us-business

Gold gains some positive traction during the Asian session, though the upside potential seems limited.Bets for an imminent Fed rate cut in September weigh on the USD and offer support to the commodity.Hopes for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal could act as a headwind for the safe-haven precious metal. Gold (XAU/USD) maintains its bid tone through the first half of the European session on Tuesday, though the fundamental backdrop warrants some caution for bulls and before positioning for additional gains. The growing acceptance that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will resume its rate-cutting cycle in September fails to assist the US Dollar (USD) in capitalizing on the previous day’s move up. This, along with a slight deterioration in the global risk sentiment, acts as a tailwind for the safe-haven precious metal. However, the latest optimism over the potential Russia-Ukraine deal to end the protracted war might hold back traders from placing aggressive bullish bets around the Gold price. Investors might also opt to wait for more cues about the Fed’s rate-cut path before confirming the next leg of a directional move for the non-yielding yellow metal. Hence, the focus will remain glued to the release of the FOMC Minutes on Wednesday and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium later this week. Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold bulls seem non-committed amid Russia-Ukraine peace deal hopes Traders trimmed their bets for a jumbo interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September following last Thursday’s release of a hotter US Producer Price Index, which rose in July at the fastest monthly pace since 2022. Moreover, the preliminary data from the University of Michigan showed on Friday that the one-year inflation expectations climbed to 4.9% from 4.5% and the five-year forecast increased to 3.9% from 3.4%. The data indicates a gain of momentum in price pressures and backs the case for a hawkish Fed, which, in turn, is seen acting as a headwind for the non-yielding Gold. Traders, however, are still pricing in a nearly 85% chance that the US central bank will lower borrowing costs in September and deliver at least two 25 basis points rate cuts by the year-end. This keeps a lid on the US Dollar and lends support to the commodity. Meanwhile, the S&P Global Ratings agency affirmed the US ‘AA+/A-1+’ sovereign ratings while maintaining a ‘Stable’ outlook on steady, albeit high, deficits. The agency expects US net general government debt to approach 100% of GDP, given structurally rising nondiscretionary interest and aging-related expenditure. The agency further noted that the outlook indicates fiscal deficit outcomes won’t meaningfully improve, but doesn’t project persistent deterioration over the next several years. On the geopolitical front, Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a peace summit. This raises hopes for a breakthrough towards ending the protracted Russia-Ukraine war and might cap any meaningful appreciation for the safe-haven precious metal. Traders might also opt to wait for more cues about the Fed’s rate-cut path before placing fresh directional bets. Hence, the focus will remain glued to the release of the FOMC meeting Minutes on Wednesday and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium. Apart from this, traders will take cues from flash PMI prints on Thursday, which will be looked to for fresh insight into the global economic health. This, in turn, might infuse some volatility around the XAU/USD pair during the latter part of the week. In the meantime, Tuesday’s US housing market data – Building Permits and Housing Starts – might do little to influence the precious metal. That said, comments from influential FOMC members would drive the USD demand, which, along with the broader risk sentiment, should contribute to producing short-term trading opportunities around the XAU/USD pair. Gold is more likely to attract fresh sellers and remain capped near the 200-SMA pivotal hurdle on H4 Slightly negative technical indicators on 4-hour/daily charts warrant some caution for bulls or positioning for any meaningful appreciating move in the near-term. Hence, any subsequent move up is more likely to confront stiff resistance near the 200-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart, currently pegged around the $3,347-3,348 region. This is followed by the overnight swing high, around the $3,358 area, above which the XAU/USD pair could climb to the $3,372-3,374 region. The momentum could extend further and allow the Gold price to reclaim the $3,400 mark before aiming to test the monthly peak, around the $3,408-3,410 area. On the flip side, the $3,325-3,323 zone, or over a two-week low touched on Monday, could offer immediate support ahead of the $3,310-3,300 region. Acceptance below the said handle could make the XAU/USD pair vulnerable to accelerate the fall towards the $3,283-3,282 horizontal zone before dropping to the late June swing low, around the $3,268 region. The latter represents the lower boundary of a nearly three-month-old trading range, and a convincing break below will be seen as a fresh trigger for bearish