Global Parametrics Highlights How Parametric Products & Cat Bonds Can Scale Humanitarian Risk Financing
Global Parametrics’ new whitepaper argues that catastrophe bonds and parametric insurance can help bridge the widening humanitarian financing gap, which stands at roughly 36% of the projected $50 billion need in 2024. The report highlights that multi‑year cat bonds can unlock large pools of private capital, offering longer‑term protection than traditional reinsurance. It also notes that several NGOs, including UNICEF and IFRC, have already piloted climate‑linked insurance, while cat bonds remain nascent in the sector. The firm cautions that higher costs, payout speed, and operational complexity must be weighed against the benefits.
The Man Who Would Be King of Saudi Arabia (with Karen Elliott House)
In this episode, Russ Roberts talks with journalist Karen Elliott House about her new book on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, examining the Saudi leader’s drive to modernize the kingdom while consolidating political power. House outlines MBS’s motivations—economic diversification, geopolitical influence, and...
Stock Market Week 08/26: RENIXX Stable Above 1,200 Points - Year-to-Date Gain Climbs to 10.2% - Solaredge: Higher Revenue, Reduced...
The RENIXX renewable‑energy index stayed above the 1,200‑point psychological level last week, posting a 10.2% gain year‑to‑date. Weekly leaders were solar‑focused firms such as First Solar (+10.1%) and Solaredge (+7.2%), while Meridian Energy and others fell. Solaredge reported a 71%...
Debt Restructuring Is Senegal’s Best Bet
Senegal’s public debt has surged to roughly 132% of GDP, placing the country in a severe fiscal bind. With limited access to cheap financing, the government faces a stark choice between costly debt service and a structured debt‑restructuring process. Analysts...
Asian Stocks Rally After Trump’s Supreme Court Tariffs Blow
The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated most of President Trump’s tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, delivering a sharp policy reversal. Asian equity markets responded positively, with technology and e‑commerce stocks leading gains and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng up...
PSEi Climbs to 6,488 as Earnings Lift Market Sentiment
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose to 6,488.51, gaining 0.36% as earnings releases spurred buying in industrial, mining and oil stocks. Turnover hovered around P6.12 billion, reflecting measured participation despite subdued volume from global tariff worries. Market breadth stayed positive with...
Today Only: Up To 4x Bonus Airline Miles On Apple Purchases
Apple shoppers can earn a limited‑time boost of 3.5‑ to 4‑times airline miles per dollar through four major airline shopping portals. The promotion runs on February 23 2026 and applies to most Apple products except flagship iPhones, Vision Pro, and several accessories. Alaska...
GSMA Launches Innovation Fund to Accelerate Green Transition Through Mobile Technology
The GSMA has launched a global Innovation Fund offering £100,000‑£200,000 grants to small and growing enterprises that use mobile and digital technologies to accelerate the green transition in low‑ and middle‑income countries. The fund targets solutions that expand clean‑energy access,...
India Exchanges BRICS Ties for Lead Role in the American AI Cage
India is rapidly pivoting from its BRICS stance toward deeper integration with the West, highlighted by a landmark EU free‑trade agreement and its entry into the US‑led Pax Silica AI alliance. The India‑Middle‑East‑Europe Corridor (IMEC) is being repurposed from a logistics...
Dollar 2026 Decline: More Cyclical than Structural
The dollar’s recent slide is viewed as a cyclical correction rather than a structural collapse, with the real trade‑weighted index still well above its long‑term average. Hedging activity is rising, with buy‑side hedge ratios projected to reach roughly 74% by...
Gold Daily Call for February 23rd, 2026
In the February 23, 2026 Gold Daily Call, Florian Grummes analyzes the current gold market, noting a sideways consolidation phase with higher lows and higher highs suggesting a potential breakout toward the $5,350 level. He highlights the bullish momentum in...
All Eight Indicators Green, Confirming Bull Market Regime
✅ 8 for 8 Bullish 🟢 Regime: Confirmed Bull Market The checklist stays fully green. 8 of 8. New weekly update is live. No paywall. Just data. Sign up to get it in your inbox each week. 👉 https://t.co/9fpj33clCJ This remains consolidation inside a confirmed bull...
How Ukraine’s Economy Has Defied the Odds
Ukraine’s economy has rebounded to near pre‑war GDP levels thanks to disciplined fiscal policy, heightened defense spending, and sustained international aid. Restored air and sea corridors revived export channels, while targeted infrastructure grants offset war‑induced fiscal gaps. The government’s focus...
LGT Reinsurer Lumen Re Secures $175m of Retro From Debut Photon Re 2026-1 Cat Bond
Lumen Re, the reinsurance arm of LGT ILS Partners, completed its debut Photon Re Series 2026‑1 catastrophe bond, locking in $175 million of fully‑collateralized retrocession protection against North American peak perils. The issuance was priced below the original guidance, with the...
Taiex Sees Gains Limited Amid Renewed Concerns over U.S. Tariff Policies
Taiwan's Taiex index closed modestly higher on Feb. 23, up 0.5% to 33,773 points, as investors weighed renewed U.S. tariff concerns following President Trump’s new global duties. The market’s early surge, driven by electronics, was trimmed by profit‑taking in TSMC,...
