The UK said it may revive so-called switch auctions to improve gilt-market liquidity. Switch auctions are used by governments to allow the exchange of a certain bond for another. While popular elsewhere, they were last used by the UK in 2001. Both dealer banks and gilt investors supported the use of switch auctions in recent meetings with the nation’s Debt Management Office, which is responsible f...
The UK said it may revive so-called switch auctions to improve gilt-market liquidity. Switch auctions are used by governments to allow the exchange of a certain bond for another. While popular elsewhere, they were last used by the UK in 2001. Both dealer banks and gilt investors supported the use of switch auctions in recent meetings with the nation’s Debt Management Office, which is responsible for bond issuance. The DMO said Tuesday it “may” use them in the fiscal year starting April, though it does not “currently envisage” doing so in the first three months of its annual program. “Any such operations will be used to promote liquidity in certain gilts, including at benchmark maturities,” the DMO said Tuesday in announcing its financing plans , adding it will engage further with market participants before any decision. In a January meeting with the DMO, gilt dealers expressed “some support” for switch auctions to “supply benchmark long-dated gilts in order to encourage liquidity without increasing absolute supply in the sector.” Some investors echoed that sentiment, saying it could “support liquidity in benchmark long conventional gilts,” the minutes show. The DMO statement on Tuesday did not mention long-dated gilts specifically. “Switch auctions may be employed for various purposes — for example, to maintain a supply of current benchmark gilts in a low financing environment or for redemption management purposes,” a DMO note on gilt-market operations updated last year said. Circumstances have changed vastly since the UK last held switch auctions. They were used around the turn of the millenium when they were intended as a tool to build up benchmark gilts at a time of low outright issuance. Nowadays, low issuance isn’t a problem. The UK said Tuesday it will sell £252 billion of gilts in the coming fiscal year, among the biggest packages on record.
Image source: The Motley Fool. March 2, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Executive Chairman — Jirka Rysavy President — Kiersten Medvedich Chief Financial Officer — Ned Preston Chief Operating Officer — Jonathan Nyuta Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] TAKEAWAYS Revenue -- $25.5 million for the quarter and $99 million for the year, representing 11% year-over-yea...
Image source: The Motley Fool. March 2, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Executive Chairman — Jirka Rysavy President — Kiersten Medvedich Chief Financial Officer — Ned Preston Chief Operating Officer — Jonathan Nyuta Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] TAKEAWAYS Revenue -- $25.5 million for the quarter and $99 million for the year, representing 11% year-over-year growth. -- $25.5 million for the quarter and $99 million for the year, representing 11% year-over-year growth. Gross margin -- 87.6% for the quarter and 87.1% for the year, up 100 basis points over the prior year. -- 87.6% for the quarter and 87.1% for the year, up 100 basis points over the prior year. Free cash flow -- Improved by $1.1 million to $1.7 million in the quarter; $4.9 million for the year, $2.2 million greater than 2024. -- Improved by $1.1 million to $1.7 million in the quarter; $4.9 million for the year, $2.2 million greater than 2024. Net loss -- Reduced to -$0.5 million for the quarter (-$0.02 per share) and -$4.5 million for the year (-$8.00 per share). -- Reduced to -$0.5 million for the quarter (-$0.02 per share) and -$4.5 million for the year (-$8.00 per share). Operating cash flow -- $1.8 million for the quarter and $5.7 million for the year. -- $1.8 million for the quarter and $5.7 million for the year. Cash position -- $13.5 million at year end, rising from $5.9 million the previous year, with a fully available $10 million line of credit. -- $13.5 million at year end, rising from $5.9 million the previous year, with a fully available $10 million line of credit. Subscriber count -- Reached over 900,000, with 20,000 net adds in the quarter; management announced it will no longer report total subscriber number going forward. -- Reached over 900,000, with 20,000 net adds in the quarter; management announced it will no longer report total subscriber number going forward. Direct channel focus -- Two-thirds of direct members have been with Gaia for more t...
Dilok Klaisataporn As the U.S.—Iran war intensifies, investors are increasingly focused on the timing of a potential ceasefire between the nations, a development that could significantly influence global risk sentiment. Heightened geopolitical tensions tied to Iran have unsettled financial markets recently, contributing to volatility across equities, commodities, and currency markets. Energy price...
