As the United States and Iran continue dueling blockades in the Strait of Hormuz , Tehran offered its response to the latest amendments by Washington on a potential agreement to end the war. The proposal was sent via Pakistan, which mediated a first round of negotiations last month, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said today, without providing details. Oil pared a second weekly gain....
As the United States and Iran continue dueling blockades in the Strait of Hormuz , Tehran offered its response to the latest amendments by Washington on a potential agreement to end the war. The proposal was sent via Pakistan, which mediated a first round of negotiations last month, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said today, without providing details. Oil pared a second weekly gain. The leaders of the two countries kept up their strong public rhetoric, amid the behind-the scenes-diplomacy . President Donald Trump said the US blockade of Iranian ports is depriving Tehran of oil revenue, claiming that would force it back to the negotiating table. “ Their economy is a disaster ,” he told reporters at the White House yesterday. “So, we’ll see how long they hold out.” Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, meanwhile, vowed to “prevent the enemy’s abuses” of the crucial waterway and not to give up the country’s nuclear or missile technologies. With both Iran and the US apparently waiting for the other to move first before agreeing to ease restrictions on naval traffic, it could be a while still before a fragile truce turns into a lasting peace. — Caroline Alexander What You Need to Know Today The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is creating an economic split among oil exporters in the Persian Gulf, with Saudi Arabia and Oman set for a windfall and others including the United Arab Emirates seeing a drop in petrodollar income. Saudi Arabia is gaining a revenue edge over most of its Gulf Arab neighbors as it is able to divert the bulk of crude exports to the Red Sea. Higher prices more than compensated for lost shipments through the strait, according to Goldman Sachs. The UAE, by contrast, is likely suffering a steep drop in oil income, as its own detoured barrels only partially mitigate the impact from the closure. The divergence may feed into the intensifying rivalry between the Middle East’s two biggest economies, which was at the heart of UAE’s shock...
Earnings Call Insights: Fulgent Genetics (FLGT) Q1 2026 Management View “I am pleased with our first quarter results in our laboratory service business and the momentum in our therapeutic development business,” said Chairman & CEO Ming Hsieh, adding, “in Q1, we also successfully completed the acquisition of Bako Diagnostics and StrataDx, which contributed our strong first quarter results as we had...
Earnings Call Insights: Fulgent Genetics (FLGT) Q1 2026 Management View “I am pleased with our first quarter results in our laboratory service business and the momentum in our therapeutic development business,” said Chairman & CEO Ming Hsieh, adding, “in Q1, we also successfully completed the acquisition of Bako Diagnostics and StrataDx, which contributed our strong first quarter results as we had anticipated.” On digital pathology, Chairman & CEO Ming Hsieh said, “the investments in AI and digital pathology solutions are continuing to work at an accelerated pace,” and added, “as of today, with our in-house developed platform, EasioPath, we are approximately 100% visual across all our cases.” On the therapeutic pipeline, Chairman & CEO Ming Hsieh said “FID-007, advanced through Phase II with 46 patients enrolled,” and added, “our abstract on the Phase III trial of FID-007 was selected by ASCO as a rapid oral presentation.” He also said, “we anticipate having end of Phase II meeting with FDA for the second half of this year and hope to enter into a Phase III registration trial…in the first half of 2027.” Chief Commercial Officer Brandon Perthuis reported, “we ended the first quarter at $71.1 million,” and said the decline was “driven by the reduction in sales to our large customer who has begun transitioning testing in-house.” He also said the Bako/StrataDx deal “more than doubles the size of our pathology sales team,” and added, “the focus now shifts to integration, which is off to a very good start.” Chief Financial Officer Paul Kim said, “revenue in the first quarter of 2026 totaled $71.1 million, including $2.6 million from Bako Diagnostics and StrataDx,” and attributed the decline primarily to “lower volume from our largest customer… and timing impact as we work through claims processing backlog.” Outlook Chief Financial Officer Paul Kim said, “we reiterate our guidance of total revenue of $350 million for 2026,” and added it represents “an 8.5% year-over-year g...
