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Investors Respond to Trump’s Congressional Speech Amid Market Volatility

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A Deep Dive into Market Reactions and Policy Impacts President Donald Trump addressed Congress in a highly anticipated prime time speech, marking his first such appearance since assuming office on January 20. The event unfolded against a turbulent financial backdrop, as sweeping new tariffs targeting Mexico, Canada, and China had already rattled investors. Delivered with a tone of triumph, Trump’s speech drew sharp reactions from Democratic lawmakers, some of whom disrupted proceedings with signs and walkouts. For those tracking how investors react to Trump’s address to Congress, the night offered a blend of policy reaffirmations and market signals that hinted at both opportunity and unease. While Trump touted plans to balance the federal budget and push for significant tax cuts, his doubling down on reciprocal tariffs set to begin April 2 kept markets on edge. This detailed exploration examines how financial markets responded, weaving in expert insights and real time data to unpack th...

Berkshire Hathaway’s Cash Reserves Hit Record High as CEO Succession Nears

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Warren Buffett signals Greg Abel as his successor amid soaring profits / Reuters  Berkshire Hathaway, under the leadership of Warren Buffett, has reported an all-time high in cash reserves, marking a historic financial milestone. In his latest annual letter to shareholders, Buffett, now 94, hinted that Greg Abel, currently overseeing Berkshire’s non-insurance operations, will soon take over as CEO. Buffett’s annual letter, released on February 22, detailed Berkshire Hathaway’s robust financial performance in 2024. The conglomerate’s cash reserves have consistently increased over the past ten quarters, reaching a staggering $334 billion by the end of last year—nearly double the $168 billion recorded at the close of 2023. Berkshire Hathaway’s Operating Profits Surge by 71% Berkshire’s diversified businesses have contributed significantly to its record-breaking financial results. The company’s operating profit surged by 71% in the fourth quarter of 2024, reaching $14.5 billion, th...

Meta Announces the Longest Subsea Cable Project in the World, Strengthening U.S.-India Connectivity

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Meta's ambitious underwater cable plan will span 50,000 km across five continents Meta Platforms, the parent company behind popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has unveiled an ambitious plan to build the world's longest subsea cable. The company’s new project is expected to significantly enhance connectivity between the U.S. and India, and is seen as a major step forward in fostering closer relations between the two countries. This initiative, known as Project Waterworth, was officially announced on February 14 by Meta through a public notice on its website. The Project Waterworth aims to lay down a subsea cable system that will stretch an unprecedented 50,000 kilometers—longer than the Earth’s circumference. Meta emphasized that this project will use cutting-edge technology to connect five continents, making it the most advanced and expansive subsea cable network in existence. The announcement was made in conjunction with visuals illustrati...

National Retail Federation Warns Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs Could Severely Disrupt Supply Chains

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Higher prices and weaker consumer purchasing power expected, NRF cautions The National Retail Federation (NRF) has issued a stark warning following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on all countries that have levied tariffs and non-tariff barriers against U.S. products. According to NRF, Americans will likely experience rising prices, which will weaken consumer spending power in the near future. On February 13, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order at the White House, mandating the introduction of reciprocal tariffs. This move is part of a broader effort to open a new front in the ongoing trade war. Trump’s directive mandates that the tariffs the U.S. imposes on imported goods be aligned with the tariffs that other nations impose on American products. These new tariffs are expected to impact all U.S. trade partners, including China, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union (EU). David French, NRF’s Vice President for Gov...

Trump on AI Innovation: DeepSeek’s Rise and NVIDIA’s Struggles

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DeepSeek’s innovation challenges NVIDIA’s dominance in the AI sector NVIDIA Faces Market Shock Amid DeepSeek’s AI Breakthrough The global AI and semiconductor industry witnessed a seismic shift as NVIDIA, a leading tech giant, suffered a staggering 16.97% drop in its stock price. The catalyst? A Chinese AI startup, DeepSeek, showcased its ability to develop cutting-edge AI models at a fraction of the cost. H2: DeepSeek’s Innovation: A Game Changer in AI Development DeepSeek’s breakthrough stems from leveraging NVIDIA’s H800 GPU, previously regarded as underpowered compared to its high-performance counterparts. By optimizing the GPU’s capabilities, DeepSeek successfully developed an advanced AI model for a mere $780,000, challenging the established notion that only high-end GPUs could deliver top-tier AI systems. H3: Implications for AI Industry Economics This development signals a potential transformation in how AI technology is accessed and scaled. By enabling powerful AI syste...

