FOMC Meeting Minutes, Chelsea, BIBI, and TACO Trading Phenomenon

Chelsea claims victory in the UEFA Conference League, completing the set of titles in Europe's top five competitions.

Chelsea claimed their first title in the UEFA Conference League final by defeating Real Betis 4-1. With this victory, Chelsea became the first club to win the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and now the Conference League. Early in the match, Betis' Abde Ezzalzouli scored the opening goal, but Chelsea made a comeback in the second half with consecutive goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moises Caicedo. Cole Palmer contributed to the victory with two assists. With this win, Chelsea secured a spot in next season's Champions League and successfully concluded the first season for coach Enzo Maresca. This is the first trophy under owner Todd Boehly's regime.

Stefon Diggs, party video controversy…Patriots launch internal investigation

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is under scrutiny after a video surfaced showing him handling a pink powdery substance at a Miami yacht party. The release of this video has also drawn attention to Diggs' rumored romance with rapper Cardi B, and the team is conducting an internal investigation to determine the facts surrounding the video.

Steven Kwan substituted during the game due to wrist inflammation... Expected to return.

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan was substituted in the top of the fourth inning due to right wrist inflammation during the game against the LA Dodgers. Manager Steven Vogt anticipates that Kwan will return in time for the series opener against the LA Angels.

Abde Ezzalzouli scores the opening goal in the Conference League final.

Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli scored the opening goal in the UEFA Conference League final. He found the net with a powerful shot after receiving a pass from Isco. Real Betis conceded four goals in the second half and lost 1-4. Ezzalzouli transferred to Betis from Barcelona in September 2023 on a five-year deal, with a reported transfer fee of around 7.5 million euros. The contract includes an option for Barcelona to re-sign him.

Antony, resurrection at Betis and future prospects

Brazilian winger Antony made a significant impact at Manchester United after being loaned to Real Betis, scoring 9 goals and providing 5 assists in the latter half of the season. However, he was seen tearfully after the loss in the final, receiving comfort from former teammate Jadon Sancho. Antony hopes to stay at Betis, but Manchester United is looking to sell him to secure funds. Betis is pushing for an extension of the loan, while Manchester United is demanding a transfer fee of around £32.5 million.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid.

England national team defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid when his contract expires in the summer of 2025. He is a product of Liverpool's youth academy and has spent 20 years at the club, winning various titles including the Champions League and the Premier League. In his last home game, he was greeted by fans, and he left a message on social media stating, "I have given everything for 20 years." Real Madrid plans to sign him on a free transfer and aims to complete the contract by early June in preparation for the Club World Cup.

Emil Bob, nominated as a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals

Former President Donald Trump has nominated Emme Bove, his former lawyer and a senior official in the Department of Justice, to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Bove has previously stirred controversy with decisions such as dropping corruption charges against the New York City mayor, and this nomination is also raising political controversies.

Zin Piro appointed as the U.S. Attorney for Washington D.C.

President Donald Trump appointed former New York State prosecutor and broadcaster Jeanne Pirro as the acting U.S. Attorney for Washington D.C. in May 2025. She is the 23rd instance in a series of appointments by the Trump administration that has hired personalities from Fox News to government positions. Pirro made a name for herself in the 1990s for her response to violent crime but has not been active in the legal field for the last 20 years, focusing instead on broadcasting. Shortly after her appointment, she began her first task by leading the investigation into the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members. She has brought charges against the suspect, including the possibility of the death penalty, and is investigating the connections to hate crimes and terrorism. Additionally, she stirred controversy by publicly addressing the budget shortfalls of the prosecutor's office, highlighting a video in which she stated that employees have to pay $7 each month for drinking water, raising concerns about the government's budget priorities.

