Grow Smart Income - week 43, 2024

What happened this week?

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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.

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Investing and Finance

Welcome to this week's financial newsletter, where we dive into the latest market movements and corporate shake-ups. Netflix has taken center stage, with its stock soaring to record highs following impressive earnings and a bright outlook, cementing its position as a top pick among analysts. In contrast, CVS faces turbulence as it announces a CEO replacement, sending its stock into a tailspin. American Express brings positive news, exceeding profit estimates and raising its full-year outlook, while a sobering report reveals the American Dream now comes with a $4.4 million price tag.

Tech giants are making waves too, with Apple's iPhone 16 reportedly off to a strong start in China, and Intel considering selling a stake in its Altera business. Looking ahead, Goldman Sachs predicts more modest returns for the S&P 500 over the next decade, while Disney plans to name its next CEO in early 2026 and welcomes James Gorman as its new chair. Lastly, oil prices are on the rise as geopolitical tensions simmer, with Israel planning its next move following a weekend attack on Iran. Join us as we unpack these stories and their potential impact on your investments and the broader economic landscape.

  1. Netflix Stock Surges on Strong Earnings, Outlook - Read more

  2. CVS Stock Plummets as It Replaces CEO - Read more

  3. American Express Tops Profit Estimates, Raises Full-Year Outlook - Read more

  4. The American Dream Now Costs $4.4 Million - Read more

  5. Netflix Stock Hits Record High as Analysts Call Streamer ‘Top Pick’ After Blowout Earnings - Read more

  6. Apple iPhone 16 Sales Reportedly Off To Hot Start in China - Read more

  7. Intel Stock Rises on Report That It Might Sell a Stake in Its Altera Business - Read more

  8. Goldman forecasts just a 3% S&P 500 annual return the next 10 years, down from 13% the last decade - Read more

  9. Disney to announce next CEO in early 2026, names James Gorman as new chair - Read more

  10. Oil Rises as Israel Plans Next Iran Move After Weekend Attack - Read more

“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.”

Ralph Nader

Crypto News

Welcome to this week's crypto newsletter, where we explore the latest developments in the world of digital assets and blockchain technology. The cryptocurrency market continues to make waves, with spot Bitcoin ETFs surpassing $20 billion in inflows as Bitcoin hovers around the $67,000 mark. Kraken has introduced its Wrapped Bitcoin (kBTC), aiming to expand Bitcoin's utility across different networks. Meanwhile, Tesla has stirred speculation by moving $765 million worth of Bitcoin to unknown wallets, putting Elon Musk's crypto plans back in the spotlight.

In regulatory news, the NYSE and Cboe have secured SEC approval for Bitcoin ETF options, potentially opening new avenues for institutional investors. A recent ECB paper claims that older Bitcoin holders may be exploiting newer entrants, raising questions about market dynamics. The crypto industry saw its largest acquisition to date with Stripe's $1.1 billion purchase of stablecoin platform Bridge. On the adoption front, PayPal's Venmo now allows users to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum through MoonPay, further mainstreaming cryptocurrency purchases.

Ethereum's founder, Vitalik Buterin, has proposed new upgrades to safeguard the network's decentralization, while Bitcoin's hash rate has reached a new all-time high, surging 74% year-over-year. Lastly, US attorneys are urging President Biden to address the detention of a Binance executive in Nigeria, highlighting the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies.

  1. Spot Bitcoin ETFs Surpass $20 Billion in Inflows as Price Hovers $67,000 Mark - Read more

  2. Introducing Kraken Wrapped Bitcoin (kBTC): Unleashing Bitcoin’s potential across networks - Read more

  3. Tesla moves $765 million in Bitcoin to unknown wallets, putting Musk’s crypto plans in the spotlight - Read more

  4. NYSE, Cboe Win SEC Approval for Bitcoin ETF Options - Read more

  5. ECB paper claims older Bitcoin holders are exploiting new holders - Read more

  6. Stripe acquires stablecoin platform Bridge for $1.1 billion in crypto's largest acquisition: TechCrunch founder - Read more

  7. PayPal's Venmo Can Now Be Used to Buy Bitcoin and Ethereum via MoonPay - Read more

  8. Vitalik Buterin Proposes New Upgrades to Protect Ethereum's Decentralization - Read more

  9. Bitcoin Hash Rate Hits New All-Time High, Surges 74% Year-Over-Year - Read more

  10. US Attorneys Urge Biden to Act on Binance Exec's Detention in Nigeria - Read more

“The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake- you can’t learn anything from being perfect.”

Adam Osborne

Artificial Intelligence

Welcome to this week's AI and tech newsletter, where we explore the latest breakthroughs and controversies in the world of artificial intelligence. Scientists are pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities, investigating whether machines can learn physics from sensor data alone. In the entertainment industry, Meta is partnering with Blumhouse and creators to develop Movie Gen, potentially revolutionizing film production.

Bain & Company has expanded its partnership with OpenAI to accelerate AI solutions for clients, while Google launches NotebookLM Business for enterprise AI audio and text processing. However, the dark side of AI emerges as scammers use voice technology to swindle an elderly California man out of $25,000. On a lighter note, a talking pet collar promises to act as a chatbot for dogs, while the Pentagon explores using AI to create deepfake internet users.

