Sue Atkinson on how nesting sites of sand martins were blocked in Perthshire, similar to that of swifts at Chapel Milton viaduct in Derbyshire Your distressing article about the unnecessary blocking of swift nesting sites in Chapel Milton viaduct triggered deja vu here in Perthshire ( Anger as swifts’ nesting holes in Derbyshire rail viaduct ‘blocked up’, 10 April ). In early 2024, Network Rail re...
Sue Atkinson on how nesting sites of sand martins were blocked in Perthshire, similar to that of swifts at Chapel Milton viaduct in Derbyshire Your distressing article about the unnecessary blocking of swift nesting sites in Chapel Milton viaduct triggered deja vu here in Perthshire ( Anger as swifts’ nesting holes in Derbyshire rail viaduct ‘blocked up’, 10 April ). In early 2024, Network Rail repointed the Inver viaduct over the River Braan and blocked up the nesting sites of a colony of sand martins. Despite repeated assurances that mitigation would be put in place, and contrary to Network Rail’s own biodiversity strategy, no nesting sites have ever been restored. Continue reading...
Raj Parkash and Chris Manners on the lasting impact of the UK’s decision in 2016 to leave the EU Perhaps the saddest consequence of Brexit is that it has left the UK a profoundly unhappy country ( Ten years after Brexit, this is the UK: a divided nation frozen in time, 9 April ). For Brexit supporters, the dream of a proud, independent Britain able to direct its own destiny in the world is nowhere...
Raj Parkash and Chris Manners on the lasting impact of the UK’s decision in 2016 to leave the EU Perhaps the saddest consequence of Brexit is that it has left the UK a profoundly unhappy country ( Ten years after Brexit, this is the UK: a divided nation frozen in time, 9 April ). For Brexit supporters, the dream of a proud, independent Britain able to direct its own destiny in the world is nowhere near fulfilled, as if it ever could be. And they continue to grasp at the nearest proximate cause – an “invasion” of immigrants undermining British identity and draining its resources. For those who wished to remain, Brexit has left them unmoored from the security of membership of a grouping that gave them an identity and clear position in the world. Unfortunately, that unhappiness is now exacerbated by the state of the world outside the UK. The US has upended the entire global institutional structure such that there is no certainty to be had as to how to operate in the world. And the EU seems incapable of forging a coherent identity that could forge a path through this morass. So we are left floundering without a place in the world, with the options for alignment and partnership unattractive and equally uncertain. One thing however is for sure – seeking refuge in the empty sloganeering of Nigel Farage and Zack Polanski is not the answer. Raj Parkash London Continue reading...
A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Ivanhoe Electric Inc (Symbol: IE) is the #37 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Channel Glob
A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Ivanhoe Electric Inc (Symbol: IE) is the #37 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Channel Glob
In a study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages, for the underlying components of the S&P 500, The Cigna Group (Symbol: CI) has taken over the #14 spot from EQT Corp (Symbol: EQT), according to ETF Channel. Below is a chart of The Cigna Group versus EQT Corp p
In a study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages, for the underlying components of the S&P 500, The Cigna Group (Symbol: CI) has taken over the #14 spot from EQT Corp (Symbol: EQT), according to ETF Channel. Below is a chart of The Cigna Group versus EQT Corp p
As the president’s men rave about paranormal events and Diet Coke, it seems the US’s only hope is extraterrestrial intervention People often criticise the Democrats for being overly cautious and never getting anything done. But this week they’ve surprised us all by unveiling concepts of a plan for getting Donald Trump out of the White House. On Tuesday House Democrats introduced legislation that w...
As the president’s men rave about paranormal events and Diet Coke, it seems the US’s only hope is extraterrestrial intervention People often criticise the Democrats for being overly cautious and never getting anything done. But this week they’ve surprised us all by unveiling concepts of a plan for getting Donald Trump out of the White House. On Tuesday House Democrats introduced legislation that would create a commission to assess whether Trump is unfit to serve and should be removed under the 25th amendment. I don’t need to tell you what precipitated this: Trump is growingly increasingly erratic, threatening genocide one minute and posting pictures of himself as Jesus Christ the next. Continue reading...
