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TELA Bio

TELA Bio Inc a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on providing innovative soft-tissue reconstruction solutions that optimize clinical outcomes by prioritizing the preservation and restoration of the patient's anatomy. Its growing product portfolio is purposefully designed to leverage the patient's natural healing response while minimizing long-term exposure to permanent synthetic materials. The company's OviTex portfolio consists of multiple product configurations intended to address various surgical procedures within hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstruction, including ventral, inguinal, and hiatal hernia repair.

TELA Bio Inc

Teladoc Health Inc

Each summer brings us a new "it drink." The last few years have seen the Dirty Shirley, the Chilton, and the Hugo Spritz all having their moment, but this year, a lesser-known pick is taking top billing: the spaghett.
The spaghett consists of a bottled beer – Miller High Life is the preferred choice – topped with Aperol and a splash of lemon. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spaghett-recession-economy-miller-high-life-aperol-drink-consumer-spending-2025-7">Business Insider</a> says that the wallet-friendly option, which is sometimes called a "trailer park spritz," is yet another recession indicator.
While there are a number of reasons the spaghett is seeing its popularity surge this summer— from a Miller High Life marketing push to a culture shift in attitudes towards alcohol— the outlet says there's one factor that stands out above the rest. Namely, that beer cocktails like the spaghett tend to be a lot cheaper than mixed drinks.&nbsp;
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&#8220;As consumers are looking to pull back a bit on spending and shift to lower ABV beverages, we&#8217;ve seen a rise in the popularity of beer cocktails — across restaurants on Square, orders for Spaghetts and other beer and spirit mixes have been increasing over the past few years,&#8221; Square Head of Food and Beverage Ming-Tai Huh said.&nbsp;
According to Square data, Spaghett orders are up by 65% from the first half of the year, and have increased by 1000% since 2022. Google searches for the drink, the outlet reports, are also on the rise.
As consumers become increasingly concerned about the state of the economy and the impacts tariffs will have on their wallets in the coming months, they've begun to look for easy ways to save a buck or two. They'll vacation closer to home, spend less on eating out, and reduce the number of shopping trips they're partaking in.
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Alcohol spending is another effortless place to cut back. When Business Insider polled a series of bartenders about how they charge for a spaghett, answers varied from no extra charge to a dollar to double the price of a low-cost beer. Regardless of exactly how they configure the bill, it almost always comes out to less than a Hugo Spritz or a Dirty Shirley.
Spaghetts aren't the only beer cocktail trending this summer. The Corona sunrise, the beermosa, the lagerita, and the shandy are also popping up on menus in joints around the country. For many consumers, the drinks are a way to add a little fun to a day without breaking the bank.
If you find yourself appreciating the cost-saving element of the trend, but are unsure about the taste, Julianna McIntosh, author of the beverage recipe book "Pretty Simple Cocktails," says not to worry. "Don&#8217;t knock it till you try it,&#8221; she said of the spaghett. &#8220;It&#8217;s actually really, really fun.&#8221;
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Image: Shutterstock

Personal Finance

Step Aside, Hugo Spritz: Why The Spaghett Is The Drink Of The Summer – And A Recession Indicator

Perplexity Chief Executive Officer Aravind Srinivas says speed and urgency are nonnegotiable as his artificial intelligence startup races tech giants.
"I don't do anything other than working," Aravind Srinivas admitted in a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/perplexity_ai/comments/1jv9hvm/ama_with_perplexity_cofounder_and_ceo_aravind/">Reddit Ask Me Anything</a> in May, emphasizing the intense focus needed to stay ahead in the AI race. Srinivas leads a $14 billion search engine challenge to Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>, GOOGL)), Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>). <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDtxClXAJ2g">Speaking</a> at Y Combinator's AI Startup School in mid-June, he warned that bigger firms will inevitably copy successful ideas.
Investors crave speed, rivals borrow ideas, and users expect quick answers. Srinivas's strategy is clear: move faster than fear and keep building. His advice to founders is to treat urgency as a protective moat until the tech giants catch up.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Embracing Fear As Strategy</h2>
"Live with that fear. You have to embrace it," Srinivas told the students, explaining that founders must remember "your moat comes from moving fast and building your own identity." He added a broader warning: "You should assume that if you have a big hit… a model company will copy it."
Perplexity shocked Silicon Valley with a <a href="https://www.perplexity.ai/page/perplexity-ai-in-talks-for-500-lkMydBK6QFuNZI6P5sg0Hw">$14 billion valuation</a> after its Series C funding round in May. Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-20/apple-executives-have-held-internal-talks-about-buying-ai-startup-perplexity">reported</a> in June that Apple executives even discussed acquiring the startup to strengthen Safari's search abilities. <a href="https://blog.google/products/search/generative-ai-google-search-may-2024/">Google</a> and <a href="https://blogs.bing.com/search/April-2025/Introducing-Copilot-Search-in-Bing">Microsoft</a> responded by adding AI summaries to their search results. Srinivas simply shrugs, insisting that speed outpaces scale.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Work-Life Trade-Offs Get Real</h2>
Srinivas doesn't downplay the personal strain of running an AI startup. In the same Reddit AMA, he admitted to working nonstop, squeezing in audiobooks and podcasts whenever he could—even if sleep had to wait. He <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doom-scrolling-use-ai-perplexity-ceo-jobs-aravind-srinivas-2025-7">urges</a> individuals to ditch doom‑scrolling on Instagram and focus on mastering AI instead, warning that adaptability and grit—not comfort—will determine who thrives as the field accelerates.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI Gold Rush Raises Stakes</h2>
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman <a href="https://x.com/zfellows/status/1831304883141558301">predicted</a> a "one-person billion-dollar company" while chatting with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian last year. Meanwhile, former "Shark Tank" investor Mark Cuban went further in June, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyRlhORLG6s&amp;t=9s">telling</a> the &#8220;High Performance" podcast that AI may mint the first "trillionaire… just one dude in a basement." Those forecasts intensify the spotlight on Perplexity and the broader AI field.
But with that spotlight comes pressure. Perplexity's head of communications, Jesse Dwyer, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/perplexity-ceo-aravind-srinivas-tech-giants-copy-features-2025-7">told</a> Business Insider that Big Tech companies "not only copy your features but they also try to drown your voice," highlighting the uphill communication battle startups face when competing with dominant platforms.
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<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
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'I Don't Do Anything Other Than Working,' Says Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas As His $14 Billion AI Startup Challenges Tech Giants

