TSMC (NYSE:TSM) plans to lift capital expenditures, targeting up to US$56b in 2026 to expand advanced chip production capacity for AI applications. The company is increasing its dividend by 20%, signaling a larger cash return to shareholders alongside the expanded investment plan. These moves are intended to support growing AI chip demand and deepen relationships with leading technology customers ...
TSMC (NYSE:TSM) plans to lift capital expenditures, targeting up to US$56b in 2026 to expand advanced chip production capacity for AI applications. The company is increasing its dividend by 20%, signaling a larger cash return to shareholders alongside the expanded investment plan. These moves are intended to support growing AI chip demand and deepen relationships with leading technology customers over the coming years. TSMC sits at the center of global chip manufacturing, producing advanced processors for major technology companies that rely on cutting edge nodes for AI workloads. As AI infrastructure buildouts continue across data centers and edge devices, capacity for high performance chips has become a key constraint for customers that want to scale quickly. For investors looking at NYSE:TSM, the mix of heavier capital spending and a higher dividend highlights the trade off between capacity growth and near term cash returns. The scale and timing of these investments, as well as how efficiently new capacity is used, are likely to be important themes as the AI chip market develops. Stay updated on the most important news stories for by adding it to your or . Alternatively, explore our to discover new perspectives on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. NYSE:TSM 1-Year Stock Price Chart For you as a shareholder or potential investor, the decision to commit up to US$56b of capex while also lifting the dividend by 20% signals that TSMC is leaning into the AI buildout rather than treating it as a short term spike in demand. Management is backing this with guidance that includes around 30% expected sales growth in 2026 and a 25% revenue CAGR target through 2029, so the news ties directly into a thesis that AI related high performance computing could remain a core earnings driver for several years. Advertisement Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing narrative, reinforced by AI demand This update fits neatly with the existing narrative of TSMC as the central manufacturing par...
Ben Zweig, founder of Revelio Labs, discusses the impact of AI on the job market with Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on “The Close.” He says AI is unlikely to hurt long-term employment prospects, as new roles continue to emerge. (Source: Bloomberg)
Ben Zweig, founder of Revelio Labs, discusses the impact of AI on the job market with Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on “The Close.” He says AI is unlikely to hurt long-term employment prospects, as new roles continue to emerge. (Source: Bloomberg)
Key Points XRP was originally made to facilitate the transfer of money across international borders. It can probably deal with newly-fragmented financial systems better than legacy money transfer technology can. That doesn't mean its price is going to be rock-solid during turbulence. 10 stocks we like better than XRP › With the world order in the process of rearranging itself, it's obvious that we...
Key Points XRP was originally made to facilitate the transfer of money across international borders. It can probably deal with newly-fragmented financial systems better than legacy money transfer technology can. That doesn't mean its price is going to be rock-solid during turbulence. 10 stocks we like better than XRP › With the world order in the process of rearranging itself, it's obvious that we live in interesting times. The next 20 years will see the global economy change dramatically, and the power relations of the countries of the world are guaranteed to change a lot too. But, as I'm sure you're eager to know, how will the ongoing global instability affect XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) specifically? Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Instability can make the bull case stronger One big way that XRP could benefit from a rapidly changing world is by being the infrastructure that the financial systems of the near future use to transfer assets to each other. Cross-border payments are still, for the most part, clunky and expensive. Many banks often rely on correspondent banking, which means they depend on chains of intermediaries that pass funds and messages along, step by step, until funds reach their final destination. Those chains may become disrupted by politics at multiple points, potentially making international payments and money transfers even more cumbersome than before. On the plumbing level, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) routes payments through order books and automated market makers (AMMs), which, in theory, can substantially reduce the friction of moving value between currencies, and thus across borders. So the chain is a potential workaround for a more complicated money transfer path, assuming that happens. Furthermore, assuming Ripple, XRP's issuer, keeps onboarding new payment partners, getting permission to operate in new jurisdictions, and building out its suite of fina...
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) , a rare-earth mining and magnet developer, closed Monday at $26.72, up 7.87%. The stock moved higher after confirmation of a $1.6 billion government-backed funding package. Trading volume reached 121.1 million shares, about 796% above its three-month average of 13.5 million shares. USA Rare Earth IPO'd in 2025 and has grown 44% since going public. The S&P 500 added 0....
