Zero Gravity Labs Inc Logo With NVIDIA, OpenAI, and enterprise players racing to build agent infrastructure, 0G delivers the onchain layer where autonomous AI agents compute, store, and transact - live on mainnet San Francisco, CA, March 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the AI industry converges on autonomous agents as the next major computing paradigm, with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang projecting a $1 ...
Zero Gravity Labs Inc Logo With NVIDIA, OpenAI, and enterprise players racing to build agent infrastructure, 0G delivers the onchain layer where autonomous AI agents compute, store, and transact - live on mainnet San Francisco, CA, March 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the AI industry converges on autonomous agents as the next major computing paradigm, with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang projecting a $1 trillion agentic AI opportunity at GTC 2026 and OpenAI releasing GPT-5.4 models designed specifically for multi-agent architectures - 0G (Zero Gravity) is staking its position as the blockchain purpose-built for AI agents. 0G Positions as the Blockchain for AI Agents as Industry Moves Toward $1 Trillion Agentic AI Economy With NVIDIA, OpenAI, and enterprise players racing to build agent infrastructure, 0G delivers the onchain layer. 0G’s Aristotle Mainnet, live since September 2025, provides the three capabilities every autonomous AI agent needs to operate independently: verified compute, persistent memory, and onchain settlement. Why AI Agents Need Their Own Blockchain The AI agent economy is accelerating faster than most of the industry anticipated. This week alone: NVIDIA open-sourced NemoClaw, a guardrails framework for autonomous agents, and projected agentic AI as a trillion-dollar revenue category OpenAI launched GPT-5.4 mini and nano - its first models explicitly architected for subagent and multi-agent systems Solana reported 55 live AI agents generating $52,000 in daily revenue Binance indexed over 1,600 AI agents through its Agent Skills Hub But agents running on centralized infrastructure inherit a fundamental problem: they depend on providers who can revoke access, monitor inputs, or shut down operations at any time. For AI agents to be truly autonomous, they need infrastructure that no single party controls. “AI agents are software that makes decisions and takes actions on behalf of users. If those agents run on infrastructure controlled by someone else, they ...
What are baby boomers worth right now, on average? The exact number depends on who you ask and what you mean by "average net worth." Baby boomers' age range is between 62 and 80. If you're using the frequently cited numbers from the Federal Reserve's most recent Survey of Consumer Finances, the average net worth for people between the ages of 65 and 74 is $1.78 million. The 75-and-up crowd's net w...
What are baby boomers worth right now, on average? The exact number depends on who you ask and what you mean by "average net worth." Baby boomers' age range is between 62 and 80. If you're using the frequently cited numbers from the Federal Reserve's most recent Survey of Consumer Finances, the average net worth for people between the ages of 65 and 74 is $1.78 million. The 75-and-up crowd's net worth, as well as the 55-to-64 cohort's, wasn't too far behind that figure. It sounds like a lot, but you'll want to take that $1.78 million figure with a grain of salt. While that's a respectable average, it's skewed higher by a small number of ultra-wealthy people. The more meaningful median -- or midpoint -- figure for 65-to-74-year-olds is a much lower $410,000 (and again, the people immediately above and below this age range are worth slightly less). You should also know that this data was gathered in 2022 (the last time the Federal Reserve conducted this survey), when the COVID-19 pandemic was still undermining incomes and economic activity. Much has changed for the better since then, most likely including these figures. That being said, bear in mind that total net worth includes assets like real estate, vehicles, and investments minus any debt. It's different from liquid net worth, which is just assets that can readily be converted into cash. In this vein, the average amount of money that these baby boomers have tucked away in retirement accounts is $609,000, while the median -- or midpoint -- retirement savings is a measurably lower $200,000. Investors who are immediately older or younger than this group also once again have slightly less saved in retirement accounts.
Old West Investment Management went all in on energy stocks when oil was trading around $60 a barrel, Nicolás Maduro was still president of Venezuela and the prospect of a Middle East conflict that would send the world into a crisis was still only a distant worst-case scenario. By the end of February, even before the Iran war sent energy prices soaring, the wager had driven the firm’s flagship fun...
