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 since 2020, with a typical profit of $65,981 per flip. Investors are turning to older properties—median build year 1978—and tighter renovation budgets to stay viable. Financing grew modestly, accounting for 37.7% of flips, but most deals remain cash‑driven.
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...
Prices of Greener Jet Fuel Rise With Oil Shock, Leaving Airlines Exposed
Oil‑supply disruptions in the Middle East have pushed both conventional jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) prices higher, narrowing the premium that SAF traditionally commanded. In March, SAF in Western Europe traded around $2,500 per metric ton, down from...
Dave Ramsey Hates Debt — But Here’s When a 0% Balance Transfer Can Save You
Dave Ramsey’s no‑debt doctrine clashes with the practical tool of a 0% APR balance‑transfer credit card, which can temporarily erase interest on high‑rate balances. These promotional offers typically last 12‑18 months and often carry a 3‑5% transfer fee. They are...
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On March 20, 2026 the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) will apply special pricing to Tradr 2X Short DASH Daily ETF (DASX) options because DASX shares have been suspended from trading on the Cboe BZX Exchange. For expiration calculations OCC will use the last reported trade price...
ITWO: Russell 2000 Covered Call Strategy That Outperforms Its Peers
ProShares Russell 2000 High Income ETF (ITWO) combines direct exposure to the Russell 2000 with a 0‑day‑to‑expiration covered‑call overlay, aiming to deliver both growth and income. Over the past twelve months the fund outperformed peer covered‑call ETFs, benefitting from its aggressive...
Credit Market Risks: What the Euro Credit Team Is Watching Now
Rik den Hartog, Co‑Head of Euro Credit at Loomis Sayles, outlined the team’s current focus on three credit market stressors: tightening supply dynamics, rising M&A‑driven leverage, and heightened rate volatility. He noted that constrained issuance is compressing liquidity, while deal‑making...
Private Credit Crack Or Not, I'm Moving Away From KBWB
Invesco KBW Bank ETF (KBWB) provides concentrated exposure to large‑cap, systemically important U.S. banks and currently trades at an attractive 14.4× price‑to‑earnings multiple. The fund’s modest 11.5% return on equity and heavy weighting in a few banks amplify cyclical risk,...
BrightSpire Sells LIC Office Building to Pearl Realty at $36M Discount
BrightSpire Capital sold the seven‑story Paragon Building in Long Island City for $28 million, a $36.3 million discount from its 2023 purchase price of $64.3 million. The sale represents a roughly 56 percent loss, reflecting broader devaluation in New York’s office market. Pearl Realty...
Iran War Puts Global Energy Markets on the Brink of a Worst-Case Scenario
The war between Israel and Iran has escalated into direct strikes on oil and gas infrastructure, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and pushing crude prices above $100 a barrel. Missile attacks have damaged the South Pars gas field and...
Iran Is Sanctioning America
Iran has begun throttling oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz from pro‑U.S. Gulf states while continuing to export its own crude to China, effectively imposing de‑facto sanctions on the United States. The maneuver reduces the volume of oil that...
These Energy Stocks Could See Gains for Years From Middle East Supply Disruptions
Three weeks after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, oil prices have surged to $96 per barrel for WTI and $110 for Brent, reflecting heightened Middle‑East supply risk. Natural‑gas prices rose modestly, yet U.S. LNG exporters Cheniere Energy...
I’m 30 and Earn $140,000. How Much Do I Need to Invest to Have $420,000 in 10 Years?
A 30‑year‑old Federal Reserve employee earning $140,000 wants $420,000 in investments by age 40. Because federal employment restricts bank‑specific ETFs, the advice focuses on permissible vehicles and the required savings rate. Assuming a 6‑7% compound return, roughly $30,000‑$35,000 per year...
Same Card, More Points: Our Best Tips on How to Start Getting Targeted Credit Card Offers
Targeted credit‑card offers, sent directly to select consumers, can yield higher bonuses than public promotions. The article outlines practical steps to increase the likelihood of receiving such offers, including opting into email and mail communications, regularly checking pre‑qualified offers through...
How Active ETFs Brought Muni Bonds Investing to Life
Active municipal‑bond ETFs have transformed a traditionally static fixed‑income segment by pairing tax‑exempt muni exposure with the liquidity and transparency of the ETF structure. The 2019 ETF rule spurred a wave of product innovation, allowing active managers to dynamically adjust...
Shopify (SHOP) Call Option Spread Garners a 33% Return Potential
Shopify (SHOP) is regaining momentum as it rolls out AI‑driven features and projects over 30% revenue growth for Q1, with earnings due in May. Analysts have modestly lifted FY2026 earnings estimates, now forecasting $1.78 per share, a 52% year‑over‑year increase....
Anti Dumping Duty Suggested on Spandex, Raw Material for Foam Imported From China, Vietnam
India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies has recommended five‑year anti‑dumping duties on spandex and flexible slabstock polyol imported from China and Vietnam. The spandex levy ranges from $794 to $2,033 per metric tonne, while polyol duties are set between $72...
