The US welcomed Bolivia back to its sphere of influence last weekend by returning a family heirloom to President Rodrigo Paz : the golden cross his father, who was also president, gave to George H.W. Bush in 1990. The younger Paz is attempting to lead the South American nation out of an economic crisis and realign its foreign policy with Washington after two decades of a socialist government that ...
The US welcomed Bolivia back to its sphere of influence last weekend by returning a family heirloom to President Rodrigo Paz : the golden cross his father, who was also president, gave to George H.W. Bush in 1990. The younger Paz is attempting to lead the South American nation out of an economic crisis and realign its foreign policy with Washington after two decades of a socialist government that favored China, Russia and Venezuela. Foreign currency reserves remain low, and inflation is stubborn at 17%. The White House has thrown its support behind the 58-year-old Paz, promising to work with the mineral-rich nation to remove barriers to investment. Donald Trump had his first face-to-face meeting with Bolivia’s president on Saturday at the Shield of the Americas summit in Doral, Florida, attended by Latin American leaders leaders from across the Western Hemisphere. Paz, in turn, is seeking to revamp Bolivia’s finances with an eye on boosting foreign reserves while servicing its debt with international lenders. It’s a daunting challenge, even for a leader whose path to power has the feel of destiny — Bush had predicted that one day the US would give back the cross when one of the elder Paz’s children rose to the presidency. “There is a clear intention to open Bolivia to the world and the world to Bolivia,” Paz said in an interview. The president, who took office in November, said his administration is drafting new legislation on investment, hydrocarbons, mining and energy to attract foreign companies. Already, Elon Musk’s satellite Internet service Starlink has started operations in Bolivia, while others “are conducting market assessments and exploring potential investments,” he said. The country holds one of the world’s largest lithium deposits and significant mining and hydrocarbons potential, but a lack of investment in exploration helped drag its hydrocarbons exports to $1 billion last year from a peak of $6.6 billion from 2013 to 2014. That’s contributed to an ec...
Policymakers around the world are readying measures to absorb surging energy and commodities prices triggered by the Middle East war that now threaten the global economy with its biggest shock since the pandemic. What were cast as dire scenarios when the conflict began have quickly become reality, with Brent crude surging Monday to almost $120 a barrel from around $72 dollars before the war with I...
Policymakers around the world are readying measures to absorb surging energy and commodities prices triggered by the Middle East war that now threaten the global economy with its biggest shock since the pandemic. What were cast as dire scenarios when the conflict began have quickly become reality, with Brent crude surging Monday to almost $120 a barrel from around $72 dollars before the war with Iran started. While oil fell back below $100 after President Donald Trump indicated the war would be resolved “very soon” and said he plans to waive oil-related sanctions, it remains unclear how the conflict ends and how long it’ll take to unwind the energy supply problems. That’s injected fresh uncertainty into a global growth outlook facing a host of disruptors from AI and tariffs to rising debt. Beyond oil, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a spike in prices for LNG, fertilizer, jet fuel and other key commodities, stoking fears of a new wave of global inflation, slower growth and supply snarls as factories are forced to slow production. Before the US and Israel’s Feb. 28 attacks, the World Bank’s Global Supply Chain Stress Index was already hovering at its highest level since the pandemic. After an initial wait-and-watch response, governments are now studying options that include releasing oil from strategic reserves, price caps to help households and subsidies and tax relief to cushion business and farmers. Bloomberg Economics: Iran, Oil and Inflation — Three Scenarios South Korea’s President has called for a cap on fuel prices; the UK government has floated support for households; the Philippines has switched government offices to a four-day week; and Indian officials are considering whether measures to offset spiking energy costs are needed. Short-Term Fixes “All of these are sticking plasters that can help absorb some degree of the energy shock in the short term, but are unlikely to make much difference in the longer run if the conflict proves p...
