Chelsea’s Pedro Neto is in line to be punished by Uefa for pushing a ballboy during his team’s 5-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after European football’s governing body announced it had opened disciplinary proceedings. “Disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against … Pedro Neto for unsporting behaviour,” a Uefa statement said. “Uefa’s disciplinary bodies will take a decision on this case in due course.” Neto knocked over the ballboy as he ran over to grab the ball late in Wednesday’s last-16 first leg, with Chelsea trailing 4-2. The incident led to a mass altercation involving players from both teams, and Neto later apologised and gave the ballboy his shirt. “We were losing and in the emotion of the game I wanted to get the ball fast and I gave him a little push,” Neto told TNT Sports. “I’m not like this. It was in the heat of the moment and I want to apologise. I gave him my shirt. I’m really sorry about it – I feel I have to apologise to him.” Chelsea’s head coach Liam Rosenior said: “If there was anything from our side that was wrong or out of order, I apologise on behalf of the club.” Neto, who has scored 10 goals in 42 games for Chelsea this season, could face a suspension for Tuesday’s second leg.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he took “full ownership” for an erroneous social media post that rattled traders and sent oil prices reeling after it wrongly suggested the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the vital Strait of Hormuz. The post was deleted minutes later. “That is a miscommunication in our department — I take full ownership of that as the person in charge of the department,” Wright said on Thursday in an interview with Fox News , adding that he would personally review the department’s posts in future. “Very unfortunate. It will not happen again.” In the midst of extreme volatility in the oil market because of the war in Iran, the Tuesday post on Wright’s account triggered an immediate sell off that saw US crude prices plunge nearly 20% to intraday lows. Prices later pared losses after the post was seemingly deleted without explanation about 15 minutes later. The White House later confirmed that no escort had taken place. While US oil futures ended the day with declines, prices were well above the lows. Read More: US Didn’t Escort Tanker Through Hormuz, Refuting Wright Post Traders — already wary of shifting signals from Washington — expressed frustration with the episode, which compounded uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump ’s outlook on the conflict in Iran and the potential for deeper US involvement. With markets hypersensitive to any indication that shipping flows may resume through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of global oil supplies, mixed messaging this week has intensified market volatility and added to mounting geopolitical whiplash.

Broadcom (AVGO 1.70%) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 3.50%) have been trailing Nvidia in the artificial intelligence (AI) chip market in recent years. Still, both companies are now experiencing a nice uptick in their growth thanks to their growing influence in this market. As it turns out, both chip designers have outperformed Nvidia stock in the past year. While Broadcom has jumped 69% over this period, AMD has logged stronger gains of 92%. But if you had to choose either AMD or Broadcom for your portfolio right now, which one would be the better bet? Let's find out. The case for Broadcom Broadcom dominates the custom AI processor market with an estimated share of 60% to 80%. These custom processors, known as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), are in terrific demand from hyperscalers and AI companies looking to reduce reliance on Nvidia, achieve significant cost reductions, and speed up performance while keeping power consumption in check. Market research firm TrendForce expects ASICs to account for 27.8% of AI server chips this year, up from 20.9% in 2025. Broadcom is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the growing ASIC adoption. It reported a 106% year-over-year jump in AI revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 (which ended on Feb. 1). Expand NASDAQ : AVGO Broadcom Today's Change ( -1.70 %) $ -5.79 Current Price $ 335.78 Key Data Points Market Cap $1.6T Day's Range $ 332.22 - $ 339.00 52wk Range $ 138.10 - $ 414.61 Volume 473K Avg Vol 32M Gross Margin 64.96 % Dividend Yield 0.71 % This outstanding growth was driven by Broadcom's impressive clientele, which includes Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Anthropic, and OpenAI. Broadcom points out that it has six AI customers in total, and all of them are poised to significantly accelerate the deployment of its custom chips next year. Anthropic, for example, is expected to triple the deployment of Broadcom's ASICs next year to 3 gigawatts (GW). Similarly, Meta Platforms is estimated to scale the deployment ...

