🎯 Charleston Biz of the Week

Charleston Business of the Week: Daniel Island Dog Walking

Meet Peter and Asha, the husband-and-wife duo behind Daniel Island Dog Walking—a locally owned, licensed, and insured pet care service dedicated to providing love and attention to your furry friends when you can't be there.

Residents of Daniel Island since 2008, Peter, an artist and web designer, and Asha, an operating room nurse, started their pet care journey after facing challenges finding suitable care for their own dogs. Recognizing a need in their community, they established Daniel Island Dog Walking to offer reliable and personalized pet services.​

🌎 Markets in a Minute

• Markets Volatile

  • U.S. stocks reversed a major rally, with the S&P 500 $SPY ( ▲ 0.72% ), Dow $DIA ( ▲ 0.01% ), and Nasdaq $QQQ ( ▲ 1.12% ) all ending the week lower (Nasdaq -2.5%).

  • Tech and healthcare stocks drove the biggest moves.

• Key Corporate News

  • UnitedHealth $UNH ( ▼ 1.32% ) stock plunged on a profit warning, dragging the Dow.

  • Nvidia $NVDA ( ▲ 4.3% ) dropped sharply after a major export-related charge.

  • TSMC $TSM ( ▲ 0.56% ) and Eli Lilly $LLY ( ▲ 2.89% ) rallied on strong earnings and drug trial results.

  • Google $GOOGL ( ▲ 1.68% ) is an online ad monopoly, judge rules

• Trade Policy Turmoil

  • U.S. tariffs triggered global market sell-offs and brief rebounds after a partial suspension.

  • China retaliated, heightening uncertainty.

• Central Banks & Economy

  • ECB cut rates; Bank of Canada and Korea may follow.

  • U.S. and China released mixed economic data; IMF and OECD warned of global risks.

• Other Developments

  • Germany planned a major spending boost.

  • India reported sharp declines in extreme poverty.

  • European Central Banks cut interest rates -.25% on lower growth outlook and trade tensions

📈 Market Vitals

$DIA ( ▲ 0.01% ) _{Tracks 30 blue-chip stocks, showing industrial health.}

$SPY ( ▲ 0.72% ) _{Mirrors S&P 500, gauging broad market performance.}

$QQQ ( ▲ 1.12% ) _{Follows Nasdaq-100, reflecting tech and growth trends.}

$BTC.X ( ▲ 1.32% ) _{Indicates crypto sentiment and risk appetite.}

🎯 Brokerage Review: Kraken

tl;dr: Kraken is one of the most secure, U.S.-regulated crypto exchanges, offering 200+ assets, staking rewards, and professional trading tools. It’s ideal for investors seeking a safe, transparent platform with both beginner-friendly features and advanced options. Downsides include higher fees for instant buys and a slightly steeper learning curve for Pro users. Overall, a Ledger-approved choice for crypto-curious readers.

What is Kraken?

Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the longest-running cryptocurrency exchanges globally. Headquartered in the U.S., it has built a reputation for security, regulatory compliance, and a professional-grade trading experience — catering to both retail investors and institutional clients.

🆕 Kraken Adds U.S. Stock & ETF Trading

In a major move beyond crypto, Kraken has officially launched stock and ETF trading on its platform. This expansion allows U.S. users to trade traditional financial assets alongside their crypto holdings — all within the same secure, regulated interface.

Key details:

• U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs now available

• Accessible through the Kraken app and web platform

• Initial rollout is to eligible U.S. customers, with plans to expand

• Regulated under U.S. securities guidelines, maintaining the same focus on transparency and security that Kraken is known for in crypto markets

🎯 Lowcountry Money Guide: Health Savings Account (HSA)

tl;dr: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) let you stash pre-tax money, grow it tax-free through investments, and spend it tax-free on qualified medical expenses. It’s a triple tax-advantaged account. Use it now for healthcare—or treat it like a stealth retirement account by investing and saving receipts to reimburse yourself later. You must have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) to qualify.

Health Savings Accounts: A Comprehensive Guide to HSA Benefits and Strategy

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) represent one of the most tax-advantageous vehicles available to Americans today, offering unique benefits that extend beyond mere healthcare expense coverage. When properly integrated into your financial strategy, HSAs can serve as powerful tools for both healthcare funding and long-term wealth accumulation. The following analysis explores the fundamental aspects of HSAs, their tax advantages, and strategic approaches for incorporating them into your broader financial portfolio.

🔥 Clickworthy

• Kraken: Kraken Crypto Exchange expands into U.S. stock trading

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• Nvida $NVDA ( ▲ 4.3% ): Nvida annouced their Blackwell chip will be manufactured in the U.S. for the first time

• Hertz $HTZ ( ▼ 4.05% ): Hertz shares jump after Billionaire Bill Ackman discloses stake

• American Psycho: American Psycho director doesn’t understand why ‘finance bros’ idolize character Patrick Bateman

• Stablecoins: Stablecoin transaction volume has surpassed Visa’s $V ( ▼ 0.16% ) payment volume