Qualcomm (QCOM) experienced significant intraday volatility, culminating in a notable downward movement today. This decline occurred despite earlier positive news that initially propelled the stock higher. The primary catalyst for an initial upward movement earlier in the trading session was the reported agreement to supply AI-focused chips to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. This deal was...
Qualcomm (QCOM) experienced significant intraday volatility, culminating in a notable downward movement today. This decline occurred despite earlier positive news that initially propelled the stock higher. The primary catalyst for an initial upward movement earlier in the trading session was the reported agreement to supply AI-focused chips to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. This deal was widely seen as a strategic win for Qualcomm, signaling its successful diversification into the rapidly growing AI infrastructure market and expanding its reach beyond its traditional mobile chip business. Several reports highlighted the significance of ByteDance becoming a major customer for Qualcomm's AI-focused application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and the stock reportedly rose substantially on this news. However, the subsequent reversal and downward trend suggest that other factors have weighed on investor sentiment or that initial enthusiasm gave way to broader market dynamics and company-specific concerns. One contributing factor could be profit-taking after a substantial recent rally, as the stock had seen a significant increase in the preceding week and year-to-date. Furthermore, while recent quarterly earnings exceeded analyst expectations for both revenue and earnings per share, the company's guidance for the third quarter of 2026 indicated a sequential step down in earnings per share. This sequential deceleration in guidance might be a source of investor apprehension regarding near-term growth prospects. Analyst sentiment, which generally holds a "Hold" consensus, with some recent price target adjustments implying a potential downside, could also play a role in the stock's performance. Lingering concerns about the performance of the handset market and the ongoing risk of Apple's vertical integration of its modem technology may continue to temper long-term optimism.
President Donald Trump has developed a habit of publicly boosting individual companies, and his recent ethics filings show that in at least two cases, he bought in shortly before a boost, once from his own praise, once from a favorable policy decision. A government equity stake helped send Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) up roughly 190% this year, and the White House said on May 18 that the positi...
President Donald Trump has developed a habit of publicly boosting individual companies, and his recent ethics filings show that in at least two cases, he bought in shortly before a boost, once from his own praise, once from a favorable policy decision. A government equity stake helped send Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) up roughly 190% this year, and the White House said on May 18 that the position, acquired for $8.9 billion, had swelled past $50 billion. Trump then called Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) “great” on May 22. By May 26 the stock had closed near $896 and crossed $1 trillion in market value for the first time, helped along by a UBS price target hike from $535 to $1,625. The Filing That May Tip His Hand Trump’s first-quarter ethics disclosure, released in mid-May, logged more than 3,700 transactions in his name. Among them was a position in Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) opened in February, weeks before he told a crowd to “Go out and buy a Dell,” during a May event. The filing also showed a purchase of NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) shares in early January, before the Commerce Department approved sales of certain Nvidia chips to China. The White House has said the portfolio is independently managed by a trust, that Trump provides no input, and that there are no conflicts of interest. Traders Are Pricing The Next Move The boosting has not been limited to single stocks. In a May 26 Truth Social post, Trump gave a full-throated defense of the prediction market industry, insisting the CFTC keep “exclusive authority” over platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket and branding opponents including Chris Christie, Tim Walz, and JB Pritzker “SCUM.” On Kalshi, a market asking which companies the US will take a stake in this year has drawn more than $740,000 in volume. Traders price Micron near 42%, with quantum names Rigetti and D-Wave above 80% and Nvidia at 13%. The Names Sitting In The Basket Trump’s first-quarter filing disclosed dozens of holdings, from ServiceNow (NYSE:...
President Donald Trump has developed a habit of publicly boosting individual companies, and his recent ethics filings show that in at least two cases, he bought in shortly before a boost, once from his own praise, once from a favorable policy decision. A government equity stake helped send Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) up roughly 190% this year, and the White House said on May 18 that the positi...
