Pakistan is hoping that its role in building a diplomatic off-ramp from the US-Israel war on Iran will enable it to become a key actor in the Middle East after the conflict ends, analysts say. If Islamabad can deliver without being sucked into the maelstrom, it can capitalise on its position as peacemaker by signing defence deals with Gulf monarchies and attracting investment from them to strength...
Pakistan is hoping that its role in building a diplomatic off-ramp from the US-Israel war on Iran will enable it to become a key actor in the Middle East after the conflict ends, analysts say. If Islamabad can deliver without being sucked into the maelstrom, it can capitalise on its position as peacemaker by signing defence deals with Gulf monarchies and attracting investment from them to strengthen its weak economy. This will help finance Pakistan’s military expansion for its envisioned new...
The S&P Global Australia manufacturing PMI fell to 49.8 in March 2026 from 51.0 in February, indicating a decline in the manufacturing sector for the first time in five months. Business conditions slightly worsened as the sector entered contraction. " The Australian manufacturing sector suffered some of the effects of the war in the Middle East in March, most notably an intensification of inflatio...
The S&P Global Australia manufacturing PMI fell to 49.8 in March 2026 from 51.0 in February, indicating a decline in the manufacturing sector for the first time in five months. Business conditions slightly worsened as the sector entered contraction. " The Australian manufacturing sector suffered some of the effects of the war in the Middle East in March, most notably an intensification of inflationary pressures and disruption to supply chains ," said Andrew Harker, Economics Director at S&P GlobalMarket Intelligence. Separate data showed the Ai Group industry index for Australia’s manufacturing sector also decreased sharply to -27.9 in March, the largest monthly drop since April 2020. Additionally, the Australian Industry Index dropped by 19.9 points to -23.6 due to the ongoing energy crisis, reversing its recovery in 2026. Furthermore, the seasonally adjusted number of total dwellings approved in Australia surged 29.7% month-on-month to a near five-year high of 19,022 units in February 2026. Private house approvals in Australia grew 0.2% month-on-month to 9,847 units in February 2026, preliminary estimates showed. The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose to 8,615 around midday on April’s first trading session. The Australian dollar rose to around $0.692, rebounding from a two-month low. More on Australia: EWA: Australian Financials May Struggle With A Flattening Yield Curve EWA: Potentially Range Bound, Given The Mix Of Tailwinds And Headwinds Australia to halve fuel tax for three months to shield consumers from surging costs OECD lifts G20 inflation outlook as rising energy prices impact global markets Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on iShares MSCI Australia ETF
This entertaining documentary explores the audacious jewellery robbery. Plus: Lisa Kudrow’s Hollywood-skewering comedy. Here’s what to watch this evening 10pm, Channel 4 “This will not be their first rodeo.” That was the reaction of one forensic expert upon surveying the aftermath of the audacious jewellery theft in London’s Hatton Garden in 2015. This entertaining documentary explores the theft a...
This entertaining documentary explores the audacious jewellery robbery. Plus: Lisa Kudrow’s Hollywood-skewering comedy. Here’s what to watch this evening 10pm, Channel 4 “This will not be their first rodeo.” That was the reaction of one forensic expert upon surveying the aftermath of the audacious jewellery theft in London’s Hatton Garden in 2015. This entertaining documentary explores the theft and the aftermath: the picaresque characters and unspooling underworld intrigue bear more resemblance to a Guy Ritchie film than to anything real. Phil Harrison Continue reading...
It is a hard time to be a dividend investor because, even after recent price weakness, the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) is still offering a tiny 1.1% dividend yield. You can do much better than that if you buy individual stocks, but that exposes you to idiosyncratic risk and requires you to do a lot of legwork. SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (NYSEMKT: SPYD) could be the simple exchang...
It is a hard time to be a dividend investor because, even after recent price weakness, the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) is still offering a tiny 1.1% dividend yield. You can do much better than that if you buy individual stocks, but that exposes you to idiosyncratic risk and requires you to do a lot of legwork. SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (NYSEMKT: SPYD) could be the simple exchange-traded fund (ETF) solution you are looking for. One of the big benefits of the S&P 500 index is that it is composed of large, economically important businesses that have been vetted by a committee of human beings. Another key benefit is that the index is specifically designed to be diversified, with roughly 500 stocks and exposure to the most important market sectors. The index is market-cap-weighted, so the largest stocks have the greatest impact on performance, just like the broader economy operates. If you are looking for diversified exposure to U.S. stocks, it is a simple and elegant solution. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
Woods said Tuesday he is stepping away to seek treatment, four days after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He will miss the Masters for the second straight year. (Image credit: Jason Oteri)
Woods said Tuesday he is stepping away to seek treatment, four days after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He will miss the Masters for the second straight year. (Image credit: Jason Oteri)
Alones Creative/iStock via Getty Images Less than 2% of Range Resources' ( RRC ) production is oil, but it still benefits from higher oil prices. That is because approximately 14% of Range's total production involves NGL components that have prices that move with oil prices. Around 16% of Range's total production (contributing a combined 35% of Range's unhedged 2026 revenues) is tied to oil prices...