Urupong/iStock via Getty Images Investment Outlook Capgemini SE ( CGEMY ) is preparing to report Q1 2026 financial results next week. I previously analyzed CGEMY in August 2023 with a Hold outlook due to client caution for discretionary, higher-value projects. Although the company is expected to produce decent topline revenue growth ahead, it will also have higher employee reskilling and restructu...
Urupong/iStock via Getty Images Investment Outlook Capgemini SE ( CGEMY ) is preparing to report Q1 2026 financial results next week. I previously analyzed CGEMY in August 2023 with a Hold outlook due to client caution for discretionary, higher-value projects. Although the company is expected to produce decent topline revenue growth ahead, it will also have higher employee reskilling and restructuring costs, hurting earnings as it seeks to retool its operations for the GenAI opportunities in front of it. My outlook on CGEMY remains a neutral Hold. Capgemini’s Market And Approach Capgemini was founded in France in 1967 and offers business strategy, IT consulting, advisory and digital transformation services to clients in major industry verticals. Chief Executive Officer Aiman Ezzat heads the company and has been with Capgemini since 2005. The firm’s services include the following: Digital transformation Consulting Managed services Engineering services Business process outsourcing Creative design Maintenance services Transactional services CGEMY seeks clients via its business development and marketing efforts and from partner referrals. Revenue contribution for 2025 by segment and geography is shown in the pie charts below: SEC According to a 2026 market research report by Fortune Business Insights, the global digital transformation consulting services market was an estimated $185 billion in 2025 and is expected to exceed $467 billion by 2034. If accomplished, this growth would represent a CAGR of 11% from 2026 to 2034. The main reasons for this forecast growth are a migration of on-premises systems to cloud-based environments with a variety of architectures, growing cybersecurity threats, and the integration of new AI technologies into company workflows. Organizations are focusing more on enhancing their efficiency and improving marketing and customer onboarding, along with enhanced compliance and reporting requirements. Major industry participants and competitors in...
President says any European car makers who produce vehicles in the US will not face tariffs Sign up for the Breaking News US email Meanwhile, the White House has said it will not detail private diplomatic conversations when Reuters asked about Iran ’s new proposal to the United States that was submitted to Pakistani mediators. “We do not detail private diplomatic conversations. President Trump has...
President says any European car makers who produce vehicles in the US will not face tariffs Sign up for the Breaking News US email Meanwhile, the White House has said it will not detail private diplomatic conversations when Reuters asked about Iran ’s new proposal to the United States that was submitted to Pakistani mediators. “We do not detail private diplomatic conversations. President Trump has been clear that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon , and negotiations continue to ensure the short- and long-term national security of the United States,” spokeswoman Anna Kelly told Reuters. I do have the impression from some of the briefings that I have received, as well as other sources, that an imminent military strike is very much on the table . There really is no coherent strategy , which came across very vividly and graphically in the hearing today with Secretary Hegseth. And it comes across in the president’s comments, which oscillate between seeming open to negotiation and then foreclosing it entirely and threatening destruction of civilizations. Continue reading...
Apple‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL) fiscal Q2 2026 beat triggered a three-way split among Wall Street analysts. Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Apple stock to $330 from $315 while keeping an Overweight rating, Wells Fargo lifted its target to $310 from $300 at Overweight, and Barclays nudged its AAPL price target to $253 from $248 while ... Wall Street Splits on Apple After Q2 Beat: Is the Growth Stor...
Apple‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL) fiscal Q2 2026 beat triggered a three-way split among Wall Street analysts. Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Apple stock to $330 from $315 while keeping an Overweight rating, Wells Fargo lifted its target to $310 from $300 at Overweight, and Barclays nudged its AAPL price target to $253 from $248 while ... Wall Street Splits on Apple After Q2 Beat: Is the Growth Story Real or Just a Tariff Bounce?
Beijing Bad: Chinese Nationals Charged Building Meth Super Factory Two Chinese citizens were indicted on by the DOJ on charges of conspiring to flood the United States with methamphetamine through a sophisticated, factory-style production operation, federal prosecutors announced this week. Wenfeng Cui, 41, also known as “ Vincen ,” (no "t') and Fan Pang, 26, also known as “ Jerry ,” both nationals...
