FEDERAL RESERVE: Cuts Interest Rates

BREAKING NEWS!

By Staff Reporters

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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell just announced that the central bank [FOMC] would cut interest rates amid President Donald Trump’s attempts to reshape the Fed’s independence.

The chairman announced that the Federal Reserve would cut the interest rate by .25 points, the first time that it cut interest rates since December.

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Stocks, Bonds and Commodities

By A.I. and Staff Reporters

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  • Stocks: The NASDAQ rose to its fifth record high of the week, while the S&P 500 and the Dow sank late in the day as investors turned their attention to the FOMC meeting next week.
  • Bonds: While equities climbed all week long, the bond market has been sending signals that weak economic data really isn’t great news.
  • Commodities: Oil rallied after President Trump expressed his growing frustration with Vladimir Putin and threatened further energy and financial sanctions. Meanwhile, the US may ask its G7 counterparts to apply 100% tariffs against China and India for purchasing Russian crude.

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Stock Markets, Trade Tariffs and Commodities

By Staff Reporters and A.I.

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  • Markets: Stocks started off Friday on a high note after a weak jobs report raised hopes that the Fed will cut interest rates this month. But the rally faded as the afternoon wore on, while 10-year bond yields tumbled to their lowest level since April.
  • Trade: President Trump said “fairly substantial” tariffs for semi-conductors are coming “very shortly,” but hinted that companies like Apple will be spared. He also clapped back at EU regulators for fines against Google.
  • Offbeat commodities: Raw sugar prices hit a two-month low as Brazilian producers churn out more of the sweet stuff, cocoa prices are expected to pop after Cargill paused production in Ivory Coast, and corn hit its highest price since July thanks to strong export demand.

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Stocks, Crypto-Currency and Commodities

By A.I. and Staff Reporters

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  • Stocks: Equities climbed slowly but steadily yesterday as investors braced themselves for today’s all-important jobs report.
  • Crypto: Bitcoin fell as a selloff in cryptocurrencies associated with the Trump family pulled the entire crypto market lower.
  • Commodities: Gold remains in the spotlight as traders bulk up on bullion to protect their portfolios in case the FOMC loses its independence. If that does happen, Goldman Sachs analysts think gold could climb to $5,000.

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Stocks, Bonds and Commodities

By A.I.

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Bonds
: Treasury yields rose yesterday as investors dug into a Federal appeals court ruling last Friday stating that most of President Trump’s tariffs are illegal. The 30-year yield closed in on the key 5% level.
Stocks: Equities tumbled across the board as technology stocks sold off and pulled the rest of the market down with them.
Commodities: Gold hit a new record high as traders hedged against tariff uncertainty and braced themselves for an extremely important US jobs report on Friday that could make or break the case for the Fed to start cutting rates.

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If the Government Can Take A 15% Cut From Nvidia, Who Is Next?

By Rick Kahler; MSFP CFP

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This month, the U.S. government demanded a direct cut of a company’s foreign sales as the price for letting those sales happen.

Tech companies Nvidia and AMD had been stuck in regulatory limbo over selling their newest AI chips to China. According to an August 12, 2025, Reuters article by Karen Freifeld, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had even received a public “green light” for the company’s H20 chip, but the Commerce Department would not issue the export licenses.

The stalemate ended only after Huang met with President Trump and agreed to a deal: the licenses would be granted, but the U.S. Treasury would get 15% of all H20 revenue from China. AMD agreed to identical terms for its MI308 chip. Two days later, both companies had their licenses.

The numbers are staggering. Bernstein Research estimates Nvidia could sell $15 billion worth of H20 chips in China this year, and AMD about $800 million of MI308s. That is more than $2 billion flowing straight to Washington, not as taxes but as a contractual price for market access. The legality of this arrangement is questionable, and the deal also raises security concerns.

It is worth noting the administration first asked for 20% before “settling” on 15%. This was not a polite request but a “take it or leave it” demand. From a behavioral economics standpoint, the decision was predictable. The pain of losing an entire market is far greater than the pain of losing a fraction of it.

How is this any different from a tariff? A tariff is a standardized, legally defined tax that applies broadly to certain goods and is collected under public trade policy. This 15% cut is a one-off, privately negotiated condition aimed at just two companies, tied to export license approval. It is taken from gross revenue, not profit, meaning the government gets paid on every dollar of sales before the companies cover a single expense.

“Tax farmming” is an old practice where the state sold the right to collect taxes for a fixed sum, allowing the collectors to keep the rest. Its use in France made some people enormously rich, made everyone else furious, and eventually helped spark the French Revolution. Similar systems appeared in Ottoman Egypt, Qing China, and the early Dutch Republic until abuses finally brought them down.

The Nvidia/AMD deal is not exactly tax farming, but it is a similar dynamic. The government’s role is no longer just regulating. It is stepping in as a business partner, taking a direct share of private sales. Supporters might call it a smart use of national leverage. Critics will see a step away from free-market capitalism toward something more political and transactional.

Nor is this deal a one-off. In June, the administration approved foreign investment in U.S. Steel only after securing a “golden share” that gives it veto power over strategic corporate decisions. History teaches us that once a government finds a way to take a cut, it rarely stops with one sector. Today it is steel and AI chips to China. Tomorrow it could be pharmaceuticals, energy, or consumer goods.

What is the likely impact for average Americans? Money flowing to the U.S. Treasury from a source other than taxpayers may seem like a benefit. Yet any company required to give away 15% of its gross revenue, which could equal its entire profit, has to compensate in some way. The most likely result is higher prices. Hiking prices on computer chips sold to China may not seem to be a big deal—until you consider that many of the products that use those chips are sold to U.S. consumers.

