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

In a week marked by significant market movements and tech developments, Wall Street's attention was divided between AI advancements and traditional market indicators. Apple made waves with its latest iPhone 16 announcement, introducing groundbreaking AI features while refreshing its iMac lineup with eye-catching new colors. Microsoft's candid admission of struggling to meet surging AI demand highlighted the explosive growth in the sector, though concerns about Big Tech's AI spending spooked investors, pulling down both the Nasdaq and S&P 500.

The financial landscape showed mixed signals, with Reddit's stock soaring 40% on unexpected profitability, while Ford faced headwinds after missing profit estimates. In the consumer sector, McDonald's delivered better-than-expected results, though Philip Morris announced the closure of German plants amid declining sales. Gold prices reached historic highs as investors sought safe havens ahead of the upcoming election, reflecting broader economic uncertainties.

Adding to market jitters, Super Micro Computer's auditor EY resigned citing integrity concerns, while Generation X's retirement preparedness emerged as a growing concern in recent financial studies. Roblox managed to shine through the volatility, posting strong bookings despite previous short-seller challenges. Perhaps most tellingly, recent data suggests many Americans feel their financial situation has deteriorated since 2020, painting a complex picture of the current economic landscape.

1. Apple Releases New AI Features on iPhone 16, Fresh Colors on iMacs - Read more

2. Ford Stock Drops After Automaker Misses Profit Estimates, Trims Guidance - Read more

3. McDonald's Reports Mixed Results; Revenue, Adjusted Profit Top Expectations - Read more

4. Gen X Is Getting Closer to Retirement But Not Its Retirement Savings Goals - Read more

5. Philip Morris Is Closing German Cigarette Plants Due to Sales Drop - Read more

6. Reddit Stock Jumps 40% on Surprise Profit, Buoyant Outlook - Read more

7. Gold Hits Record High Ahead of Election as Investors Brace for Stock Volatility - Read more

8. Most Americans Feel They're Worse Off Now Than In 2020 - Here's What The Data Says - Read more

9. Microsoft Says It’s Seeing More Demand for AI Than It Can Keep Up With - Read more

10. Super Micro Auditor EY Resigns, Citing ‘Integrity’ Concerns - Read more

11. Roblox highlights strong bookings in first quarterly result since short-seller face off - Read more

12. Nasdaq, S&P 500 sink as Meta, Microsoft revive Big Tech's AI spending worries - Read more

Crypto News

In a turbulent week for the cryptocurrency sector, the market witnessed both dramatic highs and concerning setbacks, with Bitcoin surging past $71,000 and triggering a massive $175 million liquidation of short positions. Institutional adoption continued to accelerate as Emory University revealed a substantial $16 million investment in Grayscale's Bitcoin vehicle, while Hong Kong's HKEX announced plans to introduce reliable Bitcoin and Ether pricing benchmarks for the Asian time zone.

The industry faced significant restructuring as several major players, including MetaMask creator Consensys and DYdX Trading, implemented substantial workforce reductions, while Kraken underwent both layoffs and leadership changes. MicroStrategy's ambitious $42 billion Bitcoin acquisition plan over the next three years highlighted ongoing institutional confidence, despite Coinbase's disappointing third-quarter results due to muted trading activity.

The intersection of crypto and traditional finance continued to evolve, with Coinbase partnering with Visa Direct for instant funding solutions and Bolivia's Banco Bisa launching the country's first regulated crypto custody service. The crypto community's political engagement intensified with Coinbase's $25 million pledge to the Fairshake PAC, while Robinhood launched a U.S.-exclusive presidential election prediction market.

Meanwhile, security concerns resurfaced as 1inch fell victim to a significant supply chain attack, reminding the industry of its persistent vulnerabilities. Thiel-backed Bitpanda's exploration of strategic options and growing momentum behind Solana ETF filings following Bitcoin and Ethereum approvals further illustrated the sector's dynamic nature.

