Considering oil prices have surged in recent weeks due to the war in Iran, and recent inflation data has also run hot, investors have grown increasingly concerned about the trajectory of the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy. So much so that, prior to today, instead of forecasting interest rate cuts this year, the market shifted its stance to predict no interest rate changes for the foreseeab...
Considering oil prices have surged in recent weeks due to the war in Iran, and recent inflation data has also run hot, investors have grown increasingly concerned about the trajectory of the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy. So much so that, prior to today, instead of forecasting interest rate cuts this year, the market shifted its stance to predict no interest rate changes for the foreseeable future, with a rate hike sometime in late 2027. Continue reading
May ICE NY cocoa (CCK26 ) today is down -2 (-0.06%), and May ICE London cocoa #7 (CAK26 ) is down -7 (-0.30%). Cocoa prices are slightly lower today after heavy rains over the weekend in West Africa bolstered the outlook for cocoa crops in the Ivory Coast and Ghana....
May ICE NY cocoa (CCK26 ) today is down -2 (-0.06%), and May ICE London cocoa #7 (CAK26 ) is down -7 (-0.30%). Cocoa prices are slightly lower today after heavy rains over the weekend in West Africa bolstered the outlook for cocoa crops in the Ivory Coast and Ghana....
US bank will get deal it doesn’t really need as it would be far too embarrassing for Treasury to see investment sail away The way Rachel Reeves told it last November after her budget, it seemed to be a done deal that JP Morgan would build a 279,000 sq metre (3m sq ft) tower in Canary Wharf to serve as its European headquarters. The chancellor was “thrilled” the Wall Street bank had chosen London a...
US bank will get deal it doesn’t really need as it would be far too embarrassing for Treasury to see investment sail away The way Rachel Reeves told it last November after her budget, it seemed to be a done deal that JP Morgan would build a 279,000 sq metre (3m sq ft) tower in Canary Wharf to serve as its European headquarters. The chancellor was “thrilled” the Wall Street bank had chosen London and hailed “a multibillion-pound vote of confidence in the UK economy and this government’s plans for growth”. And, to be fair to Reeves, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan’s big boss, also presented the plan as final. “The UK government’s priority of economic growth has been a critical factor in helping us make this decision,” he said. Continue reading...
Schroptschop/iStock via Getty Images By Steffan Szumowski Investors have taken notice of the eye-popping federal commitments to new nuclear capacity in the U.S. in recent months. Headlines have focused on massive reactor deployment partnerships and loan authority in the hundreds of billions. While reactor developers certainly stand to benefit, a closer look reveals that the majority of this capita...
Schroptschop/iStock via Getty Images By Steffan Szumowski Investors have taken notice of the eye-popping federal commitments to new nuclear capacity in the U.S. in recent months. Headlines have focused on massive reactor deployment partnerships and loan authority in the hundreds of billions. While reactor developers certainly stand to benefit, a closer look reveals that the majority of this capital will flow through the broader nuclear value chain to fuel suppliers, component manufacturers, construction firms, and service providers. Diversified exposure across the full supply chain often captures more of the upside than any single reactor play alone. The $80 Billion Westinghouse Partnership In late October 2025, the U.S. government entered a strategic partnership with Brookfield Asset Management ( BAM ) and Cameco Corporation ( CCJ ) to accelerate deployment of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor. At the center of the deal is $80 billion for constructing 10 reactors across the U.S. The government committed to arranging financing, streamlining permitting, and supporting long-lead procurement. CCJ, which owns 49% of Westinghouse alongside Brookfield’s 51% stake, brings not only reactor expertise but also critical fuel supply capabilities to the table. The announcement was celebrated as a win for Westinghouse and its owners, but it should be understood that the majority of this funding will be spent long before a single watt is generated from any of these new reactors. Some of the components of the new plants will require significant lead time with fabrication and forging. Site evaluation and preparation will take months or years as well. The $40 Billion U.S.-Japan SMR Initiative More recently, President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced up to $40 billion in joint investment for GE Vernova ( GEV ) and Hitachi to deploy BWRX-300 small modular reactors in Tennessee and Alabama. The deal is part of a larger bilateral energy package and underscores growi...
US spot petrochemical prices showed no signs of easing last week, led by a surge in methanol to its highest level in nearly four years as buyers seek alternatives to disrupted Middle Eastern supplies of key plastic-making materials. Spot methanol climbed to about $1.27 a gallon on Friday, the highest since April 2022. The chemical — which is used in fuels, plastics and as a key feedstock for olefi...