A 90-year-old woman could soon lose her <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46648812/she-just-does-what-she-wants-with-it-disabled-man-says-mom-misused-his-ssi-now-hes-fighting-for-control">Supplemental Security Income benefits</a> due to a paperwork issue — and her only surviving relative is racing against time to resolve it.
The woman, who lives in an assisted living facility and has been in a fragile state for years, recently became the focus of a situation that's raising questions about how <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/07/46682845/warren-buffetts-2005-warning-echoes-louder-as-social-security-faces-18100-benefit-cut-by-2033-crfb-warns">Social Security</a> handles representative payee assignments for beneficiaries who cannot manage their own money.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SSI Benefits in Jeopardy Without Payee</h2>
According to a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SocialSecurity/comments/1m26sp3/90_years_old_in_risk_of_loosing_her_ssimedicare/">post</a> shared on Reddit's r/SocialSecurity forum, the woman's daughter-in-law received a call from the Social Security Administration in May, saying the woman needs a new representative payee — someone officially approved to manage her SSI benefits. Without one, her payments could be suspended.
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The challenge: Her daughter-in-law is not a direct relative, and the assisted living facility where the woman resides won't serve in that role. "They don't do it and don't have capacity for it," the poster explained.&nbsp;
Though she already holds financial power of attorney and is a co-signer on the account, she fears her application to become an official payee may be rejected.
To make matters worse, the woman&#8217;s son — her only child — died in June. No other family members remain to step in.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Is a Representative Payee?</h2>
A representative payee is someone appointed by the SSA to manage benefit payments for individuals who cannot do so themselves due to age, illness, or disability. According to the <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/payee/?tl=1">SSA</a>, they prefer to assign family or friends — and in many cases, a daughter-in-law could qualify. However, the individual must still go through an official approval process.&nbsp;
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If that's not possible, they may appoint a qualified organization; however, the assisted living facility where the woman resides has already said they don't have the capacity to take on that role.
A power of attorney or being a joint account holder is not enough. Only someone officially appointed through SSA's process — usually by completing <a href="https://pl.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/cons_fbu_11.pdf">Form SSA-11</a> — can serve in this role.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Options Still Available</h2>
Reddit users familiar with the system offered potential solutions. One pointed out that the bank has no say in who becomes a representative payee — that authority lies solely with the SSA. Others noted that while <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/05/45458742/who-can-be-my-financial-power-of-attorney-if-i-dont-have-anyone-suze-orman-advises-listener-who-doesnt-have-family-or-children">financial power of attorney</a> is helpful, it doesn't carry the same legal weight as being a court-appointed guardian or SSA-approved payee.
Some commenters recommended contacting the local Adult Protective Services office or the Department of Health Services to explore options for guardianship. Another suggested working with a local ombudsman, who may assist in navigating this process, especially when language barriers and cognitive issues are involved.
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If the woman is still capable of signing paperwork, she may be able to designate her daughter-in-law as her preferred payee. However, in cases where the beneficiary can't understand or make decisions, SSA must determine someone appropriate to manage the funds.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Complicated System With Real Consequences</h2>
This case highlights a critical issue facing many older adults: when mental capacity declines and family networks shrink, managing government benefits can become a bureaucratic maze.
The SSA encourages anyone concerned about a beneficiary's ability to manage their payments to call 1-800-772-1213 or visit their local office. When no friends or family are available, the SSA may assign a professional or organizational payee to ensure benefits are still used for the recipient's well-being.
In the meantime, families like this one continue searching for answers — and solutions — to avoid the unthinkable: a senior citizen losing access to the support she depends on.
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Image: Shutterstock

90-Year-Old Faces Loss Of SSI Benefits Over Lack Of Approved Payee — Family Member Scrambles For Options

At a fireside chat in Omaha, billionaire investor Bill Ackman once gave timeless investing advice to an 11-year-old, explaining why uncertain markets often offer the best buying opportunities.
What Happened: During a Q&amp;A session hosted by Pershing Square and UBS before the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in May 2025, a young attendee named Olivia asked Ackman whether tariffs—amid ongoing market volatility—created an opportunity for investment or warranted caution.
Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, praised the question and delivered a powerful lesson in long-term investing.
"Anytime that something happens in markets that creates uncertainty, generally stocks go down, risk premia go up," he said. "If you wait until the uncertainty goes away, then everything reprices… [and] is much more likely to go back to fair value."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37253969/bill-ackman-reveals-first-investment-book-he-read-was-the-same-one-that-influenced-warren-buffett-it">Bill Ackman Reveals First Investment Book He Read Was The Same One That Influenced Warren Buffett: &#8216;It Was Kind Of The Inspiration For My Career…&#8217;</a>
He underscored that periods of maximum uncertainty—whether due to tariffs, COVID-19, or the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/treasuries/25/06/46012056/peter-schiff-predicts-worse-financial-crisis-than-2008-as-fed-holds-rates-the-solution-involves-much-higher-interest-rates-as-years-of-easy-money-trigger-stagflation-and-investor-exodus">2008 financial crisis</a>—often present the best times to deploy capital.
"If you start your compounding at 11, this is an excellent question," Ackman said. "You as an investor should get excited anytime … it gets uncertain, and the clouds come in, the storm is going. That's when you want to have capital to invest."
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Bill Ackman and Ryan Israel - UBS Berkshire Hathaway Fireside Chat (2025)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EtUcrlU23Oc?start=52&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Why It's Important: There are several high-profile investors who agree with what Ackman said.&nbsp;
Warren Buffett is one such investor who also views market uncertainty as an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44533852/what-would-buffett-do-with-markets-inches-away-from-the-extreme-fear-zone-is-it-finally-time-to-be-greedy">opportunity rather than a threat</a>. While many investors react to volatility with fear and impulsive decisions, Buffett stays calm and strategic, following his famous advice: "Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful."
Sir John Templeton, the renowned investor, once said that the time of "maximum pessimism" is the best time to buy, highlighting that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/20/03/15668620/ariel-chairman-john-rogers-thinks-current-market-is-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity-to-buy-stocks&amp;quot;">greatest investment opportunities</a> often emerge when fear and uncertainty are at their highest.
Renowned economist and financial historian Peter Bernstein also once underscored the critical role of uncertainty in investing, stating, "The greatest tragedies occur when people forget about uncertainty."
Photo Courtesy: Mizkit on Shutterstock.com
Read Next:
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Bill Ackman Once Told An 11-Year-Old The Best Time To Invest In The Stock Market: Here Is What He Told The Child About Smart Money

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) is facing the heat from global trade tensions and tariff headwinds, as weak insurance and investment hits dragged down its second-quarter performance reported on Saturday morning.
The Omaha-based company&#8217;s operating earnings dipped 3.8% to $11.16 billion in the latest quarter. Sluggish insurance underwriting and a bruising $3.8 billion blow from its stake at The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>) weighed on profits.
According to the Berkshire&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/news/aug0225.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>, the decline was largely&nbsp;driven by a 12% plunge&nbsp;in insurance-underwriting profit, which&nbsp;came in at $1.99 billion&nbsp;for the second quarter, down&nbsp;from $2.26 billion a year&nbsp;prior.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46713700/warren-buffetts-berkshire-now-earns-138-every-second-how-decades-old-bets-on-apple-coca-cola-chevron-are-paying-off-big-in-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Now Earns $138 Every Second—How Decades-Old Bets On Apple, Coca-Cola, Chevron Are Paying Off Big In 2025</a>
The quarterly report marks the first earnings announcement since 94-year-old Warren Buffett announced he will step <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45184410/warren-buffett-to-step-down-as-berkshire-hathaway-ceo-by-end-of-year-asks-board-to-confirm-greg-abel-as-successor" rel="noreferrer noopener">down as CEO at the end of 2025</a>.
Greg Abel, currently vice-chairman overseeing non-insurance operations, is slated to succeed him as CEO. Buffett will continue to serve as chairman of Berkshire&#8217;s board.
&#8220;The pace of changes in these events, including tensions from developing international trade policies and tariffs, accelerated through the first six months of 2025. Considerable uncertainty remains as to the ultimate outcome of these events,&#8221; Berkshire said in its <a href="https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/qtrly/2ndqtr25.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earnings</a> report.
As of June 30, 2025, Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s equity portfolio remained heavily concentrated, with five companies:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>American Express Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</li>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)</li>
<li>Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>)</li>
<li>Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>)</li>
</ul>
These five companies accounted for 67% of total equity holdings at the end of the second quarter, lower than&nbsp;&nbsp;71% as of December 2024.
Berkshire said it and its subsidiaries hold investments that are accounted for pursuant to the equity method.
As of the end of the second quarter, the firm owned 27.4% of the outstanding The Kraft Heinz Company common stock and 28.1% of the outstanding Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) common stock.
On May 20, 2025, Kraft Heinz announced it was exploring potential strategic transactions to boost shareholder value but gave no guarantee of any outcome.
Considering this uncertainty and broader economic conditions, Berkshire determined that the decline in Kraft Heinz&#8217;s stock value was &#8220;other-than-temporary&#8221;.
Warren Buffett&#8217;s cash reserves stood at $344.1 billion at the end of June 2025, just below the record $347 billion reported at the end of March, per a CNBC <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/02/berkshire-hathaway-brk-earnings-q2-2025.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>.
&#8220;We are currently unable to reliably predict the ultimate impact on our businesses, whether through changes in the availability of products, supply chain costs and efficiency, and customer demand for our products and services,&#8221; the company said.
Berkshire Hathaway continued its trend as a net seller of stocks for the 11th consecutive quarter, offloading $4.5 billion worth of equities during the first half of the year.
&#8220;It is reasonably possible there could be adverse consequences on most, if not all, of our operating businesses, as well as on our investments in equity securities, which could significantly affect our future results.&#8221; Berkshire added.
As Buffett prepares to pass the torch, Berkshire faces a turbulent road ahead—navigating market headwinds, investment volatility, and global economic uncertainty that could reshape its future playbook.
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Image: Shutterstock/Rokas Tenys

