Regulatory Landscape & Institutional Adoption - Banking regulators (OCC, Fed, FDIC) are greenlighting crypto, enabling banks to offer crypto services [1] - Institutional players, including the largest global bank, are entering the crypto space [2] - Standard Chartered became the first global bank to offer institutional Bitcoin and Ethereum trading [16][17] - Citigroup ($2 trillion) is considering issuing its own stablecoin to facilitate digital payments [18] - JP Morgan Chase will get involved in stablecoins due to fintech threats [24] Ripple & XRP - Ripple caters to institutional clients, building a path for them to XRP [3][5] - DZ Bank launched a digital custody service for crypto securities using the XRP Ledger [6] - A Swiss-regulated bank is the first globally to support Ripple's ROUSD stablecoin offering custody and trading to institutional clients [6] - Ripple has over 500 announced partnerships, including with major banks [11] - XRP can serve as a neutral bridge currency between different stablecoins issued by various banks [38] Stablecoins & Digital Finance - Crypto unlocks the path to digital finance and is the financial system for the internet [4] - Ripple's ROUSD has the potential to challenge existing stablecoins like USDT and USDC [31][32] - JP Morgan is filing for blockchain-related trademarks, indicating stablecoin plans [29] - As more stablecoins emerge, XRP's original use case as a bridge currency becomes more relevant [37] iTrust Capital Partnership - iTrust Capital is a platform for premium custody accounts and crypto Roth IRAs, offering 80+ digital assets [7] - iTrust Capital offers institutional-grade security and 100% US-based support [8] - New users can receive a $100 funding bonus by signing up through a specific link [8][9] - iTrust Capital has 0% annual fees and 1% cryptocurrency transaction fees [9]

Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - The market reacted negatively to rumors of President Trump firing Federal Reserve chief Pal, with longer-term interest rates increasing from 497% to 507% in an hour, and the S&P 500 decreasing from 6,254 to 6,201 [3][4] - The market rallied when the President denied the rumors, indicating that the stock and bond markets do not want Pal ousted [3][5] - The market is questioning whether Trump is wrong about firing Pal, as stocks are supposed to benefit from lower interest rates, but didn't soar when the rumor of Pal's firing surfaced [8] - The consumer price index showed signs of inflation from the President's tariffs, with higher prices for clothing, furniture, cleaning products, food away from home, meats, poultry, coffee, gasoline, and even soft drinks [10][11] - The Fed is waiting to see the full impact of tariffs before cutting rates, as the economy is not currently in a slowdown, and employment is at 41% [14][15] Big Banks Earnings Analysis - The big banks' year-to-date gains ranged from 7% for Bank of America to nearly 25% for Goldman Sachs, setting a high bar for earnings season [32] - JP Morgan raised its full-year net interest income forecast by $1 billion, but also raised its expense guidance by $500 million [34][35] - Wells Fargo cut its full-year forecast for net interest income, causing the stock to drop more than 5% [38][39] - Citigroup reported a big top and bottom line beat, with net interest income more than $1 billion above the consensus estimate, and the stock jumped 37% [42] - Bank of America managed a bottom line beat, but missed on the top line due to a nasty net interest income miss [45] - Goldman Sachs had the best report of the big banks, with investment banking up 26% year-over-year, equities trading up 36%, and M&A advisory revenue up 71% year-over-year [48][49] - Morgan Stanley reported healthy top and bottom line beats, with wealth and investment management having $82 trillion in combined total client assets [49] Cheesecake Factory Analysis - Cheesecake Factory's stock is up over 31% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500's 65% gain over the same period [53] - The company has 350 locations across the US and Canada, including 215 flagship Cheesecake Factory restaurants [54] - The diverse menu eliminates the "no vote" when deciding where to go out to eat, and the wide variety of price points offers value for everyone [57] - Cheesecake Factory's annualized unit volume is $125 million, an obscenely large number for the restaurant industry [58] - The company has been named one of Fortune Magazine's 100 best places to work for the 12th consecutive year [60] - Recent operational performance and notable results were driven by the company's talented team and ongoing focus on staffing and retention [62] - The company delivered impressive unit level margins of 166% in its most recent quarter, while Wall Street was only looking for 158% [66] - The company is planning to open 25 new locations this year across all their brands, with North Italia's unified at $775 million and Flower Child's at $46 million [67][68] First Horizon Analysis - First Horizon delivered a strong enough quarter to make the stock rally, with a small revenue beat plus a nice 3 cent earnings beat off a 42 cent basis [78][79] - The customer has become very encouraged and confident over the course of the last 90 days, with momentum building across the quarter [81] - The company's CFO said that the high rates has really stifled mortgage originations, but the team has done a really nice job of consolidating market share [86] - Lower rates would actually accelerate growth in the economy, and would have a stimulative effect in the near term [90][91] - There's a real opportunity in the middle market space, and there's a very good place for First Horizon in this space [93][94] Investment Strategy - When a stock starts to go lower, it will often keep going lower until all the people who don't know anything are done selling, and you get a terrific price from their ignorance [113] - If you own a stock and you see it go down, first check the conference call transcript, then put it through a chatbot and ask if anything went wrong that you might have missed [115][116] - If it checks out, then the answer is you need to do some buying on weakness, because the weakness won't last for long [116]

