France banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country, citing threats and violence against activists who were trying to get aid to Gaza by sea. “The decision follows unspeakable actions directed at French and European citizens who were passengers in the Global Sumud flotilla.” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Saturday on X. While he said France didn’t approve of the fleet, it won’t tolerate “threats, intimidation and brutality” against its citizens. The move comes amid a growing chorus of condemnation of the Israeli minister for the treatment of the international activists, who were detained after seeking to breach its naval blockade of Gaza. His social media posts have also sparked controversy in Israel, with one video showing him waving the nation’s flag amid detained activists kneeling in rows with their heads on the ground and hands bound. Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy all summoned Israel’s ambassadors, with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten calling Israel’s treatment of the activists “dehumanizing.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani demanded an apology and said the protesters “are subjected to treatment that violates their dignity.” Read more: EU Countries Summon Israeli Ambassadors Over Activist Treatment In his post on ‘X’ Barrot wrote that he and his Italian counterpart will push for the European Union to sanction the Israeli minister. He cited a long list of “shocking” declarations and actions inciting hate and violence against Palestinians. For its part, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Ben-Gvir had “undone tremendous, professional, and successful efforts made by so many people - from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others” in a “disgraceful display,” writing in a post on X. “Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flot...

Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Highlights China's Role in $200B CPU Market Fo GuruFocus

Wall Street’s major market averages ended higher on Friday, after the week saw Kevin Warsh sworn in as the new Fed chair, somewhat optimistic headlines on the U.S.-Iran tension, as well as earnings reports from major players including Nvidia and Walmart. Wall Street had a slew of upgrades and downgrades from analysts. Here are some of the major calls for the week: Lam Research gets upgrade, Applied Materials cut at Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley upgraded Lam Research ( LRCX ) to Overweight from Equal-weight and boosted its price target to $331 from $293, saying that the company has unique drivers supporting the long-term growth story. “After shipments underperformed WFE by 33ppt in 2023 due to a cyclical decline in NAND and China entity list impact, LAM outperformed WFE by 8ppt in 2024 and we estimate another 27ppt outperformance in 2025 driven by NAND, China, and TSMC,” said analyst Shane Brett. Meanwhile, Applied Materials ( AMAT ) was downgraded to Equal-weight from Overweight with a $502 price target. We think AMAT will be a share gainer in 2026 but given our growth forecast is in-line with broader WFE in 2027 we think the valuation discount is unlikely to narrow in the near term," said Brett and his team. The firm also made MKS ( MKSI ) its Top Pick while removing the tag from Applied Materials. Zscaler gets upgrade at B. Riley B. Riley upgraded Zscaler ( ZS ) to Buy from Neutral, citing an expanding product line and AI tailwinds. “We are upgrading Zscaler because we believe demand for secure network access is healthy, and we believe the adoption of AI technology will provide a tailwind for Zscaler. We also believe the company benefits from an expanding product portfolio, and we view the company’s valuation as attractive," said analyst Erik Suppiger. However, the firm lowered the price target on the cybersecurity company to $225 from $275 to reflect a reduction in software valuation multiples in recent months. The analyst believes a key reason Zscaler has traded...

Analyst Endorsements: Recent notes from major firms have reiterated outperform ratings for Microsoft with price targets near $640. These assessments point to strong AI demand and expected reacceleration in Azure growth during the second half of the year. Investors on social media have echoed this view while debating near-term capex pressures. AI Strategy Scrutiny: Market commentary centers on Microsoft's Copilot approach to aggregating consumer AI models and its enterprise distribution advantages. Discussions compare this positioning favorably to peers' model ownership strategies. Participants highlight sustained usage of Microsoft tools amid broader AI adoption trends. Long-Term Growth Views: Social media threads frequently project robust expansion through 2030 driven by cloud and AI services. Some voices note potential margin questions from increasing AI-related costs but maintain focus on enterprise loyalty. Overall chatter reflects measured confidence in Microsoft's competitive edge. Note: This discussion summary was generated from an AI condensation of post data. Microsoft Insider Trading Activity Microsoft insiders have traded $MSFT stock on the open market 5 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 1 have been purchases and 4 have been sales. Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $MSFT stock by insiders over the last 6 months: JUDSON ALTHOFF (CEO Microsoft Commercial) sold 12,750 shares for an estimated $6,266,829 KATHLEEN T HOGAN (EVP, Strategy) sold 12,320 shares for an estimated $5,045,642 JOHN W STANTON purchased 5,000 shares for an estimated $1,986,750 TAKESHI NUMOTO (EVP, Chief Marketing Officer) sold 2,850 shares for an estimated $1,364,352 AMY COLEMAN (EVP, Chief Human Resources Off) sold 1,262 shares for an estimated $519,241 To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard. You can access data on insider stock transactions through the Quiver Quantitative API insider transaction endpoint. Quiver Alerts Re...

