What If The Automatic Stock Buying Just...Stops? Submitted by QTR's Fringe Finance My readers know that for the last couple of years I’ve repeatedly warned about the “passive bid” in markets . By that I mean the constant, automatic buying of stocks driven by retirement plans, ETFs, and other systematic investment programs. This bid isn’t discretionary. It doesn’t ask whether valuations are reasonable and it doesn’t care whether earnings justify prices. It simply asks one question: did money flow in? If the answer is yes, it buys. It buys regardless of valuation, regardless of timing, and regardless of fundamentals. This dynamic has created a market that behaves very differently from the one investors grew up with. Instead of price discovery driven by valuation and earnings expectations, we increasingly have price formation driven by flows. And now one recent data point hints that this dynamic may be changing. According to Vanguard data cited by the WSJ , a record 6% of workers in Vanguard administered 401(k) plans took hardship withdrawals last year, up from 4.8% in 2024 and roughly 2% before the pandemic. Hardship withdrawals have now risen for six straight years. The median withdrawal was $1,900 and the most common reasons were avoiding foreclosure or eviction and covering medical expenses. In isolation, that is not a market moving number. But what it represents is worth paying attention to. Because retirement accounts, which have become the backbone of passive investing, are increasingly doubling as emergency financial backstops. For years I have argued that the market is being structurally bid higher by passive investment flows. Retirement plans, target date funds, ETFs, and automated investment programs buy stocks consistently month after month. These programs operate on autopilot. The result is a forced buyer in the market. When contributions arrive, the funds buy the underlying securities, typically weighted by market capitalization. That means the largest co...

格隆汇3月7日｜市场消息：以色列多地收到伊朗导弹警报。

MoMo Productions/DigitalVision via Getty Images By James Knightley, Chief International Economist, US Jobs shrink, unemployment rises, spending falls US non-Farm payrolls fell 92k in February versus the +55k consensus and there were a net 69k downward revisions to the previous two months (January 2026 and December 2025). The unemployment rate has risen to 4.4% from 4.3%, while January retail sales fell 0.2% month-on-month versus the 0.3% drop that was expected. This is clearly not a good set of numbers, but the weather almost certainly played a significant role here. The week the data for January was collected was relatively warm in what was a very cold month, and that helped boost construction numbers as sites remained open (+48k). In contrast, February was filled with winter storms, impacting construction the other way and hurting leisure and hospitality as people stayed in the warm at home. There was also strike activity, and that contributed to physicians’ offices subtracting 37k from the total. The details show construction falling 11k, manufacturing down 12k, leisure and hospitality down 27k. Conversely, financial services rose 10k, and retail jobs increased 2k. The +126k payrolls number for January probably overstated the strength in the jobs market, and today's February data probably overstates the weakness due to the weather and strikes. Nonetheless, we know hiring is weak, but lay-offs remain low too. Essentially, the jobs market is just treading water, with payrolls trending at around 50k per month. The job concentration risk point still holds, though. Three sectors (government, leisure & hospitality and private education & healthcare services) are still responsible for all job creation over the past three years. All other sectors combined (essentially the bulk of the US economy) have lost 460k jobs since December 2022. Rate cuts delayed on near-term inflation We know that there are more unemployed Americans than there are job vacancies, and this is now d...

With an exacting modernist style and the courage to address fascism and colonialism head on, Lobo Antunes’s writing is a deluge of unforgiving truths in lush prose António Lobo Antunes, Portuguese novelist who chronicled dictatorship and war, dies aged 83 António Lobo Antunes, the Portuguese novelist who died this week in Lisbon at 83 , had little patience for discussing his craft. The mechanics of writing were, he liked to say, “such a bore!”. Yet few writers of his generation showed greater stylistic daring – when José Saramago was awarded the 1998 Nobel prize in Literature, many in Portugal felt the honour had gone to the wrong writer. Over the course of more than 30 novels, Lobo Antunes honed an exacting modernist style all his own, using it to explore Portugal’s relationship with its fascist past, and to confront the tragic futility of its final colonial campaigns in Africa. Often dismissed as a difficult writer, Lobo Antunes crafted prose that was stubbornly flirtatious, at once inviting and resisting the reader. His sentences, lush with intricate metaphors and similes, bristly with ideas and provocations, brazenly flout the rules of grammar, syntax and punctuation, determined to preserve their idiosyncrasy. Texturally, his stories are a feat, combining discordant elements to exhilarating effects: nihilism paired with political gusto; farce shot through with horror; realism grading into the weird and the surreal. Continue reading...

