Brent Surges To 4 Month High Above $70 After Trump Threatens Iran With Military Force By Charles Kennedy of OilPrice.com Brent Crude prices topped $70 per barrel - and $71 shortly after - early on Thursday for the first time since September, as U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran that a “massive armada” of U.S. Navy ships is headed to the Persian Gulf. At the time of writing, Brent Crude prices had jumped by 3.38% at $70.71. This was the highest in more than five months and the first time the international benchmark has topped $70 per barrel since early August. The U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, was also trading higher, up by 3.51% to $65.43. WTI topped $65 per barrel for the first time since September. After a week or so of relative calmness in the U.S. rhetoric toward Iran, which continued to brutally suppress mass protests, President Trump warned the Islamic Republic of a Venezuela-style “mission,” at least this is what the President suggested in a post on his Truth Social platform. “A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose,” President Trump posted. “It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela. Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary,” the President continued. He urged Iran “to make a deal” pledging “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS,” otherwise, President Trump said, “The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again.” Markets reacted to the renewed tension in the world’s most important oil-producing and exporting region, and oil and gold soared. Iran, for its part, said that its army is ready to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any possible attack by the United States. “Our brave Armed Forces are prepared—with their fingers on the trigger—to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea,” Iran’s Foreign Ministe...

Nvidia stock is hovering near its highest level since early November as investors watch big AI spending commitments from Microsoft and Meta Platforms.

After a hot start to 2026, shares of Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) plunged on news that the semiconductor company issued weak guidance in its latest earnings report. The stock is still trading up around 19% in 2026 and has more than doubled over the past year, as of this writing. Let's take a closer look at its earnings report and prospects to see if long-term investors should consider buying this recent dip. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » Image source: Getty Images Looking for a turnaround For its fourth quarter, Intel once again struggled with both revenue growth and weak gross margins. Its Q4 revenue fell 4% year over year from $14.3 billion to $13.7 billion. Its product revenue edged down 1% to $12.9 billion. Within product revenue, its client computing group (CCG) product revenue dropped 7% year over year to $8.2 billion, while data center and AI (DCAI) product revenue climbed 9% to $4.7 billion. Its foundry business, meanwhile, saw revenue rise 4% to $4.5 billion. However, the segment continues to post large losses, with an operating loss of $2.5 billion in the quarter and $10.3 billion for the year. Revenue from Intel's other businesses sank 48% year over year to $0.6 billion, largely due to the sale of 51% of its Altera subsidiary. Intel Segment Q4 Revenue Q4 Revenue Growth (YOY) Product (CCG & DCAI) $12.9 billion (1%) CCG $8.2 billion (7%) DCAI $4.7 billion 9% Foundry $4.5 billion 4% Other (subsidiaries) $0.6 billion (48%) Data source: Intel. YOY = year over year. Gross margin remained under pressure, dropping by 310 basis points from 39.2% to 36.1%, while adjusted gross margins sank 420 basis points to 37.9%. Looking ahead, the company projected Q1 revenue to be between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion with breakeven adjusted EPS. The $12.2 billion revenue midpoint and EPS were below the $0.05 in EPS and $12.5 billion in sales th...

Germany aims to confiscate property seized in Lebanon ex-central bank chief probe Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping received a unique gift from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing on Thursday: the official match ball from Sunday’s fixture between Manchester United and Arsenal, according to media reports. Starmer is on an official visit to China , the first by a British leader since 2018. While Starmer is an ardent Arsenal fan, Xi is reportedly a supporter of Manchester United. Advertisement Manchester United secured a 3-2 victory in a tightly contested match. By offering the gift involving two of the English Premier League’s most celebrated teams, Starmer’s gesture appeared meant to warm up Sino-British ties that have been fraught with complexity Xi is widely understood to be a football enthusiast, prompting some world leaders to try their hand at “football diplomacy” to find common ground with the Chinese president. This was not the first time the Premier League has played a role in the bilateral relationship.

Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Brian L. Roberts President, Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer — Michael J. Cavanagh Chief Financial Officer — Jason S. Armstrong Chief Executive Officer, Connectivity and Platforms — Steve Crony Senior Vice President, Investor Relations — Marci Ryvicker TAKEAWAYS Total Company Revenue -- Increased 1% in the fourth quarter, mainly from the six growth businesses that now compose 60% of overall revenue and delivered mid–single-digit growth. -- Increased 1% in the fourth quarter, mainly from the six growth businesses that now compose 60% of overall revenue and delivered mid–single-digit growth. EBITDA -- Adjusted EBITDA declined 10% in the quarter, reflecting an ongoing investment period and costs from absorbing the new NBA content rights. -- Adjusted EBITDA declined 10% in the quarter, reflecting an ongoing investment period and costs from absorbing the new NBA content rights. Adjusted Earnings Per Share -- Decreased 12% during the fourth quarter, following similar drivers as EBITDA. -- Decreased 12% during the fourth quarter, following similar drivers as EBITDA. Free Cash Flow -- Generated $4.4 billion in the quarter, including a nonrecurring $2 billion cash tax benefit related to internal reorganization timing. -- Generated $4.4 billion in the quarter, including a nonrecurring $2 billion cash tax benefit related to internal reorganization timing. Shareholder Returns -- $2.7 billion returned in the quarter, with $1.5 billion from share repurchases. -- $2.7 billion returned in the quarter, with $1.5 billion from share repurchases. Broadband Subscriber Losses -- Lost 181,000 subscribers, with new initiatives' traction outweighed by competitive pressures. -- Lost 181,000 subscribers, with new initiatives' traction outweighed by competitive pressures. Broadband ARPU Growth -- ARPU grew 1.1%, decelerating in line with prev...

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Image source: The Motley Fool. Jan. 29, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Liron Eizenman Chief Financial Officer — Eran Gilad Moderator — Kenny Green TAKEAWAYS Revenue -- $16.9 million, reflecting 17% growth compared to the prior year's fourth quarter, and above the guidance range of $15 million to $16 million. -- $16.9 million, reflecting 17% growth compared to the prior year's fourth quarter, and above the guidance range of $15 million to $16 million. Gross Profit -- $5.1 million, with a gross margin of 30.2% versus 29.1% in the previous year. -- $5.1 million, with a gross margin of 30.2% versus 29.1% in the previous year. Operating Expenses -- $7.5 million, up from $6.9 million, attributed to the relative weakness of the U.S. Dollar against the Israeli shekel and Danish kroner. -- $7.5 million, up from $6.9 million, attributed to the relative weakness of the U.S. Dollar against the Israeli shekel and Danish kroner. Net Loss -- $1.9 million, a decrease from the $5.1 million net loss in the previous year's fourth quarter. -- $1.9 million, a decrease from the $5.1 million net loss in the previous year's fourth quarter. Loss Per Share -- $0.34, compared with a $0.87 loss per share a year earlier. -- $0.34, compared with a $0.87 loss per share a year earlier. Working Capital and Marketable Securities -- $111 million as of year-end, including $74 million in cash, deposits, and highly rated bonds, and $42 million in inventory, with no debt. -- $111 million as of year-end, including $74 million in cash, deposits, and highly rated bonds, and $42 million in inventory, with no debt. Geographic Revenue Distribution -- North America contributed 74%, Europe and Israel 17%, and Far East and rest of world 9% of revenue over the last twelve months. -- North America contributed 74%, Europe and Israel 17%, and Far East and rest of world 9% of revenue over the last twelve months. Customer Concentration -- One customer represented about 14% o...

Tokyo blossom and ice on the Hudson: photos of the day – Thursday The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world A bird perches on a branch of an early-blooming cherry tree at the Ebara shrine in Tokyo. Photograph: Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO/Shutterstock

Stocks weren’t moving much on Thursday after Wall Street digested a wave of Big Tech earnings reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 67 points, or 0.1%. The S&P 500 was up 0.2%. The Nasdaq Composite was down 0.

