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Markets Defy Midterm Year Trends as S&P 500 and Nasdaq Post Strong Gains

Gary Shields, Chairman & Managing Partner of Nassau Street Partners, joins Johny Fernandez to discuss the current state of the markets as we kick off May. Despite the historical trend of midterm election years being negative for the markets, the S&P 500 is up over 5% year-to-date and the Nasdaq is up 8%.

They discuss the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and President Trump’s recent announcements regarding Cuba and Project Freedom, raising questions about potential geopolitical headwinds for the markets. Gary anticipates continued moderate growth of around 2% for the year, noting that inflation remains a concern, which may limit the Federal Reserve’s ability to cut rates.

They also explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on mergers and acquisitions, with Gary highlighting how AI is driving growth across various sectors. He points out that companies generating real revenue and profitability are currently in a better position to raise capital, especially compared to the dot-com bubble era.

Gary identifies strong industries, including infrastructure, on-shoring, and healthcare, as being well-positioned in the current market. Finally, they discuss the recent Fed meeting and the implications of consumer spending and employment data on future rate cuts.

Tech Rally Powers Markets to Record Highs as AI Boom Drives Projected $725B Investment Surge

Ted Thatcher, founder and President of Bright Lake Wealth Management, joins Johny Fernandez to dive into the current state of the market as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reach record highs, driven largely by a significant rally in the tech sector. Google saw a 34% increase in April, marking its best month since 2004. They discuss the broader implications of this tech surge, with a particular focus on companies outside the Mag 7, such as Intel, Marvel Tech, Micron and Sandisk, which are integral to the AI infrastructure trade.

They also explore the impact of elevated oil prices, with crude oil remaining near $100 and U.S. gas prices hitting new highs for the year. This situation raises concerns about inflation and its effects on consumers, especially as the market awaits the April jobs report.

Ted provides insights into the return on investment from the substantial AI capital expenditure, which has now been revised to $725 billion for this year. He highlights the positive trends in revenue and margins for tech companies, which have contributed to the market’s rebound.

They also touch on the complexities of the economy, distinguishing between the financial markets and the real economy faced by consumers. Ted emphasizes the inflationary pressures stemming from high energy prices and their potential impact on consumer spending.

As they look at the earnings season, Ted notes the importance of margins, particularly in the semiconductor sector, which has allowed the market to achieve multiple highs recently. They briefly discuss geopolitical factors, including President Trump’s comments on Cuba, and how they might influence market sentiment moving forward.

Aptos Labs on Tokenization, AI Payments & the Future of On-Chain Finance

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Solomon Tesfaye, Chief Business Officer at Aptos Labs, joins live from the New York Stock Exchange to discuss how the platform is advancing the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). With roughly $1 billion already on-chain including money market funds and private credit Aptos is positioning itself at the forefront of bringing traditional financial assets onto blockchain infrastructure. Tesfaye emphasizes that this is just the beginning, with significant room for growth as institutions increasingly explore on-chain diversification.

He also highlights Aptos’ fully on-chain exchange, Decibel, which combines the speed and performance of centralized exchanges with the transparency and accessibility of decentralized systems. By leveraging Aptos’ underlying technology, the platform aims to deliver high-performance trading while expanding access to a broader range of tokenized assets. Beyond finance, Aptos is also exploring the intersection of blockchain and AI through initiatives like Shelby, designed to support scalable infrastructure for AI systems and reduce costs associated with data and compute.

On the regulatory front, Tesfaye underscores the importance of clarity, particularly around legislation like the Clarity Act in unlocking broader institutional participation. He explains that improved regulatory frameworks globally are already acting as catalysts for adoption. Meanwhile, Aptos continues to refine its tokenomics, introducing a capped supply of 2.1 billion tokens to create a more deflationary model. With ongoing partnerships like its collaboration with OKX on AI-driven commerce protocols, Aptos is aiming to bridge blockchain, finance, and artificial intelligence in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Why Nvidia, AI Spending & Earnings Could Drive the Next Market Rally

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Eddie Ghabour, Co-founder and CEO of Key Advisors Wealth Management, joins to break down the latest market momentum, highlighting strong conviction in both semiconductors and small-cap stocks. While names like Advanced Micro Devices and NVIDIA continue to lead in tech, Ghabour points to the standout performance of the Russell 2000, noting that small caps are finally breaking out after years of underperformance.