winhorse Shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( JPM ) are under pressure as the financial sector emerges as the worst-performing group in the S&P 500 ( SP500 ) so far in 2026. The bank’s stock fell 2.3% on Thursday, trading near $280.75, marking its lowest level in more than eight months and its weakest price since June 23, 2025. The decline reflects the broader challenges facing financial stocks this year as investors rotate away from the sector amid heightened market volatility. From a technical perspective, JPMorgan has now slipped into oversold territory, with its relative strength index dropping to 29.92. The last time the stock reached similar levels was in early April 2025, suggesting momentum has deteriorated sharply in recent sessions. Technical indicators also point to a weakening trend. JPMorgan currently trades below its 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages, signaling sustained downside pressure. Despite remaining one of the largest and most influential U.S. banks, the stock has now fallen roughly 17% from its all-time high of $337.25, which was recorded on January 5. The pullback underscores the sharp reversal for financial stocks after a strong run in recent years. Financials ETFs: ( XLF ), ( VFH ), ( IYF ), ( FNCL ), ( IYG ), and ( FXO ). Bank ETFs: ( KBWB ), ( KBE ), and ( FTXO ). Regional Bank ETFs: ( KRE ), ( IAT ), and ( DPST ). More on markets Where will the S&P 500 close by the end of 2026 as the U.S.-Iran war continues Apollo economist flags $40B debt cliff for software sector amid AI disruption When will U.S. strikes on Iran end? Prediction markets say a nearly 50% chance by month's end Despite oil's 10% slide, prediction markets are not convinced that the oil rally is over RBC Capital Markets holds S&P 500 target, says Iran conflict too early to shift view

地中海航运公司：自3月16日起，直至另行通知，从坦桑尼亚至中东、印度、斯里兰卡、孟加拉国及远东地区的附加费将按每标准箱99美元收取，冷藏箱则将按每标准箱148美元收取。

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Animal charities have complained to Channel 4 after the winner of Crufts best in show was found to have been convicted of animal cruelty, and said the winning dog is an “extreme” breed that has had a “lifetime of suffering”. After Lee Cox and his four-year-old Clumber spaniel Bruin won best in show at the prestigious dog competition, it emerged that Cox had a previous conviction for animal cruelty. The RSPCA and Peta have asked for extreme examples of breeds to no longer be eligible for prizes, and for full vetting for people who compete at Crufts. Peta has asked for Channel 4 to pull the show from air. The RSPCA has called for the dog show to stop featuring animals that have extreme features such as flat faces, wrinkly skin, short or missing tails, and protruding eyeballs. These can leave dogs at high risk of significant welfare problems, such as being unable to breathe, blink, sleep, play or exercise normally; or painful eye, spinal, skin or dental conditions. The BBC stopped showing Crufts in 2008 after outcry over the extreme breeds celebrated by the competition, and the show was not broadcast on television the following year. Channel 4 picked it up in 2010 and have been televising it ever since. Cox was found in 2001 to have kept a spaniel with a chronically infected ear that eventually had to be surgically removed. A court was told when an inspector visited the Somerset-based kennel, he encountered dogs covered in dirt and a strong stench from dog waste and overflowing drains. View image in fullscreen An inspector encountered dogs covered in dirt and a strong stench from dog waste and overflowing drains at Cox’s kennel in 2001. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters The Royal Kennel Club confirmed the conviction but said it was an “isolated incident 25 years ago”, adding Mr Cox has had an “unblemished record in the 25 years since” and had made a “significant positive contribution to the world of dogs”. Lauren Bennett, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said of the win...