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Stocks, Commodities and the FOMC

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  • Stocks: The final trading day of the summer was bad as a selloff in technology stocks took indexes down from recent all-time highs.
  • Fed drama: A judge did not issue a ruling on Fed Governor Lisa Cook’s bid for a temporary restraining order against President Trump, delaying it a few more days and leaving Cook in limbo.
  • Commodities: Gold hit a new all-time high as traders worried about the possibility of the Federal Reserve losing its independence.

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Stocks, Bonds and Trade Craft

By A.I.

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  • Bonds: Long-term Treasury yields rose and short-term yields fell after President Trump fired Fed Governor Lisa Cook opening the gap between 5-year and 30-year yields to its widest point in three years.
  • Stocks: Equities barely budged on the latest FOMC drama with investors’ attention fully focused on Nvidia earnings tomorrow afternoon.
  • Trade Craft: President Trump vowed retaliation against countries that apply a digital services tax against US tech companies. He may also slap a 200% tariff on China if that country restricts trade on rare earth magnets.

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Stocks, Technology and FOMC Drama

By A.I. and Staff Reporters

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  • Technology: Fears of an A.I. bubble continue to climb after MIT published a report that 95% of companies using generative A.I. programs have nothing to show for it, despite pouring billions of dollars into this space.
  • Stocks: Another day of technology stocks selling off pulled the S&P 500 and NASDAQ lower yesterday, with investors rotating out of some of the hottest names and sectors in the market.
  • FOMC Drama: President Trump demanded the resignation of Fed Governor Lisa Cook for allegations of mortgage fraud. Meanwhile, the minutes from the July FOMC meeting revealed a growing divide between central bankers.

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Stocks, Bonds and Commodities

By A.I.

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  • Stocks: The Dow climbed thanks to UnitedHealth and Warren Buffett while the rest of the market sank as the stock rally slowed. But, despite Friday’s decline, both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ wrapped up winning weeks.
  • Bonds: Both 10-year and 2-year Treasury yields continued to climb after Thursday’s PPI reading and Friday’s consumer confidence and retail sales data.
  • Commodities: All eyes were on Anchorage, Alaska as President Trump concluded talks with President Putin—discussions that will be crucial for crude’s future.

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Stocks, Commodities and Trade

By A.I.

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  • Stocks: Markets struggled to pick a direction as investors took a wait-and-see approach ahead of today’s CPI reading—even as Wall Street worries about the data’s reliability.
  • Trade: President Trump asked China, the world’s largest soybean buyer, to quadruple its soybean purchases from the US. He also extended the trade war truce with China by 90 days
  • Commodities: Gold had its worst day in three months as traders waited for the White House to clarify its new tariffs on the key commodity—only for Trump to announce that it won’t be tariffed at all. Meanwhile, Chinese battery giant CATL halted operations at a mine that produces 4% of the world’s lithium, sending prices of the precious metal soaring.

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ALTERNATE INVESTMENTS: 401[k] Accounts

By A.I. and Staff Reporters

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President Trump is set to sign an executive order allowing alternative assets such as cryptocurrency, private equity investments, and real estate in 401(k) accounts. Those accounts are a veritable gold mine—Americans have stashed approximately $12.5 trillion away for retirement, and alternative asset managers have been chomping at the bit to get a piece of that pie.

WIND ENERGY: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2012/08/20/wind-energy-alternate-investments/

According to Brew Markets, the changes have been a long time coming. All the way back in his first term, Trump ordered the Labor Department to review how to incorporate private equity investments into retirement accounts, an effort that was later reversed under President Biden. This latest move expands beyond private equity, coinciding with Trump’s push to bring crypto mainstream.

REAL ESTATE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2013/09/10/financial-freedom-through-commercial-real-estate-education-and-investing/

Proponents argue that alternative assets in 401(k) accounts will enhance investment diversification and could provide retirees with greater profits. Detractors note that these assets are less liquid, less transparent, and generally more risky than investing retirement funds into publicly traded stocks and bonds.

HEDGE FUNDS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/07/09/hedge-funds-understanding-fees-and-costs/

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Commodities, Stock Markets and International Trade

By A.I.

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Trade: President Trump signed an executive order late yesterday unleashing a wave of new tariffs on 69 US trading partners that will go into effect on August 7th. Here’s a handy list of tariffs and their economic effects for anyone else having trouble keeping track of all these new numbers.

Markets: Stocks opened lower and kept falling thanks to a double whammy of new tariff rates and a shocking slowdown in the labor market, while bond yields tumbled.

Commodities: Gold jumped as the likelihood of a rate cut rose due to the latest jobs report, while oil sank on reports that OPEC+ may announce a crude production boost as soon as this weekend.

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DAILY UPDATE: Stocks, Commodities and Trade as Stock Markets End Mixed

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  • Stocks: Investors cheered the news of an EU & US trade deal over the weekend, pushing the S&P 500 above 6,400 for the first time ever. But the index gave up most of its gains late in the day as attention turned to a huge week of data ahead (more on that in a minute).
  • Trade: Today was the first day of discussions between US and Chinese negotiators in Stockholm to keep the trade war truce alive. Elsewhere, President Trump foresees a baseline 15% to 20% tariff rate for the rest of the world.
  • Commodities: Gold fell as trade deal hopes heightened investors’ risk appetite, while oil spiked higher after Trump gave Russia a 10- to 12-day deadline to sign a truce with Ukraine.

