Retail Investment in Calgary Dips in 2025: Barclay Street Real Estate
Calgary’s retail investment slipped 31% in 2025, totaling $531.5 million across 54 transactions. Deal sizes shifted upward, with half of the sales above $5 million and the largest at $54.5 million for a 201,000‑sq‑ft centre. Average pricing remained steady at $419 per square foot. Despite the retail dip, total citywide investment volume held at $3.26 billion across 615 deals, buoyed by growth in industrial and office assets.
War Risk Insurance Premiums for Ships Likely to Rise Amid West Asia Crisis: Experts
War‑risk insurance for vessels is set to rise sharply as insurers cancel coverage amid the West Asia conflict. Premiums for hull and cargo have jumped to about 1 % of cargo value, up from 0.25‑0.5 % previously. Shipping lines are rerouting around...
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IAEA Confirms Damage to Iran's Natanz Nuclear Site Entrance, No Radiation Leak Detected
The International Atomic Energy Agency verified that recent strikes damaged the entrance buildings of Iran’s Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant, based on satellite imagery, but found no radiological release. The underground enrichment hall remains intact, limiting immediate safety concerns. Natanz, already...
One Tax Change that Could Improve Canada's Productivity and Benefit All
Canada’s productivity has lagged its U.S. neighbour by roughly 20 percent per hour worked, prompting the Bank of Canada to call for urgent action. A key obstacle identified is the capital‑gains lock‑in effect, which discourages investors from selling appreciated assets. The...
Middle East Conflict Stokes Inflation, Risks Higher Rates
The U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has triggered the largest oil price jump in four years as the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, sending crude markets into turmoil. Inflation concerns now dominate Treasury trading, pushing the 10‑year yield above 4% and raising mortgage‑rate...
The 1.8 Million ‘Missing’ Households: Why Gen Z and Millennials Vanished From the Housing Market in 2025
The U.S. housing supply gap widened to 4.03 million units in 2025 as new construction fell short, leaving nearly 2 million Gen Z and millennial households unformed. Affordability constraints—requiring roughly $86 k income and a 14.4% down payment—forced many young adults to stay with...
When Businesses Are Free To Grow, Everyone Wins
The piece contrasts the Biden administration’s aggressive antitrust stance with the Trump administration’s pro‑merger agenda. It points to the blocked Spirit‑JetBlue and Amazon‑iRobot deals as regulatory missteps that resulted in bankruptcy and layoffs. It then highlights Kimberly‑Clark’s $48.7 billion acquisition of...
Lenders Rethink Outreach as Trigger Leads Face Limits
Mortgage originators are split on the value of trigger leads as the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act takes effect on March 5, forcing a shift to permission‑based marketing. Proponents argue trigger leads provide quick consumer access, but critics cite reliability issues and...
Best- and Worst-Performing UK Stocks
The Morningstar UK Large‑Mid Cap Index climbed 3.8% in May, buoyed by a rally in the basic materials sector. Burberry led the best‑performing stocks with a 43% monthly gain, followed by Johnson Matthey, International Airlines Group, Diploma and St James’s Place. The worst‑performing names were...
Analysts Warn of Largest Oil Supply Disruption in History
Analysts at S&P Global warn that the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran could cause the largest oil‑supply disruption ever if tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz collapses. Recent data show only five tankers transited on March 1 versus the usual 60,...
PH Looks Forward to South Korea's Continued Support for Infra Projects—Marcos
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung in Manila, reaffirming Manila’s expectation of continued Korean support for flagship infrastructure works such as the new Dumaguete Airport, Samar Pacific Coastal Road, Jalaur River Multipurpose Project and Laguna Lakeshore...
3 Diversified Bond Mutual Funds for Balanced Investing
Zacks Investment Research highlights three top‑ranked diversified bond mutual funds—DWS Short Duration, Goldman Sachs Dynamic Bond, and iShares U.S. Intermediate Credit Bond Index Fund—each holding a Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buy. These funds provide investors with broad sector exposure, high...
