tdub303/E+ via Getty Images Over the past several months, the spotlight has made it back to the net lease industry. Net lease REITs of all shapes and sizes have recently seen their share prices climb significantly. I recently published an article discussing real estate valuations and why net lease REITs have outperformed in 2026. Share prices across the net lease sector have climbed almost uniform...
tdub303/E+ via Getty Images Over the past several months, the spotlight has made it back to the net lease industry. Net lease REITs of all shapes and sizes have recently seen their share prices climb significantly. I recently published an article discussing real estate valuations and why net lease REITs have outperformed in 2026. Share prices across the net lease sector have climbed almost uniformly over the past six months. Data by YCharts As tailwinds such as interest rate stability and opportunity cost begin to drive attention back to the sector, it becomes important to differentiate between the increasing number of landlords in this segment. A recurring theme of my coverage is that not all REITs are created equal. In net lease, the business model has a tremendous amount of diversity which can act as a long term driver of success or failure. If you were to go on the website of Global Net Lease ( GNL ) today, you will see a large slogan that says: A Net Lease Platform Built To Perform If you were to look inside of investor presentations, you will see a management team that brags about their outperformance against the net lease sector. GNL If you were to zoom out, you will see a company whose shares have lost around 65% since inception. The company has been one of my most covered across Seeking Alpha, highlighting why flaws within the business model led to long term pain for shareholders of GNL. Data by YCharts This article will follow up on significant changes to the company’s business and explain why there are more challenges ahead for GNL. Review of Prior Coverage Over the years, my coverage of GNL has largely focused on problems with the REIT’s acquisitive business model. The company was a major buyer of real estate, issuing stocks and bonds hand over fist to acquire net lease properties around the globe. The company is globally diversified, with around one fourth of the portfolio sitting outside of the United States, hence the “global” monicker. The company to...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Eli Lilly ( LLY ) shares slipped in the premarket on Tuesday after HSBC downgraded the weight loss drugmaker to Reduce from Hold, issuing the pharma giant’s only sell-equivalent rating on Wall Street, according to Bloomberg data. Shares of the Indiana-based drugmaker are “priced to perfection," analyst Rajesh Kumar wrote, slashing his price target on ...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Eli Lilly ( LLY ) shares slipped in the premarket on Tuesday after HSBC downgraded the weight loss drugmaker to Reduce from Hold, issuing the pharma giant’s only sell-equivalent rating on Wall Street, according to Bloomberg data. Shares of the Indiana-based drugmaker are “priced to perfection," analyst Rajesh Kumar wrote, slashing his price target on the stock to $850 from $1,070 per share. “Whilst the execution at Lilly has been good so far, we think the risk of paying up for its bullish world view embedded in the guidance is unattractive,” Kumar added, flagging concerns over the extent of the total addressable market (TAM) that the company can command in obesity. The analyst noted that Lilly ( LLY ), which is awaiting FDA approval of its oral obesity therapy orforglipron over the coming weeks, can risk having a smaller TAM compared to the consensus as rival Novo ( NVO ) attempts to regain market share and engage in price competition. “The company might be set to disappoint expectations if the compliance and persistence on these drugs are like typical oral pills or consistent with its clinical trials,” Kumar argued, adding that current Street forecasts indicate $1.5B for Lilly’s oral obesity segment this year. The analyst projects an $80B - $120B TAM for obesity therapies compared to more than $150B in the consensus. More on Eli Lilly Eli Lilly Reaching For Peak GLP-1 Euphoria: Rotten Trading Momentum Since November Eli Lilly: The Weight-Loss Craze Isn't Over CagriSema Incident: The Surprise Winner And What It Means For The Novo-Lilly Rivalry Eli Lilly tops growth factor grades among S&P healthcare holdings Eli Lilly warns of safety risks from compounded obesity drugs after finding impurity
The bombs continue to fall in the Middle East. But we contrarians know something the crowd always forgets at times like this: The world is always burning somewhere. At times like these, our Contrarian Income Report dividend strategy shines. Our portfolio yields 8.2% on average, and those dividends roll in no matter what the world throws at us. The result? No need to sell into a downturn to get the...