President Donald Trump has developed a habit of publicly boosting individual companies, and his recent ethics filings show that in at least two cases, he bought in shortly before a boost, once from his own praise, once from a favorable policy decision. A government equity stake helped send Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) up roughly 190% this year, and the White House said on May 18 that the position, acquired for $8.9 billion, had swelled past $50 billion. Trump then called Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) “great” on May 22. By May 26 the stock had closed near $896 and crossed $1 trillion in market value for the first time, helped along by a UBS price target hike from $535 to $1,625. The Filing That May Tip His Hand Trump’s first-quarter ethics disclosure, released in mid-May, logged more than 3,700 transactions in his name. Among them was a position in Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) opened in February, weeks before he told a crowd to “Go out and buy a Dell,” during a May event. The filing also showed a purchase of NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) shares in early January, before the Commerce Department approved sales of certain Nvidia chips to China. The White House has said the portfolio is independently managed by a trust, that Trump provides no input, and that there are no conflicts of interest. Traders Are Pricing The Next Move The boosting has not been limited to single stocks. In a May 26 Truth Social post, Trump gave a full-throated defense of the prediction market industry, insisting the CFTC keep “exclusive authority” over platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket and branding opponents including Chris Christie, Tim Walz, and JB Pritzker “SCUM.” On Kalshi, a market asking which companies the US will take a stake in this year has drawn more than $740,000 in volume. Traders price Micron near 42%, with quantum names Rigetti and D-Wave above 80% and Nvidia at 13%. The Names Sitting In The Basket Trump’s first-quarter filing disclosed dozens of holdings, from ServiceNow (NYSE:...
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) exhibited significant intraday volatility with an upward price movement, primarily fueled by strong company-specific news and a robust industry outlook. The primary catalyst appears to be TSMC's announcement regarding further price increases for its advanced 3nm process technology. The company intends to raise quotes by up to 15% in the second half ...
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) exhibited significant intraday volatility with an upward price movement, primarily fueled by strong company-specific news and a robust industry outlook. The primary catalyst appears to be TSMC's announcement regarding further price increases for its advanced 3nm process technology. The company intends to raise quotes by up to 15% in the second half of 2026, with additional hikes anticipated for the following year. This aggressive pricing strategy is a direct consequence of an acute supply-demand imbalance driven by insatiable demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips from major clients like NVIDIA, Google, and Amazon Web Services, underscoring TSMC's critical and indispensable position in the AI semiconductor supply chain. This pricing power is expected to significantly enhance TSMC's financial performance, building on the record gross margins achieved in the first quarter of 2026. Management projects further margin expansion in the latter half of the year as these new pricing adjustments take full effect. The company has also raised its full-year revenue growth forecast to above 30% year-over-year, reflecting confidence in sustained demand. This optimistic financial outlook is echoed by numerous institutional analysts who have reiterated "Strong Buy" ratings and increased their price targets for TSMC, indicating broad market confidence in its growth trajectory. Further bolstering positive sentiment, TSMC's CEO confirmed a substantial increase in employee profit-sharing bonuses for 2026, exceeding 30% year-over-year. This move signals strong internal confidence regarding the company's financial health and its ability to continue capitalizing on the booming AI chip market. The broader semiconductor industry continues to benefit from an ongoing AI supercycle, with AI chips expected to constitute a significant portion of global chip sales this year, providing a powerful macroeconomic tailwind for TSMC as the leading ...
Today is the final day to apply or nominate a startup for Startup Battlefield 200. Once the clock strikes 11:59 p.m. PT, the window closes on your chance to compete for $100,000 in equity-free funding, gain global visibility, connect directly with investors, and launch on the TechCrunch Disrupt stage. If you’re building a breakout startup — or know a founder who is — this is the moment to move. Ap...
Today is the final day to apply or nominate a startup for Startup Battlefield 200. Once the clock strikes 11:59 p.m. PT, the window closes on your chance to compete for $100,000 in equity-free funding, gain global visibility, connect directly with investors, and launch on the TechCrunch Disrupt stage. If you’re building a breakout startup — or know a founder who is — this is the moment to move. Apply now for the opportunity to join 200 of the world’s most promising early-stage startups at TechCrunch Disrupt. Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images Last call for ambitious founders Founders, this is it. The application window closes tonight. The strongest startups are already in the arena, and applications always surge in the final hours. If your company has been nominated but you haven’t completed your application yet, don’t risk missing your shot by waiting until the last minute. And if you know a startup that deserves investor attention, media exposure, and a global stage, nominate them now while there’s still time to apply before the deadline. Breakout startups started with small moments Some of the most influential companies in tech history didn’t begin with perfect pitches or massive funding rounds. They started by taking a chance. Dropbox demoed to skeptics before cloud storage was mainstream. Cloudflare pitched before most people understood edge infrastructure. Discord entered as a scrappy gaming startup called Hammer & Chisel. Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images All of them came through Startup Battlefield. That’s because Startup Battlefield 200 has never been about rewarding the most polished companies. It’s about identifying the most promising ones. Pre-launch is fine. Early traction is fine. No revenue is fine. What matters is whether you’re building something that genuinely changes an industry. The application itself is your first pitch. And today is your final opportunity to make it. More than a pitch competition Startup Battlefield 200 is wh...
