The UK competition watchdog has warned fuel retailers it is stepping up its monitoring of pump prices amid concern over profiteering as the US war with Iran drives up wholesale costs. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said firms responsible for thousands of filling stations across the country had been “put on notice” amid a wider government crackdown to stop bosses ramping up profits at ...
The UK competition watchdog has warned fuel retailers it is stepping up its monitoring of pump prices amid concern over profiteering as the US war with Iran drives up wholesale costs. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said firms responsible for thousands of filling stations across the country had been “put on notice” amid a wider government crackdown to stop bosses ramping up profits at the expense of consumers. The watchdog said it would require firms to provide their revenue, costs and sales data, accelerating a review of fuel industry margins it initiated after the conflict began just under a fortnight ago. Against a volatile backdrop in global energy markets, the oil price rose past $100 (£75) a barrel on Thursday for a second time in a week, as widespread Iranian attacks on energy facilities across the region and a threat to continue blocking the strait of Hormuz overshadowed a vast release of government reserves. Petrol and diesel prices have risen sharply, alongside a jump in the cost of home heating fuel. Experts have warned a sustained rise in global oil and gas prices would trigger higher inflation in Britain, dashing hopes for the Bank of England to cut interest rates at its next policy meeting. Figures published by the RAC on Thursday show the average petrol price has increased by 5.5%, which is about 7p a litre, since US and Israeli warplanes began bombing Iranian targets almost two weeks ago, while the average diesel price is up 11.1%, nearly 16p. Rachel Reeves warned earlier this week the government would not tolerate companies exploiting the crisis to make “excess profits”, and said she would ask the CMA to step up its vigilance. The chancellor is expected to hold meetings with fuel industry bosses and energy companies alongside the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, to warn that the government expects drivers and households to get a fair deal. The CMA said it recognised that businesses were likely to face significant pressures from rising ener...
May ICE NY cocoa (CCK26) today is down -149 (-4.35%), and May ICE London cocoa #7 (CAK26) is down -103 (-4.15%). Cocoa prices are falling sharply today on optimism that rain in West Africa will boost cocoa crop yields. Weather forecaster Vaisala said it expects rainfall to continue into next week for most of West Africa, which should support cocoa crop flowering. Don’t Miss a Day: NY cocoa rallied...
May ICE NY cocoa (CCK26) today is down -149 (-4.35%), and May ICE London cocoa #7 (CAK26) is down -103 (-4.15%). Cocoa prices are falling sharply today on optimism that rain in West Africa will boost cocoa crop yields. Weather forecaster Vaisala said it expects rainfall to continue into next week for most of West Africa, which should support cocoa crop flowering. Don’t Miss a Day: NY cocoa rallied to a 3-week high on Wednesday after a Reuters report on Tuesday said that local grinders bought more than 400,000 metric tons of Ivory Coast cocoa export contracts in the 10 days since purchases resumed for the mid-year crop. That suggested that new demand is emerging in the wake of recent cocoa price cuts. Last month, Ghana cut the official price it pays its cocoa farmers by nearly 30% for supplies for the 2025/26 growing season, and the Ivory Coast last Wednesday said it would cut cocoa farmer pay by 57% that would kick in for the mid-crop harvest that started in March. The Ivory Coast and Ghana produce more than half of the world's cocoa. Cocoa prices have also seen some support since last week as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has boosted global shipping rates, insurance costs, and fuel prices, thereby raising cocoa importers' costs. In addition, slowing cocoa deliveries to ports in the Ivory Coast is supportive of prices. Monday's cumulative data from the Ivory Coast showed that Ivory Coast farmers shipped 1.35 MMT of cocoa to ports in the current marketing year (October 1, 2025, through March 1, 2026), down -3.6% from 1.40 MMT in the same period a year ago. As a bearish factor, ICE cocoa inventories rose to a 7-month high of 2,228,827 bags on Wednesday. Demand concerns have hammered cocoa prices as consumers continue to balk at the high price of chocolate. On January 28, Barry Callebaut AG, the world's largest bulk chocolate maker, reported a -22% decline in sales volume in its cocoa division for the quarter ending November 30, citing "negative market demand and...
Last month Perplexity announced the confusingly named "Computer," its cloud-based agent tool for completing tasks using a harness that makes use of multiple different AI models. This week, the company is moving that kind of functionality to the desktop with the confusingly named " Personal Computer ," now available in early access by invite only. Much like the cloud-based version, Personal Compute...
