Vanguard ETF nears $1T as consumer sentiment plunges to 75-year low

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has grown to about $980.7 billion in assets, on track to become the first ETF to breach the $1 trillion threshold. Its low‑cost, broad‑market exposure has made it the go‑to vehicle for advisors and retail investors alike, underscoring the dominance of passive ETFs.

SpaceX has filed an S‑1 for a $1.75 trillion IPO, and new index‑provider rules mean total‑market funds could add the stock within five trading days, exposing millions of 401(k) investors to the company’s fortunes. Musk recently told a podcast that saving for retirement may become irrelevant, tying the IPO to his broader vision.

A new policy note shows that almost a quarter of U.S. workers were age 55+ in 2025, up from 12% in the early ’90s, as many stay employed due to inadequate retirement savings. This growing pool functions as a low‑wage reserve army, dampening productivity and bargaining power across the labor market.

The University of Michigan’s May 2026 Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 44.8, the lowest reading since the survey began in 1952, a 75‑year record low. The decline signals rising consumer anxiety over inflation, fuel costs, and cost‑of‑living pressures, especially among lower‑income and less‑educated households.

Berkshire Hathaway agreed to acquire homebuilder Taylor Morrison for $6.8 billion in cash, paying $72.50 per share, a 24% premium. The deal, one of Greg Abel’s first major strategic moves as CEO, expands Berkshire’s housing portfolio ahead of an expected market recovery.

Nvidia unveiled RTX Spark, its first Arm‑based PC chip, combining a 20‑core Grace CPU with a Blackwell RTX GPU. Dell, HP, Microsoft Surface and other OEMs will ship slim Windows laptops and compact PCs powered by the superchip this fall, targeting AI agents, creative workflows and high‑end gaming.

The surge of investment in AI firms like OpenAI has left hundreds of pre‑ChatGPT startups with outdated tech and steeply falling valuations, turning many billion‑dollar unicorns into "fallen unicorns." PitchBook data shows companies that raised in 2021 are now worth 68% less on average.

Nvidia announced a new robotics system that pairs its Jetson Thor hardware and Isaac GR00T AI stack with Unitree’s 6‑foot H2 humanoid robot. Aimed at universities and labs, the platform offers full integration of Nvidia’s Blackwell GPU, simulation tools, and Sharpa mechanical hands, expanding access to advanced humanoid research.