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) , a rare-earth mining and magnet developer, closed Monday at $26.72, up 7.87%. The stock moved higher after confirmation of a $1.6 billion government-backed funding package. Trading volume reached 121.1 million shares, about 796% above its three-month average of 13.5 million shares. USA Rare Earth IPO'd in 2025 and has grown 44% since going public. The S&P 500 added 0.50% to finish Monday at 6,950, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.43% to close at 23,601. Within rare-earth mining and magnet manufacturing, industry peers MP Materials closed at $63.44 (-8.83%) and Lithium Americas finished at $5.98 (-7.14%) as investors rotated toward newly funded domestic projects. USA Rare Earth confirmed it would receive roughly $1.6 billion from the U.S. Commerce Department in a debt-and-equity deal that’ll see the U.S. take a 10% minority stake in the company. While the deal offers the potential for shareholder dilution , it also signals a major vote of confidence from the U.S. government — and gives it serious financial firepower. Continue reading
Sly Dunbar, prolific legend of reggae, dies aged 73 55 minutes ago Share Save Mark Savage Music correspondent Share Save Getty Images Sly Dunbar is estimated to have played on more than 200,000 recordings Reggae legend Sly Dunbar, who played with everyone from Bob Marley to The Rolling Stones, has died at the age of 73. One of the genre's most revered drummers, he played on tracks such as Bob Marl...
Sly Dunbar, prolific legend of reggae, dies aged 73 55 minutes ago Share Save Mark Savage Music correspondent Share Save Getty Images Sly Dunbar is estimated to have played on more than 200,000 recordings Reggae legend Sly Dunbar, who played with everyone from Bob Marley to The Rolling Stones, has died at the age of 73. One of the genre's most revered drummers, he played on tracks such as Bob Marley's Punky Reggae Party and Dave and Ansell Collins' classic, Double Barrel. However, he was better known as half of the production team Sly & Robbie - who produced groundbreaking hits for everyone from Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru, to non-reggae acts like Bob Dylan, Grace Jones and Ian Dury. Dunbar's death was first reported by his wife, Thelma, who told the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner she had found him unresponsive on Monday morning. The musician's agent and publicist confirmed the news to the BBC. Born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar in Kingston, Jamaica, he started out playing on tin cans, after watching Lloyd Knibbs and the Skatalites on television. "I saw [Knibbs] playing and I thought, 'I want to be a drummer' because he's the hardest worker in the band," he said in a 1997 interview. "He's my idol! In some ways, I'm self-taught but I got a lot of help from other drummers by watching them play." In his teens, Dunbar met bassist Robbie Shakespeare and formed the rhythm section of the Revolutionaries, who became regular session musicians at the famed Channel One recording studio. Their sound differed from the melody-rich music of Bob Marley, with a heavier emphasis on the beat - including the pioneering "rockers" rhythm, which introduced more syncopation and energy to the music. Getty Images Sly and Robbie were one of the most creative and in-demand partnerships in reggae
Y Combinator , the US startup incubator behind companies like DoorDash Inc. , Airbnb Inc. and Coinbase Global Inc. , has removed Canada from a list of countries where it will invest. The San Francisco-based organization made the change in the standard deal terms listed on its website . As recently as Nov. 9, that site said: “We invest in US, Cayman, Singapore and Canada corporations,” according to...
Y Combinator , the US startup incubator behind companies like DoorDash Inc. , Airbnb Inc. and Coinbase Global Inc. , has removed Canada from a list of countries where it will invest. The San Francisco-based organization made the change in the standard deal terms listed on its website . As recently as Nov. 9, that site said: “We invest in US, Cayman, Singapore and Canada corporations,” according to an archived version of the page. But by the end of that month, Canada was missing from the list. The move threatens to further fuel anxiety about Canada’s tech ecosystem, which struggles to compete with the larger and better-funded US market. A number of startups began in Canada only to decamp to the US. Slack, for instance, moved from Vancouver to California, and is now part of San Francisco-based Salesforce Inc. Y Combinator didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The move was first reported by Canadian website the Logic. The change is “not a great signal,” Boris Wertz , a venture capitalist at Version One Ventures in Vancouver, said by phone. Y Combinator had already encouraged Canadian startups to move, according to the investor, who said he’s been in touch with founders who have worked with the incubator. “Now I feel like they’re just tightening that up and saying: ‘Listen, we know what’s better for you. There’s no choice,’” he said. AI companies may have an easier time finding talent and raising money in the San Francisco area, Wertz acknowledged. But the US is “not better for everyone,” he said. “I think you can build amazing companies anywhere.”