A 25-Basis-Point Decline in the Mortgage Rate Prices-In 1.42 Million Households
A 25‑basis‑point (0.25 percentage‑point) drop in mortgage rates could make monthly payments affordable for an estimated 1.42 million additional households, expanding the pool of qualified borrowers. Simultaneously, incorporating the lower operating costs of energy‑efficient homes into underwriting can deliver an equivalent 75‑basis‑point...
Royal Caribbean Is Cruising Toward a New All-Time High
Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has delivered a near‑10% year‑to‑date stock gain, positioning the $84 billion cruise leader for another all‑time high. Under its Perfecta plan, the company is on track for a 20% annualized EPS growth target, posting double‑digit increases each...
Implied Volatility, Not Direction, Causes Nifty Options Losses
90% of Nifty option buyers don’t lose because of wrong direction. They lose because they don’t understand Implied Volatility. >> If you trade Nifty 50, read this thread carefully.... 🧵👇 #Nifty50 #OptionsTrading #IndianStockMarket
The Investor’s Second Self
Vishal’s new book *The Long Game* is now available for pre‑order, featuring reflections from thirty investors who have survived multiple market cycles. It introduces the concept of the “second self,” the emotional persona that emerges during market downturns and can...
Geneva Dry Dialogues: European Energy Exchange
Geneva Dry 2026, the premier dry‑bulk shipping conference, is set for April 28‑29 in Lausanne with up to 900 delegates and 51 sponsors. European Energy Exchange (EEX) head Peter Blogg warned that geopolitical turbulence makes short‑term forecasts difficult, underscoring the...
Egypt's Bid to Anchor a Cairo to Cape Town African Trade Highway
In November 2025 Egypt’s deputy transport minister reported that roughly 80% of the Cairo‑to‑Cape Town trans‑African highway is finished, positioning Egypt as the north‑south anchor of the corridor. The project, part of the African Union’s Trans‑African Highway network, is funded...
Rupee Support Tool Turns Pressure Point; $7 Billion NDF Maturities Come Due
The Reserve Bank of India relies on non‑deliverable forwards (NDFs) to support the rupee without draining reserves, but $7 billion of contracts are set to mature this week, creating rollover pressure. RBI’s total forward book stands at $62.3 billion, a size that...
UK Plans to Cut Carbon Costs for Refineries After Closures
The UK government is preparing to incorporate oil refining into its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to shield the remaining domestic refineries from escalating carbon costs. A call for evidence will feed into the Future of Fuels strategy, slated for...
What Now for Asia After Trump's Tariffs Struck Down?
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the majority of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump in 2025 were illegal, prompting the administration to replace them with a uniform 15% levy on all goods entering the United States. Customs officials halted...
15-Year-Old VLCC Values Jump 57% Year-on-Year as Sinokor Linked to Teekay Exit
Teekay Tankers sold its 15‑year‑old VLCC Singapore Spirit for $84.5 million, a deal widely linked to Korean buyer Sinokor. Recent disposals by CMB.TECH of similar‑aged vessels also point to Sinokor’s aggressive purchasing pattern, with the firm tied to over 40 VLCC...
Too Soon to Comment on US Tariff Change Impact on India, Says FM Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it is too early for India to assess the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Trump‑era global tariffs, as the commerce ministry continues its review. She also urged banks to refocus on core...
Why 2026 Could See Mainstream Adoption of Prediction Markets
Prediction markets have evolved from niche mood indicators to liquid platforms handling billions in weekly turnover. Asset managers are increasingly viewing them as direct hedges for event risk that traditional derivatives cannot cover. Regulatory clarity, exemplified by CFTC approval of...
Unpacking African Markets in the Era of Global Volatility
The Africa Markets Conference 2026 (AMC26) opened in Cape Town, hosted by Standard Bank, to examine how heightened global volatility—particularly U.S. Trump‑era tariffs—affects the continent. Organisers aim to channel private and sovereign capital into African infrastructure and growth sectors amid...
Changing Narratives on China-MENA
A wave of think‑tank discussions in early 2025 highlighted a shift in how experts view China’s role in the Middle East. After a period of heightened activity—dubbed “peak China‑MENA” between Xi’s 2022 Saudi visit and the October 2023 Hamas attack—analysts now...
Grey Launches ‘Grey Business’ to Simplify Global Payments for African Startups and SMEs
Grey, a global fintech, launched Grey Business, a multi‑currency payments platform for African startups and SMEs. The service lets companies open USD corporate accounts, send and receive global payments, and convert currencies instantly at real‑time rates, also supporting USDC and...
China’s Missile Reach Forcing US Pacific Air Power Reset
China’s expanding missile and surveillance capabilities are turning U.S. forward airbases in the Pacific into high‑value targets, prompting the Air Force to abandon its Cold‑War‑era expeditionary model. A Hudson Institute report warns that without a three‑tiered “Edge‑Force, Pulsed‑Force, Core‑Force” redesign,...
