Greater Manchester Police to look into ‘possible assault’ York earned EFL promotion with draw in chaotic finale Police will investigate a video which seems to show a York City player punching a fan after the Minstermen clinched promotion back to the Football League on Saturday. An extraordinary conclusion unfolded at Rochdale, where York claimed a 1-1 draw thanks to Josh Stones’ goal in the 13th m...
Greater Manchester Police to look into ‘possible assault’ York earned EFL promotion with draw in chaotic finale Police will investigate a video which seems to show a York City player punching a fan after the Minstermen clinched promotion back to the Football League on Saturday. An extraordinary conclusion unfolded at Rochdale, where York claimed a 1-1 draw thanks to Josh Stones’ goal in the 13th minute of stoppage time. The point was enough to secure top spot in the National League and a return to the EFL for the first time in a decade, leaving their hosts consigned to the playoffs. Continue reading...
cherdchai chawienghong/iStock via Getty Images If a market pundit had appeared on Bloomberg on February 28th and stated these two things: 1) the Strait of Hormuz would remain effectively closed in late April and 2) the market would be at all-time highs despite all the negative impacts to the global economy due to only a trickle of traffic through this chokepoint, he would have met with a staggerin...
cherdchai chawienghong/iStock via Getty Images If a market pundit had appeared on Bloomberg on February 28th and stated these two things: 1) the Strait of Hormuz would remain effectively closed in late April and 2) the market would be at all-time highs despite all the negative impacts to the global economy due to only a trickle of traffic through this chokepoint, he would have met with a staggering amount of skepticism. Yet here we are. Carson Investment Research, Bloomberg - February 2026 As I noted in a recent article , there are few economic drivers in the U.S. economy that are not sputtering right now. The main one, outside massive fiscal deficit spending by the federal government, is the huge surge of tech spending on the AI infrastructure buildout. Quarterly results last week from Intel ( INTC ) and Texas Instruments Incorporated ( TXN ) showed again the power of the AI Revolution, at least for those firms that are supplying the ' picks and shovels ' for this modern gold rush. Shiller PE Ratio (Multpl) While I am happy my portfolio (roughly 30% short-term treasuries & cash/70% covered call holdings) is hugging all-time high-water marks, it is getting harder to believe the market reflects the reality of the current economic and geopolitical backdrop. Especially at these valuation levels. In today's article, I highlight five signs that the equity markets are increasingly disconnected from reality. #1 - Consumer Sentiment Consumer spending accounts for nearly 70% of the U.S. economy. A struggling consumer should be a significant headwind to both economic growth and stock market dynamics. And yet April's consumer sentiment readings hit their lowest level since data first started to be collected on this metric in 1978. FRED, Kobeissi Letter Think about that for a moment. Current U.S. consumer sentiment is lower than it was during the Stagflation of the late 1970s, below that of the double-dip recession of 1980-1982, and under that of the Internet Bust and 9/11. Thi...
Beyond cutting back on driving, households are slicing deeper into their budgets, with some even forgoing healthcare Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast As soon as petrol prices started to rise in response to the Middle East conflict, many Australians – already grappling with high living costs – changed their spending habits. Beyond cutting back on driving, households are ...
Beyond cutting back on driving, households are slicing deeper into their budgets, with some even forgoing healthcare Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast As soon as petrol prices started to rise in response to the Middle East conflict, many Australians – already grappling with high living costs – changed their spending habits. Beyond cutting back on driving, households are slicing deeper into their budgets, with some even forgoing healthcare. Continue reading...
Bayer AG is counting on the US Supreme Court to pare down lawsuits over its top-selling Roundup weedkiller and help corral the decade-long litigation that has cost the company more than $10 billion and cast a pall over its stock price. Bayer’s attorneys during arguments Monday will urge the high court to overturn a $1.25 million Missouri jury verdict for a man who claims Roundup caused his non-Hod...
