Oil Price Surge May Not Drive Permian Gas Production Surge
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure have driven oil and natural gas prices to new highs. Despite the price surge, operators in the Permian Basin are not accelerating associated gas production, sticking to earlier forecasts that anticipated a softer oil market and a cap on gas output. The region’s producers cite infrastructure bottlenecks and a strategic focus on oil as reasons for maintaining current gas plans. Consequently, the expected link between higher prices and increased Permian gas supply appears weak.
Market View: Pipe Outages Push Permian Gas Prices Underwater
West Texas natural‑gas prices have plunged to historic lows as a combination of robust Permian output, seasonally weak demand, and unexpected pipeline outages throttles transportation capacity. The bottleneck forces producers to offer cash incentives for customers to take gas that...
Morningstar DBRS Confirms Credit Ratings on Five Classes of Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2015-C27
Morningstar DBRS confirmed credit ratings on five classes of the Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2015‑C27, assigning B (sf) to Class C and C (sf) to Classes D, E, F and X‑B. The agency discontinued the rating on senior Class PEX after its repayment. Since...
Wealth Management for Families: Milestones, Services and Examples
Family wealth management expands traditional financial planning to address the interconnected needs of multiple household members across generations. It aligns investment, tax, insurance, education, and estate strategies around key life milestones such as buying a home, starting a family, career...
Argentina's LPG Exports to India More than Double
Argentina exported 50,000 metric tonnes of LPG to India in the first quarter of 2026, more than double the 22,000 tonnes shipped to the country in all of 2025. The surge reflects Argentina’s steady rise in LPG output, which reached...
This TSX Space and Defence Stock Is a Bright Spot in an Otherwise Struggling Index
MDA Space Ltd. (MDA:TSX) has surged more than 61% year‑to‑date, making it the standout performer on a broadly struggling S&P/TSX composite. The Brampton‑based firm secured a $32 million ground‑based space‑surveillance contract and a strategic partnership with Canada’s Department of National Defence...
Morningstar DBRS Confirms Republic of Finland at AA (High), Stable Trend
Morningstar DBRS confirmed that the Republic of Finland’s long‑term foreign and local currency sovereign ratings remain at AA (high), while its short‑term foreign and local ratings stay at R‑1 (high). All four ratings were reaffirmed on 20 March 2026 with a Stable...
History Says These 2 Overlooked Asset Classes Are the only Real Shield Against 1970s-Style Stagflation
Mark Hulbert highlights that during the 1973‑1982 stagflation era, U.S. small‑cap stocks and residential real estate outperformed inflation, delivering 5.9% and 5.5% annualized real returns respectively. In contrast, the large‑cap S&P 500 lagged because it was dominated by overvalued growth stocks,...
India’s Green Lentil Demand Remains Uncertain
Analysts are split on whether India will boost imports of Canadian green lentils as the government’s pigeon‑pea procurement under the minimum support price (MSP) program stalls. While the Ministry sanctioned 2.2 million tonnes for the 2025‑26 kharif year, market prices above...
Oil Surges as Iran War Escalates
Oil prices surged as the Iran‑U.S. conflict entered its third week, pushing Brent crude above $112 per barrel, the highest level since July 2022. The near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments, and...
Here’s Why Apple (AAPL) Could Be The Best Tech Stock to Buy Now According to Warren Buffett
Apple remains Berkshire Hathaway’s biggest holding even after a modest stake reduction, underscoring Warren Buffett’s confidence in the company. The firm’s cautious AI spending—about $12.7 billion in capex last year—contrasts sharply with peers planning $600 billion on AI infrastructure through 2026. Apple’s...
Early Fertilizer Buy Saves Minnesota Farmer From Price Spike Pain
Minnesota farmer George Goblish bought all his fertilizer in the fall, shielding his 2026 corn‑soybean operation from a sharp price surge. Current fertilizer costs are described as outrageously high, forcing growers to reconsider planting decisions. The inflated prices could tilt...
