Market Mondays

In this Market Mondays clip, hosts Rashad Bilal, Ian Dunlap, and Troy Millings dive deep into their recent experiences in Africa, uncovering surprising perspectives and huge opportunities on the continent. The conversation kicks off with a candid look at how African leaders and government insiders see American politics, especially the surprising pro-Trump sentiment among some officials. Rashad reveals that many on the continent actually prefer a “hands-off” Republican approach, seeing it as less meddlesome than Democratic policies. This segment offers a rare global perspective on US politics and what it means for international investment. Next, the trio explores Africa’s emerging role as the world’s breadbasket. Beyond minerals, the future is in farming—think mega-farms, massive livestock operations, and the enormous value of African produce. Did you know that 80% of the roses gracing Europe’s Valentine’s Day come straight out of Kenya? Or that Ghana and Ivory Coast are responsible for 80% of the world’s cocoa supply? The team spotlights the hidden goldmine in African agriculture, from lucrative tea farms in Kenya to the skyrocketing demand for land and food production. They also touch on why international players—from Europe to China—are increasingly investing in Africa, despite media narratives. With fertile soil, ideal climates, and a talented local workforce, Africa is positioned not just as a resource hub, but as a critical player in future global food security. Plus, there’s a special shoutout to Rashad’s book "You Deserve To Be Rich" making Barnes & Noble’s top reads of 2025 so far! And, they highlight the need for more African bookstores and access to educational resources. Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or just curious about global trends, this clip is packed with insights on Africa’s agricultural boom, international politics, and untapped opportunities that could shape the next 50 years. *Key topics in this clip:* ✔️ African perspectives on US politics: Republicans vs. Democrats ✔️ The next big wave: farming, vegetation & livestock ✔️ Surprising stats: Kenyan roses, Ghanaian cocoa, and more ✔️ How global powers are investing in Africa’s future ✔️ Book shoutouts & the importance of access to resources Don’t miss this in-depth conversation—your next big investment idea might just be growing in African soil! *Hashtags:* #MarketMondays [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/marketmondays] #AfricaInvestment [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/africainvestment] #FarmingGoldRush [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/farminggoldrush] #GlobalPolitics [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/globalpolitics] #AfricanAgriculture [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/africanagriculture] #MarketInsights [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/marketinsights] #YouDeserveToBeRich [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/youdeservetoberich] #KenyanRoses [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/kenyanroses] #GhanaCocoa [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ghanacocoa] #EconomicTrends [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/economictrends] #AfricanDevelopment [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/africandevelopment] #Clip [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/clip] --- 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more real talk on business, investing, and global money moves! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations [https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

This week on Market Mondays, we’re breaking down a pivotal moment in the markets. After Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft reported earnings, we’re asking: are these tech giants still long-term compounders, or are buybacks and creative accounting hiding peak performance? Alphabet’s $70 billion stock buyback is under the spotlight, and Tesla’s stock jumped on Robotaxi hype — even as its fundamentals weakened. Elon Musk says Tesla doesn’t need to buy Uber, but is that a strategic power move or a missed opportunity in autonomous transport? Meanwhile, Huawei’s new AI chip spooked Nvidia investors — are cracks forming in the king of semis, or will U.S. geopolitics protect its dominance? Beyond tech, we explore the consumer and macro landscape. Spotify is nearing a breakout — is this real growth or macro-fueled momentum? ARK Innovation is surging again — is Cathie Wood making a comeback or just catching a Nasdaq wave? Domino’s missed on same-store sales, DoorDash made a $3.6B bid for Deliveroo, and e.l.f. just bought Hailey Bieber’s Rhode brand for $1B. Is global consolidation the next growth phase in food delivery? Are influencer-led beauty brands the future — or a risky bet on hype? And with Monster, Celsius, and Vita Coco battling for beverage dominance, who really has the edge in a slowing economy? We also dive into the economic outlook. U.S. GDP contracted by -0.2%, inflation appears mild but sentiment is at historic lows, and Treasury yields are climbing. Are we heading into recession, stagflation, or just a soft patch? Is now the time to rotate into risk or go defensive? Gold topped $3,400, oil prices dipped despite demand, and Palantir landed a $795M federal AI contract — is this the beginning of a broader AI-government integration wave? Plus, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq surging while the Dow lags behind, we ask: is this the start of a real breakout — or another trap before the next downturn? Link to Invest Fest: https://investfest.com #MarketMondays #Tesla #Alphabet #Nvidia #Spotify #ARKK #EarningsSeason #StockMarket #Investing #Inflation #Recession #Gold #Oil #Palantir #ElonMusk #CathieWood #TechStocks #BigTech #AI #ConsumerSpending #Bonds Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations [https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

