Stellantis (BIT:STLAM) has halted production at its Toluca, Mexico plant after filing a lawsuit against key supplier ZF Chassis Modules. The dispute concerns parts critical to assembly, raising the risk of supply chain disruption across Stellantis's North American operations. Separately, Stellantis has renewed and expanded a five year partnership with Palantir to roll out wider AI and data tools a...
Stellantis (BIT:STLAM) has halted production at its Toluca, Mexico plant after filing a lawsuit against key supplier ZF Chassis Modules. The dispute concerns parts critical to assembly, raising the risk of supply chain disruption across Stellantis's North American operations. Separately, Stellantis has renewed and expanded a five year partnership with Palantir to roll out wider AI and data tools across the business. Stellantis, the global automaker behind brands such as Jeep, Peugeot and...
pryzmat/iStock via Getty Images Please note: the CoTs report was published 03/27/2026 for the period ending 03/24/2026. “Managed Money” and “Hedge Funds” are used interchangeably. The Commitments of Traders report is a weekly publication that shows the breakdown of ownership in the Futures market. For every contract, there is a long and a short, so the net positioning will always be zero, but the ...
pryzmat/iStock via Getty Images Please note: the CoTs report was published 03/27/2026 for the period ending 03/24/2026. “Managed Money” and “Hedge Funds” are used interchangeably. The Commitments of Traders report is a weekly publication that shows the breakdown of ownership in the Futures market. For every contract, there is a long and a short, so the net positioning will always be zero, but the report shows who is positioned long or short. Historically, Hedge Funds (Managed Money) dominate the price action in both Gold and Silver. Gold Current Trends Below shows net positioning for the 5 main groups of futures holders. Net positioning took a major step down at the end of January, right during the first big sell-off in gold. It is clear that this was the big driver of the move on the last trading day of January. This was speculative money getting washed out. However, the move since the Iran war started was not speculative money. The open interest barely changed in the big price drop. It seems more likely this was actual selling, such as Turkey selling a vast amount of physical gold from reserves. Figure 1: Net Position by Holder Managed Money has been in complete control of the price action for years, driving the spikes in both directions. The overall upward trend is beyond the control of Managed Money but the short-term moves are very much tied to the action of Managed Money. That changed dramatically in 2025 as the Managed Money group has been liquidating positions even as prices have continued rising. Managed Money may have been a driver of the initial sell-off in January, but they have been very quiet since. Again, this implies that the move from the Iran War has not been speculative traders. Figure 2: Managed Money Net Position Weekly Activity In the latest week, there were some liquidations from Managed Money as the gold price finally broke $5,000, but it was very small by any historical standard. This move would not have been enough to bring the gold price f...
tum3123/iStock via Getty Images By Sammy Suzuki, CFA Could heightened uncertainty driven by the Middle East conflict lead to strong return potential? Emerging market (EM) equities have been hit hard since the Iran war began, as investors worry about fallout from the conflict. Yet, history suggests that periods of heightened market stress—when volatility is elevated and uncertainty is still being p...
tum3123/iStock via Getty Images By Sammy Suzuki, CFA Could heightened uncertainty driven by the Middle East conflict lead to strong return potential? Emerging market (EM) equities have been hit hard since the Iran war began, as investors worry about fallout from the conflict. Yet, history suggests that periods of heightened market stress—when volatility is elevated and uncertainty is still being priced—have created favorable entry points for EM investors in the past. Equity markets have traded anxiously as the US-Israeli attacks on Iran escalated into a regional war in March. Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped, raising fears of a sustained energy shock. Concerns that higher oil prices could fuel inflation, curb growth and undermine earnings pushed global equities lower. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index fell by 11% in US-dollar terms in March after a strong run in 2025 and the first two months of 2026. Oil Shock Roils Asian Economies The impact has been most visible across parts of Asia. India, Thailand and the Philippines—which rely heavily on oil transported through the Strait—have taken steps to cushion the blow from higher prices. While some commodity-rich emerging countries such as Brazil may be more insulated from the oil shock, investors fear that EM companies in general look vulnerable to the effects of higher energy costs on growth and profitability. These uncertainties also help explain the broader rise in market volatility. The VIX Index of US equity market volatility, also known as Wall Street’s fear gauge, has climbed as investors grapple with a widening range of geopolitical and macro outcomes. To understand what this historically has meant for EM investors, we examined EM equity market returns following different month-end VIX levels since 2001. VIX and EM Equities: A Surprising Rebound Signal Extreme volatility spikes are rare. Over the past 24 years, the VIX has exceeded 40 at month-end only nin...