Ad Age partners with executive search firm Taligence for a monthly look at the biggest CMO hires and employment trends. (Ad Age composite: Ezra Bailey/Getty Images)
Ad Age partners with executive search firm Taligence for a monthly look at the biggest CMO hires and employment trends. (Ad Age composite: Ezra Bailey/Getty Images)
Sheikhspeare Authored by James Alexander via DailySceptic.org, Hegel said everything important in world history happens twice . Marx added, grimly: “The first time as tragedy, the second as farce.” And here is my thrupenny bit. Everything important said by anyone in world history is said twice: the first time as farcical observation, the second as academic argument. As evidence I submit the follow...
Sheikhspeare Authored by James Alexander via DailySceptic.org, Hegel said everything important in world history happens twice . Marx added, grimly: “The first time as tragedy, the second as farce.” And here is my thrupenny bit. Everything important said by anyone in world history is said twice: the first time as farcical observation, the second as academic argument. As evidence I submit the following. A few weeks ago I took a brief look at the hypothesis that Shakespeare was a black lady. I accepted with grave pleasure the fact that Shakespeare is an anagram of A She-Speaker: but, of course I had to be caustic about the claim accompanying the staggering anagram. And against the argument that the name Shakespeare might allude to Shakti, the female power that lies underneath all existence, I solemnly ventured the observation that it might equally and oppositely – equality and opposition being essential to scepticism – allude to the Arabic word Sheikh, and the male power that lies underneath all existence. That was the farce. Now the academic argument. Today I received a notification from Academia.edu telling me about a piece written by Sushil K. Jain from Canada, entitled, and hold your breath, ‘Shakespeare, the Sheikh, Who Became a Peer’ , subtitled, ‘The Eastern Mind Behind the English Stage: A New Model of Shakespearian Authorship’, published 2026. There we are. First time as farce, second time as academic argument. I have printed it out and will let you know what it says. It is 120 pages long. Actually, it is not very academic, though it has a fair number of citations and is written in a sort of AI-neutral prose style. Right, I read it last night. The first thing I have to say is that the author nowhere says that he is guilty of a woeful pun. “The Sheikh who became a Peer”, indeed. Jain’s style – and I do not know how much any AI bot was involved in the writing of this: it is very smooth and laborious and explanatory and is very easy to skip through without missin...
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. press release ( ASUUY ): FY GAAP EPS of NT$60.00. Revenue of NT$688.94B (+25.6% Y/Y). More on ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Global PC shipments rose 9% in 2025; supply constraints cloud 2026 outlook Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Historical earnings data for ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Dividend scorecard for ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Financial information for ASUSTeK Com...
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. press release ( ASUUY ): FY GAAP EPS of NT$60.00. Revenue of NT$688.94B (+25.6% Y/Y). More on ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Global PC shipments rose 9% in 2025; supply constraints cloud 2026 outlook Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Historical earnings data for ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Dividend scorecard for ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Financial information for ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Lindt & Spruengli AG shares fell by the most in six years after the chocolate maker lowered its full-year sales guidance, citing geopolitical turmoil. The stock tumbled as much as 9.5% in Swiss trading, the biggest intraday drop since March 2020. The decline erased the gains for this year. Lindt now sees organic sales growth of 4% to 6% in 2026, down from a previous forecast of 6% to 8%, the compa...
Lindt & Spruengli AG shares fell by the most in six years after the chocolate maker lowered its full-year sales guidance, citing geopolitical turmoil. The stock tumbled as much as 9.5% in Swiss trading, the biggest intraday drop since March 2020. The decline erased the gains for this year. Lindt now sees organic sales growth of 4% to 6% in 2026, down from a previous forecast of 6% to 8%, the company said Tuesday. It reiterated its operating profit margin target on expectations the trend switching from quantity to quality chocolates will continue, Lindt said. The guidance cut reflects not only current geopolitical turmoil but also lingering uncertainty around volume growth, said Vontobel analyst Jean-Philippe Bertschy in a note. “This will likely fuel the bears’ doubts about Lindt’s ability to reignite volumes,” he said. Lindt has faced high cocoa prices and weak demand in its key markets. The Swiss chocolatier raised its prices by 19% in 2025 after cocoa costs reached record highs the previous year, a move that has weighed on sales volumes. Cocoa futures have more than halved in the past six months after reaching a peak in December 2024. The chocolatier also said it plans a share buyback program of as much as 1 billion Swiss francs ($1.3 billion).
