Chinese Domestic Sulphur Prices Surge on Iran Crisis
Chinese domestic sulphur prices jumped to 4,250 yuan per tonne, about $531, marking a roughly 5% increase from late February levels. The rise follows heightened US‑Iran tensions, prompting sellers to lift offers to 4,300 yuan/t in both paper and spot markets. While some buyers remain cautious, waiting for clearer supply signals, the market is watching for potential disruptions to Middle‑East shipments. China, the world’s biggest sulphur importer, sourced nearly 40% of its 9.6 million tonnes in 2025 from the Gulf region.
India Manufacturing Growth Hits Four-Month High in February, PMI Shows
India’s manufacturing PMI climbed to 56.9 in February, the strongest level in four months, driven by a surge in domestic new orders and higher production volumes. Export orders, however, slipped to a 17‑month low as U.S. tariff uncertainty lingered. Input‑cost...
Cross-Asset Vols Spike on Iran Risk as Oil Surges
Cross‑asset implied volatilities surged after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, with oil 1‑month vol jumping 7 points and the skew inverting through the 6‑month curve – a pattern last seen during the 2022 Russia‑Ukraine war. Credit volatility also spiked,...
Historic Low Range Hints at Upcoming Market Volatility
This year is the smallest range EVER for the first two months of a new year at only 2.7% for the S&P 500. Pretty incredible when you look at all the big winners and losers out there, yet, the overall market...
Inside the $11.5m Surfers Paradise Penthouse that Just Set a New Record
A full‑floor penthouse at Nera Residences on Chevron Island sold off‑plan for $11.5 million, eclipsing the previous $10 million record. The 459 sqm unit features four bedrooms, four‑and‑a‑half baths, a Michelin‑chef‑designed kitchen and extensive wellness amenities. With 70% of the 87‑unit development already...
Pakistan Bourse Resumes Trading After Record Fall Triggered Halt
Pakistan’s benchmark KSE‑30 index suffered a record intraday plunge, sinking 9.8% before trimming losses to 7.3% after an hour‑long trading halt. The sharp drop was sparked by heightened geopolitical tension after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran....
India's LNG Tankers Divert Away From Strait of Hormuz
Escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz forced Indian LNG carriers to reroute, leaving only one of Petronet's three captive tankers able to unload at the Dahej terminal. The 138,000 m³ Disha is stalled at Ras Laffan, while Aseem diverted away...
L1 Group's Cost Cuts and Fund Surge Boost Appeal
A rare post about an Australian stock: L1 Group (L1G-ASX) which reverse-acquired my former employer last year, looks interesting. The stock is not optically cheap, but when you look at... 1. The run-rate cost savings (guiding to $30-$35m, ~75% of...
HAL, BDL, Other Defence Stocks in Focus as War in Middle East Escalates; What to Expect?
Indian defence stocks rallied as Middle East tensions rose after Iran's Supreme Leader was killed. HAL and BDL saw modest gains despite year‑to‑date declines of over 11% and 15% respectively. The recent India‑Israel defence pact and Prime Minister Modi’s visit...
Geopolitical Risk and AI Risk Converging
The Capital Flows Research team notes that geopolitical instability and AI safety concerns are increasingly overlapping, creating a compounded risk environment. The analyst introduced a new AI-driven mapping tool and released a suite of TradingView indicators to monitor these dynamics....
Renmark West Project to Unlock 500-Plus New Homes
Renmark Paringa Council will invest $3 million to extend its community wastewater management system into Renmark West, unlocking capacity for more than 500 new homes. The expansion removes long‑standing planning constraints tied to onsite wastewater and groundwater conditions, enabling residential development...
Trade Higher‑Timeframe Bias, Confirm on Lower Frames
Most traders lose because they trade the lower time frame first. You saw the sell off and wanted to short it. But on the hourly chart, price was sitting at a key gap level. That higher time frame support mattered. Drop down and...
SET Index Falls on Iran-US Conflict
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) opened down 1.73% to 1,501.78 as investors reacted to the Iran‑US conflict. Energy‑linked shares such as PTTEP and PTT rose, while non‑energy stocks like Gulf Energy, Bumrungrad Hospital and Airports of Thailand fell sharply....
Bonjour Holdings Suffers Losses in ‘Complex’ Retail Environment
Hong Kong investment group Bonjour Holdings reported a half‑year loss of HK$68.8 million for the period ending 31 December 2025, an improvement from the HK$134.4 million loss a year earlier. Revenue plunged 50.4% year‑on‑year to HK$6.7 million in its retail and wholesale division, while gross...
AUD/JPY Trades Above 111.00 After Paring Recent Losses
AUD/JPY rebounded to trade above the 111.00 level during Asian hours, offsetting earlier losses despite heightened safe‑haven demand from the Middle East crisis. The Australian dollar’s recovery was supported by a modest easing in domestic inflation and a dip in...
Does International Law Still Matter? The Strike on the Girls’ School in Iran Shows Why We Need It
A strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab, Iran, reportedly killed more than 150 people, many of them children, and injured dozens. Iranian officials say the school was hit while adjacent to an IRGC naval base, but...
