There are many ways to compare cryptocurrencies. If you're looking for a solid long-term investment, it is essentially about whether that blockchain works, is being used, and will continue to be used. Seen through that lens, processing large quantities of transactions is important, and that's a race Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) is winning. However, the types of transactions matter as well. Just as a pile-...
There are many ways to compare cryptocurrencies. If you're looking for a solid long-term investment, it is essentially about whether that blockchain works, is being used, and will continue to be used. Seen through that lens, processing large quantities of transactions is important, and that's a race Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) is winning. However, the types of transactions matter as well. Just as a pile-em-high, sell-em-cheap budget store isn't necessarily better or worse than a luxury goods one, Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) and Solana serve different purposes. Both could have long-term value and in this article, we'll look at why transaction volumes are only one part of the picture. Continue reading
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) surprised many when it made a huge pivot and scrapped its highly anticipated low-cost electric vehicle (EV) project back in 2024. The EV maker rather effectively turned attention to the company's ambitious robotaxi and humanoid robot future, and that's pushed its valuation higher at a time when its global sales and profits are in decline. The biggest recent surprise, however, ...
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) surprised many when it made a huge pivot and scrapped its highly anticipated low-cost electric vehicle (EV) project back in 2024. The EV maker rather effectively turned attention to the company's ambitious robotaxi and humanoid robot future, and that's pushed its valuation higher at a time when its global sales and profits are in decline. The biggest recent surprise, however, might not be just the rumors that Tesla's making a new vehicle, but perhaps where it could be produced and what it could be capable of. Tesla's Cybercab. Tesla's valuation has been boosted by the potential of its robotaxi business. Image source: Tesla. Here's what we do know, according to a handful of unnamed people discussing the matter with Reuters. Tesla is developing an all-new, smaller, and more affordable electric SUV. Tesla has been in contact with suppliers regarding the details of the compact SUV, and all information points to an all-new SUV rather than a variant of Tesla's current Model Y. Continue reading
Caterpillar Inc is no stranger to investing in electric vehicles or new technologies in recent years. The company could be making its biggest bet in some time in the EV field with the reported acquisition of self-driving tractor startup Monarch. Caterpillar Acquires Monarch After turning in a strong 2025 in which Caterpillar was the top-performing member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the in...
Caterpillar Inc is no stranger to investing in electric vehicles or new technologies in recent years. The company could be making its biggest bet in some time in the EV field with the reported acquisition of self-driving tractor startup Monarch. Caterpillar Acquires Monarch After turning in a strong 2025 in which Caterpillar was the top-performing member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the industrial equipment giant could have its eyes on its next phase of growth. The company is acquiring s
Travel on all public transport in the Australian state of Victoria will be free in May and then half price for the remainder of this year as the government ramps up help for consumers battling high fuel costs. The measures come after Victoria, home to the city of Melbourne, gave locals free public transport for April. Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams put the cost of the initiat...
Travel on all public transport in the Australian state of Victoria will be free in May and then half price for the remainder of this year as the government ramps up help for consumers battling high fuel costs. The measures come after Victoria, home to the city of Melbourne, gave locals free public transport for April. Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams put the cost of the initiative at about A$432 million ($310 million), local media reported . The policy is designed to give relief to household budgets that are being crimped by rocketing fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East, while also curbing demand for fuel by reducing vehicle use. A fire at one of Australia’s two oil refineries this month increased concern about fuel supplies that were already constrained by the war.
From shoring up the nation's supply of critical minerals to facilitating a nuclear energy renaissance, President Donald Trump's second administration has taken a variety of initiatives to fortify U.S. self-reliance. One of the biggest pushes the Trump administration is making is to boost domestic energy production. It's an interest that's especially relevant now amid the uncertainty of how long th...
