Core Point - YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump regarding the suspension of his account after the January 2021 US Capitol riots [1][4] Group 1: Settlement Details - The settlement includes a payment of $22 million on Trump's behalf to the Trust for the National Mall, which is focused on constructing a $200 million ballroom at the White House [3] - The remaining amount from the settlement will be distributed to other plaintiffs in the case, including the American Conservative Union [3] Group 2: Related Lawsuits - Meta and X (formerly Twitter) have also agreed to pay settlements in similar lawsuits filed by Trump [2]

Group 1 - Comcast will appoint President Michael Cavanagh as co-CEO, adopting a dual chief executive model as part of a restructuring plan [1][4] - The company plans to spin off its NBCUniversal cable channels, including USA Network and CNBC, into a new entity called Versant later this year [4][7] - Cavanagh will join the board and is expected to help lead the company through its transition to drive growth [4][6] Group 2 - Comcast is restructuring its largest business unit, which includes Xfinity internet, mobile, and pay TV services, by eliminating a layer of management and cutting jobs [5] - The company is responding to intense competition in its broadband business from wireless telecom providers by introducing national pricing, five-year price guarantees, and bundled mobile and broadband packages [6]

Core Insights - The value of America's gold reserves has surpassed $1 trillion for the first time, driven by a significant increase in gold prices, which have risen 45% this year due to safe-haven buying amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties [1][3][4] Gold Reserves and Valuation - The US Treasury holds approximately 261.5 million ounces of gold, the largest stockpile in the world, stored in various locations including Fort Knox and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York [1][12] - At current market prices, the gold reserves are valued at over 90 times the official $11 billion figure, which is based on a price set by Congress in 1973 at $42.22 per ounce [3][4] Market Impact and Investor Sentiment - The $1 trillion valuation is seen as more symbolic than structural, yet it can influence market dynamics and attract new investments into gold ETFs and futures [6][7] - Milestones like this can lead to a crowded market, making it more susceptible to profit-taking and increased volatility [9][10] Economic Context - An update to the gold prices could provide a substantial financial windfall for the government, potentially covering half of the current year's budget deficit of $1.97 trillion [4][10] - Despite the significant valuation increase, experts caution that it does not equate to an increase in liquidity or spending power for the US government, emphasizing that it is a psychological marker rather than a policy shift [10][12]

Core Viewpoint - Cannabis stocks experienced significant gains following President Donald Trump's promotion of a video advocating for the inclusion of cannabidiol (CBD) under Medicare coverage [1][6]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Tilray Brands surged nearly 20% and was up 36% after market open [1]. - Canopy Growth jumped about 20%, while Cronos Group rose 13% [1]. - Aurora Cannabis climbed 13.3%, and Trulieve Cannabis spiked almost 20% [1]. - Green Thumb Industries, Curaleaf Holdings, and Innovative Industrial Properties also saw considerable share price increases [3]. Group 2: Video Promotion and Content - The video produced by The Commonwealth Project features Trump and a narrator advocating for wider access to CBD for seniors [6][9]. - The narrator claims that hemp-derived CBD can significantly improve the quality of life for older adults [7][10]. - The video suggests that CBD can help restore the endocannabinoid system and assist with pain, sleep, and stress [10]. Group 3: Regulatory Context - Trump previously indicated he was considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous substance, although no action has been taken yet [8]. - The timing of the video promotion coincides with Congress deliberating on tightening hemp regulations, with some Republicans advocating for stricter limits on CBD products containing trace amounts of THC [8].

Core Viewpoint - Electronic Arts (EA) is going private in an all-cash deal valued at $55 billion, marking the largest leveraged buyout in Wall Street history, with shareholders receiving $210 per share [1][10]. Company Overview - EA is renowned for popular video games such as The Sims, Madden NFL series, and FIFA, and has been in the gaming industry since 1982 [4][10]. - The company’s market value increased from approximately $43 billion to a record high of around $48 billion following the announcement of the deal [4]. Deal Structure - The acquisition involves a $36 billion equity check and $20 billion in debt financing from JPMorgan [5][12]. - The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) will roll over its existing 9.9% stake and become the majority investor in the new structure [4]. Investor Insights - Jared Kushner, leading Affinity Partners, expressed excitement about EA's management and vision for the future, highlighting a personal connection to the company's games [5]. - Silver Lake, a technology-focused private equity firm managing about $110 billion, is also a key investor in this deal [8]. Timeline and Future Outlook - The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, with a 45-day window for other proposals [8]. - EA's CEO, Andrew Wilson, expressed enthusiasm about continuing as CEO and pushing the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology [7].

