Derick Hudson/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Meta Platforms, Inc. ( META ) is not the first big tech name that comes to my mind when I think of AI. It used to be Microsoft Corporation ( MSFT ), but of late, I have bet my money on Alphabet Inc. ( GOOG ). Nonetheless, I am a shareholder of all three of these companies. It's somewhat fascinating that I own these three stocks, given that I am prima...
Derick Hudson/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Meta Platforms, Inc. ( META ) is not the first big tech name that comes to my mind when I think of AI. It used to be Microsoft Corporation ( MSFT ), but of late, I have bet my money on Alphabet Inc. ( GOOG ). Nonetheless, I am a shareholder of all three of these companies. It's somewhat fascinating that I own these three stocks, given that I am primarily a small-cap investor. The most honest explanation is that I hardly miss an opportunity to invest in big tech names when they are presented to me at a discount. Coming back to Meta, this is one of my core holdings. Unless things go horribly wrong for the company, I am not planning to book my gains. I'd rather let these gains accumulate and enjoy the dividends in the long run. Yesterday (April 8), Meta launched Muse Spark , the first model in its Muse series. This comes as the first AI model launched since Alexandr Wang joined the company as its first Chief AI Officer in June 2025. Wang joined Meta after the tech giant acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI, the company he founded after dropping out of MIT. I believe the launch of Muse Spark is intended to send an important signal to investors about the expected ROI from Meta's AI investments. My bullish thesis remains valid amid this new development, and I believe Meta deserves a place in my long-term portfolio at this valuation. Muse Spark Marks MSL's First Tangible Product Meta has been aggressively spending on AI. The company has integrated AI across some of its products, including the Advantage+ suite for advertisers, but Muse Spark is the first product to come out of Meta Superintelligence Labs, which was launched last year. Muse Spark is a foundational model. So for now, comparing it with frontier models such as GPT is a futile task. This model is multimodal, meaning it can process text and also images. Exhibit 1: Multimodal capabilities of Muse Spark Meta Upon testing Muse Spark, I noticed that this is a multi-agent sy...
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained blocked Thursday, limited to a handful of Iran-linked ships, another sign that a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran has yet to improve flows through the world’s key energy chokepoint. Just seven vessels, all of which have either called at Iranian ports or were carrying Iranian cargo, were observed making the voyage out of the Persian Gulf o...
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained blocked Thursday, limited to a handful of Iran-linked ships, another sign that a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran has yet to improve flows through the world’s key energy chokepoint. Just seven vessels, all of which have either called at Iranian ports or were carrying Iranian cargo, were observed making the voyage out of the Persian Gulf on Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Normal transits in both directions are more like 135 a day. Michelle Brouhard, Head of Policy and Geopolitical Risk at Kpler joins to discuss what this means for oil market moving forward. (Source: Bloomberg)
Quantum company Infleqtion is set to launch more of its technology into space over the weekend as demand for ways to navigate without GPS grows. Matt Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion, discusses the company’s quantum clocks and why they offer a superior option to quantum computers, for now. He joins Caroline Hyde and Ed Ludlow on “Bloomberg Tech.” (Source: Bloomberg)
Quantum company Infleqtion is set to launch more of its technology into space over the weekend as demand for ways to navigate without GPS grows. Matt Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion, discusses the company’s quantum clocks and why they offer a superior option to quantum computers, for now. He joins Caroline Hyde and Ed Ludlow on “Bloomberg Tech.” (Source: Bloomberg)
A unit of Blackstone Inc. provided a $226 million loan for a group of industrial outdoor storage facilities concentrated in the US Sunbelt. The portfolio’s 46 properties are scattered across 15 states, with tenants such as AT&T Inc. , United Rentals Inc. and Linde Plc , according to a statement by JLL Capital Markets, which arranged the financing for the landlord, JIOS. The facilities are located ...
A unit of Blackstone Inc. provided a $226 million loan for a group of industrial outdoor storage facilities concentrated in the US Sunbelt. The portfolio’s 46 properties are scattered across 15 states, with tenants such as AT&T Inc. , United Rentals Inc. and Linde Plc , according to a statement by JLL Capital Markets, which arranged the financing for the landlord, JIOS. The facilities are located near major cities and logistics infrastructure. A JLL Capital Markets team led by Peter Rotchford and Tyler Peck arranged the financing. It follows a $231 million loan that Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies provided to JIOS, a unit of Jadian Capital , in June. Blackstone has stepped up its investments in outdoor storage facilities, which have become an important part of the global supply chain as e-commerce booms and customers expect faster deliveries. Early last year, Blackstone’s mortgage real estate investment trust provided a $189 million loan for outdoor storage lots to a division of Alterra Property Group .
