MikeMareen A looming global energy squeeze is taking shape as liquefied natural gas shipments from the Gulf dry up following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported Sunday. Qatar, which supplies about 20% of the world’s LNG, halted exports after the blockade, while missile strikes have damaged its key Ras Laffan facility. Although some shipments loaded before the conflict...
MikeMareen A looming global energy squeeze is taking shape as liquefied natural gas shipments from the Gulf dry up following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported Sunday. Qatar, which supplies about 20% of the world’s LNG, halted exports after the blockade, while missile strikes have damaged its key Ras Laffan facility. Although some shipments loaded before the conflict are still arriving, analysts say those final deliveries will run out within days, leaving import-dependent countries scrambling. Nations across Asia and Europe are now competing for alternative supplies from the U.S. and other producers at sharply higher prices. In response, some governments have begun rationing energy or reducing workweeks to conserve fuel. Pakistan is among the hardest hit, having relied almost entirely on Qatari LNG. With incoming shipments halted, its import terminals are scaling back operations and could soon run out of gas entirely. Efforts to secure replacement cargoes have largely failed due to soaring prices, forcing the country to consider dirtier and more expensive fuel alternatives. Bangladesh faces similar pressures, introducing rationing measures such as closing universities, while Taiwan has moved quickly to secure replacement shipments but still risks shortages during peak summer demand. Major buyers like China and Japan are also adjusting, turning to spot markets, coal and nuclear power to offset reduced Gulf supplies. However, traders say many are holding back purchases due to high costs and uncertainty. The disruption is expected to have lasting effects. Damage to Qatar’s infrastructure could sideline a significant portion of its export capacity for years, tightening global LNG markets even if shipping routes reopen. More on Natural Gas Futures Commodities: LNG Supply Disruptions Now A Long-Term Problem As Iran Hits Qatari Facilities All Eyes On Hormuz Commodities: Middle East Escalation Sends Energy Prices Higher Georgia opens the gas-t...
The crash comes as the US and Israel continue their wide-ranging strikes against Iran, while Tehran retaliates with its own attacks against Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.
The crash comes as the US and Israel continue their wide-ranging strikes against Iran, while Tehran retaliates with its own attacks against Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.
Windsor Advisory Group disclosed a buy of 78,197 shares of Worthington Enterprises (WOR 0.73%) in its February 17, 2026, SEC filing, with an estimated transaction value of $4.32 million based on quarterly average pricing. What happened According to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing, Windsor Advisory Group, LLC increased its holding in Worthington Enterprises by 78,197 shares during the fourth quarte...
Windsor Advisory Group disclosed a buy of 78,197 shares of Worthington Enterprises (WOR 0.73%) in its February 17, 2026, SEC filing, with an estimated transaction value of $4.32 million based on quarterly average pricing. What happened According to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing, Windsor Advisory Group, LLC increased its holding in Worthington Enterprises by 78,197 shares during the fourth quarter. The estimated value of this share purchase is approximately $4.32 million, based on the mean unadjusted closing price for the period. The quarter-end value of the position rose by $2.88 million, reflecting both the increased share count and price appreciation. What else to know This was a buy; Worthington Enterprises represented 17.13% of Windsor Advisory Group's 13F reportable AUM after the trade. Top holdings after the filing: NASDAQ:PAYX: $23.76 million (21.2% of AUM) NYSE:WOR: $19.20 million (17.1% of AUM) NYSE:WS: $7.19 million (6.4% of AUM) NYSEMKT:IVV: $6.68 million (6.0% of AUM) NASDAQ:NVDA: $6.33 million (5.7% of AUM) As of Friday, shares of Worthington Enterprises were priced at $47.64, up 15% over the past year, which roughly matches the S&P 500’s gain in the same period. Company overview Metric Value Revenue (TTM) $1.25 billion Net Income (TTM) $106 million Dividend Yield 1.6% Price (as of Friday) $47.64 Company snapshot Worthington Enterprises offers value-added steel processing, manufactured consumer products, building products, and sustainable energy solutions, with key brands including Coleman, Bernzomatic, and Level5. The firm generates revenue primarily through steel processing and the sale of branded consumer and industrial products across diversified end markets. It serves automotive, construction, appliance, energy, and retail customers in North America and internationally. Worthington Enterprises is a leading industrial manufacturer specializing in steel processing and value-added metal fabrication, supported by a broad portfolio of consumer and bui...
