Author: Jack Mulligan

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, is reportedly in discussions with Nvidia to manufacture the tech giant’s Blackwell chips at TSMC’s new facility in Arizona. The move could mark a significant step in localizing advanced chip production in the U.S. Blackwell Chips to Be Made in Arizona According to Reuters, TSMC plans to begin producing Nvidia’s Blackwell AI chips at its Arizona plant early next year. Currently, these chips are manufactured at TSMC facilities in Taiwan. However, even with production taking place in the U.S., the chips would still need to be sent back to Taiwan…

President-elect Donald Trump is moving swiftly to build a team aimed at reshaping the U.S. government in a way that reflects his vision of disruption and retribution. Less than a month after his victory, Trump’s appointments signal a bold departure from tradition, prioritizing loyalty and a transformative approach over conventional governance. Outsiders with a Mission to Disrupt Trump’s selections highlight his preference for outsiders with a “wrecking-ball mentality.” Kash Patel, an outspoken critic of the FBI, has been nominated to lead the bureau with a promise to pursue Trump’s perceived adversaries. Meanwhile, other appointees, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for…

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, investors are evaluating how his policies could reshape various economic sectors. His campaign promises—ranging from tariffs, deregulation, and tax cuts to mass deportations—are seen as both opportunities and risks for markets. Here’s a breakdown of potential sector impacts under Trump’s administration. Economic and Market Uncertainty Experts are divided on how Trump’s policies will translate to market performance. While Republican control of Congress gives him legislative leverage, the timeline and extent of his proposals remain unclear. “There’s so much uncertainty right now,” said Jeremy Goldberg, a financial planner at Professional Advisory Services. “I…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that inflation in Pakistan has fallen to a 70-month low of 4.9%, a significant development that he attributed to government efforts. Chairing a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Monday, the premier expressed optimism that the decline would ease financial pressures on citizens. Potential Policy Rate Adjustment With inflation on a downward trend, PM Shehbaz indicated that the State Bank of Pakistan might consider lowering the policy rate, a move that could further stimulate economic activity. Stock Market Resilience The prime minister acknowledged the negative impact of recent protests in Islamabad, which triggered a 3,000-point…

Russia launched a significant attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Thursday, leaving over one million households without power, according to Ukrainian officials. This marks the second large-scale strike on Ukraine’s power grid in less than two weeks. The assault, involving over 200 missiles and drones, targeted multiple regions across Ukraine, with emergency power outages implemented nationwide. Areas hit include Lviv, Rivne, Volyn, and Ivano Frankivsk, as reported by The Associated Press. Zelenskyy Denounces “Insidious Escalation” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, noting that Kalibr cruise missiles equipped with cluster munitions were used, impacting civilian targets. Calling the attack an…

Inflation in Australia has dropped to a three-year low, with the headline consumer price index (CPI) rising just 2.1% in October. However, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock has reiterated that the central bank will not cut the cash rate until inflation consistently returns to the target range of 2–3%. Focus on Sustained Inflation Control While the headline CPI aligns with the RBA’s target range, Bullock emphasized the importance of the trimmed mean inflation rate, which excludes volatile components. This measure stood at 3.5% in October, exceeding the RBA’s target. “The word sustainability is important, because it recognizes…

Sri Lanka has initiated a debt exchange to restructure $12.6 billion of its bonds by offering longer-dated notes, marking a significant step in its recovery from a 2022 default. The program involves swapping existing bonds for new international bonds with a 27% haircut on their nominal value, as outlined in a prior agreement between the government and creditors. A creditor committee representing about 40% of the bondholders has expressed support for the offer, signaling a strong backing for the initiative. A Key Milestone in Debt Restructuring Tuesday’s announcement represents a milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to rebuild its financial standing…

President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of hedge fund executive Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary has sparked optimism among business leaders and financial markets, who view the decision as a stabilizing choice amidst an unconventional cabinet lineup. While Wall Street is celebrating, skepticism remains about the potential benefits for Main Street. A Pragmatic and Safe Choice Bessent, a 62-year-old global investor with ties to legendary money managers like George Soros and Stanley Druckenmiller, survived internal debates over the appointment. Business leaders praised the move as a prudent decision. “There’s huge relief,” said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, founder of the Yale Chief Executive Institute. “Bessent…

Over a year after its launch, Threads is finally addressing one of its users’ most requested features: the ability to set their “Following” feed as their default view. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Monday that the feature is now being tested, alongside options to set the “For You” or a custom feed as the default. Listening to Users: The Long-Awaited Feature The introduction of this feature follows Threads’ recent rollout of custom feeds, which allow users to curate their feeds around specific topics or user profiles. This update enables Threads to compete with Bluesky, a decentralized social network that…

Starting January 7, 2025, McDonald’s will launch McValue™, a new value platform designed to give customers more ways to enjoy their favorite meals for less. The program features popular deals like the $5 Meal Deal, exclusive app offers, local discounts, and a new customizable Buy One, Add One for $1 offer. A Tailored Approach to Value Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald’s USA, emphasized the personalized approach behind McValue. “We know there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to value. This new platform lets customers define value on their terms,” he said. By collaborating with franchisees across the country, McDonald’s aims to…