Alistair Berg/DigitalVision via Getty Images By Mike Larson The record of geopolitical conflicts is clear: Markets can and will get past them... eventually. But the road between Point A to Point B can be volatile and financially treacherous. So, what’s moving now - and what might happen next ? Let’s start with my MoneyShow Chart of the Day. It shows the performance of several ETFs over the past fi...
Alistair Berg/DigitalVision via Getty Images By Mike Larson The record of geopolitical conflicts is clear: Markets can and will get past them... eventually. But the road between Point A to Point B can be volatile and financially treacherous. So, what’s moving now - and what might happen next ? Let’s start with my MoneyShow Chart of the Day. It shows the performance of several ETFs over the past five trading days. They include ones that track key stock market sectors, like the US Global JETS ETF ( JETS ) and the Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF ( PPA ), and funds that track commodities, including the United States Oil Fund ( USO ) and United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ). From Oil Prices to Airline Stocks, this Conflict is Hitting Home (Data by YCharts) The short-term impacts are abundantly clear - and in many cases, logical. USO up more than 9%, PPA up 3.6%, and JETS down 4% “make sense” given the threat to energy supplies, the likelihood of increased defense spending, and the large disruptions to global travel. In other cases, they seem odd. The iShares MSCI Israel ETF ( EIS ), for instance, is up 3.8% despite the fact the nation is facing Iranian counterattacks. Then you have the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF ( TLT ) unchanged. Treasuries have historically seen big “flight to safety” flows during global conflicts. But that isn’t happening this time around - likely because of fears higher energy prices will push already simmering inflation higher. Which of these moves will stick for more than a few days? And how should you trade them? It all comes down to several questions, including... How long will the conflict last? What will the endgame be? Which energy facilities and supply routes will be targeted or disrupted? How will that impact oil, gas, and product prices... as well as inflation? How will monetary policymakers and businesses react - both here in the US and abroad? The answers aren’t clear, as the conflict is in flux. But the sectors and funds I high...
The Kobo Remote is small and lightweight, but large enough to be comfortable to hold. Does anyone really need a remote for a device you’re already either holding or using at arm’s length? E-readers have saved us from the risk of paper cuts and the burden of physically turning pages, but Kobo is making it even easier by releasing a wireless page-turning remote . The Kobo Remote might be indulgent a...
The Kobo Remote is small and lightweight, but large enough to be comfortable to hold. Does anyone really need a remote for a device you’re already either holding or using at arm’s length? E-readers have saved us from the risk of paper cuts and the burden of physically turning pages, but Kobo is making it even easier by releasing a wireless page-turning remote . The Kobo Remote might be indulgent and basic, but it’s all about maximizing convenience, and at the end of the night when I’m looking to unwind with a good book, that’s exactly what I want. Wireless remotes for e-readers aren’t a new idea, but none of them just directly connect to Kindles and Kobos, despite recent versions of those e-readers now supporting Bluetooth. You either need to jump through hoops to modify the software on your e-reader to make it connect to specific third-party remotes , or settle for a remotely operated accessory that attaches to an e-reader and physically taps the screen to turn the page. Clip-on page turners have always felt too cumbersome and complicated to me. I’m probably not alone, because shortly after it launched last November, the $30 Kobo Remote quickly sold out and remained out of stock for several months. It wasn’t until late January that I was finally able to buy one, and while I think Kobo could have squeezed in a little more functionality, both my wife and I have readily embraced the remote. At just shy of 4 inches long and about the size of a pack of Juicy Fruit, the Kobo Remote is a lot smaller than I was expecting. It feels even smaller in my large hands, but at the same time big enough to comfortably hold and operate, and to not get lost in the bedsheets if dropped. The remote includes an optional wrist lanyard, which on more than one occasion has prevented it from going missing when I’ve fallen asleep reading. There’s no rechargeable battery, but Kobo says the included AAA should last for months. The remote will only connect to Kobo devices that support Bluetooth ...
A lot is going to change during the next five years, both in the crypto sector and in the world. Leading blockchains like XRP (XRP +3.49%) and Cardano (ADA +2.00%) have some of the best odds of still being around in 2031 -- but there's a big difference between merely limping along and succeeding as an investment. So if you're trying to figure out how to park $3,500 so that it will grow throughout ...