If you're a dividend stock investor, things are finally looking better for you in 2026. After three straight years of underperformance in a market dominated by large-cap tech, dividend stocks have finally swung back into favor. One exchange-traded fund (ETF), the WisdomTree U.S. Total Dividend ETF, is outperforming the S&P 500 by about 5% year to date on the heels of leadership from value and defe...
If you're a dividend stock investor, things are finally looking better for you in 2026. After three straight years of underperformance in a market dominated by large-cap tech, dividend stocks have finally swung back into favor. One exchange-traded fund (ETF), the WisdomTree U.S. Total Dividend ETF, is outperforming the S&P 500 by about 5% year to date on the heels of leadership from value and defensive stocks. But dividend yields are still pretty thin. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is only yielding about 1.1%. If you focus more on high yield stocks, you can capture something in the 3% to 4% range. To find something higher than that, you have to consider more niche and unique strategies. Income investors have been looking into various strategies for high yields. Here are four ETFs that have drawn positive net inflows over the past three months and the past year, but have yet to really capture the market's attention. 1. JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF The JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI 1.04%) was one of the biggest success stories of the 2022 bear market. As yields began soaring and fixed income was delivering double-digit losses, covered-call strategies emerged as an alternative to bonds. With yields pushing 10% or higher, they soon drew billions of dollars of investor money. This fund's returns have cooled off over the past couple of years during the AI boom, but investor interest hasn't waned. It's up to more than $43 billion in assets and has taken in net new money of $2.3 billion in 2026 alone. It has a current yield of 7.6%. Expand NYSEMKT : JEPI JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF Today's Change ( -1.04 %) $ -0.59 Current Price $ 56.09 Key Data Points Day's Range $ 55.84 - $ 56.69 52wk Range $ 49.94 - $ 59.90 Volume 5.3M The JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF is built on a portfolio of low-volatility stocks, so it's made for an environment like the one we're seeing now. It worked well in 2022, and it could work again in 2026. 2. JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Pr...
Key Points Income seekers are looking beyond traditional equities for high yields. Option income strategies remain popular, but investors have been committing money to alternative strategies as well. These ETFs yielding 7% or more have proved to be good high-income diversifiers, but be aware of the risks. 10 stocks we like better than JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF › If you're a dividend stock...
Key Points Income seekers are looking beyond traditional equities for high yields. Option income strategies remain popular, but investors have been committing money to alternative strategies as well. These ETFs yielding 7% or more have proved to be good high-income diversifiers, but be aware of the risks. 10 stocks we like better than JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF › If you're a dividend stock investor, things are finally looking better for you in 2026. After three straight years of underperformance in a market dominated by large-cap tech, dividend stocks have finally swung back into favor. One exchange-traded fund (ETF), the WisdomTree U.S. Total Dividend ETF, is outperforming the S&P 500 by about 5% year to date on the heels of leadership from value and defensive stocks. 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 » But dividend yields are still pretty thin. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is only yielding about 1.1%. If you focus more on high yield stocks, you can capture something in the 3% to 4% range. To find something higher than that, you have to consider more niche and unique strategies. Income investors have been looking into various strategies for high yields. Here are four ETFs that have drawn positive net inflows over the past three months and the past year, but have yet to really capture the market's attention. 1. JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF The JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSEMKT: JEPI) was one of the biggest success stories of the 2022 bear market. As yields began soaring and fixed income was delivering double-digit losses, covered-call strategies emerged as an alternative to bonds. With yields pushing 10% or higher, they soon drew billions of dollars of investor money. This fund's returns have cooled off over the past couple of years during the AI boom, but investor ...
