Good morning. Today, we'll discuss market trends, Nvidia's product(s), Stanley Cup secrets, and analyze Celine's beauty game. We'll delve into sports' appeal to investors, and hear from Detroit Tigers Pitcher Beau Brieske on baseball and business. Plus, stay tuned for the launch of our city guide 'Herr Ober' with its dedicated homepage.

SURVEY
Global Happiness Level

The top three happiest countries are Finland, Denmark, and Iceland, with Costa Rica and Kuwait newly entering the top 20, replacing the U.S. and Germany. Afghanistan ranks last in happiness.

MONEY
The American Dream

According to Henley & Partners, the U.S. remains the leading country for private wealth creation, contributing to 32% of global liquid investable wealth, approximately $67 trillion.

ECONOMY
Germany’s Economic Downturn

Germany, once a powerhouse in Europe, now has the slowest economic growth among the 20 nations using the euro. The country faced its biggest inflation in half a century last year. Alongside, Germany is tackling a deepening labor shortage and an aging populace. It's projected that Germany will need seven million additional workers by 2035.

FINANCE
NVIDIA’s New Star: Blackwell

Nvidia, a leading chipmaker, unveiled its next-generation AI chip, Blackwell, at its GPU Technology Conference. The Blackwell computing platform, which includes the new B200 chip, is faster and more powerful than its $40,000 predecessor, the H100 chip. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new processor. The Blackwell platform, named after David Blackwell, the first Black member of the National Academy of Sciences.

BRANDING
Stanley Cup: $750 Million in 4 Years

3 Ways Stanley, a 113-Year-Old Drinkware Brand, Made a Reusable Water Bottle a Top-Selling 'Affordable Luxury':

1. Stanley modernized its century-old water bottles with trendy colors, attracting women and influencers, while maintaining its authenticity.

2. The brand hyped its tumblers via limited-edition collaborations with celebrities and retailers, gaining cultural relevance through TikTok.

3. Stanley's tumblers have tapped into wellness and sustainability trends, as reusable water bottles are both popular and environmentally friendly.

RETAIL
Will Celine's Beauty Game Succeed?

Celine, following Miu Miu, Prada, and Valentino, has entered the luxury beauty market with the launch of Celine Beauté, in partnership with L'Oreal. We can gauge its potential success by comparing it to Prada.

In 2023, Prada Beauty, representing 30% of Prada's $4.7 billion revenue, generated $1.76 billion. The success was due to a licensing agreement that utilized L'Oreal's global retail distribution and beauty industry expertise.

However, unlike Prada, which also launched a skincare line, Celine is introducing a smaller collection that will launch in stages. Given the scale of the collection and distribution, Celine needs to make a significant push to carve out a niche in the beauty industry. However, with L'Oreal as a partner, this venture appears promising.

STOCKS
Stock Drop: Nike, Adidas, Puma

Nike's stocks dropped over 7% after forecasting sales declines later this year as they adjust product lines to consumer preferences.

Simultaneously, Lululemon Athletica fell 12% after reporting slower U.S store visits and a lower sales forecast for the year. European shares in Adidas, Puma, and JD Sports also dipped as the industry confronts these issues.

SPORT
Investing in European Football

A report analyzed investment and ownership trends in top-tier European football clubs from 2019-2023, focusing on foreign investments, private capital, and multi-club ownership. Key findings include:

• The studied leagues saw 128 foreign investments, with 26 last year, marking a 24% decrease.

• Major foreign investments targeted England, France, Belgium, particularly in French Ligue 2 and Spanish LaLiga 2.

• Over half of foreign investments, primarily from the US, were private capital.

• 78 investments linked 40% of the 341 clubs via multi-club ownership.

4 Players Questions for Detroit Tigers

I sat down with Beau Brieske, a professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball (MLB), to understand the key takeaways from baseball and how they correlate with business.

1. How do you assess the situation or opponent on the field?
I view it as an opportunity to test myself against the best. I feel that the biggest competition is with myself. I hold myself to a standard and try to perform at the level I'm capable of as often as possible.

2. How do you keep your cool on the field?
I keep my cool by trusting that I have done the necessary work to prepare properly. When I'm out on the field, the only thing I can do is trust my training and compete as much as possible.

3. What can executives or entrepreneurs learn from baseball?
They can learn that you are always trying to improve yourself and that anything external is out of your control. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses and always being willing to make adjustments as you maneuver through whatever field you are in is the only thing that is important.

4. What is the secret to staying on top?
Never being satisfied and striving to be your best is the only way to go about your business. As soon as you are satisfied or content, that's the day you stop improving. Everyone always has something they can improve. That mindset carries you through any circumstance.

DETROIT
Herr Ober: A City Guide To Be Launched Soon

Le Suprême, a new brasserie in Detroit's Book Tower, offers a Parisian dining experience with a green-tiled cafe and barroom, a main dining room with oxblood leather booths, and a private dining room. The breakfast menu features house-made pastries and bread, and the restaurant's menu includes seafood towers and Parisian specialties.

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