The S&P 500 is hovering near its record high, and the benchmark index looks historically expensive at 32 times earnings. However, many investors are still rushing into this frothy market, expecting the market's top-performing stocks to keep rising. While many of these stocks might head higher over the long term, they could pull back sharply before that happens. That downturn could shake many bullish investors out of the market. As Peter Lynch once said, "Everyone is a long-term investor until the market goes down." As someone who started investing right before the Great Recession, I know that feeling well. But today, I'm hopefully better at tuning out the near-term noise and staying focused on my longer-term goals. Here are two of my top stocks I'd be willing to hold and forget for the next 20 years: Energy Transfer (ET +0.43%) and Amazon (AMZN 0.80%). Energy Transfer I started to accumulate shares of Energy Transfer (ET +0.43%) last April. Today, the stock accounts for about 4% of my portfolio, and I don't plan on selling that stake anytime soon. Three things drew me to Energy Transfer. First, it's a major midstream company that transports natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, and other refined products through over 140,000 miles of pipeline across 44 states. Expand NYSE : ET Energy Transfer Today's Change ( 0.43 %) $ 0.09 Current Price $ 20.09 Key Data Points Market Cap $69B Day's Range $ 19.92 - $ 20.18 52wk Range $ 16.18 - $ 20.70 Volume 454.4K Avg Vol 15.6M Gross Margin 11.57 % Dividend Yield 6.65 % By charging upstream and downstream companies "tolls" to use that infrastructure, it's well-insulated from volatile oil prices and generates plenty of cash to cover its distributions. It currently pays a forward yield of 6.6%, and analysts expect its earnings per unit (EPU) to rise 17% to $1.41 this year, easily covering its forward distribution of $1.34 per unit. Second, it's a master limited partnership (MLP) that blends ...

Key Points Home Depot once again grew its same-store sales in a tough environment. The stock is now at one of its cheapest valuations in years. 10 stocks we like better than Home Depot › For the sixth straight quarter, Home Depot (NYSE: HD) squeezed out positive U.S. same-store sales when it reported its fiscal first-quarter results on May 19. That follows a period in which the company saw its U.S. same-store sales decline for eight consecutive quarters. In a bit of irony, the stock held up very well during this tough sales stretch, but more recently, the share price is down nearly 30% from its highs despite turning the corner on the sales front. Let's take a closer look at the home improvement retailer's fiscal Q1 report and prospects to see if now is a good time to buy the stock. 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 » Same-store sales continue to edge higher Home Depot saw its global comparable-store sales edge up 0.6% higher in fiscal Q1, marking its fourth straight quarter of positive growth. Meanwhile, U.S. same-store sales growth increased by 0.4%. While it hasn't seen robust growth over the past year, it's been a steady improvement compared to the prior two years, as seen in the table below. Quarter/Year Same-Store Sales Growth (Decline) U.S. Same-Store Sales Growth (Decline) Q3 2022 4.3% 4.5% Q4 2022 (0.3%) (0.3%) Q1 2023 (4.5%) (4.6%) Q2 2023 (2%) (0.2%) Q3 2023 (3.1%) (3.5%) Q4 2023 (3.5%) (4%) Q1 2024 (2.8%) (3.2%) Q2 2024 (3.3%) (3.6%) Q3 2024 (1.3%) (1.2%) Q4 2024 0.8% 1.3% Q1 2025 (0.3%) 0.2% Q2 2025 1% 1.4% Q3 2025 0.2% 0.1% Q4 2025 0.4% 0.3% Q1 2026 0.6% 0.4% The same-store sales growth in Q1 was led by a 2.2% increase in average ticket size, while transactions declined by 1.3%. Big-ticket items, which the company defines as those costing $1,000 or more, rose 0.8%, while p...