mustafaU At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price was trading near $68,566, showing a 4% drop in the last 24 hours. However, if we look at the bigger picture, Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) still had a weekly gain of around 7%, which means the overall weekly trend remained positive. At the beginning of the week, Bitcoin started trading between $68,000 and $69,000. Soon after, buying activity increased and pushed the price above the $71,000 level. The upward momentum continued through the middle of the week, helping $BTC reach a weekly high close to $73,800–$74,000. This was one of the strongest price moves seen during the week. However, the rally didn’t hold. As the price of Bitcoin was nearing the mark of $74,000, profit-taking kicked in, which increased selling pressure and pulled the price back to around $69,500–70,000 by March 6. From a technical point of view, $73,500–$74,000 worked as a strong resistance level. On the other hand, $67,000 is currently acting as the main support level. Institutional activity also played a role in the market during the week. According to data from SoSoValue, Bitcoin spot ETFs saw a net outflow of about $228 million on March 5, which added short-term selling pressure. However, the total weekly ETF inflows reached around $917 million, showing that institutional interest is still strong. Other factors also affected Bitcoin’s rise & fall pattern. Several mining companies increased the selling pressure. Firms like Cango ( CANG ) sold 4,451 BTC in February, Core Scientific ( CORZ ) plans to sell approximately 2,500 BTC in Q1, and Bitdeer Technologies Group ( BTDR ) and Riot Platforms ( RIOT ) have also sold or plan to sell some of their Bitcoin holdings. In addition, talks on landmark crypto legislation have hit a new impasse after banks said they could not back a compromise pushed by the White House, a development that cast doubt on whether the bill will pass this year and sparked criticism from President Donald Trump, who accused lenders of tr...

黄金上涨，交易员在疲软的美国就业报告后加大对货币政策宽松的押注，推动金价收窄本周跌幅。 美国雇主2月意外削减就业人数且失业率上升，表明原以为趋稳的劳动力市场仍存脆弱性。交易员目前押注，美联储年内将降息44个基点，下一次行动料在9月。高于就业报告公布前预计的35个基点。 黄金一度上涨1.5%，至每盎司5，159.04美元，使本周跌幅收窄至2.3%。 由于中东冲突导致油价飙升并加剧通胀担忧，同时美元走强，黄金本周承压。在全球股市跌势加深之际，黄金也成为流动性来源之一。 截至纽约时间上午10时46分，现货黄金上涨1.4%，报每盎司5，152.01美元。白银上涨2.5%，至84.33美元。铂金上涨，钯金基本持平。 责任编辑：李肇孚

美国原油价格升破90美元 伊朗战事持续冲击能源供应 2026-03-07 01:16:47 来源： 同花顺7x24快讯 分享 文章提及标的 花旗 -- 原油 -- 能源 -- 布伦特原油 -- 美国原油期货价格自2023年10月以来首次升破每桶90美元，因伊朗战事扰乱关键能源（850101）市场流动，经由霍尔木兹海峡的航运几乎全面停摆。美国基准原油期货上涨逾11%，有望创下至少二十年来最大的单周百分比涨幅。全球基准布伦特原油上涨逾8%，突破每桶92美元。花旗（C）估计，由于霍尔木兹海峡运输受扰，全球原油市场每日供应减少约700万至1,100万桶。

