In the latest trading session, NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) closed at $205.25, marking a +1.74% move from the previous day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.83% gain on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.5%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.38%. Shares of the chipmaker witnessed a loss of 10.07% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Computer and Technology sector w...
In the latest trading session, NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) closed at $205.25, marking a +1.74% move from the previous day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.83% gain on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.5%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.38%. Shares of the chipmaker witnessed a loss of 10.07% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Computer and Technology sector with its loss of 3.51%, and the S&P 500's loss of 2.65%. The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of NXP Semiconductors in its upcoming release. In that report, analysts expect NXP Semiconductors to post earnings of $2.98 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 12.88%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $3.12 billion, up 9.99% from the prior-year quarter. In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $13.93 per share and a revenue of $13.44 billion, indicating changes of +17.95% and +9.58%, respectively, from the former year. Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for NXP Semiconductors. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook. Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.8% higher. NXP Semiconductors presently features a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). In terms of...
Medpace (MEDP) ended the recent trading session at $389.41, demonstrating a +0.79% swing from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's performance was ahead of the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.11%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.56%. The the stock of provider of outsourced clinical development services has fallen by 1.59% in the past month, lagging the M...
Medpace (MEDP) ended the recent trading session at $389.41, demonstrating a +0.79% swing from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's performance was ahead of the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.11%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.56%. The the stock of provider of outsourced clinical development services has fallen by 1.59% in the past month, lagging the Medical sector's gain of 2.86% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.06%. Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Medpace in its upcoming release. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $2.52, reflecting a 30.57% increase from the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $529.73 million, up 14.94% from the prior-year quarter. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $11.29 per share and a revenue of $2.17 billion, demonstrating changes of +27.14% and +14.92%, respectively, from the preceding year. It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Medpace. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the company's business outlook. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system. The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.53% upward. Medpace currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). In the context of valuation, Medpace is at pr...
Rithm (RITM) closed the latest trading day at $11.26, indicating a +1.26% change from the previous session's end. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.23%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.17%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.34%. Shares of the real estate investment trust witnessed a loss of 3.81% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Finance sect...
Rithm (RITM) closed the latest trading day at $11.26, indicating a +1.26% change from the previous session's end. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.23%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.17%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.34%. Shares of the real estate investment trust witnessed a loss of 3.81% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Finance sector with its loss of 0.44% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.96%. The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Rithm in its upcoming release. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $0.42, indicating a 32.26% decline compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $1.13 billion, showing an 8.86% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter. Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $1.76 per share and revenue of $4.82 billion. These totals would mark changes of -14.56% and +33.16%, respectively, from last year. Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Rithm. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the company's business health and profitability. Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system. The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. Rithm is hold...
The latest trading session saw Jabil (JBL) ending at $162.64, denoting a +1.03% adjustment from its last day's close. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.53%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.38%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.25%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the electronics manufacturer had gained 11.87% over the past month. This has outpaced the Comput...
The latest trading session saw Jabil (JBL) ending at $162.64, denoting a +1.03% adjustment from its last day's close. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.53%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.38%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.25%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the electronics manufacturer had gained 11.87% over the past month. This has outpaced the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 0.75% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.24% in that time. Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Jabil in its upcoming release. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $1.81, reflecting a 7.74% increase from the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $6.41 billion, indicating a 5.25% decrease compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $8.78 per share and revenue of $27.35 billion. These totals would mark changes of +3.42% and -5.31%, respectively, from last year. Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Jabil. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the company's business health and profitability. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system. The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed a 0.33% increase. J...
Social Security is an important source of money for most retirees. That's the point, as the system was set up to ensure retirees had a basic level of income on which to live. The dilemma you face is deciding when to start claiming Social Security. Here's the big reason to claim early. When can you claim Social Security? You pay into the Social Security system all of your working life. And when you...