The bombs continue to fall in the Middle East. But we contrarians know something the crowd always forgets at times like this: The world is always burning somewhere. At times like these, our Contrarian Income Report dividend strategy shines. Our portfolio yields 8.2% on average, and those dividends roll in no matter what the world throws at us. The result? No need to sell into a downturn to get the cash we need. And we get the chance to go on offense, too, snagging dividends on the dips and boosting our income stream (and upside potential) as we do. Rinse and repeat. We especially love stocks and funds that pay us monthly, for two reasons: They line up perfectly with our bills. They let us reinvest our dividends faster--especially when markets dip. The problem for most investors is that they limit themselves to the fan favs of the S&P 500, and there are virtually no monthly payers there. But we know there are plenty to be found if we hunt just a little off the beaten path. Best of all, we can get those high monthly divvies without giving up the large caps we already hold. The key is to buy them through closed-end funds (CEFs), which yield around 8% on average. Plus, most of the 400 or so CEFs out there pay dividends monthly. Here are two that stand out now. Monthly Dividend Pick No. 1: A Diversified Pick With an 8.2% Dividend The BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust (BDJ) is purpose built for a market like this. For starters, its portfolio is balanced among stock sectors--finance is the biggest slice, at 19% of assets, followed by industrials (14.5%), healthcare (14.2%) and technology (12.5%). Then it goes further, adding in a dash of global exposure, with about 12% of assets outside the US, in stable countries like the UK, South Korea, Germany and Canada. Let's get to what we really want to know about here: the (monthly!) dividend, which is not only hefty but has risen a stout 32% in the last decade (not including special dividends, which BDJ has paid five times...
ISerg/iStock via Getty Images It’s no secret that now is a great time to be an income investor, with many names in the consumer staples, BDC, and REIT space having been beaten down to attractive valuations. As such, retirees have many options to choose from when it comes to earning durable income streams. While it’s hard to say when market sentiment will turn around, savvy income investors can tak...
ISerg/iStock via Getty Images It’s no secret that now is a great time to be an income investor, with many names in the consumer staples, BDC, and REIT space having been beaten down to attractive valuations. As such, retirees have many options to choose from when it comes to earning durable income streams. While it’s hard to say when market sentiment will turn around, savvy income investors can take advantage of the current environment and lock in the high dividend streams. In the words of football great Jerry Rice, “Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t”. This brings me to the following 2 picks, which offer high yields in the 8-11% range. Both companies have strong assets that support these cash flows. Let’s explore what makes each a compelling ‘Buy’ for income investors at the moment! #1: Sixth Street Specialty Lending – 11% Yield Sixth Street Specialty Lending ( TSLX ) is a well-run externally managed BDC that focuses on providing financing solutions to U.S. middle market companies. It operates within the broader Sixth Street (TSLX’s external manager) ecosystem, which has over $100 billion in assets under management. At the current price of $17.67, TSLX trades close to its 52-week low with an 11% dividend yield, as shown below. TSLX Stock 1-Yr Trend (Seeking Alpha) At present, TSLX has a $3.3 billion portfolio fair value that’s spread across 143 companies. Most (89%) of its investments are first lien secured debt and 96% of the debt portfolio is floating rate. TSLX’s borrower base is diversified, with no single borrower comprising over 2.4% of portfolio total. As shown below, internet services, business services, retail products, and HR Services make up TSLX’s top 4 industries, comprising just over half (52%) of portfolio total. Investor Presentation TSLX delivered performance during Q4 2025, with NII per share coming in at $0.52 and a return on equity of 12%. This more than covered the $0.46 quarterly dividend rate and a $0.01 ...
NetLib Security Winter 2026 Introduces Expanded Platform Support, Azure Key Vault Integration, and Advanced Centralized Key Management Capabilities NetLib Security Announces Winter 2026 Release with AI-Driven Enhancements and Major Upgrades to Encryptionizer Key Manager for Data Security That Moves at the Speed of Reality NetLib Security, a leader in transparent data encryption, today announced th...
