Finding a job is hard right now, especially for young people starting their careers. NPR's Adrian Ma spoke with college students and an economist about navigating today's tough job market.
Finding a job is hard right now, especially for young people starting their careers. NPR's Adrian Ma spoke with college students and an economist about navigating today's tough job market.
Protesters from the Iranian diaspora in the U.S. gathered in Washington, D.C. as the war in the Middle East broadens. Many say they are aligned with the U.S. and Israel and explain why they want to see regime change in Tehran.
Protesters from the Iranian diaspora in the U.S. gathered in Washington, D.C. as the war in the Middle East broadens. Many say they are aligned with the U.S. and Israel and explain why they want to see regime change in Tehran.
Despite being a major energy exporter, Australia relies heavily on imported refined fuel to power transport, agriculture and other parts of its economy, leaving it highly exposed to disruptions in global supply chains. That dependence is now under sharper scrutiny after US and Israeli strikes on Iran led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and fuel shipment...
Despite being a major energy exporter, Australia relies heavily on imported refined fuel to power transport, agriculture and other parts of its economy, leaving it highly exposed to disruptions in global supply chains. That dependence is now under sharper scrutiny after US and Israeli strikes on Iran led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and fuel shipments. With some deliveries to Australia already canceled and warnings that supplies could tighten significantly by May if the conflict drags on, questions are mounting over how prepared the country is for a prolonged shock. Where does Australia get its fuel from? While Australia is one of the world’s largest mining nations and fossil fuel exporters, it relies heavily on imported oil products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel and kerosene (jet fuel) for transport, mining, defense, agriculture and aviation. In 2025, more than 80% of refined fuel consumed in Australia was imported, mostly from Asia; 25% came from South Korea, 13% from Malaysia, 8% each from India and Taiwan, and 7% from China. Much of the fuel coming from Asia is refined using crude oil sourced from the Middle East. Australia does have some oil reserves, mostly off the coast of Western Australia, but supply is limited and production has been declining for more than two decades due to aging oil fields and high costs compared with imports. In 2000, Australia was able to meet about 98% of its petroleum product needs thanks to high domestic production of crude processed by eight domestic refineries. By 2025, crude output had fallen to 5.6% of demand, and after the closure of six refineries, the remaining two provided just 17% of the country’s refined petroleum products, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The institute says Australia now has the world’s largest trade deficit in refined petroleum products. Australia has just two oil refineries left in operation — one in Victoria and...
Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR) has been one of the market's top performers since the AI investment trend began in 2023. If you purchased $10,000 worth of its shares at the start of 2023 and held on, that stake would now be worth nearly $223,000. However, as of the close on Friday, the stock had also declined by 31% from the high it set in November. The question is, is this decline a healthy correction or...
Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR) has been one of the market's top performers since the AI investment trend began in 2023. If you purchased $10,000 worth of its shares at the start of 2023 and held on, that stake would now be worth nearly $223,000. However, as of the close on Friday, the stock had also declined by 31% from the high it set in November. The question is, is this decline a healthy correction or a sign of things to come? Image source: The Motley Fool. Palantir's association with AI harkens back to its initial software, which used AI to process data quickly and provide decision-makers with insights on what they should do next. This software originally was designed for use by intelligence agencies and the military, but eventually, the company expanded into the commercial side of things. Over the years, Palantir has adopted and integrated generative AI into its products, and its platforms have become some of the most common tools that governments and companies alike are using to harness the power of AI. Continue reading
Marsupial escaped from enclosure at Wisconsin’s Sunshine Farm on Wednesday after he was spooked by stray dogs How does a kangaroo escape a petting zoo? It’s not the opening line to a dad joke. If you’re Chesney the kangaroo, you scale an 8ft (2.5-meter) fence and go on the lam for three days, giving your keeper sleepless nights and sending residents of a small Wisconsin town on a search that would...
Marsupial escaped from enclosure at Wisconsin’s Sunshine Farm on Wednesday after he was spooked by stray dogs How does a kangaroo escape a petting zoo? It’s not the opening line to a dad joke. If you’re Chesney the kangaroo, you scale an 8ft (2.5-meter) fence and go on the lam for three days, giving your keeper sleepless nights and sending residents of a small Wisconsin town on a search that would end happily on Saturday. Continue reading...
peshkov A report from Seth Basham of Wedbush Securities argues that financial markets are increasingly being shaped by elevated interest rates and energy volatility, forcing investors to adopt a more selective approach to equities. In the March 29 report, Basham highlights the rising cost of capital as the dominant force influencing valuations, noting that “the cost of capital is the governing con...
peshkov A report from Seth Basham of Wedbush Securities argues that financial markets are increasingly being shaped by elevated interest rates and energy volatility, forcing investors to adopt a more selective approach to equities. In the March 29 report, Basham highlights the rising cost of capital as the dominant force influencing valuations, noting that “the cost of capital is the governing constraint.” With the 10-year Treasury yield above 4.4% and limited expectations for rate cuts, he suggests that investors must adjust to a structurally higher discount rate environment that is weighing on equity multiples. The report points to growing stress in credit markets, particularly in private credit tied to the software sector. Basham warns that technological disruption from artificial intelligence could erode traditional business advantages, undermining borrowers’ ability to service debt. According to the report, the combination of weakening fundamentals and a wave of maturities due between 2028 and 2031 could make refinancing more difficult. At the same time, market signals are flashing caution. Elevated bond market volatility is limiting equity upside, while narrowing market breadth suggests fewer stocks are driving performance. The report notes that these conditions differ from past cycles, when central banks had more flexibility to support markets with rate cuts. Rate hikes are possible Geopolitical risks tied to energy markets also play a central role in Basham’s outlook. The report outlines multiple scenarios, ranging from a relatively quick stabilization in oil prices to a severe escalation that could push crude above $120 a barrel and trigger further rate hikes. Each scenario carries different implications for sector positioning, with technology and cyclicals favored in a benign environment, and energy and defensive assets preferred in more adverse outcomes. Despite the cautious tone, Basham notes that volatility tied to election cycles could ultimately creat...
