Reform UK has suspended one of its Scottish candidates after it emerged he had been struck off as a company director, and the party faces growing attacks for fielding candidates making Islamophobic remarks. Reform confirmed on Friday morning it had suspended Stuart Niven, its candidate for Dundee West, after the Herald revealed he had been struck off after diverting tens of thousands of pounds of ...
Reform UK has suspended one of its Scottish candidates after it emerged he had been struck off as a company director, and the party faces growing attacks for fielding candidates making Islamophobic remarks. Reform confirmed on Friday morning it had suspended Stuart Niven, its candidate for Dundee West, after the Herald revealed he had been struck off after diverting tens of thousands of pounds of Covid grants into his personal account. Only hours after Nigel Farage unveiled the 73 Reform UK candidates for May’s Scottish parliament election, the party faced a succession of attacks from across the political spectrum on the conduct of several other hopefuls. Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said the disclosures in several newspapers about “divisive tweets” raised challenging questions about the party’s screening process, which Farage earlier this year claimed was now far more rigorous than before. After Farage’s speech on Thursday, it emerged that Reform’s candidate for North East Fife, Linda Holt, had described Humza Yousaf, the UK’s first Muslim first minister, as “not British” and a “grandstanding Islamist moron” in social media posts. Its candidate for Stirling, Rachael Wright, shared a petition that wrongly claimed a former private school in Perthshire was being “turned into migrant accommodation”. The school’s owners said that was “wholly unfounded”, but Reform asserted that the denial was a result of its intervention. Meanwhile, Senga Beresford, its candidate for Galloway and West Dumfries, endorsed social media posts by Tommy Robinson and Britain First, including tweets calling for mass deportations and a ban on burqas. View image in fullscreen Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour. Photograph: Ken Jack/Getty Images Sarwar described Malcolm Offord, Reform’s Scottish leader, as “spineless” for defending their remarks. Offord said they may have been intemperate but were “real”, and made before they became party candidates. He told BBC Radio Scotland ...
alexsl Guggenheim launched its coverage of Solid Biosciences ( SLDB ) with a Buy recommendation on Friday, citing a potential accelerated approval for the company’s lead candidate, SGT-003, targeted at Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare muscle-wasting disease. Based on late-stage data the company has posted for SGT-003 so far, analyst Debjit Chattopadhyay opined that Solid Bio ( SLDB ) has addres...
alexsl Guggenheim launched its coverage of Solid Biosciences ( SLDB ) with a Buy recommendation on Friday, citing a potential accelerated approval for the company’s lead candidate, SGT-003, targeted at Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare muscle-wasting disease. Based on late-stage data the company has posted for SGT-003 so far, analyst Debjit Chattopadhyay opined that Solid Bio ( SLDB ) has addressed safety concerns linked to Elevidys, an FDA-approved DMD therapy marketed by Sarepta Therapeutics ( SRPT ) and Roche ( RHHBY ). Chattopadhyay issued a $26 per share target on the stock, arguing that its $1B sales estimate for the gene therapy is relatively conservative compared to Sarepta’s ( SRPT ) preliminary guidance of roughly $2.2B for Elevidys in 2025. The analyst added that the recent leadership changes at the FDA’s biologics unit would benefit Solid Bio ( SLDB ) because the company has global and U.S. regulatory alignment for a registrational program, and the agency is keen to support a safer gene therapy for ambulatory DMD patients. More on Solid Biosciences Solid Biosciences Inc. (SLDB) Presents at Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference Transcript Solid Biosciences: Interim Data Lends Credibility For Q1 2026 Trial Start Solid Biosciences Inc. (SLDB) Presents at Guggenheim Securities Emerging Outlook: Biotech Summit 2026 Transcript Solid Bio falls amid new trial data for Duchenne drug Biotech firm stocks rise on FDA vaccine head’s exit
XPeng (NYSE:XPEV) stock is down 5% in early trading on Friday, sliding toward $18 after closing at $19.15 the day prior. The move comes on the same morning the company reported its Q4 2025 earnings, and the reaction tells a familiar story: the numbers looked great, but what comes next has investors nervous. The drop ... XPeng Drops 5%: Is This Tesla Rival’s Autonomous Driving Bet Enough to Justify...