Perplexity AI Proposes $50 Billion TikTok U.S. Merger

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AI and social media collide as Perplexity AI bids to merge with TikTok U.S. Perplexity AI’s $50 Billion TikTok U.S. Merger Proposal Ambitious Bid to Reshape AI and Social Media Perplexity AI, a leader in generative AI technology, has proposed a groundbreaking $50 billion merger with TikTok U.S. This strategic move seeks to combine Perplexity’s advanced AI capabilities with TikTok’s unparalleled social media platform, creating a tech powerhouse. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has received the proposal, which aims to retain existing investor stakes while integrating new capital partners. What Perplexity AI Brings to the Table Perplexity AI specializes in AI-driven search technology designed to revolutionize how users access information. Its tools have gained traction amidst the generative AI boom, allowing for more personalized and efficient search experiences. The proposed merger would enhance TikTok’s user experience by incorporating these capabilities, offering: Enhanced ...

2025년 전기차 보조금 개편: 승용차 580만 원, 화물차 1050만 원 지원

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  전기차 보조금, 차종별 차등 지원으로 변화 2025년 전기차 보조금 개편 방안: 환경부의 새로운 정책 2025년부터 전기차 구매 보조금이 개편됩니다. 환경부는 2025년도 전기차 구매 보조금 개편 방안을 발표하며, 전기 승용차와 전기 화물차의 보조금이 지난해보다 소폭 감소한다고 밝혔습니다. 이번 개편은 전기차 기술 혁신을 유도하고, 보다 안전하고 효율적인 전기차를 보급하기 위한 조치로 해석됩니다. 또한, 소비자들에게는 다양한 혜택이 제공되며, 전기차 구매를 더욱 장려하는 방향으로 나아가고 있습니다. 전기 승용차 보조금: 580만 원으로 조정 전기 승용차 보조금은 지난해 최대 650만 원에서 580만 원으로 하향 조정되었습니다. 이는 정부의 전기차 보급 확대와 함께, 고성능 전기차에 더 많은 보조금을 지급하려는 의도가 반영된 결과입니다. 고성능 전기차는 충전 속도와 1회 충전 주행거리가 중요한 기준이 되며, 성능이 우수한 차량에는 더 많은 보조금이 지원됩니다. 특히, 1회 충전 주행 거리 기준은 지난해 400km에서 440km로 상향 조정되었으며, 이로 인해 10km당 차등 폭이 증가하여 보조금 혜택이 더욱 강화되었습니다. 또한, 경형·소형 전기차의 차등 기준도 250km에서 280km로 높아지며, 이를 통해 소비자들은 고성능 차량을 선택할 유인이 커졌습니다. 환경부, 배터리 안전성과 충전 성능 강화 배터리 안전성 강화 및 제조사 책임 강화 전기차의 배터리 안전성은 소비자들의 큰 관심사 중 하나입니다. 환경부는 배터리 안전 보조금을 신설하여, 충전 중 이상 감지 및 알림 기능을 제공하는 차량에 대해 총 50만 원의 보조금을 지급합니다. 또한, 배터리 관리 시스템 업데이트가 불가능한 차량에 대해서는 추가 보조금이 지원될 예정입니다. 이외에도, 전기차 제조사와 수입업체의 책임을 강화하기 위해, 제조물 책임보험에 가입하지 않은 경우 보조금이 미지급됩니다. 이는 전기차의 품질을 높이고, 소비자에게 더 안전한 제품을 제공하기 위한 노력입니다. 청년과 다자녀 가...