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    Tom Lee’s Granny Shots ETF rakes in $2 billion in AUM just 9 months after inception

    Tom Lee, managing partner and the head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, speaks on CNBC’s “The Exchange” on Oct. 31, 2023.
    Adam Jeffery | CNBC

    An ETF driven by Tom Lee, an unabashed bull on Wall Street with a big online fandom, just hit another milestone.
    His first exchange-traded fund Fundstrat Granny Shots US Large Cap ETF (GRNY) has surpassed $2 billion in assets under management in less than nine months since its inception in November.

    It marks a rare success story in an industry where raising just 10% of that level can take years.
    GRNY, an actively managed ETF, invests in around 35 high-quality stocks in the S&P 500. The fund, with top holdings such as Robinhood and Oracle, is up more than 18% year to date, outperforming the S&P 500 by over 9 percentage points.
    The Fundstrat co-founder and former JPMorgan strategist gained a huge online following by making bold calls on the market and communicating with investors frequently and timely.
    “We want to make investing in our ETF understandable and transparent,” Lee said in a statement.
    “Granny shot” is a reference to shooting a basketball underhand at the free throw line where the player releases the ball from below the waist. For Fundstrat, it means identifying stocks that fall under multiple key investment themes over the next five to 10 years. Those themes include energy and cyber security, an AI-category called global labor suppliers, and the impact of millennials.

    The Granny Shots fund has an expense ratio of 0.75%.
    Disclosure: Tom Lee is a CNBC contributor. More

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    NFL employee seriously injured in shooting at NYC headquarters

    NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told NFL employees that one league employee has been seriously injured in a shooting Monday.
    He said everyone else at the NYC headquarters has been accounted for.
    The shooting, which was first reported at 6:30 p.m. Monday, was at 345 Park Avenue in New York, where several major businesses — including Blackstone, KPMG and the NFL — are located.

    NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told employees in an email early Tuesday morning that one of the league’s employees was seriously injured in a Monday shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office tower.
    “A gunman committed an unspeakable act of violence in our building at 345 Park Avenue,” Goodell said. “The employee is in stable condition and NFL staff are at the hospital supporting his family.”

    The commissioner said the NFL believes all other employees are safe and accounted for.
    The shooting, which was first reported at 6:30 p.m. Monday, was at 345 Park Avenue in New York, where several major businesses — including Blackstone, KPMG and the NFL — are located.
    Police said 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura drove from Las Vegas to New York and opened fire at the building, killing four people, including New York police officer Didarul Islam. The suspect also died, according to police. Tamura worked in the surveillance department at Horseshoe Las Vegas, Caesars said.
    Blackstone said one of its employees, Wesley LePatner, was killed in the shooting.

    An NYPD officer and at least four civilians were killed in a shooting at an office skyscraper, home to the NFL, Blackstone and KPMG, in midtown Manhattan on Monday evening on July 28, 2025.
    Selcuk Acar | Anadolu | Getty Images

    In a press conference on Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said a preliminary investigation indicated Tamura intended to go to NFL offices but took the wrong elevator bank.

    Adams said authorities found a note the gunman left that might have suggested a grievance against the NFL over a claim that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
    CTE is a brain injury thought to be linked to repeated trauma to the head.
    Tamura played high school football in California but never played in the NFL, Adams said.
    Goodell told New York employees that they should work remotely on Tuesday and that he will be increasing security at the building in the days and weeks to come.
    He also directed employees to grief counselors and support options.
    “Every one of you is a valued member of the NFL family. We will get through this together,” Goodell said.
    If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
    Correction: This story has been updated to correct a time reference to when Tamura played high school football. More

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    JPMorgan Chase is nearing a deal to replace Goldman Sachs as Apple Card issuer, sources say

    JPMorgan Chase is nearing a deal to take over the Apple Card portfolio from Goldman Sachs, people familiar with the matter told CNBC.
    Earlier contenders for the card including American Express, Synchrony and Barclays have fallen to the side, said the people.
    A deal for JPMorgan to take over the Apple Card and its huge book of loans would further burnish the bank’s reputation as a leader in American finance.