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition. Picking the right S&P 500 stocks requires more than just buying big names, and that’s where StockStory comes in. That said, here is one S&P 500 stock that is leading the market forward and two that could be in trouble. Two Stocks to Sell: Dollar General (DG) Market Cap: $23.15 billion Appealing to the budget-conscious consumer, Dollar General (NYSE:DG) is a discount retailer that sells a wide range of household essentials, groceries, apparel/beauty products, and seasonal merchandise. Why Are We Wary of DG? Large revenue base makes it harder to increase sales quickly, and its annual revenue growth of 4.1% over the last three years was below our standards for the consumer retail sector Widely-available products (and therefore stiff competition) result in an inferior gross margin of 30.2% that must be offset through higher volumes Earnings per share have contracted by 13.8% annually over the last three years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance Dollar General’s stock price of $104.51 implies a valuation ratio of 14.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including DG in your portfolio, it’s free. Paramount (PSKY) Market Cap: $11.51 billion Owner of Spongebob Squarepants and formerly known as ViacomCBS, Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PSKY) is a major media conglomerate offering television, film production, and digital content across various global platforms. Why Is PSKY Risky? Annual sales growth of 2.1% over the last five years lagged behind its consumer discretionary peers as its large revenue base made it difficult to generate incremental demand Capital intensity will likely increase as its free cash flow margin i...

格隆汇5月23日｜伊朗外交部发言人巴加埃23日表示，经过数周的对话，“伊美双方的观点正朝着更加一致的方向发展”，双方目前正处于一份谅解备忘录的最终敲定阶段。 美国国务卿鲁比奥则表示，伊朗谈判取得了一些进展，未来几天内我们或许有关于伊朗的消息要宣布。

格隆汇5月23日｜据中新网，2026储能高质量发展峰会22日在内蒙古自治区包头市举办。会上披露，当地投运的400兆瓦/2400兆瓦时储能电站，为目前国内单体规模最大的智能组串式储能电站，为内蒙古加快构建新型电力系统注入强劲动能。

Qualcomm: Cyclical Revenue Trends Qualcomm (QCOM +11.71%) primarily generates revenue by developing and licensing foundational wireless technologies and selling integrated circuits to device manufacturers worldwide. While establishing a coalition with several companies to plan global 6G deployment, it reported about 70% net income margin for the quarter ended March 29, 2026. Intel: Sustaining Larger Revenue Scale Intel (INTC +1.18%) earns its revenue by designing and manufacturing computer components, processors, and computing systems for original equipment manufacturers and cloud providers. It announced a multi-year collaboration with Alphabet-owned Google to develop next-generation cloud infrastructure, and it reported about 39% gross margin for the quarter ended March 28, 2026. Why Revenue Matters for Retail Investors Revenue serves as a foundational metric that shows investors the total amount of money a business brings in before operating expenses are deducted. It’s important because it reveals whether a corporation is successfully attracting customers and growing its overall business volume over time. Image source: The Motley Fool. Quarterly Revenue for Qualcomm and Intel Quarter (Period End) Qualcomm Revenue Intel Revenue Q2 2024 $9.4 billion (period ended June 2024) $12.8 billion (period ended June 2024) Q3 2024 $10.2 billion (period ended Sept. 2024) $13.3 billion (period ended Sept. 2024) Q4 2024 $11.7 billion (period ended Dec. 2024) $14.3 billion (period ended Dec. 2024) Q1 2025 $11.0 billion (period ended March 2025) $12.7 billion (period ended March 2025) Q2 2025 $10.4 billion (period ended June 2025) $12.9 billion (period ended June 2025) Q3 2025 $11.3 billion (period ended Sept. 2025) $13.7 billion (period ended Sept. 2025) Q4 2025 $12.3 billion (period ended Dec. 2025) $13.7 billion (period ended Dec. 2025) Q1 2026 $10.6 billion (period ended March 2026) $13.6 billion (period ended March 2026) Data source: Company filings. Data as of May 19, 2026. F...

Key Points Intel currently generates higher total revenue, maintaining a consistent lead over Qualcomm in recent quarters. Both companies have shown noticeable quarter-over-quarter revenue fluctuations rather than straight-line growth over the last two years. Investors should watch whether the revenue gap between the two companies continues to hold steady or begins to narrow in upcoming quarters. 10 stocks we like better than Qualcomm › Qualcomm: Cyclical Revenue Trends Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) primarily generates revenue by developing and licensing foundational wireless technologies and selling integrated circuits to device manufacturers worldwide. While establishing a coalition with several companies to plan global 6G deployment, it reported about 70% net income margin for the quarter ended March 29, 2026. Intel: Sustaining Larger Revenue Scale Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) earns its revenue by designing and manufacturing computer components, processors, and computing systems for original equipment manufacturers and cloud providers. It announced a multi-year collaboration with Alphabet-owned Google to develop next-generation cloud infrastructure, and it reported about 39% gross margin for the quarter ended March 28, 2026. Why Revenue Matters for Retail Investors Revenue serves as a foundational metric that shows investors the total amount of money a business brings in before operating expenses are deducted. It’s important because it reveals whether a corporation is successfully attracting customers and growing its overall business volume over time. Image source: The Motley Fool. Quarterly Revenue for Qualcomm and Intel Quarter (Period End) Qualcomm Revenue Intel Revenue Q2 2024 $9.4 billion (period ended June 2024) $12.8 billion (period ended June 2024) Q3 2024 $10.2 billion (period ended Sept. 2024) $13.3 billion (period ended Sept. 2024) Q4 2024 $11.7 billion (period ended Dec. 2024) $14.3 billion (period ended Dec. 2024) Q1 2025 $11.0 billion (period ended March 2025) $12....

