Municipal bond investors are clamoring for tax-free debt sold by California issuers. That demand is benefiting borrowers across the state — even ones without AAA credit ratings. In general, US state and local government debt has gotten more expensive this year, with the 10-year muni benchmark offering about 64% yield on similar US Treasuries, as the asset class attracts new money. That dynamic is ...
Municipal bond investors are clamoring for tax-free debt sold by California issuers. That demand is benefiting borrowers across the state — even ones without AAA credit ratings. In general, US state and local government debt has gotten more expensive this year, with the 10-year muni benchmark offering about 64% yield on similar US Treasuries, as the asset class attracts new money. That dynamic is especially pronounced in California, where investors turn to municipal bonds as a refuge from high state income taxes. So far this year, muni bond funds have seen more than $18 billion of inflows, the third highest on record, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. strategists. “We would always expect California to trade through the AAA curve,” said Travis Moore, portfolio manager at Whittier Advisors. “It’s kind of a question of how much.” Moore expects the state’s planned $2.5 billion debt sale this week to be well received, noting that the deal will likely offer yields that are elevated compared to where bonds are trading in the secondary market. To be sure, the issuance arrives at a turbulent time in global markets rocked by the war in the Middle East. Even muni bonds briefly sold off last week. California’s upcoming bond offering includes $1.4 billion of general obligation bonds and $1.1 billion of refunding, according to preliminary bond documents . Proceeds from the sale of the GO bonds will be used to finance or refinance voter approved projects and costs, including behavioral health infrastructure, K-12 public education facilities, disaster preparedness and a high-speed rail. The deal is led by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and RBC Capital Markets. California borrowers have seen bond deals price particularly well for short-dated maturities that retail investors tend to favor . For instance, the San Diego County Regional Transportation Commission ’s bond sale in February offered a one-year maturity with a yield that was 47 basis points lower than AAA-rated debt. Similarly, a rough...
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the US Navy has not escorted any oil tanker or vessel through the Strait of Hormuz. She spoke to reporters at the White House. A post put up by Energy Secretary Chris Wright erroneously claimed an oil tanker was escorted. (Source: Bloomberg)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the US Navy has not escorted any oil tanker or vessel through the Strait of Hormuz. She spoke to reporters at the White House. A post put up by Energy Secretary Chris Wright erroneously claimed an oil tanker was escorted. (Source: Bloomberg)
Never miss an episode. Follow The Big Take Asia podcast today. By any account, Chen Zhi's ascent was meteoric. At a young age he founded a real estate company in Cambodia, which quickly became the sprawling Prince Group conglomerate. But beneath this legitimate facade, Chen allegedly ran a vast criminal network, building an empire on scams, human trafficking and high-level political protection. On...
Never miss an episode. Follow The Big Take Asia podcast today. By any account, Chen Zhi's ascent was meteoric. At a young age he founded a real estate company in Cambodia, which quickly became the sprawling Prince Group conglomerate. But beneath this legitimate facade, Chen allegedly ran a vast criminal network, building an empire on scams, human trafficking and high-level political protection. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, Host Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s David Ramli look into the rapid rise and sudden downfall of an alleged criminal mastermind.
SS Innovations International press release ( SSII ): Q4 GAAP EPS of -$0.01. Revenue of $14.5M. Gross margin of 43.9% compared to 48.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Gross profit rose 60.7% to $6.4 million from $4.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Full Year 2025 Overview Revenue increased 105.7% to $42.5 million from $20.6 million in 2024. Gross margin expanded to 46.0% from 40.9% in 2024. ...
SS Innovations International press release ( SSII ): Q4 GAAP EPS of -$0.01. Revenue of $14.5M. Gross margin of 43.9% compared to 48.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Gross profit rose 60.7% to $6.4 million from $4.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Full Year 2025 Overview Revenue increased 105.7% to $42.5 million from $20.6 million in 2024. Gross margin expanded to 46.0% from 40.9% in 2024. Gross profit rose 131.2% to $19.5 million from $8.5 million in 2024. Net loss of $12.1 million, or $(0.06) per diluted share, compared to net loss of $19.2 million, or $(0.11) per diluted share, in 2024. SSi Mantra surgical robotic system installations totaled 103, up 119.1% from 47 installations in 2024. More on SS Innovations International SS Innovations International expects $15M in Q4 revenue Financial information for SS Innovations International
Britain’s £1.8bn digital ID scheme will only be available for a handful of uses by the next election, including paying vehicle tax and right-to-work checks, the minister in charge of the project has said. Darren Jones, the prime minister’s chief secretary, told reporters on Tuesday he eventually wanted the app to be used for everything from claiming benefits to proving the right to vote, but that ...