US Short Interest Hits Decade High, Top Stocks 7% Shorted
🔴US market short interest is SURGING: Median S&P 500 stock short interest is up to 2.7% of market cap, the highest in at least 10 years, according to Goldman Sachs. The top 10% most shorted stocks now have 7% of their market...
Reits that Don’t Trade Well Should Be Privatised, or Sell Assets and Be Liquidated
OUE Real Estate Investment Trust is weighing a sale of its flagship asset, One Raffles Place, which is priced between S$2.3 billion and S$2.4 billion. The trust holds an effective 68 percent interest, contributing roughly 25 percent of its portfolio revenue, yet trades S$0.56 below net...
Intermediaries See Shift to Fixed Income Ahead of Rate Cuts, Eye New Markets for Growth: BOS Survey
A Bank of Singapore survey of 90 senior intermediaries across Singapore, Greater China and Dubai shows a clear shift toward fixed‑income products as investors brace for anticipated rate cuts. One‑third of respondents expect rising demand for bonds, while alternative investments...
BoJ’s Himino Says Policy Should Gradually Move Toward Neutral Stance with Moderate Rate Hikes
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Shinichi Himino said the central bank’s policy remains somewhat accommodative but should gradually move toward a neutral stance through moderate rate hikes. He noted that the inflation gap is still slightly negative but expected to...
ASIA BLOG: The Fall of the Islamic Republic of Iran Will Boost the Rise of Asian Business Links No End
An Israeli‑U.S. strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader has weakened the Islamic Republic, prompting speculation that its eventual collapse could reshape Asian economic ties. Iran holds the world’s fourth‑largest oil reserves and the second‑largest gas deposits, assets long constrained by...
Iran Conflict Spurs Oil, Markets, Crypto, Uranium Opportunities
Thoughts? The Iran war and oil crisis affect your money across four key areas: oil prices and inflation, stock market volatility, cryptocurrency movements, and overlooked opportunities in uranium and energy security stocks.
Booked Profits, Gold Bullish; SPX Neutral, Gap Fill Anticipated
GOLD & SPX TRADES UPDATE: Booked profits right at the weekly open in anticipation of gap fills on both & middle east tensions holding lesser impact than everyone's fearing. On SPX , i am leaning neutral to slightly bearish , not much...
Australian Airline Qantas' Shares Fall More than 10% on US-Iran Conflict
Qantas Airways’ shares plunged more than 10% to A$8.92, their lowest level in ten months, after the United States and Israel launched large‑scale strikes on Iran, sending oil prices sharply higher. The geopolitical flare‑up forced the closure of key Middle...
Toyota Raises TOB Price, yet Governance Remains Disappointing
Toyota Asset Preparatory Co announced it had lifted the TOB Price for Toyota Industries to from ¥18,800 to a best and final ¥20,600. Elliott agreed to tender. They made big money, but this is still a really disappointing outcome for...
Indian Leveraged Futures Likely to Be Squashed Before Holi
Logically, if the war is not over, Indians with leveraged stock futures positions and MTF positions will not hold onto them into a Holi Holiday tomorrow - expect a lot of squaring up in the second half of the day....
UnionBank Profit Dropped to P10B in 2025
UnionBank of the Philippines reported a 17% drop in net income for 2025, posting P10 billion versus P12 billion the prior year. Despite the profit dip, net revenues climbed to P83.2 billion, driven by robust loan growth and higher transaction volumes. The bank’s...
Jobs, Sales Data May Confirm Fed Rate Path Amid Tensions
Geopolitical shocks meet key labor and retail data this week. February jobs and January sales could seal the Fed's rate outlook amid Middle East tensions. 🟢 Open https://t.co/NUBk2v4rcI
Markets Down Only 1%—Surprisingly Resilient
Markets aren't too bad this far. Just 1% down on an event like this almost seems like a positive :)
If You Already Own These Household-Name Stocks, Here’s the Risk You Might Be Missing
Household‑name stocks such as Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia and Google dominate many portfolios, but heavy exposure creates concentration risk and sector overlap. Experts warn that relying on a few large‑cap names can amplify losses when market sentiment shifts, especially if those...
Reduced Listing Transparency Sparks Political Pressure, Consumers Resist
If listing transparency meaningfully declines in the housing market, political pressure will follow, IMO. Consumers are unlikely to relinquish the market access they’ve gained over the past decade-plus.
Japanese Investment in China Jumps 55% Amid Tensions
“At a time when Tokyo and Beijing appear to be drifting further apart politically, Japanese capital is moving in the opposite direction…Japanese foreign direct investment into China surged by 55.5% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025.” https://t.co/osyTCAOqOp
Earnings Season, Data Center M+A, and Other Deals and Partnerships
The latest smart‑building newsletter spotlights earnings season, where leading OEMs highlighted increased investment in technology and sustainability. It also details strategic partnerships, notably ReTech Advisors with Audette and Nemetschek Group with Ingram Micro, aimed at scaling decarbonization and digital AEC...
