⭐️ TikTok videos spread malware, steal user data – May 23, 2025

Microsoft CPO urges students: Keep studying coding

Author

Jack Roshi
May 23, 2025

Hi! It’s Jack and The Stock Insider team with the best, non-partisan daily newsletter related to politics, the US stock market, and business. 😇

The Podcast:

The Markets:

Fear & Greed Index: 66/100

🟢🟢🟢🟢🔴 The market is greedy.

Global Index Snapshot

Risk appetite is thin: U.S. benchmarks hover near unchanged, Europe sinks more than 2 %, and the VIX rockets higher—classic signs of rising caution.

  • ⚪ Dow Jones 41 859.09 (-1.35 | 0.00 %)

  • ⚪ S&P 500 5 842.01 (-2.60 | -0.04 %)

  • 🟢 Nasdaq 18 925.74 (+53.09 | +0.28 %)

  • ⚪ Russell 2000 2 045.56 (-1.00 | -0.05 %)

  • 🟢 VIX 24.64 (+4.36 | +21.50 %)

  • ⚪ S&P/TSX 25 854.01 (+14.84 | +0.06 %)

  • 🔴 Bovespa 137 273 (-609 | -0.44 %)

  • ⚪ S&P/BMV IPC 57 894.82 (+0.00 | 0.00 %)

  • 🔴 MSCI World 3 815.18 (-3.72 | -0.10 %)

  • 🔴 FTSE 100 8 651.28 (-87.98 | -1.01 %)

  • 🔴 DAX 23 432.03 (-576.24 | -2.40 %)

  • 🔴 CAC 40 7 652.45 (-211.99 | -2.70 %)

  • 🔴 Euro Stoxx 50 5 277.55 (-146.93 | -2.71 %)

Forex & Bonds

Dollar slips against the euro and pound while Treasury yields retreat across the curve; Bitcoin follows the broader risk-off tone lower.

  • 🟢 EUR/USD 1.1333 (+0.0055 | +0.48 %)

  • 🔴 USD/JPY 142.62 (-1.39 | -0.97 %)

  • 🟢 GBP/USD 1.3515 (+0.0097 | +0.72 %)

  • 🔴 BTC/USD 108 419.70 (-2 666.60 | -2.40 %)

  • 🔴 5-Yr Treasury Yield 4.028 (-0.085 | -2.07 %)

  • 🔴 10-Yr Treasury Yield 4.489 (-0.064 | -1.41 %)

  • 🔴 30-Yr Treasury Yield 5.03 (-0.035 | -0.69 %)

Major Stock Movers

Advance Auto Parts explodes higher on a turnaround plan, semis and megacaps post moderate gains, while Uber and Apple lag the pack.

  • 🟢 AAP +57.04 %

  • 🟢 TSM +2.31 %

  • 🟢 DECK +2.21 %

  • 🟢 TSLA +1.92 %

  • 🟢 GOOGL +1.37 %

  • 🟢 GOOG +1.13 %

  • 🟢 AMZN +0.98 %

  • 🟢 NVDA +0.78 %

  • 🟢 ADSK +0.71 %

  • 🟢 BAH +0.55 %

  • 🟢 MSFT +0.51 %

  • ⚪ VOO +0.05 %

  • 🔴 PEP -0.02 %

  • 🔴 JPM -0.14 %

  • 🔴 AAPL -0.36 %

  • 🔴 UBER -0.76 %

Interesting Stocks to Look at:

Most Interesting Events Today:

Friday’s calendar is short but sensitive: April New Home Sales at 10 a.m. ET, Baker Hughes rig counts after lunch, two Fed speeches (Gov. Lisa Cook at noon, Gov. Adriana Kugler at 5 p.m.), and the weekly H.8 bank-balance-sheet update at 4:15 p.m. ET. Earnings from Booz Allen, Frontline, and Buckle add single-stock catalysts. With Memorial Day closing U.S. markets on Monday, any surprise today can echo through thin liquidity.

