Libya Restarts Gasoline Production at Sarir
Libya’s National Oil Corp announced that the Sarir refinery has resumed gasoline production after a three‑year shutdown, restoring its 10,000 bpd gasoline capacity. The restart follows a major overhaul of the crude distillation unit completed in January and includes the activation of the L‑028HR well, which adds 2,200 bpd of crude and 350,000 cf of gas. Concurrently, the Mabruk and Sinoun fields have also been brought back online, boosting overall upstream output. These moves aim to strengthen domestic fuel supplies and stabilize the country’s oil sector.
ASEAN–Japan Sustainable Tourism Initiative: Reimagining Travel for a New Era
In October 2023 ASEAN and Japan launched the ASEAN‑Japan Sustainable Tourism Initiative, a practical platform that showcases real projects ranging from community‑based tourism to low‑carbon travel. The effort moves beyond policy rhetoric, emphasizing knowledge exchange, job creation, ecosystem protection, and...
Hedge Funds Rank AI as Their Top Priority – but Experts Say They May Be Ignoring This Blind Spot
A Hedgeweek survey shows 41% of hedge funds now rank AI integration ahead of talent and cost optimisation, making it the sector’s top priority for 2026. Roughly one‑third have already embedded AI into research and trading, while another quarter are...
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Net Income up 1% in 2025
Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) posted a modest 1 percent rise in net income for 2025, reaching P18.3 billion, while its consolidated core net income held steady at P25.5 billion. The conglomerate’s diversified portfolio—power, banking and food & beverage—delivered solid earnings, with AboitizPower EBITDA...
Gold Digger: Drums of War Have Gold Bugs Calling for US$6000
Gold prices are being pushed higher as Middle East conflict escalates, with Argonaut raising its 12‑month target to $6,000 per ounce and State Street assigning a 35% probability to a bull case of $5,500‑$6,250. Safe‑haven demand has lifted gold ETF...
Jindal Stainless Flags Possible Shipment Delays to West Asia
Jindal Stainless warned that shipments of stainless steel to West Asia may be delayed due to the escalating conflict affecting maritime routes and airspace. Although the region represents a small portion of its export business, the company highlighted potential transit...
How to Deliver Results at Scale for People and Planet
Five years after its launch, Finance in Common (FiCS) now coordinates over 540 public development banks (PDBs) managing roughly $23 trillion, demonstrating that collective financing can support Sustainable Development Goals. The International Development Finance Club (IDFC) deepens this effort by aligning...
Eclipse Re Issues Its First Private Cat Bond of the Year, $100m Series 2026-1A
Eclipse Re Ltd., a Bermuda‑based special purpose insurer, issued its first private catastrophe bond of 2026 – a $100 million Series 2026‑1A note listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange. The bond, likely covering property catastrophe reinsurance or retrocession, matures on December 31 2027, making...
US-Israel-Iran War: JMIC Data Shows ‘Near-Total Temporary Pause in Routine Commercial Traffic’ Through Strait of Hormuz
JMIC data shows routine commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has virtually stopped, with only two cargo vessels recorded in the past 24 hours versus the usual 138. The pause follows a U.S.–Israel strike on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory...
Sensex Slides over 600 Points to 79,412, Nifty Falls 168 Points to 24,597 as Banks Drag; Energy Stocks Buck the...
India's benchmark indices deepened losses on Friday, with the BSE Sensex slipping 603 points to 79,412 and the Nifty 50 dropping 168 points to 24,597. Banking and financial‑services stocks led the decline, as the Nifty Bank fell 763 points, testing...
AI Begins to Take Root in Emerging Market Firms
AI adoption is gaining traction in emerging market firms, with roughly 40% reporting use of AI for internal processes or customer‑facing products. Digital‑first companies lead the wave, achieving a 64% adoption rate, while newer startups founded after 2015 exceed 50%...
IMF Chief Says Ready to Act if Countries Crippled by Middle East Conflict Need Help — ‘We Recognise Our Responsibility’
The International Monetary Fund announced it is prepared to assist nations whose balance‑of‑payments are strained by the escalating Middle East conflict. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that higher energy prices could lift inflation by 40 basis points and shave up...
