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Tesla reveals its long-awaited affordable models, the $34,990 Model 3 Standard and $37,990 Model Y Standard
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 18:40
Core Insights - Tesla has launched budget-friendly versions of its popular Model Y and Model 3, priced at $39,990 and $36,990 respectively, marking a significant move towards affordability in the EV market [1][2] - The introduction of these models comes after Tesla reported record quarterly sales, driven by consumer demand ahead of the expiration of the $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicles [1][2] Pricing and Incentives - Without the federal tax credit, the starting prices for the Model 3 and base Model Y are approximately $42,500 and $45,000 in the US [2] - In New York, state incentives can further reduce the price of the Model 3 Standard to $34,990 and the Model Y Standard to $37,990 [2] Historical Context - The search for an affordable Tesla model has been ongoing since CEO Elon Musk hinted at a $25,000 EV in 2018, addressing the need for sub-$30,000 electric vehicle options [3][8] - Industry analysts have identified affordability as a key barrier to the mass adoption of electric vehicles [8] Strategic Focus - Musk emphasized the need for more affordable EVs and increased energy storage to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy during Tesla's Battery Day in 2020 [9] - Despite the focus on affordability, Musk has prioritized self-driving technology, which has led to missed deadlines for the introduction of lower-cost models [9][10]
A Market Bear's 'Sleep at Night' Fund Is Beating the S&P 500 This Year
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 17:50
Core Viewpoint - David Rosenberg, a well-known economist and founder of Rosenberg Research, has established a fund based on his bearish outlook on the US economy, which has yielded significant returns this year [1][2]. Performance Summary - The Rosie Macro Fund has achieved a 28% return year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500's 14% gain [2]. - From February to April 2023, the fund outperformed the S&P 500 by over 1,200 basis points and the typical 60/40 stock-bond portfolio by 460 basis points during a market downturn caused by tariffs [2]. Fund Composition - The fund includes a diverse range of investments, focusing on capital preservation and cash flows, with significant allocations to US Treasury ETFs, defense technology, uranium, and gold [4][7]. - Key holdings include: - US Treasury 10-year Note ETF (9.8%) - US Treasury 2-Year Note ETF (9.0%) - Global X Defense Tech ETF (7.1%) - Global X Uranium ETF (6.6%) - SPDR Gold Shares ETF (6.6%) [7]. Future Plans - Rosenberg's firm is in the process of converting the Rosie Macro Fund into a listed exchange-traded fund (ETF), potentially launching as early as January [8]. Economic Outlook - Rosenberg maintains a pessimistic view on the US economy, predicting a recession and a period of negative returns for stocks, contrasting with the prevailing bullish sentiment on Wall Street [9].
Where Business Insider's 2025 Rising Stars of Wall Street went to college and other fun facts
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 17:42
Business Insider's 2025 Rising Stars of Wall Street represent some of the hottest careers in investing, trading, and dealmaking.In an effort to show what the next generation of Wall Street looks like, we analyzed where this year's class went to college, how they launched their careers, and other key trends that demonstrate what it takes to work in finance.Here is your snapshot of 25 up-and-comers who are shaping the future of Wall Street. Meet the classNine work on the sell side at investment banks, while ...
The Best Prime Day Headphone and Earbud Deals Picked by Audio Experts
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 13:23
Core Insights - Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale features significant discounts across various product categories, particularly in audio gear [1][3] - Notable deals include the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones at $298, down from $399.99, and Apple AirPods (4th Gen) with ANC priced at $119.99, reduced from $179 [2][9] Discounts and Offers - The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are available at a 25% discount, showcasing excellent noise-canceling performance and audio quality [6] - Apple AirPods (4th Gen) with ANC are offered at a 33% discount, featuring the H2 chip for enhanced audio capabilities [9] - JLab Go Air Pop Bluetooth Earbuds are priced at $16.62, representing a 52% discount, making them a budget-friendly option [19] Product Features - The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are highlighted for their noise-canceling capabilities and user-friendly features [6][10] - Apple AirPods (4th Gen) provide a semi-open fit and advanced features like Transparency Mode and Adaptive Audio [9][10] - Bose's QuietComfort Ultra headphones are noted for their best-in-class noise canceling and comfort, available at a 23% discount [30] Market Timing - Prime Day is identified as an optimal time for purchasing headphones, with significant discounts on top-rated models from brands like Sony, Apple, and Bose [39]
8 AI stocks are worth $4.3 trillion more this year. That's 15 Coca-Colas or 20 McDonald's.
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 13:01
It took Warren Buffett nearly 60 years to build Berkshire Hathaway into a $1 trillion conglomerate. Eight AI companies have together gained quadruple that in market value in just over nine months. Whether you think AI stocks will keep booming or burst like the dot-com bubble, the growth of these companies has been unprecedented. Their year-to-date gains alone dwarf the total value of some of America's biggest and best-known companies.Nvidia has added $1.2 trillion to its market value to reach an unpreceden ...