Earnings

Equities

General

Berkshire Hathaway Warns of 'Adverse Consequences on Most, If Not All, Operating Businesses' as Q2 Results Reflect Mounting Global Pressures

Jeff Bezos warned Amazon.com's early managers in 1998 that the company would live or die by the caliber of its hires and reduced the company&#8217;s hiring philosophy to three deceptively simple questions that tied down to a common goal.
What Happened: In a shareholder <a href="https://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/97/97664/reports/Shareholderletter98.pdf">letter</a> that spring, Bezos instructed interviewers to ponder three queries before extending an offer: "Will you admire this person? … Will this person raise the average level of effectiveness of the group they're entering? … Along what dimension might this person be a superstar?"
The questions, he wrote, ensured "the bar has to continuously go up" and kept Amazon "fighting entropy" as it raced across the nascent internet retail landscape.
Bezos illustrated the point with whimsy. &#8220;One person here is a National Spelling Bee champion (1978, I believe). I suspect it doesn't help her in everyday work, but it does make working here more fun if you can occasionally snag her in the hall with a quick challenge: "onomatopoeia!",&#8221; he wrote. Unique talents, even unrelated to a job, he argued, "enrich the work environment for all of us."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/08/46784036/dave-ramsey-snaps-at-divorcing-caller-left-with-2k-demands-he-reclaim-25k-from-ex-this-is-asinine">Dave Ramsey Snaps At Divorcing Caller Left With $2K, Demands He Reclaim $25K From Ex: &#8216;This Is Asinine&#8217;</a>
That early doctrine was later formalized into Amazon's "bar-raiser" program, a cadre of trained interviewers who veto any candidate that fails to improve the talent pool, a system Chief Executive Andy Jassy still <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/careers/life-at-aws-amazons-bar-raiser-program-hiring-for-long-term-growth-and-innovation/">hails</a> as "one of Amazon's crown jewels."
Why It Matters: Bezos kept evangelizing high standards long after Amazon scaled beyond books. His 2017 letter <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/2017-letter-to-shareholders">declared</a> that "high standards are teachable" and fundamental to meeting ever-rising customer expectations. "Once you've tasted high standards, there's no going back," he summarized to shareholders.
Inside the company, those ideals shape everything from six-page narrative memos that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36337342/jeff-bezos-reveals-why-amazon-did-away-with-powerpoint-presentations-for-a-silent-start-meeting-stra">replace PowerPoints</a> to rigorous interview loops codified this year into a public <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43930484/jeff-bezos-knew-great-hiring-was-crucial-because-he-used-to-ascertain-one-key-thing-in-interviews-now-amazon-has-dropped-6-must-know-secrets-to-landing-a-job-at-the-tech-giant-in-2025">six-step guide for applicants</a>.
Even Amazon's 2020 shareholder letter <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/2020-letter-to-shareholders">repeated</a> the 1998 refrain, where it said setting the hiring bar high "will continue to be the single most important element of Amazon.com's success."
Critics say the relentless pace <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/amazon-jeff-bezos-online-bookstore-h3s289jcs?">breeds</a> a cut-throat culture, yet Amazon's leaders counter that the same toughness powered the company's expansion from online bookstore to global logistics and cloud titan.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/08/46783817/apple-ceo-tim-cook-says-iphone-still-central-to-future-tech-as-ex-design-chief-jony-ive-builds-ai-device-for-openai">Apple CEO Tim Cook Says iPhone Still Central To Future Tech As Ex-Design Chief Jony Ive Builds AI Device For OpenAI</a></li>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Tech

Jeff Bezos Once Revealed Amazon Recruiters Ask These 3 Questions Because They Want To Set The Bar High: Could You Rise To The Challenge?

Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) meteoric growth has increased the appetite for not only the asset, but also the predictions and prophecies surrounding it.&nbsp;
Some, however, sound so unrealistic that they may confuse even the most perpetual optimists.
What happened: Samson Mow, CEO of Bitcoin technology company JAN3, is one of the firm believers of the $1 million price target for the apex cryptocurrency. He reiterated in a September 2024 interview that the coin will eventually reach the milestone in 2025, if not 2024.
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While Mow is confident in his $1 million projection, he selected his words carefully earlier this month, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/07/46384827/samson-mow-confident-bitcoin-is-going-to-add-a-zero-the-million-dollar-question-is-of-when">stating</a>, &#8220;You know Bitcoin is going to add a zero. It&#8217;s simply a matter of when.&#8221;
Plan B, the creator of the popular <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bitcoin-stock-to-flow-model#:~:text=All%206%20Items-,What%20is%20the%20Stock%20to%20Flow%20Model%3F,commodities%20like%20oil%20and%20copper.">Bitcoin stock-to-flow model</a>, predicted at the beginning of the year that Bitcoin would average $500,000 in 2025 and range between $250,000 and $1 million, thanks to halving and scarcity-driven demand.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">My forward guidance for 2025 has not changed since 2022 (when bitcoin was 20k, see below): &#x2705;rise into April 2024 halving &#x2705;halving around S2F value &#x2705;pump after halving &#x2705; 100k in 2024 &#x2b1c;&#xFE0F; 2025: hit S2F target ~500k average (range 250k-1m) <a href="https://t.co/Neet5BQ90W">https://t.co/Neet5BQ90W</a> <a href="https://t.co/osA3vXAW9D">pic.twitter.com/osA3vXAW9D</a>
&mdash; PlanB (@100trillionUSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/100trillionUSD/status/1874514096009392539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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They eventually toned down their forecast in July, settling on $500,000 as the average price for the 2024-2028 halving cycle.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">FYI: I still believe that bitcoin average price will be ~$0.5m this halving cycle (2024-2028). Note that S2F prediction is very rough (obviously because the prediction is made only using scarcity/S2F-ratio) with a $0.25m-$1m range (so $0.3m or $0.6m average would also be fine). <a href="https://t.co/XLxAEYn4Im">https://t.co/XLxAEYn4Im</a>
&mdash; PlanB (@100trillionUSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/100trillionUSD/status/1940333708466409570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise Asset Management, projected Bitcoin to reach $1 million and more in 2025 if the U.S. establishes a strategic Bitcoin reserve.
While President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46681312/trumps-bitcoin-reserve-just-legitimized-it-coinbase-ceo-brian-armstrong-says-g20-nations-now-rushing-to-build-their-own-btc-stockpiles">did sign the executive order</a> establishing the first such reserve in the U.S, it remains to be seen whether Park&#8217;s projection is proven accurate.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The idea of a federal Bitcoin Strategic Reserve happening in 2025 is less than a 10% chance event. That's the only math in which Bitcoin can hit $1mm+ in 2025 when it happens.
&mdash; Jeff Park (@dgt10011) <a href="https://twitter.com/dgt10011/status/1872275064890290340?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46744815/bitcoin-ethereum-move-sideways-dogecoin-falls-amid-jerome-powells-hawkish-tone-on-rate-cuts-analyst-says-dip-temporary-before-btc-highs">Bitcoin, Ethereum Move Sideways, Dogecoin Falls Amid Jerome Powell&#8217;s Hawkish Tone On Rate Cuts: Analyst Says Dip Temporary Before BTC Highs</a>
Why Are These Predictions Overambitious? Bitcoin is currently trading around $118,000. To achieve $500,000 before the end of the year, it must grow by 323% in the next five months. To reach $1 million, it needs to skyrocket 750%. 
Just to add some context, the apex cryptocurrency grew 83% over the last year and 305% over the two years. 
To clock similar numbers in the rest of 2025, unprecedented market conditions, such as massive institutional or nation-state adoption and sharp regulatory shifts, would be required.
Interestingly, key Wall Street figures have also expressed optimism about Bitcoin, though their projections are substantially lower.
Wall Street strategist Tom Lee projected that Bitcoin could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45727395/tom-lee-predicts-bitcoin-to-hit-250000-by-end-of-2025-3m-long-term">realistically climb to $250,000</a> by the end of 2025, a forecast <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44317256/bitcoin-to-hit-250k-by-end-of-2025-tim-draper-predicts-will-be-the-dominant-currency-of-the-world">shared </a>by venture capitalist Tim Draper. Bitwise Asset Management, a cryptocurrency-focused fund manager, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46194028/bitcoin-to-hit-200000-in-2025-but-new-eth-sol-highs-remain-in-doubt-bitwise-says">set a target price of over $200,000</a> for bitcoin.
Price Action: At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $118,344, up 0.20% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46745730/peter-schiff-says-bitcoin-is-like-tech-stocks-but-without-potential-of-earnings-as-investors-digest-meta-microsoft-numbers">Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin Is Like Tech Stocks But Without &#8216;Potential Of Earnings&#8217; As Investors Digest Meta, Microsoft Numbers</a></li>
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Image Via Bob Montgomery / USA TODAY NETWORK Imagn Images