Michael Vi/iStock Editorial via Getty Images NXP Semiconductors N.V. ( NXPI ) is due to report its Q1 ’26 earnings on the 28 th of April, so I thought I’d look into what to expect and what I am looking for to give us a better look at the company’s potential and whether it would be a good time to start a position. Since the last article on the company, its share price declined by around 9% against ...
Michael Vi/iStock Editorial via Getty Images NXP Semiconductors N.V. ( NXPI ) is due to report its Q1 ’26 earnings on the 28 th of April, so I thought I’d look into what to expect and what I am looking for to give us a better look at the company’s potential and whether it would be a good time to start a position. Since the last article on the company, its share price declined by around 9% against 2% gain for the SPY ( SPY ). I don’t see anything particularly exciting yet, so I maintain my Hold rating until we hear more about the next big growth driver. What to Expect Analysts are expecting the company to make around $2.98 and $3.52 in adjusted and GAAP EPS, respectively, which is the opposite of what we usually see with these numbers. Additionally, they expect the company to make $3.15B in revenues, which translates to around 11% growth y/y, but around 6% decline sequentially. It is worth noting that there have been 14 upward and 6 downward revisions to the EPS over the last 90 days. These numbers are in line with what the management guided for the upcoming quarter. Over the last ten quarters, the company only missed twice when it came to revenues and essentially met or beat EPS estimates 100% of the time. A miss by a penny is negligible. Seeking Alpha I think there is a good chance that we will see the company beating these estimates once again because it looks like the management either consistently low-balls its guidance or the analysts are underestimating NXPI’s earnings potential. Either way, it’s a positive for the company. Judging by the historical evidence, the beat is not going to be mind-blowing, so I don’t expect a massive share price swing on the day. So, what that means for my fellow options traders is that if you want to play any direction on the day, the implied move is around d 3.6%, which is quite weak . So, being a seller of options will most likely pay off if you sell far out of money strikes on an iron condor or a strangle, as IV crush will take ...
In this article GME .SPX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Sign on facade at shoe company Allbirds, Walnut Creek, California, August 25, 2025. Smith Collection | Archive Photos | Getty Images Retail traders stampeded into Allbirds after the troubled shoemaker slapped an artificial intelligence label on its business, a set-up that market history suggests rarely ends well once the init...
In this article GME .SPX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Sign on facade at shoe company Allbirds, Walnut Creek, California, August 25, 2025. Smith Collection | Archive Photos | Getty Images Retail traders stampeded into Allbirds after the troubled shoemaker slapped an artificial intelligence label on its business, a set-up that market history suggests rarely ends well once the initial hype fades. Shares of the company skyrocketed as much as 582% on Wednesday after the firm detailed shocking plans to rebrand as NewBird AI and shift toward compute infrastructure. The surge added more than $100 million to its market value, which had been just $21 million a day earlier. Retail investors were quick to embrace the new narrative, data from Vanda Research showed. Net purchases hit a record $5.2 million in a single day, surpassing even demand seen during the company's 2021 IPO. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Allbirds year to date This surge of speculative buying reflects a broader return of animal spirits among small traders as the broader stock market rebounded violently from losses triggered by geopolitical risks. The S&P 500 has entirely erased its losses associated from the Iran war and hit a fresh all-time high Thursday. "The market is not pricing risk. It is pricing narrative. It is pricing the word 'AI' the same way it once priced the word 'blockchain' and before that the suffix '.com,'" Mark Malek, CIO at Siebert Financial, said in a note. "This is not analysis. This is pattern-matching on a buzzword by investors who have watched AI-adjacent stocks go parabolic and do not want to miss the next leg. The signal is not subtle." The rise of zero-commission trading platforms helped usher in a new generation of retail investors, lowering the cost of speculation and accelerating the spread of so-called meme trades. That dynamic was on full display during the 2021 GameStop episode, when coordinated buying by individual traders sent the stock soaring and in...
rarrarorro/iStock via Getty Images Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a 10-day ceasefire starting from 5 pm ET after the representatives of the two nations met in Washington on Tuesday. "I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin' Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE. It has be...
