'My Colon Literally Blew Up': Thousands Sue Over GLP-1 Weight Loss Drug Side Effects A growing wave of lawsuits is challenging the safety warnings accompanying blockbuster weight-loss drugs that have rapidly reshaped American medicine and culture, raising questions about whether patients were adequately informed of the risks tied to medications now used by tens of millions of people. Todd Engel is...
'My Colon Literally Blew Up': Thousands Sue Over GLP-1 Weight Loss Drug Side Effects A growing wave of lawsuits is challenging the safety warnings accompanying blockbuster weight-loss drugs that have rapidly reshaped American medicine and culture, raising questions about whether patients were adequately informed of the risks tied to medications now used by tens of millions of people. Todd Engel is one of several plaintiffs in a growing number of GLP-1 lawsuits (photo: Jack Gruber via USA Today) The plaintiffs’ stories vary widely, but share a common claim: that drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists - including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro - caused severe, life-altering injuries that were not sufficiently disclosed at the time they were prescribed. A Maryland truck driver says he suffered what doctors described as an "eye stroke," losing vision first in one eye and then the other. A Louisiana woman developed a serious neurological condition after weeks of vomiting and malnutrition. An Oklahoma real-estate agent alleges her colon ruptured without warning while she was driving her granddaughter home from a softball game. "My colon blew up. Literally blew up ," said JoHelen McClain, the Oklahoma plaintiff. "I was trying to slim down and feel healthy." All three are among more than 4,400 plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits since 2023 against the drugs’ manufacturers, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly , according to court filings. The cases are now consolidated into federal and state litigation expected to take years to resolve. Via USA Today The suits come amid explosive growth in the use of GLP-1 drugs. An estimated 12% of American adults - more than 31 million people - are currently using a GLP-1 medication , according to the nonpartisan health policy group KFF. Prescriptions rose from roughly one million in 2018 to about nine million in 2022, and usage doubled again between 2024 and 2025, Gallup data show. Originally developed to treat diabetes, the drugs mimic a hormone tha...
iPhone ASP Surpasses US$1,000 for the First Time in Q4 2025; Global Smartphone Shipments Hit 1.26 Billion in 2025 as Apple Takes No.1 Spot with 19.3% Share SAN FRANCISCO, January 30, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smart Analytics Global (SAG) today released its Q4 2025 and 2025 Global Smartphone Vendor Shipment and Market Share report and ranking, showing that global smartphone shipments reached 1.26 bill...
iPhone ASP Surpasses US$1,000 for the First Time in Q4 2025; Global Smartphone Shipments Hit 1.26 Billion in 2025 as Apple Takes No.1 Spot with 19.3% Share SAN FRANCISCO, January 30, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smart Analytics Global (SAG) today released its Q4 2025 and 2025 Global Smartphone Vendor Shipment and Market Share report and ranking, showing that global smartphone shipments reached 1.26 billion units in 2025, growing 2.6% year over year. According to SAG, Apple ranked as the world’s largest smartphone vendor by shipment volume in 2025, shipping 242.8 million units, growing 9.9% year over year and capturing 19.3% global market share, up from 18.1% in 2024. This marks the first year Apple gained the leadership of global smartphone annual shipment volume. Apple shipped 82.6 million units of iPhones worldwide in Q4 2025 with a 24.6% market share, reflecting strong year-over-year growth of 10.6%. SAG noted that iPhone ASP tapped US$1,000 mark for the first time in Q4 20205, standing at US$1,032, surging 11.5% YoY. Apple’s robust iPhone revenue and ASP performance in Q4 2025 was primarily driven by a richer product mix, including a higher share of iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models as well as increased adoption of higher memory configurations of iPhone 17 series. Linda Sui, the founder of SAG, commented: "Apple strengthened its shipment leadership in North America and Western Europe. Particularly strong momentum was seen in China, where Apple ranked No. 1 in Q4 2025 with a record high 22.6% market share, growing from 17.3% one year ago. "Samsung ranked the second place in Q4 2025, with the shipment of 60.5 million units, taking 18.0% market share. Among all top ten vendors, Samsung registered the highest growth rate at 17.2% YoY this quarter. Samsung achieved year-over-year shipment growth across all major regions. Notably, in the Middle East and Africa, Samsung recorded double-digit shipment growth for both Q4 2025 and the full year, driven by an expanded and highly ...