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

Will Bitcoin Reach $500,000 Or Even $1 Million In 2025? — Exploring Over-Ambitious BTC Forecasts For 2025

Each week, Benzinga's Stock Whisper Index uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0731" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.
Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.
Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/46157351/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-71" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: June&#8217;s 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do CoreWeave, Nvidia, Apple Stock Rank?</a>
Here&#8217;s a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending August 1:
Cadence Design Systems Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>): The automation company saw increased interest from readers during the week, which comes after the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46674619/cadence-design-systems-beats-q2-earnings-estimates-raises-fy25-outlook-citing-broad-based-strength-ai-tailwinds">reported second-quarter financial results.</a> Cadence beat analyst estimates for revenue and earnings per share. The company said total revenue was up 20% year-over-year with strength across all business segments. Cadence also reported strong bookings and a backlog of $6.4 billion. The company raised its guidance for the full fiscal year. Multiple analysts<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CDNS/analyst-ratings"> raised their price targets </a>after the report. Shares were up around 7% for the week and are up around 20% year-to-date, with the stock near all-time highs.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0731"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="499" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174205/Screenshot-518.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1011552" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174205/Screenshot-518.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174205/Screenshot-518-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174205/Screenshot-518-768x384.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>
Caseys General Stores (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CASY#NASDAQ">CASY</a>): The convenience store company saw strong interest from readers during the week with reports that Third Point added to its stake in the company during the second quarter. The company reported fourth-quarter financial results in June beating earnings per share for an eighth straight quarter and revenue for a third straight quarter. Analysts have been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CASY/analyst-ratings">raising their price targets </a>on the company.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0731"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="502" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174219/Screenshot-519.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1011553" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174219/Screenshot-519.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174219/Screenshot-519-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174219/Screenshot-519-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>
Howmet Aerospace Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>): The aerospace company saw strong interest from readers during the week which shares up over 60% year-to-date and at all-time highs. The company<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46763653/howmet-aerospace-posts-record-profit-raises-2025-outlook"> recently beat </a>second-quarter financial estimates from analysts for earnings per share and revenue. The company also raised full-year earnings per share and revenue guidance. During the company's conference call. Howmet CEO said the company is raising its underlying 737 Max assumptions from 28 per month to 33 per month. The company management highlighted robust demand for aerospace and the defense markets.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0731"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="502" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174233/Screenshot-520.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1011554" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174233/Screenshot-520.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174233/Screenshot-520-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174233/Screenshot-520-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>
ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>): The semiconductor company has been seeing strong interest from readers for weeks and makes its way onto the Stock Whisper Index ahead of second-quarter financial results. The company recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46687494/on-semiconductor-jumps-after-nvidia-deal-is-this-the-next-big-ai-power-play">announced a collaboration</a> with Nvidia Corporation, which sent shares higher. ON Semiconductor will report second-quarte financial results on Aug. 4. Analysts expect the company to report declines in earnings per share and revenue. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in nine of the last 10 quarters and for revenue in nine of the last 10 quarters. Analysts have been cautious on the stock with their ratings but recently<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ON/analyst-ratings"> raising their price targets.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0731"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="517" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174246/Screenshot-521.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1011555" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174246/Screenshot-521.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174246/Screenshot-521-300x156.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174246/Screenshot-521-768x398.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
Vertiv Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRT#NYSE">VRT</a>): The air cooling systems company saw strong interest from readers after reporting second-quarter results that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/07/46768464/vertiv-holdings-analysts-boost-their-forecasts-after-better-than-expected-q2-earnings">beat analyst estimates. </a>The company also raised its full-year guidance for both earnings per share and revenue after the quarterly results. Analysts raised their price targets on the stock with shares near all-time highs. Vertiv stock has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in 10 straight quarters and beaten revenue estimates in six of the last 10 quarters. With strong success of beating estimates, recently raising guidance and seeing analyst price target hikes, there is a lot of positive momentum for Vertiv.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0731"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="498" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174257/Screenshot-522.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1011556" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174257/Screenshot-522.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174257/Screenshot-522-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01174257/Screenshot-522-768x383.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>
Stay tuned for next week's report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0725" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>
Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46264224/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-72" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">July 4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46381556/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-73" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">July 11</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46508365/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-74" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">July 18</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46648171/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-75">July 25</a></li>
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Long Ideas

Exclusives

Trading Ideas

CASY

CDNS

Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

President Donald Trump took to social media to highlight recent successes in border security, attributing these achievements to the efforts of Art Del Cueto from the National Border Council.
What Happened: President Trump commended the efforts of Art Del Cueto from the National Border Council on Truth Social, highlighting recent border security achievements.
According to a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114959044159495165">post</a> on Saturday, Trump noted a significant decrease in illegal border crossings.
Trump&#8217;s post praised the &#8220;AMAZING&#8221; border numbers, stating that no illegal entries occurred over the past three months.
"Under Crooked Joe Biden and ‘Border Czar' Kamala, a comparable number was hundreds of thousands of people, many from Gangs, Prisons, and Mental Institutions, pouring into our Country," he added.
Trump said that during their tenure, hundreds of thousands, including gang members and individuals from prisons and mental institutions, crossed the border illegally.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/08/46813128/kevin-oleary-defends-trumps-tariffs-as-markets-shrug-off-hikes-im-an-investor-i-dont-listen-to-all-">Kevin O&#8217;Leary Defends Trump&#8217;s Tariffs As Markets Shrug Off Hikes: &#8216;I&#8217;m An Investor. I Don&#8217;t Listen To All The Noise&#8217;</a>
Additionally, President Trump lauded Jack Brewer for his strength and dedication, thanking both Brewer and Del Cueto for their contributions.
Why It Matters: President Trump&#8217;s recent comments on border security come amid his ongoing push for a substantial increase in immigration enforcement funding.
As reported, the President is advocating for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46110499/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-to-inject-150-billion-into-immigration-enforcement-over-the-next-four-years-report">$150 billion spending plan</a> aimed at bolstering immigration enforcement over the next four years. This proposed budget would significantly expand the southern border wall and increase resources for detention centers and law enforcement personnel.
Public opinion on Trump&#8217;s immigration policies remains divided. A <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45991327/most-americans-oppose-ice-workplace-raids-but-still-back-trumps-border-wall-survey">survey</a> by Pew Research Center revealed that while a majority of Americans oppose workplace raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), many still support the expansion of the border wall.
Trump&#8217;s emphasis on border security has been a consistent theme, as he reiterated in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40525684/trump-reiterates-border-security-plans-in-chat-with-comedian-theo-von-walls-work-you-know">conversation</a> with comedian Theo Von, emphasizing the effectiveness of walls in border security.
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</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Politics

Trump Boasts Of 0 Illegal Border Entries Over Past 3 Months, Slams 'Crooked' Joe Biden, 'Border Czar' Kamala Harris

As Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) flirts with the $4 trillion market cap, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">ETFs exposed to the stock</a> have found themselves in the limelight. Underneath the surface of earnings beats and valuation records is a larger narrative: Microsoft has become the infrastructure layer of the AI revolution.
Microsoft&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46738585/microsoft-q4-earnings-highlights-double-beat-ceo-says-cloud-and-ai-is-the-driving-force">Q4 blockbuster earings </a>were stuff from the market lore, Azure cloud revenue jumped 39%, Office and Copilot adoption flew, and the company beat on EPS and revenue. That&#8217;s the sheen on top.
But dig deeper and you'll see what the market is beginning to whisper: Microsoft has become the utility company of AI. Its $30 billion+ quarterly capex is pouring directly into data center buildouts, custom chips, and AI-integrated cloud services—an aggressive strategy that positions Microsoft as the backend for everything from ChatGPT to enterprise AI rollouts.
This transformation means that owning Microsoft-heavy ETFs is an exposure to the infrastructure play behind generative AI's explosive growth.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/08/46805886/bond-etfs-could-catch-a-tailwind-from-jobs-data">Bond ETFs Could Catch A Tailwind From Jobs Data</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The ETF Angle: Funds That Stand To Benefit From Microsoft's AI Ascent</h2>
Here's where the plot thickens. Investors looking to surf the Microsoft-AI wave without stock-picking risk are increasingly turning to thematic and tech-focused ETFs with deep Microsoft allocations.
Among them are:
Global X Artificial Intelligence &amp; Technology ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIQ#NASDAQ">AIQ</a>): Highly skewed toward leaders in the cloud/AI space, including Microsoft. AIQ is really a packaged play on the enterprise AI arms race.
iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>): One of the top three holdings is Microsoft. IGV&#8217;s decent year-to-date performance is quietly powered by Microsoft&#8217;s Copilot and Azure monetization narrative.
Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGT#NYSE">VGT</a>) and Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>): These large-cap tech ETFs have MSFT among its top holdings, directly profiting from its size and profitability.
Basically, these funds are riding Microsoft&#8217;s &#8220;cloud plus chips&#8221; AI plan quietly and are not yelling it from the roof tops. The investors who get that MSFT is not merely selling software but constructing the digital scaffolding of the world of AI are most likely to gain.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bottom Line: ETFs As AI Infrastructure Proxies</h2>
Microsoft&#8217;s rise to $4 trillion will not only be a milestone, it&#8217;s an indicator. It&#8217;s no longer merely a software giant; it&#8217;s an essential part of the AI hardware-software stack. While the demand for compute power, enterprise integration, and cloud-based AI takes off, Microsoft&#8217;s scale emerges as the new moat.
And ETFs that position in this shift, intentionally or unintentionally, could be some of the brightest bets for long-term access to the AI economy&#8217;s infrastructure layer.
In a world rushing after trendy AI startups, these ETFs could be holding the picks and shovels.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/08/46807334/eurozone-gdp-growth-etfs-game">Eurozone GDP Growth Pops A Surprise: These ETFs Are Winning The Game</a></li>
</ul>

Sector ETFs

ETFs

Microsoft's $4 Trillion Moment Could Supercharge ETF Strategies

Benzinga examined the prospects for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.
The Federal Reserve held rates at 4.25-4.50%, resisting pressure from President Donald Trump — even as two Fed governors dissented in favor of immediate cuts. However, the July jobs report disappointed, with just 73,000 jobs added and downward revisions totaling 258,000 for May and June. Inflation continued climbing, with core PCE reaching 2.8% year‑over‑year.
Markets fell sharply: the Dow, S&amp;P 500, and Nasdaq each dropped between 1-2%, with the Dow losing 542 points. Yields declined and safe-haven assets like gold gained traction as investor sentiment weakened.
The sell-off has raised bets on a September rate cut, with futures pricing now reflecting over 75-85% likelihood. Political interference — including Trump's removal of the BLS chief and calls to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — is adding to uncertainty over Fed independence.
Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.

The Bulls
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46676131/celestica-stock-surges-on-q2-earnings-beat-company-raises-2025-outlook-on-strengthening-demand">"Celestica stock surges on Q2 earnings beat; company raises 2025 outlook on strengthening demand"</a>, by Erica Kollmann, reports that Celestica Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLS#NYSE">CLS</a>) stock jumped after posting stronger-than-expected Q2 earnings and revenue, and the company boosted its full-year 2025 outlook — citing robust customer demand across its electronics manufacturing services business.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46756056/carvana-stock-climbs-to-new-highs-after-q2-earnings-whats-driving-the-action">"Carvana stock climbs to new highs after Q2 earnings — what's driving the action?"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>) surged after beating Q2 estimates with $4.84 billion in revenue (up 42% year-over-year) and EPS of $1.28, while retail units sold rose 41% to 143,280, and analysts like Needham raised their price targets to as high as $500 on optimism around continued tariff tailwinds and scalable growth.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46741319/applied-digital-stock-soars-after-q4-results-how-coreweave-bitcoin-are-helping">"Applied Digital stock soars after Q4 results: How CoreWeave, Bitcoin are helping"</a>, by Chris Katje, reports that Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APLD#NASDAQ">APLD</a>) jumped nearly 50% after beating Q4 estimates and unveiling a major expansion of its AI data center contract with CoreWeave Inc., including a lease option that ups capacity to 400 MW and boosts projected revenue to ~$11 billion over 15 years — a move bolstered by its Bitcoin-linked infrastructure strategy.
For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46730519/exxon-chevron-could-be-wall-streets-best-kept-secrets-this-quarter">Exxon, Chevron Could Be Wall Street's Best-Kept Secrets This Quarter</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46706807/mara-holdings-stock-moves-higher-on-better-than-expected-q2-earnings">MARA Holdings Stock Moves Higher On Better-Than-Expected Q2 Earnings</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46778413/rocket-companies-stock-blasts-off-on-q2-results-here-are-the-highlights">Rocket Companies Stock Blasts Off On Q2 Results: Here Are The Highlights</a>

The Bears
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46688728/novo-nordisk-weight-loss-stock-eli-lilly-wegovy-ozempic">"Novo Nordisk implodes after Wegovy warning — is the weight‑loss bubble bursting?"</a>, by Piero Cingari, reports that Novo Nordisk A/S (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NASDAQ">NVO</a>) stock fell 26% on its worst trading day ever after the company slashed its 2025 growth and profit guidance — citing weaker‑than‑expected uptake for its weight‑loss drug Wegovy, continued competition from compounded semaglutide alternatives, and a leadership transition that has intensified investor concern.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/08/46797499/nvidia-broadcom-marvell-lead-chip-stock-slide-after-trump-hits-china-taiwan-with-new-tariffs">"Nvidia, Broadcom, Marvell lead chip stock slide after Trump hits China, Taiwan with new tariffs"</a>, by Anusuya Lahiri, reports that NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), Marvell Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>) and other AI chipmakers fell sharply after President Donald Trump implemented steep new tariffs on China and Taiwan—raising sector-wide concerns despite ongoing AI infrastructure demand.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46763664/ferrari-stock-slides-on-q2-earnings-the-details">"Ferrari stock slides on Q2 earnings: The details"</a>, by Adam Eckert,reports that Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RACE#NYSE">RACE</a>) delivered Q2 revenue of $2.03 billion — above estimates — and earnings of $2.70 per share, yet shares fell sharply despite solid results and confirmed full‑year guidance. Although core earnings rose 6% thanks to strong pricing and reduced tariff pressures, investors focused on slowing shipments and pricing power, triggering Ferrari's steep decline — the stock's largest single‑day drop since its 2016 listing.
For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46734755/chinese-health-care-stock-pheton-holdings-collapses-after-short-seller-warns-of-manipulation-by-overseas-scammers">Chinese Health Care Stock Pheton Holdings Collapses After Short Seller Warns Of Manipulation By ‘Overseas Scammers'</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46687402/paypals-profit-surge-dwarfed-by-q2-transaction-slump-stock-falls">PayPal's Profit Surge Dwarfed By Q2 Transaction Slump, Stock Falls</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46768121/robinhood-sheds-its-meme-stock-skin-emerges-as-full-fledged-fintech-player">Robinhood Sheds Its Meme Stock Skin, Emerges As Full-Fledged Fintech Player</a>

Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following <a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> on X</a>.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Celestica, Carvana, Novo Nordisk — And Fed Holds Rates Despite Trump Pressure

On Friday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving a number of prominent stocks including Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), Roku Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>), Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ILMN#NASDAQ">ILMN</a>), and Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMNR#NASDAQ">BMNR</a>).
The COIN Trade
Ark Invest purchased a total of 95,678 shares of Coinbase Global Inc across its Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#BATS">ARKF</a>), ARK Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#BATS">ARKK</a>) and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#BATS">ARKW</a>). This move comes as the cryptocurrency market continues to show signs of strength, with Bitcoin flirting with all-time highs.
The total value of the shares acquired, based on the stock&#8217;s closing price on the day of the trade, is around $30.11 million.
The ROKU Trade
In another significant move, Ark Invest bought a total of 345,933 shares of Roku Inc across its ARKF, ARKK, and ARKW ETFs. The streaming platform has been a consistent performer in the market, making it a valuable addition to Ark&#8217;s portfolio.
The exact value of this trade, calculated from the closing price on the day, is around $27.67 million.
The ILMN Trade
Ark Invest also showed interest in the biotechnology sector, purchasing a total of 162,211 shares of Illumina Inc through its ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) and ARKK ETFs. Illumina, a leader in DNA sequencing technology, has been a key player in the genomic revolution.
The value of this trade, based on the closing price of the stock on the day of the trade, is around $15.35 miillion.
The BMNR Trade
Ark Invest also bought a total of 490,712 shares of Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc across its ARKF, ARKK, and ARKW ETFs. Bitmine, a company specializing in cryptocurrency mining technology, aligns with Ark&#8217;s interest in the crypto sector.
The value of this trade, calculated from the closing price on the day, is around $15.55 million.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/07/46710463/cathie-woods-15m-crypto-bet-sells-bitcoin-king-block-doubles-down-on-ethereum-giant-bitmine-immersion">Cathie Wood&#8217;s $15M Crypto Bet: Sells Bitcoin King Block, Doubles Down On Ethereum Giant Bitmine Immersion</a>
Other Key Trades:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Ark Invest bought 299,279 shares of PagerDuty Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PD#NYSE">PD</a>) and 53,396 shares of SoFi Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>) through its ARKK ETF.</li>
<li>Ark Invest sold a total of 134,548 shares of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) through its ARKK ETF.</li>
<li>Ark Invest sold a total of 62108 shares of Roblox Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>) through its ARKF ETF.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46745168/trump-leaves-good-friend-india-in-the-cold-strikes-trade-deal-with-arch-rival-pakis">Trump Leaves &#8216;Good Friend&#8217; India In The Cold, Strikes Trade Deal With Arch Rival Pakistan Over &#8216;Massive Oil Reserves&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: ChrisStock82 / Shutterstock.com

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Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Loads Up On Coinbase, Roku, Illumina, And Bitmine Immersion

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) co-founder Bill Gates warned that artificial intelligence is advancing at a pace that &#8220;surprises&#8221; even him, creating uncertainty about when AI might replace human workers across industries.
What Happened: &#8220;It&#8217;s improving at a rate that surprises me,&#8221; Gates said. The tech pioneer highlighted AI&#8217;s growing research capabilities, noting he regularly tests complex questions on AI systems that deliver comprehensive summaries.
Gates emphasized the unpredictable nature of AI&#8217;s trajectory. &#8220;AI today can replace human work, the most complex coding tasks, it&#8217;s not able to do yet. And people in the field disagree: is that within the next year or two, or is it more like ten years away?&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46135663/marc-benioff-says-ai-now-handles-up-to-50-of-work-at-salesforce-could-an-ai-agent-eventually-take-over-his-job">Marc Benioff Says AI Now Handles Up To 50% Of Work At Salesforce — Could An AI Agent Eventually Take Over His Job?</a>
The technology has rapidly evolved from basic email composition to generating functional code. Gates noted AI already handles administrative roles like telesales but struggles with more complex tasks, though that gap is narrowing quickly.
Why It Matters: Other tech industry leaders have also shared their views on the subject earlier. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang takes a more direct stance, warning that workers who don&#8217;t embrace <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46596244/jensen-huang-says-ai-will-replace-mundane-work-as-nvidia-ceo-warns-those-who-raw-dog-it-without-ai-will-be-left-behind">AI risk obsolescence</a>. However, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thinks AI will redefine cognitive labor, but it won&#8217;t do so by making <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44066026/satya-nadella-says-ai-agents-will-replace-knowledge-work-but-theres-one-role-humans-will-always-need-to-play">human workers irrelevant</a>. 
Goldman Sachs estimates AI could impact <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/opinion/25/04/44587953/will-ai-replace-us-or-redefine-us">300 million full-time jobs</a> globally, but industry analysis suggests mass redefinition rather than replacement.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46093421/ai-will-disrupt-25-of-us-jobs-by-2030-and-the-fed-cant-save-them-economist-warns">AI Will Disrupt 25% Of US Jobs By 2030—And The Fed Can&#8217;t Save Them, Economist Warns</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Bill Gates Warns AI Progress 'Surprises' Even Him—Unclear When It Will Replace Human Work

Dylan Field, co-founder of Figma Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIG#NYSE">FIG</a>), witnessed his company's remarkable debut on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, marking the largest U.S. venture-capital-backed tech IPO in four years.
Check out the current price of <a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/FIG">FIG stock here</a>.
What Happened: Figma&#8217;s IPO closed at $115.50, instantly elevating its valuation to nearly $68 billion. This figure is over three times the $20 billion acquisition offer from Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>) that fell through two years ago.
However, long before the Adobe bid, Field started with an idea along with co-founder Evan Wallace, who was a teaching assistant at Brown University. What started out as a college project would go on to become a multi-billion-dollar company a decade later.
Armed with an idea to explore the possibilities of new browser technologies, Field bagged the prestigious Thiel Fellowship in 2012 to create what is now Figma, along with Wallace, <a href="https://www.figma.com/blog/design-meet-the-internet/">according</a> to the company.
Field, 33, embraced technology early on in his life – he learned how to use a computer at age three, and later on, went to a Rhode Island Ivy League school. He also worked as a research assistant for nine months at Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), a four-month internship at LinkedIn, and two internships at Flipboard.
Figma's stock soared by 250% on its first day, achieving the largest first-day surge for a billion-dollar tech IPO. This event solidified Figma&#8217;s role as a key player in the tech IPO market. The intense demand led to limited share availability for many investors, and trading was temporarily halted due to volatility.
Subscribe to the<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe"> Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The explosive debut of Figma on the stock market has sparked significant interest and discussion among investors and analysts. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/08/46785080/jim-cramer-calls-figma-too-expensive-at-50x-sales-stock-surges-250-on-market-debut">Jim Cramer</a> had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/08/46785080/jim-cramer-calls-figma-too-expensive-at-50x-sales-stock-surges-250-on-market-debut">previously warned</a> that Figma&#8217;s valuation was &#8220;too expensive&#8221; at 50 times sales, yet the stock defied these concerns, surging 250% on its first day. This highlights the intense demand and investor confidence in Figma&#8217;s potential.
Additionally, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46748648/figma-could-become-a-meme-stock-beyond-all-comprehension-warns-elon-musks-x-product-head-nikita-bier">Nikita Bier</a>, Head of Product at Elon Musk&#8217;s social media platform X, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46748648/figma-could-become-a-meme-stock-beyond-all-comprehension-warns-elon-musks-x-product-head-nikita-bier">predicted that Figma</a> could become a &#8220;meme stock beyond all comprehension.&#8221; This prediction underscores the growing influence of social sentiment analytics in trading strategies.
Despite valuation concerns, Figma&#8217;s shares continued to attract attention, briefly reaching $143.45 in after-hours trading before <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/08/46811170/figma-shares-edge-higher-after-explosive-ipo-debut-despite-valuation-concerns">pulling back</a>. This ongoing interest in Figma reflects the company&#8217;s strong market position and the potential for future growth.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech"> following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44856587/former-google-ceo-predicts-that-ais-sprint-toward-super-intelligence-could-put-a-smartest-human-in-every-pocket-by-2031">Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Predicts AI Sprint Toward Super Intelligence Could Put &#8216;Smartest Human&#8217; In Every Pocket In 6 Years &#8211; Benzinga</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: M.oo / Shutterstock.com

