Government Remains Confident Despite Expert Skepticism India’s economic performance in the last quarter of 2024 showcased a growth rate of 6.2%, marking a rebound from the previous quarter’s 5.6% but falling below the expectations set by economists and the central bank. According to the Indian Statistics Office, the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) for October to December 2024 rose by 6.2% compared to the same period in 2023. While this uptick signals a recovery, it lagged behind the Reserve Bank of India’s projection of 6.8% and the 6.3% anticipated by economic analysts surveyed by Reuters. This detailed analysis dives into the factors driving this growth, the government’s ambitious targets, and the challenges highlighted by experts regarding India’s economic outlook for 2025.   The 6.2% GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 was fueled primarily by robust increases in government spending and personal consumption. Government expenditure surged by 8.3% year-over-year, r...

Inflation Eases, but Consumer Spending Decline Signals Trouble The U.S. economy is facing fresh challenges as personal consumption expenditures (PCE) data for January 2025 reveals a troubling trend: the largest decline in real consumer spending in four years. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the PCE price index, a key inflation measure tracked closely by the Federal Reserve (Fed), rose 2.5% year-over-year in January, aligning squarely with market expectations for U.S. inflation rates in early 2025. This marks a slowdown from the 2.6% recorded in December 2024, offering some relief after months of creeping price pressures that had stoked fears of persistent inflation. The core PCE price index, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, also eased to 2.6% from 2.9% the prior month, hitting its lowest growth rate since June 2024. Bloomberg hailed the report as a "reversal of rising price trends," suggesting that U.S. inflation concerns for 2025 might finally be...

Expert Predicts Major Market Correction Due to Overvaluation Renowned value investor and GMO co-founder Jeremy Grantham has issued a stark warning about the U.S. stock market, predicting an imminent crash driven by what he calls a "super bubble" reaching its peak. In a recent appearance on Bloomberg’s Merryn Talks Money podcast, Grantham cautioned that the longer a market bubble persists and the higher it climbs, the more devastating its collapse becomes. He emphasized that the current U.S. market is hovering at historically unprecedented levels of overvaluation, making a significant downturn almost inevitable. For investors searching for insights on U.S. stock market crash predictions, Grantham’s analysis offers a compelling case rooted in decades of market observation. Grantham pointed to the Shiller Price-to-Earnings Ratio (PER), a widely respected metric for assessing market valuation, as a key indicator of trouble. Currently sitting at 37 times earnings, this figure is m...

Key Drivers and Implications for the Semiconductor Giant Fueled by the unprecedented artificial intelligence boom, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s leading foundry for semiconductor contract manufacturing, is poised to see a remarkable 30% increase in its 3-nanometer production capacity in 2025, according to insights from Taiwanese media outlets like Liberty Times, citing industry sources. This surge in TSMC’s 3nm chip production is driven by skyrocketing demand from tech giants such as Apple, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, and AMD, all racing to capitalize on the explosive growth of AI technologies. Industry insiders reveal that TSMC has been aggressively expanding its 3nm manufacturing facilities to meet this demand, with plans to boost monthly output from approximately 90,000 wafers last year to over 120,000 by the end of 2025. This leap in production capacity underscores TSMC’s pivotal role in powering the next generation of AI-driven devices, with the 3nm process ...

Detailed Insights into Dell Technologies’ Latest Earnings and Market Reaction Dell Technologies, a leading name in server and PC manufacturing, recently shared its earnings report after the market closed, revealing a mixed bag of results that left investors underwhelmed. Despite a surge in artificial intelligence (AI) server orders, the company’s revenue projections fell short of Wall Street expectations, triggering a roughly 2% drop in its stock price during after-hours trading. This development comes as Dell navigates a competitive landscape in the AI server market, vying for dominance alongside rivals like Super Micro Computer and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. For those tracking Dell Technologies’ stock performance or the broader AI server market trends, this report dives deep into the earnings details, the factors behind the disappointing revenue outlook, and what it means for the company’s future.  The latest earnings cover Dell’s fiscal fourth quarter, spanning November 2024 to...

