Wall Street Bears Turn Tail After Gold Rises to $5,100/Oz, Main Street Bullishness Unchanged as Iran Tensions Mount – by...
Gold prices rebounded from early‑week weakness, reclaiming the $5,000 support level and climbing to $5,100 per ounce by week’s end. The initial dip was tied to reduced Chinese demand during the Lunar New Year, but safe‑haven buying spurred by rising Iran tensions reversed Wall Street’s bearish stance. This price surge highlights gold’s responsiveness to geopolitical risk and calendar‑driven demand fluctuations. Main Street investors remained bullish, reinforcing the metal’s role as a hedge amid market uncertainty.
1947: Ask Farnoosh: Tax Season Moves, Optimal Rainy Day Funds, Traditional or Roth IRA?
In this episode Farnoosh answers listener questions about navigating tax season, deciding how much to keep in an emergency fund, and choosing between a Traditional and Roth IRA. She breaks down the timing of tax‑saving moves, explains how to calculate...
Deere’s Dividend Surge Validates 12‑Year Analysis
I analyzed this company twelve years ago You will never guess what happened next https://www.dividendgrowthinvestor.com/2014/07/deere-co-de-dividend-stock-analysis.html
OEF: Waning Absolute And Relative Strength In The S&P 100
iShares S&P 100 ETF (OEF) remains on a hold rating as its momentum wanes and valuation concerns intensify. The fund trades at a 23.8× P/E and a PEG of 2.3, while earnings growth has slowed. Technical analysis shows support near $327,...
ESRT Taps Newmark to Lease Up 130 Mercer Offices in SoHo
Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT) purchased the 130 Mercer building in SoHo for $386 million in a late‑2025 sale‑leaseback and appointed Newmark as the exclusive leasing agent. The 112,600‑square‑foot property, formerly the Scholastic headquarters, has been upgraded with modern infrastructure and...
Supreme Court Tariff Ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. V. Trump: What Corporate Tax and Trade Teams Need to Know
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not give the President authority to impose tariffs, invalidating both the targeted fentanyl duties and broader reciprocal tariffs. The decision could unlock up to $175 billion in...
Mine. Mine. Mine. How One Corrupt Billionaire Kicked Off the Global Cobalt Spree – by Nicolas Niarchos (Vanity Fair –...
Dan Gertler, an Israeli businessman, leveraged deep political connections to dominate Congo's cobalt mining, turning the country into a linchpin of the global battery supply chain. His network of opaque contracts and bribes enabled Western tech firms to secure cheap...
Nutrien Sees Potash Demand Growing Again This Year After Record Harvest – by Daniel Johnson (CP24/Canadian Press – February 19,...
Nutrien Ltd. projects potash demand to expand for a fourth straight year, targeting sales of 14.1‑14.8 million tonnes in 2026. Benchmark potash prices are roughly 20% higher than a year earlier, reflecting tighter market fundamentals. CFO Mark Thompson highlighted constrained...
Treasury: Trump Accounts Sign up About 3 Million Kids in Early Push
The U.S. Treasury announced that a publicity blitz, highlighted by a Super Bowl ad, has generated roughly 2 million IRS Form 4547 filings, translating to about 3 million children enrolled in the new Trump accounts. Eligible children born between 2025 and 2028 will...
New Strategy for Wealthy Families
High‑net‑worth families are shifting from premium‑driven insurance to predictability as capacity tightens. A HUB 2026 Outlook survey shows willingness to assume risk fell from 39% to 25% since 2024. Advisors must expand beyond placement, defining risk appetite and managing cyber,...
Balchem Achieves Double-Digit Growth in GAAP Net Earnings for Q4 2025
Balchem Corporation reported record fourth‑quarter and full‑year 2025 results, with GAAP net earnings rising 16.8% to $39.2 million and total revenue surpassing $1 billion for the first time. Net sales grew 9.8% YoY to $263.6 million, driven primarily by the Human Nutrition &...
The New Magnificent Stocks to Own in 2026
Zacks strategist Tracey Ryniec identifies five “new” magnificent stocks poised to replace the fading Magnificent 7. The picks—MasTec, Caterpillar, Walmart, Eli Lilly and Howmet Aerospace—are all trading near five‑year highs and projected to deliver double‑digit earnings growth in 2026. MasTec leads AI...
Trump Threatens 'Global' Tariff on Aluminum Scrap
President Donald Trump signaled a possible 10% tariff on U.S. aluminum scrap imports after the Supreme Court struck down his earlier country‑specific duties. He indicated the executive order would invoke Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which permits duties...
81K-SF Skilled Nursing Facility in Wisconsin Changes Hands
Marcus & Millichap brokered the sale of the Portage County Health Care Center, a 48‑bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The 81,562‑square‑foot property on a 16‑acre campus sold for $2.7 million. The buyer intends to invest in capital...
XSMO: Compelling Value And Growth Mix Persists For These Small-Cap Momentum Stocks
The Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF (XSMO) retains its “buy” rating, buoyed by standout GARP characteristics and a 17.41% price gain since July 2025. It blends 20.91% estimated earnings growth with an 18.36× forward P/E, delivering a rare value‑momentum mix. Superior...