Old West Investment Management went all in on energy stocks when oil was trading around $60 a barrel, Nicolás Maduro was still president of Venezuela and the prospect of a Middle East conflict that would send the world into a crisis was still only a distant worst-case scenario. By the end of February, even before the Iran war sent energy prices soaring, the wager had driven the firm’s flagship fund to a 31% return this year — just not entirely for the reasons that its chief investment officer expected. “I don’t know if we were lucky in it or just that these types of events highlight the importance of those types of scarce resources,” said Brian Laks , the CIO of Old West, which oversees about $1 billion of investments. Old West’s decision to increase its energy-stock exposure from the single digits to over 30% of its holdings stemmed from a call that looked far more predictable. Many in the industry had been expecting oil prices to drop as new supplies hit the market and slowing growth curbed demand. When that didn’t happen, it appeared the sector’s stocks were poised to rally back from a lagging run. That’s exactly what happened as Trump administration’s capture of Maduro, its hardline approach toward Iran and the impacts of Russian sanctions pushed oil prices higher. Then prices surged anew this month after the US and Israel started bombing Iran, miring the region in an escalating conflict that’s shuttered a key shipping lane and pushed oil to over $110 a barrel. “It’s an interesting problem to have: we make this big rotation into an area, and within the first one to two months, a lot of the stocks are up 30% to 50%,” Laks added. “For the most part, that’s what people usually look for as a great return for the total lifespan of an investment.” The decision has catapulted the small Los Angeles hedge fund to returns that have eclipsed some of its bigger and better-known peers. It outpaced oil-trader Pierre Andurand ’s main hedge fund, which gained 19% through March ...
Tesla Inc. (ISIN: US88160R1014) navigates challenging market dynamics with recent production figures and analyst adjustments drawing investor focus. German-speaking investors in DACH region should monitor EV demand trends and regulatory shifts impacting global auto sector exposure. Latest developments highlight resilience amid volatility. Tesla Inc. stock has encountered headwinds in early 2026, r...
Tesla Inc. (ISIN: US88160R1014) navigates challenging market dynamics with recent production figures and analyst adjustments drawing investor focus. German-speaking investors in DACH region should monitor EV demand trends and regulatory shifts impacting global auto sector exposure. Latest developments highlight resilience amid volatility. Tesla Inc. stock has encountered headwinds in early 2026, reflecting broader electric vehicle market challenges and company-specific production updates. Shares on Nasdaq recently traded around $368 USD, down over 3% in a session, amid concerns over softening demand and competitive pressures. For DACH investors, this matters due to Europe's stringent EV mandates and Tesla's significant factory presence in Germany, influencing local supply chains and energy costs. As of: 21.03.2026 By Dr. Elena Voss, Senior Auto Sector Analyst – Tracking EV innovation and European market integration for institutional investors. Recent Market Trigger: Production and Delivery Figures Tesla released its latest quarterly production and delivery numbers, showing resilience despite a tough environment. Global EV demand has softened, but Tesla maintained output at key facilities, including Gigafactory Berlin. This update triggered stock volatility as investors assessed if the company can sustain growth amid rising competition from Chinese rivals. Analysts note that while deliveries met lowered expectations, margins remain under scrutiny due to price cuts implemented earlier. The market reacted with a pullback, highlighting sensitivity to volume guidance. DACH investors benefit from Tesla's European expansion, which bolsters local job creation and tech transfer. Key metrics indicate steady Cybertruck ramp-up alongside Model Y refreshes. Yet, inventory levels signal caution, prompting questions on pricing power. This development underscores why timely data drives trading in high-growth autos. Stock Performance on Nasdaq The Tesla Inc. stock was last seen on N...
