Getty Images Transcript Oscar Pulido: American consumers remain one of the most important signals for the US economy. For the last few years, they've repeatedly defied expectations, continuing to spend despite higher inflation and higher interest rates. But as we move into 2026, that resilience is starting to look more uneven. Spending is holding up on the whole, but the consumer experience is increasingly K-shaped with widening gaps across income levels, evolving policy dynamics, and new forces. From artificial intelligence to healthcare innovations like GLP-1s, which are reshaping how and where people spend. So, what does this more nuanced consumer landscape mean for the economy and investors? Welcome to The Bid where we break down what's happening in the markets and explore the forces changing the economy and finance. I'm Oscar Pulido. In this episode, I'm joined by Lisa Yang, portfolio manager and co-head of the consumer industry group within BlackRock Fundamental Equities. Lisa will help us assess the current health of the US consumer, the key trends, transforming consumer behavior, and what these shifts could mean for consumer-facing companies and equity markets going forward. Lisa, thank you so much for joining us on The Bid. Lisa Yang: Thank you so much for having me. Oscar Pulido: So, Lisa, we last spoke in the summer of 2024 and since then a lot has changed in the economy. One thing that hasn't changed is the importance of the consumer, particularly in the US economy. In fact, we're increasingly using this term, the K-shaped economy, which I think refers to different outcomes and experiences that are being seen across income levels. So maybe we could start there, let's talk a little bit about the state of the US consumer today. Lisa Yang: Yes, I've been investing in the consumer sector for about a decade now, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's to never underestimate the power of the US consumer. I think the spending culture is deeply ingrained in ...

Nike (NKE 1.66%) is the leading sportswear brand, with $46 billion in annual revenue. But the company has dealt with weak sales over the past few years. The stock is currently trading near $61, down 22% over the last 12 months and 65% from its all-time high. Last year, the company brought in longtime company veteran Elliott Hill as its new CEO to turn things around. The latest quarterly financial results show progress on the turnaround plan, but management's comments suggest it still has a way to go before investors see meaningful results. Here's what this means for the stock's prospects, and whether investors can see a rebound soon. The good and bad The good news for investors is that Nike's home market, North America, is showing momentum. Revenue grew 9% year over year last quarter, reaching $5.6 billion. The running category saw 20% growth for the second straight quarter -- an important signal that Nike's innovation and new styles are resonating with customers. The bad news is that this may not be a quick turnaround. CFO Matt Friend noted on the December earnings call that its "progress will not be linear." Each brand, sport, and geography, he added, is recovering at different speeds. Greater China remains a problem for the brand. Revenue fell 17% over the year-ago quarter. Hill acknowledged that the work they are doing to turn China around is just a start. "It will take time," Hill said. Revenue outside North America was down by more than 5% year over year last quarter. Despite strong growth in its home market, weakness in international markets caused total revenue to rise just 1% year over year. The company's strategy to improve operating profit margins back above 10% will also take time. Nike's marketing, or demand creation expense, has been growing faster than revenue, cutting into earnings. Nike's earnings per share fell 32% year over year in the quarter and 30% through the first half of fiscal 2026. Expand NYSE : NKE Nike Today's Change ( -1.66 %) $ -0.96 C...

Thick black smoke was still rising in the sky, soot covered the streets and cars, balconies filled with black gunk, and the toxic air had filled the lungs as Tehran woke up after a night of airstrikes on the city’s oil depots on Sunday. In messages and voice notes sent to the Guardian, Tehranis described the situation in their homes and on the streets, some calling it “apocalyptic”. With the sun blotted out, disoriented people in Iran’s capital had to turn on their lights to see through the gloom. Four oil depots and a petroleum logistics site in and around Tehran were hit. Local authorities said six people were killed and 20 wounded at one of the sites. Videos shared by citizen journalists showed massive flames over the Tehran sky overnight and smoke still billowing over the oil storage facilities. As rain poured down on the city of 10 million people on Sunday morning, authorities warned of toxic acid rain and many residents woke up with pain in their throat and eyes burning. View image in fullscreen A fire after an airstrike on an oil storage facility in Tehran. Photograph: Arileza Sotakbar/AP Speaking to the Guardian via voice notes, Negin – not her real name – an activist and former political prisoner based in the central-east side of the city, said the situation was “apocalyptic”. She said: “The situation is so frightening it’s hard to describe. Smoke has covered the entire city. I have severe shortness of breath and burning in my eyes and throat, and many others feel the same. But people still have to go outside because they have no choice. Many places reopened today, but closed again because it’s impossible to stay outdoors.” Iran’s environmental agency advised people in Tehran to stay indoors. The country’s Red Crescent said the toxic chemicals could lead to acid rain and hurt the skin and lungs, advising people to avoid turning on air conditioners or going outside immediately after rainfall. It also encouraged people to protect exposed food. Tehran’s govern...