NetLib Security Winter 2026 Introduces Expanded Platform Support, Azure Key Vault Integration, and Advanced Centralized Key Management Capabilities NetLib Security Announces Winter 2026 Release with AI-Driven Enhancements and Major Upgrades to Encryptionizer Key Manager for Data Security That Moves at the Speed of Reality NetLib Security, a leader in transparent data encryption, today announced the general availability of Encryptionizer Winter 2026, alongside significant upgrades to the Encryptionizer Key Manager (EKM), strengthening centralized encryption and key management in response to the rapidly evolving AI-driven threat landscape. · GlobeNewswire Inc. STAMFORD, Conn., March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NetLib Security , a leader in transparent data encryption, today announced the general availability of Encryptionizer Winter 2026 , alongside significant upgrades to the Encryptionizer Key Manager (EKM) , strengthening centralized encryption and key management in response to the rapidly evolving AI-driven threat landscape. Encryptionizer Winter 2026 now supports Microsoft SQL Server 2025 and Microsoft Windows Server 2025, ensuring organizations adopting the latest Microsoft technologies can deploy transparent data-at-rest encryption without application rewrites. The platform continues to support legacy Windows versions back to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2012 R2, enabling businesses to secure mission-critical legacy applications without costly migrations. The release also introduces a new Key Delivery Plugin supporting Azure Key Vault, enhancing secure storage and centralized management of encryption keys across virtual, physical, and cloud environments. Redefining Centralized Encryption Management Encryptionizer Key Manager (EKM) takes Encryptionizer to the next level by allowing organizations to administer encryption policies and manage cryptographic keys from a single, centralized interface. Designed as a cost-effective, easy-to-deploy platform, EKM enables...
Hungry seagulls, smuggled ants and St Patrick’s Day: Photos of the day – Tuesday The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. Photograph: Ibrahim Amro/AFP/Getty Images
Hungry seagulls, smuggled ants and St Patrick’s Day: Photos of the day – Tuesday The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. Photograph: Ibrahim Amro/AFP/Getty Images
Dragon Claws/iStock via Getty Images AST SpaceMobile: 2026 Launches Will Be Crucial To Validate Its Business Model If 2025 was a “defining year” for AST SpaceMobile , Inc. ( ASTS ), then the next two years will arguably determine whether ASTS can fulfill its promising narrative of becoming one of the leaders in space-based direct to device connectivity, as it expands its commercial service with gl...
Dragon Claws/iStock via Getty Images AST SpaceMobile: 2026 Launches Will Be Crucial To Validate Its Business Model If 2025 was a “defining year” for AST SpaceMobile , Inc. ( ASTS ), then the next two years will arguably determine whether ASTS can fulfill its promising narrative of becoming one of the leaders in space-based direct to device connectivity, as it expands its commercial service with global mobile network operators that the company has built up, as reflected in its growing backlog. These MNOs span across major markets, including partners in “United States, Europe, Japan, Saudi Arabia and other key strategic markets like the U.S. government.” And then we have what could be the largest IPO ever in history later this June (projected), led by none other than SpaceX ( SPACE ), and helmed by CEO Elon Musk. The IPO could value SpaceX at an astronomical amount of $1.75 billion, raising “as much as $50 billion, which would shatter the previous record set by Saudi Aramco’s $29.4 billion listing in 2019.” Hence, while investors could participate through limited private investment vehicles targeting SpaceX stock, anticipating the public listing, they could also consider partaking in the burgeoning business of AST SpaceMobile as it begins to proliferate its commercial phase through the rest of the decade. In my previous write-up on ASTS , I kept my cool and decided to rate the stock as Neutral. It’s important for me to emphasize that it was not a bearish outlook. It was simply a matter of assessing the appropriate risk reward calculus, since we all know that the stock is valued at a significant premium, far above the industry median. In other words, it is not unreasonable for me to assert that the market does not have any room for disappointment on the launch and delivery promises that it has committed to achieving in the next couple of years. It will be foolhardy for us to just contemplate what ASTS could drive this year, as the extremely steep valuations don’t justi...
