Tony Anderson/DigitalVision via Getty Images By James Knightley , Chief International Economist, US Broader spending remains resilient despite higher energy costs Inflation data has been the main focus so far this week, but today it is retail sales. Consumer spending accounts for around 70% of all economic activity in the US, and retail sales are responsible for a little over 40% of consumer spending. As such, this report is an important barometer of how the Middle East situation is impacting the real economy. Retail sales rose 0.5% month-on-month in April, which was broadly as expected, but the details show big swings in key components. It is important to remember that these are nominal dollar figures, with higher prices lifting gasoline station sales by 2.8% MoM. There were also decent monthly gains of 1.4% for both sporting goods and electronics. However, auto sales dropped 0.4%, furniture sales fell 2%, and clothing dropped 1.5% MoM. Non-store retailers continue to post decent gains of 1.1%. It is a mixed outcome, but so far there is little sign that higher fuel costs are forcing consumers to cut back spending on other things, despite consumer confidence supposedly being at all-time lows. Nonetheless, we expect that pressure to build. Retail sales as a proportion of total consumer spending (%) Source: Macrobond, ING But the pressures will build, even if a Middle East deal is struck Even if we get a deal that allows a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz soon, we suspect energy prices will remain elevated throughout 2026. On the demand side, inventory rebuilding in Europe and Asia will keep a strong bid in the market, while on the supply side we still don’t really know the scale of damage to infrastructure. Then we must consider the willingness of ship and tanker owners to send their vessels back to the region, given legitimate concerns about the resilience of any peace. In an environment of weak jobs and wage growth, high energy costs will continue to eat away at s...

INTU adds AI-powered automation, analytics and HCM tools to IES, helping mid-market firms streamline finance and operations.

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) is down just over 10% since its May 4 earnings report as of the May 13 close. The earnings report was exceptional on every level, but it wasn’t enough to convince the company’s skeptics to push the buy button. In fairness, there’s a lot of n

Palantir's Critics Are "Right"—But They're Also Still Wrong The Globe and Mail

加拿大矿产勘探公司Cullinan Metals Corp．周四宣布，任命拥有超过25年行业经验的矿业高管Christopher Huggins为首席执行官，任命即刻生效。原临时首席执行官Aleem Fidai将转任公司董事。 新任CEO背景雄厚 Huggins拥有不列颠哥伦比亚大学荣誉理学士学位（地质学），其职业生涯始于Homestake公司的区域勘探地质师，曾在Eskay Creek、Snip Mine等著名矿区工作。过去十年间，他积累了涵盖矿产勘探、金融、采矿技术和资本设备领域的丰富经验，曾领导多家专注于关键矿产、贵金属、铀和电池金属的勘探公司。Huggins目前还担任Auric Minerals Corp．的首席执行官，并在多家勘探阶段上市公司担任董事。 公司战略转型关键期 Cullinan近期签署了期权协议，拟收购加拿大两个前瞻性项目100%权益。其一是位于拉布拉多中部的Oculus稀土项目，占地约2550公顷，历史地表采样显示总稀土氧化物品位高达5.67%；其二是位于纽芬兰中部的Burnt Pond火山块状硫化物项目，占地约975公顷，历史钻探发现了金银铜锌铅等多金属矿化。Fidai表示，Huggins的技术专 长和 资本市场经验将有助于推进这些新收购的项目并释放价值。 同步推进债务重组 公司还宣布，将通过发行约148.6万股普通股来清偿约50.5万美元的债务，其中公司内部人士参与偿还18.3万加元。此项债务和解协议尚需获得加拿大证券交易所批准。 责任编辑：张俊 SF065

The Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) has become the fastest-growing ETF ever, soaring past $6.5 billion in managed assets. This comes as memory chip stocks like Micron Technology (MU) surge by 180% year-to-date in 2026 and Sandisk (SNDK) skyrocketing over 3,200% over the past year alone. Roundhill Investments CEO Dave Mazza — whose firm manages the fund — comes on Market Catalyst to talk about the ETF's growth and the supply and demand dynamics at play with AI data center projects.