As the war in Iran drags into its third week, Rep. Glenn Ivey joins David Gura and Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss whether Congress is considering providing $200 billion in additional funding for the war in Iran, US President Donald Trump's declaration that ICE will be working in American airports and the progress of the fight to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Wat...
As the war in Iran drags into its third week, Rep. Glenn Ivey joins David Gura and Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss whether Congress is considering providing $200 billion in additional funding for the war in Iran, US President Donald Trump's declaration that ICE will be working in American airports and the progress of the fight to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Watch the show LIVE every Saturday and Sunday morning. (Source: Bloomberg)
As the debate about our AI future continues to rage, Yale Budget Lab's Executive Director and Co-Founder, Martha Gimbel, joined 'Bloomberg This Weekend' to discuss how documentation of the industrial revolution via 19th century novels can inform how this evolution could impact our lives. (Source: Bloomberg)
As the debate about our AI future continues to rage, Yale Budget Lab's Executive Director and Co-Founder, Martha Gimbel, joined 'Bloomberg This Weekend' to discuss how documentation of the industrial revolution via 19th century novels can inform how this evolution could impact our lives. (Source: Bloomberg)
Some people ride a last name. Others try to outwork it. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates built one of the most recognizable names in tech. His youngest daughter, Phoebe Gates, is trying to build something that stands on its own. Not adjacent to it, not boosted by it, and definitely not defined by it. Last month on the "Opening Bid Unfiltered" podcast, she laid out exactly what's driving her. And it...
Some people ride a last name. Others try to outwork it. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates built one of the most recognizable names in tech. His youngest daughter, Phoebe Gates, is trying to build something that stands on its own. Not adjacent to it, not boosted by it, and definitely not defined by it. Last month on the "Opening Bid Unfiltered" podcast, she laid out exactly what's driving her. And it wasn't legacy. Dorm Room Idea To $43 Million Startup Phoebe Gates isn't just talking about ambition. She's already building. Don't Miss: Think Your ‘Safe' Stocks Protect You? You're Ignoring the Real Growth Triggers — Here's What to Add Now Caught With Nothing Saved for Retirement? These 5 Game‑Changing Tips Could Still Save You She's the co-founder of Phia, a shopping app and browser extension designed to act like a personal AI shopping agent. Instead of endlessly scrolling, users can click into Phia and get a direct answer on whether something is worth buying, based on quality, value, and real-time deals across thousands of sites. The idea started in a Stanford University dorm room, where she and her co-founder spent hours jumping between resale sites trying to find the best items. "The reality is online shopping just hasn't adapted in 30 years," she said. That frustration turned into a product. Phia doesn't replace stores. It sits on top of them, helping users decide faster and smarter. The traction followed. The company has raised $43 million total, hit a $185 million valuation, and crossed 1 million users in its first year. Trending: Think you're saving enough for your kids? You might be dangerously off — see why The Chip On Her Shoulder Is The Point Gates didn't avoid the obvious advantage. She acknowledged it, then turned it into motivation. "I have been so incredibly blessed with the life that I have been given and I have so much privilege that I want to take that and do something," she said. Then came the line that frames everything she's building. "The chip on my...
Nvidia Corp will deliver one million graphics processing units to Amazon.com, Inc.'s Web Services. AWS Locks In Massive Multi-Year GPU Deal Ian Buck, Nvidia's vice president of hyperscale and high-performance computing, told Reuters on Thursday that shipments will begin this year and continue through 2027. While both companies confirmed the agreement earlier, the timeline had not been disclosed. D...
