When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI) hyperscalers, Oracle (ORCL 3.93%) is often overshadowed by its cloud services counterparts: Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon. While the "Magnificent Seven" members get most of Wall Street's attention, Oracle has quietly built an impressive AI empire of its own over the last few years. During the company's fiscal third quarter (ended Feb. 28), Oracle's revenue and earnings both grew at least 20%. This is the first time the company has achieved such growth in 15 years. At the center of Oracle's AI narrative is its remaining performance obligations (RPO), which now sit at $553 billion. The question smart investors are asking is whether Oracle really has a tidal wave worth half a trillion dollars waiting to come through its doors, or if this figure is a lofty moonshot. Below, I'll break down Oracle's role in AI to help investors understand what's fueling the company's backlog. From there, a deep dive into the company's most recent earnings report should reveal whether Oracle stock is poised for explosive growth. How is Oracle involved in AI? Rather than building generative AI models and chatbots, Oracle has established itself as a critical enabler of AI infrastructure. The company's roots in enterprise applications provide it with a natural advantage: Large corporations have a history of trusting Oracle with sensitive data. This makes the company's segue into managing AI workloads a natural extension of its existing ecosystem. The core pillar supporting the company's AI ambitions is Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) -- a full-stack suite of cloud services integrating compute power, storage, networking, and other services needed to train and deploy AI models. Expand NYSE : ORCL Oracle Today's Change ( -3.93 %) $ -6.11 Current Price $ 149.41 Key Data Points Market Cap $430B Day's Range $ 147.96 - $ 153.25 52wk Range $ 118.86 - $ 345.72 Volume 889K Avg Vol 27M Gross Margin 64.30 % Dividend Yield 1.34 % AI infrastructure comes wi...

一名女子涉嫌企圖偷運約7公斤懷疑大麻花入境，被海關拘捕。 39歲女子昨日乘飛機從由泰國曼谷抵港，海關人員清關時在其隨身行李內發現該批懷疑大麻花，約值130萬元，將她拘捕。 海關呼籲，切勿貪圖金錢利益而參與販毒活動，亦切勿於未確定物品屬性的情況下，貿然協助他人運送。海關會繼續根據風險管理的原則，重點揀選來自高風險地區的旅客，作清關檢查。

Kpop group BTS pose for photographs upon their arrival for ‘BTS The Comeback Live Arirang’ concert in central Seoul, South Korea, on March 21, 2026. Handout | Via Reuters Kpop supergroup BTS performed to tens of thousands of fans in Seoul on Saturday in their first concert in more than three years, which saw authorities shut down the city's historic downtown, though turnout was far smaller than expected. The hour-long outdoor concert in Gwanghwamun Square was the group's official comeback, after it helped make Korean pop music a global phenomenon before going on hiatus in 2022 while members fulfilled mandatory military service. They returned on Friday with a new album, which their record label said sold nearly 4 million copies in its first day, ahead of a global tour that starts next month, billed as the biggest in K-pop history. Fans watch the concert of K-pop boy group BTS on a screen in Seoul on March 21, 2026. South Korean megastars BTS reunite on March 21, for their first show in nearly four years, with an expected 260,000 fans taking over central Seoul for a K-pop extravaganza livestreamed to millions more worldwide. Kim Min-hee | Afp | Getty Images While there were only 22,000 tickets to the inner area to see Saturday's concert live, Seoul authorities had anticipated as many as 260,000 people would turn out to be part of the crowd outside. An entire section of the city was sealed off with barricades. In the end, most fans decided to stay away for now. The Yonhap News Agency, citing city government estimates, said 40,000-42,000 showed up. Fans, who call themselves the BTS ARMY, could watch the concert on Netflix , where it was streamed live in 190 countries. "It's been a long journey but now we're finally here," said RM, the leader of BTS, who performed much of the concert from a chair after hurting his ankle during rehearsals. "While preparing this album, we did have some concerns that we might be forgotten, or whether you would still remember us," said anoth...

