Good Morning! Traders are betting the bull market is only getting started and are loading up on bullish options. Meanwhile, Mondays are now the latest office battleground, with bosses pushing for in-person gatherings to start the week while workers resist.

YouTube is exploring the realm of online gaming amid an advertising slowdown, while Apple gears up for the release of the iPhone 15 accompanied by the new Apple Watch Ultra this fall. The Red Sox owners bought a Boston team in Tiger Woods' upcoming golf league. And if you play Pickleball, brace yourself because injuries from the sport are projected to cost Americans $400 million this year.

Summer's all about tequila, right? But what if you could also own the bottle it comes in? Invest in today’s sponsor, Buena Fé and turn your tequila sips into shares.

_{SQUEEZ OF THE DAY}

Goldman Shuffle

It's been a wild 2023 for Goldman so far. Investment banking revenue has plummeted by over 50%, leading to several waves of layoffs, including 125 managing directors getting the axe last week.

And with internal frustrations inside Goldman growing public, some are starting to wonder if DJ-D-Sol himself CEO David Solomon is on his way out the door.

But it looks like yesterday Goldman doubled down on Solomon when it appointed Tom Montag to its board. Montag knows Solomon well - he worked closely with him when he was at the firm. And by tapping into D-Sol’s inner circle, it doesn’t look like there's an appetite to make a big move.

Goldman is trying to reverse the slowdown of its core business lines. The firm’s push into consumer banking lost billions of dollars, and the failure ultimately rests on Solomon. But despite the challenges, it looks like the bank is sticking with D-Sol - at least for now.

Takeaway: Just when you thought Solomon would be leaving for greener pastures (becoming a full-time DJ in the Hamptons), it looks like the firm’s giving him a vote of confidence. Or maybe they're just trying to keep him from running off to the DJ booth just yet. Either way, looks like Solomon's gotta clock in more 9-to-5s at 200 West Street and get Goldman back into shape.

_{CAPITAL PULSE}

Markets Rundown

Stocks closed lower as investors dumped tech names.

Movers & Shakers

• (+) Lucid Group ($LCID) +2% after the EV company struck a deal with Aston Martin.

• (–) Tesla ($TSLA) -6% after a downgrade by Goldman Sachs.

• (–) Carnival ($CCL) -8% despite an earnings beat.

Private Dealmaking

• Japan Investment Corp bought JSR, a chipmaking materials provider, for $6.3 billion

• IBM bought software company Apptio for $4.6 billion

• Blackstone sold 14 million square feet of warehouses to Prologis for $3.1 billion

• Databricks bought MosaicML, an OpenAI competitor, for $1.3 billion

• Omeat, a cultivated meat developer, raised $40 million

• Utu, a fintech for travelers, raised $33 million

_{SPONSORED BY BUENA FE}

Investing in Tequila Isn’t Just For Celebrities

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last two years, it certainly seems as if every celebrity has their own tequila company. Tequila has been on an unstoppable rise in popularity, and the excitement just keeps on flowing.

But that's not all. The other cool kid on the block is spirit-based ready-to-drink (RTD) products. Remember the splash White Claw and Truly made? Well, now folks are getting savvy and swapping these beer-cousins for higher quality spirit-based drinks.

So, here's where Buena Fé comes in, riding this wave with its organic, tequila-based RTDs. But get this - they're not playing around with any second-rate mixto tequila. No sir, Buena Fé's all about the real deal - 100% agave tequila.

These guys hit the scene in 2022 and have already made a splash in 12 states, scoring deals with major chains like Albertsons and Total Wine. Their impressive leadership team includes the former President of Mike's Hard Lemonade.

Buena Fé is inviting you to join the party and be a part of their growth and expansion. They're raising capital through crowdfunding, so you can become a proud owner of a tequila company*, and receive some excellent perks (including their I’m not a celebrity but I do own a Tequila company tee).

Unleash your inner celebrity and own a tequila company today.