Sugarbeet Growers Planting at a Loss After $500 Million in the Red in 2025
American Sugarbeet Growers Association reports that beet farmers lost an average of $500 per acre in 2025, a loss driven by a 30% drop in sugar prices and a 40% rise in input costs. The financial strain is compounded by...
Treasury Yields Snapshot: March 20, 2026
Treasury yields climbed on March 20, 2026, with the 10‑year note reaching 4.39% and the 2‑year at 3.88%, the highest levels since July 2025. The 10‑2 spread turned negative in early September 2024 and stayed inverted until early September 2024, reviving its reputation as a...
#58611
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) issued a March 20, 2026 notice that two listed options—CEPU1 (Central Puerto S.A.) and MGIC1 (Matrix IT Ltd)—will not be subject to the standard automatic exercise thresholds for the March expiration. Holders of long positions must independently...
Amex Platinum Card® Cardholders: Get Up to 10¢ Off Each Gallon of Gas via Walmart+ Gas Discount
American Express Platinum Cardholders can receive a monthly statement credit of up to $12.95 when they enroll the Walmart+ membership on the card, effectively making the $12.95‑per‑month service free. Walmart+ offers a gas discount of up to 10¢ per gallon...
Analysts Doubt Canada Can Meet IEA Oil Target
Canada pledged to add roughly 130,000 barrels per day to meet the IEA’s 400‑million‑barrel oil‑supply initiative, but seasonal maintenance, limited pipeline space and wildfire risk threaten that goal. Upstream firms have already scheduled over 300,000 bpd of spring turnarounds and...
Value Investors See Mispriced Opportunities From Sports to Fertilizer
At the Value Invest conference, leading value managers highlighted a slate of mispriced stocks across disparate sectors. Jennifer Wallace praised CF Industries for its low‑cost natural‑gas input and exposure to soaring global fertilizer prices, while also flagging Signet Jewelers as...
Iraq Advises Foreign Firms to Curb Output
Iraq has instructed international oil companies operating in the country to curb output, invoking force majeure retroactively to March 3 because export routes through Basrah are effectively blocked. The loss of roughly 3.4 million barrels per day of export capacity follows a...
MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation (MX) Balances Revenue Pressures With Cost Discipline
MagnaChip Semiconductor reported Q4 FY2025 revenue of $40.57 million, falling short of the $47.5 million consensus and 17 % below the prior year’s quarter. Despite the revenue miss, the company posted an EPS loss of $0.08 per share, comfortably beating the $0.25 loss...
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Best Budgeting Apps for March 2026
Investopedia’s March 2026 roundup evaluated ten budgeting apps using 280 data points across availability, cost, satisfaction, features and security, naming You Need a Budget (YNAB) the overall winner. YNAB’s zero‑based budgeting system earned a 4.8‑star rating despite a higher price tag,...
Coupang (CPNG) Navigates Earnings Miss, Data Breach Fallout, and Regional Expansion
Morgan Stanley lowered its price target for Coupang to $29, while keeping an Overweight rating. The South Korean e‑commerce giant missed Q4 2025 expectations, posting a $0.01 EPS loss and revenue of $8.84 billion, below the $9.12 billion consensus. A recent data...
Gold Isn’t Your Safe Haven in This War: It Just Logged Its Biggest Weekly Drop in over 14 Years
Gold prices posted their steepest weekly decline in over 14 years, tumbling 9.5% in the week to March 20. The slide was sparked by heightened uncertainty from the Iran‑Israel conflict, which paradoxically dampened gold’s safe‑haven appeal. A shifting Federal Reserve rate...
Spice Exporters Brace for Tough Times as US Buyers Stay Away
Indian spice exporters are confronting a sudden halt in US buyer outreach after the Iran war erupted, threatening a $500 million annual trade stream. The suspension of early‑year call‑ons has stalled order flow, while soaring freight, insurance and war‑risk surcharges inflate...
