tl;dr - This weekâs spotlight is Dr. Christy Kestner and Brain & Beyond, a Charleston-based neuroimmunology platform. As Charleston Tech Week wraps, the cityâs rising tech scene takes center stage. Markets rebounded on strong earnings from Microsoft and Meta, while Tesla fell and Netflix climbed. In AI, Meta and Microsoft surged, Apple lagged, and Reddit inked a $70M OpenAI deal.
đŻ Charleston Biz of the Week
Charleston Business of the Week: Brain & Beyond
This week, weâre spotlighting Dr. Christy Kestner, a Charleston-based neuroimmunologist and founder of Brain & Beyond, a fast-growing digital platform bringing clarity and creativity to the world of neuroscience, immunology, and biotech.
đĄ Lowcountry Ledgerâs Take: Brain & Beyond is proof that Charlestonâs brainpower isnât just academicâitâs building real momentum in biotech. Dr. Kestnerâs making complex science feel fresh, creative, and actually understandable.
đ Markets in a Minute
đ Markets Rebounded
U.S. stocks surged, reversing Aprilâs earlier slump.â
S&P 500 $SPY ( âź 0.02% ) +1.4%, Nasdaq $QQQ ( âź 0.04% ) +2.2%, Dow $DIA ( âź 0.11% ) +0.3% â
Tech led the rally, fueled by strong earnings from Microsoft and Meta.â
đ Big Earnings & Moves
Tesla $TSLA ( Ⲡ1.39% ) fell after pulling its 2025 delivery growth target and reporting weak operating income â
Netflix $NFLX ( Ⲡ0.5% ) rose on strong ad-tier momentum and subscriber growth â
ASML $ASML ( Ⲡ0.73% ) and SAP $SAP ( âź 0.41% ) dipped despite earnings beats, as cautious guidance weighed on sentiment â
đ¤ AI & Tech Watch
Meta $META ( âź 2.27% ) surged after raising 2025 capex guidance to $64â72B, citing AI infrastructure expansion â
Microsoft $MSFT ( âź 0.59% ) boosted investor confidence with Azure revenue up 33%, driven by AI demand â
Apple $AAPL ( âź 0.3% ) faced investor uncertainty over delayed AI features and tariff impacts â
Reddit $RDDT ( âź 1.92% ) gained after a reported $70M AI content licensing deal with OpenAI â
đ Global Macro & Policy
Fed signaled no imminent rate cuts, maintaining a cautious stance amid sticky inflation â
Yen rebounded sharply, sparking speculation of Japanese intervention â
UK inflation cooled faster than expected, raising hopes for rate cuts â
đ Other Developments
Bitcoin $BTC.X ( âź 0.26% ) hovered around $91K, with projections as high as $225K amid mining challenges â
Boeing $BA ( âź 1.21% ) faced renewed FAA scrutiny after new whistleblower claims â
đ Market Vitals
$DIA ( âź 0.11% ) Tracks 30 blue-chip stocks, showing industrial health.
$SPY ( âź 0.02% ) Mirrors S&P 500, gauging broad market performance.
$QQQ ( âź 0.04% ) Follows Nasdaq-100, reflecting tech and growth trends.
$BTC.X ( âź 0.26% ) Indicates crypto sentiment and risk appetite.
đĄ Lowcountry Ledgerâs Take: Markets bounced back this week, with tech doing the heavy lifting thanks to strong showings from Microsoft and Meta. AI is clearly driving the narrative, but strong earnings are backing up the high-flying story.
đŻ Brokerage Review: Coinbase
tl;dr: Coinbase is the most accessible U.S.-regulated crypto exchange, offering 200+ assets, easy onboarding, and a trusted brand name. Itâs a top pick for beginners and casual investors seeking a safe, simple way to buy and hold crypto. Downsides include higher fees for convenience and fewer advanced tools than competitors. Still, it's a solid, Ledger-approved choice for those dipping into digital assets.
â What is Coinbase?
Founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, Coinbase $COIN ( Ⲡ1.0% ) is the most well-known cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S. It went public in 2021 and has become the default crypto gateway for millions of Americans.
đź Charleston Job of the Week
Ready for your next great opportunity in Charleston? Explore the Lowcountry Ledger job board for a curated selection of high-quality, vetted roles!
đĽ Clickworthy
Enjoying Lowcountry Ledger? Subscribe for business insights and a weekly newsletter on Charlestonâs top investment moves and market trends. Stay aheadâjoin Charleston execs today!
đź Looking for your next big opportunity? Browse the Lowcountry Ledger Job Board!
đ Level up your finances. Explore our Lowcountry Money Guides.
đ Choosing a brokerage? Read our latest brokerage reviews.
âď¸ Got a story idea or tip? Drop us a line at [email protected].
â Enjoying the Ledger? Support the work with a virtual coffee! â¤ď¸
Important Disclosures:
This newsletter is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as investment, legal, or tax advice. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the views of any business, employer, or affiliated entity. Investing carries inherent risks, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek advice from qualified professionals before making any investment, legal, or financial decisions. While the information provided is believed to be accurate, no guarantee is made as to its completeness or reliability. The author and publisher disclaim any liability for decisions made or actions taken based on the content of this newsletter. This publication does not constitute an offer to buy or sell any security. By subscribing to or continuing to read this newsletter, you acknowledge and agree to these terms and conditions.