Pavel Adashkevich/iStock via Getty Images I was previously a shareholder of Global Net Lease (NYSE: GNL ) in the late 2010s. However, I sold my GNL stock in August 2019 after the company reduced its dividend. While there are some cases where a REIT remains a good investment after a dividend cut, frequently it's a prudent strategy to exit the position once a cut occurs. Because, as it would turn ou...
Pavel Adashkevich/iStock via Getty Images I was previously a shareholder of Global Net Lease (NYSE: GNL ) in the late 2010s. However, I sold my GNL stock in August 2019 after the company reduced its dividend. While there are some cases where a REIT remains a good investment after a dividend cut, frequently it's a prudent strategy to exit the position once a cut occurs. Because, as it would turn out, oftentimes, a REIT that cuts its dividend once ends up cutting again and again in the years to come. Global Net Lease has been one such example, as this chart demonstrates: Data by YCharts The REIT, which formerly paid more than $2/share in dividends annually, has reduced its dividend on various occasions. The dividend has now slipped to just $0.93 per share per year, a more than 50% cumulative reduction. There can be some grace for dividend cuts that occurred during the pandemic, as that event caused unprecedented stress for many real estate tenants. However, it's important to note that the first big dividend cut came back in 2019, prior to the onset of the pandemic. And then, in more recent years, Global Net Lease has further reduced its dividend in late 2023, 2024, and once again early last year. From the continuing pattern of dividend cuts in recent years, it seems that Global Net Lease's issues aren't just a one-time blip tied to the pandemic or near-term economic jitters but rather a sustained downturn in the REIT's operational trajectory. And that has now been well-reflected in GNL's stock price, as shares have lost more than half their value since 2015: Data by YCharts However, the stock has now bounced nearly 50% off the 52-week lows and appears close to breaking out of the long-running downtrend. So, is it time for this former Global Net Lease stockholder to take a second chance with this REIT? I'm not so sure; here's why I'm bearish on Global Net Lease today. Recent Results After stabilizing earlier in 2025, Global Net Lease stock really started to take off ov...
Asian equities were poised to edge higher after gains on Wall Street, with sentiment buoyed ahead of the bulk of the US earnings season. Japanese stocks looked set to lag the region, weighed down by a stronger yen . Equity index futures for Australia and Hong Kong advanced, while those for Japan edged lower. The S&P 500 ended Monday’s session 0.5% higher while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 advanced 0....
Asian equities were poised to edge higher after gains on Wall Street, with sentiment buoyed ahead of the bulk of the US earnings season. Japanese stocks looked set to lag the region, weighed down by a stronger yen . Equity index futures for Australia and Hong Kong advanced, while those for Japan edged lower. The S&P 500 ended Monday’s session 0.5% higher while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 advanced 0.4%. The yen traded near 154 per dollar after gaining around 1% on the greenback amid speculation the US may coordinate intervention with Japan to support the Japanese currency. South Korea’s won will also be closely watched on Tuesday after President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs on goods from South Korea to 25%. A gauge of the dollar fell to the lowest level since 2022 while gold topped $5,000 and silver soared by the most since 2008. Treasuries remained in a narrow range with the Federal Reserve expected to pause its rate cuts. In the US, companies accounting for roughly a third of the S&P 500’s market capitalization report this week, as investors scrutinize whether heavy spending by artificial-intelligence names is beginning to deliver stronger returns. So far, forward guidance has topped expectations at roughly half of the S&P 500 companies that have provided an outlook for 2026, according to an analysis by JPMorgan Chase & Co. “Tech has become more of a show-me story,” said Darrell Cronk , chief investment officer, wealth and investment management at Wells Fargo, which manages $2.3 trillion. “If Big Tech can continue to deliver, I think capital will start flowing in tech’s direction again.” The rising yen remained in focus after comments from Japanese officials fueled speculation that the government may intervene in the market to prevent the currency from resuming its slide. To some, however, the recent rally has partly neutralized the likelihood of intervention. “The dramatic recovery in the yen suggests that actual intervention is not needed,” said Marc Cha...
Dan Niles, founder of Niles Investment Management, says not all AI-related companies will secure funding this year. He tells Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on "The Close" that Google-linked stocks have risen about 20% since late October, while parts of the open-AI ecosystem have fallen roughly 20%.
Dan Niles, founder of Niles Investment Management, says not all AI-related companies will secure funding this year. He tells Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on "The Close" that Google-linked stocks have risen about 20% since late October, while parts of the open-AI ecosystem have fallen roughly 20%.
