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☀️Good morning. It's Thursday, Mar. 6, and we're covering,Trump Delays Canada, Mexico Automakers Tariffs For One Month, Apple Unveils New AI-Ready MacBook Air And Mac Studio, U.S. Pauses Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine, Raising Uncertainty Over Future Support, and much more. First time reading? Sign up to get this newsletter: Sign up here. 

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MARKETS

Cryptocurrency Prices by Market Cap

• The global cryptocurrency market cap today is $3.54 Trillion, a 4.58% increase in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $120.42B, which makes a 17.26% decrease.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $7.56B, 6.56% of the total crypto market 24-hours.

• The volume of all stablecoins is now $112.36B, which is 93.30% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 60.67%, an increase of 0.37% over the day.

Altcoins Surge As Market Optimism Grows As Trade Exemptions And Crypto Summit Hype

Altcoins surged on Wednesday as cryptocurrency investors reacted positively to market developments. Bitcoin Cash led the rally with a 23% increase, while Chainlink and Aptos gained 12% and 15%, respectively. Cardano also rose by 4%. The market's optimism stemmed from President Donald Trump's decision to grant a one-month exemption on new tariffs affecting Canada and Mexico's auto industries. Additionally, anticipation for the upcoming White House Crypto Summit fueled excitement. Speculation grew that the Trump administration might announce a U.S. crypto reserve, further boosting investor sentiment. (Read Deeper)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Trump Delays Canada, Mexico Automakers Tariffs For One Month

President Donald Trump has granted a temporary one-month exemption from his newly imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican automakers, provided they comply with USMCA trade rules. While the exemption led to a rebound in auto stocks, trade uncertainty remains, with fears that prolonged tariffs could drive up vehicle prices by as much as $7,000. The tariffs could add thousands of dollars to vehicle prices, impacting U.S. consumers and potentially hurting Detroit’s auto industry.

Takeaways: Trump maintains that the tariffs are meant to pressure Canada and Mexico to curb fentanyl smuggling, though Canadian officials argue that fentanyl shipments across their border are minimal. Canada has expressed willingness to negotiate tariff reductions, while Mexico is exploring alternative crude oil buyers in response to the U.S. trade measures. While Ford, GM, and Stellantis support exemptions for USMCA-compliant vehicles, broader concerns over trade uncertainty and economic impact continue to weigh on markets and business sentiment. (Read Deeper)

ECB Set To Cut Interest Rates As Trade Tensions And Defense Spending Shift Economic Outlook

The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, bringing the deposit rate to 2.5%. This marks another step in its monetary easing cycle, but growing economic and geopolitical uncertainties may make future cuts more complicated. Markets still expect two more rate cuts this year, but divisions among ECB policymakers are emerging. The decision will be announced at 13:15 GMT, followed by ECB President Christine Lagarde's press conference at 13:45 GMT.

Takeaways: The economic outlook is shifting rapidly, with a potential trade war with the U.S. already impacting business investment. Meanwhile, Germany and the European Commission have announced major increases in defense and infrastructure spending, reshaping fiscal policy across Europe. The key question is whether the ECB maintains its stance that policy is still "restrictive", or signals that it is nearing a more neutral level. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

Apple Unveils New AI-Ready MacBook Air And Mac Studio

Apple has introduced updated MacBook Air and Mac Studio models featuring AI-focused chips for improved performance. The MacBook Air now runs on the M4 processor, offering faster speeds, a 12-megapixel camera, support for dual external monitors, and a new sky-blue color option. Prices start at $999 for the 13-inch model and $1,199 for the 15-inch, both $100 cheaper than their M3 predecessors. The Mac Studio has been upgraded with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, offering Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, up to 512GB of RAM, and 16TB of storage.

Takeaways: Apple claims the M4 MacBook Air is twice as fast as the M1 version, with AI processing speeds three times faster. The M3 Ultra Mac Studio is said to be 2.6 times faster than its predecessor, making them ideal for AI-related tasks. The new devices are available for preorder now and will be in stores on March 12. This launch follows Apple's recent iPad updates and the release of the iPhone 16e. (Read Deeper)

OpenAI Reportedly Plans To Charge Up To $20,000/Month For AI ‘Agents’

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch specialized AI “agents” with price points ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 per month. These AI-powered tools will be tailored for different applications, including sales, software development, and high-level research. It’s unclear when these AI agents will launch or who will be eligible to purchase them. However, SoftBank, a major OpenAI investor, has reportedly committed $3 billion toward OpenAI’s agent products this year

Takeaways: The cheapest agent ($2,000/month) is aimed at high-income knowledge workers. A software developer agent will reportedly cost $10,000/month. The most expensive AI agent ($20,000/month) is designed for PhD-level research. The move comes as OpenAI seeks to offset financial losses, which reached an estimated $5 billion last year due to operational and service-related costs. (Read Deeper)

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

U.S. Pauses Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine, Raising Uncertainty Over Future Support

The United States has paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, adding to uncertainty about future US support for Kyiv. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed the decision, stating that the Trump administration is reviewing its relationship with Ukraine. This follows the suspension of military aid earlier in the week and a tense meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky in which Zelensky was reportedly asked to leave.

Takeaways: CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the pause is meant to pressure Ukraine into peace negotiations, but added that it could be lifted soon if progress is made. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Europe must prepare for a future without US support and has called for increased defense spending. Experts warn that halting intelligence could weaken Ukraine’s military capabilities, as US intelligence has been crucial in tracking Russian troop movements and guiding weapons. (Read Deeper)

Nigeria's Senate President Godswill Akpabio Denies Sexual Harassment Allegations

Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has denied allegations of sexual harassment made by fellow senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. She claimed that during a visit to Akpabio’s residence in December 2023, he made inappropriate advances toward her and later suggested she should "take care of him" to receive favorable treatment in the Senate. Akpabio denied the accusations, stating he was raised to respect women.

Takeaways: The allegations have sparked national debate, with protests both in support and opposition of Akpabio. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally petitioned the Senate, and the case has been referred to the committee on ethics and public petitions for review. Many Nigerians, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki, have called for an independent investigation into the matter. (Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

FIFA To Award $1 Billion As Europe Nears Club World Cup Deal

FIFA is set to distribute over $1 billion in prize money for the upcoming Club World Cup, as the European Club Association (ECA) nears a deal on behalf of top European teams like Chelsea and Manchester City. The 32 participating clubs, including 12 from Europe, will split the prize pool, making it the biggest in club football history. The competition, taking place in the U.S. from June 14 to July 13, 2025, will be funded in part by FIFA’s $1 billion global TV rights deal with DAZN. Clubs will receive participation fees and performance-based bonuses, with discussions also ongoing for solidarity payments to non-participating teams worldwide. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• Have you ever wondered where money really comes from and how it flows through our economy? Money creation and flow are key to understanding modern economies. While the U.S. Treasury prints physical cash, the vast majority of money exists digitally, created by banks through lending.(Listen)

EXTRA BREVITI

• Germany’s Debt Market Sees Worst Drop Since Berlin Wall’s Fall. (Read Deeper)

• Kevin Rose, founder of Digg, has teamed up with former Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian to acquire and relaunch the once-popular content aggregator. (Read More)

• A new report warns that $2.3 trillion in fossil fuel assets could become “stranded” by the end of the next decade due to climate policies. (Read More)

• US President Donald Trump has issued a "last warning" to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza. (Read More)

• Alibaba Group saw its stock jump 7.6% in Hong Kong, its largest intraday gain in nearly two weeks. (Read Deeper)