The mistake most investors make, according to Warren Buffett

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💳 PayPal shareholders push back against Stripe takeover terms

PayPal ($PYPL) shareholders are increasingly criticizing the proposed deal with Stripe, arguing the offer significantly undervalues the company. The probability of a transaction has reportedly risen to 74%.

The proposed valuation of around 10x forward earnings is too low, especially considering that key assets such as Venmo and Braintree would become part of the deal.
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If completed, it would be one of the biggest payments acquisitions in years and reshape the competitive landscape of digital payments.

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📣JD Vance says America needs fewer office workers and more skilled trades

U.S. Vice President JD Vance argues that too many people pursue 4-year degrees only to end up in what he called "fake jobs" that create little real value. He believes the U.S. should place greater emphasis on skilled trades instead.

Speaking with Mike Rowe, Vance said careers like plumbing, construction, and manufacturing deserve the same respect as traditional white-collar professions. He also noted that many office jobs became harder to justify during the pandemic.

The debate comes as demand for trade careers continues to rise. Rowe said applications for his skilled trades scholarship program increased 10x over the past year, yet only 2 workers replace every 5 who retire. At the same time, college graduates still earn about 60% more than high school graduates on average.

The discussion is shifting from whether college matters to which skills the economy will value most over the next decade.

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🎤 Trump's teleprompter operator allegedly bet on his speeches

According to ABC News, the operator who has managed Donald Trump's teleprompter since 2016 allegedly placed more than $100,000 in bets on Kalshi's prediction markets using advance knowledge of presidential speeches.

Investigators say Gabriel Perez traded contracts tied to specific words and phrases that Trump would mention during events, including the State of the Union, a Davos speech, and a Medal of Honor ceremony.
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The activity was reportedly flagged by Kalshi, which referred the case to regulators. Perez is now in settlement talks with the CFTC, while remaining in his position.
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The case highlights a new challenge for prediction markets: access to non-public information can become an edge just as valuable as insider information in financial markets.

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Wow.

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The US national debt hit $39.5 TRILLION for the first time in history.

Debt grew by $286B in the last 30 days, climbing $110,000 per second.

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Elon Musk lost $500 billion in net worth in the past 30 days.

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The US has completed its 8th consecutive night of strikes on Iran after President Trump ordered CENTCOM to "open the gates of hell."

CENTCOM says it targeted Iranian military facilities, air defenses, missile and drone storage sites and IRGC forces in strikes carried out just an hour ago.

At least two US service members were killed and another remains missing after the attack in Jordan, prompting the US to intensify its strikes against Iran.

More than 50,000 US troops remain deployed across the Middle East.

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Intel was founded this day in 1968.

3 years earlier, co-founder Gordon Moore predicted the chip industry’s next decade.

It became known as Moore’s Law.

In its first decade, Intel’s revenue grew nearly 15,000%.

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🛢Oil could put inflation back at the center of the market

Inflation had started easing as oil prices fell after the June ceasefire. That trend is now at risk of reversing as tensions in the Middle East escalate again.

The Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of global oil supply, has seen tanker traffic drop sharply. Reuters also reports that Iran has told the Houthis to prepare for a possible closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait if the conflict widens. Together, the two routes handle roughly 27% of global oil shipments.
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The U.S. also has less room to respond than in previous crises. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to 326 million barrels, its lowest level since 1983.
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At the same time, the Federal Reserve is already concerned about inflation, with several policymakers still projecting higher rates rather than cuts.
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If oil prices keep rising, inflation could quickly become the market's biggest risk again.

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Cannibal stocks (Buy back compounders):

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