Key PointsState Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF focuses on smaller stocks while iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF targets the mid-cap market segment.
Key PointsState Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF focuses on smaller stocks while iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF targets the mid-cap market segment.
European banks are being more selective on asset-backed lending, as collapses including Tricolor Holdings and Market Financial Solutions Ltd. have made firms more cautious of the sector. BNP Paribas SA , Deutsche Bank AG and Banco Santander SA are among banks that are being more particular about which deals they participate in, according to people with knowledge of the matter. It’s become more dif...
European banks are being more selective on asset-backed lending, as collapses including Tricolor Holdings and Market Financial Solutions Ltd. have made firms more cautious of the sector. BNP Paribas SA , Deutsche Bank AG and Banco Santander SA are among banks that are being more particular about which deals they participate in, according to people with knowledge of the matter. It’s become more difficult to get deals accepted through risk committees, especially for loans to smaller borrowers, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Companies that tap asset-backed loans are often specialty lenders or firms with large inventories that can be used as collateral. The former typically use such borrowings to fund their own lending operations. Banks are doing more to scrutinize credit quality and ensure risk is priced appropriately. That’s making it more difficult for smaller borrowers that rely on asset-backed loans to obtain funding, the people said. Spokespeople for BNP and Deutsche Bank declined to comment. A spokesperson for Santander didn’t provide a comment. In recent years, banks have ramped up asset-backed lending to reap the benefits of higher-paying loans. Such deals also come with the protection of collateral that either bears income or can be sold in the event of default. However, the industry has come under scrutiny since the collapses of subprime auto lender Tricolor, UK mortgage lender Market Financial Solutions, known as MFS, and US auto parts firm First Brands Group , which all had some sort of asset-backed financing. Banks that weren’t exposed to the blow-ups want to ensure they don’t end up in such scenarios. “Across the market, participants are ramping up their due diligence processes, even among the most established players,” said Michele Bisceglia, chief executive of Five Sigma Finance, which conducts due diligence on asset-backed deals. Executives from Five Sigma and others including Interpath and Kroll said th...
Handcrafted e-commerce platform Etsy (NYSE: ETSY) hasn't given shareholders too many reasons to cheer over the past few years. It's off an astounding 79% from its all-time highs as it has failed to regain traction after a pandemic-fueled surge. But it's been making some changes, and the stock has gained 37% over the past year. Believe it or not, a long-term growth scenario is still on the table. H...
Handcrafted e-commerce platform Etsy (NYSE: ETSY) hasn't given shareholders too many reasons to cheer over the past few years. It's off an astounding 79% from its all-time highs as it has failed to regain traction after a pandemic-fueled surge. But it's been making some changes, and the stock has gained 37% over the past year. Believe it or not, a long-term growth scenario is still on the table. Here's how it could happen. Etsy was more of a niche company before COVID, when people were delighted with custom-designed face masks, sales exploded, and it became a household name. Continue reading
US Sanctions 35 Individuals, Entities To Dismantle Iran's Shadow Banking Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), The U.S. Treasury Department on April 28 imposed sanctions on 35 individuals and entities accused of running Iran’s secret shadow banking network. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in ...
US Sanctions 35 Individuals, Entities To Dismantle Iran's Shadow Banking Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), The U.S. Treasury Department on April 28 imposed sanctions on 35 individuals and entities accused of running Iran’s secret shadow banking network. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, on April 15, 2026. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Treasury has accused the network of transferring tens of billions of dollars to help Iran dodge U.S. sanctions and finance terrorism. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning a network of shell companies, exchange houses, and operators connected to Iranian banks, such as Shahr Bank, that have enabled the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other Iran-backed armed forces to gain access to the international financial system. U.S. officials said the networks facilitate payments for illicit Iranian oil sales, purchases of missile components, and transfers to Tehran’s terrorist proxies. “Iran’s shadow banking system serves as a critical financial lifeline for its armed forces, enabling activities that disrupt global trade and fuel violence across the Middle East,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in a statement. “ Illicit funds funneled through this network support the regime’s ongoing terrorist operations, posing a direct threat to U.S. personnel, regional allies, and the global economy. Financial institutions are on notice: Any institution that facilitates or engages with these networks is at risk of severe consequences.” Those targeted on Tuesday include the Farab Soroush Afagh Qeshm Company, described as overseeing fund movements for Shahr Bank’s clients through foreign front companies. Sorayya Mehri Hajibaba, an employee and foreign exchange expert, was sanctioned for facilitating transfers since at least mid-2023. And Seyyed Mohammed Mehdi Al ...
The Deluxe edition of Elden Ring Nightreign comes with DLC and is on sale. | Image: Bandai Namco Amazon’s annual Gaming Week is bringing discounts on video games, accessories, and PC components through May 4th. This event is smaller than Amazon’s other sales, but there are some genuinely good deals. This year, we’ve found deals on popular titles like Elden Ring Nightreign , plus rare discounts on ...
