(Bloomberg) -- The world’s biggest technology companies posted strong earnings last week, showing that the artificial intelligence boom is alive and well. But in the stock market, investors are getting more granular as they try to divvy up the winners and losers in the AI trade.Most Read from BloombergSupertanker Appears to Have Crossed the Strait of HormuzWorld’s Largest Container Carrier Plans R...
(Bloomberg) -- The world’s biggest technology companies posted strong earnings last week, showing that the artificial intelligence boom is alive and well. But in the stock market, investors are getting more granular as they try to divvy up the winners and losers in the AI trade.Most Read from BloombergSupertanker Appears to Have Crossed the Strait of HormuzWorld’s Largest Container Carrier Plans Route Avoiding HormuzBeijing Tells China Firms to Ignore US Sanctions on RefinersPhilippines Says Tho
The world’s biggest technology companies posted strong earnings last week, showing that the artificial intelligence boom is alive and well. But in the stock market, investors are getting more granular as they try to divvy up the winners and losers in the AI trade. On one end is Alphabet Inc. Strong growth at Google Cloud and in its other AI products sent the shares soaring 10% on Thursday, pushing...
The world’s biggest technology companies posted strong earnings last week, showing that the artificial intelligence boom is alive and well. But in the stock market, investors are getting more granular as they try to divvy up the winners and losers in the AI trade. On one end is Alphabet Inc. Strong growth at Google Cloud and in its other AI products sent the shares soaring 10% on Thursday, pushing their gain for the year to 23%, by far the best performance among the Magnificent Seven tech giants. The stock is now the biggest point contributor to the S&P 500 Index ’s rise in 2026. On the other end is Meta Platforms Inc. Facebook’s parent tumbled more than 8% on Thursday despite strong results as investors balked at Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg ’s assurances about the eventual payoffs from its rapidly rising capital expenses, which are increasingly being funded with debt. The shares are down 7.8% in 2026, while the S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index are in the green. “I get the concern about spending, and it is healthy to question and probe,” said Talley Leger , chief market strategist at Wealth Consulting Group, which has about $11 billion in assets under management. “But the results are good and reinforce the strategy.” The outcome was a $566 billion divergence on Thursday as Alphabet’s market capitalization took off and Meta’s sank a day after their earnings reports. “If you’re borrowing to continue putting money into AI data centers and chips and so forth, you’re being punished,” said Bob Savage , head of markets macro strategy at BNY. “If you have the cash and you are making good money from the investments, you’re being rewarded.” More than three years into a bull market fueled by excitement about AI and heavy investments in computing infrastructure, earnings reports are showing that two key pillars remain intact: Big Tech profit growth continues to outpace the rest of the market, and the flow of money into AI infrastructure keeps growing. But inv...
The internet was supposed to make travel easier. But the more I research my destination, the more I worry about visiting the wrong bits of it In the 1980s, a friend of my father navigated through Europe in a camper van with his family using only the map in the back of a pocket diary. He crossed France believing “aujourd’hui” meant “please”; you can imagine the reception he got from Parisians askin...
The internet was supposed to make travel easier. But the more I research my destination, the more I worry about visiting the wrong bits of it In the 1980s, a friend of my father navigated through Europe in a camper van with his family using only the map in the back of a pocket diary. He crossed France believing “aujourd’hui” meant “please”; you can imagine the reception he got from Parisians asking for “coffee, today”. I keep thinking about this as I try but fail to plan my own family trip, despite all the 2026 resources at my disposal. We’re going to Japan for a fortnight in September and preparations have stalled: I’m dithering and my husband is exasperated and panicking, insisting we “get organised” and “just book something”. If it were up to him, he’d Google “two weeks Japan” and go for what the internet disgorges with zero agonising (he chooses restaurants by searching Google Maps for wherever’s nearby with a score above 4). Continue reading...
Exclusive: Varun Chandra’s talks with Google, Meta, Apple and others raise fears of ‘lobbying behind closed doors’ An influential government adviser close to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech executives, the Guardian can reveal. The No 10 business aide Varun Chandra discussed regulatory changes, AI and Donald Trump’s second administration with tech corpor...