XPeng (NYSE:XPEV) stock is down 5% in early trading on Friday, sliding toward $18 after closing at $19.15 the day prior. The move comes on the same morning the company reported its Q4 2025 earnings, and the reaction tells a familiar story: the numbers looked great, but what comes next has investors nervous. The drop ... XPeng Drops 5%: Is This Tesla Rival’s Autonomous Driving Bet Enough to Justify the Risk?
Yauhen Akulich U.S. Treasury yields moved sharply higher on Friday morning as markets reassessed the near-term path of monetary policy following the Federal Reserve’s latest decision to hold rates steady. Investors are increasingly weighing the possibility that policymakers may resume tightening as soon as the April 29 FOMC meeting, reflecting a shift in rate expectations after recent Fed commenta...
Yauhen Akulich U.S. Treasury yields moved sharply higher on Friday morning as markets reassessed the near-term path of monetary policy following the Federal Reserve’s latest decision to hold rates steady. Investors are increasingly weighing the possibility that policymakers may resume tightening as soon as the April 29 FOMC meeting, reflecting a shift in rate expectations after recent Fed commentary. Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled a cautious but data-dependent stance at the March meeting, where the benchmark federal funds rate was left unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%. While the pause was widely anticipated, persistent inflation concerns and resilient economic data have kept the door open for additional rate hikes. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of a 25-basis point increase in April has risen to 10.3%, indicating that markets are no longer fully pricing in an extended pause or near-term cuts. The repricing was most evident at the front end of the yield curve, with the rate-sensitive U.S. 2 Year Treasury yield ( US2Y ) jumping 12 basis points to 3.91%. At the same time, the popular U.S. 10 Year Treasury yield ( US10Y ) also advanced 11 basis points to 4.36%, and the longer-end U.S. 30 Year Treasury yield ( US30Y ) climbed 8 basis points to 4.92%, underscoring broad upward pressure across maturities. Fixed Income ETFs: ( TLT ), ( TLH ), ( IEF ), ( IEI ), ( SHY ), ( SGOV ), ( SCHO ), ( BIL ), ( AGG ), ( BND ), ( VCIT ), ( MUB ), ( MBB ), ( JNK ), ( LQD ), ( HYG ), ( VTIP ), ( TIP ), ( SCHP ), ( STIP ), ( TIPX ), ( SPIP ), ( WIP ), ( GTIP ), ( LQDI ), and ( RINF ). More on markets Dividend Roundup: JPMorgan Chase, Micron Technology, CVS Health, Broadcom, and more Bearish sentiment tops 50% as AAII survey signals sharp investor shift S&P 500 breaks below its 200-day MA and hits a 4-month low as yields pop S&P 500 slides but these 15 stocks remain overbought S&P 500’s 15 most oversold stocks BNP Paribas sees a Fed pivot to two-sided bias as yield risks buil...
Pavlo Gonchar | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Nexstar Media Group closed its acquisition of fellow broadcast station group owner Tegna after sealing regulatory approval , despite antitrust lawsuits filed against the deal in recent days. Nexstar's $6.2 billion merger with Tegna brings together more than 260 local broadcast TV affiliate stations across the U.S. Nexstar and Tegna, like oth...