The technology's practical applications are also evident, with AI helping federal agencies catch $1 billion in fraud and revealing new insights into sperm-egg fertilization. Meanwhile, the AI landscape continues to evolve, with signs of strain in the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership, Perplexity reportedly seeking an $8 billion valuation, and advancements in AI medical imagery analysis. As Apple's new iPad Mini hints at the company's AI advantage, Microsoft rolls out Copilot AI features, leaving investors eager to see the technology's financial impact.

  1. Can AI Learn Physics from Sensor Data? - Read more

  2. Partnering with Blumhouse, creators, and the entertainment industry as we develop Meta Movie Gen - Read more

  3. Bain & Company announces expanded partnership with OpenAI to accelerate delivery of AI solutions and meet fast-growing client needs - Read more

  4. Elon Musk’s X is changing its privacy policy to allow third parties to train AI on your posts - Read more

  5. Google launches NotebookLM Business to make enterprise AI audio, text - Read more

  6. Scammers swindle elderly California man out of $25K by using AI voice technology to claim his son was in ‘horrible accident,’ needed money for bail: ‘Absolutely his voice’ - Read more

  7. This Talking Pet Collar Is Like a Chatbot for Your Dog - Read more

  8. The Pentagon Wants to Use AI to Create Deepfake Internet Users - Read more

  9. AI helped the feds catch $1 billion of fraud in one year. And it’s just getting started - Read more

  10. AI reveals how sperm sticks to egg during fertilization - Read more

  11. Microsoft and OpenAI’s Close Partnership Shows Signs of Fraying - Read more

  12. Perplexity is reportedly looking to fundraise at an $8B valuation - Read more

  13. AI Medical Imagery Model Offers Fast, Cost-Efficient Expert Analysis - Read more

  14. Apple’s New iPad Mini Highlights the Company’s Secret AI Advantage - Read more

  15. Microsoft launches Copilot AI features as investors look for signs artificial intelligence is paying off - Read more

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”

Jim Rohn

Top Article Picks this week

Welcome to this week's lifestyle and culture newsletter, where we explore a diverse range of topics that shape our modern world. We kick off with the enduring mystery of bitcoin's creator, a $1.3 trillion question that continues to intrigue the financial world. Shifting gears, we challenge perceptions about menopause, celebrating it as a remarkable stage of life, while also offering insights on rekindling romantic sparks.

Health and longevity take center stage as we delve into five lifestyle habits that could help you reach the centenarian milestone, and examine the effects of cold, unheated rooms on your body. We then turn to literary matters, exploring how George Orwell's work has evolved into a cultural shorthand. The newsletter also tackles the fascinating realm of emotional contagion, investigating when we're most susceptible to others' feelings.

We examine the profound impact of social media algorithms on our interactions and uncover the scientific origins of humanity's carbohydrate cravings. For those struggling with digital distractions, we offer tips on rediscovering the joy of reading books. We round off with a critical look at common economic misconceptions perpetuated by politicians and share valuable advice from therapists, gathered from fifty different perspectives.

  1. The $1.3 trillion question: Who created bitcoin? (Reading time: 12 min) - Read here

  2. Menopause Is a Pretty Damn Fine Stage of Life (Reading time: 8 min) - Read here

  3. Getting the Spark Back (Reading time: 12 min) - Read here

  4. 5 lifestyle habits that can help you live to 100, according to leading longevity researchers (Reading time: 4 min) - Read here

  5. Cold Weather: What Does an Unheated Room Do to Your Body? (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

  6. How George Orwell became a dead metaphor (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

  7. When Are You Most Likely to Catch Other People’s Emotions? (Reading time: 4 min) - Read here

  8. How have social media algorithms changed the way we interact? (Reading time: 10 min) - Read here

  9. Scientists pinpoint the origins of humanity’s love of carbs (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

  10. How to Put Your Phone Down and Get Back Into Habit of Reading Books (Reading time: 4 min) - Read here

  11. Six Dumb Misconceptions About The Economy (that the Politicians Want You To Believe) (Reading time: 10 min) - Read here

  12. The Best Advice from Therapists, From 50 Different People (Reading time: 20 min) - Read here

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“There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way.”

Christopher Morley

Book of the week

Dave Ramsey's "The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition" is a powerful guide to achieving financial freedom through practical, no-nonsense strategies. Ramsey's approach challenges readers to confront their financial habits head-on, offering a clear roadmap to debt elimination and wealth building. The book's strength lies in its simplicity, presenting complex financial concepts in an accessible manner that resonates with readers from all walks of life.

Ramsey's "debt snowball" method, a cornerstone of his philosophy, provides a motivating framework for tackling debt systematically. Throughout the book, real-life success stories serve as inspiring examples of the plan's effectiveness, demonstrating that financial transformation is within reach for anyone willing to commit. While some may find Ramsey's advice conservative, his emphasis on living below one's means and avoiding debt is undeniably sound.

The updated classic edition includes new "Dave Rants" that address contemporary financial challenges, making the book even more relevant in today's economic landscape. "The Total Money Makeover" not only offers practical financial advice but also encourages a mindset shift, promoting long-term financial health and generosity. For those seeking a comprehensive guide to revamping their finances, Ramsey's bestseller remains a go-to resource, blending motivation with actionable steps to achieve lasting financial fitness.

“What is not started will never get finished.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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