iHub News 19 minutes ago Citigroup Sees Server CPU Market Reaching $132 Billion by 2030 as Intel Retains LeadershipMay 23, 2026 10:01 AM IH Market News Agentic CPUs Expected to Drive Explosive Industry Growth Citigroup expects the global server CPU market to grow to roughly $132 billion by 2030, compared with an estimated $29.3 billion in 2025, with much of the expansion expected to come from emerging agentic CPU demand. According to the brokerage, traditional general-purpose CPUs are projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 20%, reaching approximately $50.9 billion by 2030. AI head node processors are forecast to grow at a 21% CAGR, climbing to around $21.1 billion by the end of the decade. Agentic CPUs are expected to deliver the fastest growth, with Citigroup projecting a 185% compound annual growth rate that would lift the segment to about $59.4 billion by 2030. Intel Expected to Remain Market Leader Citigroup expects Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) to retain the largest share of the total CPU market through 2030, accounting for approximately 47% of industry revenue. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) is projected to hold a 34% market share, while Arm-based (NASDAQ:ARM) processors and other competitors are expected to make up the remaining 19%. Citi Raises Intel and AMD Price Targets The brokerage increased its price target on Intel to $130 from $95 while maintaining a buy rating on the stock. Citigroup also raised its target price on AMD to $460 from $358, while keeping a neutral rating on the company. AI Deployment Shift Creates New CPU Opportunities Citigroup noted that Intel, AMD and Arm-based chipmakers are increasingly focusing on CPU opportunities as major cloud providers redirect spending away from training artificial intelligence models and toward deploying them in production environments. Semiconductor Stocks Continue Strong Rally Intel shares have climbed approximately 195% since the start of the year, while AMD stock has advanced roughly 98% over...

Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images News Two months ago, we warned that the bulls were ignoring the biggest red flag in Alphabet’s ( GOOG )( GOOGL ) growth story. We argued that the company was redirecting record amounts of cash into AI infrastructure with no clear path to a return. Although the stock has risen to new highs since that time, we believe that the timing of the Sell call was bad and not the bearish thesis itself. This is because if we look at the latest Q1 earnings report, we’ll see that the company’s further upside seems to be limited. While there’s no question that Alphabet’s headline beat was real, a large chunk of the profit increase had nothing to do with the actual operating business. It came from an accounting markup on Alphabet’s private equity stake in Anthropic. Meanwhile, CapEx guidance has increased again, the free cash flow has fallen , and the long-term debt has jumped significantly in recent months. Because of that, we continue to believe that sticking with a rating of Sell makes the most sense right now. New Risks On The Horizon While Alphabet’s latest Q1 earnings report showed an earnings beat and an increase in profits in Q1, it also showed $37.7 billion in other income. $36.9 billion of that came from an unrealized gain on equity securities. The footnote on page 8 of that report also shows that $28.7 billion of additional net income, or $2.35 of EPS, came directly from those securities. CNBC reported that without that gain on securities, Alphabet would’ve missed the earnings estimates by 1 cent per share. In addition, the gain was likely triggered when Anthropic closed its $30 billion Series G in February at a $380 billion post-money valuation, which likely prompted Alphabet to mark its existing stake at that price. Then, just a few days before the Q1 results were released, Alphabet committed up to $40 billion in fresh investment into Anthropic. Anthropic shortly after has agreed to spend roughly $200 billion on Google Cloud services and chi...

Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images News Two months ago, we warned that the bulls were ignoring the biggest red flag in Alphabet’s ( GOOG )( GOOGL ) growth story. We argued that the company was redirecting record amounts of cash into AI infrastructure with no clear path to a return. Although the stock has risen to new highs since that time, we believe that the timing of the Sell call was bad and not the bearish thesis itself. This is because if we look at the latest Q1 earnings report, we’ll see that the company’s further upside seems to be limited. While there’s no question that Alphabet’s headline beat was real, a large chunk of the profit increase had nothing to do with the actual operating business. It came from an accounting markup on Alphabet’s private equity stake in Anthropic. Meanwhile, CapEx guidance has increased again, the free cash flow has fallen , and the long-term debt has jumped significantly in recent months. Because of that, we continue to believe that sticking with a rating of Sell makes the most sense right now. New Risks On The Horizon While Alphabet’s latest Q1 earnings report showed an earnings beat and an increase in profits in Q1, it also showed $37.7 billion in other income. $36.9 billion of that came from an unrealized gain on equity securities. The footnote on page 8 of that report also shows that $28.7 billion of additional net income, or $2.35 of EPS, came directly from those securities. CNBC reported that without that gain on securities, Alphabet would’ve missed the earnings estimates by 1 cent per share. In addition, the gain was likely triggered when Anthropic closed its $30 billion Series G in February at a $380 billion post-money valuation, which likely prompted Alphabet to mark its existing stake at that price. Then, just a few days before the Q1 results were released, Alphabet committed up to $40 billion in fresh investment into Anthropic. Anthropic shortly after has agreed to spend roughly $200 billion on Google Cloud services and chi...

Alphabet: A Great Reset Is Potentially Coming Seeking Alpha

georgeclerk/E+ via Getty Images Wall Street ended the week higher as markets spent much of the week reacting to developments around U.S.-Iran negotiations and the outlook for oil prices. Early in the week, concerns about an inflationary shock tied to the Middle East conflict pushed Treasury yields higher and pressured equities. Sentiment improved midweek as optimism grew around a possible temporary ceasefire framework between Washington and Tehran. AI chip giant Nvidia reported results and guidance above expectations, signaling the sector's massive rally can continue. Markets also adjusted to the arrival of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chairman on Friday. Treasury yields fluctuated as investors considered whether the Fed may need to keep policy tighter amid lingering inflation concerns. Financials was the sixth largest gainer among the 11 S&P 500 sectors for the week. State Street Financial Sel Sec SPDR ETF ( XLF ) added 1.64% during the week to close at $51.94. Banking stocks outperformed the broader markets, while AI-linked stocks pushed markets to fresh highs. Among megacap stocks, Goldman Sachs Group ( GS ) led the weekly gainers, advancing 5.09% week-over-week to $996.73. The stock benefited as SpaceX is said to have picked Goldman Sachs to lead what's likely to be a record offering. Morgan Stanley ( MS ) is also listed as a lead bank. MS was the second-biggest gainer for the week, adding 4.43% to $201.03. Additionally, the week saw OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed creator of ChatGPT, work with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on a draft IPO. Furthermore, regulatory actions made headlines in the banking sector this week. The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are reportedly delaying certain cyber test schedules of the largest banks to allow the firms more time to strengthen their systems against cyber threats related to Anthropic PBC's new Mythos AI model. Separately, banking regulators are expected to introduce a plan that would re...

The sweet drink is a staple in Spain and Mexico, and it’s being served around the UK as an iced beverage and even in desserts. Here’s how to drink it Having lived through the “ matcha revolution ”, I’ve become used to giving unfamiliar drinks a go. From bubble tea to pumpkin-spiced lattes, coffee tonic to ube frappes , I’ll try anything twice and – compared to those beverages – horchata feels like a more palatable prospect. The refreshing yet creamy cold drink from Spain and Mexico is often compared to cereal milk, which has also gained popularity as a flavour in its own right and is increasingly cropping up on menus elsewhere. Last month, Starbucks announced that, in the US, an iced horchata shaken espresso would be returning to its summer menu (this year joined by a new horchata frappuccino), having outperformed all previous seasonal iced shaken espresso beverages by an impressive 44%. In the UK, where horchata is less commonplace, I started spotting “dirty” versions, with added espresso, on coffee shop menus, alongside “dirty chai”. Continue reading...

Only hours before Donald Trump was set to sign a long-awaited executive order on Thursday that would have called for a government safety review of new artificial intelligence models before their release, the president abruptly backed out. Despite growing public backlash to the technology and experts warning new models will pose critical security risks, Trump vowed the US government would not slow down the AI race. During a meeting with reporters on Thursday, Trump cited both American dominance and competition with China and as his reasoning behind the reversal. “I didn’t like certain aspects of it, I postponed it,” Trump said of the executive order in the Oval Office. “We’re leading China, we’re leaving everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s gonna get in the way of that lead.” Trump’s postponing of the order was a victory for tech leaders who have long opposed AI regulation and spent millions lobbying against it. The decision was also the direct result of their influence, according to reports from multiple news outlets, with tech billionaires including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and former White House “AI czar” David Sacks personally urging Trump to reverse course in private phone calls. After a brief period in which the White House appeared concerned enough about potential security implications to consider restraints on frontier AI, Trump’s decision marks a return to his own earlier hands-off approach and signals a laissez-faire future. The tech industry retains its ability to pursue rapid advancement of AI regardless of the potential harms, and Silicon Valley’s leaders have successfully tested their power to kill any attempts at regulation in infancy. Powerful cybersecurity AI forces White House to consider regulation White House discussions around the order began after Anthropic last month announced its latest model, Claude Mythos, but declared that it would hold off on publicly releasing it due to safety concerns – calling the model’s ability to find ...

