The supply of oil and other essential commodities may be grabbing the headlines as the US-Iran conflict escalates, but the ripple effects are being felt far beyond energy markets – all the way to the global supply of the saffron used in footbath packs and heat patches. Chinese retail investors have been peppering listed companies with questions about how disruptions tied to the conflict could affe...
The supply of oil and other essential commodities may be grabbing the headlines as the US-Iran conflict escalates, but the ripple effects are being felt far beyond energy markets – all the way to the global supply of the saffron used in footbath packs and heat patches. Chinese retail investors have been peppering listed companies with questions about how disruptions tied to the conflict could affect everything from fertiliser imports to the pharmaceutical products containing the prized spice. “Given that Iran accounts for more than 90 per cent of global saffron exports, which have now been suspended, will your company continue producing saffron-containing foot-bath packs and heat patches?” one investor asked Renhe Pharmacy, a Jiangxi-based pharmaceutical company listed in Shenzhen, on an investor interaction platform. Advertisement “Does the company have any saffron raw-material inventory on hand? If so, how long can it sustain production?” the investor added. “Please call our customer service hotline,” answered the company. Advertisement The exchange illustrates how the Middle East conflict is reverberating far beyond energy markets, unsettling businesses and investors thousands of miles from the war zone.
Key Points Rates may seem more attractive lately, but they're hardly a bargain. Mortgages are still a type of debt -- even if they're a "healthier" kind. It's not a given that you'll be able to qualify for a mortgage as a retiree. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Mortgage rates have been frustratingly high for the past few years, so much so that many would-be b...
Key Points Rates may seem more attractive lately, but they're hardly a bargain. Mortgages are still a type of debt -- even if they're a "healthier" kind. It's not a given that you'll be able to qualify for a mortgage as a retiree. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Mortgage rates have been frustratingly high for the past few years, so much so that many would-be buyers are opting to sit out the market rather than pursue their homeownership dreams. But lately, mortgage rates have been easing. And if this trend continues, more retirees may be tempted to buy a home for the stability and opportunity to build equity. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » If you're a retiree who's now looking into a mortgage, you should know that buying a home isn't necessarily a poor choice. But here are three crucial things to know before shopping around for a home loan. 1. Rates are nowhere close to historic lows Today's mortgage rates are lower than they've been in recent years. But they're nowhere close to historic lows. For much of 2020 and 2021, 30-year mortgages sat at under 3%. And while those historically low rates were fueled by the pandemic, even prior to the events of 2020, mortgage rates held steady for years in the 3% to 4% range. In other words, a roughly 6% mortgage, which is what you may be looking at today, isn't a bargain. So don't rush to sign a mortgage because you think you're looking at a limited-time opportunity. There's a good chance that in the coming years, rates will fall even further. 2. A lower-cost mortgage is still debt It's easy to get excited about lower mortgage rates. But do remember that a mortgage is still a type of debt -- even if it's the "healthy" type. Before you apply for a mortgage, figure out what monthly payments you can afford ba...
Getty Images Written by Nick Ackerman, co-produced by Stanford Chemist Neuberger Real Estate Securities Income Fund ( NRO ) has seen its discount widen since our last update. This is a closed-end fund focused on investing not only in REITs but also incorporating some fixed-income exposure. The fund pays a high distribution rate, which we're fairly cautious about, but given the valuation is looking...
Getty Images Written by Nick Ackerman, co-produced by Stanford Chemist Neuberger Real Estate Securities Income Fund ( NRO ) has seen its discount widen since our last update. This is a closed-end fund focused on investing not only in REITs but also incorporating some fixed-income exposure. The fund pays a high distribution rate, which we're fairly cautious about, but given the valuation is looking more tempting with a wide discount, that can make it a more interesting prospect at this time. Usually, when we are most cautious is for CEFs that entice investors with a high double-digit distribution yield and are also simultaneously richly valued. NRO Basics 1-Year Z-score: -2.07 Discount/Premium: -8.18% Distribution Yield: 12.36% Expense Ratio: 1.47% Leverage: 25.76% Managed Assets: $277 million Structure: Perpetual NRO's investment objective is "high current income. Capital appreciation is a secondary investment objective." To achieve this, the fund will "develop a portfolio with a broad mix of real estate securities through superior stock selection and property sector allocation." They continue that they can invest primarily in "securities issued by Real Estate Companies, including REITs." They don't exactly specify, but that does include both the common and preferred securities issued by REITs. When including the fund's leverage expenses, that increases the total expense ratio to 3.12%. Leverage can increase potential returns during good times, but it also can do the opposite during bad times, amplifying the downside moves. This adds greater volatility and risk to the investment, which may make it inappropriate for some risk-averse investors. Performance - Weak Against Top Peers but Attractively Valued In the REIT CEF space, we also have the Cohen & Steer funds. These are often higher quality, and that has led to relative outperformance for those CEFs. That includes the leveraged peers Cohen & Steers REIT & Preferred & Income Fund ( RNP ), Cohen & Steers Quality Inc...
