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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

This week has been a whirlwind of market shifts, economic reports, and geopolitical surprises. Crude oil futures surged as OPEC+ decided to extend output cuts, adding further pressure to energy markets. Saudi Aramco, the oil giant, announced a significant 15% drop in third-quarter profit but reassured investors by maintaining its dividend. Meanwhile, SK Hynix saw a remarkable 6.5% rally after Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang urged the company to expedite its next-generation chip development. On that note, Nvidia briefly took the crown from Apple as the world's most valuable company, signaling the tech sector's volatile race for dominance. KPMG made headlines as well, trimming its US audit staff by 4% in an effort to address low turnover rates.

In monetary policy news, the Federal Reserve is poised to cut interest rates this week, a move that has raised questions among investors about the impact on the current bull market—a market whose origins many are now re-examining. Analysts have been eyeing Super Micro Computer’s stock ahead of its earnings, while bond and fixed income funds reported a near doubling in net inflows to over $100 billion in Q3, showcasing renewed investor interest.

The political landscape took center stage as the 2024 presidential election concluded with Donald Trump’s victory. This outcome has already begun to stir questions about its effect on stock portfolios and whether it could disrupt the economy’s growth streak. Analysts are dissecting what Trump’s win means for the US economy as initial indicators show gold prices falling post-election, hinting at early market reactions. It’s clear that the intersection of finance, technology, and politics will keep everyone on their toes in the days to come.

1. Crude Oil Futures Gain as OPEC+ Extends Output Cuts - Read more

2. OpenAI Research Finds That Even Its Best Models Give Wrong Answers a Wild Proportion of the Time - Read more

3. Oil giant Saudi Aramco posts 15% drop in third-quarter profit but maintains dividend - Read more

4. SK Hynix rallies 6.5% after Nvidia boss Jensen Huang asks firm to expedite next-generation chip - Read more

5. KPMG Trims US Audit Staff by 4% to Counter Low Turnover Rate - Read more

6. Nvidia Briefly Overtakes Apple as World's Most Valuable Company - Read more

7. Why The Federal Reserve is Likely to Cut Interest Rates This Week - Read more

8. When Did this Bull Market Start? - Read more

9. What Analysts Think of Super Micro Computer's Stock Ahead of Earnings - Read more

10. Bond and Fixed Income Funds Saw Net Inflows Nearly Double to Over $100B in Q3 - Read more

11. How the Outcome of the Presidential Election Could Affect Your Stock Portfolio - Read more

12. Could the Presidential Election Disrupt the US Economy's Winning Streak? - Read more

13. Donald Trump Wins 2024 Election - Read more

14. What Donald Trump's Presidential Election Win Means For The US Economy - Read more

15. Why Is Gold Falling After Trump's Election Win? - Read more

Crypto News

The crypto market has witnessed a seismic shift this week, marked by significant price surges and major developments. A newly announced global dollar stablecoin, backed by major players such as Robinhood, Kraken, and Paxos, is setting the stage for a broader adoption of digital assets. The State of Michigan’s state pension fund made waves by disclosing over $10 million in Ethereum ETF holdings, showcasing institutional confidence in crypto investments. Semler Scientific’s CEO announced that the firm is ‘laser-focused’ on acquiring Bitcoin, underscoring the growing corporate interest in leading cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, tensions rose as the founders of Binance, Coinbase, and Tron traded barbs over exchange listing fees, highlighting the competitive nature of the sector.

Amid these developments, Solana surged 17%, overtaking BNB Chain, driven by renewed hope in crypto ETFs as Trump’s election lead unfolded. Dogecoin also saw a boost, fueled by Elon Musk’s vocal support for Trump as the election neared. Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $75,000, reflecting expectations of wider adoption and looser regulatory policies following Trump’s victory. Notably, Bitcoin mining difficulty broke past 100 trillion for the first time, signifying an era of unprecedented mining activity.

Analysts are now exploring what Trump’s election win means for the broader crypto landscape, as Bitcoin blasted past $76,000 amid a violent rally that liquidated nearly $400 million in shorts. Arkham Research entered the fray with a new exchange focused on perpetual trading, while speculation grew that SEC Chairman Gary Gensler might resign in light of Trump’s win. Ether, too, enjoyed a 10% surge as the market anticipated a return of DeFi bullishness. Experts are now projecting that a Trump administration could pave the way for Bitcoin to reach $100,000 by the end of 2024. To top it off, Cardano (ADA) surged over 8% as it prepared for the Chang hard fork, adding another layer of excitement to an already volatile market.