Entre Commercial Realty Completes Sale of 17K-SF Crystal Lake Retail Building
Entre Commercial Realty has finalized the sale of a 16,780‑square‑foot retail and automotive building on 2.71 acres at 7218 Virginia Road in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The buyer, represented by Averta Realty, intends to operate automotive repair, body work, and car...
Downtown Burlingame Offices Now Fully Leased
Dostart Development Company and Sares Regis Group have fully leased the 168,000‑square‑foot office portion of the 220 Park Rd. mixed‑use project in downtown Burlingame. The 185,000‑square‑foot development also houses 17,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space. New occupants include SkyKnight Capital, Confluent (soon...
Navigating the Yield Crunch with Options-Based ETFs
Options-based ETFs surged in 2025, attracting $54 billion of new capital. Total assets under management climbed to $127 billion, underscoring a structural shift toward derivative‑driven income solutions. JPMorgan’s Hamilton Reiner attributes the growth to intentional low‑beta designs that help investors navigate a...
New Econ on Top for the Week, Curve Steeper Friday on Tariffs (E251)
DoubleLine strategists Ryan Kimmel and Mark Kimbrough highlighted a sector rotation this week, with communications services, financials and industrials gaining while traditional “old economy” sectors such as utilities and real estate fell. In fixed income, investment‑grade yields edged higher, but...
Turo Amex Offer: Get 20% Back, up to $30 (Rental Car Alternative)
American Express is offering a one‑time 20% statement credit, up to $30, for U.S. cardmembers who book a single rental on Turo’s platform before May 31 2026. The credit applies to reservations made on the U.S. or Canadian Turo website or app...
Access to Credit and Employment Growth for MSMEs: Evidence From Latin America and the Caribbean
A new IDB Invest technical note analyzes 21,696 MSMEs across 30 Latin American and Caribbean economies, linking credit access to employment growth. The study finds that an extra US$1 million in financing generates roughly four permanent jobs per year. Effects vary:...
January Milk Production Rises as USDA Reports Four Percent of Dairies Closed
U.S. milk production rose 3.2% in January, reaching nearly 20 billion pounds, while per‑cow output increased by 24 pounds. The dairy herd expanded by 200,000 head to 9.15 million, despite a 4% drop in licensed dairy farms for 2025. Kansas and South Dakota...
China’s Defense Surplus Funding Threatens US Corporate Influence
Sad to watch so many analysts and economists argue that it is a "win" to allow China to continue to deploy surpluses earned from making a significant % of the US military for us 👇into US equity stakes which China...
Traders Brace for Trump's New Tariff Plan, Possible Iran Attack and Nvidia Earnings
Wall Street is bracing for President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new 10% global tariff after the Supreme Court ruled his earlier IEEPA tariffs unlawful. The decision could spark lengthy refund litigation for importers and may give the Federal Reserve...
Five Forces that May Reshape the African Continent in 2026
The African Union’s February summit highlighted a packed 2026 election calendar, with more than a dozen nations heading to the polls, from Uganda and Benin to Ethiopia and South Sudan. Parallel security concerns dominate the agenda, as the DRC’s fragile...
Philippine Banks Deliver Another Banner Year
Philippine banks posted a record P403.1 billion net profit in 2025, up 3% year‑over‑year and the highest since 2008. Strong net interest income, which jumped 11% to P1.15 trillion, and a 10% rise in non‑interest income drove the earnings surge, despite a...
Park Sale Proceeds in Money Market, Not Stocks
"I got $500k from the sale of my home. What to do with the cash if I need to buy another home within a year?” Money Market Fund (like $VUSXX) paying 3.64%. State tax free, so it’s a great choice, or HYSA. Unless...
Crossing $100K Unlocks Compounding, $1M Becomes Inevitable
The $100,000 portfolio is the mark when a lot of stuff changed for us. It wasn’t the actual amount, but the fact we were able to build a system that generated a substantial enough amount to show us that the...
Recommended Weekend Reads
This episode curates a set of recent reports on three major themes: U.S. trade policy after the Supreme Court blocked President Trump's use of the IEEPA, escalating U.S.-Iran military tensions and Iran’s domestic challenges, and broader geoeconomic issues such as...
ProShares Shifts $17B to IQMM for Cash Management
Mystery solved via Ben re the $17b in $IQMM on Day One. The call is coming from inside the house, literally, ProShares own funds are all now using IQMM now for their cash positions. Big time BYOA and not as...
Historic Shift Signals Growing Market Structure Risks
Historic Dispersion From Growth To Value Rotation - some quant talk to highlight growing risks in market structure. #CTA #IRAN $NVDA https://t.co/ZcfZDnpE7l
S&P 500 Rises, Dow Gains 200 Points After Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Emergency Tariffs: Live Updates
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s emergency tariffs, sending the S&P 500 up 0.69% to 6,909 and the Dow up 230 points. The decision lifted a macro headwind for import‑dependent consumer‑discretionary firms, with Nike, Yeti and SharkNinja posting gains....