Last month Perplexity announced the confusingly named "Computer," its cloud-based agent tool for completing tasks using a harness that makes use of multiple different AI models. This week, the company is moving that kind of functionality to the desktop with the confusingly named " Personal Computer ," now available in early access by invite only. Much like the cloud-based version, Personal Computer asks users to describe general objectives rather than specific computing tasks— an introductory video shows Personal Computer's questions in a sidebar asking things like, "Create an interactive educational guide" and "create a podcast about whales." But Personal Computer, running on a Mac Mini, also gives Perplexity's agents local access to your files and apps, which it can open and manipulate directly to attempt to complete those tasks. That should sound familiar to users of the open source OpenClaw (previously Moltbot), which similarly allows users to let AI agents loose on their personal machines. From the outside, Personal Computer looks like a more buttoned-up, user-friendly version of the same concept, with an easy-to-read, dockable interface that can help users track multiple tasks. Perplexity users can also log in remotely to their local copy of Personal Computer, making it "controllable from any device, anywhere," Perplexity says. Read full article Comments
"This is what happens when you try to reduce the size of the state. Before, people had to queue for two hours for their papers. Everyone complained, but at least everything was properly checked," an insider told Le Monde newspaper.
"This is what happens when you try to reduce the size of the state. Before, people had to queue for two hours for their papers. Everyone complained, but at least everything was properly checked," an insider told Le Monde newspaper.
Tottenham have lost their past five Premier League games, but can they boost their survival hopes when they face Liverpool on Sunday? "It is one from four teams to fill the final relegation slot and, at the moment, Spurs are my choice," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton. "I've changed my mind on this because I thought West Ham had had it, but they have actually got a bit of spirit about ...
Tottenham have lost their past five Premier League games, but can they boost their survival hopes when they face Liverpool on Sunday? "It is one from four teams to fill the final relegation slot and, at the moment, Spurs are my choice," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton. "I've changed my mind on this because I thought West Ham had had it, but they have actually got a bit of spirit about them. "If Tottenham don't get rid of Igor Tudor, they are in big trouble. I am not one for knee-jerk sackings, but the guy has come in and obliterated everyone in his squad." Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests. His guest for week 30 is YouTuber Angry Ginge, who supports Manchester United. The I'm a Celebrity winner is taking part in Soccer Aid for Unicef 2026, external on Sunday, 31 May at London Stadium. Tickets are on sale now. Do you agree with their scores? You can pick your own below. The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page. A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.
filo/iStock via Getty Images Netskope, Inc. ( NTSK ) is a leading AI cybersecurity and networking company, yet the stock has slumped after earnings. The company had a hot IPO, but the stock trades at the lowest levels after going public despite the strong demand for their products. My investment thesis is ultra Bullish as the lock-up expiration dip creates a strong buying opportunity. Source: Finv...
filo/iStock via Getty Images Netskope, Inc. ( NTSK ) is a leading AI cybersecurity and networking company, yet the stock has slumped after earnings. The company had a hot IPO, but the stock trades at the lowest levels after going public despite the strong demand for their products. My investment thesis is ultra Bullish as the lock-up expiration dip creates a strong buying opportunity. Source: Finviz Lock-Up Expiration After a company goes public, a stock goes through a volatile period with the initial quarterly results and guidance not always gelling with analyst expectations. In addition, the lock-up expiration after six months tends to lead to a sell-off, with the market pre-empting potential insider sales, with Netscape having ~390 million shares hitting the market on March 13. Netskope just reported the second quarterly results since going public, and the market potentially didn't fully grasp the sequential expectations. The AI networking company reported the January quarterly results beat analyst estimates by $7 million following the original quarter with an $8 million beat. The stock went public back on September 18, raising $908 million with the offering priced at $19 . The stock surged to open at $23 and hit a high of nearly $28 within days. Ironically, Netskope is now trading below $10 following another good quarter where results beat analyst expectations. Netskope is at the center of the AI revolution with products managing networking security and analytics covering AI products, especially agentic traffic. The company helps speed up AI traffic while safeguarding a business from cyber threats. Source: Netskope FQ4'26 presentation The company reported FQ4 revenue grew by 32% to reach $196 million. Netskope even generated a record net new ARR of $57 million during the January quarter, with total ARR up 31% YoY to reach $811 million. Source: Netskope FQ4'26 presentation The only potential issue is the market not understanding guidance. Netskope guided to both ...
