The Last 1.5mm of AI Power: Three Numbers From Vicor’s Q1 2026 Earnings Call
Vicor Corp. disclosed its second‑generation Vertical Power Delivery (VPD) module on the Q1 2026 earnings call, highlighting a 3 A/mm² current density, up to 40× current multiplication, and a 1.5 mm package thickness. The company also announced a capacity boost at its Andover fab, raising potential revenue to $1.5 B annually and expanding the backlog to $301 M. Additionally, CEO Patrizio Vinciarelli rejected the emerging 800 V‑to‑6 V bus architecture as fundamentally flawed. These announcements signal Vicor’s push to dominate the power‑delivery niche for high‑performance AI racks.
EU Finds Chinese Bidder for Lisbon Subway Line Benefited From subsidies...Beijing Targets RMB 100 TN in Services Sector push...China Claims...
The European Commission concluded that a Chinese state‑owned CRRC unit received unfair subsidies in the Lisbon Violet Line bid, forcing the consortium to replace it with Poland’s PESA. Beijing announced a push to lift its services sector to roughly $14.7 trillion...
Llechwen Hall Hotel Secures £2.3 Million for Refurbishment
Welsh independent Llechwen Hall Hotel has secured a £2.3 million (≈$2.9 million) commercial mortgage from Barclays Business Bank to fund a major refurbishment. The loan will finance upgrades to core infrastructure, including the water system, and modernise guest bedrooms and bathrooms. Over...
Q1 2026 Cleared Rates Swap Volumes and CCP Share
Global notional volumes of core cleared rates swaps jumped to $321 trillion in Q1 2026, a 43% year‑on‑year increase and 18% quarter‑on‑quarter rise. Record volumes were set across major currencies, with USD OIS at $81.4 trillion, GBP SONIA OIS at $70.7 trillion, and EUR...
Valmont Industries Reports Record Q1 EPS and Raises Full-Year 2026 Guidance
Valmont Industries posted a record first‑quarter diluted EPS of $5.51, a 27.5% jump, as net sales rose 6.2% to $1.03 billion. The Infrastructure segment led the surge, with North America Utility sales up 27.5% and overall segment revenue climbing 14.1% to...
7 Money Rules the Wealthy Keep Quiet From the Working Class
The article contrasts the wealthy’s asset‑centric money mindset with the working class’s paycheck‑and‑debt approach. It outlines seven rules the affluent follow, such as borrowing against appreciated assets, using cash‑flow from investments to pay for luxuries, and leveraging fixed‑rate debt during...
East Africa: Bayer Foundation and UNCDF Back Omia and SokoFresh
The Bayer Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), has launched the Food Systems Innovation Finance Facility, deploying its first two concessional loans of roughly $500,000 each to African agribusinesses. The loans go to Uganda’s Omia...
Interview with Asharq Bloomberg TV Dubai 22.04.2026
In a 22 April 2026 interview on Asharq Bloomberg TV, The Macro Butler warned that oil prices are as unreliable as central‑bank forecasts because the Strait of Hormuz is effectively shut by a naval blockade. He argued that the apparent stability of...
Gold Daily Call for April 22nd, 2026
Markets sold off on lingering U.S.–Iran cease‑fire uncertainty, then rallied sharply after fresh comments from former President Trump. Gold remains in a risk‑off correction, having bounced from a double‑bottom near $4,670. The metal could retest the $4,820 support zone, but...
Xi and MBS Phone Call
On April 20, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. The leaders reviewed existing cooperation, emphasized mutual respect, and discussed regional security,...
Funds Shift From Asia to Africa – How the Mauritius Jurisdiction Adapts to Accompany the Investment Trend
Mauritius‑based funds, long focused on India and other Asian markets, are reallocating capital toward Africa after the India‑Mauritius double‑tax treaty was renegotiated, eroding previous tax advantages. The continent’s rapid urbanisation, infrastructure needs, fintech boom and expanding middle class are offering...
The IPO Buzz: Yesway (YSWY) Prices Upsized IPO at $20 – Low End – & Stock Opens at $22
Yesway (YSWY) priced its IPO at the low end of the $20‑$23 range, setting the price at $20 per share and upsizing the offering to 14 million shares, which raised roughly $280 million. The stock opened at $22, climbed to $22.60 intraday,...