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According to Bloomberg, 83% of the S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings have outpaced Wall Street’s estimates, putting the index on pace for its best season of beats since the second quarter of 2021.

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Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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Stocks & Commodities

By A.I.

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  • Stocks: President Trump said there’s a “50/50 chance” of a deal with the EU ahead of next week’s deadline. Investors decided they like those odds, and pushed the NASDAQ and S&P 500 to yet another new closing record high—in fact, the S&P 500 set a new record every day this week. Meanwhile, trade deal talks with Brazil have reportedly stalled.
  • Commodities: Oil fell to a three-week low today as Iran signaled a willingness to come to the negotiating table with European powers for nuclear talks.
  • Hopes of trade deals and less need for a safe haven investment pushed gold prices lower.

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Stocks, the FOMC and Trade Deals

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By A.I.

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  • Stocks: The multi-day rally wavered this afternoon as investors turned their attention to big tech earnings tomorrow. The S&P 500 closed at a record high, while the NASDAQ finally broke its hot streak.
  • FOMC: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sees no reason for Jerome Powell to step down, while President Trump tempered his outrage against the Fed chair. Instead, well-known economist Mohamed El-Erian took up the gauntlet.
  • Trade: Bessent said China may get an extension to make a true trade deal, while promising a “rash of trade deals” in the coming days. Speaking of, Trump declared the US has made a deal with the Philippines capping import levies at 19%.

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When Economic Facts Become Political Opinions: A Financial Advisor’s Dilemma

By Rick Kahler MSFP CFP

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QUESTION: “How will this administration’s trade policies affect my retirement savings?” “What does it mean for our plans to travel internationally if the value of the dollar declines?” “Is it wise to borrow right now to expand my business?”

Clients who ask questions like these expect and deserve honest answers from their financial advisors. Their financial and retirement planning depend on accurate information. Yet in the current polarized and chaotic climate, every economic explanation carries potential political interpretations.

Historically, political parties and administrations debated policies on taxes, spending, and regulation. Yet they shared a basic understanding of core mechanisms. Both parties recognized that central banks fight inflation, that tariffs raise prices, and that court rulings are binding. Disagreements focused on applications and political philosophies, not fundamental aspects of our governmental system and the rule of law.

That consensus has collapsed.

This distortion creates a professional bind for advisors. To fulfill their fiduciary duty to clients, advisors must explain economic realities like the link between tariffs and increased consumer costs. They owe it to clients to consider the impact on the U.S. dollar when a president threatens the independence of the Federal Reserve. They should be aware of information such as a CNBC survey that found 66% of small business owners reported being or expecting to be impacted by tariffs. They cannot ignore the difficulties of making business and investment decisions when policies change almost daily and legal rulings are delayed or ignored.

Considering the ramifications of political decisions on clients’ affairs is not an abstract concern. When international confidence in American institutions is wavering and U.S. business owners are uncertain, the consequences affect real money in the accounts of real people.

Yet talking about such issues may trigger accusations of partisanship. Many people get the bulk of their political and economic information from social media and from competitive news outlets that may be as much entertainment as journalism. The biases in some of these sources go so far beyond partisan leanings that they offer conflicting information purporting to be factual. What was once a neutral middle ground where essential facts were agreed upon has become harder to find, particularly when reporting covers politics and the economy.

That neutral territory is exactly where responsible financial advisors need to get the facts on which they base their advice. It’s challenging to stay there if clients are getting their news from outlets that are strongly biased toward either end of the political spectrum. Nuanced explanations can be interpreted as bias or context seen as spin. For the advisor whose information is questioned, remaining silent fails the client. Speaking truthfully risks the relationship with the client.

I have seen advisors lose clients, on both ends of the political spectrum, when advisors and clients held different views. The professional cost of maintaining standards has become substantial.

The financial planning profession faces an unprecedented challenge. Our traditional advisory principles assume a shared understanding of economic fundamentals. That foundation is no longer solid, and trust in advisors’ expertise is eroding.

These disruptions raise a core question. Should financial advisors prioritize economic truth over client comfort or client retention? Or should they accommodate clients’ political sensitivity and compromise the integrity of the advice they provide? Either path risks the loss of clients and revenue.

The choice is not theoretical. It defines the advisor’s professional identity and the quality of financial guidance itself. When economic mechanisms are politicized, the profession’s standards weaken and client service suffers.

The stakes are clear. This is a conflict over whether facts still function as the basis of financial advice.

The resolution will determine whether financial planning remains a profession or becomes another form of political posturing.

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Stocks, Trade and the FOMC

By A.I.

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Stocks: Markets lost steam late in the trading session yesterday as investors awaited more earnings announcements, with the DJIA tumbling into the red. But the S&P 500 managed to end the day above 6,300 for the first time ever, while the NASDAQ enjoyed its sixth consecutive record close

FOMC: Over the weekend, President Trump disputed reports that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent talked him out of firing Jerome Powell. Meanwhile, Bessent said that the entire Federal Reserve should be put under review.

Trade: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reiterated that August 1st will be the “hard deadline” for countries to make a deal with the US. Both negotiations and tensions with the EU are ramping up as Trump threatens to slap the bloc with 30% levies.

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The GENIUS Act

By A.I.

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The GENIUS Act is the law of the Land

President Trump signed the bill into law Friday, setting up a framework for regulating stablecoins—digital currency pegged to traditional assets—that are linked to the US dollar. It’s a big win for the crypto industry, and Trump said it was a “giant step to cement American dominance of global finance and crypto technology.”

The law could help push stablecoins into the mainstream, and major companies like Walmart and Amazon have been said to be considering launching their own, according to Morning Brew.

