News•Feb 25, 2026
Godongwana Holds Better Budget Cards but Economic Recovery Remains Inadequate
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to present a 2026 budget bolstered by higher-than‑expected tax receipts, driven by a commodity price surge and improved collection efficiency. Despite the fiscal headroom, his GDP outlook remains bleak, projecting growth under 2%—far short of the 3.5% target needed to curb South Africa’s 41% unemployment rate. The budget faces pressure to translate fiscal space into job‑rich growth, debt stabilization, and urgent reforms of distressed state‑owned enterprises. Political tensions within the coalition add uncertainty to policy execution.
By Mail & Guardian (South Africa) – Business
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Rent Costs Feel Different than Grocery Savings Paradox
Every dollar I spend on groceries, I save money on eating out: uncontroversial Every dollar I spend on making my own coffee, I save money on buying coffee at a coffee shop: uncontroversial Every dollar I spend on rent, I save money...
By Ramit Sethi
Podcast•Feb 25, 2026•23 min
Market View: Banks, Planes & Political Signals
The episode reviews recent market moves, highlighting OCBC's 3% profit rise driven by strong non‑interest income and a proposed special dividend, while noting net interest margin compression. Singapore Airlines showed robust revenue growth and higher passenger loads but saw net...
By Your Money with Michelle Martin (MONEY FM 89.3)
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Copper Profits Depend on Long‑term Price Strength
Copper is driving miners' profits But exposure is hard to scale unless prices stay high for years Profits are hard to maintain unless supply growth fails Mega-mergers failed because sellers wanted to be paid for the future scarcity now Usual good insights from @ClydeCommods...
By Art Berman Blog
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Emerging Markets Outpace US Stocks Since 2024 Peak
🚨Have US stocks PEAKED? The US stocks versus emerging market equities ratio has been falling for the last 15 months, after peaking in November 2024. Over this period, emerging market stocks have returned +48% while the S&P 500 delivered just +15%👇 https://globalmarketsinvestor.beehiiv.com/p/the-us-stock-market-has-peaked
By Global Markets Investor (newsletter author)
News•Feb 25, 2026
Debtwire Middle-Market – 2/23/2026
Sponsor‑backed merger and acquisition activity surged to $165 billion in December 2025, marking the second‑largest monthly volume in the past decade, just shy of the $168 billion peak recorded in April 2021. Data from Mergermarket shows that leveraged buyouts and other sponsor‑driven deals now...
By The Lead Left
News•Feb 25, 2026
Japan Govmt Nominates New BOJ Board Members as Rate-Hike Path Comes Into Focus
Japan’s government has nominated professor emeritus Toichiro Asada and law professor Ayano Sato to the Bank of Japan’s nine‑member monetary policy board, pending parliamentary approval. The appointments arrive as the BOJ exits its ultra‑easy stimulus regime and lifts rates to...
By ForexLive — Feed
Social•Feb 25, 2026
US Shale and SPR only Temporary Buffers for Iran Shock
U.S. shale + SPR barrels & China’s vast stockpiles will offset Iran oil disruptions, writes @ronbousso1 But shale doesn't surge on command & stockpiles are a short-lived buffer The most likely shock absorbers are a limited Iran conflict & China stepping...
By Art Berman Blog
News•Feb 25, 2026
Sifuna: I'm Open to Alliance with United Opposition
Kenyan Senate leader Edwin Sifuna announced that his Linda Mwananchi Initiative, a breakaway faction from the ODM, is open to joining the United Opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The prospective alliance aims to consolidate anti‑Ruto forces and present...
By Daily Nation (Kenya) – Business
News•Feb 25, 2026
As US Tech Giants Become Cable Giants, It’s Time We Pay Attention to Our Seabeds
U.S. tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft are increasingly becoming sole owners of undersea data cables, giving them unprecedented control over global internet traffic. Amid heightened geopolitical tensions, President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs and hinted at...
By Politico Europe – All News
News•Feb 25, 2026
MSME Workers Deliver Just 14% of Large-Firm Output; Informality Is Costing India Billions
India’s MSMEs employ 330 million workers, accounting for 62 % of non‑agricultural jobs and about 30 % of GDP, yet their workers generate only 14 % of the output of large‑firm employees. The productivity gap stems from widespread informality, low formal skill training, and...
