
S&P Global Ratings warns that collateral values backing Hong Kong banks' commercial property loans will keep declining through 2026, reflecting a market that has yet to find a bottom. The Bank of East Asia disclosed a HK$723 million valuation loss in 2025, highlighting the pressure on non‑prime assets. S&P’s stress tests model 30% and 50% discount scenarios, showing profitability could slip to 0.58% and non‑performing loans rise to 4.3%. While large banks retain capital buffers, smaller institutions with high exposure to distressed assets face heightened liquidity risk.

Are Soybeans Getting Too Hot Near $11.70? Runaway Brazilian soybean production is a top pressure factor for prices, and $11.70 a bushel in 2026 may be too high. My graphic shows the US-traded oilseed bumping up against the 2025 peak, at...
You own $3 million in US stocks. You live in Singapore. You pass away. Two versions of what happens next.

A Commonwealth think‑tank recommends that English councils replace private contractors with in‑house crews to deliver the £15 bn Warm Homes plan. The proposal calls for creating 30 regional "home improvement corporations" that would train and employ up to 140,000 workers to...

Former ICBC chairman Chen Siqing urged China to embed its Cross‑border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) into bilateral trade frameworks, especially with Belt‑Road and RCEP partners, as geopolitical tensions heighten reliance on non‑US payment networks. He highlighted CIPS’s rapid growth, processing...

Record Put Trading on ETFs Seen as AI Victims From BBG: “Almost $50 billion in notional put trading so far this month, significantly outpacing other episodes over the past two decades.” “Themes such as senior loans, consumer exposure, financials and health care. The...
Large U.S. corporations are abandoning the term “pilot” for AI projects, signaling a move from small‑scale tests toward deployments that deliver measurable value. A MIT study that found 95% of AI pilots failed to generate financial impact, combined with a...
Chile’s mining ministry is set to file five new lithium contracts in March, just days before President Gabriel Boric departs office, as part of a push to accelerate the 2023 national lithium strategy. The contracts target the Salar de Ascotán,...

Fairfax Financial is timing the market cycle by investing in Kennedy Wilson’s credit platform as the real‑estate firm prepares for privatization. Kennedy Wilson has steadily expanded its real‑estate debt capabilities while maintaining a global equity presence. The move reflects Fairfax’s...

Viral Blog Bottoms? If you look at the software vols, we obviously still see some very high IV Ranks but those should come down today now that some earnings have passed. We'd argue lower IVs in this space generates a bullish...

Ukraine’s agriculture and steel sectors remain economic pillars despite war‑driven disruptions, contributing roughly 7‑8% and 5.7‑7.2% of GDP respectively. Grain exports have fallen to their lowest level since the invasion, while sunflower crushing is 9% below last year and 26%...

China’s lithium carbonate futures surged after Zimbabwe suspended all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports. The Guangzhou Futures Exchange contract jumped 6.07% to 178,020 yuan, having peaked above 9% earlier in the session. Zimbabwe, the continent’s top lithium producer, shipped...
Fastmarkets released five iron‑ore Value‑In‑Use (VIU) indices on February 26, a day later than scheduled. The indices include 61% Fe and 65% Fe fines, as well as fines measured for silicon, alumina and phosphorus, all quoted cfr Qingdao in dollars per dry...

Cava is aiming for 1,000 restaurants by 2032. The DC-based chain just hit $1.2B in revenue and plans to pass 500 units this year. Same-store sales were flat last quarter, but expansion is driving growth. They’re preparing for 100 openings a...

Ghana announced an artisanal and small‑scale mining (ASM) gold formalisation programme that will channel roughly 127 metric tons of gold per year into official trade. The Ghana Gold Board, via the newly created GoldBod, will purchase a minimum of 2.45 tons weekly,...
My new book China's 90% Model launches March 17 To mark the launch of my book, I am hosting an exclusive session for my LinkedIn community. Are You Aware? Do You Know? In one hour I will take you through: 🔹What China's...

