Tunisia Needs Both Bread and Freedom
Tunisia’s post‑2011 democratic breakthrough delivered expanded civil liberties but failed to translate into lasting economic gains. A 2021 presidential power grab dismantled key checks, curbing judicial independence and reversing many political freedoms. Meanwhile, the economy remains hampered by high inflation, weak investment, and limited diversification. The Freedom and Prosperity Center argues that sustainable progress requires simultaneous political reform and structural economic changes.
Armada Hoffler Hits Reset to Focus on Retail, Office Portfolio
Armada Hoffler announced a strategic reset, rebranding as AH Realty Trust and narrowing its portfolio to retail and office assets. The REIT will divest most of its multifamily holdings, exit its construction and financing platforms, and use the proceeds to...
Important Takeaways From Medtronic’s (MDT) Q3 2026 Earnings Report
Medtronic reported Q3 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.36 per share, beating expectations, while revenue climbed 8.7% to $9.0 billion, led by a 13.8% surge in its cardiovascular unit. Operating margin slipped to 16.2% from 19.9% as the company intensified R&D spending...
Amazon Prime Members: You Can Play These Games for Free
Amazon has refreshed its Luna cloud‑gaming service by offering a free Luna Standard subscription to all Prime members. The bundle now includes high‑profile titles such as Hogwarts Legacy, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and the February additions of Alan...
Ryerson Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Results
Ryerson Holding Corp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.105 billion, a 4.9% QoQ decline but a 9.7% YoY increase, while full‑year revenue slipped 0.6% to $4.57 billion. The company posted a Q4 net loss of $37.9 million and a full‑year loss of $56.4 million,...
Why Your Average Tax Rate Doesn’t Tell the Real Story in Retirement
Retirees often rely on their average tax rate, but it only reflects past taxes and can mislead future planning. The critical metric is the effective marginal tax rate, which captures the cost of the next dollar of income from withdrawals,...
Consus Ag Consulting Afternoon Wrap Up
The episode reviews the overnight futures market, noting mixed grain movements and modest profit taking in soybeans. A pivotal moment came when the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, ruled that President Trump’s tariffs were invalid because only Congress...
TFM Showcases Economic Impact and Calls for Energy Reform at DRC Breakfast During Mining Indaba
Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) told Mining Indaba delegates it has delivered roughly US$8 billion to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s public treasury since 2006 and supports about 20,000 jobs. The mine, a Copper Mark‑certified operation, allocates 0.3% of revenue to community projects...
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Profits Decline in 2025
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reported a sharp decline in 2025 net earnings, falling roughly 12% year‑over‑year. The drop coincides with an 8% contraction in bank holdings of agency residential mortgage‑backed securities in Q4 and a reduced share of correspondent...
Rep. Hill Unimpressed by Trump’s GSE ‘IPO’ Plan
Representative Hill voiced strong skepticism toward President Trump’s proposal to launch an initial public offering of the government‑sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He warned that a rushed IPO could destabilize the secondary mortgage market and raise borrowing costs...
Study Finds GSE-Backed Investor Loans Crowd Out FTHBs
A recent study shows that loans backed by government‑sponsored enterprises (GSEs) for investor purchases are increasingly displacing first‑time homebuyers (FTHBs) in the mortgage market. Investor‑originated, GSE‑secured loans grew 12% year‑over‑year, while FTHB loan share slipped 8% in Q3 2025. The...
Venezuela to Export First Asphalt Since May
Venezuela has begun its first asphalt export since the U.S. revoked sanctions waivers in May 2025, with the 36,681‑dwt vessel The Judge loading at Amuay Bay. The shipment follows new OFAC general licenses issued on Jan 29 that lifted restrictions on...
Oil States Reports Fourth-Quarter Results Amid Restructuring Charges
Oil States International posted Q4 2025 revenue of $178.5 million, an 8% year‑on‑year increase, but reported a GAAP net loss of $117.2 million due to one‑time asset impairment and restructuring charges. Adjusted EBITDA improved 22% to $22.8 million, and adjusted net income rose...
Iran’s Regime Is Suffering From Strategic Vertigo. Its Next Misstep May Be Its Last.
Iran’s leadership has repeatedly misread regional dynamics, turning potential strategic gains into costly setbacks. After hesitating to mobilize Hezbollah during the October 7 Hamas offensive, Tehran launched a large‑scale missile and drone barrage against Israel in April 2024, prompting a robust Israeli‑U.S....
#58402
Invesco KBW Regional Banking ETF (KBWR) will be renamed Invesco Bloomberg Financial Data Providers ETF and will trade under the new ticker FDIQ starting February 23, 2026. The change applies to both the ETF and its listed options, with strike prices and expirations...
Airbus Takes $500M Hit as A220 Ramp Slows
Airbus recorded a $500 million impairment on its A220 program as the aircraft’s production ramp slowed and order growth lagged expectations. The write‑down reflects weaker cash‑flow projections and higher unit costs, casting doubt on the A220’s earnings contribution. CEO Guillaume Faury remains...
