Airbnb issued a better-than-expected outlook for the holiday quarter, citing strong demand as US travelers used its recently launched “reserve now, pay later” feature to book trips in advance https://t.co/rj4ZqCE4L9 ...

Core Insights - The U.S. Global Jets ETF (JETS) is designed to provide a unified investment strategy in the global airline, aerospace & defense, and travel industries, currently holding $747 million in net assets [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - JETS focuses on thematic investments across multiple sectors including airlines, aerospace & defense, and travel [1] - The fund's net assets amount to $747 million, indicating a significant level of investor interest and capital allocation [1] Group 2: Analyst Background - Michael Del Monte, a buy-side equity analyst with over 5 years of experience, emphasizes a holistic approach to investment recommendations, considering the entire investment ecosystem rather than evaluating companies in isolation [1]

US stocks took a sharp turn lower Thursday morning as concerns about Big Tech continued to dog markets and private jobs data showed a tough month for layoffs in October. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) led the way lower, sliding 1.6%. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) lost 0.9%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) sank around 0.8%. The market received bearish data on jobs Thursday morning, as a report from the global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed that last month was the worst O ...

Market Overview - US stocks experienced a significant decline, with the Nasdaq Composite falling approximately 2%, the S&P 500 down 1.2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreasing nearly 1%, equating to a loss of almost 500 points [1] Employment Data - The Challenger, Gray & Christmas report indicated that October saw the highest number of layoff announcements since 2003, raising concerns about the labor market's health amid a government data blackout due to a federal shutdown [2] Technology Sector - Investors are evaluating whether technology valuations are excessively high, as evidenced by Qualcomm's strong earnings and positive guidance, yet its stock dropped over 4%. Other major chip manufacturers, including Nvidia and AMD, also saw declines of over 4% and 7%, respectively [3] Tesla Developments - Tesla's shareholder meeting is under scrutiny, particularly regarding Elon Musk's proposed trillion-dollar pay package, which could influence his position as CEO if rejected. Tesla shares fell nearly 5% on the day [4] Trade Policy Implications - The market reacted to skepticism from Supreme Court justices regarding the legality of Trump's trade tariffs, which could significantly affect international trade and domestic spending if ruled against. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism about the tariffs [5] Earnings Reports - Notable earnings reports from Warner Bros. Discovery, Airbnb, and Moderna were highlighted as key events in the market on Thursday [5]

Core Insights - Stack Capital Group Inc. reported its financial results for Q3 2025, highlighting a strong capital position and ongoing investments in high-growth technology companies [1][2]. Financial Summary - Book Value per Share ("BVpS") was $14.26 as of September 30, 2025, down from $14.34 at June 30, 2025 [4]. - Total Book Value reached $188.7 million [4]. - The company raised $35 million through a private placement during the quarter [4]. Portfolio Company Highlights - Stack Capital made significant investments in technology companies, including: - OpenAI: Invested US$8.0 million, focusing on generative AI and enterprise AI deployment [3]. - Databricks: Invested US$2.1 million in a unified cloud-based platform for data and AI workloads [9]. - PsiQuantum: Invested US$0.5 million in developing a silicon photonic quantum computer [9]. - Valuation of SpaceX increased from US$350 billion to US$400 billion during the quarter [4]. - Canva's valuation rose from US$32 billion to US$42 billion [4]. Management Commentary - The CEO of Stack Capital noted a robust IPO environment and strong momentum in private markets, particularly in AI, defense, and robotics, indicating attractive investment opportunities [5]. Breakdown of Book Value per Share - The detailed breakdown of Book Value per Share as of September 30, 2025, includes: - CoreWeave, Inc. (AI hyper-scaler): $2.37 - SpaceX: $2.28 - Canva, Inc.: $1.30 - Other notable investments include Locus Robotics, Omio, Hopper, and OpenAI, contributing to the overall Book Value per Share of $14.26 [5][6].

Airbnb’s growth has cooled and web traffic is slowing. In response, the company is looking for new opportunities. But there are reasons to be sceptical of these new product lines https://t.co/byp585hjYb ...

