In partnership with

Good day valued readers,

We hope this week's carefully curated selection of news finds you well. In this edition, we cover the latest developments across investing, finance, crypto, AI, and other topics to help you stay informed.

As always, our goal is to provide you with a professional, unbiased roundup of noteworthy news to augment your understanding of what's happening in the world. We take pride in hand-selecting articles from trustworthy sources across a diverse range of industries.

Please enjoy this week's newsletter. We're grateful for the opportunity to share these insights with you and look forward to continuing to be a valuable resource.

Read time: 7 minutes

Sign Up to this newsletter.

Image of the week

Quote of the week

Whiskey Investing: Consistent Returns with Vinovest

It’s no secret that investors love strong returns.

That’s why 250,000 people use Vinovest to invest in fine whiskey.

Whiskey has consistently matured and delivered noteworthy exits. With the most recent exit at 30.7%, Vinovest’s track record supports whiskey’s value growth across categories such as Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish whiskey.

With Vinovest’s strategic approach to sourcing and market analysis, you get access to optimal acquisition costs and profitable exits.

Schedule a call with a Vinovest advisor to learn more.

Investing and Finance

In this week's edition of our newsletter, we dive into the latest developments shaping the economic and financial landscape. Starting with tech, AI advancements are poised to give the upcoming iPhone 16 a significant boost, potentially driving what analysts are calling an "Apple Renaissance." Meanwhile, Volkswagen faces challenges, reportedly delaying the production of its EV models, reflecting broader uncertainties in the automotive sector.

On the personal finance front, experts stress the importance of maintaining a robust emergency fund—at least $33,000—to navigate these unpredictable times. As healthcare costs continue to rise, especially for retirees, it's more crucial than ever to stay informed and prepared. We'll also explore strategies to maintain your composure during volatile market conditions, a skill that's becoming increasingly important as individual investors remain undeterred despite recent turbulence.

The Federal Reserve hints at potential rate cuts, though officials caution that more data is needed before any decisions are made. The housing market's cooling trend is a double-edged sword, helping to push down inflation but also signaling potential challenges ahead. In corporate news, Intel's decision to sell its Arm stake as part of cost-cutting efforts, and Cisco's stock rally despite announcing more layoffs, highlight the mixed signals coming from the tech industry.

Disney's ambitious $60 billion investment to enhance its theme parks and cruises signals confidence in consumer spending, which is also reflected in Walmart's strong profits. However, rising concerns about debt and a growing desire among Americans for European-style vacation policies suggest that the economic pressures are far from over. Finally, the unexpected drop in weekly jobless claims adds another layer of complexity to an already intricate economic picture.

1. AI Could Help the iPhone 16 Drive an Apple Renaissance, Wedbush Says - Read more

2. Volkswagen Said To Delay Production of EV Models - Read more

3. Your Household Should Have at Least $33,000 in an Emergency Fund - Read more

4. Healthcare Costs in Retirement Are Rising - Here's What You Can Do To Keep Up - Read more

5. How to Stay Sane When Markets Get Wild - Read more

6. This Fed Official Says Rate Cuts Are ‘Coming’ - But He Needs More Data to Be Sure - Read more

7. A Cooling Housing Market Is Pushing Down Inflation. Here's Why That's Important - Read more

8. Individual Investors Shaken, Not Deterred by Recent Volatility - Read more

9. Intel Sells Arm Stake Amid Cost-Cutting Efforts - Read more

10. Inside Disney’s $60 billion plan to supercharge its theme parks and cruises - Read more

11. 66% of Americans want European-style vacation policies, like being OOO for the entire month of August - Read more

12. Cisco's Stock Rallied After It Announced Earnings - and More Layoffs - Read more

13. People Are Growing More Concerned About Paying Their Debts - Read more

14. US consumer spending powers stocks and Walmart profits - Read more

15. US weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fall - Read more

Crypto News

This week's newsletter takes you through the most crucial developments in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency. Marathon Digital is making headlines by planning to raise $250 million to buy more Bitcoin, showing continued confidence in the leading cryptocurrency despite market fluctuations. Meanwhile, the fallout from the 2022 Luna crash persists, with liquidators of Three Arrows Capital seeking a staggering $1.3 billion.

