WSJ Your Money Briefing

Episode: What’s News in Markets: Robinhood Social, AI Oracle, Paramount Bid

Date: September 13, 2025
Host: Francesca Fontana

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise yet energetic recap of the week's most significant moves in the stock market, focusing on milestone-setting rallies and major corporate headlines. Francesca Fontana guides listeners through updates on record-breaking performances from major indices, Robinhood’s surprising foray into social media, Oracle’s AI-driven surge, and seismic maneuvers in the media industry involving Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Record-Breaking Week on Wall Street

• Main Message: Renewed optimism in the AI sector and anticipated interest rate cuts fueled a market rally with several fresh records.
• Benchmarks Hit New Highs:
  • Monday: Nasdaq hit a new record.
  • Tuesday: All three major indices (Nasdaq, S&P 500, Dow) closed at all-time highs.
  • Wednesday: Oracle’s rally powered the S&P 500 to another record.
  • Thursday: Dow surpassed 46,000 for the first time; S&P 500 and Nasdaq also closed at all-time highs.
  • Friday: Nasdaq marked another record, its 25th for 2025.
• Weekly Performance:
  • S&P 500: +1.6%
  • Dow: +1%
  • Nasdaq: +2%

Quote:

“The stock market had a record breaking week this week, fueled by renewed optimism about the AI boom and growing confidence in interest rate cuts on the horizon.”
— Francesca Fontana [00:33]

2. Robinhood: Launching ‘Robinhood Social’

• Headline: Robinhood, long known as a populist online brokerage, is expanding into social networking for investors.
• Details:
  • The new platform, "Robinhood Social," will allow users to share short posts and verified trades, similar to X (formerly Twitter) or Reddit.
  • The move taps into the ongoing trend of communal investing and online collaboration among retail traders.
  • Beta rolls out to 10,000 users in Q1 2026; broader release date pending.
• Stock Impact:
  • Huge 16% rally on Monday after inclusion announcement in the S&P 500.
  • Pulled back 0.9% on Wednesday.
  • Finished the week up roughly 14%.

Quote:

“Robinhood is launching its own social media network for its investors. Robinhood Social... users can post verified trades. The trend behind this move is... individual investors building communities online and sometimes banding together to make big bets.”
— Francesca Fontana [01:54]

Memorable Moment:

“Hot dog. If I could whistle, now is when I would do it.”
— Francesca Fontana [02:44]

3. Oracle: AI Cloud Contracts & Market Surge

• Key News: Despite lackluster quarterly earnings, Oracle announced major AI cloud infrastructure deals.
• Standout Details:
  • Three new customer contracts, including a massive $300 billion deal with OpenAI.
  • Future revenue projections: +$317 billion.
  • Sparked a historic single-day stock jump: +36% on Wednesday.
  • Larry Ellison’s wealth increased by over $100 billion, bringing him close to Elon Musk in the global wealth rankings.
  • Week-over-week: Oracle up ~26%.

Quote:

“Oracle had signed contracts with three different customers in its latest quarter and added $317 billion in future revenue. And... OpenAI was one of those new customers signing a $300 billion deal.”
— Francesca Fontana [03:15]

Quote:

“The stock surged 36% on Wednesday, increasing Chairman Larry Ellison's wealth by more than $100 billion.”
— Francesca Fontana [03:40]

4. Paramount Skydance Eyes Warner Bros. Discovery

• Story Connection: Larry Ellison (Oracle) → David Ellison (Skydance Media) → Skydance/Paramount.
• Deal Highlights:
  • Paramount Skydance (newly formed) is preparing a mostly cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.
  • Notable, as Warner intended to split into two arms last year (cable TV; streaming & studios).
  • Bid hasn’t been officially made; plans may yet fall through.
  • Warner Bros. Discovery stock soared +29% on Thursday; +56% over the week.

Quote:

“Paramount is preparing this majority cash bid for Warner and that's a bid for the entire company. I have to clarify this because last year Warner announced its plans to split into two divisions...”
— Francesca Fontana [04:28]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Market Records:

  “What records were broken, you may ask? Well, let's go through the latest hot streak.”
  — Francesca Fontana [00:41]

• On Robinhood’s Big Week:

  “If I could whistle, now is when I would do it.”
  — Francesca Fontana [02:44]

• On Blockbuster Deals:

  “That didn't stop Warner's stock from a total blockbuster rally.”
  — Francesca Fontana [04:54]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Market Records Rundown: 00:33 – 01:51
• Robinhood’s Social Platform Announcement & Stock Performance: 01:54 – 02:55
• Oracle’s Cloud Contracts & AI Boom: 03:10 – 03:57
• Paramount Skydance's Potential Warner Bros. Bid: 04:01 – 05:15

Summary

Francesca Fontana delivers a crisp, lively overview of a week packed with market milestones and headline-grabbing corporate moves. Key themes include the ongoing dominance and influence of AI on both tech titans and the markets at large, the blurring of lines between social media and investing with Robinhood’s latest move, and the continued churn of the media landscape with Paramount Skydance positioning for a bold takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

For further reading, Francesca points listeners to her “Score” column in the WSJ Exchange section.