S&P 500 Ekes Out Gain as Trump Open to Trade Talks…
What Does It Mean – U.S. equity-index futures declined as President Donald Trump intensified trade tensions with a proposed 30% tariff on European Union and Mexico goods, effective August 1, prompting investor caution. The S&P 500 futures fell 0.4%, and European stock futures dropped 0.6%, reflecting market concerns over potential economic disruptions. Safe-haven assets gained traction, while Asian markets remained stable with minor gains in Hong Kong and China. Investors are also monitoring upcoming corporate earnings and inflation data, which could further influence market dynamics amid heightened trade policy uncertainty. Read more.
Bitcoin Soars Past $120,000 as US Congress Starts ‘Crypto Week’…
What Does It Mean – Bitcoin surged past $120,000 for the first time, driven by strong institutional demand and optimism surrounding U.S. legislative developments during “Crypto Week.” The rally, supported by $1.18 billion in Bitcoin ETF inflows, reflects growing corporate and retail enthusiasm. Technical indicators suggest sustained momentum, with analysts targeting $130,000–$140,000 if Bitcoin holds above $120,000. The broader crypto market also rose, with Ethereum and XRP gaining, pushing total market capitalization to $3.81 trillion. However, some warn of a potential bubble. Investor sentiment remains bullish amid pro-crypto policy expectations. Read more.
Bond Traders Cast Doubt on September Fed Cut Before Key CPI Data…
What Does It Mean – Bond traders are increasingly skeptical of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September, with confidence waning due to strong labor market data and uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s proposed tariffs. The upcoming U.S. CPI report, expected to show a 0.3% monthly increase, is critical for assessing inflation trends and potential tariff-driven price pressures. Treasury yields remain mid-range for 2025, reflecting cautious market sentiment. Federal Reserve officials are divided, with some advocating a wait-and-see approach, emphasizing the need for sustained lower inflation before rate adjustments. Read more.
What the World Is Asking ChatGPT in 2025…
What Does It Mean – Between March and April 2025, software development dominated ChatGPT prompts at 29%, aiding in coding, debugging, and task automation, though its share dropped from 44% the previous year. History and society prompts ranked second at 15%, followed closely by AI and machine learning queries. The fastest-growing category was economics, finance, and tax, surging over threefold as users sought insights on stocks and macroeconomic trends. Early coders, particularly those with less than a year of experience, showed strong AI optimism. This reflects ChatGPT’s growing role in diverse, practical applications. Read more.
A classical drive: Road rumble strips play Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in UAE emirate of Fujairah…
The humble road rumble strip, used around the world to alert drifting drivers to potential hazards or lane departures, can play Beethoven on a mountain highway in the far reaches of the United Arab Emirates.
For nearly a kilometer (a half mile) along the E84 highway — also known as the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road — motorists in the right-hand lane coming into the city of Fujairah can play Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony where the rubber meets the road.
“The ‘Street of Music,’ of course, is an art project that exists in some countries … but we wanted this project to be in our country,” said Ali Obaid Al Hefaiti, the director of Fujairah Fine Arts Academy, which recently wrapped up the project in collaboration with local authorities.
“I think that the project is focused on spreading the art culture. The combination of music in our lives and our normal lives,” he added.
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What do you do?” ~ John Maynard Keynes
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Relative strength measures the price performance of a stock against a market average, a selected universe of stocks or a single alternative holding. Relative strength improves if it rises faster in an uptrend, or falls less in a downtrend. It is easily applied to individual positions in your portfolio and to sectors and asset classes.
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