traders. Economic Indicator FOMC Minutes FOMC stands for The Federal Open Market Committee that organizes 8 meetings in a year and reviews economic and financial conditions, determines the appropriate stance of monetary policy and assesses the risks to its long-run goals of price stability and sustainable economic growth. FOMC Minutes are released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and are a clear guide to the future US interest rate policy. Read more. Next release: Wed Aug 20, 2025 18:00 Frequency: Irregular Consensus: – Previous: – Source: Federal Reserve Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is usually published three weeks after the day of the policy decision. Investors look for clues regarding the policy outlook in this publication alongside the vote split. A bullish tone is likely to provide a boost to the greenback while a dovish stance is seen as USD-negative. It needs to be noted that the market reaction to FOMC Minutes could be delayed as news outlets don’t have access to the publication before the

The Japanese Yen attracts some intraday buyers on Tuesday, though it lacks follow-through.The divergent BoJ-Fed policy expectations offer some support to the lower-yielding JPY.Hopes for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal undermine and cap gains for the safe-haven JPY. The Japanese Yen (JPY) builds on its steady intraday ascent against a mildly negative US Dollar (USD) and touches a fresh daily top heading into the European session on Monday. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) upwardly revised its inflation forecast at the end of the July meeting and left the door open for an imminent interest rate hike by the end of this year. This, along with a slight deterioration in the global risk sentiment, drives some safe-haven flows towards the JPY. Meanwhile, the BoJ’s hawkish outlook marks a significant divergence in comparison to expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will resume its rate-cutting cycle in September. This, in turn, acts as a headwind for the USD and further benefits the lower-yielding JPY, leading to the USD/JPY pair’s intraday pullback of around 50 pips. However, hopes for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal might cap the JPY amid the uncertainty over the likely timing of the next BoJ rate hike. Japanese Yen benefits from cautious market mood, modest USD downtick The Bank of Japan revised its inflation forecast at the end of the July meeting and reiterated that it will raise interest rates further if growth and inflation continue to advance in line with its estimates. Adding to this, data released last week showed that Japan’s economy expanded more than expected in the second quarter despite US tariff headwinds, keeping the door open for an imminent BoJ rate hike by the end of this year. Meanwhile, traders tempered their bets for more aggressive policy easing by the Federal Reserve amid signs of momentum in price pressures. However, the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool indicated a nearly 85% chance that the US central bank would lower borrowing costs in September. Moreover, the possibility of two 25 basis points rate cuts by the Fed in 2025 marks a significant divergence in comparison to the BoJ’s hawkish outlook. On the geopolitical front,  US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he had begun preparations for a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This followed a summit with Zelensky and the European leaders earlier in the day, fueling hopes for an early peace deal to end Europe’s deadliest war in 80 years and denting demand for safe-haven assets. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s loss in Japan’s upper house election in July adds a layer of uncertainty amid concerns about the potential negative impact of higher US tariffs on the domestic economy. This, in turn, suggests that the prospects for the BoJ rate hike could be delayed, which, so far, has held back traders from placing bullish bets around the Japanese Yen and might continue to act as a tailwind for the USD/JPY pair. Tuesday’s US economic docket features the release of housing market data – Building Permits and Housing Starts. This, along with speeches by influential FOMC members, might provide some impetus to the USD. The focus, however, will remain glued to FOMC meeting Minutes on Wednesday and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium, which will be looked for cues about the future rate-cut path. Apart from this, traders this week will confront the release of the flash global PMIs on Thursday, which might contribute to infusing volatility in the financial markets and providing some meaningful impetus to the USD/JPY pair. Meanwhile, the aforementioned mixed fundamental backdrop warrants some caution before positioning for a firm near-term direction. USD/JPY remains confined in familiar range; 148.00 holds the key for bulls The USD/JPY pair’s range-bound price action witnessed over the past two weeks or so might be categorized as a consolidation phase amid neutral technical indicators on the daily chart. Hence, it will be prudent to wait for an eventual break on either side before positioning for the