Trump wanted to reduce trade deficits, but at least one has ballooned since he took office
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 08:51
Core Insights - The travel trade deficit in the United States has significantly increased, reaching nearly $70 billion for 2025, as international visitors are spending less in the U.S. while Americans are traveling abroad more [2][5][6] Industry Overview - Travel is a crucial export sector for the United States, encompassing services consumed by foreigners, such as hotel stays [3] - Historically, the travel industry has generated a trade surplus, but recent trends show a reversal with a $50 billion deficit reported in April 2023, compared to a $3.5 billion surplus in 2022 [5] Visitor Trends - The U.S. is expected to see a 6.3% decline in international arrivals in 2025 compared to 2024, marking the first decrease since 2020, with visitor spending projected to drop by 3.2% [6] - The decline in Canadian visitors has been identified as a primary factor contributing to the travel trade deficit, with a nearly 34% drop in Canadians returning from the U.S. by car in August compared to the previous year [10][11] Future Outlook - Upcoming major events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the 250th anniversary celebrations of the U.S., are anticipated to help reverse the decline in international visitors [12] - However, potential challenges remain, including increased visa fees, longer wait times for visa applications, and negative sentiment towards the U.S. in key markets, which could further deter international visitors [13]
Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Google are gambling $320 billion on AI infrastructure. The payoff isn't there yet
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 08:20
Investment and Infrastructure - The Trump administration prioritizes infrastructure development to support the AI revolution, with significant investments expected from major tech companies [1] - Meta plans to invest $600 billion in AI infrastructure by 2028, while OpenAI and Oracle are set to invest $500 billion in a project called Stargate [1] - Amazon anticipates spending over $30 billion on capital expenditures in the next two quarters [1] Economic Impact and Concerns - The business case for AI remains untested, raising concerns about whether revenue from AI products will justify the increasing expenditures [2] - The current spending on AI infrastructure and software has contributed more to GDP growth than consumer spending [8] - There are fears of a potential bubble in the tech sector, with the Nasdaq up 19% this year despite concerns [7] Data Center Growth - An investigation revealed that there are 1,240 data centers in the US, marking a nearly fourfold increase since 2010 [3] - Major energy users like Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Google are projected to spend an estimated $320 billion on capital expenditures this year, primarily for AI infrastructure [4] Future Projections and Challenges - Bain estimates that by 2030, annual capital expenditures will reach $500 billion, requiring companies to generate $2 trillion in annual revenue to justify the spending [23] - OpenAI's CFO stated the company expects to triple its revenue to about $13 billion this year, while agreeing to pay Oracle $60 billion annually for data center capacity [24] Financing and Investment Strategies - Companies are increasingly turning to non-traditional financing methods to fund their data center expansions, with Meta raising $29 billion from various investment firms [33] - The structured-credit market is being utilized to finance the data center boom, with developers packaging rental income into bonds for further investment [35] Industry Comparisons and Historical Context - The current AI infrastructure boom is being compared to historical projects like the Apollo space program and the railroad system, highlighting its scale and ambition [9][10] - Past overinvestments in industries like railroads led to significant financial crises, raising concerns about the sustainability of current AI investments [15][30]
Rivian CEO: Tesla is going all in on cameras, but self-driving cars still need LiDAR
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 03:38
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says his company has a different view on LiDAR and its relevance to achieving autonomous driving than Tesla. "Our view is that it's definitely beneficial, and our approach to sensors has been that we need to rapidly build our foundation model as fast as possible," Scaringe told The Verge's "Decoder" podcast in an episode that aired Monday.Scaringe told guest host and journalist Joanna Stern that there is a "real benefit" and that he "wouldn't rule out" including it in a self-driving ...
Play Store downloads could soon get cheaper after the Supreme Court denies Google's bid to delay antitrust changes
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 01:50
Core Viewpoint - Google's Play Store is undergoing significant changes following the Supreme Court's denial of its request to block a lower court ruling that mandates the opening of its app ecosystem to competitors and allows developers to use alternative payment systems [1][10]. Group 1: Legal Context - The legal battle originates from a 2020 lawsuit filed by Epic Games against Google, claiming that Google's practices constitute an illegal monopoly over Android app downloads and in-app payments [3][4]. - A California jury ruled in favor of Epic Games in December 2023, determining that Google's Play Store policies violated antitrust laws, leading to a court order for Google to allow competing app stores and alternative billing systems for three years [4][5]. Group 2: Implications for Developers and Users - The Supreme Court's ruling means that Android users will soon be able to access apps directly from developers outside the Play Store, with pricing set by the developers [2][10]. - Developers will have the ability to direct users to cheaper payment options outside of Google's billing system, potentially lowering costs for consumers [2][10]. Group 3: Related Industry Developments - Apple is facing similar legal challenges from Epic Games, resulting in comparable remedies, including the allowance of links to external payment systems, which have already been implemented [11].
Why the price of gold could surge 150% by the end of the decade, according to a market vet
Business Insider· 2025-10-07 00:16
Gold has the wind at its back this year and is among the top-performing assets in the market, but the blistering rally could stretch on for years, one market forecaster says. Ed Yardeni wrote on Monday that gold's record-breaking rally could last through the rest of this decade, ultimately pushing the precious metal to $10,000 an ounce. Yardeni's price target implies the price of gold rising 151% over the next five years. It's an even more ambitious ascent than Yardeni's highly bullish outlook for the S&P ...