1. New Global Dollar Stablecoin Backed by Robinhood, Kraken, Paxos and Other Crypto Heavies - Read more

2. State of Michigan's state pension fund discloses over $10 million worth of Ethereum ETF holdings - Read more

3. Semler Scientific ‘laser-focused’ on buying Bitcoin, says CEO - Read more

4. Binance, Coinbase and Tron Founders Trade Shots Over Exchange Listing Fees - Read more

5. Solana Jumps 17%, Flips BNB Chain Token, as Trump's Lead Renews ETF Hopes - Read more

6. Dogecoin Surges as Elon Musk's Trump Push Continues Into Election Day - Read more

7. Bitcoin surges to a record $75,000 as Trump victory heralds wider crypto adoption and weaker regulation - Read more

8. Bitcoin mining difficulty breaks through 100 trillion for the first time - Read more

9. What Trump's Election Win Could Mean For Bitcoin and Crypto - Read more

10. Bitcoin Blasts Past $76K for First Time as Violent Crypto Rally Liquidates Nearly $400M Shorts - Read more

11. Arkham Research enters crypto market with new exchange for perpetual trading - Read more

12. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler Likely to Resign After Trump Win: Analyst - Read more

13. Ether Surges 10% as Trump Victory Brings Back DeFi Bullishness - Read more

14. Trump victory may pave way for $100K Bitcoin by end of 2024 - Read more

15. Cardano (ADA) Price Surges Over 8% as Chang Hard Fork Nears - Read more

Artificial Intelligence

This week, the world of artificial intelligence and technology has been marked by groundbreaking developments, unexpected setbacks, and strategic shifts. In a surprising twist, a rare bee species reportedly halted Meta’s ambitious plan for a nuclear-powered AI data center, showing how even nature can play a critical role in tech infrastructure. Meanwhile, experts are advocating for open-source AI as a tool to bolster America's leadership in AI and enhance global security.

In cybersecurity, innovative use of large language models is proving effective at catching real-world code vulnerabilities, an effort crucial for strengthening digital defenses. Netflix has taken a bold stance on generative AI in gaming, choosing to double down on this technology following layoffs of human game developers. The financial sector is also witnessing a transformation, with generative AI being harnessed to improve financial literacy and health in the digital age.

On the hardware front, a giant supercomputer funded by Ozempic aims to revolutionize an entire country’s infrastructure, while Physical Intelligence, a robotic AI specialist, has raised significant funding from Jeff Bezos. Apple is making strides in wearable tech, pushing into smart glasses with its ‘Atlas’ user study, and new iOS updates hint at expanded AI capabilities with Siri featuring a ChatGPT limit and an optional 'Plus' upgrade.

The AI race is heating up as OpenAI’s new search engine is being touted as a potential ‘Google killer.’ At the same time, researchers are increasingly wary of AI-generated images and their implications for science. Reports indicate that one in 20 new Wikipedia pages now seem to be influenced by AI, underlining its deepening integration into content creation. On a larger scale, Saudi Arabia is planning a $100 billion AI powerhouse to rival the UAE’s tech leadership, while Scale AI has introduced ‘Defense Llama,’ a specialized model for national security users. Lastly, Microsoft is pioneering multi-agent AI collaboration with its Magnetic-One system, signaling a new era of task automation and coordination.

1. A rare bee species reportedly put an end to Meta's plans for a nuclear-powered AI data center - Read more

2. Open Source AI Can Help America Lead in AI and Strengthen Global Security - Read more

3. From Naptime to Big Sleep: Using Large Language Models To Catch Vulnerabilities In Real-World Code - Read more

4. Netflix Bullish on Gen AI for Games After Laying Off Human Game Developers - Read more

5. Harnessing Generative AI for Financial Success: Transforming Financial Literacy and Health in the Digital Age - Read more

6. The Giant Supercomputer Built to Transform an Entire Country—and Paid For by Ozempic - Read more

7. Physical Intelligence, a Robot A.I. Specialist, Raises Millions From Bezos - Read more

8. Apple Explores Push Into Smart Glasses With ‘Atlas’ User Study - Read more

9. iOS 18.2 Beta 2 Shows Siri ChatGPT Limit, Offers 'Plus' Upgrade Option - Read more