A lot is going to change during the next five years, both in the crypto sector and in the world. Leading blockchains like XRP (XRP +3.49%) and Cardano (ADA +2.00%) have some of the best odds of still being around in 2031 -- but there's a big difference between merely limping along and succeeding as an investment. So if you're trying to figure out how to park $3,500 so that it will grow throughout what are likely to be some pretty turbulent times, you will need to put it in the crypto asset with the least uncertainty as of today. Let's evaluate each of these coins on that basis and determine which is the better pick. XRP has its destination in view, and a path to get there XRP's chain, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) already is fast and cheap, and it's quite competitive with other networks on that front. Since a slew of recent updates implemented by its issuer, Ripple, it now also has a built-in decentralized exchange (DEX) and an automated market maker (AMM) so its ecosystem assets can trade without a traditional intermediary. These features, among many others, are part of a larger strategy to make the XRPL into a vertically integrated set of services and features that institutional investors and financial institutions can use to manage their assets. The idea is that as those players move their capital to the chain for management, they will need to buy and hold a lot of XRP to fund their accounts and pay for transaction fees. Expand CRYPTO : XRP XRP Today's Change ( 3.49 %) $ 0.05 Current Price $ 1.40 Key Data Points Market Cap $85B Day's Range $ 1.34 - $ 1.42 52wk Range $ 1.14 - $ 3.65 Volume 3.3B The XRPL's new DEX is already starting to get some real traction, which suggests that the features Ripple has been building are successful in terms of generating economic activity. On Feb. 27, it registered more than $9 million in trading activity. That might not sound like much. But a year ago, it was practically dormant, with just $33,759 in activity on the same day, and it didn'...
What Are The Prospects Of Putin Mediating An End To The Iran War? Authored by Andrew Korybko, Russia is the only country in the world that’s on decent terms with Iran, the US, Israel, and the Gulf Kingdoms, thus making Putin the only person who could potentially mediate an end to the war. Putin spoke with the leaders of the UAE , Qatar , Bahrain , and Saudi Arabia (de facto since he spoke with Moh...
What Are The Prospects Of Putin Mediating An End To The Iran War? Authored by Andrew Korybko, Russia is the only country in the world that’s on decent terms with Iran, the US, Israel, and the Gulf Kingdoms, thus making Putin the only person who could potentially mediate an end to the war. Putin spoke with the leaders of the UAE , Qatar , Bahrain , and Saudi Arabia (de facto since he spoke with Mohammed bin Salman) on Monday, all of whose countries have been attacked by Iran on the pretext that the US military facilities on their territories are being used in the war . The Kremlin readouts that were cited above all sound the same due to them complaining about being attacked, Putin sympathizing with them without condemning Iran, and then floating suggestions that he could mediate an end to it. Many observers have been under the false impression that Russia is Iran’s military ally, the perception of which proliferated for the reasons explained here , namely due to the alternative reality crafted over the years by top “Non-Russian Pro-Russian” influencers for whatever their reasons may have been. The objectively existing reality is that Russia carefully balances between the Iranian-led “Resistance Axis” on the one side and Israel and the Gulf Kingdoms , the UAE being Russia’s main partner , on the other. Having contextualized Putin’s four calls, it’s now time to briefly review the goals of Iran, the US and Israel, and the Gulf Kingdoms in this conflict. Iran only wants to survive the onslaught without regime change, demilitarization, or “ Balkanization ” while inflicting damage on its regional adversaries and their shared US ally as punishment for the joint US-Israeli war against it. The US and Israel, meanwhile, want to carry out regime change , demilitarize Iran, and restore its pre-revolutionary role as their ally. As for the Gulf Kingdoms, they don’t want Iran to attack them anymore due to the extreme fragility of their economies, but some now believe that they’re c...
KBR ( KBR ) has been awarded a 10-year catalyst supply contract by Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals FZE for its entire ammonia plant portfolio. This marks the first long ‑ term catalyst agreement for KBR in the ammonia sector. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide complete catalyst solutions for Indorama’s six ammonia plants in Nigeria, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and India. More on KBR,...
KBR ( KBR ) has been awarded a 10-year catalyst supply contract by Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals FZE for its entire ammonia plant portfolio. This marks the first long ‑ term catalyst agreement for KBR in the ammonia sector. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide complete catalyst solutions for Indorama’s six ammonia plants in Nigeria, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and India. More on KBR, Inc KBR, Inc. 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation KBR, Inc. (KBR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript KBR outlines $7.9B–$8.36B 2026 revenue target as spin-off preparations advance KBR, Inc Non-GAAP EPS of $0.99 beats by $0.04, revenue of $1.9B misses by $10M Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on KBR, Inc
Philippe TURPIN/Photononstop via Getty Images Company Description Crescent Capital BDC, Inc. ( CCAP ) is an externally managed Business Development Company. The company focuses on originating and investing in the debt of private U.S. middle-market companies, targeting businesses with EBITDA generally in the $10–$100M range — positioning it in the core lower-to-core middle market, a segment charact...