Britain’s £1.8bn digital ID scheme will only be available for a handful of uses by the next election, including paying vehicle tax and right-to-work checks, the minister in charge of the project has said. Darren Jones, the prime minister’s chief secretary, told reporters on Tuesday he eventually wanted the app to be used for everything from claiming benefits to proving the right to vote, but that most of this would not happen until the next parliament. Launching the government’s consultation on the project, Jones admitted its initial use would be relatively limited despite costing as much annually as the Cabinet Office’s entire budget last year. He said: “There will be some simple things that will come forward by the end of the parliament: maybe tax disc payments; some administrative tasks; the right-to-work check will be available if you want to use it from 2029. “But the big prize – when you’re looking at things like the childcare system or your pension statement or HMRC data – that’s really a prize for the next parliament, because we’re going to have to take some time to get it up and running in the first place.” Jones said on Tuesday the government would spend the next eight weeks consulting the public on what they would use a digital ID for and what concerns they had about its use. When he announced the project last year, Keir Starmer initially said it would be used as a mandatory right-to-work document to prevent migrants working in the country illegally. Since then, however, it has changed scope considerably, with ministers dropping the idea of making the ID mandatory and instead stressing its use for improving public services. Jones said on Tuesday it would help end the unfairness of “pushy” people being able to access certain services because they had the patience and energy to wade through government bureaucracy. View image in fullscreen Darren Jones speaking in Westminster about the national digital ID system. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA He said: “At t...
Xanadu Quantum Technologies has achieved an advance in applied quantum computing, successfully demonstrating complex aerospace simulations within a hybrid quantum-classical environment powered by AMD technologies. The company combined its PennyLane quantum software with AMD high-performance computing solutions on the AMD DevCloud to run computational fluid dynamics simulations, a critical process ...
Xanadu Quantum Technologies has achieved an advance in applied quantum computing, successfully demonstrating complex aerospace simulations within a hybrid quantum-classical environment powered by AMD technologies. The company combined its PennyLane quantum software with AMD high-performance computing solutions on the AMD DevCloud to run computational fluid dynamics simulations, a critical process for optimizing aircraft design and efficiency. This work involved a program utilizing 20 qubits and approximately 35 million quantum gates, compiled with a 256×256 matrix, pushing the limits of current quantum simulations. “Seeing AMD high-performance compute boost the performance of PennyLane is a clear proof point of how quantum and classical technologies can effectively work together,” said Madhu Rangarajan, Corporate Vice President, Compute and Enterprise AI, AMD; the collaboration aims to transition quantum computing from research into practical industrial applications for aerospace and engineering. Xanadu & AMD Accelerate CFD with Hybrid Quantum-Classical Programs The pursuit of practical quantum computing progressed as Xanadu Quantum Technologies and AMD demonstrated a functioning hybrid quantum-classical program capable of tackling complex computational fluid dynamics simulations. This collaboration addresses the challenge of bridging the gap between quantum potential and the immediate needs of industries like aerospace engineering, where CFD is crucial for optimizing designs and improving efficiency. This milestone is noteworthy because it addresses a critical bottleneck in quantum computing: the ability to compile and optimize programs for increasingly complex problems. As the industry progresses toward fault-tolerant quantum computers, managing programs of this magnitude will be essential for maintaining a competitive edge. The partnership leveraged Xanadu’s PennyLane quantum software alongside AMD’s high-performance computing infrastructure on the AMD DevCloud, ...
Analysts at Bank of America reinstated coverage of Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM, XETRA:QCI) on Tuesday with an ‘Underperform’ rating and a $145 price target, pointing to modest long-term growth expectations and several competitive and customer-related headwinds. Shares of Qualcomm traded hands...