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Crypto-Currency and the Stock Markets

By A.I.

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  • Markets: Stocks slid lower today even as a preliminary survey revealed that consumer sentiment hit its highest point since February, while inflation expectations fell to pre-tariff levels. The selloff deepened on reports that President Trump wants 15% to 20% tariffs against the EU, though the NASDAQ managed to eke out a win.
  • Crypto: Although bitcoin fell after the president signed the GENIUS Act into law, ether rose to its highest price in six months today, while enthusiasm for the new legislation pushed total crypto assets above $4 trillion.

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DAILY UPDATE: Private Market Investment Retirement Plans Up Along with Stock Markets

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Stocks up

  • Lucid exploded 36.24% higher on the news that the EV maker is partnering with Uber to roll out the ridesharing company’s new robotaxis.
  • PepsiCo popped 7.45% thanks to a strong quarter for the snack and soda giant, while shareholders cheered the details of its turnaround plan.
  • United Airlines may have missed Wall Street’s revenue forecast, but its profits were enough to impress investors. Shares rose 3.11%.
  • Reports that Union Pacific is thinking about acquiring a rival sent shares of fellow train operators CSX and Norfolk Southern up 3.73% and 3.65%, respectively.
  • Sarepta Therapeutics soared 19.53% after the biotech announced it will lay off 500 employees and restructure its entire business.
  • Quantumscape continued its hot streak, rising yet another 19.82% thanks to its recent battery breakthrough.
  • Speaking of hot streaks, OpenDoor Technologies rose another 10.74% as retail traders pour into what is quickly becoming the next big meme stock.

Stocks down

  • GE Aerospace crushed earnings expectations and raised its fiscal guidance, but it still wasn’t enough to impress investors, who pushed shares of the engine maker down 2.10%.
  • US Bancorp sank 1.03% after revenue and net interest income missed forecasts last quarter.
  • Abbott Laboratories beat on both top and bottom line guidance, but still fell 8.53% after the pharma company narrowed its fiscal forecasts.
  • Elevance Health tumbled 12.22% af

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President Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days designed to help make private-market investments more available to U.S. retirement plans, according to people familiar with the matter. The order would instruct the Labor Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide guidance to employers and plan administrators on including investments like private assets in 401(k) plans.

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Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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Stocks, Crypto & Stock Markets

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By A.I.

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  • The Fed Drama: A White House official said President Trump will likely fire Jerome Powell soon. Stocks sank at the thought of the Fed head being shown the door, offsetting the pleasant surprise of a flat wholesale inflation reading.
  • Markets: Stocks managed to recoup their losses after Trump said it’s “highly unlikely” that he will fire Powell, but bonds remained shaken.
  • Crypto: Bitcoin bounced higher after the crypto bills currently under consideration in the House of Representatives cleared a key hurdle.

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Stocks, Commodities and the FOMC

By A.I.

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  • Stocks: The S&P 500 and Dow tumbled on a mixed bag of bank earnings, while the NASDAQ was buoyed by big news for Nvidia.
  • Federal Reserve Drama: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reassured investors that Jerome Powell isn’t getting the boot.
  • Commodities: Oil fell just a bit as Donald Trump is about to hit his 50-day deadline for Russia.

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Stocks and Commodities

By A.I.

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  • Stocks: Markets shrugged off President Trump’s weekend threat of 30% levies against the EU and Mexico, as well as his proposed 100% secondary tariffs against Russia today. Stocks eked out a win across the board, with the NASDAQ climbing to a new record close.
  • Commodities: Oil prices fell while gold took a breather, but the big winner was orange juice futures, which hit a four-month high thanks to Trump’s promise of 50% tariffs on all imports from Brazil. Coffee prices also climbed.

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Bitcoin, Stocks, Oil, Gold and Silver

By A.I.

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  • Stocks: The major Wall Street stock indexes languished. The S&P pulled back from its record high to close the week just a bit lower, but the NASDAQ managed to post a gain across the week.
  • Crypto: Bitcoin hit a new high-water mark above $118,000. Next week, July 14th, Congress hosts “Crypto Week” to discuss regulating the industry in a growth-oriented manner.
  • Commodities: Silver rose to its highest level since 2011, and it’s been even hotter than gold. The metal is up ~27% this year. Oil, meanwhile, ticked higher on speculation that President Trump will place more sanctions on Russia early next week.

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Stocks, Commodities and Crypto-Currency

By A.I.

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  • Stocks: Jobless claims came in lower than expected, the 30-year US bond auction met with strong demand, and Delta Airlines unofficially kicking off earnings season with a solid report. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ hit record highs.
  • Crypto: Bitcoin reached a record high for the second day in a row, hitting $113,863.31 today. The crypto’s price has stayed above $100k for 60 consecutive days.
  • Commodities: Coffee futures in New York climbed as much as 3.5% in response to President Trump’s threat to slap 50% tariffs on Brazil, which is the top producer of higher-end arabica coffee.

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Bonds, Socks and Nvidia

By A.I.

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  • Stocks: The major indexes plowed higher with the minutes of the last FOMC meeting showing that officials were not at all united about when to begin cutting rates. Investors also treated more tariff letters sent by President Trump to seven more countries including Iraq and the Philippines as not vital.
  • Bonds: US Treasuries snapped a five-day losing streak after a $39 billion sale of 1-year notes was met with solid demand.
  • Nvidia: Worth 4-trillion dollars.