An early glimpse of the battle to succeed US President Donald Trump atop the Republican ticket played out last week in classic Trumpian fashion when Vice-President J.D. Vance was temporarily demoted to play press secretary. His hour-long spell fielding questions from the White House “lion’s den” press corps included statements chiding the media and the obligatory denial for ambitious politicians. “This is crazy. You guys have got to behave yourself,” he told reporters, before adding: “I’m not a future candidate, I’m a vice-president. And I really like my job.” Advertisement Vance’s turn at the podium on Tuesday followed a similar appearance two weeks earlier by Vance’s expected presidential rival, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Interest in the horse-race has taken on salience in China after Rubio made his first-ever visit to Beijing alongside Trump despite being twice sanctioned in 2020 for his record as a China hawk and critic of human rights in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet as a senator, allegations that Beijing denies. Advertisement The early reviews in the press secretary beauty contest appeared to favour Rubio, who joked, jousted and quoted hip-hop lyrics with reporters while most of Vance’s attempts at humour fell flat.

For centuries, the United Kingdom has sculpted a reputation for being one of the world’s richest and most powerful countries — and it still is. Today, the U.K. is home to some of the globe's top financial institutions, major multinationals, and elite universities. London is one of the most influential cities on the planet, and its political machines command a lot of respect overseas. But if you really crunch the numbers, the U.K.’s finances aren’t quite as ironclad as you might think. According to new analysis from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), the average Briton is “significantly poorer than the average person in Switzerland, Singapore, the United States, Australia, and Germany.” In fact, the U.K.’s GDP now ranks 21st in the world. That means it’s effectively poorer than every U.S. state on a per-person basis. This has triggered a tidal wave of online debate, because the claim looks absolutely bonkers at first glance. After all, we’re talking about the country that gave us the Industrial Revolution, subways, and the World Wide Web. Surely that country isn’t poorer than every state in the U.S., right? Well, the data says otherwise. But as always, the reality is a little bit more complicated than all of the viral headlines you’re probably seeing online. Is the U.K. Really Poorer Than Every U.S. State? First thing’s first: let’s take a closer look at this IEA study. The U.K.'s oldest free-market think tank strategically released its latest report on the country’s economic position just weeks before the U.K’s local and regional elections in May. The group’s analysis broke down the U.K.’s GDP per capita, which is a basic measure of economic output per person in a particular area. Economists love to use GDP as a rough shorthand for productivity and living standards — although it’s important to note that it’s not the perfect method of comparison when you’re stacking countries up against one another. We'll come back to that in just a minute. Anyway, the IEA’s st...

For years, enterprise software was one of Wall Street’s safest growth trades, powered by sticky subscriptions, high margins, and the belief that businesses would keep spending on digital transformation no matter the economic backdrop. But now, one of the world’s most influential hedge funds appears to be questioning that narrative. Bridgewater Associates, founded by Ray Dalio, has exited major positions in several high-profile SaaS names, including Salesforce (CRM), Workday (WDAY), ServiceNow (NOW), and GoDaddy (GDDY), according to its latest 13F filing. At the same time, the fund sharply increased exposure to artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and semiconductor plays, signaling a potential shift away from application-layer software and toward the hardware powering the AI boom. The timing is notable. Across markets, investors are increasingly debating whether generative AI could fundamentally disrupt the traditional SaaS business model by reducing the need for expensive, seat-based enterprise software. Bridgewater’s own CIOs recently warned that AI poses an “existential threat” to parts of the legacy software industry , drawing comparisons to how Amazon (AMZN) reshaped retail decades ago. What should be your next move? Stock #1: Salesforce Based in San Francisco, California, Salesforce is a global cloud software giant best known for its customer relationship management (CRM) platform and expanding suite of AI-powered enterprise tools, including Agentforce, Slack, Tableau, and Data Cloud. The company has increasingly positioned itself at the center of the enterprise AI race as businesses adopt automation and agentic workflows across sales, service, and marketing operations. Salesforce currently carries a market cap of $147.36 billion . CRM stock has struggled amid broader concerns that generative AI could disrupt the traditional SaaS business model. Shares are down 37.66% over the past 12 months and 33.57% year-to-date (YTD), significantly underperforming th...

