In this article BLK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now VIDEO 14:19 14:19 Three key ETF investing themes to watch in 2026 ETF Edge BlackRock came into 2026 with a clear investment plan built around three pillars: artificial intelligence, income, and diversification. Jay Jacobs, BlackRock's head of equity exchange-traded funds, laid out ways in which ETFs fit into the shifting...
In this article BLK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now VIDEO 14:19 14:19 Three key ETF investing themes to watch in 2026 ETF Edge BlackRock came into 2026 with a clear investment plan built around three pillars: artificial intelligence, income, and diversification. Jay Jacobs, BlackRock's head of equity exchange-traded funds, laid out ways in which ETFs fit into the shifting market bets from the world's largest asset manager, which oversees more than $13 trillion from investors. Investors should remain focused on growth, he says, but precision will matter more than broad exposure. "The first is really what are the biggest growth opportunities in the market today," Jacobs said on CNBC's "ETF Edge" on Monday. "Where you have to get laser focused to try and find some of these targeted exposures, like artificial intelligence, that could do very well in this environment." That and the other investing themes Jacobs shared on "ETF Edge" are consistent with BlackRock's 2026 annual outlook , "AI, income & diversifiers," which was released earlier this week. BlackRock continues to view AI as a long-term, capital intensive investment cycle. Infrastructure spending remains elevated , while productivity gains and earnings growth are backed by AI-related investments. The firm does not see the theme as nearing exhaustion. BlackRock is among the ETF companies offering AI-focused funds, such as its iShares A.I. Innovation and Tech Active ETF ( BAI ), which has amassed over $8 billion in assets. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon BAI 1Y There are many other AI ETF options that have grown to over $1 billion in assets in recent years: Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF ( CHAT ) Ark Autonomous Technology and Robotics ETF ( ARKQ ) Global X Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF ( BOTZ ) Global X Artificial Intelligence and Technology ETF ( AIQ ) iShares Future AI & Tech ETF ( ARTY ) Dan Ives Wedbush AI Revolution ETF ( IVES ) Jacobs cited the U.S. equity mar...
Manchester City and Chelsea were the real winners, as Arsenal and Manchester United played out a goalless draw and lost further ground in the title race. United played the final 25 minutes with 10 players after Jayde Riviere was sent off for a second bookable offence, a late challenge on Caitlin Foord, but United were able to see out the remainder of the game without succumbing to Arsenal’s late p...
Manchester City and Chelsea were the real winners, as Arsenal and Manchester United played out a goalless draw and lost further ground in the title race. United played the final 25 minutes with 10 players after Jayde Riviere was sent off for a second bookable offence, a late challenge on Caitlin Foord, but United were able to see out the remainder of the game without succumbing to Arsenal’s late pressure. It means Manchester City could be 10 points better off than third-placed Arsenal by the end of the weekend – City play Everton on Sunday – while Manchester United are a point further behind. With 10 games remaining for Arsenal, that sort of deficit would be unlikely to be overturned. Continue reading...
A sign advertises a Bitcoin ATM at a gas station on July 16, 2025 near Pasadena, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images According to the FBI, $240 million was lost to cryptocurrency ATM scams in the first six months of 2025 — about double the pace of similar scams in 2024. The growing pace of crypto ATM fraud has some policymakers pursuing bans and others asking why the nation is blanketed in these...
A sign advertises a Bitcoin ATM at a gas station on July 16, 2025 near Pasadena, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images According to the FBI, $240 million was lost to cryptocurrency ATM scams in the first six months of 2025 — about double the pace of similar scams in 2024. The growing pace of crypto ATM fraud has some policymakers pursuing bans and others asking why the nation is blanketed in these machines in the first place. Spokane Police Detective Tim Schwering started noticing the rise in crypto crime in 2023. "Cases started flowing my way where people were getting ripped off by cryptocurrency machines," Schwering said. The money would find its way to China, Russia, Nigeria, and other far-off outposts. "You couldn't get to anyone or get the money back," Schwering said. People's life savings in Spokane were wiped away. Schwering said one man lost $900,000, all deposited into the shadowy crypto ATM at the corner. At least two people lost their life savings and, despondent, then took their own lives. It was usually elderly or lonely people roped in by an overseas crypto criminal masquerading as a romantic interest, or preying on a decline in cognitive function that leads people to become more easily scared, Schwering said. In some cases, scammers posed as government agents threatening to unleash the full power of the IRS. But that would all go away if victims would just go to a crypto machine and deposit $40,000. So the detective began visiting retirement homes and other community venues to educate people about the dangers posed by scammers wielding crypto ATMs. "My job is to try to protect people, and it's very frustrating, Schwering said, specifically because the criminals are usually overseas and safely out of reach of arrest. "So, we could at least change policy," he said. The biggest crypto ATM ban in the nation That's when Spokane Councilman Paul Dillon took up the cause, first championing a statewide ban that fizzled in the legislature. "We wanted to see wha...