Bayer AG is counting on the US Supreme Court to pare down lawsuits over its top-selling Roundup weedkiller and help corral the decade-long litigation that has cost the company more than $10 billion and cast a pall over its stock price. Bayer’s attorneys during arguments Monday will urge the high court to overturn a $1.25 million Missouri jury verdict for a man who claims Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma and should have had a cancer warning label. The company contends that since US regulators didn’t require a cancer warning, federal law bars those types of suits. Officials of the German pharmaceutical and crop-science giant are banking on a favorable ruling from the justices, saying on the company website that “could largely end the Roundup litigation.” Bayer, which has already spent billions of dollars defending and settling Roundup cases, recently reserved $11.25 billion ( €9.6 billion ) to deal with approximately 65,000 outstanding suits, according to the company’s latest securities filings . Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Holly Froum estimated in a note that about $787 million in existing Roundup verdicts could be affected by the Supreme Court case. If the justices rule for Bayer, “it would eliminate plaintiffs’ strongest claim.” The court will rule by early July. Bayer officials have steadfastly insisted the weedkiller is safe and doesn’t cause cancer. The US Environmental Protection Agency has found that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is “unlikely to be a human carcinogen” and has not required a cancer warning on its label. Still, the company removed the version based on glyphosate from the US residential market in 2023. But the company has struggled to contain the litigation it inherited after buying Roundup manufacturer Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018. Out of 28 cases that have gone to trial since 2015, plaintiffs have won 11, according to Bayer’s 2025 annual report . Several have produced major damage awards. “From an operational persp...
Clients no longer just describe their symptoms, they arrive with screenshots of dense articles, AI chatbot information and the phrase ‘I’ve done my research’ The modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their work Ben* sat across from me, explaining how his low motivation, lethargy and trouble sleeping seemed like depression from content he had seen onl...
Clients no longer just describe their symptoms, they arrive with screenshots of dense articles, AI chatbot information and the phrase ‘I’ve done my research’ The modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their work Ben* sat across from me, explaining how his low motivation, lethargy and trouble sleeping seemed like depression from content he had seen online. I made a recommendation to get his bloodwork done with his GP, who advised that Ben was low in vitamin D and iron, which can mimic depressive symptoms. Under the care of his GP, Ben’s symptoms quickly resolved without requiring further psychological intervention Thuy* made an appointment with me, armed with information and old school and university records after her colleague was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. After going through the assessment process, I diagnosed her with inattentive ADHD, a commonly underdiagnosed condition among women and girls. Thuy was relieved and felt as though her life finally made sense to her, after years of assuming she was “just lazy”. What is the study design? Is it a controlled trial or a single-case report? Locate it on the evidence hierarchy. Who was studied? Did the research include people like yourself in age, gender, health status or ethnicity? A study on 20-year-old athletes may not apply to a 60-year-old with a chronic condition. Who is behind it? Check the funding source and author affiliations. Is it published in a reputable, peer-reviewed journal? Be warned: the peer-review system itself is under assault from AI-generated “slop papers” – fake studies churned out to pad academic CVs – making vigilance even more paramount. What are the numbers? How many participants were involved? Are the results statistically significant and do the authors openly discuss the study’s limitations? What is the consensus? Is this a lone finding or does it align with the broader body of evidence? What do other independent ex...
From avocado to hemp, extra virgin olive and rapeseed, the shops are packed with various oils. But what is worth spending money on? And are any of them actually better for you? The world of cooking oils is confusing. I keep spotting new ones on supermarket shelves, trumpeting their health claims. Cold-pressed avocado oil, extra virgin macadamia oil, organic coconut oil, premium hemp seed oil … Eve...
From avocado to hemp, extra virgin olive and rapeseed, the shops are packed with various oils. But what is worth spending money on? And are any of them actually better for you? The world of cooking oils is confusing. I keep spotting new ones on supermarket shelves, trumpeting their health claims. Cold-pressed avocado oil, extra virgin macadamia oil, organic coconut oil, premium hemp seed oil … Even familiar oils are mired in controversy. Is it OK to cook with olive oil? Should you avoid seed oils? Meanwhile, prices keep rising – earlier this month, Walter Zanre, the CEO of Filippo Berio UK, said supermarkets were “ taking the mickey ” out of customers over olive oil pricing. I asked the experts which oils are really worth splashing out on. Continue reading...
The uptick in children focused on skincare has some experts concerned about body image and mental health. But others warn of the risks of rushing to ‘medicalise’ new trends or behaviours Sephora stores are being overrun with tweens pumping product testers. Eight-year-olds film themselves on “Sephora hauls” and GRMW (get ready with me) videos , applying collagen boosting serums and retinol creams f...
