Stock Market Today: Dow Falls After Surprise Jobless Claims Data; Nvidia Trips Up On Earnings (Live Coverage)
U.S. stock futures slipped Thursday after the Labor Department reported weekly jobless claims unexpectedly falling to 209,000, under the 213,000 forecast, while the 10‑year Treasury yield nudged up to 4.61%. Nvidia’s pre‑market stock dipped 0.7% despite beating earnings expectations, posting $1.87 earnings per share on $81.6 billion in revenue, an 85% sales jump year‑over‑year. Housing starts and permits both exceeded estimates, signaling resilience in the construction sector. Meanwhile, earnings from Deere, ELF Beauty, Intuit and others drove mixed moves across individual stocks.
Equity Residential to Acquire AvalonBay Communities for $34.91 Billion
Equity Residential announced a definitive all‑stock merger to acquire AvalonBay Communities for $34.91 billion, the largest multifamily REIT combination to date. AvalonBay shareholders will receive 2.793 Equity Residential shares per AvalonBay share, valuing each at $185.12 and giving them a 51.2%...
Suze Orman’s 2 Personal Finance Rules to Follow (and 2 to Rethink)
Suze Orman advises building a three‑to‑six‑month emergency fund and maintaining a solid credit score as foundational personal‑finance habits. She cautions against car leasing, arguing it can be a costly depreciation trap, and suggests limiting debit‑card use in favor of strategic...
As Small-Cap Outperformance Continues, These 2 ETFs Provide Exposure
Small‑cap stocks have outperformed the broader market in 2026, with the Russell 2000 gaining over 13% YTD versus the S&P 500's roughly 8% rise. The outperformance stems from a rotation out of over‑valued mega‑cap tech, a valuation discount on smaller firms, and...
Morning Reads
Nvidia reported an 85% year‑over‑year revenue surge to $81.6 B, beat estimates and announced an $80 B share buyback while conceding China’s AI‑chip market to Huawei. SpaceX’s S‑1 filing revealed a self‑assessed $28.5 T total addressable market, highlighted Starlink’s projected $4.4 B operating profit...
Mizuho Just Rerated These 3 AI Winners
Mizuho analyst Vijay Rakesh upgraded price targets for Micron, STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments, citing AI‑driven data‑center demand that is tightening memory markets and boosting analog chip content. The target for Texas Instruments rose to $300 from $255, reflecting a 90%...
What Happens to Oil if Iran Permanently Taxes Hormuz Traffic?
Analysts say a permanent tax on Strait of Hormuz traffic would likely cause a modest rise in crude prices and slightly lower shipping margins. Exporters would seek alternate routes, spurring pipeline projects through the Red Sea, Syria, Iraq and Turkey....
Analyst Report: NVIDIA Corp
Nvidia Corp., a Santa Clara‑based visual computing leader, operates through Graphics and Compute & Networking segments. Argus analyst James Kelleher raised the price target to $270, up from the current $218.49 share price. The upgrade reflects strong demand for GPUs...
NVRI Cash Hit Low; SpinCo Valuation Appears Cheap
$NVRI cash distribution landed at $15, toward the lower end of the guided $14.5-$16.5 range. Slightly underwhelming, though the top end was never a guarantee. SpinCo kicks off when-issued trading on May 27. Management guiding to $140M in combined EBITDA for SpinCo....
PFRDA Sets up Panel to Look at Adding More Asset Classes for Better Returns
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has created a panel to examine the long‑term addition of new asset classes to the National Pension System (NPS). The regulator aims to deliver steady, low‑volatility returns for retirees, drawing lessons from...
Retirees Urged to Harvest Tax Losses Year‑Round to Boost After‑Tax Returns
Jeffrey Levine, chief planning officer at Focus Partners Wealth, told the Focus on Finance Forum that retirees can improve after‑tax returns by harvesting losses throughout the year, not just at year‑end. He highlighted the $3,000 ordinary‑income offset and the ability...
SpaceX Files for $80 Billion Mega‑IPO, Eyeing Record‑size Equity Sale
SpaceX submitted a Form S‑1 on May 20, proposing to raise as much as $80 billion at a $1.7‑trillion valuation – a deal that would dwarf any IPO in history. The filing outlines a dual‑class share structure that keeps Elon Musk in control...