Pavlo Gonchar | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Nexstar Media Group closed its acquisition of fellow broadcast station group owner Tegna after sealing regulatory approval , despite antitrust lawsuits filed against the deal in recent days. Nexstar's $6.2 billion merger with Tegna brings together more than 260 local broadcast TV affiliate stations across the U.S. Nexstar and Tegna, like other broadcast station group peers, have been looking to consolidate as the industry faces the same challenges as its cable and entertainment media counterparts — namely the drop in pay-TV customers due to the rise of streaming and tech options. "This transaction is essential to sustaining strong local journalism in the communities we serve. By bringing these two outstanding companies together, Nexstar will be a stronger, more dynamic enterprise—better positioned to deliver exceptional journalism and local programming with enhanced assets, capabilities, and talent," Nexstar CEO Perry Sook said in a statement . "We are grateful to President Trump, [FCC] Chairman Carr, and the DOJ for recognizing the dynamic forces shaping the media landscape and enabling this transaction to move forward." In February, President Donald Trump endorsed the merger between Nexstar and Tegna in a TruthSocial post after months of criticism about the potential effects of the deal. The proposed acquisition, which was announced in August, had been expected to close in the second half of 2026. Broadcast station owners run the affiliate stations of the major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, and are known for airing local news, sports and other broadcast content. The companies remain profitable due to hefty fees they receive from pay-TV distributors, and have argued that consolidation would preserve local TV news. However, decades-old laws have prevented such mergers from happening in recent years. The greenlight from the FCC and DOJ allows the deal to go through by waiving law that prevents any one co...
Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) shares are trading sideways on Friday. This follows a 3.8% move lower yesterday after the company reported its earnings. The stock is at an important price level. Traders are watching it closely to see if the recent move higher will become a ‘bull trap' or ‘false breakout'. This is why Micron is the Stock of the Day. There are price levels in the stock market wh...
Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) shares are trading sideways on Friday. This follows a 3.8% move lower yesterday after the company reported its earnings. The stock is at an important price level. Traders are watching it closely to see if the recent move higher will become a ‘bull trap' or ‘false breakout'. This is why Micron is the Stock of the Day. There are price levels in the stock market where there are large amounts of supply or shares for sale. Traders call these resistance levels. If a market is trending higher, it is because there isn't enough supply or sell orders to fill all the demand or buy orders. Traders and investors outbid each other to draw sellers into the market. This puts the shares into an uptrend. These uptrends end when they reach resistance. All the buy orders can be filled at resistance levels. Sometimes, stocks reverse and trend lower after reaching resistance. This happens when some of the sellers who created the resistance become anxious and impatient. They start to worry that other sellers will undercut their prices, and they know that's where the buyers will go. As a result, they reduce their offering prices. Other anxious sellers see this and do the same. It puts the shares into a downtrend. Sometimes at resistance levels, the buyers eventually overpower the sellers, and the price moves higher. This is called a ‘breakout'. It is considered a bullish dynamic because it shows that sellers have left the market. Sometimes it may look like a breakout, but after a short time the stock reverses below the resistance level and heads lower. This is called a ‘bull trap' or ‘false breakout'. Traders are watching Micron closely. As you can see on the chart, it is currently testing resistance around $440. Traders will soon know if this is a real breakout or if people will get sucked into a ‘bull trap'. Image: Shutterstock
Interactive Strength ( TRNR ) announced on Friday that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $500,000. The company intends to repurchase shares of its common stock on the open market through HC Wainwright & Co. TRNR is -2.03% to $1.205. Source: Press Release More on Interactive Strength Interactive Strength to implement 1-for-10 reverse stock split Seeking Alpha...
Interactive Strength ( TRNR ) announced on Friday that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $500,000. The company intends to repurchase shares of its common stock on the open market through HC Wainwright & Co. TRNR is -2.03% to $1.205. Source: Press Release More on Interactive Strength Interactive Strength to implement 1-for-10 reverse stock split Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Interactive Strength Financial information for Interactive Strength
CR/iStock via Getty Images Commonly prescribed GLP-1 medications for obesity, such as Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) Zepbound (tirzepatide), could lead to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death once stopped. The two drugs are also used for type 2 diabetes under the names Ozempic and Mounjaro. A study of ~333,000 US veterans with type 2 diabet...