Macroeconomic Data

  • 10 a.m. ET – April New Home Sales: Consensus around 695 k annualised (≈-4 % MoM). A miss would deepen housing-slowdown fears; a beat could lift cyclicals.

  • 1 p.m. ET – Baker Hughes Rig Counts: U.S. oil rigs near the high-470s. A flat or lower print reinforces supply-tightness and supports energy equities.

  • 4:15 p.m. ET – Fed H.8 Report: Watch for deposit flows and loan growth; regional-bank ETFs have reacted sharply to recent Friday prints.

Federal Reserve Speakers

  • Gov. Lisa Cook (noon, virtual Women in Macro Conference) – Topic: financial-stability risks; any balance-sheet runoff hints could move the front end.

  • Gov. Adriana Kugler (5 p.m., UC Berkeley commencement) – May touch on labor-market slack; thin after-hours liquidity could exaggerate rate moves.

Corporate Earnings (pre-market)

  • Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) – FY 25 results and FY 26 margin outlook; defense-IT backlog under the new House appropriations bill is the swing factor.

  • Frontline (FRO) – Q1 EPS $0.15; guidance hinges on Red-Sea reroutes and tanker-rate resets.

  • Buckle (BKE) – Q1 EPS $0.70; comp-store commentary offers a read-through on discretionary apparel demand.

Market Mechanics

  • Weekly options expirations for SPXW, SPY, QQQ, and active single names. Dealer gamma is lighter after last week’s monthly OPEX but can still amplify data shocks.

  • Liquidity note: Desks are flattening risk into the three-day weekend; no Treasury coupon supply today.

Energy & Geopolitics

  • OPEC+ delegates are discussing a 411 kb/d July output hike. Persistent chatter caps crude prices and weighs on the S&P energy sector.

  • Early headlines: tariff talk (25 % iPhone import levy proposal), Intuit’s post-earnings surge, Deckers’ slide—items that can sway the opening tone.

Sources

Most Impactful News Summaries:

TikTok videos spread malware, steal user data

Cybercriminals are using TikTok videos to spread Vidar and StealC malware, infecting users through ClickFix attacks. This allows the attackers to steal sensitive information.

The attackers use AI-generated videos that instruct users to run PowerShell commands, disguised as software activation steps, to download and install the malware. One video offering a Spotify "boost" has nearly 500,000 views.

This ClickFix tactic, where fake errors trick users into running malicious scripts, has been used before, and this is not the first time TikTok has been used to spread malware.

Microsoft CPO urges students: Keep studying coding

Microsoft's Chief Product Officer, Aparna Chennapragada, believes coding remains crucial in the AI era, despite potential shifts in software engineering roles. She encourages students to continue studying computer science.

Chennapragada anticipates software engineers may evolve into "software operators," managing AI-assisted coding, rather than disappearing. She emphasizes the importance of understanding computer science principles for this future role.

Chennapragada also suggests project managers will adapt, focusing on "taste-making and editing" as the volume of ideas and prototypes increases due to AI's impact.

Chinese cargo drone flies, carrying heavy load far

China's CH-YH1000 cargo drone completed its first flight, marking a significant advancement in unmanned aerial logistics. The drone successfully carried 2,200 pounds of cargo over a 1,000-mile test flight.

The maiden flight, conducted in Northwest China, validated the drone's performance and met all objectives. The CH-YH1000, designed for remote areas, features a twin-engine design and can operate from various terrains, including improvised airstrips.

This drone, capable of short takeoffs and landings, aims to improve supply chains in remote regions. It is designed to be a cost-effective alternative to traditional transport, potentially reducing delivery times and costs.

China uses more domestic gas, imports less LNG

China's LNG imports are declining this year due to increased domestic natural gas production and pipeline supplies, impacting regional prices.

Imports fell 20% in the first four months, reaching 20 million metric tons, as domestic production and pipeline imports rose. Mild weather and trade tensions also contributed to the slowdown, with Chinese firms reselling U.S. cargoes.

Despite the current downturn, industry experts anticipate long-term growth in China's gas demand, driven by industrial and power sectors, requiring increased LNG imports in the coming years.