onurdongel/iStock via Getty Images Strive Asset Management ( ASST ) has seen a previously unhinged premium to its Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) holdings erode over the last 6 months, with the stock down 88%. This has underperformed by more than 2x the 40% dip in BTC over the same time period. The security and its preferreds offer an easy way for retail investors to add BTC exposure directly to their investment accounts. Bears flag that it's difficult to build a bullish case beyond this for ASST versus buying BTC directly. ASST currently holds 13,628 BTC, with the cryptocurrency currently trading for $71,091 per BTC, to place the total value of this position at $968 million. ASST had 69,158,785 basic average common shares outstanding as of the end of its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter, for a market cap of around $700 million as it is currently trading hands for $10.26 per share. I last covered the ticker with a Hold rating. Data by YCharts Strive Asset Management Website Strive Asset Management Website Critically, ASST bought its BTC at a markedly average higher price of $104,367 per BTC , which means it is underwater by around $454 million on its holdings. This is a loss of around 32%. This difference between its average price and current market price reflected across its total BTC reserve is shareholder value lost on a business model that I think will find it hard to replicate the success championed by Microstrategy ( MSTR ). This hinged on the common shares of the BTC holder trading at a premium to its BTC reserve to provide a backdrop for the sustained issuance of new common shares to buy more BTC. ASST is currently trading at an enterprise value to BTC NAV ratio ("mNAV") of just 1.05x. For some context, this metric would have been well north of 10x against ASST's previous 52-week high. The current ratio is still above 1x, which means ASST can issue new common shares through its ongoing at-the-market ("ATM") capacity at a pace that optimises its BTC yield. To be clear, the com...

Hawaii suffered its worst flooding in more than 20 years as heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week ago, officials said on Friday, while warning that more rain was expected during the weekend. Muddy floodwaters smothered vast stretches of Oahu’s North Shore, a community world renowned for its big-wave surfing. Raging waters lifted homes and cars and prompted evacuation orders for 5,500 people north of Honolulu. Advertisement Authorities cautioned that a 120-year-old dam could fail. Governor Josh Green said the cost of the storm could top US$1 billion, including damage to airports, schools, roads, people’s homes and a Maui hospital in Kula. An aerial view of homes surrounded by floodwater in Waialua, Hawaii, on Friday. Photo: AP “This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Green said at a press conference.

格隆汇3月21日｜重庆大学3月21日晚发布情况通报，3月20日晚，重庆大学科学城校区虎溪校园一实验室发生一起安全事故，造成1名学生经抢救无效死亡、3名学生受伤。目前受伤学生得到妥善救治，伤情平稳、无生命危险。经初步调查，疑似因操作不当引发实验物品闪爆。

格隆汇3月21日｜据央视财经，网络上有一类“黑嘴大V”，他们利用自身影响力，在资本市场完成精准收割。在某投资社区平台上，拥有10万粉丝的账号“金浤”，曾是不少投资者眼中的“风向标”。发一篇文章，阅读量动辄数百万；推荐一只股票，很快就能引发跟风买入。监管部门调查显示，其操作路径具有明显套路：先选取中小市值、低价股票，再结合市场热点进行“包装”解读，通过多平台发帖引导关注；当大量投资者短时间内跟风买入、推动股价上涨后，当事人随即在当日或次日集中卖出，实现快速获利。部分跟风投资者被迫高位接盘，承受损失。调查人员表示，在短短半年之内，当事人违法获利就有4000余万元。

REI’s latest sale is in full swing. The outdoor retailer’s exclusive shopping event runs through Monday, March 23rd, bringing with it a batch of discounts on Garmin watches, tents, portable stoves, and a slew of Verge -approved goodies. As expected, most deals are available only to REI members; however, you can still join the co-op for $30 . Members will also receive 20 percent off one full-priced item — or 20 percent off one REI Outlet item — with promo code MEMBER26 , meaning you can essentially save on just about any piece of gear. With the exception of a few, the deals themselves aren’t quite as steep or as all-encompassing as what we might see during the retailer’s bigger Labor Day and Memorial Day sales. But with warmer weather already hitting many parts of the US, reservations opening up, and summer fast approaching, it’s never a bad idea to plan ahead. Garmin Forerunner 165 Music The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music lets you download songs from Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. It also provides in-depth training metrics; however, it leaves out some of the more advanced features in exchange for a more affordable price. Read our review . Where to Buy: $299.99 $249.99 at Amazon $299.99 $249.99 at Best Buy $299.99 $249.99 at REI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 The Pocket 3 features a 1-inch CMOS sensor, three built-in microphones, and a 2-inch rotatable screen. If you’re unhappy with the video your phone captures, DJI’s compact cam makes it easy to get high-quality, stabilized footage, whether you’re vlogging your adventures or filming a wedding. Read our impressions . Where to Buy: $499 $438.99 at REI $499 $439 at B&H Photo $499 $439 at Best Buy No REI guide would be complete without a sleeping bag. While there are plenty of great options on sale, REI Co-op’s Trailmade 20 Sleeping Bag is down to just $82.93 (about $36 off) at REI . The sleeping bag is rated to keep you warm in temperatures as low as 21 degrees Fahrenheit, with a quilt construction, face muffler and draft tube, and...

