Key Points The conflict in Iran will impact global auto demand, but in different ways. With a larger presence in the Middle East, Chinese automakers will likely feel the most impact. Detroit automakers are more protected from that disruption, but could face challenges due to rising oil prices. 10 stocks we like better than Ford Motor Company › While there's never really a good time for a conflict ...
Key Points The conflict in Iran will impact global auto demand, but in different ways. With a larger presence in the Middle East, Chinese automakers will likely feel the most impact. Detroit automakers are more protected from that disruption, but could face challenges due to rising oil prices. 10 stocks we like better than Ford Motor Company › While there's never really a good time for a conflict like the war in Iran, as far as the automotive industry goes, it's awful timing. Consider that four automakers alone, Honda (NYSE: HMC), Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), General Motors (NYSE: GM), and Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) have combined for a restructuring bill that is nearing $70 billion. The restructuring was designed to pivot away from electric vehicle (EV) strategies until the market was ready. Now, however, the Iran conflict is bringing up many questions for investors. Let's dive into a few, including how this will impact EV sales. Will demand be dented? The simple answer is yes, but exactly how, why, and where get much more complicated. Automotive sales in Iran will obviously be directly impacted, and regionally, it will be extremely challenging to distribute inventory and regulate supply chains amid the turmoil. Automakers with a strong presence in the Middle East will be most impacted, which currently means investors should be concerned primarily if they own Chinese automakers, which are expanding internationally, including in the Middle East, at a rapid pace. 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 » Domestic automakers in Detroit and elsewhere have a much smaller presence in the Middle East, if any, and are fairly protected from direct impacts. However, about one-fifth of the world's oil supply travels through the Strait of Hormuz, and Iranian officials have said they will not allow ships t...
AMD CEO Lisa Su visited Naver on March 18 to discuss supplying AI chips for its data centers and was scheduled to meet Samsung Electronics to expand collaboration beyond memory supply to foundry services. Local reports also said she would meet Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong to formalize business cooperation. Naver aims to expand its AI platform, HyperCLOVA X, into regions with strict data sovereign...
AMD CEO Lisa Su visited Naver on March 18 to discuss supplying AI chips for its data centers and was scheduled to meet Samsung Electronics to expand collaboration beyond memory supply to foundry services. Local reports also said she would meet Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong to formalize business cooperation. Naver aims to expand its AI platform, HyperCLOVA X, into regions with strict data sovereignty requirements, including Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Thailand. The plan seeks AI infrastructure that reduces reliance on Nvidia GPUs, positioning AMD as a viable alternative for large-scale AI workloads. In the near term, AMD is focused on securing a stable supply of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), essential for AI accelerators. Key Highlights AMD CEO Lisa Su visits Naver and Samsung to discuss AI chips and HBM supply Naver aims to expand HyperCLOVA X into sovereign AI markets with AMD Potential foundry collaboration with Samsung beyond memory supply Also Read: Naver Builds Korea's Largest AI Cluster With 4,000 Nvidia GPUs The timing coincided with Nvidia’s GTC conference, underscoring AMD’s push to strengthen its Korean AI ecosystem ties. Samsung, promoting its 2nm foundry process and packaging services, is a key partner. Samsung Foundry is also reportedly close to an 8nm deal with Intel and manufactures Nvidia Tegra chips for Nintendo’s Switch. Industry trends show AI chip buyers splitting orders across multiple suppliers. Companies like Meta and OpenAI are buying AMD chips, giving AMD a pathway to expand market share. If AMD and Naver reach a workable model, other national AI champions could replicate it to build sovereign AI infrastructure without relying on a single vendor. Also Read: Samsung Manufactures Nvidia's New AI Chip on 4nm Process The visit highlights the growing geopolitical dimension of AI chip supply and AMD’s strategic positioning to challenge Nvidia, leverage Samsung’s HBM and foundry capabilities, and capture market share in Asia’s AI infrastructure ecosyst...
Pratt & Whitney, part of RTX Corp. ( RTX ), has been awarded a contract worth about $470 million for remanufacturing F100 engine modules. This contract is a sole-source acquisition and lasts for three years, with options for an additional three and four years. The work will take place in Georgia and is expected to be completed by March 16, 2029. The engines are for Foreign Military Sales to severa...
