Business
Apple’s stock gains as company execs cite iPhone, Mac demand in boosting guidance. The Apple’s earning call was interesting for multiple reasons. First, iPhone demand outpaced the supply. Investors and analysts long decried Apple for slow growth. Seeing such strong demand for a ubiquitous product such as iPhone is remarkable. Who said Apple was not innovative? Second, the company underestimated demand for the new Macbook which could open a whole new market for the iconic phone maker. Tim Cook was more generous than usual with a bit more color on WHERE the company was constrained. Such commentary could indicate where investors go and find next opportunity. In addition, the company no longer pursues neutral cash as a long-term target. Does that mean it will free Apple’s hands to invest more in their business? The upcoming CEO made an appearance for the first time on an Apple earnings call. The changing of the guard is coming, so it will be exciting to see how Ternus will lead Apple in the next decade.
Stocks Kept Gaining Despite Turmoil in Oil and the Middle East. The last few months has been very enlightening and humbling to me. I did not catch the AI gold rush early. I did not think that the economy and the stock market would stay strong. In fact, I was even pessimistic. The economic growth of 2% and the stock market having the best month since November 2020 were simply remarkable.
Jane Fraser Turned Citigroup Inside Out. Now Comes the Hard Part. An interesting article on Citi that took a quick trip down the memory lane on how the bank became arguably the largest bank in the world, only to fall hard from grace during the 2008 financial crisis, and how it has been gaining momentum under Jane Fraser.
Not Even Japanese Bathhouses Are Immune From Shocks of Iran War. It is mind-blowing that some people in Japan operate bathhouses out of their own pocket out of a sense of duty, to keep senior citizens connected. They don’t make money because the government caps how much they can charge, but the war in Iran is making oil – what the bathhouses use to heat up water – more expensive, deepening the financial losses that the operators already carry. Seems to me that the government should step in and provide financial assistance, if they don’t want to let the free market determine prices.
Other Stuff I Find Interesting
Mapping China’s Influence in Latin America. The sentiment toward China in South America is changing and it is an opportunity for the US to build coalition and influence again in its backyard. Frankly, the US is too rich to need money from South American countries. Sure, financial decisions must be made with ROI in mind, but the more important objective is to have allies in a strategic region and not have a rival build influence there.
No, Books Are Not Remotely Too Expensive. While books may not be as expensive as they once were, when inflation is factored in, other expense grew more than income did (tuition fee, for instance); which erodes disposable income and makes people feel like books are expensive.
There’s a lot of hype about Chinese EVs—is any of it true? We heard a lot about Chinese EVs, but this article did a good job outlining why these cars may not be what we THINK they are.
Two months in, the Iran war has changed the global energy system forever. “No renewable source is in a better position to surge than solar. Solar farms already made up the vast majority of new power plants even before the war. After Europe saw its solar market contract slightly last year, demand for rooftop solar in countries across the continent is surging as electricity bills rise, according to a report from Reuters. Three major energy equipment wholesalers interviewed for the report have seen their sales spike more than 30 percent, with one company’s net sales tripling in March. While solar is a clear winner in light of the new bottleneck in the Middle East, the outlook for wind power is less clear. The Iranian and American blockades of the Strait of Hormuz could stymie the delivery of wind turbine components such as foundations and substations, many of which are manufactured in the Persian Gulf. There’s a chance, however, that the biggest winner may be the most controversial form of climate-friendly power.“
Stats
Casino-style games generated more than $11 billion in 2025
Minh Quang Duong 
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