RealPeopleGroup/E+ via Getty Images Today we resume our Q4 regional bank earnings season with a small player in Parke Bancorp ( PKBK ). It has been about a year since we last covered this name, and we previously rated this a comfortable "Hold," and 2025 was a strong year by all accounts. As we say, a small bank, but a big stock. Take a look at the run in shares over the last year. Data by YCharts ...
RealPeopleGroup/E+ via Getty Images Today we resume our Q4 regional bank earnings season with a small player in Parke Bancorp ( PKBK ). It has been about a year since we last covered this name, and we previously rated this a comfortable "Hold," and 2025 was a strong year by all accounts. As we say, a small bank, but a big stock. Take a look at the run in shares over the last year. Data by YCharts A really nice run here, especially after the stock (along with so many others) fell in the March to April time frame in 2025. A significant portion of the recent returns have come in just the last three months. This has been a big run here for this and many other regional banks. This is because loan demand remains robust and asset quality metrics have held up. We continue to rate PKBK a "Hold," though we did miss this big run. Today we review the performance metrics of the bank to add to the body of evidence that the U.S. economy is doing well. So far we have seen little to no signs of any slowdown in any of the regions we have examined. Let us discuss the just-reported results here . Q4 2025 Performance Well, once again we have another bank report that showed growth, not just from last year but sequentially. Most of the asset quality metrics we follow improved. Margins were up dramatically from a year ago as well, and the bank is one of the most efficient in our coverage universe. From a top-line perspective, there were revenues of $38.2 million, up nicely from a year ago's $34.5 million, and this was up 2.3% from $31.8 million from the sequential Q3. Really excellent results here. We like to quantify loan loss provisions as these offset earnings power. Sharp rises here could signal trouble brewing with the borrower's ability to pay. In Q4, there was a $0.4 million increase in provisions from Q3, which was a small blemish here in the quarter, though the absolute amount is paltry. While it is small overall, it did negatively impact some earnings power. However, the margin p...
Lawyers acting for the wife of the captain of a Venezuela-linked oil tanker captured by US forces in UK waters are calling for a judicial review of his situation, claiming he is being detained unlawfully. The Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella 1, has been in the Moray Firth in recent days. The Moray Firth is a sheltered area of sea between the east Highland coast and the ...
Lawyers acting for the wife of the captain of a Venezuela-linked oil tanker captured by US forces in UK waters are calling for a judicial review of his situation, claiming he is being detained unlawfully. The Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella 1, has been in the Moray Firth in recent days. The Moray Firth is a sheltered area of sea between the east Highland coast and the coasts of Moray and Aberdeenshire. The vessel was captured by US forces earlier this month as it travelled through the waters between Iceland and Scotland. The sanctioned oil tanker had reportedly been pursued across the Atlantic by US forces, after apparently approaching the naval blockade around Venezuela. Lawyers acting for Natia Dzadzama, wife of the vessel’s captain. Avtandil Kalandadze, on Monday lodged a petition at the court of session in Edinburgh calling for a judicial review of his situation. Aamer Anwar, solicitor acting on behalf of Natia Dzadzama, said: “Today we lodged a petition for judicial review of the lawfulness of the detention of Captain Avtandil Kalandadze. “We submit that Natia Dzadzama’s husband, of Georgian nationality, was unlawfully detained and held by the US navy in Scotland since 7 January, on the marine vessel known as the Marinera and formerly known as Bella 1. “The captain’s wife is reasonably concerned about her husband’s safety and security on the ship, and today we are seeking the intervention of the Scottish court of session in order to protect the legal rights of her husband.” The petition submitted to the court alleges that her husband is “unlawfully being held in legal limbo without any recourse to a court or tribunal to vindicate his rights”. Lawyers are seeking an emergency order to prevent the ship and those on board being removed from the jurisdiction of the Scottish court. It is hoped a full hearing will take place in the coming days. During a hearing on Monday evening, Lord Young granted an interim interdict in a restricted for...
Key Takeaways Tesla is slated to post its fourth-quarter results after the closing bell Wednesday, with revenue and profits expected to decline year-over-year. Options pricing suggests traders expect Tesla's stock could move about 5% in either direction by the end of the week. Tesla is set to report its latest financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, with traders anticipating a siza...