So far in 2026, the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) is down roughly 7%, but the ride has felt much worse, as a series of events has hampered market returns. Whether it's the Iran war and the volatile oil prices that followed, persistent tariff and inflation concerns, a weakened consumer in a K-shaped recovery, or the potential for interest rates to rise and further hinder the housing market, there...
So far in 2026, the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) is down roughly 7%, but the ride has felt much worse, as a series of events has hampered market returns. Whether it's the Iran war and the volatile oil prices that followed, persistent tariff and inflation concerns, a weakened consumer in a K-shaped recovery, or the potential for interest rates to rise and further hinder the housing market, there's no shortage of reasons to worry about a possible stock market crash . That said, three historical indicators suggest investors shouldn't panic -- especially long-term investors who are looking to hold stocks for decades. Here are those three indicators and why they combine to give me all the confidence I need to keep adding money to the market every week, even amid the market's current tumult. This historical indicator is the most peculiar of the trio to me, but I find it fascinating (and a confidence booster) nonetheless. LPL Financial found that since 1950, when the S&P 500 delivers positive returns in January, it goes on to post positive returns for the full year 89% of the time. In these years, the index has risen an average of 16.7%. With the S&P 500 rising 1.5% in January this year, history suggests the odds lean in our favor for 2026. Continue reading
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is calling on President Trump to commit to ending the war in Iran. ANU National Security College’s Rory Medcalf says Canberra's stance reflects the growing concern among Australians about the economic consequences of the war. Medcalf spoke to "Bloomberg: The Asia Trade." (Source: Bloomberg)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is calling on President Trump to commit to ending the war in Iran. ANU National Security College’s Rory Medcalf says Canberra's stance reflects the growing concern among Australians about the economic consequences of the war. Medcalf spoke to "Bloomberg: The Asia Trade." (Source: Bloomberg)
Photo travelling people sports/iStock via Getty Images Background Fox Factory ( FOXF ) is trading near $15.88, down 49% from its 52-week high of $31.18. The stock decline reflects real operational challenges as its margin compressed from 18.3% in FY2021 to 11.5% in FY2025. This was driven by revenue contraction, acquisition integration costs, and OEM disruptions. In February 2026 , the company res...
Photo travelling people sports/iStock via Getty Images Background Fox Factory ( FOXF ) is trading near $15.88, down 49% from its 52-week high of $31.18. The stock decline reflects real operational challenges as its margin compressed from 18.3% in FY2021 to 11.5% in FY2025. This was driven by revenue contraction, acquisition integration costs, and OEM disruptions. In February 2026 , the company responded by bringing in activist investor Engine Capital and launching a two-phase profit optimization plan targeting $75 million in total savings. Phase 1 has already delivered $25 million in cost savings. Phase 2 is now in progress, and management has guided EBITDA margin recovery to 13.7% in FY2026. I am neutral on this turnaround story for now and will reassess the thesis after the company reports its Q1 2026 earnings. The company makes high-performance parts for sports and off-road vehicles. It sells its products to manufacturers (OEMs) and directly to customers through three segments: Powered Vehicles, Aftermarket, and Specialty Sports. Can Engine Capital Help Optimize Operations? Fox Factory entered into a cooperation agreement with activist investor Engine Capital. The agreement resulted in two new independent directors joining the board and the formation of a Transformation Oversight Committee. The committee is focused on operational excellence and margin improvement. Engine Capital has a reputation for driving operational accountability in struggling companies. They typically focus on cost structure, profit optimization, and boardroom governance. What does this mean for investors? The Transformation Oversight Committee will actively monitor margin improvement progress. As per the Q4 2025 press release , Phase 1 of the profit optimization plan has been executed successfully, delivering $25 million in cost savings. This helped the company offset some of the negative impact of tariffs. CEO Mike Dennison acknowledged the progress: "This comprehensive effort, focused on ...
