Aiding Piped Gas Push
The Israel‑Iran conflict disrupted global fuel flows, prompting an LPG shortage in India. The government issued the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order 2026, mandating a 25% boost in LPG output and a 25‑day inter‑booking period to curb hoarding, while pausing commercial natural‑gas supply to non‑essential users. Domestic refineries have since increased production by 40%, delivering 50 TMT of LPG daily—about 60% of the nation’s demand—and accelerating the shift to piped natural gas (PNG). The crisis also highlighted the limitations of traditional galvanized‑iron piping, creating a market opening for Corrugated Stainless‑Steel Tubing (CSST).
Stocks Are the Least Over-Priced Asset in India
Indian equities, with a price‑earnings multiple near 20, remain overvalued but are the least overpriced asset class in the country. Compared with other Indian assets—bank fixed deposits, gold, and real estate—stocks offer relatively higher expected returns despite a 15% market...
Oil Prices Coming Down, But for a Worrisome Reason
The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that "demand destruction" is now unfolding as oil prices soar to record levels. The recent partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments, has tightened supply and...
Wednesday's ETF Movers: URA, EPU
The Global X Uranium ETF (URA) outperformed the market on Wednesday, climbing about 4.8% as its top holdings Nuscale Power and Oklo surged 16.3% and 13.1% respectively. In contrast, the iShares MSCI Peru ETF (EPU) lagged, dropping roughly 3.7% amid...
Prepaid Leases Emerge as Residential Solar Customer Pathway to Accessing Federal Tax Credits
The residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) has expired, prompting installers to adopt prepaid lease models that leverage the commercial Section 48 Investment Tax Credit. In a prepaid lease, the solar provider owns the system, claims the 30 percent commercial credit, and passes...
Must Read: Kering Shares Drop After Disappointing Q1 Results, Hermès Shares Decline 14% Amid War in the Middle East
Kering reported a 6.2% drop in total Q1 revenue, driven by a 14.3% plunge in Gucci sales, sending its shares down 10.2%. Hermès disclosed a 5.9% decline in Middle East sales, causing its stock to tumble 14% amid ongoing regional...
Moody’s Seeks Feedback on Pooled Structures of Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS)
Moody’s Ratings has released a discussion paper seeking market feedback on pooled structures of insurance‑linked securities (ILS). The agency wants input on investor appetite, risk‑assessment data needs, modeling approaches, and legal considerations for ILS‑backed securities that bundle multiple cat bonds...
3 Large-Cap Value Funds to Grab as Inflation Continues to Surge
Inflation jumped in March, with the CPI rising 0.9% month‑over‑month and the annual rate climbing to 3.3%, the highest level since May 2024. The spike was fueled by a 10.9% surge in energy prices amid heightened U.S.–Iran tensions, prompting the Federal...
Jim Cramer Says the Stock Market Is so Overbought that We Have to Tread Carefully
Jim Cramer warned that the S&P Short‑Range Oscillator has surged into an extreme overbought level of over +8%, suggesting the recent rally may be losing steam. While the Dow slipped about 200 points, the S&P 500 rose 0.3% and the Nasdaq...
North Carolina Superior Court Rejects DOR’s Attempt to Tax Intercompany Transfers Lacking Consideration
The North Carolina Superior Court ruled that intercompany transfers of asphalt emulsion between Asphalt Emulsion Industries (AEI) and its parent Slurry Pavers, Inc. (SPI) do not constitute taxable sales because they lack bargained‑for consideration. AEI recorded the transfers using hypothetical...
Yes, the California Wealth Tax Could Tax Voting Interests
California’s proposed wealth tax could base liability on founders’ voting interests rather than pure economic ownership, sparking alarm over super‑voting shares. The ballot language treats any interest that confers voting or control rights as a valuation floor, meaning founders may...
From Salsa to Silence: How America First Is Emptying Cuba’s Beaches and Livelihoods
U.S. sanctions under President Trump’s “America First” policy have sharply restricted fuel and financial flows to Cuba, causing a cascade that has grounded flights and crippled the island’s tourism sector. International arrivals fell more than half in February 2026 compared...