Past Returns Don't Guarantee Future Success
Early in my career, I recommended a hedge fund to five clients. Impressive track record. Global brand everyone would recognise. 28% annual returns for three years. I felt like I'd found something special. I was wrong.
Exosens Exceeds 2025 Guidance, Driven by Strong Defense Momentum in Night Vision and Digital Imaging; New Mid-Term Outlook: Accelerating Our...
Exosens reported 2025 results that beat its guidance, posting €468.2 m revenue, a 22% year‑on‑year increase, and net profit that more than doubled to €42.7 m. Growth was powered by a surge in Defense night‑vision sales, highlighted by a €500 m contract with...
Commodity Market Movers Report - Portfolio Update 22.02.2026
In this episode the hosts review their recent commodity trades, highlighting a 50% profit take on a short cocoa position after hitting the first target and the closure of a long heating oil trade following two strong rally days driven...
Nobu Hospitality to Debut Hotel and Private Island Residences in Maldives
Nobu Hospitality, in partnership with Sarat International, is launching its first Maldives property on the private island of Munyafushi in Laamu Atoll. The mixed‑use development will feature 26 beach villas, 30 overwater villas, and a collection of ten standalone Island...
China’s 2026 Policy Loosening Boosts Steel, Non‑Ferrous Demand
China signals looser policy and faster green transition for 2026, supporting steel and non-ferrous demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/china-2026-economic-policy-direction.html
U.S. Gas Exports Surpass Domestic Use in 2025
UNITED STATES exported an average of 14.8 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) by tanker and other 9.4 bcf/d by pipeline during the first eleven months of 2025. Total exports exceeded the combined consumption by households (12.0 bcf/d) and offices,...
Global Alts Miami 2026: Where the Future of Alternative Investing Is Being Written:
Global Alts Miami 2026 cemented Miami’s status as the new epicenter of alternative investing, drawing thousands of senior hedge‑fund, private‑equity, private‑credit and allocator leaders. The conference highlighted a decisive shift: alternatives have moved from a niche hedge to the backbone...
New Signals for Bonus Momentum-Mean Reversion Strategy
Bonus momentum and mean-reversion switching strategy update and new signals. https://t.co/ubChitFCXs $SPY $TLT $GLD $TLT
Bull‑Bear Spread Peaks, Bulls Still in Control
Bulls are in control, but not at extremes yet... Bull–Bear spread 44.2%, highest since Dec 2024. You need bulls for a bull market. The bulls have the edge. The only question is how far they can push it before it gets...
SPX Skew Steepens to 1Y High as Tariff Uncertainty Rises
Cboe’s Macro Volatility Digest shows SPX 1‑month options skew climbing to its highest level in a year. The steepening reflects heightened uncertainty from evolving U.S. tariff policy, geopolitical tensions and lingering AI concerns, while oil volatility spiked to 52%. Equity...
Record Realized Volatility Gap: Stocks 25 Points Above Index
the realized vol spread of the average single stock vs index just broke to the highest level on record with avg stock realizing ~25 vol points over gs via @zerohedge https://t.co/KVW5ZluLpt
MONY Shows Strong Returns Amid AI Uncertainty
#MONY results look solid but obviously the Hefalump in the Room is treats from AI. ShareScope showing fwd p/e 8.6 falling to 8.1 and fwd Divvy 8.6% rising to 8.9% and remember there are Buybacks as well. Low rating but...
SPX Skew Steepens to 1Y High as Tariff Uncertainty Rises
The Cboe report shows the S&P 500 1‑month skew surged to a one‑year high, reflecting heightened demand for downside protection as tariff policy uncertainty intensifies. Oil implied volatility spiked to 52% after fears of a US‑Iran conflict, while equity and rates...
KLSO Boosts WRKS Stake, Calls It Deeply Undervalued
#KLSO increased stake in #WRKS - says very undervalued and mentions an EV/EBITDA multiple of 1.65x. I hold neither.
SoftBank's $30B OpenAI Bet Yields 160% Gain
Quite the investment from SoftBank. SoftBank is up 160% since April 6, 2025 when I wrote it up specifically because of its investment in OpenAI. $9984 $SFTBY
AI Won’t Kill SaaS; Japan’s Fallout Reveals Opportunity
1/ The market is convinced that AI will kill SaaS. That seems overly simplistic. There's been carnage in Japan's SaaS sector, with babies clearly thrown out of the bathwater. That could signal opportunity. https://t.co/cmwPpqWG59
Rolls‑Royce Pushes UK for £3bn Engine Subsidy
Rolls-Royce urges UK government to commit to subsidies for £3bn engine project via @FT https://t.co/LKMrDQaW6X
Trump Serves as His Own China Desk and USTR
Trump is his own China desk (and his own USTR) Brilliant reporting from @dimi of the FT (Strikes me as a very fair summary of the inside DC debate on China) 1/ https://t.co/SYfGL5iROn
Most People Can't Link Actions to Financial Outcomes
Understanding cause & effect is a highly advanced skill for even concepts like personal finances. The majority of people I talk to cannot connect their individual behavior with their financial financial status Government-level c&e is so abstract, it’s virtually impossible...