A major theme driving markets right now is the surge in capital expenditures, particularly among Big Tech. With over $700 billion in combined spending from mega-cap companies like Apple and others, Gabor believes this investment cycle is just getting started, creating tailwinds for select sectors especially semiconductors. He remains bullish on Nvidia heading into earnings, expecting it to act as a key catalyst for the market’s next leg higher.

On the macro front, Ghabour reacts to Jerome Powell’s decision to remain involved with the Federal Reserve, calling it unexpected but ultimately a secondary concern. Looking ahead to potential leadership under Kevin Warsh, he anticipates a measured approach to policy, with limited rate cuts and a focus on maintaining economic stability. Overall, Gabor sees the market narrative shifting away from oil and inflation concerns and toward earnings growth and investment-driven expansion as the primary forces shaping the next phase of the rally.

Inside RAISE Summit: The AI Event Bringing Global Tech Leaders to Paris

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Henri Delahaye, Co-founder and CEO of RAISE Summit, joins us live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchangeafter ringing the closing bell on a day marked by record highs. Reflecting on the milestone moment, Delahaye shares how the journey from a small team to a growing global platform has been fueled by consistent execution rather than trying to time the market. With just 2.5 years under its belt, RAISE Summit has already positioned itself as a major player in the AI ecosystem, with expansion plans across the U.S. and the Middle East.

Looking ahead, the upcoming RAISE Summit in Paris is set to bring together top global tech leaders, CEOs, and innovators in a uniquely curated environment. Designed as the antithesis of traditional large-scale tech conferences, the event prioritizes quality over quantity focusing on premium experiences, high-level networking, and tangible outcomes for partners. Hosted at iconic venues like Palace of Versailles and the Louvre Museum, the summit blends cutting-edge AI discussions with a distinctly French touch of luxury and precision.

Delahaye also touches on the broader AI landscape, noting that while the U.S. leads in development, Europe is carving out its own role as a strategic and collaborative player. Rather than viewing AI as a zero-sum competition, he emphasizes the importance of global cooperation and creating platforms that bring together innovators from across regions. As anticipation builds for this year’s summit, the focus remains on delivering a world-class experience that drives meaningful business connections and pushes the AI conversation forward.

Analyst Calls of The Day: Palantir, JP Morgan & Nvidia

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Wall Street saw a wave of impactful analyst calls, driving notable moves across major tech and industrial names. Palantir Technologies continues to gain momentum ahead of its upcoming earnings, with Oppenheimer reiterating its bullish stance after recent outperformance. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase downgraded Meta Platforms to neutral, citing intensifying competition in the full-stack AI space sending shares lower following its latest results.

On the bullish side, Bank of America reaffirmed a $300 price target on NVIDIA ahead of its highly anticipated earnings report on May 20th, reinforcing continued confidence in the AI-driven semiconductor leader.

Outside of tech, Caterpillar stood out as a major mover on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, surging nearly 10% after forecasting stronger annual revenue. As one of the most heavily weighted stocks in the Dow, Caterpillar’s rally has been a key driver of the index’s performance, marking its sixth consecutive day of gains and cementing its position as one of the top-performing names over both the past year and longer-term horizons.

Revolutionizing the Creator Economy: AI-Powered Information Markets Transforming the Platform Economy

Ben Fielding, co-founder & CEO of Gensyn, joins Remy Blaire to dive into the intersection of the platform economy and artificial intelligence. They explore the emerging concept of information markets, which allow communities to trade specialized knowledge rather than just placing bets like in traditional prediction markets. Ben explains how these decentralized platforms empower creators to monetize their niche audiences by soliciting information directly from their communities, fostering a bi-directional flow of knowledge.