Nvidia Corp will deliver one million graphics processing units to Amazon.com, Inc.'s Web Services. AWS Locks In Massive Multi-Year GPU Deal Ian Buck, Nvidia's vice president of hyperscale and high-performance computing, told Reuters on Thursday that shipments will begin this year and continue through 2027. While both companies confirmed the agreement earlier, the timeline had not been disclosed. Don't Miss: Amazon and Nvidia did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment. Beyond GPUs: Networking And AI Inference Chips Included The agreement goes beyond GPUs, encompassing a broader suite of Nvidia technologies. This includes Spectrum networking chips and ConnectX systems designed to accelerate data transfer within data centers. AWS will also deploy a mix of Nvidia's newer chips, including its recently introduced Groq offerings, alongside several others to improve AI inference — the process of generating real-time outputs from trained models. Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel — Literally $1 Trillion Opportunity Signals Long-Term Growth The deal aligns with CEO Jensen Huang's projection of a $1 trillion revenue opportunity tied to Nvidia's next-generation Blackwell and Rubin chip platforms. Despite developing its own custom hardware, AWS's continued reliance on Nvidia underscores the chipmaker's dominance in the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem. Photo Courtesy: Mijansk786 on Shutterstock.com Read Next: This Under-$1 Pre-IPO AI Company Is Still Open to Retail Investors — Learn More It’s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here’s how everyday investors are getting started. UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga: This article Nvidia To Deliver 1 Mi...
Key Points Hancock Prospecting added 828,245 shares of NexGen Energy in the fourth quarter; the estimated trade size was $7.31 million. Meanwhile, the quarter-end position value increased by $9.81 million, reflecting both additional shares and share price movement. The quarter-end position stood at 9,078,245 shares valued at $83.66 million. 10 stocks we like better than NexGen Energy › On February...
Key Points Hancock Prospecting added 828,245 shares of NexGen Energy in the fourth quarter; the estimated trade size was $7.31 million. Meanwhile, the quarter-end position value increased by $9.81 million, reflecting both additional shares and share price movement. The quarter-end position stood at 9,078,245 shares valued at $83.66 million. 10 stocks we like better than NexGen Energy › On February 17, 2026, Hancock Prospecting disclosed a buy of NexGen Energy (NYSE:NXE), adding 828,245 shares in an estimated $7.31 million trade based on quarterly average pricing. What happened According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated February 17, 2026, Hancock Prospecting increased its position in NexGen Energy by 828,245 shares. The estimated transaction value was $7.31 million, calculated using the average share price over the fourth quarter of 2025. The fund’s quarter-end stake totaled 9,078,245 shares, with a reported value of $83.66 million, up $9.81 million from the prior filing. What else to know The fund’s buy lifted NexGen Energy to 2.57% of 13F AUM. Top holdings after the filing: NASDAQ: QQQ: $784.91 million (24.1% of AUM) NYSE: MP: $750.79 million (23.1% of AUM) NYSE: TECK: $493.19 million (15.2% of AUM) NYSE: HBM: $289.00 million (8.9% of AUM) NYSE: NXE: $83.66 million (2.6% of AUM) As of Friday, NexGen Energy shares were priced at $11.26, skyrocketing 123% over the past year as the S&P 500 instead gained 15%. Company overview Metric Value Price (as of Friday) $11.26 Market capitalization $7.4 billion Net income (TTM) ($309.7 million) Company snapshot NexGen Energy focuses on the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of uranium properties, with the flagship Rook I project in Saskatchewan. The firm operates as an exploration and development stage company, generating value through advancing uranium assets toward production. It is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with principal operations in the Athabasca Basin region. NexGen E...
Oscar Wong | Moment | Getty Images As headlines swirl about trouble in the private credit market , investors might wonder whether it means significant problems lie ahead for these assets. Right now, pockets of weakness exist. Those shouldn't be ignored, but they don't foretell a broad-based meltdown among private credit funds, some financial advisors say. "Some caution is reasonable, but the idea ...
