Gold is hitting record highs. But this new rally is bucking long held trends for the commodity, and bringing in a new class of investors. Typically, gold prices peak in periods of economic weakness and recessions; but by most measures, the U.S. economy is doing pretty well. 

WSJ breaks down the factors driving gold’s historic rise, and what makes it different from previous rallies.

Chapters: 
0:00 Gold’s rally
0:48 What’s driving gold’s rally
3:51 What makes this different?
5:04 What this means for investors

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#Gold #Investing #WSJ

Why Gold Is Seeing Record High Demand Right Now | WSJ

When guests stay at a hotel chain like Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt, these companies don’t typically own the property. They may not even run it. So what is happening in the hotel industry and what benefits are smaller companies receiving from these “flags” in the industry?

WSJ explains why hotel companies like Marriott and Hilton actually own less than 1% of their properties and why hotel owners like MCR Hotels choose to fly a flag or go independent. 

Chapters:
0:00 The hotel industry
1:30 Franchise model
2:47 Pricing hotel rooms
4:28 Loyalty programs
5:25 Independent hotels and branding

The Economics Of
How do the world's most successful companies generate revenue? In this explainer series, we'll dive into the surprising stories behind how businesses work--exploring everything from Costco's "treasure-hunt" model to the economics behind Amazon's AWS.

Hyatt is smaller than its hotel chain competitors. So how did it get to be the most expensive? Watch the Economics of Hyatt: https://on.wsj.com/3PLS0T6

How did Marriott become the largest hotel chain, with over 30 brands? Marriott’s CFO explains why this is just the beginning for the hospitality giant: https://on.wsj.com/4aFZFds

#Travel #Hotels #WSJ

Why Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt Don’t Actually Own Most of Their Hotels  | WSJ The Economics Of

Since WWII, the U.S. has provided more foreign aid to Israel than any other country, giving about $3.8 billion a year in economic and military aid. Given disagreement over the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza, the future of this arrangement is now uncertain. Could vocal calls for pausing aid, mainly from the left wing of the Democratic Party like Sen Bernie Sanders, lead to a rejection of Biden’s security assistance package?

WSJ explores why Israel still receives so much aid from the U.S. and examines the current fight over conditional aid. 

Chapters:
0:00 U.S. aid to Israel after Oct. 7
0:51 Current fight over conditional aid
2:32 Historical context
5:16 State of U.S. aid to Israel today

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#Israel #Congress #WSJ

Why Does the U.S. Support and Fund Israel So Much? | WSJ

Soft landing the U.S. economy is like an economic nirvana. Inflation is low and the job market is strong, but soft landings don’t happen often. The Federal Reserve’s goal is to bring inflation down to its target rate of 2% without triggering a negative reaction like a recession or raising the unemployment rate. 

WSJ’s Nick Timiraos explains why soft landings don’t happen often and how the Federal Reserve is trying to make one happen.

0:00 Is a soft landing coming?
0:26 Soft landing, explained
1:50 History of soft landings
2:46 What could go wrong
3:25 What’s next for the economy?

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#Inflation #Economy #WSJ

Why Soft Landing the Economy Is So Rare | WSJ

U.S. nuclear power plants got about 24% of their enriched uranium from Russia in 2022. Nuclear energy is staging a comeback as demand continues to rise to meet clean energy goals, but the U.S. currently lacks sufficient capacity to turn raw uranium into nuclear fuel.

WSJ takes a look at how the U.S. is reviving domestic production of nuclear fuel to lessen its dependence on Moscow.

0:00 Nuclear power
0:36 Uranium supply chain, explained
1:52 How the U.S. is ramping up domestic capacity 
4:14  Why Russia dominates
4:50 Funding 

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#Nuclear #Russia #WSJ

Why the U.S. Buys So Much Nuclear Fuel From Russia | WSJ

At Hyundai’s EV plant in Singapore, robotic arms, AI and robot dogs are some of the new features used to assemble cars in specialized cells. It’s a new automaking method taking place in smaller, more flexible microfactories instead of traditional production lines. But is the future of car manufacturing leaning towards more automation?

WSJ explains how microfactories could change the way cars are made and what that means for the future of automaking.

0:00 Singapore’s new EV factory
1:00 Microfactories vs. traditional factories 
3:10 How microfactories affect labor
4:31 Are microfactories the future?