How Big Oil Is Cashing in on Iran War - The Latest
The world’s 100 largest oil and gas companies generated more than $30 million per hour in unearned profit during the first month of the US‑Israeli war on Iran. Crude prices averaged $100 a barrel in March, driving an estimated $23 billion windfall...
New Inheritance Tax Rules for Businesses and Farmers Come Into Force – Will Your Family Be Worse Off?
From 6 April 2024 the UK government’s revised inheritance‑tax regime limits business property relief (BPR) and agricultural property relief (APR) to £2.5 million (about $3.2 million) per person, with any value above taxed at 20% after the standard 40% rate. Married couples can...
Investment in European Serviced Apartments Hits €1.2bn as Demand Strengthens
Investment in European serviced apartments surged to €1.2 billion (≈$1.3 billion) this year, according to Savills. The sector’s demand growth is now outpacing the broader hotel market across key cities. Investors are attracted by higher yields and longer‑term leases, while developers scramble...
Egypt’s NCIC Issues Tender to Sell Various Fertilizers
Egyptian state‑owned fertilizer producer NCIC has launched a second tender to sell a mix of DAP, TSP, SSP, urea, CAN26 and water‑soluble SOP, with loading scheduled for April. The tender, which closes on 20 April, lists FOB prices ranging from $352...
Up over 650% in 5 Years! Multibagger Metal Stock to Be in Focus on Thursday. Here’s Why
Godawari Power and Ispat Limited (GPIL) announced a fresh equity infusion of ₹50 crore (≈ $6 million) into its wholly‑owned subsidiary Godawari New Energy Private Limited to fund a 20 GWh battery energy storage plant. The capital boost raises GPIL’s total stake in the...
#58773
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) is applying Rule 807 to accelerate the expiration of equity stock option contracts that have been adjusted for cash‑only delivery, moving their expiry to April 17, 2026. All affected series will adopt a $0.01 exercise‑by‑exception threshold regardless of...
Don't Look Now, but Target Is Outperforming the S&P 500. Trading the Pop Using Options
Target Corp. (TGT) has posted a strong three‑month run, beating the S&P 500 by roughly 18.5% while its own share price rose about 5%. A modest March producer‑price index showed inflation confined to energy, easing pressure on freight costs and consumer...
Mid-Session IV Report April 15, 2026
The mid‑session IV report for April 15, 2026 highlights sharp spikes in option implied volatility ahead of earnings for several high‑profile names, notably Netflix (IV 110 for April calls) and Alcoa (IV 127). Call‑to‑put ratios reveal divergent market sentiment, with U.S. Bancorp showing a heavy...
Kroenig Interviewed on CNN on the Blockade of the Straight of Hormuz
Atlantic Council Vice President Matthew Kroenig appeared on CNN on April 14 to discuss the United States’ decision to block the Strait of Hormuz. He framed the move as a strategic deterrent aimed at curbing Iran’s hostile behavior in the...
Iran War Drives up African Bitumen Truck Prices
The outbreak of the Iran‑Israel‑US war has sharply lifted bitumen truck prices across sub‑Saharan Africa. In East and Central Africa, ex‑Mombasa rates jumped to KSh165‑175 per kilogram (about $1,159‑$1,313 per tonne), a 40% increase. Nigerian bulk bitumen now trades around...
Yellen Says ‘No Alternative’ to Dollar, Urges US-China Cooperation for Sake of the World
Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told the HSBC Global Investment Summit in Hong Kong that a U.S.-China decoupling would erode the benefits of global trade and division of labour. She emphasized the dollar’s unrivaled reserve‑currency advantages, citing deep capital markets...
Indian Mutual Funds Double Down On Eternal Amid FII Selling Spree
Domestic mutual funds dramatically increased their stake in Eternal, the Zomato parent, to 28.9% in March 2026, up from 16.4% in December 2025. Large funds such as SBI and HDFC each crossed the 3.5% threshold, while newer entrants like Mirae...
Automakers Launch a "Buyback Wave": What Signal Does It Send?
Chinese automakers have launched a coordinated share‑repurchase wave, with Geely, Li Auto, Seres, Changan and others spending billions of yuan and hundreds of millions of dollars to cancel outstanding shares. Changan’s first buyback cost about CNY 33 million (≈US$4.6 million) and the sector’s...