Wood Mackenzie warns that the world’s 30 largest oil and gas firms must add roughly 22 million barrels of oil‑equivalent per day by 2040 to preserve their share of global demand. Current output of about 50 mbd is projected to fall nearly...

President Félix Tshisekedi announced a comprehensive reform of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's gold sector, targeting the massive revenue loss from smuggling and informal trade. The plan, presented at a Council of Ministers meeting on 20 February 2026, seeks...

The U.S. State Department lodged a formal protest with Ukraine after a drone strike hit Russia’s Black Sea oil terminal in Novorossiysk, damaging American economic interests. Ukrainian Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna confirmed the warning, urging Kyiv to refrain from targeting U.S....
Tesla has sued the California Department of Motor Vehicles after the agency labeled the automaker a false advertiser for its Autopilot and Full‑Self Driving branding. Tesla argues the DMV offered no consumer‑witness evidence and relied on a single academic testimony,...

London Gateway, DP World’s flagship UK terminal, is on track to become the nation’s leading container port after handling 3 million TEU in 2025 and surpassing Felixstowe in Q3 2025. The port’s rapid growth stems from a £1.5 bn initial outlay followed...

China’s decades‑long dominance of rare‑earth processing is being challenged as the United States and allies pour over $8.5 billion into reshaping the supply chain. REAlloys Inc. has become the only North‑American company that can convert rare‑earth concentrates into metals and alloys,...

WisdomTree’s latest blog argues that uranium’s rally is rooted in solid fundamentals as nuclear power re‑enters the global energy agenda. Thirty‑one countries have pledged to triple nuclear capacity by 2050, while the United States targets a four‑fold increase. Major tech...

Kevin Warsh’s nomination to replace Jerome Powell places a deeply divided Federal Reserve at a crossroads. Warsh argues the institution needs a revamped analytical framework and a “balance‑sheet theory” rather than a singular focus on rate cuts. He suggests structural...

U.S. CRUDE OILinventories surged by 16 million barrels over the seven days ending on February 20, the largest one-week increase for three years. The increase was concentrated at refineries and tank farms along the Gulf Coast where stocks rose by...
Italy’s financial regulator CONSOB ordered the blocking of ten websites that were providing unauthorized investment services, including foreign‑exchange and cryptocurrency offerings. The sites targeted include Keyline FX, Solaxy Tech, Po Trade and related advertising domains, and CONSOB also asked Google to remove the...
Short Thought: Nvidia Ratchets Up the Risk Michael BurryFeb 26 Welcome to one short thought. Just going through the Nvidia numbers. I would like to highlight for you one specific aspect of their financials that I find troubling. The 2026 Form 10K...
Economic Calendar for Thurs. Feb 26th 8:30am - Initial jobless claims: Expected 216k; Prior 206k - Continuing Jobless Claims: Expected 1.86M; Prior 1.869M 10:00 - Fed’s Bowman speaks 1:00pm - 7 Year Note Auction: Prior 4.018%

The article warns that retirement‑planning formulas and withdrawal‑rate rules of thumb are often over‑relied upon, despite being based on backward‑looking back‑tests. It argues that such generic models ignore individual spending patterns, health costs, inflation, and tax changes that vary over...

Within the continued consolidation of the FX market, there are two standouts: 1) After being the only G10 currency that fell yesterday, the yen is the only one higher today. 2) the RMB's gains have accelerated. https://t.co/AiTduO3fl9 https://t.co/BxiHf6en8T

Following the Christmas Day U.S. airstrike on a jihadist target in northern Nigeria, the U.S. has deployed 100 troops, more so advisors, to train local counterterrorism forces in Nigeria. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/uIZSP3p5af #nigeria #usmilitary #geopolitics https://t.co/j1BH1u6PXG

American Express has launched a targeted Amex Offers promotion for IHG hotel stays. Cardholders who spend at least $250 on eligible IHG properties between February 25 and May 26, 2026, receive a $50 statement credit, effectively a 20% rebate. The offer applies to...

