Yesterday’s unusually active call options included two from one of the Magnificent Seven. Although the Barchart Technical Opinion says it's only an 8% weak buy, here’s why it sets up perfectly for a covered ratio spread.
Yesterday’s unusually active call options included two from one of the Magnificent Seven. Although the Barchart Technical Opinion says it's only an 8% weak buy, here’s why it sets up perfectly for a covered ratio spread.
April 2, 2025, was a day that President Donald Trump referred to as "Liberation Day." The U.S. government imposed reciprocal tariffs on many countries. The decision was to level the playing field for the country and help make U.S. companies more competitive against foreign rivals. For investors, however, it sparked fears that it would cripple profits, hurt demand, and lead to a sharp decline in st...
April 2, 2025, was a day that President Donald Trump referred to as "Liberation Day." The U.S. government imposed reciprocal tariffs on many countries. The decision was to level the playing field for the country and help make U.S. companies more competitive against foreign rivals. For investors, however, it sparked fears that it would cripple profits, hurt demand, and lead to a sharp decline in stock prices. But despite that initial fear, the stock market has done well over the past year. In fact, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has risen by an impressive rate of 16%, which is higher than its long-run average of 10%. And that's even with the stock market already doing well in the two previous years. Between the market coming off some hot years, valuations being elevated, and the risk tariffs posed to companies, it seemed plausible that the market would have tanked. Why didn't that happen? Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
May WTI crude oil (CLK26 ) today is up +10.20 (+10.19%), and May RBOB gasoline (RBK26 ) is up +0.1174 (+3.80%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are sharply higher today, with crude posting a 3.5-week high. Crude prices are rallying after President Trump pledged more aggressive action against Iran over...
May WTI crude oil (CLK26 ) today is up +10.20 (+10.19%), and May RBOB gasoline (RBK26 ) is up +0.1174 (+3.80%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are sharply higher today, with crude posting a 3.5-week high. Crude prices are rallying after President Trump pledged more aggressive action against Iran over...
Fast-money investors are rushing to unwind their global equity exposure amid diminishing hopes for a swift resolution of the war in the Middle East. Hedge funds sold global stocks at the fastest pace in 13 years in March, according to data compiled by Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s prime brokerage unit. The pace of selling was the second-largest since the bank started collecting the data in 2011. The ...
Fast-money investors are rushing to unwind their global equity exposure amid diminishing hopes for a swift resolution of the war in the Middle East. Hedge funds sold global stocks at the fastest pace in 13 years in March, according to data compiled by Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s prime brokerage unit. The pace of selling was the second-largest since the bank started collecting the data in 2011. The move was largely driven by a pickup in short sales, underscoring concern that the stock market is prone to more weakness amid ongoing fighting in Iran. The MSCI All-Country World Index fell 7.4% in March in its worst month since 2022, while the S&P 500 Index dropped 5.1%. Fast-money investors used exchange-traded funds to express their skepticism around the stock market’s trajectory. Shorting activity in large-cap equity exchange-traded funds helped fuel a 17% jump in short positions across US ETFs , the data show. In the US, selling among hedge funds was broad-based across sectors, with eight of the 11 industries seeing net outflows. Weakness was especially pronounced in industrials, materials and financials, groups closely tied to the economy. At the same time, fund managers rotated into defensive areas and bought consumer staples stocks at the fastest pace since July 2025, driven entirely by long positions. They were net buyers of technology, media and telecom stocks for the first time in four months as investors covered their short positions rather than created new longs.
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX ) (SPY ) today is down -0.06%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI ) (DIA ) is down -0.23%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX ) (QQQ ) is down -0.20%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26 ) are down -0.04%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX ) (SPY ) today is down -0.06%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI ) (DIA ) is down -0.23%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX ) (QQQ ) is down -0.20%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26 ) are down -0.04%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures...
May arabica coffee (KCK26 ) today is down -0.95 (-0.32%), and May ICE robusta coffee (RMK26 ) is down -48 (-1.36%). Coffee prices are moving lower today amid a stronger dollar ($DXY ). Also, the outlook for a record Brazilian coffee crop is weighing on coffee prices. Last Thursday, Marex...
May arabica coffee (KCK26 ) today is down -0.95 (-0.32%), and May ICE robusta coffee (RMK26 ) is down -48 (-1.36%). Coffee prices are moving lower today amid a stronger dollar ($DXY ). Also, the outlook for a record Brazilian coffee crop is weighing on coffee prices. Last Thursday, Marex...
In this article AMZN Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT An Amazon employee works to fulfill same-day orders during Cyber Monday, one of the company's busiest days, at an Amazon fulfillment center in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 2, 2024. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo | Getty Images Amazon is adding a 3.5% "fuel and logistics-related surcharge" to fees it collects from third-party sellers w...
