Futures Dip, Oil Prices Climb as US Plans to Blockade the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump announced an immediate naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran to threaten retaliation against Persian Gulf ports. The announcement sent Dow futures down 0.9% and pulled S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures lower by about 0.5%. Meanwhile, Brent crude surged 9% to nearly $104 a barrel and WTI topped $104, reigniting inflation worries. Market participants are now gauging how the geopolitical flashpoint could reshape energy markets and broader growth outlooks.
NVDA Poised for New Highs After False Breakdown
Mag 7 is coming back, just as everyone couldn't get rid of those names fast enough to buy Staples at 25x. Seriously, that happened just a couple weeks ago. Nice one from @scottcharts in his report this AM that shows NVDA...
Stable Breadth and Calm Credit Spreads Signal Near New Highs
Many are wondering how stocks could be one good day away from new highs again. There have been many clues things weren't as bad as they were telling us, but my two favorites are A/D lines and credit spreads. Breadth never broke...
Deals in Brief: Three Singapore Startups Raise AI Funding; SC Ventures Leads Keyrock’s Series C Round; Six China Investments; and...
Singapore’s AI ecosystem saw a flurry of capital this week, with Muun AI closing a $700,000 pre‑seed round, OnSite raising $1.3 million seed funding for its construction‑focused communication platform, Injewelme securing $1.2 million to broaden contactless health‑monitoring capabilities, and NeuBird AI attracting...
Rising Chinese Imports Squeeze Margins, Price Hikes Looming
China imports rose +23%YoY for Q1 2026 and March rose 28%YoY. Meanwhile, exports slowed to 2.5%YoY. In other words, Asia terms of trade is deteriorating and even is supposedly immune but you can see from PPI and now imports that costs...
M&A Boom in Japan Is Fuelling Record Corporate Bond Sales
Japan's corporate bond market is set to break records as M&A activity drives unprecedented funding demand. Yen‑denominated issuance surged 94% year‑over‑year in March, and Daiwa estimates total sales will reach ¥16.5 trillion (about $110 billion) this fiscal year, up from ¥15.9 trillion last...
Risk of LatAm Fiscal Slippage Grows as Iran War Drags On
Latin American governments face mounting fiscal pressure as the protracted Iran‑Israel conflict keeps global oil prices elevated. Higher energy costs are eroding household purchasing power, prompting policymakers to consider subsidies that could swell public deficits. At the same time, many...
West Coast Chases Deeper Silver at Elizabeth Hill
West Coast Silver (ASX:WCE) has launched a diamond drilling campaign of up to 1,500 m across six holes at its Elizabeth Hill project in Western Australia. The program focuses on testing depth extensions of high‑grade silver mineralisation along the Munni Munni...
Goldman Sachs Has the Top Rank Among the S&P 500 by This Remarkable Statistic
Goldman Sachs reported Q1 earnings that beat expectations, but its stock slipped 3% as investors priced in a forward P/E of 14.8, above the banking sector average. The bank raised its quarterly dividend to $4.50, delivering a 1.98% yield and...
Bloomberg Daybreak Asia: US-Iran Eye More Talks (Podcast)
Asian stocks rose as artificial‑intelligence shares regained momentum, while Middle‑East tensions eased after President Donald Trump signaled openness to renewed talks with Iran. Brent crude fell 1.5% to $97.85 a barrel as the United States and Iran explored a fresh...
MarketWatch’s ‘WTF Indicator’ Flashes Bullish Signal for Traders
MarketWatch’s proprietary sentiment gauge, dubbed the ‘WTF indicator’, surged on its latest reading, a signal that many traders interpret as an early bullish cue. The flash has drawn attention across forums and trading desks, sparking debate over its predictive value.
USO Call Spread Nets 4.7% Return as Oil Futures Surge 5.5%
Traders executed a large call spread on USO that delivered a 4.7% gain after the fund rose 5.56% on the back of a 5.5% jump in oil futures. The trade’s success underscores how option‑skew signals can guide tactical bets in...