AI is stepping into one of the dirtiest jobs in the recycling business: sorting through trash to find what’s actually worth something. And with tariffs, environmental laws, and labor shortages piling on, the timing couldn't be better. AI-Powered Systems Are Revolutionizing Recycling At facilities like Murphy Road Recycling in Connecticut, AI-powered machines are helping sort up to 60 tons of curbs...
AI is stepping into one of the dirtiest jobs in the recycling business: sorting through trash to find what’s actually worth something. And with tariffs, environmental laws, and labor shortages piling on, the timing couldn't be better. AI-Powered Systems Are Revolutionizing Recycling At facilities like Murphy Road Recycling in Connecticut, AI-powered machines are helping sort up to 60 tons of curbside recycling an hour. Instead of humans standing over conveyor belts pulling out cans and bottles,
Both the iShares SP Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEMKT:IJJ) and the iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF (NYSEMKT:ISCV) invest in similar markets, but differ in size, cost, and market cap focus. IJJ focuses on mid-cap value , while ISCV tilts toward smaller companies with a broader portfolio and lower fees. *Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year w...
Both the iShares SP Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEMKT:IJJ) and the iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF (NYSEMKT:ISCV) invest in similar markets, but differ in size, cost, and market cap focus. IJJ focuses on mid-cap value , while ISCV tilts toward smaller companies with a broader portfolio and lower fees. *Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Continue reading
Guyana, home to the world’s biggest oil discovery in decades, appears to be an early beneficiary of US President Donald Trump’s ouster of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro . The overnight raid by US forces a week ago to apprehend Maduro also virtually neutralized the longstanding threat the Venezuelan government posed to Guyanese sovereignty. Tensions between the South American neighbors date ba...
Guyana, home to the world’s biggest oil discovery in decades, appears to be an early beneficiary of US President Donald Trump’s ouster of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro . The overnight raid by US forces a week ago to apprehend Maduro also virtually neutralized the longstanding threat the Venezuelan government posed to Guyanese sovereignty. Tensions between the South American neighbors date back to the 19th century. Exxon Mobil Corp. ’s massive oil discoveries off Guyana’s coast a decade ago spurred Maduro to reignite a century-old border dispute. Although his threats to annex two-thirds of Guyanese territory failed to impede Exxon’s crude operations, they heightened the physical and financial risks for companies contemplating oil exploration in the area. For now, at least, Maduro’s capture puts an end to the South American nation’s territorial claims over its smaller neighbor, according to analysts including Dan Pickering , chief investment officer at Houston investment bank Pickering Energy Partners LP . “It substantially lowers the geopolitical risk for Guyana of any future conflict with Venezuela,” said says Amy Myers Jaffe , director of New York University’s Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab. It’s possible that the border dispute was “a major factor in US thinking about how to handle Venezuela.” Venezuela and Guyana are a study in contrasts. The former was once an oil-exporting heavyweight with a thriving economy to match, before its energy sector was brought low during two decades-plus of mismanagement and corruption under Maduro and his predecessor, President Hugo Chavez. Meanwhile, within the space of several years, Guyana — a much smaller nation, initially far poorer but also more politically stable — developed the world’s fastest-growing economy as Exxon and other international operators flocked to its offshore oil reserves. Guyana President Irfaan Ali welcomed the US ouster of Maduro that he said reaffirmed Trump’s commitment to “regional...
Is this… bliss? | Screenshot: Nathan Edwards / The Verge Greetings from the year of Linux on my desktop. In November, I got fed up and said screw it, I'm installing Linux . Since that article was published, I have dealt with one minor catastrophe after another. None of that has anything to do with Linux, mind you. It just meant I didn't install it on my desktop until Sunday evening. My goal here i...
Is this… bliss? | Screenshot: Nathan Edwards / The Verge Greetings from the year of Linux on my desktop. In November, I got fed up and said screw it, I'm installing Linux . Since that article was published, I have dealt with one minor catastrophe after another. None of that has anything to do with Linux, mind you. It just meant I didn't install it on my desktop until Sunday evening. My goal here is to see how far I can get using Linux as my main OS without spending a ton of time futzing with it - or even much time researching beforehand. I am not looking for more high-maintenance hobbies at this stage. I want to see if Linux is a wingable alternative to Microsoft's increasingly annoying OS . Ho … Read the full story at The Verge.
At CES this year, humanoid robots appeared to be closer than ever to moving into our homes. LG introduced CLOiD , a household robot it says can handle chores like preparing food and loading the washing machine. SwitchBot showed off the Onero H1 , another home helper built to tackle everyday tasks, and Boston Dynamics , WIRobotics, Zeroth , and others debuted even more impressive humanoids. Advance...