Dilok Klaisataporn As the U.S.—Iran war intensifies, investors are increasingly focused on the timing of a potential ceasefire between the nations, a development that could significantly influence global risk sentiment. Heightened geopolitical tensions tied to Iran have unsettled financial markets recently, contributing to volatility across equities, commodities, and currency markets. Energy prices, in particular, have reacted sharply to shifting headlines, underscoring the broader economic implications of prolonged uncertainty. Prediction market Polymarket offers a real-time snapshot of trader expectations. Based on current pricing, participants see late spring as the most likely window for a ceasefire agreement to take hold. Probabilities gradually rise through March and April before peaking in early summer, reflecting a view that negotiations may require additional time before yielding a breakthrough. Outlined below are the market-implied probabilities for when a ceasefire could be reached, according to Polymarket data: By June 30 — 79% By May 31 — 73% By April 30 — 60% By March 31 — 45% By March 15 — 21% By March 6 — 4% Market Tracking ETFs: ( DIA ), ( DDM ), ( DOG ), ( DXD ), ( SDOW ), ( SPY ), ( VOO ), ( IVV ), ( RSP ), ( SSO ), ( UPRO ), ( SH ), ( SDS ), ( SPXU ), ( QQQ ), ( QQQM ), ( TQQQ ), ( QID ), and ( SQQQ ). More on markets Dividends in demand as Iran conflict sends markets reeling Invesco says stay calm and invested as stocks often climb after war-driven volatility Diplomacy Is Over: Assessing The Severe Market Risks Of A Protracted Iran War The S&P 500 Isn't Broken - But You're Probably Using It Wrong Value or Growth? These 15 stocks are offering both
As of March 3, 2026, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) finds itself at a pivotal juncture in its three-decade history. Long defined by its dominance in e-commerce and its pioneering role in cloud computing, the company is currently undergoing a massive structural shift toward becoming the primary infrastructure provider for the Generative AI (GenAI) era. While the Seattle-based giant remains a "Stro...
As of March 3, 2026, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) finds itself at a pivotal juncture in its three-decade history. Long defined by its dominance in e-commerce and its pioneering role in cloud computing, the company is currently undergoing a massive structural shift toward becoming the primary infrastructure provider for the Generative AI (GenAI) era. While the Seattle-based giant remains a "Strong Buy" for the majority of Wall Street, a recent 15% stock correction in February 2026—triggered by an unprecedented $200 billion capital expenditure guidance—has ignited a fierce debate: Is Amazon’s aggressive bet on AI and satellite connectivity a masterstroke of long-term vision, or a high-stakes gamble that threatens its hard-won margin stability? Historical Background Founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos as "Earth’s Biggest Bookstore," Amazon’s evolution is a case study in corporate reinvention. After surviving the dot-com crash of 2000, the company pivoted from a first-party retailer to a third-party marketplace, launching Amazon Prime in 2005 to lock in customer loyalty. However, its most significant transformation occurred in 2006 with the launch of Amazon Web Services (AWS), which effectively invented the modern cloud industry. In the early 2020s, the company navigated a "post-pandemic hangover" of overcapacity, leading to its first leadership change in 27 years as Andy Jassy succeeded Bezos in 2021. Between 2022 and 2024, Jassy executed a massive efficiency drive, regionalizing fulfillment networks and slashing costs, which set the stage for the record profitability seen in the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. Business Model Amazon’s business model operates as a series of interlocking "flywheels." Its core segments include: North America and International Retail: Comprising first-party (1P) sales and the highly profitable third-party (3P) seller services. Comprising first-party (1P) sales and the highly profitable third-party (3P) seller services. Amazon Web Services (AWS): ...
As of March 3, 2026, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) finds itself at a pivotal juncture in its three-decade history. Long defined by its dominance in e-commerce and its pioneering role in cloud computing, the company is currently undergoing a massive structural shift toward becoming the primary infrastructure provider for the Generative AI (GenAI) era. While the Seattle-based giant remains a "Stro...