Arthur J. Gallagher ( AJG ) announced the acquisition of Australia-based financial planning firm Asset Partners Private Wealth. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "Asset Partners Private Wealth shares our client-focused approach and expands our wealth management consulting capabilities in Australia," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., chairman and CEO. "I am delighted to welcome David, Josh...
Arthur J. Gallagher ( AJG ) announced the acquisition of Australia-based financial planning firm Asset Partners Private Wealth. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "Asset Partners Private Wealth shares our client-focused approach and expands our wealth management consulting capabilities in Australia," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., chairman and CEO. "I am delighted to welcome David, Josh and their associates to Gallagher." Source: Press Release More on Arthur J.Gallagher Arthur J. Gallagher: Cloudy Investment Case Due To AI Disruption Risk Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript Arthur J. Gallagher: Benefits Of $13.5 Bln Acquisition Of AssuredPartners Key deals this week: KORE, TopBuild, Equinix, PayPal and more Top 10 large-cap stocks with highest dividend safety grade
Energys Group ( ENGS ) received a Nasdaq determination letter as its stock stayed below the $1 bid price for 30 consecutive days, violating the listing rule and risking delisting. It has 180 days (until September 7, 2026) to resolve the issue and regain compliance with the listing rules. The company now must restore its share price above $1 and sustain it for at least 10 consecutive trading days w...
Energys Group ( ENGS ) received a Nasdaq determination letter as its stock stayed below the $1 bid price for 30 consecutive days, violating the listing rule and risking delisting. It has 180 days (until September 7, 2026) to resolve the issue and regain compliance with the listing rules. The company now must restore its share price above $1 and sustain it for at least 10 consecutive trading days within the 180-day period. If this is not achieved organically, it must prepare to use a reverse stock split to regain compliance and secure extra time. “We recognize the value of our Nasdaq listing for liquidity and pricing efficiency and remain committed to improving performance to meet continued listing standards,” said CEO Kevin Cox. More on Energys Group Limited Energys receives Nasdaq determination letter regarding $35M market value rule Financial information for Energys Group Limited
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Apple (AAPL, Financials) Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan visited the company's applied research lab in Shenzhen, China, and is scheduled to meet multiple supply chain partners during the trip, according to a media report. Apple's top executives made their first trip to China this year when they went to the Futian Bonded Zone. The trip shows that the cor...
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Apple (AAPL, Financials) Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan visited the company's applied research lab in Shenzhen, China, and is scheduled to meet multiple supply chain partners during the trip, according to a media report. Apple's top executives made their first trip to China this year when they went to the Futian Bonded Zone. The trip shows that the corporation is still focused on controlling and improving its worldwide supply chain, especially in an area that is very important to its manufacturing activities. Even while Apple has worked to move some of its manufacturing to other parts of the world in recent years, China is still a key center for the company's production and supplier network. When companies work with suppliers, they usually want to make sure that manufacturing is running well, that parts are available, and that everyone is on the same page about future product development. The visit comes at a time when IT businesses around the world are trying to find a balance between keeping their supply chains strong and dealing with political issues. Apple's direct contact with partners shows that the company is still working to keep things running smoothly and work together in the area. Updates on Apple's supply chain strategy and any signs of forthcoming product cycles or manufacturing changes will be the next thing that gets investors excited.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images News The Trump administration is seeking alternative fertilizer supplies for U.S. farmers as the war in Iran disrupts a key global trade route just weeks before the spring planting season. “We’ve been all over the fertilizer problem,” White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on CNBC Tuesday. “I’m not saying that we can eliminate what disruption t...
