rarrarorro/iStock via Getty Images Happy Friday, everyone! I hope it's a green day in your portfolio as well. As we've seen in the past few days, markets do not wait for certainty, and the past few days in the Middle East have made that painfully clear (for the bears, of course). It is easy to get headline fatigue (I am almost burned out, to be honest), but I think we are in the last sprint before...
rarrarorro/iStock via Getty Images Happy Friday, everyone! I hope it's a green day in your portfolio as well. As we've seen in the past few days, markets do not wait for certainty, and the past few days in the Middle East have made that painfully clear (for the bears, of course). It is easy to get headline fatigue (I am almost burned out, to be honest), but I think we are in the last sprint before we can take a break from checking major media outlets every now and then. Markets have quickly shifted the tone from fear to optimism after the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Iran’s decision to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial traffic (with caveats), and reports of progress toward a broader U.S.-Iran nuclear understanding. As I'm writing, I'm seeing pretty much every sector in the green, except energy and utilities. Guidance Terminal In this piece, I cover what to watch for in what I believe is the final sprint of the Middle East conflict. I will also provide a rundown of how I shifted from neutral to bullish as soon as April 9. On the risk side, I admit there is a lot of optimism grounded in one single pillar: a deal that puts an end to the war and reopens the Strait of Hormuz. If the second round of talks fails, I believe the rally we've seen over the last few days will quickly revert. My view is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Given the recent development, I depleted my 19% cash position, and I'm heading into the weekend talks fully invested. A Quick Recap Of The Developments in The Middle East There are three main headlines that caught my eye these last few days. The first one is the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, brokered by the U.S. and agreed on April 16. U.S. State Department There are three main points that I wanted to highlight from the ceasefire, as they are quite significant for Lebanon. U.S. State Department As for Israel, it seems that its military remains as much as 10 km inside southern Lebanon as part o...
In 2001, Ronnie O'Sullivan won his first World Snooker Championship. Now, a quarter of a century later, the Rocket is aiming for a record-breaking eighth title.
In 2001, Ronnie O'Sullivan won his first World Snooker Championship. Now, a quarter of a century later, the Rocket is aiming for a record-breaking eighth title.
May WTI crude oil (CLK26 ) on Friday closed down -10.84 (-11.45%), and May RBOB gasoline (RBK26 ) closed down -0.1589 (-5.02%). Crude oil and gasoline prices plummeted on Friday, with crude falling to a 5-week low and gasoline sliding to a 1-week low. Energy prices sank on Friday after...
May WTI crude oil (CLK26 ) on Friday closed down -10.84 (-11.45%), and May RBOB gasoline (RBK26 ) closed down -0.1589 (-5.02%). Crude oil and gasoline prices plummeted on Friday, with crude falling to a 5-week low and gasoline sliding to a 1-week low. Energy prices sank on Friday after...
Every major U.S. stock market index was recently trading in the red for 2026, as investors flocked to cash and other low-risk assets amid the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. However, with tensions now potentially cooling, markets have been recovering. As of the close on Tuesday, April 14, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.3% for the year, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 ...
Every major U.S. stock market index was recently trading in the red for 2026, as investors flocked to cash and other low-risk assets amid the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. However, with tensions now potentially cooling, markets have been recovering. As of the close on Tuesday, April 14, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.3% for the year, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 indexes were sitting on returns of 1.6% and 2.5%, respectively. Yet, the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEMKT: GLD) has delivered a far more impressive year-to-date return of 11.7%. This exchange-traded fund (ETF) directly tracks the price of gold, and it's crushing the stock market for the second straight year after delivering a blistering 64% return in 2025. Continue reading
Odyssey Therapeutics Inc. filed for a US initial public offering, joining a growing pool of drug developers seeking to advance public listing plans amid robust investor demand for biotech stocks. The Boston-based company is focused on treating patients suffering from autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Odyssey’s most advanced drug is being studied in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s ...
Odyssey Therapeutics Inc. filed for a US initial public offering, joining a growing pool of drug developers seeking to advance public listing plans amid robust investor demand for biotech stocks. The Boston-based company is focused on treating patients suffering from autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Odyssey’s most advanced drug is being studied in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, according to a Friday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing comes as investors pile into drug developers with the closely-tracked Nasdaq Biotechnology Index adding to a more than 50% gain over the past year and closing at a record high Friday. Odyssey had cash and equivalents of roughly $176 million at the end of March, the filing shows. Healthcare peers had a busy week with Kailera Therapeutics Inc. shares surging 63% after the clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on obesity raised $625 million in an upsized US initial public offering. Medical device maker Alamar Biosciences Inc. shares climbed 29% on Friday after it raised $191 million. Odyssey’s offering is being led by JPMorgan Chase & Co. , Toronto-Dominion Bank , and Cantor Fitzgerald LP . The company will be listed on the the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol ODTX.