Even Top Pickers Need Decades to Find Few Winners
🎯 It takes the best stock pickers in the world a few decades of owning hundreds or even thousands of stocks to find a handful that are worthy of holding long-term. https://t.co/KRxH9wKOSP
Brent Crude Jumps 7% Amid War‑Driven Price Surge
On the opening of the Intercontinental Exchange Market in London, BRENT CRUDE SURGED. Since the close on Friday, it's up over 7%, trading at $78 / barrel. THE WINDS OF WAR = HIGHER OIL PRICES = MORE AFFORDABILITY PROBLEMS FOR TRUMP. https://t.co/H6nboenO4u
Uzbekistan’s January Foreign Trade Rises 29% to $5.8bn
Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover jumped to $5.8 bn in January, a 29.2% year‑on‑year increase. Exports rose 26.7% to $1.69 bn, driven by industrial goods, food, chemicals and services, while imports climbed 30.3% to $4.14 bn, widening the trade deficit to $2.44 bn. China remained...
SB 684-1123 Bypasses SB 9 Owner-Occupancy Limits
Yet more SB 684-1123 projects starting entitlement in Sacramento. In this case, it's being uses to do the exact sort of thing intended by SB 9. Why did it work? Doesn't have the SB 9 owner-occupancy poison pill. https://t.co/mXfsiuKvEJ
Oil Reclaims Half Gains, Up 6% Amid Uncertainty
Oil has given back about half of the gap higher.. but where will it be tomorrow morning? CL, Brent +6% https://t.co/xc6c5bVP1V
Potential Pathways to Scale Innovative Construction Methods in California
Amid California’s worsening housing shortage, the Terner Center released a report outlining how industrialized construction can cut costs, speed timelines, and boost unit output. The study identifies 40 policy recommendations grouped into seven themes, ranging from building‑code reform and financing...
King Dollar Not Dead; China Still Buying Dollars
Talk of the death of King Dollar is premature. Exhibit #1: China. It runs a large current account surplus, and is accumulating a mountain of predominately dollar-denominated foreign assets at record rates. Those who YAK about DE-DOLLARIZATION should start to FOLLOW THE...
LBO Debt Market Faces $20B Nerve‑Testing Stress Test
The LBO debt market is freaking out. Here comes a $20B test of nerves https://t.co/MiXTnEB2pK
Surgery Partners Inc (SGRY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Surgery Partners reported Q4 2025 net revenue of $821.5 million, a 6.6% year‑over‑year increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $136.4 million, up 6.1% with a 16.6% margin. The company revised full‑year revenue guidance to $3.275‑$3.30 billion and adjusted EBITDA to $535‑$540 million, citing delayed capital...
Asia's Undervalued Currencies Poised for Explosive Gains
Interesting piece from Bloomberg's Shuli Ren, on the risk that Asia's wildly undervalued currencies might have an explosive appreciation ... 1/3 https://t.co/j9M2wdl5ED
Stocks Trend Upward Despite Current Fear; History Repeats
Good time to dust off the Chart of Fears. Yes, what is happening now is confusing and scary. But we've seen many other times like this and stocks have always moved from bottom left to upper right. https://t.co/H9xMLrLKC1
Ares-Prices-Second-European-Direct-Lending-CLO
Ares Management priced its second European direct‑lending CLO on 2 March 2026, marking a follow‑up to its £305 million debut less than a year earlier. The new issuance targets the European middle‑market loan pool, aiming to capture the surge in private‑credit activity across...
Lendingtree Inc (TREE) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
LendingTree reported a strong Q4 2025, with VMD rising 14% YoY and adjusted EBITDA climbing 28%, outpacing revenue growth. All three reportable segments posted double‑digit VMD gains, highlighted by insurance BMD reaching $74 million and small‑business revenue surging 60% YoY (78%...
WhiteHorse Finance Inc (WHF) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Westwood Holdings Group reported Q4 2025 revenue of $27.1 million, driven by a growing ETF franchise that now holds over $200 million in assets and the launch of the YLDW ETF. The firm closed its Westwood Energy Secondary Fund II with more...
Asana Inc (ASAN) Q4 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Asana reported Q4 FY2026 revenue of $205.6 million, up 9% year‑over‑year, and improved its non‑GAAP operating margin to 9%—a 10‑point jump. The company highlighted strong AI momentum, with AI Studio ARR surpassing $6 million and growing over 50% sequentially, while AI teammates...
Yatsen Holding Ltd (YSG) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Yatsen Holding reported a 7.1% Q4 2024 revenue increase to RMB 1.15 billion, driven by a 16.4% surge in color‑cosmetics sales and higher‑margin product mix. Gross margin rose to 77.8% and net loss margin narrowed to 33%, while non‑GAAP net income margin...
BigBear.ai Holdings Inc (BBAI) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
RB Global reported a 10% year‑over‑year rise in adjusted EBITDA, driven by a 4% increase in gross transaction value and higher operating leverage. Automotive unit volume grew 8%, outpacing the market for the fourth straight quarter, while service revenue rose...