China celebrates tariff truce, prepares for future rivalry

China views the recent US tariff truce as a victory, but is preparing for difficult trade negotiations and a long-term strategic rivalry with the United States. Beijing is signaling it won't make quick concessions.

Following the truce, China criticized the US for actions impacting its tech sector and maintained its stance on fentanyl. The 90-day agreement aims to reduce tariffs, but the US has yet to clarify its demands.

China is also working to boost domestic consumption and expand trade with other nations to offset potential losses from the US. Experts predict a long-term trend of reduced reliance between the two countries.

Dawn Aerospace sells Aurora spaceplane for suborbital flights

Dawn Aerospace has begun taking orders for its Aurora spaceplane, a reusable suborbital vehicle designed to carry small payloads. The company anticipates deliveries starting in 2027.

The Aurora spaceplane, capable of carrying six kilograms to 100 kilometers, will be sold to customers who will operate it, mirroring the commercial aviation model. The company estimates a per-flight price of $100,000.

The spaceplane, which can take off from a standard runway, is expected to offer about three minutes of microgravity. Dawn Aerospace aims to enable frequent flights, potentially twice in one day.

AI will enable a one-person, billion-dollar business by 2026

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicts the first billion-dollar business with only one human employee will launch in 2026, driven by advancements in AI.

Amodei's prediction stems from the capabilities of AI models like Anthropic's Claude Opus 4, which can perform tasks such as coding, reasoning, and research. These AI agents are designed to handle complex tasks autonomously, potentially enabling solo entrepreneurs.

This prediction is supported by Anthropic's CPO, Mike Krieger, who co-founded Instagram. He believes AI could have enabled him to build Instagram with a much smaller team, highlighting the potential for AI to revolutionize startups.

IonQ CEO's optimism boosted quantum computing stocks

Quantum computing stocks surged on Thursday, driven by optimistic comments from IonQ's CEO, Niccolo de Masi, about the company's future and the sector's potential.

IonQ's CEO compared his company to tech giants Nvidia and Broadcom, leading to double-digit percentage gains for Quantum Computing, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum. These companies saw their stocks rise by 15%, 24%, and 26% respectively.

Despite the excitement, all major quantum computing companies currently operate at a loss. The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, if passed, could provide crucial funding for the industry.

Tariff tensions will permanently change international trade

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated that international trade will be permanently altered due to ongoing tariff disputes, even as nations seek compromises.

Lagarde made the remarks during the Group of Seven finance officials meeting in Canada, where disagreements over US tariffs were downplayed in the final communique. She also noted further negotiations are expected to address global economic imbalances.

Lagarde also discussed the uncertain impact of tariffs on inflation, potentially leading to both inflationary and deflationary pressures. The ECB is expected to lower borrowing costs soon, with inflation nearing its 2% target.

Senate blocks California's gas car sales ban

The Senate voted to block California's plan to ban new gas-powered car sales by 2035, a move expected to be signed into law by President Trump. This action effectively halts the state's ambitious electric vehicle transition.

The Senate's decision, supported by Republicans, overturns California's emissions regulations, which have been followed by other states. Democrats and California officials plan to challenge the vote, arguing it is illegal and protects polluters.

The blocked rule would have significantly impacted the auto industry and the environment. The vote reflects a broader debate on states' rights and the role of the federal government in environmental policy.

Trump will boost nuclear power with executive orders

President Trump plans to sign executive orders as early as Friday to bolster the nuclear energy industry, aiming to streamline regulations and strengthen fuel supply chains.

These orders, spurred by rising energy demands from artificial intelligence, will invoke the Defense Production Act to address U.S. reliance on foreign nuclear fuel sources and direct agencies to expedite nuclear facility approvals. The administration will also encourage loan guarantees to support reactor construction.

The move comes as the U.S. seeks to regain its position in nuclear power, with industry leaders invited to the signing ceremony. The orders reflect a bipartisan interest in nuclear energy, despite the ongoing challenge of radioactive waste disposal.