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- The Cynic: October 27
The Cynic: October 27
The Cynic
October 27, 2025
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BUSINESS
This Week’s Business News
Trump lands in Tokyo for trade and security talks — gets royal welcome, rising markets, and sushi diplomacy.
REUTERS
The President began a five-day Asia trip in Japan, meeting Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi before his scheduled summit with China’s Xi Jinping. Discussions centered on defense spending, trade, and investment — with Japan pledging $550 billion and an “openness” to buy more U.S. goods.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Chinese officials are quietly drafting a framework to pause tariff escalation, which sent Asian markets soaring faster than a yen trader on Red Bull.
In short: trade peace talks are back on the menu, and this time they come with miso soup.
Tesla’s board chair warns Musk could leave if his $1 trillion pay plan is rejected — translation: vote yes or he ghosts.
REUTERS | Jeenah Moon
In a letter to shareholders, Chair Robyn Denholm said Musk might exit Tesla if investors vote down his new compensation package — the one tied to wild goals like an $8.5 trillion market cap and AI dominance.
The plan, spanning over seven years, would keep Musk glued to Tesla’s wheel while the company pushes deeper into robotics and autonomy.
Wall Street’s torn: is this visionary retention, or the world’s priciest hostage situation?
HSBC takes a $1.1 billion hit after losing a Luxembourg court case tied to the Madoff scandal — yes, that Madoff.
REUTERS | Hemanshi Kamani
The ruling came from a 2009 suit by Herald Fund SPC, which claimed HSBC mishandled assets linked to Bernie Madoff’s historic Ponzi scheme.
The bank will book the provision this quarter but plans to appeal again — because apparently, no one ever truly leaves the Madoff cinematic universe.
Investors shrugged; after all, what’s another billion between friends still living in the 2008 trauma era?
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REAL ESTATE
This Week’s Real Estate News
One in three Manhattan condo owners sold at a loss last year — proving not even skyline views can beat bad timing.
AFP | Getty Images
A report by Brown Harris Stevens found that 33% of condos resold below purchase price, especially those bought between 2016 and 2020 at peak optimism.
High taxes, inflated pandemic pricing, and New Yorkers fleeing for square footage all helped pop the bubble.
Luxury sellers did slightly better — apparently, the rich still hate losing money, but at least they can afford to.
Mortgage rates and the government shutdown are locked in a staring contest — and housing’s caught in the middle.
Courtesy of Zuri Gardens
According to Realtor.com, mortgage rates are staying steady around 6.2% as the ongoing shutdown disrupts key housing data and lending operations.
Analysts say the market will likely tread water until clarity returns — assuming “clarity” is still something the federal government does.
In the meantime, buyers are learning the most patriotic skill of all: patience.
Brickell’s condo owners are at war over sky-high assessment fees — and this time, the HOA fights back.
REUTERS | Sarah Meyssonnier
At 1060 Brickell, residents are suing over what they call “astronomical” charges meant to cover repairs, insurance, and reserve requirements post–Surfside reforms.
The case could set precedent for Florida’s condo market, where aging buildings and stricter safety laws are sending fees to the moon.
Nothing unites Floridians quite like sun, lawsuits, and a $2,000-a-month bill to fix an elevator.
“You guys cheer me up.”
FUN
Riddle Me This
I rise when others fall,
I’m watched by millions but built by fear.
I make the bold rich, the calm secure,
And I vanish when the news gets clear.
What am I?
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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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