北京时间1月29日晚，美股周四开盘涨跌不一。交易员正在消化Meta与 微软 等科技公司发布的财报，以及美联储昨日公布的最新利率决议。 苹果 将在周四收盘后公布业绩。 道指涨32.48点，涨幅为0.07%，报49048.08点；纳指跌37.98点，跌幅为0.16%，报23819.47点；标普500指数涨5.64点，涨幅为0.08%，报6983.67点。 Facebook的母公司Meta Platforms公布强于预期的第一季度销售预测后，股价大幅上涨。作为最早披露业绩的AI巨头之一，Meta Platforms表示，今年资本开支最高可达1，350亿美元，显著高于市场约1100亿美元的预期。 同为科技股“七巨头”成员的 特斯拉 股价也有所上涨，此前该公司公布的第四季度业绩超出预期。 但大盘涨幅受到微软股价下跌的抑制。这家科技巨头报告称，在第二财季，其云业务增长放缓。该公司还对财年第三季度的运营利润率给出了疲软的指引。 投资者现在将注意力转向苹果，该公司定于周四收盘后公布财报。 摩根大通 分析师指出：“从META和微软目前释放的信息看，一个共同主题是资本开支高于预期，表明AI支出仍在加速上行。”他们认为差异在于，Meta同时将2026年营收展望上调至显著高于市场预期。 在其他财报方面，工业巨头 卡特彼勒 在第四季度业绩轻松超出市场预期。 投资者仍在权衡美联储的货币政策影响。 周三美联储将其基准利率维持在3.5%至3.75%的区间后，标普500指数一度突破7000点大关，随后收盘时小幅下跌。道指仅上涨12点。受英伟达和 美光 科技上涨推动， 纳斯达克 综合指数收高约0.2%。 在美联储议息会议后的声明中，负责制定货币政策的联邦公开市场委员会（FOMC）表示，指标显示“经济活动正以稳健步伐扩张”，且失业率“已显现出一些企稳迹象”。尽管如此，根据CME FedWatch工具，联邦基金期货交易仍预计到2026年底将有两次25个基点的降息。 美联储主席鲍威尔称经济前景“明显改善”，并表示委员会内部对暂停降息有广泛支持。在特朗普试图施压美联储实施更激进降息之际，鲍威尔拒绝就其在5月卸任主席职务后是否仍将继续担任美联储理事作出回应。 市场随即下调降息预期：投资者将4月再次降息的概率降至26%，并认为6月是下一次可能的窗口。 德意志银行分析师表示，该行经济学家“认为由鲍威尔领导的美联储已...

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Fidelity is launching a stablecoin that investors will be able to buy and sell for $1 when it arrives in the “coming weeks.” The stablecoin, called Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD), will live on the Ethereum network and is backed by cash reserves, cash equivalents, and short-term US Treasuries, according to CoinDesk. A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency that’s typically pegged to an asset, like the US dollar. More companies and financial institutions have started launching stablecoins of their own after President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act last July, which lays out a framework for the digital currency. In addition to introducing a 100 percent reserve backing requirement, the law also gives stablecoin holders priority over other creditors in case of a crash, likely to help avoid a repeat of the collapse of the algorithm-backed Terra stablecoin in 2022. Related The crypto bill is falling apart in Congress Fidelity will make FIDD available on its own platforms, while also launching it on “major” cryptocurrency exchanges (though it hasn’t revealed any specific exchanges yet). Holders can also transfer FIDD to any Ethereum mainnet address, according to the press release.

The Invesco Large Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:PWB) has climbed 6% year to date and 25% over the past year, riding a wave of mega-cap technology strength that shows no signs of breaking. The fund’s returns tell a clear story: concentrated exposure to four tech giants is driving performance. While the fund holds a diversified portfolio ... Mega Cap Stocks Just Keep Winning, And Pushing PWB Higher and Higher

格隆汇1月29日｜美股开盘，三大指数涨跌不一，纳指跌0.11%，标普500指数涨0.18%，道指涨0.08%。 微软跌超9%，Q2云业务收入增速放缓，资本支出猛增66%再度引发市场担忧。 Meta涨超10%，上季业绩及营收指引均超预期，广告业务表现强劲。 特斯拉涨1.5%，官宣停产Model S/X转向机器人业务，计划本季度发布第三代Optimus。 IBM涨超7%，Q4业绩超预期，净利润大增92%，AI业务累计订单额突破125亿美元。 (格隆汇)