Pratt & Whitney, part of RTX Corp. ( RTX ), has been awarded a contract worth about $470 million for remanufacturing F100 engine modules. This contract is a sole-source acquisition and lasts for three years, with options for an additional three and four years. The work will take place in Georgia and is expected to be completed by March 16, 2029. The engines are for Foreign Military Sales to several countries, including Chile, Egypt, and Thailand. The funding comes from fiscal 2026 to 2029 Foreign Military Sales funds, with the contracting activity being the Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support, Hill Air Force Base, Utah (SPRHA1-26-D-0001). More on RTX Corporation RTX Corp.: America's Missiles Shortage Changes Everything For The Stock RTX Corporation: Quadrupling Missile Production Could Drive Further Upside Raytheon Corporation: Backbone Of U.S. Defense Golden Dome missile shield cost climbs to $185B as Pentagon speeds up space defenses Collins Aerospace-led hybrid-electric aviation project reaches mid-stage milestone
A growing number of hedge funds are positioning for potential hawkish signals from the Bank of Japan as the Iran war amplifies inflation risks in the energy-importing nation. While traders are almost certain the BOJ will keep interest rates steady at its policy meeting on Thursday, there are far more variables at play in Governor Kazuo Ueda ’s messaging at his press conference afterward. That may ...
A growing number of hedge funds are positioning for potential hawkish signals from the Bank of Japan as the Iran war amplifies inflation risks in the energy-importing nation. While traders are almost certain the BOJ will keep interest rates steady at its policy meeting on Thursday, there are far more variables at play in Governor Kazuo Ueda ’s messaging at his press conference afterward. That may set the stage for even more swings in the already volatile yen , stock and bond markets — a backdrop that favors traders who can hold their nerves in choppy markets. Fivestar Asset Management Co. in Tokyo is selling 10-year Japanese government bond futures as Brent crude prices hover above $100 a barrel and hedging those bets with some bullish 30-year positions ahead of the BOJ meeting. Blue Edge Advisors had closed its bearish yen positions when tensions in the Strait of Hormuz flared up and is eying opportunities to buy. A hedge fund strategy at Pictet Asset Management is sticking to bets that Japanese banks will outperform. “A spike in oil prices creates uncertainty about whether inflation expectations remain anchored,” said Hideo Shimomura , a senior portfolio manager at Fivestar, which runs some long-short strategies. “This means the BOJ has flexibility and every meeting remains live for a hike.” Read more: BOJ to Sit Tight With Oil Surge Set to Fuel Inflation: Day Guide Traders are looking for fresh cues to trade Japan’s assets as oil-driven price shocks from the Iran conflict and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ’s expansionary fiscal stance deepen concerns over borrowing costs and debt. Investors are now debating whether the BOJ will lean into inflation risks or strike a more cautious tone to support growth. A hawkish tilt would likely lift the yen and push yields higher, while a dovish stand could renew currency weakness even as it caps yields — leaving assets vulnerable to larger swings. The yen has borne much investor angst in recent months and slid to 159.75 per do...
Venezuela beats U.S. 3-2, wins first World Baseball Classic title toggle caption Lynne Sladky/AP MIAMI — Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, rebounding from a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the United States 3-2 Tuesday night on Eugenio Suárez's tiebreaking double in the ninth. Maikel Garcia's third-inning sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu's fifth-inning homer off rookie No...
Venezuela beats U.S. 3-2, wins first World Baseball Classic title toggle caption Lynne Sladky/AP MIAMI — Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, rebounding from a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the United States 3-2 Tuesday night on Eugenio Suárez's tiebreaking double in the ninth. Maikel Garcia's third-inning sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu's fifth-inning homer off rookie Nolan McLean built a 2-0 lead before a roaring pro-Latin America crowd. Meanwhile, left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez and lights-out relievers limited the Americans to two hits through the seventh. Bobby Witt Jr. walked with two outs in the eighth and Bryce Harper drove the second straight changeup from Andrés Machado over the center-field fence for a two-run homer that tied it. Harper slowly trotted around the bases and took time at third to salute coach Dino Ebel. Sponsor Message Luis Arraez walked against Garrett Whitlock starting the ninth. Pinch-runner Javier Sanoja stole second just ahead of catcher Will Smith's throw and came home when Suárez doubled to the left-center gap. Suárez spread his arms wide and pointed to the sky at second base while teammates streamed from the dugout to greet Sanoja at the plate. Daniel Palencia struck out two in a perfect bottom half to finish a three-hitter and get his third save of the WBC, striking out Roman Anthony to end the game. Venezuelans ran onto the infield to celebrate as the dismayed Americans stared while leaning on their dugout railing. "Nobody believed in Venezuela but now we win the championship," Suárez said. "This is a celebration for all the Venezuelan country." Garcia was selected the tournament MVP after hitting .385 with seven RBIs. Despite a heralded roster of stars led by Aaron Judge, Harper and Paul Skenes, the U.S. lost its second straight final of baseball's premier international event and remained without a title since 2017. Judge was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the championship game and hit .222 with five RBIs...
