Electric Ballroom, London The era-defining duo’s ultras are suitably spoiled in the first of this intimate five-day run, showered with rarities that put a different spin on their well-known history ‘Tonight …” says Neil Tennant, with a suave pause, “no hits!” The crowd roars. “B-sides?” he teases. “Album tracks! And what we’re calling – although really it’s both of those – fan favourites .” It is ...
Electric Ballroom, London The era-defining duo’s ultras are suitably spoiled in the first of this intimate five-day run, showered with rarities that put a different spin on their well-known history ‘Tonight …” says Neil Tennant, with a suave pause, “no hits!” The crowd roars. “B-sides?” he teases. “Album tracks! And what we’re calling – although really it’s both of those – fan favourites .” It is a rare gig when the singer of a history-defining pop band can promise that no one will be hearing some of the best songs of all time tonight – West End Girls, Always on My Mind, Rent, to name some of several dozen – and get a hero’s welcome. But Pet Shop Boys have been on their Dreamworld greatest hits tour since 2022, one that’s barely even made room for their excellent and underrated 2024 album Nonetheless on the set list, let alone many wildcards. The Pet Shop Boys casual has been lavishly fatted in recent years. The Pet Shop Boys ultra, however, has been a little parched. It’s something this five-day run of intimate shows at Camden’s Electric Ballroom seeks to remedy, drawing from the band’s margins to promote a new tome on their highly intentional visual history: in typical one-word fashion, the tour is called Obscure. Tennant and synths foil Chris Lowe announced beforehand that they had rehearsed 35 possible songs from their 42-year run, but their enduring commitment to the single format, with its considered B-sides and remixes, makes the possibilities endless: one fan compiled a pre-game playlist of 226 “B-sides and non-singles” , and doubted even then that it was comprehensive. Tennant has a tray containing the lyrics – fair play, given that two songs tonight have never been played before, while others are getting their first trip out of the cupboard in decades. Continue reading...
PM Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images The VanEck CLO ETF ( CLOI ) is an actively managed ETF that is sub-advised by PineBridge Investments. The goal of the company is to invest primarily in IG-rated tranches of CLOs. Launched in June 2022, the fund has scaled to approximately $1.37 billion in net assets , establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing funds in the securitized credit space. T...
PM Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images The VanEck CLO ETF ( CLOI ) is an actively managed ETF that is sub-advised by PineBridge Investments. The goal of the company is to invest primarily in IG-rated tranches of CLOs. Launched in June 2022, the fund has scaled to approximately $1.37 billion in net assets , establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing funds in the securitized credit space. The fund pays monthly distributions and benchmarks against the J.P. Morgan CLO IG Index , effective May of 2025. CLOI's strategy allows investment across the IG CLO capital structure, from AAA through BBB, with up to 20% in BB-rated tranches . This flexibility is the fund's defining characteristic. Unlike JAAA, which is locked into the AAA tranche, PineBridge can dynamically allocate across the capital stack, moving up in quality during stress and reaching down when mezzanine spreads compensate for incremental risk. I am initiating CLOI as a buy on Seeking Alpha, as a persistent 50-150 bps complexity premium over comparable rated corporate credit, within a floating rate structure, effectively mitigates duration risk, with the active rotation providing a layer of alpha that static CLO allocations cannot replicate. While slightly higher risk, the returns justify a buy rating. Top Holdings and Credit Quality CLOI's portfolio is well-diversified across CLO managers and vintages. The most recent fact sheet has the following as their top holdings: Holding Coupon Maturity % of Net Assets U.S. Treasury Bill - 03/2026 7.65% Anchorage Capital CLO 2026-22 Ltd 5.000% 01/2039 4.65% Signal Peak CLO 4 Ltd 5.318% 10/2034 2.71% Regatta VI Funding Ltd 5.206% 10/2038 2.67% Ocean Trails CLO XV Ltd 4.932% 01/2039 2.57% Click to enlarge The 7.65% allocation to T-bills serves as a buffer to liquidity, which has become a standard practice for CLO ETFs that are actively managed, which partake in daily creation and redemption flows where the underlying securities often trade OTC. The quality of credi...
