New-Home Purchase Applications Hit Record High in March
New‑home purchase applications surged 11% year‑over‑year in March, the strongest pace since the MBA’s 2012 inception. Volume jumped 26% from February, pushing the builders index to a record high and lifting annualized sales estimates to 717,000 units. Despite higher mortgage rates, over half of the applications were government‑backed, while the average loan size slipped to $381,938. However, a 15% drop in single‑family permits raises concerns about future construction activity.
Gucci Owner Kering Logs Lower Sales, But Flags Improving Trends
Kering, the parent of luxury powerhouse Gucci, posted first‑quarter sales of €3.57 billion ($4.20 billion), a 6% decline from a year earlier on a reported basis but flat on a comparable‑store and exchange‑rate basis. Gucci alone generated €1.35 billion (approximately $1.5 billion) in the...
How to Build a Portfolio when Bonds Fail to Buffer Stocks
The long‑standing hedge of bonds against equities is losing its effectiveness as rising interest rates and flattening yield curves push bond returns lower and push equity‑bond correlation to historic highs. Investors are seeing bonds provide little downside protection for stock...
Hungary's Magyar to Reengage with EU but No Blank Cheques
Peter Magyar’s election ends Hungary’s veto that blocked the EU’s €90 bn ($97 bn) Ukraine aid package, clearing a major procedural hurdle. While Budapest will not provide weapons or direct financial support to Kyiv, the removal of the veto enables faster disbursement...
Software Stocks Quietly Sold Off – Snap Up This Undervalued Tech ETF
Software stocks have slumped about 30% on the S&P 500 Software Index, driven more by AI‑related fear than fundamentals. The Invesco Nasdaq Internet ETF (PNQI) has narrowed its price‑to‑earnings multiple to 22, suggesting deep undervaluation. Compared with the pure‑play iShares Expanded...
Johnson and Johnson Raises Dividend for 64th Consecutive Year
Johnson & Johnson announced a 3% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising the payout to $1.34 per share and extending its dividend‑growth streak to 64 consecutive years. The new dividend translates to a 3.2% yield, roughly double the healthcare sector...
West Asia Conflict: India's Soybean Meal Exports Fall 63%
India’s soybean meal exports plunged 63% in March 2026, falling to 60,000 tonnes from 162,000 tonnes a year earlier, as high domestic prices and the West‑Asia conflict disrupted shipments. Key markets such as Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and...
HighBrook Recapitalizes Dutch Last-Mile Logistics Portfolio with StepStone
HighBrook Capital Partners has recapitalized a Dutch last‑mile logistics portfolio owned by CityLink. The transaction brings fresh equity alongside StepStone Group, which joins as a co‑investor. The new capital will be used to accelerate CityLink’s expansion across core European urban...
ECB's Makhlouf: Not yet Seeing Changes in Consumer Behaviour From Higher Inflation
ECB policy chief Makhlouf told investors the central bank has not yet observed a noticeable shift in consumer spending despite higher inflation. He reiterated the ECB’s commitment to its inflation target and warned that any response to temporary price shocks...
#58761
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) announced that BBBY2 options will now settle with a deliverable of 19 Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) shares plus a cash‑in‑lieu amount of $4.33 per contract. The cash portion, based on a $4.66 per‑share price,...
Trinity and UBS Secure $600M Refi for Diplomat Resort in South Florida
Trinity Investments and UBS have refinanced the 1,000‑room Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida with a $600 million loan led by J.P. Morgan Chase ($420 million) and Citi ($180 million). The new mortgage pushes total debt to $600 million, up $148 million from the prior...
Fertiliser Shortages Due to Iran War Are a Key Worry for Developing World, UN Agency Says
The United Nations International Trade Centre warned that the Iran‑U.S. conflict is choking fertilizer shipments, with about one‑third of global urea normally transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Blockades threaten supplies to key developing economies in Africa and Asia, risking lower...
Switch Secures $768 Million in ABS Funding
Switch Inc. closed a $768 million asset‑backed securities (ABS) offering, Series 2026‑1, backed by its 1.4 million‑square‑foot, 52 MW data center in Reno, Nevada. The proceeds will be used to repay existing debt and fund general corporate purposes. This transaction marks Switch’s fifth ABS...