Eurozone Inflation at Risk of Trending Higher over War in Middle East
Eurozone February inflation rose modestly, with headline rates climbing from 1.7 % to 1.9 % and core inflation edging up to 2.4 %. The increase occurred despite a smaller energy contribution, signalling persistent price pressures in services and goods. The ongoing Middle East...
Designing the Future
Philippine real estate is entering a new design era focused on regenerative, people‑centric environments that restore ecosystems and enhance wellbeing. Thought leaders highlight AI‑driven optimization, prefabricated construction, and material innovations such as engineered bamboo as key enablers. Mixed‑use, walkable neighborhoods...
China Rebounds to Become Asia’s Busiest Buyout Market – Deloitte
China has reclaimed its position as Asia’s busiest buyout market, according to Deloitte’s latest private‑equity report. A surge in domestic and regional fund activity offset a decline in Western capital, driving a 28% increase in deal volume year‑over‑year. The market...
P Nandalal Weerasinghe: Central Bank of Sri Lanka's Policy Agenda for 2026 and Beyond
Governor P. Nandalal Weerasinghe outlined the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s policy roadmap for 2026, building on the macro‑economic stability achieved in 2025. He highlighted that despite global trade uncertainties, market volatility and geopolitical tensions, inflation fell below 5 % and...
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Apple, TotalEnergies, Boston Scientific and Good Times Restaurants
Zacks.com released its daily Analyst Blog lineup, spotlighting Apple, TotalEnergies, Boston Scientific and micro‑cap Good Times Restaurants. The firm highlighted that Apple’s shares outpaced its sector with a 15.2% six‑month gain, while TotalEnergies posted a 29.9% rally driven by diversified...
Pål Longva: Report From Norges Bank Watch
In 2025 Norges Bank cut its policy rate twice, first to 4.25% in June and then to 4% in September, surprising markets despite the bank’s stated commitment to transparent communication. Governor Pål Longva highlighted ongoing efforts to convey forecast uncertainty,...
Italy February Preliminary CPI +1.6% vs +1.1% Y/Y Expected
Italy's February preliminary HICP rose 1.6% year‑on‑year, beating the 1.1% consensus. Core inflation accelerated to 2.4% from 1.7% in January, with services inflation jumping to 3.6%. The hotter reading aligns with broader Eurozone CPI data, intensifying price‑pressure concerns. Analysts suggest...
IShares MSCI EM Swap UCITS ETF: BlackRock Lists Emerging Market Swap Instrument in London
BlackRock's iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF launched in London on 23 February 2026, ticker ESWP, expanding its synthetic ETF suite. The fund tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Index via unfunded total‑return swaps, offering a 0.14% TER, 4 basis...
2025 European Tax Policy Scorecard
The Tax Foundation released its 2025 European Tax Policy Scorecard, ranking EU and select non‑EU European economies on tax competitiveness and neutrality. Estonia tops the list thanks to a 22% corporate tax on distributed profits, a flat 22% personal income...
India Starts Countervailing Duty Probe Against Chinese PVC Resins
India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies has opened a counter‑vailing duty investigation into imports of Chinese PVC resins after domestic producers filed complaints. The petitioners, including Chemplast Cuddalore Vinyls, DCM Shriram and DCW Ltd, claim Chinese manufacturers receive government subsidies that enable...
Blackstone’s Data Centre Push: When Private Capital Opens The AI Rails To Public Investors
Blackstone is preparing a publicly traded REIT that will acquire stabilized, leased data‑centre properties, giving retail investors direct exposure to the cashflows powering AI compute. The vehicle avoids speculative land‑banking, focusing on income‑producing assets with predictable lease revenue. By listing,...
February Brings Another Sharp Inflation Rise in Turkey
Turkey's annual inflation rose to 31.5% in February, driven primarily by a 2.96% month‑on‑month CPI increase. Food prices surged, with annual food inflation at 36.5%, while core inflation eased to 29.5%, its lowest since late 2021. Producer‑price inflation remained around...