Ignatiev/E+ via Getty Images Rocket Lab’s ( RKLB ) latest quarter may have appeared to be a solid one, as I discussed in earlier analysis , with revenue beating expectations, margins reaching new highs, and backlog reaching a record high. Yet the focus of the market continues to seem somehow obsessed with an event that has not occurred yet, the delayed launch of the company’s new Neutron rocket. I...
Ignatiev/E+ via Getty Images Rocket Lab’s ( RKLB ) latest quarter may have appeared to be a solid one, as I discussed in earlier analysis , with revenue beating expectations, margins reaching new highs, and backlog reaching a record high. Yet the focus of the market continues to seem somehow obsessed with an event that has not occurred yet, the delayed launch of the company’s new Neutron rocket. It’s a phenomenon that caught my attention almost immediately. The company reported $180 million in revenue for its Q4 earnings , representing 36% year-over-year growth, as well as record GAAP gross margins of 38%. The company’s revenue for the full year was $602 million, continuing its long-term growth trajectory that is now accelerating. This is not insignificant for a company that the market continues to treat as an experimental launch company. The focus, however, continues to remain centered around the delayed launch of the company’s new rocket, the Neutron, which is now expected to launch in late 2026 following the qualification tank failure. This is an incomplete way to look at the company to me, as the company is now transforming into a fundamentally different business than the way the market seems to think about it. Backlog Visibility Far Stronger Than Launch Headlines Suggest The $1.85 billion backlog should not be overlooked in favor of the launch headlines. Backlog in the aerospace industry is tricky, as the nature of these contracts often spans multiple years. So, while the number is certainly an important metric, the fact that the company disclosed that approximately 37% of this backlog is expected to convert into revenue over the next 12 months changed my perspective entirely. Q4 2025 INVESTOR UPDATE This represents approximately $685 million in revenue before the company even signs new contracts. This is to say that the vast majority of the revenue that the company will see in the following year is already represented in its current backlog. This is significan...
ismagilov/iStock via Getty Images Airlines are facing soaring jet fuel prices as a result of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, prompting carriers around the world to raise ticket prices and consider adding more flights for certain routes. Australia's Qantas Airways ( QABSY ) said it will hike airfares on its international routes this week and is exploring options to redeploy capacity to its Europe routes...
ismagilov/iStock via Getty Images Airlines are facing soaring jet fuel prices as a result of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, prompting carriers around the world to raise ticket prices and consider adding more flights for certain routes. Australia's Qantas Airways ( QABSY ) said it will hike airfares on its international routes this week and is exploring options to redeploy capacity to its Europe routes in the coming months. "Given the high demand for international flights, particularly to Europe, lower fare options are selling more quickly than usual," Qantas ( QABSY ) said. "More customers have also been choosing to travel to Europe via the United States, other Asian cities and Johannesburg." Air New Zealand ( ANZFF ) said it implemented initial fare adjustments, but it may take further pricing action if jet fuel costs remain elevated. "Jet fuel prices, which were around $85 to $90 per barrel prior to the conflict, have increased sharply to between $150 to $200 per barrel in recent days," the airline noted. It said the crack spread (jet fuel refining margins) widened from ~$22 per barrel before the conflict to as high as $115 per barrel. The conflict is expected to "meaningfully affect" Air New Zealand's ( ANZFF ) second-half earnings, because of which it suspended its FY2026 guidance until fuel markets and operating conditions stabilize. Cathay Pacific Airways ( CPCAY ) ( CPCAF ) is adding extra flights to London and Zurich this month, Reuters reported , while Hong Kong Airlines is raising its fuel surcharges by up to 35.2% this week. Indian airlines raised prices on long-haul routes by 15% and may hike fares further, Bloomberg News reported , while Vietnamese state media warned that airfares could rise as much as 70%. More on airlines US Global Jets ETF: Why I Would Stay Away (Rating Downgrade) Iran War Pressures Airline Stocks Through Oil And Demand Risks Five undervalued large cap airline carriers amid turbulent stock prices Global airlines: Fuel‑hedging winners an...
