Markets

1 in 4 White-Collar Workers Are Stalling Out, Per WSJ

A Burning Glass Institute and NYU study cited by WSJ finds 24.2% of white-collar workers are in a mid-career stall, with no raise or promotion in 5+ years.

AI

Gen Z to Hold Twice as Many Jobs as Prior Generations: WSJ

WSJ reports Gen Z will hold roughly twice as many jobs as prior generations as AI reshapes entry-level work. Here is the data, the corporate split, and the tickers worth watching.

Geopolitics

White House: Trump Can Use Military in Iran If Needed

The White House says Trump can use the military in Iran if needed, keeping the door open to renewed action despite a Senate war powers rebuke and a fragile ceasefire.

Markets

GameStop Reaffirms eBay Takeover Bid After Board Rejection

GameStop is sticking with its roughly $56B bid for eBay after the board’s rejection, while lifting FY26 adjusted EBITDA guidance above $600M and growing its eBay stake to 7.8%.

Energy

US Strategic Petroleum Reserve Hits Lowest Level Since 1983

The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to 325.7 million barrels, the lowest level since May 1983, as the Trump administration's 172M-barrel coordinated release continues amid the Iran war.

Tech

Taiwan raids Super Micro (SMCI) offices in widening chip-smuggling probe

Taiwan raided Super Micro (SMCI) offices and affiliated sites in a widening probe into alleged smuggling of Nvidia AI chips into China. SMCI shares dropped as much as 9% before paring losses.

AI

Ford rehires veteran engineers after AI fails quality checks

Ford rehired around 350 veteran engineers after AI-powered quality systems fell short, then reclaimed the top spot in J.D. Power’s 2026 Initial Quality Study for the first time since 2010.

Tech

WhatsApp Opens Username Reservations for 3 Billion Users

Meta's WhatsApp is opening username reservations to its 3 billion users, letting people connect without sharing phone numbers. The full feature launches later this year.

Macro

Trump: I Want To Drive Housing Prices Up, Not Down

Trump said at a cabinet meeting that he wants to drive housing prices up, not down, to protect homeowner wealth. The comments complicate the administration’s affordability pitch and raise questions for homebuilders and housing-linked stocks.

Macro

Japan Hikes Tourist Visa Fee 400% to 15,000 Yen, First Bump Since 1978

Japan is raising single-entry tourist visa fees 400% to 15,000 yen ($93) from July 1, 2026, its first hike in 48 years. Western travelers stay exempt, but Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese tourists pay up.

Macro

Record Number of Americans Are Leaving the US, per CNBC

CNBC reports the US saw net negative migration in 2025 for the first time in at least 50 years, with Brookings estimating up to 295,000 net departures. Here is what the trend means for housing, payments, and brokerages.

Markets

FIFA reportedly weighing 64-team World Cup expansion for 2038

FIFA is reportedly weighing a 64-team World Cup as soon as 2038, per Sports Business Journal. Infantino is said to be cool on the idea, but the commercial pull is real for broadcasters, sponsors and sportsbooks.

Markets

Pentagon Delays Iran Strike Announcement to Avoid Market Impact

The Pentagon delayed announcing U.S. strikes on Iran until after market close to minimize immediate financial impact.

AI

Data center construction spending tops airports, ports, transit combined

US data center construction spending has crossed $50 billion annualized, topping airports, marine terminals, and mass transit combined. The AI capex cycle is now structurally holding up nonresidential construction.

Politics

JD Vance Addresses Concerns Over President Trump's Stock Trades

Vice President JD Vance clarifies that President Trump does not personally manage his stock trades, addressing concerns over recent disclosures.

Tech

38% of Americans Live Near Data Centers Amid Rapid Expansion

Data centers are expanding rapidly, with 38% of Americans now living within five miles of one. This growth impacts real estate, energy, and local economies.

Politics

Speaker Johnson Warns of Democratic Investigations if GOP Loses House

Speaker Mike Johnson warns that a Democratic House majority could lead to extensive investigations into President Trump's circle, potentially impacting market stability.

Tech

AOC Calls for Apple Breakup as MacBook, iPhone Prices Climb

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is calling for Congress to break up Apple after the company hiked MacBook and iPad prices, blaming an AI-driven memory chip crunch. AAPL fell roughly 6% on the news.

Tech

Samsung to Unveil $646B, 10-Year Spending Plan at Korea Briefing

Samsung Group is set to unveil a $646 billion, 10-year spending plan at a June 29 South Korean government briefing, with capex aimed at chips, AI data centers, batteries and displays.

Politics

Trump: ‘I’d Be the Greatest Communist in History’

Trump told the Faith & Freedom Coalition he’d be ‘the greatest communist in history,’ attacking NYC socialist wins and rent-control politics. Here’s the market angle.

Geopolitics

US and Iran Agree to Halt Strikes, Meet in Doha This Week

The US and Iran have agreed to halt strikes and meet in Doha this week to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, after a weekend of tit-for-tat attacks tested the ceasefire.

Politics

Trump Plans Major Overhaul of D.C.'s East Potomac Golf Course

President Trump announces plans to renovate East Potomac Golf Links in D.C., aiming to host major tournaments. Construction set to begin September 1.

Politics

California's 4 Richest Paid Just 0.07% of Wealth in Income Tax: NYT

California's four richest residents paid an average 0.07% of their wealth in state income tax from 2019 to 2025, per NYT, as a billionaire wealth tax heads to the November ballot.

Real Estate

Over Half of U.S. Homes Sold Below List Price

In 2025, 62.2% of U.S. homes sold below their original list price, with buyers securing an average discount of 7.9%, the largest since 2012.

Markets

Volkswagen Reportedly Plans 100,000 Job Cuts, Four Plant Closures

Volkswagen is reportedly weighing up to 100,000 job cuts and the closure of four German plants, in what could become the biggest restructuring in the automaker’s 89-year history.