Fuel Price Rolled Back by as Much as P23/L
The Philippines' Department of Energy ordered a one‑time fuel price rollback that took effect on April 14, slashing diesel by up to P23 per liter (about $0.42) and trimming gasoline and kerosene by P4.43 ($0.08) and P8.50 ($0.15) respectively. Shell Philippines led the cuts with the deepest diesel discount, while Petron, Unioil and Jetti adjusted their prices to avoid previously announced hikes. The relief arrives just as global crude prices surged again following the collapse of U.S.–Iran peace talks, highlighting the market’s sensitivity to geopolitical risk. The combined domestic and international forces create a volatile pricing environment for Filipino motorists and oil firms alike.
Nomura Sees 60% Chance of BSP Rate Hikes
Nomura estimates a 60% chance that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will raise its benchmark rate this year, potentially adding 0.5 percentage points. The first quarter‑point hike could be announced at the April 23 Monetary Board meeting, with a second increase...
IEA Chief Warns of Tougher Month for Energy Markets
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that April will be tougher for global energy markets as the Middle East war continues to choke supply. No oil cargoes have been loaded from the region this month, and more than 80 energy facilities...
Corn Dominates Argentina Export Registrations
Corn accounted for 60% of Argentina's export registrations in the week to April 11, with 1.95 million metric tonnes registered, more than double the same week last year. Total crop registrations rose 20% year‑over‑year to 3.25 million tonnes, driven primarily by corn. Export...
Wall Street Is the Biggest Winner of the Iran War—And the S&P 500 Just Turned Positive for the Year
Wall Street rallied on Monday as the S&P 500 jumped 1.02% to 6,886, wiping out every loss incurred since the Iran war began on Feb. 28. A brief X post by a New York Post reporter about tentative nuclear‑deal talks...
US Fertilizer Market Faces Increasing Scrutiny
U.S. phosphate exports surged in Q1 2024, tightening domestic supplies as global fertilizer trade is disrupted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Prices have climbed to the highest levels since 2022, prompting criticism from President Donald Trump and...
Oil Drops as US and Iran Weigh More Talks With Blockade in Place
Oil prices slipped on Tuesday as Brent hovered around $97 a barrel and WTI near $95, after Washington announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The move follows a China‑linked tanker that briefly entered the strait, tested the...
Gold’s Surge Puts Margins Under the Spotlight
Gold prices jumped 67% in 2025, driving jewellery sales value up to $172 bn while volume fell 18% to 1,542 tonnes. Luxury houses with strong brand equity, such as Richemont and Cartier, saw sales growth, whereas mass‑market jewellers, whose costs are tied...
Goldman Extends Borrowing Run with $6.5 Billion Bond Sale
Goldman Sachs raised $6.5 billion through a two‑tranche U.S. investment‑grade bond sale, extending a borrowing run that began with a record $16 billion offering earlier this year. Pricing tightened by roughly 0.25 percentage point, leaving the 2034 tranche at a 1 % spread over...
Investing Close to Home to Build Intergenerational Wealth
ImpactAssets is enabling donor‑advised‑fund (DAF) investors to make direct loans to underserved entrepreneurs in Nashville. Former CFO Sallie Bailey has leveraged her $350,000 DAF to fund 15 small‑business loans, starting at $25,000, through ImpactAssets’ Client Recommended Investment service. Partnering with...
Brazil's Mato Grosso 2025-26 Soy Sales Ahead on Year
Brazil's Mato Grosso state reported that 63.3% of the 2025‑26 soybean crop had been sold by March, outpacing the same period last year but lagging the five‑year average. Soy sales rose 6.7 percentage points from February, while the 2026‑27 soy...
Is Nike at Risk of Losing Its ‘Superpower’ Status? Here’s Why One Analyst Thinks It’s a Possibility
UBS softlines analyst Jay Sole warned that Nike may be losing its historic "superpower" as the company leans heavily into lower‑priced channels and a sportswear‑driven mix. He noted that more than 50% of Nike’s revenue now comes from fashion‑oriented sportswear,...