As of March 3, 2026, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) finds itself at a pivotal juncture in its three-decade history. Long defined by its dominance in e-commerce and its pioneering role in cloud computing, the company is currently undergoing a massive structural shift toward becoming the primary infrastructure provider for the Generative AI (GenAI) era. While the Seattle-based giant remains a "Strong Buy" for the majority of Wall Street, a recent 15% stock correction in February 2026—triggered by an unprecedented $200 billion capital expenditure guidance—has ignited a fierce debate: Is Amazon’s aggressive bet on AI and satellite connectivity a masterstroke of long-term vision, or a high-stakes gamble that threatens its hard-won margin stability? Historical Background Founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos as "Earth’s Biggest Bookstore," Amazon’s evolution is a case study in corporate reinvention. After surviving the dot-com crash of 2000, the company pivoted from a first-party retailer to a third-party marketplace, launching Amazon Prime in 2005 to lock in customer loyalty. However, its most significant transformation occurred in 2006 with the launch of Amazon Web Services (AWS), which effectively invented the modern cloud industry. In the early 2020s, the company navigated a "post-pandemic hangover" of overcapacity, leading to its first leadership change in 27 years as Andy Jassy succeeded Bezos in 2021. Between 2022 and 2024, Jassy executed a massive efficiency drive, regionalizing fulfillment networks and slashing costs, which set the stage for the record profitability seen in the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. Business Model Amazon’s business model operates as a series of interlocking "flywheels." Its core segments include: North America and International Retail: Comprising first-party (1P) sales and the highly profitable third-party (3P) seller services. Comprising first-party (1P) sales and the highly profitable third-party (3P) seller services. Amazon Web Services (AWS): ...
Palantir Is Back on Wall Street’s Buy List After a 38% Plunge Bloomberg.com Palantir Rises on Mideast Conflict. Why It’s Moving Like a Defense Stock. Barron's Is Palantir Technologies Stock a No-Brainer Buy While It's Less Than $150? Nasdaq
Palantir Is Back on Wall Street’s Buy List After a 38% Plunge Bloomberg.com Palantir Rises on Mideast Conflict. Why It’s Moving Like a Defense Stock. Barron's Is Palantir Technologies Stock a No-Brainer Buy While It's Less Than $150? Nasdaq
Palantir has been a major US government contractor for years, working largely with the military and ICE. In 2024, it received a $100 million contract for its Maven Smart System, an AI-enabled battle management platform system that aggregates military data. And last summer, the company received a $10 billion contract from the US Army that the government said will reduce procurement timelines, “ensu...
Palantir has been a major US government contractor for years, working largely with the military and ICE. In 2024, it received a $100 million contract for its Maven Smart System, an AI-enabled battle management platform system that aggregates military data. And last summer, the company received a $10 billion contract from the US Army that the government said will reduce procurement timelines, “ensuring soldiers have rapid access to cutting-edge data integration, analytics and AI tools.” The stock, which has long been treated skeptically by analysts due to its extreme valuation, was upgraded by at least eight firms last month amid a slump that sent Palantir shares down 38% from a record high on Nov. 3 to a Feb. 24 low. The plunge came amid a barrage of criticism from investor Michael Burry of fame centered on concerns about the company’s valuation and potential for growth, as well as scrutiny of its business dealings with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security. “I don’t think the war represents a meaningful change to Palantir’s fundamentals, but it validates Palantir’s position within the government, and it positions them for continued growth and adoption in many other areas of the military,” he said. “The war really speaks to the theme of how the company is so embedded in the government and the moat it has there.” “The positive move in the stock is an emotional reaction to how Palantir is positioned with the government and military,” said Tim Pagliara, chief investment officer at Capwealth Advisors, which owns the company’s shares. The data-analysis software company, which gets about half its revenue from US government and military contracts, jumped 5.8% on Monday to bring its four-session gain to 13%. The rally started last week as President Donald Trump ratcheted up threats against Iran, and is continuing amid military strikes by the US and Israel on the country. The Trump administration expects the fighting to potentially la...
Luis Alvarez Robert Schein, chief investment officer at Blanke Schein Wealth Management, is urging investors to exercise patience and hold cash reserves rather than rushing to buy the dip amid escalating geopolitical uncertainty. In an interview with CNBC, Schein warned that it’s “too early right now to start jumping in” as markets trade sharply lower. Schein emphasized the importance of watching ...