Spot power prices in Japan surged to a three-year high, as the war in the Middle East boosts fuel costs for economies across Asia. The next-day delivery price jumped to 23.15 yen (14 cents) per kilowatt-hour on Tuesday, up 32% from a week ago and the highest level since January 2023. Japan relies heavily on fossil-fuel imports for power generation, and the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran ...
Spot power prices in Japan surged to a three-year high, as the war in the Middle East boosts fuel costs for economies across Asia. The next-day delivery price jumped to 23.15 yen (14 cents) per kilowatt-hour on Tuesday, up 32% from a week ago and the highest level since January 2023. Japan relies heavily on fossil-fuel imports for power generation, and the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has supercharged prices of crude oil and natural gas as key trade routes are shut and energy facilities damaged. The war has also triggered gains in alternative fuels such as coal. The spot price may also have been boosted by the weather forecast, which points to cloud or rain across much of the country on Wednesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. That could curb solar-power generation. Eastern Japan’s solar output is forecast to peak at 10,537 megawatts at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, while in western Japan it is set to peak at 7,562 MW at 11 a.m., according to BloombergNEF data. Iran War’s Gas Supply Shock Pushes Top Consumers Back to Coal Japan Allows More Coal-Fired Power to Cope With Energy Shock Philippines Boosts Fuel Stocks as It Eyes Americas for Supply Less capacity could also put pressure on the spot price. Japanese power plants typically conduct regular maintenance during spring, when demand is low. The Tokyo area is set to see about 4 gigawatts less of gas-fired power generation between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to information on the Japan Electric Power Exchange website.
Im Yeongsik/iStock via Getty Images A broker for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to make a large investment in major defense firms in the lead-up to the Iran war, according to the Financial Times . The Pentagon has dismissed the report. The FT reported Tuesday that Hegseth’s broker at banking giant Morgan Stanley ( MS ) contacted BlackRock ( BLK ) in February about making a multimillion...
Im Yeongsik/iStock via Getty Images A broker for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to make a large investment in major defense firms in the lead-up to the Iran war, according to the Financial Times . The Pentagon has dismissed the report. The FT reported Tuesday that Hegseth’s broker at banking giant Morgan Stanley ( MS ) contacted BlackRock ( BLK ) in February about making a multimillion-dollar investment in its iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF ( IDEF ). Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed the FT report in a post on X , calling it “entirely false and fabricated,” and demanding the FT retract the article. Parnell said that neither Hegseth nor any of his representatives approached BlackRock ( BLK ) about any such investment. “This is yet another baseless, dishonest smear designed to mislead the public,” he added. The investment discussed by Hegseth’s broker did not ultimately go ahead. The ETF, which has about $3.1 billion in assets, counts companies such as RTX Corp. ( RTX ), — formerly known as Raytheon — Lockheed Martin ( LMT ) and Northrop Grumman ( NOC ) among its largest holdings, Blackrock data showed. More on Global X Defense Tech ETF, iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF, etc. War In Iran: Why Europe Could Be The Next Escalation Front The Gold Standard Of Asset Management: BlackRock Macro Insights: War, Oil, AI, And Your Retirement Trump administration proposes rules to include alternative investments in 401(k) plans Boomer economy: The wealthiest generation and when that could change