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images News The Trump administration is seeking alternative fertilizer supplies for U.S. farmers as the war in Iran disrupts a key global trade route just weeks before the spring planting season. “We’ve been all over the fertilizer problem,” White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on CNBC Tuesday. “I’m not saying that we can eliminate what disruption there is so far, but we can minimize it for sure.” The effort reflects growing concern in Washington that supply bottlenecks, particularly those tied to the Strait of Hormuz, could tighten availability and push up costs for farmers at a critical moment in the agricultural calendar. Hassett said the administration has already taken steps to diversify supply, including allowing increased fertilizer production in Venezuela and opening discussions with Morocco. He characterized those moves as a precautionary measure aimed at cushioning potential shortages. The focus, he said, is ensuring farmers have access to inputs as planting begins. “It’s almost planting season, and there’s a lot of fertilizer that usually goes down.” The disruption is tied in part to the Gulf region, where a major producer had been supplying a sizable share of U.S. fertilizer demand. Shipping constraints through the region have slowed the movement of both fertilizer and energy products, complicating supply chains. Officials are also monitoring fuel markets, particularly on the U.S. West Coast. Hassett noted that Asian economies, traditionally exporters of refined fuels to the region, may retain more supply for domestic use as Middle East disruptions tighten global availability. “Asian economies, which are much more reliant on Middle East oil, they actually sell a lot of refined product in to the West Coast of the US,” Hassett said. “We’re seeing some signs that they might be pulling that back to make sure that they have enough energy for themselves.” That could force policymakers to adjust how supplies are ...
"You get what you pay for" often applies to expensive stocks with best-in-class business models and execution. While their quality can sometimes justify the premium, they typically experience elevated volatility during market downturns when expectations change. Finding the right balance between price and quality can challenge even the most skilled investors. Luckily for you, we started StockStory ...
"You get what you pay for" often applies to expensive stocks with best-in-class business models and execution. While their quality can sometimes justify the premium, they typically experience elevated volatility during market downturns when expectations change. Finding the right balance between price and quality can challenge even the most skilled investors. Luckily for you, we started StockStory to help you identify the real opportunities. Keeping that in mind, here are two high-flying stocks expanding their competitive advantages and one where the price is not right. One High-Flying Stock to Sell: Myriad Genetics (MYGN) Forward P/E Ratio: 68.5x Founded in 1991 as one of the pioneers in translating genetic discoveries into clinical applications, Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ:MYGN) develops genetic tests that assess disease risk, guide treatment decisions, and provide insights across oncology, women's health, and mental health. Why Should You Sell MYGN? Muted 4.6% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its healthcare peers Negative returns on capital show management lost money while trying to expand the business, and its decreasing returns suggest its historical profit centers are aging Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned Myriad Genetics’s stock price of $4.59 implies a valuation ratio of 68.5x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including MYGN in your portfolio. Two High-Flying Stocks to Watch: Apple (AAPL) Forward P/E Ratio: 29.1x Creator of the iPhone and App Store, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a legendary developer of consumer electronics and software. Why Do We Watch AAPL? Apple's revenue base is so large because nearly everyone in the U.S. has an iPhone, but this is a double-edged sword. Growth must now come from upgrades, a harder pitch that has resulted in sluggish top-line performan...
Micron has completed its acquisition of Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation’s (PSMC) Tongluo P5 site in Taiwan, marking a significant step in expanding its global memory manufacturing footprint. The deal, previously announced in January 2026, gives Micron control of a key fabrication facility as it looks to scale production of advanced DRAM products amid rising demand driven by artif...
Micron has completed its acquisition of Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation’s (PSMC) Tongluo P5 site in Taiwan, marking a significant step in expanding its global memory manufacturing footprint. The deal, previously announced in January 2026, gives Micron control of a key fabrication facility as it looks to scale production of advanced DRAM products amid rising demand driven by artificial intelligence. The Tongluo site, located in Miaoli County, will serve as an extension of Micron’s existing operations in Taiwan, complementing its Taichung mega campus roughly 15 miles away. The facility includes approximately 300,000 square feet of cleanroom space and is expected to support production of leading-edge DRAM and high-bandwidth memory products. Micron said it has begun preparations to retrofit the existing cleanroom, with work to start immediately after the acquisition is completed. The company expects the site to begin contributing meaningful product shipments starting in fiscal 2028. As part of a broader expansion strategy, Micron also confirmed plans to construct a second facility at the Tongluo site. Construction of the additional fab is expected to begin by the end of fiscal 2026 and will add approximately 270,000 square feet of cleanroom capacity, effectively doubling the scale of operations at the location over time. The expansion underscores Micron’s effort to meet accelerating demand for memory chips, particularly those used in AI and data center applications, where DRAM performance is increasingly critical. Micron highlighted strong collaboration with Taiwan’s central and local governments, as well as industry partners, in facilitating the acquisition and enabling rapid progress on site development. KEY QUOTE: “The Tongluo facility complements our Taiwan operations and is a critical component of our global expansion plans. Memory is a strategic asset that dictates AI product performance, and the acquisition and phased ramp of this site strengthe...