Market Trend - Citigroup predicts silver prices will rally beyond $40 per ounce [1] - The rally is driven by tightening physical supplies and growing investment demand [1]

Market Performance & Trends - The S&P 500 closed lower, while the Nasdaq Composite closed slightly higher [2][7] - Information Technology sector in the S&P 500 rose by 13%, driven by gains in chip companies [9] - Cyclical sectors lagged, with Dow transports down 16%, S&P 400 mid-caps down 18%, and Russell 2000 down 2% [8] - Bitcoin experienced a 3% decrease after reaching a record high of 120,000 [4] Company Specific News - NVIDIA shares increased by 4% after receiving assurances from the US government regarding export licenses for its H-20 chip to China [3][10][11] - Citigroup's shares rose by 37%, reaching their highest level since 2008, following strong regulatory stress test results and increased stock buybacks [12][13] - MP Materials shares surged by nearly 20% after Apple committed $500 million to buying the company's American-made rare earth magnets [14][15] - Wells Fargo's shares fell by approximately 5% after missing second-quarter net interest income estimates and lowering its full-year guidance for NII [15] - BlackRock's shares dropped by 5% after revenue and performance fees missed estimates, despite total assets reaching a record $125 trillion [17] - Newmont's shares fell by 57% following the resignation of the company's chief financial officer [18] - Omnicom reported second-quarter revenue of $42 billion, slightly above the consensus estimate of just under $4 billion, and adjusted EPS of $205, beating the consensus estimate of $198 [16] - J P Hind reported second-quarter EPS of $131, a penny higher than street estimates, and revenue of $293 billion, also a slight beat [21] Economic Factors - France is considering axing two public holidays in an attempt to tackle the deficit, which could give a boost of several billion euros to the country [23][25] - Kerrygold Butter is planning to slow down its U S investment due to uncertainty regarding Trump's trade settlement with the European Union [26] - The 30-year yield is pinned at the 5% mark, with the 20-year yield also camped out there [19]

Core Insights - Citigroup reported second-quarter results that exceeded expectations, with significant stock performance outperforming the market [1][2] - The results reflect a turbulent market period in early April, which likely benefited equity and fixed income trading [1] - Investors are keen to hear updates on the tariff situation and management's outlook [1] Financial Performance - Earnings per share were reported at $1.96, surpassing the estimate of $1.60 [4] - Revenue reached $21.67 billion, exceeding the estimate of $20.98 billion [4] Stock Performance - Citigroup's stock has increased by 24% year-to-date and 38% since April 14, outperforming the broader market and several universal bank peers [2] - The bank previously announced a dividend increase to 60 cents per share from 56 cents following the Federal Reserve stress tests [3] Strategic Updates - CEO Jane Fraser's turnaround plan includes a pullback from international markets and recent layoffs in China [2] - Investors are looking for further updates on the effectiveness of this turnaround strategy [2]

Core Insights - Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. has appointed Andrew Safran as a consultant, bringing extensive experience from his previous roles in investment banking and energy sectors [1][2] - The company aims to leverage Mr. Safran's relationships and expertise to enhance its capital structure following a strong performance in Fiscal 2025 Q3 [2] Company Overview - Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. operates in the propane logistics sector, serving customers across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico [3] - The company’s Blue Rhino propane exchange brand is available at over 68,000 locations nationwide [3] - Employees of Ferrellgas indirectly own 1.1 million Class A Units through an employee stock ownership plan [3]

