Emerging-market currencies and stocks rebounded Tuesday after President Donald Trump hinted at a speedy end to the Iran war, pushing oil prices lower and bringing investors back to buy beaten-down assets. MSCI’s benchmark emerging equity index was up 3.3% as of 9:20 a.m. in London, snapping a two-day losing streak, with South Korean technology bluechips such as Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix...
Emerging-market currencies and stocks rebounded Tuesday after President Donald Trump hinted at a speedy end to the Iran war, pushing oil prices lower and bringing investors back to buy beaten-down assets. MSCI’s benchmark emerging equity index was up 3.3% as of 9:20 a.m. in London, snapping a two-day losing streak, with South Korean technology bluechips such as Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. leading the rebound. Seoul’s Kospi index was among the biggest gainers globally, reversing the previous day’s 6% slide. Emerging markets which sold off more heavily than their developed counterparts in recent days are getting a reprieve from the oil price slide and the dollar’s fall after Trump said the war with Iran would be resolved “very soon.” Brent futures dropped as much as 11%, though they remain about 50% higher from the start of the year. The recent selloff in Asian markets appeared overdone and provided good buying opportunities, according to Ray Sharma-Ong , deputy global head of multi-asset bespoke solutions at Aberdeen Investments. He said South Korea and Taiwan are still positioned to benefit from large investments into artificial intelligence. “The hyper-scalers in the US have committed very large amounts in terms of capex spend and that’s where the demand drivers are going to come from,” he said on Bloomberg TV. “That’s not going to go away despite the war.” Stock markets also recovered somewhat in energy-importing nations such as India, South Africa, Turkey and Hungary. In the Middle East, Dubai’s main index rose as much as 3.5%, its first gain since the Iran war began. Emerging currencies also recovered against the dollar, with the MSCI’s gauge for the asset class rising as much as 1% for its biggest intraday gain since last May. Asian markets led the advance, with Thai baht and the Philippine peso strengthening more than 1%. Local-currency bond yields fell back after large jumps in recent days, with Polish, Hungarian and South African 10-year borrow...
Benchmark Treasury yields are hovering near the middle of their months-long trading range as fears fade of an inflation shock caused by surging oil prices.
Benchmark Treasury yields are hovering near the middle of their months-long trading range as fears fade of an inflation shock caused by surging oil prices.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM) reported 30% sales growth in the first two months of the year, supported by strong spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure before the Middle East conflict began. The company said revenue for January and February reached 718.9 billion New Taiwanese dollars ($22.6 billion). February sales rose 22%. This 22% increase was a significant ...
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM) reported 30% sales growth in the first two months of the year, supported by strong spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure before the Middle East conflict began. The company said revenue for January and February reached 718.9 billion New Taiwanese dollars ($22.6 billion). February sales rose 22%. This 22% increase was a significant slowdown from the 36.8% year-on-year growth recorded in January 2026. The growth rate appeared skewed because the Lunar New Year fell in January 2025, which shifted the comparison base for February and made the year-over-year increase in February 2026 appear less representative. The contract chipmaker supplies chips to companies like Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) . Geopolitics And Export Policy Pressure Semiconductor Stocks Semiconductor stocks, including major technology companies, fell on Friday as investors reacted to new U.S. export policy discussions and rising tensions linked to the U.S.–Iran conflict. The PHLX Semiconductor Index dropped more than 2% and the Nasdaq Composite fell nearly 2%. Uncertainty grew after reports that the Trump administration is considering new rules governing the export of advanced AI chips, potentially requiring countries seeking large shipments to invest in U.S. AI data centers or provide security guarantees, along with possible licensing, monitoring, and software restrictions. Middle East Conflict Raises Supply Chain Risks At the same time, the Middle East conflict raised concerns about semiconductor supply chains, including the risk of disruptions to materials such as helium, which is used to manage heat during chip manufacturing. The tensions also created risks for AI infrastructure projects, after Amazon said drone strikes damaged some of its data centers in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Meanwhile, CNBC's Jim Cramer urged investors to remain cautious and avoid panic selling during the sector's volatility. TSM Price Action: Taiwan ...
