Levi Boosts Full-Year Outlook on Strong Sales; CFO to Retire
Levi Strauss & Co. reported $1.7 billion revenue for the quarter ending March 1, beating analyst forecasts and prompting an upgrade to its full‑year organic and net‑revenue outlook as well as adjusted EPS guidance. CEO Michelle Gass highlighted resilient consumer demand and the success of new product mixes, including premium denim and expanded direct‑to‑consumer channels. The company also announced that longtime CFO Harmit Singh will retire after more than a decade, with a successor yet to be named. Shares rose 5.5 percent in extended trading despite a recent 5 percent decline.
Immediate Crude Cargo Prices Hit 2008 Peak
The price of crude cargoes for immediate delivery has soared to its highest level since 2008
DON'T PANIC, POSITION: Gold Miners Are Generating Historic Cash Flows Despite the Energy Shock and Why the Market's Fear of...
Gold miners are posting historic free cash flow despite a recent oil price surge from $70 to $110 per barrel and diesel costs doubling since February. A BMO study shows a $10 oil move raises mining costs by less than...
Mark Prior Day and Premarket Levels Before Trading
Most traders enter without marking key levels first. That’s why they get chopped. Previous day high and previous day low show where liquidity sits. Premarket high and low give you early session direction. These levels act as support, resistance, and reversal zones. If you’re not...
Dodd Kittsley on Why Active Management Is Back in Focus
Dodd Kittsley, director of ETF strategy at Davis Advisors, highlighted a resurgence of active management as markets become increasingly concentrated and valuations stretch. He explained that the Davis Select U.S. Equity ETF (DUSA) uses a high‑conviction, fundamentals‑driven approach, holding only...
SPX Futures Eye 6680: Break Upside, Drop to 6316
$SPX futures are testing the downtrend line from below after bouncing off $6498 support. $6680 is the level. Break and hold above it changes the picture. Fail here, and 6,316 is still on the table.
War-Driven Supply Squeeze Could Boost US Resins Exports in 2026
U.S. resin exporters are poised for another strong year in 2026 as the war in the Middle East tightens global feedstock supplies. Damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG plant and the shutdown of Iran’s South Pars gas field have curtailed ethane and...
Toronto Real Estate Prices Climb As Inventory Remains Near Highs
Toronto home prices rose 0.3% in March 2024, reaching CAD 941,800 (≈ $697,000 USD), marking a second consecutive monthly gain but a modest one. Year‑over‑year the composite benchmark fell 7.4%, still below last year’s level. Sales climbed 1.7% to 5,039 units, yet the...
Capital Flows Livestream: CPI, Iran - Will the VIX Blow Out?
Capital Flows is launching a livestream that spotlights four market themes it believes are under‑priced. The discussion will cover the WTI‑Brent spread, now at its widest since 2008, and record‑high crude options open interest, which could amplify tail risk. It...
Protecting Your Savings with a Swiss Bank
Opening a multicurrency account with Swiss‑regulated Dukascopy offers savers a stable, fee‑transparent way to hold over 20 currencies, including the Swiss franc, which historically appreciates in crises. Swiss banks operate under FINMA, enforcing strict capital and liquidity rules that helped...
Universal Music Stock Rises After Pershing Square's $64 Billion Takeover Proposal
Pershing Square has lodged a €55.8 billion cash‑and‑stock offer for Universal Music Group, pricing shares at €30.4 each – a 78% premium to the recent close. The proposal combines €9.4 billion in cash with 0.77 new shares per existing share and calls...
Munis Slightly Firmer in Spots Ahead of Trump's Iran Deadline
Municipal bonds held steady with modest gains in select sectors on Tuesday, even as President Donald Trump warned of a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The market’s calmness contrasted with heightened volatility in Treasury yields and...
Delta Earnings: Fuel Costs, Refinery Edge and the Guidance Number That Matters
Delta Air Lines will report its Q2 results on April 8, with the stock trading about 14% below its February peak of $76.39. The carrier’s full‑year EPS guidance stays in the $6.50‑$7.50 range, a key metric that will shape investor sentiment....