J.P. Morgan Securities Fined $140,000 by FINRA
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC agreed to pay a $140,000 fine after FINRA found the firm violated MSRB Rule G‑32 and Rule G‑27. The violations involved inaccurate or incomplete Form G‑32 filings for 718 municipal bond offerings and late submission of 26 offering documents...
Talks, Plans, and Prison Breaks
The episode examines the latest round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva, noting modest progress on nuclear issues but stark disagreement over missiles and regional proxies, while the U.S. escalates its Middle East military presence with an additional aircraft carrier....
Build-to-Rent: Slow Wealth, Not Quick Riches
Build to rent is definitely not for getting rich quick but an awesome strategy to build wealth long term. Follow @chasecalhoun.realestate for more on build-to-rent and real estate investing. #realestate #investmentproperty #buildtorent
Global Growth Expected to Slow in 2026
World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report projects global real GDP growth to slow in 2026 after a surprisingly resilient 2025. The 2025 boost stemmed from a pre‑tariff trade surge and modest monetary easing, but those advantages are fading. New trade...
#58401
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) released the final terms for the adjusted CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) options identified as PANW1/2PANW1. Each contract now delivers 220 Palo Alto Networks (PANW) common shares plus $4,508.64 cash, reflecting a distribution ratio of 2.2005...
Permian Plunge Pressures Natural Gas Forward Curve as Northeast Premiums Fade
Permian’s Waha hub price plunged more than 50 cents per MMBtu, pushing the natural‑gas forward curve into negative territory through mid‑2026. At the same time, Northeast gas premiums retreated despite forecasts of a cold weekend, narrowing the regional price spread. Western...
War Risk Premium Adds Only $10 to Oil Prices
U.S./Iran: Oil Prices and the War Risk Premium Oil traders currently assign a low probability to a war between the United States and Iran that results in significant and sustained disruption to exports from Iran and other countries in the Persian...
Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA-Based Tariffs, Doesn’t Rule on Refunds (“Likely to Be a ‘Mess’”)
The Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in a 6‑3 decision, covering both reciprocal trade‑deficit tariffs and fentanyl‑related duties. Over half of the tariff revenue collected in recent years...
Southwark Crown Court Sentences Seven Influencers for Promotions of Unauthorized FX Trading Scheme
Southwark Crown Court sentenced seven social media influencers for promoting an unauthorised foreign exchange trading scheme. Each pleaded guilty to issuing unauthorised financial promotions and received fines ranging from £600 to £3,750, plus court costs, with two receiving discharges. The...
Free Weekly Stock Market Commentary 2/20/2026
Lawrence G. McMillan notes the S&P 500 is trapped in a tight range, with resistance near 7,000 and support between 6,720 and 6,800. Equity‑only put‑call ratios have risen to their most bearish levels since late January, indicating heavy downside protection...
Apple’s Nasdaq Correlation Hits Historic Low, AI‑Proof Edge
⚠️Apple has almost NEVER decoupled from its Tech Peers like this before: $AAPL, 40-day price correlation with the Nasdaq 100 dropped to 0.2, the lowest since 2006. This is down from 0.92 in May 2025, a truly historic divergence. This comes as Apple...
NVDA to Outpace Street, 2027 Growth Near 40%
T-minus 5 days until $NVDA reports. I expect guidance to come in ahead of expectations for CY26. That said, the real question is: what about 2027? My take: Growth in CY27 will be closer to 40% vs. the Street at...
When Lower Inflation Hurts
In this episode of the Dividend Cafe, host David Bonson examines the current U.S. economic landscape, focusing on the paradox of disinflation that may arrive in 2026 but could be economically painful. He breaks down recent data—including a weaker-than-expected GDP...
Vipin Arora Heads BEA, Reporting GDP and P
Another Friday, another “Friday Night Dirty” from @VD718 @Seawolfcap & myself from our “WAWD” Substack. A throwback to “Electric Company”: $CVNA $OWL & you will be hearing the name “Vipin Arora” who heads the BEA which is responsible for reporting...
Fade the Belly Below -90; Auctions May Reverse
Both short and long term, this is a good level to fade the belly with the curve-wide 'fly (2s5s30s) back below -90. Mid-curve auctions next week could trigger a reversal https://t.co/q33LIbWZ5V
Post-Poll Upswing Continues on SET
Thai shares rallied toward the 1,500‑point psychological barrier, driven by a catch‑up valuation buying pattern and strong dividend announcements. The SET index’s price‑earnings multiple sits about 33 % below the MSCI All‑Country World Index, widening the gap between blue‑chip and mid‑cap...
28‑km Soybean Truck Queue Highlights Brazil Port Bottleneck
🇧🇷A 28-kilometer line of trucks waiting to deliver soybeans has formed outside Brazil's Miritituba river port. Just for reference, the journey from Sinop in north Mato Grosso - which is heavy in soybean production - is about 1,000 km (620...
How to Outsmart Market Anxiety When Everyone Else Is Panicking
The article outlines four practical steps for investors to curb market‑driven anxiety: establishing a cash buffer, automating diversified investments, regularly rebalancing the portfolio, and stepping back from headline‑filled news cycles. It emphasizes that a solid emergency fund reduces the need...