1. Thiel-Backed Crypto Exchange Bitpanda Explores Options - Read more

2. Emory University Joins Bitcoin ETF Rush, Reporting $16M Holding in Grayscale Vehicle - Read more

3. HKEX To Launch Reliable Benchmarks for Bitcoin and Ether Pricing in the Asian Time Zone - Read more

4. Bitcoin Surges Above $71K as Wild Crypto Market Pump Sees $175M in Shorts Liquidated - Read more

5. Robinhood Launches US Presidential Election Prediction Market - For Americans Only - Read more

6. MetaMask Creator Consensys Lays Off 20% of Staff - Read more

7. Coinbase, Visa Direct Roll Out Instant Funding Amid Soaring Bitcoin Demand - Read more

8. DYdX Trading lays off 35% of its employees, including core team members - Read more

9. Banco Bisa Introduces Bolivia’s First Regulated Crypto Custody Service Using Tether - Read more

10. Coinbase shares fall as muted crypto trading leads to a third-quarter miss - Read more

11. Michael Saylor's MicroStrategy Plans to Raise $42B to Buy More Bitcoin Over Next 3 Years - Read more

12. Kraken Lays Off 15% of Workers and Names New Co-Chief Executive - Read more

13. Solana ETF Momentum Grows With New Filing After Bitcoin and Ethereum Approvals - Read more

14. Coinbase pledges $25 million to Fairshake PAC for pro-crypto candidates in 2026 midterms - Read more

15. 1inch Hit by Major Hack in Supply Chain Attack - Read more

Artificial Intelligence

In a transformative week for artificial intelligence, the tech landscape witnessed groundbreaking developments across multiple sectors, from consumer electronics to healthcare and fashion. Apple marked a significant milestone with the rollout of Apple Intelligence across its ecosystem of devices, while Microsoft expanded its AI offerings by integrating Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro into Copilot.

The scale of AI adoption became evident as Meta reported over 500 million users for its AI services, and Google's CEO revealed that AI now generates more than 25% of new Google code. In a fascinating intersection of AI and agriculture, researchers developed systems to decode pig vocalizations to monitor animal welfare, while Elon Musk made headlines with his ambitious projection of 10 billion affordable humanoid robots by 2040.

The healthcare sector saw exciting developments with Archon's emergence from stealth mode, introducing "antibody cages," and Iambic Therapeutics' launch of their AI platform "Enchant" for clinical outcome predictions. OpenAI's collaboration with Broadcom and TSMC to develop custom chips highlighted the industry's push toward specialized AI hardware, while LinkedIn's entry into AI recruitment and Aesthetic's "Shazam for fashion" demonstrated AI's expanding reach into everyday services.

Mastercard's introduction of AI digital assistants and AMD's optimization of Llama.cpp for consumer applications further illustrated how AI is becoming deeply integrated into both consumer and enterprise solutions. The week's developments collectively underscored the rapid pace of AI innovation and its growing influence across industries.

1. Apple Intelligence is available today on iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Read more

2. AI decodes oinks and grunts to keep pigs happy - Read more

3. ChatGPT native app for Windows devices now available - Read more

4. Elon Musk: 10 billion humanoid robots by 2040 at $20K-$25K each - Read more

5. Google CEO Says AI Investments Are 'Paying Off' - Read more

6. Bringing developer choice to Copilot with Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro, and OpenAI’s o1-preview - Read more

7. Exclusive: OpenAI builds first chip with Broadcom and TSMC, scales back foundry ambition - Read more

8. LinkedIn launches its first AI agent to take on the role of job recruiters - Read more

9. Meta Says It's 'Making a Lot of Progress' With AI as Spending Grows - Read more

10. Meta AI has more than 500 million users - Read more

11. Archon emerges from stealth with $20M and ‘antibody cages’ to power up drug development - Read more

12. Aesthetic launches the ‘Shazam for fashion’ - Read more

13. Iambic Therapeutics Announces “Enchant,” an AI Platform that Predicts Clinical Outcomes from the Earliest Stages of Drug Discovery - Read more

14. Mastercard launches new gen AI digital assistant capabilities to enhance customer value - Read more

15. Google CEO says over 25% of new Google code is generated by AI - Read more

16. Accelerating Llama.cpp Performance in Consumer LLM Applications with AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series - Read more

Top Article Picks this week

In a fascinating exploration of human behavior, psychology, and personal development, this week's digest delves into the intricate ways our daily choices and interactions shape our lives. Physical therapists shine a light on seemingly innocuous habits that could be secretly undermining our well-being, while groundbreaking research reveals a protein that might offer cognitive benefits typically associated with exercise.

