Necessity drives innovation, and when resources are limited, creativity takes over. China’s DeepSeek exemplifies this with its latest R1 open-source AI reasoning model, a breakthrough that claims to deliver performance on par with U.S.-backed models like Chat GPT at a fraction of the cost. By defying conventional wisdom, DeepSeek has shaken the industry, triggering a sharp selloff in AI-related stocks. Yet, disruption breeds opportunity. While established players scramble to adapt, this shift could accelerate AI accessibility, leveling the playing field for new innovators. Let’s start with the technology itself. What did DeepSeek accomplish? DeepSeek’s approach used novel ways to slash…

The retirement focus for most people is on how much money will be needed, and they don’t give much thought to how their healthcare needs may dictate where and how they live. We discuss the connection between Continuing Care Retirement Communities and retirement with Oscar Skjaerpe, financial planner with ProVise Management Group based in Tampa, Fla. Larry Light: Oscar, thanks for joining me today to talk about continuing care retirement communities, or CCRCs. Your latest guide offers a comprehensive look at the transition process. To start, what exactly is a CCRC, and why might it appeal to retirees? Oscar Skjaerpe:…

The S&P 500, the large cap index, is widely followed as a measure of the health of the U. S. economy. The NASDAQ-100 is widely followed as a measure mainly of the big tech and social media stocks that make up the index. The Russell 2000 ETF is seen as a way of gauging the economic health (or pain) of the small cap universe. None of these three indexes this week is giving strong signals of continued growth. The S&P 500 today is unable to make it back above last week’s new high after Monday’s big gap down. The NASDAQ-100…

A seismic shift in artificial intelligence is underway that promises to reshape not just the tech industry, but the very foundations of major stock indices. At the epicenter of this transformation lies DeepSeek, a Chinese company that has been quietly revolutionizing the AI field with its cost-effective, high-performance models. This development is not just a ripple in the tech pond; it’s a tsunami that could wash away established assumptions about AI infrastructure and market valuations. DeepSeek is challenging the status quo in a way that’s sending shockwaves through Silicon Valley and beyond. The company’s flagship model, DeepSeek-R1, isn’t just another…

Was Buffett’s Apple Sell-Off And The Investment In Dominos A Good Shift In Strategy? By Horse Poor Investor Summary Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has sold over 615 million Apple shares. Proceeds from the Apple sales have been partially reinvested in Domino’s Pizza. While Apple is overvalued, Dominos may offer a balanced investment possibility with growth potential. Over 26% of Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio)’s Berkshire Hathaway portfolio is invested in Apple stock, which he has owned since 2016 and is still his largest holding; however, he has sold over 615 million shares of Apple in the past four quarters. Overvalued and…

Trump 2.0 has exploded out of the gate, and we’re quickly lining up the best bond buys in response—including an 8.8% payer we’ll dive into below. “Bond Vigilantes” May Return (But We’re Not Waiting Around) “Wait, we’re buying bonds now?” you might be thinking. “Aren’t inflation and rates going to tick higher in the new administration?” It’s a reasonable question. And yes, when rates go up, bonds go down. That’s just the way it works in bond-land. Tariffs are on the way. Ditto mass deportations. And last I checked, the federal government was running a $2-trillion deficit. (And let’s be…

WH Smith’s share price soared on Wednesday as it announced strong sales growth at its Travel business. At £12.57 per share, the FTSE 250 retailer was last 5.6% higher in midweek business. Revenues advanced 3% at group level during the 21 weeks to 25 January, WH Smith said, or 4% at stable exchange rates. At its Travel unit – which has stores in airports, train stations and hospitals – sales increased 7% and 8% on a headline and a constant currency basis respectively. Sales at Smiths’ High Street operations dropped 6% on these bases, though this was in line with…

This was supposed to be the year we saw corporate sustainability reporting requirements come into force in a big way. Instead, 2025 is kicking off with lots of questions still unanswered about the future of sustainability reporting regulation. What will the new administration in the U.S. mean for climate disclosure requirements? When will the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive officially be implemented right across Europe? What will the final reporting requirements look like under the potential Omnibus Simplification Package? And what will come of the one-year delay in the European Deforestation Regulation? All in all, at the start of 2025, we…

Key News It was a quiet night as DeepSeek was by far the topic du jour in the region, though Mainland China (closed until next Wednesday), Indonesia (closed until Thursday), Malaysia (closed until Friday), and Taiwan (closed until next Monday) were closed for Chinese New Year while South Korea is closed until Friday for Korean New Year. Hong Kong (closed until next Monday) posted a small gain in a half-day on light volumes, led by internet stocks: Tencent up +1.42%, Xiaomi up +3.23%, Alibaba up +1.2%, Meituan down -1%, Baidu up +3.6%, and JD.com down -0.25% after the company announced…

The technological competition between the United States and China has entered a new phase, with artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies emerging as twin battlegrounds that could reshape global economic power dynamics. Recent developments in both sectors suggest that China’s technological capabilities may be advancing faster than previously thought, challenging U.S. dominance in unexpected ways. The AI Disruption The emergence of Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent shockwaves through the global tech community. The company’s latest AI models, particularly DeepSeek-V3, have demonstrated capabilities matching or exceeding U.S. industry leaders while requiring just $6 million in computing resources – a fraction of the billions…