Why Somalia's Banks Must Consolidate
Somalia’s banking sector has rebounded over the past decade, quadrupling assets to $1.8 billion and expanding deposits to $1.43 billion, yet it remains highly fragmented with 13 small, under‑capitalised banks. Most institutions are privately owned, Sharia‑compliant and concentrated in urban centres, leaving...
Axi Hires IG and Moneyfarm Alum Andrea Rebusco to Head UK/EU and LATAM
Axi, the Australian‑based retail FX and CFD broker, has appointed Andrea Rebusco as Regional Head for the UK, EU and LATAM, reinforcing its dual B2C and B2B growth strategy. Rebusco brings nine years at IG Group plus senior roles at...
Multifamily Buyer Sentiment Improves for Core Assets
CBRE’s Q4 2025 Core Multifamily Buyer Sentiment survey shows core buyer optimism improved quarter‑over‑quarter while negative sentiment stayed flat, contrasting with a dip in value‑add buyer confidence. Underwriting assumptions remained steady for the second straight quarter, and average going‑in cap rates...
Philippines Battles US-Iran War Fuel Crisis with Air Con Limits, Flexible Work Plan
The Philippines, heavily dependent on imported oil, is confronting rising fuel costs driven by Middle East tensions. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered government offices to keep air‑conditioners at a minimum of 24 °C and is exploring flexible or four‑day work weeks...
Will China Overplay Its Hand?
The Trump‑Xi summit scheduled for late‑2026 follows a fragile 2025 Busan truce that temporarily halted tariffs and export bans. While the pause eased immediate market stress, critical issues such as transshipment tariffs, rare‑earth and high‑end semiconductor controls remain unresolved. Chinese...
India & China Must-Win Markets on Rising Middle-Class Households: Reckitt Chief
Reckitt Benckiser’s CEO Kris Licht declared India and China must‑win markets as middle‑class households there now outnumber those in Europe and the United States combined. Emerging markets now represent about 42 % of Reckitt’s core net revenue, with India and China...
South Korean Inflation Holds Steady, but Upside Risks Are Increasing Sharply
South Korea's headline CPI held at 2.0% year‑on‑year in February, while core inflation rose to 2.3%. Fresh food and petroleum prices fell, but service costs increased, showing lingering price pressure. Higher global oil prices and a weakening won have sharpened...
Proposal to Launch Two Graphite Flake Exw China Prices: Pricing Notice
Fastmarkets has announced a proposal to introduce two new ex‑works China graphite flake price indices – 94% carbon, -100 mesh and 94% carbon, +80 mesh. The indices will be published weekly on Thursdays at 7 pm Shanghai time, with a minimum...
Australia Exports 91,511t Chickpeas, 300,009t Lentils in Jan
Australia shipped 91,511 tonnes of chickpeas and 300,009 tonnes of lentils in January, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Chickpea exports collapsed 85% from the December peak of 594,201 tonnes, while lentil shipments slipped 5% from December’s 316,358 tonnes....
RANKED: Top 20 Automakers by Battery Metals Spending
The global passenger EV market grew 18% YoY in 2025, pushing battery capacity deployment past 1 TWh for the first time. Raw‑material costs for lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt and manganese reached $15.6 billion, an 11% rise over 2024 but still half of...
Average UK House Price Passes £300,000 for the First Time
The Halifax House Price Index shows the average UK home price has risen above £300,000 for the first time, reaching £300,077. Prices climbed 0.7% in January after a 0.5% dip in December, lifting annual growth to 1%. Regional gaps have...
Mortgage Advisers Feel More Positive About Their Businesses
The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association’s Q4 2025 Mortgage Market Tracker shows a modest dip in overall industry confidence, yet advisers remain highly optimistic about their own firms, with 57 % very confident and 43 % fairly confident. Average case volume slipped to 89...
Sanctions and Financial Repression
The interview with Oleg Itskhoki examines how Russia employed financial repression in 2022 to weather the largest post‑war sanctions package. By banning cash withdrawals and obligating exporters to surrender foreign‑currency earnings, Moscow halted a ruble freefall and stabilized its fiscal...