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DAILY UPDATE: Women’s Health, and Commodities, as Stock Markets Struggle

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Record VC investments for women’s health: Venture-backed women’s health startups experienced unprecedented investment last year, according to a new SVB report. The report examines the factors driving such record-breaking funding—like growing recognition of how various health conditions affect women differently and disproportionately, plus the causes and biological drivers behind this imbalance. Read it here.

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  • Stocks: Investors mostly yawned and the major indexes held steady a day after President Trump reignited his trade war by announcing higher tariffs would go into effect on 14 countries starting August 1st. Wall Street banks don’t seem concerned either, as Goldman Sachs and Bank of America became the latest strategists to raise their year-end target for the S&P 500.
  • Commodities: Copper futures popped as much as 17% to a new record, the largest intra-day gain since at least 1988, after Trump said he plans to place a 50% tariff on copper imports.

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Liberation Day Comeback

By A.I.

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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The S&P 500 closed within a hair of a new record yesterday marking an enormous comeback that followed the April announcement of “Liberation Day” tariffs.

Despite a persistent vibe of uncertainty related to US economic policy and geopolitics:

  • The S&P 500 closed less than 0.1% away from a record high which it notched in February before cratering nearly 20% in April. The index has regained ground in fits and starts since then and briefly surpassed its record in intra-day trading yesterday.
  • On Monday, the tech-heavy NASDAQ 100 one-upped the broader market and logged its highest-ever close. It came after President Trump said Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, which eased investors’ concerns about a potential oil crisis.

According to Morning Brew, between unresolved geopolitical conflicts and President Trump’s still-unfolding tariff policies, a portfolio manager with Capital Wealth Planning, Kevin Simpson, told CNBC that he was “surprised by the magnitude of the rebound.”

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Deals, Stocks and the FOMC

By A.I.

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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  • Deals: Stocks popped at the open yesterday on the news that Canada has rescinded the digital services tax in order to lure the US back to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that the EU will accept a 10% universal tariff in exchange for some key concessions.
  • Stocks: The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ both hit new record highs today, with the S&P 500 wrapping up its best quarter since Q4 20
  • The Fed: President Trump published a handwritten note asking Jerome Powell to cut interest rates, even as the White House considers new ways to replace the Fed Chair. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs now sees the chances of the Fed cutting interest rates in September as “somewhat above 50%.”

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“BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL”: Not So for Healthcare?

By Health Capital Consultants; LLC

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On May 22, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives moved President Trump’s budget proposal forward, sending to the Senate a budget reconciliation bill (with a one-vote margin) – the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 – that renews expiring tax cuts and enacts new ones at a cost of almost $4 trillion. These costs would largely be paid for by cuts to other programs, including to federal healthcare programs, which cuts will have significant ramifications for the healthcare industry.

This Health Capital Topics article reviews the current status of the budget bill and healthcare industry implications. (Read more…)

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Stocks and Deals

By A.I.

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  • Deals: The US and China revealed the details of their trade deal framework, easing restrictions on rare earth metals and semiconductor chips. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick promised up to 10 more deals are on their way ahead of the July 9th tariff-pause deadline, but that probably won’t include Canada: President Trump ended all trade discussions with the country thanks to a dispute over the digital services tax.
  • Stocks: Indexes climbed at the open thanks to the deal with China, but they tumbled on news of a fallout with Canada. Still, the S&P 500 managed to post its 1,245th new all-time high, while the NASDAQ booked its own record close. The Dow trundled higher as well, though it’s still about 1,600 points below its previous record.

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Stocks, Economics & Commodities

By AI

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  • Stocks: The S&P 500 and NASDAQ started the day inches away from their all-time highs, but the market rally faltered in mid-afternoon as relief from an Israel/Iran ceasefire faded and investors turned their attention to Friday’s PCE report.
  • Economy: Speaking of inflation, Jerome Powell stuck to his guns during his second day of congressional testimony, endorsing a wait-and-see mentality. President Trump is apparently tired of waiting, and says he has “3 or 4” candidates in mind to replace Powell.
  • Commodities: Oil bounced back after posting its biggest two-day decline since 2022.

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Stocks, Commodities and Japanese Trade

By AI

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  • Stocks: Markets kicked off Friday trading on a high note thanks to comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller that the central bank could lower interest rates as soon as next month.
  • Commodities: Oil prices tumbled at the open after President Trump pushed back his decision to involve the US in the conflict between Israel and Iran by two weeks.
  • Trade: Stocks gave up their early gains on reports that Japan has canceled high-level meetings with the US after President Trump told the country to spend more on defense.

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Stocks, Economy and Commodities

By AI

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  • Stocks: Investors looked past the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, even as President Trump mulled his options for a US intervention, and stocks rose ahead of today’s Federal Reserve meeting.
  • Economy: Trump called Jerome Powell “a stupid person” hours before the Fed Chair decided to keep interest rates where they were Stocks fell thanks to the Fed’s prediction that inflation will rise to 3.1% by the end of the year, above previous forecasts of 2.8%.
  • Commodities: Gold fell just a hair as analysts called the commodity’s top, while platinum climbed to a four-year high.

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DAILY UPDATE: Stock Markets Struggle

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants

Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily

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  • Stocks: Markets sagged as fighting between Israel and Iran continued, with investors worried about escalation after President Trump called for the “unconditional surrender” of Iran’s Supreme Leader ​​Ali Khamenei. The Wall Street Journal reported that he is considering a potential US strike against Iran.
  • Commodities: Oil prices popped this morning after Trump warned that Tehran should be evacuated.
  • Bonds: Yields sank after US retail sales came in much lower than anticipated, raising fears of an economic slowdown.

