The Hydrogen Stream: Dutch Agribusiness Installs 1 MW Electrolyzer
Dutch tulip nursery Rainbow Colors has become the first agricultural firm to commission a 1 MW solid‑oxide electrolyzer for on‑site hydrogen generation, integrated with a solar array and battery storage. The system, built with Denmark’s Dynelectro and Ekinetix, can produce hydrogen at under €10 per kilogram for local use. GlobalData projects worldwide low‑carbon hydrogen capacity could climb from 0.84 mtpa in 2024 to as much as 65.3 mtpa by 2030, with green hydrogen accounting for roughly 89% of output. Parallel developments include Fraunhofer’s energy‑saving DME synthesis process and a €54 million German investment in decentralized hydrogen innovation hubs.
US Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Tariffs: Early Analysis From Chatham House Experts
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 decision striking down President Donald Trump’s global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, finding the administration exceeded its authority. The ruling blocks the baseline 10% "Liberation Day" tariff and related...
Louisiana Commission Approves $400M GOs
Louisiana’s State Bond Commission authorized up to $400 million in general‑obligation bonds, to be sold by competitive bid on April 16. The issuance will raise about $383.7 million, with roughly 67 % earmarked for state‑government capital projects, 26 % for local governments and the remainder...
Vision Reveals Hidden Value in CRE. Math Captures It.
The article defines hidden value in commercial real estate as the measurable delta between an asset's current (as‑is) NOI and its future stabilized NOI. By running parallel discounted cash flow models—one reflecting present performance and another incorporating operational, leasing or...
Tesla Is Making the Cybertruck Cheaper because It's Still Not Selling
Tesla announced a new dual‑motor Cybertruck priced at $59,990, $20,000 below the premium version, with a ten‑day limited‑time window. The move follows a steep sales decline, with U.S. deliveries falling 48% year‑over‑year and Q4 volumes down 68% from the prior...
ChatGPT Forecasts Median Home Price Hitting
The future is bleak: "ChatGPT noted that the median home price today is around $420,000 and predicted it will rise to between $510,000 and $580,000 by 2030." "It based its analysis on the assumption that home prices will grow 4% to 6%...
Accounting Rules Reveal Shutdown’s Massive Real GDP Loss
A fun(?) 🧵 on how nerdy government accounting rules had a big impact on Q4 GDP. And how they reflect how wasteful the 43-day government shutdown was. TL;DR: Small reduction in nominal federal spending in Q4. But a big decline in...
The World’s Largest Lithium Metal Maker Is Now Producing Semi-Solid-State EV Batteries
Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest lithium‑metal producer, has begun mass‑producing semi‑solid‑state batteries with energy densities ranging from 400 to 650 Wh/kg. The company secured supply agreements with major OEMs including Tesla, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and BMW for lithium hydroxide and other battery...
Cooling Volatility Triggers Machine Re‑Leverage, Expect Upward Grind
Volatility is cooling. 30D realized volatility (yellow line) just rolled over and is now below 90D (blue line). When short-term vol drops, the machines re-lever. Vol control funds start buying. Right now, the signal says grind higher until proven otherwise.
CoStar: U.S. Hotel Industry Reports Positive Year-Over-Year Comparisons
The U.S. hotel sector posted solid year‑over‑year gains for the week of Feb 8‑14, 2026, with occupancy climbing to 61.5% (up 2.6%), ADR rising to $167.98 (up 1.9%), and RevPAR reaching $103.35 (up 4.6%). Los Angeles led the top‑25 markets, posting an...
BlackRock to Merge Two Investment Trusts Following Saba Backing
BlackRock announced the merger of two of its UK investment trusts, a move supported by activist investor Saba Capital. The consolidation will combine assets worth over £X billion, aiming to enhance scale and reduce operating costs. By streamlining the trusts, BlackRock...
YYY: The Income Illusion or the Ultimate Credit Barometer?
The episode dissects YYY, an ETF that offers exposure to a rules‑based basket of high‑income closed‑end funds (CEFs) via a fund‑of‑funds structure. It highlights the layered risks of credit exposure, embedded leverage, and premium/discount dynamics, noting that performance is highly...
Master Budgeting, Saving, Debt & Earnings with Workbook
*🚨🤑PAYDAY = Made Whole Money Move madewholeworkbook It’s CRICKETS every single time 😂 . . My money workbook (companion to my NYT-Bestseller Get Good With Money) teaches you all about budgeting saving, debt and learning to earn (more)... and has tons of free...
Tariff Slapdown: What the Markets Say
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs, sending U.S. equities up about 0.7% and lifting the 10‑year Treasury yield back to roughly 4.10%. The decision removes a source of tariff‑derived revenue, reviving fiscal‑deficit concerns and creating upside...
First Quantum Pegs Argentina Copper Mine’s Value at $5.9B
First Quantum Minerals announced that its Taca Taca copper‑gold project in northwest Argentina now carries an after‑tax net present value of $5.92 billion and a 19.3% internal rate of return, more than double the 2021 estimate. Updated reserves rose 13%, adding...
