INBOXIFY ORIGINAL's [05/May/2023]

🌍Good morning and happy Friday—It's the end of another week, and we hope you're feeling accomplished and ready to enjoy the weekend ahead. We've got a great lineup of content for you in this week's newsletter to help kick off your Friday and make the most of your weekend.

Whether you're planning a relaxing day at home, exploring a new city, or catching up on some work, we've got tips and inspiration to help you make the most of your weekend.

BUSINESS

The US dollar is getting a lot of hate.

A very senior Indian banker called it a ‘financial terrorist’ (though he later backtracked). The French President warned about the ‘extra-territoriality’ of the dollar. The Google search trends for ‘de-dollarization’ are through the roof.

Everyone’s got only one thing on their mind this year — de-dollarization.

For the uninitiated, the US is the most dominant currency in the world. It’s the currency that most countries use when they want to buy and sell any sort of goods and services among themselves. And it’s also the currency that global central banks turn to when they wish to park their emergency foreign exchange reserves.

But over the past year, countries are having second thoughts about the dollar dominance. You see, everyone witnessed what happened last year when Russia invaded Ukraine. The US froze billions of dollars worth of Russia’s assets. They imposed sanctions and kicked Russia off the SWIFT messaging system that’s used for banking transactions.

And other countries freaked out because they too had lots of assets in dollars. They began to fear that the US had way too much power. A trust deficit began to build. And they started talking amongst each other to slowly nudge out the dollar and deal in their own currencies for trade.

ECONOMY

But the hike cycle may be broken soon

The Fed hasn’t made any promises (it never does), but economists are hopeful that a revision to the Fed’s language in the statement it put out yesterday—coupled with recent slowdowns in inflation and hiring—may indicate an upcoming pause in rate hikes.

The tweak removed a line included in other recent statements that said the Fed “anticipates” additional rate increases. While eager investors always read a lot into any small update, this time even Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged it was a “meaningful change” when asked about it at a press conference.

But it wasn’t all sunshine from Powell at the presser: He made it clear he’ll keep doing whatever he thinks is necessary to tame inflation.

So, if the Fed is going to come off the rate-raising tear it’s been on since March 2022, inflation needs to keep slowing. As of March, annual inflation hovered around 5%, well above the 2% sweet spot the Fed is chasing.

But with all the rate hikes the Fed has made already—not to mention the recent failures of three banks, which forced financial institutions to raise their lending standards—inflation is likely to keep coming down. The Fed will also keep a close eye on the labor market as it tries to bring down prices without creating a recession.

Looking ahead…if current trends continue, we may have seen the last of interest rate hikes for now. But don’t get too excited: Powell said it’s too soon to begin thinking about rate cuts

FASHION

Choupette and owner honored at met gala

If you couldn’t guess by the parade of sunglasses and feline homages, the theme of last night’s annual Met Gala fundraiser at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” commemorated the late fashion playmaker and father to the world’s fanciest cat, Choupette.

Lagerfeld, Chanel’s creative director from 1983 until he died in 2019, is credited with transforming the fashion house into a $10 billion multinational company. He revitalized a stale brand by turning fashion shows into dramatic spectacles, partnering with actresses like Nicole Kidman for cinematic ads, and dressing celebs for red-carpet events.

But Lagerfeld’s legacy isn’t as sleek as his creative vision. Throughout his career, Lagerfeld made many comments considered fatphobic, sexist, homophobic, and xenophobic, from saying he was “fed up” with the #MeToo movement to criticizing Germany’s acceptance of Syrian refugees.

In choosing Lagerfeld as the theme, Anna Wintour and co. courted controversy. HF Twit Met Gala, a Twitter fan account that covers the big event every year, announced it was abstaining from coverage this year. “Everything that Karl represented is something that we all generally are very against,” one of the account organizers told the Washington Post.

But, the Met still filled up with more celebrities than the courtside of a Lakers game dressed “in honor of Karl.”

HEALTH

As part of our commitment to keeping you informed on the latest news and trends, we wanted to share some health-related news with you. According to recent studies, sitting for long periods of time may have negative effects on our health, even if we exercise regularly.

The studies found that sitting for extended periods of time can lead to a range of health issues, including poor circulation, a higher risk of heart disease, and an increased risk of obesity. It's important to break up prolonged sitting periods with standing or walking breaks to improve circulation and reduce these risks.

In addition to this news, we've also curated some content to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, including tips for staying active, healthy meal ideas, and strategies for reducing stress.

Remember, small lifestyle changes can make a big impact on our overall health and well-being. Let's prioritize our health and make sure we're taking care of ourselves, both physically and mentally.

Stay healthy and have a great day!"

GAMES

QUIZ

1. What has 4 wheels and flies?

2. What bird can lift the most weight?

3. Why did the woman run around her bed at night?

4. What goes up as soon as the rain comes down?

5. How much dirt is there in a hole that is 3 feet deep, 6 feet long, and 4 feet wide?

RECS

☑Take your toast to the next level: An explanation of the difference between European and American butter

☑Plan your weekend activities: Make a list of everything you'd like to do this weekend, from work-related tasks to fun leisure activities. Having a plan will help you stay focused and avoid wasting time.

☑Set achievable goals: Break down your larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will help you stay motivated and feel a sense of accomplishment as you check off each item.

☑Get organized: Spend some time decluttering your workspace or home. A tidy environment can help reduce stress and improve productivity.

☑Take a break: It's important to give yourself time to relax and recharge. Schedule some downtime to do something you enjoy, like reading a book or going for a walk.

We hope these tasks help you make the most of your weekend and set you up for a productive week ahead.

Thank you for being part of the INBOXIFY community, and we wish you a wonderful weekend!

ANSWER

1. A garbage truck

2. A crane

3. To catch up on her sleep

4. An umbrella

5. None, because a hole does not have any dirt inside