LeMusique Disney ( DIS ) is debuting Infinity Vision, a new movie format to rival IMAX ( IMAX ). Infinity Vision will be unveiled with the studio's Avengers: Doomsday December 18 release. To qualify for the “Infinity Vision” designation, movie theaters must have a screen width of at least 50 feet, laser projection, and Dolby 7.1 surround-sound system. According to Bloomberg, roughly 5,500 movie sc...
LeMusique Disney ( DIS ) is debuting Infinity Vision, a new movie format to rival IMAX ( IMAX ). Infinity Vision will be unveiled with the studio's Avengers: Doomsday December 18 release. To qualify for the “Infinity Vision” designation, movie theaters must have a screen width of at least 50 feet, laser projection, and Dolby 7.1 surround-sound system. According to Bloomberg, roughly 5,500 movie screens globally would qualify for Infinity Vision, more than 3 times the number of global IMAX ( IMAX ) screens. Disney ( DIS ) developed Infinity Vision to address the unavailability of IMAX ( IMAX ) screens at the Avengers: Doomsday opening weekend. IMAX ( IMAX ) will be otherwise occupied with screening Warner Bros.’ ( WBD ) Dune: Part Three the same weekend. Once considered a venue for nature and space films, IMAX ( IMAX ) theaters have become the go-to venue for large-scale action movies with expansive cinematography, immersive sound, and elaborate special effects. With Disney’s entry into the space, moviegoers will now have another option for the “IMAX experience.” Related tickers: AMC Entertainment ( AMC ), Cinemark Holdings ( CNK ), The Marcus Corporation ( MCS ) More on Walt Disney, IMAX Disney: Succession Plan Underway Wall Street Lunch: Disney Revamps Paris Park To Boost European Growth Disney: Parks Is The Company's Core Now, But The Core Of Parks Isn't Talked About At All Corporate America’s big job cuts in 2026 - What do we know so far? Disney is already gearing up for its first Super Bowl broadcast in 20 years
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) provides streaming entertainment services worldwide and closed Friday at $97.31, down 9.72%. The stock moved lower after Q1 results paired strong profits with softer-than-expected Q2 guidance and leadership changes. Trading volume reached 124.7 million shares, about 152% above its three-month average of 49.4 million shares. Netflix went public in 2002 and has grown 81,236% si...
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) provides streaming entertainment services worldwide and closed Friday at $97.31, down 9.72%. The stock moved lower after Q1 results paired strong profits with softer-than-expected Q2 guidance and leadership changes. Trading volume reached 124.7 million shares, about 152% above its three-month average of 49.4 million shares. Netflix went public in 2002 and has grown 81,236% since then. The broader markets advanced Friday, with the S&P 500 rising 1.19% to 7,125 and the Nasdaq Composite gaining 1.52% to finish at 24,468. Within the entertainment industry, peers Walt Disney closed at $106.28, up 2.29%, while Warner Bros. Discovery ended at $27.47, up 0.29%, as investors weighed cost cuts and consolidation risk. Netflix reported Q1 earnings yesterday afternoon, seeing sales rise 16% and EPS soar 86% (thanks partially to the $2.8 billion WBD termination fee), which sailed past Wall Street’s expectations. However, co-founder and board chair Reed Hastings announced that he would not seek reelection to the board. This downbeat news, paired with revenue guidance for 12% to 14% growth in 2026, underwhelmed the market, prompting today’s decline. Continue reading
Constellation Research CEO Ray Wang discusses the current AI landscape, why software is the ‘next piece to comeback,’ and the possibility of a SpaceX-Tesla merger. He talks with Katie Greifeld and Romaine Bostick on “The Close.” (Source: Bloomberg)
Constellation Research CEO Ray Wang discusses the current AI landscape, why software is the ‘next piece to comeback,’ and the possibility of a SpaceX-Tesla merger. He talks with Katie Greifeld and Romaine Bostick on “The Close.” (Source: Bloomberg)
Belgium was lowered one step by Moody’s, underscoring how the struggle to cut one of the biggest budget deficits in Europe is besmirching the country’s status as a borrower. The rating is now assessed at A1, six notches above junk, with a stable outlook, the company said on Friday. That’s an equivalent score to that of Fitch Ratings, which already lowered Belgium last year . “This government will ...