Ekaterina79/iStock Editorial via Getty Images NEW YORK – Mattel ( MAT ) is accelerating its transformation from a traditional toy maker into a broader intellectual property and entertainment company, betting that its portfolio of global brands can generate growth across toys, film, gaming and live experiences. Speaking at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference on Thursday, Mattel ( MAT ) Ch...
Ekaterina79/iStock Editorial via Getty Images NEW YORK – Mattel ( MAT ) is accelerating its transformation from a traditional toy maker into a broader intellectual property and entertainment company, betting that its portfolio of global brands can generate growth across toys, film, gaming and live experiences. Speaking at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference on Thursday, Mattel ( MAT ) Chairman and Chief Executive Ynon Kreiz said the company’s strategy centers on extracting more value from its intellectual property while expanding beyond physical toys. “We introduced a new strategy to grow our IP-driven play and family entertainment business,” Kreiz said during the presentation. The plan focuses on managing both toys and entertainment holistically while capturing value from brand extensions beyond physical products. Mattel ( MAT ) owns some of the most recognizable brands in children’s entertainment, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Uno and American Girl. Kreiz said the company’s portfolio gives it a strong foundation as consumer brands become increasingly important across media and entertainment. “These are vibrant, thriving cultural brands,” he said. “The journey we’ve been on is transforming Mattel ( MAT ) from a toy manufacturer into an IP-driven company.” Strategy shifts toward IP-driven play and entertainment Kreiz said Mattel ( MAT )’s core toy business remains strong, supported by industry growth and continued consumer demand for play experiences. The global toy industry has expanded in 23 of the past 25 years and has grown more than 3% annually over the last five years, he said. Parents continue to prioritize spending on children, and toys remain a strategic category for retailers because they drive store traffic and encourage additional spending. Mattel ( MAT ) organizes its toy portfolio across six categories including dolls, vehicles, infant and preschool toys, action figures, building sets and games. Innovation remains central to the company’s gro...
On 3/16/26, Public Storage's 5.15% Dep Shares Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F (Symbol: PSA.PRF) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.3219, payable on 3/31/26. As a percentage of PSA.PRF's recent share price of $20.61, this dividend works out to approximately 1.56%, so look for shares of PSA.PRF to trade 1.56% lower — all else being equal — when PSA.PRF shares open for trad...
On 3/16/26, Public Storage's 5.15% Dep Shares Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F (Symbol: PSA.PRF) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.3219, payable on 3/31/26. As a percentage of PSA.PRF's recent share price of $20.61, this dividend works out to approximately 1.56%, so look for shares of PSA.PRF to trade 1.56% lower — all else being equal — when PSA.PRF shares open for trading on 3/16/26. On an annualized basis, the current yield is approximately 6.22%, which compares to an average yield of 8.08% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel . The chart below shows the one year performance of PSA.PRF shares, versus PSA: Below is a dividend history chart for PSA.PRF, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent $0.3219 on Public Storage's 5.15% Dep Shares Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F: According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, Public Storage (Symbol: PSA) makes up 15.50% of the Pacer Industrial Real Estate ETF (INDS) which is trading relatively unchanged on the day Thursday. (see other ETFs holding PSA). In Thursday trading, Public Storage's 5.15% Dep Shares Cumulative Preferred Shares Series F (Symbol: PSA.PRF) is currently off about 0.5% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: PSA) are trading flat. Click here to learn which S.A.F.E. dividend stocks also have preferred shares that should be on your radar screen » Also see: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Unit Corporation press release ( UNTC ): Q4 GAAP EPS of $5.15. Revenue of $24.72M. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company repurchased 4,500 shares under its share repurchase program at an average share price of $30.13 (unadjusted for dividends paid) for an aggregate purchase price of $0.1 million. As of December 31, 2025, we had repurchased a total of 2,574,246 shares of common stock...
