Jonathan Kitchen/DigitalVision via Getty Images This was a crazy week that started off shaky then President Trump announced a ceasefire was agreed to between the United States and Iran. The markets rallied and the S&P 500 finished the week up 3.46% while the Nasdaq climbed 4.43%. We got disappointing CPI news on Friday as the March print came in at 3.3% and the consensus number for April ahs not b...
Jonathan Kitchen/DigitalVision via Getty Images This was a crazy week that started off shaky then President Trump announced a ceasefire was agreed to between the United States and Iran. The markets rallied and the S&P 500 finished the week up 3.46% while the Nasdaq climbed 4.43%. We got disappointing CPI news on Friday as the March print came in at 3.3% and the consensus number for April ahs not been stated. Throughout March oil was climbing and on March 2 nd oil was around $72 per barrel. We are starting April off with oil around $100 a barrel and due to failed negotiations oil has risen above $100 again. The big problem that I see is that if oil remains elevated throughout the month we could see a CPI print in April above 4%. We’re heading into an FOMC meeting at the end of the month and if the price of oil isn’t dramatically lower I believe Fed Chair Powell’s remarks will be hawkish and we could see discussions about hiking rates. This would be a disaster because companies created their guidance for 2026 in a macroeconomic environment that was dramatically different than the one we are in today and one where the Fed was expected to cut 2 times. I am still bullish on the year but I am being cautious about what the macroeconomic environment looks like. On one hand I am excited to buy quality companies at a discount but on the other hand there is so much uncertainty that I believe we are getting to a place where revisions to the downside could become a normal occurrence. After allocating $26,700 to the Dividend Harvesting Portfolio, the account balance finished week 267 at $36,689.44. The account's profitability increased (1.90%) to $9,989.44, which is a return on invested capital of 37.41%. Over the past week I have added to my position in the Goldman Sachs Nasdaq 100 Premium Income ETF ( GPIQ ) and Ares Capital ( ARCC ). In week 267 the accounted generated $28.33 in dividend income. The combination of reinvesting the generated dividend income and making these inve...
If you're excited about the future of robotics, self-driving cars, and other advancements in autonomy and artificial intelligence, you can try to pick stocks of individual companies that are in those spaces. Or you can buy stock ETFs that focus on those themes. One tech stock ETF that robot enthusiasts should consider is the Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (NYSEMKT: ARKQ) . This ETF is ac...
If you're excited about the future of robotics, self-driving cars, and other advancements in autonomy and artificial intelligence, you can try to pick stocks of individual companies that are in those spaces. Or you can buy stock ETFs that focus on those themes. One tech stock ETF that robot enthusiasts should consider is the Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (NYSEMKT: ARKQ) . This ETF is actively managed and seeks to select companies its professional advisors believe will benefit from future advancements in robotics , energy, automation and manufacturing, materials, artificial intelligence, and transportation. ARKQ underperformed the S&P 500 index during the past five years. But in the past year, this robot-focused ETF came roaring back, with a 92% gain compared to a 30.7% gain for the S&P 500. Continue reading
Netanyahu Says Iran Ceasefire Could End At Any Moment, Backs Trump's Blockade - Tehran Blasts 'Piracy' Summary Iran's military says the planned US blockade on Gulf ports will be an "illegal" act tantamount to "piracy" as Trump is also weighing limited strikes on Iran. US military is to enforce the blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea , Reuters reports. Pentagon says any vessel is subject t...
Netanyahu Says Iran Ceasefire Could End At Any Moment, Backs Trump's Blockade - Tehran Blasts 'Piracy' Summary Iran's military says the planned US blockade on Gulf ports will be an "illegal" act tantamount to "piracy" as Trump is also weighing limited strikes on Iran. US military is to enforce the blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea , Reuters reports. Pentagon says any vessel is subject to interception and capture . Pundits review breakdown of Pakistan talks, where the "gaps were enormous" - and yet Iran's FM says the sides were "inches away" from an "Islamabad MoU" . Israel-Hezbollah fighting persists on eve of planned Tuesday talks in Washington between Israeli and Lebanese officials. Will the United Kingdom send warships through the Strait of Hormuz by April 30, 2026? Yes 11% · No 90% View full market & trade on Polymarket * * * Gaps Were Enormous In terms of airstrikes and rockets being lobbed across the Middle East, things have been relatively quiet since US-Iranian talks in Pakistan broke down over the weekend. As we reported earlier President Trump is mulling possible limited strikes on the Islamic Republic from here on out. The previously agreed-upon two week ceasefire is still holding despite the Pakistan talks having collapsed with no plans for any future round . The only area that continues to see significant exchanges of fire is the Israel-Lebanon situation, where on Monday regional outlets are reporting a flurry of new Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel , alongside heavy IDF strikes on southern Lebanon from Sunday evening into Monday. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had summarized the situation from Tehran's point of view, writing on X Sunday that Iran and the US were "inches away" from an "Islamabad MoU" following "intensive talks at highest level in 47 years." He continued, "We encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts and blockade," before concluding: "Zero lessons earned. Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity." Meanwhil...
