Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. Markets: Wall Street moved lower Friday afternoon as tensions in the Middle East escalate following Israel’s attack on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Iranian state TV said that it has suspended nuclear weapons negotiations with the U.S. — the two sides had been set to talk on Sunday. Not long afterward, as headlines around Iranian missile attacks in Israel surfaced, losses in the stock market picked up steam. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped nearly 2%, leading to the downside, while both the S & P 500 and Nasdaq fell more than 1%. Meanwhile, oil prices spiked on the news, though the gains have moderated compared with where they were in overnight trading. Brent crude, the international benchmark, surged 7% to above $74 a barrel. U.S. oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude also popped 7%, trading close to $73 a barrel. As Investing Club Portfolio Analyst Zev Fima wrote earlier this afternoon , our approach right now is to sit on our hands and not make any dramatic moves to the portfolio. “So as we approach what could be a weekend packed full of fear-inducing geopolitical headlines, we have to do that most difficult of things: nothing,” he wrote. Medical shuffle: Club name Amazon is reorganizing its health-care business into six new units “with the goal of creating a simpler structure,” our CNBC colleagues Annie Palmer and Ashley Capoot reported Friday. Here are a few excerpts from their story, though we recommend reading it in full : “Our leadership team has been focused on simplifying our structure to move faster and continue to innovate effectively,” [Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services] said in a video chat. “One of the problems we’re trying to solve is the fragmented experience for patients and customers that’s common in healthcare.” …. Amazon declined to share financial figures for its health business, but Lindsay said it is seeing “very strong growth” across the offerings. As long-term investors in Amazon, we remain intrigued by its ambitions in the massive health-care industry, particularly using its logistics prowess on the prescription drug delivery side. The acquisition of One Medical, a primary care provider, also was a big deal — and at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in late May, CEO Andy Jassy said he was “very excited” about how its One Medical subscription is “continuing to grow.” But in general, health care does seem to have been a tougher nut to crack than perhaps some expected. That’s why Friday’s report caught our eye because it shows Amazon is looking for ways to make progress and not being complacent with its organizational structures. Still, as of now, it’s not a major needle-mover compared with the e-commerce, advertising and cloud-computing divisions. Meta’s move: The founder of Scale AI, Alexandr Wang, confirmed that he’s departing the startup to join Club name Meta Platforms , part of the Instagram parent’s bold move to stay on the leading edge of artificial intelligence. When we wrote Wednesday about Meta investing nearly $15 billion to take a 49% stake in Scale AI, we were under the impression that Wang would join Meta’s new “superintelligence” unit on top of his duties at the data-labeling startup. That is not the case. The new revelation underscores the aggressiveness of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg amid concerns that some of its AI technology was lagging in performance. Wang is well-known within the tech industry as a bright mind on AI — he founded Scale AI before he was 20 years old — and talent along with computing resources is very important in the AI race. Apple shipments: Rounding out these updates on Big Tech names, Reuters reported that 97% of the iPhones exported from India by manufacturer Foxconn went to the U.S. during the March-to-May period. That is a dramatic increase from the roughly 50% export rate in 2024, Reuters said, citing customs data. The reporting is a clear indication of Apple’s strategy to navigate President Donald Trump’s tariffs by relying less on China, which faces a much-higher duty rate than India. Up next: It’s a quite week of earnings within the portfolio, though Lennar and Darden Restaurants are set to report on Monday and Friday, carrying implications for Club names Home Depot and Texas Roadhouse , respectively. Jabil, La-Z-Boy, GMS, Smith and Wesson Brands, Kroger, Accenture, and CarMax also report. The Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates and latest economic projections arrive on Wednesday. On the economic calendar, the latest numbers on retail sales and import/export prices are due out Tuesday morning, followed by initial jobless claims on Wednesday morning. Next Friday and into the weekend, the American Diabetes Associations’ Scientific Sessions takes place, and Club name Eli Lilly will be there with updates. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
GM sold over 21,000 electric vehicles in the US last month, its best yet. Despite the surge in August sales, GM warned that with the “irrational discounts” on EVs set to end soon, the market is due for a shake-up.
GM sells record EVs in August as irrational discounts end
August was GM’s best month ever for EV sales. The company sold over 21,000 electric models under the Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac brands last month.
The higher demand comes as buyers rush to secure the $7,500 federal tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of September.
Driven by the hot-selling Chevy Equinox EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and GMC Sierra EV, GM remains the second-best seller of EVs behind Tesla.
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GM expects to see strong demand again this month, but without the credit, it expects changes next quarter. GM said, “There’s no doubt we’ll see lower EV sales next quarter.” The company anticipates it will take several months for the market to correct, adding that “We will almost certainly see a smaller EV market for a while.”
Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)
Like several automakers in the US, GM will adjust production accordingly, promising not to overproduce. Despite slower sales, it remains confident that its EV market share will continue to grow.