As health and quality of life improves throughout the nation, older workers are delaying - or even coming out of - retirement. Bloomberg News, Senior Editor Stacey Vanek Smith joined David Gura and Christina Ruffini this morning on Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss the new trend. Watch the show LIVE every Saturday and Sunday morning. (Source: Bloomberg)
As health and quality of life improves throughout the nation, older workers are delaying - or even coming out of - retirement. Bloomberg News, Senior Editor Stacey Vanek Smith joined David Gura and Christina Ruffini this morning on Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss the new trend. Watch the show LIVE every Saturday and Sunday morning. (Source: Bloomberg)
In this article FDX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT A worker unloads packages from a FedEx truck on Cyber Monday in New York, US, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Bess Adler | Bloomberg | Getty Images For the close to half-a-million workers at FedEx , a major AI journey is underway. The logistics giant is in the midst of a widespread AI literacy initiative that it says will make employees ...
In this article FDX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT A worker unloads packages from a FedEx truck on Cyber Monday in New York, US, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Bess Adler | Bloomberg | Getty Images For the close to half-a-million workers at FedEx , a major AI journey is underway. The logistics giant is in the midst of a widespread AI literacy initiative that it says will make employees more knowledgeable, efficient and promotion-ready. Launched in early December in partnership with tech consulting firm Accenture , the enterprise-wide education program is also meant to spark innovation from employees at all levels. FedEx and its competitors in the shipping sector face many business constraints, from tariffs and other policy changes to cost-cutting initiatives that resulted in recent FedEx plant closures and layoffs in places from Kansas to France . Rival UPS recently announced 30,000 layoffs to add to the 48,000 it conducted in 2025. FedEx leadership is keen on adapting to this new world with emerging technology at the forefront, and its recent earnings, including its latest report this week, have met with approval from investors, with shares up close to 50% over the past year. "The more we invest in our talent being on the leading aspect of that learning journey, the better off they will be, the better off we will be, and the better off the broader industry is going to be," said Vishal Talwar, executive vice president and chief data and information officer at FedEx who also runs the company's data logistics solution Dataworks. According to the company's most recent annual report , it has 440,000 workers globally. FedEx continues to introduce new AI capabilities from every end of the organization, like advanced digital tracking and returns capabilities for shippers, announced in early February. The AI learning initiative at FedEx includes personalized, role-based training for employees designed to evolve as the technology does. "This is a living curriculum...
In a typical day, 32% of American adults consume fast food, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Perhaps it's no surprise that quick-serve restaurants are a big-dollar industry. Although the fast-food industry is highly competitive, companies that can stand out through innovation, a compelling value proposition, and out-of-the-box thinking can reap the rewards...
In a typical day, 32% of American adults consume fast food, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Perhaps it's no surprise that quick-serve restaurants are a big-dollar industry. Although the fast-food industry is highly competitive, companies that can stand out through innovation, a compelling value proposition, and out-of-the-box thinking can reap the rewards of this high-ceiling addressable market. Arranging the pieces of this puzzle is how McDonald's (MCD +0.03%), Wendy's, Burger King, which is owned by Restaurant Brands International, and Subway have thrived. For roughly three decades, Brand Keys has been evaluating brand-name businesses across dozens of categories with its proprietary Customer Loyalty Engagement Index (CLEI). Brands that meet or exceed the expectations of the CLEI and keep their customers engaged tend to outperform over the coming 12 to 18 months. In 2026, Brand Keys examined customers' relationships with over 1,100 brands in 106 categories, including quick-serve restaurants -- and one brand rose to the occasion. America's favorite fast-food restaurant isn't clowning around While all of the big-name, quick-serve restaurants offer some degree of distinction and have attempted to reinvent themselves from time to time, it's the golden arches of McDonald's, not Wendy's, Burger King, or Subway, that took the 2026 CLEI crown as the fast-food chain American consumers are most loyal to and engaged with. Expand NYSE : MCD McDonald's Today's Change ( 0.03 %) $ 0.10 Current Price $ 309.68 Key Data Points Market Cap $219B Day's Range $ 307.62 - $ 311.42 52wk Range $ 283.47 - $ 341.75 Volume 243K Avg Vol 3.2M Gross Margin 57.29 % Dividend Yield 2.35 % Arguably, the biggest differentiating factor for McDonald's has been its embrace of technology. In particular, the company has countered rising labor costs and increasing fast-food competition with mobile and in-store ordering kiosks. McDonald's app orders use geofencing t...