Protected Profits: How the World’s Largest Condom Maker Turned a Global Crisis Into a "Covered" Investment Opportunity
Karex, a Malaysia‑listed firm, is the world’s largest condom manufacturer, producing over five billion units annually for brands such as Durex, Trojan and public‑health buyers like the NHS and UN. Amid the US‑Iran conflict, shipping delays have doubled transit times,...
Elliott Wave Update of USDCAD – April 22nd, 2026
The USDCAD pair has slipped for the third consecutive week, hovering around the 1.3600 level. Elliott Wave analysts note that this support zone remains intact, but a decisive break could trigger further downside. Market participants are watching for a bearish...
Elliott Wave Update of EURUSD – April 22nd, 2026
The latest Elliott Wave updates show divergent market dynamics as of April 22‑26, 2026. WTI crude oil is rallying on renewed fears that the US‑Iran cease‑fire may collapse, while Bitcoin has logged a fourth straight weekly gain, positioning it for a double‑digit...
Wed 22 Apr 2026 - Paul Scott's Small/Mid Cap Value Report
On April 22, 2026, equity analyst Paul Scott published his Small/Mid‑Cap Value Report, spotlighting TENG as the headline recommendation. The brief also lists 17 additional tickers—including RKT, ABDN, SNR, and SHOE—spanning sectors such as biotech, industrials, and consumer goods. Scott’s...
Small-Cap Mailbag: Cleanspace Holdings (ASX: CSX)
CleanSpace Holdings (ASX:CSX), an Australian maker of powered‑air‑purifying respirators, posted a paper profit of A$2.8 million in H1 FY2026 after extinguishing a liability, but would have recorded a loss of about A$1 million without it. Chairman Graham McLean recently bought roughly A$50k of...
Blue Owl Founders Speak Out to Defuse Margin Risk Concerns:
Blue Owl founders Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz have restructured their personal loans, removing Blue Owl shares as collateral. The move eliminates margin‑linked risk that could have forced forced sales if the stock fell. By decoupling their financing from the...
Hong Kong Woos Investors with Improved Transparency, Liquidity
Hong Kong is boosting bond market transparency and liquidity as it expands its Sustainable and Infrastructure Bond Programmes, which together can raise up to HK$500 bn (≈US$64 bn). The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) introduced an automated pricing system that delivers indicative levels twice...
Will Labor Go ‘Back to the Future’ on Property CGT?
The Albanese government is expected to restore the pre‑1999 capital gains tax (CGT) framework for property investments, taxing real gains—adjusted for inflation—at the investor’s marginal tax rate. This would replace the current system that levies nominal gains at 50% of...
Government Backs Fertiliser Imports, Farmers Gain Certainty, Taxpayers Take the Exposure
The Australian government has introduced an underwriting scheme to backstop fertilizer imports amid supply disruptions caused by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The policy guarantees losses for importers who lock in cargoes at high global prices, shifting downside risk...
Market Morsel: Northern Premiums Ready to Wake
Australian grain pricing is increasingly driven by domestic basis rather than global futures. Drying trends and falling subsoil moisture in northern New South Wales and Queensland are tightening local supply. As El Niño risk grows, buyers are moving earlier, creating emerging...
2026-04-22: Strait of Hormuz Blockade Disrupts Oil, Medical Supplies, and Global Negotiations
A magnitude‑6.8 offshore earthquake struck the Sanriku coast on April 20, prompting a tsunami warning and a week‑long aftershock advisory covering 182 municipalities. While damage remains moderate, the event has disrupted rail, courier services and forced school closures, creating a...
Scott Kennedy’s mREIT Earnings Series: Assessing Annaly Capital’s Performance For Q1 2026
Annaly Capital Management reported its Q1 2026 results, delivering $1.2 billion net income—a 15% increase year‑over‑year. The mREIT’s weighted‑average coupon rose to 5.3% as higher‑yielding agency MBS offset a modest dip in portfolio size. Dividend payouts climbed to $0.55 per share, reflecting...