Explosion Hits US Embassy In Oslo An explosion struck the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway Sunday morning, causing minor damage to the facility and no reported injuries. The blast, which struck around 1:00 a.m. local time, occurred at the entry to the consular section, according to police spokesperson Mikael Dellemyr in a statement to public broadcaster NRK. " We've determined that an explosion hit the...
Explosion Hits US Embassy In Oslo An explosion struck the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway Sunday morning, causing minor damage to the facility and no reported injuries. The blast, which struck around 1:00 a.m. local time, occurred at the entry to the consular section, according to police spokesperson Mikael Dellemyr in a statement to public broadcaster NRK. " We've determined that an explosion hit the American embassy, " he said. BREAKING: Officials say explosion was at the consular entrance to the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway. - NRK pic.twitter.com/BmUfmefCYA — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 8, 2026 Police separately said that they don't have any idea what caused the blast or who was involved. "The police are in a dialogue with the embassy and there are no reports of any injured persons," they said in a statement. Tyler Durden Sat, 03/07/2026 - 22:25
CHUNYIP WONG/E+ via Getty Images Shares of Sunbelt shopping center owner Whitestone REIT ( WSR ) surged on Friday after a report surfaced that the company has received takeover interest from multiple parties, including Blackstone ( BX ) and TPG ( TPG ). With Whitestone having faced activist involvemen t and received multiple buyout overtures from 9.2% shareholder MCB Real Estate, most recently in ...
CHUNYIP WONG/E+ via Getty Images Shares of Sunbelt shopping center owner Whitestone REIT ( WSR ) surged on Friday after a report surfaced that the company has received takeover interest from multiple parties, including Blackstone ( BX ) and TPG ( TPG ). With Whitestone having faced activist involvemen t and received multiple buyout overtures from 9.2% shareholder MCB Real Estate, most recently in early January at $15.20 , the company has often been rumored as a takeover candidate. Today I will explore what Whitestone might fetch if indeed the company is sold. Why Whitestone is an Attractive Collection of Assets Whitestone's shopping centers are located in the high-growth Sunbelt markets of Austin, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and San Antonio. These cities have experienced rapid population growth over the past 10+ years but, like the rest of the shopping center space, have seen very limited growth in retail square footage. With construction costs having increased 30+% over the past 5 years, the cost of new construction is 50-60% higher than the implied value of Whitestone's current valuation of ~$300 per square foot. As such, it is expected that new supply growth will remain muted for the foreseeable future. As shown below, Whitestone ranks quite favorably in Green Street's TAP (Trade Area Power) metric, which measures the population density and household income in the neighborhood surrounding Whitestone's shopping centers. Whitestone Trade Area Power Ranking (Whitestone 4Q25 Investor Presentation) The combination of strong demand growth and limited supply has driven occupancy to multi-year highs (nearly 95% currently, up from just 90% in 2019), resulting in strong leasing spreads and durable NOI (net operating income) growth. Valuation While Whitestone shares have nearly doubled over the past four years, the company has persistently traded at a large discount to its estimated private market value. Part of the reason for the discount is that the company is sub-scale, as...
3m ago 03.30 GMT Oscar Piastri crashes out on the formation lap Incredible drama in Melbourne, as the hometown hero Piastri, the subject of so much attention during the build-up to the race, is out of the Australia grand prix after crashing out in the warm-up lap. Coming out of turn four, the Australian’s car lost grip as he looked to accelerate, causing him to lose control and watch on helplessly...