Alones Creative/iStock via Getty Images Less than 2% of Range Resources' ( RRC ) production is oil, but it still benefits from higher oil prices. That is because approximately 14% of Range's total production involves NGL components that have prices that move with oil prices. Around 16% of Range's total production (contributing a combined 35% of Range's unhedged 2026 revenues) is tied to oil prices. At current strip prices, Range is now projected to generate $894 million in 2026 free cash flow before cash income taxes (and around $859 million after cash income taxes). This compares to my prior look at Range , when it was projected to generate under $500 million in free cash flow based on 2026 strip prices at that time. I am increasing my estimate of Range's value from $39.50 per share to $44 per share. Part of this increase is due to the higher projected 2026 free cash flow, while I have also increased my long-term oil price from $70 to $75. With Range up 35% since I last looked at it, though, I am now "Neutral" on its valuation. Commodity Prices Range's oil production made up only 1.4% of its total production during Q4 2025, so strong oil prices only have a limited direct impact on Range's financial results. I currently expect approximately 5% of Range's unhedged 2026 revenues to come from oil. However, close to 30% of Range's total production comes from NGLs. Around 47% of Range's NGL production is from components (propane, butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline) with prices that move strongly with oil prices. Those particular NGL components may contribute close to 30% of Range's unhedged revenues. 2026 Outlook Range expects its 2026 production to average 2.375 Bcfe per day at its guidance midpoint, with over 30% of that production being liquids. I am modeling Range's production at 31% liquids. The current strip for 2026 involves $3.75 NYMEX natural gas along with $82 WTI oil. Range is thus projected to generate around $3.349 billion in revenues after hedges. Rang...
(RTTNews) - Lundin Mining Corp. (LUN.TO) announced its commitment to allocate up to US$150 million annually to share buybacks under the normal course issuer bid or "NCIB" program. In 2026 to date, the company has repurchased approximately 1.45 million common shares at a cost of a
(RTTNews) - Lundin Mining Corp. (LUN.TO) announced its commitment to allocate up to US$150 million annually to share buybacks under the normal course issuer bid or "NCIB" program. In 2026 to date, the company has repurchased approximately 1.45 million common shares at a cost of a
The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI was revised up to 51.6 in March 2026 from an earlier estimate of 51.4. This reading decreased from a nearly four-year high of 53.0 in the prior month, as output and new orders slowed. Employment increased further to expand capacity and tackle ongoing labor shortages. "The slowdown coincides with the outbreak of war in the Middle East, which, according to surv...
The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI was revised up to 51.6 in March 2026 from an earlier estimate of 51.4. This reading decreased from a nearly four-year high of 53.0 in the prior month, as output and new orders slowed. Employment increased further to expand capacity and tackle ongoing labor shortages. "The slowdown coincides with the outbreak of war in the Middle East, which, according to survey respondents, directly contributed to stronger cost pressures at the end of the first quarter. Notably, input prices rose to the greatest extent in over a year and a half, leading firms to raise their charges at a quicker pace as they sought to protect their margins. The war has also fueled greater uncertainty about the global economic outlook, dampening business confidence and resulting in more cautious hiring and purchasing activity," said Annabel Fiddes, Economics Associate Director at S&PGlobal Market Intelligence. Separate data showed the Bank of Japan’s sentiment index for large manufacturers edged up to 17 in Q1 2026, beating market estimates of 16 and marking the highest level since Q4 2021. The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 3.5% to above 52,800, while the broader Topix Index climbed 3.2% to 3,600 on Wednesday. The Japanese yen held its gains around 158 per dollar on Wednesday. More on Japan economy: EWJ: Why Japan Is At Risk From Surging LNG And Oil Prices EWJ: Buying An Oversold Japan How Using Moving Averages To Make Allocation Changes Can Improve Risk Adjusted Returns Global current account imbalances reach near-historic highs, BoE warns Asia stocks mixed; China's PMI rebound fails to dispel Iran war jitters