Smithtown, NY, May 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- America’s VetDogs and the Guide Dog Foundation, two New York-based, sister national nonprofit organizations that provide internationally accredited, custom-trained assistance dogs to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with physical and emotional disabilities and to individuals who are blind or have low vision, today announced...
Smithtown, NY, May 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- America’s VetDogs and the Guide Dog Foundation, two New York-based, sister national nonprofit organizations that provide internationally accredited, custom-trained assistance dogs to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with physical and emotional disabilities and to individuals who are blind or have low vision, today announced that they have been named a Supporting Partner of America250, the nationwide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The organizations are also Founding Partners of America Gives, an America250 initiative focused on making 2026 a record-setting year of volunteer service. To commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, America’s VetDogs and Guide Dog Foundation will launch a series of in-person and virtual events starting on May 30 to engage their nationwide community of volunteers, program graduates, partners, donors, and staff in celebrating America’s history while helping to create a stronger future for the next generation and beyond. “Being named a Supporting Partner of America250 and Founding Partner of America Gives is an extraordinary honor for America’s VetDogs and the Guide Dog Foundation,” said John Miller, president and CEO of both organizations. “As the Guide Dog Foundation marks its 80th birthday this year and America’s VetDogs continues to lead the industry in providing life-changing guide, service, and facility dogs to support the veterans, service members, and first responders who sacrifice so much for our country and communities, we are eager to encourage our national community to engage in acts of generosity, service, and action by honoring the inspiring people and heroes we serve.” Upcoming Events: May 30, 2026: Volunteer Recognition Day & Lions Club Celebration America’s VetDogs and the Guide Dog Foundation will officially kick off their America250 celebration with ...
Warren Buffett has said something close to this for decades: Invest in businesses you understand, that have durable competitive advantages, and that sit in the middle of something the world won't stop needing. He's talked about railroads , insurance companies, consumer staples. He probably hasn't talked much about fleet management software. That's fine. The principle still applies. Samsara (NYSE: ...
Warren Buffett has said something close to this for decades: Invest in businesses you understand, that have durable competitive advantages, and that sit in the middle of something the world won't stop needing. He's talked about railroads , insurance companies, consumer staples. He probably hasn't talked much about fleet management software. That's fine. The principle still applies. Samsara (NYSE: IOT) might not be the first company Buffett would write about, but the economic logic behind it -- a business deeply embedded in the physical operations of thousands of companies, with high switching costs and a data moat that grows every single day -- is exactly the kind of thing he'd recognize if he looked closely. Every time a garbage truck picks up trash in a city, a school bus drops off a student, a delivery van navigates through weather, or a construction crew checks into a job site, there's a reasonable chance that Samsara's platform is watching, logging, and learning. The company operates what it calls a Connected Operations Platform, pulling data from internet of things (IoT) sensors and cameras mounted on vehicles and equipment, then feeding that data into AI models that help operators make faster, better decisions. Continue reading
Block’s XYZ Square announced that Magnolia Soap & Bath Co., a clean personal care brand, has selected its unified commerce platform to support operations across more than 50 locations in 17 states. The company sought scalable infrastructure to support franchisee success, maintain operational consistency and enhance customer experience as it expands into new markets. Square addresses these needs by...
Block’s XYZ Square announced that Magnolia Soap & Bath Co., a clean personal care brand, has selected its unified commerce platform to support operations across more than 50 locations in 17 states. The company sought scalable infrastructure to support franchisee success, maintain operational consistency and enhance customer experience as it expands into new markets. Square addresses these needs by enabling franchise-wide KPI tracking, franchisee coaching, inventory oversight and daily transaction processing, helping Magnolia monitor performance and improve operational efficiency across locations. Square for Retail is helping Magnolia strengthen customer engagement and loyalty through a unified digital ecosystem that supports branded micro-sites, online ordering, same-day pickup, local delivery via DoorDash, and party and event bookings. The platform provides a consistent operational foundation for every store while simplifying complex backend processes. Square for Franchises centralizes reporting across all locations and delivers real-time performance data. Square’s inventory management tools improve product visibility across the franchise network, while Square Kiosk and point-of-sale (POS) solutions support smoother and more efficient customer interactions. Backed by Square’s integrated commerce and franchise management solutions, Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. appears well-positioned to scale its operations while maintaining the customer-centric experience that has fueled its brand loyalty. As the company expands its footprint and broadens its clean personal care offerings, Square’s unified platform should help streamline operations, improve visibility across locations and support consistent engagement with customers. The partnership also highlights Square’s growing traction among multi-location and franchise businesses seeking scalable, technology-driven retail infrastructure. How Are Square’s Competitors Fairing? Toast TOST added two notable enterprise wins: Hungry Ho...
