding round and more in Morning Squawk

In the latest financial news, President Donald Trump's ambitious plan to potentially utilize the U.S. military for acquiring Greenland has stirred discussion at the White House. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared insights on Trump's exploration of various options, hinting at the military's involvement. Despite this, the stock market remains resilient, with the S&P 500 reaching unprecedented heights and the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassing 49,000 for the first time. Amazon played a significant role in this surge, contributing over 3% to the market's climb, alongside notable gains from semiconductor giants like Micron and Intel. However, Chevron experienced a decline after its substantial rally earlier in the week. In the semiconductor sector, Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang announced robust demand for the company's H200 AI chips in China. He confirmed that production has recommenced and that discussions with the U.S. government regarding export licenses are progressing positively. Huang also projected that sales of these chips could significantly enhance Nvidia's already ambitious $500 billion forecast. At the CES conference in Las Vegas, AMD's CEO Lisa Su remarked on the hiring landscape, emphasizing that AI developments have not hindered recruitment efforts. Instead, AMD is prioritizing candidates who are well-versed in AI technology, reflecting the industry's growing focus on innovation. In corporate developments, the Warner Bros. Discovery board firmly rejected Paramount Skydance's proposed takeover, reiterating that Paramount's offer pales in comparison to Netflix's $72 billion deal. Board Chairman Samuel Di Piazza underscored the compelling value of the Netflix agreement, which provides clear advantages for shareholders. On the funding front, xAI, the AI venture led by Elon Musk, has successfully raised $20 billion—exceeding its initial goal of $15 billion. This funding round saw participation from major investors including Nvidia and Fidelity. The company, which has faced scrutiny over its Grok chatbot's controversial outputs, has also secured a contract with the Department of Defense to utilize Grok in AI applications. As the market prepares for trading, these developments highlight the dynamic interplay of politics, technology, and corporate strategy shaping investor sentiment today.