Euronext Diversifies Its Financial Derivatives Franchise with the Launch of Mini Options on ETFs
Euronext has launched the Nord Pool Power Futures market, covering Nordic and Baltic electricity contracts, and went live on 16 March 2026. The transition moved 100 % of open interest—173 TWh—to Euronext Clearing, bringing 86 participants and 16 clearing members onto the Optiq® platform. The...
AUSF: This Multifactor ETF Continues To Play Defense
The Global X Adaptive U.S. Factor ETF (AUSF) continues to emphasize a defensive, low‑volatility, value‑oriented stance, underweighting technology while overweighting financials, healthcare and consumer staples. It trades at a 13.7× price‑to‑earnings discount to the Russell 1000, reflecting its sector mix and...
Credit Shifting Back in Buyside Focus as Federal Stimulus Dries Up
Municipal bond investors enjoyed credit stability from roughly $4.6 trillion of pandemic stimulus, but the federal windfall is ending, reviving credit concerns. Panelists at the Bond Dealers of America conference warned that tighter spreads will likely widen as states confront fiscal...
Lower Maize Prices May See Indian Farmers Switch Back to Oilseeds, Pulses This Kharif
Indian maize prices fell to ₹1,781 per quintal, about 30% below the minimum support price, prompting growers to reconsider crop choices for the upcoming kharif season. Despite record‑high projected maize output of 302.47 lakh tonnes, farmers are eyeing oilseeds and pulses...
Wholesale Prices Rise Sharply in February, Driven by Food Costs
Wholesale prices for fresh and dry vegetables surged nearly 50% in February, propelling the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final‑demand goods up 1.1% month‑over‑month—the fastest rise since August 2023. Overall wholesale food prices climbed 2.4%, with egg prices jumping over...
Something Of Note: Nexstar Bond Offering Surpasses $5 Billion
Nexstar Media Group announced a senior secured note offering exceeding $5 billion, aimed at financing its $6.2 billion acquisition of the former Gannett assets. The move follows Nexstar’s effective takeover of TEGNA and the conversion of TEGNA shares into Nexstar’s “NXST” ticker....
It Took 64 Years to Build Walmart. It Took 3 Years to Turn It Into a $1 Trillion Tech Company
Walmart surpassed the $1 trillion market‑cap milestone, a feat once reserved for pure‑play tech giants. Over the past three years the retailer accelerated its digital overhaul, using AI to revamp 850 million product data points and turning its physical footprint into a...
Jumbo CD vs High-Yield Savings: Which Is the Best Place to Store $100k?
A retiree looking to park $100,000 can choose between a high‑yield savings account (HYSA) offering 4.20% APY and full liquidity, or a jumbo certificate of deposit (CD) delivering 4.35% APY with a short‑term lock‑in. Both products are FDIC‑insured up to...
Chicken Prices Soar in India on Bird Mortality, Reduced Weight
Chicken prices in India have surged to record levels, now ranging between ₹270 and ₹340 per kilogram, driven by soaring bird mortality and reduced broiler weight during the summer heat. The average live bird weight has fallen to 1.5‑1.75 kg, down...
Softs Report 03/20/2026
The Softs report shows cotton prices under pressure from the ongoing Iran war and unusually hot, dry conditions across U.S. growing regions, while USDA projects a decline in global cotton production despite strong Indian and Brazilian output. Florida orange juice...
Nigeria Faces Iran War Oil Price Conundrum
Nigeria’s oil revenues are set to surge as the Iran‑Ukraine war pushes crude above $100 a barrel, a windfall for the country’s export‑driven economy. Yet the nation still imports most refined fuels, so higher global prices translate into steeper pump...
Midmorning Markets: Outsized South Central Natural Gas Storage Injection Pressures Permian Prices
Natural gas futures slipped Friday as traders weighed heightened Middle East war risk and a sharp rise in U.S. storage. The U.S. South Central region logged a 26 Bcf injection, pushing inventories to 721 Bcf, still 30 Bcf below the five‑year average. The...
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The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) announced that a set of S&P 500 INDEX PM/EURO flex options currently trading under the 4SPX symbol will be consolidated into the SPXW C series. The transition applies to ten contracts with expirations ranging from April to...
Should You Fix Your Mortgage Rate? Experts Weigh in on Rising Repayments
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s recent cash‑rate hike is pushing mortgage repayments higher, prompting homeowners to reconsider fixed‑rate options. Experts explain that fixed rates lock in payments and can aid budgeting, but may become costly if interest rates fall, while...
FedEx Stock Flashes Buy Signal On Earnings. Why Wall Street Is On Board.
FedEx reported fiscal Q3 earnings that topped expectations, posting $5.25 earnings per share and $24 billion in revenue, an 8.1% increase year‑over‑year. The company lifted its full‑year revenue growth outlook to 6‑6.5% and raised adjusted EPS guidance to $19.30‑$20.10. Analysts responded...
Africa’s Strategic Moment: Turning the Iran–USA–Israel Crisis Into Continental Opportunity
The recent Iran‑USA‑Israel escalation, highlighted by Operation Epic Fury and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has halted the flow of roughly 20 million barrels of oil daily, unsettling global energy markets. The disruption creates a strategic opening for Africa...