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Dow Inc (Symbol: DOW) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.35, payable on 6/12/26. As a percentage of DOW's recent stock price of $34.55, this dividend works out to approximately 1.01%, so look for shares of Dow Inc to trade 1.01% lower — all else being equal — when DOW shares open for trading on 5/29/...
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Dow Inc (Symbol: DOW) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.35, payable on 6/12/26. As a percentage of DOW's recent stock price of $34.55, this dividend works out to approximately 1.01%, so look for shares of Dow Inc to trade 1.01% lower — all else being equal — when DOW shares open for trading on 5/29/26. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from DOW is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 4.05% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of DOW shares, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, DOW's low point in its 52 week range is $20.4019 per share, with $42.74 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $34.15. According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, DOW makes up 3.90% of the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF (Symbol: RSPM) which is trading higher by about 0.3% on the day Wednesday. (see other ETFs holding DOW). In Wednesday trading, Dow Inc shares are currently off about 2.1% on the day. Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen » Further DOW Research: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Baxter International Inc (Symbol: BAX) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.01, payable on 7/1/26. As a percentage of BAX's recent stock price of $19.68, this dividend works out to approximately 0.05%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judgin...
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Baxter International Inc (Symbol: BAX) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.01, payable on 7/1/26. As a percentage of BAX's recent stock price of $19.68, this dividend works out to approximately 0.05%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from BAX is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.20% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of BAX shares, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, BAX's low point in its 52 week range is $15.73 per share, with $32.04 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $19.39. According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, BAX makes up 1.87% of the iShares Large Cap Value Active ETF (Symbol: BLCV) which is trading higher by about 0.7% on the day Wednesday. (see other ETFs holding BAX). In Wednesday trading, Baxter International Inc shares are currently up about 1.6% on the day. Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen » Further BAX Research: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Dover Corp (Symbol: DOV) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.52, payable on 6/15/26. As a percentage of DOV's recent stock price of $214.85, this dividend works out to approximately 0.24%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether th...
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Dover Corp (Symbol: DOV) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.52, payable on 6/15/26. As a percentage of DOV's recent stock price of $214.85, this dividend works out to approximately 0.24%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from DOV is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.97% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of DOV shares, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, DOV's low point in its 52 week range is $158.97 per share, with $237.54 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $214.62. According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, DOV makes up 2.85% of the ProShares S&P Kensho Smart Factories ETF (Symbol: MAKX) which is trading up by about 4.7% on the day Wednesday. (see other ETFs holding DOV). In Wednesday trading, Dover Corp shares are currently down about 0.2% on the day. Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen » Further DOV Research: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund (Symbol: DPG) will trade ex-dividend, for its monthly dividend of $0.07, payable on 6/10/26. As a percentage of DPG's recent stock price of $14.58, this dividend works out to approximately 0.48%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can...
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund (Symbol: DPG) will trade ex-dividend, for its monthly dividend of $0.07, payable on 6/10/26. As a percentage of DPG's recent stock price of $14.58, this dividend works out to approximately 0.48%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from DPG is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 5.76% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of DPG shares, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, DPG's low point in its 52 week range is $11.97 per share, with $15.1465 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $14.58. Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund is in our coverage universe of monthly dividend paying stocks. In Wednesday trading, Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund shares are currently down about 1% on the day. Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen » Further DPG Research: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
mpalis/iStock Editorial via Getty Images In the midst of macroeconomic volatility, external disruptions, and stiff competition, the alcoholic beverage industry faces multiple challenges at once. Even established players like Carlsberg A/S ( CABGY ) are not entirely shielded from the impact. Yet, its strong demand and strategic market positioning allows it to stabilize volume and pricing. Its funda...