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🟢 What’s up

  • Verve Therapeutics exploded 81.50% on the news that the gene-editing company will be acquired by Eli Lilly in a $1.3 billion deal.
  • Reddit popped 6.06% after the social media site rolled out new AI-powered tools for advertisers.
  • BGSF surged 34.25% after the staffing company announced it is selling its professional division to INSPYR Solutions for $99 million.
  • Jabil gained 8.80% thanks to a strong earnings report for the electronics parts supplier.
  • Oil stocks climbed as the conflict between Israel and Iran threatens to grow. Valero Energy rose 2.89%, Chevron gained 1.93%, and Hess added 1.79%.

What’s down

  • Microsoft fell 0.23% after the Wall Street Journal reported that its partnership with OpenAI is falling apart.
  • JetBlue Airways lost 7.88% on the news that it’s cutting costs, including reducing its number of flights, due to softer-than-expected travel demand.
  • Lennar sank 4.42% after the homebuilder beat revenue estimates last quarter but missed profit forecasts.
  • T-Mobile tumbled 4.14% on the news that major shareholder Softbank sold 21.5 million shares of the telecommunications company.
  • Airline stocks sank as the price of oil rose throughout the day. United Airlines lost 6.18%, while Delta Air Lines fell 4.33%.

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Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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INVESTING: Stocks, Bonds & Oil Updates

Generated by AI

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  • Stocks: The S&P 500 touched 6,000 points for the first time since February and wrapped up its fifth positive week in the past seven following a better-than-expected jobs report. The vibes got even better in the afternoon following a President Trump announcement that the US and China trade teams will meet in London on Monday. STOCKS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/04/18/stocks-basic-definitions/
  • Bonds: Treasury yields ticked up in response to the solid May jobs report, a sign that investors were reducing bets on the scale of rate cuts this year. That’s not what Trump wants to hear: He urged Fed Chair Jerome Powell to slash interest rates by a jumbo-sized full point to pour “rocket fuel” on the economy. REVENUE BONDS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/12/20/bonds-revenue/
  • Oil: Oil prices have gone sideways for three straight weeks now, trading within a $4 range around $65/barrel since the middle of May. We’ll let you know when something interesting happens. CRUDE OIL: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/08/14/wti-crude-oil/

EDUCATION: Books

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EMPLOYMENT: Growing Slowly

By AI

BREAKING NEWS

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Job growth is slowing, but still bigger than expected

US employers added 139,000 jobs last month, government data released yesterday shows—that’s less than the down-wardly revised 147,000 new jobs that were added in April, but more than economists had predicted. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate held steady.

MAY: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/06/06/may-jobs-report/

Overall, the highly anticipated jobs report reflects employers growing more cautious in the face of the economic uncertainty brought on by the trade war, but so far, there doesn’t seem to be a steep drop off in the labor market. That could give the Fed reason to stay in wait-and-see mode on interest rates, though President Trump still used the occasion to urge Jerome Powell to cut rates “a full point” on Truth Social.

PHYSICIAN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/01/12/sample-new-physician-letter-of-employment-contract/

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Tariffs, Private Sector Jobs, Interest Rates, Gold and the US Dollar

BREAKING NEWS!

By Staff Reporters with AI Generation

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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  • 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum went into effect today. To celebrate, President Trump hopped on Truth Social to put China’s President Xi on blast ahead of an expected call between the two heads of state. And, Temu lost 58% of its daily users thanks to tariffs.
  • The president also pushed Jerome Powell to “LOWER THE RATE” following terrible private sector job numbers. Stocks are seemingly immune to tough trade talk and interest rate rants at this point, but bond yields sank on fears of slower economic growth.
  • The US dollar slipped, propelling gold higher as investors sought safety.

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MARKETS: Weekly Recap

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Stock markets are coming off their worst week since April as President Trump’s tariff threats on Europe and Apple revived trade war jitters. The president has since delayed tariff threats on the EU, giving European stocks a boost yesterday, while Wall Street had the day off for Memorial Day.

MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/05/26/financial-paradox-compounding-interest-and-time/

No such relief appears to be coming for Apple, which has fallen 8% so far this month, and is the only Magnificent Seven member in the red for May, per FactSet.

Mag 7: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/07/30/the-magnificent-7-and-the-dangers-of-stock-market-hype/

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COINBASE: Investigated

By Staff Reporters

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Coinbase under investigation – Hit with ransom attack

Coinbase’s wild week got much wilder when the New York Times reported that the SEC has been looking into whether the crypto exchange misstated the size of its user base in securities filings. Per the New York Times, the investigation started under President Biden and has continued under President Trump.

The subject of the investigation appears to be Coinbase’s claim in past disclosures and marketing materials that it has 100 million “verified users.” A company spokesperson said it no longer reports that metric and the investigation should not continue.

The report came days after Coinbase joined the S&P 500, and just hours after it said it could lose $400 million following a recent hack by “rogue overseas” agents looking to steal customer data.

EDUCATION: Books

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STOCK FUTURES: Point Lower

BREAKING NEWS [12:09 am, EST]

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Stock Futures are contracts to buy or sell a specific underlying asset at a future date. The underlying asset can be a commodity, a security, or other financial instrument. Futures trading requires the buyer to purchase or the seller to sell the underlying asset at the set price, whatever the market price, at the expiration date.

FUTURES: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/futures.pdf

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Stock futures pointed lower on Monday morning as investors weighed fresh warnings on U.S. debt and the potential for President Donald Trump’s trade war to heat up again.

