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- The Cynic: October 16
The Cynic: October 16
The Cynic
October 16, 2025
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BUSINESS
This Week’s Business News
Swiss Army Knife maker is sharpening plan B after a 39% U.S. tariff—because even multi-tools can’t cut customs.
Business Insider | Amazon CEO Andy Jassy
Victorinox says it won’t jack up U.S. prices despite the new tariff bite, so it’s building stateside inventory, squeezing Swiss factory efficiencies, and exploring U.S. end-of-line work (think cleaning/packaging) to lower the dutiable value—while keeping the “Swiss-made” label that requires most costs to stay in Switzerland.
The U.S. is roughly a tenth of sales, but the tariff math still stings enough to push the company to deepen Latin America and Asia distribution to reduce reliance on American demand.
Corporate translation: defend market share now, eat margin today, and pray the trade winds blow friendlier tomorrow.
Ford is recalling just over 59,000 vehicles for engine block-heater issues—winter package, summer vibes.
REUTERS | Jeenah Moon
NHTSA flagged that certain heaters can crack, leak coolant, and short-circuit; the recall spans models such as the Lincoln MKC, Explorer, Fusion, Bronco Sport, and Maverick equipped with the heaters.
Ford says there are no known injuries or crashes tied to the defect, and dealers will handle the fix.
Owner tip: if your car is supposed to plug in and keep warm, it should never audition as a space heater.
Seoul’s policy chief says he’s “optimistic” on U.S. tariff talks—less saber-rattling, more term sheets.
REUTERS | Hemanshi Kamani
Top South Korean officials are flying in for follow-ups after earlier “meaningful progress,” aiming to lock a package that pairs tariff relief with big investment commitments in U.S. strategic industries.
The tricky bit is autos: a promised cut on certain import duties hasn’t been finalized for Korea yet, even as similar outlines have moved further with Japan.
If it lands, expect a communiqué that reads like industrial policy with frequent-flier miles: chips, supply chains, and a side of currency backstops.
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REAL ESTATE
This Week’s Real Estate News
U.S. homebuilder sentiment jumped to a six-month high—call it cautious optimism with a hard hat.
AFP | Getty Images
The NAHB/Wells Fargo index rose five points in October, with future-sales expectations popping back above 50 even as overall confidence remains below the break-even line.
Lower mortgage rates and improved permit pipelines are helping, but builders are still leaning on incentives and price trims to move inventory.
Bottom line: the mood is better, not blissful—bring a rate lock and a realistic appraisal.
Evergrande’s Hong Kong delisting officially closed a wild chapter—China’s property cautionary tale gets its final footnote.
Courtesy of Zuri Gardens
The once-towering developer, buried under hundreds of billions in liabilities, was removed from the exchange after liquidation orders and a long trading halt.
Investors who rode it up to peak valuations learned an expensive lesson in leverage, while policymakers keep triaging a sector that still matters for growth and confidence.
Moral: gravity is undefeated; paperwork just makes it official.
Why is U.S. housing still so expensive? Because everything that can raise costs did—and then insurance joined the party.
REUTERS | Sarah Meyssonnier
The ruling halts any handoff while judges sort out who can do what with the site, and on what terms. City leaders are parsing charters; lawyers are parsing commas.
For supporters, it’s “not yet”; for opponents, it’s “not here.” For real-estate Twitter, it’s a week’s worth of content.
Moral: in Florida, the only thing that moves faster than a rumor is a preliminary injunction.
“I don’t usually read business news, but The Cynic makes it feel like gossip who like the news.”
FUN
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ADVICE
This Week’s Business Advice
“If your company needs a new meeting to talk about the last meeting, you don’t need better strategy—you need better people.”
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