Social Security is an important source of money for most retirees. That's the point, as the system was set up to ensure retirees had a basic level of income on which to live. The dilemma you face is deciding when to start claiming Social Security. Here's the big reason to claim early. When can you claim Social Security? You pay into the Social Security system all of your working life. And when you stop working, you can start claiming the entitlement. The system is set up so you have a retirement age that varies based on when you were born. Some people will have a full retirement age of 65, while others will end up at 67. That is when you get your full benefit. However, you can claim as early as age 62 or wait until age 70. (Technically, you don't have to claim Social Security at all, if you don't want to.) If you claim early, your benefits are reduced for life. If you claim late, your benefits are higher for life. From a pure dollars-and-cents view, the right decision is to wait until 70 so you maximize your Social Security check. The reason why people claim at 62 That said, there's a spike in claims at 62. In fact, more people claim at 62 than at any other age. This actually makes sense in one very important way: Nobody knows when they will die. If you wait until 70 to claim Social Security, you are gambling that you will not only live to age 70 but also well beyond that age, as well. If you have significant retirement savings, that may not be a big deal for you, as you can live off of your savings until you claim. However, if you don't have material retirement savings, delaying would likely require you to continue working. But you have to consider what you are giving up by not claiming: the opportunity to stop working. You could enjoy that time doing things you love instead of earning an income so you can delay collecting Social Security. Life is what happens while you are busy doing other things The average life expectancy in the United States is around 78. On av...
Find your next quality investment with Simply Wall St's easy and powerful screener, trusted by over 7 million individual investors worldwide. Meta Platforms (NasdaqGS:META) has signed a multi-year AI content licensing deal with News Corp to train and improve its AI models. The company is pursuing multibillion dollar, multi-year agreements with Nvidia, AMD, and Google for advanced chips and AI infr...
Find your next quality investment with Simply Wall St's easy and powerful screener, trusted by over 7 million individual investors worldwide. Meta Platforms (NasdaqGS:META) has signed a multi-year AI content licensing deal with News Corp to train and improve its AI models. The company is pursuing multibillion dollar, multi-year agreements with Nvidia, AMD, and Google for advanced chips and AI infrastructure. Meta is expanding its own data center footprint and creating a new applied AI engineering team to support generative AI development. Meta Platforms, the parent of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, is moving quickly to secure the data, compute power, and engineering talent it needs for generative AI. For investors watching large technology and communication platforms, this cluster of agreements and initiatives around content, chips, and infrastructure points to AI as a core priority across the business. For you, the key question is how this step up in AI resources might shape Meta's products, cost base, and competitive position over the next several years. The combination of content deals, chip partnerships, and new internal teams could influence how its apps evolve, how users interact with AI features, and how Meta compares with other large tech platforms that are also investing heavily in similar capabilities. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Meta Platforms by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Meta Platforms. NasdaqGS:META Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026 We've flagged 0 risks for Meta Platforms. See which could impact your investment. Quick Assessment ✅ Price vs Analyst Target : At US$647.39, Meta trades about 25% below the consensus analyst price target of US$862.25. ✅ Simply Wall St Valuation : Simply Wall St estimates Meta is trading roughly 42.4% below its fair value. ❌ Recent Momentum: The share price has had a 2.1% decline over the last 30 da...
Rafmaster/iStock via Getty Images PagSeguro Digital Ltd. ( PAGS ) has reported Q4 '25 results . The quarter looked broadly similar to previous reads, with very little growth in payments, a lot of growth in credit, higher financial expenses from both rates and capital optimization, and better EPS than net income because the share count keeps falling. For 2026, management again expects the same broa...