Core Viewpoint - ArriVent BioPharma, Inc. plans to offer and sell $75 million of its common stock and pre-funded warrants, with a potential additional 15% option for underwriters, to support its drug development and general corporate purposes [1][2]. Group 1: Offering Details - The public offering includes $75 million in common stock and pre-funded warrants, with a 30-day option for underwriters to purchase an additional 15% [1]. - Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and Guggenheim Securities are the joint book-running managers for the offering [2]. - An automatic shelf registration statement was filed with the SEC on February 3, 2025, which became effective upon filing [3]. Group 2: Use of Proceeds - The net proceeds from the offering will be used to support activities related to firmonertinib and other pipeline programs, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes [2]. Group 3: Company Overview - ArriVent is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for cancer treatment, with a strong emphasis on its lead candidate, firmonertinib [5].

Citigroup hires veteran investment banker Akira Kiyota from Nomura, the latest sign of competition for talent among global financial firms as they seek to benefit from Japan’s dealmaking boom https://t.co/jaSA8hLJiL ...

Core Points - Kuya Silver Corporation held its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders on June 26, 2025, where all proposed matters were approved, including the appointment of new directors and the auditor [1][2] - The company welcomed three new independent directors: Gene McBurney, Lisa Wilkinson, and Sandro Ferrarone, enhancing the board's expertise in mining operations and corporate governance [3][8] - The company operates the Bethania silver mine in Peru and is focused on developing district-scale silver projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions [9] Summary by Category Shareholder Meeting Results - All matters put forward to shareholders were approved, including the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP as the auditor until the next annual meeting [2] - Shareholders ratified the 10% rolling equity incentive plan, which requires re-approval by June 27, 2028 [2] New Directors - Gene McBurney has over 25 years of investment banking experience and co-founded GMP Securities, contributing significant expertise in resource sectors [4] - Lisa Wilkinson has over 20 years in investor relations and corporate communications, currently serving as Vice President at Centerra Gold [5] - Sandro Ferrarone is Vice President and Country Manager for Coeur Mining in Mexico, with extensive international mining experience [6] Company Overview - Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based mining company focused on silver, operating the Bethania silver mine in Peru [9]

Core Insights - Barclays PLC and HSBC Holdings PLC are prominent foreign banks based in London, both focusing on streamlining operations to enhance efficiency and core business focus [1][2] Barclays Overview - Barclays is implementing a three-year cost savings plan aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and reallocating capital into higher-growth markets, including a recent sale of its consumer finance business in Germany [3][4] - The bank achieved gross savings of £1 billion in 2024 and £150 million in Q1 2025, with a target of £0.5 billion in gross efficiency savings for the current year and £2 billion by 2026 [4][5] - Barclays is investing in high-growth areas, including a £400 million collaboration with Brookfield Asset Management and a £210 million capital injection into its India operations [5][6] - The bank's net interest income and other income have shown improvement, indicating that its strategic refocus is yielding positive results [6][7] HSBC Overview - HSBC is executing a $1.5 billion cost-saving plan focused on organizational simplification, with an additional $1.5 billion to be redeployed from underperforming areas into strategic priorities [8][9] - The bank has divested operations in several countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Argentina, and is reviewing its presence in various markets to improve returns [9][11] - HSBC is concentrating on its Asia-focused strategy, aiming to become a leading wealth manager in the region, with significant expansions planned in mainland China and India [11][12] - Despite these efforts, HSBC has faced subdued revenue generation and weak earnings performance expectations due to a challenging macroeconomic environment [13][24] Comparative Analysis - Barclays is projected to have earnings growth of 21.2% in 2025 and 23.3% in 2026, while HSBC's earnings growth is expected to be only 4.2% in 2025, with a decline of approximately 1% in 2026 [10][14] - Year-to-date, Barclays shares have increased by 37.9%, outperforming HSBC's 22.3% gain [18][20] - In terms of valuation, Barclays is trading at a P/TB of 0.77, while HSBC is at 1.09, indicating that Barclays is currently less expensive [20][26] - HSBC has a higher return on equity (ROE) of 12.55% compared to Barclays' 8.04%, reflecting more efficient use of shareholder funds [21][27] Investment Outlook - Barclays is viewed as a better investment opportunity due to its stronger near-term earnings outlook, attractive valuation, and superior stock performance [23][27] - HSBC's long-term strategy in Asia and wealth management may yield significant gains, but current revenue growth and earnings performance concerns present challenges [24][27]