rarrarorro/iStock via Getty Images Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a 10-day ceasefire starting from 5 pm ET after the representatives of the two nations met in Washington on Tuesday. "I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin' Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE. It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let's, GET IT DONE!" U.S. President Donald Trump said. Trump said he spoke to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, and both the leaders agreed on the 10-day truce. Aoun has also reportedly thanked Trump for his push for a ceasefire. The ceasefire could pave the way for Washington to reach a peace deal with Iran, as the Middle Eastern country had said the Israeli attacks in Lebanon were a violation of its agreed pause of hostilities with the U.S. The U.S. and Israel, however, have denied that the Iran ceasefire is applicable to Israel's attack on Hezbollah. Dear readers: We recognize that politics often intersects with the financial news of the day, so we invite you to click here to join the separate political discussion. More on oil Energy Market Outlook Hinges On The Middle East Commodities: Oil Trades Lower On De-Escalation Hopes Smart Money Is Deploying Fresh Capital U.S. broadens Iran maritime crackdown as officials warn of possible renewed strikes U.S. naval blockade of Iran turns away 13 ships, ramps up pressure on Tehran - reports
Sales of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s Cybertruck have recently been supported in part by purchases from other businesses controlled by CEO Elon Musk, highlighting challenges the electric pickup faces in attracting broader consumer demand. Data from S&P Global Mobility cited by Bloomberg News...
Sales of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s Cybertruck have recently been supported in part by purchases from other businesses controlled by CEO Elon Musk, highlighting challenges the electric pickup faces in attracting broader consumer demand. Data from S&P Global Mobility cited by Bloomberg News...
In his first appearance this year, the health secretary is taking questions on his record on health, including his controversial moves on vaccines. (Image credit: Heather Diehl)
In his first appearance this year, the health secretary is taking questions on his record on health, including his controversial moves on vaccines. (Image credit: Heather Diehl)
Artificial intelligence can now handle work that once required teams, Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas said. He recently told the "All-In podcast" that the technology can take on tasks such as running ad campaigns, handling customer support and managing payments....
Artificial intelligence can now handle work that once required teams, Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas said. He recently told the "All-In podcast" that the technology can take on tasks such as running ad campaigns, handling customer support and managing payments....
Six weeks into the Iran war, crude oil markets are experiencing one of their worst-ever disruptions, triggered by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Hundreds of ships are bottled up in the Persian Gulf, unable to carry their cargoes out of the region. Worries that shippers won’t be able to get supplies out of the Persian Gulf have caused global oil prices to skyrocket. Contracts guaranteein...
Six weeks into the Iran war, crude oil markets are experiencing one of their worst-ever disruptions, triggered by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Hundreds of ships are bottled up in the Persian Gulf, unable to carry their cargoes out of the region. Worries that shippers won’t be able to get supplies out of the Persian Gulf have caused global oil prices to skyrocket. Contracts guaranteeing immediate delivery of oil have posted the sharpest gains, widening the gap between near- and long-dated prices to a record. The oil shock has far-reaching implications for the energy industry and for consumers, as prices rise for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as plastics, which are derived from fossil fuels. What’s unusual about trading in the oil market right now? There is a sharp divergence between prices in the physical market, where actual barrels are being bought and sold, and the paper market, which reflects the price of financial contracts including futures and options. In the physical market, oil refiners are paying about $30 a barrel more than the price of the nearest-term oil futures contract, the largest premium the market has ever seen. Normally, the price disparity is less than $2. The current pricing pattern suggests traders believe the supply crunch probably won’t drag on for months. In a volatile situation such as war, where the conflict could be resolved at any time, traders are reluctant to bet that prices will remain elevated. While the steep premium is largely explained by the Iran war, the gap between near- and long-term prices also results from a mismatch in the calendar. The paper, or futures market for Brent crude, the industry benchmark, trades almost two months ahead of the physical market, meaning that June is the earliest available futures contract. In contrast, physical benchmarks, like Dated Brent, are for more immediate delivery. Many market participants believe that US President Donald Trump will find a way to end the conflict rath...
claffra/iStock via Getty Images By Warren Patterson , Head of Commodities Strategy Oil futures don't fully reflect the scale of supply disruptions Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely cut off, which continues to tighten the oil market. However, despite this significant tightening, the futures market appears to be responding more to headlines over how the war may evolve, with hopes...