Key Points Bayberry Capital Partners sold 346,000 shares of Golar LNG in the quarter. The fund's position value shifted by $13.98 million, in line with the complete sale of its Golar LNG stake during the quarter. The position previously accounted for 3.3% of the fund’s assets. 10 stocks we like better than Golar Lng › Bayberry Capital Partners LP fully exited its position in Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG) during the fourth quarter, according to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing. What happened According to an SEC filing published February 17, 2026, Bayberry Capital Partners LP sold its entire 346,000-share stake in Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG) during the fourth quarter. The net position change for the quarter, reflecting the share sale, was $13.98 million. What else to know Top five holdings after the filing: NYSE:LION: $29.76 million (9.6% of AUM) NASDAQ:CHDN: $23.03 million (7.4% of AUM) NYSE:WCC: $21.55 million (6.9% of AUM) NYSE:PRMB: $19.63 million (6.3% of AUM) NYSE:SXT: $19.47 million (6.3% of AUM) As of Thursday, shares of Golar LNG were priced at $44.80, up 32% over the past year and far outperforming the S&P 500’s roughly 21% gain in the same period. Company overview Metric Value Price (as of Thursday) $44.80 Market capitalization $4.6 billion Revenue (TTM) $393.52 million Net income (TTM) $65.68 million Company snapshot Golar LNG designs, builds, owns, and operates marine infrastructure for LNG liquefaction and regasification, including LNG carriers, floating liquefaction (FLNG) vessels, and floating storage regasification units (FSRUs). The firm generates revenue through operation and chartering of LNG shipping and FLNG assets. It serves a global client base in the energy sector, including utilities and industrial customers seeking LNG transportation and infrastructure solutions. Golar LNG Limited is a leading provider of floating LNG infrastructure, with a business model centered on the operation and charter of LNG carriers, FLNG vessels, and FSRUs. The company levera...

Key Points Robinhood stock now has a market cap of $100 billion and is up more than 400% in the past year. It's growing revenue per existing customer at a rapid rate. The stock's future performance will depend on how the broad market performs in the next five years. 10 stocks we like better than Robinhood Markets › Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) is now one of the largest financial services companies in the world. Saying that a decade ago would have sounded absurd. Yet, today, the discount broker focused on mobile trading has a market cap of $108 billion, closing in on rivals such as Charles Schwab and some of the large legacy banks. Its stock is up an astounding 440% in the past 12 months. With an easy-to-use application, growing features, and robust cashback offerings, Robinhood is seeing a surge in net deposits for its brokerage and financial services offerings. But what sort of opportunities does Robinhood still have left? Let's try to project where Robinhood stock will be in five years, and whether it is a buy today. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Increased user penetration If you look at Robinhood's growth in total funded customers, it may not seem like a hypergrowth company. During the 2021 stock market run, the broker peaked at in between 22 million and 23 million customers. In 2022 and 2023, its level of customers did not grow along with the bear market for stocks. Today, total customers have begun to move higher again -- hitting 26.5 million in the second quarter -- but the number isn't much higher than what it was 2021. However, it isn't Robinhood's total number of customers that is driving financial growth, but growing penetration for financial services from existing users. Robinhood's total assets on the platform have grown from just $100 billion at the peak in 2021 to $300 billion last month, meaning that deposits per customer have grown quickly in ...

The Nasdaq 100 (^NDX) is packed with high-growth companies, and while the market is competitive, some are pulling ahead. A handful of standout businesses are continuing to scale, delivering strong financials and market leadership. Finding the best companies in the Nasdaq 100 isn’t always obvious, and that’s why we started StockStory. Keeping that in mind, here are three Nasdaq 100 stocks that have huge potential. Applied Materials (AMAT) Market Cap: $278.6 billion Founded in 1967 as the first company to develop tools for other businesses in the semiconductor industry, Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) is the largest provider of semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment. Why Are We Fans of AMAT? Highly efficient business model is illustrated by its impressive 28.7% operating margin AMAT is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders Stellar returns on capital showcase management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures At $346.50 per share, Applied Materials trades at 28.7x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free. Seagate (STX) Market Cap: $86.47 billion One of two remaining major hard drive manufacturers after decades of industry consolidation, Seagate (NASDAQ:STX) manufactures hard disk drives and solid state drives that store data in data centers, cloud systems, and consumer devices. Why Do We Like STX? Annual revenue growth of 24.7% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle Demand will likely accelerate over the next 12 months as its forecasted revenue growth of 28.2% is above its two-year trend Operating margin increased by 8 percentage points over the last five years as it refined its cost structure Seagate’s stock price of $382.00 implies a valuation ratio of 23x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free. Alphabet (...