Microsoft (MSFT) Price Target Lowered by $103 Ahead of Q3 Report
BNP Paribas analyst Stefan Slowinski lowered Microsoft’s price target on April 10 from $659 to $556, while keeping an Outperform rating. The new target still suggests roughly a 50% upside from the current share price and comes ahead of Microsoft’s...
Third Point Q1 2026: -0.6% Return, Beats S&P by 400bps on Semiconductor and Aerospace Gains
Third Point’s flagship Offshore Fund posted a modest -0.6% return for Q1 2026, yet outperformed the S&P 500 by roughly 400 basis points. The outperformance stemmed from diversified wins in semiconductors, aerospace, power infrastructure and related sectors, while the fund...
Barclays' Fundamentals Shine Amid Underestimated Challenges, Analyst Says
A Seeking Alpha contributor noted on April 13, 2026 that Barclays PLC boasts solid fundamentals yet faces challenges that are likely being underestimated. The piece compares Barclays to peers such as Lloyds, BNP Paribas and ING, suggesting investors weigh both strengths...
Media Misstates Rial, Actually Up 8% Since War
Since Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, frequent media reports indicate that the value of the rial has plunged. WRONG. Today, the rial fell just 0.3% vs the USD. Since the US-Israeli war on Iran, the rial has gained 8%...
Polish Regulator Fines XTB 20 M Zł ($5.5 M) for MiFID II CFD Violations
Poland's Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) imposed a 20 million‑zł (about $5.5 million) penalty on brokerage XTB SA for mis‑selling contracts for difference. The regulator said the broker failed to assess client knowledge, target the right market and disclose CFD risks, a breach...
Analyst Raises Price Target on UnitedHealth Group (UNH), Keeps ‘Neutral’ Rating
Bank of America analyst Kevin Fischbeck raised UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH) price target from $315 to $337 on April 7, while keeping a neutral rating, suggesting more than 10% upside. The adjustment follows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ finalization of...
Bank of America (BAC) Price Target Trimmed by $5, ‘Buy’ Rating Maintained
UBS trimmed its price target for Bank of America (BAC) from $67 to $62 on April 7, while keeping a Buy rating. The revised target still suggests an 18% upside from the current share price. UBS expects BAC’s net interest income...
Arista Networks Jumps 3% on Analyst Upgrade and AI‑Sector Outlook
Arista Networks (ANET) closed up 3.13% on April 13, spurred by a recent upgrade to "Buy" from a leading investment firm and growing confidence in its AI‑focused networking strategy. The rally reflects broader enthusiasm for hardware players positioned to serve...
GE Vernova (GEV) Price Target Increased by $260
Susquehanna analyst Charles Minervino raised GE Vernova’s (GEV) price target from $820 to $1,080, implying roughly a 9% upside over the current share price. The firm reported a $150 billion backlog at the end of 2025 and lifted its FY 2026...
Ex‑Rokos and Brevan Howard Veteran Launches $359 Million Commodities Hedge Fund
Luke Sadrian, a former partner at Rokos Capital Management and Brevan Howard, has rolled out the Fulcrum Commodities Fund, a $359 million vehicle that posted a 30.5% return since its October 2025 launch. The fund’s early performance and rising allocator interest...
The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) Price Target Cut by $5, ‘Overweight’ Rating Maintained
RBC Capital trimmed its price target for Procter & Gamble (PG) to $167 from $172 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The brokerage expects the March quarter to be stable but notes slow growth amid lingering Middle‑East conflict and higher commodity...
Urban One Q3 Revenue Falls 16% to $92.7 Million Amid Radio, Digital Declines
Urban One reported Q3 2025 net revenue of $92.7 million, a 16% decline from the prior year, driven by double‑digit falls in radio, digital and cable. The company swung to a modest $2.5 million operating profit and cut its full‑year EBITDA guidance,...