Artificial intelligence is the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. The time to invest in groundbreaking AI is now, and this stock is a steal! AI is eating the world—and the machines behind it are ravenous. Each ChatGPT query, each model update, each robotic breakthrough consumes massive amounts of energy. In fact, AI is already pushing global power grids to the brink. Wall Street is pouring hundreds of billions into artificial intelligence—training smarter chatbots, automating industries, and building the digital future. But there’s one urgent question few are asking: Where will all of that energy come from? AI is the most electricity-hungry technology ever invented. Each data center powering large language models like ChatGPT consumes as much energy as a small city. And it’s about to get worse. Even Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, issued a stark warning: “The future of AI depends on an energy breakthrough.” Elon Musk was even more blunt: “AI will run out of electricity by next year.” As the world chases faster, smarter machines, a hidden crisis is emerging behind the scenes. Power grids are strained. Electricity prices are rising. Utilities are scrambling to expand capacity. And that’s where the real opportunity lies… One little-known company—almost entirely overlooked by most AI investors—could be the ultimate backdoor play. It’s not a chipmaker. It’s not a cloud platform. But it might be the most important AI stock in the US owns critical energy infrastructure assets positioned to feed the coming AI energy spike. As demand from AI data centers explodes, this company is gearing up to profit from the most valuable commodity in the digital age: electricity. The “Toll Booth” Operator of the AI Energy Boom It owns critical nuclear energy infrastructure assets , positioning it at the heart of America’s next-generation power strategy. , positioning it at the heart of America’s next-generation power strategy. It’s one of the only global companies capable ...

First Mid Bancshares press release ( FMBH ): Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of $1.06. Revenue of $88.0M. Total loans of $6.01 billion, quarterly increase of $187.3 million, or 3.2% and an increase of 6.0% for the year Total deposits of $6.40 billion, quarterly increase of $105.7 million, or 1.7% and an increase of 5.6% for the year Tangible book value per share * increased 4.3% during the quarter to $29.42 and an increase of 20.3% for the year Received regulatory approval for the acquisition of Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. Board of Directors declares regular quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share More on First Mid Bancshares Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on First Mid Bancshares Historical earnings data for First Mid Bancshares Dividend scorecard for First Mid Bancshares Financial information for First Mid Bancshares

格隆汇1月29日｜在经济与地缘政治不确定性上升的推动下，投资者涌入避险资产，黄金延续破纪录涨势，有望创下自1973年以来最佳月度表现，白银则已突破121美元，续刷历史高位。GoldSilver Central董事总经理Brian Lan示，从加密货币机构到各国央行，黄金需求正不断扩大，贵金属备受瞩目，投资者总是青睐能获得高回报的领域。Marex全球市场分析主管Guy Wolf则指出，白银、铂金和钯金市场规模相对黄金或标普500指数而言较小，因此容易受到投机性资金流入的影响，导致价格与实体需求强劲的基本面完全脱节。

環境及生態局局長謝展寰到立法會闡述新一年工作重點，包括年中推出容許狗隻進入的食肆牌照。 環境及生態局局長謝展寰說：「解除實施逾30年的法例禁令，讓經營者可以申請容許狗隻進入食肆，市民可以有所選擇。目標在今年年中，我們會批出首輪申請，今年的上半年，食環署亦會聯同各政府部門，開始採用新的模式，加快審批食肆露天座位的申請，希望可助力業界推動更多的商機。」

Getty Images In October, I concluded that I was impressed and concerned at the same time in the case of Amphenol ( APH ), which employed a very aggressive M&A strategy, including acquisitions from CommScope, now rebranded as Vistance Networks ( VISN ), and Trexon. That, however, discounted the impressive organic growth achievements of Amphenol, which have simply been very impressive. The company ended 2025 on a solid note, yet guides either softly or conservatively for the first quarter. This, combined with ever-increasing valuations, creates a tough setup this year, even after the plunge following the earnings release. An Electronic Revolution Amphenol aims to facilitate the electronics revolution by providing a wide range of high-technology interconnect, sensor, and antenna solutions. The company is a massive player, generating about $25 billion in sales from providing such products while employing over 150,000 workers who produce these products. These include connectors, antennas, sensors, flex, cables, and others for harsh environments, which require high speed, lots of power, and others. The company is very well diversified, with North America and Asia both making up about 40% of sales, complemented by smaller European activities. End market diversification is solid, although the IT-datacom segment is outsized, making up a third of sales. The company aims to outperform the market by quick reactivity, customer focus, agile business performance, and strong and flexible capital allocation decisions. The business was founded in 1932, went public in 1957, and went public again in 1991, as strong achievements were realised recently. This is in part driven by M&A, with some 50 businesses acquired over the past decade. Gauging Expectations Traditionally, Amphenol has been a solid grower, with revenues tripling in the decade leading up to 2024, as revenues were reported up 21% to $15.3 billion that year, driven by a 13% increase in organic sales. Adjusted earnings came ...