tsingha25/iStock via Getty Images Most investors are familiar with stocks and bonds. Fewer are familiar with managed futures, and yet, some of the world's largest institutional investors, including major pension funds, have been allocating to managed futures strategies for decades. Today, managed futures ETFs make this institutional-grade strategy accessible to a much broader range of investors. The KraneShares Mount Lucas Managed Futures Index Strategy ETF ( KMLM ) is one such vehicle, offering systematic exposure to global macro trends across commodities, currencies, and fixed income futures. What Is a Managed Futures ETF? A managed futures ETF is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to a portfolio of futures contracts, standardized agreements to buy or sell an asset at a future date and price, across a range of global markets. Unlike traditional ETFs that largely hold stocks or bonds, a managed futures ETF gains exposure to price trends in commodities (such as oil, gold, and agricultural products), global currencies, and fixed-income instruments, such as government bond futures. The "managed" component refers to the systematic, rules-based methodology used to decide which futures to hold, and critically, whether to hold them long (benefiting from rising prices) or short (benefiting from falling prices). This two-directional flexibility is one of the most important features of managed futures strategies and something that traditional stock or bond ETFs often cannot offer. Price trends or volatility refer to fluctuations in market prices that may create both gains and losses. While some managed futures strategies seek to respond to sustained price movements, periods of heightened volatility may also result in increased losses, particularly when price movements are short-lived or inconsistent. How Does a Managed Futures ETF Work? Managed futures strategies are typically built on trend-following, a systematic approach that identifies and follows price momen...

There's an old saying in business: You can either buy or build. Each strategy offers pros and cons, but buying what you need can be faster and potentially less costly with the right acquisition and execution. In the crowded cybersecurity space, Palo Alto Networks (PANW 4.05%) is a builder, but it has also been on an aggressive buying spree over the last year. Today, we'll look at three specific acquisitions and how they'll be integrated into Palo Alto Networks. Why the acquisition strategy could pay off This isn't a surprise, but Palo Alto Networks' acquisitions over the last year have had an artificial intelligence (AI) flair. Expand NASDAQ : PANW Palo Alto Networks Today's Change ( -4.05 %) $ -6.88 Current Price $ 162.86 Key Data Points Market Cap $133B Day's Range $ 161.94 - $ 168.60 52wk Range $ 139.57 - $ 223.61 Volume 254K Avg Vol 9.9M Gross Margin 73.50 % 1. Protect AI Protect AI launched in 2022, and promoted itself as providing the "broadest and most comprehensive AI security solution," designed to offer protection throughout the life cycle of generative AI applications and machine learning models. It was a private company before Palo Alto Networks acquired it in July 2025, so there wasn't much publicly available financial information about it. However, what can still be valuable in such cases is to listen to what management says about how the buyer expects an acquisition to add value to its operations. "The promise of AI is immense, but so are the security risks," said Anand Oswal, now Palo Alto's executive vice president of network security, in the July 22 press release announcing the completion of the acquisition. "Our customers are moving quickly to adopt AI and are asking for a partner who can secure their entire AI ecosystem at scale. Protect AI's capabilities are a powerful complement to our innovative Prisma AIRS platform, and scales our ability to provide both depth and breadth in AI security to deliver protection across the entire AI lifecycle." 2...

Key Points Palo Alto Networks has bought a trio of start-ups and public companies over the last year, including two in 2026. The company reported $1.1 billion in net income in its fiscal 2025, but future acquisition costs could put pressure on its profitability. 10 stocks we like better than Palo Alto Networks › There's an old saying in business: You can either buy or build. Each strategy offers pros and cons, but buying what you need can be faster and potentially less costly with the right acquisition and execution. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » In the crowded cybersecurity space, Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) is a builder, but it has also been on an aggressive buying spree over the last year. Today, we'll look at three specific acquisitions and how they'll be integrated into Palo Alto Networks. Why the acquisition strategy could pay off This isn't a surprise, but Palo Alto Networks' acquisitions over the last year have had an artificial intelligence (AI) flair. 1. Protect AI Protect AI launched in 2022, and promoted itself as providing the "broadest and most comprehensive AI security solution," designed to offer protection throughout the life cycle of generative AI applications and machine learning models. It was a private company before Palo Alto Networks acquired it in July 2025, so there wasn't much publicly available financial information about it. However, what can still be valuable in such cases is to listen to what management says about how the buyer expects an acquisition to add value to its operations. "The promise of AI is immense, but so are the security risks," said Anand Oswal, now Palo Alto's executive vice president of network security, in the July 22 press release announcing the completion of the acquisition. "Our customers are moving quickly to adopt AI and...

