There's been a massive selloff in the bond market and rates are rising globally. Japan, Korea, the UK... You name it. Gita Gopinath — Harvard economics professor and the former first deputy managing director of the IMF — has long warned that bond markets are "in a fragile place." She sees a combo of demographics, high levels of public debt, and the intense capital needs of the AI boom creating inf...
There's been a massive selloff in the bond market and rates are rising globally. Japan, Korea, the UK... You name it. Gita Gopinath — Harvard economics professor and the former first deputy managing director of the IMF — has long warned that bond markets are "in a fragile place." She sees a combo of demographics, high levels of public debt, and the intense capital needs of the AI boom creating inflationary pressure all around the world. Today we speak with Gopinath about the seeming disconnect between stocks and bonds and why investors may be wrong to assume that governments will have their back the next time there's a major shock. (Source: Bloomberg)
solarseven European equity markets edged up on Friday, influenced by increased optimism from Middle East diplomacy. This was balanced by concerns over localized geopolitical issues and high inflation data. A 60-day U. S.-Iran ceasefire proposal aimed at stabilizing energy flows coincided with border tensions after a Russian drone incident in Romania, during broader attacks on Ukrainian infrastruct...
solarseven European equity markets edged up on Friday, influenced by increased optimism from Middle East diplomacy. This was balanced by concerns over localized geopolitical issues and high inflation data. A 60-day U. S.-Iran ceasefire proposal aimed at stabilizing energy flows coincided with border tensions after a Russian drone incident in Romania, during broader attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure near the border. Meanwhile, rising inflation in France added complexity to the European Central Bank's interest rate decisions. London ( UKX ) +0.12% at 10,438.66 . Germany ( DAX:IND ) +0.13% to 25,135.92 . I mport prices increased 5.3% year-on-year in April 2026, accelerating sharply from a 2.3% rise in the previous month and in line with market forecasts. On the data front, attention will be particularly focused on preliminary German inflation figures for May. France ( CAC:IND ) +0.60% to 8,238.66 . Flash data revealed France’s EU-harmonized inflation rate climbed to 2.8% in May, the highest since February 2024. Meanwhile, France’s Q1 2026 GDP was revised down to a 0.1% contraction. In other parts of Europe, Spain’s preliminary annual inflation held steady at 3.2% in May 2026, matching April's pace and coming in cooler than the 3.4% market forecast. Concurrently, Sweden's economy contracted 0.2% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter of 2026, confirming initial flash estimates and sliding past expectations of a milder 0.1% decline. The pan-European Stoxx 600 ( STOXX) traded 0.35% higher to 627.26 . European natural gas futures fell below €47 per MWh. Investors also turned their attention to inflation and labor market data from across the region for clues on the future path of monetary policy from the European Central Bank. In the bond market , the yield on the US 10-year Treasury was slightly changed to 4.457%. The UK's 10-year yield was slightly changed to 4.833%. Germany's 10-year yield was slightly changed to 2.968% Currencies: ( EUR:USD ) ( GBP:USD ) ( CHF:USD ) ...
Brandon Bell Tesla's ( TSLA ) authorized robotaxi fleet in Texas is less than one-tenth the size of Waymo's ( WAYMO ), a database on the state's Department of Motor Vehicles website showed. According to the database, Tesla ( TSLA ) has 42 authorized robotaxis in Texas, while the Alphabet ( GOOGL )-owned Waymo ( WAYMO ) has 577 registered vehicles. Tesla ( TSLA ) also trails other robotaxi operator...