They discuss the critical differences between centralized and decentralized information control, emphasizing the importance of public ownership and the permanence of information in a decentralized world. Ben also addresses concerns about AI hallucination and the challenges of ensuring accurate event outcomes in trading, proposing that a fixed AI model can serve as a reliable judge in these markets.

As they look to the future, Ben shares his vision for Gensyn, which aims to democratize access to AI and machine learning, moving away from the current centralized model dominated by hyperscalers. He believes in creating an open infrastructure that allows users to contribute and own the technology, similar to the growth of the internet.

Rising Gas Prices Hit Lower-Income Americans Hardest Amid Political Tensions

Brian Jacobsen, Chief Economic Strategist at Annex Wealth Management, joins Remy Blaire to discuss developments from the recent Federal Reserve meeting, where the central bank found itself in uncharted territory with a historic four dissents among FOMC members.

They explore the current economic landscape, noting that the U.S. GDP for Q1 missed expectations, largely impacted by an oil shock that is affecting consumers differently based on income levels. Brian highlights the K-shaped economy, where higher-income individuals are more resilient to rising gas prices, while lower-income individuals are feeling the squeeze more acutely.

As they examine the implications of the energy shock, they discuss how it is becoming a political issue, especially with midterm elections approaching. They also touch on the state of the U.S. consumer, with some already at a breaking point due to economic pressures, while others remain relatively stable.

In addition, they look at the earnings season, focusing on major tech and energy companies. Brian emphasizes the challenges corporate profit margins face amid rising input costs and supply chain tensions, and how companies are responding differently to these pressures.

“SaaSpocalypse” or Opportunity? Why Legacy Software Giants May Win the AI Shift

Bruce Cleveland, CEO of Traction Gap Partners, joins Remy Blaire to discuss the current state of the software industry, with a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities posed by the so-called “SaaSpocalypse.” Despite significant declines in the share prices of key software companies such as Salesforce and ServiceNow amid AI disruption concerns, Bruce argues that these companies are well-positioned to adapt and thrive.

Bruce explains that the success of AI relies heavily on data, and both Salesforce and ServiceNow have substantial operating data to leverage for AI processes. He highlights the potential for these companies to transition to a hybrid business model that combines traditional per-seat licensing with outcomes-based pricing, which could enhance their market position.

They also explore the emergence of AI-native companies, particularly in the fintech sector, such as Parley Finance, which is creating new software categories that augment existing systems rather than replace them. Bruce emphasizes the importance of collaboration between established companies and these new entrants to drive innovation.

Additionally, they discuss the concept of market engineering, which involves defining and positioning categories in the industry. Bruce outlines how this systematic approach is becoming increasingly vital in the age of AI, as companies must optimize their online presence for large language models to ensure visibility and relevance.

Wall Street Surges to 6-Year High as $700B AI Boom Fuels Market Rally

Sonu Varghese, Chief Macro Strategist at Carson Group, joins Remy Blaire to discuss the recent performance of Wall Street, which just experienced its best month in six years despite challenges such as a divided Federal Reserve, persistent inflation, and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. A significant factor driving this performance is a massive $700 billion AI spending spree by big tech companies, which is reshaping the U.S. economy.

However, they also note that not all tech giants are benefiting equally, with companies like Microsoft and Meta facing stock declines due to their data center investments. Sonu and Remy explore the dynamics of the stock market, highlighting that while the S&P 500 is up nearly 6% year-to-date, profit growth is the primary driver behind this rise, despite a contraction in earnings multiples.

They delve into the latest GDP figures, which show a strong annualized growth rate of 5.6% in Q1, indicating a robust economy. Additionally, they discuss the implications of the Federal Reserve’s recent decisions, particularly with Jerome Powell’s term ending soon and the potential for interest rates to remain unchanged for the rest of the year. Powell’s decision to stay on the committee is seen as a move to maintain the Fed’s independence amid political pressures.

As they wrap up, they acknowledge the complexities of inflation, which is being influenced not only by energy prices but also by AI-related bottlenecks.