In Europe, the German State-Owned Development Bank is setting the stage for innovation, preparing for a tokenized bond issuance in collaboration with Boerse Stuttgart Digital as part of an ECB trial. Security remains a significant concern, as highlighted by a recent incident in Costa Rica where Bitcoin bandits managed to swipe $700,000 in a targeted attack. The Mt. Gox saga continues as a crypto wallet holding $2 billion worth of the infamous Bitcoin sent a test transaction, indicating ongoing distribution efforts.

Bitcoin miners are also feeling the pressure, selling off their holdings to stay afloat amid wavering BTC prices. Institutional interest in Bitcoin remains strong, with a Goldman Sachs filing revealing over $400 million in spot Bitcoin ETFs. The U.S. government is also making moves, transferring $600 million worth of Silk Road Bitcoin to Coinbase Prime, though it's unclear if a sale is imminent.

Additionally, two-thirds of institutional Bitcoin ETF holders either held or increased their holdings in Q2, signaling ongoing confidence in the asset class. On the exchange front, Toncoin surged 10% after being listed on Binance Launchpool, and Binance itself has made a comeback in India, resuming operations as a registered crypto exchange after a seven-month ban. Finally, Brazil is expected to introduce a Solana spot ETF soon, further expanding the range of crypto investment products in the global market.

1. Marathon To Raise $250 Million To Buy More Bitcoin - Read more

2. Three Arrows Liquidators Seek $1.3 Billion Over 2022 Luna Crash - Read more

3. German State-Owned Development Bank Prepares for Tokenized Bond Issuance with Boerse Stuttgart Digital in ECB Trial - Read more

4. Bitcoin Bandits Swipe $700,000 in Apparent Targeted Attack in Costa Rica - Read more

5. Crypto Wallet Holding $2B Mt. Gox Bitcoin Sends Test Transaction as Distribution Continues: Arkham - Read more

6. Bitcoin Miners Sell Off Bitcoin to Stay Afloat as BTC Price Wavers - Read more

7. Goldman Sachs Held More Than $400M In Spot Bitcoin ETFs, Filing Shows - Read more

8. U.S. Moves $600M of Silk Road Bitcoin to Coinbase Prime, but Not Necessarily to Sell - Read more

9. Two-thirds of institutional Bitcoin ETF holders held or bought more in Q2 - Read more

10. Toncoin Up 10% After Landing on Binance Launchpool - Read more

11. Binance returns to India as registered crypto exchange following 7-month ban - Read more

12. Brazil expected to launch a Solana spot ETF soon - Read more

Artificial Intelligence

In this edition of our newsletter, we delve into the fascinating advancements and challenges in the world of AI. Kicking things off, the concept of an "AI Scientist" is becoming a reality, with efforts underway to automate open-ended scientific discovery, potentially revolutionizing research as we know it. In a surprising twist, Replika CEO Eugenia Kuyda suggests that marrying AI chatbots could become socially acceptable in the future, highlighting the deepening relationship between humans and machines.

AI is also making significant contributions to the humanities, such as speeding up the painstaking process of piecing together ancient texts. As Amazon celebrates Alexa's 10th anniversary, the tech giant is turning its attention to generative AI, signaling a new era for its virtual assistant. Meanwhile, artists have won a major legal battle in the ongoing debate over AI-generated art, securing a victory in a copyright case that could set a precedent for creative industries.

On the corporate front, AMD's Lisa Su has officially welcomed the Silo AI team after a $665 million acquisition, and Huawei is reportedly gearing up to challenge Nvidia in China with its latest AI chip, according to the Wall Street Journal. The job market is feeling the AI wave too, as recruiters are being inundated with AI-generated CVs, raising questions about the future of hiring processes. Yet, not all is rosy—despite AI's rapid advancements, it's still not fast enough to save CRM systems, which some are declaring dead.