INDA, XHYI: Big ETF Outflows
The iShares MSCI India ETF (INDA) recorded the largest weekly outflow among ETFs tracked by ETF Channel, shedding 16.9 million units, an 11.7% decline from the prior week. On a percentage basis, the BondBloxx USD High Yield Bond Industrial Sector ETF...
Nervous About the Market? What Federal Employees Should Be Thinking About Right Now
Federal employees are confronting market volatility as their Thrift Savings Plan shifts from accumulation to a source of retirement income. While a pension and Social Security provide a baseline, the remaining “gap” forces careful withdrawal timing and asset allocation. The...
Bangladesh at the Crossroads: Renewables or Imported Fuel Chaos
Bangladesh, which imports roughly 60% of its energy, is feeling the squeeze of soaring global oil, coal and LNG prices triggered by the Israel‑Iran conflict. The newly elected government faces a looming $4.8 billion jump in annual fuel‑import costs and a...
#58772
The Options Clearing Corporation announced a consolidation of ten flex series effective at the opening of business on April 16, 2026. Bloom Energy Corporation’s option will shift from the old symbol 1BE to the new BE C for the November 20, 2026 expiration (series 300). Multiple...
Demand for Colombia LNG Shipments Set to Surge
Colombia’s power sector is gearing up for a sharp increase in LNG imports as an El Niño‑driven dry season threatens its hydropower‑dependent grid. Imports, currently 210 million cubic feet per day, are expected to climb to the SPEC terminal’s full 475 mcf/d capacity...
High Crude Oil Prices: 3 Integrated Energy Stocks to Bet on Right Away
Rising crude prices above $90 a barrel are boosting earnings for integrated oil majors, positioning Exxon Mobil, Chevron and BP as the sector’s top picks. The Zacks Oil & Gas Integrated International industry ranks #3, placing it in the top 1%...
3 Leisure Stocks Showing Strength Despite Industry Headwinds
Despite macro‑level headwinds—persistent inflation, higher interest rates and rising labor costs—the leisure and recreation services sector has delivered solid returns. Over the past year the industry outperformed its consumer‑discretionary peers, climbing 22.5% versus a 7.2% sector gain, while trading at...
Iran War, Indonesia Curbs to Support Nickel Price: Report
BMI raised its 2026 refined nickel price forecast to $16,600 per tonne, up from $15,800, citing a structurally firmer market despite a persistent global surplus. Indonesia’s decision to cap nickel ore mining quotas at 260‑270 million wet metric tonnes, down from...
Near Retirement? Jumbo CDs Can Protect and Grow Your Cash Fast
Jumbo CDs, requiring $50,000‑$100,000 deposits, are offering APYs up to 4.35% for six‑month to one‑year terms, outpacing the 3.3% inflation rate. The products provide FDIC‑insured, low‑risk returns and quicker access than longer‑term bonds, though early‑withdrawal penalties can erode gains. Retirees...
Bunker Fuel Shortages Loom After US Counter Blocks Strait of Hormuz
US naval counter‑operations have effectively blocked commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting the primary route for bunker fuel shipments to Asia. Analysts warn that within two to three months container lines could encounter a global shortage of low‑sulfur...
Silver Demand From PV Industry Expected to Drop 19% This Year
Metal Focus’s World Silver Survey 2026 shows the global silver market remains tightly constrained, with prices averaging $40 per ounce in 2025 and a fifth straight annual deficit of 40.3 million ounces projected for 2025 and 2026. At the same time,...
MetLife: We Look for Thoughtful Issuers Who Understand Their Climate Risks
MetLife Investment Management says exposure to high climate risk won’t automatically disqualify a security, provided the issuer demonstrates a thoughtful approach to understanding and mitigating that risk. The firm will prioritize issuers that disclose climate‑related data, outline concrete transition plans,...
Ukrainian Startups Get UK Market Gateway as TechBridge Accelerator Returns for 2026
The UK‑Ukraine TechBridge accelerator has launched its 2026 Investment Accelerator, supporting 20 high‑growth Ukrainian tech startups (late seed–Series A) to enter the UK market. Backed by the UK government and Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, the programme offers investment‑readiness workshops,...