Analysts at Bank of America reinstated coverage of Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM, XETRA:QCI) on Tuesday with an ‘Underperform’ rating and a $145 price target, pointing to modest long-term growth expectations and several competitive and customer-related headwinds. Shares of Qualcomm traded hands...
Protara Therapeutics press release ( TARA ): Q4 GAAP EPS of -$0.37. As of December 31, 2025, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and marketable debt securities totaled $197.9 million, including proceeds from the Company’s $86.3 million public offering in December 2025. The Company expects its cash and cash equivalents and marketable debt securities will be sufficient to fund its planned operati...
Protara Therapeutics press release ( TARA ): Q4 GAAP EPS of -$0.37. As of December 31, 2025, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and marketable debt securities totaled $197.9 million, including proceeds from the Company’s $86.3 million public offering in December 2025. The Company expects its cash and cash equivalents and marketable debt securities will be sufficient to fund its planned operations and milestones into 2028. More on Protara Therapeutics Protara Therapeutics, Inc. (TARA) Presents at 2026 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium - Slideshow Protara Therapeutics, Inc. (TARA) Discusses Interim Phase II Results for TARA-002 in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer - Slideshow Protara Therapeutics, Inc. (TARA) Discusses Interim Phase II Results for TARA-002 in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Transcript Protara gains as JP Morgan starts at overweight Protara falls after mid-stage trial data for lead asset in bladder cancer
Earnings Call Insights: Custom Truck One Source (CTOS) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Ryan McMonagle highlighted a record finish for 2025 with quarterly revenue of $528 million and adjusted EBITDA of $121 million. For the full year, he announced "record revenue of $1.944 billion, up 8% and adjusted EBITDA was $384 million, up 13% compared to 2024 and ahead of the midpoint of our guidance." McMonagle ...
Earnings Call Insights: Custom Truck One Source (CTOS) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Ryan McMonagle highlighted a record finish for 2025 with quarterly revenue of $528 million and adjusted EBITDA of $121 million. For the full year, he announced "record revenue of $1.944 billion, up 8% and adjusted EBITDA was $384 million, up 13% compared to 2024 and ahead of the midpoint of our guidance." McMonagle attributed performance to "continued strength in our rental business as the improvements we saw in the third quarter in the transmission and distribution markets continued into Q4." The average rental fleet utilization was just under 84% in Q4, a near three-year high, with OEC on rent at just under $1.4 billion, up 14% year-over-year. McMonagle reported "total OEC of $1.64 billion, the highest quarter end level in our history." TES segment revenue for the full year was $1.1 billion, a 4% increase, with a year-end backlog of $335 million, up 20% from Q3. As of the call, backlog had grown further to around $370 million. McMonagle announced a "recently announced strategic partnership with Hiab," aimed at broadening the product portfolio and supporting long-term growth. The company will also expand aftermarket service capacity to grow parts and service revenue. A major change for 2026 will be the shift from three to two reportable segments, aligning reporting with business evaluation and enhancing transparency for investors. McMonagle stated, "we will report results under 2 segments: Specialty Equipment Rentals, or SER, and Specialty Truck Equipment and Manufacturing or STEM." CFO Christopher Eperjesy remarked, "For the fourth quarter, total revenue was $528 million and adjusted EBITDA was $121 million. For the full year, record revenue of $1.944 billion was 8% ahead of 2024, and adjusted EBITDA was $384 million, a year-over-year increase of 13%." Outlook Management provided full year 2026 guidance for revenue in the range of $2.005 billion to $2.12 billion and adjusted EBITDA ...
YouTube has hit some impressive numbers in 2025. According to new estimates from research firm MoffettNathanson— as reported by The Hollywood Reporter— the platform pulled in a staggering $40.4 billion in ad revenue, which is more than Disney, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)’s combined ad revenue, whose total came to $37.8 billion. This shift is a clear sign of just how much conte...