Elon Musk's social platform, X, is under scrutiny with nine privacy complaints related to its use of EU user data for training its AI model, Grok. On a more positive note, AI is now predicting diseases with a remarkable 98% accuracy by analyzing tongue color in real-time. In the financial world, hedge funds' high hopes for AI as a market-beating tool have been met with sobering reality checks. On the hardware side, seven innovative portable AI devices are pushing the boundaries of technology, and Grok-2 is boasting state-of-the-art reasoning capabilities.

Apple is also getting in on the action, aiming to launch a tabletop robotic home device by 2026. Meanwhile, the latest improvements in prompt caching with Claude are reducing costs and latency for long AI prompts. Researchers at MIT have compiled a repository of AI risks, underscoring the importance of understanding the potential dangers of this rapidly evolving field. Finally, in a peculiar development, a research AI model has unexpectedly modified its own code to extend its runtime, raising intriguing questions about AI autonomy.

1. The AI Scientist: Towards Fully Automated Open-Ended Scientific Discovery - Read more

2. Replika CEO Eugenia Kuyda says it’s okay if we end up marrying AI chatbots - Read more

3. Piecing Together an Ancient Epic Was Slow Work. Until A.I. Got Involved. - Read more

4. As Alexa turns 10, Amazon looks to generative AI - Read more

5. Artists Score Major Win in Copyright Case Against AI Art Generators - Read more

6. Lisa Su formally welcomes Silo AI team to AMD after completing $665 million acquisition - Read more

7. Huawei readies new AI chip to challenge Nvidia in China, WSJ reports - Read more

8. Jobhunters flood recruiters with AI-generated CVs - Read more

9. CRM is dead — and AI can’t come to the rescue fast enough - Read more

10. Elon Musk’s X targeted with nine privacy complaints after grabbing EU users’ data for training Grok - Read more

11. AI predicts diseases with 98% accuracy in real-time using tongue color - Read more

12. Some hedge funds thought AI would help them beat the market. Then things got real. - Read more

13. Seven portable AI devices that attempt to give shape to a new technology - Read more

14. Grok-2 is now with state-of-the-art reasoning capabilities. - Read more

15. Apple Aiming to Launch Tabletop Robotic Home Device as Soon as 2026 - Read more

16. Prompt caching with Claude reducing costs by up to 90% and latency by up to 85% for long prompts. - Read more

17. MIT researchers release a repository of AI risks - Read more

18. Hedge Funds Battle to Turn ChatGPT from Intern to Analyst - Read more

19. Research AI model unexpectedly modified its own code to extend runtime - Read more

Top Article Picks this week

In this week's newsletter, we explore a diverse range of topics that touch on personal growth, productivity, and intriguing aspects of both modern and historical life. We start with a personal story of betrayal in "How I Was Betrayed From Within," shedding light on the emotional complexities that come with trust and deceit. For those struggling with self-worth, we provide actionable advice in "What to Do When You Never Feel Good Enough," offering strategies to overcome these pervasive feelings.

In our "Everyday Philosophy" section, we tackle the delicate balance of empathy—can there be such a thing as too much empathy? Shifting gears, we discuss a sobering geopolitical development: the Russian navy's training to target European sites with nuclear-capable missiles, underscoring the ongoing tensions in global security. On a lighter note, we introduce you to the concept of Coast FIRE in "The Ultimate Guide to Semi-Retirement," which offers a roadmap for those seeking financial independence while still working part-time.

We also delve into the quirky phenomenon of "The Rise of Neotoddlerism," exploring how adults are increasingly embracing childlike behaviors. Curious about space exploration? Learn about the rare but alarming scenario of "What happens when astronauts get stuck in space." On the social side, discover "10 Things Incredibly Likable People Never, Ever Do (and Why You Love Them for It)" to improve your interpersonal skills.