DLT Resolution ( DLTI ) said on Monday that its unit LifeChain Financial is entering the U.S. life settlements market to acquire and manage discounted portfolios of highly rated life insurance policies to maturity. The company said life settlements are a non-correlated alternative asset class offering attractive risk-adjusted returns. The market’s annual potential is estimated at $224B, with trans...
DLT Resolution ( DLTI ) said on Monday that its unit LifeChain Financial is entering the U.S. life settlements market to acquire and manage discounted portfolios of highly rated life insurance policies to maturity. The company said life settlements are a non-correlated alternative asset class offering attractive risk-adjusted returns. The market’s annual potential is estimated at $224B, with transaction volumes expected to reach around $4.6B, supported by demographic tailwinds and rising policy lapse rates. Shares +1.18%. More on DLT Resolution Financial information for DLT Resolution
josefkubes Altria ( MO ) raised prices about 3% in the U.S. across its Marlboro business run through Philip Morris USA, according to Goldman Sachs. However, the company did not raise prices on Basic as they continue to promote the brand aggressively, highlighted analyst Bonnie Herzog. Herzog noted that Altria's ( MO ) price increases are consistent with the company's previously announced Marlboro ...
josefkubes Altria ( MO ) raised prices about 3% in the U.S. across its Marlboro business run through Philip Morris USA, according to Goldman Sachs. However, the company did not raise prices on Basic as they continue to promote the brand aggressively, highlighted analyst Bonnie Herzog. Herzog noted that Altria's ( MO ) price increases are consistent with the company's previously announced Marlboro differential list price initiative, which is designed to accommodate different list prices for Marlboro cigarettes based on specific Marlboro SKU groupings. "MO's price increase follows its typical quarterly cadence, so it doesn't come as much of a surprise, although the increase is a bit sharper than prior increases, likely given the ongoing pressures on cigarette volumes," wrote Herzog. The expectation is that British American Tobacco ( BTI ) will follow up with price increases across R.J. Reynolds brands. "Overall, we continue to expect strong net price realization for the industry given manufacturers' strong pricing power. While there is some increased risk of potential downtrading (especially given pressures on the consumer), as called out in our Q4 Nicotine Nuggets survey, we believe brands like Marlboro with a very loyal customer base and strong/effective promotions should be able to keep those consumers within the franchise (e.g., by leveraging Marlboro Special Select, Marlboro Black and new Marlboro Cowboy Cut)," updated Herzog. Looking ahead, investor concerns surrounding the health of the low-income consumer will be closely watched to see if Altria ( MO ) and British American Tobacco ( BTI ) have the elasticity to continue to raise prices. Shares of Altria ( MO ) are up 17% on a year-to-date basis, while British American Tobacco ( BTI ) is 4% higher. More on the tobacco sector British American Tobacco: The New Categories' Opportunity And Challenge British American Tobacco: The Ideal Defensive Asset With A 12x P/E British American Tobacco: Nicotine Pouches/Vapour ...
The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz may give it a strategic advantage over Iran, but analysts warned that the increased pressure on Iran may call the ceasefire into question and deepen the energy crisis. US Central Command said a blockade on ships “entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas” would take effect at 10am US eastern time (3pm GMT) on Monday along the Persian Gulf and Gul...
The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz may give it a strategic advantage over Iran, but analysts warned that the increased pressure on Iran may call the ceasefire into question and deepen the energy crisis. US Central Command said a blockade on ships “entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas” would take effect at 10am US eastern time (3pm GMT) on Monday along the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. It also said it would not impede vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz to and from...
Olga Kostrova /iStock via Getty Images Introduction The last time I covered B2Gold ( BTG ), I highlighted the company's distressed valuation and significant growth potential while the market continued to price in significant levels of risk due to Mali, despite the company's expansion in Canada through the ramp-up of their Goose mine. With the valuation still accounting for significant levels of ri...
