Pongsak Sapakdee/iStock via Getty Images Market review and outlook The world financial markets, after performing well in the first two months of the year on continued optimism about trends in economic growth and interest rates, turned lower following the start of the conflict in the Middle East in Iran in early March. The ensuing spike in oil prices, together with concerns about possible shortages...
Pongsak Sapakdee/iStock via Getty Images Market review and outlook The world financial markets, after performing well in the first two months of the year on continued optimism about trends in economic growth and interest rates, turned lower following the start of the conflict in the Middle East in Iran in early March. The ensuing spike in oil prices, together with concerns about possible shortages of other commodities caused by disrupted supply chains, dampened the growth outlook and led to a sharp rise in inflation expectations. The deteriorating inflation picture, in turn, dashed optimism that central banks could continue cutting rates. In combination, these developments led to a surge in global government bond yields that erased the positive total returns achieved in the first two months of the year. The conflict also fueled a sizable downturn in major global equity indexes in March, sending stocks into the red. With this said, the majority of the negative return for equities stemmed from weakness in the growth style in general, and mega-cap U.S. technology stocks in particular. Conversely, the value style, dividend payers, and more defensive companies generally produced positive returns, benefiting diversified investors. We’re encouraged by the broadening of leadership away from the “Magnificent Seven” group of U.S. tech companies, as it provided a tailwind for our diversified positioning. Contributors and detractors Underlying manager performance was the primary contributor to relative performance in the quarter, highlighted by relative strength in international equities. The effect of allocation was roughly neutral. On the positive side, we benefited from having an overweight in U.S. mid-cap stocks and developed-market international equities relative to U.S. large caps. An underweight in emerging-markets stocks further contributed. However, an overweight in stocks versus bonds hurt results. Portfolio changes The broader investment picture was very much in flux...
Oleksii Liskonih Iran responded to the most recent ceasefire proposal from the United States while drone attacks targeted Gulf Arab nations. Iran has sent its response via Pakistani mediators and wants negotiations to focus on permanently ending the war, Iran’s state-run media said Sunday. Pakistan confirmed receiving it. Iran seeks to end the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel ...
Oleksii Liskonih Iran responded to the most recent ceasefire proposal from the United States while drone attacks targeted Gulf Arab nations. Iran has sent its response via Pakistani mediators and wants negotiations to focus on permanently ending the war, Iran’s state-run media said Sunday. Pakistan confirmed receiving it. Iran seeks to end the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, and to ensure the security of shipping, its state TV said. Washington’s latest proposal addressed a deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and roll back Iran’s nuclear program, an issue that Tehran would rather discuss later. The White House had no immediate comment about Iran’s reply. President Donald Trump is giving diplomacy “every chance we possibly can before going back to hostilities,” the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Pence, told ABC. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen or heard publicly since the war began, “issued new and decisive directives for the continuation of operations and the powerful confrontation with the enemies” while meeting with the head of the joint military command, the state broadcaster reported, with no details. The fragile ceasefire was tested when a drone ignited a small fire on a ship off Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait reported drones entering their airspace. The UAE’s Defense Ministry said it shot down two drones and blamed Iran. No casualties were reported, and no one immediately claimed responsibility. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called it a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation that threatens the security and safety of maritime trade routes and vital supplies in the region.” The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said the ship attack happened 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha. It provided no details about the ship’s owner or origin. Kuwait Defense Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Saud Abdulaziz Al Ota...
Bahrain Intensifies Crackdown On Shia Communities, Arrests Dozens Over Alleged IRGC Links Via The Cradle Bahrain’s Interior Ministry announced on Saturday the arrest of 41 citizens, including multiple Shia religious leaders, over alleged ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The ministry said security services uncovered the alleged network through "investigations, security repor...
Bahrain Intensifies Crackdown On Shia Communities, Arrests Dozens Over Alleged IRGC Links Via The Cradle Bahrain’s Interior Ministry announced on Saturday the arrest of 41 citizens, including multiple Shia religious leaders, over alleged ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The ministry said security services uncovered the alleged network through "investigations, security reports, and previous Public Prosecution cases related to espionage involving foreign entities ." The detainees are accused of "espionage involving foreign entities and sympathy with blatant Iranian aggression." AFP via Getty Images Around 30 Shia Muslim clerics were among the 41 arrested , as the Gulf monarchy intensifies a campaign of raids and arrests predominantly targeting Shia religious figures and seminary teachers in Bahrain. The arrests mark a new security escalation by Manama and form part of a continued policy of restrictions against clerics in the country. The Bahrain News Agenc y reported that legal proceedings are now underway against the 41 detainees. Earlier this week, Bahrain stripped three lawmakers of their seats in parliament after they publicly criticized the monarchy’s crackdown on dissent over its support for the US–Israeli war on Iran: In a vote in Manama on Thursday, the Bahraini House of Representatives revoked the memberships of Abdulnabi Salman, Mahdi al-Shuwaikh, and Mamdouh al-Saleh. The three lawmakers publicly opposed the monarchy’s move last week to revoke the citizenship of 69 Bahrainis and their families, accusing them of “sympathizing with Iran.” Bahrain has a majority Shia population but is ruled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa royal family . The kingdom hosts the largest US naval base in the region, home to the US Fifth Fleet. That decision came less than two weeks after Bahrain revoked the citizenship of 69 people over alleged support for Iranian retaliatory attacks on the country. The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy described the move a...
