MCCAIG/iStock via Getty Images The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its target interest rate unchanged in today’s policy announcement, but the stable outlook belies the unsettled inflation picture that’s keeping the bond market on edge. Visibility for the rate outlook at today’s Fed meeting, by contrast, is clear as a bell. Fed funds futures are pricing in a 100% probability that the target rat...
MCCAIG/iStock via Getty Images The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its target interest rate unchanged in today’s policy announcement, but the stable outlook belies the unsettled inflation picture that’s keeping the bond market on edge. Visibility for the rate outlook at today’s Fed meeting, by contrast, is clear as a bell. Fed funds futures are pricing in a 100% probability that the target rate will remain at its current 3.50%-3.75% range. After that, the clarity fades. The bond market is struggling to price in the twin threats of higher inflation and slower economic growth—the dual effects of the Middle East turmoil that has elevated energy costs. The odds of a quick resolution remain low, a calculus reaffirmed after President Trump on Tuesday told aides “to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, U.S. officials said,” according to The Wall Street Journal. U.S. Treasury yields have increased recently but have pulled back from the peak that followed the start of the war on Feb. 28. The market is still flirting with the possibility of rate hikes, based on the policy‑sensitive 2‑year yield, which continues to trade above the effective Fed funds rate. That’s an indication that investor sentiment is pricing in modest odds that the central bank will be forced to raise interest rates at some point in the near term. But not yet—and perhaps not for the next several FOMC meetings, or so Fed funds futures suggest. The inflation bump has already begun and will likely persist in the near term. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) surged in March to a 3.3% year‑over‑year pace, up sharply from February’s 2.4%, driven by spiking energy costs. It’s unclear whether inflation will continue rising, but a safer bet is that it holds steady above 3% for now. The Fed still has some leftover ammunition in its policy toolkit in the form of a mildly hawkish bias, based on a simple model that compares the target rate to unemployment and inflation—the two components of the central bank’s dual ...
bombermoon/iStock via Getty Images Graphic Packaging ( GPK ) said Wednesday it has signed an agreement with NextEra Energy ( NEE ) to build a 250 MW solar power plant in west Texas, aiming to source renewable electricity and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Graphic Packaging ( GPK ) said the solar plant, Selenite Springs Energy Center, would be located in the ERCOT power market and is expect...
bombermoon/iStock via Getty Images Graphic Packaging ( GPK ) said Wednesday it has signed an agreement with NextEra Energy ( NEE ) to build a 250 MW solar power plant in west Texas, aiming to source renewable electricity and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Graphic Packaging ( GPK ) said the solar plant, Selenite Springs Energy Center, would be located in the ERCOT power market and is expected to start commercial operations by year-end 2027. The company said it will be the sole buyer of the facility's renewable energy attribute certificates, expected to cover 43% of its 2025 electricity usage in the U.S. and Canada . The deal is Graphic Packaging's ( GPK ) largest virtual power purchase agreement to date and forms part of its target to cut global Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50.4% by 2032, adding that the deal would increase its total global purchased renewable electricity to ~49%. More on NextEra Energy and Graphic Packaging NextEra Energy Just Delivered 10% EPS Growth As They Benefit From The AI Buildout NextEra Energy Q1 2026 Earnings Call Presentation Graphic Packaging Holding: Falling Earnings Make This A Hold
EyeEm Mobile GmbH The United States Oil Fund LP ETF ( USO ) surged in pre-market trading, climbing 3.3% to its highest level since July 2015 as oil markets react to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Crude prices ( CL1:COM ) moved sharply higher, rising about 4% on Wednesday and pushing back above the $100-per-barrel mark following news that the Organization of the Petroleum Expo...