Unit Corporation press release ( UNTC ): Q4 GAAP EPS of $5.15. Revenue of $24.72M. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company repurchased 4,500 shares under its share repurchase program at an average share price of $30.13 (unadjusted for dividends paid) for an aggregate purchase price of $0.1 million. As of December 31, 2025, we had repurchased a total of 2,574,246 shares of common stock since emergence from bankruptcy at an average share price of $32.16 (unadjusted for dividends paid) for an aggregate purchase cost of $82.8 million. The Company announced on March 6, 2026 that a quarterly cash dividend of $1.25 per share had been declared for the first quarter of 2026, to be paid on March 27, 2026 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 17, 2026. More on Unit Corporation Unit Corporation: Cash Position Still Significant After No Special Dividend In 2025 Top 10 energy stocks showing highest dividend yield as oil crosses $100 mark Dividend scorecard for Unit Corporation Financial information for Unit Corporation
Social Security Payment Adjustment Predicted To Be 2.8 Percent In 2027, Group Says Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), A seniors group said it is forecasting the cost-of-living adjustment for next year’s Social Security payments to remain steady at 2.8 percent as U.S. officials released the latest consumer inflation data on Wednesday. Blank Social Security checks are run...
Social Security Payment Adjustment Predicted To Be 2.8 Percent In 2027, Group Says Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), A seniors group said it is forecasting the cost-of-living adjustment for next year’s Social Security payments to remain steady at 2.8 percent as U.S. officials released the latest consumer inflation data on Wednesday. Blank Social Security checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia, Pa., on Feb. 11, 2005. William Thomas Cain/Getty Images The Senior Citizens League on Wednesday released its forecast adjustment for 2027’s Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. “ That would be the exact same as last year’s COLA of 2.8 percent, a far cry from the 8.7 percent COLA issued in 2023 to help benefits keep pace with pandemic-related inflation, which seniors continue to see as a top issue,” the group said, according to a news release. Government inflation data for the months of July, August, and September compiled by the Social Security Administration (SSA) is used by the agency to produce the COLA for the next year’s payments. The SSA usually announces the COLA in October following the release of September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. Last month, the group also predicted a 2.8 percent COLA for next year’s payments, which would be the same as the COLA that went into effect for 2026. The seniors league said that with “lagging COLAs and Social Security’s funding creeping into dangerous territory,” it has found that many seniors have “lost faith in Congress” to act on the program . It also said it found that three in four seniors don’t believe Congress will be able to act on reports saying that Social Security will go insolvent by the early 2030s. “Even before potential benefit cuts, most seniors think their benefits are falling behind inflation,” the league said Wednesday, citing its own research. Some 58 percent of seniors think inflation will increase their s...
Get a jump start on the US trading day with Matt Miller and Dani Burger on "Bloomberg Open Interest." Iran escalates the war, threatening to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and open new fronts if US and Israeli strikes continue, rattling global energy markets. Meanwhile, cracks in private credit widen, with fresh warnings of 2008-style risks. Retail earnings from Dick’s and Dollar General reveal ...
Get a jump start on the US trading day with Matt Miller and Dani Burger on "Bloomberg Open Interest." Iran escalates the war, threatening to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and open new fronts if US and Israeli strikes continue, rattling global energy markets. Meanwhile, cracks in private credit widen, with fresh warnings of 2008-style risks. Retail earnings from Dick’s and Dollar General reveal how strained consumers really are. Plus, exclusive CEO insights: Mattel’s Ynon Kreiz says the toy industry is strong and healthy, despite tariffs and rising oil prices, Ardian’s Mark Benedetti says it isn't yet 2008 for private credit, but warns of more defaults to come. And Vista’s Miguel Galuccio gives us an inside look at Argentina’s shale surge, and Michael Dell joins the show with Energy’s Dario Gil on AI’s next frontier. (Source: Bloomberg)
On February 17, 2026, Caspian Capital disclosed a new position in Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO +0.64%), acquiring 9,275,000 shares in the fourth quarter. The estimated transaction value is approximately $20.50 million based on quarter-end pricing. What happened According to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing, Caspian Capital acquired 9,275,000 shares of Clear Channel Outdoor during the fourth quarter, ...
