tl;dr - After three decades in tech, Toby Palmer is helping reignite Charlestonâs startup scene with Chucktown Startups. Markets climbed for a fourth straight week on cooler inflation, but global tensionsâfrom IsraelâIran to Trumpâs early G7 exitâkept investors cautious. Plus, a deep dive into âTrump Accounts,â the $1,000-at-birth Invest America plan that could reshape how future generations build wealth.
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đŻ Business Spotlight: Toby Palmer of Palmer Financial Wellness & Chucktown Startups
After three decades in techâincluding leading global engineering teams and launching startups in the â90sâToby Palmer knows a thing or two about building. When a layoff and a move to Charleston coincided, he saw an opportunity not just to reinvent his career, but to reignite the startup scene around him.
In March 2025, Toby launched Chucktown Startups, a passion-fueled community built to support Charleston founders on both their business and financial journeys.
đ Markets in a Minute
đ Market Overview
U.S. markets extended gains for the fourth week in a row:
S&P 500 roseâŻ~1.2%, Nasdaq jumpedâŻ~1.8%, and the Dow addedâŻ~0.9%.
The S&P is now within striking distance of all-time highs, as investor sentiment remains buoyant heading into the back half of June.
𧊠Key Drivers
Jobs & inflation data showed cooler trendsâjobless claims stayed elevated, and PPI/CPI came in softerâreducing immediate pressure on the Fed and boosting markets.
U.S.âChina trade talks showed cautious progress in London, lifting sentiment, though no concrete breakthroughs yet.
Israel attacks Iran sparked negative market reactions and raised concerns over oil supply disruptions.
đ Market Movers
Adobe $ADBE ( âź 2.77% ) surged ~15% after beating earnings and highlighting strong AI integration across Creative Cloud.
Nvidia $NVDA ( âź 2.33% ) rose ~4% for the week, continuing its AI-fueled rally and passing $3.3T in market cap at one point.
Kroger $KR ( Ⲡ1.8% ) dropped ~6% post-earnings as slowing grocery inflation hurt top-line growth.
đ Global Trends
Oil prices rose ~4% amid IsraelâIran tensions, stoking supply disruption fears.
Trump left the G7 summit early over Middle East conflicts, disrupting meetings and diplomacy.
U.S.âUK agreed on a partial trade deal; broader G7 trade talks stalled.
đ Market Vitals
$DIA ( âź 1.27% ) Tracks 30 blue-chip stocks, showing industrial health.
$SPY ( âź 1.64% ) Mirrors S&P 500, gauging broad market performance.
$QQQ ( âź 1.97% ) Follows Nasdaq-100, reflecting tech and growth trends.
$BTC.X ( âź 1.83% ) Indicates crypto sentiment and risk appetite.
đĄ Lowcountry Ledgerâs Take: Markets pushed higher on cooling inflation but remain cautious. Geopolitical tensions â from IsraelâIran conflict to tariff spats â and the Fedâs steady rate stance keep uncertainty in play. Trumpâs early G7 exit and renewed calls to readmit Russia added to global unease. Progress, but with a wary eye on whatâs next.
đ¸ Money Guide: Invest America aka âTrump Accountsâ
Invest America is a bold national initiative to give every child born in the U.S. a $1,000 tax-advantaged investment account at birthâfunded by the federal government and designed to grow with the U.S. economy. Now part of the 2025 budget bill and rebranded as âTrump Accounts,â the program aims to tackle wealth inequality, boost financial literacy, and provide a modern alternative to 401(k)s and Social Security. By giving all Americans a lifelong stake in the market, Invest America could redefine how future generations build wealth and participate in capitalism.
đĽ Clickworthy
Housing: New Home Construction Falls to Five-Year Low
TV: Streaming surpasses combined broadcast and cable viewing for the first time
Stablecoins: The Senate passed the GENIUS Act, paving the way for the first regulatory framework for issuers of stablecoins
MAHA: General Mills Removes All Artificial Food Dyes
Shopify: Coinbase $COIN ( âź 16.7% ) and Shopify $SHOP ( âź 2.95% ) combined forces to bring stablecoins $USDC.X ( âź 0.01% ) to businesses
Gold: đ
Gold is the best-performing asset of 2025.
â #Brew Markets (#@brewmarkets)
6:57 PM ⢠Jun 18, 2025
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