Image source: The Motley Fool. Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Michael Doogue Chief Financial Officer — Derek D'Antilio Vice President, Investor Relations — Jalene Hoover TAKEAWAYS Net Sales -- $229 million, representing a 7% sequential increase and 29% growth year over year. -- $229 million, representing a 7% sequential increase and 29% growth year over year. Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS) -- $0.15, up 15% sequentially and 114% year over year. -- $0.15, up 15% sequentially and 114% year over year. Gross Margin -- 49.9%, up 30 basis points sequentially. -- 49.9%, up 30 basis points sequentially. Operating Margin -- 15.4% of sales, a 150 basis point increase from fiscal Q2 (period ended Sep. 30, 2025) and 460 basis points higher than a year ago. -- 15.4% of sales, a 150 basis point increase from fiscal Q2 (period ended Sep. 30, 2025) and 460 basis points higher than a year ago. Automotive Sales -- Increased 6% sequentially and 28% year over year, with eMobility up 46% year over year. -- Increased 6% sequentially and 28% year over year, with eMobility up 46% year over year. Data Center Sales -- Record quarterly level at 10% of total sales, up 31% sequentially. -- Record quarterly level at 10% of total sales, up 31% sequentially. Distribution Sales -- Increased 11% sequentially and 39% year over year. -- Increased 11% sequentially and 39% year over year. Magnetic Sensor Sales -- Grew 5% sequentially and 21% year over year. -- Grew 5% sequentially and 21% year over year. Power Product Sales -- Rose 9% sequentially and 43% year over year. -- Rose 9% sequentially and 43% year over year. Regional Sales Mix -- 30% China, 27% rest of Asia, 17% Japan, 15% Americas, 11% Europe. -- 30% China, 27% rest of Asia, 17% Japan, 15% Americas, 11% Europe. Cash and Debt -- $163 million in cash, $285 million term loan balance at quarter end. -- $163 million in cash, $285 million term loan balance at quarter end. Free Cash Flow -- ...

格隆汇1月29日｜伊朗发出警告，宣布计划于周日和周一在霍尔木兹海峡举行实弹海军演习。

广汽领程与远程新能源商用车签署战略合作协议 2026-01-29 22:30:22 来源： 同花顺7x24快讯 分享 文章提及标的 广汽集团 -- 能源 -- 1月28日，广汽（601238）领程新能源（850101）商用车有限公司与浙江远程新能源（850101）商用车集团有限公司在广州签署战略合作协议。双方将在新能源（850101）商用车领域开展全方位、多层次的战略合作，共同推动我国商用车产业向绿色、智能方向加速转型。(人民财讯)

丹麦王室周四（29日）宣布，丹麦国王腓特烈十世将于2月中旬到访该国自治领地格陵兰岛。腓特烈十世在立陶宛访问期间对记者表示，“我们对格陵兰岛人民深感关切，近几周有关格陵兰岛的事情让我们深受触动。”报道称其发言人在一份声明中宣布了此次行程计划。(环球网)

My prediction for 2026? Strange as it may sound, given the wild headlines we're seeing pretty much daily, I'm calling for more of the same. As I said a couple weeks ago, I expect around 12% returns from the S&P 500 this year. That's why we've been adding to the equity CEFs in the portfolio of our CEF Insider service. Today I want to talk about one of our holdings, in particular: a 9%-payer called the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund (ASG). We're zeroing in on this one because its discount to net asset value (NAV, or the value of its underlying portfolio) is the biggest it's been in three years. As a result, we can buy ASG, and its portfolio of US blue chips, for around 90 cents on the dollar. That markdown helps reduce any worries around valuation as the market keeps rising higher. Bubble Worries Are a Plus for Us (and This 9%-Paying Fund) Remember that recession we were told had a 100% chance of happening back in 2022? Well, we're still waiting for it. Meantime, US GDP rose 4.4% at the last reading for the third quarter, and our most up-to-date estimate, the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow indicator is showing over 5% growth for Q4. These are strong numbers, especially with average annual growth around 3%. Then there's AI, which continues to spread through the economy, boosting productivity as it does. When you account for the AI effect, the 13.4% return the S&P 500 has put up over the last 12 months (versus its long-term average of 10.6% annualized) makes sense. The market is simply telling us that it's pricing in a bit of extra juice from this new tech. So we're going to go ahead and let the mainstream crowd fret. The truth is, the numbers don't support the idea of a bubble right now. That's one reason for the 9.8% discount on ASG, which sports a high-quality portfolio of US blue chips like NVIDIA (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL), as well as domestic-focused midcaps like property manager FirstService (FSV) and Pennsylvania retailer Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings (OLLI...

