GCC Steel Supply Crunch Deepens Despite Ceasefire Talks
Gulf steel mills continue to face severe supply constraints despite tentative cease‑fire talks between Iran and the United States. Blockades in the Strait of Hormuz have curtailed iron‑ore pellet and ferro‑alloy shipments, forcing producers to cut output and turn to costly scrap and direct‑reduced iron. Rebar prices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have risen to 2,300‑2,460 riyals ($612‑$655) per tonne, while container freight from India to the UAE has jumped to $3,500 and from China to $6,500‑$7,000. Ongoing maritime uncertainty means tolls of about $10 per tonne and higher insurance premiums, keeping the market volatile.
Do You Believe in the Long-Term Growth Potential of Marsh & McLennan Companies (MRSH)?
Oakmark Funds’ Q1 2026 investor letter disclosed a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies (MRSH), buying the stock at $173.55 per share. The fund outperformed the S&P 500, returning –2.47% versus the index’s –4.33% for the quarter. Marsh, the world’s largest insurance...
Applications Open for NatWest’s £100k Accelerator Pitch
NatWest has opened applications for its Accelerator Pitch competition, offering a total prize fund of £100,000 (≈ $127,000) across three live finals in Oxford, Cardiff and London. Entrepreneurs must submit a 60‑second video by May 5 and join the free NatWest Accelerator...
Philip R. Lane: The Economic Outlook and Monetary Policy in the Euro Area
Philip R. Lane, ECB Executive Board member, delivered a comprehensive briefing on the euro area’s monetary‑policy toolkit, recent balance‑sheet composition and the latest macroeconomic outlook. He highlighted that inflation, especially the non‑energy core component, remains sticky as of Q1 2026, while...
Investor Survey Shows Most Bearishness in 11 Months. So the Contrarian Call Is to Buy
The Bank of America Global Fund Manager Survey shows investor sentiment plunging to a 3.7 composite score in April, the most bearish reading since June 2025. The poll of 193 fund managers, overseeing $563 billion in assets, revealed cash holdings at...
Oakmark Fund Picks Roper Technologies (ROP) on Varied Growth Drivers
Oakmark Funds’ Q1 2026 investor letter highlighted Roper Technologies (ROP) as a core pick, noting its diversified vertical‑software portfolio and strong cash generation. The Oakmark Fund outperformed the S&P 500, returning –2.47% versus the index’s –4.33% for the quarter. Roper’s stock closed...
Amazon Makes Globalstar Deal Official, Shakes Up Satellite Sector
Amazon announced the acquisition of Globalstar for $11.57 billion, aiming to broaden its Leo satellite constellation and challenge SpaceX’s Starlink. The news lifted Amazon’s shares 2.7% to $246.33 and sent Globalstar stock up 10.2% to $80.30. Options activity surged, with call...
Accenture (ACN) Is Trading at a Low Valuation Multiple Despite Strong Fundamentals
Oakmark Funds’ Q1 2026 letter spotlights Accenture (NYSE:ACN), noting its $117.75 billion market cap and FY2026 revenue of $18.7 billion, up 5% in local currency and 6% in USD. The stock closed at $191.95, down 33.8% over the past year, and now trades...
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FINANCIAL WELLNESS COACH: How to Prepare Your Investment Portfolio for Retirement Income
Kenny Meiring advises anyone three years from retirement to evaluate whether a living annuity or a life annuity best fits their income needs. A life annuity typically offers about a third more monthly income for a 65‑year‑old but locks in...
CONAB: Big Brazil Soybean Crop Getting Bigger
Brazil’s agricultural agency CONAB lifted its 2026 soybean forecast to a record 179.152 million metric tons, a 4.5 % increase over 2025, driven by an all‑time high yield outlook. The same report projects total corn production at 139.572 million tons, with the second‑crop...
The Africa We Build Summit and Kenya's Bold Infrastructure Blueprint
The Africa We Build Summit convened more than 1,000 heads of state, investors and industry leaders in Nairobi on April 23‑24, 2026, with Kenya President William Ruto delivering the keynote. At the summit Kenya unveiled its National Infrastructure Fund (NIF),...
