As water risks are exposed by the Iran War and AI data centers, startup Atoco is preparing production of a device that can produce 4,000 liters daily. Katie Meyer has more. (Source: Bloomberg)
As water risks are exposed by the Iran War and AI data centers, startup Atoco is preparing production of a device that can produce 4,000 liters daily. Katie Meyer has more. (Source: Bloomberg)
MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images Manager perspective and outlook US financial markets had a volatile first quarter, marked by shifting monetary policy expectations, geopolitical instability and uneven economic data. Equities started the year on firm footing as earnings remained generally solid and market leadership had broadened beyond mega cap growth stocks. However, volatility increased in ...
MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images Manager perspective and outlook US financial markets had a volatile first quarter, marked by shifting monetary policy expectations, geopolitical instability and uneven economic data. Equities started the year on firm footing as earnings remained generally solid and market leadership had broadened beyond mega cap growth stocks. However, volatility increased in late February and March as conflict in Iran, rising energy prices and ongoing concerns about artificial intelligence disruption appeared to weigh on investors' risk appetites. US Treasury yields rose during the quarter, seemingly reflecting shifting expectations for interest rate cuts and elevated inflation data. Amid the volatility, the S&P 500 Index returned -4.33%, its worst quarterly return since 2022 1 . Energy stocks led, while financials, consumer discretionary and IT lagged. Geopolitical tensions and the resulting higher energy prices are likely to weigh on financial markets for the foreseeable future, which could prompt additional volatility. Regardless of the economic environment, we continue to focus on our fundamental analysis so we can move quickly to take advantage of new opportunities as they become available. As always, we seek to invest in companies with attractive valuations and strong fundamentals, qualities we believe will ultimately be reflected in those companies' stock prices. Top issuers (% of total market value) Fund Index Wells Fargo & Co 2.92 0.81 Amazon.com Inc 2.84 1.81 Bank of America Corp 2.63 0.97 ConocoPhillips 2.51 0.54 Alphabet Inc 2.46 3.55 Philip Morris International Inc 2.34 0.85 Microsoft Corp 2.22 0.00 Johnson Controls International plc 2.19 0.26 Citizens Financial Group Inc 2.14 0.08 Johnson & Johnson 2.14 1.94 Click to enlarge As of 03/31/26. Holdings are subject to change and are not buy/sell recommendations. Portfolio positioning New Holding: Estée Lauder: Estée Lauder's ( EL ) recent performance had been undermined by weak innova...
Alphabet 's (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) revenue and profits are soaring. *Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of May 9, 2026. The video was published on May 11, 2026. Continue reading
Alphabet 's (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) revenue and profits are soaring. *Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of May 9, 2026. The video was published on May 11, 2026. Continue reading
Orange SA plans to double its solar-powered base stations across Africa, as the fallout from the Iran war makes renewable-energy investments more attractive, its chief executive officer said. France’s biggest phone company has been transitioning to solar power in 11 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has established clean-energy systems in 15,000 sites, or 30% of the total, according to t...
Orange SA plans to double its solar-powered base stations across Africa, as the fallout from the Iran war makes renewable-energy investments more attractive, its chief executive officer said. France’s biggest phone company has been transitioning to solar power in 11 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has established clean-energy systems in 15,000 sites, or 30% of the total, according to the company’s 2025 annual report . Rising fuel prices because of the war in Iran and a lack of reliable power in parts of the continent make the switch vital for the company. The move is part of a broader €5 billion investment Orange plans in Africa and the Middle East over the next three years, a region that’s become the strongest growth driver for the telecom firm. “The current crisis in the Middle East is making the business case even more sustainable,” Group CEO Christel Heydemann said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on the sidelines of an Africa-France business summit in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. She didn’t specify over what period solar sites would double, but said an announcement was imminent. Tower companies such as Helios Towers Plc and African mobile-phone operators including Safaricom Plc and MTN Group Ltd. are also switching to cleaner power in a bid to cut emissions and slash operating costs. Read More: China’s Green Exporters Seize New Markets After Fuel Shock The French operator partnered with the Congolese unit of Vodacom Group last year to share the cost of deploying solar-powered sites in rural parts of the most populous francophone African country. Orange had 179 million customers across 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East — mostly French-speaking — at the end-2025, according to its website . Sign up here for the daily Next Africa newsletter and subscribe to the Next Africa podcast on Apple , Spotify or anywhere you listen .