Ex‑OpenAI Researcher Aschenbrenner Shorts Nvidia, Oracle in $13.6 B AI‑Crypto Bet
Leopold Aschenbrenner, a former OpenAI researcher turned hedge‑fund manager, filed a 13F showing a $13.6 B repositioning that includes $1.57 B short on Nvidia and $1.07 B each on Oracle and VanEck’s semiconductor ETF. The move signals a bet that AI growth will...
Berkshire Hathaway Sells Amazon Stake, Boosts Alphabet AI Bet Under Greg Abel
Berkshire Hathaway, now led by Greg Abel, sold its entire Amazon holding and other legacy positions while more than tripling its Alphabet stake to roughly $23 billion. The move underscores a shift toward AI‑centric tech stocks even as the conglomerate exits...
Truework Study Finds Income Stability Blocks Millions of Gig and Hourly Workers From Mortgages
A new Truework analysis of roughly 300,000 lender‑verified mortgage applications shows that income stability, not just income level, has become the decisive factor for loan approval. Fluctuating earnings are sidelining gig, hourly and even some salaried workers, a shift that...
Bipartisan Charity Parity Act Targets 401(k) Giving, Unlocks $111,000 Tax‑Free Donations
Lawmakers in both chambers introduced the Charity Parity Act on May 13, 2026, allowing retirees 70½ and older to make qualified charitable distributions directly from 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans. The bill removes the costly IRA rollover step and preserves...
Eurofund Goes Shopping For Bradford Mall: The London Deal Sheet
Eurofund Group has acquired The Broadway shopping centre in Bradford for £74 million (≈ $94 million). The 56‑store complex, which attracts 11 million visitors a year, will receive a £10 million (≈ $12.7 million) investment to upgrade the customer experience and diversify the tenant mix. The centre...
US Equity Futures Edge Higher Ahead of Nvidia Earnings as Yields Slip
U.S. equity futures climbed on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 up 0.3% and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.7%, as bond yields retreated and investors positioned for Nvidia's upcoming earnings. The rally reflects heightened demand for options on tech stocks amid...
Iowa Overhauls Captive Insurance Rules, Adds Tax Break and Life Reinsurance
Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 2766 on May 15, revamping Iowa's captive insurance framework with a premium‑tax break for redomesticating captives, a five‑year clawback provision, and a brand‑new life captive reinsurance regime. The changes also lower the capital floor...
Bienville Capital Sells Monday.com Stake for $22.5 Million, Cutting 5.5% of AUM
Bienville Capital Management disclosed a May 13, 2026 filing showing it sold all 234,818 shares of Monday.com for an estimated $22.53 million, wiping out 5.5% of its assets under management. The move comes as hedge funds reassess exposure to high‑growth SaaS firms amid...
Gold ETF GLD Beats S&P 500 SPY on Returns, Sparking Allocation Debate
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) posted a stronger 1‑year total return than the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), reviving the gold‑vs‑equities allocation debate. GLD’s expense ratio of 0.40% and zero dividend contrast with SPY’s 0.09% fee and 1% yield, highlighting trade‑offs...
Malaysia's Trade Hits Record RM1.127 Trillion in Jan‑Apr 2026, Up 15.3% YoY
Malaysia's external trade surged 15.3% year‑on‑year to a historic RM1.127 trillion ($248 bn) in the first four months of 2026, with exports jumping 19% to RM609.31 bn. The boom, led by AI‑enabled electronics and a push into African and Eastern European markets, underscores...
European Shares Edge Higher as Middle East Tensions Loom, Close Brothers Posts Solid Q3
European equity indices inched up on May 21 as investors weighed the fallout from the Iran‑Israel war and the UAE‑Israel diplomatic frictions. The UK‑based specialist lender Close Brothers posted a solid third‑quarter performance, while Italy’s push for a $22 bn trade...
Ecobank Group and AGRA Partner to Unlock Agricultural Finance and Accelerate Inclusive Growth Across Africa
Ecobank Group and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Africa Forward Summit to create a pan‑African partnership that expands financing for agribusinesses, farmer groups and value‑chain actors. The collaboration will...