Luis Alvarez Robert Schein, chief investment officer at Blanke Schein Wealth Management, is urging investors to exercise patience and hold cash reserves rather than rushing to buy the dip amid escalating geopolitical uncertainty. In an interview with CNBC, Schein warned that it’s “too early right now to start jumping in” as markets trade sharply lower. Schein emphasized the importance of watching technical indicators before making any moves. “If we’re going to close below the moving averages on all three indices, that’s a wait-and-see environment,” he explained, noting the risk of further declines. The market strategist pointed to the volume of geopolitical headlines building overnight, including concerns about the oil trade and the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately 30% of global oil supplies. For portfolio positioning, Schein recommends keeping between 5% and 10% of assets in cash reserves, depending on the client. “We let the market come to us. We don’t know when there’s going to be a headline. We don’t know what it’s going to be, but we are excited to see opportunities come our way when they’re high quality and you have a longer-term horizon,” he said. Despite his cautious near-term stance, Schein identified specific sectors that look attractive for patient investors willing to wait for better entry points. He highlighted GE Vernova ( GEV ) as a compelling “AI adjacent” play focused on electrification infrastructure. With an estimated $7T projected to be spent on data centers by 2030—roughly $1.4T of which will go toward electrification—Schein sees significant growth potential in this space. The aging state of U.S. infrastructure further supports this investment thesis. Schein noted that 75% of the U.S. electrical grid is over 25 years old, creating substantial demand for upgrades and modernization. For investors with longer time horizons, he views this thematic play as particularly compelling once market conditions stabilize. More on the markets Expe...
Name: The Dutch method. Age: Possibly in place since the Reformation, making it about 500 years old. Appearance: Extremely open. The Dutch method? It sounds like contraception. I suppose it could be, but that would be more of a fringe benefit. It is actually a suggested sleep strategy (and life philosophy). A-ha, so what magical hack have the Netherlanders been keeping from us? Keeping the curtain...
Name: The Dutch method. Age: Possibly in place since the Reformation, making it about 500 years old. Appearance: Extremely open. The Dutch method? It sounds like contraception. I suppose it could be, but that would be more of a fringe benefit. It is actually a suggested sleep strategy (and life philosophy). A-ha, so what magical hack have the Netherlanders been keeping from us? Keeping the curtains open. Eh? I thought it was better to sleep in a dark room for your circadian rhythm. Didn’t you tell me to shower in the dark for better sleep recently? Light at night can stop you releasing melatonin, which tells your body it’s bedtime. But we need sunlight in the daytime, especially in the morning. It helps our bodies set their biological clocks. A study last year found that getting sunlight before 10am improved sleep quality. So we should keep our bedroom curtains open? That’s the suggestion. A sleep consultant told HuffPost: “If your blinds and curtains are open in the morning as you wake, this can have a positive impact on sleep.” Ideally, someone needs to come into my bedroom discreetly before dawn and open the curtains. If you have a butler, that would be a perfect plan. That, or programmable electric blinds. Sadly, I have neither. So Dutch people sleep with their curtains open? That’s between individual Netherlanders and their windows. But Dutch people definitely have a reputation for keeping curtains open in their living spaces, or not even having curtains. Weird. Why? It’s often attributed to the Dutch adoption of Calvinism during the Reformation – the righteous have nothing to hide. When a Dutch YouTube channel asked local people why they kept the curtains open, lots said exactly that: “I have nothing to hide.” Any other reasons? Yes: “I’m not big on privacy”; “We’ve grown up with it”; “I enjoy watching people”; “Staying connected with the world”; and, “I walk through our home in my underwear, no problem.” Let’s draw a veil over the underwear. But the idea of b...
tsingha25/iStock via Getty Images Market Review Global equities rose in the fourth quarter, with signs that market leadership was beginning to broaden. Notably, the months-long artificial intelligence (AI)-driven rally appeared to enter a new phase, with investors becoming increasingly cautious about the sustainability of elevated AI capital expenditure. Many perceived AI winners—mainly companies ...
tsingha25/iStock via Getty Images Market Review Global equities rose in the fourth quarter, with signs that market leadership was beginning to broaden. Notably, the months-long artificial intelligence (AI)-driven rally appeared to enter a new phase, with investors becoming increasingly cautious about the sustainability of elevated AI capital expenditure. Many perceived AI winners—mainly companies investing in or enabling AI infrastructure—sold off as the pace of spending on chips and data centers, which has been significantly reliant on debt financing, showed no signs of moderating, leading many to question the returns such investments would ultimately generate. However, AI-linked stocks staged a recovery in the closing weeks of the period; ultimately, nine of the top 10 contributors to the MSCI All Country World Index's fourth-quarter gain were AI-levered names, which, combined, accounted for 62% of the index's return. In the US, investors cheered as the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates at three consecutive policy meetings despite disagreements among officials about the path ahead. At its December policy meeting, the central bank hinted that it would likely pause further cuts as it collects more data to assess labor market and inflation conditions. Investors also reacted positively to a delayed release of third-quarter US GDP data showing stronger than expected growth driven by resilient consumer spending, powering stocks in the region to new highs toward the end of the period. Meanwhile in Europe, stocks advanced after the European Central Bank held interest rates steady amid signs that the eurozone's economic outlook was improving, suggesting its easing cycle was largely complete. The Bank of England lowered interest rates in December to their lowest level in nearly three years but signaled a slower pace of future reductions. Central banks in Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway left their key interest rates unchanged during the quarter. In Japan, equities rose ...
