Spot gold prices broke through two key levels on Jan. 26, surpassing the $5,000 per ounce mark on Monday morning before hitting a historic high of $5,111.17 per ounce. Photo: VCG Gold surged to a record above $5,100 an ounce Monday, capping a six-day rally fueled by mounting geopolitical tensions and bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve will maintain a dovish stance. Spot gold in London pierced the ...
Spot gold prices broke through two key levels on Jan. 26, surpassing the $5,000 per ounce mark on Monday morning before hitting a historic high of $5,111.17 per ounce. Photo: VCG Gold surged to a record above $5,100 an ounce Monday, capping a six-day rally fueled by mounting geopolitical tensions and bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve will maintain a dovish stance. Spot gold in London pierced the $5,000 threshold early in Asian trading, then climbed to an intraday high of $5,111.17 by afternoon. The rally has gathered steam amid renewed investor enthusiasm for gold as a hedge against inflation, dollar weakness and ballooning U.S. fiscal risks under the current administration. But analysts are voicing growing concerns that the rally may be overheating.
PARETO/E+ via Getty Images Vestas Wind Systems ( VWDRY ) and Ørsted ( DNNGY ) +7.3% and +1.6% in European trading, respectively, after a group of European countries pledged to deliver 100 GW of offshore wind power in the North Sea through large-scale joint projects . An agreement will be signed at the North Sea Summit by Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the...
PARETO/E+ via Getty Images Vestas Wind Systems ( VWDRY ) and Ørsted ( DNNGY ) +7.3% and +1.6% in European trading, respectively, after a group of European countries pledged to deliver 100 GW of offshore wind power in the North Sea through large-scale joint projects . An agreement will be signed at the North Sea Summit by Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway. U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the agreement will transform the North Sea into the world’s largest "clean energy reservoir" and ehance energy security in an era of global instability. Ørsted ( DNNGY ) said the deal would turn the North Sea into the "green power plant of Europe,," while government plans for more investment predictability, a de-risked investment framework, and coordinated buildout plan will help lower the cost of electricity from offshore wind by 30% toward 2040. North Sea countries already had promised to build 300 GW of offshore wind in the North Sea by 2050 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. More on Vestas Wind Systems and Ørsted Vestas Wind Systems: A Play On Wind Recovery Vestas: The Good News And The Bad News Orsted: The ADR Disconnect 'HOLD'/Rotate Rating Was Correct (Rating Upgrade)
Newmont's gold-mining stock looks cheap. Scotiabank thinks you should buy it. Newmont Corporation (NEM +3.57%) stock jumped 2.6% through 11:35 a.m. ET Monday after investment bank Scotiabank raised its price target on the mining stock a whopping 33%, to $152 per share, with an outperform rating (i.e., buy). Why Scotiabank loves Newmont stock Gold prices surged past the $5,000 mark this morning, hi...
Newmont's gold-mining stock looks cheap. Scotiabank thinks you should buy it. Newmont Corporation (NEM +3.57%) stock jumped 2.6% through 11:35 a.m. ET Monday after investment bank Scotiabank raised its price target on the mining stock a whopping 33%, to $152 per share, with an outperform rating (i.e., buy). Why Scotiabank loves Newmont stock Gold prices surged past the $5,000 mark this morning, hitting $5,070.70 per ounce at last report. The price of this shiny metal is up more than 83% over the past year -- and indeed, up more than 17% just so far this year! That's obviously good for a gold mining stock like Newmont, and Scotiabank says it is updating its price targets for all gold and precious minerals stocks it covers, in response to the high-flying prices, as TheFly.com reports today. In other news, Reuters reports today that Newmont rival Barrick Mining (B +3.39%) is trying to spin off its North American assets. Newmont has the right of first refusal to buy the rest of Barrick's Nevada Gold Mines project, which is Barrick's main North American asset -- and already 38.5%-owned by Newmont. Theoretically at least, Newmont's take in the asset could empower it to prevent Barrick's spinoff (impeding a rival) -- or to buy the asset if it wants it. Expand NYSE : NEM Newmont Today's Change ( 3.57 %) $ 4.44 Current Price $ 128.75 Key Data Points Market Cap $136B Day's Range $ 125.83 - $ 129.24 52wk Range $ 40.84 - $ 129.24 Volume 318K Avg Vol 9.6M Gross Margin 45.63 % Dividend Yield 0.80 % Is Newmont stock a buy? Newmont's doing just fine as-is, by the way. Last quarter alone, the company's revenue shot up 20% -- and its earnings nearly doubled. With the stock trading under 20 times earnings, and earnings expected to grow more than 58% annually over the next five years, Newmont is in an excellent position to profit from the skyrocketing price of gold, whether or not it buys the rest of Barrick's Nevada property. Investors in Newmont stock should do quite well, also.