wildpixel Wall Street hoped for the best on Tuesday as investors navigated yet another deadline tied to tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The stock index futures were up, as markets looked to be still leaning towards de-escalation rather than pricing in a worst-case outcome. The latest deadline set by President Donald Trump for Iran to ease restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz comes after a ...
wildpixel Wall Street hoped for the best on Tuesday as investors navigated yet another deadline tied to tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The stock index futures were up, as markets looked to be still leaning towards de-escalation rather than pricing in a worst-case outcome. The latest deadline set by President Donald Trump for Iran to ease restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz comes after a series of earlier timelines that have, so far, resulted in extensions or partial diplomatic progress rather than a decisive escalation. That pattern is reflected in price action across asset classes. Oil prices remained elevated, reflecting ongoing supply risks through the Gulf, but moves in equities have been relatively contained. Major indices have traded in narrow ranges, while haven demand, though present, has not accelerated sharply. The muted reaction suggests investors are treating the deadline as part of a broader negotiating cycle rather than a binary event. Previous deadlines in March were accompanied by short-lived bouts of risk aversion, followed by recoveries as rhetoric softened or talks resumed. Still, the risk of miscalculation remains. Unlike earlier episodes, the cumulative impact of repeated deadlines and limited progress raises the possibility that markets may be underestimating the likelihood of escalation. Any concrete disruption to shipping through Hormuz would likely force a sharper repricing across asset classes. For now, however, the baseline remains unchanged. Markets are approaching the latest deadline with caution. Trump has set a deadline of 8 pm ET on Tuesday for Iran to reopen the Strait and threatened to hit the Middle Eastern country's power plant if they fail to do so. Dear readers: We recognize that politics often intersects with the financial news of the day, so we invite you to click here to join the separate political discussion. More on the U.S.-Iran war U.S.-Iran headed towards path of escalation – Rapidan Energy’s Scott Modell Predi...
honglouwawa/iStock via Getty Images Overview When I previously covered the Nuveen Nasdaq 100 Dynamic Overwrite Fund ( QQQX ), I issued a buy rating due to the potential to collect tax-efficient income while maintaining exposure to high-quality equities. Since then, the fund has outperformed the market indices, despite the ongoing pullback in equities. QQQX has released an updated annual report for...
honglouwawa/iStock via Getty Images Overview When I previously covered the Nuveen Nasdaq 100 Dynamic Overwrite Fund ( QQQX ), I issued a buy rating due to the potential to collect tax-efficient income while maintaining exposure to high-quality equities. Since then, the fund has outperformed the market indices, despite the ongoing pullback in equities. QQQX has released an updated annual report for 2025, which prompted me to revisit the fund's overall value proposition and outlook for the remainder of the year. I believe that QQQX is structured to be a great long-term holding, but there are some specific tradeoffs that investors must consider. Looking at the performance over the last twelve months, we can see that QQQX's share price has increased by nearly 30%. The fund has continued to demonstrate that it is capable of participating in the upside growth of the market. When including all distributions that were paid out to shareholders, the total return jumps up to more than 41% over the same time frame. QQQX now offers investors a starting dividend yield of 8.9%, and the latest annual report indicates that the payouts are well supported by earnings. The fund has displayed consistent distributions, which makes it a great choice for investors seeking a reliable source of income. Data by YCharts I like the fact that QQQX provides direct exposure to equities that make up the index, but the focus on income limits growth potential over time. Furthermore, the fund is reliant on its ability to capture net realized gains. So during periods of market downturns, the underlying NAV may erode, and it can take several years for it to recover. So if the sentiment of AI growth shifts, QQQX is exposed to severe downturn risks. QQQX may underperform against more traditional growth ETFs, but this may be fine if you're a retiree seeking income generation. On the bright side, the fund is currently demonstrating why the strategy can be so efficient during periods of uncertainty. Fund Str...