Péter Magyar Walks Line Between Brussels and Beijing on China Trade
Hungary’s newly elected prime minister, Péter Magyar, confirmed he will not overturn the country’s open‑door policy toward Chinese electric‑vehicle (EV) manufacturers, but he pledged tighter alignment with European Union rules. Magyar praised China’s global stature while saying any review of...
Euro Completes the Round Trip From the Start of the Iran War
The euro has reverted to the exchange rate it held at the start of the Iran‑War, suggesting both market resilience and a potential easing of the energy shock that has weighed on Europe. The IMF’s latest outlook projects 2024 European...
Lilly Investing Billions to Prepare for Overseas Oral GLP-1 Launches
Eli Lilly announced a $3 billion investment in China and a $125 million spend in Japan to build capacity for its newly approved oral GLP‑1 drug, orforglipron. The moves aim to localize production, shorten lead times and hedge against geopolitical disruptions. Analysts see...
IMF Raises India's Growth Forecast to 6.5% for FY27
The International Monetary Fund has lifted its forecast for India’s FY27 growth to 6.5%, up from 6.4% in January and 6.2% in October. The revision reflects a strong 2025 performance, a cut in U.S. tariffs to 10%, and offsets the...
Why Fertilizer Prices Could Remain High Into 2027
Rabobank’s semi‑annual fertilizer outlook warns that phosphate prices will stay above $1,000 per ton through 2027, driven by geopolitical shocks from the U.S.–Iran conflict and potential Strait of Hormuz closures. The 12‑month affordability index for nitrogen, phosphate and potash has...
Single-Family Permits Decline Sharply to Start 2026
Residential construction entered 2026 with a stark split between housing segments. Single‑family permits dropped 15.2% year‑over‑year to 62,034 units, reflecting higher borrowing costs and tightening affordability. Multifamily permits held steady, slipping only 0.5% to 38,215 units, showing resilience amid regional...
Disruptive Theme of the Week: ETF Ramifications of the Iran War
The Iran‑driven closure of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed Brent crude to $150 a barrel, igniting a rally in energy‑focused ETFs while draining liquidity from gold‑related funds. Gold ETFs have slipped more than 11% as investors chase oil exposure,...
Earnings Preview: Did Netflix Get the Last Laugh on Warner Bros.?
Netflix walked away from the Warner Bros. Discovery deal, pocketing a $2.8 billion break‑up fee and then raised U.S. subscription prices in March. The streamer is using the cash to fund new content, a kids‑games app, and to double‑down on its...
Rise In China Rare Earth Exports
China’s rare‑earth shipments rose to 62.6 thousand metric tons in 2026, up from 55.4 thousand tons in 2024 and well above the pandemic low of 35.4 thousand tons in 2020. The surge includes the highest monthly export volume since 2009, reflecting robust demand...
This Biotech Firm Has Room to Run, Even as Its Drug Royalties Are Set to Shrink
Biogen was upgraded to overweight by Piper Sandler, which lifted its price target to $214, implying about 21% upside. The firm anticipates a dip in Ocrevus royalty income as exclusivity expires between 2028 and 2029, but expects new launches—Syfovre, Empaveli—and a...
Global Oil Flows Plunge as Hormuz Disruption Chokes Tanker Trade
Global seaborne crude oil shipments have plunged 16% since the Iran war, cutting daily volumes by 7.6 million barrels to 38.4 mbpd—about 9.5% of projected world production now stranded. Gulf exports collapsed, with a net loss of 9.0 mbpd after modest gains from...
S&P 500 Futures Continue Higher a Day After Benchmark Wipes Out Iran War Losses: Live Updates
U.S. equity futures rose on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 up 0.3% and the Nasdaq‑100 gaining 0.5%, as technology stocks such as Oracle and SanDisk led the rally. The market shrugged off a setback in U.S.–Iran peace talks and a...
IMF Lowers 2026 Global GDP Growth Forecast to 3.1% vs 3.3% Prior
The IMF trimmed its 2026 global GDP growth forecast to 3.1% from 3.3%, citing the Middle East conflict and higher oil prices. The United States sees a modest downgrade to 2.3%, while the euro area falls to 1.1% and China...
