Fastmarkets to Launch US Bismuth and Indium Prices
Fastmarkets announced the launch of two new US‑based price assessments for bismuth and indium, designated MB‑BI‑0004 and MB‑IN‑0005. The bismuth benchmark is quoted in dollars per pound with a minimum 1‑tonne lot, while the indium benchmark is quoted in dollars per kilogram with a 100‑kg minimum. Both assessments will be published fortnightly on Fridays, using DDP delivery terms and a ten‑day release window. The initiative follows positive feedback from a consultation period and reflects growing regionalization of critical‑mineral pricing amid US trade and supply‑chain policies.
Rare Earths Vs. Critical Materials: Navigating 2 Distinct Opportunities
Rare earth elements (REEs) are a specific subset of the broader category of critical materials defined by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which also includes lithium, cobalt, copper and uranium. While all REEs are critical, not every critical material...
Dow Dips 80, Nasdaq Rallies 398, S&P 500 Adds 57
U.S. equities posted mixed moves on Friday as the S&P 500 climbed 0.8% to a fresh record of 7,165.08, while the Dow Jones slipped 0.2% to 49,230.71. The Nasdaq surged 1.6% to a new high of 24,836.60, propelled by a...
How to Use IRS Form 843: Refund Claims and Tax Abatements
IRS Form 843 is the dedicated request vehicle for taxpayers seeking refunds of overpaid taxes, or abatements of penalties and interest. It is used for first‑time penalty relief, reasonable‑cause claims, and corrections of erroneous IRS written advice, but not for...
#58842
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) issued an adjustment memo for Marine Products Corp (MPX) options after the company’s pending merger with MasterCraft Boat Holdings (MCFT). Effective the business day after the merger closes, expected in the second quarter of 2026,...
Morningstar DBRS Finalizes Provisional Credit Ratings on Capital Street Master Trust Series 2026-1
Morningstar DBRS finalized provisional credit ratings for Capital Street Master Trust Series 2026‑1 Asset‑Backed Notes. The Class A notes, backed by a $450 million revolving pool of subscription loans, received an AAA (sf) rating, while the $25 million Class B notes were rated AA...
Knighthead Funding Originates $40M Financing for Student Housing Near Indiana University
Knighthead Funding originated a $39.75 million first‑mortgage loan to refinance Stadium Crossing, a 226‑unit, 734‑bed student‑housing complex in Bloomington, Indiana, directly across from Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium. The borrower, Varsity Properties, sought to replace its existing debt while preserving flexibility for...
The NASDAQ and S&P Indices Close at Record Levels
U.S. equity markets closed mixed on Tuesday, with the Dow slipping 0.16% to 49,230.71 while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq surged to record highs of 7,165.08 (+0.80%) and 24,836.60 (+1.63%). The rally was powered by semiconductor and AI‑related stocks, led...
More Dairy Products Are in Cold Storage
The USDA reported that butter inventories rose to 288.8 million pounds in March, up from 256.2 million pounds in February but still below the 323.1 million pounds recorded a year earlier. Cheese stocks also increased modestly to 1.4 billion pounds, yet remain under the...
Ebang International Reports Financial Results for Fiscal Year 2025
Ebang International Holdings reported FY 2025 results, posting total net revenues of $6.5 million, an 11.4% increase year‑over‑year. Gross profit shrank to $0.4 million, while the net loss narrowed to $14.2 million, improving from $20.9 million in 2024. Operating expenses fell 18.6% to $25.7 million, driven...
Nasdaq, S&P 500 Reach New All-Time Highs: Stock Market Today
U.S. equity markets pushed new all‑time highs on Friday, with the Nasdaq Composite closing at a record 24,836 and the S&P 500 rising to 7,165. AI‑centric stocks led the rally, highlighted by Nvidia hovering near $213 and Intel surging 23.6% after...
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 24, 2026
U.S. grain and livestock futures closed with modest moves on April 24, 2026. May corn slipped half a cent to $4.55 per bushel, while May soybeans rose four cents to $11.63. Live cattle futures gained $1.72, ending at $245.22 per...
