Apple Closes NYC Stores Amid Covid Surge, Mizuho Securities Analyst Vijay Rakesh on Chipmakers to Watch in 2022 & Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg on the Internet’s Future

Our anchors begin today’s show with Apple closing its New York City stores due to omicron concerns as the stock once again inches towards a $3 trillion market cap. Then, Leuthold Group Chief Investment Strategist Jim Paulsen discusses his outlook for 2022, including his projection that tech and growth stocks will underperform broader market plays in the first half of new year. Next, our team shifts focus to semis: CNBC’s Josh Lipton joins with insight into investors’ favorite chipmakers, followed by a closer look at the sector with Mizuho Securities Senior Semiconductor Analyst Vijay Rakesh. Automattic CEO and WordPress Co-Founder Matt Mullenweg also shares his thoughts on the internet’s future and open web. Later, CNBC’s Bob Pisani highlights the underperformance of Cathie Wood’s ARK Fund this year, and our Deirdre Bosa covers the broader collapse of stocks that went public via SPAC in 2021.