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Now, onto today’s news.

—Rosie, Wyatt, Evan & Conor

🔥 What’s Hot: 🔥

🥶 What’s Not: 🥶

1. Dow Sheds 300+ as Tariff Uncertainty, Yields Weigh on Stocks

The News: U.S. equities slid Tuesday, with the Dow dropping about -0.6%, the S&P 500 down ~0.70%, and the Nasdaq off ~0.80% as well. The selloff marked the Nasdaq’s first back-to-back 1% declines since Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs in April. Tech led losses, Nvidia fell ~2%, while Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet each slipped over 1%. The pressure followed a federal appeals court ruling that Trump’s global tariffs are unconstitutional, raising the risk of refunds and fiscal stress. Meanwhile, bond yields surged: the 10-year hit 4.28%, and the 30-year topped 4.97%, its highest in years.

Why It Matters: September has a reputation as Wall Street’s roughest month and this year is starting true to form. Higher long-term yields make equities look expensive, particularly Big Tech names priced for perfection. At the same time, legal challenges to Trump’s tariffs add uncertainty over trade policy and fiscal balances. For investors, expect more chop until Friday’s August jobs report and the Fed’s mid-month decision provide direction. If you’re overweight equities, now may be the time to trim into strength and hold more cash or short-duration bonds until volatility clears.
Source: cnbc.com

2. Bitcoin Slips to $108K as ‘Red September’ Begins

The News: Bitcoin entered September near $108,000, extending August’s 6.5% drop and snapping a four-month rally. U.S.-listed spot ETFs saw $751M in August outflows, underscoring waning institutional appetite. The selloff pushed BTC below key technical levels—both its 50- and 100-day moving averages. Historically, September is Bitcoin’s weakest month, with negative returns in eight of the past 12 years.

Why It Matters: For traders, the charts are flashing red. Technical breakdowns plus seasonal weakness increase the odds of a slide toward $100K. ETF outflows highlight a credibility test for institutional adoption, even as whales quietly accumulate. The Fed’s mid-September decision could swing sentiment: rate cuts may offer support, but until then, volatility rules. If you’re long crypto, consider risk controls; if you’re waiting to buy, round numbers like $100K tend to attract bids. Red September isn’t a trading strategy, it’s a coping mechanism. Pack patience with your portfolio.
Source: coindesk.com

3. Gold Breaks $3,500 as Investors Flee to Safety

The News: Gold surged past $3,500 per ounce Tuesday for the first time ever, extending a 35% rally this year, well ahead of the S&P 500’s 9% gain. The move reflects investor anxiety over slowing job growth, tariff-driven inflation, and a weakening U.S. dollar, which has fallen 11% in 2025. Silver also joined the rally, hitting a 14-year high at $40.80.

Why It Matters: Gold’s record run underscores the value of diversification when markets wobble. With the dollar sliding, and equities facing tariff turbulence, gold has reasserted its role as a hedge. But piling in at record highs carries risks, volatility cuts both ways. A balanced portfolio that spreads exposure across equities, bonds, and alternatives offers better protection than chasing whichever asset is spiking. For investors, the message is timeless: balance beats brilliance when uncertainty reigns. Gold’s having its moment, but the smartest hedge is still a portfolio that doesn’t bet the house on one metal.
Source: msn.com

4. Microsoft Cracks 40-Year Fiber Limit, Speeds Data 45% Faster

The News: Microsoft and University of Southampton researchers developed hollow-core fiber cables that transmit data 45% faster while cutting signal loss to a record-low 0.091 dB/km. Published September 1 in Nature Photonics, the design replaces solid glass cores with an air-filled channel, allowing light to travel at near its maximum speed. The breakthrough overcomes a four-decade barrier in optical communications. Microsoft plans to deploy the technology first in Azure data centers, absorbing production capacity for several years.