Closing struggling Hong Kong schools in the short term will prevent future problems for parents, the education minister has said, warning that the city has already exhausted all mitigation measures to reduce the impact of the shrinking pupil population. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Wednesday that the problem of under-enrolment remained unresolved despite authorities resor...
Closing struggling Hong Kong schools in the short term will prevent future problems for parents, the education minister has said, warning that the city has already exhausted all mitigation measures to reduce the impact of the shrinking pupil population. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Wednesday that the problem of under-enrolment remained unresolved despite authorities resorting to different “soft-landing” means to support the sector in response to the structural population decline. “There is no way around the current situation,” she told a radio show. Advertisement Choi was referring to the announcement that 15 local public primary schools were not approved to operate subsidised Primary One classes in the coming academic year due to insufficient enrolment. The schools, which admitted fewer than 16 Primary One students each, have opted to merge with other institutions or operate the classes on a self-financing basis. They may also face total closure after three years if their survival plans are not approved. Advertisement “We need to break through old ways of thinking for the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s education,” Choi said.
女子亞洲盃｜日本4比1大勝南韓 躋身決賽戰東道主澳洲 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】亞洲盃女子足球賽，日本四強以4比1大勝南韓，會跟東道主澳洲爭冠軍。 藍衫日本、浜野舞香後腳給高橋花勁射，長谷川唯...
女子亞洲盃｜日本4比1大勝南韓 躋身決賽戰東道主澳洲 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】亞洲盃女子足球賽，日本四強以4比1大勝南韓，會跟東道主澳洲爭冠軍。 藍衫日本、浜野舞香後腳給高橋花勁射，長谷川唯補射，美中不足是空門失機。有精彩組織，還有不惜氣力的前場壓逼，長野風花成功搶到後助攻植木理子，最重要是入球，15分鐘領先。藝高人膽大，浜野舞香被兩個逼著一樣帶出重圍，再於窄位衝近柱網頂，日本10分鐘後拋開到2比0。 上半場控球佔75%，戰況一面倒，藤野青葉43分鐘熨入南韓大門。北川光近半場位置犯手球在先，入球作廢，日本半場維持2比0。浜野舞香開角球，植木理子頂中楣。 上屆四強鬥到互射12碼射失，不敵最終得冠軍的中國，35歲的熊谷紗希捲土重來，這次角球頂入了，75分鐘拋開到3球，很大機會過關了。但3分鐘後，這支兩屆冠軍就失了她們今屆第一球，被姜綵林轉身一抽貼柱入。 日本保持全勝，小組入17球0失球，八強就以7比0大勝菲律賓，平均淨勝6球。這次就沒有贏得那麼多，千葉玲海菜81分鐘的入球拉開4比1，壓低南韓後上氣勢。高橋花抽去遠柱，松窪真心頂入，但開心來得快也走得快，越位在先，結果以4比1贏上屆亞軍的南韓。最後一關，星期六決賽鬥澳洲。
The Swiss National Bank ’s determination to cap gains in the franc will draw the spotlight in a decision that is likely to avoid the more drastic option of negative borrowing costs. Officials led by President Martin Schlegel are widely anticipated by economists to keep their interest rate at zero on Thursday. But with that quarterly judgment arriving less than three weeks since the central bank si...
The Swiss National Bank ’s determination to cap gains in the franc will draw the spotlight in a decision that is likely to avoid the more drastic option of negative borrowing costs. Officials led by President Martin Schlegel are widely anticipated by economists to keep their interest rate at zero on Thursday. But with that quarterly judgment arriving less than three weeks since the central bank signaled possible currency intervention, their wording will be closely scrutinized. “We will all focus on the communication,” said Nadia Gharbi , a senior economist at Banque Pictet in Geneva. “In the policy statement, the language will probably stay the same. But in the press conference, Schlegel will want to send a sharper message.” War in the Middle East has forced the SNB to revert to its traditional role of harbormaster over a spate of safe-haven flows that pushed the franc to decade highs against the euro and made it this year’s best-performing major European currency versus the dollar — surges that will weigh on inflation. Such was the market pressure in the early days of the Iran conflict that policymakers issued an unsolicited declaration saying their willingness to intervene had increased, adapting wording usually employed alongside Swiss rate decisions. While that change in language, possibly matched by action , marks a shift from the SNB’s more judicious approach to foreign-exchange markets in recent years, it’s still less of an escalation than negative rates — a policy that would charge investors for holding the franc, at the cost of harming the economy. The SNB announcement is taking place at a seminal moment for global officials taking stock of the fallout from the Iran war. Policy for eight of the world’s 10 most-trade currency jurisdictions is being set this week, with both the US Federal Reserve on the eve of the Swiss decision, and the European Central Bank just hours later, both likely to keep borrowing costs on hold. Where officials can take some comfort ...