Beijing Bad: Chinese Nationals Charged Building Meth Super Factory Two Chinese citizens were indicted on by the DOJ on charges of conspiring to flood the United States with methamphetamine through a sophisticated, factory-style production operation, federal prosecutors announced this week. Wenfeng Cui, 41, also known as “ Vincen ,” (no "t') and Fan Pang, 26, also known as “ Jerry ,” both nationals of the People’s Republic of China, were arrested in New York City on February 2, 2026, after allegedly meeting with undercover sources and providing detailed instructions on the chemical synthesis of methamphetamine and the operation of custom-built industrial machinery designed to mass-produce the drug. The unsealed indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton and DEA Special Agent in Charge Cindy Marx of the Special Operations Division, charges the pair with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine (maximum penalty: life in prison), one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture narcotics (maximum 20 years), and one count of importation of methamphetamine precursor chemicals (maximum 20 years). "Terrifying in its ambition" According to the indictment and related court filings, over roughly eight months the defendants worked with chemists and engineers to research, design, and fabricate a technologically advanced methamphetamine production facility . Prosecutors allege the operation was capable of producing 400 kilograms of methamphetamine per day - or as much as 800 kilograms per production cycle - using automated industrial equipment. “As alleged, the defendants worked with chemists and engineers to develop and deploy a sophisticated technology for the industrial production of methamphetamine capable of producing 400 kilograms of ‘meth’ every day ,” Clayton said. “Their goal was terrifying in its ambition. The potential harm of this scale of methamphetamine on our streets should give all New Yorkers an...
In April 2026, Kraft Heinz expanded its Capri Sun portfolio with Capri Sun Hydrate, a kid-focused electrolyte drink with lower sugar, added Vitamin E, and no artificial ingredients, rolling out across major US retailers including Walmart, Target, and Amazon. This launch targets growing demand for healthier, functional kids’ beverages and showcases Kraft Heinz’s push to refresh legacy brands throug...
In April 2026, Kraft Heinz expanded its Capri Sun portfolio with Capri Sun Hydrate, a kid-focused electrolyte drink with lower sugar, added Vitamin E, and no artificial ingredients, rolling out across major US retailers including Walmart, Target, and Amazon. This launch targets growing demand for healthier, functional kids’ beverages and showcases Kraft Heinz’s push to refresh legacy brands through innovation and new consumption occasions. We’ll examine how the Capri Sun Hydrate launch,...
Oli Scarff/Getty Images News BP ( BP ) is considering a potential exit of all or part of its operations in the U.K. North Sea, Bloomberg reported Friday, as it works to dispose of assets and pay down debt. The company is conducting an internal review of its upstream operations in the U.K., which could fetch ~£2B ($2.7B) in a full divestment, according to the report . BP ( BP ) is among the last re...
Oli Scarff/Getty Images News BP ( BP ) is considering a potential exit of all or part of its operations in the U.K. North Sea, Bloomberg reported Friday, as it works to dispose of assets and pay down debt. The company is conducting an internal review of its upstream operations in the U.K., which could fetch ~£2B ($2.7B) in a full divestment, according to the report . BP ( BP ) is among the last remaining oil majors operating in the U.K. North Sea, as peers such as Chevron and ConocoPhillips sold assets, while others including Shell, Exxon, and TotalEnergies have moved to divest or restructure parts of their positions. BP ( BP ) still holds a 45% stake in the Clair Field—the largest oil field on the U.K. Continental Shelf—but the company has been reducing its presence in the region for years, including sales of its interest in the Shearwater field to Shell and the Forties pipeline system to Ineos. More on BP BP: Risks Are Now To The Upside BP: The Market Still Underestimates This Turnaround BP Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) to $915 from $430, while upgrading the stock to Equal Weight from Underweight. The dramatic shift, which effectively more than doubles the prior target, reflects what the firm calls “ongoing strong market execution, a robust backlog, and demand growth.” JPMorgan Chase went further, lifting its target ... Morgan Stanley Doubles Caterp...
Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) to $915 from $430, while upgrading the stock to Equal Weight from Underweight. The dramatic shift, which effectively more than doubles the prior target, reflects what the firm calls “ongoing strong market execution, a robust backlog, and demand growth.” JPMorgan Chase went further, lifting its target ... Morgan Stanley Doubles Caterpillar Price Target to $915: Is This the Most Underrated Industrial of 2026?