London ( UKX ) -0.9% to 10,685.12. Germany ( DAX:IND ) Little changed at 24,638.00. France ( CAC:IND ) -1.4% to 8,279.56. France’s state budget deficit narrowed to EUR 9.7 billion at the end of January 2026, compared with EUR 17.3 billion a year earlier. The pan-European Stoxx 600 ( STOXX ) fell 1.6% on Tuesday as investors reacted to President Donald Trump’s vow that the U.S. will do “whatever it...
London ( UKX ) -0.9% to 10,685.12. Germany ( DAX:IND ) Little changed at 24,638.00. France ( CAC:IND ) -1.4% to 8,279.56. France’s state budget deficit narrowed to EUR 9.7 billion at the end of January 2026, compared with EUR 17.3 billion a year earlier. The pan-European Stoxx 600 ( STOXX ) fell 1.6% on Tuesday as investors reacted to President Donald Trump’s vow that the U.S. will do “whatever it takes” in its campaign against Iran, sending stocks sharply lower and deepening market uncertainty amid escalating geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices. A prolonged war in the Middle East could cause a substantial spike in eurozone inflation and reduce economic growth, European Central Bank Chief Economist Philip Lane told the Financial Times in an interview published on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Trump is hosting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House for talks on key issues from the U.S.‑Israeli strikes on Iran and rising Middle East tensions to trade disputes and tariff threats, coming just after Merz’s visit to China. Merz might also use the trip to press Trump for more detail on what he plans to do next on Iran, said Julianne Smith, who served as U.S. ambassador to NATO under former President Joe Biden, Reuters reported. On the data front, releases include the latest flash euro zone inflation figures, expected to remain around 1.7% in February. In the bond market , the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield was up 4 basis points to 4.088%. Germany's 10-year yield was up 7 basis points to 2.773%. UK's 10-year yield was up 11 basis points to 4.88%. Currencies: ( EUR:USD ) ( GBP:USD ) ( CHF:USD ) ETFs: (NYSEARCA: EWG ), (NYSE: GF ), (NYSEARCA: EWI ), (NYSEARCA: EWQ ), (NASDAQ: FGM ), (NASDAQ: DAX ), (NYSEARCA: FLGR ), (NYSEARCA: FXB ), (NYSEARCA: EWU ), (NASDAQ: FKU ), (BATS: EWUS ), (NYSEARCA: FLGB ), (NYSEARCA: GREK ) Jinda Noipho/iStock via Getty Images More on Europe, etc. GREK: Greek Stocks Appear Undervalued FLGB: Conflicted About Pursuing This Competent U.K...
Why do you invest? Most people know that the answer should be something like "to make the most risk-adjusted constructive use of my money." If we're being honest, though, many of us find picking stocks and monitoring our portfolios at least a little bit entertaining. That's OK. As a reminder to income-seeking investors, however, the very best dividend stocks are usually relatively boring names tha...
Why do you invest? Most people know that the answer should be something like "to make the most risk-adjusted constructive use of my money." If we're being honest, though, many of us find picking stocks and monitoring our portfolios at least a little bit entertaining. That's OK. As a reminder to income-seeking investors, however, the very best dividend stocks are usually relatively boring names that just keep on cranking out cash payments regardless of the economic backdrop. Here's a look at four boring dividend stocks that make for fantastic long-term income holdings. 1. Procter & Gamble It doesn't get much more mundane than dishwashing detergent, diapers, toothpaste, and laundry supplies. There's a clear upside to being in these businesses, though. These are products that people buy over and over again. The key to sustained success in these markets is often just achieving enough scale and market dominance to keep your per-unit production cost low and your pricing power high. Procter & Gamble (PG 2.08%) has done exactly that. Its Tide laundry detergent makes up roughly 40% of the U.S. market, while Pampers diapers' control of the domestic market is about half. In fact, most of the products in its portfolio regularly lead their respective categories. Expand NYSE : PG Procter & Gamble Today's Change ( -2.08 %) $ -3.47 Current Price $ 163.73 Key Data Points Market Cap $380B Day's Range $ 163.65 - $ 166.53 52wk Range $ 137.62 - $ 179.99 Volume 295K Avg Vol 11M Gross Margin 51.11 % Dividend Yield 2.59 % Perhaps the unsung hero in P&G's enduring success, however, is its sheer size and what that means in terms of marketing its goods. Not only does the company have a great deal of leverage it can use to ensure its retail partners prominently feature its products, it's simply got a bigger checkbook to fund its promotional efforts. The company spent a whopping $9.2 billion on advertising alone last year. Its competitors just can't match that. Perhaps more important to income-...