next leg of a directional move. Meanwhile, a sustained strength and acceptance above the 148.00 mark would be seen as a key trigger for the USD/JPY bulls. This should pave the way for gains towards the 148.55-148.60 region, or the 50% retracement level of the downfall from the monthly high, en route to the 149.00 round-figure mark. On the flip side, any corrective slide could find decent support near the 147.10-147.00 area. A convincing break below could make the USD/JPY pair vulnerable to retest the multi-week low, around the 146.20 zone, touched last Thursday. A subsequent slide below the 146.00 mark might shift the bias in favor of bearish traders. Risk sentiment FAQs In the world of financial jargon the two widely used terms “risk-on” and “risk off” refer to the level of risk that investors are willing to stomach during the period referenced. In a “risk-on” market, investors are optimistic about the future and more willing to buy risky assets. In a “risk-off” market investors start to ‘play it safe’ because they are worried about the future, and therefore buy less risky assets that are more certain of bringing a return, even if it is relatively modest. Typically, during periods of “risk-on”, stock markets will rise, most commodities – except Gold – will also gain in value, since they benefit from a positive growth outlook. The currencies of nations that are heavy commodity exporters strengthen because of increased demand, and Cryptocurrencies rise. In a “risk-off” market, Bonds go up – especially major government Bonds – Gold shines, and safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and US Dollar all benefit. The Australian Dollar (AUD), the Canadian Dollar (CAD), the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) and minor FX like the Ruble (RUB) and the South African Rand (ZAR), all tend to rise in markets that are “risk-on”. This is because the economies of these currencies are heavily reliant on commodity exports for growth, and commodities tend to rise in price during risk-on

USD/CHF loses traction to around 0.8070 in Tuesday’s early European session. Hopes for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal might weigh on the Swiss Franc, a safe-haven currency.  Hot US wholesale prices last month dimmed the prospect of an oversized 50 bps Fed rate cut. The USD/CHF pair tumbles to near 0.8070 during the early European session on Tuesday. However, the potential downside for the pair might be limited amid optimism of a truce in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with US President Donald Trump planning a summit meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy very soon. Trump said on Monday that the United States (US) would help guarantee Ukraine’s security in any deal to end the war with Russia. The “Coalition of the Willing” of 30 nations reached an agreement to provide security assurances for Ukraine and coordinate actions with the US. Trump is planning a meeting between Zelenskiy and Putin after a conference with European leaders on Monday. Trump said he discussed the plan with Putin in a call during his negotiations with the European leaders. Optimism surrounding Russia-Ukraine talks could dampen the safe-haven demand and weigh on the Swiss Franc (CHF).  Nonetheless, a jump in US wholesale prices last month and a solid increase in July’s Retail Sales figures diminish the odds for a more aggressive policy easing by the Fed, which could underpin the Greenback in the near term. Fed fund futures traders are now pricing in an 83% possibility of a September Fed rate cut, after last week briefly fully pricing in a move, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Traders will take more cues from the Fed’s annual Jackson Hole conference later on Friday, as it might offer some insight about the US economic outlook and interest rate path. Any dovish remarks from Fed officials could drag the USD lower in the near term. Swiss Franc FAQs The Swiss Franc (CHF) is Switzerland’s official currency. It is among the top ten most traded currencies globally, reaching volumes that well exceed the size of the Swiss economy. Its value is determined by the broad market sentiment, the country’s economic health or action taken by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), among other factors. Between 2011 and 2015, the Swiss Franc was pegged to the Euro (EUR). The peg was abruptly removed, resulting in a more than 20% increase in the Franc’s value, causing a turmoil in markets. Even though the peg isn’t in force anymore, CHF fortunes tend to be highly correlated with the Euro ones due to the high dependency of the Swiss economy on the neighboring Eurozone. The Swiss Franc (CHF) is considered a safe-haven asset, or a currency that investors tend to buy in times of market stress. This is due to the perceived status of Switzerland in the world: a stable economy, a strong export sector, big central bank reserves or a longstanding political stance towards neutrality in global conflicts make the country’s currency a good choice for investors fleeing from risks. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen CHF value against other currencies that are seen as more risky to invest in. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) meets four times a year – once every quarter, less than other major central banks – to decide on monetary policy. The bank aims for an annual inflation rate of less than 2%. When inflation is above target or forecasted to be above target in the foreseeable future, the bank will attempt to tame price growth by raising its policy rate. Higher interest rates are generally positive for the Swiss Franc (CHF) as they lead to higher yields, making the country a more attractive place for investors. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken CHF. Macroeconomic data releases in Switzerland are key to assessing the state of the economy and can impact the Swiss Franc’s (CHF) valuation. The Swiss economy is broadly stable, but any sudden change in economic growth, inflation, current account or the central bank’s currency reserves have the potential to trigger moves in CHF. Generally, high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence are good for CHF. Conversely, if economic data points to weakening momentum, CHF is likely to depreciate. As a small and open economy, Switzerland is heavily dependent on the health of the neighboring Eurozone economies. The broader European Union is Switzerland’s main economic partner and a key political ally, so macroeconomic and monetary policy stability in the Eurozone is essential for Switzerland and, thus, for the Swiss Franc (CHF). With such dependency, some models suggest that the correlation between the fortunes of the Euro (EUR) and the CHF is more than 90%, or close to perfect. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this

EUR/JPY continues to lack significant momentum for a second day on Tuesday. The BoJ rate hike uncertainty and hopes for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal undermine the JPY. Reduced bets for an immediate ECB rate cut also offer support to the Euro and spot prices. The EUR/JPY cross extends its sideways consolidative price move for the second straight day and remains confined in a narrow band, above the 172.00 mark through the Asian session on Tuesday. The recent trade deal between the US and the European Union (EU) eased market concerns about the deflationary impact of tariffs. The stable economic outlook fueled speculations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will keep interest rates steady at least until December, which continues to offer support to the shared currency and the EUR/JPY cross. The Japanese Yen (JPY), on the other hand, continues with its relative underperformance in the wake of the uncertainty over the likely timing of the next interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BoJ). Apart from this, hopes for a deal to end the protracted Russia-Ukraine war contribute to the safe-haven JPY’s underperformance and act as a tailwind for the EUR/JPY cross. Meanwhile, the BoJ upwardly revised its inflation forecast at the end of the July meeting and left the door open for an imminent interest rate hike by the end of this year. This is holding back the JPY from placing aggressive bets and capping the EUR/JPY cross, making it prudent to wait for strong follow-through buying before positioning for additional gains. Traders now look forward to ECB President Christine Lagarde’s speech on Wednesday for some impetus, though the focus will remain glued to the release of the flash PMI prints on Thursday. In the meantime, the fundamental backdrop suggests that the EUR/JPY cross is likely to extend the range play in the absence of any relevant macro data on Tuesday. Euro FAQs The Euro is the currency for the 19 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%). The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde. Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money. Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy. Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Jose Rodriguez wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and build a career in the pest control industry, so it was a dream come true when his brother, Michael, teamed up with him to start Pest Brothers. Their strong bond set the tone for a thriving business focused on building lasting relationships with customers. “I don’t think there are a lot of options where you get to work with your best friend and your biggest cheerleader,” Michael says. “For me, that was really the most important thing.” Related: Two Industry Leaders Share Their Best Advice for Restaurant Owners – And Reveal the Exact Amount You Can Raise Prices Without Losing Customers It turns out, going into business with your best friend can be your key differentiator. The two exhibit excellent teamwork, which is reflected in their customer interactions and many five-star reviews — securing their spot on Yelp’s Top 100 Local Businesses of 2025. “[Customers] find us well-tempered, well-mannered,” Michael says. “And the reason for it is we’re enjoying what we do and who we do it with. I think that’s really the basis for it all. And then from there, good things come.” Joined by their brother-in-law, John, each member of the Pest Brothers brings something different to the table, including recruiting, marketing and industry experience. Old-school