Philippe TURPIN/Photononstop via Getty Images Company Description Crescent Capital BDC, Inc. ( CCAP ) is an externally managed Business Development Company. The company focuses on originating and investing in the debt of private U.S. middle-market companies, targeting businesses with EBITDA generally in the $10–$100M range — positioning it in the core lower-to-core middle market, a segment characterized by relatively less competition from large, syndicated loan markets and institutional capital. CCAP's investment strategy is predominantly sponsor-backed (99% of the debt portfolio is in PE-sponsored companies as of 12/31/2025), with an emphasis on directly originated, floating-rate senior secured credit. CCAP was formed in 2015 and went public in 2020. CCAP, with a market value of ~$489 million is in the 4 th quartile by market capitalization. Investment Thesis and Recommendation As with all BDCs, CCAP is predominantly used as an income investment with the possibility of some capital appreciation. CCAP invests primarily in first lien senior secured loans to non-investment-grade companies (96% of the portfolio). The majority of these companies are private equity portfolio companies (often called "sponsored companies"). As a result of the income focus, the primary focus of analysis is the portfolio income generated and the quality of the underlying portfolio. To this end: The portfolio quality has eroded over the last year, evidenced by the increase in both watchlist and non-accrual investments. Both of these are higher than the BDC peer group, which is a cause for concern. The portfolio is less diversified by sector than many of its peers. Software currently comprises ~20%, which is in-line with peers. Liquidity is adequate as the firm has refinanced the majority of its 2026 maturities and has a fair amount remaining on its revolver. The refinancing, however, has increased their cost of debt. Importantly, nearly half of their debt is fixed rate, which leads to NIM com...
(RTTNews) - While reporting financial results for the fourth quarter on Wednesday, optical retail company National Vision Holdings, Inc. (EYE) initiated its adjusted earnings, net revenue and adjusted comparable store sales growth guidance for the full-year 2026. For fiscal 2026, the company now projects adjusted net earnings in a range of $0.85 to $1.09 per share on net revenue between $2.033 bil...
(RTTNews) - While reporting financial results for the fourth quarter on Wednesday, optical retail company National Vision Holdings, Inc. (EYE) initiated its adjusted earnings, net revenue and adjusted comparable store sales growth guidance for the full-year 2026. For fiscal 2026, the company now projects adjusted net earnings in a range of $0.85 to $1.09 per share on net revenue between $2.033 billion and $2.091 billion, with adjusted comparable store sales growth of 3.0 to 6.0 percent. For the fourth quarter, the company reported net income of $3.32 million or $0.04 per share, compared to a net loss of $28.59 million or $0.36 per share in the prior-year quarter. Excluding items, adjusted earnings from continuing operations for the quarter was $0.15 per share, compared to a adjusted net loss $0.04 per share last year. Total net revenues for the quarter increased 15.1 percent to $503.41 million from $437.28 million in the same quarter last year. Comparable store sales growth from continuing operations was 6.6 percent and adjusted comparable store sales growth from continuing operations was 4.8 percent. In Wednesday's pre-market trading, EYE is trading on the Nasdaq at $26.34, down $0.29 or 1.09 percent. For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Form Energy will supply iron-air batteries for the 300 MW/30 GWh deployment, which the parties say will bolster Xcel’s Upper Midwest grid with cost-effective multiday energy storage.
Form Energy will supply iron-air batteries for the 300 MW/30 GWh deployment, which the parties say will bolster Xcel’s Upper Midwest grid with cost-effective multiday energy storage.
A sinkhole that opened up on a Manchester golf course has exposed a wine cellar abandoned for more than a century. The cellar, along with dozens of empty wine and port bottles, was discovered by a groundsman who assumed the hole was nothing more than a collapsed drain. View image in fullscreen Bottles from the abandoned cellar. Photograph: Davyhulme Park golf club/SWNS The subterranean brick vault...