10. Is ChatGPT's new search engine OpenAI's Google 'killer'? - Read more

11. AI-generated images threaten science — here’s how researchers hope to spot them - Read more

12. One in 20 new Wikipedia pages seem to be written with the help of AI - Read more

13. Saudis Plan $100 Billion AI Powerhouse to Rival UAE Tech Hub - Read more

14. Scale AI unveils ‘Defense Llama’ large language model for national security users - Read more

15. Microsoft’s new Magnetic-One system directs multiple AI agents to complete user tasks - Read more

Top Article Picks this week

This week’s newsletter dives into a diverse range of topics spanning wellness, societal challenges, and intriguing scientific insights. Central Asia’s critical water crisis emerges as a pressing geopolitical issue, one that could have far-reaching consequences if left unaddressed. On the personal health front, adopting gut-friendly habits today could pay huge dividends for your future self, as maintaining digestive health is key to overall well-being. For those seeking self-improvement, we explore 11 unproductive habits that are worth quitting for a more fulfilling life.

In the realm of science, recent findings reveal that longevity might be connected to proteins that calm overexcited neurons, shedding light on potential pathways to aging more gracefully. Yet, not all paths are smooth - we touch on the ‘curse of early success’ and how it can shape one’s personal and professional journey. A reflective piece on ‘the age of abandonment’ offers insights into societal trends where traditional connections are increasingly overlooked.

A question many face - “I don’t want children. I do want children. What should I do?” - is explored, offering thoughtful perspectives on navigating this personal dilemma. We also debunk common misconceptions with a piece on 9 foods often mistaken as protein-rich but aren’t, ensuring you’re better informed for dietary choices. The ‘noisy’ nature of the brain is explained in a way that highlights both its complexity and resilience.

Discrimination based on age is a universal issue, affecting even the young, as we discuss in a piece on the harmful impacts of ageism. Adding to that, the science behind fluoride in drinking water is examined to clarify both benefits and controversies. For those grappling with decision-making, we offer strategies to move past the paralysis that too many options can cause, and insights on how to regulate emotions without falling into the trap of suppression.

Lastly, we delve into our collective obsession with “being right” and how it shapes our interactions, and we question whether celebrities are rekindling the glamorization of smoking with behaviors that echo bygone eras. From health to societal trends, this edition has something for everyone interested in better understanding and navigating the complexities of modern life.

1. Central Asia’s Ticking Time Bomb: Water (Reading time: 16 min) - Read it here

2. Be Kind to Your Gut Now, and the Older You Will Thank You (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

3. 11 Unproductive Habits You Want to Quit (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

4. Longevity Linked to Proteins That Calm Overexcited Neurons (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

5. The Curse of Early Success (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

6. The Age of Abandonment (Reading time: 12 min) - Read it here

7. I don’t want children. I do want children. What should I do? (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

8. 9 Foods You Might Think Are High in Protein, but Actually Aren’t (Reading time: 8 min) - Read it here

9. Why the Brain Is So Noisy (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

10. Ageism Hurts All of Us, Even ’Young People’ (Reading time: 8 min) - Read it here

11. The Science Behind Fluoride in Drinking Water (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

12. Paralyzed by choice (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

13. How to Regulate Your Emotions Without Suppressing Them (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

14. We’re Addicted to the Feeling of Being Right (Reading time: 6 min) - Read it here

15. Pack of cigs and a Bic lighter': Are celebs glamourising smoking again? (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

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Book of the week

In The Art of Being, Erich Fromm offers a compelling analysis of modern society's preoccupation with materialism and external validation. Building on ideas from To Have or to Be?, Fromm argues that a life centered on "having"—accumulating possessions and external status—is ultimately unfulfilling. Instead, he promotes an approach grounded in "being," which emphasizes self-awareness, personal growth, and inner peace. Fromm contends that true happiness and meaning come from an inner state of completeness rather than from consumer-driven success.

In the book, he critiques the influence of mass media, which he sees as encouraging superficial identities and empty pursuits. Fromm’s work is both a philosophical and psychological exploration of how the modern individual can resist societal pressures that favor consumption over introspection. He encourages readers to seek authenticity and to cultivate a rich inner life, which he sees as the path to genuine fulfillment. Fromm warns against living through the expectations of others and urges a return to self-reflective practices.

His prose is direct yet thoughtful, guiding readers toward practical steps for embodying the principles of "being." For anyone feeling alienated by consumer culture, The Art of Being is a timely reminder of the importance of inner well-being. While occasionally dense in its philosophical reflections, the book remains accessible and resonant, offering a roadmap to psychological and spiritual liberation. It challenges readers to examine their motivations and confront the distractions that prevent self-fulfillment.

By the end, Fromm's vision of enlightened happiness feels both transformative and deeply achievable. The Art of Being is an invitation to live meaningfully in a world often focused on the superficial.

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