3m ago 03.30 GMT Oscar Piastri crashes out on the formation lap Incredible drama in Melbourne, as the hometown hero Piastri, the subject of so much attention during the build-up to the race, is out of the Australia grand prix after crashing out in the warm-up lap. Coming out of turn four, the Australian’s car lost grip as he looked to accelerate, causing him to lose control and watch on helplessly as he went nose-first into the wall. OSCAR PIASTRI HAS CRASHED!! 😱 He is OUT of the Australian Grand Prix on the way to the grid! The driver is out of the car and ok #F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/JeBkQeRwBk — Formula 1 (@F1) March 8, 2026 Share Updated at 03.30 GMT 7m ago 03.26 GMT Drama in the warm-up lap! Piastri might be out of the Grand Prix! He’s gone into the wall during the warm-up lap. Boy oh boy, wowee. Share 7m ago 03.25 GMT Having delivered a somewhat more sturdy tyre this season, Pirelli are of the view that a one-stop strategy is the way to go for today’s race: starting out on mediums before pitting for hards between laps 20 to 26 or, alternatively, starting the race on softs before swapping them for hards between lap 15 to 21. Unlike the chaos of last year, the whether should not play a factor in today’s race whatsoever, with the forecast calling for no rain and temperatures hovering in the low-to-mid 20s. Share 8m ago 03.25 GMT Ferrari showed their own signs of promise during preseason testing and have shown flashes of potential since landing in Melbourne – only for that to be overshadowed by the pace of the Mercedes. Nonetheless, they’re widely expected to have the most rapid start of any of the teams today – Leclerc starting on the second row and Hamilton the fourth – and while they’re quite outmatched by the Mercedes when it comes to the high-speed sections of the track, they’ve actually shown more speed than anyone when it comes to cornering. “It was a tough and rather chaotic qualifying session, but that was the same for everyone,” team principal Fred Vass...
Key Points Micron is a leading supplier of high-bandwidth memory for data centers, which is a critical component in the AI hardware stack. Micron will report its latest quarterly financial results on March 18, and its revenue is expected to have more than doubled. Micron stock looks cheap right now, which could set the stage for further upside. 10 stocks we like better than Micron Technology › Gra...
Key Points Micron is a leading supplier of high-bandwidth memory for data centers, which is a critical component in the AI hardware stack. Micron will report its latest quarterly financial results on March 18, and its revenue is expected to have more than doubled. Micron stock looks cheap right now, which could set the stage for further upside. 10 stocks we like better than Micron Technology › Graphics processing units (GPUs) are the main data center chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) development. The best GPUs in the industry are supplied by Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, and both of those companies source an important component called high-bandwidth memory (HBM) from Micron Technology(NASDAQ: MU). Micron's HBM solutions are fitted alongside advanced GPUs, where they keep data flowing seamlessly to unlock maximum processing speeds. The company is experiencing astronomical demand right now, which is driving a surge in its revenue and earnings. As a result, its stock has gained a whopping 323% over the last 12 months alone. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » But can the blistering returns continue? Memory is essential for processing AI workloads GPUs need a constant flow of data when training AI models and serving them to end-users. HBM stores this data in a ready state for when the GPU needs it, and the higher the memory capacity, the more data it can hold in the pipeline. Conversely, a low memory capacity would lead to bottlenecks, forcing the GPU to pause its workloads while it waits to receive fresh data. Micron's HBM3E solution for the data center offers 50% more capacity than the competition, while consuming 30% less energy. This is a winning combination for AI developers who want the fastest processing speeds and the lowest possible cost. But Micron will ramp up prod...
Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge. AWS data centers in the UAE and Bahrain were hit by drone strikes, causing structural damage and service disruption to Amazon's cloud infrastructure. The attacks stem from regional conflict in the Middle East and highlight real world physical risk to critical digital infrastructure. Amazon a...
Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge. AWS data centers in the UAE and Bahrain were hit by drone strikes, causing structural damage and service disruption to Amazon's cloud infrastructure. The attacks stem from regional conflict in the Middle East and highlight real world physical risk to critical digital infrastructure. Amazon also announced a multi year, multi billion dollar AI partnership with OpenAI focused on advanced models, compute, and long term infrastructure collaboration. For investors watching Amazon.com, NasdaqGS:AMZN, the stock recently closed at $213.21, with a 7.0% return over the past year and a very large 3 year gain. These new developments tie directly into the company’s core profit engines, cloud computing and AI, and introduce a fresh mix of operational risk and opportunity that goes beyond typical quarterly headlines. The drone strikes raise questions about how Amazon approaches redundancy, physical security, and regional concentration of its AWS assets. The OpenAI agreement points to a deeper role in enterprise AI workloads. As you assess NasdaqGS:AMZN, the key issues are how effectively the company manages these new infrastructure risks and how much value it can ultimately capture from expanded AI demand across its cloud customer base. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Amazon.com by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Amazon.com. NasdaqGS:AMZN Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026 4 things going right for Amazon.com that this headline doesn't cover. The drone strikes and the OpenAI deal pull Amazon in opposite directions operationally, but both go straight to the heart of its AWS and AI story. On one side, the attacks in the UAE and Bahrain expose how physical security, regional diversification, and disaster recovery planning can affect cloud reliability. Customers were urged to b...