EyeEm Mobile GmbH The United States Oil Fund LP ETF ( USO ) surged in pre-market trading, climbing 3.3% to its highest level since July 2015 as oil markets react to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Crude prices ( CL1:COM ) moved sharply higher, rising about 4% on Wednesday and pushing back above the $100-per-barrel mark following news that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will lose the United Arab Emirates as a member. The move comes alongside a renewed rise in U.S. gasoline prices, which have now reached their highest levels since 2022, underscoring the broader impact on consumers. With approximately $1.86B in assets under management, the fund has delivered a sharp rally in recent weeks, driven largely by supply concerns tied to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. Since the onset of hostilities in late February, USO has advanced from just under $82 per share to $139.60, representing a gain of roughly 70% and reflecting a significant repricing of crude oil risk. The United States Oil Fund is structured to track daily price movements of light, sweet crude oil, making it a widely watched proxy for near-term oil price action. Additionally, see below some other energy and oil/gas funds to watch: Energy ETFs: ( XLE ), ( VDE ), ( XOP ), ( OIH ), ( AMLP ), and ( IXC ). Oil ETFs: ( USO ), ( UCO ), ( DBO ), ( OILK ), and ( USL ). Natural Gas ETFs: ( UNG ), ( BOIL ), and ( UNL ). More on markets Ray Dalio says a wealth tax may spark a bubble pop Big Tech earnings test AI spending as constraints begin to surface, Citi says Fed meeting ahead: Prediction markets highlight what Powell may signal Traders reprice Powell's timeline as Fed meeting approaches Only 11 mega-caps stand out in SA Quant Ratings as markets hover near highs
India is facing supply shocks from the Middle East war, and the resulting hit to domestic demand is a serious concern, the Finance Ministry said in its monthly economic review . “A ‘supply shock’ is apparent in the economy,” the ministry’s Department of Economic Affairs said in the report. “An accompanying demand compression is a serious concern, given high prices, rising inflation, and a reduced ...
India is facing supply shocks from the Middle East war, and the resulting hit to domestic demand is a serious concern, the Finance Ministry said in its monthly economic review . “A ‘supply shock’ is apparent in the economy,” the ministry’s Department of Economic Affairs said in the report. “An accompanying demand compression is a serious concern, given high prices, rising inflation, and a reduced pace of economic activity.” The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has hit India hard , disrupting a route that carries nearly half its crude, and about 90% of its gas imports. The shock has forced gas rationing to critical industries, weighing on economic activity. Repairing oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf “may take several months,” according to the report, released Wednesday. If below-normal rains also hurt agriculture, “headline inflation might spill over to the core measure” as producers raise prices to protect margins. Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra has also recently warned of an inflation spillover risk to the economy, which is a real concern for the central bank. The economic review said a range of downstream industries rely on the petroleum sector, and “it is likely that input cost pressures will be felt widely across the economy.” The conflict has “seriously dented investors’ confidence” in emerging markets, including India, the ministry said in the review, adding that a weaker rupee could further stoke inflation by raising import costs. However, the crisis may not threaten financial stability as key indicators remain strong. It “can be an opportunity” for India, given strong domestic fundamentals and strategic autonomy, according to the report, pointing to scope for more ambitious trade deals and diversified supply chains.
Diana Shipping ( NYSE: DSX ) on Wednesday said it had entered into time charter contracts for two of its dry bulk vessels, the m/v New York and the m/v DSI Pyxis. The company said the New York was chartered to Refined Success Limited at a gross rate of $27,500 per day, for a period running from May 2026 to between February and March 2028. The DSI Pyxis was chartered to Oldendorff GmbH & Co. KG at ...