Massive OLED TVs and Sonos speakers might be stealing the Memorial Day spotlight, but there are also plenty of great deals that won’t set you back nearly as much. In fact, some of the best discounts we’re seeing are on gadgets that retail for $50 or less, from portable chargers and 4K streaming devices to cheap(ish) security cameras . There are even some solid deals available on outdoor gear if you plan to spend time camping, hiking, or otherwise enjoying the outdoors this summer. To help you separate the good from the bad, we’ve taken the liberty to comb through thousands of deals to find an assortment of discounted products that have earned The Verge stamp of approval, whether it be a portable Bluetooth speaker , a video game , or a water filter . If you’re not beholden to $50, be sure to check out our definitive roundup of the best Memorial Day deals , which we’ll update throughout the weekend. CMF Buds Pro 2 The Buds Pro 2 offer a surprisingly robust set of features for the price, including ANC and a transparency mode that lets you tune into your surroundings. Their included charging case also features a smart dial that lets you adjust the volume, while multipoint Bluetooth support lets them connect to two devices simultaneously. Where to Buy: $69 $43 at Amazon $69 $43 at Nothing Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus Amazon’s latest Fire TV Stick 4K features support for Wi-Fi 6, Dolby Atmos / Vision, and HDR10 Plus. It also runs on Fire TV’s updated OS, which offers personalized recommendations, quicker access to favorite apps, and Alexa Plus support. Where to Buy: $49.99 $29.99 at Amazon $49.99 $29.99 at Best Buy $49.99 $29.99 at Target If you want more speed and storage than the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus offers, the 4K Max is on sale for $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy , which is $5 shy of its all-time low. It, too, runs on the new and improved Fire TV OS and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 Plus, and Dolby Atmos. However, it offers faster performance, double the stora...

Bartlomiej Wroblewski/iStock via Getty Images IonQ, Inc. ( IONQ ) is back on the rise due to a return in quantum computing hype. The growth story remains less compelling under the surface. My investment thesis remains ultra Bearish on the full-stack quantum player oddly not part of the program to get U.S. government grants for equity stakes. Source: Finviz Comparing The Right Numbers As well documented, IonQ spent most of 2025 loading up on firms in the quantum space. In fact, the company is still working to close the acquisition of the quantum foundry firm, SkyWater Technology ( SKYT ). For this reason, IonQ's financials aren't particularly relevant due to not using pro-forma numbers. The quantum computing company reported Q1'26 revenues of $64.7 million versus $61.9 million in the prior quarter. While IonQ's reported revenues technically jumped from $7.6 million last Q1 to $64.7 million this Q1, the very visible sign of the company buying struggling businesses was the massive losses in EBITDA. The company reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $96.8 million, or the equivalent of $1.50 for every $1 of sales. The real big question with IonQ and any serial acquirer is the organic results. In this case, the company discusses 100% organic growth, which would suggest Q1 sales in the $15 million range from the business that existed back in Q1'25. The company has added nearly $50 million in quarterly sales now. Source: IonQ Q1'26 presentation The guidance for the year is key to the story. IonQ only forecasts Q2 revenues of $65-$68 million, basically flat with Q1, and just $260 million for all of 2026, again flat with actual Q1 numbers. The company discusses 100% organic growth, but the business isn't growing sequentially. On top of that, IonQ makes a big deal of guiding up for 2026 by $30 million at the midpoint, but the business isn't actually growing from the Q1 level. The suggestion is that the original guidance didn't fully incorporate revenues from other acquisitions, n...

Kevin Warsh has vowed to usher in “regime change” as the new chair of the Federal Reserve, but Fed watchers say there are limits to how much he can revamp on his own — and that even in areas where he can make sweeping reform, it might be smarter for him to hold back. On the most pivotal decisions, like ushering in changes to interest rates or the Fed’s $6.7 trillion balance sheet , Warsh would need the Federal Open Market Committee’s backing . And while the Fed chair does have full discretion over some issues, like the frequency of his press conferences, fellow officials typically provide input before big revisions are made to other key aspects of the central bank’s communications and policy making. Should Warsh choose to buck that convention by pushing through major changes without broad support, he could find himself with few allies and diminished leverage when it really matters, former Fed staffers say. “One of his primary things he’s going to be doing is presumably trying to build a consensus, when appropriate, to lower interest rates,” said Jon Faust , who previously worked as an adviser to former chairs Jerome Powell , Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke . “If that’s a top priority, then he won’t want to go out of his way to alienate the FOMC,” Faust added. “He’ll have an incentive to curry goodwill as much as possible.” Interest rates President Donald Trump has made it no secret that he expects Warsh to lower rates. Warsh has vowed to keep monetary policy independent from politics, but if he does want to push rate cuts, he’ll have to convince the majority of the 11 other voters on the FOMC. Right now, that looks like a tall task . With inflation accelerating amid the US-Israeli war with Iran and the labor market showing signs of stabilization , policymakers are comfortable keeping rates on hold. Some are even pushing for the Fed to signal its next move is just as likely to be a rate hike as a reduction. Balance Sheet Warsh has long been an advocate for shrinking th...