AUD/USD Jumps to 0.709 as US‑Iran Talks Spark Aussie Rally
The AUD/USD pair surged to 0.7089, rebounding from a 0.6990 low, after President Donald Trump signaled renewed US‑Iran negotiations. The rally lifted the commodity‑linked Australian dollar and pressured the US Dollar Index, highlighting how geopolitics can swing forex markets.
Chevron Expects Higher Q1 Profits Amid the Middle East Conflict
Chevron announced on April 9 that its Q1 upstream earnings are projected to increase by $1.6‑$2.2 billion versus the prior quarter, fueled by a 65% surge in oil prices after the US‑Iran conflict cut roughly one‑fifth of global crude supply. The...
Intel Shares Jump 51% in April, Adding $100 Billion to Market Value
Intel Corp. rallied 51% in April, lifting its market value by more than $100 billion. The surge was sparked by a $14.2 billion Irish plant buyback and fresh partnerships with Tesla’s Terafab project and Google’s data‑center Xeon chips, even as analysts warn...
NIKE (NKE) Downgraded to Neutral, Price Target Cut by $10
Piper Sandler downgraded Nike (NKE) from Overweight to Neutral on April 10, trimming its price target from $60 to $50. The broker still sees over 17% upside versus the current share price, but warns that the athleisure segment is becoming...
EU Recycled Plastic Premiums Hit Record, Saving Up to 50% on Polyolefins
European recyclers are seeing unprecedented price premiums over virgin polymers, with spot‑market savings of more than 50% for low‑density polyethylenes and €300/tonne (≈$327) for rPET. The rally reflects tight virgin feedstock supplies caused by Middle‑East export disruptions and rising production...
Taiwan’s NT$500bn Stabilization Fund Posts $253M Profit, Stays on Standby Amid US Tariff Shock
The National Stabilization Fund reported a net profit of NT$8.054 billion ($253.4 million) and said it will not re‑enter the market, even as US tariff threats and Middle‑East tensions stir volatility. The fund still holds NT$3.56 billion of equities, underscoring a cautious but...
Asian Markets Slip as Oil Surges Past $100 and Middle East Tensions Rise
Asian stock markets traded lower on Monday after oil prices topped $100 a barrel and U.S. President Donald Trump warned of a naval blockade of Iranian ports. The Nikkei 225 slipped below 56,400, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.48%, and regional...
Juicyway Secures FCA Licence, Launches UK‑Africa Payments Corridor
Juicyway has been granted an Authorised Payment Institution licence by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, clearing the regulatory hurdle to launch remittance, multi‑currency and FX services for the African diaspora. The approval positions the fintech to tap a corridor that...
Asia Air Travel Faces Turbulence as Iran War Exposes Jet Fuel Vulnerability
Jet fuel prices in the Asia‑Pacific have spiked to roughly $198 a barrel, about twice pre‑war levels, after the United States began restricting shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following stalled Iran peace talks. The surge is forcing airlines across...
WM Senibong IPO: Bet on Singapore’s Land Scarcity
The upcoming RM500 million IPO of WM Senibong isn't a signal of Malaysia's domestic property strength—it's a massive, coordinated bet on Singapore's shrinking land space. While the headlines focus on the target valuation of more than RM2 billion, there's a...
TLT Trading Volume Hits Three-Year Low, Signaling Waning Bond Interest
TLT is a good proxy for bond market interest. And interest (volume) is now at a 3+ year low. * $TLT's volume today was 12.720M shares, the lowest daily volume since January 2023 (and this INCLUDES holidays) * The 5-day average volume...
The Strategic Logic of Xi’s Historic Meeting with Taiwan’s Cheng Li-Wun
On April 12, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li‑wun in Beijing, marking a historic dialogue between the Communist Party and Taiwan’s main opposition. The meeting coincided with Beijing’s rollout of a 10‑point policy package that restores direct...
