Congo Export Curbs to Keep Cobalt Scarce Till 2030
The Democratic Republic of Congo, responsible for over 70% of global cobalt, imposed an export ban in February 2025 and later introduced strict quotas, slashing refined output by roughly 20%. The curbs created an 82,000‑ton deficit in 2025 and drove benchmark cobalt prices up more than 160%, with hydroxide prices quadrupling. Trading house Darton projects annual shortages persisting through 2030, even as limited exports resume. The constraints are prompting producers to diversify products and explore material substitution, reshaping the cobalt market landscape.
Op-Ed: Copper Rally Masks Smelting Power Shift
Copper prices are hovering near historic highs, driven by electrification, AI‑related demand and limited new mine supply. However, treatment and refining charges for smelters have collapsed from about $80 per tonne in 2024 to near‑zero levels, with spot terms expected...
Traders Rethink Fed Rates Outlook as Growth Worries Build
Bond traders are rapidly unwinding short bets on U.S. Treasuries as confidence returns that the Federal Reserve can deliver at least one 25‑basis‑point rate cut by the end of 2026. The two‑year yield slipped roughly 10 basis points after peaking...
JBM Auto, Olectra Greentech, Ather Energy, Ola Electric Shares Zoom on Optimistic EV Growth Outlook
Electric‑vehicle stocks JBM Auto, Olectra Greentech, Ather Energy and Ola Electric surged on March 18, 2026 as investors linked rising crude‑oil prices to stronger EV demand. JBM Auto closed 19% higher at ₹585.30 and Olectra rose over 17% to ₹1,058.15,...
Homebuyers and Builders Look Ready for a Truce
Entry‑level homebuilders and buyers appear to be reaching a tentative truce, highlighted by Lennar Corp.'s aggressive price cuts and incentive programs. Over the past four years Lennar lowered average selling prices by 22%, while construction costs fell 7% and its...
Calm Breaks as Oil Spike and Inflation Shock Hit Markets Ahead of Fed
Markets entered the day in a low‑volatility mode as investors waited for the Federal Reserve’s rate decision. The calm evaporated when reports of Israeli and U.S. air strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field sent oil prices sharply higher and a...
Diesel Tops $5 Nationally as Gas Inches Closer to $4
U.S. diesel prices broke the $5‑per‑gallon barrier, reaching a national average of $5.07, while gasoline edged toward $4 at $3.79. The surge stems from heightened Middle‑East tensions, notably the war against Iran, which have pushed crude oil above $100 a...
Cat Bond Issuance Could Set New Records for Both February and March in 2026
Catastrophe bond issuance in the first quarter of 2026 is projected between $6.34 billion and $6.54 billion, making it the second‑largest Q1 on record. February 2026 already broke the $2 billion threshold and March is on track to exceed $3 billion, setting new monthly...
Reimagining Gulf Security
The recent Iran war has exposed the shortcomings of the Gulf’s long‑standing “protection for sale” model, where security is bought through U.S. arms deals and basing rights. Authors argue that reliance on conditional American guarantees is unsustainable. They propose that...
Alphabet Inc. $GOOG Stake Reduced by Caerus Investment Advisors LLC
Caerus Investment Advisors trimmed its Alphabet position by 35.8% in Q3, selling 23,159 shares and ending the quarter with 41,481 shares worth roughly $10.1 million. While Caerus reduced exposure, several smaller managers – Morse Asset, Robinson Smith, Searle & Co., Navellier,...
3 Allspring Mutual Funds to Support Your Wealth-Building Strategy
Allspring Global Investments, spun out of Wells Fargo in 2021, now manages roughly $630 billion across a broad mutual‑fund platform. The firm highlights three Zacks Rank #1 funds—Disciplined US Core, Disciplined Small Cap, and Real Return—each offering strong three‑year returns and sub‑1%...
Tungsten 2026: Geopolitics Sets Global Tone
The global tungsten market entered 2026 amid extreme volatility driven by geopolitics, export controls, and resource nationalism. China’s February 2025 export controls on ammonium paratungstate (APT) and other tungsten products triggered a supply shock, pushing APT prices from $900‑$940 to...