Dow Futures: 42,406.00

Fair Value: 42,752.14

Change: – 330.000.77%

Implied Open: – 346.14

Late Friday night, Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating one notch. This came as Congress tries to extend Trump’s tax cuts and add new ones, which are expected to deepen federal deficits.

MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/01/18/on-financial-futures/

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U.S. Stock Markets Surge After Tariffs Lowered

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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S&P 500 surges 20% in Six Weeks as Stock Market Euphoria Returns to Wall Street

U.S. stock markets surged after an agreement between the Trump administration and China to lower tariffs.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose over 1,000 points, while the NASDAQ and S&P 500 gained nearly 600 and about 100 points, respectively last week. The improvement has erased recent losses from President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The U.S. and China agreed to reduce tariffs on each other’s goods for an initial 90 days. The U.S. will lower tariffs on Chinese products from 145% to 30%, while China will cut its tariffs on American imports from 125% to 10%.

This unexpected breakthrough has eased tensions in their trade war and positively impacted global markets.

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Stock Markets Up Slightly, Recession Still Possible as Oil Tumbles

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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  • Markets started the day down yesterday but regained lost ground throughout the afternoon as investors decided that any day with no new tariff announcements is a good day.
  • Be advised: Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned that “supply shocks” pose a challenge for the economy, and that interest rates may need to remain higher for longer. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said a recession is still on the table.
  • Oil took a tumble on comments by President Trump that the US is nearing a deal with Iran over its nuclear program that could lift sanctions against the country.

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Why Tariffs Won’t Bring Back the “Good Old Days”

By Rick Kahler MSFP CFP

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If I had a dollar for every time someone referred to the “good old days,” of the American economy, I could probably buy a vintage diner, jukebox and all, and still have enough left for a slice of apple pie.

The newest round of on-again, off-again tariffs is built around that same kind of nostalgia. Slapping big taxes on goods from other countries will supposedly protect American jobs and industries. The aim is to bring factories back, boost wages, and make the country more self-reliant.

This is a powerful story that taps into a deep feeling that we’ve lost control. Supporters argue that the U.S. has opened its markets and played by the rules, allowing many other countries to prosper at its expense, while America has been in a long, slow economic decline. This story frames the U.S. as a victim, with tariffs a form of payback to punish countries that have “taken advantage of us.”

Except that story is a myth. Rather than punishing foreign economies, the pain of tariffs hits Americans at home. Our businesses face costlier goods, consumers pay higher prices at the store, and the ripple effects include falling sales, layoffs, and frayed trade relationships.

In addition, the U.S. economy has actually been booming. Over the past three decades, the U.S. has pulled far ahead of most developed nations. In 2008, the American economy was about the same size as the Eurozone’s. Today, it’s nearly twice as large. Wages have risen. Even the poorest U.S. state now has a higher per-person income than countries like France, Japan, or the U.K.

So why do so many people still feel like we’re falling behind?

First, the growth hasn’t reached everyone, especially in rural America. In some areas and industries, jobs have disappeared and opportunities have dwindled.

Second, many people who are doing okay themselves have bought into a powerful, repeated myth that things are going terribly for everyone else.

This narrative takes hold in people’s internal voices, the parts of themselves shaped by past pain, fear, or frustration. Tariffs, then, can feel like a way to stand up and take action. It makes perfect sense to want to relieve anxiety by shutting the world out and protecting what is left.

Yet, when we act from fear or anger without pausing to reflect, we tend to overcorrect or trade one set of problems for another. This is what many economists and business leaders see happening with tariffs. Even supporters of tariffs are beginning to admit they’re a gamble. Many are still willing to take that gamble if it means restoring something they feel they’ve lost, a sense of purpose, security, and control.

Reacting out of fear in this way is not likely to create lasting solutions. A more challenging but more productive approach would be to take time to listen with compassion to those inner voices, helping them move past anxiety to find answers based in truth rather than myth. Maybe real liberation comes from letting go of narratives that no longer serve us, choosing a future built on connection, courage, and clarity.

Because if we keep heading down an isolationist path, turning inward out of fear, the future might not be the golden age we imagine. It might look a lot more like the actual 1950s, before the civil rights movement, before women fully entered the workforce, before the innovations that made the U.S. economy a global leader. A time more isolated, less equal, and far less dynamic than the one we’ve come to idealize.

That’s a version of the past we don’t need to relive, no matter what nostalgic song is playing on the jukebox.

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TRUMP: Brings Down Prescription Drug Costs

By Staff Reporters and ChatGPT

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President Trump to bring down prescription costs

In a Sunday post to Truth Social, President Trump signed an executive order at 9 am today to institute a most-favored-nation policy with pharmaceutical companies that he predicted could lower drug prices by 30% to 80%.

PBMs: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/01/15/podcast-pharma-rebates-to-pbms/

“The United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World,

While Americans pay more for pharmaceuticals than any other country, Bloomberg reported that the American market fuels innovation and drives growth in the industry. Drug makers have pushed back on previous efforts to revamp the system in the US, saying it would make revenue evaporate and hinder the development of potentially lifesaving drugs.

WEIGHT LOSS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/10/24/weight-loss-drugs-for-kids-stocks-for-adults/

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The Deeper Damage From a Declining Dollar

By Rick Kahler CFPMSFP

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DECLINE OF THE DOLLAR

On-again, off-again tariffs. Rising prices. Dramatic market swings. The anxiety-producing headlines come so fast it’s hard to know what to worry about first. Meanwhile, one serious consequence of all this chaos is going almost unnoticed. That is the decline of the dollar.