In this article AMZN Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT An Amazon employee works to fulfill same-day orders during Cyber Monday, one of the company's busiest days, at an Amazon fulfillment center in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 2, 2024. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo | Getty Images Amazon is adding a 3.5% "fuel and logistics-related surcharge" to fees it collects from third-party sellers who use its fulfillment services, as the war in Iran stretches into its fifth week, driving up oil prices. The surcharge will take effect on April 17, for sellers in the U.S. and Canada, the company wrote in a note to sellers on Thursday that was viewed by CNBC. "Elevated costs in fulfillment and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry," Amazon wrote. "We have absorbed these increased costs so far. However, similar to other major carriers, when costs remain elevated, we implement temporary surcharges on our fulfillment fees to recover a portion of the actual cost increases we are experiencing." Amazon spokesperson Ashley Vanicek said in a statement that the surcharge is "meaningfully lower" than levies applied by other major carriers. "We remain committed to our selling partners' success and to maintaining broad selection and low prices for customers," Vanicek said in a statement. Oil prices surged Thursday as investors weighed how long the conflict in the Middle East would block shipments of crude traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. June futures for international benchmark Brent crude rose more than 6% to $107.35 per barrel. Amazon, which hosts about two million sellers on its marketplace, isn't the only company grappling with surging oil prices. Last month, the U.S. Postal Service said it plans to impose a fuel surcharge on packages on April 26, "to better align its costs of transportation with the market." Major shipping carriers UPS and FedEx also imposed higher fuel surcharges since the start of the Iran war. Amazon's surcharge will be cal...
Sharamand/iStock via Getty Images The US FDA has approved dosing of Eylea HD (aflibercept) as infrequently as every 20 weeks for wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema (DME) after one year of successful response with traditional dosing. That schedule is once a month for the first three months, followed by once every two to three months. The extended dosing schedule means m...
Sharamand/iStock via Getty Images The US FDA has approved dosing of Eylea HD (aflibercept) as infrequently as every 20 weeks for wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema (DME) after one year of successful response with traditional dosing. That schedule is once a month for the first three months, followed by once every two to three months. The extended dosing schedule means most patients, after a year of treatment, will only need two or three doses annually. Approval of the extended dosing was based on two-year data from the PULSAR trial in wet AMD and the PHOTON trial in DME that showed sustained efficacy. More on Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) Presents at Leerink Global Healthcare Conference 2026 Transcript Regeneron: Fairly Valued Now After A Stellar Upswing Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) Presents at Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference Transcript Trump may impose tariffs on drugmakers who haven't signed MFN deals - reports Regeneron a new overweight at Piper on Dupixent, pipeline
The VanEck Gold Miners ETF ( NYSEMKT:GDX ) and the iShares Silver Trust ( NYSEMKT:SLV ) both offer basic materials exposure with nearly identical expense ratios. Still, SLV tracks physical silver prices while GDX invests in a basket of gold mining stocks. GDX and SLV appeal to investors interested in precious metals, yet they represent two distinct approaches: GDX takes an equity route by holding ...
The VanEck Gold Miners ETF ( NYSEMKT:GDX ) and the iShares Silver Trust ( NYSEMKT:SLV ) both offer basic materials exposure with nearly identical expense ratios. Still, SLV tracks physical silver prices while GDX invests in a basket of gold mining stocks. GDX and SLV appeal to investors interested in precious metals, yet they represent two distinct approaches: GDX takes an equity route by holding shares of major gold miners. At the same time, SLV provides direct exposure to silver’s spot price. This comparison breaks down key differences in cost, performance, risk, and portfolio construction to help clarify which ETF may appeal depending on investment goals. Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Continue reading
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has concluded that last month’s breach of the networks it uses to manage wiretaps and other surveillance work qualifies as a “major incident,” signaling the severity of an intrusion that had already prompted the agency to launch a criminal probe and move to toughen cybersecurity. An inquiry into abnormal activity on the compromised network was opened on Feb. 17,...