By HR Katha (India)
News•Feb 25, 2026
Coal India Backs Phased Rollout of National Coal Exchange to Protect Energy Security
Coal India has endorsed a phased rollout of the National Coal Exchange, aiming to move coal trading from traditional e‑auctions to a regulated electronic platform with market‑based price discovery. Executive Director V S Maharaj emphasized that reforms must be calibrated to protect...
By The Hindu Business Line – All
News•Feb 25, 2026
Software Rout Ripples Through India’s Consumer Tech, Real Estate
Asian equities rose on Wednesday as the AI‑driven sell‑off in U.S. markets softened, offering a brief reprieve for India’s stock market. The Nifty index flirted with its 200‑day moving average, a key long‑term support level, before closing above it. Asset...
By Bloomberg – Markets
News•Feb 25, 2026
Trump Vows To Make Housing Affordable While Keeping Values Up as He Praises the ‘Golden Age of America’ in State...
President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address to pledge affordable housing while insisting home values must stay high. He highlighted falling mortgage rates, citing a drop from 7.04% to 6.01%, and urged Congress to make permanent an...
By Realtor.com News
News•Feb 25, 2026
Are the Signs Pointing to Another Nasdaq-100 Correction?
The Nasdaq‑100 is showing a repeat of a historic pattern where the index climbs while fewer components stay above their 200‑day moving average, a signal that preceded >20% corrections in 2021 and 2024. The metric has again slipped, and the...
By Motley Fool Investing
News•Feb 25, 2026
EQAL: Long-Term Issues Outweigh Recent Outperformance
The Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF (EQAL) has outperformed peers IVV and IWB this year thanks to its equal‑weight tilt amid a capital‑rotation environment. However, its longer‑term track record remains weak, having lagged IVV, IWB, RSP, and EQL since 2014....
By Seeking Alpha – ETFs & Funds
News•Feb 25, 2026
Loom Games Claims “Unicorn” Crown in Record Time for Turkish Startup
Los Angeles‑based Scopely agreed to acquire a majority stake in Istanbul‑born mobile‑game studio Loom Games, valuing the company at over $1 billion through a performance‑based structure. Loom, founded in August 2025, launched its first title “Pixel Flow” in September, attracting more than 10 million...
By bne IntelliNews
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Liquidity, Not Earnings, Halts Market Rally
What happened to the stock market? The market rally has come to a HALT. Earnings and innovation are not the problem, liquidity is.
By Hyperstocks
Social•Feb 25, 2026
NVDA Hits 2026 High, but False Breakout Looms
All eyes on $NVDA heading into tomorrow which technically DID make its highest close of 2026 today, but yet could face some headwinds from a cycle composite which is "not too bullish" starting next month https://t.co/XW54gpjWXm Important to keep a close eye...
By Mark Newton, CMT
News•Feb 25, 2026
Government Monitors Iron Ore Pricing Shifts Amid China Talks
The Australian government is closely tracking new iron‑ore pricing arrangements being trialled between Chinese buyers and major Australian producers. Companies such as Fortescue and Rio Tinto have begun using Fastmarkets, while BHP negotiates with China Mineral Resources Group over alternative...
By Australian Mining
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Top Stock of the Day Boosts Wednesday Watchlist
Wednesdays watchlist is going up soon - Did you catch today’s top stock? #howtotrade #stockstowatch #daytrading #momentum #tradingeducation
By Trade Momentum
News•Feb 25, 2026
Spicerhaart’s Expanding Partnership Model Wins Backing From Agents
Spicerhaart’s haart Partnership Scheme is expanding nationally, backed by agents who cite increased autonomy, profitability and work‑life balance. Testimonials from Jack Pollock, Roger Jackson and Janette Churchill illustrate how the model blends self‑employment flexibility with corporate resources such as tech,...
By Property Industry Eye
News•Feb 25, 2026
Bangladesh Election Reduces Political Uncertainty but Forthcoming Reform Execution Remains Critical
Bangladesh’s February 12 election gave the Bangladesh Nationalist Party a decisive parliamentary super‑majority, easing short‑term political uncertainty. The win clears the path for a long‑awaited constitutional referendum that could reshape the legislature, judiciary and prime‑ministerial term limits. Fitch Ratings notes that...
By bne IntelliNews
News•Feb 25, 2026
Conveyancing Costs Surge – What’s Driving the Jump?