Intel Stock Falls Again as AMD and Arm Put Its Comeback Under Pressure TechStock²

格隆汇5月14日｜沃伦要求美国证券交易委员会调查特朗普家族加密货币公司。

pabradyphoto "Conditions are fundamentally sound in the banking sector," said Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Schmid. Capital and liquidity positions remain strong across the banking sector, complemented by healthy profitability levels and sound credit quality, according to the KC Fed president. Schmid was speaking on "Payments Innovation and Community Banking" before the "Future of Banking Conference" hosted by the KC Fed. On the economy and what that means for the banking sector, Schmid said, "Though the U.S. economy currently faces a number of challenges, it has also shown remarkable resilience. Geopolitical developments continue to create uncertainty. While the United States is less vulnerable to global energy disruptions than in the past, higher oil prices still drain household spending power and increase costs for businesses." "Yet despite these headwinds, economic fundamentals in the U.S. and in the Tenth District remain sound," he noted. "Net worth relative to income is near all-time highs, largely due to gains in equity markets and home values over recent years. These high levels of wealth are leading many households to increase their spending," said the KC Fed president. "Business investment has shown particular strength around technology infrastructure and the artificial intelligence buildout, reflecting confidence in the potential for long-term productivity improvements. And productivity gains have been strong, allowing the economy to expand even as workforce growth has slowed," he noted. However, Schmid said population trends, including declining fertility rates and the growing number of baby boomers aging into retirement, may limit how quickly the economy can grow. He sees continued inflation as the most pressing risk to the economy. Artificial intelligence capabilities are increasingly important for fraud detection, cybersecurity, customer service, and operational efficiency, Schmid said. "Digital assets and blockchain technology co...

人工智能婚恋匹配平台AiRWA Inc．周四宣布，将对其普通股实施1比40的反向股票分割，以重新符合 纳斯达克 的最低股价上市要求。受此消息影响，公司股价在盘前交易中下跌约9.7%。 拆股方案详解 根据公司公告，此次反向拆股将于2026年5月18日开盘时正式生效。拆股前，公司流通股约为4214万股，拆股后将缩减至约105万股。公司表示，此举旨在满足纳斯达克1.00美元最低买入价的持续上市要求。反向拆股方案已在4月17日的年度股东大会上获得股东批准，授权董事会在1比40至1比800的区间内执行拆股。 拆股背后的合规压力 AiRWA此前已进行过多次反向拆股。公司曾于2024年6月实施1比20拆股，2025年10月又实施了1比50拆股，两次的累计合并比例高达1000比1。根据纳斯达克现行规则，若公司两年内实施累计比例超过250比1的反向拆股，后续一旦再次跌破1美元，将自动触发退市程序，无法获得180天的补救期。这也意味着，此次1比40拆股后，公司几乎没有再次通过拆股来挽救上市资格的余地。 转型中的AI婚恋平台 AiRWA原名Connexa Sports Technologies，目前已转型进入婚恋科技领域。公司通过其子公司运营AI驱动的婚恋匹配平台，利用大数据分析为用户提供线上线下结合的匹配服务。 责任编辑：张俊 SF065

Sharplink , a digital asset treasury company focused on ether , is winning favor with Wall Street analysts as it evolves how it generates returns for shareholders. The company is partnering with the crypto investment manager Galaxy Digital to help it boost yields on the ether it holds, Sharplink announced during its first-quarter financial update . A new joint fund will allocate $125 million across decentralized finance liquidity protocols and other onchain income-generating strategies. The move gives Sharplink yield opportunities beyond staking revenue – which is income investors earn by locking up ether to help secure the Ethereum network and receiving rewards in return. The company can also expand beyond its ether stockpiler role by giving investors more of an active management flavor. That echoes a theme that the original crypto accumulator, Michael Saylor's Strategy , hit on in its earnings update last week: it's time to break from Saylor's "never sell" bitcoin mantra in favor of maximizing shareholder returns through more active management. On Wednesday, Citi analyst Peter Christiansen said there's "a lot to like" about Strategy, beginning with "increasing active management." At its core, the trend is about decoupling investor returns from down or quiet markets like crypto had in the first quarter. Ether has lost 23% this year, alongside bitcoin's 8% drop over the same period. Each of the eight analysts covering Sharplink has a buy rating on the stock, and the average price target predicts shares could rise 156%, according to LSEG. A disciplined approach The Galaxy partnership is "the template for future external allocations and a credibility marker" that could make investors value the company more highly if they see proof Sharplink is earning those extra returns, B.Riley analyst Fedor Shabalin said in a note Monday. "The strategy reads as disciplined progression along the efficient frontier rather than yield-chasing," he added. TD Cowen analyst Lance Vitanza ...