Indonesian Rupiah Hits Record Low as Commodity‑Control Policy Fuels Market Anxiety
The Indonesian rupiah slid to a record 17,600 per US$1, breaking the 17,500 psychological barrier, as President Prabowo Subianto unveiled a state‑run export regime for palm oil, coal and ferroalloys. The move sparked parliamentary grilling of Bank Indonesia’s governor, calls...
Goldman Sachs Flags Record 8.7 Million‑Barrel Daily Oil Drawdown, Shrinking Global Reserves
Goldman Sachs said global crude and product stockpiles fell by a record 8.7 million barrels per day in May, almost twice the average drawdown since the Middle East conflict began. The rapid depletion of strategic reserves signals tighter supply and could...
NextEra Energy to Acquire Dominion Energy in $66.8 B All‑Stock Deal
NextEra Energy announced an all‑stock acquisition of Dominion Energy valued at $66.8 billion, creating the largest regulated electric utility in the United States. The deal, which gives NextEra a 74.5% stake and Dominion shareholders 25.5%, is being hailed as a strategic...
SpaceX Files for Nasdaq IPO, Ticker SPCX, Targeting Public Markets
SpaceX submitted an IPO registration with the SEC on May 20, aiming to list on Nasdaq under the symbol SPCX. The filing disclosed a Q1 operating loss of $1.94 billion, a net loss of $4.276 billion on $4.694 billion revenue, and listed a...
U.S. Navy Boards Iranian‑Flagged Oil Tanker Amid Hormuz Blockade, Fifth Vessel Intercepted
The U.S. Central Command confirmed that Navy forces boarded the Iranian‑flagged oil tanker M/T Celestial Sea in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, accusing it of attempting to breach the American blockade of Iranian shipping. It is the fifth commercial...
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POLITICALLY AWEH: Why the Petrol Price Exploded and the Solution Government Is Blocking
The latest episode of Politically Aweh spotlights South Africa’s soaring petrol prices, linking the surge to geopolitical shocks such as the Iran‑related conflict and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Hosts KG and Zoe explain why Minister Gwede...
What Every DIY Investor Should Know Before Buying ETFs in Canada
In this episode of Build Wealth Canada, host Cornell Schreiber chats with Chris White of Canadian Money Saver and BMO ETF expert Danielle Nezzle about the practicalities of DIY ETF investing in Canada. They explain why active stock picking typically...
How to Retire at 62 and Build a Financial Bridge to a Maxed-Out Social Security Check at 70
The article outlines a step‑by‑step plan for retirees who want to claim Social Security at age 62 but defer the benefit until age 70 to capture the 8 % annual increase. It emphasizes evaluating assets versus expenses, building a systematic withdrawal...
Basel III Relief Could Turn Mortgage Bankers Into Bank Owners
The Basel III endgame proposal could dramatically lower the risk‑weighting of mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), potentially bringing it down from the current 250% to as low as 100%. Independent mortgage banks (IMBs) see this relief as a catalyst to restructure their...
The Non-Agency Market Is Bigger than You Think
At the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Secondary and Capital Markets Conference, panelists declared that non‑agency (non‑QM) mortgages have shed their niche label and now account for roughly half of new originations. Lenders such as Deephaven Mortgage report mainstream demand, while investors...
Millennials, Many of You Are Making These Common Money Mistakes (and You Won't Like the Consequences)
Millennials in their 30s and 40s often sideline retirement savings, yet early contributions dramatically boost long‑term wealth. A $300 monthly 401(k) deposit at age 35 can grow to about $340,000 by 65, whereas starting at 45 yields just $147,000, highlighting...
SBRE Dividend Yield Climbs to 9.3% Pre‑Price Surge
#SBRE decent Update. ShareScope has fwd Dividend Yield 8.9% rising to 9.3% BEFORE 7% share price rise today (factor in). Definitely one for an Income Portfolio. I don't hold (got plenty of Insurance plays).
Europe’s Gas Supply Safe; Worst‑case LNG Spikes to $54.9
NEW RESEARCH: We modelled three Hormuz closure scenarios. Europe never physically runs out of gas in any of them. But under the worst shock, LNG hits $54.9/MMBtu, above the 2022 peak. Full paper here https://t.co/6fJzMRx2i3 https://t.co/wqPJbHbJua
BT Masks Financial Failings with Fibre Fortitude
BT Group reported a 3% drop in revenue to £19.7 billion (≈$25 billion) for the year to March, with adjusted revenue down 4% to £19.6 billion. The telco added a £700 million (≈$900 million) cost‑cut tranche to its transformation plan, lifting the total savings target...