Asylum seeker guilty of raping woman, 18, in park 18 minutes ago Share Save Share Save PA Media Sheraz Malik was convicted by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court An asylum seeker has been found guilty of two counts of raping an 18-year-old woman in a park in Nottinghamshire. A trial at Birmingham Crown Court heard the woman had been drinking at Sutton Lawn park in Sutton-in-Ashfield when she was atta...
Asylum seeker guilty of raping woman, 18, in park 18 minutes ago Share Save Share Save PA Media Sheraz Malik was convicted by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court An asylum seeker has been found guilty of two counts of raping an 18-year-old woman in a park in Nottinghamshire. A trial at Birmingham Crown Court heard the woman had been drinking at Sutton Lawn park in Sutton-in-Ashfield when she was attacked by Sheraz Malik, shortly after being raped by another man he was with. Malik, 28, had claimed the sex was consensual, but the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on two counts of rape and a not guilty verdict on a third. It can be now reported that Malik is an asylum seeker who was born in Pakistan and lived in Italy, Germany and France before coming to the UK. Judge Simon Ash KC adjourned the case for a mention hearing on 6 February so a date for sentencing Malik - who lived at an address in Bath Street in Sutton-in-Ashfield at the time - could be fixed. A reporting restriction was put in place at Nottingham Crown Court in September last year, preventing any mention of the defendant's immigration status until the trial had concluded. The case had prompted protests in the town after Lee Anderson, Reform UK MP for Ashfield, posted about it on social media. After highlighting the suspect's background on his Facebook and X accounts, demonstrators gathered in the town to demand tighter rules on immigration. Counter-protesters also turned out, but Nottinghamshire Live reported these were outnumbered. Protests related to the case were held last summer Warning: This article includes details that some readers may find distressing Prosecution counsel Nicholas Corsellis KC previously told the court the woman had been drinking at the park with a male friend, and was drunk when she met Malik and a group of other men, who she had never seen before. Her friend asked the group to "look after" her while he went to meet another friend and one of Malik's associates took the woman to...
When markets feel unsettled, investors often turn to short-term Treasury funds to steady their portfolios.The Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF and the Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF play similar roles, but the details matter when investors are forced to rely on them. Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH +0.02%) and Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHO) both target short-term U...
When markets feel unsettled, investors often turn to short-term Treasury funds to steady their portfolios.The Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF and the Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF play similar roles, but the details matter when investors are forced to rely on them. Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH +0.02%) and Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHO) both target short-term U.S. Treasury bonds, sharing a 0.03% expense ratio, but SCHO offers a marginally higher yield and slightly lower beta, while VGSH carries more assets under management. Both funds aim to deliver income with low risk by focusing on high-quality U.S. Treasuries, which makes them both staples for conservative fixed income investors. This ETF comparison highlights differences in cost, yield, risk profile, and portfolio construction. Snapshot (cost & size) Metric VGSH SCHO Issuer Vanguard Schwab Expense ratio 0.03% 0.03% 1-yr return (as of 2026-01-23) 0.8% 4.92% Dividend yield 4.95% 4.06% Beta 0.26 0.26 AUM $30.38 billion $12.37 billion Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The one-year return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Both funds are equally affordable in terms of fees, but SCHO may appeal to income-focused investors with its marginally higher dividend yield. Performance & risk comparison Metric VGSH SCHO Max drawdown (5 y) (5.69%) (5.71%) Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $953 $948 What's inside Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF holds 98 positions, mostly in cash and short-dated Treasuries, with a small tilt toward communication services and technology. Its top holdings include Treasury Note (T 0.23%) at 3.45%, Treasury Note (WIT +0.78%) at 1.15%, and Ssc Government Mm Gvmxx (NASDAQ:GVMXX) at 0.10%. With a fund age of 15.5 years, SCHO is a well-established option for those seeking short-duration U.S. government exposure. Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF is similarly focused, holding 93 U....