CR/iStock via Getty Images Commonly prescribed GLP-1 medications for obesity, such as Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) Zepbound (tirzepatide), could lead to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death once stopped. The two drugs are also used for type 2 diabetes under the names Ozempic and Mounjaro. A study of ~333,000 US veterans with type 2 diabetes, published in BMJ Medicine , found that stopping a GLP-1 med was associated with an increase in cardiovascular events . And the longer an individual went without the GLP-1, the higher the risk—up to a 22% increase for heart attack, stroke, and death after two years. That's significant considering that GLP-1s also provide key cardiovascular benefits in addition to weight loss and lowering A1C levels. Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis noted that those who were on GLP-1s for three years had an 18% risk reduction in CV events. But those who suspended usage and then resumed gained a 12% risk reduction on average. Also, stopping the med for only six months before resuming also reduced the CV benefit, leading to a 4% to 8% increase in risk. More on Novo Nordisk A/S, Eli Lilly Roche Vs. Eli Lilly: Nvidia Deals, Obesity Battles Stoke Rivalry (I'd Buy Both) Novo Nordisk: The Illusion Of Cheap Novo Nordisk - Enough Is Enough: 5 Reasons It's Time To Sell (Rating Downgrade) U.S. starts seeking drugmakers’ views in turning Trump's pricing deals into law Eli Lilly, Biogen/ Eisai win U.K. review for use of Alzheimer’s drugs in NHS
Costco gas stations' lower prices could boost its business as cash-strapped consumers confront surging energy prices, according to analysts at Gordon Haskett. The research firm found that traffic at Costco gas stations in the first two weeks of March — after the U.S.-Iran war began and oil prices soared — climbed from February. Analysts led by Chuck Grom believe that's because of Costco's low pric...
Costco gas stations' lower prices could boost its business as cash-strapped consumers confront surging energy prices, according to analysts at Gordon Haskett. The research firm found that traffic at Costco gas stations in the first two weeks of March — after the U.S.-Iran war began and oil prices soared — climbed from February. Analysts led by Chuck Grom believe that's because of Costco's low prices. COST YTD mountain COST year-to-date chart. "Our historical pricing studies dating back to 2014 indicates Costco gas prices typically run at a $0.09 discount vs. the top five local competitors and a $0.24 discount vs. the state average — a value gap that is likely to come into greater focus should the current price environment prove sustainable," Grom wrote in a report Friday. Traffic at Costco's gas stations in March is already up 7.9% year-over-year, the analyst added. In the last six months, traffic growth was only positive in November, when it rose 1.9%. The bull case for Costco comes not just from its gas stations, but the demographics of its customers too. "Costco remains relatively insulated from broad consumer pressures due to its resilient higher-income customer cohort," Grom wrote. The company's "best-in-class value proposition becomes increasingly relevant" at times of economic uncertainty, he added. Gordon Haskett reiterated its buy rating on Costco and its 12-month price target of $1,200, which implies a 23% gain from Thursday's close. Costco was flat in premarket trading, and since the war in the Middle East began is off 3.5%.
SoftBank Group Corp. is working to build a massive AI data center on federally owned land in Ohio that it’s planning to power with roughly $33 billion worth of natural gas-fired electricity to be installed by the end of the decade. SoftBank is looking to build the AI computing complex, capable of drawing 10 gigawatts of power, at a former uranium enrichment complex owned by the US Energy Departmen...
