This Veterans Day, venture firm J2 is announcing a $250 million fund. J2 invests in companies at the intersection of consumer and defense technology. And joining us right now is J2's co-founder and managing partner, Alex Harstre.Alex happens to be a veteran himself. And Alex, on this Veterans Day, first of all, thank you for your service. I thought maybe you could just remind folks um what it is that you've done.You started actually as a healthc care consultant and then a venture capitalist, but you took a ...

Market Overview - Major averages are experiencing a rebound, with the Dow up approximately 350 points (0.75%), the S&P up nearly 1%, and the Nasdaq up about 1.1% [2] - The Russell 2000 index has reached a new record high, increasing by about 1.4% for the session and up 13% year-to-date [3] Banking Sector Performance - Bank of America and Morgan Stanley reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter results, driven by a surge in deal-making on Wall Street [8] - Morgan Stanley achieved a record quarter in its equity underwriting business, while Bank of America set a record for its lending margin and net interest income [9][10] - Goldman Sachs reported over $1 trillion in M&A volume advised year-to-date, indicating strong performance across major banks [10] - Analysts expect street estimates for bank earnings to rise for 2026, reflecting positive trends in loan demand and credit quality [12][15] Trade Tensions and Economic Implications - U.S. Treasury Secretary and U.S. Trade Representative criticized China for new restrictions on rare earth exports, labeling it as economic coercion [28][29] - The U.S. aims to diversify supply chains rather than decouple from China, with ongoing discussions at staff levels [30] - President Trump indicated potential retribution against China regarding cooking oil imports, which could impact U.S. farmers [32][39] ETF Market Trends - ETF net inflows surpassed $1 trillion, significantly ahead of last year's total, with strong interest in thematic and fixed-income ETFs [82][83] - The shift from mutual funds to ETFs is evident, with significant inflows into S&P 500 index-based products and thematic ETFs related to artificial intelligence and nuclear energy [84][86] - Retail investors are driving demand for thematic strategies, indicating a resurgence in retail-driven trading [88] Oil Seed Processing Sector - Bungi, a major oil seed processor, reported positive earnings and updated guidance, benefiting from potential reductions in Chinese used cooking oil imports [40][41] - The sector is expected to gain from a shift away from Chinese imports, with companies like ADM and Darling Ingredients also positioned to benefit [42]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks showed mixed performance with the Dow up approximately 410 points, S&P 500 up about 0.3%, while NASDAQ was down around 0.2% [1][2] - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the Fed's views on inflation and the job market remain largely unchanged, suggesting potential rate cuts ahead [2][3] - The tech sector lagged, particularly with major companies like Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta trading in the red, while AMD saw a 3% increase due to a significant deal with Oracle [1][2] Federal Reserve Insights - Powell noted that downside risks to employment have increased, and the Fed is considering two more rate cuts for the remainder of the year [2][3] - The Fed's balance sheet currently stands at $6.5 trillion, significantly larger than pre-2020 levels, with ongoing reductions in Treasury and mortgage-backed securities [2][3] - Powell emphasized that policy decisions will be made based on evolving economic conditions rather than a predetermined path [2][3] U.S.-China Trade Tensions - Recent escalations in U.S.-China trade tensions have raised concerns among investors regarding global supply chains and inflation [2] - Analysts believe that despite the tensions, a resolution is likely due to the mutual need for cooperation between the two largest economies [2] Automotive Industry Developments - General Motors announced a $1.6 billion charge related to its EV business, indicating a reassessment of its electric vehicle strategy amid slowing demand [3][4] - Ford is facing production challenges due to a fire at a key aluminum plant, which could impact several automakers reliant on aluminum parts [3][4] - Analysts expect more automakers to announce similar charges as they adjust to changing market conditions and regulatory environments [3][4] Technology Sector Updates - AMD's partnership with Oracle to deploy 50,000 AI chips marks a significant competitive move against Nvidia, which maintains a strong market position [3][4] - Intel is also working on new data center chips as part of its turnaround strategy, aiming to expand its presence in the AI market [3][4] Retail Sector Highlights - Walmart is enhancing its e-commerce strategy by partnering with OpenAI to create a chat-based shopping experience, aiming to improve customer convenience [3][4] - Domino's reported better-than-expected sales growth, driven by value offerings and promotions, indicating strong consumer demand despite macroeconomic pressures [3][4] - Albertsons raised its full-year earnings guidance, benefiting from strong performance in its pharmacy and private label segments [3][4]