Brandon Bell Tesla's ( TSLA ) authorized robotaxi fleet in Texas is less than one-tenth the size of Waymo's ( WAYMO ), a database on the state's Department of Motor Vehicles website showed. According to the database, Tesla ( TSLA ) has 42 authorized robotaxis in Texas, while the Alphabet ( GOOGL )-owned Waymo ( WAYMO ) has 577 registered vehicles. Tesla ( TSLA ) also trails other robotaxi operators in the state - Nebius ( NBIS )-owned Avride has 317 authorized robotaxis and Nuro has 47. Meanwhile, Amazon's ( AMZN ) Zoox ( ZOOX ) has 35 authorized robotaxis in Texas. The records were published in the database as a new law took effect in Texas on Thursday, tightening oversight for commercial self-driving vehicles. Waymo ( WAYMO ) started robotaxi operations in Texas through a partnership with Uber ( UBER ) last March, while Tesla ( TSLA ) began in June 2025. Tesla ( TSLA ) Robotaxi service is available in limited areas of Austin, Dallas and Houston in Texas. Waymo ( WAYMO ) operates in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. More on Tesla, Waymo Tesla's Own Auditors Say The Growth Narrative Is Currently 'Not Probable' Tesla's Robotaxi Opportunity Is Dead In Light Of Waymo's Dominance Waymo's $16B Round Drives PE Investment Surge In AVs Waymo recalls robotaxis after flooded road incident
Brandon Bell Tesla's ( TSLA ) authorized robotaxi fleet in Texas is less than one-tenth the size of Waymo's ( WAYMO ), a database on the state's Department of Motor Vehicles website showed. According to the database, Tesla ( TSLA ) has 42 authorized robotaxis in Texas, while the Alphabet ( GOOGL )-owned Waymo ( WAYMO ) has 577 registered vehicles. Tesla ( TSLA ) also trails other robotaxi operator...
Brandon Bell Tesla's ( TSLA ) authorized robotaxi fleet in Texas is less than one-tenth the size of Waymo's ( WAYMO ), a database on the state's Department of Motor Vehicles website showed. According to the database, Tesla ( TSLA ) has 42 authorized robotaxis in Texas, while the Alphabet ( GOOGL )-owned Waymo ( WAYMO ) has 577 registered vehicles. Tesla ( TSLA ) also trails other robotaxi operators in the state - Nebius ( NBIS )-owned Avride has 317 authorized robotaxis and Nuro has 47. Meanwhile, Amazon's ( AMZN ) Zoox ( ZOOX ) has 35 authorized robotaxis in Texas. The records were published in the database as a new law took effect in Texas on Thursday, tightening oversight for commercial self-driving vehicles. Waymo ( WAYMO ) started robotaxi operations in Texas through a partnership with Uber ( UBER ) last March, while Tesla ( TSLA ) began in June 2025. Tesla ( TSLA ) Robotaxi service is available in limited areas of Austin, Dallas and Houston in Texas. Waymo ( WAYMO ) operates in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. More on Tesla, Waymo Tesla's Own Auditors Say The Growth Narrative Is Currently 'Not Probable' Tesla's Robotaxi Opportunity Is Dead In Light Of Waymo's Dominance Waymo's $16B Round Drives PE Investment Surge In AVs Waymo recalls robotaxis after flooded road incident
michelangeloop/iStock Editorial via Getty Images The major studios released 97 films in theaters in 2025, the largest number since the COVID-19 pandemic; however, 19 of those films were re-releases, and the other 78 were new films. The number of films released by major studios has been increasing nearly every year since 2020, approaching the 112-film average over the 2011-2019 period prior to the ...