Mike Mayo Says Citi Remains His Top Pick, Sees Restructuring Driving Stock Higher
Citigroup posted a first‑quarter earnings beat, with revenue rising 14% to $24.6 billion and net income jumping to $5.8 billion. Analyst Mike Mayo lifted his price target to $160, citing a 24% upside and labeling Citi his top pick. The bank’s restructuring...
Gold, Silver Rates Today: Comex Gold Slips $46/Oz; Silver Falls $1.2/oz as Investors Book Profits
Gold and silver prices eased on April 15 as investors took profits after a sharp rally. Comex gold futures slipped $46 per ounce to $4,808, while silver fell $1.23 to $78.3 an ounce. In India, MCX gold held near ₹154,854...
Trump Threatens Another Major Firing
President Donald Trump intensified his campaign against Federal Reserve leadership, warning he will fire Chair Jerome Powell if a new chair is not confirmed soon. He has nominated former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as Powell's successor, but Senate Banking Committee...
Bulls Target Morgan Stanley Stock After Top-Line Beat
Morgan Stanley posted Q1 earnings that beat expectations, delivering $3.43 per share on $20.58 billion of revenue, propelled by strong investment‑banking fees. The stock jumped 4.6% to $191.85, briefly touching a record $194.55, and has risen in seven of the last...
Builder Sentiment Posts Notable Decline on Economic Uncertainty
Builder confidence for new single‑family homes slipped to 34 in April, the lowest reading since September 2025, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. The decline reflects persistent high mortgage rates, rising material costs tied to higher fuel prices, and...
Stendr Secures $5.4M Pre-Seed to Develop AI-Driven Defence Systems
Norwegian defence tech startup Stendr raised $5.4 million in an oversubscribed pre‑seed round led by RainFall, ACME and SkyFall. The capital will fund its AI‑native platform that integrates hardware and software for drone defence. Stendr’s solution uses multi‑sensor AI to detect,...
CFOs Express Growing Alarm over Geopolitical Instability
A recent McKinsey survey of 150 CFOs shows geopolitical instability now tops their risk concerns, with 37% flagging it as a primary growth threat. Trade policy disruptions are also rising, cited by 32% of respondents, while 62% plan to closely...
India’s Trade Gap Narrows as Middle East War Hits Shipments
India’s trade deficit narrowed to $20.67 billion in March, well under the $28.5 billion forecast, as both imports and exports slipped amid Middle East shipping disruptions. Imports fell 6.5% year‑on‑year to $59.59 billion, while exports dropped 7.4% to $38.92 billion. The conflict in the...
Why the US Needs the PROSPER in the Pacific Act
U.S. Rep. Ed Case is urging Congress to pass H.R. 6619, the PROSPER in the Pacific Act, which would restore duty‑free treatment for Pacific Island imports similar to the pre‑2020 Generalized System of Preferences. The legislation targets critical vulnerabilities exposed by rising...
Gold Jewellery of Lower Carats to Gain Traction in Run up to Akshaya Tritiya
Gold prices in India have slipped 18% from their January peak of ₹1.80 lakh (≈ $2,170) to ₹1.52 lakh (≈ $1,830) per 10 g, prompting a shift toward lower‑carat jewellery ahead of the auspicious Akshaya Tritiya festival. At current rates, 18‑carat gold costs about ₹1.16 lakh (≈ $1,400)...
China’s Africa Strategy Is Shifting and Iran Conflict Will Speed It Up
China is pivoting its Africa strategy from resource extraction to investment, centering the effort in Hunan Province’s “Hunan Model.” The model, formalized through the China‑Africa Economic and Trade Deep Cooperation Pilot Zone and a dedicated exhibition, streamlines logistics, free‑trade zones,...
Mortgage Activity Picks up for First Time in Five Weeks as Rates Fall
Mortgage demand in early April rose 1.8% after five weeks of decline, driven by a modest dip in 30‑year fixed rates to 6.42%. Refinance activity jumped 5% and now accounts for 45.5% of all applications, while purchase applications slipped 1%...