mpalis/iStock Editorial via Getty Images In the midst of macroeconomic volatility, external disruptions, and stiff competition, the alcoholic beverage industry faces multiple challenges at once. Even established players like Carlsberg A/S ( CABGY ) are not entirely shielded from the impact. Yet, its strong demand and strategic market positioning allows it to stabilize volume and pricing. Its fundamentals and valuation are still promising. Technicals adhere to it as buying volume emerges again after the recent selloff. A Sobering Start The alcoholic beverage industry faces various headwinds today. Inflation reacceleration, shifting consumer behavior, changing drinking perceptions, and supply chain challenges are factors affecting the performance of many players. However, Carlsberg A/S reaps the rewards of its continued and strategic geographical expansion, supported by its strong branding. This was evident in its most recent performance. In Q1 2026, its net revenue amounted to Danish Krone or DKK 20.72B , up by 3.0% YoY from DKK 20.12B. This was impressive despite the negative effect of foreign currency or forex adjustments. After all, it has been operating across multiple locations for a long time. Its demand remained strong if you look at is beer and soft drinks volume. The numbers increased in most locations despite the rising prices. I think this capitalized on cheaper pricing strategy to attract more demand. If you divide the revenue by the total volume, its revenue was DKK 590.42 per million hl versus DKK 601.49 YoY. And considering the 5.3% volume growth, it paid off. Lastly, its organic revenue growth (revenue excluding forex) was 3.6%. Volume And Revenue (CABGY Q1 ) Risks Inflation remains a big challenge for CABGY. Despite its solid and resilient performance, it may be tainted the reacceleration of prices across various countries. For example, the US inflation has already jumped back to its 20-month high of 3.8% , which shows how domestic prices can be easi...
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Koppers Holdings Inc (Symbol: KOP) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.09, payable on 6/15/26. As a percentage of KOP's recent stock price of $41.94, this dividend works out to approximately 0.21%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging w...
Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel , on 5/29/26, Koppers Holdings Inc (Symbol: KOP) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.09, payable on 6/15/26. As a percentage of KOP's recent stock price of $41.94, this dividend works out to approximately 0.21%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from KOP is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.86% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of KOP shares, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, KOP's low point in its 52 week range is $25 per share, with $46.395 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $42.44. According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, KOP makes up 1.80% of the ProShares Smart Materials ETF (Symbol: TINT) which is trading up by about 3% on the day Wednesday. (see other ETFs holding KOP). In Wednesday trading, Koppers Holdings Inc shares are currently up about 1% on the day. Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen » Further KOP Research: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Hi guys. And the laydeez. It’s me, Tony. You know, the best prime minister the country ever had. The man with the rictus smile, the diamond skull and dead behind the eyes. The divinity who understands everything but himself. I know what you are thinking. It’s been far, far too long since you have last heard from me. You’ve all been lost in the political wilderness. Bereft without your spiritual le...
Hi guys. And the laydeez. It’s me, Tony. You know, the best prime minister the country ever had. The man with the rictus smile, the diamond skull and dead behind the eyes. The divinity who understands everything but himself. I know what you are thinking. It’s been far, far too long since you have last heard from me. You’ve all been lost in the political wilderness. Bereft without your spiritual leader. Worry no longer. I am back. To comfort and hold you all. To shine a light into your sad little worlds. All I’ve ever wanted is to serve. And to be loved. But I hold no bitterness for the way you all turned your backs on me. So often the fate of many a Messiah. I led the Labour party for 13 years and won three general elections. Never forget that. No other Labour politician has done that. And if I play my cards right, no other Labour politician ever will. Right now, the current Labour party is in the grip of self-delusion. Which makes me the perfect person to critique it. Because no one is more self-deluded than me. ‘Tis very heaven to imagine you are being constructive when your real goal is to switch off the life support. Don’t get me wrong. I think Wes Streeting is a very talented politician. Had he been around in 1997 he might have made a very promising junior parliamentary private secretary. And Andy Burnham is OK, I suppose. If you like that kind of thing. But neither are a long-term fix for the party. We are stuck in a politics bubble. The problem is not Keir Starmer’s personality. Mainly because he doesn’t have one. We should not be scratching the surface with a beauty parade. Personality politics is vacuous. Except when it was me and Gordon. Poor Gordon. Always the bridesmaid. Still is. So we shouldn’t be thinking of replacing Keir as no one is better placed than Keir to lose the next election because the voters have said they will never vote Labour again while he is prime minister. Not that I want Labour to lose. Of course not. Whatever gave you that idea? Wh...