ADBE

How This LinkedIn Intern Transformed A $100K Grant To $68 Billion Company

On Friday, Nintendo Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTDOY#OTC">NTDOY</a>) said it's raising the price of its original Switch lineup in the U.S. starting Aug. 3, citing market conditions, ongoing supply constraints and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44761003/sony-nintendo-hike-console-prices-as-us-tariffs-bite-microsoft-may-dodge-the-hit">rising trade pressures</a> as factors.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Price Increases Hit Original Switch, OLED And Lite Models</h2>
In a statement posted on its website, Nintendo said the price hike will affect its "family of systems and products," including the standard Switch console, the OLED version, the Switch Lite and select accessories.
The company said the decision was made "based on market conditions" and that the price changes would take effect Aug. 3 across the U.S. retail landscape.
Prices for the newly released Switch 2 console will remain unchanged—for now.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46257394/trumps-big-bautiful-bill-passes-ev-tax-breaks-to-end-on-september-30-what-it-means-for-electric-vehi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump's ‘Big Beautiful Bill' Passes—EV Tax Breaks To End On September 30: What It Means For Electric Vehicles</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Switch 2 Sells Over 5.8 Million Units Despite Supply Crunch</h2>
The announcement came shortly after Nintendo reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that beat expectations. The Japanese gaming giant disclosed that it has sold 5.82 million Switch 2 consoles since its June 5 launch, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/nintendo-switch-price-us-tariffs.html">reported</a> CNBC.
Despite strong sales, analysts believe the company's full-year guidance of 15 million Switch 2 units may be too conservative given continued high demand.
In July, reports indicated that Switch 2 consoles <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/gaming/25/07/46263422/nintendo-switch-2-shortage-to-continue-until-next-spring-as-per-analysts-report">remain scarce in Japan</a>, with consumers entering lotteries just for a chance to buy one. Analysts expect the shortage to persist until at least spring 2026.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trade War With Tariffs Adds Further Pressure</h2>
Nintendo's pricing update also comes amid escalating trade tensions.
Before the major headline on Friday, President Donald Trump's administration introduced a new wave of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46781583/trump-slaps-35-tariff-on-canadian-goods-hits-68-other-nations-with-new-trade-war-amid-fentanyl-security-china-tensions">reciprocal tariffs ranging</a> from 10% to 41% on dozens of countries, including key Asian trading partners.
The Switch 2 launched during a pause in tariffs on Japan and Vietnam, but the latest round could impact hardware manufacturing and shipping costs moving forward.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More Price Hikes May Be On The Horizon</h2>
Nintendo has not ruled out additional price adjustments, especially if global supply chain constraints persist or if new tariffs are implemented. "Please note that price adjustments may be necessary in the future," the company warned.
Consumers looking to buy older Switch models may want to act before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/08/46785059/intel-exec-exodus-as-ceo-lip-bu-tan-slashes-workforce-delays-ohio-chip-plant-in-major-shake-up-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intel Exec Exodus As CEO Lip-Bu Tan Slashes Workforce, Delays Ohio Chip Plant In Major Shake-Up: Report</a></li>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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NTDOY

Nintendo Hikes Prices On Switch Consoles In The US, Warns Of More Increases Amid Supply Shortages And Trade War Tensions

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is planning to make further changes to helicopter routes near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in response to the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43328465/no-survivors-yet-to-plane-crash-near-reagan-national-airport-american-airlines-ceo-heads-to-washington"> tragic mid-air collision</a> in January.
What Happened: The FAA announced on Friday that it is set to implement additional alterations to helicopter routes near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to a Reuters report on Friday. This decision follows the fatal mid-air collision on January 29, which resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals.
FAA official Nick Fuller revealed during a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing that the agency&#8217;s work group is working on changes to a crucial helicopter route near Reagan. This comes after the FAA had already imposed permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations in March and further limited their operational areas in June.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46748673/jensen-huang-sells-39-million-in-shares-as-nvda-stock-soars-30-in-2025">NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Sells $39 Million In Stock Amid Company&#8217;s Impressive Performance</a>
Why It Matters: The NTSB hearing also raised concerns about the lack of communication between air traffic controllers and FAA leaders. The NTSB has also questioned the FAA&#8217;s failure to implement safety improvements after previous close-call incidents.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy criticized the FAA for disregarding warnings about safety issues. She said, &#8220;Every sign was there that there was a safety risk, and the tower was telling you. You transferred people out instead of taking ownership over the fact that everybody in the FAA tower was saying there was a problem &#8230; Fix it. Do better.&#8221;
This development also comes amid ongoing discussions about the need to modernize the U.S. Air Traffic Control System, which has been a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46461080/sean-duffy-says-trump-administration-would-require-an-additional-19-billion-to-overhaul-air-traffic-control-need-more-money">topic of debate</a> in the political arena.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Chad Robertson Media / Shutterstock.com

FAA To Revise Helicopter Routes Near Reagan National Following January Mid-Air Crash

Adam Sandler has revealed he was hesitant to ask Eminem for a favor, but the rapper ultimately agreed to appear in "Happy Gilmore 2" — and it's already proving to be a hit for Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>).
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sandler Opens Up About Asking Eminem For Cameo</h2>
During a July appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Sandler admitted he initially didn't want to trouble Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, with a request for a cameo in the sequel to his 1996 comedy classic.
"I love Eminem. I&#8217;m friends with Eminem, but I don&#8217;t want to bother the man. And everyone kept saying, ‘Man, Eminem would be so funny in this part,'" he recalled.&nbsp;
Adding, "And I was like, ‘I don&#8217;t want to ruin this guy&#8217;s time. He&#8217;s hanging out. He&#8217;s in Detroit. He&#8217;s doing his life, making records.' And then I started going, ‘But it certainly would be funny if he did it.'"
Despite the reluctance, Sandler said the role — a character named Donald Jr., son of Joe Flaherty's character from the original — was too perfect for the rapper to ignore.
Eventually, he called Eminem and said, "Dude, I know it's a pain in the a&#x2A;&#x2A;, but it's pretty funny," to which the rapper responded positively, telling Sandler to send "the stuff."
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/previews/25/07/46453824/netflix-q2-earnings-preview-squid-game-lift-is-clear-but-whats-the-next-blockbuster" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Netflix Q2 Earnings Preview: ‘Squid Game&#8217; Lift Is Clear—But What&#8217;s The Next Blockbuster?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sandler And Eminem Go Way Back</h2>
The actor also shared that their friendship began years ago after a Saturday Night Live afterparty where Eminem was performing with Dr. Dre.
"He looked at me, and I looked at him like, ‘Oh yeah. That kid&#8217;s pretty damn cool.' And then he goes, ‘Bobby Boucher!' I go, ‘Oh yes, that's what's up, Marshall.' Then we became friendly after that," Sandler recalled, referencing his character from The Waterboy.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Netflix Scores Big With Happy Gilmore 2 Premiere</h2>
Sandler&#8217;s Happy Gilmore 2 has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/entertainment/25/07/46729590/netflix-hits-records-with-happy-gilmore-2-despite-lower-ratings-than-original-1996-film">proven to be a major hit</a>. Since its debut on Netflix on July 25, the film soared to the No. 1 position on the platform's movie chart. Garnering 46.7 million views within just three days, it marked the biggest opening weekend ever for a U.S. film on Netflix.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Netflix Revenue And Guidance Also On the Rise</h2>
Netflix reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46481193/netflix-q2-fueled-by-price-ads-squid-game-q3-set-to-repeat">second-quarter revenue</a> of $11.08 billion, up 16% year-over-year, beating Wall Street estimates. The company is projecting third-quarter revenue of $11.53 billion and EPS of $6.87, both above expectations. Full-year revenue is now expected to fall between $44.8 billion and $45.2 billion.
The streaming giant also highlighted its upcoming content lineup for the latter half of 2025 during the earnings. This lineup includes titles such as "Wednesday," "Stranger Things," "Frankenstein" and the live boxing event between Canelo and Crawford.
Price Action: According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0717">Benzinga Pro data</a>, Netflix shares have climbed 30.66% year-to-date and surged 88.81% over the past 12 months.
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings show that while NFLX exhibits short-term downward momentum, it maintains a strong upward trend in both medium- and long-term periods. Despite a solid momentum score, the stock&#8217;s value rating lags. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">More detailed performance insights can be found here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/02014008/Screenshot-2025-08-02-at-11.07.18%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1011817" /></a></figure>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy+: Jgphotographydetroit via Shutterstock