Hong Kong stocks retreated on Friday, ending a seven-day rally, as investors locked in profits on the final trading day of January after a sharp month-long surge. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.7 per cent to 27,785.98 at the open, pulling back from a multi-year high. The benchmark has climbed nearly 8.4 per cent this month, its strongest monthly performance since February 2025. The Hang Seng Tech Inde...
Hong Kong stocks retreated on Friday, ending a seven-day rally, as investors locked in profits on the final trading day of January after a sharp month-long surge. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.7 per cent to 27,785.98 at the open, pulling back from a multi-year high. The benchmark has climbed nearly 8.4 per cent this month, its strongest monthly performance since February 2025. The Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 0.9 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index declined 0.9 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.6 per cent. Gold miner Zijin Mining Group fell 3.5 per cent to HK$44.52, aluminium producer China Hongqiao Group lost 3.1 per cent to HK$38.58. Short-video platform Kuaishou Technology declined 2.4 per cent to HK$81 and e-commerce major Alibaba Group Holding retreated 1.9 per cent to HK$170. Advertisement Travel-booking platform Trip.com gained 0.5 per cent to HK$484.80 and property developer Sun Hung Kai Properties added 0.3 per cent to HK$125. Oil and gas producer CNOOC gained 1.4 per cent to HK$25.32 and peer PetroChina rose 1.7 per cent to HK$9.55. New World Development jumped 5.6 per cent to HK$11.75 after it said late on Thursday that its parent, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), had been approached by potential investors. It has been widely speculated that CTFE could sell part of its stake to Blackstone. Advertisement One stock debuted. Modular Industrial Automation jumped 222 per cent to 135 yuan in Beijing.
Asian investors are pouring record amounts into gold exchange-traded funds, leading some to question whether the rally in bullion is getting close to topping out. Precious metals ETFs listed in the region have attracted $7.1 billion in net inflows in January, with a number drawing in all-time amounts of capital, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The biggest gains were seen by funds listed i...
Asian investors are pouring record amounts into gold exchange-traded funds, leading some to question whether the rally in bullion is getting close to topping out. Precious metals ETFs listed in the region have attracted $7.1 billion in net inflows in January, with a number drawing in all-time amounts of capital, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The biggest gains were seen by funds listed in China that cater to retail investors, with Huaan Yifu Gold ETF alone luring in $1.9 billion. The price of bullion has skyrocketed is recent weeks, with the yellow metal advancing more than 20% since the start of January, despite a pullback on Friday . High levels of buying by retail investors is often seen as a sign a rally is in its later stages and an asset is overvalued. “We have been major gold bulls in this cycle,” buying both gold-mining stocks and ETFs, said Nick Ferres , chief investment officer at Vantage Point Asset Management in Singapore. “However, the recent price action has become rapid, emotional and non-linear, which is a warning sign that the trend is extended tactically.” Gold’s breakneck rally has been underpinned by elevated central-bank purchases and inflows into bullion-backed ETFs. Total holdings in gold-backed funds rose every month last year except May, according to World Gold Council data. Precious metals have also benefited from a switch away from the dollar due to unpredictable US policymaking and increasing American isolation. Amid other warnings signs, gold’s relative strength index has climbed to about 90, above the level of 70 that is taken to indicate a pullback is overdue. A successful outcome from policies set by the Trump administration would accelerate economic growth, leading to higher interest rates and a stronger US dollar, pushing gold lower, the World Gold Council said in its 2026 outlook published last month. Read more: China’s Precious Metals Frenzy Sparks Protest as Risks Grow Among other China-listed funds that have seen sizab...
Prae_Studio/iStock via Getty Images Dear Partner, Our fund delivered strong results in 2025, finishing up 10.5% in the fourth quarter and 30.97% for the full year. We remained disciplined in our investment strategy, and our portfolio of "ugly ducklings" delivered solid performance. Oct Nov Dec Q4 2025 YTD Since Inception Annualized Curreen Capital Partners LP 1.42% 1.63% 7.20% 10.50% 30.97% 301.7%...