Oscar Wong | Moment | Getty Images As headlines swirl about trouble in the private credit market , investors might wonder whether it means significant problems lie ahead for these assets. Right now, pockets of weakness exist. Those shouldn't be ignored, but they don't foretell a broad-based meltdown among private credit funds, some financial advisors say. "Some caution is reasonable, but the idea that private credit is on the verge of widespread trouble is overstated," said certified financial planner Crystal Cox, a senior vice president for Wealthspire Advisors in Madison, Wisconsin. More from Financial Advisor Playbook: Student loan forgiveness is taxable again. How to plan for a five-figure IRS bill Trump accounts have 'more unanswered questions than answered,' expert says Home sellers start getting lower prices at 70, research shows — here's why Bigger SALT cap may 'drive higher refunds,' tax expert says — who benefits Trump accounts could grow to $50,000 or more, president says. Advisors weigh in Housing affordability isn't just hurting buyers: More homeowners are falling behind In an affordability crunch, Gen Z adults lean on their parents for financial help Penalty-free withdrawals from 401(k)s can now pay for long-term care insurance Tax changes Social Security beneficiaries may see based on new laws 53% of investors with a required withdrawal for 2025 still haven't taken it: Fidelity The first step workers should take after a layoff, as job losses soar "Some of the pressure you're seeing in headlines … has more to do with a maturing market than systemic stress," Cox said. "What's really happening is the shift from a young, high-return market to a more competitive, mature one where manager selection and underwriting discipline matter a lot more." Overall, any exposure to private credit should be a small share of your investments, said Cox. "For most individual investors, keeping it to no more than about 5% of the overall portfolio is a sensible way to access...
Industrials, materials, and financials carry the strongest weight in this week’s quant rankings for upcoming earnings, while health care and parts of technology dominate the weakest-scoring names. A total of 213 companies are scheduled to report. This week’s top-rated names are led by aerospace and defense company AAR ( AIR ), which holds a strong quant rating of 4.84, followed by asset manager No...
Industrials, materials, and financials carry the strongest weight in this week’s quant rankings for upcoming earnings, while health care and parts of technology dominate the weakest-scoring names. A total of 213 companies are scheduled to report. This week’s top-rated names are led by aerospace and defense company AAR ( AIR ), which holds a strong quant rating of 4.84, followed by asset manager Noah Holdings ( NOAH ) at 4.78. Chemicals producer Braskem ( BAK ) and aerospace and defense firm Karman Holdings ( KRMN ) also rank among the highest with scores of 4.69 and 4.63, respectively. Other notable names include KalVista Pharmaceuticals ( KALV ), Carnival ( CCL ), and Commercial Metals ( CMC ), reflecting solid factor strength across biotechnology, travel and leisure, and metals. On the downside, health care names feature prominently among the lowest-rated stocks. Semiconductor company Blaize Holdings ( BZAI ) holds the weakest score at 1.01, followed closely by Fractyl Health ( GUTS ) at 1.03 and MaxCyte ( MXCT ) at 1.07. Other laggards include LENZ Therapeutics ( LENZ ), TELA Bio ( TELA ), and Beyond Meat ( BYND ), pointing to weaker readings across valuation, growth, and momentum factors in these segments. Other high-profile companies set to report earnings this week include Lithium Argentina ( LAC ), Ondas ( ONDS ), and Chewy ( CHWY ). All three carry Hold ratings with scores of 2.68 , 3.46 , and 2.82, respectively. Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating system grades stocks based on their relative performance on critical quantitative measures, including valuation, growth, stock momentum, and profitability. Ratings are assigned on a scale from 1 to 5, with any score of 3.5 or above considered a bullish rating and any score of 2.5 or below indicating a bearish assessment. Here are the top-rated upcoming earnings stocks, ranked by Quant: AAR ( AIR ), Quant Rating : 4.84. Noah Holdings Limited ( NOAH ), Quant Rating : 4.78. Braskem S.A. ( BAK ), Quant Rating : 4.69. Karman ...