Trump Admin Eyes New Fertilizer Plants, a Fix to Address High Fertilizer Costs
The Trump administration announced a push to expand U.S. nitrogen fertilizer production, aiming to cut permitting timelines and build new plants within three years. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the effort will target the country’s reliance on Russian and Chinese...
Deephaven Residential Mortgage Trust 2026-CES1: Presale Report
Morningstar DBRS has issued provisional credit ratings for the Deephaven Residential Mortgage Trust 2026‑CES1 series, covering eight distinct classes of mortgage‑backed notes. The three most senior classes (A‑1, A‑1A, A‑1B) received a (P) AAA rating, while the next tier (A‑2) was...
Vallant Financial, Inc. Reports Earnings for First Quarter 2026
Vallant Financial completed its merger with Morris State Bancshares on April 1, 2026, creating a combined entity with pro forma assets of $3.98 billion and 36 branches across Georgia. For the first quarter of 2026, Vallant reported net income of $6.4 million ($4.63 EPS),...
VEXC: New Ex-China EM ETF Underperforming Its Peers
Vanguard launched the Emerging Markets Ex‑China ETF (VEXC) on September 30, 2025, offering 1,018 stocks with a 0.07% expense ratio. The fund is heavily weighted toward Taiwan, where it holds 37.7% of assets, and its largest single position, TSMC, makes up 21.8%...
Morningstar DBRS Confirms Grand Duchy of Luxembourg at AAA, Stable Trend
Morningstar DBRS confirmed Luxembourg’s long‑term foreign and local‑currency sovereign rating at AAA and its short‑term rating at R‑1 (high), with a stable trend. The rating reflects strong public finances, low debt (27% of GDP) and a sizable stock of government...
Morningstar DBRS Confirms Grand Duchy of Luxembourg at AAA, Stable Trend
Morningstar DBRS confirmed Luxembourg’s long‑term foreign and local sovereign ratings at AAA and its short‑term ratings at R‑1 (high) on April 24, 2026. All four ratings—foreign and local, long‑ and short‑term—remain on a Stable trend. The agency’s EU‑based analyst team...
How Jet Fuel Shortages Could Affect Summer Travel to Europe and Beyond
Jet fuel prices have jumped more than 70% since the Iran‑Russia conflict escalated in February, tightening supplies across Europe and prompting airlines such as Lufthansa and KLM to slash schedules. The surge is driving U.S. carriers to face billions in...
Morningstar DBRS Confirms Czech Republic at AA, Stable Trend
Morningstar DBRS confirmed the Czech Republic’s long‑term sovereign rating at AA and its short‑term rating at R‑1 (high), keeping the trend stable. The agency cites a solid 2.2% GDP growth outlook through 2027, a modest fiscal deficit of 2.1% of...
Fintech Bytes: Advisor360 Embeds Financial Planning via Conquest
Advisor360 partnered with Conquest Planning to embed a native, hybrid goals‑ and cash‑flow‑based planning engine directly into its platform, allowing advisors to create and manage plans without leaving the household context. 55ip added custom T. Rowe Price model portfolios with its ActiveTax...
Tractor Supply Get Help From Digital Sales in Q1 Earnings Results
Tractor Supply reported fiscal Q1 net sales of $3.59 billion, a 3.6% year‑over‑year increase, helped by the opening of 40 new stores. Comparable store sales rose only 0.5%, reflecting softer discretionary spending on pet supplies. Digital channels delivered a bright spot,...
Rexford Sees Record Leasing, Lower NOI in First Quarter Under New Leadership
Rexford Industrial Realty entered 2026 under new CEO Laura Clark, shifting from an acquisition‑heavy model to a capital‑recycling strategy. The REIT sold five properties for $127.4 million and aims for $400‑$500 million in dispositions this year while curbing development spend. Leasing surged...
Family Office Advisor: Client Services and Examples
Family office advisors act as a single point of contact for ultra‑wealthy families, coordinating investment, tax, estate, insurance, philanthropy, and lifestyle services. They operate through three models—single‑family, multi‑family, and outsourced—each with different asset minimums ranging from roughly $5 million to over...
