What drove Netflix's big quarter, who is returning to the office (and who isn't)

Market Trends - All major indices ended the day up, fueled by fresh earnings reports and new economic data [2] - The S&P 500 and NASDAQ reached fresh record closes as investors digested corporate earnings and economic data [21] - Meme stocks were up, considered a win for the stock market [24] Netflix Performance and Strategy - Netflix's Q2 revenue growth exceeded guidance and expectations, with operating margin also outperforming expectations [4] - Netflix increased its full-year revenue growth outlook from 13% to 15% [5] - Netflix slightly raised its full-year operating margin forecast to 295%, though investors anticipated a range of 30% to 31% [5] - Netflix's content slate for the second half of the year is expected to be very strong, potentially leading to strong subscriber growth [8][9][10] - Netflix is taking a disciplined approach to content spend, aiming for revenue growth to outpace content spend growth [11][12] - Netflix is leveraging AI to revamp its user interface and improve its content recommendation engine [18][19] Commodities Market - The 30-year yield has been juicing commodities due to record fiscal deficits and the Federal Reserve's expected easing [25] - Commodities are experiencing pressure, with platinum up 35%, palladium up 24%, and orange juice up 18% over the past month [28] Sports Gambling Legislation - A new provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could cap gambling loss offsets at 90%, potentially harming professional gamblers and leading them to offshore markets [36][37] - The federal government could benefit from increased tax revenue, shifting revenue from the states [39] Hawkeye Technology - Sony owns Hawkeye, a technology used in various sports for reviewing calls and providing analytics [46] - Installing Hawkeye on a tennis court costs approximately $100000 [46] - FIFA installation costs $250000 with 6 to 12 cameras [49] Return to Office Trends - 29% of men are now working from home, down from 34% two years ago, while 36% of women are still working from home [50] - 9 in 10 CEOs value people who come into the office for raises and promotions, potentially widening the pay gap for women, who currently make about 85% of male wages [51][52]