Broadcom (AVGO) is a semiconductor giant with a vast product portfolio spanning wired infrastructure, wireless communications, enterprise storage, and industrial end markets. The company positioned itself as a major player in enterprise infrastructure software following its 2023 acquisition of ...
Broadcom (AVGO) is a semiconductor giant with a vast product portfolio spanning wired infrastructure, wireless communications, enterprise storage, and industrial end markets. The company positioned itself as a major player in enterprise infrastructure software following its 2023 acquisition of ...
KE ZHUANG/E+ via Getty Images Ongoing turmoil in the Middle East has been fueling renewed interest in locally sourced power options such as wind, despite the Trump administration's efforts to curtail the building of new wind farms in the United States. We asked Seeking Alpha analysts Melissa Tucker and Ritabrata Das if they thought wind stocks were a good long-term investment, given the world's ev...
KE ZHUANG/E+ via Getty Images Ongoing turmoil in the Middle East has been fueling renewed interest in locally sourced power options such as wind, despite the Trump administration's efforts to curtail the building of new wind farms in the United States. We asked Seeking Alpha analysts Melissa Tucker and Ritabrata Das if they thought wind stocks were a good long-term investment, given the world's evolving energy demands. Melissa Tucker : The long-term outlook for the wind sector remains fundamentally strong, and the IEA still expects wind generation to more than double by 2040, supported by structural electricity demand growth driven by AI data centers and industrial electrification. Moreover, I expect another push in Europe after the Iran war, driven by a national security-focused agenda to reduce dependence on imported gas and oil. While the industry continues to navigate short-term headwinds related to policy uncertainty and offshore project cost pressures, some companies are well positioned to capitalize on this long cycle infrastructure and electrification boom. My favorite was AES Corp. ( AES ); however, it is being acquired at a very cheap valuation. Other beneficiaries could include GE Vernova ( GEV ), once its wind division stabilizes and orders surge, and firms like Vistra ( VST ) that blend renewables with dispatchable power to capture value in an increasingly volatile load environment. Ritabrata Das : While wind energy, like other renewable energy sources such as solar, is experiencing growth and positive tailwinds, it remains highly dependent on policy decisions. The business model is shifting from a growth-only approach towards profitability as well. The sector remains sensitive to margins, and therefore, the picture remains mixed because it is currently going through a maturation period. Hence, each player in the segment has to be studied based on their strategic decisions and past financial performance before making a bet. Top Independent Power Produce...
Retirement isn't about waiting for the end of life to arrive. It's about entering a new chapter and enjoying yourself in ways you may never have had time for when you were younger. Grab the opportunity to have fun. While you're at it, you're likely to enjoy these unexpected benefits. Image source: Getty Images. Of course, most hobbies aren't free. Here's how to ensure you can still have fun, even ...
Retirement isn't about waiting for the end of life to arrive. It's about entering a new chapter and enjoying yourself in ways you may never have had time for when you were younger. Grab the opportunity to have fun. While you're at it, you're likely to enjoy these unexpected benefits. Image source: Getty Images. Of course, most hobbies aren't free. Here's how to ensure you can still have fun, even after regular paychecks end. Continue reading
There's nothing quite like seeing cash automatically deposited into your accounts. Some companies hold such strong positions in their industries that they can share a portion of their profits with shareholders through regular dividend payments. Right now, income investors can find some compelling opportunities in the consumer discretionary and consumer staples spaces. Home Depot (NYSE: HD) , Pepsi...