(RTTNews) - United Airlines Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby has reassured employees that the company is well-prepared to navigate current industry challenges, including the war in Iran and a sharp spike in fuel prices. In a message to staff, Kirby emphasized that United's long-term strategy and financial strength will allow the airline to continue investing in growth while competitors face greater strain. Jet fuel prices have more than doubled in recent weeks, potentially adding $11 billion in annual expenses if sustained. Despite this, Kirby noted that demand remains at record levels, with the last ten weeks marking the strongest revenue period in United's history. United's plan includes assuming oil prices could remain elevated until 2027, tactically adjusting flight schedules to reduce unprofitable routes, and continuing with major investments in aircraft, technology, and infrastructure. The airline expects to take delivery of about 120 new aircraft in 2026, including 20 Boeing 787s, and another 130 by April 2028. Kirby stressed that United will not resort to cost-cutting or deferring investments, but instead will use this period to strengthen its competitive position. "We're ready, we have a plan and we're going to continue executing that plan," he wrote, urging employees to stay focused on customers and each other as the airline aims to build the most brand-loyal carrier in the world. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

everydayplus/iStock via Getty Images VFMF - Finally Proving Its Worth The Vanguard U.S. Multifactor ETF Shares (BATS: VFMF ) is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (also known as an ETF) that invests in U.S. stocks using a rules-based quantitative model to evaluate U.S. common stocks and construct an equity portfolio that looks at multiple factors. The point of this ETF is to have an actively managed option to track value stocks within the U.S. market, using a factor-based approach, with the fund manager rebalancing and reviewing the fund often for investment opportunities. This fund is a multifactor ETF that specifically targets stocks that the advisor thinks have strong recent performance, strong fundamentals, and low prices relative to fundamentals. Unlike general value ETFs like the Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF Shares ( VTV ), which simply include all stocks classified as "value" within an index, VFMF employs a factor-based selection process to rank and weight stocks based on their value characteristics. The fund builds its portfolio using three main factors: value, momentum, and quality. The value is assessed using price-to-book, forward price-to-earnings, and operating price-to-cash flow ratios. Meanwhile, momentum is evaluated through three metrics: total returns from the last 12 months and 6 months and the intercept from a one-year regression of returns against their regional benchmark. The quality factor varies by sector: for financials, it includes return on equity and share issuance, while for non-financials, it incorporates return on equity, gross profitability, changes in net operating assets, and leverage. VFMF also removes 20% of the most volatile stocks within each market capitalization group for risk management. All that to say, there's a clear mandate of what the fund is trying to do from a broad index perspective. VFMF's benchmark target is the Russell 3000 Index, and this article will tell you whether it's worth investing with VFMF or anoth...

Andrii Yalanskyi Earnings this week painted a picture of a market balancing resilient corporate performance with rising macro uncertainty. 9 S&P 500 companies reported earnings results this week. Most of the earnings updates came from information technology and consumer discretionary companies. Of the 9 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings this week, 7 beat EPS expectations and 2 missed. On a year-over-year basis, 6 companies posted higher earnings. On the top line, 6 companies topped revenue estimates, while 3 fell short. Year over year, 7 companies reported revenue growth. Seeking Alpha Let’s take a look at some of the companies that reported earnings this week: Accenture ( ACN ) Q2 results topped analyst expectations, supported by robust demand for AI-related services. However, the consulting giant flagged softer bookings growth , reflecting continued caution among enterprise clients on discretionary spending. The company also raised the lower end of its full fiscal year 2026 revenue and adjusted EPS outlook. Micron Technology ( MU ) posted a sharp surge in earnings , driven by booming demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence and data centers. The company signalled $33.5B Q3 revenue target and 81% gross margin guidance driven by AI demand surge. Micron Technology ( MU ) was in focus on Friday as Citi upped its price target to $510 from $430, citing better-than-expected margins. FedEx ( FDX ) emerged as one of the standout performers of the week, posting a strong earnings beat driven by cost-cutting initiatives and improved pricing . The logistics major also raised its full-year outlook and announced strategic steps, including a planned spin-off of its freight division, signaling confidence in demand recovery and margin expansion. FedEx ( FDX ) raised its FY '26 adjusted earnings outlook to $19.30 to $20.10 per diluted share, compared to the prior range of $17.80 to $19. Lululemon Athletica ( LULU ) reported a Q4 earnings beat, but the shares st...