Why Active Managers Are Mimicking the Flaw of Passive Benchmarks
Active managers are increasingly mirroring the momentum‑driven, price‑weighted flaws of passive benchmarks, especially in the U.S. large‑cap space dominated by the Magnificent Seven. Aziz Hamzaogullari argues that the issue lies not in active management itself but in its execution, which...
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEP): Smart Electric Life Launch and Robust FY2025 Earnings
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) unveiled the Smart Electric Life platform, consolidating 39 energy‑related services that were previously scattered across seven government and utility agencies. The digital hub features tools such as “Find My Benefits,” bill‑simulation calculators, and the Plus...
In the Iran Crisis, the IMF’s Voice Is Urgently Needed
The IMF has been slow to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the Iran crisis and the de‑facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, despite its mandate to safeguard global financial stability. Standard IMF publications such as the World Economic Outlook...
Markets Raise Bets on Bank of Canada Hikes as Oil Fears Mount
Markets are pricing a more aggressive Bank of Canada tightening path, with traders betting on a cumulative 75 basis‑point increase by 2026 and a 25‑basis‑point hike as early as July. The central bank held its policy rate at 2.25% and...
Why This Corner of the Muni Market Shouldn't Be Overlooked, According to Nuveen
Nuveen highlights housing municipal bonds as an overlooked segment delivering attractive yields amid rising affordable‑housing demand. Issuance of housing munis has tripled since 2016, now representing about 7% of the $4.4 trillion municipal market, and 10‑year bonds yield roughly 60 basis...
How Long Do You Expect to Live? Getting It Wrong Could Cost You in Retirement
A new TIAA Institute report finds that only one‑third of Americans can correctly estimate how long a 65‑year‑old will live, while two‑thirds underestimate or are unsure. Retirees typically spend 20‑30 years in retirement, so misjudging longevity leads to lower savings...
Ask the Editor, March 20: Questions on Tax Changes for 2026
The 2026 tax year introduces major changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). Non‑itemizers can now claim up to $1,000 ($2,000 for joint filers) of charitable cash gifts, while itemizers must exceed a 0.5% of AGI threshold before deductions...
Borrower Hesitation in High-Cost Regions
Borrower hesitation in high‑cost metros is increasingly driven by soaring insurance premiums, rising property‑tax and HOA costs, and the complexity of covering high‑value personal assets. Lenders report longer decision cycles, higher pre‑qualification fallout, and more renegotiations as total cost‑of‑ownership calculations...
Oil Waivers Risk Sustaining Russia’s War Effort Amid the Iran War
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a short‑term general license allowing the purchase of Russian crude already on board vessels, effective March 12 through April 11. The waiver follows a similar 30‑day exemption for India and aims to dampen market turbulence caused...
Long-Term Care Costs Outpacing Retirement Income: AARP
New AARP research shows long‑term care (LTC) expenses surged nearly 50% between 2019 and 2024, far outpacing the 22% rise in median income for households 65 and older. A typical $60,000 senior income now barely covers part‑time home care and...
Why The Strait Of Hormuz Blockade Spells Higher Beef Prices For U.S. Consumers
U.S. ground‑beef prices are poised to climb past $7.50 per pound as the Iran‑Iran war’s Strait of Hormuz blockade drives up diesel, fertilizer and corn feed costs. The national cattle herd has shrunk to 86.2 million head, the lowest level in...
DEF Pump Prices, so Far, Hold Steady Despite Middle East Turmoil
Diesel retail prices jumped to $5.18 per gallon, up sharply from $3.81, while the cost of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) has remained flat around $4.30‑$4.60 per gallon. The raw material for DEF—urea—saw its benchmark price surge from $482.50 to $712.50...
Volatility Easing as Traders Adjust to War
Thai market volatility has softened as traders price in the early stages of the Middle East conflict. The SET index traded within a 1,400‑1,450 point band, while petrochemical and upstream energy stocks posted the strongest gains. Power, beverage and healthcare...
This Cathie Wood Stock Is Down 36% Over the Past 2 Years. She Still Can’t Get Enough.
CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) has slipped 11% so far in 2026 and 36% over the past two years, yet Cathie Wood’s ARK funds added roughly 438,000 shares. Piper Sandler upgraded the stock to Overweight with a $110 price target after the...
Sheinbaum Vows to Slash Mexico’s 75% Reliance on U.S. Natural Gas Imports
Mexico currently sources about three‑quarters of its natural gas from the United States, importing over 7 billion cubic feet per day. President‑elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced a plan to cut that reliance dramatically, aiming to halve imports by 2030 through expanded domestic...
Apollo To Invest $1B In 500 Realty Income Single-Tenant Properties
Apollo Global Management is investing $1 billion for a 49% stake in a new joint venture with Realty Income Corp. to acquire roughly 500 single‑tenant retail properties under long‑term net leases. Realty Income will continue to manage the portfolio, with the...
Will Materials Stocks Repeat Their Strong 2025 in 2026?
Materials stocks have delivered robust returns, with the Fidelity MSCI Materials Index ETF (FMAT) gaining 12.34% over the past three months and 22.19% year‑to‑date. The sector’s strength is driven by rising copper demand for AI‑intensive GPUs and broader chemical needs...
US Senate Seeks Reporting of Weekly Ferts Sales Data
The US Senate introduced the bipartisan Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026, requiring nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer manufacturers and wholesalers to report weekly prices and quantities to the USDA for public disclosure. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar and...
IWM’s Surge in Unusual Options Activity Signals Opportunity — Here’s a Covered Strangle With a Twist
Unusual options activity on the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) spiked as geopolitical tensions lifted oil prices and pressured S&P futures. Despite solid year‑to‑date returns—11.39% in 2024 and 12.66% in 2025— IWM’s early rally faded, prompting investors to buy protective puts....
Using Free Cash Flow Across International Value and Growth Equity Investing
VictoryShares offers two international ETFs—IFLO and GRIN—that use free cash flow (FCF) as the core screening metric. IFLO targets the 100 largest profitable companies with the highest trailing and forward‑looking FCF, adding a growth filter for value‑oriented exposure. GRIN focuses...
The Middle East Is One of the World’s Fastest Growing Luxury Markets—And the War in Iran May Cut Its Sales...
The Middle East, accounting for about 6% of global luxury sales, has been one of the sector’s fastest‑growing markets thanks to a surge in ultra‑wealthy consumers. Bernstein Research now forecasts a 50% plunge in regional luxury sales this month as...
PDI With PDX: Neutralizing The Premium For A Diversified 11.5% Yield
PIMCO’s Dynamic Income Fund (PDI) remains a benchmark for income but its persistent premium to net asset value raises valuation concerns for new investors. The PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (PDX) trades at a deep discount and concentrates on the energy...
Home Flippers Face Great Recession‑era Returns as Costs Catch Up
Home flippers ended 2025 with sharply reduced returns as acquisition costs and high resale prices pushed gross ROI to 25.5%, the weakest level since the 2008 crisis. The sector’s share of total home sales fell to 7.4%, the lowest volume...
I’m 37 and Won a Settlement. I Maxed Out My IRA. How Do I Invest the $21,000 I Have Left?
A freelancer in her late 30s received a $36,000 settlement, maxed out her IRA contributions for 2025 and 2026, and now has $21,000 remaining. The advice column recommends bolstering her emergency fund, then allocating the cash to tax‑advantaged retirement accounts...
3 International Stocks Most U.S. Investors Have Never Heard Of
U.S. equities have enjoyed a 16‑year performance streak, widening a valuation gap with Europe where stocks trade at roughly 14‑15 times earnings versus 25 times in the U.S. Analyst Pieter Slegers argues that this disparity creates high‑quality, low‑multiple opportunities abroad. He highlights...
This 'Magnificent Seven' Underperformer Has More Downside to Go, Says Carter Worth
Meta Platforms, a core member of the Magnificent Seven, has entered a pronounced bearish phase after months of a bullish‑to‑bear reversal. Analyst Carter Worth cites deteriorating price action and projects a new price objective of $550, suggesting further downside. The...