Igor Barilo/iStock via Getty Images Ondas ( ONDS ) is a real disruptor and no longer a normal small-cap defense stock in terms of its behavior. It’s a stock that’s gone from pennies on the dollar to the mid-teens and back again and is now just sitting at ten. I am bullish on Ondas at these levels, but not blindly bullish, not momentum-chasing bullish, but structurally bullish based on positioning,...
Igor Barilo/iStock via Getty Images Ondas ( ONDS ) is a real disruptor and no longer a normal small-cap defense stock in terms of its behavior. It’s a stock that’s gone from pennies on the dollar to the mid-teens and back again and is now just sitting at ten. I am bullish on Ondas at these levels, but not blindly bullish, not momentum-chasing bullish, but structurally bullish based on positioning, capital strength, and the favorable risk/reward setup in 2026. The company has moved beyond survival mode. It has capital, it has a layered counter-UAS platform, and it is operating in what looks like the early innings of a global defense upgrade cycle. A System of Systems Pitch With Actual Strategic Logic Ondas is not merely selling drones, and it is trying to create a counter-drone ecosystem. It is positioning itself as an integrated defense platform with its Autonomous Systems segment, which is focused on one of the fastest-growing threats in the modern era of warfare with low-altitude drones. Its methodology is quite deliberate and has several layers to it, with detection and identification through ISR and sensor fusion; cyber over RF takeover through Sentrycs to electronically capture and neutralize enemy drones; and finally, autonomous kinetic interception through Iron Drone Raider to physically destroy enemy drones. The strategy is simple: detect, disrupt, and, if necessary, destroy, which is aligned with modern air defense doctrine. Ondas sits between the large missile defense primes and the smaller RF jammer or single-layer anti-drone solution providers, trying to bridge the integration gap with a unified multi-layer solution. It is not trying to compete with Raytheon on missile defense, nor is it trying to be another single-product startup. It is positioning itself as a mid-tier integrator offering an integrated stack, which is easier to procure and purchase for the government, which increasingly wants to buy bundled solutions. I think the positioning is quite ri...
梅拉尼婭主持安理會談衝突中兒童教育 伊朗：極其可恥虛偽 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】美國第一夫人梅拉尼婭主持聯合國安理會有關衝突中兒童教育的會議，是聯合國史上首位主持安理會會議的國家元首配偶，她...
梅拉尼婭主持安理會談衝突中兒童教育 伊朗：極其可恥虛偽 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】美國第一夫人梅拉尼婭主持聯合國安理會有關衝突中兒童教育的會議，是聯合國史上首位主持安理會會議的國家元首配偶，她在發言時首先向陣亡士兵致敬。 梅拉尼婭：「首先我要向痛失英雄的家庭致以深切慰問，這批英雄為了自由犧牲性命。美國與全球所有兒童站在一起，我盼望和平早日降臨兒童身上。」 但伊朗常駐聯合國代表伊拉瓦尼就在會議開始前批評美國向伊朗發動空襲，導致伊朗南部一所女子小學160多名學童喪生，卻主持保護兒童及宣揚和平的會議，實在是極其可恥及虛偽。
Key Points Broadcom stock has been on an epic run over the past year, gaining 60%. The company's artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor business is on fire, driven by robust revenue and profit growth. Broadcom's soon-to-be-released financial report will be a key hurdle for the high-flyer. 10 stocks we like better than Broadcom › Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) may not get the attention of some of its ...