Cheap, Underweighted, and Ready to Move. Why This Dormant Emerging Market...
Eurizon SLJ Capital, managing over $432 billion, predicts Chinese equities will rally about 10% by year‑end, lifting the CSI 300 past the 5,000 mark. The forecast rests on low valuations—roughly 18‑times forward earnings—alongside a stabilising property sector and abundant household savings shifting...
Zelenskyy Will Fix Druzhba Oil Pipeline as He Counts on Hungary to Lift EU Loan Veto
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline will be operational enough to flow by the end of April 2026. He linked the repair to Hungary’s expected removal of its veto on the €90 billion ($98 billion) EU loan...
Indus Towers: Jefferies Cuts Rating to Underperform, Gives Reasons for Bear Outlook
Jefferies downgraded Indus Towers to "underperform" and lowered its price target to Rs 375 (about $4.5) amid renewal risk for roughly 10 % of sites built in 2016‑17. The broker warns that contract expirations in late 2026‑early 2027 could force the company...
Indonesia Plans to Buy Russian Oil, Pertamina to Follow Government Directives
Indonesia is evaluating the purchase of Russian crude oil, with state‑owned oil giant Pertamina poised to act on any government directive. President Prabowo Subianto’s recent visit to Moscow included talks with Vladimir Putin on expanding energy cooperation, including refinery development....
IMF Cuts China’s GDP Growth Forecast to 4.4% as Iran War Pressures Global Economy
The International Monetary Fund trimmed its 2024 global growth outlook to 3.1%, lowering China’s GDP projection to 4.4% amid fallout from the Iran‑related war and higher commodity prices. The downgrade reflects weaker domestic activity in China, especially a prolonged housing...
European Airports Risk Jet Fuel Shortage by May Due to Hormuz Crisis
The war in Iran and the near‑shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz have pushed global oil prices above $92 a barrel, driving the average jet‑fuel spot price to $197.83 per barrel—99% higher than pre‑conflict levels. A Financial Times report warns that...
Energy Transfer on Natural Gas Opportunities & More
Energy Transfer (ET) is expanding its natural‑gas footprint with two major Permian pipelines—Hugh Brinson, now sized at 2.2 Bcf/d with bidirectional capability, and the Desert Southwest expansion, increased to 2.3 Bcf/d for an additional $900 million. The company also plans to boost Canadian crude...
Discover How to Enter and Navigate China's Games Market in 2026 at PGC Summit Shanghai
The Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Shanghai on July 29, 2026 will serve as a direct gateway for international game makers to enter China’s massive market, which generates roughly 20% of global player spending. Attendees will meet regulators, publishers, and platform...
Pair of Townhouses Leads Brooklyn’s Luxury Contracts
Brooklyn’s luxury market saw 20 contracts worth $71 million last week, down from 26 deals totaling $79 million the prior week. The median asking price was $2.7 million and the average price per square foot $1,434. The top deal was an $8.5 million townhouse...
Ask a Chief Product Officer: What's Driving Annuity Innovation Today
Retail annuity sales in the United States topped $460 billion in 2025, marking the fourth consecutive record year, as market volatility, longer lifespans, and the erosion of traditional pensions fuel demand for guaranteed income. Providers are responding with hybrid products that...
Stocks Climb on Cooler Wholesale Price Growth, Lower Oil Prices
U.S. wholesale prices rose less than expected in March, easing inflation concerns and lifting stock futures. The S&P 500 futures gained 0.3% while Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.5% in early New York trading. Energy costs climbed amid the Iran war, but the softer...
PSU Banks vs Private Banks: What Should Investors Pick This Earnings Season
Public sector banks (PSUs) have outperformed private lenders, with the Nifty PSU Bank index gaining 41% over the past year versus a 5% rise for private banks. Analysts note that PSU valuations are now around 1.3 times forward book value,...
Stocks Downplay Iran Risks in Whipsaw Trading Day
U.S. equities rebounded sharply on Thursday, wiping out losses from the recent Iran‑U.S. escalation. The S&P 500 rose about 1% back to pre‑conflict levels, while the Dow added over 300 points and the Nasdaq gained more than 1%, led by technology...