Exclusive: Varun Chandra’s talks with Google, Meta, Apple and others raise fears of ‘lobbying behind closed doors’ An influential government adviser close to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech executives, the Guardian can reveal. The No 10 business aide Varun Chandra discussed regulatory changes, AI and Donald Trump’s second administration with tech corporations during confidential meetings between October 2024 and October 2025. In one meeting he offered to help a top executive meet the prime minister directly. Continue reading...
From prescribing spiritual warfare to demonizing health experts, RFK Jr’s health empire has become a dangerous vehicle for a Christian nationalist worldview In February 2025, Robert F Kennedy Jr began his tenure as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with an unusual message for the federal department responsible for protecting public health. America’s greatest challenge,...
From prescribing spiritual warfare to demonizing health experts, RFK Jr’s health empire has become a dangerous vehicle for a Christian nationalist worldview In February 2025, Robert F Kennedy Jr began his tenure as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with an unusual message for the federal department responsible for protecting public health. America’s greatest challenge, he said, was not just chronic disease but a “spiritual malaise”, a kind of soul-sickness derived from America’s moral decline. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Scale model found in Christo’s studio leads to London realisation of internally lit Package on a Ceiling Christo once wrapped up the Reichstag, suspended a curtain across a Colorado valley and covered up the Pont Neuf in Paris. Now, six years after the artist’s death, a London gallery is to create a monumental installation he designed in 1968, using a detailed scale model and drawings t...
Exclusive: Scale model found in Christo’s studio leads to London realisation of internally lit Package on a Ceiling Christo once wrapped up the Reichstag, suspended a curtain across a Colorado valley and covered up the Pont Neuf in Paris. Now, six years after the artist’s death, a London gallery is to create a monumental installation he designed in 1968, using a detailed scale model and drawings that had been presumed lost until their chance discovery. Christo had imagined a vast, internally illuminated suspended form, like a cloud, but technical constraints meant the plan was never brought to fruition. Continue reading...
The emo kings on growing up in Arizona, making it big, and Jim’s annoying wake-up calls Jimmy Eat World are an alternative rock band from Mesa, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Formed by vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind in 1993, they have released 10 albums – including their 2001 breakthrough record, Bleed American. Its hit single, The Midd...
The emo kings on growing up in Arizona, making it big, and Jim’s annoying wake-up calls Jimmy Eat World are an alternative rock band from Mesa, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Formed by vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind in 1993, they have released 10 albums – including their 2001 breakthrough record, Bleed American. Its hit single, The Middle, peaked at No 5 in the US Hot 100 chart; it has now had more than 1bn streams. The band mark the 25th anniversary of the album with a series of shows this summer including UK appearances in August in Halifax, Cardiff and Gunnersbury Park, London. Continue reading...
The president’s approval rating with those under 30 has plummeted as he has failed to deliver on promise after promise Republicans rejoiced when far more young voters than expected backed Donald Trump in 2024, with many of them moved by Trump’s grandiose promises, such as his vow to “ build the greatest economy in the history of the world”. But Republicans should be alarmed that so many 18- to 29-...
The president’s approval rating with those under 30 has plummeted as he has failed to deliver on promise after promise Republicans rejoiced when far more young voters than expected backed Donald Trump in 2024, with many of them moved by Trump’s grandiose promises, such as his vow to “ build the greatest economy in the history of the world”. But Republicans should be alarmed that so many 18- to 29-year-olds have soured on Trump – his approval rating with that group has sunk from 48% in January 2025 to between just 25% and 33% in recent months , according to polls by YouGov/the Economist. It shouldn’t be a surprise that millions of young Americans have turned against Trump, considering that he has failed to deliver on so many promises, most notably his vow to reduce prices on day one . For young people, inflation is the No 1 economic issue , far outpacing other issues, and they very much wanted Trump to focus on affordability, but Trump has focused on everything but affordability. He’s focused instead on his glitzy, $400m ballroom , his war against Iran (which has increased gas prices ), and his tariff wars (which have increased overall inflation). In bad news for Republicans, 78% of Americans under age 30 disapprove of how Trump is handling inflation. Steven Greenhouse is a journalist and author, focusing on labor and the workplace, as well as economic and legal issues Continue reading...
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts This week’s question: The inside of my cardigans never become bobbled. Can’t the pieces be sewn together inside out? I must admit to cracking a smile when I read the story about the revolting result of a tofu spill last month i...