Earnings Call Insights: Orion Properties Inc. (ONL) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Paul McDowell announced that Orion has initiated a strategic options review process, stating "Orion has begun a strategic options review process as management and the Board of Directors continue to explore pathways to unlock value for our shareholders." He emphasized the company’s progress in stabilizing its portfolio and executing its business plan during 2025, positioning Orion for "core FFO earnings growth in 2026 and beyond." McDowell highlighted leasing achievements with over 900,000 square feet completed in 2025 and an additional 183,000 square feet signed after year-end. He noted that the average weighted lease term (WALT) on new leases was nearly 10 years, significantly above the portfolio average, and overall occupancy improved to 78.7% at year-end. The company reported a robust pipeline "over 1 million square feet in either discussion or documentation stages," and described a continued shift towards Dedicated Use Assets (DUAs), which now comprise 35.8% of the portfolio by annualized base rent. McDowell detailed $81 million in property sales during 2025, with further dispositions and acquisitions supporting a transition toward more durable and specialized asset types. Recent acquisitions include the Barilla America headquarters in Illinois, purchased for $15 million and subject to a 10.8-year lease. He outlined cost control initiatives, including a headcount reduction of over 10% and estimated annualized savings of $1.8 million, offset by inflation and expenses related to managing an activist investor. McDowell described the refinancing of major debt maturities, including a new $215 million secured revolving facility maturing in February 2029 and an extension of a $355 million CMBS loan to August 2030, providing "the financial flexibility and term to continue to execute on our business plan." CFO Gavin Brandon reported, "For the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quar...

Medtronic's MiniMed falls in Nasdaq debut, fetches $5.35 billion in valuation Reuters

(RTTNews) - Conagra Brands Inc. (CAG), a food company, announced on Friday that it plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas, through a multi-year investment of approximately $220 million. This project is expected to create more than 100 new jobs over the next five years as the company strengthens its frozen foods production capacity. The expansion will significantly increase chicken production at the Fayetteville plant, which currently manufactures ready-to-eat meals under brands such as Hungry-Man, Banquet, Healthy Choice, Gardein, and Evol. The facility produces about 15 million cases of food annually. Construction is expected to begin later this year. Conagra operates two facilities in Arkansas and employs about 2,000 workers in the state. CAG is currently trading at $18.82, up $0.21 or 1.13 percent on the New York Stock Exchange. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Jefferies says stocks including Meta Platforms, Spotify, ServiceNow and Snowflake have been unfairly punished amid fears about artificial intelligence competition.

Jefferies says stocks including Meta Platforms, Spotify, ServiceNow and Snowflake have been unfairly punished amid fears about artificial intelligence competition.

格隆汇3月7日｜伊朗军方发言人：将开始使用载有2吨弹头的超重型霍拉姆沙赫尔-4导弹。

Anti-vaccine activist and current Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has worked hard to villainize infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, even writing a conspiracy-laden book lambasting the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. But a year into the job as the country's top health official, Kennedy—who has no background in medicine, science, or public health—still holds less sway with Americans than the esteemed physician-scientist. In a nationally representative survey conducted in February by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 54 percent of respondents said they had confidence in Fauci, while only 38 percent had confidence in Kennedy. Breaking those supporters down further, 25 percent of respondents said they were "very confident" in Fauci, while only 9 percent said the same for Kennedy. Read full article Comments

(RTTNews) - Conagra Brands Inc. (CAG), a food company, announced on Friday that it plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas, through a multi-year investment of approximately $220 million. This project is expected to create more than 100 new jobs over the next five years as the company strengthens its frozen foods production capacity. The expansion will significantly increase chicken production at the Fayetteville plant, which currently manufactures ready-to-eat meals under brands such as Hungry-Man, Banquet, Healthy Choice, Gardein, and Evol. The facility produces about 15 million cases of food annually. Construction is expected to begin later this year. Conagra operates two facilities in Arkansas and employs about 2,000 workers in the state. CAG is currently trading at $18.82, up $0.21 or 1.13 percent on the New York Stock Exchange. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Jensen Huang Just Delivered Incredible News for Nvidia Investors The Motley Fool