Voice AI company ElevenLabs launched a new version of its music-generation model, called Music v2, that can switch genres mid-track. The company said that the model is designed to handle both complexity in vocals and composition. The new release comes nearly 10 months after the startup launched the first version of its music generation model. ElevenLabs noted that the model can go from opera to he...
Voice AI company ElevenLabs launched a new version of its music-generation model, called Music v2, that can switch genres mid-track. The company said that the model is designed to handle both complexity in vocals and composition. The new release comes nearly 10 months after the startup launched the first version of its music generation model. ElevenLabs noted that the model can go from opera to heavy metal and back, deliver fast rap without losing coherence, and can add non-musical sound effects to a track. With the new model, artists can pick a part of a song and recreate it using prompts without touching other parts of the track. Plus, instead of generating short clips, artists can build a song by sections, including the intro, verse, and chorus, then stitch them together. ElevenLabs added that the model performs more reliably across languages, lyrics, vocals, and arrangements. In the last few months, AI labs have been racing to release models that can generate professional-grade music. Google, Stability AI, and Suno have also released new music generation models with capabilities to generate longer and more complex tracks. At the Google I/O developer conference, Google added the ability to easily create covers, edit songs by sections, and generate music videos using its Flow Music tool. ElevenLabs emphasized that the new model is built on licensed data and cleared for commercial use, so users can freely use the tracks. Striking deals with labels is key, given that other AI music startups, like Suno and Udio, faced court cases over copyright issues. The new model is available on ElevenLabs’ ElevenCreative tool for marketing and branding teams, along with its newly launched ElevenMusic platform for creating AI-generated songs, with availability on ElevenAPI coming soon.
In this article JPM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, speaks at the American Business Forum at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Nov. 6, 2025. Chandan Khanna | AFP | Getty Images JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Wednesday that his bank could spend up to $20 billion on an acquisition in the coming years. A deal that size would be the largest of Dimon...
In this article JPM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, speaks at the American Business Forum at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Nov. 6, 2025. Chandan Khanna | AFP | Getty Images JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Wednesday that his bank could spend up to $20 billion on an acquisition in the coming years. A deal that size would be the largest of Dimon's 20-year tenure atop JPMorgan and test regulators' appetite for consolidation among the biggest U.S. banks. "I do think there might be opportunities, and so we are on the lookout," Dimon told analysts at a New York financial conference . "There might be, in the next couple years, a chance to put $10 [billion] or $20 billion to work buying something," Dimon said. The comments came with caveats. Dimon framed acquisitions almost as a tool of last resort, not a growth strategy, and warned that bankers who lean too hard on dealmaking are often compensating for poor organic growth. "You sit around a lot of management meetings, the first thing they do when they're not doing well in organic growth is they start to bullsh-t about M&A," Dimon said. "I don't want to hear about M&A. What are you doing to grow your business — sales, branches, tech, profits, products, services?" Any takeover target, he said, would need to integrate cleanly into JPMorgan's existing operations, fit the bank's culture, and enhance core businesses rather than sit as a separate standalone unit. "It can't be just a pie-in-the-sky type of thing," Dimon said. JPMorgan has mostly grown organically in recent years, with the notable exception of its FDIC-assisted acquisition of First Republic Bank in 2023. It made a $10.6 billion payment to the regulator as part of that transaction. Under Dimon, the bank's largest and most consequential M&A deals were mostly crisis-era acquisitions of regulated banks, including First Republic, Bear Stearns and the retail operations of Washington Mutual. The firm also acquired a s...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.05%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.23%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.15%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are down -0.05%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are down -0.19%. Stock indexes are mixed today, with the Nasdaq 100 falling from a new all-time high. The weakness in energy producers and cybe...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.05%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.23%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.15%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are down -0.05%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are down -0.19%. Stock indexes are mixed today, with the Nasdaq 100 falling from a new all-time high. The weakness in energy producers and cybersecurity stocks today is a drag on the overall market. Optimism around artificial intelligence, lower oil prices, and easing bond yields are supportive for the broader equity market. Chipmakers are climbing on speculation that they will capture an outsized share of global AI capital spending. Also, crude oil prices are down by more than -4% amid optimism that oil flows from the Middle East will normalize soon, driven by a US-Iran peace deal. The decline in crude prices has eased inflation expectations and knocked bond yields lower, with the 10-year T-note yield falling to a 1.5-week low of 4.45% today. US MBA mortgage applications fell -8.5% in the week ended May 22, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -0.4% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -18.1%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +9 bp to a 9-month high of 6.65% from 6.56% in the prior week. Crude oil prices are down more than -4% today at a 5-week low after Iranian state television said it obtained an unofficial draft of the US-Iran memorandum, which said US military forces would lift the naval blockade of Iran while Iran would allow restored commercial transit shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Also, Secretary of State Rubio said today that "an interim agreement is only a couple of days away." The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a recently released monthly report that global oil inventories declined at a rate of about 4 million bpd in March and April, and the market will remain “severely undersupplied” until October even if the conflict ends next month. Goldman Sachs estimates ...
