qfx

This online trading platform-darling of the disenchanted and lifeline to the dispossessed-rose on the news of its induction into the S&P 500. A name etched into the marble of financial immortality, if only on paper. The common man, who once traded with his lunch money, now watches his bets ride the coattails of giants.

Investors have once again proven they’re willing to throw money at anything with a “space” in the name. Planet Labs (PL)’s stock has soared nearly 50% this week, and I’m here to dissect this celestial charade with the same enthusiasm I reserve for my ex’s LinkedIn updates. Let’s call it a “moonshot” of optimism-though the moon in question might be Saturn’s.

Intel, the storied semiconductor behemoth, made an unexpected return to the spotlight in August, posting a 23% gain. One could almost hear the muffled sighs of relief from its boardroom as they counted their blessings. Having endured a string of ignominious quarterly results and a stock price wallowing in the mire, Intel found salvation-or perhaps more accurately, a temporary reprieve-in an arrangement that had the grace of a Faustian bargain. The Trump administration, ever the patron of dubious alliances, secured a 9.9% stake in Intel, creating a partnership so unusual it would make even the most seasoned corporate lawyer raise an eyebrow.

Ah, but let’s rewind the clock, shall we? Gemini, the space-age cryptocurrency exchange, embarked on its IPO adventure today. And what an adventure it was! The stock, a shiny new celestial body in the stock market galaxy, rocketed from its starting price of $28 per share and blasted off to a staggering $37.01. But wait, it wasn’t done yet! The share price soared higher, reaching a cosmic peak of $45.89 – a 63.9% gain – before finally settling back down to $32 by the end of the day. Quite the roller-coaster ride, wouldn’t you say?

Nvidia has now emerged as the globe’s largest company, boasting a market value surpassing an astounding $4 trillion. In the second quarter alone, it dominated the GPU market with an astonishing 94% share and witnessed its data center revenue surge by an impressive 56%, reaching $41.1 billion. Despite this remarkable growth, there might be potential investment opportunities within the sector due to such substantial figures.

In the autumn of 2019, Amazon and Rivian inked a covenant-a pact to deploy 100,000 electric delivery vans by 2030. The younger company, still in its adolescence, saw this as a coronation. Five years onward, half that fleet roamed the earth, yet the marriage of necessity and ambition now shows fissures. Amazon, ever the pragmatist, has declared its intent to diversify its chariotry. “We’re committed to 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030,” they intoned, a statement as precise as it was evasive. Note the omission: these are not “Rivians,” merely “vehicles.”