Bill Oxford/iStock via Getty Images KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ( KALV ) has Ekterly as its leading franchise for hereditary angioedema (HAE). This is an oral on-demand therapy, and it’s approved in seven markets for adults and children 12 years and older. KALV is also working on the pediatric expansion for patients 2 to 11. KALV is planning to submit the NDA by Q3 2026, which could unlock a yo...
Bill Oxford/iStock via Getty Images KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ( KALV ) has Ekterly as its leading franchise for hereditary angioedema (HAE). This is an oral on-demand therapy, and it’s approved in seven markets for adults and children 12 years and older. KALV is also working on the pediatric expansion for patients 2 to 11. KALV is planning to submit the NDA by Q3 2026, which could unlock a younger niche. In particular, that demographic hasn’t been targeted yet by Deucrictibant, developed by Pharvaris N.V. ( PHVS ), which is KALV’s main potential competitor. PHVS is expecting to submit an NDA for Deucrictibant in 1H2026. Thus, on balance, I think it’s fair to remain bullish, but note that the risk-reward equation isn’t as compelling as it was in 2024. Growth Stage On HAE KalVista Pharmaceuticals is now officially a commercial-stage company targeting therapies for rare diseases. They’ve focused so far on small-molecule treatments for hereditary angioedema (HAE). KALV was founded back in 2011 and is currently headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts. I previously covered KALV in June 2024, and since then, the stock has appreciated by roughly 71.5%. So, I thought it was worthwhile revisiting this name. Source: Corporate Presentation. March 2026. As a quick overview, KALV’s portfolio includes its flagship drug Ekterly , which the company calls the first and only oral on-demand therapy for HAE attacks. Ekterly works in a quick and safe way and helps address HAE’s underlying causes for recurrent episodes of swelling. This is vital because eventually, these symptoms may affect the face, hands, feet, intestines, and airway. When HAE damages the throat or airway, it can even become life-threatening. HAE’s attacks can be triggered by stress, minor trauma, illness, or hormonal changes, but sometimes they happen without a clear reason. Moreover, common allergy medicines such as antihistamines may not be enough for relief because the disease has different mechanisms. HAE’s...
Amazon.com (NasdaqGS:AMZN) is facing increased shareholder pressure over the water usage and environmental impact of its expanding data center operations. A coalition of investors is pushing for greater transparency and stronger water conservation measures as Amazon scales infrastructure to support computing and AI workloads. Community resistance has already contributed to the cancellation of seve...
Amazon.com (NasdaqGS:AMZN) is facing increased shareholder pressure over the water usage and environmental impact of its expanding data center operations. A coalition of investors is pushing for greater transparency and stronger water conservation measures as Amazon scales infrastructure to support computing and AI workloads. Community resistance has already contributed to the cancellation of several multibillion dollar data center projects involving Amazon and its peers. The shareholder...
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images News Markets are cautious as President Donald Trump's deadline for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz gets nearer. Trump said all of Iran could be "taken out in one night" if the deadline of 8 p.m. ET isn't met. Here is a summary of the president's deadlines and threats from The AP : An ultimatum about reopening the Strait of Hormuz On March 21, Trump posted on Truth ...
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images News Markets are cautious as President Donald Trump's deadline for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz gets nearer. Trump said all of Iran could be "taken out in one night" if the deadline of 8 p.m. ET isn't met. Here is a summary of the president's deadlines and threats from The AP : An ultimatum about reopening the Strait of Hormuz On March 21, Trump posted on Truth Social that if Iran doesn't “FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS.” Iran had until the evening of March 23. Then 12 hours before the deadline, Trump took to Truth Social to share the good news: that both countries had productive conversations toward concluding the conflict. “I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD,” he wrote, adding that was subject to the success of the discussions. That pushed the deadline out to the end of that week. A threat to target desalinization plants Before the deadline, on March 26, Trump doubled down on his threats on Truth Social: “They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!” But later that day, he extended the deadline for another 10 days, to April 6 at 8 p.m., and said on Truth Social that negotiations were “going very well.” On March 30, Trump put out a mixed statement: celebrating progress in the talks with Iran while also expanding his threatened bombing if a deal wasn't “shortly reached,” adding that “it probably will be." “We will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!),” he wrote. It's unclear how soon “shortly reached” meant for Trump, but a deal was not...