Prae_Studio/iStock via Getty Images Dear Partner, Our fund delivered strong results in 2025, finishing up 10.5% in the fourth quarter and 30.97% for the full year. We remained disciplined in our investment strategy, and our portfolio of "ugly ducklings" delivered solid performance. Oct Nov Dec Q4 2025 YTD Since Inception Annualized Curreen Capital Partners LP 1.42% 1.63% 7.20% 10.50% 30.97% 301.7% 11.7% S&P 500 2.34% 0.25% 0.06% 2.66% 17.89% 426.8% 14.1% MSCI World (US Gross) 2.02% 0.31% 0.83% 3.18% 21.42% 289.6% 11.4% Click to enlarge Our Actions in Q4 During the fourth quarter we sold Havas (at €1.52/share). In reviewing the business, I determined that it does not meet our return on capital requirements. While Havas ( HAVSF ) is cheap and well run, other businesses are a better fit for our strategy. We bought Fortrea (about 3% points of the fund, at $9.44/share), and about 1% point each of Dye & Durham ( DYNDF ) (C$6.91/share), GetBusy (£0.77/share), Truecaller (SEK 39.96/share), and VF Corp ($14.25/share). 2025 Performance Review Curreen Capital's performance over the year was primarily driven by three positions: Fortrea, Siemens Energy ( SMEGF ), and GetBusy ( GETBF ). Fortrea is an example of our "Crazy Cheap" strategy: buying excellent businesses priced as if their current struggles will last forever. These are ugly ducklings that are especially unpopular, and their stock prices have often fallen hard for months. I get very interested when a stock falls below my downside valuation, and as it falls further—specifically, trading at a discount of 33% or more to my downside valuation—I classify the opportunity as "Crazy Cheap". Fortrea faced headwinds, with weak financial results, the loss of a star CEO, and swirling fears about changing US health policy. "Crazy Cheap" stocks like Fortrea are often going through a painful period, but their low price creates an extremely attractive upside-to-downside. There is still downside risk, but it is dwarfed by the probabili...
Earnings Call Insights: PennyMac Financial Services (PFSI) Q4 2025 Management View CEO David Spector reported that PennyMac "finished the year with a solid fourth quarter, generating net income of $107 million or $1.97 per share." He indicated that the company had previously capitalized on higher lock volumes due to a decline in interest rates, but noted "the sustained rally continued into the fou...
Earnings Call Insights: PennyMac Financial Services (PFSI) Q4 2025 Management View CEO David Spector reported that PennyMac "finished the year with a solid fourth quarter, generating net income of $107 million or $1.97 per share." He indicated that the company had previously capitalized on higher lock volumes due to a decline in interest rates, but noted "the sustained rally continued into the fourth quarter and drove market prepayment speeds significantly higher than what both we and the market expected." Spector explained that this led to "a meaningful increase in realization of MSR cash flows and accelerated runoff of our servicing asset." Spector described heightened competition: "Many industry participants have also added significant capacity in anticipation of lower rates, and this excess capacity has created a more competitive origination market, limiting expected production margin increases and revenues." As a result, the growth in production segment income "did not fully offset the higher level of runoff in our MSR portfolio," leading to a "10% annualized return on equity in the fourth quarter." Spector detailed strategic actions, stating, "By accelerating the deployment of new technologies such as Vesta, quickly ramping our capacity and continuing to enhance efficiencies, we are positioning ourselves to better capture the significant opportunities presented by lower mortgage rates and further increase production income in comparison to MSR runoff." Spector highlighted the rollout of the Vesta loan origination system: "We are on track to have Vesta fully implemented across our consumer direct channel in the first quarter... completing this migration on time is a key driver of our 2026 outlook." Early benefits include "efficiency gains of approximately 50% for our loan officers" and a "reduction in the average end-to-end loan processing time by approximately 25%." Operational velocity has led to "a direct financial impact with a corresponding 25% decrease in...