Asian Development Bank Giving Central Asia Lots of Attention
The Asian Development Bank announced a $5.4 billion financing plan for Kazakhstan, a $1.1 billion package for Tajikistan, and a $2.5 billion commitment to Azerbaijan, all aimed at strengthening the Middle Corridor trade route. The bank also launched a technical assistance program to...
Mammoth Energy Services Inc (TUSK) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Mammoth Energy Services reported $16.4 million revenue in Q2 2025 but posted a $35.7 million GAAP net loss, driven largely by a $31.7 million non‑cash impairment on its Northern White Sand mine. The quarter featured three major portfolio moves: a $108.7 million sale of infrastructure...
W. P. Carey Names Co-Heads of North American Investments
W.P. Carey promoted Zachary Pasanen and Tyler Swann to co‑heads of North American investments, giving them responsibility for sourcing, underwriting and structuring sale‑leaseback and build‑to‑suit transactions. Both will continue reporting to Gino Sabatini and remain focused on long‑term net‑lease deals....
The Debt Snowball Vs. Avalanche: Which One Actually Gets You Out of Credit Card Debt Faster?
The debt snowball and debt avalanche are two common repayment strategies for credit‑card debt. Snowball focuses on eliminating the smallest balances first, while avalanche targets the highest‑interest balances. The article illustrates both methods with a $20,000 three‑card example, showing that...
Publication of Fastmarkets’ Steel Scrap No1 Busheling, Delivered Mill Chicago Assessment on Thursday March 5, 2026
Fastmarkets published its March 5 2026 steel scrap No 1 busheling delivered‑mill price assessment for Chicago. The assessment is part of the Fastmarkets scrap package and follows the firm’s North America ferrous scrap methodology. The release includes a link to detailed specifications and...
Samsara Shares Jump After Earnings Beat Expectations, Guidance Tops Forecasts
Samsara Inc. reported a strong fiscal 2026 Q4, posting adjusted EPS of 18 cents and revenue of $444.3 million, both above analyst forecasts. Annual recurring revenue climbed to $1.9 billion, a 31% year‑over‑year increase, driven by high‑spending customers. The company launched Commercial...
Small-Bay Industrial Property Garners “Incredible Interest”
Marcus & Millichap closed the sale of 10 Charlesview Rd., a 9,600‑square‑foot small‑bay industrial building in Hopedale, Massachusetts, for $2.05 million. The property, built in 2018, comprises six 1,600‑square‑foot units with private offices, 17‑ to 18‑foot clear heights, drive‑in doors and...
The Good, Bad & Ugly
Canola futures rose to C$719.90 per tonne, the highest level since August 2025, buoyed by a 3.3% jump in soybean oil and modest soybean gains. Wheat prices edged higher, but rising fuel costs for shipping threaten demand growth. Crude oil surged...
Adaptive Reuse, Reimagined: From Big-Box Retail To Data Centers
Adaptive reuse has evolved from a niche preservation tactic to a strategic response to e‑commerce‑driven vacancy, post‑COVID office surplus, and climate imperatives. Designers now ask "What can we save?" rather than starting from a blank slate, targeting everything from suburban...
US Global Jets ETF: Why I Would Stay Away (Rating Downgrade)
DM Martins Research downgrades the U.S. Global Jets ETF (JETS) to a “stay away” rating, citing its heavy concentration in the four major U.S. airlines and a 60‑basis‑point expense ratio. The analyst forecasts airline revenue growth of less than 5 %...
How the Gulf Countries Are Responding to Iran’s Attacks
Iran’s recent drone and missile barrage has struck the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman, with more than 95% of projectiles intercepted by Gulf defenses. The attacks have shaken public confidence but quickly gave way to a resilient mood as...
In Trump’s Precarious World, NZ Will Need All the Middle-Sized Friends It Can Get
New Zealand faces a shifting global order as Donald Trump’s America‑first agenda threatens the rules‑based system the country has long relied on. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for middle powers to devise practical “workarounds” highlights the urgency for smaller...