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has concluded that last month’s breach of the networks it uses to manage wiretaps and other surveillance work qualifies as a “major incident,” signaling the severity of an intrusion that had already prompted the agency to launch a criminal probe and move to toughen cybersecurity. An inquiry into abnormal activity on the compromised network was opened on Feb. 17, according to a notice to Congress from the Justice Department that was reviewed by Bloomberg News. The affected system contains sensitive law enforcement information, including data from electronic surveillance and personal identification information on subjects of bureau investigations, according to the notice. Senior officials at the Justice Department determined on March 23 that the intrusion represented a “major incident” under a 2014 law requiring agencies and their contractors to implement security measures to protect government computer systems, according to the notification. FBI and Justice officials are conducting forensic examinations of the breach, along with other remedial efforts, it said. “In response to the incident, the Department initiated the establishment of a working group dedicated to enhancing cyber resilience and improving cyber incident response processes,” the notice said. The Department asked recipients to keep the document confidential. Read More: FBI Found ‘Suspicious’ Activity on Its Computer Networks Under the Federal Information Security Modernization Act and subsequent guidance from the White House budget office, a “major incident” is defined as any network breach that’s likely to cause demonstrable harm to national security and other US interests. The definition also applies to episodes that expose significant amounts of personally identifiable information. An FBI spokesperson didn’t immediately offer any comment on the breach. Politico reported earlier on the notice to Congress. The notice didn’t say who investigators think might be respon...
Anne Longfield has a vast, fraught task ahead of her. Victims must know from the outset what they can expect Terms of reference for the independent inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales have been agreed. The formal process starts in less than two weeks. For victims and survivors, this is a huge moment . Many have battled for years for a statutory inquiry of this sort. In response to the...
Anne Longfield has a vast, fraught task ahead of her. Victims must know from the outset what they can expect Terms of reference for the independent inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales have been agreed. The formal process starts in less than two weeks. For victims and survivors, this is a huge moment . Many have battled for years for a statutory inquiry of this sort. In response to their feedback, the timeframe now stretches back to 1996. Examining crimes, and the response to them, in many locations over such a long period is a daunting task . But by commissioning this inquiry, after initially rejecting the idea, the government has accepted that a nationwide overview of the phenomenon of group-based child sexual exploitation is needed. Continue reading...
DNY59/E+ via Getty Images Maine Governor Janet Mills has shifted her stance on taxing top earners, now supporting a proposed levy on millionaires as she trails in a competitive Democratic Senate primary. The governor on Thursday endorsed a 2% surtax on high incomes included in a budget plan advancing through Maine’s legislature. The move marks a reversal from 2024, when she vetoed a similar propos...
DNY59/E+ via Getty Images Maine Governor Janet Mills has shifted her stance on taxing top earners, now supporting a proposed levy on millionaires as she trails in a competitive Democratic Senate primary. The governor on Thursday endorsed a 2% surtax on high incomes included in a budget plan advancing through Maine’s legislature. The move marks a reversal from 2024, when she vetoed a similar proposal and warned it could drive wealthy residents out of the state. Her change in position comes as Mills lags behind challenger Graham Platner , a political newcomer who has built his campaign around raising taxes on the rich. Platner is seeking the Democratic nomination to face Republican Senator Susan Collins in November, a race Democrats view as critical to gaining a Senate majority. Under the current proposal, the surtax would apply to income above $1 million for individuals and $1.5 million for couples, pushing Maine’s top rate above 9%. Mills now argues the measure is needed to sustain funding for priorities like health care and education while supporting property tax relief. She said preserving those investments is especially important given economic uncertainty tied to federal policy shifts. Maine would join states such as Massachusetts and Washington in pursuing higher taxes on top earners, even as it has recently attracted higher-income residents. Federal data shows the state saw a net influx of wealthier households in 2023. Mills had previously cautioned that relying on a small pool of high-income taxpayers could be risky and temporary. She also argued earlier this year that state-level tax hikes might prompt affluent residents, particularly retirees, to relocate to lower-tax states. Platner, meanwhile, continues to push for steeper taxes on the ultra-wealthy. He has framed the issue as a test of Democratic priorities, arguing that many voters feel the party has become too aligned with affluent donors instead of working Americans. Dear Readers: We recognize that po...
stockcam/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Losing ground in 2025 In February 2026, Duolingo ( DUOL ) dropped 20% post Q4-2025 earnings after revenue guidance tumbled to an astonishingly low growth of just 15-17% for the full year 2026. A huge drop from the 39% growth in 2025, which itself saw sequential growth decline each quarter, with MAUs dropping sequentially from 135.3Mn to 133.1Mn, in Q4-20...