Pershing Square Down 11% as Ackman Eyes Management Company IPO
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Holdings has fallen 11.1% year‑to‑date through February 24, underperforming the S&P 500’s modest gain. The London‑listed fund, which represents about $13 billion of the firm’s $20 billion AUM, is hit by weakness in key positions such as Fannie Mae,...
Piero Cipollone: The Digital Euro - Enhancing Payments in the Euro Area
In a February 2026 speech to Italy’s Parliamentary Committee, ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone outlined the digital euro initiative, stressing its role in modernising payments and reinforcing trust through democratic legitimacy. He framed the project as a strategic response...
ECB's Villeroy: It Would Be a Mistake to Predict Rate Move in a Hurry
ECB Governing Council member Francois Villeroy warned that forecasting a rate move too quickly would be a mistake, emphasizing that policy decisions will not hinge solely on volatile energy prices. He noted that France’s exposure to Middle‑East tensions remains limited,...
DXtrade Integrates theScreener Investment Intelligence and Research
Devexperts announced that its DXtrade multi‑asset trading platform will integrate theScreener’s investment intelligence, giving brokers instant, actionable research within the trading interface. The partnership adds multi‑language equity, sector and market insights to DXtrade’s existing support for stocks, options, futures, crypto...
Implications of Prolonged Unrest in Iran for Pakistan
The United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran after the February 27 assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz and target regional airports. Iran’s resilient regime is now focused on defending its...
Safaricom's Ziidi Smashes Records on Nairobi Exchange
Safaricom’s Ziidi Trader, launched on the M‑Pay platform in early February, sparked a surge in Nairobi Securities Exchange activity, with daily equity trades climbing from under 8,000 to more than 25,000. The app gives roughly 38 million M‑Pay subscribers the ability...
Japan's Jobless Rate Rises to 2.7% as Workers Seek Better Positions
Japan’s unemployment rate ticked up to 2.7% in January, ending a five‑month decline. The labor ministry reported a 0.4% dip in total employment and a 3.2% rise in the unemployed, driven largely by a 7.9% jump in voluntary quits. Job...
China’s Undersea Great Wall Targets US Sub Supremacy
China is constructing a multi‑layered undersea warfare system, dubbed the "Underwater Great Wall," to counter U.S. submarine dominance and protect its nuclear deterrent. The People’s Liberation Army Navy now operates more than 60 submarines, including Shang III SSGNs with 24‑cell VLS...
What Are Biometric IDs? What Are the Risks?
Across Africa, governments are rolling out biometric digital ID systems to streamline access to voting, healthcare, education and social protection. A new report by the African Digital Rights Network, based on ten country case studies, finds millions excluded due to...
Starz Narrows Financial Loss to Under $21 Million During Q4
Starz posted Q4 2025 revenue of $322.8 million, a 6.3% decline year‑over‑year, driven by a 12% drop in streaming‑related sales. Linear and other revenue rose 6.6% to $112.5 million, partially offsetting the shortfall. The operating loss narrowed dramatically to $4.7...
Trump Says Wars Can Be Fought ‘Forever’ With The U.S.’s ‘Virtually Unlimited’ Weapons Stockpiles
President Donald Trump asserted on Truth Social that the United States possesses a "virtually unlimited" supply of weapons, allowing it to fight wars indefinitely. He contrasted this claim with criticism of President Joe Biden for allegedly diverting resources to Ukraine....
BOJ Might Have to Put Off March Rate Hike Amid US-Iran Conflict - Report
The Bank of Japan is likely to postpone its March interest‑rate hike as market volatility from the US‑Iran conflict intensifies. Yen depreciation remains the only clear trigger for a hike, but geopolitical risk and rising oil prices are prompting caution....
South African Corn Output Down but Not Out
South Africa’s 2025‑26 corn harvest is projected at 16.1 million tonnes, a 3.1% decline from the previous record‑high season despite a 4.6% expansion in planted area. Yield variability, especially in key provinces, outweighs the acreage gain, while white corn output edges...