Key Points With robust demand for its GPUs, Nvidia continues to see its growth soar. Its networking portfolio has also become a huge growth driver. The stock is attractively valued despite strong gains in recent years. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Last week, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) once again showed why it is the most dominant player in the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure space...
Key Points With robust demand for its GPUs, Nvidia continues to see its growth soar. Its networking portfolio has also become a huge growth driver. The stock is attractively valued despite strong gains in recent years. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Last week, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) once again showed why it is the most dominant player in the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure space when it released fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter financial results. The results show that the company continues to see extraordinary revenue growth, as demand for its graphics processing units (GPUs) remains insatiable. Let's take a closer look at Nvidia's fourth-quarter results and prospects to see if the stock is still a buy. 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 » Nvidia's Q4 revenue soars For its fiscal Q4, Nvidia's revenue surged 73% year over year to $68.1 billion, easily surpassing the $66.2 billion consensus estimate (as compiled by LSEG). Adjusted earnings per share (EPS), meanwhile, soared 82% to $1.62, topping the $1.53 analyst consensus. Data center segment revenue once again led the charge, climbing 75% year over year to $62.3 billion. The company said it saw strength both with training and inference deployments. Meanwhile, within its data center segment, its networking portfolio has a highlight, with revenue skyrocketing more than 3.5 times to $11 billion. The company said demand for its NVLink interconnect solution, InfiniBand, and Spectrum-X Ethernet products all hit record levels. Cloud computing providers remain Nvidia's largest customers. It said that it expects every provider to use its Vera Rubin platform, which combines its new Rubin GPUs with its Vera central processing units (CPUs) and other networking components. Meanwhile, its sovereign nation business saw revenue triple duri...
Last week, Nvidia (NVDA 2.04%) once again showed why it is the most dominant player in the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure space when it released fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter financial results. The results show that the company continues to see extraordinary revenue growth, as demand for its graphics processing units (GPUs) remains insatiable. Let's take a closer look at Nvidia's fourth-...
Last week, Nvidia (NVDA 2.04%) once again showed why it is the most dominant player in the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure space when it released fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter financial results. The results show that the company continues to see extraordinary revenue growth, as demand for its graphics processing units (GPUs) remains insatiable. Let's take a closer look at Nvidia's fourth-quarter results and prospects to see if the stock is still a buy. Nvidia's Q4 revenue soars For its fiscal Q4, Nvidia's revenue surged 73% year over year to $68.1 billion, easily surpassing the $66.2 billion consensus estimate (as compiled by LSEG). Adjusted earnings per share (EPS), meanwhile, soared 82% to $1.62, topping the $1.53 analyst consensus. Data center segment revenue once again led the charge, climbing 75% year over year to $62.3 billion. The company said it saw strength both with training and inference deployments. Meanwhile, within its data center segment, its networking portfolio has a highlight, with revenue skyrocketing more than 3.5 times to $11 billion. The company said demand for its NVLink interconnect solution, InfiniBand, and Spectrum-X Ethernet products all hit record levels. Cloud computing providers remain Nvidia's largest customers. It said that it expects every provider to use its Vera Rubin platform, which combines its new Rubin GPUs with its Vera central processing units (CPUs) and other networking components. Meanwhile, its sovereign nation business saw revenue triple during this past fiscal year to $30 billion. Nvidia saw no revenue from China, despite the company getting approval to sell some of its H200 chips to Chinese customers. Nvidia's other segments were also mostly strong. Gaming revenue climbed 47% to $3.7 billion, while its professional visualization segment sales jumped 74% to $1.3 billion. Its automotive segment saw revenue edge up 2% to $604 million, although it was up 39% on the year. The company continues to throw off an enormo...
Cognizant Technology Solutions CTSH is benefiting from an expanding clientele and a strong partner base. A favorable mix of business renewals and expansions of new opportunities has been noteworthy. On a trailing 12-month basis, bookings increased 5% year over year to $28.4 billion, which represented a book-to-bill of approximately 1.3 times. Bookings in the fourth quarter of 2025 increased 9% yea...