Economic Uncertainty Overshadows Cost-Cutting Goals / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Elon Musk, now spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has tied the success of his cost-cutting mission to a specific financial indicator: the 10-year Treasury yield. Appointed as the efficiency overseer under President Donald Trump’s administration, Musk argues that reducing government spending should ease the ballooning US national debt and budget deficit, ultimately driving down Treasury yields. Lower yields, in his view, signal cheaper borrowing costs for everyday Americans, whether they’re buying homes or launching businesses. With Scott Bessent, Trump’s treasury secretary nominee, also prioritizing this metric, the 10-year yield has become the unofficial benchmark for gauging DOGE’s impact. Recently, yields dropped nearly 30 basis points in just six days, a shift that might seem like a win for DOGE’s ambitious plans. However, a closer look reveals a troubling twist: this decline ...

Median Home Prices Hit Highest Level in Over Two Years The U.S. new home sales market experienced a significant decline, with sales of newly built homes falling to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 657,000 units, reflecting a 10.5% drop from the previous month's revised figure of 734,000 units, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau under the Department of Commerce on February 26, 2025. This sharp decrease exceeded market expectations, which had forecasted around 680,000 new home sales for the month, missing the mark by approximately 23,000 units. Compared to the same period last year, sales also dipped slightly by 1.1%, signaling a broader slowdown in the housing sector. Analysts attribute this downturn in new home sales trends to a combination of persistently high mortgage rates and unusual weather patterns, including severe cold snaps in some regions, which deterred prospective buyers. Despite the sales slump, the median price of new homes soared to $446,300, ma...

A Strategic Pivot Back to Oil and Gas BP, a company once celebrated for its forward-thinking "Beyond Petroleum" identity, has taken a sharp turn back to its roots as a traditional oil and gas giant, prioritizing shareholder profits over climate change initiatives. Over two decades ago, the company hinted at a transformative journey, aiming to evolve from a fossil fuel titan into a broader energy provider by channeling profits into renewable energy technologies like wind and solar. This vision gained momentum five years ago under former CEO Bernard Looney, who set bold targets to slash oil and gas output by 40% by 2030 while aggressively expanding investments in green energy solutions. Today, however, BP’s direction could be summed up as "Back to Petroleum," with a clear shift toward boosting oil and gas production and scaling back renewable energy investments. What’s driving this dramatic pivot? The answer lies in shareholder demands for higher financial returns and...

Exploring the Craftsmanship and Innovation at Havana’s Premier Tobacco Event  Cuba’s iconic cigars, celebrated worldwide for their exceptional quality and hand-rolled perfection using the finest tobacco leaves, have long been a treasure for enthusiasts, but the spotlight at the Habanos Festival in Havana is increasingly shifting toward cigar humidors as luxury collectibles. These expertly crafted wooden boxes, designed to maintain optimal humidity and temperature for cigar preservation, are emerging as must-have items for aficionados and collectors alike. Far more than simple storage solutions, humidors are now recognized as artistic masterpieces, with some fetching thousands of dollars at auctions and showcasing innovative designs that blend tradition with modernity. Held annually by Habanos S.A., a powerhouse in the global cigar market, this festival draws thousands from across the world to explore the latest trends in premium cigars and their preservation, making it a key event ...

Berkshire Hathaway Stock Price Surges While Tesla Faces Market Volatility Berkshire Hathaway has officially surpassed Tesla in market capitalization, marking a significant reshuffling in the S&P 500 market cap rankings. According to MarketWatch, Berkshire Hathaway’s Class B stock (BRK.B) soared by 4.1% in one day, followed by an additional 1.2% increase, reaching $504 during early trading. This upward trajectory pushed Berkshire Hathaway’s market cap beyond $1.07 trillion, reinforcing its status as a financial powerhouse. Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock price continued its downward trend, declining over 3% for the second consecutive day. This drop placed Tesla’s market capitalization, previously at $1.04 trillion, dangerously close to slipping below the $1 trillion threshold. As a result, Berkshire Hathaway climbed to the seventh spot among the most valuable companies in the S&P 500, while Tesla slid to eighth place. Historically, Berkshire Hathaway has maintained a higher valuation ...

