Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is one of the best NASDAQ stocks with the highest upside potential. On April 22, the US Department of Agriculture/USDA and Palantir Technologies entered into a $300 million Blanket Purchase Agreement/BPA to advance the National Farm Security Action Plan/NFSAP. This partnership is designed to modernize the USDA’s service delivery by providing […]
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is one of the best NASDAQ stocks with the highest upside potential. On April 22, the US Department of Agriculture/USDA and Palantir Technologies entered into a $300 million Blanket Purchase Agreement/BPA to advance the National Farm Security Action Plan/NFSAP. This partnership is designed to modernize the USDA’s service delivery by providing […]
Malaysian immigration authorities say they have uncovered an Indonesian migrant-smuggling syndicate that moved people from sea crossings to a more elaborate route through Singapore and southern Thailand. The raid, carried out before dawn on Saturday at two major transport terminals in Kuala Lumpur, led to the arrest of 11 Indonesians, including a suspected transporter, and the seizure of a Mazda C...
Malaysian immigration authorities say they have uncovered an Indonesian migrant-smuggling syndicate that moved people from sea crossings to a more elaborate route through Singapore and southern Thailand. The raid, carried out before dawn on Saturday at two major transport terminals in Kuala Lumpur, led to the arrest of 11 Indonesians, including a suspected transporter, and the seizure of a Mazda CX-5 believed to have been used to move migrants to their next stop. Immigration director general...
俄羅斯塔斯社(TASS)報道，俄羅斯總統普京在北韓一座海外作戰紀念館開幕之際，感謝該國士兵支援俄羅斯在庫爾斯克地區的軍事行動。 北韓在首都平壤開設「海外軍事行動戰功紀念館」(Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations)，紀念在俄烏戰爭中，因支援俄羅斯對付烏克蘭而陣亡的北韓士兵。 在紀念館開幕之際，普京在一份...
俄羅斯塔斯社(TASS)報道，俄羅斯總統普京在北韓一座海外作戰紀念館開幕之際，感謝該國士兵支援俄羅斯在庫爾斯克地區的軍事行動。 北韓在首都平壤開設「海外軍事行動戰功紀念館」(Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations)，紀念在俄烏戰爭中，因支援俄羅斯對付烏克蘭而陣亡的北韓士兵。 在紀念館開幕之際，普京在一份電報中表示，感謝北韓軍人協助俄方在庫爾斯克地區作戰，並向陣亡者致敬。他指北韓官兵跟俄羅斯肩並肩作戰，勇敢而且無私，俄羅斯人將永遠銘記他們的功績，這座紀念館將成為兩國人民「友誼與團結的鮮明象徵」。 普京亦感謝北韓領袖金正恩，以及所有參與紀念館建設的人，在短時間內令該館落成，特意配合俄方把庫爾斯克地區從烏方手中奪回的周年紀念。去年四月，俄羅斯軍方宣稱收復了庫爾斯克地區。 (旁述由AI人工智能生成)
Toyota Motor Corp. saw sales decline in March as demand dipped for its best-selling RAV4 ahead of the refresh of the SUV, while the conflict in Iran threatens to cut off key supplies and force manufacturers to dial back production. Global sales in March — including those of subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. — fell 5.8% from a year earlier to 983,126 units, the company said Monda...
Toyota Motor Corp. saw sales decline in March as demand dipped for its best-selling RAV4 ahead of the refresh of the SUV, while the conflict in Iran threatens to cut off key supplies and force manufacturers to dial back production. Global sales in March — including those of subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. — fell 5.8% from a year earlier to 983,126 units, the company said Monday. So far, the company has been able to keep churning out cars, with worldwide production climbing 3.9% to 1.02 million units. The numbers show how the world’s biggest carmaker has been able to remain on track despite turmoil in the Middle East, which has raised the price of aluminum and other raw materials and the underlying costs for automobile parts. Production may be due for further declines, with Japanese carmakers depending on the region for roughly 70% of their aluminum. Read More: Japan Manufacturers Hurt Most by Aluminum Shortage From Iran War Despite the higher output figures last month, Toyota and Nissan Motor Co. have already warned of cuts. Production of Toyota-brand vehicles in Japan fell 3.3% in March. Suppliers have been bracing for a prolonged shortage that’s likely to persist for months even if the Strait Hormuz is reopened and shipments return to normal. Refineries will take time to get back online, and shipping companies will need to unclog a bottleneck of hundreds of ships stuck in the Persian Gulf. The ongoing conflict has affected Japan’s monthly vehicle output by about 20,000 units, major supplier Denso Corp. said in March. The figures also show that Toyota is making progress in boosting sales of all-electric vehicles, with volumes more than doubling in March to 35,524 units. Hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles also continued to perform well, with sales climbing 3.7% to 442,544 units in March. Read More: Toyota Expands Lineup of ‘Tesla Killer’ EVs in US Car Market Even so, Toyota’s resilience stands out in an auto industry squeezed by tariffs, rising c...