In this insightful clip, Ian Dunlap and Rashad Bilal unpack Bank of America’s recent advisory urging investors to short the S&P 500 amid concerns of a global shift away from US equities and US bond credit ratings. Is the era of American exceptionalism really coming to an end, or is the innovation engine still running strong? Ian and Rashad dig deep into why shorting US equities right now might be a mistake—even with doubts swirling about the country's future growth. They highlight major U.S. innovators such as OpenAI, Palantir, and Anderil, as well as tech giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Meta, showing how these companies are not just maintaining but expanding America’s leadership in technology and AI. The conversation also explores: * Why America's most disruptive companies haven’t even gone public yet * How Starlink and Meta are transforming global connectivity—above and below ground * The importance of understanding innovation cycles before making emotional investing decisions * Why debt and macro numbers don’t tell the whole story about US market strength * How biotech and data infrastructure are changing the investment landscape Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just watching the markets, this clip offers a balanced perspective on future opportunities and risks in U.S. equities. Learn why betting against America’s stock market could mean missing out on generational wealth creation, and what makes today’s tech titans different from the rest. 👍 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real talk on investing and the markets! #USStocks [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/usstocks] #Investing [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/investing] #Finance [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/finance] #StockMarket [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/stockmarket] #MarketInsights [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/marketinsights] #IanDunlap [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/iandunlap] #RashadBilal [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/rashadbilal] #TechStocks [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/techstocks] #Innovation [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/innovation] #Nvidia [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nvidia] #Microsoft [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/microsoft] #Meta [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/meta] #OpenAI [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/openai] #Palantir [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/palantir] #Starlink [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/starlink] #Equities [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/equities] #FinanceTips [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/financetips] #WealthBuilding [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/wealthbuilding] #AI [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ai] #GlobalMarkets [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/globalmarkets] --- Let us know what you think about Bank of America’s advice in the comments below! Are you staying bullish on American innovation? Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations [https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Timestamps: 7:20 – Mortgage Rate Spike 16:00 – Institutional Mega-Bets 19:40 – Bank of America’s S&P 500 Short Call 24:36 – A Message from Africa 49:06 – Bitcoin Hits All-Time High 56:10 – OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Company 1:03:00 – Is It Time for Tim Cook to Go? 1:09:30 – Apple’s Losing Streak & Tariff Threat 1:15:13 – AI Writing Code at Microsoft 1:20:00 – Insider Moves at AMD and Palantir 1:32:00 – Google’s New AI Advancements In this week’s episode of Market Mondays, we dive into the rising mortgage rates and whether a housing crisis is brewing, a $3 billion institutional bet on the stock market, and Bank of America’s surprising call to short the S&P 500. We also share exclusive insights from our trip to Africa and discuss the future of global investment opportunities on the continent. We break down Bitcoin’s all-time high, OpenAI’s major acquisition of Jony Ive’s company, and Apple’s latest challenges—from leadership questions to looming tariffs. Plus, we analyze insider moves at AMD and Palantir, Microsoft’s AI coding shift, and Google’s latest advancements in artificial intelligence. Link to Invest Fest: https://investfest.com #MarketMondays #Bitcoin #Investing #Apple #OpenAI #AfricaBusiness #S&P500 #StockMarket #TechNews #MortgageRates #AI #Palantir #AMD #GoogleAI Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations [https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

In this insightful Market Mondays clip, Ian Dunlap, Troy Millings, and Rashad Bilal share essential advice for recent college graduates entering the real world. As graduation season is in full swing, many young adults are facing tough questions about finances, career direction, and how to get ahead despite an uncertain job market. The conversation kicks off with Rashad congratulating his nephew on graduating from St. John's University, then moves quickly to practical tips every grad should hear. Ian emphasizes the importance of picking solid investments early—think Microsoft, Visa, and bitcoin—and making those investments a financial priority. He also highlights the necessity of building entrepreneurial skills and considering business opportunities beyond the U.S. Rashad echoes Ian’s advice, underscoring the need to develop 50-year skill sets and to explore tech-driven companies, ETFs like QQQ, and real estate. He stresses the value of learning practical skills not taught in school, especially in areas like artificial intelligence and content creation. Troy adds another layer by urging grads to understand their unique value and to carefully plan for student loan repayment. He reminds everyone to make use of networking opportunities, especially alumni associations and organizations, while focusing on what they can genuinely bring to the table. The trio offers actionable steps: * Invest at least 20% of your income as soon as you can, even before paying off debt, to create long-term wealth. * Build a personal brand and showcase your ideas—don’t go into interviews empty-handed! * Keep your living expenses low (living at home is okay!) so you can save and invest more. * Build networks by staying active in alumni associations and professional groups. * Learn practical, future-proof skills, including technology and AI. They also address parents, urging them to be patient as the job market is challenging—even for top tech employees. The conversation wraps up with a reminder to prioritize assets over liabilities and to stay disciplined in money habits. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a parent, or someone thinking about a career pivot, this clip is packed with wisdom on building wealth, skills, and networks that will serve you for decades to come! *Timestamps:* 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnf4NrDULwQ] - Graduation shoutout and opening remarks 00:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=43s&v=pnf4NrDULwQ] - First steps for new grads: investing and entrepreneurship 03:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=224s&v=pnf4NrDULwQ] - Why learning tech and AI matters 06:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=405s&v=pnf4NrDULwQ] - Keeping student debt low and choosing the right degree 08:19 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=499s&v=pnf4NrDULwQ] - Creating a personal plan and value-add 10:24 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=624s&v=pnf4NrDULwQ] - Networking, alumni associations, and the power of community 12:16 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=736s&v=pnf4NrDULwQ] - Building your brand and showcasing your skills Don’t miss out on these foundational lessons—watch now and map out your path to success! *Hashtags:* #MarketMondays [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/marketmondays] #CollegeGraduates [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/collegegraduates] #FinancialAdvice [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/financialadvice] #InvestingTips [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/investingtips] #Entrepreneurship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurship] #CareerAdvice [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/careeradvice] #Networking [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/networking] #WealthBuilding [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/wealthbuilding] #PersonalFinance [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/personalfinance] #AIskills [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/aiskills] #TechCareers [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/techcareers] #StudentLoans [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/studentloans] #AlumniNetworking [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/alumninetworking] #YoungInvestors [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/younginvestors] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations [https://redcircle.com/marketmondays/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]