Since affordable EVs and luxury models have been the strongest segments, GM believes it’s in a better position than most. It already has “America’s most affordable 315+ range EV,” the Chevy Equinox EV. The electric Equinox is one of the few EVs with a starting price under $35,000 in the US.
Cadillac Optiq EV (Source: Cadillac)
Soon, the new Chevy Bolt EV will debut, which is expected to be even more affordable, starting at around $30,000.
With a full line-up of electric SUVs, Cadillac is the leading luxury EV brand, but that doesn’t include Tesla. And then there’s the Chevy and GMC electric pickup with segment-leading range, features, and more.
2026 GMC Sierra EV (Source: GM)
GM said as it adjusts to the “new EV market realities,” its ICE vehicles will provide flexibility while driving profits. We will learn more on October 1 when GM reports full third-quarter sales results.
Although I wouldn’t call it “irrational,” GM is offering generous discounts on EVs with the deadline approaching. The Chevy Equinox EV is listed for lease starting at just $249 per month with a new $1,250 conquest bonus. Chevy is also offering the $7,500 credit on top of 0% APR financing until the end of September.
Thinking about trying one of GM’s EVs for yourself? You can use the links below to find Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC models in your area.
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Global solar installations are breaking records again in 2025. In H1 2025, the world added 380 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity – a staggering 64% jump compared to the same period in 2024, when 232 GW came online. China was responsible for installing a massive 256 GW of that solar capacity.
For context, it took until September last year to pass the 350 GW mark. This year, the milestone was achieved in June. That pace cements solar as the fastest-growing source of new electricity generation worldwide. In 2024, global solar output rose by 28% (+469 terawatt-hours) from 2023, more growth than any other energy source.
Nicolas Fulghum, senior energy analyst at independent energy think tank Ember, said, “These latest numbers on solar deployment in 2025 defy gravity, with annual solar installations continuing their sharp rise. In a world of volatile energy markets, solar offers domestically produced power that can be rolled out at record speed to meet growing demand, independent of global fossil fuel supply chains.”
China’s solar dominance
China is leading this surge by a wide margin. In the first half of 2025, the country installed more than twice as much solar capacity as the rest of the world combined, accounting for 67% of global additions. That’s up from 54% in the same period last year. Developers rushed to complete projects before new wind and solar compensation rules took effect in June, fueling the spike. While that may lead to a slowdown in the second half of the year, new clean power procurement requirements for industry and bullish forecasts from China’s solar PV association (CPIA) suggest that 2025 will still surpass 2024’s record high.
The rest of the world
Other countries are adding solar at a healthy clip, too. Together, they installed an estimated 124 GW in the first half of 2025, a 15% year-over-year increase. India came in second with 24 GW, up 49% from last year’s 16 GW. The US ranked third with 21 GW, a 4% gain year-over-year despite recent moves by the Trump administration to suppress clean power deployment. Germany and Brazil saw slight dips, while the rest of the world added 65 GW, a 22% rise over 2024.
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Africa’s solar market is also stirring. The continent imported 60% more solar panels from China over the past year, though a lack of reliable installation data makes it a challenge to track the true pace of deployment.
With installations surging across major markets and China driving the charge, 2025 is on track to be another record-breaking year for solar power.
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Porsche just axed two of its most iconic models. The gas-powered 718 Cayman and Boxster sports cars have been discontinued, with their new EV successors set to debut next year. However, Porsche isn’t the only brand killing off a popular nameplate.
Sports cars are due for EV successors in 2026
As it prepares for the all-electric replacements, Porsche has stopped taking new orders for the 718 Cayman and Boxster. For now, you can still order the vehicles from stock.
We’ve known for years that an electric replacement was on the way for the 718 lineup. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume confirmed in 2022 that the electric 718 successor would follow the Taycan and Macan EVs.
Although the new Cayman and Boxster EVs were expected to launch by the end of this year, it was pushed back due to software and battery sourcing delays.
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Porsche initially planned to build the EV versions alongside the current ICE models at its Zuffenhausen plant, but that will no longer be the case. Despite rumors that Porsche was planning to extend 718 production, “high-ranking Porsche sources” told Autocar that’s not the plan.
Porsche 718 Boxster (Source: Porsche)
The luxury sports car maker has dialed back its EV plans recently, with ICE Macan and Cayenne models now due to be sold alongside the electric versions.
Meanwhile, Porsche isn’t the only sports car maker killing off models with new EV successors on the way. Audi confirmed with Autoblog that the A7 and S7 will be discontinued after the 2025 model year.
2025 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron (Source: Audi)
In a statement, Audi said, “There are no 2026 Model Year A7 or S7 being offered as production shifts to the new A6 TFSI coming later this year.” However, the RS7 will live on as a 2026MY. The ICE A7 will be rebranded as the A6 TFSI, while the EV version will retain the A6 E-tron name, featuring a similar sportback design to the outgoing model.
Porsche and Audi have leaned into a more flexible “multi-energy” strategy, blaming slowing EV sales and a changing market.