Admiral Markets Announces Buyback Offer for up to 8,476 Tier 2 Bonds
Admiral Markets AS announced a buyback offer for up to 8,476 Tier 2 bonds issued in December 2017, covering a total nominal value of €847,600 (≈ $932,000). The repurchase price is €101.02 per bond (≈ $111), consisting of the €100 face value, a €1...
The Other China Shock
The article examines the emerging "other China shock," where rising wages and tighter regulations in China are prompting multinational manufacturers to relocate labor‑intensive production to neighboring Asian economies such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Mexico. It traces the historical pattern of...
Emerging Consensus Suggests Oil to Remain Capped Near $100 over Next Year
A Bloomberg Intelligence survey of 126 asset managers finds consensus that Brent crude will trade between $81 and $100 per barrel over the next 12 months. Despite the Iran‑US conflict tightening the Strait of Hormuz and creating a 3‑7 million‑barrel‑per‑day supply...
GBP/CHF Rebounds as UK Fiscal Worst-Case Fears Fade, Head-and-Shoulders Bottom Forming?
Sterling rallied this week as fears of a UK fiscal crisis receded, driven by Andy Burnham’s market‑friendly remarks and an IMF upgrade to the 2026 growth outlook. The softer political tone and lower oil prices trimmed the UK risk premium,...
Copper Retreats as US and Iran Trade Threats on Peace Deal
Copper prices slipped 1.3% to $13,474 a ton as traders digested President Donald Trump’s mixed signals on a U.S.–Iran peace deal. While Trump said progress was being made, he warned that U.S. forces could resume attacks if negotiations stalled, prompting...
FPIs Exit Korea & Taiwan: Is India Ready for the Flow Rotation?
Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn nearly $23.4 billion from Indian equities this year, citing stretched valuations, a weakening rupee and softer earnings outlooks. At the same time, they pulled $7.8 billion from South Korean stocks and $4.3 billion from Taiwanese equities, marking consecutive...
BT Group Results for Year to End of 31st March 2026
BT Group posted FY26 revenue of £19.7 bn (≈$25 bn), down 3%, while profit after tax rose 2% to £1.08 bn (≈$1.37 bn). The company added 2.2 million full‑fibre connections, pushing Openreach’s footprint to over two‑thirds of UK premises and targeting 25 million by December 2026....
A Mean Reversion Strategy for Semiconductors
A rules‑based mean reversion model targeting semiconductor ETFs was backtested from the launch of SMH to the present. The system generated 124 trades, delivering an average 1.1% gain per trade and a 78% win ratio. It produced a 5.5% compound...
GLP’s Potential IPO Could Give Vanke a Much-Needed Exit Window
China Vanke, under pressure from losses and liquidity concerns, may find an exit via Global Logistic Properties’ (GLP) rumored Hong Kong IPO. GLP is targeting at least $1 bn in proceeds and a $20 bn valuation, which would value Vanke’s 21.4% stake at...
Investors Abandoned These 3 AI Stocks Too Early, Says Jeff Clark
Jeff Clark of TradeSmith warns that AI‑focused stocks have been over‑sold after recent hype, highlighting three undervalued names. He argues Figma (FIG) is integrating AI, showing 50% YoY user growth, 139% net retention and beating earnings expectations despite a $22...
Treasury Yields Resume Climb as Traders Monitor Inflation Risks
U.S. Treasury yields climbed on Thursday, with the 10‑year note reaching 4.6014% and the 30‑year bond edging to 5.1334%. The rise follows a brief pull‑back after multi‑decade highs and reflects renewed inflation concerns after Fed minutes hinted at further rate...
NCDEX Launches India’s First Exchange-Traded Parametric Weather Derivative RAINMUMBAI
The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) has launched RAINMUMBAI, India’s first SEBI‑approved exchange‑traded parametric weather derivative. The contract lets market participants hedge financial exposure to extreme or variable rainfall in Mumbai and surrounding areas. Developed with IIT Bombay and...