Multifamily Housing Shows Early Stabilization as Commercial Real Estate Recovery Falters
Lument Finance Trust, Inc. said on its Q1 2026 earnings call that the multifamily housing market is moving toward stabilization as construction starts plunge and supply peaks. The company also highlighted a liquidity boost from redeeming its LMF-2023-1 debt and extending a corporate loan to 2030, underscoring an uneven recovery across the wider commercial real estate sector.
SPY Slides to Key $735 Level, Likely to Test
$SPY just hit $735, which I had mentioned was a key level this morning. After losing support at $740, it sold off rather quickly. $735 is a pretty significant level; we can expect a few tests/chop at it, especially as...
Official: Report that US Has Agreed to Lift Oil Sanctions While Talks Unfold, Are False:
A report that the United States had agreed to lift oil sanctions was quickly denied by a U.S. official, reversing a sharp sell‑off in crude. The clarification sent oil prices up about 2%, trading near $103 after briefly dipping to...
SpaceX Accelerates IPO to June 12, Targets $75B Raise at $1.75T Valuation
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has moved its Nasdaq debut forward to June 12, with underwriters targeting a $75 billion capital raise and a $1.75 trillion valuation. The accelerated timeline, announced on May 16, intensifies debate over the company’s dual‑class share structure and the...
AI Surge Boosts Micron and SanDisk; Analysts Flag Buying Opportunities
AI‑driven data‑center spending has propelled Micron Technology and SanDisk to multi‑digit gains, with shares up more than 700% and 3,200% respectively over the past year. Analysts say the rally reflects pricing power but warn that capacity expansions by Samsung and...
Walker & Dunlop Q1 2026 Transaction Volume Jumps 94% as Revenue Grows 27%
Walker & Dunlop posted a first‑quarter 2026 transaction volume of $13.7 billion, up 94% year over year, while total revenues rose 27% to $301.3 million. The results underscore robust demand for commercial real‑estate capital despite a volatile macro backdrop.
IRS Rules Turn Health Savings Accounts Into Tax Traps for Non‑Spouse Heirs
IRS inheritance rules strip health savings accounts of their tax‑advantaged status when passed to anyone other than a surviving spouse. The entire balance becomes taxable in the year of death, a risk that can thrust heirs into the top 37%...
CME Group Unveils Compute Futures as New Institutional Asset Class
CME Group announced a compute futures contract tied to GPU pricing, partnering with Silicon Data and DRW. CIO Dr. Alyce Su of a global family office called the product a new institutional asset class, highlighting its potential to reshape hedging...
US LNG Demand Reshapes Natural Gas Storage Indicators as Henry Hub Nears $3
U.S. natural‑gas storage saw a 92 Bcf injection for the week ending May 15, keeping the overall surplus near 140 Bcf for a third straight week. LNG export flows to Lower 48 liquefaction plants rose to 18.1 Bcf/d, underscoring a structural shift toward export‑driven demand....
Hedge Funds Slip 2.2% in March as AI Payback, Oil Shock Test Strategies
PivotalPath's Hedge Fund Composite Index fell 2.2% in March, leaving year‑to‑date gains at 1.0% as AI‑related bets, a sharp oil price shock and sector rotation pressured equity‑heavy books. Only 28% of funds posted gains, highlighting the need for selective, liquid...
Ghana Unveils Massive Clean‑Energy and Transit Plan Targeting 1,100 MW by 2035
Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology announced a ten‑year low‑carbon strategy that will introduce 100 MW of nuclear base‑load power, over 1,000 MW of renewable capacity and a new electric‑vehicle‑focused transit network. The plan aims to decouple the country’s growth from...
Service Corporation International: Still A 'Buy' For Long-Term Stability
Service Corporation International (SCI) remains a cash‑generating leader in the fragmented death‑care market, operating 1,487 funeral homes and 503 cemeteries. Analyst Daniel Jones reaffirms a “Buy” rating, citing attractive valuation, consistent shareholder returns, and resilience amid a challenging economy. The...