At CES this year, humanoid robots appeared to be closer than ever to moving into our homes. LG introduced CLOiD , a household robot it says can handle chores like preparing food and loading the washing machine. SwitchBot showed off the Onero H1 , another home helper built to tackle everyday tasks, and Boston Dynamics , WIRobotics, Zeroth , and others debuted even more impressive humanoids. Advances in robotics and AI have made robots smarter and more capable than ever. The question is whether they're capable enough to do our chores. We already have robots that vacuum our floors and mow our lawns - but there's one job they haven't mastered: laun … Read the full story at The Verge.
The New York mayor’s popular moves on rent and free childcare defied rightwing predictions of a far-left hellscape Rightwing politicians and media issued grave warnings about Zohran Mamdani. The election of the democratic socialist would, according to some, cause a spike in crime, and a reduction in freedom, prompting rich people to flee the city and leading to, in the words of one conservative th...
The New York mayor’s popular moves on rent and free childcare defied rightwing predictions of a far-left hellscape Rightwing politicians and media issued grave warnings about Zohran Mamdani. The election of the democratic socialist would, according to some, cause a spike in crime, and a reduction in freedom, prompting rich people to flee the city and leading to, in the words of one conservative thinktank , “collapse, dependency, and political repression” in the manner of “Venezuela” and “Cuba”. Continue reading...
In the last week, the president has fired off a series of demands and edicts aimed at C-suites, all in service of shoring up his political fortunes as midterm elections approach. Trump signed an executive order pressing defense contractors to cut buybacks, and individually called out Raytheon, the defense unit of RTX Corp., an aerospace and defense behemoth that supplies the Patriot missile system...
In the last week, the president has fired off a series of demands and edicts aimed at C-suites, all in service of shoring up his political fortunes as midterm elections approach. Trump signed an executive order pressing defense contractors to cut buybacks, and individually called out Raytheon, the defense unit of RTX Corp., an aerospace and defense behemoth that supplies the Patriot missile system and Pratt & Whitney jet engines to the Defense Department.
Space agency said crew of four will leave ISS next week with goal of touching down in California on 15 January Nasa has announced when it will commence its first medical evacuation from the International Space Station after an astronaut fell ill with a “serious” but undisclosed issue. The US space agency announced on social media on Friday night that it will aim to have the crew leave the station ...
Space agency said crew of four will leave ISS next week with goal of touching down in California on 15 January Nasa has announced when it will commence its first medical evacuation from the International Space Station after an astronaut fell ill with a “serious” but undisclosed issue. The US space agency announced on social media on Friday night that it will aim to have the crew leave the station no earlier than 5pm EST on Wednesday, 14 January, with the goal of them landing near California early on Thursday morning, 15 January, “depending on weather and recovery conditions”. Continue reading...
Trump To Meet Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Next Week President Trump plans to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado next week during her planned visit to the United States. This development comes despite his earlier reluctance to back her for the country's top leadership role. Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity in a taped interview that aired Thursday ...
Trump To Meet Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Next Week President Trump plans to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado next week during her planned visit to the United States. This development comes despite his earlier reluctance to back her for the country's top leadership role. Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity in a taped interview that aired Thursday night that he understands Machado is "coming in next week sometime" and looks forward to saying hello to her. During the interview , Hannity inquired about Machado. He mentioned that she had appeared on his show earlier in the week and reminded viewers that she had won the Nobel Peace Prize, which she publicly dedicated to Trump. The president has openly pursued the Nobel Peace Prize in the past and has campaigned for it in connection with his foreign policy victories. He told Hannity that it was "a major embarrassment to Norway" that he has not yet received one. Hannity added that Machado had said on both television and radio that she wanted to give Trump her Nobel Peace Prize “for liberating her country.” Trump responded warmly, calling Machado “a very nice person,” and confirmed that he was aware of the offer. He said he understood that she would be visiting soon and that he was open to meeting her. “I understand she’s coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her,” Trump said. “I’ve heard that she wants to do that. That’d be a great honor.” 🚨OMG: Trump says he wants the Nobel Prize belonging to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and expects her to give it to him when she comes to DC next week. He can’t be insane enough to take out Maduro just because he wanted her award, can he? pic.twitter.com/6Z9Cpozmy5 — CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) January 9, 2026 NBC News reported Thursday night that a representative for Machado did not immediately confirm the meeting, and the White House offered no details. The potential meeting follo...
Funding was paused because health department said benefits were going to people in country illegally A federal judge ruled on Friday that the Trump administration cannot block federal money for childcare subsidies and other programs aimed at supporting low-income families with children from flowing to five Democratic-led states for now. The states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and N...
Funding was paused because health department said benefits were going to people in country illegally A federal judge ruled on Friday that the Trump administration cannot block federal money for childcare subsidies and other programs aimed at supporting low-income families with children from flowing to five Democratic-led states for now. The states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York argued that a policy announced on Tuesday to freeze billions of dollars in funds for three grant programs was having an immediate impact on them and creating “operational chaos”. In court filings and a hearing earlier on Friday, the states contended that the government did not have a legal reason for withholding the money from them. Continue reading...