Google says it has updated Gemini to better direct users to get mental health resources during moments of crisis. The change comes as the tech giant faces a wrongful death lawsuit alleging its chatbot "coached" a man to die by suicide, the latest in a string of lawsuits alleging tangible harm from AI products. When a conversation indicates a user is in a potential crisis related to suicide or self...
Google says it has updated Gemini to better direct users to get mental health resources during moments of crisis. The change comes as the tech giant faces a wrongful death lawsuit alleging its chatbot "coached" a man to die by suicide, the latest in a string of lawsuits alleging tangible harm from AI products. When a conversation indicates a user is in a potential crisis related to suicide or self-harm, Gemini already launches a "Help is available" module that directs users to mental health crisis resources , like a suicide hotline or crisis text line. Google says the update - really more of a redesign - will streamline this into a "one-touc … Read the full story at The Verge.
Bay FC forward Barry in for injured Freya Godfrey Lionesses face Spain and Iceland in qualifiers The Bay FC forward Keira Barry has received her first senior England call-up after being added to Sarina Wiegman’s squad for Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Iceland alongside the fit-again Chelsea full-back Niamh Charles. Their additions come after the London City Lionesses forward Freya...
Bay FC forward Barry in for injured Freya Godfrey Lionesses face Spain and Iceland in qualifiers The Bay FC forward Keira Barry has received her first senior England call-up after being added to Sarina Wiegman’s squad for Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Iceland alongside the fit-again Chelsea full-back Niamh Charles. Their additions come after the London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey withdrew because of a shoulder injury. Barry, promoted for the Under-23s squad, is a product of Manchester United’s academy and also played for clubs including Crystal Palace and Sunderland before signing for Bay FC in February. Continue reading...
Cybersecurity stocks have sold off this year alongside the rest of the software sector, but with artificial intelligence increasing the potential threats from bad actors, investors risk missing out on the burgeoning demand for their services. “Right now software investors are selling first and asking questions later, but I think we’ll look back and see this as a really interesting time to get into...
Cybersecurity stocks have sold off this year alongside the rest of the software sector, but with artificial intelligence increasing the potential threats from bad actors, investors risk missing out on the burgeoning demand for their services. “Right now software investors are selling first and asking questions later, but I think we’ll look back and see this as a really interesting time to get into security,” said Manthan Shah , who helps oversee more than $7 billion as head of US investments at WestBridge Capital. “This is one of the top areas where we’re excited about the long-term potential.” Software stocks have seen widespread selling for months on concerns that offerings from AI companies like OpenAI or Anthropic will sap demand from legacy providers, eroding their growth and pricing power. The proliferation of so-called AI agents, designed to complete multi-step processes without human interference, has been a particular challenge for software-as-a-service stocks. Cybersecurity software makers have felt that pessimism. The Global X Cybersecurity ETF is down 15% in 2026 and recently closed at its lowest price since November 2023. While that’s better than the 31% plunge in an index dedicated to software-as-a-service, it’s still far worse than the 3.4% decline in the S&P 500 Index and the 4.2% drop in the technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index this year. But not all software is the same, and in the case of cybersecurity investors may be misreading the landscape. Those same AI agents that are expected to eat away at the business are also being used for nefarious purposes, a risk that’s likely to become more acute as AI models become more powerful. Hackers have already applied AI tools to breach more than 600 firewalls in dozens of countries, including Mexican government agencies . Given this threat, the thesis goes, greater AI adoption means customers will require more protection from cybersecurity software. “AI is also going to massively increase the surface area that...