We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny 2. Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered? 3. Reverend Derek Li, father of injured Hong...
We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny 2. Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered? 3. Reverend Derek Li, father of injured Hong Kong Mirror dancer Mo Li, dies 4. 3 killed in Japanese Type 10 tank blast that has military...
Amazon.com (NasdaqGS:AMZN) backed nuclear company X-Energy completes a major IPO raising about US$1b. The deal brings a new nuclear power player to public markets with Amazon as a key corporate supporter. The move links Amazon's capital deployment to nuclear energy, aimed at supporting power needs for AI driven data centers. Amazon runs a large e commerce operation, a global logistics network, and...
Amazon.com (NasdaqGS:AMZN) backed nuclear company X-Energy completes a major IPO raising about US$1b. The deal brings a new nuclear power player to public markets with Amazon as a key corporate supporter. The move links Amazon's capital deployment to nuclear energy, aimed at supporting power needs for AI driven data centers. Amazon runs a large e commerce operation, a global logistics network, and the Amazon Web Services cloud platform, all of which rely on substantial and reliable...
Robert Way/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Deckers ( DECK ) has been on a wild ride the last few years. From being a darling consumer discretionary stock to one of the worst performers in retail, the stock has been trading sideways YTD and investors are looking to the upcoming report for direction. As HOKA compares finally start to get easier in the quarters ahead, the Q4 earnings report late ne...
Robert Way/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Deckers ( DECK ) has been on a wild ride the last few years. From being a darling consumer discretionary stock to one of the worst performers in retail, the stock has been trading sideways YTD and investors are looking to the upcoming report for direction. As HOKA compares finally start to get easier in the quarters ahead, the Q4 earnings report late next month looks to be a positive catalyst for shares and a stable growth guide out of the company for fiscal 2027 should help to reignite multiple expansion in this name. Trading at a compelling valuation with a robust free cash flow profile, Deckers is a buy. Business Profile Deckers is the owner of both the HOKA brand and the UGG brand. These two multi-billion dollar brands have gone through their own fashion cycles at different times and that has been what drives the business. UGG has maintained consistent popularity post-COVID, while HOKA has essentially emerged as a consequence of COVID, with the brand seeing impressive growth over the last 6 years. The company also operates other small brands like Teva, but it has been cleaning up this smaller portion of the portfolio. For example, the company sold the Koolaburra brand in fiscal Q3 2025 and sold the Sanuk brand during fiscal Q2 2025. In terms of mix , HOKA accounts for 45% of sales, UGG accounts for 51% of sales and Other is the balance. In terms of geographic mix, the company is primarily domestic at 64% of sales, while international is 36% of sales. Deckers is light on disclosure, but similar to other domestic footwear companies, EMEA is larger for Deckers than APAC is. Then, in terms of channel mix, the company is actually majority wholesale at 57% and 43% direct to consumer (DTC). The company sells its footwear products into sporting goods retailers as well as department stores and its own retail stores. It's widely available in the US now and has essentially completed its wholesale door expansion that it started i...
NicoElNino/iStock via Getty Images In the first quarter, markets navigated a complex backdrop of geopolitical tensions and economic resilience, alongside temporary global tariffs following a Supreme Court decision. Prior to the Iran conflict, markets had reached all-time highs with lower volatility, a dynamic that reversed following U.S. and Israeli engagement. Oil prices spiked, supply chains wer...
NicoElNino/iStock via Getty Images In the first quarter, markets navigated a complex backdrop of geopolitical tensions and economic resilience, alongside temporary global tariffs following a Supreme Court decision. Prior to the Iran conflict, markets had reached all-time highs with lower volatility, a dynamic that reversed following U.S. and Israeli engagement. Oil prices spiked, supply chains were disrupted, financial conditions tightened, and investors shifted toward safer assets. The conflict in Iran further underscored the growing importance of national resilience, prompting a re-evaluation of global supply chains and energy dependencies and accelerating the shift away from efficiency toward resilience and strategic autonomy. Central banks largely held policy steady in response to energy-driven inflation, with both the Federal Reserve and the ECB adopting a wait-and-see approach. Meanwhile, Japan's snap election delivered political stability and a mandate for fiscal expansion, despite ongoing concerns around long-term debt sustainability. Annualized 1Q26 1YR 3YR 5YR 7YR 10YR TimesSquare U.S. Mid Cap Growth Composite (Gross) -7.53% 5.40% 10.07% 5.69% 11.21% 12.28% TimesSquare U.S. Mid Cap Growth Composite ( NET ) -7.72% 4.56% 9.21% 4.86% 10.34% 11.40% Russell Midcap® Growth Index -6.35% 9.56% 12.73% 5.37% 10.27% 11.68% Click to enlarge Please see the important performance and other related disclosures at the end of this Commentary, which are an integral part of this quarterly Commentary Newsletter. Click to enlarge Amidst first-quarter volatility, the portfolio underperformed the Russell Midcap® Growth Index. For the Communication Services sector, we prefer to invest in media and services companies that are either well placed from an advertising perspective for their target audience or that provide differentiated services. Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. develops, publishes, and markets interactive entertainment, including titles such as Grand Theft Auto, LA N...
