Funtap/iStock via Getty Images Quarterly commentary Financial assets experienced mixed returns in the first quarter. The fund underperformed the benchmark. Asset allocation was the primary driver of the modest shortfall, while underlying manager performance contributed. Market review and outlook The world financial markets, after performing well in the first two months of the year on continued opt...
Funtap/iStock via Getty Images Quarterly commentary Financial assets experienced mixed returns in the first quarter. The fund underperformed the benchmark. Asset allocation was the primary driver of the modest shortfall, while underlying manager performance contributed. Market review and outlook The world financial markets, after performing well in the first two months of the year on continued optimism about trends in economic growth and interest rates, turned lower following the start of the conflict in the Middle East in early March. The ensuing spike in oil prices, together with concerns about possible shortages of other commodities caused by disrupted supply chains, dampened the growth outlook and led to a sharp rise in inflation expectations. The deteriorating inflation picture, in turn, dashed optimism that central banks could continue cutting rates. In combination, these developments led to a surge in global government bond yields that erased the positive total returns achieved in the first two months of the year. The conflict also fueled a sizable downturn in major global equity indexes in March, sending stocks into the red. With this said, the majority of the negative return for equities stemmed from weakness in the growth style in general, and mega-cap U.S. technology stocks in particular. Conversely, the value style, dividend payers, and more defensive companies generally produced positive returns, benefiting diversified investors. We're encouraged by the broadening of leadership away from the "Magnificent Seven" group of U.S. tech companies, as it provided a tailwind for our diversified positioning. Contributors and detractors The fund's modest underperformance was almost entirely due to its overweight position in equities and its corresponding underweight in bonds. On the positive side, we benefited from having an underweight in U.S. large caps in favor of an overweight in U.S. mid caps. Underlying manager performance contributed, highlighted by relativ...
Chinese coking coal futures extended declines following a local media report that authorities in Shaanxi asked miners to maintain output, after a deadly accident in neighboring Shanxi last month raised supply and safety concerns. Shaanxi’s Provincial Development and Reform Commission has issued a notice urging stable coal supply through the summer peak demand period, according to a report from Cai...
Chinese coking coal futures extended declines following a local media report that authorities in Shaanxi asked miners to maintain output, after a deadly accident in neighboring Shanxi last month raised supply and safety concerns. Shaanxi’s Provincial Development and Reform Commission has issued a notice urging stable coal supply through the summer peak demand period, according to a report from Cailian late Monday. Coking coal futures in Dalian tumbled as much as 6.2%, the biggest intraday loss since August 2025, after dropping on Monday for the first time in four sessions. Prices rallied to the highest level in almost two years this week following the fatal blast that abruptly tightened China’s coal market. Around 70 mines with a capacity of 85 million tons in Shanxi have resumed production following halts after the accident, while 65 mines with capacity of nearly 70 million tons remain suspended, according to Mysteel data from June 8. Separately, iron ore futures in Singapore rose 0.4% to $100.55 a ton. Dry bulk freight rates on the Baltic Dry Index dropped 2.2% to 2,916 points at Monday’s close in London, the seventh straight session of losses.
On June 12, SpaceX will complete its initial public offering (IPO) and mark the biggest-ever debut by market capitalization for a publicly traded company. The space-tech company is on track to sell more than 555 million shares at a fixed price of $135 per share -- valuing the business at $1.77 trillion. SpaceX commands leading positions in commercial launching services and satellite-based broadban...
On June 12, SpaceX will complete its initial public offering (IPO) and mark the biggest-ever debut by market capitalization for a publicly traded company. The space-tech company is on track to sell more than 555 million shares at a fixed price of $135 per share -- valuing the business at $1.77 trillion. SpaceX commands leading positions in commercial launching services and satellite-based broadband internet. The company accounted for more than 80% of U.S. space rocket launches last year, and it captured roughly 90% of the commercial launch market. SpaceX's Starlink internet service has also now surpassed 12 million subscription customers across 160 countries. With these growth tailwinds, the company's revenue grew 33% annually in 2025 to hit $18.7 billion. Is SpaceX's expansion rate strong enough to support a $1.77 trillion valuation? Continue reading
Report Says Cuba Mobilizing Militias As U.S. Invasion Fears On The Rise Weeks after Cuba's leader warned that any U.S. military action against the communist-controlled Caribbean island nation would be a " bloodbath " and risk destabilizing the region, local media reported that the regime had begun handing out weapons to ordinary citizens. Other reports, however, dispute that claim and suggest Hava...
Report Says Cuba Mobilizing Militias As U.S. Invasion Fears On The Rise Weeks after Cuba's leader warned that any U.S. military action against the communist-controlled Caribbean island nation would be a " bloodbath " and risk destabilizing the region, local media reported that the regime had begun handing out weapons to ordinary citizens. Other reports, however, dispute that claim and suggest Havana is instead mobilizing its territorial militias. Either way, the signal is hard to ignore: Cuba is shifting into a higher defensive posture. Venezuelan news outlet Diario Versión Final reports: The Havana government has begun distributing weapons to ordinary citizens, officially urging them to prepare for an imminent foreign invasion. However, The Times and The Sunday Times reporter Stephen Gibbs said reports that Cuba is handing out weapons to civilians are not true "for obvious reasons," adding, "It is mobilizing its milicias de tropas territoriales, and some weapons have reportedly been handed to firefighters, etc." No, Cuba has not begun distributing weapons to civilians, for obvious reasons. It is mobilising its milicias de tropas territoriales and some weapons have reportedly been handed to firefighters etc. — Stephen Gibbs (@STHGibbs) June 7, 2026 Additional militia report: 🚨Alert: The Communist Cuban government has started to distribute AK-47 machine guns to civilian militia members, urging the public to fight the ‘gringos’ and prepare for an imminent American invasion!! pic.twitter.com/5EVtZzZwZu — US Homeland Security News (@defense_civil25) June 7, 2026 Last week, the U.S. slapped sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife Lis Cuesta Peraza, his stepson Manuel Anido Cuesta, and members of the Castro family as the Trump administration mounts a six-month economic pressure campaign against the communist regime. Other sanctions targeted Cuban foreign influence networks tied to U.S. left-wing NGOs. The escalation in the pressure campaign comes as the g...