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Stock Market Today: Indexes Pull Back to Begin Week as Tech Shares Fall; Treasury Yields Remain Elevated
Major US stock indexes slipped on Monday as the tech‑heavy Nasdaq fell 0.7% and the S&P 500 slipped 0.3% ahead of a busy earnings week. The decline came amid a jump in oil to about $107 a barrel and the 10‑year...
European Stocks Rebound 0.3% as Trump Warns Iran, Energy Gains Lift Stoxx, FTSE, DAX
European markets bounced back from early losses on Monday, with the Stoxx 600 gaining 0.3% and the FTSE 100 and DAX each rising more than 1%. The rally was sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s hard‑line warning to Iran, which...
Archer Aviation Beats Q1 2026 Forecasts but Shares Slip 1.4% After Hours
Archer Aviation reported Q1 2026 earnings that topped analyst expectations with EPS of -$0.28 versus a -$0.30 forecast and revenue of $1.6 million versus $1.54 million projected. Despite the beat, the eVTOL maker’s shares dropped 1.39% in after‑hours trading, underscoring investor wariness...
Surging Bond Yields And Potential Warsh Fed Test Could Be The Sword Of Damocles For Stocks
The market’s recent resilience is being tested by sharply rising Treasury yields and the looming appointment of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair. Ten‑year yields have breached the 4.5% resistance level while 30‑year yields topped 5%, raising concerns for housing...
Bullish Forecasts Push Natural Gas Futures, Cash Prices Near $3
Natural gas futures surged on Friday, with June NYMEX contracts climbing 5.6 cents to $3.016 per MMBtu, edging past the psychologically significant $3 mark for the first time since late March. The rally follows a 20.3‑cent weekly gain driven by hotter...
ECB Poised for June Rate Hike as Energy‑Driven Inflation Persists
The European Central Bank is edging toward a 25‑basis‑point rate increase at its June meeting, with 85% of analysts seeing a hike as likely. Persistent inflation, now projected at 2.6‑3%, and surging energy prices are driving the hawkish shift, while...
Hormuz Strait Shutdown Erases 246 M Barrels, Lifts Oil 2% and Fuels Clean‑energy Hedge Debate
The sudden closure of the Strait of Hormuz has removed 246 million barrels of oil from global stocks, driving Brent crude above $111 per barrel and prompting analysts to argue that clean‑energy assets could serve as a hedge against such geopolitical...
Your Client Is Buying a Business. Have They Considered Cost Segregation?
When acquiring businesses with real‑estate components, depreciation can outweigh purchase price in after‑tax cash flow. Cost segregation—an engineering analysis that reclassifies building elements to five‑, seven‑ or 15‑year lives—now often yields an immediate 100% bonus depreciation under Section 168(k) for assets...
Lightrock Unveils $500 Million Accelerate7 Fund for Energy‑Access Startups in Southeast Asia
London‑based Lightrock has closed a $500 million Accelerate7 fund aimed at growth‑stage companies that expand affordable, reliable energy in Southeast Asia and other emerging markets. Backed by major oil majors and the private‑bank LGT, the fund will deploy $10‑$50 million per company...
Nebius Lifts 2026 Capex to $20‑$25 B, Bets on AI‑driven SaaS Growth
Nebius Group CEO Arkady Volozh announced on May 13 that the Russian AI‑native hyperscaler raised its 2026 capital‑expenditure outlook to $20‑$25 billion, up from $16‑$20 billion. The move follows a Q1 revenue surge of 684% and a $27 billion five‑year deal with Meta, underscoring...
Stay Invested Amid Volatility With This Options-Based ETF
Fidelity Investments has launched the Fidelity Hedged Equity ETF (FHEQ), an actively managed fund that blends large‑cap equity exposure with a systematic put‑option overlay. The strategy aims to protect portfolios from downside moves while still capturing upside, using quantitative screens...
Mega‑Cap Growth Dominates, Value Set for Rebound
Global Growth is still historically expensive, while Value remains relatively cheap, but expensive to its own history. Financials at ~12.2x and Energy at ~12.5x remain cheap. Staples near 19.8x is notable. This chart supports the thesis that we are likely in a: *...
Ruto Convenes Crisis Meeting over High Fuel Prices
President William Ruto convened an emergency meeting with energy, treasury, transport and interior ministers alongside oil marketers and transport leaders to address Kenya's soaring fuel prices. The government has already deployed a roughly $80 million stabilization fund and cut fuel VAT...