Key Points Nearly a third of American adults consume fast food on a given day. According to Brand Keys' proprietary Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, one quick-serve restaurant chain has risen above the pack in a highly competitive industry. Value and familiarity are powering America's favorite fast food restaurant chain. 10 stocks we like better than McDonald's › In a typical day, 32% of America...
Key Points Nearly a third of American adults consume fast food on a given day. According to Brand Keys' proprietary Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, one quick-serve restaurant chain has risen above the pack in a highly competitive industry. Value and familiarity are powering America's favorite fast food restaurant chain. 10 stocks we like better than McDonald's › In a typical day, 32% of American adults consume fast food, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Perhaps it's no surprise that quick-serve restaurants are a big-dollar industry. Although the fast-food industry is highly competitive, companies that can stand out through innovation, a compelling value proposition, and out-of-the-box thinking can reap the rewards of this high-ceiling addressable market. Arranging the pieces of this puzzle is how McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), Wendy's, Burger King, which is owned by Restaurant Brands International, and Subway have thrived. 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 » For roughly three decades, Brand Keys has been evaluating brand-name businesses across dozens of categories with its proprietary Customer Loyalty Engagement Index (CLEI). Brands that meet or exceed the expectations of the CLEI and keep their customers engaged tend to outperform over the coming 12 to 18 months. In 2026, Brand Keys examined customers' relationships with over 1,100 brands in 106 categories, including quick-serve restaurants -- and one brand rose to the occasion. America's favorite fast-food restaurant isn't clowning around While all of the big-name, quick-serve restaurants offer some degree of distinction and have attempted to reinvent themselves from time to time, it's the golden arches of McDonald's, not Wendy's, Burger King, or Subway, that took the 2026 CLEI crown as the fast-...
Iran's Longest-Range Missile Strike Fails On Diego Garcia, As Natanz Nuclear Facility Bombed Summary Natanz nuclear site attacked: Iran says "no nuclear radiation" detected, even as attacks on core sites like Isfahan nuclear facilities signal clear escalation despite earlier Trump signals of maybe "winding down." War expands with furthest ever Iranian missile launch: Iran fires missiles at Diego G...
Iran's Longest-Range Missile Strike Fails On Diego Garcia, As Natanz Nuclear Facility Bombed Summary Natanz nuclear site attacked: Iran says "no nuclear radiation" detected, even as attacks on core sites like Isfahan nuclear facilities signal clear escalation despite earlier Trump signals of maybe "winding down." War expands with furthest ever Iranian missile launch: Iran fires missiles at Diego Garcia in a failed but unprecedented long-range strike. US claims momentum, hits hardened targets, Hormuz softening ops : CENTCOM says Iran has lost “significant combat capability” after 8,000+ strikes, and bunker-busting attacks on coastal facilities tied to control of the Strait of Hormuz. Kharg invasion risk rising: US still weighing a high-risk seizure of Kharg Island as more US warships and Marines surge to the region, raising odds of boots-on-the-ground escalation. * * * Natanz Nuclear Site Suffers Direct Attack - No Radiation Leakage President Trump's late in the day Friday comments proclaiming "I think we've won" suggested he might be readying the announcement of an offramp or at least de-escalation, but that speculation has proven premature as things definitely escalated overnight. For apparently the second time of Operation Epic Fury, Iran's flagship enrichment site at Natanz nuclear facility has come under attack. Iran's nuclear agency confirmed the strike but is keeping details deliberately vague, saying nothing about how it was carried out or what weapons were used. What it did emphasize, however, is that "no nuclear radiation" was released . via AFP Natanz - alongside the Isfahan nuclear facilities - sits at the core of Tehran’s nuclear program, long viewed as a prime target in the US-Israel campaign to cripple Iran's ability to produce an atomic bomb - though it remains that even Iran's current wartime leadership is saying it has no intent to produce a nuclear weapon. The AP says Natanz was earlier struck at least once at the opening of the conflict, writing :...
