One of China’s largest regular buyers of Venezuelan crude is making bids for Canadian cargoes as a replacement, after US intervention in the Latin American country upended global flows and lifted prices. Shandong Chambroad Petrochemicals Co. has offered to buy Canadian Cold Lake oil at a discount of about $5 a barrel to ICE Brent on a delivered basis to China for May, according to people familiar ...
One of China’s largest regular buyers of Venezuelan crude is making bids for Canadian cargoes as a replacement, after US intervention in the Latin American country upended global flows and lifted prices. Shandong Chambroad Petrochemicals Co. has offered to buy Canadian Cold Lake oil at a discount of about $5 a barrel to ICE Brent on a delivered basis to China for May, according to people familiar with the deal, who asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak to the media. No deal has yet been agreed. Recent deals of the grade were closed with Chinese buyers at discounts of about $4 a barrel to ICE Brent, traders said. Chambroad did not respond to an email seeking comment and calls to the company were unanswered. The private refiner’s bid comes as China explores alternatives to Venezuela’s Merey, a heavy crude that previously traded at deep discounts due to US sanctions. Since Trump’s blockade and the seizure of dark-fleet tankers involved in ferrying the country’s oil, China-bound flows have dwindled , with Western traders moving shipments to Europe and the Caribbean. They have also offered supplies to Asia at much narrower discounts. Prior to the US action, when Venezuelan oil was sold via a clandestine network, barrels were offered to Chinese refiners at discounts as wide as $15 a barrel. Aside from privately-owned Chambroad, other regular Chinese buyers of Venezuela crude including Shandong Dongming Petroleum & Chemical Group and Sinochem Hongrun Petrochemical Co .
Robert Buchel/iStock Editorial via Getty Images President Donald Trump said the U.S. is decertifying all aircraft made in Canada, including Bombardier Global Expresses, and threatened a 50% tariff on those planes until the country certifies jets made by General Dynamics ( GD )-owned Gulfstream. "Canada has wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly refused to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and ...
Robert Buchel/iStock Editorial via Getty Images President Donald Trump said the U.S. is decertifying all aircraft made in Canada, including Bombardier Global Expresses, and threatened a 50% tariff on those planes until the country certifies jets made by General Dynamics ( GD )-owned Gulfstream. "Canada has wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly refused to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 Jets," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Canada is effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through this very same certification process." "If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a 50% Tariff on any and all Aircraft sold into the United States of America," he added. Bombardier said it'd taken note of Trump's announcement and is in contact with the Canadian government. "We hope this is quickly resolved to avoid a significant impact to air traffic and the flying public." Trump was not suggesting decertifying Canadian-made planes that are currently in operation, a White House official told Reuters . If Trump were to follow through on his threat, it would significantly impact U.S. carriers such as American Airlines ( AAL ) and Delta Air Lines ( DAL ), which rely on Canadian-built planes for their regional services. There are 150 Global Express aircraft and 5,425 total Canadian-made planes in service registered in the U.S., according to data provider Cirium. IAM, a union representing over 600,000 machinists and aerospace workers, condemned Trump's threat. "Any attempt to revoke or cancel certifications for political reasons would almost certainly result in prolonged legal battles, creating uncertainty and instability that would directly threaten jobs, investment, and confidence in the aviation system across North America." More on Bombardier, General Dynamics General Dynamics Can Still Shoot Higher From Here Bombardier: Strong Growth, But Valuation Risk Is Rising (Rating Downgrade) Bombardier downgra...
UK mortgage approvals unexpectedly fell in December, suggesting the housing market entered 2026 in a cautious mode. Banks and building societies authorized 61,013 home loans, down from 64,072 in November and the lowest since June 2024, the Bank of England said Friday. Economists had expected a modest increase to 64,900 on average. The figures also showed consumers borrowed an extra £1.5 billion ($...
UK mortgage approvals unexpectedly fell in December, suggesting the housing market entered 2026 in a cautious mode. Banks and building societies authorized 61,013 home loans, down from 64,072 in November and the lowest since June 2024, the Bank of England said Friday. Economists had expected a modest increase to 64,900 on average. The figures also showed consumers borrowed an extra £1.5 billion ($2.8 billion) of unsecured debt. The figure was down from an unusually high £2.1 billion in November and below the average of the previous six months. Households deposited £4.8 billion in December, down from £8.8 billion the month before, BOE figures also showed. Speculation about property tax rises had a dampening effect on the UK housing market in the run-up to the Nov. 26 budget. In the event, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves limited the pain to the most expensive homes and delayed broader taxes on households until later in the parliament.
Thu Lan Nguyen, Commerzbank's commodity and FX research head, discusses market positioning in light of Kevin Warsh's possible nomination as next chair of the Federal Reserve. Asked whether this could change the view on gold, Thu Lan Nguyen says "not yet," adding that markets are doubting whether Warsh will be "as low as someone like Kevin Hassett." Speaking on Bloomberg Television, she says: "Trum...