Howard Marks on Avoiding Losers and Building Wealth Consistently
In a recent Wharton School interview, Howard Marks warned that market optimism often lifts prices while bad news is ignored, leaving valuations elevated longer than many expect. He emphasized that the S&P 500 is not cheap by history but is...
This Week’s Deep-Value Landscape: Acquirer’s Multiple Large-Cap Screen
The Acquirer’s Multiple® large‑cap screen shows that cash‑rich companies across energy, financials, housing and mature franchises are trading at compressed multiples despite strong free‑cash‑flow yields and active shareholder returns. Market sentiment remains skewed toward AI‑driven growth narratives, leaving value‑oriented businesses...
XEQT vs VEQT vs ZEQT: Why XEQT Looks Like the Winner
The Canadian market now offers three flagship all‑equity ETFs—iShares XEQT, Vanguard VEQT and BMO ZEQT—each bundling U.S., Canadian, European and emerging‑market stocks. Back‑tested data shows XEQT slightly outpacing the others, but this edge relies on a fixed U.S. equity weighting...
EP3 Brief
The Australian federal government has begun underwriting fertilizer imports, using strategic reserves to absorb price risk and guarantee timely delivery amid ongoing Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Grain production in New South Wales and Queensland faces a potential double‑digit decline as...
RTX Rides Aftermarket Boom, Lifts Outlook
RTX posted first‑quarter 2026 sales of $22.1 billion, a 9% increase, and lifted its full‑year sales outlook to $92.5‑$93.5 billion. The company’s backlog hit a record $271 billion, fueled by strong defense demand and a booming commercial aftermarket. Pratt & Whitney generated $8.173 billion in revenue,...
PETER’S ASIAN BUSINESS & FINANCE BRIEFING – Wednesday 22 April 2026, 06:00 Hong Kong
Donald Trump announced an extension of the U.S.‑Iran cease‑fire while maintaining the Strait of Hormuz blockade, keeping geopolitical risk high. Brent crude surged past $100 a barrel, closing near $98.5 as oil markets reacted to the cease‑fire move. Meanwhile, global...
Dot Plot Abolition Signal: How Forward Guidance Removal Concentrates Information-Cost Premium at the Short End
The article argues that central‑bank forward guidance acts as a market‑wide coordinate system, and its credible removal instantly forces short‑duration bond holders to demand higher compensation. A credible signal on April 21, 2026—when Fed nominee Kevin Warsh dismissed the dot...
An Interesting Setup in Copper & Silver
The author’s Synthetic Silver Price Index (SSPI) ties copper to silver, confirming that silver’s long‑term bull market remains intact despite a January correction. Copper recently broke out of an ascending triangle, a classic bullish pattern, reinforcing the uptrend. Because the...
10 Oversold Tech Stocks to Buy According to Analysts
Analysts have identified ten oversold tech stocks that have dropped at least 35% in the last three months but show an average upside of 35% or more. The article spotlights Klarna Group’s new buy‑now‑pay‑later integration with Aven Hospitality and Yext’s...
Daily Energy Report
China’s oil inventories have surged to a record high as firms tap cheap barrels bought for about $50 per barrel from Iran, Russia and Venezuela, rather than purchasing current imports priced above $100. The rise runs counter to market expectations...
9 Must-Buy Penny Stocks to Invest In Now
A tentative cease‑fire in the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict sparked a three‑week rally that lifted the Dow 1.8% and pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to record highs, reviving optimism for small‑cap equities. Despite lingering geopolitical risk, analysts see the Russell 2000...
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NTLA) Sees Moderate Buy Rating From Analysts
Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NTLA) earned a moderate buy rating from Wall Street analysts, who set an average price target of $21.25. The gene‑editing firm’s stock has climbed 88.76% over the past year and is up 62.32% year‑to‑date. In an SEC filing,...
Compass Therapeutics, Inc. (CMPX) Up 200% Year-on-Year
Compass Therapeutics (CMPX) has delivered a spectacular rally, climbing 237% over the past year and gaining 16% year‑to‑date. Analyst John Newman of Cannaccord Genuity reaffirmed a Buy rating with a $13 price target on April 7. CEO Thomas Schuetz highlighted that the...