Venezuelan security forces blocked an anti-government march from reaching the presidential palace on Thursday, after a vague pledge to raise wages failed to calm workers angered by soaring prices. Labor unions and pensioners, joined by students and activists, marched in Caracas demanding higher wages after years of increases that failed to keep pace with inflation. The standoff escalated when poli...
Venezuelan security forces blocked an anti-government march from reaching the presidential palace on Thursday, after a vague pledge to raise wages failed to calm workers angered by soaring prices. Labor unions and pensioners, joined by students and activists, marched in Caracas demanding higher wages after years of increases that failed to keep pace with inflation. The standoff escalated when police set up blockades near Miraflores palace to prevent protesters from clashing with a pro-government demonstration nearby. Videos shared by local media show officers pushing and kicking demonstrators, many of them pensioners. Some protesters carried animal bones as a symbol of hunger and low wages, while another held a sign reading “walking to Miraflores because I can’t afford public transit and my fridge is empty.” A few demonstrators broke through police lines, but security forces using shields and gas canisters ultimately dispersed the crowd before it reached its destination. The confrontation came a day after acting President Delcy Rodríguez promised a minimum wage increase starting May 1, without specifying the amount, in a bid to ease pressure from workers facing soaring prices and stagnant pay. Read more: Venezuela to Boost Public Sector Salaries Hit by Fast Inflation The pledge has done little to reduce discontent. Workers say the minimum wage, unchanged at 130 bolivars, or less than $0.30 a month, falls far short of covering basic goods in an economy still grappling with high inflation. While the government supplements incomes with monthly bonuses, those payments have failed to keep up with the rising cost of living. Protests have picked up since Nicolás Maduro’s capture in January, with many Venezuelans saying living conditions have yet to improve despite expectations of a recovery driven by foreign investment. Demonstrations had been largely peaceful in recent weeks, making Thursday’s crackdown a setback for the government’s efforts to project stability.
peterschreiber.media/iStock via Getty Images Ameren ( AEE ) up 1.8% and Evergy ( EVRG ) up 1.3% in Thursday's trading as BTIG Research initiates coverage of both utility stocks with Buy ratings and respective $131 and $99 price targets. BTIG believes Ameren ( AEE ) is on the verge of seeing notable growth in Missouri, as the state has become increasingly attractive to large load customers, particu...
peterschreiber.media/iStock via Getty Images Ameren ( AEE ) up 1.8% and Evergy ( EVRG ) up 1.3% in Thursday's trading as BTIG Research initiates coverage of both utility stocks with Buy ratings and respective $131 and $99 price targets. BTIG believes Ameren ( AEE ) is on the verge of seeing notable growth in Missouri, as the state has become increasingly attractive to large load customers, particularly data centers and manufacturing facilities, and the progression of the Missouri regulatory front into one of the most constructive jurisdictions continues to support the company's growth . With Ameren ( AEE ) showing increased transparency around anticipated demand additions and visibility on new electric service agreements and projects, BTIG believes the company is well positioned for 6%-8% earnings per share growth into the next decade with strong potential for upside. Evergy ( EVRG ) has taken steps toward an elevated growth story after recent years of rather muted growth, BTIG analysts said, seeing the company's current 6%-8%-plus EPS growth outlook as reasonable and potentially conservative given the potential for additional large load, warranting a reversion toward premium valuation. The company's relatively small size also implies enhanced leverage to large load growth potential, BTIG said, believing above-average growth potential, potential upside, and improving regulatory environments suggest the stock can re-rate higher. More on Ameren and Evergy Ameren: A Good Safe Haven Play, But Valuation Looks Questionable Ameren: The Premium Valuation Is A Ceiling On Returns Evergy: Buy This Dividend Aristocrat In The Making Now
Soybeans are showing 1 to 3 cent gains at Thursday’s midday. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price is up 3 1/4 cents at $10.97. Soymeal futures are up $2.30 to $3.50 on the day, with Soy Oil futures down 30 to 35 points on the day. Crude oil is...
Soybeans are showing 1 to 3 cent gains at Thursday’s midday. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price is up 3 1/4 cents at $10.97. Soymeal futures are up $2.30 to $3.50 on the day, with Soy Oil futures down 30 to 35 points on the day. Crude oil is...