China’s top economic officials held a press conference on the sidelines of the “two sessions” – the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and advisory body – in Beijing on Friday. Here are the main takeaways from the meeting: Exchange rate Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, said China had no need or intention to depreciate the yuan to gain competitive advantages in trade. ...
China’s top economic officials held a press conference on the sidelines of the “two sessions” – the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and advisory body – in Beijing on Friday. Here are the main takeaways from the meeting: Exchange rate Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, said China had no need or intention to depreciate the yuan to gain competitive advantages in trade. The yuan has strengthened significantly against the US dollar in recent months, reaching its highest level in nearly three years. Tech growth China will introduce more inclusive, flexible listing rules for tech firms on Shenzhen’s ChiNext board , which will allow more high-quality, innovative enterprises in emerging consumption areas and modern service industries to be listed on the board, according to Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). Advertisement Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) – China’s top economic planner – said China’s AI sector would be worth 10 trillion yuan (US$1.45 trillion) by 2030 and the BeiDou satellite navigation network would be worth 1 trillion yuan within the next five years. But Zheng also pointed to weaknesses in China’s original innovation and basic research, saying it was necessary to address those “shortcomings” and to strengthen efforts in developing frontier technologies. Capital market regulation Beijing would introduce a market stabilisation mechanism “with Chinese characteristics”, Wu said, which should strengthen its ability to make cross-cycle and countercyclical adjustments and enhance the intrinsic stability of the market.
Mykola Sosiukin/iStock via Getty Images Value investing has rarely felt so out of favor—or so compelling. After years of narrow, growth-led market leadership in which value stocks were left behind, our U.S. value equity team sees a rare combination of improving fundamentals, deeply discounted valuations, and meaningful dispersion beneath the surface. In this conversation, based on our four videos,...
Mykola Sosiukin/iStock via Getty Images Value investing has rarely felt so out of favor—or so compelling. After years of narrow, growth-led market leadership in which value stocks were left behind, our U.S. value equity team sees a rare combination of improving fundamentals, deeply discounted valuations, and meaningful dispersion beneath the surface. In this conversation, based on our four videos, members of our U.S. value equity team reflect on the discipline of value investing, the lessons that shape their approach, and why the current environment may be setting the stage for a broader market revival in 2026. Together, they outline how experience, balance-sheet discipline, and a willingness to look where others are not can create opportunity amid uncertainty. The Case for Small-, SMID- and Mid-Cap Value Against that backdrop, the team sees a compelling opportunity set emerging—particularly in small-, SMID-, and mid-cap value. “Value is a really exciting asset class to consider for a portfolio right now,” says Matt Fleming, CFA, partner, head of the U.S. value equity team, and portfolio manager. “The market has gotten increasingly narrowly focused on growth and momentum. More money is chasing fewer opportunities, and at the same time you’ve got some really terrific companies trading at historically low valuations.” Mark Goodman, CFA, portfolio manager, points to inefficiency as a key advantage. “Small- and SMID-value segments of the market are inherently more inefficient. There’s less analyst coverage, and those are ideal areas for active management.” Fleming adds that valuation dispersion is extreme. “If you look over the last three to five years, the bifurcation in valuation between large- and small-cap stocks is absolutely extreme. In some cases, larger companies are trading at five times the valuation of the lower segment.” Greg Czarnecki, portfolio specialist and research coordinator for the team, describes how the team incorporates market inefficiencies and v...
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition. Picking the right S&P 500 stocks requires more than just buying big names, and that’s where StockStory comes in. Keeping...
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition. Picking the right S&P 500 stocks requires more than just buying big names, and that’s where StockStory comes in. Keeping that in mind, here is one S&P 500 stock that could deliver good returns and two that may struggle. Two Stocks to Sell: Qualcomm (QCOM) Market Cap: $146.2 billion Having been at the forefront of developing the standards for cellular connectivity for over four decades, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) is a leading innovator and a fabless manufacturer of wireless technology chips used in smartphones, autos and internet of things appliances. Why Is QCOM Not Exciting? Projected sales decline of 4.7% for the next 12 months points to a tough demand environment ahead At $137.16 per share, Qualcomm trades at 13.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering QCOM for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) Market Cap: $82.78 billion Powering the chips behind everything from smartphones to AI accelerators for over 35 years, Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS) provides essential computational software, hardware, and intellectual property used by engineers to design and verify advanced electronic systems and semiconductors. Why Are We Wary of CDNS? Products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy may need some adjustments as its 14.8% average billings growth over the last year was weak Operating margin didn’t move over the last year, showing it couldn’t increase its efficiency Free cash flow margin is forecasted to shrink by 1.8 percentage points in the coming year, suggesting the company will consume more capital to keep up with its competitors Cadence Design Systems’s stock price of $302.17 implies a valuation ratio of 13.8x forward price-to-sales. Dive int...