    Source: Apple

    JPMorgan Chase, already the largest credit card issuer in the U.S., is nearing a deal to take over the Apple Card portfolio from Goldman Sachs, people familiar with the matter told CNBC.
    The banks declined to comment to CNBC. Apple did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

    Negotiations between JPMorgan and Apple have progressed as earlier contenders for the card including American Express, Synchrony and Barclays have fallen to the side, said the people, who declined to be identified speaking about the agreement.
    A deal for JPMorgan to take over the Apple Card and its huge book of loans would further burnish the bank’s reputation as a leader in American finance. With JPMorgan-branded and co-branded cards, the Jamie Dimon-led company is the country’s largest issuer by purchase volume.
    For Goldman, offloading the Apple Card business would help it move past a rocky chapter for CEO David Solomon. Goldman entered the credit card business with great fanfare in 2019 by beating out other issuers for the Apple Card.
    But the high growth rates of the card, coupled with accounting requirements that forced it to front-load reserves for future losses, caught Goldman flat footed. Solomon, who was facing pressure from partners unhappy about the consumer business, made the call to divest the card business partly out of concern that loan losses would rise in a recession, according to one of the sources.
    Goldman had $20.5 billion in total credit card loans at the end of March. The bank is also in the process of moving its General Motors card business to Barclays.

    For Apple, JPMorgan would bring stability after years marked by high growth, but also regulatory scrutiny over how Goldman handled billing and refunds in the business. Goldman had signed up to service the card through at least 2029.
    JPMorgan is seen as more disciplined than Goldman was in that it will only sign an agreement if concessions are made over how the Apple Card is serviced, among other sticking points, one of the people familiar with the discussions said.
    The Wall Street Journal earlier reported on the advanced card talks.

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    Real estate developers say affordable housing could soon become more profitable

    Housing developers have said it’s too expensive to put up quality, low-income apartments. 
    They cite rising costs for land, materials and labor, a well as increasingly restrictive zoning regulations. So-called NIMBYism (an acronym for “not in my backyard”), is also on the rise.
    Jonathan Rose, founder and CEO of the Jonathan Rose Companies, said there’s support for affordable housing and relief may be on the way.

    A version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Property Play newsletter with Diana Olick. Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family offices, institutional investors and large public companies. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.
    Whether it’s in the for-sale or rental market, the affordable housing crisis is only getting worse. There is simply not enough supply, especially in the apartment market, where developers have said it’s just too expensive to put up quality, low-income housing. 

    They cite rising costs for land, materials and labor, as well as increasingly restrictive zoning regulations. So-called NIMBYism (an acronym for “not in my backyard”), is also on the rise, with residents fighting affordable housing in their neighborhoods, where home values have soared in the past five years. 
    “This is a tough time, I think. All of real estate is being challenged by higher interest rates and by higher construction costs, and, by the way, the building department requirements and all the frictions that are making real estate difficult,” said Jonathan Rose, founder and CEO of the Jonathan Rose Companies, a real estate planning, development and investment firm. 
    “But there’s also a lot of support, and our job is to weave the pathway in between the complexities, the challenges and the opportunities and find the pathway through,” he said.

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    Developers like Rose just got some more of that support from the recently passed tax and spending bill. It expanded the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, by increasing the amount of credits available and lowering the financing requirements. Specifically, the legislation permanently increased the 9% credit allocation to states by 12%. Developers sell these credits to investors in order to help finance their projects. 
    “It’s a big boost for the creation of more affordable housing. In fact, the United States has a shortage of about 10 million units. This won’t solve the whole 10 million unit problem, but it’ll be a big help,” said Rose, adding that he sees a growing opportunity for investors in the space.

    Affordable housing advocates applauded the bill’s passage, saying that the LIHTC remains the nation’s most effective tool for building and preserving affordable rental housing.
    “This legislation delivers a significant expansion of the credit by incorporating key elements of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, aimed at boosting the supply of rental homes across urban, rural and tribal communities,” said David Dworkin, president and CEO of the National Housing Conference, in a release.
    Dworkin pointed both to the expansion of the credit as well as changes to another tax credit for developers that would make it easier to qualify for the benefit. 
    “Together, these changes are expected to produce or preserve more than 1 million additional affordable rental homes between 2026 and 2035,” Dworkin said.

    Jonathan Rose Company mixed-income development in Harlem, Sendero Verde. Developed with L+M and the Acacia Network.
    Courtesy: Dreamscape Aerials

    There does appear to be strong investor demand in the affordable space, both in new development and renovation. The Jonathan Rose Company recently closed a $660 million impact fund, “dedicated to acquiring, preserving, and enhancing affordable and mixed-income multifamily housing in high-demand urban markets across the United States,” according to a release.
    Rose said he is seeing increased interest in housing-related investments from family offices and foundations.
    There is, however, a new wrench in the works. The Trump administration has proposed a $27 billion cut in federal rental assistance programs for low-income tenants. That is reportedly already causing some lenders to pull back.
    The cut would need to be approved by Congress, and Rose notes that the House has had longstanding bipartisan support for funding affordable housing. 
    To his point, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs announced Friday it is moving forward on new bipartisan legislation to expand housing supply and address affordability. The package includes removing regulatory barriers to housing development and providing funds for communities that are building more housing that can be used for water and sewer infrastructure. The legislation, however, is aimed more at making for-sale housing more affordable and less at helping build more low-income rental housing. 
    And even still, the new tax incentives for rentals won’t help NIMBYism, which appears to be rising right along with home values. Even mixed-use buildings, which have a small percentage of units designated as affordable, are seeing pushback from neighbors concerned that any such housing will damage current and future home values.
    Even before its expansion, the LIHTC gave developers incentives for more mixed-income buildings, with certain units designated for affordable housing and others at higher price points. Rose said this type of higher-quality, better designed, greener developments benefit owners in the long run by lowering operating and capital costs.
    “One of the reasons why communities oppose affordable housing is because a lot of affordable housing – it was built in the ’60s, ’70s and early ’80s – was cheap and ugly, and I wouldn’t want it in my neighborhood either,” said Rose. “We’re deeply committed to creating beautiful buildings.” More

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    A fresh retail-trading frenzy is reshaping financial markets

    Investors love an acronym. In recent months they have embraced the TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) trade. They once swooned over the FAANG stocks (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google). During Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis of the 2010s traders fretted over the PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain). A good memory for initials takes a financial historian a long way. More

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    Walmart, MLS ink partnership to capitalize on growing U.S. soccer fandom

    Walmart and Major League Soccer entered into a multiyear partnership that will see the retailer invest in U.S. soccer.
    The partnership will include dedicated programming around televised MLS matches on Saturdays, the launch of a creator network and a curated soccer shopping experience, among other ties between the league and retailer.
    The partnership comes ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in North America and is expected to increase soccer fandom in the U.S.

    Fans of Nashville SC cheer for their team prior to the match at GEODIS Park on February 25, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. 
    Johnnie Izquierdo | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images

    Walmart and Major League Soccer are teaming up in a multiyear partnership that will see the retailer establish a bigger foothold in the sport and its growing U.S. fanbase.
    Walmart will invest in MLS and become an official sponsor and partner of the league. Terms and the exact length of the partnership weren’t disclosed.

    The partnership kicks off with the Leagues Cup, a tournament that begins Tuesday and culminates in a final match on Aug. 31. It features 18 MLS clubs competing against 18 teams from Mexico’s Liga MX.
    “Walmart will be front and center for the highly anticipated tournament,” said William White, Walmart’s chief marketing officer.
    During the tournament and beyond, Walmart advertising will be featured across stadiums and other aspects of games, and soccer will be highlighted in its in-store and online shopping experiences.
    The tie-up comes at a pivotal moment for U.S. soccer as fans look ahead to the 2026 World Cup, which takes place next summer in North America and is expected to drum up new U.S. fans for the global sport. MLS is looking to capitalize on the fervor, just as its various sponsors are looking to do the same.
    “The lead-up to 2026 is a once-in-a-generational moment for soccer in North America. But for MLS, we’ve got to take a step back and think about the 30 years we’ve spent investing in communities across North America to really build sustained energy around the sport that’s going to last well beyond the summer’s event,” said Carter Ladd, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at MLS. “I think we’re going to see that momentum between now and next summer where the World Cup is really going to help prop up this partnership.”