Episode 288: Glass Box
David and Kevin analyze the S&P 500’s prolonged tight‑range trading, noting heavy short‑selling and bearish sentiment. They explore scenarios where the Magnificent 7 and broader software stocks rally, potentially sparking a market upside, while also highlighting the resilience of international markets,...
Amazon Replaces Walmart as No. 1 in Revenues
Amazon has overtaken Walmart as the world’s largest company by revenue, reporting $716.9 billion for its most recent fiscal year, edging out Walmart’s $713.2 billion. The shift ends Walmart’s 13‑year run at the top of the Fortune 500 and reflects Amazon’s 12.38 % revenue...
S&P Briefly Dips Negative, Marking a Ludacris Day
ludacris day means that sometime in the day the s and p turns negative after being substantially higher. the s and p did turn negative (briefly) qualifying as a ludacris day.
Prime Mortgages Secure a $321.2 Million RMBS From Goldman
Goldman Sachs has launched the GS Mortgage‑Backed Securities Trust 2026‑PJ2, a $321.2 million residential mortgage‑backed security backed by a pool of 255 first‑lien, fixed‑rate prime mortgages. The structure features a senior‑subordinate, shifting‑interest hierarchy with class A AAA‑rated notes and several lower‑rated tranches,...
The Dow Is Just Below 50,000. How to Trade a Move Above the Key Level Using Options
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is hovering just under the 50,000 mark, a level only 2% shy of its all‑time high. A broad market rotation is shifting capital from the high‑valuation Magnificent 7 stocks toward the more diversified, lower‑priced Dow constituents....
Fed's Logan: There Is Now More Inflation Uncertainty Due to Tariff Decision
Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Logan warned that recent tariff decisions have heightened inflation uncertainty, casting doubt on a smooth path to the 2% target. While she remains confident that current policy tools are well‑positioned to address emerging risks, she expressed concern...
Stellantis Takes $26B Write-Down over EVs, Sells Stake in Battery JV for $100
Stellantis announced a €22.2 billion ($26 billion) write‑down tied to its electric‑vehicle strategy and sold its 49 % stake in the NextStar Energy battery JV to LG Energy Solution for a nominal $100. The charge reflects cancelled EV platforms, supply‑chain resizing and quality‑related...
Cash Flow Tax Planning: Why Every Tax Strategy Falls Apart without Proper Liquidity Management
Tax planning often overlooks the cash liquidity needed to implement strategies. The article explains that without sufficient cash flow, tactics like payroll optimization, Section 179 purchases, and retirement contributions cannot be executed, leading to missed deadlines and penalties. It advocates a...
Supreme Court Ruling Won’t Boost Dollar Amid Growing Policy Chaos
The rollout of reciprocal tariffs last April caused an alarming and sharp fall in the Dollar, so why isn't today's Supreme Court ruling causing the Dollar to rise? The April fall in the Dollar was about policy chaos in DC,...
Friday's ETF with Unusual Volume: MODL
VictoryShares WestEnd U.S. Sector ETF (MODL) experienced a spike in trading activity on Friday, with 728,000 shares changing hands—about ten times its three‑month average volume. The ETF edged up roughly 0.5% during the session. Among its holdings, Nvidia posted a...
Why Islamic Finance Could Provide an Ethical Model for Funding the Green Transition
Islamic finance, anchored in asset‑backed transactions and social responsibility, is emerging as a credible alternative to conventional green finance. Its core instrument, green sukuk, ties investor capital directly to renewable‑energy and sustainable‑infrastructure projects, ensuring profits stem from real economic activity....
Killing the Goose that Lays the Gold Medal
The article argues that America’s refusal to welcome talent jeopardizes its dominance in both sports and scientific research. It cites Vice President JD Vance’s criticism of skier Eileen Gu, who, though U.S.-born, competes for China, as evidence of the broader issue....
GBP/USD Breaks Range Lows, 200‑DMA Test Ahead
British Pound Short-term Outlook: GBP/USD Breaks Range Lows – Can 200DMA Hold? https://t.co/yX3huN7zHS Daily & 240min Charts https://t.co/ZKGEjVWqUH
Will You Get a Tariff Refund After the Supreme Court Ruling?
The Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s IEEPA‑based tariffs in a 6‑3 decision, opening the possibility of refunds on more than $175 billion of duties collected since early 2025. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted the Treasury holds roughly $774 billion to...
Average Net Worth and Assets by State – 2026 Study
SmartAsset’s 2026 study ranks 43 U.S. states by median household net worth, revealing a ten‑fold gap between the richest and poorest states. Hawaii tops the list with a median net worth of $692,700, while Arkansas sits at the bottom with...
Four Years of War in Europe
Four years after Russia’s invasion, Europe has become the primary financier and arms supplier for Ukraine, while the United States under President Trump has largely stepped back from direct involvement. The conflict has spurred unprecedented battlefield innovation, notably Ukraine’s mass‑produced...