Regulators Approve Georgia Power’s BYO Clean Resources Plan for Large Loads
Georgia regulators unanimously approved Georgia Power’s Customer Identified Resource (CIR) program, allowing large electricity customers to finance and connect up to 3 GW of clean energy projects through 2035. Participants receive renewable energy certificates and credit for the energy value of...
Options Remain Red-Hot on AI Favorite META
Meta Platforms expanded its CoreWeave partnership to a $21 billion commitment, up from $14.2 billion, bolstering its AI compute capabilities. The move follows multi‑year deals with AMD and Nebius and comes as the stock climbs roughly 10% this month despite a jury...
IEA: Global Oil Market Hit by Historic Supply Shock Amid Middle East Conflict
The International Energy Agency reports that the Middle East conflict has slashed global oil supply by 10.1 million barrels per day, pulling total output down to 97 million b/d in March. OPEC+ output fell 9.4 million b/d while non‑OPEC supply dropped 770,000 b/d, creating...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Quantitative-tightening-6361478_final-a184a253c81d408cb2d495236098555f.png)
Understanding Quantitative Tightening: How the Fed Reduces Market Liquidity
The Federal Reserve launched quantitative tightening (QT) in 2022, letting roughly $1 trillion of Treasury and mortgage‑backed securities mature without reinvestment to shrink its $9 trillion balance sheet. By reducing liquidity, QT pushes bond yields higher, raises borrowing costs and aims to...
Follow the Earnings North Star With This Blue Chip Growth ETF
Investors seeking stable growth amid rapid tech shifts and rate uncertainty can look to Fidelity’s Blue Chip Growth ETF (FBCG) as a guiding North Star. The actively managed fund targets companies with consistent earnings expansion, emphasizing AI‑related hardware, utilities, and...
There’s a Bottom in Place for Software Stocks After Horrid Start to 2026, Says BTIG
Software stocks have endured a rough start to 2026, but BTIG’s chief market technician Jonathan Krinsky sees a bottom forming. The iShares Expanded Tech‑Software ETF (IGV) lifted its relative‑strength index to 46, up from sub‑20 levels earlier in the year,...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Generation-skipping-transfer-tax_final-47daf218bcda41f6b521edf325a701a8.png)
What Is the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT) and Who Pays?
The generation‑skipping transfer tax (GSTT) is a federal levy that applies when property is gifted or bequeathed to a beneficiary at least 37½ years younger than the donor, typically a grandchild. Introduced in 1976, the GSTT closes a loophole that...
Wall Street Lunch: Big Banks Open Earnings Season With Mixed Results
Earnings season began with mixed results from the major U.S. banks. JPMorgan Chase trimmed its 2026 net interest income outlook despite beating Q1 estimates, while Citigroup reaffirmed its guidance and posted beats, and Wells Fargo fell short on both net interest...
CarMax: Patience Can Be Rewarded After Cautious 2027 Guidance
CarMax (KMX) remains a buy at low‑$40s with a fair value around $50, implying over 15% upside despite a 30% share decline this year. The retailer faces margin pressure from soft used‑car prices, higher loan‑loss provisions and a pivot toward...
India May Go Slow on Trade Deal Till US Mid-Term Polls
India is likely to delay finalizing tariff commitments with the United States until after the November 2026 mid‑term elections. The pause follows a February 20 Supreme Court ruling that nullified the legal basis for the reciprocal tariffs set in the...
Financial Risk Management Platform Pillar Raises $20M Seed in Round Led by A16z
Pillar, a financial risk‑management platform for commodity‑driven firms, announced a $20 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz, bringing its total funding to $23 million. The AI‑powered solution automates hedging by ingesting contracts, ERP data, spreadsheets and even WhatsApp messages to continuously...
COPP: Copper Is King Of Commodities
Sprott Copper Miners ETF (COPP) earned a Buy rating as copper demand surges from electrification and data‑center expansion, with projected consumption of 42 million tonnes by 2040. The fund offers dual exposure to commodity price appreciation and miner cash‑flow improvements via...