以军称对黎真主党发动新一轮空袭 2026-03-12 23:31:06 来源： 同花顺7x24快讯 分享 当地时间3月12日傍晚，以色列国防军宣布，以色列空军已开始对位于黎巴嫩首都贝鲁特的黎真主党基础设施发动新一轮空袭。(央视新闻)

NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "overweight" rating restated by equities research analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald in a report released on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $300.00 price target on the computer hardware maker's stock. Cantor Fitzgerald's price objective suggests a potential upside of 64.33% from the stock's current price. Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $250.00 price target on NVIDIA and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on NVIDIA from $250.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $240.00 target price on shares of NVIDIA in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. DZ Bank reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of NVIDIA in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $260.00 price target on shares of NVIDIA in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $273.64. Get NVIDIA alerts: Sign Up View Our Latest Stock Analysis on NVDA NVIDIA Trading Down 1.9% Shares of NVIDIA stock traded down $3.47 during trading on Thursday, hitting $182.56. The stock had a trading volume of 51,633,939 shares, compared to its average volume of 177,790,578. NVIDIA has a 12 month low of $86.62 and a 12 month high of $212.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 3.91 and a quick ratio of 3.24. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $185.59 and its 200-day simple moving average is $184.07. The stock has a market cap of $4.44 trillion, ...

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Blackbaud (BLKB). Shares have lost about 10.6% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Blackbaud due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Blackbaud, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late. Blackbaud's Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates Blackbaud reported fourth-quarter 2025 non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $1.19, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.5%. The bottom line increased around 11.2% year over year. For 2025, the company reported non-GAAP EPS of $4.45 compared to $4.06 in 2024. Total revenues decreased 2.3% year over year to $295.3 million. This was due to the divestiture of EVERFI. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5%. For 2025, the company reported total revenues of $1.13 billion, down 2.3% year over year. Blackbaud’s performance in 2025 underscored the strength of its multi-year strategy to expand market leadership while delivering solid financial results. The company achieved the Rule of 40 milestone two years ahead of schedule, reflecting disciplined execution of its strategic and operational priorities. The company maintained an active share repurchase program, buying back approximately 8% of its outstanding common stock in 2025. For 2026, management expressed strong confidence in its long-term vision and execution capabilities. With mission-critical solutions increasingly enhanced by AI, Blackbaud believes it is well-positioned to capitalize on the next wave of technological innovation in partnership with its customers. GAAP recurring revenue declined 1.8% to $290.8 million, primarily due to the divestiture of EVERFI, accounting for 98.5% of total revenue. Non-GAAP organic revenues were...

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Astera Labs, Inc. (ALAB). Shares have lost about 13.2% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Astera Labs, Inc. due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Astera Labs Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y Astera Labs reported fourth-quarter 2025 non-GAAP earnings of 58 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.75%. The company reported earnings of 37 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Net revenues surged 91.8% year over year to $270.6 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.33%. Growth was driven by new AI platform ramps featuring multiple product families. ALAB’s Operating Details The non-GAAP gross margin was 75.7%, contracting 160 basis points year over year. Research and development expenses surged 65.9% year over year to $93.8 million. Sales and marketing expenses decreased 11.9% year over year to $20.1 million. General and administrative expenses increased 6.8% year over year to $23.6 million. The non-GAAP operating margin was 40.2% compared with 34.3% in the year-ago quarter. ALAB’s Balance Sheet Details As of Dec. 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities were $1.18 billion compared with $1.13 billion as of Sept. 30, 2025. ALAB’s Q1 Guidance Astera Labs expects first-quarter 2026 revenues between $286 million and $297 million. Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be roughly 74%. Non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to be between $112 million and $118 million. Earnings are expected to be between 53 cents and 54 cents per share for the first quarter. How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then? Since the earnings release, investors hav...

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Astera Labs, Inc. (ALAB). Shares have lost about 13.2% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Astera Labs, Inc. due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Astera Labs Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y Astera Labs reported fourth-quarter 2025 non-GAAP earnings of 58 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.75%. The company reported earnings of 37 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Net revenues surged 91.8% year over year to $270.6 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.33%. Growth was driven by new AI platform ramps featuring multiple product families. ALAB’s Operating Details The non-GAAP gross margin was 75.7%, contracting 160 basis points year over year. Research and development expenses surged 65.9% year over year to $93.8 million. Sales and marketing expenses decreased 11.9% year over year to $20.1 million. General and administrative expenses increased 6.8% year over year to $23.6 million. The non-GAAP operating margin was 40.2% compared with 34.3% in the year-ago quarter. ALAB’s Balance Sheet Details As of Dec. 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities were $1.18 billion compared with $1.13 billion as of Sept. 30, 2025. ALAB’s Q1 Guidance Astera Labs expects first-quarter 2026 revenues between $286 million and $297 million. Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be roughly 74%. Non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to be between $112 million and $118 million. Earnings are expected to be between 53 cents and 54 cents per share for the first quarter. How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then? Since the earnings release, investors hav...