P. Kijsanayothin/E+ via Getty Images By Min Joo Kang , Senior Economist, South Korea and Japan GDP revised up from 0.2% quarter-on-quarter to 1.3% annualised The upward revision to Japan’s fourth-quarter GDP was mostly due to strong business spending (1.3% vs flash 0.2%). Private consumption also rose a bit to 0.3% (vs flash 0.1%). Government spending is expected to rise in the current quarter, wh...
P. Kijsanayothin/E+ via Getty Images By Min Joo Kang , Senior Economist, South Korea and Japan GDP revised up from 0.2% quarter-on-quarter to 1.3% annualised The upward revision to Japan’s fourth-quarter GDP was mostly due to strong business spending (1.3% vs flash 0.2%). Private consumption also rose a bit to 0.3% (vs flash 0.1%). Government spending is expected to rise in the current quarter, while energy subsidies and strong wage growth are set to boost private consumption. Inventory was a drag on growth for the second straight quarter. But we expect the restocking cycle to reverse and begin contributing positively to the current quarter. Downside risks increased, but we expect steady growth ahead thanks to government support Source: CEIC, ING estimates Household spending dropped unexpectedly, but underlying trend appears to remain firm Household spending unexpectedly dropped 1.0% year-on-year in January (vs -2.6% in December, 2.4% market consensus). The decline was mainly driven by significant declines in housing (-12.3%) and education (-22.6%). Meanwhile, spending increased in food (1.5%), furniture (13.5%), and culture and recreation (10.8%). Despite the soft headline, underlying spending on goods and private services still seems resilient. Combined with solid wage data (real wage growth of 1.4% YoY in January) from yesterday, recent trends support our view that private spending is expected to remain firm in the current quarter. Gasoline price hikes are limited despite the heavy dependence on Middle East oil Recent global oil price increases have had a limited impact on domestic inflation, largely due to government measures. Gasoline prices rose 2.4% between the end of February and 9 March, according to a price comparison website. There has been an acceleration in the last two days, but no queuing at gas stations, indicating that market sentiment remains controlled. The government has subsidised petroleum companies to stabilise prices. It also abolished the ga...
syahrir maulana/iStock via Getty Images The following segment was excerpted from Royce Small-Cap Opportunity Fund FY 2025 Manager Commentary. Five of the portfolio’s 10 equity sectors made a positive impact on performance in 2025, with Industrials, Information Technology, and Financials making the largest positive contributions were while Consumer Discretionary, Energy, and Consumer Staples had th...
syahrir maulana/iStock via Getty Images The following segment was excerpted from Royce Small-Cap Opportunity Fund FY 2025 Manager Commentary. Five of the portfolio’s 10 equity sectors made a positive impact on performance in 2025, with Industrials, Information Technology, and Financials making the largest positive contributions were while Consumer Discretionary, Energy, and Consumer Staples had the biggest negative effect. At the industry level, aerospace & defense (Industrials), electronic equipment, instruments & components (Information Technology), and construction & engineering (Industrials) contributed most for the calendar year period, and IT services (Information Technology), textiles, apparel & luxury goods (Consumer Discretionary), and software (Information Technology) were the largest detractors. Our top contributor at the holdings level was nLIGHT ( LASR ) , which designs, manufactures, and sells a range of high-power semiconductor and fiber lasers that are typically integrated into laser systems or tools built by its manufacturing customers. The company also provides components and integrated solutions to high-energy laser systems for directed energy and laser sensing systems used in a wide range of defense applications. nLIGHT differentiates its business by its vertical integration, domain knowledge, and manufacturing capabilities to combine dedicated resources and facilities with deep technical expertise to deliver cutting-edge solutions, increasingly to government and defense organizations. Its shares have outperformed due to upward revisions to the outlook for its aerospace & defense customers. We remain constructive on the prospects for addressable market expanding product launches and a recovery in manufacturing-driven end-markets. Astronics Corporation ( ATRO )( ATROB ) supplies flight-critical electrical power, inflight entertainment and connectivity, lighting and safety, and test solutions to the aerospace, defense, and mass transit industries. ...