From shoring up the nation's supply of critical minerals to facilitating a nuclear energy renaissance, President Donald Trump's second administration has taken a variety of initiatives to fortify U.S. self-reliance. One of the biggest pushes the Trump administration is making is to boost domestic energy production. It's an interest that's especially relevant now amid the uncertainty of how long the Strait of Hormuz will remain open. Fortunately for those looking to take advantage of the political tailwinds benefiting the fossil fuel industry, there are three great energy stocks for investors to power their portfolios with right now. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
imaginima/iStock via Getty Images U.S. investor -owned utilities have raised their capital spending plans over the next five years by more than 20% , as they seek to upgrade an aging power grid and meet rising electricity demand for the AI boom, according to a new report this week from energy consumer non-profit PowerLines. The group reviewed 51 recent utility quarterly earnings calls and estimate...
imaginima/iStock via Getty Images U.S. investor -owned utilities have raised their capital spending plans over the next five years by more than 20% , as they seek to upgrade an aging power grid and meet rising electricity demand for the AI boom, according to a new report this week from energy consumer non-profit PowerLines. The group reviewed 51 recent utility quarterly earnings calls and estimated the companies plan to spend $1.4T through 2030, up from $1.1T in capex plans last year, PowerLines said, warning the growing total “ could become a major driver of future rate increase requests." The utility spending increases "have not yet fully hit people's bills," PowerLines Executive Director Charles Hua said in a discussion of the report, noting that capex and rate increases are "both leading indicators for where the trends around utility and electricity affordability could go over the next coming years." Electricity cost increases are outpacing many other types of inflation in the U.S., up 4.6% Y/Y in March, compared to a 3.3% gain in overall consumer prices, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The southeastern U.S. is "a particular hot spot of proposed capital spending," Hua said, with utility capex plans totaling $572B, more than double any other region, the report found. PowerLines said about half of the proposed spending from the 51 utilities would go toward upgrading the transmission system, much of which is decades old; such work often has proved expensive and lengthy because of permitting issues, regional opposition, and supply chain backlogs. ETFs: ( XLU ), ( DTCR ), ( IDGT ), ( TRFK ), ( VOLT ), ( VPU ), ( FUTY ), ( IDU ), ( RSPU ), ( UTES ) More on utilities Finding The Opportunities After The Selloff And End Of The War GUT Is Good, But XLU Is Better XLU: Why It Is A Good Time To Take Profits
Japan Tops Canada As World's Most Polite Nation What makes a country “polite”—and which ones stand out globally? A new survey of over 4,600 respondents by Remitly reveals a clear frontrunner. Japan alone captured more than 35% of all votes, far ahead of every other country on the list. As Visual Capitalist's Gabriel Cohen shows in the chart below , the ranking highlights how perceptions of politen...
Japan Tops Canada As World's Most Polite Nation What makes a country “polite”—and which ones stand out globally? A new survey of over 4,600 respondents by Remitly reveals a clear frontrunner. Japan alone captured more than 35% of all votes, far ahead of every other country on the list. As Visual Capitalist's Gabriel Cohen shows in the chart below , the ranking highlights how perceptions of politeness vary worldwide, while also revealing strong regional patterns across Europe and Asia. Perceptions of politeness can shape everything from tourism experiences to international business relationships. For travelers, these rankings often influence expectations around etiquette, hospitality, and day-to-day interactions abroad. Japan: The World’s Clear Favorite Japan stands far ahead of every other country, capturing 35.2% of all votes—nearly three times more than second-place Canada. No other country breaks even 15%, underscoring just how dominant Japan’s reputation is globally. Japanese culture is famous for its high emphasis on respect, etiquette, and social harmony. The country’s blend of tradition and recognizable cultural exports has helped it become well-regarded nearly everywhere. Certain traits associated with local culture no doubt contribute to the Japanese people’s reputation of politeness, including the value placed on cleanliness and punctuality. Beyond this, citizens of other countries may be surprised when encountering Japanese bowing, a way of conveying respect, as well as other unique elements such as relative silence on public transit within the country. Canada’s High Respect Premium Canada ranks second with 13.4% of the vote—less than half of Japan’s total, highlighting the gap between first place and the rest of the field. The sprawling North American country has been deemed the most respected country worldwide by one measure, while Canadians have long been known as some of the friendliest people on the globe. Canada’s hospitality and civility has booste...