Thu Lan Nguyen, Commerzbank's commodity and FX research head, discusses market positioning in light of Kevin Warsh's possible nomination as next chair of the Federal Reserve. Asked whether this could change the view on gold, Thu Lan Nguyen says "not yet," adding that markets are doubting whether Warsh will be "as low as someone like Kevin Hassett." Speaking on Bloomberg Television, she says: "Trump has made relatively clear what he wants from a new Fed chair and if that Fed chair doesn't deliver the attacks on the Fed are unlikely to subside." (Source: Bloomberg)
ozgurdonmaz/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Apple ( AAPL ) is prioritizing manufacturing and shipment of its three highest-end iPhone models for 2026 while delaying the launch of its standard model because of a marketing strategy shift and supply-chain constraints, Nikkei Asia reported, citing four people familiar with the matter. The company will focus on delivering its first-ever foldable i...
ozgurdonmaz/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Apple ( AAPL ) is prioritizing manufacturing and shipment of its three highest-end iPhone models for 2026 while delaying the launch of its standard model because of a marketing strategy shift and supply-chain constraints, Nikkei Asia reported, citing four people familiar with the matter. The company will focus on delivering its first-ever foldable iPhone and two non-folding models with upgraded cameras and larger displays for a flagship launch in the second half of 2026. However, the standard iPhone 18 is now scheduled to ship in the first half of 2027, the report added . Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha. The measures are aimed at optimizing resources and maximizing revenue and profits from premium devices amid the growing cost of memory chips and materials. The move also intends to minimize manufacturing risks tied to the more complex industrial techniques for Apple's first foldable device, the report noted. "Supply chain smoothness is one of the key challenges for this year, and the marketing strategy change also played a part in the decision (to prioritize premium models)," an executive at an iPhone supplier familiar with the plan told the news outlet. On Thursday, Apple reported fiscal first quarter results that beat analysts' estimates, driven by record-breaking iPhone sales. More on Apple Apple Inc. (AAPL) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Apple: The Supercycle Is Real (Rating Upgrade) Apple's Q1: The Quarter That Most Positively Surprised Me So Far (Upgrade) Apple projects 13%-16% revenue growth for March quarter as iPhone demand drives record results Apple edges up after Q1 revenue jumps 16% on record iPhone sales
ozgurdonmaz/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Apple ( AAPL ) is prioritizing manufacturing and shipment of its three highest-end iPhone models for 2026 while delaying the launch of its standard model because of a marketing strategy shift and supply-chain constraints, Nikkei Asia reported, citing four people familiar with the matter. The company will focus on delivering its first-ever foldable i...
ozgurdonmaz/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Apple ( AAPL ) is prioritizing manufacturing and shipment of its three highest-end iPhone models for 2026 while delaying the launch of its standard model because of a marketing strategy shift and supply-chain constraints, Nikkei Asia reported, citing four people familiar with the matter. The company will focus on delivering its first-ever foldable iPhone and two non-folding models with upgraded cameras and larger displays for a flagship launch in the second half of 2026. However, the standard iPhone 18 is now scheduled to ship in the first half of 2027, the report added . Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha. The measures are aimed at optimizing resources and maximizing revenue and profits from premium devices amid the growing cost of memory chips and materials. The move also intends to minimize manufacturing risks tied to the more complex industrial techniques for Apple's first foldable device, the report noted. "Supply chain smoothness is one of the key challenges for this year, and the marketing strategy change also played a part in the decision (to prioritize premium models)," an executive at an iPhone supplier familiar with the plan told the news outlet. On Thursday, Apple reported fiscal first quarter results that beat analysts' estimates, driven by record-breaking iPhone sales. More on Apple Apple Inc. (AAPL) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Apple: The Supercycle Is Real (Rating Upgrade) Apple's Q1: The Quarter That Most Positively Surprised Me So Far (Upgrade) Apple projects 13%-16% revenue growth for March quarter as iPhone demand drives record results Apple edges up after Q1 revenue jumps 16% on record iPhone sales
Tate Modern in London is opening the largest ever exhibition celebrating Tracey Emin’s life’s work, on Friday 27 February. Spanning her extraordinary 40-year practice, A Second Life showcases career-defining works alongside works never exhibited before. Through painting, video textiles, neons, writings, sculpture and installation, Emin continues to challenge boundaries, using the female body as a ...