    MLS sponsorship revenue was up double digits compared with 2024 as of early May, CNBC reported earlier this year. Major consumer brands have been signing deals with MLS alongside growth in the league’s ticket and merchandise sales, particularly since global superstar Lionel Messi joined the Miami club in 2023.
    However, White and Ladd said in an interview with CNBC the Walmart partnership extends beyond a pure sponsorship deal. While Walmart has already been an advertising partner of MLS, this is its first sponsorship deal with the league — and a first-of-it-kind partnership for both parties, they say.
    “We’re thrilled to be an official MLS sponsor and engage with the league’s fast-growing and culturally vibrant fan base,” said White. “The fanbase is generally younger, more culturally diverse, and that is an audience that’s really important to Walmart. It’s a big part of our growing customer base.”
    Nearly three-quarters of the MLS fanbase is made up of Gen Zers or millennials, and more than 30% is Hispanic, according to the league. MLS data shows it has the youngest fanbase compared with other professional men’s leagues in North America, and more female fans than other professional men’s leagues in the U.S. and Canada.
    The league’s social media presence has been a sign of its growth among younger fans. Its digital audience surpassed 110 million total followers across league and club accounts on platforms including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, according to the league.
    As part of the deal, MLS will launch a creator network through which influencers, designers, players and teams will deliver exclusive behind-the-scenes content for league platforms and highlight Walmart’s involvement in the sport.
    In addition, beginning in 2026, the league and Walmart said they will add to the fan experience by building out programming around televised matches on Saturdays that includes more storytelling around games across MLS platforms. Further details will be shared at a later date on this aspect of the partnership.
    The destination for that content has yet to be developed, however.
    “It’s going to be a new platform that we’re going to be kicking off together in partnership with Walmart next year. And it’s not going to show up in one place,” Ladd said. “It’s really going to be a very broad, comprehensive program that touches the community, touches retail and touches media.”
    Walmart will also launch a soccer landing page on its website, called a “curated shopping hub,” that will include all things related to the sport — from gear and equipment to tailgate and watch party items. The page will also highlight suppliers that make soccer-related products and could someday host exclusive merchandise.

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    Stellantis reinstates guidance but flags ‘tough decisions’ after $1.7 billion tariff impact

    Stellantis reported a first-half net loss of 2.3 billion euros ($2.65 billion), compared to a net profit of 5.6 billion euros over the same period in 2024.
    The Jeep maker updated its full-year tariff impact to roughly 1.5 billion euros, of which 300 million euros was incurred during the first half.
    Milan-listed shares of Stellantis traded lower during early moring deals.

    A new Jeep Wrangler 4-Door Sahara 4×4 vehicle displayed for sale at a Stellantis NV dealership in Miami, Florida, US, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
    Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images

    Auto giant Stellantis on Tuesday reinstated its financial guidance and touted a gradual recovery over the coming months.
    Stellantis, which owns household names including Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Chrysler and Peugeot, reported a first-half net loss of 2.3 billion euros ($2.65 billion), compared to a net profit of 5.6 billion euros over the same period in 2024.

    The multinational conglomerate had flagged the first-half loss in a surprise trading update last week, saying at the time that the move was necessary due to the difference between consensus forecasts and the firm’s performance.
    Stellantis updated its full-year tariff impact to roughly 1.5 billion euros, of which 300 million euros was incurred during the first half of 2025.
    New CEO Antonio Filosa, who officially took the top job last month, said in a call with analysts Tuesday that the automaker has been working with President Donald Trump’s administration since the tariffs were implemented. He said he wants the administration “to properly recognize the high American U.S. content in some vehicles” when it comes to duties.
    He also said the company still has work to do in its key North American segment, which has been dealing with inventory issues and fractured relationships with employees and dealers.
    “My first weeks as CEO have reconfirmed my strong conviction that we will fix what’s wrong in Stellantis by capitalizing on everything that’s right in Stellantis – starting from the strength, energy and ideas of our people, combined with the great new products we are now bringing to market,” Filosa said in a statement earlier Tuesday.

    “2025 is turning out to be a tough year, but also one of gradual improvement,” Filosa said.
    “Our new leadership team, while realistic about the challenges, will continue making the tough decisions needed to re-establish profitable growth and significantly improved results,” he added.

    Looking ahead, the company re-established financial guidance for the second half. It expects to see increased net revenues, low-single-digit adjusted operating income profitability and improved industrial free cash flow over the coming months.
    The automaker had suspended its guidance in April, citing uncertainties with tariffs.
    Stellantis’ updated financial guidance was based on an assumption that current tariff and trade rules will remain in place.
    It comes shortly after the U.S. and European agreed to a trade framework that means U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration will impose a blanket tariff of 15% on most EU goods.
    The deal represents a significant reduction from Trump’s threat to impose charges of 30% from Aug. 1 and almost halves the existing tariff rate on Europe’s auto sector from 27.5%.
    Automotive industry groups welcomed the breakthrough, particularly as it appears to avert a painful transatlantic trade war, but they also expressed deep concern about the costs associated with the new tariff reality.
    Imports from Canada and Mexico are currently taxed at 25%, but Trump has threatened to hike duties on Mexico to 30% and Canada to 35% starting Aug 1.
    Stellantis posted first-half net revenues of 74.3 billion euros, reflecting a 13% year-on-year drop, primarily driven by annual declines in North America, among other regions.
    Filosa said the company would be bringing back popular nameplates that had been discontinued in the U.S. and launching new products in the coming months. He added that Stellantis would provide an updated business plan at its capital markets day early next year.
    Milan-listed shares of Stellantis traded as much as 4.5% lower during morning deals before paring losses. More