8vFanI Equity markets are significantly more concerned about the increasing risks in private credit than the bond market is, according to Gina Martin Adams, chief market strategist for HB Wealth. While credit spreads are showing little signs of material deterioration, bank ( KBWB ), ( KBE ) and insurance equities ( KBWP ), ( IAK ), ( KIE ) are off about 10% from their recent peaks as “fears are leaking into other segments in the equity market,” Adams said. Bank and insurance equities vs. BDC index (HB Wealth, Bloomberg) “While off their tightest levels reached in early 2025, even the lowest quality high-yield bond spreads are still very tight compared to other periods of stress,” she added. However, BDC equities—publicly traded investment firms that provide debt and equity financing to small- and mid-sized businesses, offering high-yield dividends and high liquidity—have struggled with more than 20% in declines from their recent peak back in July and are now trading below 2022 levels. In addition, the correlation that banks, insurance, and BDCs enjoyed before the financial crisis of 2008 has been nearly cut in half in the post-pandemic era. “If private credit risk becomes a broader risk, a tighter correlation may yet emerge,” Adams said. Some top BDC companies include Ares Capital ( ARCC ), Main Street Capital ( MAIN ), Blue Owl Capital ( OBDC ), and Blackstone Secured Lending ( BXSL ). Bank ETFs: ( KBWB ), ( KBE ), and ( FTXO ). Regional Bank ETFs: ( KRE ), (KBWR), ( IAT ), and ( DPST ). Seeking Alpha’s bond ETFs page . More on VanEck BDC Income ETF BIZD: Assessing Investor Choices In The BDC ETF Space SaaS Panic, BDC Opportunity Private Credit Saw Its Shadow - More Winter Ahead Blue Owl Capital move adds to private credit unease Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on VanEck BDC Income ETF

格隆汇3月7日｜美联储施密德：美联储理事会成员的投票权多于各地区联储主席，这可能是件好事。

'Dopamine Kids' explains why children crave screens and helps them enjoy life instead galitskaya/iStockphoto/Getty Images Like many parents, Michaeleen Doucleff struggled with her young daughter's screen use. Doucleff, author of the bestselling book Hunt, Gather, Parent, followed the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommended daily limit. Yet, when Rosy's screen time came to an end each evening and Doucleff tried to put the iPad away, the 7-year-old dissolved into tears and often raged. It became a nightly battle Doucleff dreaded, and she worried she was depriving her daughter of something she clearly enjoyed. Why else would she react so strongly when the iPad was taken away? Doucleff tells this story in her latest book, Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child's Brain and Take Back Your Family in the Age of Screens and Ultraprocessed Foods. Sponsor Message Doucleff initially turned to parenting books for guidance on how to loosen technology's grip on her family and found many contained advice backed by psychology and neuroscience research that was outdated by 25 to 50 years. A trained biochemist and longtime science journalist (including previously for NPR), Doucleff dove into current research to figure out how to dial down her family's dependence on tech and ultraprocessed foods. What she found was a revelation: Despite earlier scientific theories, dopamine doesn't give us pleasure. Since the 1990s, neuroscientists have accumulated evidence debunking this idea. Instead, dopamine makes us want. Rosy didn't love her videos, Doucleff realized. Nor did she love the ultraprocessed Ritz crackers she begged for at the grocery store. Rosy was caught in a wanting feedback loop. The more she watched and ate snack foods, the more she wanted to watch and eat. toggle caption Simone Anne/Simon and Schuster There's a separate, second system in our brain that makes us like what we're wanting and feel satisfied when we get it, Doucleff told NPR. Modern technology ...

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) appears ready to step back from making major equity investments in artificial intelligence startups. Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom conference in San Francisco on March 4, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggested the chipmaker may have written its final ...

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