michelangeloop/iStock Editorial via Getty Images The major studios released 97 films in theaters in 2025, the largest number since the COVID-19 pandemic; however, 19 of those films were re-releases, and the other 78 were new films. The number of films released by major studios has been increasing nearly every year since 2020, approaching the 112-film average over the 2011-2019 period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 97 films from 2025 are estimated to generate nearly $22.14 billion in total revenue, up 5.9% from the $20.92 billion generated by the 86 films released in 2024. Total estimated revenues are approximately 74.7% of the $29.65 billion from the 2019 films. Total costs for the 2025 films are down 2.8% to $15.91 billion, spurred by a 4.3% drop in negative costs and a 9.3% drop in domestic prints and advertising (P&A) costs, resulting in net profit growing 36.8% to $6.23 billion and a 28.2% margin. The 104 films from 2019 made $7.29 billion in net profit and had a 24.6% margin. Walt Disney Co.'s ( DIS ) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures had the top slate again in 2025, largely thanks to "Zootopia 2" and "Lilo & Stitch," which grossed a combined $2.91 billion in worldwide box office. The studio's 14 films are estimated to generate $6.15 billion in total revenue over their lifecycles and cost $3.74 billion. The result is $2.41 billion in net profit and a 39.2% net profit margin. Disney's "Zootopia 2" was 2025's top film by projected net profit. We estimate the film will take in $1.34 billion in net profit from $1.98 billion in total revenue and $639.8 million in total costs. We estimate the 2025 film slates for five other major studios will turn a profit: Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.'s ( WBD ) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. with $1.34 billion, Comcast Corp.'s ( CMCSA ) Universal Pictures with $1.01 billion, Sony Group Corp.'s ( SONY ) Columbia Pictures Industries Inc. with $730.2 million, Walt Disney Co.'s 20th Century Studios with $638.1 million and Lionsga...
undefined As mid-2026 approaches, the clock is ticking on one of the most ambitious and high-stakes financial cleanups in China’s recent history. In late 2024, Beijing rolled out a sweeping 12 trillion yuan ($1.7 trillion) package of policies to resolve a significant portion of the country’s officially recognized hidden local government debt , amassed during decades of credit-fueled infrastructure...
undefined As mid-2026 approaches, the clock is ticking on one of the most ambitious and high-stakes financial cleanups in China’s recent history. In late 2024, Beijing rolled out a sweeping 12 trillion yuan ($1.7 trillion) package of policies to resolve a significant portion of the country’s officially recognized hidden local government debt , amassed during decades of credit-fueled infrastructure-building. The campaign to eliminate the hidden debt is largely on track to meet the government’s mid-2027 deadline, thanks to a massive bond-swap program that has shifted these liabilities onto local government balance sheets. But the arguably more difficult task of tackling the murkier, more sprawling world of operational debt held by thousands of local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) is running into complications, partly in the form of a tangle of high-interest, noncompliant debt that banks are reluctant to touch. This stalemate is contributing to a growing liquidity strain for LGFVs, which can roll over their principal but are increasingly struggling to pay the interest, raising concerns about a buildup of default risks. The easy part first The primary goal of the debt resolution plan was clear: eliminate all hidden debts and remove the thousands of LGFVs from a centrally managed list by the end of June 2027. The main tool was the 12 trillion yuan package, including special-purpose bonds (SPBs) issued by local governments to swap out their high-cost hidden liabilities for lower-interest, longer-term official debt. From the central government’s perspective, progress has been made. Finance Minister Lan Fo’an said the outstanding balance of hidden debt fell by 3.8 trillion yuan from the end of 2023 to 10.5 trillion yuan by the end of 2024. The number of LGFVs on the official list — estimated to be around 18,000 initially — also plummeted, shrinking by 71% from March 2023 to September 2025, according to official data. With at least about 4 trillion yuan in SPB funds s...
Key Points Your Social Security benefits are calculated based on your 35 highest-paid years of earnings. If you retire in your 50s, you may not have a chance to work for 35 years. Early retirement could result in smaller monthly checks, but delaying your claim could help make up for that. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › For many people, retiring in their 50s s...