China’s metals industry began this year with its biggest profits in at least a decade as soaring prices for aluminum and copper handed the sector a major boost. Total profits for smelting & pressing of non-ferrous metals across the country more than doubled to reach 142 billion yuan ($21 billion) in the first quarter, according to National Bureau of Statistics data released on Monday. That’s the h...
China’s metals industry began this year with its biggest profits in at least a decade as soaring prices for aluminum and copper handed the sector a major boost. Total profits for smelting & pressing of non-ferrous metals across the country more than doubled to reach 142 billion yuan ($21 billion) in the first quarter, according to National Bureau of Statistics data released on Monday. That’s the highest level for the period in data going back to 2016. Metals prices rocketed higher at the start of the year, with copper and gold hitting records and aluminum surging to its highest since 2022. The Iran war also fired up prices of sulfuric acid from March, delivering a big and continuing windfall for Chinese copper smelters that sell the industrial chemical as a by-product. The big jump in metal-making profits reflects a broader reflation underway across the Chinese economy, with earnings growth across all industrial enterprises picking up pace in the first quarter. Intense competition and overcapacity kept profits subdued in most manufacturing sectors over the past four years. Profitability at China’s aluminum smelters was already elevated before supply turmoil in the Middle East sent prices much higher. Estimated margins for smelting in China grew to an all-time high of 8,500 yuan a ton in March, according to an index from Bloomberg Intelligence. Read More: War Squeezes Global Mining as Diesel and Acid Supplies Tighten The stronger market backdrop has fed a strong reporting season for Chinese metals giants that are among the world’s biggest producers. Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. ’s first quarter net income was biggest in at least a decade, while Zijin Mining Group Co. — mostly a miner rather than a smelter— made net income of more than 20 billion yuan for the first time. Major copper smelters like Jiangxi Copper Co. are enjoying a boost from an unprecedented spike in sulfuric acid prices that is more than offsetting persistently low treatment fees. Still, Beijing’s de...
Mrinal Pal/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Introduction It's the most wonderful time of the year for market lovers, at least. I'm talking about earnings season, of course. That chance to get a quarterly read on our favorite stocks, a chance to evaluate if our investment theses remain robust. Last week we got the update from American Express ( AXP ), and I am pleased to say my buy thesis remains ...
Mrinal Pal/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Introduction It's the most wonderful time of the year for market lovers, at least. I'm talking about earnings season, of course. That chance to get a quarterly read on our favorite stocks, a chance to evaluate if our investment theses remain robust. Last week we got the update from American Express ( AXP ), and I am pleased to say my buy thesis remains very much in place. Since my last coverage of the stock, the price has been quite volatile. In my prior coverage, the stock was buy-rated at a price level of $316. This was at the start of 2025 with a relatively constructive outlook. Sentiment drove the stock volatility rather than fundamentals. The liberation day tariff announcement led to a sharp sell-off, which was quickly followed by a very strong rally as the initial tariff announcements were pared back as trade deals were signed with key partners. TradingView Moving into 2026, the stock has been under pressure as the war in the Middle East and the associated increase in fuel costs have the market worried about the resilience of consumers to keep spending. AXP, after all, runs a very spend-centric business model, so consumer confidence is a key driver of growth. I would encourage readers to focus on the fundamentals of the business rather than market sentiment. We got numbers last week from AXP, and to my eyes it is very much a nothing to see here result. AXP is humming along at a nice clip, notching up sustainable, steady growth. This is a very high-quality company with a premium customer base; maintain a buy on a strong set of earnings. Earnings You would be hard-pressed to pick many holes in AXP's Q1 earnings number last week. Revenue grew by 11% in the quarter, and EPS grew by 18%. Billed business, a measure of volume and indicative of overall market trends, saw an acceleration to 9% growth in the quarter. Billed business has now seen accelerating growth each quarter since Q1 2025; these business fundamentals paint...
Amova Asset Management's Naomi Fink tells Bloomberg Television that the "markets are pricing in a sooner rather than later end to the hostilities" in the Middle East. (Source: Bloomberg)
Amova Asset Management's Naomi Fink tells Bloomberg Television that the "markets are pricing in a sooner rather than later end to the hostilities" in the Middle East. (Source: Bloomberg)