Breakfast News: Tariff Talk

• The company importing the goods pays the tax: The three countries targeted make up 41.4% of total trade with the U.S., potentially leading to further inflation since tariffs can ultimately act as a tax on consumers. All eyes will be on retailers this week as a result: Both Macy's (M -2.02%) and Best Buy (BBY -0.11%) are due to report today.
• Futures are little changed this morning: Stock markets had a limited reaction to the news, as the 10% Chinese tariff is lower than the 20-30% figure many were expecting.

Apple (AAPL 0.20%) is facing uphill battles in several international markets, as CEO Tim Cook attempts to ease regulatory pressure on product rollouts.

• "Difficult and long process": Cook is seeking to get Apple Intelligence launched, but top Chinese officials say this is not an easy process to get approval for as a foreign business. The country is a key growth market for Apple, especially as it tries to roll out new AI enhancements.
• Opening up to third parties: The Brazilian antitrust regulator ruled Monday that Apple has to lift restrictions on payment methods for in-app purchases. Investors will be keen to see how this plays out, as a potential precedent for other markets.

• Largest-ever tech deal on ice: After reporting a preliminary approach from Qualcomm in September, confidential sources now say the complexities around a takeover of Intel make it harder to execute.
• Confidence in future outlook: Several other transactions got over the line Monday, including Quikrete's impending acquisition of Summit Materials (SUM -0.19%) for around $11.5 billion. Such activity is an indication of better corporate sentiment around the state of the economy.

• Continued growth in subscription base: Up 450% since its 2012 IPO, Workday (WDAY 2.01%) is forecasted to post record revenue for the quarter, up 14.2% from last year, with earnings per share expected to rise 12.4% to $1.72.
• AI server sales in focus: Analysts are expecting Dell (DELL -1.62%) to report a 25% jump in revenue, with growth from server sales that support AI workloads. Adjusted earnings are forecasted to fall by 1% versus the same time last year.

• "There are roughly five weeks left in this calendar year, so don't forget to take a moment and give your finances a year-end review": Amanda, TMF's financial planning team lead, issued a reminder yesterday as the holiday season ramps up.
• Plan on, Fools: "There's a lot to think about in a year-end financial review, but taking the time to do so now can end up saving you hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars or more over the long run."