US spot petrochemical prices showed no signs of easing last week, led by a surge in methanol to its highest level in nearly four years as buyers seek alternatives to disrupted Middle Eastern supplies of key plastic-making materials. Spot methanol climbed to about $1.27 a gallon on Friday, the highest since April 2022. The chemical — which is used in fuels, plastics and as a key feedstock for olefins production — tracks tightening availability across global markets. Iran plays a major role in supplying methanol to Asia. Its estimated that at least 50% of mainland China’s imported methanol originates from Iran, according to data firm Oil Price Information Service. Ongoing disruptions have raised concerns about reduced export flows, lifting prices worldwide and supporting US production. Across the broader complex, prices remain elevated and are bolstering export demand for US petrochemicals. Spot US ethylene, a building block for polyethylene-based items such as plastic bags, held near 31 cents a pound, the highest since February 2025. Meanwhile, polymer-grade propylene (PGP), used to make a key chemical in plastic food containers and medicine bottles, climbed to 55.5 cents, its strongest since August 2024. Butadiene, a critical feedstock for synthetic rubber and tires, rose to 61 cents a pound, the highest since May 2024. Higher operating rates in the US are being driven by the availability of cheaper ethane, a feedstock for ethylene, boosting output of the chemical and supporting PGP prices. Though logistics constraints including longer transit times and higher freight costs are emerging as potential risks to exports, US producers are expected to keep run rates elevated as contractual commitments and global demand continue to pull material into overseas markets. US Gulf Coast spot prices (as of March 27): Ethylene : 31c/lb vs 30c/lb prior week Polymer-grade propylene : 55.5c/lb vs 49.5c/lb Refinery-grade propylene : 50.5c/lb vs 47.5c/lb Butadiene : 61c/lb vs 58.5c/lb...
Galeanu Mihai/iStock via Getty Images Investors should brace for energy prices to “skyrocket” unless there is a diplomatic breakthrough in the Iran war, according to Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations. In an interview with CNBC, Haass warned that markets have “underreacted” to the severity of the ongoing conflict and that the real impact on global energy supplies...
Galeanu Mihai/iStock via Getty Images Investors should brace for energy prices to “skyrocket” unless there is a diplomatic breakthrough in the Iran war, according to Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations. In an interview with CNBC, Haass warned that markets have “underreacted” to the severity of the ongoing conflict and that the real impact on global energy supplies has yet to be felt. Haass explained that a lag effect is masking the true extent of the supply crisis. Tankers that passed through the Strait of Hormuz just before hostilities began are only now arriving at destinations like Europe. “When there are no new tankers coming behind them, I think then is when we’re going to see energy prices skyrocket again unless there’s some type of a breakthrough here,” he said. The veteran foreign policy expert described Iran as treating the Strait of Hormuz like “a private waterway,” allowing only select ships to pass while blocking most of the approximately 20 percent of the world’s energy supply that typically transits the critical chokepoint. Haass expressed skepticism about the market’s apparent optimism for a quick reopening, saying, “I hope the market knows something that I don’t.” Adding to his concerns, Haass identified recent Houthi activity as a “worrisome development” that threatens the Red Sea, one of the few alternative routes for global energy exports. He noted that Iran appears to be exercising discipline in how it deploys its proxy forces, suggesting a calculated approach to escalation that could further squeeze Saudi exports to global markets. On the prospect of military intervention, Haass was deeply skeptical. He described potential operations to seize Iran’s enriched uranium as extraordinarily risky, noting that such missions would put troops at “enormous, enormous risk” with little guarantee of success. As an alternative, he suggested establishing a blockade in the Gulf of Oman, which he said would be “far easier, less ...
Bargain hunters are wise to pay careful attention to insider buying, because although there are many various reasons for an insider to sell a stock, presumably the only reason they would use their hard-earned dollars to make a purchase, is that they expect to make money. Today
Bargain hunters are wise to pay careful attention to insider buying, because although there are many various reasons for an insider to sell a stock, presumably the only reason they would use their hard-earned dollars to make a purchase, is that they expect to make money. Today
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) stock just flashed a red signal investors haven’t seen in years. For the first time in about three years, the stock’s valuation has effectively reset below recent annual figures, underscoring a clear shift in sentiment. The semiconductor giant’s price-to-earnings ratio ...