Nasdaq Rises as Iran Deadline Draws Near: Stock Market Today
U.S. markets opened lower as Iran’s deadline loomed, but the Nasdaq managed a modest 0.1% gain while the Dow slipped 0.2%. Crude oil spiked 4.6% intraday, reaching $117.63 before easing to $112.27, reflecting heightened geopolitical risk from Tehran’s threats to...
Estate Planning Before 2028: How Washington's Income Tax Changes the Calculus
Washington will impose a 9.9% income tax on earnings above $1 million starting Jan 1 2028, adding a second layer to its already aggressive estate tax regime. The combined effect creates a double‑tax problem for high‑net‑worth residents, making the pre‑2028 window the most...
Lyft Posts Record Q2 Earnings, Completes $1 Bn FREENOW Deal and Launches European AV Rollout
Lyft announced record Q2 results, posting $993 million in free cash flow and a 26% jump in adjusted EBITDA. The ride‑hailing firm also closed its €1 billion (≈$1.09 billion) acquisition of FREENOW and unveiled plans to deploy hundreds of autonomous vehicles in Europe...
ASX Copper Players Step Into Action as Supply Shortage Looms
Copper prices surged to a record US$14,500 per tonne in January before easing below US$13,000, reflecting both short‑term disruptions and a long‑term supply deficit. The International Energy Agency warns of a 30% global copper shortfall by 2035 as ore grades...
Saudi EGDC Boosts Capcom Stake to 6.04%, Marking Deeper Sovereign‑Wealth Play in Gaming
Saudi Arabia’s Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC) lifted its ownership in Japanese game maker Capcom from 5.03% to 6.04%, now holding 32.18 million shares. The move signals a broader sovereign‑wealth strategy that includes high‑profile deals such as the pending $55 billion acquisition...
Washington Income Tax: What Happens If You Move Mid-Year?
Washington’s new income tax includes a part‑year residency provision that prorates both the tax base and the $1 million standard deduction based on days of residency. Under §406, taxpayers only owe tax on income earned while a Washington resident, with the...
Don't Overlook These Highly Ranked Dividend Stocks: LCUT, KRT, MGA, SFD
Zacks Investment Research highlights four Zacks Rank #1 dividend stocks—Lifetime Brands (LCUT), Karat Packaging (KRT), Magna International (MGA) and Smithfield Foods (SFD). All trade at forward‑earnings multiples well below their industry averages and offer yields ranging from 2.7% to 6.4%....
Firm Capital Property Trust Acquires 11 Manufactured Home Communities for $227 Million
Firm Capital Property Trust (TSX:FCD.UN) announced a $226.5 million acquisition of 11 manufactured‑home communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, giving it a 50% stake in 1,752 sites. The deal, structured with joint‑venture partner SunPark Communities, promises a 6.4% cap rate, 94% occupancy...
JPMorgan Sees Zero Fed Cuts Through 2026, Warns Borrowers Amid Oil Shock
JPMorgan’s chief U.S. economist Michael Feroli told CNBC that the Federal Reserve will not cut rates at all through 2026, and may even hike 25 basis points in late 2027. He attributes the hawkish stance to a resilient labor market,...
Today's Brent Mirrors 2014 Levels After Inflation Adjustments
Dated Brent was at ~$105 in April 2014, before the BIG shale-induced rout in crude prices. Adjusting for inflation, that's roughly where we are today. And the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. (Also the lapsed appropriations note at the bottom of the BLS'...
JPMorgan, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Lead Earnings Season Spotlight
Investors are zeroing in on JPMorgan Chase, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman as the three large‑cap stocks to watch in April’s earnings season. JPMorgan’s full‑year revenue guidance of $103 billion and an EPS threshold of $5.70 set the tone, while defense...
Charitable Giving Strategies to Reduce Your Washington Income Tax
Washington’s new 9.9% income tax introduces a charitable deduction under §309, limited to $100,000 per year, which can shave up to $9,900 off a taxpayer’s liability. The deduction mirrors federal IRC §170 gifts, but its cap means high‑income earners must look...