Key Points Broadcom stock has been on an epic run over the past year, gaining 60%. The company's artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor business is on fire, driven by robust revenue and profit growth. Broadcom's soon-to-be-released financial report will be a key hurdle for the high-flyer. 10 stocks we like better than Broadcom › Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) may not get the attention of some of its peers in the technology sector, but make no mistake: the company is a key player in the space. Its products represent a broad cross-section of tech infrastructure and are a crucial part of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Shareholders have been the ultimate beneficiaries as Broadcom leverages this opportunity, driving its sales and profits higher. This, in turn, has driven its stock price up 437% over the past three years (as of this writing) and up 60% during the past 12 months. 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 » The company faces a key hurdle when Broadcom reports its fiscal 2026 first-quarter results after the market close on March 4. Given the stock's meteoric rise over the past year, should investors lay out their hard-earned money to buy shares ahead of this crucial financial report? Let's see what the evidence suggests. Chip shot Broadcom provides a wide array of technology solutions that reach into every nook and cranny of the industry. These diverse offerings include software, semiconductor, and security products serving the mobile, broadband, cable, and -- perhaps most importantly -- data center industries. The dawn of AI in early 2023 represented a singular opportunity, and Broadcom positioned itself to profit. The company's Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) can be customized to accelerate AI workloads while being more energy-efficient than rival graphics...
The European Central Bank won’t decide on interest rates only on the basis of energy prices, Governing Council member Francois Villeroy de Galhau said. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Bank of France chief added that it would be a mistake to anticipate a move in borrowing costs in a hurry. Oil and natural gas prices have jumped as the US and Israel step up their war against Iran, and Tehran v...
The European Central Bank won’t decide on interest rates only on the basis of energy prices, Governing Council member Francois Villeroy de Galhau said. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Bank of France chief added that it would be a mistake to anticipate a move in borrowing costs in a hurry. Oil and natural gas prices have jumped as the US and Israel step up their war against Iran, and Tehran vows a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz. “Our ECB Governing Council will have updated economic forecasts at its next meeting in two weeks’ time,” Villeroy said in Paris. “It would be a mistake to rush into predicting a possible change in interest rates today.” He added that “we will not be making our decision based solely on current energy prices.” Regarding France, Villeroy said that the economy’s exposure to tensions in the Middle East is limited.
Pornpimone Audkamkong/iStock via Getty Images Overview While macroeconomic concerns weighed on global equities, a relatively strong earnings season and Federal Reserve interest rate cuts supported stock prices in the fourth quarter. In this environment, the MSCI AC World Index gained 3.29%. The Wasatch Global Select Fund-Investor Class underperformed its benchmark and ended the period down -3.15%....
Pornpimone Audkamkong/iStock via Getty Images Overview While macroeconomic concerns weighed on global equities, a relatively strong earnings season and Federal Reserve interest rate cuts supported stock prices in the fourth quarter. In this environment, the MSCI AC World Index gained 3.29%. The Wasatch Global Select Fund-Investor Class underperformed its benchmark and ended the period down -3.15%. On a geographic basis, the Fund's holdings in the U.S. and Japan lagged their counterparts in the Index and were the primary sources of underperformance relative to the benchmark. Conversely, our holdings in Brazil and Taiwan outperformed and contributed to relative performance. At the sector level, the Fund's holdings in the communication services, consumer discretionary and financials sectors detracted most from relative performance. However, lack of exposure to the real estate sector contributed to relative results. Year In Review As part of our fourth quarter commentary, we also wanted to provide an update on performance for the 2025 calendar year. For the year, the MSCI AC World Index was up 22.34%, while the Fund gained 1.74%. We acknowledge that these results fell well short of our shareholders' expectations-and our own. As significant shareholders in the Fund, we feel that disappointment as well. One of the most frustrating elements of the year was that underlying fundamentals remained solid. The Fund's return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) were in line with what we've come to expect from our companies, indicating no degradation in the overall quality of the Fund's portfolio. Earnings growth was also consistent and exceeded that of the benchmark. Over the long term, we would expect the high quality and better earnings growth of the Fund to translate into outperformance of the benchmark. But it's disappointing when those fundamentals aren't rewarded over a shorter horizon. The bulk of the Fund's underperformance in 2025 was due to our U.S. holdings, whic...
