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  Key Takeaways S&P 500 Entry : Block (formerly Square) joins the S&P 500 on  July 23, 2025 , replacing Hess after its acquisition by Chevron . Market Reaction : Block’s stock surged  >10%  post-announcement as funds rebalanced portfolios to include it . Challenges Persist : Despite the boost, Block’s 2025 performance remains  down 14%  YTD due to weak Q1 results and tariff-related macro concerns . Strategic Significance : Entry validates Block’s pivot to blockchain/fintech and accelerates crypto’s mainstream adoption . Next Catalyst : Q2 earnings on  August 7  will test whether S&P-driven demand offsets economic headwinds . The Big News: Block Is Joining the S&P 500 Come July 23rd, Block, y’know, the company behind Square and Cash App, steps into the S&P 500. They’re takin’ Hess’s spot, which is exitin’ after Chevron wrapped up that $54 billion buyout. Hess had some juicy oil assets down in Guyana, but Chevron finally close...

Key Takeaways The Gen Z stare manifests in two primary forms : a vacant expression from service workers during perceived unreasonable customer interactions ( customer service stare ) and from Gen Z customers instead of verbal responses ( customer stare ) . Pandemic isolation critically impacted social skill development : Reduced face-to-face interaction during formative years limited practice with conversational norms and non-verbal cues for many Gen Zers . It’s often misinterpreted as rudeness or disinterest : Older generations may perceive the stare as disrespectful, while Gen Z frequently views it as a legitimate response to inauthentic or inefficient interactions . Underlying factors include heightened anxiety and authenticity values : Gen Z prioritizes genuine communication and may reject performative politeness, while also experiencing higher rates of social anxiety . Workplaces are adapting training programs : Organizations recognize gaps in soft skills like interpersonal commun...

  Key Takeaways: The GENIUS Act Becomes Law First Major Crypto Law:  Trump signed the GENIUS Act on July 18, 2025, establishing the first federal regulatory framework for stablecoins . Stablecoin Rules:  Requires 100% reserves (cash/short-term Treasuries) and monthly public disclosures from issuers. Prioritizes consumer claims if issuers fail . Political Win:  Passed with bipartisan support (Senate 68-30, House 308-122) after Trump intervened to sway GOP holdouts . Dollar Dominance Goal:  Aims to boost demand for U.S. debt and cement the dollar’s global reserve status by tying stablecoins to dollars/Treasuries . Controversies:  Critics cite potential conflicts of interest (Trump family’s crypto ventures) and warn consumer protections are too weak . Industry Boost:  Part of a "Crypto Week" that also passed the CLARITY Act and Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act . What Just Happened With Crypto Law? So yeah, President Trump signed this big deal crypto bill called...

  Key Takeaways Coca-Cola's potential switch  to cane sugar follows political pressure but faces  economic hurdles  . Price disparity : High-fructose corn syrup costs  $0.35/lb  vs. cane sugar at  $1.01/lb , nearly triple. Farm impact : Eliminating corn syrup could wipe out  $5.1B in U.S. farm revenue  . Health equivalence : The FDA states  no nutritional difference  exists between the sweeteners . Consumer cost : Mexican Coke (cane sugar) costs  over 60% more  than U.S. corn-syrup versions . The President’s Truth Social Bombshell President Trump fired a post into the digital ether. He claimed Coca-Cola agreed to dump high-fructose corn syrup for "REAL Cane Sugar" in U.S. products. The announcement hit like a barstool declaration, loud, abrupt, short on details. Coca-Cola’s response? A terse nod to "new innovative offerings." No confirmation. No timeline. Just corporate speak wrapped in a question mark. The disconnect betw...

  Key Takeaways Sarepta Therapeutics stock plunged ~40% following a second patient death linked to its gene therapy Elevidys . FDA may pull Elevidys off the market as safety concerns mount; shipments halted for non-ambulatory patients . Therapy initially approved controversially in 2023 for ages 4-5, later expanded amid efficacy debates . Year-to-date stock loss exceeds 87%, erasing billions in market value . Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients face renewed uncertainty as treatment risks outweigh benefits for some . The Bloodbath on Nasdaq Sarepta Therapeutics stock cratered 40% in premarket trading June 16, 2025. It opened at $13.60, a far cry from its 52-week high of $150.48 . The collapse wasn't a surprise to those watching the ticker. Shares had been dying a slow death all year. By July, the year-to-date loss hit 87.5% . Shareholders stared at ruins. Trading volume exploded to 60 million shares. Average volume is 5.9 million . The market cap vaporized, $1.336 billion intraday....