A sinkhole that opened up on a Manchester golf course has exposed a wine cellar abandoned for more than a century. The cellar, along with dozens of empty wine and port bottles, was discovered by a groundsman who assumed the hole was nothing more than a collapsed drain. View image in fullscreen Bottles from the abandoned cellar. Photograph: Davyhulme Park golf club/SWNS The subterranean brick vault he stumbled across would once have been part of a country house that was demolished in the 19th century. Steve Hopkins, the deputy head green keeper at Davyhulme Park golf club in Trafford, Greater Manchester, made the discovery. “I am the first person to go in that room for over 100 years,” he said. “I was walking back to the green-keeping facilities when I noticed a small sinkhole on the 13th tee, which is not unusual. At the time we just thought it was a collapsed drain. “So we’re thinking it’s just a drain that needs digging out and clearing and repairing but as we dug deeper and deeper it just opened underneath us.” After using a small digger, Hopkins found a doorway, which he was able to get through by crouching. He then turned on his torch and saw an arch-ceilinged brick cellar with dozens of empty, blackened glass bottles sitting among debris. He found another entrance in the cellar but it was blocked by rubble. An exciting discovery on the course today⛳ Following the appearance of a sinkhole on the 13th hole, our greens team uncovered what appears to be an old cellar, believed to date back to the original manor house. Over 100 years old and filled with historic wine and port bottles pic.twitter.com/0uBdyrW1Vp — Davyhulme Park Golf Club (@DavyhulmeGolf) February 27, 2026 The cellar would have been part of Davyhulme Hall, which was demolished two decades before the golf club arrived. The hall dated from the 12th century and the reign of Henry II. It was the seat of a medieval English knight called John de Hulme. View image in fullscreen The entrance to the cellar. P...
champc/iStock via Getty Images Key takeaways 1 Potential to lock in yields Bond yields, though down from their highs, are still at attractive levels compared to the last 10 years, in our view. Investors can lock in these yields for years to come by investing in high grade bonds before interest rates come down further. 2 Picking your spots We believe numerous important factors enhance the attractiv...
champc/iStock via Getty Images Key takeaways 1 Potential to lock in yields Bond yields, though down from their highs, are still at attractive levels compared to the last 10 years, in our view. Investors can lock in these yields for years to come by investing in high grade bonds before interest rates come down further. 2 Picking your spots We believe numerous important factors enhance the attractiveness of investment grade credit. We observe that yield spreads between Treasuries and non-Treasury sectors have been tight, which makes our credit underwriting and security selection even more important. 3 Beating the crowd Investors have amassed large amounts in cash and money markets (Source: St. Louis Fed. Data as of 12/31/25). As US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cutting resumes and interest rates fall, cash will likely move to risk assets, pushing bond prices up and yields down. Timing a move is hard, but for now, investors are in our view being paid to wait in fixed income. Manager perspective and outlook Market sentiment during the quarter appeared mixed. The US unemployment rate rose and consumer spending growth appears to have slowed, both likely affected by the longest government shutdown in US history. Still, overall economic growth was buoyed by investment in artificial intelligence ('AI') and related sectors. Corporate fundamentals remained firm following a strong earnings season and elevated capital market activity. However, a divergence of economic confidence between CEOs and consumers raised concerns about an economic divide between higher and lower income earners. AI “bubble” fears appeared to further dampen sentiment. A weakening labor market led the Fed to resume rate cuts, reducing the federal funds rate twice, for a target range of 3.50-3.75%, the lowest since 2022. Markets expect two more rate cuts in 2026 as the Fed has expressed a desire to get interest rates close to a neutral stance. Credit spreads – the yield difference between Treasuries and US inve...
Brazil Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça ordered the arrest of Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro , newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo reported on Wednesday as the massive probe into the failed lender grows. Vorcaro had been released from jail in November 2025 and was ordered to use an ankle monitor, a measure authorized by another justice at the time. Mendonça’s decision came part of the third phas...
Brazil Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça ordered the arrest of Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro , newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo reported on Wednesday as the massive probe into the failed lender grows. Vorcaro had been released from jail in November 2025 and was ordered to use an ankle monitor, a measure authorized by another justice at the time. Mendonça’s decision came part of the third phase of the so-called Operation Compliance Zero, which is looking into alleged corruption and money laundering, Brazil’s Federal Police said in a statement. It’s the latest in the fallout from the probe into Banco Master, which the central bank liquidated in November and could become the country’s biggest case of fraud ever. Read More: Lula Government Reluctant to Aid BRB After Banco Master Losses The justice froze 22 billion reais ($4.2 billion) in assets as funds for potential restitution, the police said. He authorized four preventive detention orders in São Paulo and also Minas Gerais, Vorcaro’s home state. Mendonça suspended former central bank director Paulo Sérgio Neves de Souza and Belline Santana, who headed the monetary authority’s bank supervision area, according to newspaper Folha de S. Paulo. Both had been removed from leadership posts in January by central bank Governor Gabriel Galípolo amid an internal probe opened after Banco Master’s liquidation, Folha added. The ruling marks Mendonça’s first in the case after he took over the probe from Justice Dias Toffoli . Brazil’s central bank supported the investigation. Both Vorcaro’s defense and Brazil’s central bank didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Read more: Brazil Eases Bank Reserve Rules After Banco Master Fallout Banco Master was liquidated in November amid mounting regulatory scrutiny. The lender had previously faced central bank intervention following concerns about its finances.