AKart Design/iStock via Getty Images Market Overview US fixed income markets faced a more challenging backdrop in the first quarter of 2026, as the inflation shock from the war in Iran reset expectations for Federal Reserve policy rates and shifted US Treasury yields higher across the curve. Credit spreads 1 came under pressure as risk premiums widened later in the quarter, though hopes for a ceas...
AKart Design/iStock via Getty Images Market Overview US fixed income markets faced a more challenging backdrop in the first quarter of 2026, as the inflation shock from the war in Iran reset expectations for Federal Reserve policy rates and shifted US Treasury yields higher across the curve. Credit spreads 1 came under pressure as risk premiums widened later in the quarter, though hopes for a ceasefire limited the extent of the move. Agency mortgage-backed securities outperformed despite elevated rate volatility. Performance Summary The Hartford Inflation Plus Fund (I share) performed in line with the Bloomberg US TIPS 1-10 Year Index during the quarter. The Fund's duration 2 posture was the largest detractor from performance over the period. The Fund's allocations to securitized credit in aggregate (residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities) modestly benefitted performance. Positioning & Outlook The outlook for the US Treasury market reflects an environment characterized by resilient nominal growth alongside a widening range of potential macroeconomic outcomes. Economic activity entering the remainder of 2026 remains supported by fiscal policy and steady demand conditions, while expectations for monetary policy have become increasingly data-dependent as labor market momentum shows signs of moderating. Although inflation has eased from recent peaks, uncertainty around its persistence remains elevated, particularly given fiscal dynamics, labor supply constraints, and geopolitical developments. As a result, Treasury markets have become more sensitive to changes in perceived downside risks, especially related to labor market conditions and policy credibility. Within this environment, portfolios are positioned to reflect our view that the US yield curve remains biased toward further flattening following several years of steepening. We believe near-term growth surprises may delay Federal Reserve rate cuts, ...
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a push to avoid a lawsuit alleging that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users, a decision that comes as social media companies increasingly face legal scrutiny. Parent company Meta Platforms Inc. appealed after Vermont’s highest court allowed a suit filed by its attorney general in 2023 to move forward. The company is facing similar lawsuits from states ac...
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a push to avoid a lawsuit alleging that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users, a decision that comes as social media companies increasingly face legal scrutiny. Parent company Meta Platforms Inc. appealed after Vermont’s highest court allowed a suit filed by its attorney general in 2023 to move forward. The company is facing similar lawsuits from states across the country, accusing it of knowingly designing addictive features. Meta had argued that it can’t be sued in Vermont court because neither the company nor the app design has specific ties to the state. Vermont countered that the sites’ large number of teen users gives its courts jurisdiction. The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal in a brief, unexplained order, as is typical. The procedural decision comes after court losses for Meta and YouTube in social media addiction lawsuits in California and New Mexico. Vermont’s lawsuit was filed after an investigation by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in several states. Newspaper reports based on Meta’s own research also found that the company knew about the harms Instagram can cause teenagers — especially teen girls — when it comes to mental health and body image issues. One internal study cited 13.5% of teen girls saying Instagram makes thoughts of suicide worse and 17% of teen girls saying it makes eating disorders worse. Almost all teens ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. report using a social media platform, with about a third saying they use social media “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center. Meta, for its part, has said that it has already introduced dozens of tools to support teens and their families and suggested it would have worked with the states on standards for youth social media use. Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark applauded the decision, saying it affirms “that companies that choose to do business in Vermont, like Meta, can be held accountable when they harm kids.”