“There's a real risk that the U.S. would lose its military supremacy if it doesn't adapt to modern conditions on the battlefield,” says former U.S. Marine William McNulty, warning that future wars will be shaped by the drones used in Ukraine. #ukraine #drones #usmilitary ...

This is ETF IQ. You take a look at how markets are reacting. Right now, the S&P 500 just about flat right now, erasing a drop of more than 1%.Of course, then you take a look at what's going on with Brent holding on to its gains currently higher by about 6%. And of course, we're seeing the reaction throughout the ETF ecosystem as well. Joining me is Eric Balchunas from Bloomberg Intelligence, as well as James Craig.He is CIO and head of emerging markets over at Stone Harbor Investment Partners. Jim, it's gre ...

Army Modernization Initiative - The US Army is undergoing a transformation initiative to modernize equipment and prepare for future warfare, shifting away from outdated systems [2][4] - The initiative focuses on incorporating new skill sets, traits, and technology, including drones, sensors, and artificial intelligence [2][3] - The Army aims to field 1 million drones over the next 2 years, utilizing both commercial and in-house manufacturing through initiatives like Sky Foundry [5][6] Resource Allocation and Procurement - $48 billion is being reallocated from legacy equipment like Humvees and Apaches to modern warfare tools [4] - The Army is prioritizing equipment with strong supply chains and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions, aiming for 90+% COTS [4][5] - The Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) made by GM Defense is highlighted as a good example, with 80% of parts available at GM/Chevy dealerships [4][5] Technological Advancement - The Army is partnering with industry to increase compute power, leverage nuclear micro-reactors, and build a data layer using AI and machine learning [8] - Generative AI will be used to assist in complex decision-making, with humans retaining control over moral considerations in warfare [8][9] Risk Management and Acquisition - The Army is streamlining program executive offices and empowering acquisition officials to award contracts faster [9] - The Army is shifting its risk assessment, prioritizing the risk of inaction over the risk of making mistakes [10] Strategic Focus - The Army recognizes the changing nature of warfare, particularly the increased exposure of cities and countries to drone threats [7] - Countering drone threats with other drones is emphasized as a key strategy [7]

Quantum Computing - Quantum computing is considered a call option on the future of technology and computing, with increasing commercialization and advancements in material science, drug discovery, aerospace, and defense [2][3] - The US, China, and Europe are in a race in quantum computing, with increased capital expenditure (capex) in the space, exemplified by the collaboration between IBM and AMD [3] Market and Investment Strategy - Investors should monitor the Federal Reserve's (Fed) rate cut path for potential market impact; any changes in timing or quantity of cuts could pull the market back [5] - Mega-cap tech stocks are already widely held in investor portfolios, and new themes like AI power and infrastructure, and modern warfare offer new investment opportunities [11][12][14][15] Earnings and Technology Trends - S&P earnings were up 10% year-over-year, and NASDAQ earnings were up over 30% year-over-year, with mega-caps leading the growth, driven by capex in areas like AI [8] - Nvidia is central to the AI trade, and its performance is expected to impact hyperscalers, cybersecurity, AI chips, data centers, and cloud computing; expectations include over 50% revenue growth and close to 50% EPS growth [8] Modern Warfare - Modern warfare, including drones and satellites, presents investment opportunities, supported by government spending, with the last aerospace and defense contract being approximately $850 billion [14][15]