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Last Week’s Headlines

Economy & World News

• China Expels 9 Military Officials in Biggest Purge Since Mao Era
  China’s Defense Ministry expelled nine top generals for serious violations of discipline and law, including the country’s second-highest general He Weidong and top political officer Miao Hua. It marks the largest military purge since the Cultural Revolution.

• EU Launches Drone and Air Defense Plan for 2026
  The European Union unveiled a five-year defense strategy to create joint drone and missile defense systems to strengthen the bloc’s military capabilities and reduce reliance on U.S. support.

• White House Plans to Shut Down CFPB
  White House Budget Director Russell Vought announced plans to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau within months, arguing it has been weaponized against small lenders and failed to protect consumers.

• Army Corps of Engineers Freezes 11 Billion in Projects
  The Trump administration paused 11 billion dollars in infrastructure projects due to the government shutdown, labeling them lower-priority in major U.S. cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Boston.

• Trump Threatens China with Cooking Oil Embargo
  President Trump said his administration is considering terminating business with China related to cooking oil in retaliation for Beijing refusing to purchase U.S. soybeans, reigniting trade tensions between the nations.

• Singapore Joins World’s Top Pension Systems
  Singapore entered the top global pension rankings for the first time, joining the Netherlands, Iceland, Denmark, and Israel in the highest-rated systems, according to the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index.

• EU Military Expansion to Counter Russia
  The European Union is proposing a coordinated rearmament plan aimed at improving defense manufacturing capacity and deterring Russian aggression across Europe.

• China’s Internal Crackdown Raises Political Risk
  The expulsion of senior military leaders deepens uncertainty within China’s defense command structure, signaling growing internal instability under Xi Jinping’s leadership.

Public Markets

•  TSMC Profit Jumps 39 Percent on AI Chip Demand
  TSMC reported a major profit increase driven by strong demand for high-performance AI and 5G chips, with AI-related sales now accounting for more than half of total revenue.

• Apple Loses AI Chief to Meta
  Apple’s executive overseeing its ChatGPT-like AI search initiative resigned to join Meta, marking the latest in a wave of departures from Apple’s artificial intelligence division.

• Harvard Reports 113 Million Dollar Deficit
  Harvard University posted its first operating loss since 2020 as rising costs and political battles with the Trump administration strained finances, even as its endowment grew to nearly 57 billion dollars.

• FAA Allows Boeing to Increase 737 Max Production
  The FAA approved Boeing to raise 737 Max output to 42 planes per month, marking a recovery milestone for the manufacturer after years of production restrictions.

• Disney Weighs Co-CEO Succession Plan
  Disney is considering appointing Dana Walden and Josh D’Amaro as co-CEOs following Bob Iger’s planned 2026 retirement, though analysts warn the dual structure could cause leadership friction.

• Apple Expands Smart Device Production in Vietnam
  Apple plans to produce new smart home devices and a tabletop robot in Vietnam by 2027, reducing its dependence on Chinese manufacturing.

• Salesforce Integrates Agentforce into ChatGPT
  Salesforce announced its Agentforce platform will integrate with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, allowing customers to manage sales directly through conversational AI and instant checkout features.

• Microsoft Expands AI Data Center Capacity in Texas
  Microsoft partnered with Nscale to build its fourth AI data center in Texas in two months, adding 240 megawatts of capacity to support rising global AI workloads.

Real Estate & Private Equity

•  Brookfield to Acquire Remaining Stake in Oaktree for 3 Billion
  Brookfield Asset Management will purchase the remaining 26 percent of Oaktree Capital, gaining full control of the firm and expanding its presence in private credit.

• Rayonier and PotlatchDeltic Merge to Form Timber Giant
  The two timberland owners announced an all-stock merger valued at over 7 billion dollars, creating one of the largest forestry companies in the U.S.

• Polaris Exits Motorcycle Business
  Polaris sold its Indian Motorcycle brand to Los Angeles-based Carolwood LP, allowing the company to focus on off-road vehicles and improve profitability.

• Altadena Powerball Winner Funds Wildfire Rebuild
  Edwin Castro, the record 2 billion dollar Powerball winner, is using his fortune to lead rebuilding efforts in his fire-damaged hometown of Altadena, California.

• MGM Withdraws from New York Casino Project
  MGM Resorts pulled out of the race for a New York City casino license, citing weaker returns and rising competition, leaving three companies still in contention.

• Harvard Endowment Grows Despite Financial Pressures
  Despite its deficit, Harvard’s 56.9 billion dollar endowment gained nearly 12 percent, supported by private equity and stock market investments.

• Brookfield and Bloom Energy Expand AI Data Center Partnership
  Brookfield committed 5 billion dollars to deploy Bloom Energy fuel cells across AI data centers, part of a push toward energy-efficient computing infrastructure.

• China’s Military Purge Signals Economic Unease
  The removal of nine generals underscores growing concern over corruption and financial inefficiency in China’s defense sector, potentially impacting investor confidence.

M&A, IPO’s, Bankruptcies

• Apple and Formula 1 Sign Five-Year Streaming Deal
  Apple secured exclusive rights to stream all Formula 1 races in the U.S. through Apple TV for the next five years, replacing ESPN as the official broadcaster.

• Jeep Parent Stellantis Announces 13 Billion Dollar U.S. Investment Plan
  Stellantis will invest heavily in expanding American manufacturing operations and adding more than 5,000 jobs across Midwest plants through 2029.

• Microsoft Strengthens AI Infrastructure Partnerships
  Microsoft’s repeated deals with Nscale demonstrate the company’s aggressive push to scale up its AI computing power and data infrastructure nationwide.

• Boeing’s Production Ramp Marks Industry Recovery
  Increased 737 Max output signals a rebound in aerospace demand, restoring confidence in Boeing’s long-term profitability.

• Disney Succession Plan Faces Historical Challenges
  Disney’s leadership structure has faced tension during past transitions, leading some analysts to question the stability of a co-CEO arrangement.

• Apple’s Move to Vietnam Reflects Supply Chain Diversification
  Apple’s decision to move manufacturing further into Southeast Asia underscores the tech sector’s broader realignment away from China.

• EU Drone Plan Aligns with NATO Strategy
  The EU’s defense initiative dovetails with NATO’s expanding drone wall project, aimed at improving border surveillance and air defense integration.

• China’s Political Purge Reverberates Across Global Markets
  Global investors are watching closely as Beijing’s anti-corruption drive hits senior military ranks, signaling tighter state control and increased unpredictability.