Pershing Square Down 11% as Ackman Eyes Management Company IPO
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Holdings has fallen 11.1% year‑to‑date through February 24, underperforming the S&P 500’s modest gain. The London‑listed fund, which represents about $13 billion of the firm’s $20 billion AUM, is hit by weakness in key positions such as Fannie Mae, Uber, Amazon and Howard Hughes. Ackman is eyeing an IPO of Pershing Square Capital Management, hoping to secure a premium valuation despite the fund’s widening discount to NAV. A renewed launch of a US‑focused closed‑end fund adds further pressure as performance fees could shrink if the drawdown persists.
France’s Economy Stands Strong, ECB Should Stay Hands‑Off
France has low exposure to Middle East shock, low inflation and resilient growth. ECB should not react to energy swings. Risk: energy volatility. Trade: overweight French banks. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA. More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Piero Cipollone: The Digital Euro - Enhancing Payments in the Euro Area
In a February 2026 speech to Italy’s Parliamentary Committee, ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone outlined the digital euro initiative, stressing its role in modernising payments and reinforcing trust through democratic legitimacy. He framed the project as a strategic response...
ECB's Villeroy: It Would Be a Mistake to Predict Rate Move in a Hurry
ECB Governing Council member Francois Villeroy warned that forecasting a rate move too quickly would be a mistake, emphasizing that policy decisions will not hinge solely on volatile energy prices. He noted that France’s exposure to Middle‑East tensions remains limited,...
Tidan Deepens Volatility Arbitrage Expertise
Tidan Capital has appointed Laurent Keller as Senior Portfolio Manager, bolstering its volatility and options arbitrage platform. Keller brings over a decade of quantitative experience in equity volatility relative‑value, dispersion and correlation strategies from a large Swiss institutional investor. He...
DXtrade Integrates theScreener Investment Intelligence and Research
Devexperts announced that its DXtrade multi‑asset trading platform will integrate theScreener’s investment intelligence, giving brokers instant, actionable research within the trading interface. The partnership adds multi‑language equity, sector and market insights to DXtrade’s existing support for stocks, options, futures, crypto...
Iranian Drone Attack Halts LNG, Sparks Dual Energy Shock
🚨 IRAN WAR DAY 4 — A DIFFERENT SHOCK 🚨 Day 4 changes the calculus. This isn't just an oil story anymore. QatarEnergy — the world's largest LNG supplier, covering 20% of global supply — halted all production after Iranian drones...
Sugar’s Bounce Has a Problem: The Surplus Story Has Not Moved
White sugar prices barely moved in May 2026, closing at $407.7/tonne, as futures steadied above $400 after a five‑year low. Despite the tactical bounce, surplus projections for 2025/26 and 2026/27 dominate market sentiment, limiting upside. Brazil’s modest output dip and...
Implications of Prolonged Unrest in Iran for Pakistan
The United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran after the February 27 assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz and target regional airports. Iran’s resilient regime is now focused on defending its...
What To Do If You Can’t Afford Your Student Loan Payment
The article outlines practical steps for borrowers who can’t afford their student loan payments, starting with switching to income‑driven repayment plans that cap monthly outlays at a percentage of discretionary income. It highlights deferment or forbearance as short‑term pauses, while...
What We Still Don't Know About Trump Accounts, Ep#295
In this episode Ryan Morrissey explains the newly introduced "Trump accounts" (530A accounts) designed to help children build wealth, detailing eligibility, contribution limits, and the $1,000 government seed fund for births between 2025‑2028. He walks through the still‑unclear aspects such...
Safaricom's Ziidi Smashes Records on Nairobi Exchange
Safaricom’s Ziidi Trader, launched on the M‑Pay platform in early February, sparked a surge in Nairobi Securities Exchange activity, with daily equity trades climbing from under 8,000 to more than 25,000. The app gives roughly 38 million M‑Pay subscribers the ability...
Japan's Jobless Rate Rises to 2.7% as Workers Seek Better Positions
Japan’s unemployment rate ticked up to 2.7% in January, ending a five‑month decline. The labor ministry reported a 0.4% dip in total employment and a 3.2% rise in the unemployed, driven largely by a 7.9% jump in voluntary quits. Job...
Nifty Plunges 400 Points, Call Buyers Face Losses
Gift Nifty 400+ Points Down🧐 Kal closing 30 mint action ko dekh kr.. Call buy krne walo ka kya hoga? #USIran
Asia Wrap: The Strait, The Semis, But Mostly The Invoice Korea Could Not Ignore
Korea’s KOSPI slumped over 7% on its first post‑holiday session as oil prices spiked amid heightened Hormuz risk. Roughly 70% of Korean crude comes from the Middle East, linking oil shocks directly to trade balances, inflation and currency pressure. The...
China’s Undersea Great Wall Targets US Sub Supremacy
China is constructing a multi‑layered undersea warfare system, dubbed the "Underwater Great Wall," to counter U.S. submarine dominance and protect its nuclear deterrent. The People’s Liberation Army Navy now operates more than 60 submarines, including Shang III SSGNs with 24‑cell VLS...