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 9 a.m. ET Call participants Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and President — Kathy Warden Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Ken Crews Vice President, Investor Relations — Todd Ernst Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Takeaways Backlog -- $91.5 billion at year-end, a record level, with a b...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 9 a.m. ET Call participants Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and President — Kathy Warden Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Ken Crews Vice President, Investor Relations — Todd Ernst Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Takeaways Backlog -- $91.5 billion at year-end, a record level, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.23 times, aided by key program wins such as TACOMO and LRIP lot two of B-21. -- $91.5 billion at year-end, a record level, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.23 times, aided by key program wins such as TACOMO and LRIP lot two of B-21. International book-to-bill -- 1.4 times for the year, supported by $900 million in bookings including Poland’s IBCS system. -- 1.4 times for the year, supported by $900 million in bookings including Poland’s IBCS system. Full-year sales -- $41 billion, up 4.4% with growth in three of four segments. -- $41 billion, up 4.4% with growth in three of four segments. Organic sales growth (five-year) -- 30% top-line growth over five years, with 2024 growth exceeding 4%. -- 30% top-line growth over five years, with 2024 growth exceeding 4%. Segment operating margin rate -- 11.1% for the year, driven by operational efficiencies; segment operating income over $4.5 billion. -- 11.1% for the year, driven by operational efficiencies; segment operating income over $4.5 billion. Free cash flow -- Over $2.6 billion for 2024, increasing 25% year over year, reaching the high end of guidance. -- Over $2.6 billion for 2024, increasing 25% year over year, reaching the high end of guidance. Mark-to-market adjusted EPS -- $26.08 in 2024, above the high end of prior guidance; aided by higher net pension income and lower share count. -- $26.08 in 2024, above the high end of prior guidance; aided by higher net pension income and lower share count. Q4 and full-year new awards -- $17.3 billion in Q4 and approximately $51 billion in the year, increasing ...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. ET Call participants Chairman — Stephen Hemsley Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare — Timothy Noel Chief Executive Officer, Optum — Patrick Conway Chief Financial Officer — Wayne DeVeydt Chief Operating Officer, Optum Health — Krista Nelson Chief Executive Officer, Optum Insight — Sandeep Dadlani President, UnitedHealthcar...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. ET Call participants Chairman — Stephen Hemsley Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare — Timothy Noel Chief Executive Officer, Optum — Patrick Conway Chief Financial Officer — Wayne DeVeydt Chief Operating Officer, Optum Health — Krista Nelson Chief Executive Officer, Optum Insight — Sandeep Dadlani President, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual — Dan Schumacher Senior Vice President, UnitedHealthcare — Robert Hunter Takeaways Adjusted earnings per share -- $2.92, slightly above internal expectations for the period. -- $2.92, slightly above internal expectations for the period. Revenue -- Over $113 billion, representing 12% year-over-year growth, driven by net domestic membership increases of more than 780,000 lives year-to-date. -- Over $113 billion, representing 12% year-over-year growth, driven by net domestic membership increases of more than 780,000 lives year-to-date. Medical care ratio -- 89.9% versus 85.2% in the prior-year quarter, with full-year tracking toward the lower end of previous guidance. -- 89.9% versus 85.2% in the prior-year quarter, with full-year tracking toward the lower end of previous guidance. Operating cost ratio -- 13.5%, reflecting increased technology and employee investments, notably $450 million in broad-based employee incentives and UnitedHealth Foundation contributions. -- 13.5%, reflecting increased technology and employee investments, notably $450 million in broad-based employee incentives and UnitedHealth Foundation contributions. Domestic membership -- Ended the quarter with over 50 million members. -- Ended the quarter with over 50 million members. Operating cash flow -- $5.9 billion in the quarter, with year-end expectation of $16 billion or 1.1x net income. -- $5.9 billion in the quarter, with year-end expectation of $16 billion or 1.1x net income. Debt-to-capital ratio -- 44.1% due to the $3.4 billion Amedisys acquisition in the quarter; targeted to...