On February 17, 2026, Caspian Capital disclosed a new position in Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO +0.64%), acquiring 9,275,000 shares in the fourth quarter. The estimated transaction value is approximately $20.50 million based on quarter-end pricing. What happened According to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing, Caspian Capital acquired 9,275,000 shares of Clear Channel Outdoor during the fourth quarter, establishing a new position. The quarter-end position value totaled $20.50 million. What else to know This new position in Clear Channel Outdoor represents 13.56% of Caspian Capital’s reportable U.S. equities at quarter end. Top holdings after the filing: NYSE: BLCO: $34.14 million (22.6% of AUM) NASDAQ: FIP: $24.02 million (15.9% of AUM) NASDAQ: FTAI: $21.94 million (14.5% of AUM) NYSE: CCO: $20.50 million (13.6% of AUM) NYSE: PACS: $14.63 million (9.7% of AUM) As of Thursday, shares of Clear Channel Outdoor were priced at $2.38, up 100% over the past year and vastly outperforming the S&P 500’s roughly 20% gain in the same period. Company overview Metric Value Revenue (TTM) $1.6 billion Net Income (TTM) $19.9 million Price (as of Thursday) $2.38 One-Year Price Change 99.6% Company snapshot Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings offers a broad portfolio of advertising displays, including billboards, transit and street furniture displays, spectaculars, and wallscapes, with operations across the Americas and Europe. The firm generates revenue primarily by selling outdoor advertising space to businesses and agencies, leveraging both traditional and digital formats to maximize audience reach. It serves advertisers ranging from local businesses to multinational corporations seeking high-visibility out-of-home marketing solutions in urban and transit environments. Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of out-of-home advertising solutions, operating advertising displays in the Americas and Europe. The company employs a diversified strategy across multiple display form...
Sandisk SNDK has delivered a stunning run. SNDK shares have surged 206.1% over the past three months and 1,194.2% over the past year, significantly higher than gains in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry over the same periods. Sandisk shares have also outperformed peers, including Western Digital WDC, Silicon Motion Technology SIMO and ...
Sandisk SNDK has delivered a stunning run. SNDK shares have surged 206.1% over the past three months and 1,194.2% over the past year, significantly higher than gains in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry over the same periods. Sandisk shares have also outperformed peers, including Western Digital WDC, Silicon Motion Technology SIMO and Seagate STX in the trailing 12-month period. Shares of Western Digital, Silicon Motion Technology and Seagate have returned 529.7%, 342% and 131.6%, respectively. SNDK Stock’s Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research However, the ongoing acceleration in SNDK shares is forcing investors to rethink timing. When a stock moves this far this fast, the next question becomes less about whether the story is real and more about what is already priced in. What keeps SNDK on the radar is that the operating backdrop is also shifting. AI-driven storage demand is pushing NAND market conditions in a direction that supports firmer pricing and a richer product mix. SNDK Offers Positive Q3 Guidance For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Sandisk guides revenues between $4.4 billion and $4.8 billion. Management also expects the market to be more undersupplied than in the fiscal second quarter. Profitability expectations are even more notable. Gross margin is projected at 65% to 67%, and non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to normalize between $450 million and $470 million. Non-GAAP earnings are expected between $12.00 and $14.00 per share. Consensus Estimate Trend Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The operational driver management emphasizes is the enterprise solid-state drive (SSD) ramp. Enterprise SSD revenue jumped 64% sequentially in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Sandisk expects a substantial sequential step-up again in the third quarter, with further acceleration anticipated in the second half. Sandisk’s Capital Discipline Bodes Well for Investors Financial flexi...
On 3/16/26, Public Storage's 4.0% Depositary Shares Cumulative Preferred Shares Ser R (Symbol: PSA.PRR) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.25, payable on 3/31/26. As a percentage of PSA.PRR's recent share price of $16.05, this dividend works out to approximately 1.56%, so look for shares of PSA.PRR to trade 1.56% lower — all else being equal — when PSA.PRR shares open for tra...
On 3/16/26, Public Storage's 4.0% Depositary Shares Cumulative Preferred Shares Ser R (Symbol: PSA.PRR) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.25, payable on 3/31/26. As a percentage of PSA.PRR's recent share price of $16.05, this dividend works out to approximately 1.56%, so look for shares of PSA.PRR to trade 1.56% lower — all else being equal — when PSA.PRR shares open for trading on 3/16/26. On an annualized basis, the current yield is approximately 6.21%, which compares to an average yield of 8.08% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel . The chart below shows the one year performance of PSA.PRR shares, versus PSA: Below is a dividend history chart for PSA.PRR, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent $0.25 on Public Storage's 4.0% Depositary Shares Cumulative Preferred Shares Ser R: According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, Public Storage (Symbol: PSA) makes up 15.50% of the Pacer Industrial Real Estate ETF (INDS) which is trading lower by about 0.8% on the day Thursday. (see other ETFs holding PSA). In Thursday trading, Public Storage's 4.0% Depositary Shares Cumulative Preferred Shares Ser R (Symbol: PSA.PRR) is currently down about 0.2% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: PSA) are off about 1.1%. Click here to learn which S.A.F.E. dividend stocks also have preferred shares that should be on your radar screen » Also see: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.