People keep telling me I'm wrong about the US fiscal boost this year, but the IMF just published this.. thats bigger than our estimates btw https://t.co/HKAuw6DenI
The ability to read a chart is a gift you can only earn through research and experience.

The article uses Salomey’s experience in Ghana to illustrate a systemic cash‑flow squeeze at the farmgate of the cocoa trade. Farmers deliver beans, yet payments are delayed because the state‑run marketing board routes sales through a long, opaque export chain....
Once your strategy is working, stop looking for better strategies. Look to optimize what you already have. Chasing perfection will kill your edge. Protect what you've built through focus and discipline.
Join me at 2pm GMT today on Spaces to discuss what’s really going on behind the scenes when liquidity providers like Jane Street support key ETFs and markets. https://t.co/a9uhteuOzP
The U.S. Senate trimmed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) renewal to a single‑year extension, sparking optimism among exporters but deepening long‑term uncertainty. Simultaneously, Washington imposed tariffs of 10‑30% on key African products, and non‑tariff measures continue to raise...
#WIL results read OK. Has debt now and acquisitions weakened margins. ShareScope has fwd p/e 11.1 falling to 9.3 and fwd Divvy 4.4% rising to 4.6%; attractive numbers. Chart weak and AI possible threat. I don't hold.
I keep looking at #TATE as something for my Income Portfolio but unfortunately it seems to have got itself in a bit of a rut of weak performance. ShareScope showing fwd Dividend Yield 5.1% rising to 5.2%; patience needed then.

Eurozone consumer confidence held steady at a final -12.2 in February, matching the preliminary reading. Economic confidence slipped to 98.3, missing forecasts, while industrial confidence fell to -7.1 and services confidence dropped to 5.0, both below expectations. Employment expectations declined...
#MTEC "ahead of recently upgraded expectations". Net Cash £11.9m (up). ShareScope has fwd p/e 17.4 falling to 13.7 but no Dividend. Mkt Cap £55m ish so quite small. Worth a look. I don't hold.
Look forward to discussing Nvidia’s robust earnings and guidance on @BloombergTV with @lisaabramowicz1 @FerroTV @annmarie at 7:15 am

Xperi Corp. reported fourth‑quarter results that topped Wall Street revenue forecasts, marking a notable beat against consensus estimates. CEO Jon Kirchner highlighted that 2025 saw the company hit key milestones across its core franchises, including DTS AutoStage, TiVo, and HD...

VEON Ltd. announced that it will publish its FY 2025 fourth‑quarter and full‑year financial results on March 13, 2026 at 8:00 GST (00:00 EST). A results conference call with senior management is set for 16:00 GST (08:00 EST) the same day. The company will stream the presentation...
India is expected to experience one of its warmest Marches on record, with temperatures projected up to 7 °C above normal in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Madhya Pradesh. These states produce more than 80 % of the nation’s...
HANetf announced plans to launch a UCITS exchange‑traded fund that gives investors exposure to companies developing unmanned aerial systems. The fund targets firms across military, public‑safety and commercial drone applications as the sector expands. Market forecasts show civil UAS revenue...

Golden Agri-Resources reported a record FY 2025 revenue of US$12.95 billion, up 19% year‑on‑year, and EBITDA of US$1.26 billion, a 14% increase, maintaining a 9.7% margin. Net profit rose 10% to US$400 million despite a sharp drop in foreign‑exchange gains. The Board proposed...

ECB President Christine Lagarde told reporters her baseline assumption is that she will remain in office until the end of her six‑year term. Analysts note her wording leaves room for an earlier exit, a scenario that has been floated in...

Melco Resorts & Entertainment has been named to the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026 after ranking in the 96th percentile of the 2025 Corporate Sustainability Assessment, up from the 92nd percentile last year. Inclusion requires a top‑15% industry score and...