There's nothing quite like seeing cash automatically deposited into your accounts. Some companies hold such strong positions in their industries that they can share a portion of their profits with shareholders through regular dividend payments. Right now, income investors can find some compelling opportunities in the consumer discretionary and consumer staples spaces. Home Depot (NYSE: HD) , Pepsico (NASDAQ: PEP) , and Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) are all sporting above-average yields now, and each looks like an excellent buy for May. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
BlackSalmon/iStock via Getty Images The following segment was excerpted from the Polen International Growth Q1 2026 Commentary. Details As noted earlier, turnover in Q1 2026 was higher than average given some of the changes we implemented across the Portfolio. Specifically, we initiated new positions in TSMC ( TSM ) , Rheinmetall ( RNMBF ) , Saab ( SAABF ) , Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ( MHVYF ) ,...
BlackSalmon/iStock via Getty Images The following segment was excerpted from the Polen International Growth Q1 2026 Commentary. Details As noted earlier, turnover in Q1 2026 was higher than average given some of the changes we implemented across the Portfolio. Specifically, we initiated new positions in TSMC ( TSM ) , Rheinmetall ( RNMBF ) , Saab ( SAABF ) , Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ( MHVYF ) , AstraZeneca ( AZN ) , AIA Group ( AAGIY ) , Siemens Energy ( SMEGF ) , Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF ) , and Keyence ( KYCCF ) while we sold our holdings in Nintendo ( NTDOY ) , MakeMyTrip ( MMYT ) , Adidas ( ADDYY ) , Globant ( GLOB ) , Amadeus IT Group ( AMADF ) , Monday.com ( MNDY ) , ICON plc ( ICLR ) , and HDFC Bank ( HDB ) . We also added and trimmed to a number of existing holdings as well. TSMC is the dominant manufacturer of semiconductor chips globally with 60% market share. AI-related demand has only continued to grow and while NVIDIA is seemingly on a path to overtake Apple as TSMC's largest customer, TSMC is also benefitting from the growth in custom AI chips (ASICs) as inference and efficiency gains become increasingly important. While the company benefits strongly from the massive amounts of capex the hyperscalers are investing in the AI infrastructure build out, the company itself is investing heavily to maintain its position as the dominant player on the leading-edge advanced nodes (3nm, 5nm) which comes with significant pricing power. Through the cycle we expect TSMC should be capable of generating mid-teens revenue growth with modest margin expansion, resulting in high-teens EPS growth. Germany-based Rheinmetall was another new addition in the quarter. We believe that recent military actions in Iran likely prolong the current shortage of ammunition and should lead to strong defense spending for many years to come. We expect Rheinmetall to grow its earnings greater than 20% annualized over the next three years and believe the current valuation is fair. Swed...
Two of the market's hottest artificial intelligence stocks have delivered jaw-dropping gains over the past three years. Palantir Technologies and Alphabet have both become investor darlings as the AI boom reshapes entire industries. While GOOGL stock is up 273% since May 2023, PLTR stock is ...
Two of the market's hottest artificial intelligence stocks have delivered jaw-dropping gains over the past three years. Palantir Technologies and Alphabet have both become investor darlings as the AI boom reshapes entire industries. While GOOGL stock is up 273% since May 2023, PLTR stock is ...
Repatriation flights of passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak began on Sunday. “We currently have 23 countries that have nationalities on board, either through passengers or crew,” Maria Van Kerkhove , an infectious disease epidemiologist at the World Health Organization, said on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing . “The operation started this morning at 7:30 ...
Repatriation flights of passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak began on Sunday. “We currently have 23 countries that have nationalities on board, either through passengers or crew,” Maria Van Kerkhove , an infectious disease epidemiologist at the World Health Organization, said on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing . “The operation started this morning at 7:30 local time, and we’ll continue to about 7:30, 8 o’clock tonight, and then continue tomorrow.” The cruise ship docked in Granadilla Port in Tenerife, Spain, on Sunday, and Van Kerkhove said flights have already left to repatriate passengers to Spain, France, Canada and the Netherlands. Additional flights are planned to Turkey, the UK, Ireland and the US before the end of day. Three people have died since the outbreak began on the ship. The WHO recommends passengers return to their home countries and have active monitoring for 42 days, due to the incubation period of the hantavirus. “This would include checks, health checks by authorities and either be quarantined at home or quarantined in a medical facility,” Van Kerkhove said. The 17 Americans on board the cruise ship disembarked on Sunday and will be moved to a quarantine facility in Nebraska, Jay Bhattacharya, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told CNN’s State of the Union. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is following a protocol that was successful for a previous outbreak of hantavirus in 2018, Bhattacharya said. Once they arrive at the National Quarantine Unit, a secured facility on the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus in Omaha, they will be interviewed and assessed for risk. “If they weren’t in close contact with someone who has the virus, we’re gonna deem low risk; if they weren’t in close contact with someone, we’ll deem them medium or high risk,” Bhattacharya said. Read More: Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship Begins Evacuation in Canary Islands The protocol allows ...