SoftBank Group Corp. is working to build a massive AI data center on federally owned land in Ohio that it’s planning to power with roughly $33 billion worth of natural gas-fired electricity to be installed by the end of the decade. SoftBank is looking to build the AI computing complex, capable of drawing 10 gigawatts of power, at a former uranium enrichment complex owned by the US Energy Department, according to a statement issued Friday. For comparison, a single gigawatt of capacity can power roughly 750,000 homes at any given moment. The company expects the data center, including the chips and equipment within it, to cost $30 billion to $40 billion. While the Trump administration has spoken generally about SoftBank’s $33 billion gas project as part of a broader $550 billion US-Japan trade deal, this is the first time plans for the AI data center have been detailed. The company has sourced turbines for the gas project, the first of which is expected to be delivered within a year and and the rest coming online by the end of the decade, Rich Hossfeld , co-chief executive officer of SoftBank-backed SB Energy, said. The turbines, capable of generating 9.2 gigawatts in total, will be installed across the region as opposed to at a single complex. SB Energy said it’s planning another 800 megawatts of new capacity for the data center, while declining to provide further detail. Read More: Trump-Backed Gas Project Has Competitors Rattled Over Risks The soaring demand for artificial-intelligence tools has touched off a worldwide expansion of data centers, with AI systems requiring enormous amounts of computing capacity. A backlash over the buildout is building across the US centered on the increasing costs of water and electricity, both of which data centers require in large volumes. The Trump administration has been trying to address those concerns ahead of this November’s midterm elections by, among other things, exacting pledges from technology companies that they’ll pick ...
Ta Nu/iStock via Getty Images The following segment was excerpted from the Nomura Core Equity Fund Q4 2025 Commentary. For 4Q25, Nomura Core Equity Fund Institutional Class shares underperformed the Fund's benchmark, the S&P 500 Index. Stock selection drove 90% of the underperformance. Selections were weakest in consumer discretionary, financials, and communication services. Sector allocation deci...
Ta Nu/iStock via Getty Images The following segment was excerpted from the Nomura Core Equity Fund Q4 2025 Commentary. For 4Q25, Nomura Core Equity Fund Institutional Class shares underperformed the Fund's benchmark, the S&P 500 Index. Stock selection drove 90% of the underperformance. Selections were weakest in consumer discretionary, financials, and communication services. Sector allocation decisions were modestly negative with our underweight of healthcare, which outperformed, and overweight of financials, which underperformed, affecting performance. Cash was a small drag on performance given the modest quarterly gain in the market. Leading contributors on a relative basis to the S&P 500 follow: Applied Materials Inc. ( AMAT ) shares increased on positive revisions to 2026 and 2027 semiconductor capital spending plans, a response to surging demand for AI-related chips. Cummins Inc ( CMI ). shares experienced steady price gains and positive momentum due to strong revenue and earnings growth, particularly in its power-generation business, which has significant datacenter exposure. Oracle Corp. ( ORCL ) shares declined during the quarter. Our lack of ownership was beneficial as investors grew concerned about customer concentration with OpenAI and the large external financing required to fund an aggressive AI infrastructure buildout. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( TSM ) Co. Ltd. shares continued to appreciate on broad leadership in leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing and positive exposure to key themes within technology including AI buildout. Advanced Micro Devices Inc ( AMD ). shares advanced during the quarter on a large customer commitment to the company's next generation AI accelerator chips and indications that customers want competitive options to Nvidia ( NVDA ) chips. Leading detractors on a relative basis to the S&P 500 follow: Fiserv Inc (FI) (FI). shares declined on a material downward revision of 2025 and 2026 growth expectations and the depart...
Key Points Florida has mild winters, but some people may find its summers oppressive. Moving away from family and friends could be lonely and may increase your retirement travel expenses. The high hurricane risk could significantly increase your home insurance premiums, especially if you live near the coast. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › If you've thought ab...