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#Cars #Manufacturing #WSJ

How Microfactories Could Revolutionize Car Manufacturing | WSJ

What are some of the strategies of the most successful businesses around the world? Why does Trader Joe’s offer a limited range of items? How does T.J. Maxx thrive in recessions?

From Primark and Barnes & Noble, to Domino’s and Chipotle, WSJ talked to CEOs and business leaders about their unique approach leading these major brands.

Chapters:
0:00 Trader Joe’s
4:54 Primark
12:00 Spirit Halloween
17:52 Chipotle 
25:01 T.J. Maxx
30:42 Used Rolexes
37:20 Nintendo 
42:31 Barnes & Noble 
48:24 Lego
54:14 Domino’s 

The Economics Of
How do the world's most successful companies generate revenue? In this explainer series, we'll dive into the surprising stories behind how businesses work--exploring everything from Costco's "treasure-hunt" model to the economics behind Amazon's AWS.

#TraderJoes #Chipotle #WSJ

The Business Strategies Behind Trader Joe’s, Primark, Chipotle and More | WSJ The Economics Of

Shein says it’s able to make affordable apparel by monitoring user behavior to predict customer demand and producing items in small quantities. The Chinese e-commerce company known for its $5 T-shirts and $20 cocktail dresses controls 40% of the fast-fashion market share in the U.S., with an estimated $8 billion in sales in the country last year. Shein’s inventory turnover rate is twice as fast as other competitor retailers such as H&M and Zara.

WSJ explains how Shein has dominated the global fast-fashion market as it remains one of the least transparent fast fashion companies in the world.

0:00 Shein’s fast-fashion domination 
1:02 Small batches and Shein’s online tech
2:24 Vast manufacturing network
4:26 Allegations of poor labor conditions
6:08 De minimis tax loophole
6:46 How Shein is managing its image

The Economics Of
How do the world's most successful companies generate revenue? In this explainer series, we'll dive into the surprising stories behind how businesses work--exploring everything from Costco's "treasure-hunt" model to the economics behind Amazon's AWS.

#Shein #Fashion #WSJ

How Shein Sells Clothes So Cheaply | WSJ The Economics Of

Qatar has become a main negotiator for the release of Israeli and non-Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The tiny Emirate has led mediation efforts in Afghanistan, Iran and Ukraine in recent years. From helping the U.S. evacuate 58,000 people after the Taliban takeover in 2021 to brokering a prisoner swap deal between the U.S. and Iran, Qatar has been involved. 

WSJ’s Shelby Holliday explains how the Gulf nation became a diplomatic powerbroker.
 
0:00 Qatar negotiating release of hostages
0:37 Qatar’s influence
1:47 Qatar’s diplomatic track record
3:16 Qatar’s troubled relationships
3:56 What’s next?

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#Qatar #Hamas #WSJ

How Qatar Became the World’s Lead Hostage Negotiator | WSJ

Egypt is building a new $58 billion administrative capital from the ground up. But what began as a ploy to decongest Cairo’s traffic, has quickly racked up criticism over a growing budget and questions about who this new city benefits. 

Sitting over 20 miles east of Cairo, the new capital plans to include a miles-long central park, a main business district with a Chinese-built tower and a massive new headquarters for the Egyptian Ministry of Defense, known as the Octagon. But how many people can afford to live in this city designed for 6 million people?

WSJ looks at what this new desert city reveals about Egypt’s plans for the future and looks at the debt it’s racking up to get there. 

0:00 Egypt’s new capital
1:02 The goal behind the new capital 
3:47 The challenges for the government
4:55 The challenges for the people 
6:06 Geopolitics
6:57 What’s next?

#Egypt #Megaprojects #WSJ

Why Egypt Can’t Afford Its $58B New Capital City | WSJ Breaking Ground

OpenAI's Sam Altman and Mira Murati discuss the capabilities of their future GPT models, how human relationships with AI will change in the future and fears about safety, liability and work as the technology advances. 

#OpenAI #ChatGPT #WSJ

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and CTO Mira Murati on the Future of AI and ChatGPT | WSJ Tech Live 2023

More than 1,100 people have died after the Hamas militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel over the weekend. Iranian officials helped Hamas plan the attack, giving a green-light to the assault at a meeting in Beirut on Monday, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah. 

Photo: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

#israel #palestine #wsj

Iran Supported Hamas in Attack Against Israel | WSJ

San Francisco's downtown suffered an exodus of workers and businesses during the pandemic. These closures followed the disappearance or scaling back of some of the city’s most prominent corporate tenants like Facebook and Salesforce.  