Elusive Peace
The United States announced it will mobilize naval vessels to block the Strait of Hormuz after Vice President Harris declared recent talks with Iran a failure. The cease‑fire set to expire on the 21st raises the prospect of renewed hostilities,...
Why Filipinos Must Stay Prudent Despite Cuts in Fuel Prices, Taxes
The Philippine government rolled back fuel taxes, cutting diesel by more than ₱20 per liter (about $0.36) and lowering gasoline and kerosene prices. While the relief eases household and business costs, global oil volatility—driven by U.S.-Iran tensions and threats to...
Fix the Energy Problem Before the Next Downturn
The Philippines’ energy mix remains heavily import‑dependent, with 55 % of primary energy sourced abroad in 2024 and self‑sufficiency slipping to 45 %. Although the Department of Energy aims for 35 % renewable power by 2030, coal still supplied 62.5 % of electricity in...
Democrat Ro Khanna to Introduce Bill to Stop US Gasoline Exports Amid Iran War
California Democrat Ro Khanna plans to introduce legislation that would temporarily ban gasoline exports when U.S. prices surge. The proposal comes as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran drives historic fuel price spikes. Khanna argues that keeping gasoline at home can lower...
Metrobank Raises P35 Billion via Asean Bonds
Metrobank listed P35 billion (about $625 million) of ASEAN Sustainability Bonds, its largest peso‑denominated issuance. The 1.5‑year Series F bonds carry a 5.4727% fixed coupon and attracted orders roughly seven times the P5 billion base amount, prompting an early close of the offer. Proceeds...
FTAI Aviation: Great Business, Tougher Entry Point
FTAI Aviation has shifted to an asset‑light, higher‑margin model, with its Aerospace Products segment now the primary profit engine. The 2025 fiscal year delivered $2.5 billion in revenue, $477 million net income, $1.19 billion adjusted EBITDA and $724 million free cash flow. Module production...
Residential MBS Issuance Declines Slightly in First Quarter
Residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issuance slipped modestly in the first quarter, suggesting a slight cooling in mortgage financing after a year of robust growth. A planned “major housing announcement” by FHFA and HUD was postponed, leaving market participants awaiting guidance...
13 Investment Must Reads For This Week (April 14, 2026)
Buffer ETFs have crossed $87 billion in assets under management, with 26 new products debuting in the past three months, reflecting aggressive product diversification. Meanwhile, U.S. mutual funds posted a negative 2.8% total return in Q1, driven by a 5.6% March...
A $300 Billion Liquidity Storm May Be About To Hit The Market
A surge of more than $300 billion is expected to leave the Treasury General Account, draining reserves and tightening liquidity across the financial system. Reserve balances could fall to roughly $2.8‑$2.9 trillion, eliminating the reverse‑repo buffer that normally absorbs shocks. At the...
Where to Find Long-Term Investment Opportunities in Energy
Stacey Morris of VettaFi argues that long‑term energy investing should focus on infrastructure and baseload power rather than short‑term oil price swings. Midstream ETFs such as AMLP and ENFR provide fee‑based exposure to North American LNG, propane and butane exports...
J&J’s Cardiovascular Unit Stands Out Again in Q1
Johnson & Johnson’s medtech division is accelerating a strategic shift toward high‑growth cardiovascular and surgical‑robotics markets, backed by roughly $30 billion in recent acquisitions. In Q1 2026 the cardiovascular unit posted 13% growth, generating $2.38 billion, while Abiomed and Shockwave revenues rose...
CarMax, Inc. (KMX) Q4 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
CarMax, Inc. convened its fiscal 2026 fourth‑quarter earnings call on April 14, 2026, featuring CEO Keith Barr, CFO Enrique Mayor‑Mora, interim chair Tom Folliard and other senior leaders. The call opened with standard safe‑harbor disclosures and introduced the executive team that will...