_HEADLINES

Top Reads

• The case for printing $2 trillion to save the planet (Axios)

• Gucci bought perfume maker Creed to grow its luxury empire (YF)

• Why PwC is selling part of Australian business for $1 (CNN)

• New data fortifies Eli Lilly’s spot in weight-loss drug market (CNBC)

• Carnival is a victim of its own success (YF)

• JPMorgan cuts nearly 40 investment bankers as deal flow sours (Reuters)

• Everyone talking about AI, but HR tech markets quietly building $24B market (TC)

• Meta launches $7.99/month VR service (CNBC)

• The stock market’s biggest winners are getting downgraded (YF)

• Billionaire killed in race car crash (CNN)

_{BOOK OF THE DAY}

Life Worth Living

Based on the Yale class, a guide to defining and then creating a flourishing life, and answering one of life’s most pressing questions: how are we to live?

What makes a good life? The question is inherent to the human condition, asked by people across generations, professions, and social classes, and addressed by all schools of philosophy and religions.

This search for meaning, as Yale faculty Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz argue, is at the crux of a crisis that is facing Western culture, a crisis that, they propose, can be ameliorated by searching, in one’s own life, for the underlying truth.

In A Life Worth Living, named after its authors’ highly sought-after undergraduate course, Volf, Croasmun, and McAnnally-Linz chart out this question, providing readers with jumping-off points, road maps, and habits of reflection for figuring out where their lives hold meaning and where things need to change.

Drawing from the major world religions and from impressively truthful and courageous secular figures, A Life Worth Living is a guide to life’s most pressing question, the one asked of all of us: How are we to live?

“No life is not worth living. But what is important is that you experience your life as worth living—one that is satisfying, and one that brings happiness.”

_{ENLIGHTENMENT}

Short Squeez Picks

• Everything you need to know about personal finance

• 3 types of friendship that can help you beat loneliness

• 9 phrases emotionally secure people use

• The NYC sandwich shop Anthony Bourdain always visited

_{SPONSORED BY SYNTHETIC MIND}

Learn AI in 5 minutes

AI is f*cking confusing.

Artificial Intelligence is taking the world by storm. But it still leaves most of our heads spinning.

That’s why we read Synthetic Mind, which is fast becoming everyone’s favorite source of news on AI.

They explain AI without using fancy words. It’s like Short Squeez, but for AI.

Synthetic Mind is giving away a free guide on how to make oodles & noodles of money and which tools are actually worth a damn.

Claim your free guide here.

_{DAILY VISUAL}

SpaceX Keeps Mooning

SpaceX valuation by funding round

_{DAILY ACUMEN}

How Successful People Stay Calm

Achieving a sense of calm amidst the whirlwind of life is a skill that successful individuals have mastered. Here's a glimpse into their approach:

1. Embracing mindfulness: They cherish moments of stillness and practice mindfulness, grounding themselves in the present. By immersing themselves fully in the here and now, they find tranquility and let go of worries about the past or future.

2. Cultivating self-awareness: Successful people take the time to understand their own emotions and reactions. They reflect on their triggers and patterns, gaining insights into their inner workings. This self-awareness empowers them to respond to stressful situations with poise and thoughtfulness.

3. Developing a support system: They understand the value of a strong support network. Surrounding themselves with trusted mentors, advisors, and friends, they find solace in their guidance and encouragement during tough times.

4. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: Physical well-being is a key component of their calm demeanor. They prioritize exercise to release tension, prioritize sufficient sleep for rejuvenation, and nourish their bodies with wholesome foods. This holistic approach enhances their resilience and equips them to handle stress more effectively.

5. Embracing a problem-solving mentality: Instead of getting overwhelmed by challenges, successful individuals adopt a proactive mindset. They actively seek solutions, viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth and learning. This mindset helps them maintain control and confidence, even when faced with turbulent circumstances.

Remember, staying calm is a journey, and these practices can help you navigate it with greater serenity and success.

_{MEME-A-PALOOZA}

MEMES OF THE DAY