claffra/iStock via Getty Images By Warren Patterson , Head of Commodities Strategy Oil futures don't fully reflect the scale of supply disruptions Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely cut off, which continues to tighten the oil market. However, despite this significant tightening, the futures market appears to be responding more to headlines over how the war may evolve, with hopes that we could see a resolution in the coming weeks. However, we just need to look at the physical market to get a better idea of the reality of the supply disruption. Dated Brent has traded as high as $144/bbl recently and is trading at around a $30/bbl premium to Brent futures. Clearly, the longer supply disruptions persist, the more likely we will see futures needing to catch up with the physical market. We estimate that around 13m b/d of oil flows from the Persian Gulf are being disrupted due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade. This is after taking into account pipeline diversions, Iranian tankers still moving through the Strait (although this could change with the recent US blockade), as well as some other tankers transiting this key chokepoint. While releases of government stocks and the drawing down of floating storage have helped the market, the shortfall is still significant. Therefore, there is a need for demand destruction. We are already seeing signs of this, particularly in parts of Asia, with several governments in the region announcing measures to reduce energy consumption. Clearly, the longer this persists, the more demand destruction we will need to see, and this will have to occur across other regions as well. To drive further demand destruction, we will need to see higher oil prices. For now, our base case is that energy flows will start to make a gradual recovery through the second quarter. However, flows will remain below pre-war levels until at least year-end. This would see Brent averaging $96/bbl over 2Q26 and $89/bbl over the full year 2026. A more ex...
Given the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East, one might assume Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) is arguably in a good position to benefit. The company started as an artificial intelligence (AI) stock for the military when the AI field was in its infancy, and the fact that its technology helped the government find international terrorist Osama bin Laden added to its prestige. Howe...
Given the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East, one might assume Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) is arguably in a good position to benefit. The company started as an artificial intelligence (AI) stock for the military when the AI field was in its infancy, and the fact that its technology helped the government find international terrorist Osama bin Laden added to its prestige. However, Palantir has struggled since the war with Iran began on Feb. 28, and valuation is likely a factor in the share price's volatility (the stock rose as much as 17% before falling 24% and now hovers at a 3% gain). Still, investors in the SaaS stock may dismiss the added defense-related growth for this forgotten reason. Image source: The Motley Fool. Continue reading
Aja Koska/E+ via Getty Images After BRP ( DOO ) pulled its financial guidance due to a change to U.S. tariff policy, Polaris ( PII ) assured investors on Thursday that the recent changes “will not have a material impact on the company’s 2026 full-year guidance.” The disclosure subsequently launched Polaris ( PII ) shares as much as 16% higher on Thursday, erasing a majority of the loss associated ...
Aja Koska/E+ via Getty Images After BRP ( DOO ) pulled its financial guidance due to a change to U.S. tariff policy, Polaris ( PII ) assured investors on Thursday that the recent changes “will not have a material impact on the company’s 2026 full-year guidance.” The disclosure subsequently launched Polaris ( PII ) shares as much as 16% higher on Thursday, erasing a majority of the loss associated with BRP’s warning the previous day. While rivals contend with overseas production and reliance on imported raw materials, Polaris ( PII ) “has a significant domestic manufacturing presence,” including facilities in Alabama, Indiana, and Minnesota, and continues to strengthen its domestic supplier relationships. On Wednesday, the jet ski, snowmobile, and all-terrain vehicle manufacturer, BRP ( DOO ), warned that due to the recent amendment of Section 232, the company will face an incremental tariff cost of $500M for the remainder of 2026. This means BRP will now pay a 25% tariff on the total value of the imported vehicle rather than 50% on just the applicable metal content. As a result of this change and the uncertainty it creates, BRP ( DOO ) pulled its guidance for 2027, sending reverberations throughout the recreational vehicle sector and causing Polaris ( PII ) to suffer its largest one-day percentage decline in a year. The move higher in Polaris ( PII ) is spilling into peers, with BRP ( DOO ), Patrick Industries ( PATK ), and Malibu Boats ( MBUU ) all recouping a portion of Wednesday’s losses. More on Polaris Polaris: Not Attractive Enough Yet Polaris Inc. (PII) Presents at 47th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference - Slideshow Polaris Q4: Strong Results And Raised Dividend, Shares Attractive BRP tariff warning weighs on recreational vehicle space Polaris completes separation of Indian Motorcycle, sells majority stake to Carolwood