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    Starbucks doubles down on hospitality with ‘Green Apron Service’ strategy

    Starbucks last week began training baristas on its new “Green Apron Service” program as a part of CEO Brian Niccol’s vision to get “Back to Starbucks,” ahead of its earnings report on Tuesday.
    Niccol’s plan involves more welcoming cafes and more personalized interactions with baristas, down to Sharpie drawings on cups. 
    Green Apron Service is an opportunity to stand out and differentiate the brand at a time when Americans are more price sensitive and picky about where they’re spending.
    CNBC spoke exclusively with Starbucks’ new Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams to discuss the strategy.

    Barista Andy Acevado prepares a drink inside a Starbucks Corp. coffee shop in New York.
    Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Getty Images

    As companies lean into value offerings and buzzy beverages to lure price-sensitive consumers, Starbucks is doubling down on its plans to get back to basics by leaning into hospitality at its cafes.
    The coffee giant aims to stand out on guest experience in a cutthroat consumer environment as it tries to boost lackluster sales.

    Last week, the company began training baristas on its new “Green Apron Service” program as part of CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” plans, which have emphasized friendlier cafes and a human touch like Sharpie drawings on cups. Green Apron Service builds on that, relying on warm and engaging interactions with customers in the hopes of making Starbucks visits a habit.
    The program is backed by changes to ensure proper staffing and better technology to keep service times fast. It was born out of growth in digital orders, which now make up over 30 percent of sales, and feedback from baristas.
    “The strategy is to reconnect our partners with our customers,” Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams told CNBC from a newly-revamped store in Seattle on Monday.
    “..When you walk through that door, you’re greeted with a smile. You are greeted again at handoff, a perfect cup of coffee … and you’re met with that connection.”
    Investors will get another look into how Niccol’s turnaround plans are working when the company reports earnings after market close Tuesday. Starbucks shares have climbed about 2.7% this year, trailing the 8.6% gains of the S&P 500, as Wall Street debates how long it will take Niccol to improve the chain’s performance. Since Niccol took the reins last September, the stock is up just under 3%, and has climbed nearly 25% on a one-year basis.

    Niccol is trying to jumpstart the coffee chain’s sales. Last quarter, same-store sales fell for the fifth quarter in a row.
    Grams and the push for more welcoming cafes will play a major role in that effort.
    Grams was appointed as chief operating officer in June, overseeing global coffeehouse development, the company’s worldwide supply chain and its North American coffeehouses. He came to Starbucks in February after nearly three decades at Taco Bell, where he was previously was the chain’s president and global chief operating officer. Niccol was once Taco Bell’s chief executive. 
    The Green Apron Service push is the largest investment the company has ever made in hospitality and its store employees, Grams said. The company did not provide a dollar figure for the investment.
    Part of the plan involves Smart Queue technology, which uses algorithms to enhance staffing and scheduling, to help baristas deliver more consistent and higher-quality service, Grams said. The company wants customers to experience consistency in service quality whether they order in store or online.
    “You will see it show up in different ways,” he said. “You may see a digital host out front who is navigating that experience … it can be an extra person at the drive through. The idea is just really making sure that we’ve got the right partners in the right place at the right time throughout the entire day.”
    Success of the Green Apron Service initiative will be tied directly to measurable indicators like customer experience scores, foot traffic growth, and store productivity.
    The effort also comes as cafes face new benchmarks for success, including delivering customized drinks in four minutes or less. Early results from its 1,500-store pilot of Green Apron Service showed improvements in transactions, sales, and customer service times, with 80% of in-cafe orders meeting the chain’s four-minute goal.
    Continuing to build on that trend will likely be key for Starbucks. The reality is customers may prefer speed over warmth and have little tolerance for long waits.
    Grams said Starbucks has multiple avenues to remain competitive, including a strong digital business, drive-thrus in more than 7,000 stores and cafes going through “uplifts” to make them more comfortable.
    “It’s showing up in a way where we touch all three channels,” he said of the hospitality initiative. “We have 20,000 units across North America, which gives us a terrific competitive advantage.” More