Due to their nature, stock market anomalies like the Santa Rally and January Effect shouldn’t be taken as certainties. These market phenomena should be considered more as observations rather than predictions. As for the possibility of a 2021 Santa Rally, it’s safe to say Santa will have no shortage of inflation fears and interest rate concerns to fight through. However, major U.S. indices did rally to hit fresh record highs last week. Europe’s STOXX index also rose last week in anticipation of a Santa Rally along with gold and oil. Here’s to hoping the jolly old man can pull through for us!

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Just like many cryptocurrencies, the value of Solana coins is derived from the utility of the blockchain network it is exchanged on. As we’ve discussed, the Solana network has architectural differences that give it advantages in speed, cost, and energy efficiency over some of its rivals.

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While not as glamorized and talked about as some other cryptos, XRP is currently the seventh largest coin by market cap with a total value of $43.5m. Unlike some of these other coins though, XRP’s value is derived from the real-world utility of the Ripple network and its ability to offer instantaneous and inexpensive cross-border payment transactions as well as foreign currency exchanges. The future success of XRP and the Ripple network hinges on its ability to navigate the regulatory obstacles it faces.

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Is Shiba Inu here to stay or is it simply the current flavor of the week? Unlike more traditional coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, Shiba Inu doesn’t have a strong case for its real-world utility. It’s hard to claim SHIB is anything more than a meme, though some of its “hodlers” point to the fact that its ecosystem (the Ethereum blockchain) allows for smart contracts, NFTs, and liquidity mining.

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At a time when the world is plagued by ugly strains of nationalism, populism, and division, it’s rare to find a country filled with optimism, unity, and opportunity. The UAE has made a terrific effort in ensuring that all of its residents feel welcomed and at home. The reforms and future-focused initiatives put forth by this country in its first 50 years of life have succeeded in avoiding the delegitimization and dehumanization witnessed in so many other country’s politics, economics, and day-to-day life. The vision of the UAE’s founding fathers has fostered a nation of dreams, a land of hope, and a people united as one. And now, onto the next 50.

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Filling up your car might be a little more painful these days, and despite pleas from environmentalists, pledges from world leaders, and our recent ESG themed deep dive series, oil remains the lifeblood of the global economy. It runs through the cars that take us to work, the ships that bring us our favorite products, and the planes that take us to our favorite places. After all, how else are you going to get to Europe this summer?

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There are general takeaways we can all conclude surrounding what’s gone wrong, why it went wrong, and how to prevent it from happening again. It took worldwide border and travel restrictions for corporations to realize how inconvenient and risky it can be to have supply chain bottlenecks on the other side of the world.

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Mobility is the last piece of the Expo 2020 puzzle — a piece that is necessary for the realization of Dubai’s vision to connect minds and create the future. The themes that we’ve taken you through over the last three weeks (shout out to sustainability and opportunity!) weren’t random, but rather, selected because they are a perfect fit with each other and they work in unison to create a brighter and more prosperous future for all of mankind.    

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After months of lockdowns and restricted travel, Expo 2020 is bringing the world together to reimagine the global economy. What's impressive about the opportunities set forward by the exhibition are the breadth of their focus. From youth to women, Expo 2020 is committed to build a better future for everyone by providing everyone with an equal opportunity to succeed.

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The sustainability pavilion at Expo 2020 will show the world that it is not only possible for nature to live in balance with humanity, but that it is also the pathway to a better quality of life for every person in every corner of the globe.  What perhaps hasn't been mentioned as much is the legacy that Expo 2020 wishes to leave behind - not just for the city of Dubai but for the entire world. The initiatives taken on the sustainability front showcase Dubai's commitment to have Expo 2020 become a lasting, permanent global force for the greater good.

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