Israel-Iran War to Discourage Investment Into India, Offset Trade Deal Positives: BMI
BMI warns that the Israel‑Iran conflict will increase policy uncertainty and deter foreign investment in India. The firm keeps its FY2026/27 GDP growth forecast at 7 % but flags geopolitical risks that could offset gains from new US and EU trade...
How to Spot and Avoid Illiquid ETFs
The column explains that ETF liquidity is driven primarily by the liquidity of the underlying securities, not by daily trading volume. It describes the in‑kind creation and redemption process that keeps ETF prices aligned with NAV. Real‑world examples show that...
Dartbrook Gets Six-Year Extension
The New South Wales government has extended the development consent for the Dartbrook thermal coal mine by six years, now running until 5 December 2033. The extension secures the mine’s 6 Mtpa coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) operations. The decision arrives amid...
Prabowo’s Peacemaker Campaign Now Extends to Iran
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto announced he is ready to travel to Tehran to mediate between Iran and the United States after the recent U.S.-Israel strikes. The foreign ministry framed the offer as a call for restraint, stopping short of condemning...
RLTY: Monthly Income From The Growth Of AI Data Centers
Closed‑end fund RLTY offers an 8.3% yield but pays out more than it earns, eroding NAV over time. The fund is positioned to capture AI data‑center growth through holdings in REITs such as DLR, AMT, and EQIX. However, its 34.6%...
Taiwan Doesn’t Have to Choose
Taiwan, home to 23 million people, sits at the nexus of global trade routes and the semiconductor supply chain, making its stability a linchpin for worldwide commerce. The Kuomintang (KMT) argues that the island should not be forced to align exclusively...
How Brokers Can Position Private Lending as a Strategic Advantage
Real estate brokers can turn private lending into a strategic advantage by offering faster, more flexible financing than traditional banks. Private lenders specialize in distinct property types and deal sizes, allowing brokers to match investors with the right capital source....
Golden Goose ‘More Excited than Ever’ After Positive Earnings
Golden Goose reported FY25 revenue of €734 million, a 15% year‑on‑year rise, driven by a 21% surge in direct‑to‑consumer sales that now represent 81% of total revenue. The brand added 17 new stores, bringing its global footprint to 232 locations, with...
Florida’s Fields Are Hurting – What That Means for Reefer Freight Right Now
Florida experienced an unprecedented freeze from late December 2025 through early February 2026, inflicting over $3 billion in agricultural losses. Key commodities such as tomatoes, squash, and bell peppers saw up to 50% crop loss, while strawberries, blueberries, and citrus also...
This Stock-Split Stock Is a Major AI Beneficiary. But Is Its Recent Sell-Off a Buying Opportunity?
ServiceNow completed a 5‑for‑1 stock split and posted a strong Q4, with subscription revenue of $3.5 billion, up 21 % YoY. AI‑focused Now Assist generated over $600 million in annual contract value, while non‑GAAP free‑cash‑flow margin reached 57 %. Despite these gains, the stock...
VLCC Rates Hit New Sky-High Record: $424,000 Per Day
VLCC charter rates surged to a record $424,000 per day after the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran, as the Strait of Hormuz was officially closed to traffic. Spot rates for Middle‑East‑to‑China voyages jumped well above $400,000, dwarfing the recent $100,000‑plus benchmarks....
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MARKET PULSE AM MARCH 3, 2026 [WATCH]
Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Tuesday, rebounding from yesterday’s sell‑off as bargain hunters returned. Analysts flagged renewed buying interest in large‑cap banking stocks, drawn by attractive dividend yields. The benchmark index is projected to trade between 1,690 and 1,715 points...
Alphabet Vs. The Trade Desk: Which Is a Better Buy?
Alphabet posted an 18% revenue jump to $113.8 billion in Q4, with Google Cloud surging 48% and net income rising 30%, underscoring strong AI‑driven growth and operating leverage. The Trade Desk reported $847 million in revenue, up 14% YoY, but its growth...