Key Points Florida has mild winters, but some people may find its summers oppressive. Moving away from family and friends could be lonely and may increase your retirement travel expenses. The high hurricane risk could significantly increase your home insurance premiums, especially if you live near the coast. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › If you've thought about retiring in Florida, you're in good company. It's the most popular retirement state for a reason. Thriving retirement communities, a warm climate, and tax-friendly laws are just some of the appeal. But like any major destination, Florida isn't the right choice for everyone in retirement. If any of the three things below are deal-breakers for you, consider some other retirement destinations instead. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » 1. The summers get hot One of the reasons Florida earned the top spot in The Motley Fool's research study on the best retirement states is its warm climate. Winters are mild and snow is rare, making it a popular choice for those tired of long, cold months in the Northern states. In summer, however, Florida can get very hot and humid. Daily highs are often in the upper 80s, according to the National Weather Service, which could make outdoor activities uncomfortable. Some retirees get around this by spending only the winters in Florida. This could be a smart plan for you if you can afford two places. If not, you'll have to decide if the mild winters are worth the sweltering summers. 2. It could take you far from family and friends Unless you're already living in Florida, retiring there could put you far from your family and friends. This could leave you feeling isolated and increase your travel expenses in retirement if you frequently return home to visit loved ...
IEA Chief Warns Gulf Flows May Take Six Months To Restore After Biggest-Ever Energy Shock The head of the International Energy Agency told the Financial Times on Friday that the world is severely underestimating the scale of the Gulf energy shock , and that it may take at least six months to restore disrupted oil and gas flows. Fatih Birol described the conflict, now in its third week , as "the gr...
IEA Chief Warns Gulf Flows May Take Six Months To Restore After Biggest-Ever Energy Shock The head of the International Energy Agency told the Financial Times on Friday that the world is severely underestimating the scale of the Gulf energy shock , and that it may take at least six months to restore disrupted oil and gas flows. Fatih Birol described the conflict, now in its third week , as "the greatest global energy security threat in history", and said it would take time "to have oil and gas rehabilitated". "It will be six months for some [sites] to be operational, others much longer," Birol warned. Attacks on energy facilities in the Middle East continued this week, with Israel unleashing a firestorm by striking Iran's South Pars gas facility , which led Iranian forces to launch attacks on Qatar's LNG facilities that may take three to five years to return to full capacity. Both attacks signaled that upstream energy assets were no longer off-limits , though Israel has since promised not to hit any more Iranian energy assets. Goldman commodities expert Daan Struyven said his oil team's near-term view remains as follows: 1) oil prices will likely continue to trend higher while Hormuz flows very remain low, 2) Brent is likely to exceed its 2008 all time high if depressed flows keep the market focused on the risk of lengthier disruptions, and 3) any rise in market perceived risks of US export restrictions is likely to widen the Brent-WTI price gap further . (denied today... for now) 5 of the 7 Largest Historical Oil Supply Shocks in the Past 50 Years Were Persistent In a separate note, Goldman analyst Yulia Zhestkova Grigsby estimates that total crude production shut-ins (primarily due to precautionary curtailments and storage management) have reached 9.2 mb/d. Strait of Hormuz tanker crossings by the end of the week show muted activity. Commodity chaos has already arrived: JPMorgan's New Hormuz Closure Math: Just 3 Days Until Commodity Chaos The Most Important Number...
BARK ( BARK ) on Friday said it will not pursue a transaction after reviewing previously disclosed acquisition proposals, including an offer from GNK Holdings LLC and Marcus Lemonis that its board determined undervalued the company, sending its shares down about 19%. The company’s special committee determined that a proposal from GNK Holdings LLC and Marcus Lemonis did not adequately reflect its v...
BARK ( BARK ) on Friday said it will not pursue a transaction after reviewing previously disclosed acquisition proposals, including an offer from GNK Holdings LLC and Marcus Lemonis that its board determined undervalued the company, sending its shares down about 19%. The company’s special committee determined that a proposal from GNK Holdings LLC and Marcus Lemonis did not adequately reflect its value and decided against further engagement. An earlier proposal from Great Dane Ventures has been withdrawn. BARK said it has concluded the review process and will focus on executing its standalone strategy, while remaining open to future strategic opportunities. BARK is -18.58% to $0.67. Source: Press Release More on BARK BARK, Inc. (BARK) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Prepared Remarks Transcript BARK signals continued focus on profitability and cash flow as diversification grows to 23% of revenue BARK Q3 2026 Earnings Preview Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on BARK Historical earnings data for BARK
J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images It appears the President got the message. It is difficult to argue that you are trying to topple the Iranian regime on behalf of the Iranian people if you destroy their primary source of revenue—energy. That is on top of the fact that most of Asian and European nations source their energy from the Middle East. He made himself very clear in asserting that Is...