Since the start of this year, the value of the U.S. dollar has slipped more than 10% against other major currencies. That drop is not just an economic statistic. It affects all Americans’ daily lives.

People are feeling the pinch of rising prices at checkout lines, gas stations, and shipping counters. But there isn’t a full understanding of why. Tariffs are only half the story. The weakening dollar amplifies those price increases even further.

For years, the dollar remained strong even as the national debt ballooned. It benefited from its reputation as a safe haven, from global demand, and from U.S. interest rates. But much of that strength, as we now see, was fragile—propped up more by perception than fundamentals. In April, sweeping tariffs triggered a sharp market correction, and the dollar suddenly fell to its lowest point in over three years. Market confidence vanished overnight.

This was more than a market reaction. It signaled a collapse in trust—not just in policy, but in principle. It is no longer a given that the U.S. will act with consistency, reason, and long-term responsibility. What’s unraveling is both our country’s financial credibility and the moral foundation that underpinned it.

When a currency represents a nation, its value reflects more than economics. It reflects governance, accountability, stability, and integrity. When the dollar stumbles, it speaks to who we are, and whether we can still be counted on.

Yet, most people aren’t talking about the decline of the dollar. This may come from being overwhelmed, choosing to ignore even more bad news, or actually believing that this is a necessary step in making things better. It is not.

We all respond differently to financial uncertainty. Some lean into hyper-vigilance—tightening budgets, tracking every headline. Others shut down, turning toward distraction. Still others press on as if nothing has changed. These are all natural human reactions.

They are not the same as leadership. And leadership—internal and external—is what’s needed now. Not panic. Not blame. Just the courage to face where we are and the willingness to start again from there.

But leadership is in short supply in Washington, where many in both parties remain silent. Some fear political retribution from the administration, others fear backlash from increasingly extreme and vocal constituencies. That silence costs us all.

A respected government official recently told me that, while some of the domestic damage to our economy could be repaired within a few years, rebuilding global confidence in the United States may take a generation. That is a reflection of the rapid erosion of trust that has already happened in the last three months. Trust that took decades to build has been unwound in a matter of weeks. Even if we reversed every policy decision tomorrow, the damage is done.

We cannot change what’s already happened. We can still choose to show up. To pay attention. To have the hard conversations. To lead our own financial lives with more clarity, integrity, and intention than before. That kind of personal leadership may not fix the dollar. But it can help rebuild what underlies its value: trust, steadiness, and the moral grounding we’ve begun to lose.

Because the dollar’s decline is more than an economic headline.

It’s a story about who we are—and whether we’re ready to live with open eyes in a world where the old assumptions no longer hold.

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DAILY UPDATE: Strong Labor Department as Stock Markets Soar Last Week but Stock and Oil Futures Drop Early Monday Morning

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants

Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily

A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.

http://www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com

SPONSORED BY: Marcinko & Associates, Inc.

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U.S. stock futures declined after the S&P 500 notched its longest winning streak in more than 20 years last week. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down around 280 points, or 0.7%, as of 11 p.m. Eastern. S&P 500 futures and NASDAQ-100 futures were off about 0.8%.

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The labor market stayed strong. The US added 177,000 jobs in April, while unemployment stayed steady at 4.2%, new Labor Department data shows. That was slightly less job growth than the month before, but still more than expected, and it shows a resilient labor environment even as the president’s introduction of tariffs roiled the stock and bond markets and raised concerns about a recession. President Trump celebrated the news in a Truth Social post that once again urged the Fed to cut interest rates.

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Markets: Stocks soared like a balloon whose string a toddler couldn’t keep hold of yesterday. Unexpectedly strong jobs data for last month and reports that China is open to trade talks helped push the S&P 500 to its longest winning streak in more than 20 years (more on that later), erasing the losses from recent tariff turmoil. On its own impressive streak is Netflix, which hit an all-time high and finished its 11th day in the green for its longest positive run ever.

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/tj8smmes

Crude oil futures dropped more than 3% Sunday after OPEC+ agreed to accelerate production increases for a second straight month in June by 411K bbl/day.

U.S. WTI crude (CL1:COM) for June delivery recently traded -3.4% at $56.28/bbl and July Brent crude (CO1:COM) -3.2% at $59.34/bbl, with both front-month contracts touching their lowest levels since April 9th.

Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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2 Fast 2 Furious: HHS Cuts on the Horizon

By Health Capital Consultants LLC

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During the first 90 days of the Republican Party’s government trifecta (controlling the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives), both the Trump Administration and Congress have laid the groundwork for seismic change to the U.S. healthcare industry.

In an attempt to track the latest actions of the federal government’s legislative and executive branches affecting the healthcare industry since the first installment in our February issue, this Health Capital Topics article summarizes recent events in Washington and the impact of these changes on providers and patients. (Read more…)

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STOCK MARKET WRAP-UP: As IBM, Nvidia & Apple Invest in Quantum Computers

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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If you looked at how stocks were doing yesterday morning and then looked away, we’ve got good news.

After a rough start to the day—especially for tech companies, whose earnings are due out soon—stocks mostly turned things around, with the S&P 500 and the Dow ending the day in the green.

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IBM plans to invest $150 billion in the US over five years. That includes $30 billion earmarked for R&D for manufacturing its mainframe and quantum computers in the US. It’s not the only tech company to announce a big commitment to spend in the US since President Trump took office and unveiled steep tariffs on imports from abroad.

Nvidia and Apple have each separately said that they plan to spend $500 billion stateside over the next four years. Companies in other industries, including pharmaceuticals, have also committed to increased US investment.—AR

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