Google announced on Thursday that Google Maps users can now access Gemini hands-free while walking and cycling. The update comes a few months after Google Maps rolled out its Gemini-powered hands-free, conversational driving experience. The announcement marks Google’s ongoing efforts to plug Gemini into more parts of people’s everyday lives, while shifting Google Maps from static directions to real-time, conversational navigation. When you’re walking around and navigating with Maps, you can now ask Gemini questions like “Tell me more about the neighborhood I’m in,” “What are some must-see attractions?” or “Are there cafes with a bathroom along my route?” Google says that walking and typing can be hard, which is why it’s rolling out the ability for users to ask questions without breaking their stride or leaving Maps’ navigation screen. If you’re cycling, you can ask Gemini questions while remaining focused on the road, Google says. You can ask questions like “What’s my ETA?” or “When’s my next meeting?” Plus, you could ask Gemini to “Text Emily I’m 10 minutes behind” so you can communicate with others while keeping your grip on the handlebars. The feature lets you ask multiple questions in a conversation. For example, you could ask: “Is there a budget-friendly restaurant with vegan options along my route, something within a couple of miles? … What’s parking like there?” The update is now available worldwide on iOS wherever Gemini is available, and rolling out on Android. Techcrunch event TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026: Tickets Live On June 23 in Boston, more than 1,100 founders come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately Save up to $300 on your pass or save up to 30% with group tickets for teams of four or more. TechCrunch Founder S...

your_photo/iStock via Getty Images Applied Optoelectronics Investment Thesis I want to be very clear that what we are seeing with Applied Optoelectronics ( AAOI ) is not just another run in the name due to headlines or narratives or option flows. What we are seeing is the early stages of structure. And the reason that's important is that momentum plays tend to reverse very quickly, whereas structural moves tend to last a lot longer than the typical investor expects. What continues to impress me is how much the market is still sleeping on AAOI, despite the stock being up roughly 22% since my last coverage in December and nearly 90% since I flagged November as the inflection point, the debate still feels anchored in skepticism rather than recognition. I stay very bullish on AAOI, because the market data still supports the momentum. Short interest remains elevated but stable, volume points to accumulation, and options positioning shows consolidation rather than exhaustion. As long as the stock holds above the low-$40s, this looks like digestion within an uptrend towards $50+, not the end of the bull run. seekingalpha.com From Breakout to Acceptance: What AAOI Stock Chart Is Actually Saying From a weekly perspective, AAOI has done something that it has failed to accomplish numerous times over the last two years, which is to move back above its long-term moving averages. The 50-week moving average is rising at a sharp angle, while the 200-week moving average is well below the current price and is no longer acting as a drag on the name. This is not a late-cycle move. Late-cycle moves tend to occur well above rising long-term moving averages with rising momentum and declining volume. The fact that the RSI is stuck in the mid-60s means that I see demand that’s strong, but not speculative. In the world of speculative AI stocks, these stocks tend to blow through their RSI-70 levels and stall on that level until gravity takes over. AAOI has not done that. Instead, the stock’s ...

Douglas Rissing/iStock via Getty Images By Ravi S. Bhagavatula, PhD, CFA Why US Government Debt Is Functioning More Like Market Infrastructure Than a Fiscal Constraint Public debate around US government debt often focuses on the headline number. It is often framed as "too large," "unsustainable," or even a "ticking time bomb." For investors, however, the more relevant questions lie beneath the aggregate figures. Sovereign debt does not behave like household or corporate borrowing. Its risk profile depends on who holds it, the currency in which it is issued, and the institutional systems that support its issuance, trading, and use. Viewed through that lens, US debt increasingly functions less like a conventional balance sheet liability and more like financial infrastructure. Debt Ratios Alone Do Not Tell the Story At roughly 128% debt-to-GDP, the United States sits alongside France, Italy, and the United Kingdom - not in isolation. Japan stands out at over 230% debt-to-GDP, yet faces no immediate funding stress. Why? Because foreign dependence - not absolute debt - is the real constraint. China: roughly 102% debt-to-GDP, with about 3% foreign-held Japan: roughly 230% debt-to-GDP, with about 12% foreign-held United States: roughly 128% debt-to-GDP, with about 22% foreign-held The United States is unusual: it carries a large debt load, yet remains overwhelmingly domestically financed. That composition matters far more than the headline number. The foreign debt also reduced in percentage from 2019 to 2025, as seen in the following figure. Who Actually Holds US Debt? Data referenced in this post is based on US Treasury TIC data, IMF World Economic Outlook statistics, and reserve reports from major US dollar stablecoin issuers, as publicly available at the time of writing. Roughly three-quarters of US debt is held domestically: Intragovernmental accounts, including Social Security and other trust funds The Federal Reserve US institutions, including pensions, insurers, and...