Luis Alvarez/DigitalVision via Getty Images FTC Solar Inc. ( FTCI ) reported 4Q25 results that disappointed the market, causing the stock to fall more than 20% the day after the release. The main reason, likely, is commentary on the release about the company being in technical default, which management later clarified during the earnings call . Since I last covered FTCI, with a critical Hold ratin...
Luis Alvarez/DigitalVision via Getty Images FTC Solar Inc. ( FTCI ) reported 4Q25 results that disappointed the market, causing the stock to fall more than 20% the day after the release. The main reason, likely, is commentary on the release about the company being in technical default, which management later clarified during the earnings call . Since I last covered FTCI, with a critical Hold rating, the company's stock is down more than 40%. Despite the lower price, I continue to believe the stock is not attractive, given that it continues to present large operational losses and that, although its financing is not in critical condition (if the technical default is resolved), its current situation is not sustainable over the long term. For that reason, I maintain a Hold rating. 4Q25 results The company's results for the quarter were not bad, with the exception of the default commentary (more below). FTC's revenues grew significantly, 26% sequentially and 149% YoY. This growth, which has been consistent and continued since at least 1Q24, is very positive. Data by YCharts The company said that its pipeline is also improving a lot: it has become an approved vendor in 8 out of 10 Tier 1 EPC companies for solar installations in the US (commented on the call ), has signed more MSAs (Master Supplier Agreements, which govern subsequent jobs with the company), and its backlog continues to expand (although given that backlog is almost 4x the annualized revenues from 4Q25, it does not seem materializable in the short term). Further, the company's margins are improving a lot as well. On a non-GAAP basis, gross profits improved to $7.6 million for the quarter (record margin of 23%) from a $3.4 million gross loss in 4Q24. On a GAAP basis, it was also positive (21%). The company still presented an operational loss ($3.6 million on a GAAP basis), but when adding back SBC ($3 million for the quarter), it was close to breakeven on a cash basis. This is very relevant for the company's ...
(RTTNews) - Shares of Volkswagen AG were gaining around 4 percent in the morning trade in Germany after the auto major issued fiscal 2026 outlook, expecting growth in operating margin and sales. This was despite reporting lower profit in its fourth quarter with weak vehicle production and sales. Further, the firm trimmed its annual dividend. In the fourth quarter and fiscal 2025, the results were ...
(RTTNews) - Shares of Volkswagen AG were gaining around 4 percent in the morning trade in Germany after the auto major issued fiscal 2026 outlook, expecting growth in operating margin and sales. This was despite reporting lower profit in its fourth quarter with weak vehicle production and sales. Further, the firm trimmed its annual dividend. In the fourth quarter and fiscal 2025, the results were particularly impacted by U.S tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and intense competitive pressure. Looking ahead for fiscal 2026, Volkswagen expects its sales revenue to develop within a range of 0 percent to up 3 percent compared to the previous year. The Group's operating return on sales is expected to range between 4.0 percent and 5.5 percent. In fiscal 2025, the company's sales revenue was 321.913 billion euros, down 0.8 percent year-over-year, and operating return on sales was 2.8 percent. Adjusted for special effects, but including U.S. tariffs, operating margin amounted to 4.6 percent in 2025. The company noted that challenges are anticipated from the macroeconomic environment, uncertainties regarding trade restrictions and geopolitical tensions, increasing competitive intensity, as well as volatile commodity, energy, and foreign exchange markets. Further, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of 5.26 euros per preferred share and 5.20 euros per ordinary share for the 2025 fiscal year to the Annual General Meeting in June, a decrease of 17 percent compared to the previous year. In the fourth quarter, the company's earnings after tax stood at 3.50 billion euros, down 1.7 percent from the previous year's 3.56 billion euros. Earnings before tax were 3.25 billion euros, an year-over-year decline of 26.1 percent. The operating result was 3.46 billion euros, a decrease of 44.6 percent compared to the previous year. The operating return on sales was 4.2 percent, down from 7.2 percent in the prior year. Sales revenue for the quarter declined 4...