Intel announces McLaren F1 partnership, will battle AMD-powered Mercedes — deal includes chips for aerodynamic analysis, vehicle-dynamics simulation, race strategy analytics, and more Tom's Hardware

Qualcomm stock price forecast: $186.76 support as QCOM drops 4.58% Traders Union

Davian Chang/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Malaysia is weighing compensation claims and possible legal action after Norway revoked export approvals for a naval strike missile system already paid for and nearing delivery, Reuters reported. Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Kuala Lumpur had settled roughly 95% of the contract value before Oslo pulled the licenses in March, just days ahead of shipment. The missiles, produced by Norway’s Kongsberg, were part of a €124 million ($145 million in today's dollars) agreement signed in 2018 to equip Malaysian naval vessels, with a follow-on deal covering additional ships. Khaled said the government is calculating losses and intends to seek both a refund and damages tied to what it views as a contract breach. Norway defended the move, saying tighter export controls reflect a shifting global security environment. Officials acknowledged the decision affects Malaysia but said highly sensitive defence technologies will increasingly be restricted to close allies and partners, while expressing hope for continued dialogue. Kongsberg noted that export licensing decisions are made by Norwegian authorities, not the company, and said it has followed all applicable rules. Malaysia’s leadership reacted sharply. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described the cancellation as a one-sided decision and warned it could undermine trust in European defense suppliers. He argued that breaking signed agreements weakens their credibility as long-term strategic partners and could have broader implications for regional security. The dispute adds pressure to Malaysia’s already delayed naval modernization program. The long-running littoral combat ship project, first launched in 2011 and restarted in 2023 after governance issues, has faced repeated setbacks. The first vessel is now expected in December, months behind schedule. Khaled said the ships will proceed without the missile system for now, while the government explores alternative suppliers...

President Trump’s delegation to Beijing this week included 17 American chief executives. Fifteen flew commercial or on corporate jets. Two boarded Air Force One: Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk and NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang. Huang was a late addition, joining the plane during a refueling stop in Alaska after nearly a year of lobbying ... Trump Brought 17 CEOs to China. Only Two Got Seats on Air Force One: Elon Musk and Jensen Huang

一手漲價潮、一手新故事，中芯國際快 “發飆” 了？​ HK MoneyClub

jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Takeda Pharmaceutical ( TAK ) has announced that it will eliminate nearly 4,500 roles globally in fiscal 2026 as part of a restructuring drive expected to generate as much as ¥200B ($1.3B) in annualized savings by FY28. The Japanese drugmaker disclosed the plan on Wednesday alongside its fiscal 2025 financials, which indicated ¥4,505B ($28.5B) in revenue and ¥122 ($0.77) in earnings per share with a 3% YoY decline and ~78% YoY growth, respectively, on a reported basis. Takeda ( TAK ) stated that it will record ¥170B ($1.1B) as restructuring costs in connection with the program during FY26, with lower amounts expected over the next two years. Nearly half of the savings are expected to be generated in the current fiscal year. Layoffs account for less than 10% of the company’s global workforce, a Takeda ( TAK ) spokesperson told Reuters, adding that the figure doesn’t account for new hires. The spokesperson said that the Tokyo-based firm currently has roughly 2,200 vacancies, and new jobs will be created during the year, with priority given to internal candidates. More on Takeda Pharmaceutical Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TAK) Q4 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited 2026 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TAK) Discusses Zasocitinib Phase III Psoriasis Data and Commercial Strategy Transcript Takeda Pharmaceutical Non-GAAP EPS of ¥517.00, revenue of ¥4505.7B; gives FY2026 forecast Takeda revamps business seeking ¥200B in savings by FY28

Nobody really knows where PLTR stock may head next but there is triangulation factor that most traders are ignoring.

As the saying goes, there are many possible reasons for an insider to sell a stock, but only one reason to buy -- they expect to make money. So let's look at two noteworthy recent insider buys. On Monday, TXO Partners', Bob R. Simpson, made a $9.46M purchase of TXO, buying 750

A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after rising treasury yields and renewed Iran tensions hit the software sector.

A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after rising treasury yields and renewed Iran tensions hit the software sector.

Investors in Jabil Inc (Symbol: JBL) saw new options begin trading today, for the July 17th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the JBL options chain for the new July 17th contracts and identified one put and one call contract of

Palantir vs. BigBear.ai: What Do Their Quarterly Revenue Trends Tell Investors? The Motley Fool

Why Intel Stock Slumped Today The Motley Fool

Investors in BorgWarner Inc (Symbol: BWA) saw new options become available today, for the January 2027 expiration. One of the key data points that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 246 days until expiration the newly available con

Investors in HEICO Corp (Symbol: HEI) saw new options become available today, for the July 17th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the HEI options chain for the new July 17th contracts and identified one put and one call contrac

格隆汇5月14日｜英联股份5月14日在业绩说明会上表示，公司自2023年至今持续推进复合铝箔、复合铜箔项目（复合集流体项目）的产业化进度，截至目前已累计投入超过9亿元进行项目建设，已有5条复合铝箔和5条复合铜箔生产线，开展了自有厂房的规划和建设，启动引进精益管理流程，为规模化进行生产条件的准备。产品端，复合铝箔、复合铜箔的产品正在进行送样、测试、反馈过程中，并持续投入技术研发，开发新一代电池用的锂金属负极材料相关产品，提升产品的应用深度、广度，推进产业化进度。