Milwaukee Mulls $200 M Publicly Financed Convention Hotel to Reclaim Downtown Meetings
Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Center District is reviewing a consultant report that recommends a 650‑room, publicly financed hotel attached to the Baird Center. The plan seeks to close a 418‑room gap with rival Columbus and recapture lost conventions worth $5‑9 million each. Officials...
Eurozone PMI Slips to 50.7, Weighing on European Stocks as Oil Rises
The eurozone composite PMI dropped to 50.7 in March, its weakest reading in eight months, as Middle‑East war‑driven energy costs surge. The data, released alongside Spain’s services PMI forecast of 50.7, has pressured European equities, with analysts warning that higher...
Consistent Small Wins Outperform Home‑Run Options Strategies
Options income isn’t about hitting home runs. It’s about stacking singles: • sell puts • collect premium • manage risk • repeat Boring strategies tend to pay the most.
Ethiopia’s Birr Slumps 107% as Fertilizer and Fuel Costs Surge, Threatening Record Wheat Harvest
Ethiopia’s birr has lost roughly 107% of its value against the dollar since July 2024, pushing fertilizer prices up 60% and fuel up 56%. The surge in input costs threatens to erode gains from a projected record 7 million‑metric‑ton wheat harvest...
India's FY27 Growth Forecast Cut to 6.8‑6.9% Amid Energy Shock and Middle East Conflict
ICICI Bank trimmed its FY27 GDP projection for India to 6.8‑6.9% from 7.2%, while Moody's downgraded its own estimate to 6% from 6.8%. Both agencies cite the ongoing West Asia war, soaring oil prices and constrained LPG and LNG supplies...
India’s Nifty Hits 22,968, Sensex 74,107 on Bank and Realty Buying
India’s Nifty 50 closed at 22,968.25 (+1.12%) and the BSE Sensex at 74,106.85 (+1.07%) on April 6, driven by strong buying in banks, realty and mid‑cap stocks. Analysts linked the rally to value buying, softer crude prices and a firmer rupee...
China Drives Global Rollout of Data‑driven Agri‑tech, 270 Projects in 40+ Countries
Lisente Agricultural Technology Co. is exporting data‑rich greenhouse systems to Uzbekistan, Guinea and Romania, marking the latest push in China's 15th Five‑Year Plan to globalise precision‑farming. The company has completed more than 270 projects across 40 countries, delivering IoT‑enabled, AI‑monitored...
Is Retirement Income Subject to Washington's 9.9% Income Tax? (Social Security, Pensions, 401(k), IRAs)
Washington’s new 9.9% income tax, effective 2028, treats retirement income like any other earnings, with a $1 million exemption threshold. Social Security benefits are only taxed to the extent they are federally taxable, while Roth withdrawals remain excluded. Traditional IRA, 401(k)...
One in Eight British Residents Has Left UAE Since Iran War, Data Shows
Financial Times data reveals that roughly one in eight British residents have left the United Arab Emirates since the outbreak of the Iran‑UAE conflict earlier this year. The exodus, driven by heightened security concerns and travel restrictions, has accelerated in...
March CPI Inflation Preview: Q/Q AR at 5.2% to 5.9%
The Cleveland Federal Reserve’s nowcast projects March headline CPI rising at an annualized quarter‑on‑quarter rate of 5.2%‑5.9%, slightly above the Bloomberg consensus. The nowcast blends recent CPI and PCE releases with daily oil and gasoline price data, indicating inflation remains...
U.S. Bank Says This Money Decision Is Quietly Erasing Years of Hard Work
U.S. Bank’s new financial‑education guide warns that the average savings‑account rate of 0.39% APY is being outpaced by the 2.4% inflation rate, eroding savers’ purchasing power. It contrasts low‑yield savings with the long‑term returns of the S&P 500, which has averaged...
Starting A New Job? Make These 7 Money Moves Immediately
Landing a new job is a pivotal moment, but the financial impact depends on early, intentional actions. The article outlines seven immediate money moves, from scrutinizing benefits and boosting retirement contributions to updating tax withholdings and guarding against lifestyle inflation....