Why Is Astera Labs, Inc. (ALAB) Down 13.2% Since Last Earnings Report? finance.yahoo.com

财联社3月12日讯（编辑 牛占林） 据央视新闻报道，当地时间周四，伊朗新任最高领袖穆杰塔巴·哈梅内伊在一份通过国家电视台宣读的声明中表示，伊朗将继续采取包括封锁霍尔木兹海峡在内的战略手段，同时对美国在中东地区的军事基地发动攻击。这是他在其父亲遇袭身亡、接任最高领袖后的首次公开表态。 在这份措辞强硬的讲话中，穆杰塔巴表示，美国必须关闭其在中东地区的所有军事基地。他称，位于伊朗沿岸的霍尔木兹海峡应保持关闭状态，以此向“敌人施加压力”。该海峡是全球最重要的能源运输通道之一，约五分之一的全球石油供应需要经由此处运输。 受该消息影响，国际油价短线持续上扬，美国WTI原油向上触及96美元/桶，日内涨8.55%；布伦特原油涨9.44%，报100.662美元/桶。此前由于特朗普表示战争即将结束，油价一度回落。 在声明中，穆杰塔巴表示，德黑兰相信与邻国的“友谊”，并强调其国家仅针对这些国家的美军基地，并建议邻国尽快关闭美军基地。“我们与这15个邻国关系良好。…我们只针对这些军事基地，我们将继续，必须继续。” 穆杰塔巴警告美国和以色列必须为其行为支付“赔偿”。“我们会向敌人索要赔偿。如果我们无法从敌人那里获得赔偿，我们将摧毁他们同等的财产。” 他还向伊朗军队及“抵抗阵线”武装力量表示感谢，穆杰塔巴特别提到也门的胡塞武装、黎巴嫩真主党以及亲伊朗的伊拉克抵抗运动，表示伊朗视他们为“最好的朋友”，呼吁这些组织继续战斗。 穆杰塔巴在讲话中对他的父亲阿里·哈梅内伊的去世表示哀悼，并称继任这一职位责任重大。他表示，伊朗革命领导层的一大传统是依靠人民力量，强调人民在国家治理和战争时期的重要作用。 周四早些时候，伊拉克一处港口的两艘油轮在遭到疑似伊朗装载爆炸物的快艇袭击后起火燃烧。这一轮袭击标志着局势进一步升级，也导致中东石油供应进一步受阻，并直接挑战了美国总统特朗普此前关于战争已经取得胜利的说法。 这场战争始于2月底美国和以色列针对伊朗发动的轰炸行动。迄今为止，冲突已造成至少2000人死亡，并导致国际能源署(IEA)所称的“历史上最大规模的全球能源供应中断”。 穆杰塔巴的言论强化了伊朗此前发出的信号：其当前策略是施加长期经济冲击，迫使特朗普退让。伊朗军方发言人周三表示，世界应为每桶200美元的油价做好准备。 ING分析师表示：“要看到油价持续下跌，唯一的办法就是让石油通过霍尔木兹海峡流通。如果不能做...

以军空袭黎巴嫩大学一校区 致2死多伤 2026-03-12 23:30:00 来源： 同花顺7x24快讯 分享 总台记者当地时间12日从黎巴嫩方面获悉，以色列国防军当天下午空袭黎巴嫩大学哈达斯校区理学院，造成理学院院长侯赛因.巴齐和一名教授身亡，多人受伤。(央视新闻)