Baden-Wurttemberg stands on the front line of Germany’s “ China shock 2.0 ”. A hub for carmakers including Mercedes-Benz, the region has faced a wave of job cuts over the past year as Chinese firms rapidly gain global market share . In the German media, some have warned the area risks becoming “Germany’s Detroit”. Yet despite the economic strain – and polls showing the economy was the top issue fo...
Baden-Wurttemberg stands on the front line of Germany’s “ China shock 2.0 ”. A hub for carmakers including Mercedes-Benz, the region has faced a wave of job cuts over the past year as Chinese firms rapidly gain global market share . In the German media, some have warned the area risks becoming “Germany’s Detroit”. Yet despite the economic strain – and polls showing the economy was the top issue for local voters – China barely featured in campaigns during the run-up to Baden-Wurttemberg’s state election this past weekend. Millions of voters went to the polls, with the centre-left Green Party narrowly finishing first ahead of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came third after making significant gains. Advertisement For analysts, the relative absence of China as an issue during the election reflects Germany’s continued reluctance to confront Beijing more directly – a stance that contrasts with the mood in other European nations like France. “The debate is much more on what can we actually change ourselves instead of blaming China, because many have accepted that China has just very competitive and good products,” said Bernhard Bartsch, a China expert at the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies. Advertisement “Politicians – especially at a regional level – cannot win much these days by pointing out how problems originate in China. People don’t want analysis, but solutions.”
asbe/iStock via Getty Images Model Allocation Update (March 2026) This article provides ongoing analysis of my Asset Allocation Model (the " Model Allocation " or " Model "). As usual, this update will analyze the performance of certain investment ideas generated for the Model Allocation's portfolio for 2026 (the " Portfolio "). This particular update will focus on the ways in which I have been in...
asbe/iStock via Getty Images Model Allocation Update (March 2026) This article provides ongoing analysis of my Asset Allocation Model (the " Model Allocation " or " Model "). As usual, this update will analyze the performance of certain investment ideas generated for the Model Allocation's portfolio for 2026 (the " Portfolio "). This particular update will focus on the ways in which I have been incrementally getting more defensive without panicking. Below are the current asset allocations of the Model compared to where they stood on February 1, 2026. Current Model Allocations As of February 1, 2026, the updated allocations for the eight (8) asset allocation buckets constituting the current Model Portfolio are as follows. Asset Class Target Allocation % % As of March 6, 2025 % As of February 1, 2026 Inflation Beneficiary Equities ("IBE") 15-20 15 20 BTC & Blockchain Equities 1-5 2 2 Growth Stocks 15-20 14 14 Quality Stocks 20-25 23 25 Speculative Investments 5-10 8 5 Precious Metals 5-10 10 10 All-Weather ETFs 5-10 8 7 Cash/Cash Equivalents 5-20 20 17 Click to enlarge Playing Defense There has been more tinkering than usual, and the tinkering has been in a defensive direction. First, cash & cash equivalents increased from 17% to the target maximum of 20%. Part of the increase was due to declines in the Portfolio over the last couple of weeks; the remaining increase in cash was due to sales in the Inflation Beneficiary Equities bucket, where I recognized handsome gains. Second, the speculative investments bucket has been increased from 5% to 8%, and the additional proceeds have been invested in a short of the QQQs (represented by the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 ETF ( QQQ )). This short is nearing 4% of the overall Portfolio. Third, within the precious metals bucket, which remains maxed out at 10%, gold is now close to 9%, with silver reduced to a little more than 1%. This represents an effort to reduce Portfolio volatility, particularly with silver CBOE index volatili...
Group of Seven energy ministers will meet in Paris on Tuesday as they continue to debate a possible release of oil reserves to stabilize markets, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said Tuesday. The group, currently presided by France, said on Monday it was ready to take any steps needed to support global energy supply after oil prices surged when the Iran war curtailed output and effectively ...