Qatar’s LNG Crisis: The Massive Geopolitical Risk Premium—And How You Can Profit From It
Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, faces a supply crunch as regional geopolitical tensions and export‑capacity constraints tighten the market. The disruption has injected a hefty risk premium into spot and forward LNG prices, pushing contracts up 15‑20% year‑over‑year. Buyers...
What Are Biometric IDs? What Are the Risks?
Across Africa, governments are rolling out biometric digital ID systems to streamline access to voting, healthcare, education and social protection. A new report by the African Digital Rights Network, based on ten country case studies, finds millions excluded due to...
Starz Narrows Financial Loss to Under $21 Million During Q4
Starz posted Q4 2025 revenue of $322.8 million, a 6.3% decline year‑over‑year, driven by a 12% drop in streaming‑related sales. Linear and other revenue rose 6.6% to $112.5 million, partially offsetting the shortfall. The operating loss narrowed dramatically to $4.7...
Market Makers Now Serve as ETF Authorized Participants
Back in the day, Goldman Sachs was the premier Wall Street bad guy. The investment bank attracted endless scrutiny of the supposedly conflicting and asymmetric arrangements that powered its broker dealer operations. Key among these were its primary dealer arrangements....
Trump Says Wars Can Be Fought ‘Forever’ With The U.S.’s ‘Virtually Unlimited’ Weapons Stockpiles
President Donald Trump asserted on Truth Social that the United States possesses a "virtually unlimited" supply of weapons, allowing it to fight wars indefinitely. He contrasted this claim with criticism of President Joe Biden for allegedly diverting resources to Ukraine....
BOJ Might Have to Put Off March Rate Hike Amid US-Iran Conflict - Report
The Bank of Japan is likely to postpone its March interest‑rate hike as market volatility from the US‑Iran conflict intensifies. Yen depreciation remains the only clear trigger for a hike, but geopolitical risk and rising oil prices are prompting caution....
South African Corn Output Down but Not Out
South Africa’s 2025‑26 corn harvest is projected at 16.1 million tonnes, a 3.1% decline from the previous record‑high season despite a 4.6% expansion in planted area. Yield variability, especially in key provinces, outweighs the acreage gain, while white corn output edges...
COGENT STRATEGIC WEALTH LLC - Filing for Period Ending 12/31/2025
Cogent Strategic Wealth LLC, a Chicago‑based advisory firm, reported $265.9 million discretionary AUM as of Dec 31 2024 and disclosed its Q4 2025 13F holdings of $91.7 million, with a 67.5% concentration in its top ten positions. The firm’s largest holding is the Dimensional U.S....
SANKALA GROUP LLC - Filing for Period Ending 12/31/2025
Sankala Group LLC, a Lyons‑based advisory firm, manages $144.3 million in discretionary assets for 110 clients. Its most recent 13F filing shows $125.1 million in securities with a 33 % concentration in the top ten holdings, led by the iShares Treasury Floating Rate...
Israel-Iran War to Discourage Investment Into India, Offset Trade Deal Positives: BMI
BMI warns that the Israel‑Iran conflict will increase policy uncertainty and deter foreign investment in India. The firm keeps its FY2026/27 GDP growth forecast at 7 % but flags geopolitical risks that could offset gains from new US and EU trade...
REFLECTION ASSET MANAGEMENT - Filing for Period Ending 12/31/2025
Reflection Asset Management (RAM), based in Isle of Palms, oversees $164.95 million in discretionary assets for 67 clients and reported $140.68 million in 13F‑registered securities for Q4 2025. Its portfolio is heavily weighted toward NVIDIA, which alone accounts for 33.78% of its top‑ten...
TOBAM - Filing for Period Ending 12/31/2025
Tobam, a Paris‑based hedge fund, reported $1.236 billion in discretionary assets under management for the period ending 31 December 2025, serving 28 institutional clients. Its latest 13F filing shows $407 million in managed securities with a 21.34% concentration among the top ten holdings, led...
How to Spot and Avoid Illiquid ETFs
The column explains that ETF liquidity is driven primarily by the liquidity of the underlying securities, not by daily trading volume. It describes the in‑kind creation and redemption process that keeps ETF prices aligned with NAV. Real‑world examples show that...
Dartbrook Gets Six-Year Extension
The New South Wales government has extended the development consent for the Dartbrook thermal coal mine by six years, now running until 5 December 2033. The extension secures the mine’s 6 Mtpa coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) operations. The decision arrives amid...
Prabowo’s Peacemaker Campaign Now Extends to Iran
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto announced he is ready to travel to Tehran to mediate between Iran and the United States after the recent U.S.-Israel strikes. The foreign ministry framed the offer as a call for restraint, stopping short of condemning...
RLTY: Monthly Income From The Growth Of AI Data Centers
Closed‑end fund RLTY offers an 8.3% yield but pays out more than it earns, eroding NAV over time. The fund is positioned to capture AI data‑center growth through holdings in REITs such as DLR, AMT, and EQIX. However, its 34.6%...