You Have Options If You Can’t Make Your Mortgage Payment – What to Know
Mortgage delinquencies surged 30% in 2026, reflecting job losses, inflation and other hardships. Lenders, including loanDepot, urge borrowers to notify servicers early, unlocking forbearance, payment plans, deferrals and loan modifications. Federal programs such as the Homeowners Assistance Fund remain available...
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The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) announced that Coterra Energy (CTRA) options will be adjusted to new symbols DVN1 and 2DVN1 once the proposed merger with Devon Energy (DVN) closes, expected in Q2 2026. The adjustment changes the contract multiplier from 1...
TruAmerica Obtains Buckhead Apartment Tower At Steep Discount: The Atlanta Deal Sheet
TruAmerica Multifamily acquired The Tower on Piedmont, a 20‑story, 155‑unit apartment tower in Buckhead, for $44.8 M—about a 35% discount to the $69 M price paid in 2021 and far below the $85.8 M 2012 purchase price. The price is only slightly above...
Datacentrex Reports Full Year 2025 Results; Achieves Positive Adjusted EBITDA in Transformational Year
Datacentrex posted FY2025 revenue of about $7 million and gross profit of $3.4 million, while generating a positive Adjusted EBITDA of roughly $0.5 million despite an $8.5 million net loss driven by heavy depreciation. The company closed a $20.2 million public offering, lifting cash and...
Elite Express Holding Inc. Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
Elite Express Holding Inc. posted first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $805,298, a 16.3% year‑over‑year increase, while narrowing its net loss to $110,104, a 46.3% improvement. Gross profit turned positive at $157,365, lifting the gross margin to 19.4% from a 4.7% loss...
Nasdaq Secures Longest Win Streak Since 2023: Stock Market Today
The Nasdaq Composite logged a 9‑day winning streak, its longest run since 2023, as all three major indexes closed higher despite fresh geopolitical tension from U.S.–Iran talks. The market shrugged off a Trump‑promised Strait of Hormuz blockade that lifted crude...
Jewett-Cameron Reports Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Operational and Financial Results
Jewett‑Cameron Trading Co. reported fiscal 2026 Q2 results, showing revenue of $10.5 million, a 16% increase year‑over‑year. Gross profit margin fell to 15.7% as the company sold excess cedar fencing and pet inventory at low margins while facing higher raw‑material, shipping...
Upper West Side Condos Dominate Manhattan Luxury Contracts
Upper West Side condos led Manhattan luxury contracts last week, with 12 of 38 $4 million‑plus deals. The most expensive contract was for a $23.5 million, 3,400‑sq‑ft unit at Extell’s 50 West 66th Street, featuring 14‑foot ceilings and Central Park views. Overall activity rose from 31...
Nine in Ten Older US Workers Say Inflation Is Reshaping Their Retirement Plans
A LiveCareer survey of 878 U.S. workers aged 50 and older found that 91% say inflation or tariff concerns have reshaped their retirement outlook. Three‑quarters are postponing retirement, while 61% are regularly tapping retirement accounts to meet current expenses. Healthcare...
MENA Startup Funding Slips to $941 Million in Q1 2026 Amid Heightened Geopolitical Risk
Startup funding in the Middle East and North Africa slipped to $941 million in Q1 2026, a 21.5% quarter‑on‑quarter decline and a 37% drop year‑on‑year as geopolitical tensions escalated. The UAE dominated the market with $625.8 million across 46 deals, while Saudi Arabia...
Goldman Sachs Earnings Show Effects of Iran War
Goldman Sachs’ first‑quarter earnings highlighted a slowdown in its investment‑banking franchise as the war in Iran dampens corporate appetite for large‑scale transactions. The bank noted weaker demand for IPOs, mergers and acquisitions compared with a few months earlier. Executives described...
Blackstone Nabs $154M to Refi Downtown Miami Office Complex
Blackstone secured a $154 million refinancing for the 2‑building, 339,000‑square‑foot MiamiCentral office complex in downtown Miami. The loan was provided by CIM Group’s private‑credit fund and brokered by Eastdil Secured. Blackstone bought the asset for $230 million in 2021 and now occupies...
S&P 500 Outlook: The 8.2% Rally & What Comes Next
After five weeks of decline, the S&P 500 rallied 8.2% from its March lows near 6,300, reclaiming its 20‑, 50‑, and 200‑day moving averages and closing at 6,816.9, just 2.6% shy of the January all‑time high. The surge was sparked by...