But recently there have been small signs of a turnaround. With the AI boom hitting the Golden Gate City and new government policies helping streamline the permitting process for new businesses, San Francisco’s economy could be making a turn.

WSJ explores whether these new city policies and fresh commercial interest can return San Francisco’s downtown to its former glory.

0:00 Exodus of workers and businesses
1:14 Vacant office space
2:27 AI boom in San Francisco 
4:04 Local business owner
5:31 Revitalizing downtown San Francisco

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#SanFrancisco #AI #WSJ

The Rise, Fall and Possible Rise Again of San Francisco’s Downtown | WSJ

The U.S. and China are two of the world’s biggest cotton producers. In 2021, President Biden signed a law banning many cotton imports from China out of concerns that most of the crop is grown and harvested by forced labor in Xinjiang. But industry experts say much of that cotton is still entering the U.S. as the chemical component and DNA of the cotton is being tested to validate supply chains.

WSJ explains how the U.S.’s effort to stamp out forced labor has affected the cotton market and unpacks the complexity of the supply chain to explain why the U.S. is struggling so hard to compete against Beijing. 

0:00 The cotton situation
1:21 Cotton processing
2:42 Finished goods
4:31 Verification
7:12 What’s next?

U.S. vs. China
This original video series explores the rivalry between the two superpowers’ competing efforts to develop the technologies that are reshaping our world.

#Cotton #China #WSJ

How Banning Most Chinese Cotton Has Shifted Global Supply Chains | WSJ U.S. vs. China

China is now the world’s largest auto exporter with Russia becoming its biggest buyer this year. The Ukraine War and Western sanctions on Russia opened business opportunities for Chinese automakers to move into Russian factories. But what are some of the risks facing Chinese carmakers as a result of working in Russia?

WSJ explains how Chinese car brands profited from Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions and what it means for Russia’s automobile market. 

0:00 International sanctions
0:50 Russia’s automobile market
1:48 China capitalizes on sanctions 
2:56 Risks for China’s carmakers

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#China #Russia #WSJ

China Is Now the World’s Top Car Exporter: How the Russia-Ukraine War Helped | WSJ

To keep up with Elon Musk’s Starlink and the U.S., China plans to launch thousands of broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. Of the roughly 8,000 functioning satellites in orbit, about 55% belong to SpaceX’s Starlink. China is making strides as more satellite companies like SatNet are getting more funding and making advancements.

WSJ explores how broadband satellites work and whether China can secure its spot in a crowded stretch of space.

0:00 China building its capabilities
1:03 How broadband satellites work
2:46 China’s space sector
4:55 Global expansion of satellite broadband
6:32 Overcrowding in low-Earth orbit

U.S. vs. China
This original video series explores the rivalry between the two superpowers’ competing efforts to develop the technologies that are reshaping our world.

#SpaceX #China #WSJ

China, Elon Musk and the Space Race to Launch Thousands of Satellites | WSJ U.S. vs. China

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, is among the most powerful names in the banking industry. How did he come to acquire banks like First Republic Bank, Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual?

WSJ explains how Dimon’s risk management strategy, including his ‘fortress balance sheet,’ propelled him to the top of the largest U.S. bank, and how he has used that role to become the go-to voice for the banking world.

0:00 Dimon’s bank owns roughly 13% of the nation’s deposits
0:38 Dimon’s history and banking strategy
2:06 JPMorgan Chase’s size
4:44 Dimon’s influence on the banking industry
6:20 Dimon’s future

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#Chase #Investing #WSJ

How Jamie Dimon Built Chase Into the U.S.’s Most Powerful Bank | WSJ

Digital wallets like Apple Pay are continuing to grow in popularity. Banks are worried they’re losing ground to tech companies eager to gain market share in consumer payments.

One of traditional finance’s biggest threats is Apple. Here’s how big banks are fighting back.

0:00 How digital wallets like Apple Pay work
0:43 How banks are competing against Apple Pay
3:45 Can banks succeed in creating their own digital wallets?

News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.

#ApplePay #DigitalWallet #WSJ

Apple vs. Banks: The Digital-Wallet War, Explained | WSJ

Drug pricing is complicated and secretive. WSJ explains how the flow of money, drugs and rebates behind the scenes may drive up the price of prescription medicine for consumers. Illustration: Mallory Brangan

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