Good Morning! Inflation came in hotter than expected for the second month in a row. But traders are still keeping their rate-cut bets. NYCB closed its $1 billion capital infusion deal and announced a reverse stock split. Airlines stocks are plunging and they are starting to warn of delays because of the Boeing’s safety crisis. And gold’s recent run is one for the history books. Plus how to handle unresolvable arguments at work and foods that boost sleep quality.

Yesterday’s poll results: 46% of you said you own Bitcoin!

_{SQUEEZ OF THE DAY}

End of TikTok?

There’s some drama brewing in Washington, D.C. - and one of Gen-Z’s favorite social media platforms might finally get banned.

Today, the House of Representatives is set to vote on a new rule. They’re coming after TikTok and are either demanding an outright ban in the U.S., or a sale of the platform to a non-Chinese owner.

TikTok has over 170 million American users, and this is the most serious threat to TikTok’s existence so far. There’s widespread approval for the House to pass the bill, and Biden says he’ll sign the bill if it ends up reaching his desk. 

There have been rumors of a TikTok ban for a while, over national security and privacy concerns. But lawmakers went public with their plans last week - and TikToks’ execs say they feel blindsided. Trump, who had previously supported a ban, is now against one and thinks it would give Meta too much power. 

Takeaway: There are some implications for the business world if a TikTok ban goes through. With one less social media competitor, Meta, and to a lesser extent Snap, could see a larger market share. Their stocks have shot up on rumors of a TikTok ban before. Additionally, the possibility exists that an American company could acquire TikTok. Rest assured, we’ll be following this deal closely and will keep you posted on any updates.

_{PRESENTED BY JURNY}

Beyond Nvidia: Explore AI’s Hidden Jewels

With Google Bard, ChatGPT and the like sculpting the future of nearly every industry, VCs are betting big, pumping billions into AI startups with huge potential growth. 

But profiting from the AI wave isn’t just for major players–savvy investors can take advantage, too. 

Jurny and its AI-powered platform is streamlining hotel and short-term rental operations, targeting over $1 trillion in inefficiencies.

With customers already reporting improvements upwards of 80%, are we surprised Jurny has the backing of leading investors Mucker Capital, Okapi Venture, and others?

Over $12 million in capital has already poured in, but there’s still time to jump aboard. 

_HEADLINES

Top Reads

• Consumer Price Index comes in hot for second straight month (Axios)

• NYCB closes $1 billion capital infusion deal, announces reverse stock split (Reuters)

• U.S. airlines warn of more Boeing delays due to safety crisis (YF)

• Gold's recent run is one for the history books and has gotten out of hand (CNBC)

• Bitcoin sets another record high as crypto sees record inflows (YF) 

• Here’s the inflation breakdown for February 2024 — in one chart (CNBC)

• Sticky inflation reading not likely to knock Fed off course for rate cuts (YF)

• Goldman Sachs seeks to expand private credit portfolio to $300 billion in five years (Reuters)

• HSBC to hire almost 50 bankers for startup, VC lending in U.S. (YF)

• France plans new measures to lure private equity, bankers to Paris (Reuters)

_{CAPITAL PULSE}

Markets Rundown

The S&P 500 closed at a record high as traders keep rate cut bets.

Movers & Shakers

• (+) Oracle ($ORCL) +12% closed at a record after strong demand for cloud computing.

• (+) 3M ($MMM) +5% because the manufacturer hired a new CEO.

• (–) Southwest Airlines ($LUV) -15% after the airline cuts capacity due to Boeing challenges.

Private Dealmaking

• Arsenal Capital Partners bought the patient access business of Fortrea for $345 million

• Applied Intuition, a simulation platform, raised $250 million

• KKR bought Mdf Commerce, an e-commerce SaaS provider, for $189 million

• MiddleGround Capital bought Starrett, a precision tools maker, for $113 million

• Liquid Death, a canned water company, raised $67 million

• Empathy, a life insurance platform, raised $47 million

For more PE, VC & M&A deals, subscribe to our Buysiders newsletter.

_{BOOK OF THE DAY}

Shape

How should a democracy choose its representatives? How can you stop a pandemic from sweeping the world? How do computers learn to play Go, and why is learning Go so much easier for them than learning to read a sentence? Can ancient Greek proportions predict the stock market? (Sorry, no.) What should your kids learn in school if they really want to learn to think? All these are questions about geometry. For real.

If you're like most people, geometry is a sterile and dimly remembered exercise you gladly left behind in the dust of ninth grade, along with your braces and active romantic interest in pop singers.

If you recall any of it, it's plodding through a series of miniscule steps only to prove some fact about triangles that was obvious to you in the first place. That's not geometry. Okay, it is geometry, but only a tiny part, which has as much to do with geometry in all its flush modern richness as conjugating a verb has to do with a great novel.

Shape reveals the geometry underneath some of the most important scientific, political, and philosophical problems we face. Geometry asks: Where are things? Which things are near each other? How can you get from one thing to another thing? Those are important questions. The word "geometry" comes from the Greek for "measuring the world." If anything, that's an undersell. Geometry doesn't just measure the world—it explains it. Shape shows us how.

“Unreasonably entertaining . . . reveals how geometric thinking can allow for everything from fairer American elections to better pandemic planning.”

_{DAILY ACUMEN}

Vision

Having a clear vision in life acts as a compass, guiding our daily actions and decisions with purpose and direction. It offers us a compelling reason to leap out of bed each morning, fueled by the promise of progress towards a goal that matters deeply to us. This vision isn't just a distant dream but a beacon that illuminates the path for our daily pursuits, providing clarity and motivation through life's inevitable ups and downs.

Without such a purpose, it becomes all too easy to drift aimlessly, caught in the currents of routine or the whirlpools of indecision. Days might blend into each other, lacking the vibrancy and excitement that come from pursuing something bigger than ourselves. A vision serves as a reminder of what we're striving for, pushing us to overcome obstacles, learn new skills, and step out of our comfort zones.

Moreover, this sense of purpose enriches our lives with meaning, transforming mundane tasks into stepping stones towards achieving our broader goals. It instills a sense of accomplishment and progress, even in small victories, which cumulatively build the foundation for larger achievements.

In essence, having a vision is about setting our sights on the horizon, where our aspirations lie. It fuels our passion and perseverance, turning the journey of life into an adventure of growth and discovery. Without this guiding purpose, we risk missing the profound satisfaction that comes from pursuing our dreams and realizing our potential.

_{ENLIGHTENMENT}

Short Squeez Picks

• 5 techniques to turn your communication style into a superpower

• Characteristics that indicate early career leadership potential 

• How to actually execute change at a company

• How to handle unresolvable arguments at work

• Foods to eat for better sleep

_{MEME-A-PALOOZA}

Memes of the Day