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40,000 Evacuated In Southern California As Chemical Tank Threatens Leak Or Explosion Authored by Kimberley Hayek via The Epoch Times, Roughly 40,000 people in Garden Grove, a Los Angeles suburb, were evacuated on Friday after a chemical storage tank was determined to be at risk of failing and spilling thousands of gallons of toxic material or exploding. The malfunctioning tank holds methyl methacrylate, a flammable and volatile chemical used in plastics manufacturing for aerospace applications, igniting widespread worries over potential toxic vapor release. The situation broke out Thursday, when the tank at a manufacturing facility started displaying signs of instability. By Friday, an update increased fears of an explosion, Orange County Fire Authority interim Chief TJ McGovern said. On Friday, employees saw that the tank was bulging, a sign it was still “actively in crisis,” as one official described it. The manufacturer said a valve had been damaged, preventing a controlled release. Firefighters were working to cool the tanks with a mechanical device operated from a safe distance, stabilizing the temperature and buying critical time, officials said. “I know I keep talking about we were handed this situation where there’s only two things that can happen: it could crack and leak, or it could blow up. That’s not acceptable to us,” Craig Covey, division chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, said in a video posted on social media. Covey added in a later video, “I have an entire team actively working locally, regionally, across the state, and across the country, to try to figure out how to fix this.” He said he is working to “get all these brilliant minds together to put a plan together, so that we don’t let this blow up.” In an earlier announcement, Covey said the tank could fail and spill up to 7,000 gallons of toxic chemicals or explode and compromise neighboring tanks. Garden Grove, which is home to 172,000 residents, is located approximately 30 miles south of...

The dollar has been the world's reserve currency for decades, but it's history goes back centuries – to before the United States was the United States. Brendan Greeley, author of the new book "The Almighty Dollar: 500 Years of the World's Most Powerful Money," joined David Gura and Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss the currency's history, explain its dominance in global finance, and look ahead to the role it'll play in a world in which cash is no longer king. (Source: Bloomberg)

A 68-year-old retiree with $400,000 in equities heading into 2026 has a real problem: SPY ran up 27% in the past year, but the VIX still spiked to almost 31 in late March, and the University of Michigan consumer sentiment sits at 53.3, deep in pessimistic territory. The Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF, July ... PJUL Caps Your S&P 500 Gains at 11% While Protecting Against 40% Crashes: The Math for Retirees

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has pledged to make concrete proposals about increased prize money, player welfare and representation within the next month in talks with leading agents at the French Open. The discussions took place on Friday, the same day many players, including the world No 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, collectively decided to limit their pre-tournament media briefings to 15 minutes in protest at what they regard as insufficient prize money paid by the four grand slams. The players chose to only conduct their mandatory duties, a press conference and an interview with the host broadcaster, rather than the 60 to 90 minutes they usually devote to interviews, photoshoots and other media activities. The slams allocate about 15% of their tournament revenues in prize money and the players are demanding that figure be increased to 22%, to match the percentage paid by the ATP and WTA Tours. The players are understood to have been heartened by Friday’s meeting, which included three representatives of the FFT, the players’ representative Larry Scott and a group of player agents, and regard what sources involved described as positive talks as vindicating their media boycott. One source told the Guardian that one day of direct action had achieved more than over a year of discussions behind the scenes. View image in fullscreen Aryna Sabalenka walks out of her French Open press conference after 15 minutes in protest at grand slams’ prize money. Photograph: Yoan Valat/EPA The FFT has promised to return with detailed proposals within a fortnight of next month’s final at Roland Garros, with the players adamant that an increase in prize money must take place alongside discussions over welfare and player representation. Earlier this week, Amélie Mauresmo, the Roland Garros tournament director and former world No 1, had defended the FFT’s decisions regarding this year’s prize money and their financial contributions to players. “We have a model that is very d...