This fintech has momentum heading into 2026 with some clear catalysts to send the stock even higher. The price of Lemonade (LMND 0.29%) skyrocketed in 2025 by some 94% -- and I don't mean the refreshing drink. In this case, I'm referring to the insurance stock that uses AI chatbots and algorithms to process insurance claims. But it may be hard for this innovative fintech to duplicate that level of share price growth in 2026, mainly because the company is still unprofitable, its stock's valuation soared, and it's in an extremely competitive landscape. Expand NYSE : LMND Lemonade Today's Change ( -0.29 %) $ -0.27 Current Price $ 91.79 Key Data Points Market Cap $6.9B Day's Range $ 90.87 - $ 94.17 52wk Range $ 24.31 - $ 99.90 Volume 28K Avg Vol 2.7M After hitting a high of $145 in 2021, Lemonade's stock price plummeted all the way down to under $10 per share in 2023 and was around $31 per share near the start of 2025. Investors were scooping up shares at a discount last year, particularly as revenue and other metrics improved. But now, at a higher valuation and still chasing profitability, investors are less bullish. For 2026, investors may want to shift their focus to a new potential breakout financial stock -- Affirm (AFRM 3.04%). Affirmative on Affirm When the buy now, pay later trend started up a few years ago, Affirm was one of the most recognizable -- and its stock price soared for a lot of the same reasons as Lemonade. It was an innovative new concept that generated a lot of buzz and soared to over $160 per share during the tech bubble. Like Lemonade, Affirm stock came crashing down during the bear market to around $10 per share. But it steadily gained revenue and moved toward profitability over the last two years, actually becoming profitable last year. In the fiscal 2026 first quarter, which ended Sept. 30, 2025, revenue jumped 34% year over year with gross merchandise volume (GMV) rising 42%. Net income was $81 million, up from a $100 million net loss in the ...

Black_Kira/iStock via Getty Images I own a small stake in Solid Power, Inc. ( SLDP ). The company is working on a theoretically revolutionary ingredient for lithium batteries. They have invented a solid-state sulfide-based electrolyte powder to fill either lithium or silicon-based batteries instead of the traditional liquid mixture for storing and moving electrons. Up until today, organic solvents have been mixed with various lithium salts and carbon compounds to produce EV batteries. Solid Power advantages are plenty, including quicker recharges, lower temperatures (much safer with few if any fire eruptions), and larger total energy loads stored (longer range). Perhaps the most interesting partnership involves a totally new lithium battery design using extra silver and carbon, being built by Samsung SDI and scheduled for insertion into BMW ( BMWKY ) cars later this year for testing. Solid Power Website - January 28th, 2026 Solid Power Website - January 28th, 2026 Solid Power Website - January 28th, 2026 Solid Power Website - January 28th, 2026 The company's website explains its business this way, Sulfide-based solid electrolytes have the best-known balance of conductivity (i.e., the ability to move ions quickly) and processability (i.e., the ability to be produced defect-free on industry standard roll-to-roll battery manufacturing equipment) out of all solid electrolyte classes. We develop our materials for stability and conductivity within each layer of the cell while also optimizing for areas such as cost and compatibility with conventional lithium-ion processing. ... Solid Power has extensive partnerships with both BMW and Ford ( F ) to jointly develop all-solid-state batteries. In October 2021, Solid Power announced a partnership with SK Innovation to produce Solid Power’s automotive-scale all-solid-state battery cells utilizing Solid Power’s sulfide-based solid electrolyte, proprietary cell designs and production processes. The company was initially funded by ...

有网友问，“埃隆，我有个问题。既然人工智能终将接管所有工作，你明明清楚未来就业岗位会减少，为什么还建议大家多生孩子呢？” 马斯克对此回应称：“将会有全民高收入和育儿福利，而且我热爱人类，不希望我们走向灭绝。” 责任编辑：陈钰嘉