Today’s topics

• Apple announced the largest stock buyback program

• NASA and Boeing's Starliner mission

• Google’s $20B price for default search engine on Apple's Safari

• China’s mission to the moon’s far side

  and more…

On Monday, U.S. stocks climbed, building on the previous week's advances, with technology firms spearheading the increase. The S&P 500 increased by 52.95 points, or 1%, the Dow Jones grew by 176.59 points, or 0.5%, while the Nasdaq composite surged by 192.92 points, or 1.2%.

Apple's Record $110 Billion Stock Buyback. Apple announced the largest stock buyback program in history during its fiscal second-quarter earnings report. The news propelled Apple's stock even higher. Remarkably, the buyback's value surpasses that of Boeing, Airbnb, and Chipotle combined.

Google pays Apple $20 billion to remain Safari's default search engine, court documents reveal. According to court documents that were recently made public in the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit against Google, Alphabet Inc. shelled out a whopping $20 billion to Apple in 2022. This hefty sum ensured that Google would continue to be the default search engine on Apple's Safari browser. This deal is a key focus of a major lawsuit where antitrust regulators accuse Google of illegally monopolizing the online search and advertising markets. 

Snowden sounds alarm on Bitcoin privacy. In a recent post on X, whistleblower Edward Snowden raised concerns about Bitcoin's privacy. He pointed out the cryptocurrency's lack of privacy features, echoing frustrations with the slow progress in enhancing privacy within Bitcoin's protocol.

Yen hits 34-year low as Bank of Japan holds rates steady. The Japanese Yen dipped to a 34-year low earlier, following the Bank of Japan's decision to maintain its interest rate target between zero and 0.1%. Market activity has been somewhat subdued, with trading volumes thinner than usual due to a public holiday in Japan for Children’s Day. Despite this quieter trading environment and some disappointing economic data from the United States putting the dollar on the defensive, the Yen hasn't seen much upward momentum.

Buffett's Apple sell-off: tax troubles ahead? Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway trimmed its Apple stock from $174.3 billion to $135.4 billion by March 31. That's about 115 million shares unloaded. Buffett cites tax concerns, foreseeing potential hikes in the US. Selling Apple now suggests he believes future tax increases could outweigh stock gains, making the move a logical choice.

The wealthy aren't selling their homes. Luxury housing markets nationwide are feeling the pinch due to many factors. Inventory dwindles with sellers capitalizing on low rates and construction costs soaring post-COVID. From California to Connecticut, affluent buyers battle for scarce luxury homes amidst a historic decline in listings, driven by owners clinging to properties and builders struggling to meet demand.

Sony steps up to the plate to buy Paramount. Sony is making moves to potentially buy Paramount. According to The New York Times, Paramount started negotiations with Sony after their exclusive discussion period with Hollywood studio Skydance ended on Friday night. Sony had already shown interest in acquiring Paramount last week. If the deal goes through, Sony would take the reins with controlling shares, while Apollo would hold a minority stake.

Apple's Quiet Moves in AI: More Than Meets the Eye

Apple has been quietly innovating in AI, preparing to unveil significant developments. Reports indicate collaborations with OpenAI and Google, alongside Apple's own AI project, Ajax. Additionally, Apple researchers are working on a revolutionary way to use Siri without a wake word, aiming for a device that intuitively recognizes when it's being spoken to.

NASA's Starliner Set for Voyage

NASA is gearing up to launch its new spacecraft, Boeing's Starliner, to the International Space Station. Two NASA astronauts are slated to embark on its inaugural crewed test flight. Despite years of setbacks in development, its success would establish Boeing as the second private company, after Elon Musk's SpaceX, capable of ferrying crew to and from the ISS.

China's bold leap: launching a mission to the moon's far side. On Friday, China took a giant leap in space exploration by launching an uncrewed spacecraft aimed at collecting rocks and soil from the moon's far side—a first for any country. The mission, carried out by the mighty Long March-5, China’s largest rocket, took off at 5:27 p.m. Beijing time (0927 GMT) from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island. The spacecraft, named Chang'e-6 and weighing over 8 metric tons, is set for a nearly two-month journey in this historic endeavor.

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Retro Reign: 'The Fall Guy' Tops Box Office.

The Ryan Gosling-led flick, 'The Fall Guy,' snagged the top spot with $28.5M, with 'Phantom Menace' at No. 2 with $8.1M. Despite the victory for 'The Fall Guy,' its earnings fell short of expectations, denting the overall box office performance compared to last year's superhero spectacle, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3'.

Hollywood sex scenes decline by 40%. Erotic content on screens has plunged since the millennium, and it's shifting audience preferences and the rise of "intimacy coordinators" to blame.

Apple's May 7 event: "let loose" expectations. Apple's upcoming event on May 7, dubbed "Let Loose," is set to kick off at 9 am ET. Here's what to expect.

Road Tripping. America's 40 most breathtaking drives here.

What would Warren Buffett do if he had one more day with Charlie Munger? Watch the video from the 2024 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting.

Massachusetts woman wins $1Million lottery prize again in 10 weeks. Christine Wilson of Attleborough won a $1 million jackpot... again.

How much average American has in their retirement account. To fund a 25-year retirement in Miami, Florida, you'd need over $1.1 million, but how this aligns with the average American's retirement savings? 

TikTok of the day: watch here

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