British lawmaker Suella Braverman, a former home secretary, became the latest prominent Conservative to join Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK on Monday, and she accused her former party of lying to voters over immigration. Opinion polls put Reform UK ahead of both Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives, the two parties that have dominated British politics...
British lawmaker Suella Braverman, a former home secretary, became the latest prominent Conservative to join Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK on Monday, and she accused her former party of lying to voters over immigration. Opinion polls put Reform UK ahead of both Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives, the two parties that have dominated British politics for more than a century, though a national election is not expected until 2029. For now, the anti-immigration Reform UK Party remains a small grouping in the House of Commons, the lower chamber, with Braverman’s defection taking their tally to eight. That compares with more than 400 Labour lawmakers in the 650-seat chamber. Advertisement Braverman, who once ran as a leadership candidate for the Conservative Party , follows Robert Jenrick , who announced his move earlier this month. “Britain is indeed broken,” a visibly emotional Braverman said at a Reform UK rally, appearing alongside Farage Advertisement “We can either continue down this route of managed decline to weakness and surrender, or we can fix our country,” she said, accusing the Conservatives of lying about their pledge to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Shares in this computer memory giant are trading for a rock-bottom valuation despite solid growth. When it comes to big tech, Micron Technology (MU 2.54%) has often been overshadowed by more popular hardware companies like Nvidia or Apple. That said, the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has given the computer memory specialist its big break. With Micron's shares up by a whopping 254...
Shares in this computer memory giant are trading for a rock-bottom valuation despite solid growth. When it comes to big tech, Micron Technology (MU 2.54%) has often been overshadowed by more popular hardware companies like Nvidia or Apple. That said, the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has given the computer memory specialist its big break. With Micron's shares up by a whopping 254% over the last 12 months, Wall Street is taking notice. Let's dig deeper to decide if the stock still has millionaire-maker potential. Why Micron? While the AI hardware story has usually focused on graphics processing units (GPUs), which do the brunt of model training and inference, these chips can't work without the support of other types of hardware. Micron contributes to the industry by providing the memory chips needed to store training data and provide working memory for inference, which is how large language models (LLMs) analyze and answer user queries. Expand NASDAQ : MU Micron Technology Today's Change ( -2.54 %) $ -10.15 Current Price $ 389.50 Key Data Points Market Cap $450B Day's Range $ 384.30 - $ 398.00 52wk Range $ 61.54 - $ 412.43 Volume 17M Avg Vol 29M Gross Margin 45.53 % Dividend Yield 0.12 % According to analysts at Goldman Sachs, cloud computing giants are expected to spend an eye-popping $527 billion on capital expenditures related to their data center buildouts. Investors should expect some of that money to go to memory chips. Industry observers estimate that AI companies could scoop up 70% of production in 2026, and this will allow companies like Micron to raise prices across their product portfolios. The surge in AI demand is already boosting Micron's operational performance. In the fiscal first quarter (which ended in December), the company's total sales rose by 57% year over year to $13.6 billion, with most of the growth concentrated in the cloud services division, where it serves AI data centers. The momentum is expected to continue for the next...