relationship-building was key to their early growth. The team sponsors golf tournaments for local schools and attends community events to not only create visibility for Pest Brothers but also to honor their roots. “We were sponsors at the golf tournament for [my son’s] high school, where we get a lot of leads,” Jose says. “We advertise wherever we can because those are the folks who have fed us when we weren’t necessarily getting to Yelp’s Top 100.” Related: This Is What the CEO of Kickstarter Wishes Aspiring Entrepreneurs Knew Still, the brothers knew there was more they could do to boost online visibility. They saw Yelp as an opportunity to attract more leads, and the investment paid off quickly. “We tried out the free trial [of Yelp Ads], and it was an absolute success — almost like we flipped a light switch, and [leads] tremendously started flowing in,” Michael says. They received such an influx of attention from homeowners that they decided to stop sending out snail mail advertisements, which can have a low success rate. “Whenever we receive a lead on Yelp, it’s about speed to lead,” Michael says. “The more quickly we can reach out, the more quickly we can get to that house, service it and win that lead.” Its Yelp presence does more than lead generation, however. It also builds trust and helps turn potential customers into loyal, long-term regulars. Especially in the pest control and home service industry, a new customer doesn’t always mean one job. Every new lead is a chance to create a recurring customer — and the opportunities are rolling in for Pest Brothers. “These are folks that if you do a good job, they’re gonna reward you for a long period of time,” Michael says. “In terms of the Yelp leads I saw on our dashboard, views on our page have increased by 576% over the past 30 days [since winning Yelp’s Top 100]. You talk about market awareness — that’s tremendous. That’s viral if I’ve ever seen it, so it’s been awesome for us.” Once you have your audience’s attention, Jose emphasized how important it is to set clear expectations, such as how long a treatment will take or when the customer will see results. It’s this type of transparency that builds credibility, prevents confusion and earns five-star reviews. When mistakes inevitably happen, the brothers acknowledge them with grace, reaching out personally to customers to make things right. “If somebody calls you, you can definitely rectify their issue as soon as you can,” Jose says. “That’s literally the whole point of being a small business, [being] able to do that.” Related: She Created the Dance Studio She Was Looking For. Now, It’s a Nationwide Brand. After building Pest Brothers from a two-man operation into one of the most trusted pest control companies in the Miami area, co-founders Michael and Jose share what’s helped them succeed in the competitive home service industry: Lead with trust. Customers extend trust when they let you into their homes and workplaces. Be reliable, show up when you say you will and treat every space with respect. Invest in relationships. Repeat customers and referrals are the lifeblood of a service business. Learn people’s names, remember their concerns and treat every job as an opportunity to strengthen the connection. Use tools to work smarter. From routing software to online reviews, technology can save time, improve efficiency and help you better serve customers. Leverage different platforms and tools to stay organized, respond faster and build your reputation. Stay adaptable. Every job is different. Be ready to adjust your approach and keep learning new methods to stay competitive and efficient. Build a reputation that lasts. Home services are about more than solving a specific problem. They’re about creating peace of mind. When people know you genuinely care about their home or business, they’ll trust you for years to come. Watch the episode above to hear directly from Michael and Jose Rodriguez, and subscribe to Behind the Review for more from new business owners and reviewers every Wednesday. Editorial contributions by Jiah Choe and Kristi Lindahl Ready to break through your revenue ceiling? Join us at Level Up, a conference for ambitious business leaders to unlock new growth opportunities. Read More

AI researchers are in high demand, with some offered billion-dollar compensation packages from Meta amid the ongoing AI talent wars. However, one AI pioneer, Jad Tarifi, who founded Google’s first generative AI team after obtaining a Ph.D. in AI, would not recommend higher study to break into the field. In a new interview with Business Insider, Tarifi, 42, predicted that within the five to seven years it takes to obtain a Ph.D., most of AI’s problems will be solved. “Even things like applying AI to robotics will be solved by then,” Tarifi told BI. Related: AI Is Going to ‘Replace Everybody’ in Several Fields, According to the ‘Godfather of AI.’ Here’s Who He Says Should Be ‘Terrified.’ Tarifi explained that obtaining a Ph.D. was only for “weird people” who were “obsessed” with a certain field because higher education required “a lot of pain” and at least five years of their lives. He recommended staying away from the Ph.D. route altogether or choosing to specialize in a subfield of AI that is still in its early stages, like AI for biology. Tarifi received a Ph.D. in 2012 from the University of Florida, where he worked on an AI theory that combined principles from neuroscience, geometry, and machine learning, according to his LinkedIn. He then joined Google, where he became a tech lead and manager for nearly a decade, working on models for Google’s generative AI projects. Tarifi is now the founder and CEO of Integral AI, a startup that focuses on creating AI agents to act autonomously on behalf of users. Related: These 3 Professions Are Most Likely to Vanish in the Next 20 Years Due to AI, According to a New Report In the BI interview, Tarifi also warned prospective students from completing degrees in law and medicine, arguing that the information in these programs was “outdated” and memorization-based. Tarifi isn’t the first person to warn students away from higher degrees. Venture capitalist Victor Lazarte said earlier this year that AI is “fully replacing people” in the legal profession. He predicted that AI would take over entry-level legal positions usually filled by recent law school graduates within the next three years. Join top CEOs, founders and operators at the Level Up conference to unlock strategies for scaling your business, boosting revenue and building sustainable success. Read More

There’s no age limit when it comes to achieving significant financial milestones, but many people envision checking them off their list by a certain point in their lives. Unfortunately, these days, amid high costs of living and economic uncertainty, most U.S. adults fall short of wealth-building goals: 77% say they aren’t completely financially secure, according to Bankrate’s Financial Freedom survey. How old should you really be to land that dream job, start saving for retirement, earn six figures or buy your first home? Related: Rewire Your Brain to Reach Money Goals With This Simple Exercise From a Former J.P. Morgan Retirement Executive New research from Empower set out to answer those questions and explore how Americans navigate money milestones today. Although just 17% believe people should hit financial milestones by a specific age, 44% are glad they achieved them when they did, per the report. On average, Americans think you should start saving for retirement at 27, land your dream job at 29, buy your first home at 30 and earn six figures by 35, according to the research. Respondents also reported hoping to be debt-free at 41 and to retire at 58. About half of Americans (45%) wish they’d saved money earlier and with more consistency in order to prepare for life’s big changes, the study found. Related: Make Your Money Manage Itself — How to Automate Your Personal Finances and Keep Your Goals on Track After planning for retirement and becoming a homeowner, Americans see several life events as significant wealth-building opportunities: investing in stocks (34%), investing in education (26%), changing career paths (21%), getting married (19%) and starting a business (19%). Nearly one-third of respondents said they realized the value of having a financial plan or working with a financial planner after meeting a life milestone. “For all ages, it’s important to talk to an advisor who can help create a tailored path specific to your financial goals and set you up for a realistic retirement lifestyle,” Stacey Black, lead financial educator at Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU), told Entrepreneur last year. Ready to break through your revenue ceiling? Join us at Level Up, a conference for ambitious business leaders to unlock new growth opportunities. Read More

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Small businesses are facing strong headwinds in today’s dynamic business environment. Technology is evolving faster than entrepreneurs can keep up with, market and consumer demands are constantly changing, and there seems to be a new economic or geopolitical disruption every week. Surviving in this landscape requires businesses to have robust strategies and systems in place while simultaneously remaining nimble. This pressure is exceedingly difficult to tackle as the business grows. To thrive in this volatile business landscape, a comprehensive and resilient strategy is absolutely essential. This involves establishing robust frameworks that allow your business to absorb shocks and swiftly recover from constant change. With technological advancements, particularly AI, businesses must proactively adapt their operations and integrate new tools to avoid being outpaced by agile competitors. Developing a strategy that ensures core functions remain stable under pressure while aligning with your personal and professional vision is paramount for long-term success. Related: Follow These 7 Business Strategies to Future-Proof Your Business 1. Audit and streamline operational processes The foundational step to future-proofing your business is to have a deep understanding of your business’s operational processes. The good news here is that for startup entrepreneurs, you were likely involved in their creation. The bad news is that it can be difficult to spot inefficiencies because of internal biases, which is why it’s important to engage other members of your team to participate in the process. Start by mapping out all of your critical business processes. Having clearly documented processes allows your business to function like a well-oiled machine. It ensures that everyone is on the same page and working together. As you go through this exercise, look for opportunities to improve tasks that are repetitive, time-consuming and prone to human error. By formalizing your processes, you are future-proofing from the standpoint of reducing dependency on the founder and ensuring critical operations aren’t reliant on a single person. 