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has escalated an investigation into problems with Tesla's (TSLA 3.33%) Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver-assist system, the agency said in a filing on Thursday. NHTSA is investigating possible safety defects that may make FSD dangerous to use in fog, heavy rain, glaring sun, or other "reduced roadway visibility conditions," it said. The ...
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has escalated an investigation into problems with Tesla's (TSLA 3.33%) Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver-assist system, the agency said in a filing on Thursday. NHTSA is investigating possible safety defects that may make FSD dangerous to use in fog, heavy rain, glaring sun, or other "reduced roadway visibility conditions," it said. The investigation covers 3.2 million Teslas built since 2016. To be clear, this is still an investigation. While NHTSA has the power to order Tesla to recall and repair vehicles found to be defective, it's still a step away from doing that. But if the agency finds that FSD has safety defects, and if those defects can't be repaired via an over-the-air software update, this could get expensive for Tesla in more ways than one. What NHTSA said about its investigation into Tesla's FSD Unlike most advanced driver-assist systems, which use a combination of cameras, radar, and (sometimes) lidar, FSD relies entirely on cameras to "see" and understand what's happening around the car. Obviously, things like fog, glare, and heavy rain can degrade the ability of those cameras to give the system the information it needs to operate the car safely. Because of that, FSD has a "degradation detection system," which is supposed to warn the driver and disengage FSD when it can't see well enough to operate safely. NHTSA has been investigating that system since last year. But this week, it said it has now opened an "Engineering Analysis" to determine whether the degradation detection system is working as it should. That puts the investigation a big step closer to a recall. The agency said on Thursday that its investigators have found that, in nine incidents they've studied, "the [degradation detection] system did not detect common roadway conditions that impaired camera visibility and/or provide alerts when camera performance had deteriorated until immediately before the crash occurred." In one of th...
Key Points The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stepped up its investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving system this past week. At issue: Does the system do enough to detect and warn drivers when low visibility is impairing its ability to operate safely? There have been several related accidents with at least one fatality. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionai...
Key Points The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stepped up its investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving system this past week. At issue: Does the system do enough to detect and warn drivers when low visibility is impairing its ability to operate safely? There have been several related accidents with at least one fatality. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has escalated an investigation into problems with Tesla's (NASDAQ: TSLA) Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver-assist system, the agency said in a filing on Thursday. NHTSA is investigating possible safety defects that may make FSD dangerous to use in fog, heavy rain, glaring sun, or other "reduced roadway visibility conditions," it said. 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 » The investigation covers 3.2 million Teslas built since 2016. To be clear, this is still an investigation. While NHTSA has the power to order Tesla to recall and repair vehicles found to be defective, it's still a step away from doing that. But if the agency finds that FSD has safety defects, and if those defects can't be repaired via an over-the-air software update, this could get expensive for Tesla in more ways than one. What NHTSA said about its investigation into Tesla's FSD Unlike most advanced driver-assist systems, which use a combination of cameras, radar, and (sometimes) lidar, FSD relies entirely on cameras to "see" and understand what's happening around the car. Obviously, things like fog, glare, and heavy rain can degrade the ability of those cameras to give the system the information it needs to operate the car safely. Because of that, FSD has a "degradation detection system," which is supposed to warn the driver and disengage FSD when it can't see...
Walmart As the technological and digital landscape has transformed American retail, there have been some areas of life that have remained unchanged. The grocery store aisle, for instance, looks largely the same as it did 50 years ago. Sure, price stickers on the product have been replaced by bar codes, but otherwise the aisle looks largely the same. But the biggest change since the bar code is hit...