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts This week’s question: The inside of my cardigans never become bobbled. Can’t the pieces be sewn together inside out? I must admit to cracking a smile when I read the story about the revolting result of a tofu spill last month in Missouri. About 18,000kg (40,000lb) of extra-firm tofu was left to rot for three weeks after a road accident – no one was hurt – turned into an insurance dispute. Local officials described the smell as “unforgettable” and “like a dead animal, but worse”. So, what are history’s greatest bad smells? Liz Prior, Southampton Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com . Continue reading...
MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images Some investors have different portfolios that serve various purposes. For example, one may have a short-term trading portfolio to capitalize on market swings and another one for long-term compounding. My long-term portfolio is comprised of blue chip names like AbbVie ( ABBV ), Verizon ( VZ ), and Realty Income Corp. ( O ). These are not sexy names per se, but ...
MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images Some investors have different portfolios that serve various purposes. For example, one may have a short-term trading portfolio to capitalize on market swings and another one for long-term compounding. My long-term portfolio is comprised of blue chip names like AbbVie ( ABBV ), Verizon ( VZ ), and Realty Income Corp. ( O ). These are not sexy names per se, but have durable business models that generate reliable and growing income streams. This brings me to the following 2 Dividend Aristocrats, both of which are attractively valued and offer long-term compounding potential. Let’s explore what makes each a ‘Buy’ at present for this volatile market! #1: Kimberly-Clark ( KMB ) Kimberly Clark is a global consumer products giant with a presence in 175 countries and territories. Its portfolio includes many household names like Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, and Cottonelle. It holds either the number 1 or 2 share positions in 70 countries. I last covered KMB back in January, highlighting the opportunity in this undervalued stock. KMB delivered steady growth in Q1 2026 with organic sales growth of 2.5% YoY and 3% volume plus mix expansion. For reference, volume plus mix is calculated by taking the change in units (current units minus prior units) multiplied by the prior average price. This removes the price effect and means that KMB is seeing consistent volume growth in the face of global economic uncertainties. Importantly, KMB hasn’t relied on heavy discounting to realize the volume growth. Notably, new product launches and improvements across the portfolio have helped KMB gain share in the majority of key markets. Also encouraging, KMB is demonstrating industry-leading productivity with a gross productivity ratio of 6% for two years running. As shown below, KMB scores an ‘A’ grade for Profitability with EBITDA and Net Income margins that are well in excess of the sector median. Seeking Alpha Headwinds for KMB include rising oil prices...
Real Estate Weekly Outlook U.S. equity markets advanced for a fifth straight week - their longest weekly winning streak since 2024 - as investors cheered a strong slate of corporate earnings, resilient economic data, and hopes that a fragile Iranian ceasefire could evolve into a more durable peace. Markets continued to look through a renewed surge in oil prices and the inflationary pressure rippli...
Real Estate Weekly Outlook U.S. equity markets advanced for a fifth straight week - their longest weekly winning streak since 2024 - as investors cheered a strong slate of corporate earnings, resilient economic data, and hopes that a fragile Iranian ceasefire could evolve into a more durable peace. Markets continued to look through a renewed surge in oil prices and the inflationary pressure rippling through the economy, instead focusing on signs that corporate America remains well-positioned despite the increasingly complex macro backdrop. Meanwhile, investors digested a potentially historic transition at the Federal Reserve, as Jerome Powell presided over what is likely his final meeting as Chair but signaled plans to remain on the Fed Board, breaking with recent precedent and setting up a politically charged reshuffling process. The Fed held benchmark rates steady, but the decision drew an unusually fractured 8-4 vote, with three hawkish dissents objecting to the statement's easing bias and one dovish dissent favoring a cut. Hoya Capital Extending its record-breaking run, the S&P 500 gained 0.9% as investors continued to lean into the constructive earnings backdrop. About 80% of S&P 500 companies have topped first-quarter earnings estimates thus far, helping fuel the best monthly performance for stocks since 2020. Economic data added to the constructive tone, with first-quarter GDP growth revised to a 2.0% annualized rate following a tepid 0.5% gain in the prior quarter. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 led the way with a 1.5% weekly advance, powered by another strong slate of results from five of the Mag-7 tech giants. The Small-Cap 600 advanced 0.9%, while the Mid-Cap 400 finished flat on the week. Real estate equities joined the advance despite renewed upward pressure on benchmark interest rates. The Equity REIT Index gained 0.8%, with 9 of 18 property sectors in positive territory, supported by a generally strong slate of earnings results, while Mortgage REITs advanc...