Olga Kostrova /iStock via Getty Images Introduction The last time I covered B2Gold ( BTG ), I highlighted the company's distressed valuation and significant growth potential while the market continued to price in significant levels of risk due to Mali, despite the company's expansion in Canada through the ramp-up of their Goose mine. With the valuation still accounting for significant levels of risk despite their geographic diversification, B2G remains a Strong Buy, with significant potential for a re-rating as they continue to use the profits from Mali to develop a global portfolio. Expansion Advances, Fundamentals Still Strong B2Gold IR B2Gold reported a solid year overall thanks to the major jump in the commodity, with Q4's EPS beating the market's estimates despite a miss on revenue , being marked by the significant effects of a shipment delay at Fekola (~20,000 oz), the arctic freeze at Goose, which went through an extremely cold season from the start, as well as an increase in royalties that's explained by the jump in gold prices, which doesn't indicate a jump in operational expenses, falling in case of a drop in the commodity. B2Gold announced that their CEO is also retiring - which is a trend seen quite a bit over the past few months [e.g. Barrick ( B ) and Newmont ( NEM ), to name a few] - after serving the role for nearly 20 years, being succeeded by the company's CFO (while the other two named their COOs). We saw how much a CEO change has done for Barrick and even Newmont recently, and this can also be an interesting move for BTG, as it can open the path for a renewed approach in the wake of what I believe can be a fundamental, long-term repricing for gold. Other than that, Fekola Regional is still not permitted, which caused no mining activity there last year, adding further uncertainty and stoking the market's fear, although we should keep in mind that the agreement is technically set since back in late July 2025. Still, this delay certainly doesn't hel...
AndreyPopov/iStock via Getty Images Investing Through Uncertainty By late February, resilient equity performance was suggesting Q1 would mark the fourth consecutive quarter of positive returns. Inflation was trending toward target, interest rates were expected to ease further, and corporate earnings were healthy and growing. This tranquil state, however, was disrupted on February 28th as U.S. and ...
AndreyPopov/iStock via Getty Images Investing Through Uncertainty By late February, resilient equity performance was suggesting Q1 would mark the fourth consecutive quarter of positive returns. Inflation was trending toward target, interest rates were expected to ease further, and corporate earnings were healthy and growing. This tranquil state, however, was disrupted on February 28th as U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran sent ripples across financial markets, reminding investors that markets rarely move in a straight line. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key narrow waterway that carries about one-fifth of global crude oil supply, led to sharp price spikes in global energy markets, with the price per barrel of Brent crude oil climbing from $72 pre-conflict to $104 by the end of March. This historically rare price shock is not just isolated to crude alone, but to fertilizer, helium and other commodities that are needed globally and are key inputs to critical industries. This raised inflationary concerns and stagflationary risks, particularly for energy importing nations in Asia and Europe. The loss of life throughout this conflict has been tragic. As investors, however, we also recognize that such disruptive events create winners and losers not only across countries but also across businesses and households that may already be struggling with elevated living costs. Without clear evidence of decelerating growth or accelerating inflation above target just yet, the Bank of Canada and U.S. Federal Reserve are exercising patience and maintaining policy rates at current levels. Growing inflation and budgetary concerns from the U.S. military campaign weighed on bond yields as they repriced higher in March. As a result, bonds did not provide their traditional safe haven status in this environment, as the FTSE Canadian Universe Bond Index slid -2.0% in March but held in at 0.2% for Q1. Precious metals also declined in the month, with gold and silver slumping -1...
The skyline in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. Abu Dhabi has for years been trying to establish itself as an attractive alternative to neighboring Dubai. Photographer: Vidhyaa Chandramohan/Bloomberg
The skyline in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. Abu Dhabi has for years been trying to establish itself as an attractive alternative to neighboring Dubai. Photographer: Vidhyaa Chandramohan/Bloomberg
Don't look now, but one of the hottest companies on the U.S. stock market is also one of its oldest. Glass products specialist Corning (NYSE: GLW) is that company, and its shares have risen a hard-to-believe 311% over the past year compared to the 29% rise of the benchmark S&P 500 index it's a component of. All stocks ultimately obey the law of gravity, however, so is 175-year-old Corning at the p...
Don't look now, but one of the hottest companies on the U.S. stock market is also one of its oldest. Glass products specialist Corning (NYSE: GLW) is that company, and its shares have risen a hard-to-believe 311% over the past year compared to the 29% rise of the benchmark S&P 500 index it's a component of. All stocks ultimately obey the law of gravity, however, so is 175-year-old Corning at the peak of its gains, or is there much more upside to come? Corning has done well for more than that single year. If it's known for anything by the general public, it's for being the developer and manufacturer of Gorilla Glass. You probably use this product yourself, as it's chemically treated glass that serves as the display in smartphones and similar wares (like Apple 's iDevices) and is used in many computer monitors. Continue reading
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sparked a diplomatic row with Israel and criticism at home after comparing Israeli military actions against Palestinians to the Holocaust in a post on social media platform X. The controversy began on Friday after Lee said “wartime killings” by the Israel Defence Forces were “no different from the Jewish massacre” by the Nazis in World War II and reposted ...
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sparked a diplomatic row with Israel and criticism at home after comparing Israeli military actions against Palestinians to the Holocaust in a post on social media platform X. The controversy began on Friday after Lee said “wartime killings” by the Israel Defence Forces were “no different from the Jewish massacre” by the Nazis in World War II and reposted footage with a caption that said it showed Israeli troops had tortured and thrown a Palestinian from...