The Property Solvers study reveals conveyancing fees in the UK climbing well above inflation, with freehold sale costs hitting £1,317 in 2026—a 10.6% rise year‑on‑year. Leasehold and remortgage fees also posted double‑digit increases, outpacing the 3% CPI. Regulatory, AML, and...
By Property Industry Eye
News•Feb 25, 2026
Panama Seizes Two Canal Ports
Panama's government announced the seizure of two strategic ports along the Panama Canal, citing national security and revenue concerns. The move follows a series of regulatory actions aimed at tightening state control over critical infrastructure. Officials indicated that the ports...
By LatinFinance
News•Feb 25, 2026
Stock Recommendations for 25 February From MarketSmith India
MarketSmith India released its top stock picks for 25 February as Indian equities slumped. The Nifty 50 dropped 1.12% to 25,424.65 and the Sensex fell 1.28%, driven by a 4.74% plunge in the IT index. AI‑related disruption fears after Anthropic’s new tools,...
By Mint (LiveMint) – Markets
News•Feb 25, 2026
Hong Kong Sees Fast Growth Continuing Into 2026 on Rebound
Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced a 2026 GDP growth projection of 2.5%‑3.5%, raising expectations beyond the 2%‑3% range slated for 2025. The forecast follows a 3.5% expansion in 2025, the strongest pace since 2021, underscoring a robust post‑pandemic...
By Bloomberg – Markets
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Missed $15k‑$60k US Homes During GFC
That time during the GFC when you went to buy U.S. real estate, found thousands of listings in a few zip codes with asking prices from $15k CAD to $60k CAD, and Canadians real estate “experts” told you that it...
By Jim Chuong
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Vaca Muerta's Promise Stalls Behind Fiscal and Infrastructure Hurdles
Argentina’s Vaca Muerta looks great on paper, but it’s not the next Permian. Argentina’s fiscal mess, weak infrastructure, & massive capex needs are real barriers. Continental’s hype says as much about a fading Bakken play as it does about Vaca Muerta. https://t.co/SGzycaNHEd #Oil...
By Art Berman Blog
Blog•Feb 25, 2026
This Week’s Deep-Value Landscape: Acquirer’s Multiple Large-Cap Screen
The Acquirer’s Multiple® Large‑Cap screen highlights a persistent valuation gap where capital‑intensive cyclicals, commodity‑linked firms, and financials trade at deep discounts despite solid operating income and free‑cash‑flow generation. Energy giants like Equinor and Petrobras, steel producer ArcelorMittal, and banks such...
By The Acquirer’s Multiple
News•Feb 25, 2026
Memory Boom Drives Korean Stocks’ Breakthrough Past 6,000 Level
South Korea's KOSPI index surged past the 6,000 mark, closing at a record 6,085 on Wednesday. The rally was powered by a sharp rise in global memory demand, lifting Samsung Electronics 2.5% and SK Hynix 2.1%. The benchmark is now...
By Bloomberg – Markets
Social•Feb 25, 2026
One Planning Session Prevents Post‑Death Financial Chaos
I've been a financial consultant to millionaires in Singapore and across Southeast Asia for nearly a decade. Here's what I've learned: the most painful financial conversations happen after someone passes away. The ones that could have been prevented by a single...
By Ben | Finance & Investing
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Master Five Skills, Close a Deal in 30 Days
If you want a deal in 30 days, master these five things: finding sellers, negotiating contracts, finding buyers, raising capital, and managing construction. Learn the skills, get paid.
By Ryan Pineda
Blog•Feb 25, 2026
Solar’s Two-Speed Rally: Utility-Scale Strength Masks Residential Fragility
Solar’s Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) has surged over 23% year‑to‑date through Feb 24, 2026, far outpacing the S&P 500’s modest 0.8% gain. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects a record 86 GW of utility‑scale capacity additions in 2026, with solar comprising 51% of...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Renewable‑heavy States Enjoy the Cheapest Electricity Rates
Wow: @EIAgov data show the US states that produced >100% of their grid+behind-the-meter electricity demand with WindWaterSolar in 2025 had among the lowest electricity prices 2 states supplied over 100% and 14 states supplied 50-124% of demand with WWS https://t.co/KP3uii4BqI https://t.co/Ctxu1cCI4I
By Mark Z. Jacobson
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Vermont's Statewide Pre‑approval Needed; Local Opt‑in Hampers Scaling
This effort in Vermont to establish statewide pre-approved plans is a step in the right direction—key to the scalability needed for affordable infill housing, especially modular/manufactured housing. But making it a local "opt in" kind of undermines that. https://t.co/RxlmZXG3iY
By Nolan Gray
News•Feb 25, 2026
Homeowners Gain Equity, Entry-Level Buyers Still Struggle
UK homeowners have amassed roughly £677 bn of equity since the 2008 crisis, driving the average loan‑to‑value ratio down to 59%, well below the 70% peak in 2012. By 2024, only 42% of private homes retain a mortgage, indicating a shift...