Rafmaster/iStock via Getty Images PagSeguro Digital Ltd. ( PAGS ) has reported Q4 '25 results . The quarter looked broadly similar to previous reads, with very little growth in payments, a lot of growth in credit, higher financial expenses from both rates and capital optimization, and better EPS than net income because the share count keeps falling. For 2026, management again expects the same broad pattern: strong credit growth, modest gross profit growth, and double-digit EPS growth, even before additional buybacks. The challenges remain a pressured payments business and increasing reliance on credit for growth. I believe these challenges are more than compensated for by a stock that still trades at about 6x my estimate of 2026 earnings while also returning a meaningful amount of capital to shareholders. I maintain a Buy rating. Q4 '25 Results The core trend in the quarter did not change from previous reads . Payments remain stable, but they are a clearly mature business, while banking keeps growing fast enough to offset that slowdown at the company level. TPV was still soft every year, down 2.5% in 4Q25, although it rose ~10% sequentially. The sequential improvement might mark the first real sign of reacceleration after a weak year. Cash-in, which is one of the better indicators of banking engagement outside credit, rose 11% to R$90.7 billion, while deposits increased ~13% to ~R$41 billion. The payments business continues to trend towards more competition, slower, if any, growth, and more pressured profitability. Payment revenues rose only 5.6% YoY. Given that TPV was down for the year, this still signals a healthy take rate. Still, on a sequential basis, TPV rebounded almost 10%, but payment revenues rose only 4.6%, indicating potential challenges. The most profitable legacy activity, merchant prepayments, was up only 1% YoY. This remains a very good business, but it no longer looks like a clear growth engine. On the other hand, we have exploding banking activity...
In early March 2026, CVS Health and Google Cloud announced a long-term partnership to power CVS’s new Health100 platform with Gemini-based AI, secure cloud infrastructure, and interoperable data tools to create real-time, omni-channel health engagement for consumers and partners across the healthcare ecosystem. The Health100 collaboration uniquely positions Google Cloud at the center of an open, A...
In early March 2026, CVS Health and Google Cloud announced a long-term partnership to power CVS’s new Health100 platform with Gemini-based AI, secure cloud infrastructure, and interoperable data tools to create real-time, omni-channel health engagement for consumers and partners across the healthcare ecosystem. The Health100 collaboration uniquely positions Google Cloud at the center of an open, AI-enabled health data network that could deepen its enterprise footprint while testing consumer trust in high-stakes, privacy-sensitive use cases. We’ll now examine how this Health100 AI healthcare partnership may influence Alphabet’s investment narrative, especially its heavy AI infrastructure spending. Uncover the next big thing with 29 elite penny stocks that balance risk and reward. Alphabet Investment Narrative Recap To own Alphabet today, you have to believe its massive AI and cloud buildout can justify record capital spending while its ad-heavy core stays resilient. The CVS Health100 deal reinforces the main near term catalyst, which is Google Cloud’s role as AI infrastructure for large enterprises, but it does little to reduce the biggest risk: whether outsized AI data center capex will earn attractive returns if demand or pricing weakens. Among recent announcements, the AES partnership in Texas stands out alongside Health100, because both highlight Alphabet’s push to support AI growth with long term, energy efficient infrastructure. Together they underline how much of the Alphabet story now runs through Google Cloud and Gemini, where success could help offset pressure on ad margins, but also amplify the financial impact if AI investment or usage trends fall short of expectations. Yet beneath this AI optimism, investors should be aware of growing scrutiny of Alphabet’s data use and AI safety practices, which could... Read the full narrative on Alphabet (it's free!) Alphabet's narrative projects $512.6 billion revenue and $148.4 billion earnings by 2028. This require...
A 51-year-old man from Wales, and a 55-year-old man from Bristol - both of whom either currently or formerly held senior roles in the federation - were also arrested on the same charge.
A 51-year-old man from Wales, and a 55-year-old man from Bristol - both of whom either currently or formerly held senior roles in the federation - were also arrested on the same charge.
Lemon_tm/iStock via Getty Images Intro MP Materials ( MP ) has just reported final results for a year that has been nothing less than pivotal. As I wrote in my first article on the company, MP is in the process of a government-backed transformation into a company engaged in mining and production of REE magnet inputs that are critical to national security. It is the beneficiary of a landmark Depart...
