We were early last time, we actually meant Y24K – A software update from Crowdstrike wreaked havoc on businesses around the world on July 20-21. Airlines canceled more than 4,200 flights and delayed an additional 19,300 flights. The total cost of the outage across the global economy could top $1 billion, but it's unclear who'll be stuck with the bill. (Sources: Flightaware and CNN)

Magnificent or miserable? – All of the previously Magnificent Seven stocks were down mid-week after Alphabet (Google’s parent company) and Tesla reported disappointing second-quarter earnings. After leading markets for the year, investors are scrutinizing the resources poured into artificial intelligence to see if it will continue to drive growth. (Source: Yahoo Finance)

At least the struggle bus is electric now – Shares of Tesla dropped to their lowest point in six months after a disappointing second-quarter earnings call. The company missed analyst expectations for earnings (reported 52 cents per share vs. expected 66 cents) and reported a 45% annual decline in profits. (Source: Barron’s)

Have that cake and eat it, too – Since 1970, the lowest-volatility US stocks have outperformed their highest-volatility counterparts by approximately 2% annualized. Even more impressive? They’ve done so with half the risk. (Source: Compustat, Calculations: Hartford Equity Risk Model as of 5/31/24)

So good it’s bad? – Britain's economy grew more quickly than expected in May, providing some momentum for the new government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. However, the positive economic news has added a layer of uncertainty for rate cuts that were expected by the end of summer. (Source: Reuters)

Tired of those TPS reports – If you're job hunting, you're not alone: 51% of US employees are watching or actively seeking a new job, the highest level since 2015. In many cases, it could be preventable, too. An astounding 42% of employees who voluntarily left their organization in the past year report that their manager or organization could have done something to help change their mind. (Source: Gallup)

Mom and dad are "silver squatters" – Gen X (the generation born between 1965 and 1980) is considered less fiscally secure than other generations. Nearly a quarter of Americans 55 and over expect to need financial support from younger family members in retirement, including housing support. (Source: Marketwatch)

Raking in record amounts of dough – After President Joe Biden ended his bid for re-election, donations to support the most likely Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, hit $81 million in a 24-hour period—a fundraising record for both parties. The prior record, $53 million in 24 hours, had just been set in May by former President Trump's re-election campaign. (Sources: The New York Times and AP News)

A win for anxiety – Pixar's "Inside Out 2" became the first and only movie so far in 2024 to gross more than $1 billion in global ticket sales. It's also become the animation studio's top-grossing film and is just $10 million shy of surpassing Disney's "Frozen 2," the biggest animated film of all time in non-inflation-adjusted terms. (Source: Deadline and Screen Daily)

He didn't drop it like it's hot – Rapper Snoop Dogg was one of the delegates selected to carry the Olympic torch on its final leg through the Parisian suburbs to the Eiffel Tower, where the opening ceremony for the 2024 Games was held on Friday. (Source: NBC News)