Meta View: Apple's Exodus, Dollar Doldrums, and Snap's Reality Check

Apple's Core Dump: Is This Real Life?

Alright let's talk Apple. So their COO Jeff Williams is apparently riding off into the sunset later this year. They're calling it a 'planned transition.' Sure just like my pivot to the metaverse was 'planned' from the start! And get this their AI guru jumped ship to… you guessed it… Meta. I guess he finally saw the *infinite* potential! Shares are flat down 20% from their high. Ouch. It's like when I wear a suit – perfectly… neutral. But hey at least I'm not down 16% YTD like Apple. Gotta keep innovating folks! As I always say: 'Move fast and break things.' Or in Apple's case maybe just *move*.

Navarro's Not So Subtle Apple Prodding

So Peter Navarro is out there saying Apple should ditch China faster. He thinks Tim Cook should be making iPhones in the US. With all due respect to Peter making iPhones is more like making a social network it requires a lot of different parts and some times you have to go where those parts are. Plus he seems to think AI can solve all manufacturing problems. Maybe it can... but in the mean time it is kind of like I just get computers to tell me what clothes to wear: Funny idea but the clothes still need to be made and that is not always as easy as it seems.

Dollar Down Under: Shopping Spree or Spending Freeze?

The dollar's at its lowest since early 2022? That's like going back to when people thought the metaverse was just a cool VR game! Target Lowe's Home Depot are hurting. But Boeing Ford and Exxon are having a field day. The dollar isn't everything but it's definitely part of the story. Is this a sign that the world is finally realizing that we should all be using ZuckBucks? I mean I'm just asking questions here.

Fed's Tea Leaves: Are They Saying 'Metaverse or Bust'?

Everyone's waiting on the Fed minutes. The 10 year Treasury note is doing its thing and the bond market is… bond ing. Honestly all these numbers make my head spin. It is almost as complicated as trying to explain the Metaverse to my grandmother. I stick to building platforms and connecting people. Let the financial wizards figure out the rest.

Snap's Reality Bites: Ghost Town or Comeback Kid?

Ouch. Snap's stock is in the $9 range down 46% from its high. Remember when it was $83? That’s a bigger crash than my first attempt at coding! Spiegel's on CNBC. I bet that’s a fun conversation. Maybe they should try pivoting to the metaverse It has worked wonders for us.

Costco Oil and Austria: A Global Zuck rospective

Costco's June sales are coming out. OPEC's in Austria – probably debating whether to raise or lower prices to fund their own metaverse projects. Oil prices dipped a bit after the Iran Israel ceasefire. Valero Phillips 66 ConocoPhillips Chevron and ExxonMobil are all up. Basically the world keeps spinning. But me? I am focused on building the future! One awkward metaverse avatar at a time.