Cognizant Technology Solutions CTSH is benefiting from an expanding clientele and a strong partner base. A favorable mix of business renewals and expansions of new opportunities has been noteworthy. On a trailing 12-month basis, bookings increased 5% year over year to $28.4 billion, which represented a book-to-bill of approximately 1.3 times. Bookings in the fourth quarter of 2025 increased 9% year over year. Fourth-quarter bookings included 12 large deals, with a total contract value of more than $100 million, or greater, including one deal valued at more than $1 billion. This marked a 60% increase in the value of large deals compared to the previous year. The company also signed five mega deals in 2025, each with a TCV of $500 million or greater, showcasing its ability to secure high-value contracts and expand its client base across various industries. CTSH Benefits From Multi-Year Strategic Deal Cognizant is consistently developing its capabilities to benefit from the ongoing digital transition, especially when it comes to the integration of the new digital framework with legacy technology platforms. Recently, the company has been selected by one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers to modernize and transform its global workplace services through a multi-year strategic partnership. Leveraging its AI-powered Cognizant WorkNEXT digital fabric, CTSH will enhance operational efficiency across factories and offices by integrating automation, zero-touch support, and human-centric workplace experiences to drive reliability, agility and seamless global collaboration. Cognizant’s Rich Partner Base to Drive Prospects CTSH’s expanding partner base, which includes Palantir PLTR, Alphabet’s GOOGL cloud computing platform Google Cloud, Adobe ADBE, Zscaler, ServiceNow, IBM, Palo Alto Networks, and Amazon, is expected to drive its prospects in 2026. In February 2026, Cognizant announced a strategic partnership with Palantir to accelerate AI-driven modernizatio...
is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Year after year, we mostly know what to expect from our smartphone upgrades. Galaxy, iPhone, Pixel, or whatever else, everything seems to get slightly be...
is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Year after year, we mostly know what to expect from our smartphone upgrades. Galaxy, iPhone, Pixel, or whatever else, everything seems to get slightly better (and occasionally more expensive) without many surprises in store. That’s not to say there are no new ideas left in smartphones, though. You just have to know where to look. Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Vergecast wherever you get your podcasts. Head here. Not a subscriber? You can sign up here. After that, The Verge’s Jess Weatherbed joins the show to discuss the hottest new mobile accessory: gadget straps. These simple gizmos have been popular around the world for some time and have recently made a splash in the US after Apple started shipping its crossbody strap. Jess explains why these straps are so useful and why lots of people actually want their phone dangling on their hip all day. Finally, The Verge’s Jay Peters helps David answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com) about the metaverse. First of all, what is the metaverse? And second of all, is the ultra-immersive, all-consuming metaverse still coming? We have an answer for one question and an existential crisis for the other. If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started:
The post After 1,600% Growth, Nasdaq Ticker Reserved. Private Round Closing March 19th by Benzinga Contributors appeared first on Benzinga . Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this. Benzinga Money is a reader-supported publication. We may earn a commission from the advertisers associated with this article. Read our Advertiser Discloser . The most valuable companies in entertainment are ...
The post After 1,600% Growth, Nasdaq Ticker Reserved. Private Round Closing March 19th by Benzinga Contributors appeared first on Benzinga . Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this. Benzinga Money is a reader-supported publication. We may earn a commission from the advertisers associated with this article. Read our Advertiser Discloser . The most valuable companies in entertainment are built on ownership. That principle has defined the rise of companies like Disney and Marvel—where control of characters, not just content production, enabled decades of recurring revenue across media, consumer products, and licensing. Now ownership is going to the next level as evidenced in Paramount’s $100 billion dollar bid for Warner Brothers. This is the strategy behind Elf Labs , a privately held IP company that has spent more than a decade securing rights to some of the most recognizable characters in history. After recently reserving its Nasdaq ticker ($ELFS) and reporting valuation growth exceeding 1,600% in under two years , Elf Labs is beginning to draw increased attention from investors tracking pre-IPO investment opportunities usually reserved for elite venture capital firms. A Decade Spent Securing Character IP Rather than starting with content and building brands later, Elf Labs focused first on legal ownership. Over a ten-year effort, the company secured 500+ protected trademarks and copyrights tied to globally recognized characters, including Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, and others. This foundation gives Elf Labs the ability to license, adapt, and commercialize its characters across global markets—without relying on third-party rights holders. That strategy has already produced results. Elf Labs has generated more than $15 million in royalties to date and expanded its licensing footprint into 30+ countries , with over 100 product lines currently in development across consumer goods, media, and interactive formats. While major...