Key Points Your Social Security benefits are calculated based on your 35 highest-paid years of earnings. If you retire in your 50s, you may not have a chance to work for 35 years. Early retirement could result in smaller monthly checks, but delaying your claim could help make up for that. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › For many people, retiring in their 50s sounds like the ultimate financial goal. Leaving the workforce early can offer more freedom, less stress, and extra time to enjoy life while your health is still in good shape. But stepping away from work for good in your 50s could have a major impact on your Social Security checks. It's important to understand how retiring in your 50s might impact your future income, aside from needing your savings to last longer. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » How Social Security benefits are calculated Social Security benefits are based on your lifetime earnings history -- specifically, your highest 35 years of income. But if you retire in your 50s, you may not spend 35 years in the labor force. For example, let's say you got your first job at 22 and you retire at 52. That's 30 years of earnings only, which means that for the remaining five years in your benefits formula, you'll have $0 factored in. Those $0s could reduce the retirement benefits you're entitled to, whereas working five extra years and avoiding those $0s could lead to larger Social Security checks. The impact of retiring in your 50s on your Social Security checks could be even more substantial if you took time off earlier in your career or had much lower wages in your 20s and 30s. If you reach your peak earnings around age 50 but retire just a few years later, you could end up with a monthly Social Security benefit you aren't as happy wi...
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The education ministry said Friday that Taiwan and the US have launched a semiconductor education alliance to train more workers for the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. The alliance was launched at the 2026 US-Taiwan Semiconductor Higher Education Networking Event. Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) and American Institute in Taiwan Washington Offic...
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The education ministry said Friday that Taiwan and the US have launched a semiconductor education alliance to train more workers for the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. The alliance was launched at the 2026 US-Taiwan Semiconductor Higher Education Networking Event. Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) and American Institute in Taiwan Washington Office Executive Director Ingrid D. Larson witnessed the signing by the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan Chair Li Tsai-yen (李蔡彥) and American Association of State Colleges and Universities President Charles Welch. The ministry said the cooperation will include degree and non-degree programs, overseas training, workshops, and short-term exchanges. Schools may also add internships with companies to help students gain job skills. So far, 23 Taiwan universities with semiconductor training programs and English-taught courses have joined the alliance. Of these, 20 sent representatives to the US event. On the US side, 27 member schools of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities attended the event. The ministry said the turnout showed strong interest from both sides in deeper education cooperation. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities was founded in 1971 and represents public colleges and universities in the US. The ministry said the group plays an important role in US higher education. The ministry said the new alliance builds on Taiwan-US education cooperation that began in 2020. It added that Taiwan has strong experience in training semiconductor workers, from research to practical skills. Taiwan and the US also signed an agreement to extend a memorandum on international education cooperation for five years. The ministry said the semiconductor education alliance will help attract more US students and young professionals to study and train in Taiwan.
A man and a woman have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old woman outside a bar in Sheffield in the early hours of bank holiday Monday. Shanice Brookes was shot near the One Four One bar in West Street shortly before 2.45am on Monday. Detectives have described her as “simply an innocent bystander”. South Yorkshire police said on Friday that Jemele Rhone, 30, of Sheff...
A man and a woman have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old woman outside a bar in Sheffield in the early hours of bank holiday Monday. Shanice Brookes was shot near the One Four One bar in West Street shortly before 2.45am on Monday. Detectives have described her as “simply an innocent bystander”. South Yorkshire police said on Friday that Jemele Rhone, 30, of Sheffield, had been charged with murder, possession of a firearm and possession of criminal property. Deiryen Dyce, 32, also of Sheffield, had been charged with assisting an offender, possession of ammunition, possession of drugs with intent to supply, possession of drugs and possession of criminal property. Both suspects have been remanded in custody and are due to appear before Sheffield magistrates court on Friday. A 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after the shooting has since been released and is no longer being treated as a suspect. DCI Andy Knowles, the senior investigating officer, said: “Shanice was an entirely innocent bystander who should have been able to enjoy a night out in our city without fear that she wouldn’t come home safely. “Shanice’s family, including her young son, now face the harrowing reality that they will never get to see her again. They are having to grieve the unimaginable loss of their beloved daughter, friend and mother in the most tragic of circumstances. Our thoughts remain with them. “From the outset of this investigation, our priority has been clear: to provide answers for Shanice’s loved ones. Today’s development is a significant step in our commitment to do so.” Jonathan Storer, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendants are active and they have the right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”