The Deluxe edition of Elden Ring Nightreign comes with DLC and is on sale. | Image: Bandai Namco Amazon’s annual Gaming Week is bringing discounts on video games, accessories, and PC components through May 4th. This event is smaller than Amazon’s other sales, but there are some genuinely good deals. This year, we’ve found deals on popular titles like Elden Ring Nightreign , plus rare discounts on the Nex Playground console and on top-notch Nintendo Switch 2 controllers like the EasySMX S10 . We’ve also found discounts on an assortment of laptops , monitors , and other gaming gear , some of which are happening at Amazon and other retailers, too. Nex Playground The Nex Playground is a motion-controlled console that uses its built-in camera to track your movements as you play on the TV. Designed for ages five and up, it comes with games like Fruit Ninja and Whack-a-Mole Deluxe . You can download more games, including titles featuring popular characters like Elmo, with a paid Play Pass subscription. Where to Buy: $299 $239 at Amazon $299 $239 at Best Buy $299 $239 at Walmart You can buy the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor for $324.99 ($125 off) at Amazon , which is its second-best price to date. The impressive eight-core processor can handle multitasking without slowing down, with fast clock speeds, surprising efficiency when under pressure, and a lot of cache memory compared to other models at this price point. AMD’s 3D V-Cache specializes in helping games run smoother and possibly faster, depending on the capabilities of your other components. Read our review. Razer’s Basilisk V3 Pro wireless gaming mouse is on sale for $129.99 ($30 off), its second-best price, at Amazon and Best Buy . The accessory features a 35K DPI optical sensor, which lets gamers achieve more precise aim no matter their sensitivity preferences. It offers 13 programmable buttons, while Razer’s HyperScroll tilt wheel lets you lets you choose between controlled scrolling and quicker, free-spin scrolli...
cbarnesphotography/iStock via Getty Images Health Canada on Tuesday approved a generic version of Novo Nordisk's blockbuster GLP-1 semaglutide injection, which is branded as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. The approval was granted to India-based Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. The authorization does not apply to semaglutide's use for weight loss, which is marketed as Wegovy. Health Canada noted that eight ...
cbarnesphotography/iStock via Getty Images Health Canada on Tuesday approved a generic version of Novo Nordisk's blockbuster GLP-1 semaglutide injection, which is branded as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. The approval was granted to India-based Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. The authorization does not apply to semaglutide's use for weight loss, which is marketed as Wegovy. Health Canada noted that eight other applications for generic semaglutide are pending review. They include Teva Canada ( TEVA ), Sandoz Canada ( SDZNY )( SDZXF ), Apotex, and Taro Pharmaceuticals. Canada is now the first G7 country to approve a semaglutide generic. More on Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk: Is The GLP‑1 Golden Age Already Behind It? Novo Nordisk's Weight Loss Doesn't Mean To Load Up Novo Nordisk: Intense Competition Within The GLP-1 Duopoly Novo’s Wegovy expands reach in UK with latest NICE recommendation Novo’s China obesity drug posts positive mid-stage trial results
Chattrawit phonsan/iStock via Getty Images Investing in high-quality businesses makes a big difference in both good and bad times for equities. The past 12-month period was yet another exceptional year for equities, with the S&P 500 increasing by almost a third. The past year was also a very good one for investing in the U.S. steel sector, as tariffs were introduced on raw steel, aluminum, and cop...
Chattrawit phonsan/iStock via Getty Images Investing in high-quality businesses makes a big difference in both good and bad times for equities. The past 12-month period was yet another exceptional year for equities, with the S&P 500 increasing by almost a third. The past year was also a very good one for investing in the U.S. steel sector, as tariffs were introduced on raw steel, aluminum, and copper, as well as some derivative products. This, however, did not mean that all U.S. steel producers would deliver similar returns, with Nucor ( NUE ) leading the pack with an 86% price increase and Cleveland-Cliffs ( CLF ) coming in last with a 34% increase. Data by YCharts The difference in the market's reaction between Nucor's Q1 2026 results and those of its major peer, Cleveland-Cliffs, is also an indication of what investors perceive as quality in the sector. Even though quarterly noise is definitely at play, NUE is up by around 5% following its recent release, while CLF went in the other direction following the release of its Q1 results. But before we go into further detail on Nucor's Q1 figures, we should also mention that the stock offers significantly lower risk when compared to its U.S. peers. NUE's standard deviation of daily returns, for example, is more than twice as low as that of CLF over the past year. The metric is often used as a measure for total risk, and in that regard, NUE is much more likely to preserve shareholder returns. Prepared by the author, using data from Seeking Alpha Nucor's beta is also much lower than that of CLF and is the lowest within the peer group. Beta is used as a measure of market risk, and once again it seems that NUE is in a much better position to shelter shareholder returns, if market-wide forces take a turn for the worse. Prepared by the author, using data from Seeking Alpha Key Takeaways From Q1 Earnings Nucor reported results that beat analysts' expectations both on the top and bottom lines, but that wasn't what prompted the...