2. Leverage technology for automation Once you have clearly documented processes, you can strategically leverage technology, including AI, to automate repetitive tasks and drive efficiency. This entails developing a technology roadmap to identify gaps, research emerging solutions and plan seamless integration. It’s important to prioritize solutions that solve specific problems and integrate smoothly, such as AI-powered chatbots for customer interactions, predictive analytics for inventory and automation for administrative tasks. Thoughtful implementation can boost efficiency, minimize errors and free your team for strategic work. In addition, automation should generate actionable data, allowing your team to identify areas for continuous improvement and proactively spot future disruptions. Related: 90% of Your Business Could Be Automated With Just These 4 Tools 3. Build a culture of delegation While technology provides powerful tools, a business cannot truly scale if decisions and critical tasks consistently bottleneck with the business owner. This is why a pivotal step in future-proofing involves actively building a culture of delegation and empowerment within your team. As a business owner, it’s critical to start systematically delegating tasks and responsibilities by providing clear guidelines, comprehensive training and the necessary authority for team members to succeed independently. The ultimate goal is to foster an environment where employees are encouraged to take ownership, proactively solve problems and contribute ideas. From a future-proofing perspective, a strong, empowered team is fully capable of adapting and performing effectively even in your absence. 4. Develop a talent strategy Your team is your greatest asset. A solid future-proofing strategy involves more than just hiring. It means actively attracting, developing and retaining adaptable talent, skilled in new technologies. For your existing team, be sure to invest in ongoing training and skill development to ensure their capabilities keep pace with technological advancements and market demands. A skilled and adaptable workforce is essential for navigating change, implementing new strategies and embracing new tools. A proactive talent strategy ensures that your team is prepared to meet future demands and leverage emerging technologies effectively. 5. Foster a mindset of continuous innovation To truly future-proof your business, entrepreneurs should encourage a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation. You can do this by encouraging experimentation and allowing your team to make small mistakes and learn from failures. By building agility into your operational planning and decision-making, you are setting up the team to be nimble when unforeseen market challenges arise. Having a culture that embraces change and actively seeks new ideas will enable you to better identify and capitalize on future trends, rather than being overwhelmed. Related: The Power of Continuous Innovation — and 3 Easy Ways Your Company Can Achieve It There is a lot of uncertainty about the future. With rapid changes due to technology and other factors, it’s impossible to predict the resources, skills and strategies businesses will need to survive. It’s critical for every entrepreneur to take the time to carefully consider what they can do to strengthen the resilience of their businesses and position themselves to take advantage of new and emerging opportunities. Read More

In a blog post on Friday, Workday, a popular platform used for hiring and job applications, revealed it was the target of a breach that exposed personal information to hackers. The company said it was one of “many large organizations” targeted as part of a “social engineering campaign.” The company said “threat actors” accessed information “from a third-party CRM platform” that includes “commonly available business contact information, like names, email addresses, and phone numbers, potentially to further their social engineering scams.” Related: Instagram’s CEO Says He ‘Experienced a Sophisticated Phishing Attack’ With Google This Week In a social engineering scam, criminals contact company employees by text or phone, pretending to be from human resources, IT, or even the CEO. “Their goal is to trick employees into giving up account access or their personal information,” the company said. Workday counts more than 11,000 corporations as customers, with a reach of 70 million people globally, per its website. The company reminded customers in the blog post that, like your bank, it will never contact you by phone to request a password or any details. Related: Mark Cuban’s Google Account Was Hacked By ‘Sophisticated’ Bad Actors “We acted quickly to cut the access and have added extra safeguards to protect against similar incidents in the future,” Workday said in the statement. Although a connection has not yet been publicly announced, TechCrunch notes that in just the last few weeks, Google, Cisco, Quantas, and Pandora have announced breaches from their Salesforce databases. Join top CEOs, founders and operators at the Level Up conference to unlock strategies for scaling your business, boosting revenue and building sustainable success. Read More