Historical Cropping Patterns for Illinois Grain Farms
The Illinois Farm Business Management Association’s data show that from 2015 to 2024 corn acreage declined across all three regions, with northern farms dropping from 61.6% to 56.4% of tillable land. Central Illinois farms hovered near a 50/50 corn‑soybean split,...
Should the Defense Spending Ramp-Up Also Tackle Climate Change?
At the Munich Security Conference, defense leaders focused on tanks, ammunition and troop deployments, while climate change was relegated to the sidelines. Delegations from the Global South, especially small‑island states, warned that climate acts as a strategic risk multiplier that...
Gold Rises With Stocks, Breaking Inverse Trend
🚨 GOLD DEEP DIVE | FEB 20, 2026 🚨 Gold: $5,048/oz (+1.25% today | +71.82% YoY) Silver: $81.94 (+151% YoY) GDX Miners ETF: $104.23 (+21% YTD) The most telling signal: gold is surging today while stocks ALSO rally on the Supreme Court tariff ruling....
AREIT Delivers Strong Profit Growth in 2025
AREIT Inc. posted a net income of P9.4 billion in 2025, up 28% year‑over‑year, while revenue rose 26% to P13 billion. The growth was driven by income from recent acquisitions in Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, adding to stable earnings from its existing...
Inflation‑Adjusted Dollar Down 10% Yet Remains Strong
The inflation adjusted dollar is only down ~ 10% v its q4 2024 high (it was driven up by the initial Trump trade). The inflation adjusted dollar is more or less back where it was in 2023 and...
US Gas Dips Below $3 as Supplies Stay Ample
U.S. gas prices retreat on comfortable stocks Front-month U.S. gas futures prices have slipped below $3 per million British thermal units for the first time in four months as traders become convinced gas will remain plentiful despite record exports. So far, this...
Investors Returned to Gold ETFs in 2nd Week After Booking Profits in 1st Week
Gold exchange‑traded funds saw a sharp $3.87 billion outflow in the week ending Feb 6, before a modest $2.34 billion inflow the following week, leaving assets under management at $664.2 billion. The swing reflects investors reacting to the Fed‑chair nominee Kevin Warsh’s hawkish stance...
Markets Cheer ₹80,000-Crore Divestment Target
The Indian government has set an ₹80,000‑crore dis‑investment target for the next fiscal, sparking a rally in public‑sector undertaking (PSU) stocks and lifting equity markets. The plan combines strategic stake sales and asset monetisation to generate fiscal inflows while unlocking...
Transparency Over Trust: I’ll Prove My Value
I don't share enough proof. Distrust, especially in the AI/social media world, is at an all-time high. And rightfully so. Plus it gets tricky with client confidentiality. If you've ever thought about reaching out I hope to make it the...
Yield Curve Inverted 43 Months, Recession Still Unseen
The yield curve inverted 43 mos ago ... still no recession Nearly everyone told us a recession was coming. If you didn't, you were mocked and told it was Quad Four People say the NFC winning the Super Bowl being good for...
Why eBay’s Depop Acquisition Matters More Than the Earnings Beat
eBay’s recent earnings beat was eclipsed by its strategic purchase of Depop, the Gen‑Z‑focused resale platform. The $1.6 billion acquisition expands eBay’s mobile‑first, social commerce capabilities and adds a youthful user base. Analysts note that Depop’s rapid growth and strong community...
Supreme Court Blocks Key Tariff Components, Administration Must Seek Alternatives
Update on US tariffs: The Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 against components of the administration's tariff policy. The ball is now in the administration’s court—specifically the willingness and ability to impose tariffs under alternative legal authorities. #economy #tariffs #markets
IEEPA Threat Raises Tariff Ceiling, Shifts Negotiation Dynamics
While 15% is close to what many countries ended up negotiating with Trump, he invoked IEEPA to threaten much higher rates, providing powerful leverage. If 15% is an effective ceiling (outside 301/232 actions), that changes the bargaining dynamic.
Pakistan’s New Special Security Unit Underscores China’s Hold on the Country
Pakistan announced a dedicated special security unit in January 2026 to protect Chinese citizens and projects, a move prompted by a spike in militant attacks on Chinese interests. The unit signals Islamabad’s desperation to retain China’s $62 billion investment amid deteriorating...
AI Connectivity Group Ends Week on Fire
TTMI, GLW, COHR, LITE, CIEN, FN AI connectivity group stays super hot to close the week
Xi's Consolidation Will Prompt China to Seek Cheaper Imports
Once Xi shores up his political base at home, I expect China to go back to buying cheaper commodities elsewhere, as the U.S. is not the low-cost producer of grain and oilseeds. #oatt
Kroenig Interviewed on CBS News on US Strategy in Iran and the Board of Peace
Atlantic Council senior director Matthew Kroenig appeared on CBS News on February 19 to discuss Washington’s options regarding a potential strike on Iran. He warned that a rushed military action could destabilize the region and emphasized the need for a...