Getty Images The following segment was excerpted from the Artisan Global Opportunities Fund Q1 2026 Commentary . Portfolio Activity During the quarter, we initiated new positions in Edwards Lifesciences, Eli Lilly and Roblox. Edwards Lifesciences ( EW ) designs, develops, manufactures and markets products and services for the treatment of late-stage cardiovascular disease. The company is a long-st...
Getty Images The following segment was excerpted from the Artisan Global Opportunities Fund Q1 2026 Commentary . Portfolio Activity During the quarter, we initiated new positions in Edwards Lifesciences, Eli Lilly and Roblox. Edwards Lifesciences ( EW ) designs, develops, manufactures and markets products and services for the treatment of late-stage cardiovascular disease. The company is a long-standing leader in heart valve replacement, particularly minimally invasive, catheter-based solutions. We initiated a position as the core aortic valve franchise reaccelerates and demand for newer tricuspid valve therapies is growing rapidly, expanding Edwards' addressable market. This next product cycle is supported by strong clinical data and increasing physician adoption, with Edwards gaining share as competing solutions struggle to match its outcomes. Over time, potential for workflow simplification, including greater procedural autonomy for cardiologists, could improve capacity and utilization, supporting both volume growth and margin expansion. Following several years of elevated investment, we expect stronger revenue growth to drive margin expansion. Eli Lilly ( LLY ) is a leading pharmaceutical company with a dominant position in the GLP-1 market across injectable and oral therapies. We opportunistically initiated a Garden SM position following a recent share price pullback but ahead of the anticipated approval and launch of Foundayo ® and a potential expansion of Medicare coverage for obesity drugs. Lower pricing and broader formulary inclusion are expanding the addressable market, particularly as compounded alternatives become less competitive. Strong category demand and Eli Lilly's broad portfolio position the company well to drive accelerating obesity volumes. We view Foundayo ® as a best-in-class oral GLP-1 medicine based on clinical data and early indicators suggesting strong adoption potential. To date, we have not observed meaningful cannibalization of existin...
Enterprises can't fix their GPU waste problem because the fix makes the problem worse. Releasing idle capacity would improve utilization, but the same shortage driving GPU prices up is exactly why no team will give capacity back. So the fleet sits at roughly 5%, billed by the hour, and the cycle tightens. That pressure — repeated across thousands of enterprises over the past two years — is the rea...
Enterprises can't fix their GPU waste problem because the fix makes the problem worse. Releasing idle capacity would improve utilization, but the same shortage driving GPU prices up is exactly why no team will give capacity back. So the fleet sits at roughly 5%, billed by the hour, and the cycle tightens. That pressure — repeated across thousands of enterprises over the past two years — is the reason most companies are now running their GPU fleets at roughly 5% utilization , according to Cast AI's 2026 State of Kubernetes Optimization Report, which measured actual production clusters rather than surveying them. It's also the reason nobody releases the idle capacity. Cast AI co-founder and President Laurent Gil has been tracking the dynamic for two years. “Many of the neoclouds are not cloud,” he told VentureBeat. “They are neo-real estate.” Five percent is about six times worse than a no-effort baseline. Gil puts a reasonable human-managed target at around 30% once you factor in day cycles, weekends and normal business patterns. Five percent means enterprises are running their most expensive infrastructure line at a fraction of what doing nothing intentional would yield. And it lands at the same moment cloud compute pricing has broken its 20-year pattern. AWS quietly raised its reserved H200 GPU prices by roughly 15% on a Saturday in January, with no formal announcement. Memory suppliers pushed HBM3e prices up 20% for 2026. It is the first time since AWS launched EC2 in 2006 that a hyperscaler has meaningfully raised reserved GPU pricing rather than cut it. For now, the assumption under most enterprise AI budgets — that cloud compute gets cheaper every year— no longer holds at the top of the stack. The cloud market has split in two The pricing move matters less for what it is than for what it signals about where the shortage actually bites. Cloud compute has split into two layers. At the commodity layer, the old deflation still works. H100 on-demand pricing has fall...
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT:XLK) offers lower costs and higher yields, while iShares U.S. Technology ETF (NYSEMKT:IYW) provides broader exposure and includes communications giants like Alphabet. Tech investors often choose between narrow sector focus and broader industry exposure within the tech landscape. While both funds target U.S. technology companies, their underly...
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT:XLK) offers lower costs and higher yields, while iShares U.S. Technology ETF (NYSEMKT:IYW) provides broader exposure and includes communications giants like Alphabet. Tech investors often choose between narrow sector focus and broader industry exposure within the tech landscape. While both funds target U.S. technology companies, their underlying index rules lead to distinct concentrations. For those evaluating these two technology titans, the choice often hinges on whether to include the diverse digital advertising and services segments found in the broader tech index. Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield. Continue reading