美国最大的住院康复医院运营商Encompass Health Corp．周四宣布，将启动一项5亿美元优先票据的私募发行，该票据将于2034年到期。公司计划将募集资金用于偿还即将到期的债务并优化资本结构。 债务置换方案 根据公司公告，此次发行的优先票据将由公司现有及未来子公司提供连带责任担保。Encompass Health计划将本次发行的净收益，连同账面现金，用于按面值赎回4亿美元于2028年到期的4.500%优先票据，并偿还其优先担保循环信贷额度下的1亿美元未偿借款。这是一次典型的债务置换操作，旨在延长债务期限结构，优化资本配置。 基本面稳健支撑融资 Encompass Health近期公布的第一季度财报表现强劲，为此次融资提供了基本面支撑。公司一季度营收达15.9亿美元，同比增长9%；调整后每股收益为1.60美元，同比增长16.8%。公司还上调了2026年全年指引，预计营收在63.75亿至64.70亿美元之间。 作为美国最大的住院康复医院运营商，Encompass Health目前在39个州和波多黎各拥有175家医院。公司首席财务官Doug Coltharp表示，公司杠杆水平和流动性状况良好。此次债务管理举措有望进一步增强财务灵活性，为持续扩张提供支持。 责任编辑：张俊 SF065

SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images Benchmark crude oil prices are little changed Thursday after Iran's state media said ~30 ​vessels had crossed the Strait of Hormuz in recent hours, including a Chinese supertanker carrying 2M barrels of Iraqi crude and a Panama-flagged tanker managed by Japanese refiner Eneos that sailed through the strait after being stranded ⁠in the Persian Gulf for more than two months. At their summit meeting in Beijing, President Trump and Chinese President Xi agreed the Strait of Hormuz should remain a free waterway and Iran should not be able to extract payments for the use of shipping lanes, according to a White House readout of talks between the two leaders. China — never a big purchaser of U.S. crude oil — has not imported any U.S. crude ​since May 2025 due to a 20% import tariff imposed during the trade war, but the White House said Xi expressed interest in buying more U.S. oil to reduce his country's dependence on Hormuz. ~18 vessels sailed through the strait in the first three days of this week, according to the ship-tracking website MarineTraffic, more than the previous week, but analysts at Lloyd’s List Intelligence warned of a corresponding rise in "dark transits" when ships turn off their automatic identification system signals. "Tanker owners are preparing for this to be a long-term disruption, and some are reassessing risk appetite," Lloyd's wrote in a report. "More may attempt a run through the strait as prospects of resolution appear dimmer." An Indian-flagged ship sank in the strait this week after coming under attack near the coast of Oman; maritime data company Windward said the ship had turned off its transponder at the time of the incident. U.S. forces have so far redirected 70 commercial ships and disabled four others to ensure compliance with the American blockade on Iranian ports that began a month ago, U.S. Central Command said. Fewer than three vessels per day crossed the strait last week on average; before the war,...

Stefan Sutka/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Amazon.com ( AMZN ) hurdles toward a $3 trillion market cap. The Magnificent Seven name and key cloud provider has rallied sharply since its March low. An impressive Q1 report, buttressed by a risk-on AI-hyperscaler market sentiment, has been a powerful combination launching AMZN to record highs. I had a "B uy" rating on AMZN back in February . Shares are up a solid 28% since then, outperforming the S&P 500 by more than 20 percentage points. Today, with a slimmer margin of safety but improved earnings estimates, I reiterate a "B uy" rating. I see the stock close to fair value, but the chart indicates AMZN is a clear market leader heading into the middle of the year. Amazon Now Matching T he S&P 500 YoY Stockcharts.com Back in April, Amazon reported a solid set of quarterly results. Q1 GAAP EPS of $2.78 topped the Wall Street consensus forecast of $1.65, while revenue of $181 billion, up 17% from the same period last year, was a material $4.35 billion beat. The Consumer Discretionary sector name posted AWS sales that blew past analysts’ expectations , while the bears pointed to intense capex weighing on free cash flow. Operating income of $23.9 billion and an operating margin at 13.1% marked Amazon's highest efficiency in its history. Shares inched higher by 0.8% in the session that followed, its smallest post-earnings change in a year. Looking ahead to the July 30 Q2 report, the options market prices in a moderate 6.1% earnings-related stock price swing, based on the at-the-money straddle expiring soonest after the release. Implied volatility on the $2.9 trillion market cap stock has settled just under 30%, suggesting about a 2% daily swing. Short interest is low at 0.66%. Looking back on the quarter that was, Amazon delivered a big Q1 2026, with a GAAP profit of $23.9 billion. What jumped out to me in the January through March period was the acceleration of AWS, which grew 28% YoY (the best in 15 quarters), driven by r...