The Right College Fit Can Save Your Clients Money
College costs have more than doubled since 1990, with average public tuition now exceeding $27,000 for in‑state students and $37,000 for out‑of‑state. Up to 80% of undergraduates change majors, and late‑stage switches often add semesters and extra tuition. The article...
Real Assets Guided Chart Pack
Orion Portfolio Solutions has released a Real Assets Guided Chart Pack that evaluates infrastructure, real estate, commodities and natural resources as portfolio diversifiers. The guide emphasizes inflation‑hedging potential, low correlation with equities and bonds, and durable income streams that can...
Global Central Banks Decisions Highlight Next Week's Calendar: Market Volatility Ahead
Global central banks will dominate the week, starting with the Bank of Japan’s policy decision on Monday and culminating in a packed Thursday of Bank of England, European Central Bank and key U.S. data releases. The Federal Reserve and Bank...
Forex Reserves Rise to $703 Billion; Rupee Slips 14 Paise
India's foreign exchange reserves jumped $2.3 billion to $703 billion in the week ending April 17, driven by higher foreign‑currency assets and a revaluation of dollar holdings. The rupee slipped 14 paise, closing at 94.25 per dollar, as foreign investors and private oil firms...
Why Crude Prices Won’t Fall Back to Levels Seen Before the Iran War Anyti...
SLB and Halliburton warned that crude oil prices will stay elevated longer as the Iran‑Israel conflict disrupts the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil shipments. Both companies cited supply interruptions, infrastructure damage and a heightened geopolitical risk...
Nvidia’s Stock Heads for First Record Close in 6 Months — Thanks to Intel
Nvidia’s shares surged 4.3% to close above $208, marking the chipmaker’s first record high since October 2025. The rally was sparked by Intel’s stronger‑than‑expected Q1 earnings, which lifted Intel stock 23.6% to $82.57 and reinforced confidence in the broader semiconductor...
Europeans Must Recognize US, China and Russia Are ‘Dead Against’ Us, Says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the United States, China and Russia are now "dead against" Europe, urging EU members to defend their own interests and act with greater self‑confidence. He added that the strain in transatlantic relations will likely...
How to Have Hard Talks with Overspending Clients
Advisors warn that retirees often splurge on cars, boats, second homes and frequent dining, which can erode portfolio longevity. Emotional motivations drive roughly 70% of these purchasing decisions, making candid conversations essential. Tools such as spending simulations, regular check‑ins and...
US Slaps 123% Anti-Dumping Duty on Indian Solar Imports
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a preliminary anti‑dumping duty of 123.04% on solar cells and modules imported from India. The duty, added to existing countervailing tariffs of over 125%, pushes the total tariff burden above 200%, effectively sidelining Indian...
Republican Lawmakers Propose Bill to Preserve Commercial Solar Tax Credits
Four Republican lawmakers introduced the American Energy Dominance Act to extend key clean‑energy tax credits, including the 45Y production tax credit and 48E investment tax credit for commercial and qualifying residential solar projects. The legislation seeks to lengthen credit terms...
IRS Provides New Guidance on Educational Assistance Plans
The IRS released Fact Sheet FS‑2026‑10, outlining tax treatment for educational assistance plans (EAPs) after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Employers can offer up to $5,250 in tax‑free educational benefits per employee, now indexed for inflation beginning in 2027. The guidance expands...
Active ETFs Blend Professional Management With Tax Efficiency
Actively managed ETFs have surged after a 2019 regulatory reform that streamlined their launch, now outnumbering passive ETFs in product count despite assets remaining largely passive. Asset managers are repackaging proven mutual‑fund strategies into ETF wrappers, offering investors professional oversight...
Earnings Next Week: Big Tech Takes Center Stage
Earnings season has outperformed expectations, with roughly 80%‑85% of S&P 500 firms beating forecasts and profit growth tracking 13%‑16% year‑over‑year. The outperformance is concentrated in technology and AI‑related firms, while energy benefits from high oil prices. Next week’s calendar is...