Belgium was lowered one step by Moody’s, underscoring how the struggle to cut one of the biggest budget deficits in Europe is besmirching the country’s status as a borrower. The rating is now assessed at A1, six notches above junk, with a stable outlook, the company said on Friday. That’s an equivalent score to that of Fitch Ratings, which already lowered Belgium last year . “This government will be unable to implement measures sufficient to stabilize the debt burden,” Moody’s said in its statement. “Although the coalition government enacted a number of politically ambitious fiscal and structural reforms in 2025, these measures are insufficient to offset negative fiscal pressures resulting from rising interest costs, additional defense spending, persistent aging-related expenditure pressures, and weaker revenue performance.” The downgrade means Belgium has lost its double-A rating at two of the three major credit assessors, potentially forcing some funds with ultra-strict investment criteria to sell the country’s bonds. The decision chips away at the credit status of a country that stands out in the euro zone for its relative wealth, but also for its huge public spending commitments and a corresponding path of spiraling debt. It will add pressure on the five-party coalition that rules Belgium just as politicians struggle to agree on how to cushion the impact of rising energy prices set off by the war in the Middle East. The government has been split on the level of support to offer to consumers. “There is no money,” Prime Minister Bart De Wever , from Flemish nationalist party N-VA, warned this week in parliament, in contrast to other coalition members calling for broad aid for citizens. Attention will now turn to S&P Global Ratings, whose own review of Belgium is due next week. That company’s assessment of the country at AA — two notches above the scores of rivals Fitch and Moody’s — has been skewed toward a possible downgrade for the past year . The scale of Belgi...
Celularity ( CELU ) said on Friday it had received notice from Nasdaq on April 16, 2026, regarding non-compliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) due to the delayed filing of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. Under Nasdaq’s listing rules, the Company had 60 calendar days from receipt of the notice to submit a compliance plan. If accepted, Nasdaq may grant up to 180 days from ...
Celularity ( CELU ) said on Friday it had received notice from Nasdaq on April 16, 2026, regarding non-compliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) due to the delayed filing of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. Under Nasdaq’s listing rules, the Company had 60 calendar days from receipt of the notice to submit a compliance plan. If accepted, Nasdaq may grant up to 180 days from the original Form 10-K due date to regain compliance. The Company was working to complete and file its Form 10-K as soon as practicable. Shares -0.81%. More on Celularity Celularity secures strategic license deal worth up to $35M for biomaterials portfolio Financial information for Celularity
Jonas Hanacek/iStock via Getty Images I believe that the Capital Group Conservative Equity ETF ( CGCV ) will underperform the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF ( IVV ) this year, as the low-beta ingredient that bolstered its returns in January–February will likely become a detractor. To be clear, I expect the S&P 500 to reach 7,550 by the end of the year, which implies an around 6% gain from its level as o...
Jonas Hanacek/iStock via Getty Images I believe that the Capital Group Conservative Equity ETF ( CGCV ) will underperform the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF ( IVV ) this year, as the low-beta ingredient that bolstered its returns in January–February will likely become a detractor. To be clear, I expect the S&P 500 to reach 7,550 by the end of the year, which implies an around 6% gain from its level as of writing this article. It is unlikely that CGCV will keep pace with it. Given the Strait of Hormuz situation that was the main contributor to expectations for higher inflation and potentially even higher interest rates is resolved , I anticipate equities sporting strong growth (and especially those having robust GARP metrics) characteristics to outperform those in the value and low volatility camps. CGCV is underweight in growth, has unappealing GARP metrics, and is overweight in low volatility and value, which will restrain its upside capture, and there is historical data supporting that point. I do not see a long-term alpha potential either, again owing to its tilt towards less volatile names that are inherently incapable of capturing sufficient market upside during bull markets. With that being said, as I have already explained in the August 2025 article , CGCV has a sensible strategy and it does deliver on its three objectives of "current income, growth of capital and conservation of principal," which secures a Hold rating. Also, I still believe that the Capital Group Dividend Value ETF ( CGDV ) is a stronger option both factor- and performance-wise, and I will explain why below in the note. CGCV Strategy And Portfolio As we know from the Q4 fact sheet available on the Capital Group website , the actively managed CGCV ...strives for the balanced accomplishment of three objectives: current income, growth of capital and conservation of principal. It is also explained that CGCV is "conservatively managed to reduce volatility and risk," so it "...has the potential to provi...