US Has 12‑18‑month Window to Sell Commodities to China
The United States has a window of opportunity to sell commodities to China over the next 12 - 18 months while President Xi tries to shore up his support at home, while seeking favorable access to the U.S. consumer market...
China Pays Premium for US Grain to Leverage Trump
Only China had put retaliatory tariffs on U.S. grain and oilseeds, and China is now buying U.S. commodities at a higher prices than the alternatives (without the tariffs) to get more favorable treatment from Trump on other issues. #oatt
Upcoming Changes to the Euribor Panel
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced that Barclays Bank PLC will withdraw from the Euribor panel, with its final contribution date set for 27 February 2026. ESMA and the Euribor College of Supervisors assessed the impact and concluded...
FERC Drops Western Soft Price Cap, Claims More Power
The price cap was put in place after market manipulations in 2001 (mostly in CA). FERC says it now has more power to prevent gouging, therefore the cap is no longer needed. FERC Eliminates Western ‘Soft’ Price Cap //www.rtoinsider.com/126212-ferc-eliminates-western-soft-price-cap/
IEEPA Tariff Ruling Limits Trump’s Broad Tariff Options
The Trump administration is sure to use other authorities (122 maybe, 232, 301) to raise tariffs now that the court has struck down the IEEPA tariffs. But striking down IEEPA still matters, particularly for China/other countries that aren't heavily hit by...
ESMA Publishes List of Supplementary Deferrals for Sovereign Bonds
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and most EU national competent authorities have released a list of supplementary deferrals that extend the MiFIR transparency regime for sovereign bonds. The new rule permits the omission of volume publication for medium‑size...
SCOTUS Tariff Ruling Sparks Volatile XRT Intraday Swings
Markets can be tricky... SCOTUS tariffs ruling giveth...then taketh away... SPDR S&P Retail ETF intraday...upside volatility...that has been slowly eroded in the last 45 min...now trading where it was before announcement. Let's see how things shake out by closing bell 🤔 $XRT https://t.co/d2XrrhSSlC
Geopolitical Shocks Spark Volatility,
With tensions high around Iran, here's an updated table of major geopolitical events and how the stock market did after. Yes, some of them definitely caused volatility, but the longer-term median returns are fairly normal. https://t.co/477EvHtgAn
ESMA Publishes a Supervisory Briefing on the AAR Representativeness Obligation
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has released a supervisory briefing outlining how counterparties must meet the active‑account requirement (AAR) representativeness obligation. The document details the identification of relevant derivative sub‑categories, reporting procedures, and provides a compliance example. ESMA...
Amazon Clears $207, Targets $210+ After $197 Pivot
$amzn nice week. RDR Tuesday around $197 pivot. Cleared $207 and now it’s $210+ to manage.
GE Call Spreads Double, Extra Time Boosts Returns
$GE Feb 330/350 call spreads from earnings snapshots now near $13 from $7, often pays to give extra time when playing a high quality name
Surging Oil Tanker Rates Tipped to Go Even Higher
Oil supertanker charter rates have surged, with VLCC earnings on the Middle East‑to‑China lane reaching $151,208 per day, the highest since 2020. The spike is driven by heightened geopolitical risk from a potential US‑Iran conflict and a tightening supply of available...
Trump 2.0 Boosts Banks, Revives Citi’s Fortunes
We don’t talk about banks much any more, but Trump 2.0 has been good to them, notably Citi the principal casualty of 2008. More on this and other fascinating topics in the Chartbook Top links today. https://t.co/saPWxJgDju
Falling CPI‑PCE Spread Signals Declining Inflation, Defying Q4 GDP
When the CPI-PCE spread heads lower (the spread is cyclical), it is because inflation is going lower. CPI is what matters.. End of discussion The economy is currently doing the opposite of that Q4 GDP report https://t.co/xBUcAxE1EP
Yield Curve Ste
USTs for now reacting to the loss of tariff revenue, but it remains to be seen how this plays out. Curve steepening https://t.co/ZMjLP2vbxi
Inflation’s Back In America. Not That It Ever Left
The Federal Reserve’s January FOMC minutes confirm that inflation remains entrenched in the United States, contrary to earlier optimism. Core consumer‑price index rose 0.3% month‑over‑month, keeping annual inflation above the Fed’s 2% target. The minutes show policymakers acknowledging persistent price...
High-Yield Deals Are Testing the Market and Finding Demand
The high‑yield municipal bond market is heating up early in 2024, with $2.3 billion of speculative‑grade issuance recorded YTD, representing roughly 3.4% of total municipal issuance. Strong investor appetite and a tight primary‑market supply have driven several previously shelved deals back...
New Friday Morning Portfolio Adjustments Unveiled
(PREMIUM) "Tactical Update: February 20, 2026 - Portfolio Enrichment..." A few Friday A.M. portfolio adjustments... via The Lyons Share https://t.co/VbzlIct5Nc https://t.co/DZs0p0H2mR