Vivek Vishwakarma/iStock via Getty Images Now is a great time to pick up high-yielding stocks on the cheap, especially when their valuations support a solid margin of safety. Plus, while the market remains focused on a return on capital, I’m more content with getting a return of capital from dividends. That’s because with each dividend payment, my initial investment capital is de-risked, and the p...
Vivek Vishwakarma/iStock via Getty Images Now is a great time to pick up high-yielding stocks on the cheap, especially when their valuations support a solid margin of safety. Plus, while the market remains focused on a return on capital, I’m more content with getting a return of capital from dividends. That’s because with each dividend payment, my initial investment capital is de-risked, and the payback period from dividends is far lower than that of the S&P 500 ( SPY ). This brings me to the following 2 picks, both of which trade less than peers and offer yields in the 7-12% range. Both operate in different industries, offering investors immediate diversification. Let’s explore what makes each a compelling ‘Buy’ for income and value! #1: Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund ( MSDL ) is a BDC that sits at the intersection of private credit and institutional-scale origination. It’s externally managed by Morgan Stanley ( MS ) and is a part of the latter’s broader credit platform. In fact, 76% of MSDL’s deals over the past 6 years were done with multiple Morgan Stanley touchpoints. Benefits of this arrangement include MSDL’s ability to leverage MS’s investment banking relationships to source proprietary deals. Notably, MS charges MSDL a below-average base management fee of 1.0%, sitting below the 1.5% industry standard that BDCs like Ares Capital ( ARCC ) charge. At present, MSDL has a $3.8 billion investment portfolio that’s mostly comprised of first-lien debt, representing 96% of the portfolio. MSDL’s loans are private equity sponsor-backed with a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 40%. This means that there is a substantial 60% equity buffer to guard against potential borrower defaults. The portfolio is diversified across 227 borrowers, with no single borrower comprising over 2% of the portfolio total. As shown below, Software, Insurance, IT Services, Commercial Services, and Professional Services make up the top 5 out of 35 industri...
Ruslan Danyliuk/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Back in September I initiated coverage on Kyivstar Group ( KYIV ), the Ukrainian telecom company that offers what is effectively the only pure play Ukrainian stock on the US markets. I rated them a hold, on the basis that while the multiples were pretty appealing compared to the sector at large, there were some obvious problems. The obvious risk Ky...
Ruslan Danyliuk/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Back in September I initiated coverage on Kyivstar Group ( KYIV ), the Ukrainian telecom company that offers what is effectively the only pure play Ukrainian stock on the US markets. I rated them a hold, on the basis that while the multiples were pretty appealing compared to the sector at large, there were some obvious problems. The obvious risk Kyivstar has is the war in Ukraine, which poses immediate operational risks to the company and is having a deleterious impact on the Ukrainian economy in general. The other big concern was that, unlike virtually every other foreign telecom of note, Kyivstar pays no dividends. Six months later, the stock is trading at roughly the same point it was before, but there are some new factors that I think are pertinent, as well as some long-standing concerns. Before we get into that, though, we’ve got new annual reports to parse through. Growing Revenue, Weakening Margins In addition to its telecom services, Kyivstar has added some side businesses, like ride-sharing service Uklon and medical record storage company Helsi. That’s not unusual; lots of foreign telecoms dip their toes into various businesses. As margins go, however, the growth doesn’t seem to be doing them any favors. 2023 2024 2025 Revenue $915 million $919 million $1.16 billion Operating Income $363 million $348 million $274 million Operating Margin 39.7% 37.9% 23.6% Net Income $281 million $283 million $124 million GAAP EPS $1.36 $1.37 57¢ Click to enlarge (Source: most recent 20-F from SEC) We’ve got headline revenue growth, to be sure, but Kyivstar also came out of 2025 with substantial margin deterioration, which absolutely clobbered the bottom line. In the end, they came in with a P/E ratio of 17.72, which is roughly in line with the sector’s 18.51. While Kyivstar had previously been trading at vastly lower multiples than other telecoms, that’s no longer the case. There are some pretty clear problems going on here ...
