Even as war in the Middle East roiled markets this month, some investors are finding solace in Corporate America’s growth machine, which not only remains intact — but is showing signs of thriving. Sell-side strategists have been boosting their profit outlooks, defying concern over soaring oil prices and a potential hit to consumer demand. Earnings in the S&P 500 Index are expected to rise 20% in t...
Even as war in the Middle East roiled markets this month, some investors are finding solace in Corporate America’s growth machine, which not only remains intact — but is showing signs of thriving. Sell-side strategists have been boosting their profit outlooks, defying concern over soaring oil prices and a potential hit to consumer demand. Earnings in the S&P 500 Index are expected to rise 20% in the next 12 months, data compiled by Morgan Stanley show. Historically, the reading was higher only when the economy emerged out of recessions. “This supports our stance that the probability remains low for this oil spike to end the business cycle,” Morgan Stanley chief investment officer and chief US equity strategist Mike Wilson said in a March 23 note to clients. Optimism over corporate earnings — the cornerstone of US equities’ bull-market run for most of the past decade — partly explains the S&P 500’s resilience in the face of intensifying fighting in the Middle East. The view is giving bulls reason to remain constructive on US stocks despite growing geopolitical risks, artificial intelligence disruption and private-credit stress. The profit outlook for S&P 500 companies has been improving even as share prices have fallen — a dynamic rarely seen during episodes of geopolitical uncertainty, according to Wilson. The setup has historically rewarded investors willing to look through near-term pain. Instances when analysts revised their profit outlooks higher as the S&P 500 declined have typically preceded strong performance in US stocks, the firm’s data show. Analysts estimate that S&P 500 companies will grow their profits by 11.9% in the three months through March, per data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. That compares to an estimate of 10.9% before the war in Iran started. Earnings and sales forecasts for the next three quarters have increased by 1.9% and 1.5%, respectively, according to BI figures gathered by strategist Wendy Soong , partly as the impact of tariffs c...
Companies that burn cash at a rapid pace can run into serious trouble if they fail to secure funding. Without a clear path to profitability, these businesses risk dilution, mounting debt, or even bankruptcy.
Companies that burn cash at a rapid pace can run into serious trouble if they fail to secure funding. Without a clear path to profitability, these businesses risk dilution, mounting debt, or even bankruptcy.
Yogurt maker Danone SA is leading a flurry of activity in European bond markets as borrowers jump on more stable market conditions, sparked by a renewed push to end the war in the Middle East. The French group plans to sell two benchmark-sized euro bonds and a sterling denominated tranche, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. The euro bonds offer 40 to 50 ...
Yogurt maker Danone SA is leading a flurry of activity in European bond markets as borrowers jump on more stable market conditions, sparked by a renewed push to end the war in the Middle East. The French group plans to sell two benchmark-sized euro bonds and a sterling denominated tranche, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. The euro bonds offer 40 to 50 basis points of new issue concession at initial price discussions, Bloomberg calculations show. At least seven issuers are selling debt on Wednesday, the most in about a week. They include TenneT Netherlands BV , which is marketing its first bond since the firm split its Dutch and German grid companies last year. The offering attracted over €7.1 billion ($8.2 billion) of investor bids. The surge in borrowing in Europe underscores the stop-start nature of issuance in recent weeks as the ongoing conflict in Iran continues to roil markets. On Tuesday, Europe’s debt sales slipped behind last year’s pace for the first time since early January, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Banks also returned to the market on Wednesday, with a two-part deal for Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc , covered bonds from Nordea Mortgage Bank and Westpac Banking Corp . Elsewhere, snack maker Mondelez International, Inc. is selling a debut Swiss franc transaction , joining a spate of international firms turning to the currency for debt. Danone’s planned debt offering comes after its agreement this week to buy celebrity-backed drink company Huel for a reported price tag of about €1 billion. The move is part of its push into the growing health nutrition market. Prospective bond investors will also have to weigh the financial risks from recent recalls of infant formula from industry players including Danone and Nestlé SA . In its earnings last month, Danone said it expects the the product withdrawals to negatively impact net sales by 0.5% to 1% in the first quarter. The Danone bonds are expect...
The U.S. is sending thousands of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne to the Middle East. And, congressional Republicans present Democrats with a new deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. (Image credit: Alex Wong)
The U.S. is sending thousands of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne to the Middle East. And, congressional Republicans present Democrats with a new deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. (Image credit: Alex Wong)
matejmo/iStock via Getty Images By Mike Larson Gold is the ultimate hedge against global chaos. Or at least, that’s what it has been historically. But during this Middle East crisis, it has been anything but rock-solid. The question is... why? Check out the MoneyShow Chart of the Day, a weekly chart of the SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ) going back a half decade. You can see the incredibly powerful bull ...
matejmo/iStock via Getty Images By Mike Larson Gold is the ultimate hedge against global chaos. Or at least, that’s what it has been historically. But during this Middle East crisis, it has been anything but rock-solid. The question is... why? Check out the MoneyShow Chart of the Day, a weekly chart of the SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ) going back a half decade. You can see the incredibly powerful bull market of the last few years... how wildly overbought GLD got several weeks ago... and how the ETF has pulled back dramatically from its late-January high. Gold: Why Isn't it Thriving Here? (Source: StockCharts) Moreover, that decline accelerated after hostilities broke out in late February. Gold plunged 15% - losing value for a nine-day stretch at one point - after the bombs started falling in the Middle East. So, what’s gotten into gold? Here are my three answers... 1. The Technical Blow-Off. Gold rose incredibly far, incredibly fast in late 2025. Then it experienced a wild, exuberant blow-off top in January. I don’t care what asset you’re talking about. When you get that powerful a move, with that powerful a technical blow-off, you’re going to get some ugly action afterward. Not to mention a lengthy period of consolidation. 2. The Radical Rate Reversal. It wasn’t that long ago we were talking about more Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026. Now, markets are starting to price in potential rate hikes . And this isn’t a US-only thing. It’s happening in several global markets, too. Long-term yields have surged as well. Investors are worried that higher energy prices will fuel more inflation - while spiraling war-related costs will necessitate more government bond issuance. Since gold yields nothing, higher yields on other assets can increase competition for funds. That puts downward pressure on gold. 3. The Scramble for Cash. Look at all markets in March. Stocks have been selling off. Bonds have been selling off. Gold has been selling off. That smacks of derisking and deleverag...
Cricket is turning into serious business in India. A $1.8 billion franchise deal underscores how the Indian Premier League is evolving into an investable asset class, drawing in firms like Blackstone. (Source: Bloomberg)
Cricket is turning into serious business in India. A $1.8 billion franchise deal underscores how the Indian Premier League is evolving into an investable asset class, drawing in firms like Blackstone. (Source: Bloomberg)