(RTTNews) - Germany's equity index DAX is up in positive territory a little before noon on Friday with select stocks finding some support after recent sharp losses. However, with the Middle East War entering its seventh day, the mood in the market remains quite cautious. In war news, Iran's retaliation in West Asia has spread to Bahrain and Azerbaijan. Market sentiment has slightly improved amid s...
(RTTNews) - Germany's equity index DAX is up in positive territory a little before noon on Friday with select stocks finding some support after recent sharp losses. However, with the Middle East War entering its seventh day, the mood in the market remains quite cautious. In war news, Iran's retaliation in West Asia has spread to Bahrain and Azerbaijan. Market sentiment has slightly improved amid signs of stabilization in the oil market. The United States has given India a waiver to buy Russian oil for 30 days as the Middle East conflict impacts global energy supply. The Trump administration is considering emergency measures, including state insurance guarantees for tankers and naval escort to counter rising energy prices. Also, the White House is reportedly discussing the possibility of a large-scale release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in coordination with IEA partners. The DAX was up 37.35 points or 0.16% at 23,811.44 about a quarter before noon. Among notable gainers, Rheinmetall is rising 2.7%, while Deutsche Post and Beiersdorf are moving up 2.1% and 2%, respectively. SAP, Scout24, Fresenius and Siemens are gaining 1.4%-1.7%, while Siemens Healthineers and Zalando are advancing by 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively. Adidas, GEA Group and Fresenius Medical Care up with modest gains. German carrier group Deutsche Lufthansa has climbed nearly 4% after posting in-line earnings for 2025. Infineon Technologies is down 4.3% following a rating downgrade. Brenntag is declining by 2%, while Qiagen, BASF, Volkswagen, Porsche Automobil Holding, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Telekom and BMW are down 1%-1.5%. Allianz, E.ON, Henkel, Heidelberg Materials and Mercedes-Benz are also showing weakness. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition. Picking the right S&P 500 stocks requires more than just buying big names, and that’s where StockStory comes in. Keeping...
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition. Picking the right S&P 500 stocks requires more than just buying big names, and that’s where StockStory comes in. Keeping that in mind, here is one S&P 500 stock that could deliver good returns and two that may struggle. Two Stocks to Sell: Qualcomm (QCOM) Market Cap: $146.2 billion Having been at the forefront of developing the standards for cellular connectivity for over four decades, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) is a leading innovator and a fabless manufacturer of wireless technology chips used in smartphones, autos and internet of things appliances. Why Is QCOM Not Exciting? Projected sales decline of 4.7% for the next 12 months points to a tough demand environment ahead At $137.16 per share, Qualcomm trades at 13.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering QCOM for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) Market Cap: $82.78 billion Powering the chips behind everything from smartphones to AI accelerators for over 35 years, Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS) provides essential computational software, hardware, and intellectual property used by engineers to design and verify advanced electronic systems and semiconductors. Why Are We Wary of CDNS? Products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy may need some adjustments as its 14.8% average billings growth over the last year was weak Operating margin didn’t move over the last year, showing it couldn’t increase its efficiency Free cash flow margin is forecasted to shrink by 1.8 percentage points in the coming year, suggesting the company will consume more capital to keep up with its competitors Cadence Design Systems’s stock price of $302.17 implies a valuation ratio of 13.8x forward price-to-sales. Dive int...
Germany is seeing unusually strong solar power output in March, helping to cap electricity prices even as the conflict in the Middle East drives up the cost of energy worldwide. The country’s solar installations will feed more than 40 gigawatts of electricity into the public grid at noon on Friday for the fifth day in a row, according to data from the Fraunhofer Institute. Last year, there were on...