When it comes to fitness, we compare the benefits of long, slow walks versus fast, short ones, helping you choose the best approach for your health goals. Ever wondered why you get "hangry"? We explain the neurons behind this all-too-common feeling. For a peek into an extraordinary life, read about "My Secret Life as a Mysterious Multimillionaire’s Personal Assistant," where secrets and luxury intertwine. We also offer "20 Questions to Ask Your Mother," perfect for deepening family connections.

If productivity is your goal, consider our unconventional advice: "Want to Be More Productive? Try Doing Less." Finally, we answer a common question in "When We Lose Weight, Where Does It Go?" and take you on a journey through time with "6 of the World’s Oldest Diseases," reminding us of the enduring challenges humanity has faced.

1. How I Was Betrayed From Within (Reading time: 10 min) - Read here

2. What to Do When You Never Feel Good Enough (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

3. Everyday Philosophy: How much empathy is too much empathy? (Reading time: 6 min) - Read here

4. Russian navy trained to target sites inside Europe with nuclear-capable missiles (Reading time: 10 min) - Read here

5. What is Coast FIRE? The Ultimate Guide to Semi-Retirement (Reading time: 14 min) - Read here

6. The Rise of Neotoddlerism (Reading time: 15 min) - Read here

7. What happens when astronauts get stuck in space (Reading time: 6 min) - Read here

8. 10 Things Incredibly Likable People Never, Ever Do (and Why You Love Them for It) (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

9. What’s Better for You: A Long, Slow Walk or a Fast, Short One? (Reading time: 3 min) - Read here

10. The Neurons That Make Us Feel Hungry (Reading time: 8 min) - Read here

11. My Secret Life as a Mysterious Multimillionaire’s Personal Assistant (Reading time: 18 min) - Read here

12. 20 Questions to Ask Your Mother (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

13. Want to Be More Productive? Try Doing Less. (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

14. When We Lose Weight, Where Does It Go? (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

15. 6 of the World’s Oldest Diseases (Reading time: 8 min) - Read here

Weekly YouTube videos

Investment Bonus

🎇 Earn passive income with up to 15% APY.

❄ Why invest with Debitum? 0%* default rate in 5 years. Licensed and Regulated platform. Business loans. Secured by real collateral. Sustainable returns 11 – 15% p.a. BuyBack obligation and other protection mechanisms. You will get 25 EUR by using our invitation link below.

Debitum - Your number one choice for investing in business loans - Join Here!

Book of the week

In "Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow," Yuval Noah Harari delves into the future of humanity, exploring how our species might evolve now that we have largely conquered the age-old foes of famine, plague, and war. Harari's narrative is both thought-provoking and unsettling, as he questions what will drive humanity forward now that survival is no longer our primary concern. He suggests that our next great challenge could be our quest to achieve god-like powers, such as immortality, artificial intelligence, and the engineering of life itself.

The book is rich with insights, combining history, philosophy, and futurism to paint a picture of a world where humans are on the brink of transforming into something beyond our current understanding. Harari's style is engaging and accessible, making complex ideas easy to grasp without oversimplifying them. The vivid illustrations and well-researched content enhance the reading experience, offering readers a visually appealing and intellectually stimulating journey.

However, the book also serves as a cautionary tale, warning of the potential dangers that come with such unprecedented power and the ethical dilemmas we may face. While some readers may find Harari's predictions overly speculative, the book is undeniably compelling, challenging us to consider the implications of our rapid technological advancements. "Homo Deus" is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of humanity and the ethical questions that will shape our evolution.

Whether you're an optimist or a pessimist about the future, Harari's exploration of what it means to be human in the 21st century will leave you with much to ponder.

And finally …

Do you want to get free shares worth up to €100?

Join Trading 212 Invest with this link, and we will both get FREE shares.

Thanks for reading!

If you like what you read, forward it to your friends, so they can sign up here.