Tate Modern in London is opening the largest ever exhibition celebrating Tracey Emin’s life’s work, on Friday 27 February. Spanning her extraordinary 40-year practice, A Second Life showcases career-defining works alongside works never exhibited before. Through painting, video textiles, neons, writings, sculpture and installation, Emin continues to challenge boundaries, using the female body as a powerful tool to explore passion, pain and healing. The Guardian is partnering with Tate to deliver an exclusive 2-for-1 ticket offer to Tracey Emin for our readers. Use the code GUARDIAN241 on the Tate website to redeem. Terms and conditions Enter code GUARDIAN241 when booking on Tate’s website or call 020 7887 8888 and quote ‘GUARDIAN241’. This offer is valid to use until Thursday 26 February and available on full-price tickets to the Tracey Emin exhibition between Friday 27 February and Monday 31 August (tickets usually £20 without donation). This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts or promotions. No cash alternatives. Subject to availability. The promoter reserves the right to cancel offers at any time. Ticket offer cannot be used for group bookings.
J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images Investment Thesis This article continues my coverage of the SEI Enhanced US Large Cap Value ETF ( SEIV ), which continues to deliver impressive returns and remains one of the top-ranked large-cap value funds in my fundamentals-driven ETF scoring system. As I discussed in November , SEIV isn't a single-factor fund, and that's evident when evaluating its fund...
J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images Investment Thesis This article continues my coverage of the SEI Enhanced US Large Cap Value ETF ( SEIV ), which continues to deliver impressive returns and remains one of the top-ranked large-cap value funds in my fundamentals-driven ETF scoring system. As I discussed in November , SEIV isn't a single-factor fund, and that's evident when evaluating its fundamentals, as it has above-average exposure to the quality, momentum, and sentiment factors. You also won't find many other funds trading at just 12.29x forward earnings, so in short, SEIV has a lot going for it, and that's why I've decided to assign it a "buy" rating today. Please enjoy the read, and as always, I welcome your questions in the comments section afterward. SEIV Overview My review in November was education-themed, but the main takeaway from a strategy perspective was that SEIV is not a single-factor fund, which I think is crucial to being able to succeed in multiple market environments. There are plenty of large-cap value funds for you to choose from - 149 in my database, to be exact. However, of the ones with ultra-cheap P/E ratios, you'll normally see significant tradeoffs on other factors. I've listed the ten cheapest in the table below plus some relevant fundamental statistics as of January 24, 2026, and this view quickly highlights how SEIV stands out in a good way. The Sunday Investor (ETF Compare Tool / etf-rankings.com) Most ETFs fail the growth test, as they currently own stocks that, in aggregate, have negative earnings growth over the last three years. For the ones that do a little better on growth, you'll notice that their margins are on the low side, they lack exposure to the momentum factor, or their expense ratios are far too high. In contrast, SEIV strikes a nice balance on all measures. Its 0.15% expense ratio is the second-lowest in this group, its 3.86% 3Y EPS CAGR demonstrates some earnings durability, its 19.53% EBIT margins are above ave...
Murmurs around Melbourne Park had been building. That the men’s Australian Open draw had not met expectations in 2026. That matches had been one-sided, and lacking memorable moments. That so-called SinCaraz was a foregone conclusion. That tennis had lost its touch. Murmur no more. In this year’s first match on Rod Laver Arena to go five sets, Carlos Alcaraz leapt off the canvas to outlast Alexande...
Murmurs around Melbourne Park had been building. That the men’s Australian Open draw had not met expectations in 2026. That matches had been one-sided, and lacking memorable moments. That so-called SinCaraz was a foregone conclusion. That tennis had lost its touch. Murmur no more. In this year’s first match on Rod Laver Arena to go five sets, Carlos Alcaraz leapt off the canvas to outlast Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 over five hours and 27 minutes – the third longest match in Australian Open history. It was so long it pushed the second men’s semi-final back more than an hour and left thousands watching on big screens around Melbourne Park. It was filled with more twists and turns than the Great Ocean Road. It was a duel that tossed expectation out the window, and then opened the door and walked out as well. Walk? Carlos Alcaraz wished he could, when he was within a game of the match all the way back in the third set. The Spaniard appeared to be sailing towards victory, but cramping in his legs left him unable to run, swing or serve at full pace, and allowed Zverev a way back. Alcaraz took on fluids and received massages, including in a controversial medical timeout opposed by Zverev, and rediscovered his form. But the German remained focused, and quashed Alcaraz’s revival by staring him down in the fourth set tiebreak and then breaking early in the fifth. All he needed to do was rely on his potent serve and serve it out. Spoiler alert: this was not that kind of match. A now refreshed Alcaraz threw everything at the fading German. At 3-2, Zverev saved a break point, but across the net the Spaniard looked the fresher. There was desperation in his voice when Zverev shouted “water” on a change of ends, as Alcaraz – despite trailing – pumped up the crowd with a grin and a fist. At 4-3, Zverev trailed 0-30 again, soon facing one break point, and another. On his haunches between play, somehow he climbed out of the hole, time and again. He landed a c...