Key Points Tesla's electric-vehicle business produced declining sales in each of the last two years, driving a sharp drop in the company's revenue and earnings. Tesla's future products, like the Cybercab robotaxi and Optimus humanoid robot, are intriguing, but it could take years for them to achieve scale. Tesla stock is currently more expensive than every other stock in the $1 trillion club by a ...
Key Points Tesla's electric-vehicle business produced declining sales in each of the last two years, driving a sharp drop in the company's revenue and earnings. Tesla's future products, like the Cybercab robotaxi and Optimus humanoid robot, are intriguing, but it could take years for them to achieve scale. Tesla stock is currently more expensive than every other stock in the $1 trillion club by a very wide margin. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › The U.S. is currently home to 10 companies valued at $1 trillion or more. These are: Nvidia: $4.4 trillion. Apple: $3.8 trillion. Alphabet: $3.6 trillion. Microsoft: $3 trillion. Amazon: $2.3 trillion. Meta Platforms: $1.6 trillion. Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) Broadcom: $1.5 trillion. Berkshire Hathaway: $1 trillion. Walmart: $1 trillion. However, one of them is substantially more expensive than the rest when measured by a key valuation metric. Considering this company's core business produced shrinking sales in each of the last two years, its premium valuation is increasingly difficult to justify. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » That company is Tesla. Investors have piled into the stock because the company's future product platforms, like the Cybercab autonomous robotaxi and the Optimus humanoid robot, have enormous potential. But here in the present, 73% of the company's total revenue still comes from its passenger electric-vehicle (EV) business, where demand continues to decline. Here's why I predict Tesla will drop out of the exclusive $1 trillion club before the end of 2026. EV sales declined at an accelerated pace in 2025 Tesla delivered 1.79 million EVs to customers in 2024, which was a 1% decline from the previous year. But in 2025, deliveries came in at 1.63 million cars, which was an even sharper year-over-year...
ORCL reports fiscal third-quarter 2026 results after the U.S. market closes on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, with management scheduled to host its earnings call at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. Ahead of the release, ORCL stock last traded at $151.56 on March 9, leaving it deep in correction territory and putting unusual weight on tonight's numbers, guidance, and commentary on AI infrastructure spending. That...
ORCL reports fiscal third-quarter 2026 results after the U.S. market closes on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, with management scheduled to host its earnings call at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. Ahead of the release, ORCL stock last traded at $151.56 on March 9, leaving it deep in correction territory and putting unusual weight on tonight's numbers, guidance, and commentary on AI infrastructure spending. That price tells an important story. Oracle stock is down about 22% in 2026 so far, and it is roughly 54% below its September 10, 2025, closing peak of $326.90. The market is no longer rewarding Oracle for AI excitement alone as investors now want proof that cloud demand, backlog growth, and heavy spending can translate into durable returns. Markets' Expectation for Oracle Earnings Today Metric Current setup Revenue About $16.9 billion expected Adjusted EPS About $1.70 to $1.71 expected Last reported cloud revenue $8.0 billion, up 34% Last reported OCI revenue $4.1 billion, up 68% Last reported RPO $523 billion, up 438% 2026 funding plan $45 billion to $50 billion Wall Street is looking for roughly $16.9 billion in revenue and about $1.70 to $1.71 in adjusted EPS. On the surface, that would imply a sharp improvement from the year-ago quarter, when ORCL reported $14.1 billion in revenue and $1.47 in non-GAAP EPS. Tonight's report is especially significant. ORCL's second-quarter results demonstrated strong cloud growth, with $8.0 billion in cloud revenue, $4.1 billion in cloud infrastructure revenue, and $523 billion in remaining performance obligations. However, the quarter also highlighted the increasing capital demands of AI expansion. Additionally, Oracle plans to raise between $45 billion and $50 billion in gross cash proceeds by 2026 to support the expansion of OCI. This funding strategy shifted the market's focus from growth alone to the quality of that growth. ORCL Stock Recent Performance: 1 Week, 1 Month, 6 Months Before analyzing potential impacts on the stock, it's he...