Salesforce, strong performance and announcement of Informatica acquisition

Salesforce exceeded market expectations in its Q1 fiscal 2025 results, reporting adjusted earnings per share of $2.58 and revenue of $9.8 billion. The current remaining performance obligation (CRPO) is $29.6 billion, an increase of 12% year-over-year. The company has forecast revenue for Q2 in the range of $10.1 billion to $10.16 billion, indicating a continuation of its growth trend. Additionally, Salesforce has agreed to acquire data management company Informatica for $8 billion as part of a strategy to enhance its AI capabilities, anticipating synergies with its AI platform, Agentforce.

e.l.f. Beauty, announcement of performance increase and Rhode acquisition

e.l.f. Beauty reported an adjusted earnings per share of $0.78 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, exceeding market expectations. This represents a 47% increase compared to the same period last year. The company announced its decision to acquire Hailey Bieber's beauty brand, Rhode, for $1 billion. This acquisition is part of a strategy to expand its product portfolio and target a younger consumer demographic.

NVIDIA, rapid earnings surge amidst losses in the Chinese market

NVIDIA recorded revenues of $44.1 billion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, with the data center segment contributing $39.1 billion and the gaming segment $3.8 billion, representing year-on-year increases of 69%, 73%, and 48%, respectively. However, due to U.S. government export restrictions on AI chips, there were inventory losses of $4.5 billion and revenue losses of $2.5 billion in the Chinese market. As a result, the adjusted earnings per share were expected to be $0.81, below the estimate of $0.88. The company has projected its revenue forecast for the second quarter to be $45 billion, anticipating an expansion in global demand.

May 2025 FOMC Minutes: Interest Rates Held Steady and Cautious Policy Maintained

At the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held on May 6-7, 2025, the Federal Reserve decided to keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25% to 4.5%. The members expressed concerns about the sustainability of inflation and the potential rise in unemployment rates, leading to a decision to maintain a cautious monetary policy. The uncertainty surrounding President Trump's tariff policy and its impact on the economy was also discussed. Some members pointed out that the increased costs due to tariffs could be passed on to consumers, heightening inflationary pressures. Additionally, the potential weakening of the safe asset status of U.S. assets was mentioned. Following the announcement of tariffs, Treasury prices and the value of the dollar fell, and volatility in the stock market increased, prompting the Fed to express its intention to closely monitor the situation. The next meeting is scheduled for June 17-18.

EA, closure of Cliffhanger Games and cancellation of 'Black Panther' game development

Electronic Arts has closed its subsidiary Cliffhanger Games in May 2025 and halted the development of the 'Black Panther' video game project. Cliffhanger Games was established in 2023 and was collaborating with Marvel to develop the game. EA has stated that this decision is part of a strategy to focus on core franchises and key growth opportunities, affecting approximately 300 employees. EA is making efforts to redeploy these employees to other departments within the company. Currently, EA is focusing on the development of the 'Iron Man' game, the third installment in the 'Star Wars Jedi' series, and the new 'Mass Effect' title from BioWare.

Recent Activities of Singer BIBI

Singer and actress BIBI is attracting attention with her recent diverse activities. She released her second full-length album 'EVE: ROMANCE' on May 14, 2025. The album, themed around the duality of love, includes 14 tracks featuring double title songs such as 'Appleseed of the Apocalypse' and 'Bookstore Oppa Literary Girl.' BIBI participated in writing, composing, and producing all the songs. She appeared on the YouTube channel 'LeoJ Makeup' and candidly shared her concerns about her appearance, stating, "My ideal type is just someone pretty." Additionally, she was selected as the advertisement model for Netmarble's new RPG 'Seven Knights: Reverse,' where she appeared in ads introducing the game's world.

'TACO Trade' phenomenon

Recently, a trading strategy known as 'TACO Trade' has been gaining attention on Wall Street. 'TACO' stands for 'Trump Always Chickens Out,' referring to the pattern where former President Donald Trump announces high tariffs but ultimately retracts or postpones them based on market reactions. The 'TACO Trade' strategy involves buying during stock price declines and aiming for rebounds, utilizing this pattern. For instance, when Trump postponed a proposed 50% tariff on the European Union until July 9, the Dow Jones index rose by 1.78%, the S&P 500 index by 2.05%, and the Nasdaq index by 2.47%. Experts believe that this strategy can have a positive impact on the market in the short term.