The enduring debate about IQ tests' validity in measuring intelligence continues to challenge our understanding of human cognitive capabilities, as does the remarkable case of twins who developed their own private language. The modern workplace landscape is examined through the lens of liquid versus illiquid careers, while Marx's potential view of digital capitalism offers an intriguing perspective on our current economic system.

The ever-relevant challenge of dealing with narcissistic personalities receives expert guidance from psychologists, complemented by insights into effective leadership that genuinely inspires change. The global influence of the Myers-Briggs personality test tells a compelling story about our quest for self-understanding, while a fresh look at menopause challenges conventional narratives.

From the serendipitous "failure" that birthed the internet to the evolution of misattributed Einstein quotes, these stories remind us how truth and misconception shape our collective understanding. The collection concludes with practical wisdom on both delivering constructive criticism and the importance of honesty in child-rearing, offering valuable insights for personal and professional growth.

1. 6 Small, Everyday Things Physical Therapists Wish You’d Stop Doing (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

2. How to Change Yourself: Pain vs. Perceived Pain (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

3. Liquid vs. Illiquid Careers (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

4. Do IQ tests measure intelligence? (Reading time: 14 min) - Read it here

5. How to Deal With a Narcissist When You Can’t Avoid Them, According to a Psychologist (Reading time: 4 min) - Read it here

6. A Digital Capitalism Marx Might Enjoy (Reading time: 7 min) - Read it here

7. Why You Should Always Tell Your Kids the Truth (Reading time: 6 min) - Read it here

8. This Protein Could Boost Brain Function without Exercise (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

9. How To Be a Leader That Inspires People to Change (Reading time: 4 min) - Read it here

10. We've Lost the Plot on Menopause (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

11. It's a unique language spoken by two people': The twins who created their own language (Reading time: 6 min) - Read it here

12. What Personality Are You? How the Myers-Briggs Test Took over the World (Reading time: 15 min) - Read it here

13. We were just trying to get it to work': The failure that started the internet (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

14. Einstein didn’t say that: How viral misquotes evolve and replicate (Reading time: 12 min) - Read it here

15. How To Give Constructive Criticism That’s Actually Constructive (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

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Book of the week

Richard Branson's "Like a Virgin" offers a refreshingly unconventional take on business wisdom, drawing from his decades of experience building the Virgin empire through intuition, creativity, and a willingness to challenge established norms. Rather than presenting dry business theory, Branson shares engaging personal anecdotes and practical insights that make complex business concepts accessible to readers at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey. The book's strength lies in Branson's authentic voice, which comes through in his casual, conversational style as he discusses everything from starting a business to maintaining work-life balance.

His emphasis on listening to employees and customers challenges traditional top-down management philosophies, suggesting instead that the best ideas often come from paying attention to people at all levels. Branson's approach to risk-taking is particularly enlightening, as he explains how calculated gambles and learning from failures have been crucial to Virgin's success. The book excels in demonstrating how unconventional thinking and maintaining a sense of fun can create stronger businesses and more engaged employees.

His insights on building a strong company culture feel especially relevant in today's business landscape, where attracting and retaining talent often hinges on creating a positive work environment. Throughout the book, Branson's emphasis on social responsibility and sustainable business practices shows how profit and purpose can coexist successfully. His discussion of branding is particularly valuable, explaining how Virgin built its reputation through consistent customer focus and a willingness to disrupt established industries.

The author's candid sharing of both successes and failures makes the advice feel genuine and tested rather than theoretical. Branson's perspectives on work-life balance and maintaining enthusiasm for one's work offer a refreshing counterpoint to the "hustle culture" prevalent in many business books. His emphasis on entrepreneurship as a force for positive change provides an inspiring framework for aspiring business leaders. The book particularly shines when discussing leadership, with Branson advocating for a more human-centered approach that prioritizes both results and relationships.

While some might find Branson's optimistic outlook overly simplistic, his track record lends credibility to his methods and makes this book a valuable addition to any business leader's library.

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