Key Points Micron is benefiting from soaring demand for memory hardware for use in AI data centers. The company is seeing a substantial boost in cash flow, which it could use for buybacks. 10 stocks we like better than Micron Technology › When it comes to big tech, Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) has often been overshadowed by more popular hardware companies like Nvidia or Apple. That said, the ris...
Key Points Micron is benefiting from soaring demand for memory hardware for use in AI data centers. The company is seeing a substantial boost in cash flow, which it could use for buybacks. 10 stocks we like better than Micron Technology › When it comes to big tech, Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) has often been overshadowed by more popular hardware companies like Nvidia or Apple. That said, the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has given the computer memory specialist its big break. With Micron's shares up by a whopping 254% over the last 12 months, Wall Street is taking notice. Let's dig deeper to decide if the stock still has millionaire-maker potential. Why Micron? While the AI hardware story has usually focused on graphics processing units (GPUs), which do the brunt of model training and inference, these chips can't work without the support of other types of hardware. Micron contributes to the industry by providing the memory chips needed to store training data and provide working memory for inference, which is how large language models (LLMs) analyze and answer user queries. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » According to analysts at Goldman Sachs, cloud computing giants are expected to spend an eye-popping $527 billion on capital expenditures related to their data center buildouts. Investors should expect some of that money to go to memory chips. Industry observers estimate that AI companies could scoop up 70% of production in 2026, and this will allow companies like Micron to raise prices across their product portfolios. The surge in AI demand is already boosting Micron's operational performance. In the fiscal first quarter (which ended in December), the company's total sales rose by 57% year over year to $13.6 billion, with most of the growth concentrated in the cloud services division, where it serves AI data ce...
Gold is topping $5,000. Stocks keep booming . The dollar is falling again. Yet Bitcoin — hailed as both a momentum and “ debasement ” trade — is sitting out the action. Its price is stalling, volumes are limp, and longtime believers are drifting toward more dependable markets like equities and precious metals. The original cryptocurrency is hovering around $87,000 — down 25% since October and off ...
Gold is topping $5,000. Stocks keep booming . The dollar is falling again. Yet Bitcoin — hailed as both a momentum and “ debasement ” trade — is sitting out the action. Its price is stalling, volumes are limp, and longtime believers are drifting toward more dependable markets like equities and precious metals. The original cryptocurrency is hovering around $87,000 — down 25% since October and off 6% just in the past seven days. Investors have pulled more than $1.3 billion from Bitcoin-linked funds over the last week, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, part of a broader retreat from crypto ETFs. Those withdrawals follow a brief period of inflows in early January, suggesting sentiment has turned quickly after the new year. By most macro measures, the backdrop should favor crypto — at least on paper. Easing inflation and interest rates typically bolster risk appetite, while looser financial conditions and rising geopolitical uncertainty have historically supported assets pitched as hedges against currency debasement. In past cycles, that mix often pulled capital into digital assets, whether as a momentum trade or a form of alternative money. This time, it’s flowing the other way. Precious metals are drawing cash as investors seek shelter from geopolitical risk and a weakening dollar. Equities, particularly tech and small caps , are extending gains this year. Crypto, by contrast, has struggled to make a case for relevance. A JPMorgan Chase & Co. note last week pointed out that broad-based equity ETFs were posting some of their biggest intakes on record, while crypto vehicles were seeing outflows. “It’s definitely a tough period for the industry in the face of these dynamics,” said Stephane Ouellette , chief executive officer and co-founder of FRNT Financial Inc. “There are many competing themes with crypto right now — from an innovation perspective AI has picked up considerable investment dollars in the last year and now it has been left out of the inflation trade...