MFs Adding ETF Share Classes Will Trigger Massive Drainage
Prepping for presentation I found this slide from last year, it's a bit strong but I stand by it re what will be the main impact of MFs adding on ETF share classes (which should kick off in next few...
Dollar Stays King, No Signs of Dethronement
My take on the US dollar: "The DOLLAR IS KING, and it's going to REMAIN KING. It's hard to knock a king off his throne." https://t.co/txOJ9KZ8Qw
U.S. Poultry Production Falls to Start 2026
U.S. poultry production slipped in January 2026, with the USDA reporting 4.49 billion pounds certified wholesome—a 3% year‑over‑year decline. Chicken output fell 3% to 4.081 billion pounds, while turkey production dropped 4% to 398.6 million pounds. The contraction stems from slower processing speeds...
Korea Call Delivers Near‑double EWY Gains Since August
Since our bullish call on Korea last August… EWY +99.27% SPY +7.78% Money counting time. https://t.co/EKTw9HANNh
S&P 500 Rebounds Above 6900, Tech Leads Rally
$SPX closed back above 6900 to end the week. $GOOGL $AMZN and $NFLX powered the rally, silver surged 8%, and I tackled viewer questions on $CAT entries, $MSFT Fibonacci risk, $ENPH breakout and the Hindenburg Omen. Full CHART THIS Mailbag: https://t.co/HpUIXN5kHi https://t.co/AiL2WR6RDf
Soybean Growers Applaud Court Ruling, Warn Against New Trump Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump cannot invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs on agricultural inputs. The decision overturns several IEEPA tariffs on fertilizer and farm equipment, a relief for soybean growers. Despite the...
VanEck Launches $WARP Space ETF, Joins UFO Rivals
NEW: @vaneck_us files for a space ETF. Will have an awesome ticker -- $WARP. This will compete on some level with a handful of products like $UFO, $ARKX & $UFOD https://t.co/POFTNx77Nb
Investors Shift to Staples Amid Mag‑7 CAP‑Ex Weakness
In my weekly markets video for clients, I highlighted how investors have gone from “7 to Staples”. Usually, growing macro risks lead to Staples leadership. This time macro isn’t the issue, but it could be due to Mag 7’s idiosyncratic...
America’s Most Underwater Housing Markets Present a Golden Opportunity For Investors
A fourth‑quarter 2025 ATTOM study shows underwater mortgages rising to 3 % of all loans, with deep negative equity concentrated in Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Iowa and Arkansas (5‑11 % of mortgages). Foreclosure activity in those states jumped 32 % year‑over‑year, creating a pipeline...
Argentina's 32% Inflation Fueled by Runaway Money Growth
Argentina’s inflation comes in at a RED HOT 32.4%/yr. NO SURPRISE. AR’s money supply (M3) is growing at 38.7%/yr. That's WELL ABOVE Hanke's Golden Growth Rate of 9.8%/yr, a rate consistent with hitting its 5%/yr inflation target. INFLATION = PRES. MILEI'S ACHILLES HEEL....
Section 122 Tariffs Approaching Rapidly: Key Points
A couple of points on Section 122 tariffs -- as they seem to be coming quickly 1/ https://t.co/s9LF3ZMZ1q
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: February 20, 2026
On February 20, 2026, U.S. grain and livestock futures showed mixed movement. Corn edged higher to $4.27, while soybeans slipped to $11.37 and soybean meal rose to $309.80. Livestock prices fell, with live cattle at $242 and feeder cattle at...
IMF's 2025 Report Flawed Using Outdated
This illustrates the problems with the IMF's 2025 external sector report -- for one, it uses the 2024 current account surplus as its measure, and a lot has changed since then ... 1/2 https://t.co/uBaXFvSXhW
Even on a Log Scale, Growth Still Accelerates
You may look at this and think “meh” initially. Then you look again and realize its a log plot anddddd it’s still bending upwards… 🤯
BMO Raises Gold Forecast to $6,500, Bull Peaks $6‑7k
The Bank of Montreal has followed my lead. It just UPGRADED its gold price forecast to $6,500/oz by year's end. I predict the GOLD BULL will PEAK at $6,000-$7,000/oz. BUY GOLD, WEAR DIAMONDS. https://t.co/69wgiprOrt
Tax‑savvy Investing Fuels Long‑term Wealth Growth
Being a smart investor who understands how to defer or avoid taxes builds more wealth long term.
Silver Near 10‑Month Streak Amid $2T Liquidations
$2 trillion in forced liquidation blamed on chinese traders, margin hikes & Warsh pick, silver is 33 cents away from completing its 10th consecutive monthly candle (if it were monthend) #forex #XAUUSD #XAGUSD https://t.co/SOjpd04sAO
NovaGold Opts Single‑phase Donlin Build at $5,000 Gold
"We have looked at building [the Donlin project] in phases, but given the current price environment of about $5,000 an ounce, it's our current thinking to build the project in a single build," said @NOVAGOLD 's CEO Greg Lang. ...