Investors Take Profits as Safe-Haven Demand and Economic Concerns Persist Gold prices experienced a slight pullback as investors secured profits following a historic surge driven by increasing optimism about the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate cut and heightened demand for safe-haven assets. After reaching a new all-time high of $2,956.19 per ounce on Monday, bullion retreated by as much as 0.5%, settling around $2,937.65 per ounce in Singapore trading. Market expectations for the Fed’s monetary policy shift have accelerated, with swap markets now predicting that the first rate cut could come two months earlier than initially expected. Lower interest rates generally support gold prices, as the metal does not offer interest income, making it more attractive in a low-yield environment. Further fueling the gold rally, concerns over global economic stability intensified after President Donald Trump announced a series of measures targeting China’s investment and trade policies. The p...

Major Investment Aims to Boost AI Capabilities and Domestic Production / AFP Apple has announced an ambitious plan to invest $500 billion in the United States over the next four years. As part of this massive investment, the company will establish an artificial intelligence (AI) server manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas. This move comes amid growing pressure from former President Donald Trump, who has been urging Apple to shift more of its production from China to the U.S. The company’s decision aligns with Trump’s renewed trade policies, which include increasing tariffs on Chinese imports. Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Trump last week at the White House, likely discussing the company’s strategic direction in response to these economic pressures. Apple’s $500 Billion U.S. Investment Plan According to reports from CNBC and other international media, Apple plans to collaborate with suppliers to build a 250,000-square-foot production center. This facility will focus on manufacturi...

CEO Brian Niccol’s Turnaround Plan Aims for Efficiency and Growth / Photo by Cheng Xin/Getty Images Starbucks (SBUX) is set to lay off approximately 1,100 corporate employees this week as part of CEO Brian Niccol’s efforts to streamline operations and drive a company-wide turnaround strategy. The job cuts account for about 7% of Starbucks' corporate workforce and will primarily impact support roles, along with hundreds of unfilled positions across its global operations. According to an internal memo obtained by Yahoo Finance, affected employees will be informed by Tuesday, February 25. Niccol emphasized that these layoffs are designed to simplify Starbucks’ organizational structure, reducing redundancy while fostering a more agile and accountable workforce. By eliminating excessive layers within the company, Starbucks aims to accelerate decision-making and sharpen its focus on key business priorities. Niccol assured impacted employees that they would receive a "comprehensive...

CDU Leads Election Results While AfD Surges to Second Place The center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, has emerged as the leading party in Germany’s federal election, securing approximately 28.6% of the vote along with its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). While the CDU’s performance was strong, it fell short of the 30% threshold they had hoped for, leaving them in need of coalition partners to form a stable government. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured an unprecedented 20.8% of the vote, marking its best result in history and positioning itself as the second-largest party in the Bundestag. Despite the AfD’s gains, their internal expectations were even higher, and the subdued atmosphere at their headquarters reflected a sense of unfulfilled potential. Nonetheless, their performance in eastern Germany was dominant, with projections showing them leading in the region with around 34% of the vote. Friedrich Merz addr...

Valuable Pokémon card collection item could hit the market / Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images Logan Paul, widely known as a YouTuber, professional wrestler, and entrepreneur, has made headlines once again—this time for potentially parting ways with one of the rarest and most expensive Pokémon cards in existence. Paul, an avid collector of Pokémon trading cards, purchased the highly sought-after Pikachu Illustrator card in 2021 for approximately $5.3 million, marking the highest private sale ever recorded for a Pokémon card, according to Guinness World Records. The YouTuber has now hinted that he may be willing to sell the prized possession to the right buyer. In a recent YouTube video shared with his 23 million+ subscribers, Paul teased the possibility of parting with the Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card, a decision that could shake up the high-end Pokémon card market. "I'm thinking about letting it go, potentially exchanging hands for the right person," he said, inviting pot...

Victim seeks to negotiate with thieves for a fair share of the prize In an extraordinary incident in Toulouse, France, thieves utilized a stolen bank card to purchase a scratch-off lottery ticket that turned out to be a winner, boasting a staggering value of €500,000 (approximately $523,000). The victim of this theft, identified as Jean-David E., discovered that his backpack, which contained his bank card among other personal items, had been stolen from his vehicle. After promptly reporting the theft to the authorities, he was shocked to learn that two individuals had used his stolen card to acquire the lucrative winning ticket. Jean-David expressed a surprising willingness to share the windfall with the thieves if they come forward. He remarked, “Without them, no one would have won,” highlighting a unique perspective on the situation. However, legal experts caution that prosecutors might categorize the winnings as proceeds of crime, potentially leading to the seizure of the prize by ...