Group of Seven energy ministers will meet in Paris on Tuesday as they continue to debate a possible release of oil reserves to stabilize markets, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said Tuesday. The group, currently presided by France, said on Monday it was ready to take any steps needed to support global energy supply after oil prices surged when the Iran war curtailed output and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. The G-7 stopped short of calling for a release of stockpiles, however, and prices have since declined sharply with US President Donald Trump hinting at an early end to the conflict. “We are gathering the G-7 energy ministers today here in Paris; we are going through the process but obviously all options are on the table,” including an emergency oil stock release, Lescure said on the sidelines of a nuclear energy conference. “We are ready.” The French Finance Ministry said the meeting will take place at 1:45 p.m. local time at the International Energy Agency in Paris, though many participants will join remotely. Lescure will speak around 3 p.m. from the nuclear conference to debrief on the meeting. G-7 Ready to Release Oil Stocks If Needed But ‘Not There Yet’ EU’s Dombrovskis Says Release of Oil Reserves Is an Option Trump Hints at Early End to Iran War, Easing Oil-Shock Concerns
TLDRs; Tesla stock held steady as finance VP Sendil Palani exits after 17 years. Over half of Elon Musk’s direct reports have left since 2021, showing deep leadership turnover. Tesla is investing heavily in robotaxis, humanoid robots, and autonomous vehicle technology. Vehicle deliveries fell 8.6% last year, signaling continued challenges in Tesla’s EV business. Tesla Inc. (TSLA) experienced minim...
TLDRs; Tesla stock held steady as finance VP Sendil Palani exits after 17 years. Over half of Elon Musk’s direct reports have left since 2021, showing deep leadership turnover. Tesla is investing heavily in robotaxis, humanoid robots, and autonomous vehicle technology. Vehicle deliveries fell 8.6% last year, signaling continued challenges in Tesla’s EV business. Tesla Inc. (TSLA) experienced minimal stock movement following the announcement that Sendil Palani, the company’s vice president of finance, will depart after a 17-year tenure. Palani confirmed his exit in a social media post, highlighting his career at Tesla, which spanned roles in finance, engineering, and manufacturing across two separate periods. Elon Musk responded to the announcement, publicly thanking Palani for his contributions to the company’s growth and innovation. While the stock held steady, the news underscores the continuing executive turnover as Tesla navigates its largest strategic pivot yet. Veteran Finance VP Leaves Tesla Sendil Palani’s exit comes as Tesla continues a notable wave of executive departures. Appointed vice president of finance in 2021, Palani played a pivotal role in managing Tesla’s financial strategy during a period of rapid expansion. His responsibilities extended beyond finance, encompassing engineering and manufacturing roles that gave him a broad perspective on the company’s operations. Tesla, Inc., TSLA Other recent exits include Omead Afshar, David Lau, Milan Kovac, and Troy Jones, reflecting a broader trend of senior-level departures. Raj Jegannathan, who had succeeded Jones, has also announced plans to leave after 13 years. Analysts note that roughly 66% of Elon Musk’s direct reports have departed since 2021, suggesting a deep transformation within Tesla’s leadership ranks. Strategic Shift Toward AI and Robotics Tesla’s leadership changes coincide with a substantial strategic pivot. The company is planning over $20 billion in capital expenditures in 2026 to fund AI...
Here are three stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today: ATS Corporation ATS is an automation solutions provider. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 8.1% downward over the last 60 days. AirSculpt Technologies, Inc. AIRS is a body contouring services provider. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 14.3%...
Here are three stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today: ATS Corporation ATS is an automation solutions provider. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 8.1% downward over the last 60 days. AirSculpt Technologies, Inc. AIRS is a body contouring services provider. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 14.3% downward over the last 60 days. Dine Brands Global, Inc. DIN is a restaurant chain operator.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 13.4% downward over the last 60 days. View the entire Zacks Rank #5 List. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2024. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report DINE BRANDS GLOBAL, INC. (DIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report AirSculpt Technologies, Inc. (AIRS) : Free Stock Analysis Report ATS Corporation (ATS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.