YouTube has hit some impressive numbers in 2025. According to new estimates from research firm MoffettNathanson— as reported by The Hollywood Reporter— the platform pulled in a staggering $40.4 billion in ad revenue, which is more than Disney, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)’s combined ad revenue, whose total came to $37.8 billion. This shift is a clear sign of just how much content consumption has changed over the years and how advertisers have adapted their strategies. YouTube’s ad revenue for 2025 not only topped the combined haul from the four major Hollywood studios, but also marked a huge turnaround from the previous year. In 2024, YouTube’s ad revenue of $36.1 billion fell short of the $41.8 billion in ad revenue collectively earned by Disney, NBCU, Paramount, and WBD. The tables have now turned. For decades, these studios have been the kings of entertainment, captivating audiences with big-budget films and hit TV shows. But as traditional studios struggle with shrinking linear TV audiences and the ever-rising costs of productions, YouTube is speeding ahead. Even as these companies pour millions into their own streaming platforms, it’s getting harder to keep up with YouTube’s momentum. Last month, parent company Alphabet reported that YouTube’s total revenue in 2025 soared to $60 billion. A big portion of YouTube’s revenue now comes from subscriptions, which include services like YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, and NFL Sunday Ticket. (For context, that’s well above Netflix’s reported $45.2 billion for the full year.) Disney, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) are also heavily subscription-dependent businesses; Disney’s media business pulled in a total of $60.9 billion in revenue last year, when you include subscriptions, for instance. Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ fou...
Key Points Many Medicare costs are up this year. There's still time to make changes to your coverage if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › There are millions of older Americans today who rely on Medicare for access to health coverage. If you're one of them, it's important to keep tabs on Medicare happenings in case ch...
Key Points Many Medicare costs are up this year. There's still time to make changes to your coverage if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › There are millions of older Americans today who rely on Medicare for access to health coverage. If you're one of them, it's important to keep tabs on Medicare happenings in case changes to the program take place that apply to you. Here are a couple of important things to know about Medicare this March. 1. You may be looking at higher costs If you haven't used your Medicare coverage much this year, or if your Part B premiums get paid directly out of your Social Security benefits, you may not have realized that a number of costs increased in 2026. But it's important to know what your out-of-pocket spending might look like based on recent changes. 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 standard monthly Medicare Part B premium rose from $185 last year to $202.90 this year. The annual Part B deductible, meanwhile, increased from $257 to $283. A number of costs related to Part A went up as well. The inpatient hospital deductible rose from $1,676 to $1,736. And the daily hospital coinsurance rate rose from $419 to $434 for days 61 through 90 of a hospital stay. If you're on original Medicare and you haven't purchased a Medigap plan yet, it could pay to do so given these cost increases. Medigap could help cover deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs that come with having Medicare. If you're beyond your initial six-month Medigap enrollment window, you may be looking at higher costs for supplemental insurance. But it's worth exploring your options. Without Medigap, you could end up on the hook for huge amounts of out-of-pocket spending if you need a lot of health services thi...
Key Points Sold 174,000 shares of Celcuity; estimated transaction value ~$14.30 million (based on quarterly average pricing) Quarter-end position value increased by $21.71 million, reflecting valuation changes and price appreciation Trade represented 2.49% of 13F AUM Post-trade holding: 602,000 shares valued at $60.04 million Celcuity position is 10.46% of Apis Capital’s 13F AUM, making it the fun...
Key Points Sold 174,000 shares of Celcuity; estimated transaction value ~$14.30 million (based on quarterly average pricing) Quarter-end position value increased by $21.71 million, reflecting valuation changes and price appreciation Trade represented 2.49% of 13F AUM Post-trade holding: 602,000 shares valued at $60.04 million Celcuity position is 10.46% of Apis Capital’s 13F AUM, making it the fund's largest overall holding 10 stocks we like better than Celcuity › On February 17, 2026, Apis Capital Advisors, LLC disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold 174,000 shares of Celcuity (NASDAQ:CELC), an estimated $14.30 million trade based on quarterly average prices. What Happened According to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing, Apis Capital Advisors, LLC reduced its stake in Celcuity by 174,000 shares last quarter. The estimated value of shares sold is ~$14.30 million, calculated using the average closing price for the quarter. At quarter’s end, the position’s value increased by $21.71 million, a change reflecting both trading activity and stock price movement. What Else to Know Following the sale, Celcuity represented 10.46% of Apis Capital Advisors’ 13F AUM. Top five holdings after the filing: NASDAQ:CELC: $60.04 million (10.5% of AUM) NYSEMKT:ARMN: $39.31 million (6.9% of AUM) NASDAQ:GTX: $38.87 million (6.8% of AUM) NASDAQ:TLN: $32.69 million (5.7% of AUM) NASDAQ:SSRM: $32.49 million (5.7% of AUM) As of February 17, 2026, Celcuity shares were priced at $107.32, up 741.1% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 by 721.31 percentage points. Company Overview Metric Value Price (as of market close February 17, 2026) $107.32 Market capitalization $4.97 billion Net income (TTM) ($162.72 million) One-year price change 741.07% Company Snapshot Develops molecularly targeted therapies for cancer, including the CELsignia diagnostic platform and the drug candidate Gedatolisib for breast cancer treatment. Operates a clinical-stage biotechnology business model, generating potent...
