Neptune Strike & BYD's EV Lead

Heyo, reader! We hope you’re having a good Wednesday morning!

2️⃣ This Morning’s Two Reports:

• 🎯 Ukraine Targets Previously Seized Warship with Neptune Missile

• 🚗 BYD Charges Ahead with 80% Profit Surge, Overtaking Tesla's EV Sales

📊 Market Snapshot

• DOW: 🔽 0.08% (39,282.33)

• S&P 500: 🔽 0.28% (5,203.58)

• NASDAQ: 🔽 0.42% (16,315.70)

• BTC: 🔼 0.29% (70,099.20)

• ETH: 🔼 0.069% (3,593.48)

📎 Market Clips

• Indian bonds are on track for inclusion in worldwide indices

• Record-breaking highs are being reached by cocoa prices

• A worldwide scramble for underground hydrogen has begun

_{*Stock numbers as of market close, cryptocurrency as of 7:40pm EST yesterday. Source for Market Clips.}

First Report

🎯 Ukraine Targets Previously Seized Warship with Neptune Missile

In a recent development, Ukraine utilized its Neptune missile to target the Konstantin Olshansky, a landing ship formerly belonging to Ukraine but commandeered by Russia during the 2014 annexation of Crimea. The Ukrainian defense ministry disclosed that this operation was part of a larger offensive against the Russian Black Sea Fleet, aiming to dismantle a significant asset previously lost to Russia. The attack underscores the ongoing conflict's complexity, with both sides engaging in strategic maneuvers to assert dominance over the Black Sea region. The incident not only highlights the ongoing naval warfare tactics but also illustrates the symbolic efforts by Ukraine to reclaim its assets and assert its sovereignty amidst the protracted conflict. 🚀🚢

TL;DR ⏳: Ukraine's use of a Neptune missile against the Konstantin Olshansky, a ship seized by Russia, signifies a calculated strike within the broader scope of the Black Sea conflict.

Second Report

🚗 BYD Charges Ahead with 80% Profit Surge, Overtaking Tesla's EV Sales

BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) powerhouse, has reported an impressive 80% leap in profit in the latest financial year, marking a milestone as it surpasses Tesla to become the world's leading EV seller. With net profits soaring to 30 billion yuan ($4.2 billion) from 16.6 billion yuan ($2.3 billion) in the previous year, BYD's achievement is particularly notable given the challenging global economic conditions, including high inflation and a slowdown in major economies. This financial triumph is underscored by BYD's record-breaking sales of 3.02 million vehicles worldwide in 2023, reflecting a diverse product lineup that includes 1.44 million plug-in hybrids—a segment Tesla does not compete in. Despite a fiercely competitive market and a price war among Chinese automakers, BYD's strategic pricing and product diversity have propelled it to new heights. 📈🔋

TL;DR ⏳: BYD's net profit nearly doubled last year, solidifying its position as the global top EV seller over Tesla amidst challenging economic conditions and fierce market competition.

📜 The Corner

Make sure to check out our Tweet to see the video of the bridge collapse in Baltimore!

⚡ Quick Hits

1. 🌉 Baltimore bridge collapse causes vehicles to plunge into water

2. 🔒 Negotiations for cease-fire reach impasse as Israeli delegation departs Doha (read our report here)

3. ⚖️ Supreme court appears doubtful on restricting access to abortion medication

4. 💼 Trump’s media enterprise valued at nearly $8 billion on debut trading day

5. 🤐 Judge issues partial gag order in Trump hush money case

6. 📺 NBC cancels plan to appoint Ronna McDaniel following public discontent

7. 👥 RFK Jr chooses Nicole Shanahan from California as vice presidential candidate

8. ⚖️ Texas attorney general Ken Paxton to forego fraud trial for community service and repayment

9. 🛑 Julian Assange granted temporary delay in extradition case to US

10. 🍩 McDonald's announces plans to offer Krispy Kreme donuts, aiming for nationwide availability by 2026

Games

Word of the Day: "Quixotic" describes actions or ideas that are extremely idealistic and unrealistic, often to the point of being impractical or fanciful. The term originates from the character Don Quixote in the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, who is famous for his impractical and romantic exploits.