UniqueMotionGraphics/iStock via Getty Images Gold is once again in the driver’s seat among the major asset categories entering March after revived tariff fears and renewed Mid-East hostilities have sent investors running to the safety of the precious metals. However, while traders continue to pile into gold, the likelihood is strong that another major shakeout is on the horizon—one that could ecli...
UniqueMotionGraphics/iStock via Getty Images Gold is once again in the driver’s seat among the major asset categories entering March after revived tariff fears and renewed Mid-East hostilities have sent investors running to the safety of the precious metals. However, while traders continue to pile into gold, the likelihood is strong that another major shakeout is on the horizon—one that could eclipse even the decline from just over a month ago, as we’ll discuss here. Gold investors received a shock in early February when prices dropped over 20% in just a couple of days after briefly touching a record high at $5,600 an ounce. The correction was short-lived, however, as the gold market quickly regrouped and resumed its climb toward another record. The decline was blamed by mainstream media reports on the White House’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chairman position. The nomination “appeared to relieve concerns about the central bank’s independence and sent the dollar soaring,” in the words of a CNBC report , which was the putative reason why participants decided to unload some of their gold holdings. But the most likely explanation for the intense selling pressure in gold was the latest series of margin requirement hikes by CME Group, which raised maintenance rates for gold futures trading from 6% to 8% as of January 30, with further increases implemented in early February. (For silver, margin requirements were as high as 11% to 12% for high-risk profiles.) Additionally, immediately prior to the precious metals market sell-off, China had suspended trading in five commodity funds in order to “curb investment mania in gold, silver, and oil and reduce underlying risks amid geopolitical tensions,” according to the South China Morning Post . This was almost certainly another contributing factor behind the big decline. Naturally, these restrictive actions served to panic many participants—particularly momentum traders in the futures market, who may h...
Indonesia’s foreign minister said talks on President Donald Trump ’s Board of Peace initiative have been put on hold as diplomatic attention shifts to the escalating Middle East conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US. Discussions are paused given that “all attention has shifted to the situation in Iran,” Foreign Minister Sugiono told reporters Tuesday night following a dinner that included Pre...
Indonesia’s foreign minister said talks on President Donald Trump ’s Board of Peace initiative have been put on hold as diplomatic attention shifts to the escalating Middle East conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US. Discussions are paused given that “all attention has shifted to the situation in Iran,” Foreign Minister Sugiono told reporters Tuesday night following a dinner that included President Prabowo Subianto and former leaders of the world’s fourth-most populous nation. That said, “we are still consulting with our partners and also coordinating with colleagues in the Gulf, since they have also been targeted in attacks.” The comments come as domestic opposition grows to Indonesia’s involvement in Trump’s security plan for Gaza. The world’s largest Muslim-majority nation attended the board’s inaugural meeting in Washington last month and has been preparing to deploy up to 8,000 troops for possible peacekeeping duties. Indonesia Weighs Sending Up to 8,000 Troops for Gaza Peace Plan Majelis Ulama Indonesia, an influential Islamic clerical body, this week urged the government to reconsider participation in the Board of Peace after US and Israeli attacks on Iran triggered a broader regional escalation. Tubagus Hasanuddin, a senior opposition lawmaker, called on the government to withdraw and take a firmer stance on the Iran conflict. “The country risks being drawn into Middle Eastern geopolitical turmoil that could be detrimental,” he said in a statement Tuesday. Prabowo — who earlier this week expressed readiness to act as a mediator in the Iran conflict — dined Tuesday with former presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo , former vice presidents, leaders of major political parties and senior diplomats to discuss global developments, including the Middle East escalation. He also outlined potential economic implications of the conflict, particularly risks to global oil and gas supplies from the Middle East, according to people in attendance. “The pr...
(RTTNews) - Bayer AG (BAYRY.PK, BAYZF.PK) reported Wednesday a hefty loss in its fourth quarter, wider than last year, amid high special charges for litigations and weak sales. The German pharmaceutical and life sciences major also issued fiscal 2026 outlook, expecting weak results. The company noted that its earnings and outlook reflect class settlement agreement to resolve current and future Rou...
(RTTNews) - Bayer AG (BAYRY.PK, BAYZF.PK) reported Wednesday a hefty loss in its fourth quarter, wider than last year, amid high special charges for litigations and weak sales. The German pharmaceutical and life sciences major also issued fiscal 2026 outlook, expecting weak results. The company noted that its earnings and outlook reflect class settlement agreement to resolve current and future Roundup (glyphosate) claims. In mid-February, the company's subsidiary Monsanto announced a proposed nationwide class settlement to address claims alleging non Hodgkin lymphoma injuries through a long term compensation program, with Monsanto committing to capped annual payments totaling up to $7.25 billion over 21 years, subject to court approval. The settlement is part of a broader strategy to contain ongoing litigation alongside a pending U.S. Supreme Court review. The total litigation related payouts is expected to reach approximately 5 billion euros in 2026. In the fourth quarter, Bayer recorded net loss of 3.76 billion euros, compared to loss of 335 million euros a year ago. Loss per share was 3.82 euros, compared to loss of 0.34 euro last year. Core earnings per share were 0.62 euro, compared to 1.05 euros last year. Adjusted EBIT was 682 million euros, down 20.2 percent from 855 million euros last year. Adjusted EBITDA fell 16.2 percent to 1.97 billion euros from 2.35 billion euros a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA margin dropped to 17.2 percent from last year's 20 percent. In the quarter, sales fell 2.5 percent to 11.44 billion euros from 11.73 billion euros a year ago, mainly due to weak pharmaceuticals and consumer health sales, despite slight growth in crop science. However, sales on a currency adjusted basis, grew 2.9 percent. Further, the company said it will propose a dividend of 0.11 euros per share for 2025, in line with last year, at the upcoming Annual Stockholders' Meeting on April 24. Looking ahead, based on the new methodology to calculate core earnings per shar...
BigBear.ai stock fell to multiyear lows in 2025, but debt reduction, acquisitions, and rising institutional accumulation could set the stage for a turnaround.
BigBear.ai stock fell to multiyear lows in 2025, but debt reduction, acquisitions, and rising institutional accumulation could set the stage for a turnaround.