Learning to Manage Personal Finance With Smart Digital Tools
Smart digital tools are reshaping how consumers manage personal finance by providing real‑time visibility into spending, budgeting, and savings. Apps that track expenses, automate transfers, and set goal‑based accounts help users identify hidden costs and build disciplined habits. Integrated debt‑payoff...
Mercado Libre Deep Dive: Thesis, Model, Risks, Valuation
I just released my Mercado Libre deep dive - $MELI I cover everything you need to know about the current opportunity – from the key pillars of the thesis to the business model, risks, and valuation. Find it via the link in...
The AUDUSD Finds Support Buyers and Bounces Higher.
The Australian dollar slipped to a weekly low of 0.7119 after failing to break the prior week’s high of 0.7277, finding support near the 0.7100‑0.7111 swing zone. Traders now see a 100‑pip range between 0.7100‑0.7111 support and 0.7194‑0.7200 resistance, with...
Private Capital, Not Government, Solves Housing Shortage
What every voter and apparently, the NY Times Editorial Board, should know about housing policy: 1. Rents reflect the balance of supply of apartments and demand for those apartments in a given area. That’s it; there’s no magic. If you want...
How Gulf Investments Are Responding to the US-China Critical Minerals Competition
The United States is intensifying its focus on critical minerals, launching initiatives like FORGE and Project Vault to curb Chinese dominance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Gulf sovereign‑wealth funds—UAE’s ADQ, Qatar Investment Authority, and Saudi Arabia’s PIF—are pouring billions...
How Investors Are Using the Short-Term Rental Tax Strategy to Generate Major Year-One Deductions
Investors are leveraging short‑term rental (STR) properties to generate sizable year‑one tax deductions by meeting the IRS average‑stay rule, demonstrating material participation, and employing professional cost‑segregation studies. The 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill restored 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying assets placed in service...
Value Investing Finds Opportunity Amid AI Fear and Market Distortions
Tweedy Browne’s John Spears And Jay Hill on: * AI Fear Is Creating New Opportunities * How Insider Buying Can Reveal Undervalued Stocks * Big Tech Buybacks May Be Destroying Shareholder Value * Why Market Flows Are Distorting Valuations * What Honey Badgers Can Teach...
401(k)s and the Next Wave of Democratisation
US Department of Labor is drafting safe‑harbor guidance to let 401(k) plans invest in private‑market assets, aiming to reduce fiduciary litigation risk. Retail investors have already accessed private credit through BDCs, but redemption caps highlighted liquidity mismatches. The proposed framework...
‘More Action Needed’ to Keep Pension Schemes Invested in UK
Pensions UK’s new report warns that despite £1 trillion (≈$1.25 trillion) already invested in the UK, pension schemes need stronger coordination to sustain growth‑asset exposure. The paper follows the Mansion House Accord, where 17 major providers pledged to boost unlisted‑asset allocations, but...
Higher Aluminum Prices Are Powering One Former Dow Component. Here's How to Buy for Less
Alcoa is capitalizing on a four‑year high in LME aluminum prices, prompting a buy‑write (covered‑call) trade that lets investors acquire shares at a reduced net cost. The June $70 buy‑write proposes buying at $62.50 and selling a $70 call for...
Inflation Uptick Is Starting to Send Sell Signals to Stock Bulls
Wall Street strategists say the post‑earnings rally is losing steam as inflation and higher oil prices revive rate‑hike concerns under new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. A sharp sell‑off hit the most rate‑sensitive stocks, with the Russell 2000 down 2.4% and unprofitable...
Claiming Social Security Early in 2026? Here's How Much You Can Earn From a Job Before Losing Benefits.
The Social Security Administration’s earnings test will reduce benefits for anyone claiming before full retirement age in 2026 who earns above $24,480, with a $1‑for‑$2 penalty. For those who turn 67 during the year, the threshold rises to $65,160 and...
Retirees Cash Out 100,000 More Pensions in Full – Should You Take the Money?