Market Overview - A-shares opened lower but rebounded in early trading on November 5, with both the Shanghai Composite Index and the ChiNext Index turning positive [1] - The Shanghai Composite Index closed at 3962.04 points, up 0.05%, with a trading volume of 508 billion; the Shenzhen Component Index closed at 13155.62 points, down 0.15%, with a trading volume of 628.6 billion; the ChiNext Index closed at 3139.53 points, up 0.17%, with a trading volume of 283.1 billion [1] Sector Performance - Strong performance was observed in sectors such as Hainan, consumer concepts, and coal, with stocks like Haima Automobile and Anji Food hitting the daily limit [1][2] - Conversely, innovative drug and quantum technology sectors faced corrections, with stocks like Sanofi and Keda Guokong experiencing significant declines [1][2] Institutional Insights - CITIC Securities noted a nearly 5% year-on-year decline in global major copper mining companies' output in Q3 2025, with expectations of continued contraction in Q4 [3] - The firm anticipates a 50% widening of the global refined copper supply gap next year, with LME copper prices expected to exceed $10,000 per ton [3] - Huatai Securities highlighted the ongoing high growth trend in AI investments, suggesting that it is premature to declare a bubble in the sector [4] Economic Indicators - The China Warehousing Index for October 2025 was reported at 50.6%, a 1 percentage point increase from the previous month, indicating improved business activity [5] Company News - Seres officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "9927," marking the largest IPO of a Chinese car company in 2025 and globally for the year [6] - The company raised a net amount of 14.016 billion HKD from the issuance of 108.6 million shares at a price of 131.50 HKD per share, with a reported revenue of 110.534 billion CNY and a net profit of 5.312 billion CNY for the first three quarters, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 31.56% [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - IAC reported a 9% digital revenue growth in Q3, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of growth [16][31] - Digital-adjusted EBITDA grew 9% pro forma to $72 million, with margins at 27% [31][32] - The company expects digital revenue growth in the range of 7%-10% for Q4 and adjusted EBITDA guidance for the year has been slightly lowered to $325 million-$340 million [32][33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - People Inc. achieved a 9% growth in digital revenue, driven by strong performance in licensing and performance marketing [16][31] - The print division saw a 10% decline in adjusted EBITDA and a 15% revenue decline, which was considered acceptable by management [31] - Off-platform audience growth accelerated by 66% year-over-year, contributing significantly to revenue [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Google Search traffic as a source for core brands decreased from 54% two years ago to 24% in the latest quarter, indicating a shift in traffic sources [22] - Despite challenges from Google, overall audience growth has been maintained, with other traffic sources increasing [22][23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - IAC aims to focus on People Inc. and MGM, divesting non-core assets and reducing overhead [5][6] - The strategy includes reimagining People Inc. from a defensive to an offensive position, leveraging its strong brand portfolio [7][8] - MGM is viewed as a hedge against disintermediation, with a strong position in the Las Vegas market [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, citing strong audience engagement and the potential for new business ventures [16][29] - The macroeconomic environment is seen as stable for higher-end consumers, while pressures exist in lower-end markets [66][67] - Management is cautious about asset pricing and intends to focus on share repurchases rather than high-priced acquisitions [15][75] Other Important Information - The company laid off about 6% of its workforce to free up capital for investments [29] - IAC has a cash balance of over $1 billion, which will be enhanced by selling non-core assets [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on MGM's valuation and investor interest - Management believes owning MGM through IAC offers a better value proposition than buying MGM directly, highlighting the combined potential of both assets [39][44] Question: Update on one-time expenses - Management indicated that significant one-time expenses have been cleaned up, and they do not expect further large one-time charges going forward [40][45] Question: State of the business and future outlook - Management expressed confidence in the business's future, citing the Microsoft AI deal and the Feedfeed acquisition as positive indicators [52][56] Question: Macro environment insights - The macro environment is stable for higher-end consumers, with some pressures noted in the corporate benefit sector [66][67] Question: Capital allocation strategy - Management emphasized a focus on opportunistic share buybacks rather than pursuing high-priced acquisitions [75]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The current market is characterized as "weird," where forming a two-sided debate is easier than reaching a consensus view [2] - The S&P 500 has been above its 50-day moving average for 128 consecutive days, indicating a strong performance, yet underlying issues are emerging [3][4] Market Sentiment and Performance - Despite the NDX rising approximately 2% last week and achieving back-to-back monthly gains of around 5%, market sentiment is deteriorating [9][10] - Approximately 70% of S&P companies have reported earnings, with 64% exceeding estimates, which is above the long-term average of 49%. However, the market has not rewarded these earnings beats as expected [12] AI Capital Expenditure - AI capital expenditure expectations have increased by $50–60 billion for the next twelve months, with significant projections for major companies: META at ~$120 billion, GOOGL at ~$122 billion, MSFT at ~$140 billion, and AMZN at ~$161 billion for 2026, marking a 60% increase in expected hyperscaler spending this year [14][15] - AI-related issuance in credit markets has reached $220 billion gross this year, with a significant portion coming from TMT and Utilities sectors [17][18] Consumer Behavior - The consumer backdrop is softening, with signs of fatigue spreading to the 25–35-year-old and middle-income segments. Retailers and restaurants are reporting weaker traffic and sales [19][20] - Digital spending channels remain robust, with companies like Visa and Amazon indicating continued strength among higher-income and online consumers, suggesting a divide between physical and digital consumer behavior [19][20] Future Outlook - GS Research anticipates a growth impulse to increase, providing a tailwind into early next year, although sentiment across cyclical sectors remains subdued [23][24] - A new Low Quality basket (GSXULOWQ Index) has been introduced to identify vulnerable market segments characterized by high leverage and poor profitability, which may serve as a tactical hedge or short overlay [25] Leverage Concerns - The median net leverage for the GSXULOWQ stocks is near 2020 highs, despite current interest rate levels being significantly different from those in 2020 [27][29]

Core Insights - The 2025 Holiday Season Cyber Threat Trends report by RH-ISAC indicates a significant rise in fraud and automated bot attacks during the peak shopping season, particularly affecting the retail, hospitality, and travel sectors [1][2]. Fraud Trends - Fraud has escalated to become the most prevalent threat for consumer-facing organizations in Q4, with key concerns including receipt and return abuse, loyalty and points fraud, refund scams, and bot-driven schemes that quickly acquire high-demand items [2][4]. Cybersecurity Concerns - There is an increasing worry about account takeover attempts, malicious look-alike domains, and fraudulent advertisements targeting consumers during peak shopping days, with groups like ShinyHunters and Scattered Spider expected to enhance extortion operations [3][4]. Preparedness Measures - RH-ISAC member organizations are implementing company-wide awareness campaigns, incident-response exercises, and utilizing AI-driven tools to detect unusual behavior during critical shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday [4][5]. Automated Attack Predictions - The report forecasts a staggering 520% increase in genAI-driven traffic in the 10 days leading up to Thanksgiving, posing challenges for frontline staff in differentiating between legitimate customer issues and fraudulent activities [5]. High-Risk Periods - High-risk periods for various threat categories are anticipated from mid-November through late December, with specific spikes in fraud activity expected during this timeframe [5].