stockcam/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Losing ground in 2025 In February 2026, Duolingo ( DUOL ) dropped 20% post Q4-2025 earnings after revenue guidance tumbled to an astonishingly low growth of just 15-17% for the full year 2026. A huge drop from the 39% growth in 2025, which itself saw sequential growth decline each quarter, with MAUs dropping sequentially from 135.3Mn to 133.1Mn, in Q4-2025 and annual growth dropping to just 14.1%. Duolingo Operating Metrics 2025 (Duolingo, Fountainhead) You can see the quarterly growth rates drop on several metrics. MAUs dropped 2 out of 4 quarters, in Q2-2025 and Q4-2025. DAUs trickled down to single digits with just 2.4%, 5.9% and 4.4%, in 3 of the last quarters of the year. Still interestingly enough, paid subscriber growth continued, beating the trend with 6.1% growth in Q4, and 5.5% growth in Q3. Yes, much slower, but then this is on much higher bases, and given how fast growth deteriorated at the top, it could have been a lot worse. The subscriber penetration of LT MAUs also inched higher to 9.2% at about the same pace throughout the year. As a result, paid subscribers kept on growing, the money hasn't stopped flowing - Duolingo closed 2025 with 12.2Mn subscribers - its highest ever. As a whole, contrast that with 2024, when Duolingo could literally do nothing wrong. Perhaps one could have seen it as the end of the explosive, hockey stage growth phase. Duolingo Operating Metrics 2024 (Duolingo, Fountainhead) Just a quarter back, analysts had forecast a consensus estimate of 22-23% growth for 2026 even after ominous warnings from management that suggested that revenue growth had been pushed to the back burner, to revive user growth. Management had seen the writing on the wall and was pivoting to focus on user growth, but the street responded late and held out for a mid-twenties’ growth. This is what management said on the Q4 call on February 26th, 2026: But the short-term implication is that this year will see slower ...
Attorney General Pam Bondi is leaving her post at the head of the US Justice Department and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will take over as acting Attorney General. Fox News reported the move on air citing a phone call with President Donald Trump. Tyler Kendall reports on Bloomberg Television. (Source: Bloomberg)
Attorney General Pam Bondi is leaving her post at the head of the US Justice Department and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will take over as acting Attorney General. Fox News reported the move on air citing a phone call with President Donald Trump. Tyler Kendall reports on Bloomberg Television. (Source: Bloomberg)
Sacking of Simon Dudley is latest distraction at a time when party is keen to show it is serious contender for government It was a week that started with a candid admission from Nigel Farage when asked if his party’s vetting process was now finally up to scratch. “I accept that at the last general election, basically there was no vetting really,” the Reform UK leader said after the latest of what ...
Sacking of Simon Dudley is latest distraction at a time when party is keen to show it is serious contender for government It was a week that started with a candid admission from Nigel Farage when asked if his party’s vetting process was now finally up to scratch. “I accept that at the last general election, basically there was no vetting really,” the Reform UK leader said after the latest of what a senior colleague had described as a “series of abhorrent incidents”. The latest had involved a Welsh Senedd candidate, Corey Edwards, who was forced to step down after a picture of him appearing to do a Nazi salute surfaced online. Continue reading...
Keeping the world championship in the UK is good news for a city and region which have punched under their weight Sheffield was still an industrial powerhouse when George Orwell suggested that it “could justly claim to be called the ugliest town in the Old World” – adding that “its inhabitants, who want it to be pre-eminent in everything, very likely do make that claim for it”. The steel mills and...
Keeping the world championship in the UK is good news for a city and region which have punched under their weight Sheffield was still an industrial powerhouse when George Orwell suggested that it “could justly claim to be called the ugliest town in the Old World” – adding that “its inhabitants, who want it to be pre-eminent in everything, very likely do make that claim for it”. The steel mills and smog that he loathed disappeared, but much of the city’s confidence dissipated with its heavy industry. Though one of the country’s largest cities, it has punched below its economic and cultural weight. Manchester remains the northern colossus; Leeds proclaims itself the unofficial capital of Yorkshire. Last week’s announcement that the world snooker championships would remain at Sheffield’s Crucible theatre until 2045 was not just a surprise after heavy hints that it could move to Saudi Arabia or China: it was a major relief for a neglected northern giant. Continue reading...
Yahoo Finance Senior Producer John Hyland tracks today's top moving stocks and biggest market stories in this Market Minute.US stocks (^DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC) begin the second quarter under pressure as concerns around private credit and higher mortgage rates weigh on sentiment.Blue Owl Capital (OWL, OBDC) stock falls after the firm said it will limit redemptions from two of its largest private credit ...
Yahoo Finance Senior Producer John Hyland tracks today's top moving stocks and biggest market stories in this Market Minute.US stocks (^DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC) begin the second quarter under pressure as concerns around private credit and higher mortgage rates weigh on sentiment.Blue Owl Capital (OWL, OBDC) stock falls after the firm said it will limit redemptions from two of its largest private credit funds.Tesla (TSLA) stock drops after its first quarter deliveries miss Wall Street estimates.US mortgage rates rise for the fifth straight week.