By Property Industry Eye
Social•Feb 25, 2026
High Lithium Prices Won’t Rescue Poor Assets
Higher #lithium prices don’t have the power to make low quality lithium assets good investments. Be careful out there. https://t.co/BDwn05D4Fc
By Joe Lowry ("Mr. Lithium")
Social•Feb 25, 2026
HK Dark Pool Trading Peaks in January on Event-Driven Activity
Hong Kong dark pool trading hit 12-month high in January, boosted by event-driven activities https://t.co/GaqVhIyu23
By Charlotte Yang
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Home Prices Stay Resilient Across 2.75%-18% Rates
The history of home prices when rates ranged from 2.75% to 18% during this period. https://t.co/I0aE7X40Jt
By Logan Mohtashami
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Uranium Enrichment Capacity, Not Reactors, Limits Supply
Uranium enrichment is running straight into a hard physical bottleneck Enrichment capacity, not reactors, is the constraint The US is still deeply dependent on Russian enrichment https://t.co/UzZh17Lcy5 #NuclearEnergy #Uranium #EnergySecurity #SupplyChains #EnergyTransition #Geopolitics
By Art Berman Blog
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Oil Growth Hinges on Brent Holding $70 Level
Oil industry won’t grow unless Brent gets up to ~$70 & stays there Below that, drilling dries up and investment stalls. https://t.co/GEUV5bEdMd #OilPrices #EnergyMarkets #Brent #Permian #Production #Capex #Commodities #OilIndustry #MarketSignals
By Art Berman Blog
Social•Feb 25, 2026
WSJ Dismisses Balance of Payments, Sparks Skepticism
Well, the WSJ oped page lost me with statement that the balance of payments is a non issue ... 1/2
By Brad Setser
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Foreigners Still Buying US Assets Despite Dollar Weakness
Foreign stocks are beating US stocks and the dollar is weakening, yet foreigners bought $1.4 trillion in US securities last year. The selling wave everyone is talking about isn't showing up in the data. 🔒 Members-Only https://t.co/yXliX9IMIO
By Ed Yardeni
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Focus on Price, Not AI Wrappers, for Real Edge
Don’t waste your time adding AI wrappers to free earnings data. The edge is in price. The Daily Beat’s proprietary Reaction Score tracks expectations vs the move so the winners show up on the scoreboard. Grateful for tools that keep...
By J.C. Parets, CMT
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Holding Is an Active Choice, Not Inaction
Buying and selling feel easier than holding because we are wired to believe activity = productivity. Holding is hard because it feels like inaction and complacency. But every day holding is an active decision.
By Ian Cassel
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Markets Teeter on Tariffs, Iran Tensions, Trump SOTU
Stocks & the dollar hang in the balance amid tariff chaos and possible war with Iran as President Trump delivers his State of the Union speech. Are the markets in trouble? #SOTU2026 #Trump #tariffs #Iran #market #stockmarkets #DOLLAR #Macro #Trading https://t.co/PVSRBaRIjl
By Ilya Spivak
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Takeover Price Hits Floor, Still Not a Buy
Don't like the Yomeishu Seizo takeover at ¥4,050/share? I wrote 4-Jan-26 this wasn't worth owning. It was Murakami-owned (Yuzawa is Murakami (see 2nd pic)) and he would act in his own interest, and therefore ¥4,021 was a floor price. I...
By Travis Lundy
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Healthcare Split: Favor IHE Over IHF
No reason to own healthcare outright. Such a bifurcated sector of the market. $IHE > $IHF
By Larry Thompson (HostileCharts)
Social•Feb 25, 2026
Chicago's Migration Reverses: In
Migration patterns for the Chicago MSA in the past few years really illustrate what I've called "The Great Stay." Q2 2025 was the first period in many years where inbound migration exceeded outbound migration. Over the last 8 years, total moves...
By Mike Simonsen