You can update this photo as often as you want. I love when my friends have their fridges covered in Polaroids. It’s often a visual crash course of what’s been going on in their lives chronicling recent adventures, get-togethers, and other fun moments. But I don’t love the idea of schlepping around a clunky instant camera or paying a premium for instant film with hit-or-miss results. That’s why I’...
You can update this photo as often as you want. I love when my friends have their fridges covered in Polaroids. It’s often a visual crash course of what’s been going on in their lives chronicling recent adventures, get-togethers, and other fun moments. But I don’t love the idea of schlepping around a clunky instant camera or paying a premium for instant film with hit-or-miss results. That’s why I’m infatuated with these magnetic digital Polaroids from a small company called VidaBay . They look like instant photos, but use NFC tech and color E Ink screens so you can change the image as often as you want without ever having to charge a battery. At roughly 4mm thick and 2.5 inches in size, the VidaBay NFC E-Paper Fridge Magnet — also known as the Snap — reminds me of Xteink’s tiny X3 e-reader , but it doesn’t have any buttons, ports, or connectors. The Snap is more like a very tiny version of the Aura Ink digital photo frame you can stick to your fridge. VidaBay NFC E-Paper Fridge Magnet Where to Buy: $35.99 $30.99 at VidaBay $99.99 $88.99 at VidaBay (three-pack) $27.99 at Amazon The Snap uses the same kind of NFC chip that lets your smartphone double as your credit or debit card. Using an accompanying mobile app images are wirelessly transferred by aligning your smartphone’s NFC antenna to the one located inside the lower left corner of the Snap. Changing the photo the Snap displays takes about 25 to 30 seconds. While the actual image transfer is a 10-second process, the rest of the time is used to refresh the Snap’s E Ink screen. Unlike devices such as the Kindle Colorsoft that use a black and white e-paper screen overlaid with a color filter so screen refreshes happen almost instantly, the Snap uses e-paper with multiple color pigments that take much longer to refresh. The results look better, but you’ll have to wait a little longer for them. The process of updating the Snap with a new image using NFC is easy once you master it, but it can take a few attempts to get...
Downey at home in LA with one of his channel’s frequent guest stars. | Image: The Verge; Shutterstock It's not hyperbole to call DualShot Recorder an overnight sensation. It took only 12 hours from the time it was released to hit number one on the App Store's list of top paid apps. It was a surprise success - but what's even more surprising is the app's origin story: it all started with a cadre of...
Downey at home in LA with one of his channel’s frequent guest stars. | Image: The Verge; Shutterstock It's not hyperbole to call DualShot Recorder an overnight sensation. It took only 12 hours from the time it was released to hit number one on the App Store's list of top paid apps. It was a surprise success - but what's even more surprising is the app's origin story: it all started with a cadre of friendly neighborhood squirrels and their favorite caretaker. Derrick Downey Jr. built a career on short-form videos documenting his interactions with the squirrels that visit his patio in LA. His Instagram and TikTok accounts each have well over a million followers (myself included) who know well the regular cast of characters: Maxine, Richard, … Read the full story at The Verge.
During dark times, we must stand by our Jewish neighbours as generations of Londoners have done before us Sadiq Khan is the mayor of London Jewish people are living in fear – a fear that has been building for years but has become acute in recent weeks. It now seeps into every part of daily life: the school run, a walk down the high street, a meal in a restaurant, attending synagogue on Shabbat. Je...
During dark times, we must stand by our Jewish neighbours as generations of Londoners have done before us Sadiq Khan is the mayor of London Jewish people are living in fear – a fear that has been building for years but has become acute in recent weeks. It now seeps into every part of daily life: the school run, a walk down the high street, a meal in a restaurant, attending synagogue on Shabbat. Jewish friends and colleagues have spoken to me about how they now find themselves looking over their shoulder in public and worrying about their children wearing religious symbols. This is heartbreaking. It is utterly unacceptable that Jewish people are having to live like this. Sadiq Khan is the mayor of London Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...