Walmart As the technological and digital landscape has transformed American retail, there have been some areas of life that have remained unchanged. The grocery store aisle, for instance, looks largely the same as it did 50 years ago. Sure, price stickers on the product have been replaced by bar codes, but otherwise the aisle looks largely the same. But the biggest change since the bar code is hitting in the shelf space that matters most to the pocketbook. Walmart is currently rolling out digital price tags to replace the old paper ones — the plan is to roll them out in all stores across the U.S. by the end of the year. Walmart isn't alone. Grocery giant Kroger has also begun experimenting with the technology. The speed of digital tags offers stores the promise of extra efficiency in an age of supply chain shocks and sticky inflation, but it is also drawing some concerns from lawmakers about surge pricing. Amanda Bailey, a team leader in electronics who works at a Walmart in West Chester, Ohio, estimates that the digital shelf labels — known as DSLs — have cut the time she used to spend on pricing duties by 75 percent, time that has freed her up to help customers. She also said the DSLs are a game-changer because Walmart's Spark delivery drivers looking for an item will see a flashing DSL so they can more easily find the product. Bailey acknowledged that with any change, consumers may be wary, but she waved aside fears of surge pricing. "They are not used to seeing digital tags — they think prices are being raised, but what they are really doing is eliminating processes," Bailey said. Scott Benedict, a retail consultant and former executive at Sam's Club and Walmart, said the concerns of customers are understandable but probably overstated. "When a retailer installs technology that allows prices to change in minutes, shoppers will of course wonder how it might be used," Benedict said. But in grocery, he said, trust is fragile because shoppers track prices week after...
KanawatTH/iStock via Getty Images AI server maker Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ), which has had its fair share of self-created problems in the last few years as the company missed important reporting deadlines and at some point was even at risk of getting delisted from the NASDAQ, hit another major roadblock last week. On Friday, it was reported that the U.S. Department of Justice indicted three in...
KanawatTH/iStock via Getty Images AI server maker Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ), which has had its fair share of self-created problems in the last few years as the company missed important reporting deadlines and at some point was even at risk of getting delisted from the NASDAQ, hit another major roadblock last week. On Friday, it was reported that the U.S. Department of Justice indicted three individuals tied to SMCI, including co-founder Yih-Shyan Liaw,for allegedly smuggling $2.5B worth of restricted Nvidia GPUs to China, using Southeast Asian shell companies. The report sent shares down a massive 33% on Friday and caused SMCI to close at its lowest price since late 2023. Data by YCharts Previous rating In my last work on Super Micro -- Strong Growth Setup As Industry CapEx Soars -- I highlighted that the company benefited from a significant expansion in the total addressable market as hyperscalers shifted large percentages of their CapEx budgets to the data center industry. While the current situation at SMCI creates a lot of uncertainty, there is also an opportunity here to make money, in my opinion, as the server maker is still doing well in its core business and enjoying significant top line growth. Current situation at SMCI and valuation impact Last week, the Department of Justice announced that it indicted three individuals, including Super Micro co-founder and board member Yih-Shyan Liaw, for a massive $2.5B smuggling operation that could negatively impact SMCI’s business in the short term. According to the indictment, Super Micro insiders participated in a smuggling operation to sell Nvidia ( NVDA ) Blackwell (B200) and Hopper (H200) GPUs through shell companies to Chinese entities that are prohibited from receiving high-performing AI technologies for national security reasons.While the company itself was not named as a defendant in this specific indictment from the Department of Justice. A key concern for investors right now is whether Nvidia will conti...
In a wide-ranging exclusive conversation with Bloomberg This Weekend's David Gura, Cuba's ambassador to the United Nations, Ernesto Sobern Guzman, says his country will not remove Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in order to appease the US. Watch the full conversation on 'Bloomberg This Weekend.' We're LIVE every Saturday and Sunday morning. (Source: Bloomberg)
In a wide-ranging exclusive conversation with Bloomberg This Weekend's David Gura, Cuba's ambassador to the United Nations, Ernesto Sobern Guzman, says his country will not remove Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in order to appease the US. Watch the full conversation on 'Bloomberg This Weekend.' We're LIVE every Saturday and Sunday morning. (Source: Bloomberg)
Gary Yeowell/DigitalVision via Getty Images By BeiChen Lin, CFA, CPA, Director, Head of Canadian Strategy Energy volatility persists Geopolitical developments in the Middle East drove market attention this week, with reports of energy infrastructure being targeted leading to sharp moves in oil and gas prices. At one point, Brent crude rose to as high as $119 per barrel before retracing some of tho...
