Here’s a concise yet comprehensive summary of Barron’s “ETFs Are Eating the World. The Right—and Wrong—Ways to Invest,” published on July 4, 2025:🚀 Key Trends Driving the ETF ExplosionETFs have surged past 4,000 active funds globally, holding over $11 trillion in assets, now exceeding the number of publicly listed stocksIn recent years, more than 700 new ETFs launched annually, including exposure to cryptocurrencies, leveraged bets (e.g. on Nvidia), and even private credit—now accessible to retail investors.🏆 Why ETFs Remain So PopularThey provide diversification, low operating costs (average fees under 0.16%), tax advantages, and intraday liquidity, unlike traditional mutual funds.Major issuers—Vanguard, BlackRock’s iShares, Invesco, and State Street—control nearly $9 trillion in ETF asse

$Philip Morris(PM)$ The embers of Philip Morris International's (PM) transformation from a traditional tobacco giant into a smoke-free leader are erupting into a sustained blaze. Q2 2025 results provide compelling evidence that the company's high-stakes pivot is not merely mitigating decline but actively creating substantial new value. While the combustible cigarette portfolio, as expected, continued its secular retreat, the explosive growth across IQOS, ZYN, and the broader smoke-free category surged ahead, driving impressive top-line expansion, robust profitability, and significant market share gains. This quarter wasn't just about weathering a storm; it was about demonstrating the potent ignition of PM's future profit engine, fundamentally reshap

A large part of consumers in China can see a shop named "MINISO" in every shopping mall, and one comment about this brand is widely spread and recognized in Chinese social media — "Every time I walk by the MINISO, I can't restrain the urge to go inside and browse." So what magic does this brand aimed to sell high price-performance ratio goods have?In simple words, MINISO has some growth engines:💡 Growth Engines Powering the BrandDiverse, ever-refreshing assortment: MINISO rolls out over 1,180 new SKUs monthly across lifestyle categories—home goods, textiles, electronics, beauty tools, toys, snacks, stationery and more—with an average price of just ¥14.30 in China. This ultra‑affordable positioning has solidified its consumer appeal.Global expansion gaining traction: As of March 31, 2025, M

$Coinbase Global, Inc.(COIN)$ $Robinhood(HOOD)$ $JPMorgan Chase(JPM)$ In a development that underscores how far digital assets have come from their fringe origins, JPMorgan Chase — the largest U.S. bank by assets — is reportedly piloting a program to offer collateralized loans backed by cryptocurrencies. According to sources close to the matter, the bank is exploring ways to accept select digital assets, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, as collateral for institutional clients seeking secured credit facilities. For a financial sector that once dismissed cryptocurrencies as “worthless” or “fraudulent,” this represents a remarkable turnaround — and a potential inflectio