Critical minerals are becoming a hot topic amid rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China. According to research from The Motley Fool, China accounts for 70% of extraction and an eye-popping 90% of processing of these key rare-earth elements, giving the country a dominant position in the rare-earth supply chain. As China tightens exports on some key rare-earth elements and magnets, U.S. policymakers are taking action. In the past year, the government has invested in two up-and-coming mining stocks, USA Rare Earth (USAR 8.96%) and MP Materials (MP 4.46%), to secure access to these crucial resources. If you're considering an investment in either of these two mining stocks, one stands out as a better buy in 2026. USA Rare Earth is ramping up production and mining abilities In January, USA Rare Earth secured $3.1 billion in much-needed capital, including a non-binding letter of intent for $1.6 billion from the U.S. Department of Commerce. As part of this funding, the government will provide $1.3 billion in senior-secured loans and another $277 million in direct funding. In return, the government gets a 10% equity stake in the up-and-coming mining company. The company also raised an additional $1.5 billion in private funding. USA Rare Earth will use this capital to expand its manufacturing facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where it will produce sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. These magnets are crucial for defense and consumer technologies, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, defense systems, missiles, and fighter jets. Expand NASDAQ : USAR USA Rare Earth Today's Change ( -8.96 %) $ -1.59 Current Price $ 16.21 Key Data Points Market Cap $3.5B Day's Range $ 15.81 - $ 18.00 52wk Range $ 5.56 - $ 43.98 Volume 530K Avg Vol 19M To hit the ground running, the company acquired Less Common Metals, a United Kingdom-based company. The acquisition provides the company with the feedstock for strip-cast alloy required for its Stillwater facility, enabling...

Key Points China controls a majority of rare-earth extraction and processing, and the U.S. is looking to change that. The U.S. government has invested in USA Rare Earth and MP Materials to secure critical minerals and magnets. The government has taken stakes in both companies as they work to ramp up their processing capabilities. 10 stocks we like better than USA Rare Earth › Critical minerals are becoming a hot topic amid rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China. According to research from The Motley Fool, China accounts for 70% of extraction and an eye-popping 90% of processing of these key rare-earth elements, giving the country a dominant position in the rare-earth supply chain. As China tightens exports on some key rare-earth elements and magnets, U.S. policymakers are taking action. In the past year, the government has invested in two up-and-coming mining stocks, USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ: USAR) and MP Materials (NYSE: MP), to secure access to these crucial resources. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » If you're considering an investment in either of these two mining stocks, one stands out as a better buy in 2026. USA Rare Earth is ramping up production and mining abilities In January, USA Rare Earth secured $3.1 billion in much-needed capital, including a non-binding letter of intent for $1.6 billion from the U.S. Department of Commerce. As part of this funding, the government will provide $1.3 billion in senior-secured loans and another $277 million in direct funding. In return, the government gets a 10% equity stake in the up-and-coming mining company. The company also raised an additional $1.5 billion in private funding. USA Rare Earth will use this capital to expand its manufacturing facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where it will produce sintered neodymium-iron-boron ...

格隆汇3月21日｜日本首相高市早苗在白宫国宴上的身影。

Новозыбковец Николай Сударев на первый взгляд — скромный, даже, можно сказать, неприметный человек. Не особо разговорчив, абсолютно «без короны» на голове. А меж тем этот человек незаменим в Городском доме культуры.