Taiwan Doesn’t Have to Choose
Taiwan, home to 23 million people, sits at the nexus of global trade routes and the semiconductor supply chain, making its stability a linchpin for worldwide commerce. The Kuomintang (KMT) argues that the island should not be forced to align exclusively...
How Brokers Can Position Private Lending as a Strategic Advantage
Real estate brokers can turn private lending into a strategic advantage by offering faster, more flexible financing than traditional banks. Private lenders specialize in distinct property types and deal sizes, allowing brokers to match investors with the right capital source....
AI-Driven Market Dispersion Hits Multi-Decade Highs
From The Wall Street Journal: “Market ‘dispersion’ is hitting levels not seen in decades as investors sort AI winners from losers.” (Recall that Dispersion — both within and across sectors and economies — is one of the three key themes I’ve...
Golden Goose ‘More Excited than Ever’ After Positive Earnings
Golden Goose reported FY25 revenue of €734 million, a 15% year‑on‑year rise, driven by a 21% surge in direct‑to‑consumer sales that now represent 81% of total revenue. The brand added 17 new stores, bringing its global footprint to 232 locations, with...
DC's Limited Tricks Can't Stop High Oil Prices
DC won’t let high oil prices hurt Americans Good luck As @rory_johnston frames it, here are the options • SPR release (here we go again) • Sanctions relief on Russia (err... not great) • Gas tax holiday (2022 redux) You can’t print barrels https://t.co/3KCAj8NtGr #Oil #EnergyMarkets...
Florida’s Fields Are Hurting – What That Means for Reefer Freight Right Now
Florida experienced an unprecedented freeze from late December 2025 through early February 2026, inflicting over $3 billion in agricultural losses. Key commodities such as tomatoes, squash, and bell peppers saw up to 50% crop loss, while strawberries, blueberries, and citrus also...
This Stock-Split Stock Is a Major AI Beneficiary. But Is Its Recent Sell-Off a Buying Opportunity?
ServiceNow completed a 5‑for‑1 stock split and posted a strong Q4, with subscription revenue of $3.5 billion, up 21 % YoY. AI‑focused Now Assist generated over $600 million in annual contract value, while non‑GAAP free‑cash‑flow margin reached 57 %. Despite these gains, the stock...
Trusts Aren't Tax Tricks—Structure Determines Benefit
I don’t need to hear this, but “put it in a trust” is not a tax strategy. It’s like saying “put it in a box.” What kind of box? Who controls the box? Who benefits from the box? That’s where the tax answer...
Europe Faces Looming Energy Crisis: Key Takeaways
What does the potentially emerging energy crisis mean for Europe? Yesterday I was in a media briefing with 75 journalists. Here is a snippet of what I told them. https://t.co/3dT441Yllq
Asset Managers Prioritize Customer Experience for 2026 Growth
🌏External asset managers target 2026 growth through new markets and partnerships: Improving customer experience and engagement ranked the top priority by 63% of the respondents. Survey by @BankofSG v/@finews_asia: https://t.co/hM7kRNOqAV #WealthManagement #WealthTech
2022 Traders Rediscovered JKM‑Equity Link Amid Gas Surge
Everyone that traded during 2022 just collectively remembered the relationship between JKM and Japanese/Korean Equities that we all forgot when natural gas prices were calm.
Korea's 37% Surge Highlights India's Stagnation Concerns
Korea market is still up 37 pct this yr ( this calendar year). So hopefully India does not fall in sympathy when it did not rise in elation. https://t.co/bshlp2GLRM
China's Oil Stockpiles Offer Buffer Against Price Spikes
“Can China act as a buffer? China has been loading up on cheap, sanctioned oil, putting some of it away in storage. In a report, analysts at Morgan Stanley said China could slow down on its purchases if oil prices...
India Emerges as Hedge Amid 7% Kospi Plunge
Kospi down 7 pct. Quick, need a hedge for this hedge i took a few days ago. Wait, I have one - India.
LNG Supply Shocks Expose Energy Transition’s Fatal Flaw
Qatar LNG offline — unprecedented. U.S. exporters win, importers lose, says @seb_kennedy Ukraine & Iran wars expose a core flaw in the “energy transition” narrative. All energy depends on supply chains — break them, you break energy. No supply chains, no energy. Plan B? #LNG...
Markets
Winning Isn't Even On My Bingo Card From Safe Havens To Software Gap Down Was Bought, For Now Petro or Pedo-Dollar https://t.co/C1TzLcxyl7
Warner Bros. Discovery Reopens Discovery+ Subscriptions Globally
WBD Q4 FY25 call: "If you remember back when we merged into Warner Bros. Discovery, we were trying to shut down Discovery Plus. The fact of the matter is we still have millions of viewers... We have already opened up...
World's Largest LNG Plant Offline, Yet Unnoticed
Can you believe that all of the people down there are unaware that the world’s largest LNG plant is offline? https://t.co/nG6uMfgyuH