Part 14/17:
Turning to financial news, markets opened sharply lower amid concerns over AI stock valuations and broader economic uncertainties. Major corporations like Starbucks and McDonald’s announced strategic moves—Starbucks selling its Chinese operations stake for $4 billion, and McDonald’s modifying its payment system to round bills to the nearest five cents, provoking mixed reactions from consumers and social media commentators.
Cryptocurrencies experienced significant declines, with Bitcoin dropping by $3,000 to around $13,500, and Ether slipping below $3,500 after touching $4,500 just weeks prior. Gold, however, remained resilient at around $4,000 an ounce, continuing to serve as a safe haven amidst turbulent markets.