5 Things to Know Before the Opening Bell 12/15/2025

Squawk Pod

CNBC

Business News, News, Investing, Business

4.2 • 543 Ratings

🗓️ 15 December 2025

⏱️ 1 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Chinese data shows the nation’s economic slowdown deepened in November, Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai was convicted on all charges in a landmark national security trial, Sanofi shares are down after two setbacks for the company’s multiple sclerosis treatment, ServiceNow is reportedly in talks to buy cybersecurity startup Armis, and Zootopia 2 has hit $1 billion at the box office. 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.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Melissa Lee, and this is five things to know before the opening bell.
0:05.7	New evidence of China's economic troubles, consumption, investment, and industrial output data,
0:10.9	all falling short of expectations in November.
0:13.7	A court in Hong Kong finding pro-democracy activists and media baron Jimmy Lai,
0:17.9	guilty of sedition and collusion with foreign countries.
0:20.6	78-year-old was charged under Hong Kong's controversial national security law enacted in 2020
0:25.2	after pro-democracy protests the year before.
0:28.4	Sanofi shares are lower, the French drug maker flagging another delay to a U.S. regulatory decision
0:32.7	on his experimental multiple sclerosis drug.
0:35.4	It also gave disappointing late stage study results that
0:38.0	stocked down more than a percent pre-market. Service Now is in talks about cybersecurity startup
0:42.7	Armis. Bloomberg reports a deal, which could be announced this week, could be worth about $7 billion.
0:48.5	And Disney's Zootopia 2, taking the top spot at the box office this weekend, raking in more
0:53.1	than $26 million.
0:54.8	The animated sequel also crossing the $1 billion mark worldwide.
0:59.4	We'll be back later today with an all-news Squawk pod or daily podcast featuring the best of Squawk Box.
1:04.4	Check it out wherever you get your podcasts and listen anytime.

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