QAI: Hedge Fund Replication ETF With TIPs-Like Return And Risk
The NYLI Hedge Multi‑Strategy Tracker ETF (QAI) offers investors hedge‑fund style exposure through a blend of ETFs and swaps, charging a 0.88% expense ratio and delivering a 1.47% trailing‑12‑month yield. Launched in 2009, QAI emphasizes high‑quality, floating‑rate investment‑grade debt and...
Offshore Vietnam: Energy Imports Rise as Domestic Production Falls
Vietnam’s government forecast shows domestic crude production falling to 5.8‑8.0 million metric tons annually between 2026 and 2030, down from an eight‑year average of 8.6 Mt. Imports already rose 5.3% last year to 14.2 Mt, with roughly 80% sourced from Kuwait, now constrained...
ME Asset Management Launches Platform Targeting Assets Affected by Building Safety Challenges
ME Asset Management has launched a specialist investment platform that targets real‑estate assets burdened by building‑safety and remediation challenges. The platform pairs capital with in‑house remediation capabilities to acquire assets where technical complexity has caused pricing dislocation. Its first deal...
RBNZ Releases Summary of Submissions and Key Decisions From Liquidity Management Consultation
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is overhauling its liquidity management framework after a consultation on recent market changes. It will introduce weekly full‑allotment open‑market operations (OMO) to inject liquidity at a fixed spread to the official cash rate,...
Bear of the Day: Grid Dynamics (GDYN)
Grid Dynamics (GDYN) will release its quarterly results after the market close on October 30, 2025. The company recently posted an earnings beat, matching consensus EPS of $0.10, but Zacks has downgraded the stock to a Rank #5 Strong Sell. The downgrade stems...
DA Seeks Fertilizer Supply Deals with China, Russia Amid Mideast Tensions
The Philippine Department of Agriculture is negotiating fertilizer supply agreements with China, Russia, India and Belarus as Middle‑East tensions threaten the flow of nitrogen‑based inputs. While the agency has already secured more than 80% of its annual fertilizer requirement, rising...
My Wife and I Made Big Blunders on Our Social Security Benefits. Is It Too Late to Fix It?
A 78‑year‑old couple discovered the wife could earn roughly $200 more per month by switching to a spousal benefit. Both retired early—she at 62, he at 63½—so their current payments are permanently reduced. Social Security rules allow a spouse to...
Mitsui Locks 40% Josemaria Copper Concentrates Offtake, Fortescue Acquires Cañariaco for $101 Mln
Mitsui & Co secured a 40% off‑take right to copper concentrate from Argentina’s Josemaria deposit, a BHP‑Lundin joint venture containing roughly 4.6 Mt of copper and slated to start production by 2030. The right was purchased from JOGMEC via a public...
XOVR: Tech-Heavy Strategy For A Pre-IPO Investment In SpaceX
ERShares Private‑Public Crossover ETF (XOVR) offers investors a blend of private and public equities, with a striking 35.81% allocation to SpaceX ahead of its anticipated IPO. The fund’s asset base has contracted due to outflows, forcing a higher concentration in...
Instead of Shopping They’re Quietly Stockpiling Cash — ‘Shadow Saving’ — and It Could Short-Circuit the Global Economy
Chinese households are amassing cash at record levels, with deposits reaching roughly 118% of GDP by 2025, despite falling interest rates. A Reuters poll shows more than 80% of respondents prefer saving over spending, reflecting deep‑seated precautionary behavior. The shift...
Global Markets Jolt as Iran War Escalates: Kharg Island, Energy Prices and Stock Volatility Under the Spotlight
Recent fintech developments highlight rapid innovation and regulatory friction. A new study shows traders are already profiting from stablecoin yield strategies while U.S. lawmakers debate the practice. Ortec Finance unveiled GLASS PRISM, a strategic asset‑allocation platform, as the U.S. pushes...
Fed Meeting Updates: FOMC Set to Hold Rates Steady as Oil Prices Soar
The Federal Open Market Committee is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the March 2026 meeting. The decision follows a February jobs report that revealed a loss of roughly 100,000 positions and a sharp rise in oil...
I’m 59. My Wife and I Bought a Second Home for $484,000 at 6.2% Interest. Will This Be a Drain...