chameleonseye/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Last time we covered PayPal Holdings, Inc. ( PYPL ) more than a year ago. Since then, the stock fell 38% vs +23% return of the S&P 500 index. We attribute such weak performance to the fact that the company was unable to show acceleration in branded payments and also gave a weak forecast for 2026 , with the expected near- zero dynamics of the transact...
chameleonseye/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Last time we covered PayPal Holdings, Inc. ( PYPL ) more than a year ago. Since then, the stock fell 38% vs +23% return of the S&P 500 index. We attribute such weak performance to the fact that the company was unable to show acceleration in branded payments and also gave a weak forecast for 2026 , with the expected near- zero dynamics of the transaction margin . Right now, PayPal is on the verge of losing its market share. But we believe the game is not over yet. PayPal’s 4Q 2025 earnings miss expectations: - Revenue totaled $8.7 bln (+4% y/y), $111 mln below SA consensus; - EPS Normalized Actual reached $1.23, $0.06 below consensus. PayPal earnings slides Operating metrics: - Total payment volume (TPV) rose by 9% y/y to $475.1 bln; - Active users edged up by 1% y/y to 439 mln; - Total transactions climbed by 2% y/y to 6.75 bln; - Average transaction size totaled $70. Management’s outlook: GAAP EPS is set to be down mid-single digits in 2026, transaction margin dollars expected to slightly decline, while Non-GAAP non-transaction operating expenses will show ~3% growth. PayPal earnings slides The report missed the consensus estimate. The shares were down more than 20% just after the earnings. As one of the reasons for the stock’s collapse, we can name the departure of the current CEO. The board of directors replaced him following an assessment of the company's competitive standing and general industry conditions. We see another important trigger: a sharp decline in profitability. Past quarter’s EPS came in below expectations. Revenue grew 4% while S&M expenses grew 10% to $691, and transaction expenses grew 6.4% $4.25 bln versus $4.1 bln. Notably, transaction margin dollars grew only 3% to $4 bln, which is the slowest pace since 2023. We also see a lower take rate (the ratio of transaction revenue to TPV was 1.65%, down 9 b.p. y/y). PayPal Earnings Release Key challenges Management explicitly stated that the bet on expa...
Donald Trump has criticised Keir Starmer again over the UK’s refusal to aid the offensive strikes on Iran, saying the “relationship is obviously not what it was”. Starmer had issued his strongest rebuke yet of Trump’s action in Iran, saying the UK did not believe in “regime change from the skies” and defended his decision not to allow the use of British bases to conduct the strikes. But the prime ...
Donald Trump has criticised Keir Starmer again over the UK’s refusal to aid the offensive strikes on Iran, saying the “relationship is obviously not what it was”. Starmer had issued his strongest rebuke yet of Trump’s action in Iran, saying the UK did not believe in “regime change from the skies” and defended his decision not to allow the use of British bases to conduct the strikes. But the prime minister said the UK would allow the use of its bases for defensive action to protect allied forces and nations in the Gulf and Middle East who have been hit by a wave of retaliatory strikes after the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Speaking to the Sun, Trump compared Starmer’s actions unfavourably with France’s support for the strikes and with the backing of the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte. “He has not been helpful. I never thought I’d see that. I never thought I’d see that from the UK. We love the UK,” he said. “It’s a different world, actually. It’s just a much different kind of relationship that we’ve had with your country before. It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was.” Starmer has often been praised previously for his ability to maintain a relationship with the volatile US president but on Monday in the House of Commons, the prime minisiter expressed doubt about the US action in Tehran and its legality. “We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons. Any UK actions must always have a lawful basis, and a viable thought-through plan,” he said. “That is the principle that I applied to the decisions that I made over the weekend.” Trump said he wished Starmer “a lot of luck” and said he had a “great relationship” with the people of the UK. He said the UK was also “not such a recognisable country … I mean, you look at what happened over the last period of time and it’s very different.” He said the UK’s collaboration in offensive action would not make much difference to the US objectives. “It’s not going to matter...