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Christopher Calio Chief Financial Officer — Neil Mitchill Vice President, Investor Relations — Nathan Ware TAKEAWAYS Organic Sales Growth -- 8% organic sales growth, with demand led by double-digit growth in both commercial aftermarket and defense channels. -- 8% organ...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Christopher Calio Chief Financial Officer — Neil Mitchill Vice President, Investor Relations — Nathan Ware TAKEAWAYS Organic Sales Growth -- 8% organic sales growth, with demand led by double-digit growth in both commercial aftermarket and defense channels. -- 8% organic sales growth, with demand led by double-digit growth in both commercial aftermarket and defense channels. Adjusted Sales -- $20.1 billion, an increase of 6% adjusted and 8% organically. -- $20.1 billion, an increase of 6% adjusted and 8% organically. Segment Operating Profit -- $2.4 billion, up 16% year over year, with segment operating margin expanding 100 basis points. -- $2.4 billion, up 16% year over year, with segment operating margin expanding 100 basis points. Adjusted EPS -- $1.45, representing 16% growth, aided by increased profit, lower share count, and a lower effective tax rate. -- $1.45, representing 16% growth, aided by increased profit, lower share count, and a lower effective tax rate. Free Cash Flow -- $2 billion, attributed to strong collections offsetting higher inventory. -- $2 billion, attributed to strong collections offsetting higher inventory. Backlog -- $221 billion, the highest in company history, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.8; $25 billion of defense and $11 billion of commercial orders contributed. -- $221 billion, the highest in company history, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.8; $25 billion of defense and $11 billion of commercial orders contributed. Raytheon Bookings -- $16.6 billion in new awards, with 45% for international customers; included $3 billion for Patriot and GEM-T, $1.9 billion for LTAMDS, and $1.3 billion for SM-3. -- $16.6 billion in new awards, with 45% for international customers; included $3 billion for Patriot and GEM-T, $1.9 billion for LTAMDS, and $1.3 billion for SM-3. Pratt & Whitney Awards -- $1.3 billion contract f...
selensergen/iStock via Getty Images Shares of Steel Dynamics, Inc. ( STLD ) have been a strong performer over the past year, gaining 50%. While tariffs initially had a mixed impact on its business, we are increasingly seeing the benefits of steel tariffs protecting domestic steelmakers like STLD, and with its key aluminum growth project ramping up, investor excitement about potential capital retur...
selensergen/iStock via Getty Images Shares of Steel Dynamics, Inc. ( STLD ) have been a strong performer over the past year, gaining 50%. While tariffs initially had a mixed impact on its business, we are increasingly seeing the benefits of steel tariffs protecting domestic steelmakers like STLD, and with its key aluminum growth project ramping up, investor excitement about potential capital returns has increased. I last covered shares of Steel Dynamics in October , downgrading them to a Hold, which was an overly cautious stance. The stock is up 27% since then, so I should have recommended investors continue to buy shares. With updated financials and a clarifying macro picture for 2026, now is a good time to revisit STLD and determine how to position for the year ahead. Seeking Alpha Tariffs lift steel results, despite a mixed demand environment In the company’s fourth quarter , Steel Dynamics earned $1.82, which beat estimates by $0.12 as revenue increased 14% to $4.4 billion. The company generated $505 million of EBITDA. This was up from $372 million last year, primarily thanks to improvements in its steel operations. Its average steel selling price was up 9% to $1,107, and volumes increased by 9% to 3.3 million tons. While the sector struggled earlier this year with excess foreign supply as importers front-ran tariffs, steel tariffs are now more clearly restricting supply, helping companies like Steel Dynamics raise prices and gain market share. Indeed, steel production hit a record high last year. Steel Dynamics Drilling into segment results, steel operations made $322 million in operating income, nearly double last year’s $165 million. Results were weighed down by the fact that planned maintenance took a bit longer to complete, reducing output by about 150,000 tons. Activity typically slows in Q4, given seasonally lower construction activity, so STLD plans more maintenance in Q4. Given seasonal pressures, operating income fell by 35% sequentially. I view this d...