Pareto Pure Alpha Portfolios — April 2026
Pareto Investor’s April 2026 update shows its four Pure Alpha portfolios delivering mixed YTD results amid heightened macro volatility. The Momentum portfolio leads with a 23% gain YTD and a 105% return over the past 12 months, while Growth and...
Can AI Get You Cheaper Gas? New Tool Promises Savings at the Pump
AI-driven website The Gas Index offers drivers real‑time, geolocated gas price data, helping them locate the cheapest pump. Built entirely with Claude Code, the platform pulls station prices through Google’s API and lets users specify their car model to estimate...
Taco Trade: 1‑DTE SP
Put on a little debit buttefly on $SPX 1 DTE - I rather call it the #taco trade. An anticipation that DJT doens't do it and the market has a nice relieve bounce tmorrow. What do you guys think?
FTSE100 Near Bullish EMA Cross Amid Sideways Trend
#FTSE100 small Down Candle and Sideways. Resistance 10636, ATH 10935. Support 10287, 10118, 9883, 9670. RSI 55 bit off Neutral. 13/21 day EMAs Bearish but Lines converging. On verge 8/21 Bull Cross. Top Bollinger Band 10501. Midpoint Line 10136. Bottom...
Welltower Buys Palm Beach County Assisted Living Facility for $87M
Welltower, the senior‑living REIT, acquired The Arbor at Lake Worth in Florida for $87.2 million, a price roughly 36 percent higher than the $64 million paid two years earlier. The 366,000‑square‑foot campus houses 377 assisted‑living units, a recreation center, auditorium and a nursing...
Strait Closure Fuels Market Drag; Iran Refuses Leverage Trade‑off
Two points that remain top of mind for me. How do you solve these? 1. Delays that don't open the Strait keeps negative carry on the stock market https://t.co/xqJjSx51rF 2. Iran is not going to open the Strait for a ceasefire and forego...
DAX Stalls Near Resistance, Bears Eye Support
#DAX small Down Candle and really Sideways. Resistance 23398, 23957, 24366. Support 22677, 22209, 21863. RSI 44 bit off Neutral. 13/21 day EMAs Bearish. Top Bollinger Band 23333. Midpoint Line 22778. Bottom Band 22210.
Advisors Seeking to Appeal to Midcareer HNW Women Better Not Forget Estate Planning
Advisors targeting mid‑career high‑net‑worth women must proactively introduce estate‑planning conversations, according to Vanilla’s Women & Wealth survey. The study finds 46% of these women view family financial protection as their top goal, yet one‑third say their advisor never raised the...
IMF Flags Rising Imbalances, Revives Currency Manipulation Label
Happy to see the IMF has noticed the expansion of global current account imbalances -- And guess what, the IMF seems to have rediscovered the idea that currency manipulation can drive imbalances (though manipulation has been renamed "macro-industrial policy" ......
U.S. Stocks Rise for Fifth Consecutive Day
All that and US stocks closed the day UP.. 5th straight day of gains. https://t.co/aNxOTPxAmF
Is It Time to Buy Tech, Again? A Flurry of Good News From Broadcom May Hold the Answer
Tech valuations have fallen to levels comparable with the broader market, sparking renewed investor interest despite lingering geopolitical risks. Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo note that AI‑driven growth and defensive characteristics make the sector attractive, even if a deeper Iran‑related...
Use EBIT/3 over Prime+5% to Spot Undervalued LBO Targets
Valuation trick that has served me well over the years: Start with net cash companies. EBIT / 3 / (Prime +5%) > EV You can LBO the whole business with debt at prime + 5% that is covered 3x. Good for identifying undervalued takeout...
Oil Benchmark Hits Record, Reflecting Iran War Shortages
A key benchmark for physical oil has surged to its highest level on record, showing that global crude markets are increasingly pricing in supply shortages caused by the Iran war. https://t.co/OCII5LIP6Z https://t.co/V7iFSd47Gu