U.S. troop buildup in the Middle East is being viewed by analysts as a move to pressure Iran into negotiations rather than signal an imminent ground war, even as risks of escalation remain elevated. Experts say the deployment is part of a broader coercive diplomacy strategy, giving President Donald Trump leverage to push Tehran toward a deal. “The U.S. is essentially offering Iran a choice — negot...
U.S. troop buildup in the Middle East is being viewed by analysts as a move to pressure Iran into negotiations rather than signal an imminent ground war, even as risks of escalation remain elevated. Experts say the deployment is part of a broader coercive diplomacy strategy, giving President Donald Trump leverage to push Tehran toward a deal. “The U.S. is essentially offering Iran a choice — negotiate now or face more severe consequences,” Raphael Cohen, a senior political scientist at RAND school of public policy, told CNBC , noting the buildup provides bargaining power, not just military optionality. However, the strategy faces major hurdles. A senior political-security official reportedly told Iranian news network Press TV that Iran has formally rejected an American proposal to end the ongoing conflict, insisting that Tehran will dictate the terms and timing of the war’s conclusion. Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that no negotiations were taking place between Tehran and Washington. Analysts warn the military move could backfire. While additional forces may strengthen U.S. leverage, they also risk provoking Iran and deepening tensions. “Diplomacy is almost always backed by force,” said historian Arash Azizi, adding that under Trump, this is done even “more openly and more crudely.” “Some sort of pause in the next couple of weeks is likely [but] the question is what will follow the pause,” Azizi added. “It could be that changes in power in Iran allow for a lasting agreement or at least lasting non-belligerence. We could also enter a more war-of-attrition process that becomes another ‘forever war,’” he said. Meanwhile, Daniel Davis, a former U.S. Army officer and a military expert at policy think-tank Defense Priorities, said while forces could secure small, lightly defended target for a short period, they are unlikely to sustain broader operations against a well-prepared Iran. “I think [the reinforcement] has a very low probability...
If momentum were the only factor to consider, choosing between stocks would be a piece of cake. For example, shares of Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) are up by a double-digit percentage so far this year, while Amazon 's (NASDAQ: AMZN) stock is down by a double-digit percentage. Based on momentum, Costco would be the hands-down winner. However, savvy investors know that there's much more to consid...
If momentum were the only factor to consider, choosing between stocks would be a piece of cake. For example, shares of Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) are up by a double-digit percentage so far this year, while Amazon 's (NASDAQ: AMZN) stock is down by a double-digit percentage. Based on momentum, Costco would be the hands-down winner. However, savvy investors know that there's much more to consider when buying a stock than momentum alone. Which is the better stock to buy right now -- Amazon or Costco? Here's how the two retail stocks compare. Image source: Amazon. Continue reading
The type of IRA your money is in matters. With traditional IRAs , you don't pay taxes upfront but defer them until later. With Roth IRAs , you pay taxes on your contributions but don't have to pay taxes afterward. Roth IRA conversions allow you to move the money from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. The catch is that you must pay taxes to enjoy tax-free growth over the long term. Is 2026 the rig...
The type of IRA your money is in matters. With traditional IRAs , you don't pay taxes upfront but defer them until later. With Roth IRAs , you pay taxes on your contributions but don't have to pay taxes afterward. Roth IRA conversions allow you to move the money from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. The catch is that you must pay taxes to enjoy tax-free growth over the long term. Is 2026 the right year to do a Roth conversion? Here's how to decide. Continue reading
J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images Highlights The S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index—the fund's secondary benchmark—returned 3.15% in the fourth quarter and finished 2026 with a gain of 10.63%. The fund returned 5.05% and 11.39% in the quarter and the year, respectively, outpacing the benchmark in both time periods. Individual stock selection was the primary driver of the fund's positi...
J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images Highlights The S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index—the fund's secondary benchmark—returned 3.15% in the fourth quarter and finished 2026 with a gain of 10.63%. The fund returned 5.05% and 11.39% in the quarter and the year, respectively, outpacing the benchmark in both time periods. Individual stock selection was the primary driver of the fund's positive three-month results. Market review and outlook Regional bank stocks performed well in the quarter, closing out a positive year. The sector continued to benefit from the combination of steady economic conditions, healthy earnings, and expectations that AI adoption will help reduce banks' costs over the longer term. In addition, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) enacted two quarter-point interest rate cuts, bringing the total for the year to three. The Fed also announced the end of its multi-year quantitative tightening program, which had involved the gradual reduction of the securities on its balance sheet. Together, these factors helped regional banks post a solid gain and outperform the broader U.S. equity market in the final three months of 2025. Healthy fundamentals also provided a catalyst for the sector's performance. Banks exhibited solid profitability, supported by strong capital and liquidity, and their credit costs remained low. A more benign regulatory backdrop contributed to a recent increase in merger-and-acquisition activity, providing a further boost to the sector. Most banks' net interest margins have risen, and we think they can continue to expand as fixed-rate assets reprice higher. This means that the portion of loan books originated during the low-rate environment of 2020 to 2022 will mature and be replaced with much higher-rate loans over the next few years, creating a tailwind for revenues. We believe net interest margin expansion, coupled with loan growth, should drive healthy revenue gains in 2026. Wall Street analysts now project double-digit revenue...