Analysts say gold has more room to run, even after the precious metal marked its latest gravity-defying milestone Monday. Spot gold eclipsed $5,100 an ounce for the first time on Monday before pulling back. Gold's latest leg up comes as the U.S. dollar retreated for a third day, with investors hedging against geopolitical uncertainty and foreign central banks diversifying their reserve holdings. "...
Analysts say gold has more room to run, even after the precious metal marked its latest gravity-defying milestone Monday. Spot gold eclipsed $5,100 an ounce for the first time on Monday before pulling back. Gold's latest leg up comes as the U.S. dollar retreated for a third day, with investors hedging against geopolitical uncertainty and foreign central banks diversifying their reserve holdings. "The forces that helped drive gold's rally remain in place, in our view, including robust demand from investors and central banks, which should allow gold prices to continue rising in 2026," UBS strategist Giovanni Staunovo wrote in a Monday note to clients. Continued geopolitical uncertainty is continuing to drive prices higher. Trump on Saturday threatened Canada with a 100% tariff if Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a trade deal with China. One day later, Carney said that Canada has "no intention" of making a deal with China. Gold investors are also tracking economic concerns in Japan, with traders speculating whether Tokyo would intervene in the currency market the support the yen. @GC.1 ALL mountain Gold, all-time Recent gains follow last year's 64% rally in gold, its best year since since 1979. Blistering demand from traders using exchange-traded funds, such as the SPDR Gold Trust , and central banks helped fuel the advance. The latest move higher follows a shocking week, with President Trump threatening tariffs on eight allies as part of his push to annex Greenland before later announcing the framework of a deal with NATO. In reaction, the U.S. dollar slipped , bringing the past year's decline to almost 10%, while gold — long viewed as a safe-haven amid political disorder — raced higher. As overseas partners reconsider their relationship with the U.S., gold could see even more upside. The metal has lately displaced U.S. Treasurys as a popular trade as foreign central banks look for alternative stores of value. The gap between foreign gold reserves and Treasury holdin...
Investing.com -- Apple is positioned to deliver revenue upside when it reports fiscal first-quarter results Thursday, with Morgan Stanley expecting stronger-than-anticipated iPhone performance to offset near-term cost pressures. The bank’s analyst Erik Woodring told clients that December-quarter revenue growth “could exceed mgmt’s 10–12% Y/Y guide,” driven largely by demand for the iPhone 17. He a...
Investing.com -- Apple is positioned to deliver revenue upside when it reports fiscal first-quarter results Thursday, with Morgan Stanley expecting stronger-than-anticipated iPhone performance to offset near-term cost pressures. The bank’s analyst Erik Woodring told clients that December-quarter revenue growth “could exceed mgmt’s 10–12% Y/Y guide,” driven largely by demand for the iPhone 17. He added that the March-quarter revenue outlook “should exceed Street at +10% Y/Y, thanks to iPhone 17 strength.” But despite the likely beat-and-raise, Morgan Stanley warned that cost dynamics may curb earnings momentum. The firm noted that “Consensus is also too low on opex ($17.2B vs. $18.2B MSe), limiting EPS flow-through,” while gross margin headwinds tied to memory are expected to persist into the June quarter. Morgan Stanley expects Apple shares to trade “sideways to modestly lower” after earnings, citing what it called a tougher first-half setup and historically weak seasonal performance in the March quarter. Still, the bank maintained its Overweight rating and $315 price target for Apple shares, pointing to a stronger second half of 2026. The analyst highlighted a “catalyst-laden 2H — Siri re-launch, Foldable iPhone intro, 2nm iPhone 18 launch,” which they said could position Apple for outperformance later in the year. He added that Apple is trading near “5-year trough relative valuations,” with shares at 25 times Morgan Stanley’s fiscal 2027 earnings estimate. Morgan Stanley remains constructive on Apple’s longer-term growth profile despite the near-term cost overhang. Related articles Apple earnings preview: Morgan Stanley sees likely revenue beat and raise Gold may hit $5,000/oz in 1H'26 - HSBC 5 reasons why Jefferies thinks Meta’s pullback is a buying opportunity