J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images It appears the President got the message. It is difficult to argue that you are trying to topple the Iranian regime on behalf of the Iranian people if you destroy their primary source of revenue—energy. That is on top of the fact that most of Asian and European nations source their energy from the Middle East. He made himself very clear in asserting that Israel and the U.S. will not attack energy infrastructure anymore. Let’s hope everyone is listening. Trump also said, “we are not putting troops anywhere”, which was another concern he evidently put to rest, further minimizing yesterday’s drawdown, but it was a follow up by the leader of Israel that led to a rally in the final hour of trade and a sharp decline in oil prices. Finvz Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that the war would end a lot sooner than most expect because Iran can no longer enrich uranium for nuclear weapons or manufacture ballistic missiles. That was followed by news from Treasury Secretary Bessent that the administration is working on removing sanctions on Iranian oil to further ease supply constraints. It feels like there are now multiple efforts geared toward de-escalating the conflict and lowering the price of oil. The most important development on the domestic front came from the Fed. Bloomberg Our central bank announced a proposal to lower bank capital requirements that will increase the lending capacity for banks and ease financial conditions in the absence of additional rate cuts. In fact, it may be a more powerful tool than a rate cut right now, because it should have an immediate impact. This proposal would benefit smaller banks over all others, as their reduction in required capital (7.8%) is nearly double that for larger banks in an effort to support traditional community-based lending to individuals and small businesses. There is a special focus on mortgage lending here to revitalize the housing market. We need all the help we can get. While I...
Uber Technologies (UBER) is a $156 billion company today. Yesterday, Uber announced a massive, multi-year strategic partnership with Rivian to deploy up to 50,000 fully autonomous robotaxis. Uber is committing to invest up to $1.25 billion into Rivian through 2031, starting with an initial $300 million injection. The remaining capital is tied to Rivian hitting specific autonomous performance miles...
Uber Technologies (UBER) is a $156 billion company today. Yesterday, Uber announced a massive, multi-year strategic partnership with Rivian to deploy up to 50,000 fully autonomous robotaxis. Uber is committing to invest up to $1.25 billion into Rivian through 2031, starting with an initial $300 million injection. The remaining capital is tied to Rivian hitting specific autonomous performance milestones. Uber and its fleet partners will initially purchase 10,000 fully autonomous Rivian R2 SUVs, with the option to buy up to 40,000 more starting in 2030. Commercial deployments are scheduled to begin in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, with the goal of expanding to 25 cities across North America and Europe by 2031. Ride Sharing Can Uber’s (UBER) Booking Momentum Offset Profitability Pressure? Goldman Stays Constructive The most critical part of this deal for Uber is exclusivity. These tens of thousands of Rivian robotaxis will be available exclusively on the Uber platform. By pouring capital into Rivian (and making similar deals with players like Zoox), Uber is ensuring that even if Tesla (TSLA) and Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL) Waymo try to cut them out, Uber will still have an enormous, dedicated fleet of autonomous vehicles to offer its massive global user base. Alphabet’s Waymo is currently the undisputed market leader in commercial robotaxis. As of early 2026, they are operating fully driverless rides in 10 major U.S. cities (including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, and Orlando). They are currently delivering around 400,000 paid rides per week and targeting 1 million weekly rides by the end of the year. While they do partner with Uber in some markets like Austin and Atlanta, they also aggregate massive demand through their own proprietary Waymo One app. Tesla has officially launched its dedicated Robotaxi app and is operating a ride-hailing fleet using modified Model Ys running on its vision-based Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. They are currently running ...