primeimages/iStock via Getty Images The war in Iran has roiled the outlook for financial markets and the global economy, but commodities are clearly benefiting from the turmoil as prices rise for energy and other raw materials. The shift in leadership for the major asset classes has turned sharply in favor of a broad measure of commodities, based on a set of ETFs through yesterday’s close (Mar. 11). The WisdomTree Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund ( GCC ) is up 15.3% year to date, far ahead of the rest of the field. Running at a distant second place this year: foreign stocks in developed countries ex-US ( VEA ), which is up 5.4% in 2026. VEA had been the year’s top performer, but in line with equities just about everywhere, the war has triggered selling in risk assets. To date the retreat has been moderate, but the extent of the damage to the risk appetite remains unclear as long as the war continues. Commodities are the exception. Energy is the main beneficiary of the fighting, which has disrupted oil exports from the Gulf region. The interruption of energy flows has spilled over into other areas that are affecting supply chains in some agricultural sectors , for example. Various metals are also in the crosshairs. “The Gulf is a major supplier of aluminum, and disruptions could tighten supply chains for advanced manufacturing,” said Tony Pelli, practice director of supply chain security and resilience at BSI Consulting, a global risk management firm. “Aluminum prices are already rising, and further disruption could increase input costs for automotive, aerospace, and construction manufacturing in the US and Europe.” Soaring energy prices will likely fall once the war ends, but as of this writing, the odds still appear low that the conflict will cease in the immediate future. Meanwhile, energy markets continue to price in a worst-case scenario. Oil prices rose in early trading on Thursday despite a coordinated announcement the day before from world leaders to release ...

When Max Brodeur-Urbas co-founded Gumloop in mid-2023, his vision was to help non-technical employees automate repetitive tasks using AI. At that time, the concept of AI agents was still largely experimental and prone to errors. As AI technology has matured, so has Gumloop’s offering. The company claims that it now allows teams at organizations like Shopify, Ramp, Gusto, Samsara, Instacart, and Opendoor to deploy reliable AI agents that autonomously handle complex, multi-step tasks, all without ever needing an engineer. Employees can share the agents they build with colleagues, creating a compounding effect that accelerates internal automation. “They get addicted, they start building more agents, and then all of a sudden, the whole company is AI native,” Brodeur-Urbas told TechCrunch. As companies race to adopt AI, Benchmark general partner Everett Randle believes the key to success lies in empowering every worker with AI superpowers, and Gumloop’s intuitive agent-builder is an example of the kind of tool that will unlock that potential. That’s why Randle, who joined Benchmark last October from Kleiner Perkins, chose to lead a $50 million Series B investment into Gumloop. The deal, which is Randle’s first at his new firm, included participation from Nexus VP, First Round Capital, Y Combinator, Box Group, The Cannon Project, and Shopify. Though Gumloop wasn’t actively seeking new capital, the startup decided this was the year to “step on the gas.” For Brodeur-Urbas, partnering with Benchmark—the firm behind icons like eBay, Uber, and Dropbox—was a “no-brainer.” Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400. Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit 1,0...

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. “It is a pretty rough time for the game industry.” Meta Reality Labs director of games Chris Pruett did not mince words when he returned to GDC for his annual talk on the state of VR gaming this week. “I have been in the industry for almost 30 years at this point,” he said. ”This is the roughest period I have ever seen.” “It’s rough for everybody,” Pruett said. “It’s rough for VR. We are not immune.” Pruett made these remarks two months after Meta cut more than 1,000 VR-related jobs and significantly cut back on first-party game development. “We shut down several of our studios,” Pruett acknowledged. “And make no mistake: Those were top-class studios.” Meta’s significant cutbacks have led to unease among VR developers, especially since many third-party studios have had layoffs of their own. Granted, revenue in the Quest store was still up slightly in 2025, according to Pruett. However, much of the medium’s growth has been driven by free-to-play titles like GorillaTag and UG, which are popular with young teens with little disposable income. Even older hardcore VR gamers “are not spending as much as they used to,” Pruett admitted. However, he did have a message of hope for desperate VR developers: Those GorillaTag players won’t stay 14 forever. “As you grow older, start to become an adult, you are looking for things that are more challenging to you,” Pruett said. At the same time, these players likely won’t give up on VR altogether. “They have been playing it since they were 12,” Pruett said. They’re used to a different kind of gameplay with a bigger emphasis on social interaction, and also a lot less prone to motion sickness than older players. “We’ve never had young adults that were VR native,” Pruett said. And while ...