Long-time Tesla $TSLA  bull and creator of the ARK Innovation ETF , Cathie Wood, just sold 15% of the fund's $TSLA holdings. Is this a bearish signal?

$WMT 

During its first-quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings call on Thursday, May 15, 2025, retail giant Walmart issued a heads-up to consumers: brace for potentially higher prices on a range of goods in the near future. Executives indicated that while the company is striving to maintain its commitment to everyday low prices, the impact of recent tariffs imposed by the U.S. government is making some price increases unavoidable.

Walmart leadership, including CEO Doug McMillon and CFO John David Rainey, explained that despite efforts to absorb costs and work with suppliers, the magnitude of the new import taxes on goods is too significant for the company's narrow retail margins to fully bear. They warned that shoppers could start seeing these higher prices appearing on shelves as early as late May, with more widespread increases expected in June.

While Walmart emphasized its dedication to keeping essential items like groceries affordable, the price adjustments are anticipated for categories heavily reliant on imports from countries affected by the tariffs. This includes goods such as electronics, toys, some home furnishings, and even certain food items like bananas and coffee. The company stated that even with recent adjustments to some tariff rates, the overall level of duties remains a substantial cost pressure that must, in part, be passed on to customers.

The warning from Walmart, often seen as a bellwether for consumer spending, underscores the potential impact of trade policy on household budgets. It also comes as other retailers face similar cost pressures and consumers are reportedly becoming more cautious with their spending amidst ongoing economic uncertainty.

Following Walmart's announcement, President Trump publicly urged the company to "eat the tariffs" rather than charging customers more. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later acknowledged that some price increases are likely but suggested Walmart's statements represented a "worst-case scenario," while also pointing to lower gasoline prices as a potential offset for consumers.

Despite the challenging tariff environment, Walmart reported solid first-quarter results, exceeding profit expectations, though revenue slightly missed estimates. However, the company maintained its full-year guidance, signaling that it anticipates navigating the cost pressures, partly through strategic pricing adjustments where necessary.

New York, NY – Moody's Ratings on Friday, May 16, 2025, downgraded the United States government's long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings by one notch, from the top tier Aaa to Aa1. The move marks the loss of the U.S.'s last perfect Aaa rating from any of the three major credit rating agencies, following similar actions by Standard & Poor's in 2011 and Fitch Ratings in 2023.

In its announcement, Moody's cited the substantial increase in the U.S. government's debt and interest payment ratios over the past decade, which have reached levels significantly higher than similarly rated sovereign peers. The agency projected that persistent and large fiscal deficits are expected to continue driving these key metrics upward in the years to come. Moody's noted that successive U.S. administrations and Congress have not implemented effective measures to reverse the trend of widening deficits and growing interest costs, anticipating that federal deficits could reach nearly 9% of GDP by 2035, pushing debt-to-GDP to around 134%.

Despite the downgrade, Moody's shifted the outlook for the U.S. rating to stable from negative. This stable outlook reflects the U.S.'s enduring credit strengths, including the sheer size, resilience, and dynamism of its economy, as well as the unparalleled role of the U.S. dollar as the world's primary reserve currency. Moody's also acknowledged the expectation for continued effective monetary policy by the Federal Reserve and the resilience of U.S. institutions, even amidst periods of policy uncertainty. While a lower credit rating can sometimes lead to higher borrowing costs for a country, the stable outlook and the U.S.'s fundamental economic advantages are expected to temper such impacts.

$TD 

TD Bank is embarking on a significant consolidation of its physical footprint, announcing the closure of approximately 40 branch locations across the United States this summer, with the majority slated to close by June 5th. This move impacts several states, including New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Pennsylvania, and reflects a broader trend within the banking industry as institutions adapt to the increasing prevalence of digital banking. TD Bank assures customers that this decision is part of their normal business practices to align with evolving customer preferences, and they remain committed to serving their clientele through over 1,100 remaining branches and a robust suite of digital platforms.   

This branch reduction comes on the heels of a significant $3 billion penalty levied against TD Bank in 2024 for failures in its anti-money laundering (AML) program. While the bank states the closures are driven by the shift towards online and mobile banking, the recent regulatory scrutiny and the associated costs may also be a contributing factor as TD Bank looks to streamline operations and potentially reallocate resources. The bank has emphasized its commitment to a smooth transition for affected customers and employees, promising to provide advance notice and assistance in moving their accounts to nearby branches or utilizing their digital services. As customer behavior continues to evolve, with more individuals opting for the convenience of online and mobile banking, TD Bank's strategic decision to reduce its physical presence underscores the ongoing transformation within the financial services sector

$DAL $JBLU $AAL $LUV  and I'm probably forgetting some...

Mother's Day travel turned into a logistical nightmare for many, especially those passing through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world's busiest hubs. A morning runway equipment malfunction triggered a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground stop, effectively halting all departing flights and significantly slowing arrivals. This sudden disruption cascaded throughout the national air traffic system, leading to hundreds of delayed flights across various airlines and airports.   

The ripple effects were felt immediately as families trying to reunite for Mother's Day found themselves stuck in terminals or on grounded planes. Airlines scrambled to manage the chaos, rebook passengers, and address the growing frustration among travelers. While the ground stop was lifted after a couple of hours, the backlog of flights and the sheer volume of Mother's Day weekend travelers meant that delays persisted throughout the day. This incident not only impacted domestic travel but also caused disruptions for international carriers operating in and out of Atlanta, highlighting the fragility of the interconnected global air travel network during peak travel periods.   

President Trump's efforts to lower prescription drug prices have involved a multifaceted approach, aiming to address various aspects of the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare system. Here's a more detailed breakdown:   

Key Actions and Objectives:

• Executive Orders:
  • President Trump has issued executive orders directing federal agencies, particularly the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to implement policies aimed at reducing drug costs. These orders have focused on:   
    • Aligning Medicare payments for certain drugs with hospital acquisition costs.   
    • Standardizing Medicare payments for prescription drugs across different care settings.   
    • Providing discounts to low-income patients for essential medications like insulin and epinephrine.   
    • Facilitating the importation of prescription drugs from other countries, such as Canada, to increase competition and lower prices.
  • These executive orders also focus on increasing transparency within the pharmaceutical supply chain, with a focus on pharmacy benefit managers.   
• Medicare Drug Price Negotiation:
  • A key aspect of his approach involves addressing the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. He has sought to:   
    • Improve the transparency of the program.
    • Prioritize the selection of high-cost drugs for negotiation.   
    • Modify the program to ensure equitable treatment of small molecule drugs (pills) and biologics.   
• Addressing Anticompetitive Practices:
  • The administration has also aimed to tackle anticompetitive behavior within the pharmaceutical market, involving collaboration between HHS, the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, and the Federal Trade Commission.   
• Emphasis on Transparency:
  • A large focus has been placed on increasing the transparency of the pharmaceutical industry. The goal is that consumers will be able to see the true cost of drugs, before purchasing them.   

Key Goals:

• To significantly reduce the cost of prescription drugs for American patients, particularly those on Medicare and low-income individuals.   
• To create a more competitive and transparent pharmaceutical market.
• To ensure that American patients pay fair prices for medications, comparable to those in other countries.   

Should i man up and add apple - $AAPL already?

They've found a way around the tarrifs and the IPhone keeps dominating headlines. Can anyone stop them?

Have you heard the news about Tesla $TSLA looking for a new CEO to replace Elon Musk?