Four Metrics to Identify Truly Cheap Stocks
Someone on r/stocks asked "what's the best way to tell if a stock is actually cheap?" Quick framework I use: - P/E below sector average (not just "low P/E") - Revenue growing >10% annually - Insiders buying on open market - Debt under 3x EBITDA -...
Small Fees Turn $10k Into $180k Difference
This chart shows the growth of $10k over 50 years with a 7% return vs a 7% return minus a 2% fee (high AUM, fees, etc) Difference is ~$180k on just $10k initial investment Please pay attention to fees
What My Proprietary Indicator Says About Silver
The author revisits his Synthetic Silver Price Index (SSPI), a proprietary tool built from gold and copper data, to gauge silver's trajectory. The SSPI’s 200‑day moving average remains upward‑sloping, indicating an ongoing uptrend despite a two‑month pullback. Both the SSPI...
Hormuz Blockade Hits Malaysian SMEs With Triple Cost Surge
The Hormuz blockade is NOT a Middle East story for Malaysian SMEs. It’s an input cost problem on top of one you’re already managing. Most SME supply chains price raw materials in USD. When oil spikes, freight follows. When global risk...
Refinery Cuts Threaten Buffers, Triggering Oil Supply Cliff
The system isn’t adjusting—it’s depleting. Inventories are masking the shock while demand is being forced lower, writes @HFI_Research If refinery cuts jump to ~8 mbd, the buffers won’t last. The cliff is approaching #Oil #Energy #Geopolitics
China’s Real Focus: Gulf Trade, Not Iranian Oil
China may buy Iran’s oil—but its real bet is the Gulf, writes @glcarlstrom Far more trade, far more investment. No way Beijing risks that for a few discounted barrels. #Oil #China #Geopolitics
Analysts Forecast S&P Earnings Double 30‑Year Average
Wall Street analysts are projecting S&P 500 earnings growth at double the 30-year average. They're more bullish than the bulls. 🔒 Members-Only https://t.co/F5lhKKAzl8
Weekly Technical Patterns Highlight Diverse Short‑Term Strength Leaders
List of short term relative strength leaders (quite a diversity of industries, not just semis). Study the weekly patterns that are technical drivers with these: HOG, STT, SPG, INTC (most all semis), ALAB, MRVL, AMZN, PCAR, CMI, KMX, TEL,...
Dated vs Prompt Brent Futures Spread Widening
Dated Brent crude vs prompt Brent futures Normally pretty tight, but not right now. Mind the gap. https://t.co/sTrTsmJpQs
Super‑El Niño 2026 Threatens Asian Equity Markets
A super-El Niño is projected for 2026. This will have serious consequences for Asian equities: https://t.co/pmx3AfkBgQ
Goldman Predicts Modest 2026 Price Rise, Many Regions Fall
Goldman Sachs' latest forecast expects U.S. single-family home prices, as measured by Case-Shiller, to rise +0.7% in calendar year 2026 In that type of environment, around 35%-45% of regional housing market post outright annual nominal declines https://t.co/D37QmxUgc9
Home Sales Plummet as Supply Peaks, Condos Hit Record Low
Single-Family Home Sales Drop Further into Deepfreeze, Supply Hits 10-Year High, Condo Sales Plunge to Record Low March was a lousy beginning of spring selling season. But mortgage rates ticked up only modestly. https://t.co/B5wK4sU0lw https://t.co/jYisYhV9je
North Korean Won Plummets 62%, World's 2nd Worst Currency
On this week's Hanke's #CurrencyWatchlist, the North Korean won ranks as the WORLD'S 2ND WORST CURRENCY. The won has depreciated by 62% against the USD over the past year. THE COLLAPSE OF THE WON = THE WORLD'S MOST UNDERREPORTED CURRENCY STORY. https://t.co/dxHRFaYUhS
Breakaway Momentum Requires 2070 Net Advances Tomorrow
The market has a chance to generate Breakaway Momentum -- which I believe is the Best Breadth Thrust Of Them All -- tomorrow. But it will take 2070 net advances for it to do so; we then lose March 30th's...