Struggling to Decode Fog of War
The Strait of Hormuz crisis entered a new, volatile phase as Iran's IRGC seized two European tankers, pushing Brent crude above $106 per barrel. The IMF trimmed its global growth forecast to 3.1% and lifted inflation expectations to 4.4%, underscoring...
Regional Equity Investors Find Little to Cheer
Thai equities remained under pressure as the SET index slipped 1.8% to 1,456.10 points, driven by foreign selling of 5.86 bn baht and concerns over an upcoming MSCI rebalance that could trim the market’s weight. Retail investors provided a modest cushion,...
Colombia’s Oil Industry Eyes Comeback as $100 Crude Revives Investment Case
Colombia’s oil output has slumped to a multi‑year low of about 735,000 barrels per day, driven by left‑wing policies that banned fracking, halted new licences and raised taxes. A sudden Brent price surge above $100 per barrel, sparked by geopolitical...
Correction to Steel Scrap Chicago No1 Busheling Weekly Composite
Fastmarkets announced a correction to its Chicago No1 busheling weekly composite for steel scrap, updating the pricing database to reflect the latest market information. The notice invites users to provide feedback or submit price data via dedicated email channels. Fastmarkets...
Estate Planning for Intellectual Property
Intellectual property (IP) increasingly comprises a sizable portion of creators' net worth, demanding estate plans that go beyond traditional assets. Effective planning starts with a detailed inventory of trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets and any licensing agreements. Because IP can...
HVS Asia Pacific Hotel Transactions Bulletin Week Ending 17 April 2026
Hoshino Resorts REIT sold the 200‑key Sol Vita Hotel Naha in Okinawa for roughly $30 million, a 30% premium to its October 2025 valuation. Belmo Group secured management rights to Brisbane’s 73‑key Royal Albert Hotel, bolstering its Australian urban hotel strategy ahead of...
S&P, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs on Tech Boost, More Plans for U.S.-Iran Peace Talks
U.S. equities opened higher on Friday as the S&P 500 rose to 7,125 and the Nasdaq surged 0.7% to a record‑high 24,603, driven by a 25.7% jump in Intel shares. The chipmaker’s upbeat AI‑focused revenue outlook lifted the broader tech sector,...
Home Sellers’ Profits Slide as Rates Bite and Cash Buyers Retreat
Home sellers’ profit margins contracted in Q1 2026 as higher mortgage rates and softer price growth eroded returns. The average return on investment fell to 44.1% from 47.2% a quarter earlier and 50.2% a year ago, marking the first sub‑45% rate...
UK Move to Delink Gas and Power ‘Overdue’
The UK government announced a voluntary long‑term fixed‑price contract scheme for low‑carbon generators, covering roughly 30% of the nation’s power supply, and raised the Electricity Generator Levy to 55% on revenues above $104/MWh. The measures aim to decouple electricity prices...
Commercial Property Prices See Strongest Annual Gain Since 2022
The MSCI RCA CPPI U.S. index reported a 2.1% year‑over‑year rise in commercial property prices for March 2026, the strongest gain since 2022, and a 1.1% quarterly increase. Suburban office assets led the surge with a 5.1% jump, while industrial...
Tech, Earnings Fight For Wall Street's Attention
The Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 each closed the week with fresh record highs, driven by strong earnings from technology and semiconductor firms. While the Dow Jones remained subdued, blue‑chip earnings from UnitedHealth and Boeing helped keep the broader market in...
Wolfe Research Lowers Tractor Supply Stock Price Target on Guide Concerns
Wolfe Research lowered its price target for Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) to $48, down from $57, while maintaining an Outperform rating. The stock is trading at $36.96, a 15% drop over the past week and just 3% above its 52‑week...
Baker Hughes Q1 Revenue Beats Estimates by $260 Million as LNG Orders Surge
Baker Hughes reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $6.59 billion, topping analysts' forecasts by $260 million. The Industrial & Energy Technology (IET) segment drove growth, posting a 14% year‑over‑year increase to $3.35 billion, while the Oilfield Services segment fell 7% amid Middle‑East tensions. Orders...