A 59‑year‑old federal employee and his wife bought a Pennsylvania home for $484,000 with a 6.2% mortgage, creating a $3,600 monthly payment that includes taxes and insurance. Their primary residence in New York generates rental income, but the new property does...
Don’t Miss the ‘Goldilocks’ Window: The Best Week To Sell Your Home Is Almost Here
Realtor.com’s latest research pinpoints the week of April 12‑18 as the nation’s most advantageous period to list a home. The seven‑day "Goldilocks" window combines higher listing prices, stronger buyer demand, faster sales cycles and reduced competition. Sellers who...
Hedge Funds Position for Potential BOJ Hawkish Tilt Amid Iran War Inflation Risks
Hedge funds such as Fivestar Asset Management are reshaping their Japanese bond and currency positions ahead of the Bank of Japan’s policy meeting, expecting Governor Kazuo Ueda to hint at a hawkish stance due to inflation pressures from the Iran...
I Opened a 0% Credit Card to Pay $11,000 in Vacation Debt. Why Can’t I Get a Higher Credit Limit?...
A consumer opened a Citi 0% APR credit card to transfer an $11,000 vacation balance, but the new account was issued with a $6,600 limit, preventing a full balance transfer. Despite maintaining a low overall credit utilization of about 10%,...
Bank of England Interest Rate Decision: What to Expect on 19 March
The Bank of England will announce its March 19 interest‑rate decision, weighing whether to keep the Bank Rate at 3.75% or trim it by 25 basis points to 3.50%. A narrow 5‑4 vote in February highlighted deep divisions within the...
Capital Tankers Corp. Lists on Euronext Growth
Capital Tankers Corp. debuted on Euronext Growth Oslo after a NOK 4.8 billion private placement, the largest western shipping listing in two decades. The company issued 131.05 million shares, with a greenshoe option to raise the total to 135.7 million. At market open the...
Hartford Large Cap Growth ETF Q4 2025 Commentary
The Hartford Large Cap Growth ETF posted positive returns in Q4 2025 but lagged the Russell 1000 Growth Index. The shortfall stemmed mainly from weak security selection in information technology and communication services, while healthcare and industrial picks added modest support. Sector...
China’s Multibillion-Dollar Minerals Investment Lifts Foreign Economies: Report
Since 2023, China has poured more than $120 billion into overseas mining and mineral‑processing projects, covering lithium, rare‑earth metals and battery components. The Australian think‑tank Climate Energy Finance says the outflow fuels clean‑energy deployment in developing economies, supplying inputs for solar,...
European Data Centre CMBS: Regulatory Clarity Could Supercharge Italy's Data Centre Expansion
Regulatory reforms in Italy are set to clarify the legal framework for financing data‑centre projects, addressing long‑standing ambiguities in mortgage enforcement and securitisation structures. The country’s data‑centre market is projected to double its capacity within five years, driven by hyperscale...
Qatar Can Keep Goods Flowing Amid Tensions, Customs Chief Says
Qatar’s customs chief assures that supply chains remain secure despite regional tensions, citing strategic reserves, digital customs systems, and multiple transport routes. The Al Nadeeb electronic platform and recent upgrades have accelerated clearance and increased transparency. Coordination with the GCC Customs...
Fastmarkets Set to Launch New Rare Earth Spot Prices to Capture Global Trade Outside China
Fastmarkets will introduce three new global spot prices for dysprosium oxide 99.5%, terbium oxide 99.99% and ferro‑dysprosium 80% on March 19. The move responds to Chinese export controls and dwindling non‑Chinese supply, which have forced Japan and other magnet‑dependent economies...
IXUS: A 8.5% Total Return Expected In The Long Term
The iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) is outperforming the S&P 500 in early 2026 despite near‑term headwinds from Middle‑East tensions and a stronger U.S. dollar. Analyst Ivo Kolchev projects an 8.5% long‑term total return and maintains a Buy rating,...
Why Vietnam Is the World's Most Exciting Emerging Market: MoneyWeek Talks
Dominic Scriven, founder of Dragon Capital, argues Vietnam is the world’s most exciting emerging market. In a MoneyWeek Talks podcast, he highlighted Vietnam’s robust GDP growth, youthful population, and ongoing regulatory reforms that are attracting foreign investors. Scriven also shared...