BEIJING, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)) ("Baidu" or the "Company"), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2026 (the "Form 20-F"). The Form 20-F can...
BEIJING, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)) ("Baidu" or the "Company"), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2026 (the "Form 20-F"). The Form 20-F can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.baidu.com. The Company will provide a hard copy of the Form 20-F containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be directed to IR Department, Baidu, Inc., Baidu Campus, No. 10 Shangdi 10th Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, People's Republic of China. The Company also published an annual report for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the "Hong Kong Annual Report") today pursuant to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "HKEx"). The Hong Kong Annual Report contains substantially the same information as set forth in the Form 20-F and can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.baidu.com as well as the HKEx's website at http://www.hkexnews.hk. About Baidu Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong internet foundation, trading on NASDAQ under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888". One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares. Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidu-inc-files-its-annual-report-on-form-20-f-302716063.html
JHVEPhoto Qualcomm's ( QCOM ) board approved a nearly 3.4% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.92 from $0.89 per common share and greenlighted a new $20B stock buyback program. Shares of Qualcomm rose about 3% premarket on Tuesday. This company said the dividend increase will be effective for quarterly dividends payable after March 26 and will raise the annualized dividend payout to $3.6...
JHVEPhoto Qualcomm's ( QCOM ) board approved a nearly 3.4% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.92 from $0.89 per common share and greenlighted a new $20B stock buyback program. Shares of Qualcomm rose about 3% premarket on Tuesday. This company said the dividend increase will be effective for quarterly dividends payable after March 26 and will raise the annualized dividend payout to $3.68 per common share. The chipmaker noted that the new stock repurchase authorization is in addition to the company’s stock buyback program announced in November 2024, which has about $2.1B of repurchase authority remaining. The new stock buyback program has no expiration date. More on Qualcomm Qualcomm: Smartphone Weakness Offset By Automotive And IoT Strength Qualcomm: New Revenue Will Stem The Pain Of Losing Apple Qualcomm: The Market Is Pricing In Failure Wall Street's most oversold tech stocks amid Middle East disruptions Qualcomm downgraded at Seaport on shrinking market, memory crunch
With temperatures running far above normal, snow in the Sierra Nevada is likely to melt weeks earlier than usual, reducing the amount of water that can be gradually released into reservoirs later in the year.
With temperatures running far above normal, snow in the Sierra Nevada is likely to melt weeks earlier than usual, reducing the amount of water that can be gradually released into reservoirs later in the year.
Iraq Negotiates With Iran To Reopen Vital Oil Shipping Route Authored by Tsvetana Paraskova via OilPrice.com, The federal Iraqi government is in contact with Iran to persuade Tehran to allow some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq’s Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani said on Tuesday. “There is communication with Iran regarding allowing the passage of some Iraqi oil tankers,”...
Iraq Negotiates With Iran To Reopen Vital Oil Shipping Route Authored by Tsvetana Paraskova via OilPrice.com, The federal Iraqi government is in contact with Iran to persuade Tehran to allow some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq’s Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani said on Tuesday. “There is communication with Iran regarding allowing the passage of some Iraqi oil tankers,” the minister said in statements carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA). Iraq, unlike Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), doesn’t have any options – even partial – to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed for over two weeks now, forcing Baghdad to slash oil production as storage sites and tankers available in the Gulf filled up. Iraq was the first to announce more than a week ago it was slashing crude oil production amid the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Last week Iraq said it would maintain crude oil production at roughly 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) as the war disrupting the Persian Gulf continues to cripple the country’s export routes. Before the war, Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest producer behind Saudi Arabia, produced more than 4.4 million bpd. But with no way out of the Gulf for all these barrels, Iraq and the other major producers are forced to slash upstream production. Initial losses of about 5 million bpd have already hit about 10 million bpd, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its monthly report published last week. For Iraq, the situation is more critical than the other Gulf producers—its dependence on oil revenue is the highest in the region, and unlike Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, Baghdad doesn’t have a huge sovereign wealth fund to lean on. So Iraq is also scrambling to restore a northern oil export route that would send crude from the Kirkuk fields directly to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, as the southern export route via the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed f...