Entertainment

NFLX

Adam Sandler Says He 'Didn't Want To Bug' Eminem For Happy Gilmore 2 Cameo, But The Rap Icon Said Yes Anyway: Here's How It's Faring For Netflix

Bill Gates has highlighted the story of a Ugandan nurse, Agnes Nambozo, who is scaling 1000-foot ladders to vaccinate children in remote mountainous regions.
This is part of a larger effort to combat childhood mortality in Uganda, a country that has made significant strides in reducing child deaths through vaccination.
What Happened: Nambozo, based in Buluganya, Uganda, is undertaking an extraordinary daily journey to reach remote communities and vaccinate children. Her daily routine includes climbing a nearly 1000-foot ladder, a journey that takes her over four hours each way, as per Gates&#8217; blog on Wednesday.
Despite the risks involved, Agnes is committed to her mission of vaccinating children in these hard-to-reach areas. Her efforts are part of a broader initiative that has seen a significant reduction in childhood mortality in Uganda over the last 25 years, largely attributed to vaccines and vaccinators like Agnes.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/08/46784703/elon-musk-donated-15-million-to-trumps-maga-and-gop-just-3-days-before-his-third-party-bid">Elon Musk Donated $15 Million To Trump&#8217;s MAGA And GOP Just 3 Days Before His Third Party Bid</a>
Agnes&#8217; work has become even more challenging due to recent funding cuts that have led to the loss of her colleagues at the health clinic in Buluganya. Despite these setbacks, Agnes remains determined to continue her work and is currently pursuing a nursing degree to further enhance her skills and impact.
Why It Matters: Bill Gates has been a vocal advocate for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/esg/25/06/45739698/bill-gates-commits-majority-of-200-billion-foundation-budget-to-africa-over-next-20-years-amid-trumps-massive-usaid-cuts">increased health and development efforts in Africa</a>, especially in the face of funding cuts. He has warned that these cuts could lead to a rise in child mortality, a concern that is being addressed by healthcare workers like Agnes.
Despite the challenges, Agnes&#8217; unwavering commitment to her community exemplifies the impact of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/07/46380959/bill-gates-warns-of-devestating-effects-of-usaid-funding-cuts-its-not-too-late-to-reverse-them">local healthcare workers</a> and the critical role they play in providing essential care, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Agnes&#8217; story also highlights the importance of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/46131597/bill-gates-says-he-knows-for-a-fact-that-more-children-will-die-due-to-us-health-aid-cuts-and-hes-taking-the-proof-to-congress">investing in healthcare workers</a> and the need for continued support to ensure that they can carry out their vital work effectively.
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Health Care

Bill Gates Highlights Ugandan Nurse Climbing 1000-Foot Ladders To Deliver Vaccines

A second federal appeals court has shown signs of declaring President Donald Trump&#8216;s order restricting birthright citizenship as unconstitutional.
What Happened: A three-judge panel of the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals expressed skepticism about the order, according to a Reuters report.
The panel questioned a lawyer from the U.S. Department of Justice on why they should overturn the lower-court judges who had previously blocked the order from taking effect.
This development suggests that the order is likely to be deemed unconstitutional by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The order, issued by Trump on his first day back in office, directs agencies to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46748673/jensen-huang-sells-39-million-in-shares-as-nvda-stock-soars-30-in-2025">NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Sells $39 Million In Stock Amid Company&#8217;s Impressive Performance</a>
The order&#8217;s fate is expected to be determined by the U.S. Supreme Court. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had previously ruled the order as unconstitutional.
David Barron, Chief U.S. Circuit Judge,&nbsp; noted, &#8220;We have an opinion by the Supreme Court that we aren&#8217;t free to disregard.&#8221;
Why It Matters: This development comes in the wake of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46156417/supreme-court-hands-trump-a-monumental-victory-as-it-limits-judges-power-to-block-presidents-birthright-citizenship-order">Supreme Court ruling</a> that altered how birthright citizenship policies can be challenged in court. The ruling, authored by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, limits the judiciary's power to issue nationwide injunctions against presidential directives.
Trump welcomed the ruling, asserting it enables his administration to advance policies like the birthright citizenship executive order, which he claims was unjustly obstructed. The decision requires lower courts to reevaluate the extent of their injunctions.
Trump&#8217;s order has faced legal challenges since its inception, with multiple courts ruling it as unconstitutional. The recent skepticism expressed by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals further complicates the future of this controversial policy.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order Faces Likely Rejection In Second Federal Appeals Court: Report

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it will shut down after Congress, following President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/06/45766300/trump-sends-congress-9-4-billion-doge-cut-proposal-targeting-npr-pbs-lgbtq-initiatives-and-overseas-cl">spending cuts</a>, stripped $1.1 billion in previously approved funding.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CPB Begins ‘Orderly Wind-Down' After Six Decades</h2>
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced Friday it will begin winding down operations, citing the passage of a Trump-backed spending bill that eliminates its federal funding.
The decision marks the end of a 60-year legacy supporting locally owned NPR and PBS member stations across the U.S.
"Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations," said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison in a statement.
Most staff will exit by Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year, with a small team remaining through January 2026 to manage the shutdown.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46314088/trump-slams-democrats-over-inflation-narrative-says-he-cut-costs-more-than-any-president-in-history" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Slams Democrats Over Inflation Narrative, Says He Cut Costs ‘More Than Any President In History&#8217;</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Administration Cuts Trigger Broad Criticism</h2>
The $1.1 billion funding cut for CPB was part of a larger $9 billion rescissions package backed by President Trump and passed by Congress last month. The Trump administration has long pushed to defund CPB, claiming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45181825/trump-calls-npr-and-pbs-biased-and-partisan-signs-executive-order-to-stop-funding">liberal bias at</a> NPR and PBS—claims the organizations have denied.
"Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life," Harrison said, citing CPB's role in providing educational content, emergency alerts and cultural programming across the country.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Warren, Sanders Have Slammed GOP's Spending Cuts Targeting Public Media</h2>
Previously, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) voiced his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46334514/bernie-sanders-says-in-the-us-presidents-dont-censor-the-media-slams-trump-administrations-move-to-cut-1-1-billion-from-pbs-another-step-toward-authoritarianism">concerns about budget cuts</a> to the CPB, saying, "In the U.S., presidents don&#8217;t censor the media. Freedom of the press sets us apart from dictatorships."&nbsp;
His response followed Trump's characterization of the Public Broadcasting Service as "radical, woke propaganda."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also earlier <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46459302/elizabeth-warren-says-trump-backed-genius-clarity-bills-dont-address-his-corruption-or-stop-terrorists-from-using-crypto-to-blow-up-our-entire-economy">raised alarms about</a> the intent to cut billions from already approved federal spending, saying, "Donald Trump wants to GUT already approved funds for public media like Sesame Street, NPR, and your local stations," adding, "If he gets away with this, next time he&#8217;ll go after your community&#8217;s funding for education, housing, climate, you name it."
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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