We're not used to so many things going wrong at the same time, especially when, as the days go on, they can't suddenly go right. Moreover, we can't process something that seems unfathomable — a short war —when the calendar says it's no longer short. We also can't adjust to the notion that no matter what we do —as in the United States and the Israelis as allies — we can't defeat what we thought was...
We're not used to so many things going wrong at the same time, especially when, as the days go on, they can't suddenly go right. Moreover, we can't process something that seems unfathomable — a short war —when the calendar says it's no longer short. We also can't adjust to the notion that no matter what we do —as in the United States and the Israelis as allies — we can't defeat what we thought was a country in Iran with limited war-making abilities. The efforts we have made, the bombings we've delivered, and the brazen assassinations the Israelis have wrought, seems to have emboldened the opposition, leaving us to think Iran can create limitless damage. Oh, and the 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields are marching higher — with some, if not all, those gains related to concerns that disruptions to the impossibly complex supply chain beginning in the Gulf will rekindle inflation. Higher rates means the pain from the war has spread from the directly impacted to pretty much everyone. The exception, of course, is the oil companies that get a free ride off the hostilities. Makes you want to own Chevron , ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil , plus a couple of robust domestic oil and gas companies and nothing else. It's a great time to be a hedge fund, an awful time to be a long-only investor, and a truly miserable time to run a charitable trust, hamstrung by no ability to short stocks, limited ability to take quick, evasive action — If I mention a stock on TV, we can't trade it for 72 hours — and no desire to raise cash beyond the incredibly high 15% level we had last week. US10Y YTD mountain The 10-year Treasury yield in 2026. The war in Iran began Feb. 28, and the spike in yields coincides with that date. Plus, the fluidity of the situation is completely unnerving. Initially, with the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders and the laying to waste of Iran's missile and drone capacity, a short war seemed on the table. We heard endlessly about how our militar...
For a Japanese company, few marketing moves deliver more impact than tapping into Shohei Ohtani ’s star power — and Uniqlo is doing exactly that through a sponsorship with his team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fast Retailing Co. , the parent of Uniqlo, struck a landmark deal with the Major League Baseball franchise that will bring the apparel retailer’s red-and-white logo to the newly rebadged Uniqlo...
For a Japanese company, few marketing moves deliver more impact than tapping into Shohei Ohtani ’s star power — and Uniqlo is doing exactly that through a sponsorship with his team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fast Retailing Co. , the parent of Uniqlo, struck a landmark deal with the Major League Baseball franchise that will bring the apparel retailer’s red-and-white logo to the newly rebadged Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. Financial terms weren’t disclosed, though the Los Angeles Times reported that the five-year agreement is worth $125 million. The alliance is an almost perfect match, leveraging US and Japanese fans’ fascination with the multiple-MVP batter and pitcher. It also advances Fast Retailing founder Tadashi Yanai ’s ambition to conquer the North American market, giving the brand prominent visibility with displays high above center field, near the press box and along the baselines. “Ohtani will have a huge impact in lifting brand recognition,” said Shun Tanaka , an analyst at Phillip Securities Japan Ltd. “Although Uniqlo is doing very well in the US, there are still many places, especially outside major cities, where it isn’t recognized.” Read More: Uniqlo’s Billionaire Founder Aims to Conquer Middle America The Dodgers partnership underscores Uniqlo’s broader push into the world’s biggest apparel market, where Fast Retailing generates less than 10% of its ¥3.4 trillion ($23 billion) in annual revenue but sees its strongest growth potential. While the brand is ubiquitous in Japan and much of Asia, it still trails global rivals such as Zara owner Inditex SA in both size and recognition. With 77 US stores — just 3% of its 2,543 Uniqlo locations worldwide — the retailer has ample room to expand. “For everyone at Uniqlo, this is a dream partnership,” Yanai said in a statement. “Like the Dodgers, Uniqlo aims to be No. 1 in the world.” The sponsorship is also the first of its kind for the Dodgers, which have long resisted selling full naming rights to one of the...
Claiming Social Security while you continue to work seems like a surefire way to increase your monthly income and maybe improve your standard of living. But the reality is, it can make your finances more complicated. There are two little-known Social Security rules that could leave you with less than you'd anticipated. Here's what you need to know to decide if working and claiming benefits is the ...
Claiming Social Security while you continue to work seems like a surefire way to increase your monthly income and maybe improve your standard of living. But the reality is, it can make your finances more complicated. There are two little-known Social Security rules that could leave you with less than you'd anticipated. Here's what you need to know to decide if working and claiming benefits is the right move for you. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading