FLORIDA STOCK WATCH

AI adoption is spreading far beyond tech: 80.6% of US technology and media businesses now have paid AI subscriptions, the highest percentage on record. Finance and insurance companies follow at 73.1%, up from ~60.0% in December 2025. Meanwhile, 60.4% of US manufacturing firms are paying for AI subscriptions, their highest proportion on record and the 3rd-highest among major sectors. This percentage has nearly doubled since the start of 2025. Over the same period, the proportion of retail companies paying for AI subscriptions has risen +20 percentage points, to a record 49%. Non-tech firms are now quickly adopting AI.

The AI revolution is reshaping the US job market: Wind turbine service technicians are expected to be the fastest-growing occupation in the US from 2024 to 2034, with projected employment growth of +49.9%, according to BLS estimates. This is followed by solar photovoltaic installers, at +42.1% over the same period. By comparison, nurse practitioners are projected to grow +40.1%, while data scientists are estimated to rise +33.5%. Furthermore, electricians and construction managers are forecast to grow nearly +10% by 2034, more than double the pace projected for accountants and lawyers. The construction sector already faces a shortfall of ~350,000 workers, a gap expected to exceed 1 million by 2030 as existing workers retire. Meanwhile, customer service and cashiers employment is projected to decline -5% and -10%, respectively, from 2024 to 2034. Blue-collar workers are driving America's next jobs boom.

We are about to experience a massive end-of-Q2 rebalancing period: Institutional investors are estimated to sell up to $165 billion in equities and purchase an equivalent amount of bonds by quarter-end, the highest in at least 4 years, according to JPMorgan. Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), with ~$1.9 trillion in assets, is estimated to sell ~$60 billion in equities, while Norway's Norges Bank, managing a ~$2.1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, is expected to sell ~$40 billion. At the same time, US defined benefit pension funds, managing ~$9.6 trillion in assets, could account for another ~$55 billion in equity sales. The Swiss National Bank is estimated to sell ~$25 billion, though this figure could fall to ~$8 billion if its equity allocation rises to 30% from the current 28%. Meanwhile, balanced mutual funds, managing ~$4.0 trillion in assets, are estimated to purchase ~$15 billion in equities. A massive quarter-end rebalancing wave is about to hit global markets.

BREAKING: The US has issued Iran a general oil-related license allowing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian-origin oil, petrochemical, and petroleum products through August 21st. Iranian oil is officially returning to global markets for the first time since 2018.

BREAKING: Iran's top joint military command announces that the Strait of Hormuz is now closed due to US and Israeli "violations" of the Memorandum of Understanding. Iran says this is the "first step" and warns that further measures will be imposed if the "aggression continues."