Annexon Biosciences (ANNX) Buy Rating Retained
Annexon Biosciences (NASDAQ:ANNX) retained a Buy rating from Needham analyst Joseph Stringer, who set a new price target of $11. The small‑cap biotech has rallied 289.3% over the past year and is up 39.5% year‑to‑date. CEO Douglas Love highlighted progress...
TMTB EOD Wrap
Amazon announced a $5 billion investment in Anthropic, with an option to add up to $20 billion, securing up to 5 GW of Trainium AI compute for the startup. Meta revealed it will capture employee mouse movements, clicks and keystrokes to feed its...
Urgent: April 2026 #3
The Pareto Investor issued its "Urgent: April 2026 #3" newsletter on April 21, 2026, following a previous April 2026 #2 release. The brief notice signals a rapid update cycle aimed at investors, emphasizing timely market commentary. Distribution is via Substack,...
Today’s TACO Tuesday and the Markets
Paul Krugman argues that analysts, including the IMF, model the Hormuz crisis backwards—starting with oil price forecasts instead of physical supply constraints. He contends that real shortages, not price spikes, drive deeper economic disruption. The piece highlights that a sizable...
Q1 2026 Earnings Conference Call Recaps: Equifax (EFX)
Equifax reported a 14% year‑over‑year revenue increase in Q1 2026, highlighted by a 38% surge in mortgage‑related revenue. The company’s Work Number (TWN) indicator is gaining market share, helping lenders access early borrower income data across mortgage, auto and personal...
Q1 2026 Earnings Conference Call Recaps: Netflix (NFLX)
Netflix posted a strong Q1 2026 earnings beat, reporting 325 million paid members and near‑one‑billion total viewers. Management reaffirmed a 12‑14% revenue growth target and a 31.5% operating margin, driven by pricing power and a rapidly expanding ad business. Advertising revenue is...
The Nanoscale Engineering Behind China's Grip on the Green Energy Value Chain
China’s dominance in green‑energy hardware stems from aggressive nanoscale engineering, not just subsidies or scale. By mastering nanostructured silicon wafers, ultra‑thin TOPCon layers, and 2‑5 nm carbon coatings on lithium‑iron‑phosphate cathodes, Chinese firms now control over 80% of solar panel production...
The Hormuz Closure Is Driving a Shortage of Battery Ingredients
The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has choked the flow of seaborne sulfur, driving up sulfuric acid prices worldwide. As the primary feedstock for refining copper, nickel, cobalt and lithium, the shortage is already prompting output cuts at...
Hidden Surcharge
A recent HumbleDollar post highlights a little‑known Medicare surcharge that can turn a single extra dollar of income into an effective tax rate exceeding 1,000 percent. The surcharge, known as the Income‑Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), kicks in when a...
Pharmaceutical Executive Daily: UnitedHealth Raises Full-Year Profit Forecast
UnitedHealth Group reported adjusted earnings of $7.23 per share in Q1, well above analyst expectations, and used the momentum to raise its full‑year profit outlook. The boost reflects tighter medical‑cost controls and higher government reimbursement rates across its insurance operations....
Iron Horse Acquisition II Corp. (IRHO) to Combine with Electra Vehicles in $250M Deal
SPAC Iron Horse Acquisition II Corp. (ticker IRHO) announced a definitive merger agreement with Electra Vehicles, an electric‑vehicle technology firm. The transaction values the combined entity at approximately $250 million, with IRHO shareholders receiving a mix of cash and Electra shares....
How Much of SpaceX Will Elon Musk Own After IPO Will Surprise You
SpaceX filed an IPO prospectus revealing a dual‑class share structure that gives Elon Musk about 42% of the equity but roughly 79% of the voting power through super‑voting Class B shares. The public will receive Class A shares with one vote each,...
The White Swallow or the Next Puppet? Radev's Bulgaria at the Crossroads
Former air force chief Rumen Radev’s newly formed "Progressive Bulgaria" party clinched a parliamentary majority in a surprise election, toppling the entrenched pro‑European elite. The author contends that Bulgaria’s EU and NATO membership has deepened systemic corruption, demographic decline, and...