Viper Energy ( VNOM ) has announced the pricing of a public offering of 17.39M shares of its Class A common stock, led by Diamondback Energy, Inc. ( FANG ) and certain affiliates of EnCap Investments, L. P. and Oaktree Capital Management, L. P. The sale is expected to raise about $798M, though Viper will not receive any of these proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholders. The...
Viper Energy ( VNOM ) has announced the pricing of a public offering of 17.39M shares of its Class A common stock, led by Diamondback Energy, Inc. ( FANG ) and certain affiliates of EnCap Investments, L. P. and Oaktree Capital Management, L. P. The sale is expected to raise about $798M, though Viper will not receive any of these proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholders. The offering is set to close on March 4, 2026, pending normal closing conditions. Additionally, the selling stockholders have given underwriters a 30-day option to buy up to 2.61M extra shares to cover over-allotments. In connection with the secondary offering, Viper will also buy 1M units in Viper’s operating company, VNOM Holding Company LLC from certain affiliates of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. The price per unit will match the price per share for selling stockholders in the secondary offering. The secondary offering does not depend on the concurrent OpCo unit purchase, but the purchase depends on the offering's completion. More on Viper Energy Viper Energy, Inc. (VNOM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript Viper Energy: Approaches Its Net Debt Target After Non-Permian Divestiture Viper Energy launches secondary offering of 17.4 million shares Viper Energy outlines mid-single-digit organic production growth for 2026 while ramping return of capital strategy Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Viper Energy
If you file for Social Security at full retirement age, which is 67 for people born in 1960 or later, you get your complete benefit payment each month without a reduction. But not everyone waits that long. You're allowed to sign up for Social Security at any time once you turn 62. And it can be very tempting to claim benefits early, especially if that allows for an early retirement. But sometimes,...
If you file for Social Security at full retirement age, which is 67 for people born in 1960 or later, you get your complete benefit payment each month without a reduction. But not everyone waits that long. You're allowed to sign up for Social Security at any time once you turn 62. And it can be very tempting to claim benefits early, especially if that allows for an early retirement. But sometimes, people claim Social Security ahead of full retirement age and regret it when they see how much smaller their monthly checks are. If that happens to you, you should know that you're not necessarily doomed to a lifetime of lower benefits. But if you want to avoid that fate, you'll need to act quickly. You get a do-over One little-known rule about Social Security is all claimants are entitled to a single do-over when it comes to taking benefits. If you filed for Social Security early but now regret it, and you're within 12 months of starting benefits, you can withdraw your application and file again at a later point in time. And if that later point in time is full retirement age, you won't have to worry about a lifelong reduction in benefits. However, there's a catch. To take advantage of the do-over option, you also need to repay the Social Security Administration all of the benefits it paid you since you filed. If you've already spent that money, and you don't have savings to dip into to pay it back, then you may not be able to undo your claim. But let's say you get your first Social Security check and you realize you're not happy with it. If you don't spend it, repay it, and withdraw your benefits application right away, you can get a second chance to file for Social Security at a later age. Think through your decision carefully While it's a good thing that all Social Security recipients get a do-over option, a better bet is to get your filing decision right the first time around. So before you claim Social Security, think carefully about the pros and cons of filing at tha...