J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images Market review Increased trade tensions between the US and China, giving way to a truce, marked the beginning of the last quarter of 2025. Economic indicators continued to show resilience, with 3Q gross domestic product (GDP) growth tracking close to 3.5%, maintaining the pace of 2Q (based on the Atlanta Federal Reserve (Fed) GDPNow forecast). Government fis...
J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images Market review Increased trade tensions between the US and China, giving way to a truce, marked the beginning of the last quarter of 2025. Economic indicators continued to show resilience, with 3Q gross domestic product (GDP) growth tracking close to 3.5%, maintaining the pace of 2Q (based on the Atlanta Federal Reserve (Fed) GDPNow forecast). Government fiscal deficits and artificial intelligence (AI) spending remained tailwinds. Investors mostly shrugged off the US government shutdown during the quarter, viewing it as unlikely to significantly impact growth. The lack of important data releases was the larger concern. Labor markets showed some softness, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.6%, while inflation appears to be moderating with November's US Consumer Price Index (CPI) reported at 2.7% versus an expected 3.1%. However, the impact of the government shutdown on data quality is visible, with some parts of the CPI report in particular reflecting missing October data. The reported disinflation, while welcome, will need to hold up in coming months before the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and investors are convinced that further easing is likely. Markets maintained positive momentum, with equity markets in particular testing new highs while credit spreads were at or near record tights. However, investor angst has been rising, particularly over AI, as concerns mount that the incredible capital expenditures in that space may not be justified. AI valuations have been a major driver of equity valuations, which have increasingly driven consumer spending. The risk of collapsing equity valuations, which would drag both consumer spending and the economy down, is a significant source of concern and will likely be with us well into the future. The economy and the markets were also supported by policy stimulus – deficit spending and US Fed easing. The fiscal impulse is widely expected to continue in 2026 with tax refunds under the One B...
Nebius Group N.V. NBIS has signed a long-term AI infrastructure supply agreement with Meta Platforms, Inc. META, further deepening their partnership. Under the five-year deal, Nebius will deliver $12 billion worth of dedicated AI compute capacity across multiple locations, powered by one of the first large-scale deployments of NVIDIA Corporation’s NVDA Vera Rubin platform, with deliveries set to b...
Nebius Group N.V. NBIS has signed a long-term AI infrastructure supply agreement with Meta Platforms, Inc. META, further deepening their partnership. Under the five-year deal, Nebius will deliver $12 billion worth of dedicated AI compute capacity across multiple locations, powered by one of the first large-scale deployments of NVIDIA Corporation’s NVDA Vera Rubin platform, with deliveries set to begin in early 2027. Reflecting these positive developments, shares of Nebius surged 15% in the trading session yesterday. Shares of Nebius have gained 37.9% in the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the Zacks Internet Software Services industry’s decline of 0.1% and 13.7%, respectively. Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research News in Detail As part of the agreement, Meta has committed to purchasing up to $15 billion of additional compute capacity from select Nebius clusters over the same period, supplementing demand beyond third-party customers. Altogether, the agreement represents a potential total contract value of approximately $27 billion. Management stated that the expansion of Nebius’ partnership with Meta reflects its ongoing efforts to secure large, long-term capacity agreements aimed at accelerating the build-out and growth of its core AI cloud business, while reaffirming its commitment to continued execution and delivery. In a separate press release, Nebius also announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to accelerate physical AI development through a fully integrated, end-to-end platform designed for the entire robotics lifecycle, from simulation and training to real-world deployment. By combining Nebius’ AI cloud infrastructure with NVIDIA’s Physical AI Data Factory Blueprint, the partnership aims to address key industry challenges such as fragmented infrastructure and the lack of high-quality training data for complex, real-world scenarios. The platform integrates large-scale GPU training, simulation a...