《科创板日报》3月21日讯（编辑 朱凌） 美国人工智能公司OpenAI正以前所未有的力度推进组织扩张，以缩小与竞争对手Anthropic的差距。 最新消息显示，正筹备年底前IPO的OpenAI计划在今年实现日均新增约12名员工的招聘速度，在年底前将员工人数从目前约4500人提升至8000人，几乎实现翻倍。 此次招聘的新员工将集中在产品开发、工程、研究以及销售等领域。 同时，OpenAI还将引入一种被称为“技术大使”的新型岗位，这类专业人才将直接进入企业内部，帮助客户更高效地部署和使用AI工具，从而提升商业转化能力。 这种模式在一定程度上借鉴了Palantir前线工程师的成功经验，通过深度嵌入客户业务流程来产生更多收入。 不过，马斯克旗下xAI也开始工程师派往客户现场，以期从OpenAI手中赢得业务。 为了支撑快速增长的人才规模，OpenAI已通过租赁在美国旧金山扩大办公空间，新增约28万平方（约26013平方米）英尺办公空间，旧金山办公室总面积超过100万平方英尺（约92903平方米）。 然而，OpenAI所面临的竞争环境也愈发严峻。数据显示，在首次采购AI产品的企业客户中，选择Anthropic的比例已达到OpenAI的三倍。 Anthropic由前OpenAI研究人员创办于2021年，自成立以来便专注于企业市场，其Claude Code编程工具一经推出便快速占领企业市场，甚至在今年实现了每周新增10亿美元年化收入的增长速度。这种差异化路径使得两家公司在企业市场上逐渐拉开差距。 同时，谷歌也在加大其AI产品布局，对OpenAI形成多重压力。 对此，OpenAI高层已开始调整战略方向。CEO奥尔特曼在去年底发出“红色警报”，要求团队重新聚焦核心产品ChatGPT。 OpenAI应用业务负责人菲吉·西莫近日进一步强调，应减少“支线任务”，集中资源优化编程平台Codex，并推动其与ChatGPT聊天机器人、网页浏览器ChatGPT Atlas整合为桌面“超级应用”，从而更好地向消费者和企业销售。 值得注意的是，尽管ChatGPT自2023年推出以来迅速积累了超过9亿用户，但其中超过90%的用户尚未付费，这使得OpenAI在商业变现方面面临巨大挑战。因此，公司一方面探索广告等新型收入模式，另一方面加速向企业市场倾斜。预计到今年年底，企业客户收入占比将从目前的40%提升至5...

China's smartphone sales fell 4% year over year in the first nine weeks of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research's China Weekly Smartphone Sell-Out Tracker. The decline reflects soft consumer demand and underwhelming Lunar New Year promotions. Government subsidies introduced early in the year have had limited impact so far. While February promotions lifted sales from January levels, rising memory prices constrained discounts. As a result, sales during the holiday period and the preceding three weeks were still down 2% year over year. Don't Miss: Rising Memory Costs Drive Pricing Pressure Higher memory costs are increasingly being passed through the supply chain. In response, OPPO and vivo have announced price increases for select existing models, effective March. The move also serves as a test of market sensitivity ahead of upcoming launches and will help guide pricing for next-generation devices. If demand weakens further, adjustments are expected. Apple And Huawei Positioned To Gain Share Apple Inc. posted the strongest growth in the period, with sales rising 23% year over year, supported by e-commerce discounts and government subsidies for the base iPhone 17. With tighter supply chain control, Apple is better positioned to manage the current memory cost surge. Unlike Android peers, the company is unlikely to raise prices, opting instead to absorb some margin pressure to protect and potentially expand market share. Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel — Literally Huawei may also benefit. Its reliance on domestic suppliers offers a cost advantage, as local memory sourcing is typically cheaper than international alternatives. This positions Huawei to capture share, particularly in the low- to mid-end segment. Outlook: Pressure To Continue Through Midyear Looking ahead, China's smartphone market is expected to remain under pressure from March through May. A potential recovery could emerge in early June, driven by 618 shopping promotions. However...

【财新网】 中国发展高层论坛2026年年会官方网站公布主要中方代表名单： 国家领导 李 强 中共中央政治局常委、国务院总理 尹 力 中共中央政治局委员、北京市委书记 吴政隆 国务委员兼国务院秘书长 政府部门 韩文秀 中央财经委员会办公室分管日常工作的副主任（正部长级）、 中央农村工作领导小组办公室主任 马朝旭 外交部副部长（分管外交日常业务工作，正部长级） 郑栅洁 国家发展和改革委员会主任

据知情人士称，为了应对来自Anthropic PBC和Alphabet旗下 谷歌 等公司的竞争，OpenAI计划在2026年底前将员工人数几乎翻倍。 消息人士称，这家ChatGPT的开发公司计划将员工规模从约4，500人增加至约8，000人。新招聘的员工将主要分布在产品开发、工程、研究和销售等领域。 消息人士还指出，OpenAI已在旧金山新增办公空间，以容纳不断增长的员工规模，使其在该城市的办公面积扩大至超过100万平方英尺。 责任编辑：于健 SF069

