Read time: 7-10 Minutes | Total words: 1,887

Sports

Men Only Want One Thing…

Spring has sprung and for golf fans it’s one of the most exciting weeks of the year. The Masters returns with defending champion Jon Rahm ready to defend his title at Augusta National. Rahm, who left for LIV golf this past year won’t be the only one with eyes on him as he seeks to make history once again on the iconic course.

Adding to the excitement is Tiger Woods, making his highly anticipated return after a long layoff. The five-time Masters champion brings a wave of nostalgia and anticipation, as fans hope to witness another chapter in his storied career at Augusta.

Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler enters as the unanimous favorite, showcasing exceptional form and consistency leading up to the tournament. His dominance on the course this season has made him the betting favorite leading into the week. It’s setting the stage for an epic battle among golf's elite at The Masters.

The upcoming Masters tournament is set to be a historic event, especially with the current controversies surrounding the PGA and LIV. Will Jon Rahm be able to defend his title from last year? Will Tiger Woods prove he can still compete and win like he did in 2019? Will Scottie Scheffler continue his torrid form and get his second green jacket? This combination promises a thrilling showcase of golf's finest talents, steeped in tradition and history, on one of the sport's most prestigious stages.

NCAA Mens National Championship Game

What You Need to Know:

The stage is set for an epic showdown tonight in the NCAA mens basketball championship game as UConn and Purdue face-off. UConn is favored by -6.5 points according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. ET at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

In the semifinals, both UConn and Purdue were heavily favored and delivered convincing wins. UConn battled past Alabama with an 86-72 victory, while Purdue secured a comfortable 63-50 win over NC State.

The championship game will feature a marquee matchup between Zach Edey of Purdue and Donovan Clingan of UConn, both standout players in the tournament and respective leaders of their teams.

Purdue is chasing its first-ever national championship, while UConn seeks to defend its title from last year and add another trophy to their illustrious history.

Recapping the NCAA Women’s National Championship Game

Perfect Season Ends Clark’s Dominant Career

The South Carolina Gamecocks are national champions and we have seen the last performance of Caitlin Clark at the NCAA level. 

How we got here: Last year, Iowa had ended South Carolina's tournament run in the Final Four. However, since then, South Carolina has been unstoppable, notching a perfect season. This year, South Carolina put an exclamation mark on their perfect season. In a thrilling finale, South Carolina secured its third NCAA women’s championship by defeating Iowa 87-75.

Tessa Johnson had 19 points and Kamilla Cardoso had 15 as the team smothered Iowa’s hope for its first championship title. Johnson and Cordoso highlighted the Gamecocks' strong performance.

The game marked the end of an era for Iowa's star Caitlin Clark, who bid farewell to her college career with an impressive 30-point performance, breaking scoring records in both women's and men's Division I basketball. Clark is now headed to the WNBA draft.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley praised Iowa for their remarkable season and singled out Clark for her contributions to the sport.

"I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,” Staley acknowledged. “She carried a heavy load for our sport. And it’s just — it’s not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well."

With this win, South Carolina joins the elite club of teams with a perfect season in the history of Division I women’s basketball, a testament to their dominance and resilience throughout the tournament.

Business

Upcoming Earnings Insight

Navigating Market Currents Through Earnings Insights

This upcoming earnings report offers investors critical insights into sector health, consumer trends, and the economic impact of global events. As we step into the second quarter, the anticipation around these reports builds, setting the stage for strategic decision-making based on concrete data and forward-looking statements. Let's delve into the highlights for each day:

• Hysan Development Co (HYSNY): The property landscape in Hong Kong will come into focus with Hysan Development. In the absence of an EPS forecast, the market will keenly await strategic pivots or stability signals amid ongoing global real estate fluctuations.

• Albertsons (ACI): The EPS forecast for Albertsons points to continued strength in the grocery sector. As inflationary pressures persist, Albertsons’ performance will be a litmus test for the consumer staples sector’s resilience and pricing power.

• Delta Air Lines (DAL): Delta's figures will be scrutinized for clues on the travel industry's rebound and the sustainability of the sector's recovery. The EPS projection sets an optimistic tone for demand in travel and tourism.

• Fast Retailing ADR (FRCOY): With retail undergoing transformation, Fast Retailing’s report will reveal the adaptability and consumer engagement of fast-fashion in a market driven by sustainability and digital integration.

• JPMorgan (JPM): JPMorgan’s sizable EPS expectation highlights the banking sector's potential to withstand economic headwinds. This report will be a benchmark for financial services, reflecting on regulatory environments, interest rate impacts, and fiscal policies.