格隆汇3月4日｜美国国债收益率周三上涨，投资者正密切关注中东冲突带来的通胀影响。DHF Capital S.A的Bas Kooijman在报告中表示：“美伊紧张局势推高了油价，加剧了市场对能源驱动型通胀的担忧，这为美元和美债收益率提供了支撑。”美国国债收益率的走势与欧元区债券收益率的下跌形成对比，因为欧元区投资者开始审视战争对经济增长的负面影响。Tradeweb的数据显示，10年期美国国债收益率上...
格隆汇3月4日｜美国国债收益率周三上涨，投资者正密切关注中东冲突带来的通胀影响。DHF Capital S.A的Bas Kooijman在报告中表示：“美伊紧张局势推高了油价，加剧了市场对能源驱动型通胀的担忧，这为美元和美债收益率提供了支撑。”美国国债收益率的走势与欧元区债券收益率的下跌形成对比，因为欧元区投资者开始审视战争对经济增长的负面影响。Tradeweb的数据显示，10年期美国国债收益率上升2.1个基点至4.077%，而10年期德国国债收益率下跌1.9个基点至2.755%。
For Eléonore Crespo, the French attitude of “jamais content,” or never happy, is a business strategy, not a stereotype. The Paris-trained fundamental physicist turned co-founder and CEO has built Pigment around a French-flavored “Never Settle” ethos—an aggressive refusal to be satisfied that’s now powering one of Europe’s fastest-growing AI software companies. Fortune has exclusively learned Pigme...
For Eléonore Crespo, the French attitude of “jamais content,” or never happy, is a business strategy, not a stereotype. The Paris-trained fundamental physicist turned co-founder and CEO has built Pigment around a French-flavored “Never Settle” ethos—an aggressive refusal to be satisfied that’s now powering one of Europe’s fastest-growing AI software companies. Fortune has exclusively learned Pigment is approaching $100 million in ARR, having doubled ARR for a third consecutive year. The company has grown its customer base 74%, with leaders like Uber, Unilever, Anthropic, Siemens and more using Pigment, and 57% of new revenue coming from enterprise customers. More than half of Pigment’s new customers in 2025 migrated from SaaS giants, Crespo says, a 115% year-over-year increase in replacement. Crespo, a former Index Ventures investor, co-founded Pigment with Romain Niccoli in 2019 to replace the spreadsheets and legacy planning tools that still run the guts of large companies. The pitch: an AI-native enterprise performance management platform that sits across finance, sales, HR, and supply chain, unifying data and decision-making in one system. “Every single CEO or CFO on this planet wants to make fast decisions to react to this macroeconomic environment,” Crespo told Fortune, pointing to wars, tariffs, inflation, and supply chain shocks. “They cannot wait months to make decisions.” Pigment’s core product aggregates business data into a single platform and lets teams run scenario models—different oil price paths, shifting tariff regimes—without blowing up fragile Excel sheets or waiting weeks for a specialist to reconfigure a model. Crespo’s latest bet is what she calls Pigment’s biggest leap yet: a “Modeler Agent.” Users describe what they want in natural language, and the agent generates governed, production-ready applications on top of Pigment’s data engine. Early customers say build times have collapsed from weeks to minutes. Figma reported getting to “80% of wha...
格隆汇3月4日｜随着全球市场在特朗普总统计划保障霍尔木兹海峡石油安全运输后趋于稳定，欧元信用违约保险成本有所下降。这一消息为市场带来了轻微的乐观情绪。标普全球市场财智的数据显示，衡量欧元高收益债券违约掉期成本的iTraxx Europe Crossover指数下跌3个基点至274个基点；衡量欧元投资级债券CDS的iTraxx Europe Main指数则下跌1个基点至58个基点。
格隆汇3月4日｜随着全球市场在特朗普总统计划保障霍尔木兹海峡石油安全运输后趋于稳定，欧元信用违约保险成本有所下降。这一消息为市场带来了轻微的乐观情绪。标普全球市场财智的数据显示，衡量欧元高收益债券违约掉期成本的iTraxx Europe Crossover指数下跌3个基点至274个基点；衡量欧元投资级债券CDS的iTraxx Europe Main指数则下跌1个基点至58个基点。