The uptick in children focused on skincare has some experts concerned about body image and mental health. But others warn of the risks of rushing to ‘medicalise’ new trends or behaviours Sephora stores are being overrun with tweens pumping product testers. Eight-year-olds film themselves on “Sephora hauls” and GRMW (get ready with me) videos , applying collagen boosting serums and retinol creams for their nonexistent wrinkles. And party bags are stuffed with face masks and fluffy headbands, instead of glitter and gummy bears. The rise of Sephora kids is a widely reported issue, but the uptick of children “obsessed” with skincare has some experts concerned about the long-term effects of age-inappropriate products and increased occupation with appearance at such a pivotal age. Continue reading...
As an expectant mother bringing a little person into the world, you want to feel it is mostly filled with good people. In that moment I felt reassured Read more in the kindness of strangers series It was my first pregnancy and I’d been sick for more than seven months with hyperemesis gravidarum . In those late stages, after the HG finally passed, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. It was the dual fe...
As an expectant mother bringing a little person into the world, you want to feel it is mostly filled with good people. In that moment I felt reassured Read more in the kindness of strangers series It was my first pregnancy and I’d been sick for more than seven months with hyperemesis gravidarum . In those late stages, after the HG finally passed, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. It was the dual feeling of excitement and trepidation. Was I ready to have a baby when I’d only just got used to waddling around and the discomfort of pregnancy? One day I was at the shops and not feeling great. As I was walking down an aisle, a woman came up behind me. I assumed she was going to ask me to move or make a not-super-friendly comment. Instead, she said: “Do you know that your shoelace is undone?” I didn’t – I couldn’t see my feet! – and thanked her for letting me know. Continue reading...
The busiest week of earnings season is here. But that's not all investors have on their plate. There's a Fed meeting, and a still-uneasy situation in the Middle east. Let's get right into it. All estimates for revenue and earnings per share are sourced from LSEG. 1. Earnings Optical cable maker Corning kicks off our week Tuesday morning. Will we hear about another long-term supply agreement with a...
The busiest week of earnings season is here. But that's not all investors have on their plate. There's a Fed meeting, and a still-uneasy situation in the Middle east. Let's get right into it. All estimates for revenue and earnings per share are sourced from LSEG. 1. Earnings Optical cable maker Corning kicks off our week Tuesday morning. Will we hear about another long-term supply agreement with a hyperscaler customer? It was the day before Corning's fourth-quarter report in January that CNBC broke the news of Corning's deal with Meta. CEO Wendell Weeks has said they're working on other agreements, and this could be the time to announce another. Regardless, the main focus is on the performance of its optical communications segment and the demand for all things fiber inside data centers. Other notable topics: Corning's visibility looking out multiple years, manufacturing expansion plans, and Weeks' thoughts on the timeline for optics to replace more copper inside AI server racks. Revenue: $4.26 billion Earnings per share: 69 cents Starbucks is up Tuesday night. The hope is CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround continues to show momentum as measured by same-store sales growth. In the fourth quarter, comparable store sales rose 4% companywide and 4% in North America, which has been the focus of his efforts thus far. This time around, the Street is looking for a 4% increase across the company and 4.5% in North America, according to FactSet. But with Niccol's two-year anniversary looming in September, investors are increasingly wondering whether operating margins can back into the mid-to-high teens. The market will want to see progress come Tuesday and get more color on the path from here. Consensus for the March quarter is operating margins of 8.3%, according to FactSet. Revenue: $9.16 billion Earnings per share: 43 cents Wednesday night is the main event: Microsoft , Amazon , Alphabet and Meta Platforms are all set to release results. In aggregate, these reports amount to more...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Today we pick back up on our extensive coverage of the regional bank Q1 earnings season. In today’s column we take a look at the key metrics out of one of the larger banks in our coverage universe, Huntington Bancshares ( HBAN ). While based out of Ohio, it really is not a regional bank but one that we could call a super-regional bank. It handles all ...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Today we pick back up on our extensive coverage of the regional bank Q1 earnings season. In today’s column we take a look at the key metrics out of one of the larger banks in our coverage universe, Huntington Bancshares ( HBAN ). While based out of Ohio, it really is not a regional bank but one that we could call a super-regional bank. It handles all sorts of banking but does have a primary focus on middle-market and commercial banking. The bank recently expanded significantly into the Sunbelt area of the U.S. as well. Over the years Huntington has been acquiring smaller players. Most recently it took on Texas-based Veritex a few months ago and also closed its $7.4 billion merger with Cadence Bank in February. These are some high-growth markets. Looking ahead to 2026, we see growth on the horizon, and that includes the recent launch of its commercial banking segment in Austin, Texas. The bank’s Board recently also approved a massive $3 billion share repurchase authorization on top of reporting solid earnings. Let us discuss that Q1 performance . Huntington Bancshares' Q1 2026 Earnings Headline Performance In the headline results, the bank reported revenue of $2.59 billion, up 34% from last year, driven in part by some organic growth but also the aforementioned mergers we talked about above. It was a beat of $17 million against consensus. Q1 GAAP earnings per share of $0.25, which was weighed down by $263 million in acquisition-related expenses. However, the adjusted EPS of $0.37 surpassed consensus expectations, climbing from $0.34 a year ago, and was also in line with the sequential Q4. Again, these results and also what we are seeing with loans and deposits on the balance sheet follow the integration of Veritex and the closing of Cadence Bank. How about those loans and deposits? Huntington Bancshares' Q1 2026 Loans and Deposits We are always looking for growth in loans and deposits. Obviously with the mergers we see a...
