Latest news with #MidasTouch
New York Post
09-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Costco customer makes eye-popping $600 profit after re-selling a small item a year later: ‘Surprisingly easy'
Costco isn't just a place to save — customers can apparently invest as well. A finance influencer who bought a small gold ingot at the big box retailer sold the nugget nearly a year later for an eye-popping $600 in profit, according to a TikTok video with 6.5 million views. The TikTokker, named Humphrey Yang, had reportedly purchased the one-ounce PAMP Suisse gold bar (yes they sell those there) for $2,359 from Costco in April 2024, per the clip. Advertisement 3 Humphrey Yang struck gold at Costco. Instagram/humphreytalks He then went and sold it this past March at the bullion dealer Witter Coin in San Francisco for a pretty penny. 3 'I made a profit of $596 over the past 11 months or so,' gushed Yang while describing his earnings (pictured). Instagram/humphreytalks Advertisement 3 Costco outlet in Manassas, Virginia. Refrina – 'Right now, we're paying $2,955.42 [per ounce],' an employee told Yang, who agreed to the deal. The influencer found the offer more than reasonable given that the spot price — the price at which an asset is valued in the current market based on real-time supply and demand — was around $3,020 and dealers generally purchase at slightly below market value. Advertisement The employee then handed the cash to Yang, who exclaimed 'I made a profit of $596 over the past 11 months or so.' The exact figure was $595.43. He described the process as 'surprisingly easy.' While the life hacker may have seemed like he had the Midas Touch, some TikTok viewers claimed that the Costco prospector might've pulled the trigger prematurely. Advertisement 'Gold price is probably gonna end up at 8k or something. Don't sell yet,' urged one armchair financial advisor. Another wrote: 'Wrong time to sell..' Since Yang hawked his ingot, the price of gold has soared to a staggering $3,300 per ounce with Goldman Sachs upping its year-end forecast for gold from $3,300 to $3,700, Yahoo Finance reported. The precious metal's skyrocketing valuation came as spooked investors deployed this golden parachute over fears that President Trump's tariffs could spur an economic downturn. In February, the president's tariff plans even prompted some of the largest banks in the US and Britain to fly gold bars from London to New York City on commercial flights as a hedge against inflation.
Spectator
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
A fabulously entertaining new podcast about ancient Greece
How did a myth about the consequences of poor judgment become a parable for aspiration? The question is posed by the Greek writer-actor Alex Andreou in his fabulously entertaining new podcast. His topic is the ancient myth of Midas, king of Phrygia, who was granted his wish to have everything he touched turn to gold. Midas's new world was brilliant for all of five minutes. What is a man to do with piles of metal when every person he comes into contact with is reduced to the same? The Midas myth has been mangled many times; Andreou recalls that Donald Trump co-authored a book in 2011 entitled Midas Touch in which he promised to reveal the secrets to entrepreneurial success. After much research, Andreou concludes that the story began to change from one of a tragicomic curse to a covetable superpower with the launch of HMS Pactolus in 1813 – the ship was named after the river in which the Anatolian king attempted to wash away his powers. While the trailer to Podyssey suggests a slippery format, anticipating coverage of all things Greek from 'pathos' and 'hubris' to 'sour grapes', the focus so far has been on mythological characters. As well as Midas, the first four episodes have introduced Narcissus, Orpheus and Persephone. Andreou spends about 20 minutes retelling the stories of each before pulling the narratives apart to see how they have been romanticised or contorted down the centuries. His interpretations are often unexpected. Orpheus was historically admired for his attempt to retrieve his wife Eurydice from the Underworld. Not so in Andreou's books. Did Eurydice even want to be rescued? A psychoanalyst interviewed for the series goes so far as to discern a 'coercive, controlling pattern of behaviour' in Orpheus and his fixation with his own pain.
Independent Singapore
21-04-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Analysts: Lady Gaga's Singapore Mayhem Ball concert to bring in 200K visitors and up to S$250M in revenue
SINGAPORE: Lady Gaga's 'Mayhem Ball' concert in Singapore, her only Asian stop, is expected to draw around 200,000 visitors and generate up to S$250 million in revenue, according to analysts. While the impact may not match Taylor Swift's Midas Touch, which boosted the city-state's economy by S$540 million , analysts still expect The Gaga Effect to lift Singapore's tourism and retail sectors, Singapore Business Review reported. Lau Kong Cheen, an associate professor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, expects the concerts to bring in between S$200 million and S$250 million across sectors, including entertainment and tourism. While Taylor Swift's shows may have brought in higher direct revenue, Mr Lau believes Lady Gaga's overall impact could be on par. Dr Natt Srinara, a marketing lecturer at EHL Hospitality Business School, estimated that Lady Gaga's concerts could bring in between S$100 million and S$200 million in tourism receipts, lower than the about S$300 million generated by Taylor Swift's six-night shows last March 2024. Dr Srinara told Singapore Business Review that the current trade dispute situation could soften demand slightly, pointing to tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. He added, 'But because Singapore is really the most viable venue in all of Southeast Asia, even possibly Asia, we should still see decent numbers [of economic value].' In early April, Prime Minister (PM) Lawrence Wong said in Parliament that while Singapore may or may not avoid a recession this year, the economy of the city-state will still be 'significantly impacted' by the waves of tariffs . Christopher Khoo, managing director at MasterConsult Services, said the concerts are expected to attract 200,000 visitors. He noted that although anticipation for Lady Gaga's return is high, 'it will not measure up to what Taylor Swift achieved last year.' According to the Singapore Tourism Board, Taylor Swift's exclusive appearance in Singapore last year, which brought in criticism from regional neighbours, brought in more than 300,000 fans from Singapore and across Southeast Asia. Data from the Monetary Authority of Singapore revealed that tourism receipts from her concerts, along with Coldplay's, reached between S$350 million and S$450 million. DBS data cited by Bloomberg said Taylor Swift's shows alone may have brought in S$300 million to S$400 million. Preliminary data from CoStar Group Inc. showed that Taylor Swift's six-day concerts led to the highest average daily hotel revenue in March and set a new record for revenue per available room. Mr Khoo noted that Lady Gaga's four-night May stop in the Lion City could be a 'strategic opportunity', as the month is usually a lull period for Singapore tourism. He added that Singapore could easily absorb the expected crowd without affecting regular tourist traffic, noting that, unlike Taylor Swift's concerts last year, which came right after the Singapore Airshow and led to a crowded Singapore. The airshow was held from Feb 20 to 25, 2024, while Taylor Swift's concerts followed soon after, from Mar 2 to 9. According to Mr Lau, high-profile concerts have made the city-state 'look more fun, energetic and exciting, beyond just being seen as a place for culture and shopping.' /TISG Read also: Swiftonomics boosted 35% UOB card billings; cardholders spent over S$30M on Eras Tour tickets
