Take a hike, tech – The volatility surrounding tariffs, especially their impact on heavily globalized tech companies, held large-cap growth stocks back in 2025. Large-cap value stocks, on the other hand, experienced one of their best quarters since 1979. (Source: Morningstar, as represented by the Russell 1000 Value Index and Russell 1000 Growth Index, as of 3/31/25).

Fall fast, fly fast – Shares of Apple hit a low for the year on 4/8 due to tariff concerns, since most of their devices are assembled overseas. But once the tariff exemption for tech was announced on 4/11, the company regained $520 billion in market value in just six days—more than the total valuation of Mastercard, the world’s 18th-most valuable company. (Source: Forbes, as of 4/14/25)

Boom or gloom? – Home equity in the US has skyrocketed 80% since 2020 (from $19.5 trillion to $35 trillion), nearly double the increase in financial wealth from stocks and bonds as of the end of 2024. However, higher home values means higher taxes, and the threat of capital-gains taxes, high mortgage rates, and high home prices has forced many homeowners to stay put rather than cash in on their increased equity. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

Keep calm and … wait a minute – Unemployment claims in Britain jumped the most in March since 2020. Consumer confidence remains flat in the UK, which is impacting hiring: Nervous consumers make it more difficult for businesses to pass on higher wages and other costs, so companies have been laying off staff and are cautious about hiring. (Source: Reuters)

It ain't much, and it ain't honest work, either – As the May 7 enforcement deadline approaches for Americans to switch to RealID, scalpers in Miami were misusing the county's online-appointment booking site and reselling time slots. While questionable to the extreme, there's not currently a way to punish the time scalpers because it's not actually illegal (yet). (Source: The New York Times)

Unexpected expenses – Beyond increasing new-car prices, insurance and repairs on existing cars will likely get more expensive with the tariffs on the auto industry: Parts will be more expensive and harder to source as manufacturers get more cost-conscious, which means insurance companies will need to raise prices to cover repairs. Car-insurance costs have already risen 53% in the last three years, one of the worst areas of inflation. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

Results that won’t knock your socks off – Due to a process known as vasodilation, which is heat loss from cooling blood vessels in extremities, wearing socks and keeping your feet warm at night may be the trick to better sleep. Warmer feet can improve blood circulation and, in turn, lower your core body temperature, resulting in more comfortable sleep. (Source: CNN)

Bless her soul – The Philadelphia Zoo welcomed four Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise hatchlings to the oldest first-time mom of her species, 97-year old Mommy, and 96-year-old Abrazzo. The pair are the oldest residents of the zoo. This tortoise species is critically endangered and part of a species survival plan, and this is the first clutch of zoo-born hatchlings since 2019. (Source: The Philadelphia Zoo)

What a wonderful world we just left – Six women, a mix of celebrities and scientists, briefly visited space on the first all-female space flight since 1963. The flight lasted just over 10 minutes and was the 11th spaceflight for Blue Origin, which has taken 58 individuals into space since launching its New Shepard vehicle in 2021. (Source: NPR)

Hope he likes wearing green – After more than a decade since his last major win, golfer Rory McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam by winning the 2025 Masters. He defeated Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff on 4/13 to become only the sixth golfer to win all four major golf championships (The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and British Open). (Source: ESPN)