Woke Media Struggles To Explain Why Gen Z Men Are Turning Against Feminism The progressive left operates on the assumption that generational indoctrination is cumulative - That is to say, they think through time and indoctrination they will eventually lay claim to the minds of 100% of the population. Each new generation is supposed to be more "woke" than the last. However, this is not how society ...
Woke Media Struggles To Explain Why Gen Z Men Are Turning Against Feminism The progressive left operates on the assumption that generational indoctrination is cumulative - That is to say, they think through time and indoctrination they will eventually lay claim to the minds of 100% of the population. Each new generation is supposed to be more "woke" than the last. However, this is not how society or individual psychology works. Movements of "progress" crash in flames all the time, often because they turn out to be regressive rather than progressive. And once the smoke clears and the social experiment is dead, the public will usually go back to what worked best in the past. Leftists thought they had the future in the bag with Gen Z. After all, this is the generation hit hardest with woke propaganda. No other generation has been so overwhelmed with LGBT brainwashing, anti-white racism and multiculturalism, socialist Utopian fantasy, moral relativism and anti-masculinity. Young women have been convinced that abandoning femininity, rejecting their biological destiny and competing with men is "true freedom." Third-wave feminism teaches women that their ultimate goal in life is to achieve power by any means necessary. It's a dangerous delusion that relies on men to remain completely and utterly passive. Gen Z men have been taught from an early age that they are inherently evil monsters that must be subdued and caged (figuratively or literally). They are warned that they will become "Incels"; dangerous landmines just waiting to explode unless they embrace feminism. They are conditioned to see traditional manhood as a "social construct" that will ultimately end in a bullet riddled rain of toxic masculinity. They are told that the very root of their future happiness and sanity depends on leftist women accepting them as viable, docile and "safe". In other words, leftist women have positioned themselves as the arbiters of society by declaring they they will be the people who d...
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has driven significant gains for Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR and Micron Technology, Inc. MU, turning them into two of the most highly sought-after stocks on Wall Street. Over the past two years, Palantir and Micron’s shares have soared 517.1% and 311.7%, respectively. Let’s take a closer look at their recent developments and the reasons why thei...
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has driven significant gains for Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR and Micron Technology, Inc. MU, turning them into two of the most highly sought-after stocks on Wall Street. Over the past two years, Palantir and Micron’s shares have soared 517.1% and 311.7%, respectively. Let’s take a closer look at their recent developments and the reasons why their rally is far from over. Palantir Sees Strong Growth Driven by AI Platform Several U.S. commercial organizations and government agencies adopted Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). The AIP has gained strong popularity because it enables organizations to seamlessly integrate AI and large language models into highly complex data environments. Due to the strong demand for AIP, Palantir’s revenues for the fourth quarter of 2025 came in at $1.4 billion, up 70% year over year and 19% quarter over quarter, according to investors.palantir.com. Revenues from the U.S. commercial client segment jumped 137% year over year and 28% sequentially to $507 million. Government segment revenue increased 66% year over year and 17% quarter over quarter to $570 million. Palantir expects its GAAP net income to continue improving during the current year. The company already reported $609 million in GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2025, representing a 43% profit margin. The company also projects total revenues to increase to $7.182-$7.198 billion in 2026 from $4.475 billion in the previous year. Palantir’s Gotham and Foundry platforms face limited competition, which could support predictable cash flows in the future. Palantir already generated $791 million in adjusted free cash flow in the fourth quarter of 2025, representing a free cash flow margin of 56%. Therefore, Palantir is experiencing strong growth, largely driven by its AIP, supported by rising revenues, high margins and robust free cash flows. As a result, the company’s projected earnings growth rate for the curre...