Currency: The Hidden Alpha in International ETFs
International equity ETFs have finally eclipsed U.S. funds in net inflows, a shift not seen since early 2023, driven by stronger earnings abroad and a weakening dollar. The MSCI EAFE index delivered a 24% local‑currency gain in 2025, which swelled...
FTAI Aviation: A Multiyear Compounder
FTAI Aviation has evolved from a traditional aircraft‑leasing firm into a multi‑segment operator that combines high‑ROE leasing, a fast‑growing MRO business and a nascent power‑generation franchise. The Strategic Capital Initiative (SCI) raised $2 billion of equity, targeting up to 375 mid‑life...
176-Year-Old Bank Stock Pays Warren Buffett $576M in Annual Dividends
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns 151.6 million American Express shares, a 22.1% stake that generates about $576 million in annual dividend income. The credit‑card giant’s dividend per share rose to $3.80, a 16% increase year‑over‑year, while its payout ratio sits at roughly...
Research Firms Divided over Impact of Below Normal Monsoon on Food Inflation
India’s 2026 southwest monsoon is projected at 92‑94% of the long‑period average, classifying it as below‑normal. The shortfall, combined with a heatwave, energy price shocks and fertilizer supply concerns, is expected to lift food‑price inflation, a key driver of the...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/TreasuryReceipt-f4e44bbcd05544d3b484cddae25f579a.jpg)
Nontaxable Dividends: What It Means, How It Works
Nontaxable dividends are payouts from mutual funds or regulated investment companies that invest in tax‑exempt securities, most commonly municipal bonds. Because the underlying interest is federally tax‑free—and often state‑free for residents—it passes through to shareholders as exempt‑interest dividends. Investors receive...
Stocks Rally on US-Iran Peace Hopes and Cooler PPI Growth
U.S. equity indexes rallied on Tuesday as optimism over a potential US‑Iran cease‑fire pushed crude oil prices down more than 5%, lifting the S&P 500 to a 1.5‑month high and the Nasdaq 100 to a 2.25‑month high. A cooler-than‑expected March PPI report...
Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato Sales Growth Signals Upside for Psychedelics Peers
Johnson & Johnson reported Spravato generated $468 million in Q1 2026, a 46% year‑over‑year increase that translates to an annualized run rate above $1.9 billion. Quarterly sales slipped 7% versus the prior quarter due to seasonal insurance resets, but the company reaffirmed guidance...
Oil Pulls Back as IEA Cuts Demand Outlook
Oil prices slipped below $100 a barrel as the International Energy Agency sharply reduced its 2026 demand‑growth forecast, marking the first annual demand decline since the pandemic. The cut, combined with a lull in U.S.–Iran confrontations, has shifted market focus...
Oil Pulls Back as IEA Cuts Demand Outlook
Oil prices slipped below $100 per barrel after the International Energy Agency sharply trimmed its 2026 demand growth outlook, marking the first annual demand decline since the COVID‑19 pandemic. Reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – down to 8‑10...
Primepoint Closes $10M Seed Round to Advance Intelligence Platform that Reads and Understands Construction Drawings
Primepoint announced a $10 million seed round to scale its AI‑driven construction intelligence platform. The funding came in two tranches—$4 million co‑led by Penny Jar Capital and NextView Ventures, and $6 million led by Navitas Capital with participation from several other investors, including...
#58759
Monroe Capital Corporation (MRCC) announced that its listed options will be adjusted following the anticipated merger with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (HRZN). Effective the first business day after the merger, the option symbol changes to HRZN1 and the contract multiplier...
Montenegro and Albania Urged to Make the Case for EU Membership as 2030 Target Looms
Montenegro and Albania are the Western Balkan frontrunners aiming for EU membership by 2030, but Carnegie Europe warns they must persuade skeptical EU states to avoid delays. The paper notes steady progress in negotiations yet highlights rising political risk from...
Earnings Preview: What to Expect From Pfizer’s Report
Pfizer (PFE), a $155.5 billion biopharma giant, will report fiscal Q1 2026 earnings on May 5. Analysts forecast earnings per share of $0.74, a 19.6% drop from the year‑ago quarter, while full‑year EPS is projected at $2.98, down 7.5% YoY. The company’s...