According to the alternative data platform Quiver Quantitative, replicating Nancy Pelosi's stock trades since May 2014 would have yielded returns exceeding 720%. Despite these impressive gains, Pelosi, the former House Speaker, faces ongoing criticism for alleged insider trading, with potential new trade ban rules for Congress members being considered. Speculation continues that Pelosi and other members of Congress benefit from insider knowledge about laws impacting stock prices. For instance, when the 2022 CHIPS Act offered subsidies for the semiconductor industry, Pelosi and her husband, Paul, sold 25,000 Nvidia shares at a loss but later purchased significant quantities of Nvidia call options, as reported by Unusual Whales.

In November 2023, Pelosi acquired 50 Nvidia call options with a strike price of $120 and an expiration date of December 2024, well before Nvidia's 10-for-1 stock split. Recent disclosures show that Pelosi bought 10,000 Nvidia shares and 20 Broadcom call options in June 2023, while selling 2,500 Tesla shares despite its strong recovery. Broadcom's 10-for-1 stock split and strategic moves, including collaborations with Google and Meta, underline its robust position in AI markets. Pelosi’s trades attract attention, yet she is one of many Congress members whose portfolios generate substantial returns, highlighting the complexities and potential benefits of monitoring congressional trades amid ongoing scrutiny and calls for stricter regulations. (Full story)

In a bid to support their country's war effort, scammers from Ukraine are using fake dating profiles to deceive Russian men into parting with substantial sums of money. Known as the Monetary Army, these scammers target Russian soldiers, police officers, and military students by posing as attractive women on popular Russian dating apps like Divinchik. The scammers lure victims into purchasing tickets for non-existent events, using cryptocurrencies for their untraceable nature. Once the payment is made, the scammers feign sympathy and suggest the men request a refund, a process managed through a fabricated customer support channel that further manipulates victims into making additional payments. Some victims have lost up to £19,000, with the funds allegedly supporting the Ukrainian army and scammers' salaries. This deceptive fundraising campaign highlights the desperate measures being taken amid escalating tensions, including recent drone attacks by both Russia and Ukraine. (Full story)

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Wall Street stocks surged at the start of trading on Monday, with the Dow and S&P 500 reaching new all-time highs, as investors reacted to the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump and its potential impact on his re-election chances. Analyst Patrick O'Hare noted a positive opening driven by speculation that the incident might boost Trump's odds against President Joe Biden, which could lead to lower corporate taxes. Strong performances by Goldman Sachs, which reported doubled profits of $2.9 billion, and Apple, whose shares hit a record high, also buoyed sentiment. Meanwhile, European stocks fell due to disappointing results in the luxury goods sector, with Burberry, Swatch, and Gucci owner Kering all experiencing significant declines amid concerns over China's economic growth and luxury market crisis. Major indices closed as follows: Dow up 0.6%, S&P 500 up 0.7%, Nasdaq Composite up 1.0%, while London, Paris, and Frankfurt markets closed lower. (Full story)

The unprecedented rental crisis in Toronto has reached alarming levels, with average rents soaring to $2,444 for a one-bedroom apartment and $3,199 for a two-bedroom apartment, prompting some landlords to exploit the housing shortage by offering highly questionable rental spaces. Disturbing listings include a $450 room where tenants must share a living room with no privacy and a $750 monthly charge for a wardrobe converted into a sleeping area. These exploitative practices, such as renting out shared living spaces and crammed wardrobes, highlight the desperate measures taken by landlords to profit from the crisis. These listings, which have gone viral on social media, illustrate the urgent need for policy interventions to address the severe lack of affordable housing in Toronto and beyond. (Full story)