IEA Prepared for Follow-Up Oil Release: Birol
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says it stands ready to coordinate another strategic oil release if market conditions demand, following a record emergency release that grew to 426 million barrels after the Israel‑Iran conflict began. IEA members hold about 1.25 billion barrels...
Citi Arms Wealth Advisors With 4 AI Tools to Cut Busywork
Citi has introduced four AI-powered tools across its wealth division to streamline data handling and advisory workflow. Portfolio Intelligence, a client‑facing platform, aggregates positions, performance metrics and market insights and is live for North American private‑bank clients, with a global...
CRE Pricing Notches Up in March; Near-Term Outlook Uncertain
The Green Street Commercial Property Price Index rose 0.4% in March, bringing its 12‑month gain to 2.6% but keeping it 15.5% below the 2022 peak. Investors hoped lower rates would boost prices, yet a brief dip in 10‑year Treasury yields...
Why Lenders Could Be Tightening HELOC Requirements in 2026
Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) surged 16% year‑over‑year between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025, driven by record‑high U.S. homeowner equity of roughly $17.8 trillion. In 2026 lenders—especially non‑bank and fintech firms—are tightening terms, often demanding borrowers draw 50%‑100% of the line upfront....
Call Traders Target Steel Stock Before Earnings
Cleveland‑Cliffs (CLF) shares rose 4.4% to $9.36 as call options surged, with 813,000 calls and 292,711 puts traded in the past two weeks. The stock, down 29.4% year‑to‑date, is approaching its Q1 earnings on April 20, a report historically followed by...
3 Reasons to Buy the Dip on Peabody Energy Stock
Peabody Energy Corp (NYSE: BTU) shares have fallen 13.8% this month, sitting at $28.34, roughly 45% below their eight‑year high of $41.14. The stock is testing its 200‑day moving average, within 0.75 of the average true range, a signal that...
Goldman Shares Fall on Imperfect Quarterly Results. Here's Our Advice on the Stock From Here
Goldman Sachs posted Q1 2026 revenue of $17.23 bn, up 14.4% YoY, and EPS of $17.55, surpassing forecasts. Investment banking drove growth, with revenue up 48% and advisory fees soaring 89%, while the FICC line lagged expectations. Shares slipped just over...
How Homeownership Helps Build Wealth
A new NBER study led by Wharton professor Fernando Ferreira shows that mortgage modifications during the Great Recession had lasting wealth benefits. Seventy‑five percent of borrowers who received forbearance or rate cuts remained homeowners through 2013, versus 49% without aid....
18 Genius (& Kind Of Unhinged) Ways Real People Are Paying Down Their Debt
A wave of social‑media‑driven debt‑payoff hacks is gaining traction, from selling plasma and unwanted items to daily micro‑deposits and dopamine‑linked spending tricks. Users on TikTok, Reddit and other platforms share concrete examples—donating plasma for $80,000, flipping furniture for $100‑$150 a...
Is Goldman Sachs Reheating Financial ETFs After Earnings Beat?
Goldman Sachs delivered a first‑quarter 2026 earnings beat, reporting $17.55 earnings per share and $17.23 billion in revenue, both above analyst expectations. The outperformance was driven by a resurgence in global dealmaking and strong equities trading, even as the VIX spiked...
Employees Can Invest Alternative Assets Into Their 401(k)s. Here's What to Know
The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a safe‑harbor rule that would let 401(k) plans offer alternative assets such as private equity, real estate and cryptocurrencies. The rule, issued under Executive Order 14330, aims to shield plan sponsors from fiduciary liability...
War-Driven Fuel Costs Add New Twist to Trans-Pacific Service Contract Talks
The war in Iran has caused bunker fuel prices to double across key global hubs, prompting container lines to shift refueling operations to Europe as Singapore’s supply tightens. This surge in fuel costs is being passed to shippers through higher...
Why Did Wang Yi Go to North Korea? China’s 3 Strategic Calculations
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi made an unannounced two‑day trip to Pyongyang on April 9‑10, meeting both Kim Jong Un and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. The visit was timed to temper Pyongyang’s recent missile tests and to smooth the diplomatic environment ahead of...