Paul Hastings’ Partner on Increased Importance of Cross-Border Tax for REITs
Chris Mangin Jr., a tax partner at Paul Hastings, told Nareit’s REITwise 2026 conference that cross‑border tax considerations are becoming pivotal for REITs seeking overseas capital to fund infrastructure, AI and data‑center projects. Public‑market constraints are pushing REITs toward private equity,...
Namibia’s Central Bank Lowers Economic Growth Forecasts
Namibia’s central bank slashed its GDP growth outlook, now projecting 2.6% for 2024 and 2.9% for 2025, trimming previous estimates by 1.2 and 1.4 percentage points respectively. The downgrade reflects a sharper-than‑expected decline in metal ore output and persistent weakness...
Morning Reads
Nvidia denied a report that it was negotiating to buy a PC maker, sending Dell and HP shares down more than 2% after earlier rallying. United Airlines CEO discussed a possible merger with American Airlines, lifting both stocks in pre‑market...
Malaysians Urged to Tighten Their Belts as Iran War Fallout Starts to Bite
Malaysia’s government warned citizens to brace for prolonged cost pressures as the Iran‑triggered energy crisis tightens. Crude oil supplies are expected to run out by May, pushing Brent to US$132.50 per barrel and prompting a diesel subsidy hike to 400...
Here Are Tuesday's Biggest Analyst Calls: Apple, Tesla, Amazon, GM, Crocs, Viking, Alphabet, Ford & More
Wall Street analysts issued a wave of upgrades, initiations and downgrades on Tuesday, spanning technology, automotive, consumer and healthcare stocks. Citi launched coverage of quantum‑computer firm Infleqtion with a Buy rating and a $20 target, while UBS upgraded Ford to...
Sapient Perception Raises €2M to Give Drones a Wider View
Sapient Perception, a Danish AI sensor startup, secured €2 million (about $2.2 million) in pre‑seed funding led by Balnord and FORWARD.one. The company’s 10K sensor platform captures up to 100 times more ground area than conventional drone cameras while preserving detail, processing data...
Ghanaian Farm Plans 3,000-Ton Tomato Supply Expansion
Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture announced that Maphlix Farms will place 3,000 tons of tomatoes on the market by year‑end, using a mix of greenhouse and open‑field production. The farm has already begun harvesting, with three‑day picking cycles to maintain...
What’s Driving the Wartime Stock Rebound
Global equity markets rallied on Tuesday as investors leaned on momentum trading, wiping out the S&P 500’s losses incurred since the February onset of the Iran‑U.S. war. Brent crude slipped to about $98 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate hovered near...
3 Technology Mutual Funds to Buy as the Sector Rebounds After a Slow Start
The technology sector, hampered by rising bond yields, interest‑rate uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions, posted weak returns early in 2026, dragging down tech‑focused ETFs such as XLK. Recent earnings clarity, more attractive valuations, and expectations of stabilising rates have sparked a...
JPMorgan Earnings, Oracle's $300 Million Windfall, New Delta Suites and More in Morning Squawk
JPMorgan Chase posted a 13% rise in net income and a 10% jump in revenue for Q1, beating analysts’ forecasts, while Citigroup delivered its strongest revenue in a decade. Oracle exercised a warrant that could net more than $300 million from...
CME Group to Launch Options on Eris SOFR Swap Futures
CME Group announced it will list options on Eris SOFR Swap futures starting June 16, 2026, pending regulatory approval. The options—available on 2‑year, 5‑year and 10‑year contracts—add a new layer of flexibility for managing U.S. dollar interest‑rate risk and complement...
Helical Closes $10M Seed to Turn Bio Foundation Models Into Systems
Helical, a London‑based pharma‑AI startup, closed a $10 million seed round led by redalpine, with AI leaders from Cohere and HuggingFace among angel investors. The funding will expand its dual‑surface platform—Virtual Lab for biologists and Model Factory for data scientists—across more...
AI Satellite Constellation Startup Orbital Gets Funded by A16z to Verify Space-Based Data Center Concept
Orbital Inc., an AI satellite‑constellation startup, closed an undisclosed funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z Speedrun. The capital will finance its first test mission, Orbital‑1, slated for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in April 2027. The company aims to prove...