US Job Openings Rise to 8.1 Million, Meta Shifts to 'Community Notes

US Job Openings Defy Expectations

US job openings unexpectedly rose to 8.1 million in November, up from 7.8 million in October, according to the Labor Department's latest report. Although this figure has declined from 8.9 million a year ago and the March 2022 peak of 12.2 million, it still remains higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Economists had forecast a slight decline, consistent with a softening labor market. The report also noted a slight increase in layoffs, while the number of workers voluntarily quitting their jobs fell—suggesting that fewer Americans feel confident in finding better opportunities.

Meta Shifts Strategy with "Community Notes"

Meta is discontinuing its third-party fact-checking program and introducing a new feature called "Community Notes," modeled after Elon Musk's platform, X. The new system, set to launch in the US over the coming months, will allow users to provide context for posts directly.

“We’ve made too many mistakes and engaged in too much censorship,” said CEO Mark Zuckerberg, highlighting a renewed focus on free expression and simpler policies aligned with cultural and political shifts.

Volvo's Record-Breaking Sales Boost Stock

Volvo Cars saw its shares surge by more than 9% after reporting a global sales record for 2024. The company delivered 763,389 cars, marking an 8% year-over-year increase. The surge was driven by high demand for its electrified vehicles, with sales of fully electric cars up 54% and now comprising 46% of total sales.

Anthropic Pursues Major Funding

AI company Anthropic is in advanced talks to raise up to $2 billion at a valuation of $60 billion, according to CNBC. The round, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, underscores the company’s rapid rise in the generative AI market.

Anthropic, known for its AI chatbot Claude, has gained traction as businesses increasingly adopt AI for marketing, sales, and customer support. Major backers, including Amazon, have helped position Anthropic as a key competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Goodyear Sells Dunlop Brand

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co has agreed to sell its Dunlop brand to Sumitomo Rubber Industries for $701 million in cash. This move reflects Goodyear's broader strategy to streamline its operations and focus on core markets.