Hanna Yohanna/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Summary Las Vegas Sands ( LVS ) reported 1Q26 results, which caused the share price to fall 9%. The market focused on falling margins in Macau due to excessive market competition. I expect promotional spending by LVS to remain elevated, especially as competitors launch new offerings in Macau this year. In addition, gaming growth in Macau is expected ...
Hanna Yohanna/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Summary Las Vegas Sands ( LVS ) reported 1Q26 results, which caused the share price to fall 9%. The market focused on falling margins in Macau due to excessive market competition. I expect promotional spending by LVS to remain elevated, especially as competitors launch new offerings in Macau this year. In addition, gaming growth in Macau is expected to slow as the year progresses due to a higher base effect in 2H25, so most of the upside to 2026 Macau gaming growth may already be behind us. Slowing gaming growth may lead to even more promotional activity, which will depress margins. I maintain my sell rating, with a 24% share price downside from current levels. Premier gaming operator Las Vegas Sands is one of the premier gaming operators in Asia with strong integrated resorts in Singapore and Macau. Key properties include Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and Venetian Macao. Despite the company's name, LVS does not have any gaming assets in the United States after LVS completed the sale of its Las Vegas resort assets in February 2022 to private equity group Apollo and VICI Properties . 1Q26 results were poor in Macau LVS reported 1Q26 financial results on April 22. Adjusted property EBITDA grew by 24.6% YoY to $1.4bn, with EBITDA margins reaching 39.6% (-20 basis points YoY). By segment, LVS Singapore operations saw adjusted property EBITDA grow to $788m (+30.2% YoY), with EBITDA margin reaching 53% (+100 basis points YoY). Macau, on the other hand, saw EBITDA increase to $633m (+18.3% YoY), with EBITDA margins declining to 29.9% (-140 basis points YoY). Other items of note were that LVS paid a $0.3 dividend per share during the quarter and repurchased $740m in outstanding shares. Why did the share price fall 9% post earnings? I published a Sell recommendation on April 15 for LVS, mainly on the concerns of rising competition within the premium player segment in Macau, which is the fastest-growing player segment. This scen...
It's official: SpaceX has filed confidential paperwork with regulators to stage an initial public offering (IPO) later this year. Reports suggest the company will be valued at as much as $1.75 trillion. It's expected to raise between $50 billion and $75 billion in fresh capital. Surprisingly, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk -- who is also the CEO of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) -- reportedly wants to make sure plent...
It's official: SpaceX has filed confidential paperwork with regulators to stage an initial public offering (IPO) later this year. Reports suggest the company will be valued at as much as $1.75 trillion. It's expected to raise between $50 billion and $75 billion in fresh capital. Surprisingly, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk -- who is also the CEO of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) -- reportedly wants to make sure plenty of everyday retail investors are able to invest in the SpaceX IPO . Most big companies allocate just 5% to 10% of IPO shares to smaller retail investors. But SpaceX's CFO expects to allocate up to 30% of the share sale to retail investors. "Retail is going to be a critical part of this and a bigger part than any IPO in history," is what SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen said in an interal metting in early April, according to Reuters. "[T]hose are folks that have been incredibly supportive of us and of Elon for a long time," he added, "and we want to make sure that we recognize that." Continue reading