FSB Chair Warns of Rising Financial Risks Stemming From Middle East Conflict
Financial Stability Board Chair Andrew Bailey warned G20 ministers that the Middle East conflict is amplifying existing financial vulnerabilities. He highlighted the risk of a "double or triple whammy" as stretched asset valuations, concentrated non‑bank leverage and liquidity mismatches converge...
Houston Mixed-Use, Urban Core Development Pace Is 'Off The Charts'
Houston’s urban core is experiencing a surge in mixed‑use development, with firms like Perkins & Will reporting record proposal volumes across all sectors. Developers are embracing “blended‑use” projects to blur traditional boundaries and offset rising infrastructure costs. Capital is abundant, and the...
Copper Outlook Strengthens as Long-Term Assumptions Climb
Long‑term copper price assumptions in mining feasibility studies have jumped about 60% since 2020, moving from roughly $3.00 per pound to an average of $4.80 per pound in early 2026. Even after stripping inflation, the real assumptions are about 28%...
Existing Home Sales Fell in March
Existing home sales in March dropped 3.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million, the lowest level since June 2025. Tight inventory rose modestly to 1.4 million units, creating a 4.1‑month supply, while median home prices climbed 1.4% to $408,800, marking...
Sovereign Partners, HudsonPoint Capital to Buy 575 Fifth Avenue for Roughly $385M
Sovereign Partners and HudsonPoint Capital have signed a contract to acquire the 40‑story 575 Fifth Avenue office tower in Midtown Manhattan for roughly $385 million. The 544,000‑square‑foot building includes about 504,000 sq ft of office space and 40,000 sq ft of retail, currently anchored by...
The 2025 Tax Changes Could Save Small-Business Owners Thousands—If You Know Where to Look
The 2025 tax package delivers the most substantial overhaul for U.S. entrepreneurs since 2017, targeting sole proprietors, LLCs and S‑corporations. It widens tax brackets, expands the SALT deduction to $40,000 and makes the qualified business income deduction permanent. Additional generous...
End of Open Consultation on Methodology for Saudi Arabia Domestic Rebar Price Assessment
Fastmarkets announced the closure of its open consultation on the methodology for the Saudi Arabia domestic rebar price (MB-STE-0909). The consultation, which ran until April 6, sought to ensure the pricing process complies with IOSCO principles for Price Reporting Agencies....
S&P Goes Negative on DeKalb Co., Ga., Water and Sewer Bonds
S&P Global Ratings lowered the outlook on DeKalb County, Georgia’s water and sewer senior lien bonds to negative while affirming the AA‑minus rating, affecting $1.28 billion of debt. The agency cited weakening debt‑service coverage, projected at 1.2‑1.4× over the next three...
Pro Farmer Podcast | Fertilizer Crisis Fallout
The Pro Farmer Podcast episode released on April 13, 2026 examines the fallout from the global fertilizer crisis, highlighting sharp supply constraints and rising input costs. Host Bill and Hillari explore how the shortage is slashing yields for nitrogen‑intensive crops, while guest...
Exclusive: The Ex-Rokos, Brevan Veteran Quietly Building a Commodities Fund in ‘One of the Most Interesting Markets in a Generation’
Luke Sadrian, former Rokos and Brevan Howard partner, launched the Fulcrum Commodities Fund in October 2025, quickly amassing $359 million in assets, including $250 million of external capital. The fund generated a 30.5% return from inception to March 2026, driven by a directional...
US Home Buyers 'Frozen' As Sales Slump over Iran War Fears
U.S. home‑buyer activity stalled in March as mortgage rates jumped to 6.37% amid the US‑Israeli conflict in Iran. The National Association of Realtors reported a 3.6% month‑over‑month decline, with 3.98 million existing‑home sales—the lowest level since June. Median home prices rose...
Alex Morris on Dual Share Class Funds, Fixed Income, & More
Alex Morris, CEO of F/m Investments, discussed the volatile inflation backdrop and its impact on fixed‑income strategies, emphasizing Treasury‑bill exposure and TIPS as inflation hedges. He explained the firm’s pioneering dual‑share class structure for the TBIL fund, which offers both...