OPEC+ will likely approve another oil production increase of at least 137,000 barrels per day at its meeting next Sunday, as rising oil prices encourage the group to try to further regain market share, three sources familiar with the talks said.OPEC+ has reversed its strategy of output cuts from April and has already raised quotas by more than 2.5 million barrels per day, representing about 2.4% of world demand, to boost market share and after coming under pressure from President Trump to lower oil prices.E ...

Core Insights - Cracker Barrel's Maple Street Biscuit Company has closed 14 locations due to financial underperformance, impacting fiscal 2026 [1][10] - The company acquired Maple Street Biscuit Company in October 2019 for $36 million and still operates over 50 locations [2] - Cracker Barrel is facing backlash from a recent marketing misstep, which included a logo redesign that was quickly reversed [3][9] Financial Performance - Cracker Barrel reported a 2.9% decline in revenue in the latest quarter compared to the same period last year [9] - Customer traffic has decreased by 8% since the introduction of a simplified logo in August [9] Management and Strategy - CEO Julie Felss Masino acknowledged the company's misjudgment regarding customer attachment to its nostalgic branding [6] - The company has reverted to its "Old Timer" logo and is implementing new marketing strategies focused on nostalgia [7] - Four of the 660 restaurants had undergone a modernized redesign, but the company is now converting them back to traditional interiors [7]

Core Insights - Comcast is spinning off its cable division, including MSNBC and CNBC, into a new publicly traded company named Versant, expected to launch by the end of 2025 under the ticker VSNT [4][5] - The spin-off is structured to be tax-free for Comcast shareholders, who will receive shares in Versant, which will start with approximately $7 billion in annual revenue and minimal debt [5] Group 1: Layoffs and Reorganization - NBC News has laid off fewer than a dozen staffers from its graphics unit, which historically supported both NBC News and MSNBC, as part of the preparations for the spin-off [1][3] - The shared graphics team has been reorganized, with some employees moving to Versant while others remain with NBC News, and several being cut entirely [3][11] Group 2: Changes in Operations - Joint editorial meetings between NBC News and MSNBC will cease, and they will no longer share content, except for NBC's Decision Desk, which will be used by MSNBC for election coverage until the end of the year [9][11] - MSNBC will rebrand as "MS NOW" starting in November, shedding the "NBC" name and the iconic peacock logo, while moving into new studios in New York [14] Group 3: Future Plans for Versant - Versant executives are establishing an independent newsroom and standards operation to replace NBC's editorial support, indicating a shift towards greater independence for MSNBC [11] - Programming and marquee hosts at MSNBC are expected to remain intact, with plans to expand news coverage and strengthen reporting ranks [15]

Group 1 - The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation, rose 2.7% in August year-over-year, up from 2.6% in July [1] - Core PCE, which excludes food and energy prices, remained unchanged at 2.9% for August [1] - Consumer inflation also increased to 2.9% in August according to the Consumer Price Index [5][6] Group 2 - The Federal Reserve recently cut interest rates by a quarter point to a range of 4% to 4.25%, marking its first cut since December 2024 [2] - Markets are anticipating another quarter-point cut at the Fed's upcoming meeting in October [2] - Analysts believe that despite inflation being above the Fed's 2% target, the central bank is likely to proceed with further rate cuts due to stable inflation conditions [3]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale reported its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025 earnings, highlighting new global locations, digital upgrades, and expanded hours for executive members [1][8] - The company has seen a 1% increase in weekly US sales due to the new exclusive morning hours for executive members and additional Saturday evening hours for all US members [2] Expansion and Membership - In the fourth quarter, Costco opened 10 new warehouses, including locations in Canada, Korea, Sweden, and five in the US, bringing the total to 914 warehouses globally [3] - The company plans to open another 35 warehouses in fiscal year 2026, indicating ongoing expansion opportunities both domestically and internationally [4] Membership Growth and Sales Performance - Costco's paid membership increased to 81 million, a 6.3% rise from the previous year, with renewal rates at 92.3% in the US and Canada and 89.8% worldwide [6] - Quarterly net sales rose 8% to $84.4 billion, up from $78.2 billion a year ago, while fiscal year net sales climbed 8.1% to $269.9 billion compared to $249.6 billion last year [7]