Lemon_tm/iStock via Getty Images Intro MP Materials ( MP ) has just reported final results for a year that has been nothing less than pivotal. As I wrote in my first article on the company, MP is in the process of a government-backed transformation into a company engaged in mining and production of REE magnet inputs that are critical to national security. It is the beneficiary of a landmark Department of War deal that I believe has essentially removed most downside price risk from the company, leaving its primary risk as operational execution and making it, arguably, the lowest-risk developer-stage mining company ever. Back in November, I rated the company as a Sell, primarily because it was overvalued, I didn’t see much upside potential, and we don’t really know how to value a government-backed company like this. The opportunity cost seemed high, particularly in the midst of a strong bull market. Since then, shares have been relatively flat but are currently slightly outperforming the broader market. Data by YCharts I have now upgraded my rating to a Hold. My fundamental view hasn’t changed. I still think it’s overvalued and have no idea what kind of multiple investors will put on a company like this long-term. However, since then, MP has reported strong operational results, and the world has become far riskier. The recent war in Iran seems to be only escalating right now, and holding more defensive positions has become more appealing to me. The Trump-Xi summit has the potential to drive markets in either direction and could be a positive catalyst for MP Materials without much downside potential even if talks go very well. Lastly, NdPr prices are on the rise right now, and MP is growing NdPr production at a quick pace today, giving the company a strong tailwind. Put all this together, and we have a company with some upside potential and minimal downside risks, which is well-suited for the current environment, even if it’s still overvalued today. Q4 and FY2025 Resul...
Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) , a direct-to-consumer telehealth platform, closed Monday at $22.15, up 40.72%. The stock moved higher after announcing a collaboration with Novo Nordisk to sell branded GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Investors are watching how the shift from compounded to FDA-approved medications affects growth and margins. Trading volume reached 168.1 million shares, about 557% above its...
Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) , a direct-to-consumer telehealth platform, closed Monday at $22.15, up 40.72%. The stock moved higher after announcing a collaboration with Novo Nordisk to sell branded GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Investors are watching how the shift from compounded to FDA-approved medications affects growth and margins. Trading volume reached 168.1 million shares, about 557% above its three-month average of 25.6 million shares. Hims & Hers Health IPO'd in 2019 and has grown 126% since going public. The S&P 500 rose 0.81% to 6,794, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.38% to finish at 22,696. Within telehealth and online pharmacy names, Teladoc Health closed at $5.30 (+4.33%) and American Well finished at $5.55 (+1.65%), trailing Hims & Hers Health’s sharp move. Novo Nordisk dropped its patent infringement lawsuit against Hims & Hers after the two agreed to a deal under which Novo’s GLP-1 drug Ozempic would be sold on the latter’s platform, and Hims & Hers would stop marketing compounded versions of GLP-1s. HIMS stock soared 41% on the news today, while NVO inched 3% higher. Continue reading
Identity Politics Trumps Public Safety On The Chicago Transit Authority Authored by George Shay via American Greatness, The Legacy of Jesse Jackson Makes All of Us Less Safe If you ride the trains or buses in Chicago with any regularity, you don’t worry about microaggressions. You worry about being maced, mugged, or shoved onto the tracks—or, in one grotesque recent case, set on fire. That’s the l...
Identity Politics Trumps Public Safety On The Chicago Transit Authority Authored by George Shay via American Greatness, The Legacy of Jesse Jackson Makes All of Us Less Safe If you ride the trains or buses in Chicago with any regularity, you don’t worry about microaggressions. You worry about being maced, mugged, or shoved onto the tracks—or, in one grotesque recent case, set on fire. That’s the lived experience of Chicagoans navigating the Chicago Transit Authority and Metra. Not academic theory. Not seminar-room sociology. Reality. So naturally, when a modest pilot program is introduced allowing the transit agencies to suspend individuals who assault conductors, spit on drivers, punch random riders, or otherwise turn public transportation into a Thunderdome audition, what does the Chicago Tribune decide is the story? Not whether the program works. Not whether it can be enforced. Not whether it deters crime. No. The story, apparently, is that it’s racist. Because roughly 90 percent of the approximately 40 individuals suspended under the program are black or Hispanic. Forty people. In a city of nearly three million. On a transit system carrying hundreds of thousands daily. That’s the scandal. The Exercise in Futility Nobody Wants to Discuss Let’s start with the obvious: The program is likely an exercise in futility. How exactly do you enforce a transit ban in 2026 Chicago? There are no ticket agents. There are no conductors policing turnstiles. Bus drivers sit behind plastic shields—cages, really—installed because too many of them were being attacked. You think a driver is going to step out from behind that barrier and say, “Excuse me, sir, our records indicate you’re under suspension”? There’s no one at the station entrances checking IDs. There’s no practical mechanism to stop someone from tapping a Ventra card or just hopping a turnstile. And if you suggest facial recognition technology? Prepare for the five-alarm firestorm about privacy, surveillance, and civil l...