Gary Yeowell/DigitalVision via Getty Images By BeiChen Lin, CFA, CPA, Director, Head of Canadian Strategy Energy volatility persists Geopolitical developments in the Middle East drove market attention this week, with reports of energy infrastructure being targeted leading to sharp moves in oil and gas prices. At one point, Brent crude rose to as high as $119 per barrel before retracing some of those gains. Natural gas prices also moved higher. Energy remains the primary channel through which this conflict is affecting markets. Our base case is that the conflict will be relatively short-lived, suggesting the energy price shock should also prove temporary. However, a more prolonged shock would have broader implications for global growth. While the U.S. is now a net energy exporter and more insulated than many non-U.S. regions, sustained higher energy prices would still weigh on the global backdrop. This creates a more nuanced picture for equity markets. Coming into the year, non-U.S. equities appeared supported by more attractive valuations and improving fundamentals . Whether that trend resumes will depend in part on how long current tensions persist. Given the uncertainty, we believe investors are best served by remaining close to their strategic asset allocation. Our current U.S. recession probability remains at 20%, though that could rise if energy prices stay elevated. Central banks remain on hold Central banks were in focus this week, with most opting to leave policy rates unchanged as they assess the evolving outlook. The Federal Reserve, Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, Bank of England and Bank of Japan all held rates steady. The Reserve Bank of Australia was a notable exception, raising rates by 25 basis points in a split decision. Market expectations for further rate hikes in Australia — and to some extent Canada — appear somewhat aggressive in our view, particularly given signs that some inflation pressures may prove temporary and growth conditions re...
A University of Alabama student who was found dead in Barcelona after going missing while vacationing evidently fell into the sea on accident in view of surveillance cameras – and an autopsy revealed injuries on his body that were consistent with having repeatedly struck a breakwater’s rocks. Such details about James “Jimmy” Gracey surfaced in the Spanish media as a spokesperson for police in Barc...
A University of Alabama student who was found dead in Barcelona after going missing while vacationing evidently fell into the sea on accident in view of surveillance cameras – and an autopsy revealed injuries on his body that were consistent with having repeatedly struck a breakwater’s rocks. Such details about James “Jimmy” Gracey surfaced in the Spanish media as a spokesperson for police in Barcelona told the Associated Press that “all signs point” to the 20-year-old’s death as having been an accident. Gracey was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub at about 3am on Tuesday. The native of suburban Chicago raised alarm when he did not return to a short-term rental where he was staying with friends who accompanied him on their spring break to the Catalan region’s capital. And, in a development that generated international news headlines, his corpse ultimately was recovered Thursday afternoon in 13ft deep waters off a beach near the Shoko club. Spain’s El País newspaper, citing police sources, reported on Friday that local surveillance cameras captured video of Gracey walking by himself toward a dock and falling into the water “without third-party involvement”. El Periódico, another outlet, added on Friday that a preliminary autopsy report filed in court in Barcelona “rules out foul play and supports the police hypothesis that [Gracey] accidentally fell into the sea and drowned”. Furthermore, the autopsy report documented “several injuries consistent with hitting the rocks of a breakwater”, according to Barcelona-based El Periódico, which also wrote that toxicology test results were pending. The outlets’ reports contained details about the two-day search for Gracey. At one point, El País reported, Barcelona police found Gracey’s cellphone in the possession of a thief known to officers. But it was unclear whether Gracey lost the device or if it was stolen from him, and investigators ruled out its having anything to do with the subsequent fall into the sea, according t...