(RTTNews) - Asian stocks gave up early gains to end mostly lower on Thursday after two consecutive days of advances on hopes for a de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict.
(RTTNews) - Asian stocks gave up early gains to end mostly lower on Thursday after two consecutive days of advances on hopes for a de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict.
(RTTNews) - Vinci SA (VCISY, DG.PA), a French-based, concessions, energy solutions, and construction, on Thursday announced that its subsidiary VINCI Highways has signed an agreement with funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management to acquire a portfolio of nine toll highway conc
(RTTNews) - Vinci SA (VCISY, DG.PA), a French-based, concessions, energy solutions, and construction, on Thursday announced that its subsidiary VINCI Highways has signed an agreement with funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management to acquire a portfolio of nine toll highway conc
Takehiko Nakao, Japan's former currency chief and former President at the Asian Development Bank, speaks with Bloomberg's Stephen Engle at the Boao Forum on the impact of the Iran war on Asian economies and central banks, the weak yen and the how AI is influencing productivity. (Source: Bloomberg)
Takehiko Nakao, Japan's former currency chief and former President at the Asian Development Bank, speaks with Bloomberg's Stephen Engle at the Boao Forum on the impact of the Iran war on Asian economies and central banks, the weak yen and the how AI is influencing productivity. (Source: Bloomberg)
Wrapping up Q4 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the automobile manufacturing stocks, including Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and its peers.
Wrapping up Q4 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the automobile manufacturing stocks, including Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and its peers.
Dilok Klaisataporn London ( UKX ) -0.81% to 10,024.75. Germany ( DAX:IND ) -1.1% to 22,707.14. Germany’s GfK Consumer Climate Indicator dropped to –28 heading into April 2026, from a marginally revised –24.8 in the previous period. France ( CAC:IND ) -0.6% to 7,797.87. France’s overall manufacturing business climate fell to 99 in March from 102 in February. Elsewhere in Europe, Sweden recorded a t...
Dilok Klaisataporn London ( UKX ) -0.81% to 10,024.75. Germany ( DAX:IND ) -1.1% to 22,707.14. Germany’s GfK Consumer Climate Indicator dropped to –28 heading into April 2026, from a marginally revised –24.8 in the previous period. France ( CAC:IND ) -0.6% to 7,797.87. France’s overall manufacturing business climate fell to 99 in March from 102 in February. Elsewhere in Europe, Sweden recorded a trade surplus of SEK 1.8 billion in February, narrowing sharply from SEK 12.1 billion in the same month of the previous year. The pan-European Stoxx 600 ( STOXX) fell 0.72% on Thursday as traders tracked developments in the conflict between the United States and Iran. Miners and technology stocks led declines, with the sectors falling 3% and 1.2%, respectively. Iran’s foreign minister reportedly told state media on Wednesday that top authorities in the Middle Eastern nation are reviewing an American proposal to end the war, but Tehran has no intention of having talks with the U.S. The Trump administration officials, meanwhile, are examining what a potential spike in oil prices as high as $200 a barrel would mean for the economy, a sign senior officials are studying the possible fallout from extreme scenarios for the Iran war. European markets will be keeping a close eye on news from the meeting of G7 foreign ministers taking place in France on Thursday and Friday. In the bond market , the yield on the US 10-year Treasury was up 4 basis points to 4.366%. The UK's 10-year yield was up 7 basis points to 4.904%. Germany's 10-year yield was up 6 basis points to 3.009% Currencies: ( EUR:USD ) ( GBP:USD ) ( CHF:USD ) ETFs: (NYSEARCA: EWG ), (NYSE: GF ), (NYSEARCA: EWI ), (NYSEARCA: EWQ ), (NASDAQ: FGM ), (NASDAQ: DAX ), (NYSEARCA: FLGR ), (NYSEARCA: FXB ), (NYSEARCA: EWU ), (NASDAQ: FKU ), (BATS: EWUS ), (NYSEARCA: FLGB ), (NYSEARCA: GREK ) More on Europe USD Strength Vs. Euro Vulnerability: What's Next For The EUR/USD Pair? Technical Levels For Major FX Pairs Ahead Of The FOMC U.S...