Iryna Olkhova/iStock via Getty Images Palladyne AI ( PDYN ), the US defense and industrial technology firm, reported its fourth quarter and full year results after the bell on Wednesday the 4th March. The stock is up over 20%, and this is deserved. In fact, the market has a lot more catching up to do. Palladyne is an under the radar name compared to other Artificial Intelligence plays in the marke...
Iryna Olkhova/iStock via Getty Images Palladyne AI ( PDYN ), the US defense and industrial technology firm, reported its fourth quarter and full year results after the bell on Wednesday the 4th March. The stock is up over 20%, and this is deserved. In fact, the market has a lot more catching up to do. Palladyne is an under the radar name compared to other Artificial Intelligence plays in the market. Yet despite this, the Company has quietly gone about its business, steadily building up a number of partnerships and now, as per the latest quarter, starting to build up a revenue base that will kick on in the years to come. Palladyne's 2023 pivot It would not have been misguided to write off Palladyne in 2023. Shares mulled below $1 a share, and liquidity was running dry. Then came a masterstroke pivot by the management team to move into artificial intelligence focused on military applications. This later came with a name change; "Sarcos" would become "Palladyne AI" in 2024. Not only was it on trend, it provided a renewed growth opportunity, giving a glimpse of a non-fatal end-point. Whilst the pivot may have appeared to be a last gasp move to turn the ship around, it's becoming more apparent that management was intent on the new proposition. And that software would just be the start. Launch of Palladyne Defense Palladyne went on an acquisition spree in November 2025 with three new entities coming under its wing. This culminated in the launch of Palladyne Defense. This expanded the company's capabilities within the defense industry to encompass more advanced precision manufacturing and development capabilities. A bold vertical integration move that made the offering far more compelling for government bodies. Notably, aligning the company with the Department of Defense's priorities around building US independence and new capabilities. More importantly this move represented an in-road into drone hardware capabilities. Palladyne has been working with Redcat Holdings ( RCAT...
Oil tumbled after US President Donald Trump signaled the Iran war could be ending soon, as the conflict in the Middle East upends global energy markets and sparks fresh concerns about an inflation crisis . West Texas Intermediate slumped as much as 10% to $85.52 a barrel, after a volatile session on Monday that saw oil swing in the widest range since prices briefly turned negative during the depth...
Oil tumbled after US President Donald Trump signaled the Iran war could be ending soon, as the conflict in the Middle East upends global energy markets and sparks fresh concerns about an inflation crisis . West Texas Intermediate slumped as much as 10% to $85.52 a barrel, after a volatile session on Monday that saw oil swing in the widest range since prices briefly turned negative during the depths of the pandemic. Trump told CBS News he believed the war was “ very complete, pretty much .” Crude smashed through $100 a barrel early in the session Monday before pulling back as the world’s largest economies considered an effort to release emergency oil reserves. Still, the vital Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, which has led to major producers in the Persian Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, curtailing output. Read More: Can Tapping Oil Reserves Tame Iran War Price Shock?: Explainer “I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short term excursion,” Trump told Republican lawmakers on Monday at his resort in Doral, Florida. Those remarks came hours after the president spoke to CBS. The intense prices swings on Monday saw WTI trade in a $38 band. Brent tumbled about $20 from its high, marking the largest-ever drop from an intraday maximum to a closing price on record. To get Bloomberg’s Energy Daily newsletter in your inbox, click here . WTI for April delivery was 7.9% lower at $ 87.28 a barrel at 6:04 a.m. in Singapore. Brent for May settlement closed 6.8% higher to settle at $98.96 a barrel on Monday after climbing as high as $119.50 in the session.