The heavily scrutinized S&P Global China General Manufacturing PMI (formerly the Caixin Manufacturing PMI) dropped below the neutral 50 level to 49.4 in July (June: 50.4) as manufacturing output fell for just the second time since 2023. A fourth monthly contraction in new export orders and a weaker order book affected output across the sector. The effects of weakening external demand on the manufacturing sector are affecting the broader economy. Retail sales increased 3.7% year-on-year in July, down sharply from June’s 4.8% rise, despite Beijing’s efforts to boost domestic consumption. China’s housing sector woes continue to dent consumer sentiment. Yet, increased competition across the industrial sector is fueling cost pressures, forcing manufacturers to cut staffing levels or reduce wages to bolster profit margins. The net effect could be a further weakening in consumer sentiment and spending, challenging Beijing’s 5% GDP growth target. Stock Market Gains Mask Fragile Confidence Leading economist Hao Hong remarked on consumer sentiment trends and Beijing’s efforts to boost consumption, stating: “There’s no quick fix to boosting household confidence except for a stock market rebound. This is a topic that we economists have been discussing in the closed-door meetings in Beijing.” Wall Street Soars, China Waits for a Spark On Monday, August 18, Mainland China’s CSI 300 climbed to a 10-month high, while the Shanghai Composite Index struck a 10-year high. Despite reaching new 2025 highs, the CSI 300 and the Shanghai Composite Index continue to trade well below their all-time highs. In contrast, the Nasdaq Composite Index and the S&P 500 reached new record highs in August. US retail sales figures supported Hao Hong’s view on consumer sentiment and stock market trends. US retail sales rose 0.5% month-on-month in July after increasing 0.9% in June, reflecting robust demand. Economists Split on China’s Path Ahead However, a slowing economy may test demand for Mainland China-listed stocks, potentially leading to a reversal of year-to-date gains. Trade developments could be crucial since lower tariffs on Chinese goods may ease price pressures, bolster the labor market, and boost wages. Natixis Asia Pacific Chief Economist Alicia Garcia Herrero shared her views on China’s economic outlook, stating: “The economy’s outperformance in the first half makes the Chinese government’s 5% GDP growth target, which was set during the Two Sessions back in March, more realistic. More specifically, the third and fourth quarter will need an average GDP growth rate of 4.7%, which we believe is feasible under the current fiscal (and to a lesser extent monetary) stimuli.” However, Garcia Herrero also warned that the economic momentum from the first half of the year could wane, adding: “Without stronger and more lasting stimulus measures, particularly the ones targeting service consumption, sustaining the momentum from first half will be challenging.” Garcia Herrero concluded: “All in all, while the Chinese economy has a greater likelihood of meeting the government’s growth target, there are significant uncertainties down the road. Despite foreseeable headwinds from trade friction and persisting deflation, the government does have more bullets for further stimulus if needed. Therefore, we have revised our forecast of China’s GDP growth to 5% for 2025 and 4.5% for 2026.” Hang Seng Defies Gravity in 2025 Rally Despite economic uncertainty, Chinese and Hong Kong equities have posted strong gains in 2025: CSI 300: +4.02% in August, +7.74% YTD. Shanghai Composite: +4.33% in August, +11.23% YTD. Hang Seng Index: +25.51% YTD, outperforming both Mainland equity markets and the Nasdaq (+11.97% YTD). While trade developments will continue to dominate market sentiment, sentiment remains hinged to Beijing’s next stimulus measures. A delay, combined with weakening data, could derail the current rally. The Road Ahead: Stimulus or Stall? US-China trade updates and Beijing’s stimulus plans will continue to influence risk assets in the coming weeks. However, upcoming economic indicators will also require consideration. Next week, July’s industrial profit data and August’s private sector PMI will offer further clues on whether Beijing can weather the tariff headwinds. Ahead of next week’s data, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) will set the loan prime rates on August 20. Economists expect the PBoC to keep the one-year and five-year LPRs at 3% and 3.5%, respectively. Track our real-time updates on China trade policy and equity market trends, and consult our economic calendar. Read More