Diana Shipping ( NYSE: DSX ) on Wednesday said it had entered into time charter contracts for two of its dry bulk vessels, the m/v New York and the m/v DSI Pyxis. The company said the New York was chartered to Refined Success Limited at a gross rate of $27,500 per day, for a period running from May 2026 to between February and March 2028. The DSI Pyxis was chartered to Oldendorff GmbH & Co. KG at a gross rate of $16,000 per day, for a period from May 2026 to between June and August 2027. Diana Shipping said the two contracts are expected to generate about $23.76 million in gross revenue over their minimum durations. DSX -1.43% premarket to $2.48 . Source: Press Release More on Diana Shipping Diana Shipping: Proposed Genco Acquisition Unlikely To Benefit Shares - Hold Quant check dry bulk shipping names as Baltic Dry Index strength supports sentiment Diana Shipping takes Genco takeover case to shareholders after months of stalled talks
OTTAWA, Ontario, April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westboro Mortgage Investment Fund has released its 2025 Financial Statements to unitholders and stakeholders. The Financial Statements were audited by KPMG. Some of the highlights are summarized below:
OTTAWA, Ontario, April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westboro Mortgage Investment Fund has released its 2025 Financial Statements to unitholders and stakeholders. The Financial Statements were audited by KPMG. Some of the highlights are summarized below:
The primary differences between Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (NYSEMKT:VBR) and iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEMKT:IJJ) center on market-cap focus, with IJJ targeting mid-caps while VBR provides broader small-cap exposure at a lower cost. Both funds target domestic "value" stocks -- companies trading at lower price multiples than the broader market. While VBR captures small-capitalization n...
The primary differences between Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (NYSEMKT:VBR) and iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEMKT:IJJ) center on market-cap focus, with IJJ targeting mid-caps while VBR provides broader small-cap exposure at a lower cost. Both funds target domestic "value" stocks -- companies trading at lower price multiples than the broader market. While VBR captures small-capitalization names, IJJ focuses on the mid-cap space. Choosing between them often depends on an investor's desired exposure to specific company sizes and sensitivity to management fees. 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
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images News Apple Inc. ( AAPL ) heads into the seasonally slow period with Tim Cook set to exit the CEO position now. The tech giant is not in a particularly strong operational position with constant failures on implementing AI. My investment thesis remains ultra Bearish on the stock as the iPhone replacement cycle ends and the future sales catalyst is unknown. Source: Finviz P...
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images News Apple Inc. ( AAPL ) heads into the seasonally slow period with Tim Cook set to exit the CEO position now. The tech giant is not in a particularly strong operational position with constant failures on implementing AI. My investment thesis remains ultra Bearish on the stock as the iPhone replacement cycle ends and the future sales catalyst is unknown. Source: Finviz Pent Up Demand Apple is set to report FQ2'26 earnings on Thursday, April 30, with the consensus analyst estimates as follows: EPS of $1.94 per share, up 17.9% YoY Revenue of $109.73 billion, up 15.1% YoY The tech giant is set to follow up the solid FQ1 report with another strong quarter. Apple had gone 4 years without quarterly revenue growth topping 10%. Apple reported a surprise FQ1 revenue beat topping $5 billion due to apparent pent-up-demand for the iPhone. The company reported iPhone revenue surge 23% YoY to $85.3 billion, coming off a 4-year period where sales growth regularly were near the flatline. Source: sixcolors The company has already apparently lost the foldable iPhone as a catalyst. DigiTimes suggests the foldable phone has been delayed by a couple of months to at least August, but other reports have the iPhone Fold slipping into 2027. The product is slated to cost $2,000 to $2,500 and likely will face initial product shortages. Apple struggled selling the Apple Vision Pro with the product having a $3,500 starting price, questioning how many consumers want a product costing double the typical iPhone. The pent-up-demand cycle fits perfectly with IDC forecasts for iPhone sales to slip this year. As highlighted in prior research, Apple increasing faces issues with smart glasses from Meta Platforms ( META ) and other vendors. The memory chip shortage should contribute to a far tougher market ahead with IDC now predicting a dramatic 13% decline in global smartphone sales. The forecast is for just a slight revenue decline due to better results for the large vendors...
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images News Apple Inc. ( AAPL ) heads into the seasonally slow period with Tim Cook set to exit the CEO position now. The tech giant is not in a particularly strong operational position with constant failures on implementing AI. My investment thesis remains ultra Bearish on the stock as the iPhone replacement cycle ends and the future sales catalyst is unknown. Source: Finviz P...