Welcome to Yahoo Finance's flagship show, The Morning Brief. I'm Julie Hyman. Let's get to the three things you need to know today.First up, US stock futures falling as tensions escalate between the US and China. China retaliating against President Trump's threats by sanctioning the US units of a South Korean shipping giant that has spurred risk off sentiment across financial markets. Investors flocking to bonds while crypto assets are plunging.Plus, investors are also watching big bank earnings results fro ...

Market Performance - The S&P 500 reached a record high for the third consecutive session, closing up almost 30 points or 0.4% [6] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by more than 70 points or 0.2%, also marking a record high [6] - The Nasdaq composite rose about 160 points or 0.7%, achieving a record high as well [6] - The Russell 2000 index closed slightly below its record high but was still up by about 0.6% [7] Sector Performance - The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index increased by approximately 1.6%, indicating strong performance in the semiconductor sector [2] - Nvidia announced a plan to invest $100 billion in OpenAI to support the development of new data centers and AI infrastructure, which positively impacted its stock, closing up nearly 4% [9] - Oracle's stock rose over 6% due to its involvement with TikTok's algorithm security in the U.S. market [10] Economic Concerns - There are concerns regarding the potential lack of rate cuts that the market is anticipating, which could lead to a pullback in the coming weeks or months [3] - A 10% reduction in H-1B visas could cost the U.S. economy approximately $86 billion in GDP, but this has not significantly affected investor sentiment [5] Company News - Walmart is expanding its home delivery service to include refrigerated medications, claiming it can deliver 90% of prescription medications in 49 states [23] - Compass, a real estate firm, saw its shares drop by 15.7% after announcing a $4.5 billion stock deal to acquire Anywhere Real Estate, which includes brands like Coldwell Banker and Sotheby's International Realty [19][20]

Core Insights - The article discusses how AI is fundamentally changing consumer products and experiences, moving from a focus on functionality to emotional connections and relationships [2][5][14] - Kirsten Green, founder of Forerunner Ventures, emphasizes the importance of rethinking user needs rather than simply adding AI to existing products [5][17] Group 1: AI and Consumer Products - Despite the rapid adoption of ChatGPT, the launch of AI products is often a challenging process, indicating that success is not as straightforward as it appears [7][10][11] - AI is shifting focus from results to relationships and emotions, with memory features serving as the foundation for emotional operating systems [3][7][15] - Voice interaction is seen as a key element in the AI era, allowing for more natural expression of thoughts and ideas [22][24] Group 2: Marketing and Product Quality - The best marketing is the product itself; consumers can easily discern poor quality [30][36] - Companies must focus on their core value proposition and ensure that every touchpoint reflects this value [31][32] Group 3: Innovation and Market Entry - Being the first to innovate in a chaotic creative phase offers significant advantages, allowing for unique and surprising experiences [38][40] - The consumer goods industry is undergoing continuous transformation, with new opportunities arising from changes in consumer behavior and technology [54][56] Group 4: Search and Information Retrieval - The traditional keyword search model is becoming obsolete as consumers shift towards conversational search methods [61][64] - The rapid adoption of AI tools is changing how brands and retailers approach search functionality on their platforms [62][65] Group 5: Health and Personal Safety Trends - There is a growing trend towards proactive health management, driven by dissatisfaction with traditional healthcare systems [81][82] - The integration of generative AI into health management tools presents significant opportunities for innovation [84][86] Group 6: Future of AI and User Experience - Companies should explore new interfaces and experiences beyond traditional chat formats to leverage AI capabilities [95][97] - Successful products will be those that address real user needs and provide meaningful experiences, rather than merely utilizing technology for its own sake [104][105]