To The Moon

My Investing Muse (17Aug2026)

Layoffs, closures and Delinquencies

Summary of top layoff news (10–16 August 2026):Imperial Brands planned thousands of job cuts in the US and Europe for cost savings, with US notifications starting around 19 August (starting with HR/finance roles). Oracle prepared a new round of layoffs (some teams facing double-digit cuts) by early September to fund AI infrastructure after earlier large reductions. Rapid7 announced a ~12% workforce cut (roughly 300 jobs) to refocus on its core cybersecurity platform. Tyson Foods filed notice to close its Eagle Mountain, Utah plant, affecting 723 workers, as part of broader beef operations restructuring amid a severe cattle shortage (also impacting Illinois and Washington sites). FedEx cut about 173 jobs and closed facilities in Southern California under its Network 2.0 efficiency overhaul. Additional WARN notices and smaller tech cuts (e.g., VideoAmp, Bitwise) were reported amid ongoing AI-driven and economic pressures. - Compiled by X

Kroger has closed at least three dozen stores since announcing plans to shutter 60 locations that were not "delivering sustainable results" by the end of 2026 - MacroEdge

Amazon is building a natural gas plant in Pecos County, Texas, to power an AI data center. Its permits allow 33 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, which would make it the single largest source of climate pollution in the country. For comparison, the dirtiest plant operating in America today emits about 16 million tons, so Amazon's is permitted for roughly double that. Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge in 2019 and promised net-zero emissions by 2040. - X user Hedgie

Are we running into physical bottlenecks for AI?

Seismic and Volcanic Activity

• Indonesia: Mw 7.7 quake off Flores (15 Aug) killed 47–53+, with aftershocks (incl. ~M6.1) and small tsunamis; separate strong quake in North Sumatra same day.

• Spain: M5.2 near Granada (15 Aug) caused building/vehicle damage, no deaths.

• California: M3.8 near San Leandro (13 Aug), widely felt.

• Etna: Eruptive activity (ash, lava) through mid-August; decreasing by 16 Aug. High confidence on events; death tolls still updating.

Extreme Weather and Wildfires

Severe heat, drought and fire weather driving major wildfires across western Europe, US Pacific Northwest and Canada. Climate attribution links conditions to warming.

Infrastructure, Energy and Economic Impact

Record-low river levels (Danube, Po, Rhine) disrupt transport, irrigation and cooling. Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant at ~25% capacity; barges sunk and riverbed sill under construction (15 Aug) to maintain cooling. High confidence.

Market and Geopolitical Context

Hormuz constraints from Iran-related tensions keep oil supply tight and prices elevated. USS Abraham Lincoln logged 260+ days deployed (record consecutive sea time, crew welfare concerns). S&P 500 hit record 7,798.99 (13 Aug).

NVIDIA partnerships aim to mobilize >$500B third-party capital for AI infrastructure. High confidence on these.

Financial Strategy and Outlook

Let us spend within our means, invest only what we can afford to lose, and avoid leverage. Let us review our current holdings and divest from businesses losing their competitive advantages. Additionally, I will consider adding both hedging strategies and defensive positions to our portfolio to mitigate risk.

As we move forward, it is crucial to conduct thorough due diligence before assuming any new responsibilities.

Wishing everyone a successful week ahead.

@TigerStars

$Vanguard S&P 500 ETF(VOO)$

$ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF(UVXY)$

$Cboe Volatility Index(VIX)$