In this article BEN Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson has two equally challenging jobs. She oversees a fund company with nearly $2 trillion in assets under management within an industry experienced accelerated change, from active ETFs to tokenization . And, as a third-generation leader from the Johnson family, she's in charge of the legacy of a business started by her grandfather 79 years ago that is now valued by the stock market at roughly $13 billion. For a family business like Franklin Templeton's to last into a third generation is notable. Johnson often refers to a saying that appears in different forms around the world to make this point. In the U.S., people say, "shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations." In Europe, it's "clogs to clogs." And in Asia, it's "rice paddies to rice paddies." There is also, "Rich father; noble son; poor grandson." Or in other words: the first generation builds the business, the second grows it, and the third may be the one to bring about its failure. The actual data to support this global narrative is debatable. A 2021 Harvard Business Review analysis during the peak of the HBO "Succession" family business drama found that statistics commonly cited on the "third-generation failure" thesis were predicated on a single study from the 1980s, and its data was prone to misinterpretation. Nevertheless, a family business has a unique set of risks that need to be handled in a unique way, and many families do not prepare properly. According to PwC's 2023 U.S. Family Business Success survey, only 34% of family businesses have a documented succession plan. Johnson says one challenge she sees is that each generation experiences the company differently. Founders start with little and strive to create something valuable. Their children see their hard work and want to help expand the company. And by the third generation, the environment is different because the business is already well-e...

a-poselenov/iStock via Getty Images Co-authored with Beyond Saving While some are born into a life of luxury where they never have to worry about paying a bill, most of us weren't. I remember when I was 20-something, looking out at the world with all sorts of dreams and not really knowing what those dreams meant. I thought I wanted to be a lawyer! Then I interned at a law firm and saw that what lawyers actually do is absolutely nothing like Perry Mason. That dream went to the wayside when I learned that the reality of the dream wasn't something that I was really passionate about. I didn't have a chance to find what I really loved to do. Life happened, bills had to be paid, and I didn't have the luxury of finding my "dream job.". Nobody was going to support me while I tested out a dozen fields to find what I liked. A job was just something that I was good at and brought in enough money to pay the bills. If I'm being honest, I was a bit jealous of those who went straight into a career that they absolutely loved. For me, a job was a cubicle, spreadsheets, and presentations because it's what I was good at, and the salary was good. I'm sure many of you are in the same situation. Waking up in the morning, driving through rush hour, to sit at a desk doing a job that you might not hate, but you don't love. Maybe you are like I was, dreaming about being able to get up every morning and doing something that you love doing so much you'd do it for free. Today, I'm blessed to be able to wake up every morning and do something that I truly love. I no longer dread the end of a vacation. I wake up, and I'm truly excited to dive into my work. I'm here to tell you two things. There's no replacement for loving the work you do every day. Sure, there are always things in any career that aren't fun, but when you truly have a passion for the work you do. The grass is, in fact, greener when you find that one thing that you truly love to do. It's possible to change your life and escape the r...

Getty Images In a major surprise, American Airlines Group Inc. ( AAL ) guided to far better than expected Q1'26 numbers. The airlines were expected to struggle this quarter due to the Iranian conflict and surging oil prices. My investment thesis remains ultra Bullish on the stock trading at the lows near $10 after dipping from $16. Source: Finviz Surprise Q1 Guide-Up American Airlines provided solid guidance for Q1'26 despite the conflict in Iran and much higher oil prices. The stock was beaten down heading into this updated guidance for the March quarter and the numbers couldn't have been much better than expected. The airline guided to the following March numbers: Source: American Airlines 8-K The key guidance is that revenues will rise by 10% and the adjusted loss per share will hit towards the lower end of guidance around ($0.10). The consensus analyst estimates was for a loss of ($0.42), yet the airline is absorbing $400 million in higher fuel costs and easily beating these estimates. American Airlines has seen fantastic travel demand continue into 2026. The airline was already in the midst of turning around the corporate business and the Q1 results are supportive of this turnaround being full speed ahead. At the J.P. Morgan Industrials conference , CEO Robert Isom made this comment about the strong prospects for this year as follows: In March, we're expecting greater than 10% unit revenue performance. And we see that strength continuing on into April and May as well. A few things about this growth. There continues to be very, very strong demand for our premium products, and we're seeing main cabin strength as well. And that's where we have a tremendous amount of our network, and it's over the long run, that domestic network is a strategic advantage. And our commercial initiatives are driving these results. We're seeing the full impact of restoration of our sales and distribution. The stock isn't priced for the solid Q1 results and again hasn't rallied despite ...