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) stock just flashed a red signal investors haven’t seen in years. For the first time in about three years, the stock’s valuation has effectively reset below recent annual figures, underscoring a clear shift in sentiment. The semiconductor giant’s price-to-earnings ratio ...
Former Amazon Robotics Executive Steps in to Lead Global Production Strategy as Company Expands Brian Davis steps up to be the Head of Global Manufacturing for Persona AI Persona AI, an emerging leader in embodied AI, today announced the appointment of Brian Davis as Head of Global Manufacturing. This move signals Persona’s commitment to scaling commercial production, as the company is planning th...
Former Amazon Robotics Executive Steps in to Lead Global Production Strategy as Company Expands Brian Davis steps up to be the Head of Global Manufacturing for Persona AI Persona AI, an emerging leader in embodied AI, today announced the appointment of Brian Davis as Head of Global Manufacturing. This move signals Persona’s commitment to scaling commercial production, as the company is planning the manufacturing infrastructure to bring humanoid robots to markets in shipyards, steel mills, and en
Jose Luis Pelaez | Getty Images Student loan borrowers will soon be removed from the Saving on a Valuable Education , or SAVE, plan, the Trump administration announced on Friday. The Education Department said it would send guidance to the 7.5 million people who signed up for the now-defunct repayment plan. "In the guidance, the Department provides information on how borrowers can enroll in a new, ...
Jose Luis Pelaez | Getty Images Student loan borrowers will soon be removed from the Saving on a Valuable Education , or SAVE, plan, the Trump administration announced on Friday. The Education Department said it would send guidance to the 7.5 million people who signed up for the now-defunct repayment plan. "In the guidance, the Department provides information on how borrowers can enroll in a new, legal federal student loan repayment plan and previews upcoming changes to student loan repayment options," according to the announcement. SAVE enrollees have been slow to exit: Roughly 7.2 million people remained in the program as of December, according to recently released agency data. Here's what borrowers need to know. Why is the SAVE plan going away? Soon after the Biden administration introduced the SAVE plan in 2023, several Republican-led states sued to block its implementation, arguing that President Joe Biden did not have the authority to grant the forgiveness and lower payments the plan promised. After nearly two years of litigation, the SAVE plan was officially blocked by a federal appeals court earlier in March. Read more CNBC personal finance coverage Department of Labor proposes rules for including alternative assets in 401(k)s 31.5% of car buyers underwater on trade-ins; analyst says amount owed 'troubling' Why your tax refund may look different this year, and what's actually driving it Expecting to fight about money with your partner? You might be wrong: study Belle Burden's 'Strangers' highlights key financial red flags for women Average IRS tax refund is up 10.9%, latest filing data shows 1.4 million filers face tax refund delays amid IRS paper check phaseout Family caregivers now provide $1 trillion worth of care annually, AARP finds Higher gas prices from Iran war could offset Trump's bigger tax refunds Single women see homeownership as 'a wealth-building tool,' economist says Amid March Madness, NY Fed highlights sports betting toll on credit health So...
On 3/31/26, EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.5625, payable on 4/15/26. As a percentage of EPR.PRE's recent share price of $30.52, this dividend works out to approxi
On 3/31/26, EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.5625, payable on 4/15/26. As a percentage of EPR.PRE's recent share price of $30.52, this dividend works out to approxi
On 3/31/26, North American Financial 15 Split Corp's Preferred Shares (TSX: FFN-PRA.TO) will trade ex-dividend, for its monthly dividend of $0.0625, payable on 4/10/26. As a percentage of FFN.PRA's recent share price of $10.71, this dividend works out to approximately 0.58%, so
On 3/31/26, North American Financial 15 Split Corp's Preferred Shares (TSX: FFN-PRA.TO) will trade ex-dividend, for its monthly dividend of $0.0625, payable on 4/10/26. As a percentage of FFN.PRA's recent share price of $10.71, this dividend works out to approximately 0.58%, so
On 4/1/26, Kimco Realty Corp's 5.25% Class M Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (Symbol: KIM.PRM) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.3281, payable on 4/15/26. As a percentage of KIM.PRM's recent share price of $20.09, this dividend works out to approxim
On 4/1/26, Kimco Realty Corp's 5.25% Class M Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (Symbol: KIM.PRM) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.3281, payable on 4/15/26. As a percentage of KIM.PRM's recent share price of $20.09, this dividend works out to approxim