Why It Matters: A bit of good news on a down day. Faster, lower-loss fibers could reshape digital infrastructure, supporting AI training, telemedicine, autonomous vehicles, and cloud computing with fewer delays. For investors and operators, this reinforces Microsoft’s long-term moat in cloud services while signaling fresh disruption for telecoms and undersea cable players. Deployment is still years out, but the trajectory is clear: networks that are faster, leaner, and less power-hungry. For businesses, that’s a reminder, balance your portfolio like your network: don’t put all your bandwidth in one cable. Or as IT teams might say, the future’s looking less lag, more swag.
Source: phys.org

5. Trump Vows Supreme Court Appeal on Tariff Ruling

The News: President Trump called a federal appeals court ruling striking down most of his tariffs an “emergency” and said he will appeal to the Supreme Court as soon as Wednesday. The court determined last week that Congress—not the White House—has authority to impose sweeping levies, though tariffs remain in place until October 14 pending review. Markets reacted Tuesday: stocks fell more than 1% while bond yields jumped on concerns about the loss of tariff revenues and broader fiscal strain.

Why It Matters: Tariffs are the cornerstone of Trump’s economic program, shaping trade, tax revenues, and inflation. If the Supreme Court blocks them, U.S. fiscal pressures intensify, literally billions in tariff revenue could disappear just as bond yields climb, leaving Washington with fewer tools to fund spending. For businesses, the ruling clouds supply chain planning and pricing, while investors face volatility until the legal path is resolved. In short, America’s tariff-driven strategy is now in the court’s hands. And if Trump’s right, markets may be waiting until October to see who blinks first.
Source: axios.com

1. Ukraine Strikes Push Oil Up 1%

The News: Oil prices rose about 1% Monday as Ukraine escalated drone strikes on Russian energy sites, disrupting up to 1.1 million barrels per day of refining capacity. Brent crude closed at $68.15, while WTI settled at $64.84. Ukrainian attacks have hit at least 10 major refineries, causing fuel shortages across Russia, rationing in Crimea, and gasoline prices that are 40–50% higher than January levels. Russian oil exports also dipped to 2.72 million barrels per day, their lowest in four weeks, as markets weighed supply risks against OPEC+’s planned output boost.

Why It Matters: For energy traders, volatility is back. Ukraine’s strikes squeeze Russian refining capacity, supporting near-term prices but OPEC+’s September 7 meeting looms, with potential output hikes that could cap gains. HSBC forecasts a 1.6 million barrel-per-day surplus in Q4, while the EIA sees Brent sliding to $50 by early 2026. For everyone else, the takeaway is simpler: geopolitics still moves the price at the pump faster than policy.
Source: energyintel.com

2. UK Yields Hit 26-Year High as Fiscal Stress Mounts

The News: UK 30-year gilt yields spiked to 5.69% Tuesday, their highest since 1998, as investors demanded bigger premiums for holding long-term debt. The pound slid over 1%, its sharpest one-day drop since June. Across Europe, long bonds also sold off: German 30-year yields hit 3.41% (2011 high), while French 30-years reached 4.51% (2009 high). France’s deficit climbed to 5.8% of GDP last year, with PM François Bayrou facing a likely no-confidence vote. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces a £20–25B fiscal hole, fueling speculation of autumn tax hikes

Why It Matters: Rising yields are a fiscal double whammy, ballooning debt service costs while limiting stimulus options. For corporates, higher sovereign yields mean pricier borrowing across credit markets; for investors, long-duration bonds are back to levels unseen in decades but carry heavy political risk. Expect volatility around France’s budget crisis and the UK’s autumn budget, where Reeves may turn to tax hikes. Globally, the move feeds into U.S. Treasury weakness, with 30-year yields nearing 5%. Great time to be a bond investor with all these highs, bad time to be the one paying the debt.
Source: reuters.com

3. France Pushes EU Climate Target to Leaders, Risking Delay

The News: France is urging the EU to shift negotiations on its 2040 climate target from ministers to heads of state, a move that could delay or complicate agreement. The European Commission’s proposal, announced in July, calls for a 90% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2040, en route to net-zero by 2050. France, citing political and economic concerns, argues the target may be too ambitious. Spain, Denmark, and environmental groups oppose the delay, warning it risks weakening climate momentum ahead of a mid-September UN deadline for 2035 plans.

Why It Matters: The EU’s credibility as a climate leader hinges on timely agreement. Delays not only weaken negotiating power abroad but also inject uncertainty for investors planning around carbon pricing, energy transition infrastructure, and industrial competitiveness. A watered-down or postponed target could tilt capital flows away from Europe, where policy clarity has long been a competitive advantage. For businesses, this is a signal to diversify transition strategies across jurisdictions and prepare for uneven regulation. If consensus drags, Europe may find itself with more hot air than emissions cuts.
Source: usnews.com

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