The US Supreme Court will consider upending key election deadlines in as many as 29 states with a case that draws the justices into President Donald Trump ’s campaign against mail-in ballots. The justices hear arguments Monday in a Mississippi clash over laws that allow ballots to be counted even if they don’t arrive until shortly after Election Day. The Republican Party and the Trump administrati...
The US Supreme Court will consider upending key election deadlines in as many as 29 states with a case that draws the justices into President Donald Trump ’s campaign against mail-in ballots. The justices hear arguments Monday in a Mississippi clash over laws that allow ballots to be counted even if they don’t arrive until shortly after Election Day. The Republican Party and the Trump administration say grace periods across the country are incompatible with federal law. The dispute is part of a multipronged GOP effort to transform federal election rules in advance of a November election that could see the party lose control of Congress. Trump separately is pushing congressional Republicans to enact a sweeping law that would largely outlaw mail ballots, which he insists lead to widespread fraud despite studies and court decisions rejecting such claims. “Mail-in ballots are corrupt,” Trump said in August. “You can never have a real democracy with mail-in ballots.” Critics say Republicans are trying to suppress the votes of people likely to support Democrats. “They’re trying to kick out of the electorate voters who they would rather not have participate in the election,” Marc Elias , a lawyer who often represents the Democratic Party and is helping defend the Mississippi law, said in a call with reporters. It isn’t clear how much, if at all, Republicans would be helped by a ruling that tightens deadlines for mail-in ballots given that the party increasingly depends on voters who use that option. Read More: Trump’s Drive to Limit Mail-in Voting Threatens GOP Candidates Trump Forces Senate Voter ID Showdown Ahead of Midterms Why It’s Hard for Trump to ‘Nationalize’ Voting Rules: QuickTake The rules governing mail ballots have been a recurring topic in recent elections, with Republicans generally arguing for strict deadlines and Democrats for more flexibility. Mail voting accounted for 30% of the turnout in the 2024 election, according to the US Election Assistance Commis...
Fermat Capital Management says a European proposal to limit retail investors’ access to catastrophe bonds faces serious pushback, as money managers specialized in insurance-linked strategies mount a coordinated front. John Seo , co-founder and managing director of the Connecticut-based hedge fund manager, says he’s been working with others in the industry to try to shield the market for cat bonds ...
Fermat Capital Management says a European proposal to limit retail investors’ access to catastrophe bonds faces serious pushback, as money managers specialized in insurance-linked strategies mount a coordinated front. John Seo , co-founder and managing director of the Connecticut-based hedge fund manager, says he’s been working with others in the industry to try to shield the market for cat bonds from the disruption he worries would follow such a regulatory intervention. He also says investors would ultimately find ways to work around stricter rules. “We’ve been heavily involved in the industry responses and coordinated with our peers in the industry to consolidate our stance,” he said in an interview. So “we’ve been very actively involved in all this.” At issue is a proposal by the European Securities and Markets Authority that the European Commission limit the extent to which highly complex instruments such as cat bonds be included in UCITS, which is a fund category intended to protect retail investor interests. The recommendation, if acted on by the EU’s executive arm, would have major ramifications for the $60 billion market for cat bonds, of which UCITS funds currently account for almost a third. “This is frankly an unprecedented thing, if it were to occur,” Seo said. Fermat, which has about $11 billion in assets, is the world’s biggest hedge fund manager focused on catastrophe bonds. The extent to which retail investors should be exposed to complex, niche markets more broadly is a question that’s drawn renewed focus of late. Through exchange-traded funds and business development companies, for example, retail investors have increasingly been gaining access to markets that were traditionally the preserve of professionals. In some cases, strains are emerging. In less liquid private market funds, there are examples of investors getting burned as financial firms impose caps on redemptions and even gate funds. Read More: JPMorgan, Goldman Offer Hedge Funds Way to S...