This Week's Financial Performance Preview

The Takeaway

In the upcoming week, the earnings reports from Hysan Development, Albertsons, Delta Air Lines, Fast Retailing, and JPMorgan will collectively offer insights across a spectrum of global economic health. Investors will scrutinize Hysan for strategic cues in the volatile Hong Kong real estate market, while Albertsons' performance could reflect consumer spending resilience amid inflation. Delta’s figures are expected to chart the course of the airline industry's recovery, as Fast Retailing sheds light on consumer trends in the fast-fashion sector. JPMorgan's substantial earnings forecast will be pivotal, potentially setting the tone for financial sector confidence and offering foresight into economic conditions that influence broader market sentiment and policy direction.

Insights from the Latest Jobs Report

Housing Rates Rise

So, the latest on the unemployment front: it's holding steady at 3.8%, just a notch down from February's 3.9%. And hey, that's still below the 4% full employment mark. We've been riding this wave since August 2023, with unemployment bouncing between 3.7% and 3.9%, not showing any big shifts. The number of folks without jobs is pretty much parked at 6.4 million.

Now, onto the housing scene. Despite a hot demand for homes, some potential buyers are hitting the brakes, waiting for those expected rate cuts later in the year.

Looking ahead to 2024, it's a bit of a mixed bag. We're expecting more home sales compared to last year, but the timing's a bit up in the air. March's numbers are trailing behind last year's levels, even though housing inventory is creeping up. It's like the usual spring housing frenzy might be on hold, maybe shifting into summer, or who knows, even into fall. All because buyers are crossing their fingers for those Federal Reserve rate cuts and the subsequent dip in mortgage rates.

Theme Parks Leading Disney

Disney Parks are Thriving

 If you’ve been to a Disney park recently, I’m sure two things jumped out at you. Wow there’s a lot of people here, and wow that was expensive. You’re right on both counts, right now Disney Parks are their leading revenue generator.

In a business that touches just about everything, theme parks reign king. For good reason, these places are incredible and ever changing. They’re constantly seeking new ways to excite their fans. They create immersive worlds for us, we can feel like we’re on Pandora from Avatar, or in another Galaxy in their Star Wars World.

The company has made headlines good and bad these past few years, becoming divisive among parents to say the least. What isn’t up for debate, parent will drop boat loads to entertain their kids.

First Boeing, Now Southwest

Southwest Airlines Investigated After Engine Cowling Falls Off

Federal aviation officials are on the case after the engine cowling of a Southwest Airlines plane broke loose during takeoff at Denver International Airport. The cowling, which protects the engine, struck the wing flap mid-flight.

Fortunately, Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 safely returned to Denver after the incident. The airline is now working to reroute passengers to Houston and inspecting the aircraft. This comes just days after another equipment malfunction on a Southwest flight in Lubbock. The FAA is investigating both incidents.

Tech

Weekly Tech Update:

Elon and AI, What Else Are You Here For?

Elon Musk has intensified the battle for artificial intelligence talent in Silicon Valley, as Tesla ramps up compensation for AI engineers to fend off competition from rivals like OpenAI. This move comes amid a frenetic race to lead the next wave of technological innovation, particularly in generative AI, the driving force behind advanced systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Musk, in a series of statements, highlighted the ongoing “craziest talent war” he has ever seen, spurred on by competitors offering lucrative deals to lure skilled engineers. OpenAI, among other companies, has been accused of aggressively courting Tesla engineers with substantial pay offers, an accusation stemming from reports including the high-profile departure of Tesla's machine-learning scientist to Musk's own AI startup.

While layoffs continue to hit various tech sectors, AI remains a heated battleground with companies willing to invest heavily to secure the leading edge in development. Musk's proactive stance on salary boosts at Tesla reflects his broader strategy to retain talent essential for the company's ambitious AI endeavors, which extend beyond electric vehicles to encompass autonomous driving technology and humanoid robotics. Tensions are also rising with OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, with Musk having filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of straying from its original mission of open-source AI in favor of profit, an assertion OpenAI contests. Despite these challenges, Tesla remains committed to its AI projects, including the development of its supercomputer, Dojo, aimed at advancing driverless car technology—a cornerstone of Tesla's future growth plans.

Entertainment

Weekly Commute

In Episode 391 of the PBD Podcast, hosted by Patrick Bet-David, an engaging and diverse discussion unfolds, touching upon some of the most provocative and headline-making topics in current affairs and popular culture. This episode is especially notable for the participation of Jesse Watters, the prominent FOX News host, known for his incisive political commentary.

I Lose Control

Teddy Swims burst onto the scene with his hit, “Lose Control”, and if you like that. You’ll love his other stuff. Start with his song “Devil in a Dress” and go from there.