Pension cash‑outs in the UK have risen 29% since 2018/19, adding 105,038 fully withdrawn pots. In 2024/25 more than 300,000 pots under £10,000 (≈$12,700) and 112,000 between £10,000‑£29,000 (≈$12,700‑$36,800) were taken, highlighting small‑pot pressures. Withdrawals among 65‑74‑year‑olds jumped 75%, while...
💡Trade Idea for Monday, May 18, 2026
The author recommends a cash‑secured put on an unnamed stock that has pulled back after a sharp earnings‑driven rally. A new strategic partnership has prompted an increased price target and a more bullish outlook. The trade shows a 77% Probability...
S&P’s Mobility Unit to Sell $2B of Notes Ahead of Spinoff
S&P Global’s Mobility Global unit announced a $2 billion note offering with 3‑, 5‑, and 10‑year maturities, timed ahead of a planned mid‑2026 spin‑off. The unit also secured a $500 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility to bolster liquidity. Goldman Sachs, Morgan...
Part 2: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for Mid-May 2026
The latest housing market data shows modest price gains, with the Case‑Shiller National Index up 0.7% year‑over‑year in February and the Composite 10 and Composite 20 indices rising 1.5% and 0.9% respectively. Mortgage rates have started climbing again, curbing purchase mortgage applications...
Terrestrial Energy: Projects Progress & DOE Programs Strengthen Commercialization – Quarterly Update Report
Terrestrial Energy’s Integrated Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) made notable strides in Q1 2026, securing NRC approval of its Postulated Initiating Events (PIE) safety framework and advancing DOE‑backed TETRA and TEFLA pilot programs. A strategic partnership with Riot Platforms opened a data‑center...
Quilter Appoints PIMCO for New Global Government Bond Fund
Quilter announced the launch of the Quilter Global Government Bond fund, appointing PIMCO as its manager. The fund is being added to Quilter’s WealthSelect Managed Portfolio Service as part of an ad‑hoc rebalance that shifts assets from passive government‑bond holdings...
Create an “Eat First” Zone, Halve Food Waste
Americans throw away billions of dollars in food every year and most of it’s because we forget what’s in the back of the fridge. I put an ‘eat first’ zone in mine for anything about to expire and it’s cut...
Semiconductor Weakness Emerges Ahead of Nvidia Earnings
$SOX Hourly. Some clear notable relative weakness for semis today. NVIDIA earnings this week. Tons of (mostly) open gaps below since end of March. This timeframe finally looking toppy. $SMH $NVDA https://t.co/9AIXPkgLS5
Kenyan Fund Manager Spearhead Plans to Raise $116 Million for Projects Fund
Kenyan fund manager Spearhead Africa Asset Management announced a new capital drive to raise 15 billion shillings (about $116 million). The proceeds will fund long‑term, local‑currency loans for infrastructure developers across Kenya. By the end of March the Spearhead Africa Infrastructure Fund...
Foreign Investors Flee India, $21B Out, 2026 Worst Since 199
#IndiaWatch🇮🇳: Foreign portfolio investors have pulled nearly $21 BILLION from Indian equities in the last 2 months. This makes 2026 the WORST YEAR for foreign capital flows since 1993. THE US-ISRAELI WAR ON IRAN HAS HIT INDIA AND ITS RUPEE HARD....
US Home Builder Sentiment Ticks up in May but Broad Pessimism Remains Prevalent
U.S. home‑builder sentiment rose modestly in May, with the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market index climbing to 37 from 34, yet it remains well below the neutral 50 threshold. The uptick surprised economists who expected the index to stay flat at its...
Infrastructure Spending Drives China's Growth Target, up 4.3%
Caixin: "Infrastructure investment remained relatively resilient, rising 4.3%, supported partly by spending on new infrastructure projects." No surprise. Infrastructure spending is the main thing under Beijing's control with which to hit the GDP growth target. https://t.co/oOGHoKEAkQ
Time Is Not on Iran’s Side – No Deal – No Regime Is Close. The Corn & Ethanol Report 05/18/2026
The latest Commitment of Traders report shows funds shedding positions in most ag markets while remaining heavily long in corn, with a net long of roughly 299,000 contracts. Corn futures have slipped below $4.70 per bushel and are projected to...