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images News Apple Inc. ( AAPL ) heads into the seasonally slow period with Tim Cook set to exit the CEO position now. The tech giant is not in a particularly strong operational position with constant failures on implementing AI. My investment thesis remains ultra Bearish on the stock as the iPhone replacement cycle ends and the future sales catalyst is unknown. Source: Finviz Pent Up Demand Apple is set to report FQ2'26 earnings on Thursday, April 30, with the consensus analyst estimates as follows: EPS of $1.94 per share, up 17.9% YoY Revenue of $109.73 billion, up 15.1% YoY The tech giant is set to follow up the solid FQ1 report with another strong quarter. Apple had gone 4 years without quarterly revenue growth topping 10%. Apple reported a surprise FQ1 revenue beat topping $5 billion due to apparent pent-up-demand for the iPhone. The company reported iPhone revenue surge 23% YoY to $85.3 billion, coming off a 4-year period where sales growth regularly were near the flatline. Source: sixcolors The company has already apparently lost the foldable iPhone as a catalyst. DigiTimes suggests the foldable phone has been delayed by a couple of months to at least August, but other reports have the iPhone Fold slipping into 2027. The product is slated to cost $2,000 to $2,500 and likely will face initial product shortages. Apple struggled selling the Apple Vision Pro with the product having a $3,500 starting price, questioning how many consumers want a product costing double the typical iPhone. The pent-up-demand cycle fits perfectly with IDC forecasts for iPhone sales to slip this year. As highlighted in prior research, Apple increasing faces issues with smart glasses from Meta Platforms ( META ) and other vendors. The memory chip shortage should contribute to a far tougher market ahead with IDC now predicting a dramatic 13% decline in global smartphone sales. The forecast is for just a slight revenue decline due to better results for the large vendors...
TSMC SoIC 3D stacking roadmap outlines path from 6-micron pitches today to 4.5-micron in 2029 — Fujitsu's Monaka CPU to benefit from face-to-face chiplet stacking Tom's Hardware
TSMC SoIC 3D stacking roadmap outlines path from 6-micron pitches today to 4.5-micron in 2029 — Fujitsu's Monaka CPU to benefit from face-to-face chiplet stacking Tom's Hardware
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Entertainment Shares of Vita Coco ( COCO ) are rallying into Wednesday’s open and are expected to set an all-time high during regular trade as the growing popularity of coconut water fueled double-digit revenue growth and a 300 basis point expansion in the company’s profit margin. Moreover, the strong first quarter results encouraged the company to set ambitious goals fo...
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Entertainment Shares of Vita Coco ( COCO ) are rallying into Wednesday’s open and are expected to set an all-time high during regular trade as the growing popularity of coconut water fueled double-digit revenue growth and a 300 basis point expansion in the company’s profit margin. Moreover, the strong first quarter results encouraged the company to set ambitious goals for FY26, raising its sales outlook by 5.4% from the prior forecast and increasing its adjusted EBITDA guidance by $10M, reflecting continued brand strength and improving private label shipment trends. “The coconut water category continues to be one of the fastest-growing beverage categories in both the United States and our core international markets, which we believe is due to consumers choosing coconut water for more of their hydration needs,” Vita Coco CEO Michael Kirban said. “I believe this growth is being largely driven by our investments as the category leader, resulting in increased household penetration and new consumption occasions for coconut water and for the Vita Coco brand.” Net sales for the first quarter swelled 37% to a better-than-expected $49M, driven by case equivalent volume gains of 32% for Vita Coco Coconut Water and +27% for the private label sales, along with higher net pricing. This contributed to a 50% increase in gross profit despite higher finished goods, tariff-related costs, and higher logistics expenses. On a per-share basis, the company earned a profit of $0.50 per share, up 61% year-over-year and $0.18 better than expected. Additionally, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA increased by $16M. For FY26, the company now expects sales to be between $720M and $725M compared to the $696.8M consensus estimate. Gross margin is seen at ~38%, unchanged from the prior outlook, as lower tariff costs and higher pricing are expected to be offset by an adverse product mix, inflationary impacts, and increased promotion and incentive costs. More on Vita Coco Vita Coco:...