Germany is seeing unusually strong solar power output in March, helping to cap electricity prices even as the conflict in the Middle East drives up the cost of energy worldwide. The country’s solar installations will feed more than 40 gigawatts of electricity into the public grid at noon on Friday for the fifth day in a row, according to data from the Fraunhofer Institute. Last year, there were only four days with this level of solar generation in the entire month of March. “In the short term, high solar output definitely dampened prices,” said Stephan Späth, meteorologist and power trader at ANE. “It was very sunny not only in Germany, but also in neighboring countries.” As energy prices surge amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, domestic power generation that is not reliant on imported commodities is taking on renewed importance. Renewable energy, in particular, can act as a buffer, cushioning consumers and industry from price spikes that might otherwise have been even more severe. Germany has seen unusually clear, sunny skies due to a high-pressure pattern across eastern and central Europe that has drawn in a stream of dry air that is helping keep clouds from forming, according to government weather forecaster DWD. The same region of high-pressure is allowing a flow of warm air from North Africa into the continent, which is expected to bolster unusually mild temperatures across Germany and much of Europe for the next two weeks. Solar energy is Germany’s second-largest source of electricity after wind power. In 2025, renewables accounted for around 56% of the country’s total power consumption. Since shutting down its nuclear fleet in 2023, Europe’s largest economy has become more exposed to price spikes in global commodity markets. When wind and solar output is low, coal- and gas-fired power plants must fill the gap — leaving the country vulnerable to swings in fuel prices. European gas futures have surged more than 60% this week. “The peak hours with ...
The share price of Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) has surged sharply after being vetted by a prominent analyst, who referred to the artificial-intelligence start-up as exceptional, which disregards arguments about its premium valuation. Analyst Tyldler Radke of Citi said in maintaining the BUY rating that he was increasing the price target to $260, a significantly large 70% premium to the curre...
The share price of Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) has surged sharply after being vetted by a prominent analyst, who referred to the artificial-intelligence start-up as exceptional, which disregards arguments about its premium valuation. Analyst Tyldler Radke of Citi said in maintaining the BUY rating that he was increasing the price target to $260, a significantly large 70% premium to the current price, which stood at 152.59 at the conclusion of the day on Thursday. To investors who can afford to take higher risk levels and are concentrated on the artificial-intelligence market, the move could represent the positive indicator that they were seeking. Strong Growth Drives the Change Palantir has achieved a remarkable performance pattern, augmented by a share value of 1,720% over the last three years, despite a considerable volatility such as an 80% reduction in 2021-2023. The fourth quarter recorded a 70% year-on-year revenue growth, the highest in the history of the company, and U.S. commercial sales were up 137% and contributed 36% of generating revenue on the back of its Artificial Intelligence Platform. Remaining performance obligations, which are locked-in future sales, have increased 143% to $4.2 billion, and added another $1.6 billion in the fourth quarter on its own. The market value of the company is 241 times trailing earnings and 115 times forward earnings, showing that the company is underpriced. However, Radke argues that the momentum rate of the firm is higher than that of similar peers, as he states that the revisions are among the most formidable at-scale upgrades, which are realized in the enterprise software marketplace. The AIP appeals to both corporate and governmental clients by combining data analytics and artificial intelligence to use the technologies to modernize the defense and other industries. The market capitalization of Palantir is over 365 billion, and the gross margin is 82%, which is an indicator of efficient operation. Volatility c...
The US has cleared the way for India to temporarily increase its purchases of Russian oil, reversing months of pressure on the world’s third-largest crude importer as an escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf upends energy flows. Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has ground to a near-complete halt, with no oil shipments going through in the past 24 hours, as the Middle East war disrupts th...
The US has cleared the way for India to temporarily increase its purchases of Russian oil, reversing months of pressure on the world’s third-largest crude importer as an escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf upends energy flows. Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has ground to a near-complete halt, with no oil shipments going through in the past 24 hours, as the Middle East war disrupts the vital waterway. The Opening Trade has everything you need to know as markets open across Europe. With analysis you won't find anywhere else, we break down the biggest stories of the day and speak to top guests who have skin in the game. Hosted by Anna Edwards, Lizzy Burden and Tom Mackenzie. (Source: Bloomberg)