MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images Key Takeaways Markets: US equities delivered solid gains over the fourth quarter of 2025, maintaining their upward trajectory against a backdrop of generally robust corporate earnings, despite some mixed economic signals and investor concerns about stretched valuations in technology-related stocks. Continued monetary easing by the US Federal Reserve, along wit...
MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images Key Takeaways Markets: US equities delivered solid gains over the fourth quarter of 2025, maintaining their upward trajectory against a backdrop of generally robust corporate earnings, despite some mixed economic signals and investor concerns about stretched valuations in technology-related stocks. Continued monetary easing by the US Federal Reserve, along with a constructive shift in US-China relations, also underpinned investor sentiment. The outperformance of the Magnificent Seven mega-capitalization technology stocks during the quarter boosted returns for the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq Composite Index, while the relatively strong performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average reflected the enduring strength of blue-chip companies. By investment style, value investing surpassed growth in the large-, mid- and small-capitalization tiers, with large-cap stocks performing better than their mid- and small-cap counterparts. Detractors: The fund's relative returns (Advisor Class without sales charges) lagged the benchmark as stock selection decisions worked against us, while allocation effects were mildly supportive. Stock selection in the information technology (IT) sector weighed most on relative performance, followed by stock selection and an overweight in the industrials sector and stock selection in the materials sector. Contributors: Stock selection and an overweight in the health care sector contributed most to relative performance, followed by stock selection and an underweight in the consumer discretionary sector and stock selection in the communication services sector. Outlook: Looking forward, we continue to have a balanced yet constructive outlook as we closely monitor downside risks stemming from sticky inflation, policy uncertainty, divergent consumer behavior and high equity valuation multiples. We are equally, if not more, excited about the prospect for an innovation and capital expenditure boom throughout the eco...
Oil may hit a record $200 a barrel if the Iran war drags on till June, with the Strait of Hormuz staying shut, Macquarie Group Ltd. said. A conflict that stretches through the second quarter would result in historically high real prices, analysts including Vikas Dwivedi said in a note, outlining a scenario with odds of 40%. An alternative outlook, with probability of 60%, suggested the war may fin...
Oil may hit a record $200 a barrel if the Iran war drags on till June, with the Strait of Hormuz staying shut, Macquarie Group Ltd. said. A conflict that stretches through the second quarter would result in historically high real prices, analysts including Vikas Dwivedi said in a note, outlining a scenario with odds of 40%. An alternative outlook, with probability of 60%, suggested the war may finish at the end of this month, they said. Brent crude is on pace for a record monthly gain in March, as the war between the US, Israel and Iran has rocked the oil-rich Middle East. The conflict has seen Tehran oversee a near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz , severely restricting flows of energy that are vital to the global economy. “If the strait were to stay closed for an extended period, prices would need to move high enough to destroy an historically large amount of global oil demand,” the analysts said in the March 27 report. “The timing of the re-opening of the straits, and physical damage to energy infrastructure, is the main determinant of the longer-term impact on commodities.” Brent was last near $107 a barrel on Friday, after touching a crisis-high of $119.50 earlier this month. The benchmark set a nominal peak of $147.50 a barrel in 2008, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Trump Extends Energy-Attack Pause, Claims Iran Talks Ongoing Israel’s War With Iran Will End When Trump Says Stop Malaysia Says Iran Allowed Some of Its Ships Through Hormuz Iran War’s Now All About the Future of Hormuz: Marc Champion
MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images I'm still a bull on Baozun Inc. ( BZUN ) (9991.HK). Its 4Q2025 net profit fell short of the consensus estimate. But the company's operating income is expected to go up substantially in the years ahead. The shares are severely mispriced based on the comparison of their P/E multiple and future growth trajectory. My previous December 1, 2025, write-up highlighted...
MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images I'm still a bull on Baozun Inc. ( BZUN ) (9991.HK). Its 4Q2025 net profit fell short of the consensus estimate. But the company's operating income is expected to go up substantially in the years ahead. The shares are severely mispriced based on the comparison of their P/E multiple and future growth trajectory. My previous December 1, 2025, write-up highlighted BZUN's better-than-expected top-line and narrower YoY losses in 3Q. Eyes On Sales Beat And Earnings Miss The group's most recent financials were released in a 6-K filing issued on the morning of March 25. Its shares jumped 16.4% on Wednesday before correcting 12.1% the next day. I think that's a reflection of BZUN's mixed quarterly showing. Oct-Dec '25 turnover of CNY3.17 billion was 6.7% ahead of what the sell-side forecasted. But the firm's CNY160 million normalized bottom line during the same period came in 13.2% below the analysts' projection. These consensus figures were obtained from Bloomberg. The "Baozun Brand Management/BBM" division has done very well lately, in my opinion. Its three-month revenues of CNY664 million represented a 24% YoY rise. I drew attention to "the improvement in Gap's social media metrics" after appointing "its first-ever celebrity endorser" with the Dec-2025 update. That proved to be an accurate leading indicator for this BBM brand. Management shared at the results meeting that Gap's "growth rate was more than 20%" last year thanks to "ambassador-driven initiatives, which have boosted social buzz." BZUN's overall turnover expansion accelerated from 3Q2025's 4.8% to 4Q2025's 5.9% on a YoY basis. It's reasonable for me to attribute this to BBM's outperformance. Separately, the market had forecasted higher Q4 non-GAAP net income of CNY0.184 billion. My take is that the shortfall is linked to "selling & marketing" or "S&M" investments. The company's S&M-related costs went up 17.4% YoY to CNY1.22 billion in the final quarter of 2025. Its briefing...
Chinnapong/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Bitmine Immersion Technologies ( BMNR ) has officially acquired Pier Two, a leading non-custodial validator operator, to power its newly launched MAVAN (Made in America VAlidator Network) , a dedicated staking infrastructure. Announced by Chairman Tom Lee, the acquisition of Pier Two enables Bitmine Immersion Technologies ( BMNR ) to capture the 'full s...
Chinnapong/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Bitmine Immersion Technologies ( BMNR ) has officially acquired Pier Two, a leading non-custodial validator operator, to power its newly launched MAVAN (Made in America VAlidator Network) , a dedicated staking infrastructure. Announced by Chairman Tom Lee, the acquisition of Pier Two enables Bitmine Immersion Technologies ( BMNR ) to capture the 'full stack' of Ethereum rewards by transitioning its massive treasury away from third-party providers. This strategic move bolsters Bitmine’s goal of becoming the world's largest Ethereum staking platform, integrating Pier Two’s institutional-grade infrastructure with Bitmine’s $6.8 billion staked ETH position . Following the full integration, Bitmine projects its annualized staking rewards will approach the $300 million mark. More on Bitmine Immersion Technologies Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (BMNR) Shareholder/Analyst Call - Slideshow Bitmine Immersion Technologies: This Could Be The Bottom As Legislation Becomes More Likely Bitmine Vs. Sharplink: One Is A Dilution Trap, The Other Is The Better Ethereum Proxy Bitmine launches Ethereum staking platform Bitmine Immersion Technologies announces ETH holdings reach 4.661M tokens
Greater Bay Airlines has become the latest Hong Kong-based carrier to raise its fuel surcharges by 34 per cent amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the fee for destinations other than mainland China set to hit HK$389 (US$50). China’s largest courier SF Express also said on Friday that it would, beginning in April, adjust its fuel surcharge rates from a monthly to a weekly basis becau...
Greater Bay Airlines has become the latest Hong Kong-based carrier to raise its fuel surcharges by 34 per cent amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the fee for destinations other than mainland China set to hit HK$389 (US$50). China’s largest courier SF Express also said on Friday that it would, beginning in April, adjust its fuel surcharge rates from a monthly to a weekly basis because of the “continuous and frequent fluctuations” of international oil prices. Global fuel prices...
undefined Chinese consumers are feeling more financially secure and increasingly willing to spend, with a recent NielsenIQ survey indicating a clear shift away from deep discounts toward prioritizing product quality, safety, and health. Presenting survey data at the 114th China Food & Drinks Fair, NielsenIQ China Chief Operating Officer Luo Qi noted that 41% of consumers in China surveyed in July ...
undefined Chinese consumers are feeling more financially secure and increasingly willing to spend, with a recent NielsenIQ survey indicating a clear shift away from deep discounts toward prioritizing product quality, safety, and health. Presenting survey data at the 114th China Food & Drinks Fair, NielsenIQ China Chief Operating Officer Luo Qi noted that 41% of consumers in China surveyed in July 2025 felt their financial situation had improved from the previous year, up from 34% in July 2024. The proportion of those feeling financially worse off dipped slightly to 23%. Chinese Consumers Are More Optimistic Consequently, 60% of respondents expressed a greater willingness to spend, compared to 53% a year earlier.