JuSun/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis I believe that the market is misunderstanding Credo ( CRDO ), especially after Nvidia's ( NVDA ) GTC 2026 event, leading to a 21% pullback since my last coverage which has likely reset the story more than the company itself. This is not a one-trick AEC company in trouble but a company that is becoming the connective tissue in the infrastructure of AI. Copper is not going away where reliability is needed and at the same time, Credo is expanding into optics, retimers, and chip-to-chip connectivity. Not only is the demand for hyperscaler products continuing to accelerate but the company is gaining more and more pricing power at higher speeds and has multiple product ramps into 2027. Data by YCharts The Illusion of Weakness: Growth Outpacing Narrative Comfort I see the biggest disconnect between the share price and the operating performance. Credo has reported one of the strongest quarters in the entire infrastructure stack in the AI space and the share price has acted as though the company has broken. This is a problem because it is not a fundamental issue. It is a narrative issue. Revenue has come in at $407 million , up over 200% year over year, with gross profits margins at 68.6% and operating margins near 50% and free cash flows accelerating significantly. What’s more, the company has pointed out the fact that the company has, in effect, scaled more than sixfold in the past two years, which is a rare feat in the semiconductor industry. Yet, here’s where it gets fascinating. The share price did not fall because the revenue and the demand were down. It fell because the margin expectations have come down, and the company has now guided gross margin down to the mid-60s. Suddenly, the narrative has shifted from a software-like semiconductor company to a cyclical hardware supplier. I think this is a simplistic narrative, and I’ll tell you why. Data by YCharts What is missing from the market is an understanding that this mar...

Vivek Vishwakarma/iStock via Getty Images It pays to have dry powder on hand for amazing buying opportunities as they come up. The current market downturn can be trying times for those who are in the market just for capital gains. But for income and value investors, now represents a great opportunity to layer in capital and lock in high yields. At the risk of sounding clichéd, I think it’s time be greedy when others are fearful. This brings me to the following 2 opportunities, one in the BDC and the other in the REIT space. Both are trading at far below their intrinsic value, which could lead to the best of both worlds – high income and capital appreciation. In this article, I explore what makes each a compelling ‘Buy’, so let’s dive in! #1: Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Blackstone Secured Lending Fund ( BXSL ) is a BDC that originates and invests primarily in first-lien, senior secured loans to U.S. middle-market companies. It’s managed by Blackstone’s ( BX ) global credit platform, and benefits from BX’s deep sourcing networks, scale, and underwriting expertise. Unlike private equity, BXSL’s investments sit higher on the capital stack, putting it first in to collect in the event of a borrower liquidation. This is supported by the fact that 97.6% of its investments are first-lien senior secured debt. Its investments also have a weighted average loan to value ratio of 50.5%. This means that there is 49.5% of equity buffer that takes losses first, before BXSL sees any potential losses. BXSL’s $14.2 billion portfolio is well-diversified with no single investment making up more than 2% of portfolio total. As shown below, software, professional services, healthcare, insurance, and commercial services make up the top 5 sectors, making up 57% of portfolio total. Investor Presentation While software has carried headline risks around ‘SaaS-pocalpyse’ from AI disruption, management was careful to point out that not all software is the same. This includes proprietary system...

Victor Hanson: What Is It With The Fickle Europeans? Via The Daily Signal , This is a lightly edited transcript of a segment of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words” podcast from Daily Signal . What is it with the fickle Europeans ? I know that they have different interests than ours, but we’re both Western entities. You’d think that we’d be more collaborative on the effort to disarm and denuclearize Iran. But a lot of strange things are happening. The traditional use of the Diego Garcia critical airbase in the Indian Ocean, run by the British, but often leased to us and allowed us to have a very valuable base for our long-range bombers. The British initially refused to allow us to use it. And then, only under conditions that it would be used for defensive purposes. I don’t know what that means. But I think they forgot the 1982 Falklands War. They were in big trouble going all the way across the world to attack a country in the Western Hemisphere. We were trying to be on friendly relationships so that [Argentina] wouldn’t join the other communist nations. And of course, we offered them 2 million gallons of gasoline. We offered them the use of a carrier if they needed it. We gave them sophisticated intelligence. Without the United States’ help, they would’ve had a very hard time retaking it. So, what’s happened? And then Spain has said that we can’t use at all the NATO base there in Spain. [President Emmanuel] Macron in France and [Chancellor Friedrich] Merz in Germany have also said they’ve expressed reservations. President Donald Trump is now trying to say, you know, we’re using all of our assets to disarm this common threat to the West. Could you just send a few ships to help us, you know, patrol the Strait of Hormuz ? And they’re reluctant. This gets back to the United States, who pays an inordinate amount of the NATO budget. And it keeps having to, you know, to harangue and hammer. “Please, please defend yourself. We are here to help you, but we’re across the ...

Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR) looks expensive for a reason, and this video explores why the market still rewards its execution, scale, and momentum. BigBear AI (NYSE: BBAI) may seem like the cheaper opportunity, but its weaker revenue and higher uncertainty create a very different risk profile. Stock prices used were the market prices of March 13, 2026. The video was published on March 20, 2026. Continue reading