Why Private Credit Panic Likely Won't Spread To Real Estate Debt
Investors are reassessing risk in the $2 trillion private‑credit market as AI‑related corporate loans face heightened scrutiny, while debt secured by real‑estate assets remains comparatively stable. BridgeInvest and other lenders emphasize the tangible collateral of data‑center and multifamily loans, which cushions...
AGD: Strong Earnings But Still Expensive
The abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund (AGD) delivers an attractive 11.9% yield and broad global equity exposure, yet it trades at a premium to its net asset value. Its distribution policy leans heavily on net realized gains, limiting organic NAV...
The Iran War Spills Beyond the Middle East
The U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran has rapidly expanded beyond the Middle East, affecting more than a dozen nations. Azerbaijan reported Iranian drones over its Nakhichevan exclave, while Tehran denied involvement and blamed Israel. A U.S. submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship...
GCC Banks Show Resilience Amid Regional Conflict
GCC banks have shown resilience as the region endures fresh hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran. Central Bank of the UAE reported banking assets above AED 5.42 trillion with a 17 % capital adequacy ratio and 146.6 % liquidity coverage ratio, both...
11 Senior Discounts That Could Save You Hundreds This Year
Retailers and service providers are expanding senior discount programs, with major names like Kohl’s, Walgreens, Marriott, and Amtrak offering percentage‑off deals for customers aged 55 and older. The discounts range from 10% to 20% and often apply on specific days...
Agency Market Phones It In, Rate Refis Slow in February
Agency mortgage market showed tepid activity in February, with rate‑refinance volumes remaining sluggish. GSE credit‑risk‑transfer (CRT) issuance fell to its lowest level since 2013, while overall loan originations modestly increased across most product lines. Delinquency rates at large servicers rose...
The Renminbi Is Winning over Africa—But Can It Rival the Dollar?
The US dollar still dominates Africa’s trade, finance and debt, but China’s renminbi is gaining traction. African policymakers have launched the Pan‑African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to enable local‑currency cross‑border payments, yet adoption remains modest. Since 2024, renminbi usage...
Gap Sales Miss Expectations After Old Navy, Athleta Fall Short
Gap Inc. posted fourth‑quarter revenue of $4.2 billion, falling short of Bloomberg’s consensus. Old Navy and Athleta missed comparable‑sales targets, while Gap and Banana Republic exceeded theirs. Despite the revenue miss, the retailer logged its eighth consecutive quarter of comparable‑sales growth,...
Taxes, Insurance Eat 21% of Mortgage Payments
A new Neighbors Bank analysis finds property taxes and homeowners insurance now consume an average of 21% of U.S. mortgage payments, with some markets seeing the costs exceed one‑third of the monthly bill. The study, based on 450 metros and...
ETF Roundup: 3 New ETF Launches in February to Watch
February 2026 saw over 50 new ETF launches, highlighted by three niche funds. VanEck introduced the Communication Services TruSector ETF (TRUC) with a 14‑basis‑point fee, actively selecting leading media and telecom firms. ALPS launched the SMR, Nuclear & Technology ETF...
Fastmarkets Proposes to Change Frequency of Brazil Domestic Steel Prices
Fastmarkets has proposed shifting its Brazilian domestic steel price assessments from a monthly to a bi‑weekly schedule, publishing on the second and fourth Fridays each month. The change responds to recent anti‑dumping actions, higher import tariffs, and market participants’ demand...
Is Elastic N.V. (ESTC) A Good Stock To Buy Now?
Elastic N.V. (ESTC) posted $1.48 billion revenue in FY25, up 17% year‑over‑year, with cloud sales climbing 26% and subscriptions comprising roughly 94% of the mix. The company’s Elastic Stack, an open‑source platform with over 5.5 billion downloads, is now positioned as core...
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Q4 2025 Earnings Call Summary
Brilliant Earth reported record Q4 net sales, propelled by a 34% year‑over‑year jump in fine‑jewelry bookings that now represent 23% of its mix. The company’s premium brand and data‑driven pricing engine helped preserve mid‑50s% gross margins despite gold up 67%...