Egg Scarcity Looms as Day-Old Chick Prices Surge 67%
Nigeria’s day‑old chick prices have jumped 67% since January, reaching N3,000, tightening the supply of pullets needed for egg production. Hatcheries are unable to meet the renewed demand as many farmers re‑enter the market after feed costs fell, while a...
China’s Green Ferro-Alloys Drive Gathers Pace, but Premium Pricing Remains Elusive – AFA2026
Chinese ferro‑alloy producers are rapidly installing direct‑current (DC) furnaces, delivering 10‑15% electricity savings and lower coke use while aligning with clean‑energy grids. Upstream collaborations, such as South32’s pelletization deal, aim to secure low‑carbon feedstocks, and steelmakers’ decarbonisation projects could boost...
Industrial Diesel Hiked by 25%: Textile Industry Faces Rising Input Costs
Indian Oil Corporation raised the price of industrial diesel to Rs 109.59 per litre, a 25% increase effective 20 March 2026. The hike targets bulk consumers such as factories, where diesel fuels captive power plants and heat‑intensive processes. The textile sector, which relies...
Fidelity’s Active Large Cap Growth ETF Continues to Quietly Outpace Passive Rivals From Vanguard and iShares
Fidelity’s Enhanced Large‑Cap Growth ETF (FELG) posted a 21% total‑return over the past 12 months, edging out passive peers iShares Russell 1000 Growth (IWF) and Vanguard Growth (VUG). The fund charges a modest 0.18% expense ratio and manages about $4.7 billion, concentrating...
Hong Kong Should Use ‘Safe Haven’ Status to Draw Capital From Gulf: Agency Chief
InvestHK director Alpha Lau urged Hong Kong to leverage its safe‑haven reputation to attract capital fleeing the Middle East conflict, noting a shift of firms from Dubai to the city. She highlighted growing interest from Gulf high‑net‑worth individuals and sovereign...
China’s Rare Earth Magnet Exports to the US Keep Falling as Europe Gains
China’s shipments of rare‑earth permanent magnets to the United States fell 22.5% year‑on‑year in January‑February 2026, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline. The US now accounts for just 9.2% of China’s magnet exports, slipping to the third‑largest buyer behind...
What Does a 60-Day Suspension of the Jones Act Mean for U.S. LNG?
The U.S. Treasury announced a 60‑day suspension of the Jones Act, allowing foreign‑flagged vessels to transport LNG from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast. Analysts expect only modest relief for gas prices, as margins and netbacks remain near historic highs....
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New Gold Inc. completed its merger with Coeur Mining, converting each NGD share into roughly 0.4959 CDE shares. The Options Clearing Corporation adjusted NGD options, raising the contract multiplier from 1 to 100 and setting the deliverable to 50 CDE...
Middle East Energy Infrastructure Strikes and European Power Markets: Rising Power Prices, Stable Credit Profiles
Recent U.S., Israeli, and Iranian strikes on Middle East oil and gas infrastructure have sharply lifted European natural‑gas prices. Because gas‑fired plants often set marginal electricity rates, merchant power prices across Europe are expected to rise in the near term....
Goldman Sachs Says Oil Prices Could Stay in the Triple Digits for “Years”
Goldman Sachs analysts project that oil prices will remain above $100 per barrel through 2027, citing recent Brent levels at $110.2 and WTI at $95.9. The forecast reflects persistent supply shocks, especially the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz,...
China’s Russian Oil Imports Spike in Early 2026, but Iran War Changes Outlook
China’s imports of discounted Russian crude surged to 21.8 million tonnes in January‑February 2026, a 40.9% year‑on‑year increase, while the dollar value rose only 5.8% due to steep discounts. Russian oil now makes up more than one‑fifth of China’s total crude...
Biopharma Could Provide a Haven for Investment as Middle East Conflict Roils Global Markets
Analysts at Truist Securities argue that biopharma has acted as a defensive haven during recent geopolitical turmoil, outperforming the broader S&P 500. Their review of the past six years shows the Health Care Select Sector ETF (XLV) delivering steadier returns and...
Iran Escalates Attacks in Gulf Striking One of the Region’s Major Refineries in Kuwait
Iran intensified its campaign against Gulf energy assets, launching two waves of drones that struck Kuwait's Mina Al‑Ahmadi refinery, one of the region’s largest, causing a fire and damage. The attacks coincided with explosions over Dubai and heightened aerial defenses...
FLCH: The Dragon Discounted, But Not Enough
The Franklin FTSE China ETF (FLCH) provides a low‑cost, diversified gateway to China’s high‑tech and industrial sectors, benefiting from easing U.S.–China trade tensions, supportive People’s Bank of China policy, and the 15th Five‑Year Plan’s focus on advanced industries. At a...
Buy Chevron, as Its Middle East Exposure Is Lower than Rival Exxon's, Says HSBC
HSBC upgraded Chevron to Buy, lifting its price target to $215, implying roughly 7% upside from the latest close. The bank highlighted Chevron’s markedly lower exposure to Middle‑East oil—under 200,000 barrels per day versus Exxon’s 900,000+—as a key risk buffer...