Nifty Bank Prediction Today – March 18, 2026: Nifty Bank Futures: Bearish Inclination
The Nifty Bank index opened on March 18 with a modest gap‑up to 54,927, edging to 54,950 by mid‑session, a 0.15 % rise. While the advances‑to‑declines ratio of 11 to 3 suggests a short‑term bullish tilt, gains were led by Federal Bank and AU Small...
L Catterton Bullish on India, but There Won't Be Any Blind Bets
L Catterton is launching a $400 million India Fund I, backed by a $200 million greenshoe, to double down on the country’s consumer sector. The firm will target founder‑led, differentiated brands in structurally attractive categories while shunning businesses that chase top‑line growth without...
Who Is Buying Homes Being Sold by Buy-to-Let Investors?
The UK private rented sector (PRS) fell 5.1% in value last year, marking a third consecutive year of decline and a £79 bn loss since 2022. While overall UK housing rose 3.8%, landlord exits are accelerating, prompting questions about who purchases...
Barclays Flags Strongest Stock Buy Signal in a Year as Sentiment Resets
Barclays’ Equity Timing Indicator has fallen to -8.3, the strongest buy signal for U.S. equities in about a year. The gauge, which blends sentiment, positioning and macro data, sits in a range historically linked to 6.6% average forward returns over...
Fed Set to Hold as Deutsche Bank Flags Geopolitics Clouding Outlook
Deutsche Bank expects the Federal Reserve to keep its policy rate unchanged at the March 2024 meeting, with only modest tweaks to the post‑meeting statement. The bank says the Fed will downplay volatile payroll data and instead spotlight rising geopolitical...
Hundreds of Homes to Be Sold After Shadow Bank’s Collapse
Market Financial Solutions, a £2 bn shadow bridging lender, entered administration after allegations of double‑pledged assets, leaving an estimated £1.3 bn shortfall for creditors. Administrators FRP Advisory and Begbies Traynor have been tasked with selling more than 250 property companies linked to...
Most and Least Affordable Areas to Move up the Property Ladder Revealed
Rightmove’s March data shows the price gap between a typical first‑time‑buyer home and a mid‑market three‑to‑four‑bedroom property has hit a record 52%, widening to £118,902. Nationally the average first‑time price is £226,955, while a second‑step home costs £345,857, demanding a...
PBOC Sets USD/ CNY Mid-Point Today at 6.8909 (Vs. Estimate at 6.8798)
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) set the USD/CNY reference rate at 6.8909 for the current session, modestly above the 6.8798 market estimate. The central bank maintains the yuan’s daily fluctuation band at plus or minus 2% around this midpoint....
ZTR: Collect A 8.8% Yield While Aligned To Grow Alongside AI Infrastructure
Virtus Total Return Fund (ZTR) is being recommended as a buy, offering an 8.8% distribution yield while trading at an 11.08% discount to net asset value. The fund’s infrastructure‑heavy portfolio, including utilities such as NextEra Energy (NEE) and Waste Management...
Sub-4% Fixed Rate Mortgages Disappear From the Market
Sub‑4% fixed‑rate mortgages have vanished from the UK market as major banks withdrew the last remaining two‑ and five‑year products in early March. The pull‑back follows a wave of lender repricing driven by rising swap rates and heightened margin concerns....
Turkey Emerges as Revived Route for Iraqi Oil Amid Hormuz Crisis
Iraq announced the rapid revival of the 600‑mile Kirkuk‑Ceyhan pipeline, aiming to resume crude shipments to Turkey and bypass the Hormuz bottleneck caused by the Iran‑US‑Israel conflict. The oil ministry expects the line to be operational within a week, targeting...
1 Healthcare Stock Set to Rebound in 2026
UnitedHealth Group’s stock has slumped about 35% in 2025 and is down more than 13% so far in 2026, but analysts see the worst behind it. The company is trimming its Medicare Advantage portfolio, cutting operating costs and deploying AI...
Here's Why BYD Stock Is a Buy Before Earnings
BYD Company Ltd has become the world’s top‑selling electric‑vehicle brand, overtaking Tesla in 2025, and exported more than one million cars abroad that year. The Chinese automaker sold over 4.6 million vehicles in 2025 and aims for 1.6 million exports this year,...