Key Takeaways Tesla is slated to post its fourth-quarter results after the closing bell Wednesday, with revenue and profits expected to decline year-over-year. Options pricing suggests traders expect Tesla's stock could move about 5% in either direction by the end of the week. Tesla is set to report its latest financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, with traders anticipating a sizable move from the electric vehicle maker's stock following the results. Options pricing suggests traders expect Tesla's (TSLA) stock could move about 5% in either direction by the end of the week. A shift of that size from Monday's close around $435 could push the stock back up to $459, about 6% off December's record, or drag it down to $412. During the company's earnings call, investors will likely be listening closely to hear what CEO Elon Musk has to say about Tesla's developments in self-driving cars and robotics, which the CEO has previously suggested could eventually become the company's main revenue drivers as its EV sales come under pressure. In an interview at the World Economic Forum last week, Musk said he expects Tesla could start selling its Optimus humanoid robots to the public by the end of next year. Why This Matters to Investors Tesla shares have hit record highs in recent weeks, despite declining vehicle sales, as investors and analysts have focused more on the growth potential of the company's advances with artificial intelligence, self-driving cars, and smart robots. Optimus sales, along with Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software subscriptions, are among the metrics that would need to grow for Musk to earn tranches of stock as part of his newest compensation agreement. Earlier this month, Musk announced that Tesla will only offer FSD software under a recurring subscription starting next month, in a move that could help the company raise subscription revenues. Tesla also recently confirmed it has removed human safety monitors from the front seat of som...
Watch Premier League highlights as Everton's Thierno Barry continues his good run of form with a second-half goal to earn the Toffees a 1-1 draw with Leeds United. MATCH REPORT: Barry earns Everton battling draw with Leeds Available to UK users only.
Watch Premier League highlights as Everton's Thierno Barry continues his good run of form with a second-half goal to earn the Toffees a 1-1 draw with Leeds United. MATCH REPORT: Barry earns Everton battling draw with Leeds Available to UK users only.
Dan Niles, founder of Niles Investment Management, says not all AI-related companies will secure funding this year. He tells Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on “The Close” that Google-linked stocks have risen about 20% since late October, while parts of the open-AI ecosystem have fallen roughly 20%. (Source: Bloomberg)
Dan Niles, founder of Niles Investment Management, says not all AI-related companies will secure funding this year. He tells Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on “The Close” that Google-linked stocks have risen about 20% since late October, while parts of the open-AI ecosystem have fallen roughly 20%. (Source: Bloomberg)
Alphabet had an excellent year in 2025, but 2026 is not yet a given. After a strong 2025, Alphabet (GOOGL +1.60%) (GOOG +1.53%) enters 2026 from a position of confidence. Artificial intelligence (AI) transitioned from narrative to real deployment, Google Cloud gained traction, and the company demonstrated that its core businesses continue to scale profitably. But for long-term investors, the bar n...
Alphabet had an excellent year in 2025, but 2026 is not yet a given. After a strong 2025, Alphabet (GOOGL +1.60%) (GOOG +1.53%) enters 2026 from a position of confidence. Artificial intelligence (AI) transitioned from narrative to real deployment, Google Cloud gained traction, and the company demonstrated that its core businesses continue to scale profitably. But for long-term investors, the bar now rises. This year is no longer about vision. It's about proof. Alphabet needs to demonstrate that its biggest strategic bets can yield durable economic benefits. In particular, three execution challenges will define whether Alphabet compounds smoothly through the next decade -- or delivers more muted returns despite technological leadership. 1. AI must lift monetization, not just engagement. Alphabet has successfully embedded AI across its products, including Search and YouTube. That achievement answered one critical question: Google can operate at scale in an AI-first world. However, 2026 introduces a more challenging test -- can AI meaningfully improve monetization? Particularly, generative AI changes user behavior. Users receive answers faster, click less frequently, and complete tasks directly within interfaces. That improves satisfaction, but it also threatens the traditional ad-driven model built on queries, links, and impressions. Alphabet must demonstrate that AI-enhanced experiences enhance the value of user intent, rather than diluting it. The company has levers to pull. Better contextual understanding can improve ad relevance. Richer intent signals can raise conversion rates. New formats can command higher pricing. But none of that is guaranteed. If AI merely preserves engagement while reducing monetizable surfaces, Alphabet risks slower revenue growth, even as usage remains strong. In 2026, investors should focus less on AI adoption metrics and more on outcomes, such as revenue per user, advertiser ROI, and margin stability. Engagement alone will not sustain A...