Bitcoin Breaks $100K, AI Heats Up & Snowflake Explodes Past $1B

Money Masters' Market Pulse Week 21

May 23, 2025

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Dear Money Master,

Welcome to this week’s financial roundup! Markets are on edge as global inflation surges, trade tensions rise, and tech titans fire back with game-changing innovation. Japan’s inflation hits a 2-year high, pushing the yen and rekindling fears of policy tightening. Nike is returning to Amazon but hiking prices amid tariff pressure. Meanwhile, Xiaomi is gunning for Apple with a $764 flagship phone and its own in-house chip. But the real shocker? Bitcoin just smashed past $100K, sending crypto stocks into overdrive.

In earnings, Snowflake finally joins the billion-dollar club, Intuit lifts its outlook, and Canada Goose defies luxury sector headwinds despite pulling guidance.

And in today’s deep dive we unpack The Hidden Debt Crisis: How “Buy Now, Pay Later” Echoes the Mistakes of 2008. 🌍🛒

📰 Your Daily Financial Digest - May 23rd, 2025

🌍 Economics:

  1. Japan’s Core Inflation Hits 3.5%, Highest Since Jan 2023 📈
    Surging rice prices and persistent headline inflation challenge the Bank of Japan's policy outlook. The yen strengthened and markets rose as investors brace for a possible October rate hike. Read More

  2. Nike Returns to Amazon, Raises Prices Amid Tariff Pressure 🛍️
    After a five-year absence, Nike is back on Amazon with a broader product range—while hiking U.S. retail prices by $2–$10 due to tariffs. Hit products like Air Force 1 remain unaffected. Read More

  3. Hispanic Shoppers Pull Back From Physical Retail 🏬
    Retailers like Walmart and Target see steep drops in in-store traffic from Hispanic consumers, despite strong finances. Concerns about immigration enforcement and safety are shifting behavior online. Read More

💻 Technology:

  1. Bitcoin Breaks $100K, Lifts Crypto Stocks 🚀
    Bitcoin jumped 33% from April lows, hitting $101K amid U.S.-U.K. trade optimism. Crypto-linked stocks like Coinbase and Riot soared, fueled by renewed investor confidence in pro-crypto policies. Read More

  2. Xiaomi’s New Chip Takes Aim at Apple’s A18 📱
    The new 15S Pro undercuts iPhone prices while boasting a homegrown chip that reportedly outperforms Apple’s A18 Pro in key benchmarks. Eligible for Chinese subsidies, it starts at $764. Read More

  3. OpenAI Bets $6.4B on Jony Ive’s Startup to Reinvent AI Hardware 🤖
    OpenAI plans to integrate its tech into bespoke devices by acquiring io. CFO Sarah Friar says this marks the start of an “AI-native hardware era,” with subscription models expected to follow. Read More

💹Earnings:

  1. Snowflake Hits $1 Billion Sales Milestone for the First Time ❄️
    Revenue soared 26% YoY to $1.04B, with EPS beating estimates at $0.24. Two major $100M deals returned, easing churn concerns. Read More

  2. Intuit Surpasses Q3 Expectations, Lifts Full-Year Forecast 💼
    EPS came in at $11.65 vs. $10.91 expected, while revenue grew 15% to $7.8B. With tax season tailwinds, the firm raised FY guidance to as much as $18.76B—above analyst projections. Read More

  3. Canada Goose Stock Soars Despite Pulling Guidance 🧥
    EPS of 33 Canadian cents crushed forecasts, and revenue rose 7.4% YoY. Despite macro uncertainty, most products remain tariff-exempt, supporting confidence in their long-term strategy. Read More

🔍 Deep Dive: The Hidden Debt Crisis: How “Buy Now, Pay Later” Echoes the Mistakes of 2008 🌍💰

As “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) services explode in popularity, millions of consumers are racking up debt that doesn’t show up on credit reports. This invisible borrowing, now nicknamed “phantom debt,” is raising alarms among economists who see disturbing parallels with the risky lending practices that led to the 2008 financial crisis. In this article, we’ll break down what BNPL is, how it connects to the past, and why ignoring it could be a costly mistake for the future.

Want to read the full article? Tap into the full story now on the MoneyMasters app. 🚀

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DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of actions taken based on the information provided. Always conduct your own research or consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.