Cuba Is Negotiating Deal With US, Trump Says Authored by Jacob Burg via The Epoch Times, U.S. President Donald Trump said March 8 that the Cuban government is negotiating a deal with him and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Speaking at his “Shield ​of the Americas” gathering of Latin American leaders in Miami, ​Florida, Trump said that Cuba is “at the end of the line” due to Venezuela cutting off oil deliveries after the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. “As we achieve a historic transformation in Venezuela, we’re also looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba,” Trump said. “They have no money. They have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that’s been bad for a long time.” The president said Cuba is currently negotiating with himself, Rubio, and “some others.” “And I would think a deal would be made very easily with Cuba,” Trump added. Trump has urged the Cuban government to strike a deal with his administration since early this year, and has increased pressure after Maduro’s capture. Previously, Venezuela was overwhelmingly Cuba’s largest source of oil. Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez responded to Trump at the time by saying his nation was “ready to defend the Homeland to the last drop of blood.” “Those who blame the [communist] Revolution for the severe economic shortages we suffer should hold their tongues in shame,” he said on Jan. 11. By late last month, Trump was floating the possibility of a “friendly takeover of Cuba” by the United States. “The Cuban government is talking with us,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Feb. 27. “They’re in a big deal of trouble. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba after many, many years. We’ve had a lot of years of dealing with Cuba.” He also indicated that Rubio was negotiating with Cuban leaders “at a very high level.” “They have no money, they have no oil, they have no food, and it’s really right now a nation in deep tro...

Iran on Sunday indicated it had chosen Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba as his successor, after Israel struck fuel depots in Tehran overnight and the conflict widened after Bahrain said an Iranian attack had damaged one of its desalination plants. “The name of Khamenei will continue,” said Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of the clerical council charged with electing a new leader, in a video published in Iranian media. “The vote has been cast and will be announced soon,” Eshkevari said, without providing further details. Advertisement The council’s secretary, Hosseini Bushehri, would announce the ‌successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – who was killed earlier in the conflict – Ahmad Alamolhoda, another cleric, told state media. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday Washington should have a say in the selection. “If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long,” he told ABC News. Advertisement

格隆汇3月9日｜意大利外长：我与德国外交部长进行了会谈，我们希望现在就开始为伊朗冲突寻找和平解决方案。我们致力于防止战争带来的进一步后果，这将对我们两国经济、企业以及整个中东地区的平衡产生影响。能源问题至关重要。我们正在努力避免能源危机，以便霍尔木兹海峡重新开放，石油和天然气出口国能够继续出口。

蘇格蘭格拉斯哥中央車站附近建築物起火、部分倒塌 車站暫時關閉 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】蘇格蘭格拉斯哥中央車站附近有店舖起火，車站暫時關閉。 店內傳出多下爆炸聲，冒出濃煙。有人以滅火筒嘗試救火，其他人上前阻止，之後再多次爆炸。格拉斯哥聯合街一間電子煙店周日下午近4時起火，火勢迅速蔓延，波及四層高的大樓陷入火海，部分建築倒塌。大火至晚上仍未撲熄，逾60名消防員和15輛消防車到場救火。這座維多利亞式建築建於1851年，比中央車站歷史更悠久。英國國家鐵路公司表示暫未發現車站有嚴重損毀，需關閉直至另行通知，數十班列車取消。

格隆汇3月9日｜哈马斯：我们呼吁我们民族的人民团结起来，共同抵制犹太复国主义敌人的阴谋及其扩张侵略的险恶意图，因为它不再掩饰其建立所谓“更大以色列”的野心。

I'm not a betting man. But if I were, I think I'd skip Polymarket and buy a plane ticket to Las Vegas. At least there, I could have a drink and watch a show while losing money. Instead of betting, I prefer to invest, where I have a better chance of making money. If you've got money to put to work that you don't need for other things, I'd say skip a Polymarket wager and take a look at Google's parent company, Alphabet (GOOG 0.87%) (GOOGL 0.75%). It was start-ups like OpenAI and Anthropic that dominated the artificial intelligence (AI) sector for the first couple of years after ChatGPT brought large language models (LLM) AI into the mainstream. But it was only a matter of time until one of the big fish in the tech pond threw its weight behind its own AI program. And Alphabet might be the biggest fish. The tech juggernaut Google doesn't need much of an introduction. You've probably used it several times today. Google has basically become synonymous with search engines in the same way Xerox did with photocopiers. When's the last time anyone asked Jeeves anything? Beyond Google, Alphabet owns YouTube, and Gmail is the most widely used email platform, with 1.8 billion users or about one-fourth of the world's population. Alphabet's Google Cloud is racking up revenue. Meanwhile, Google Gemini -- the company's premier AI product -- is emerging as a leader in the enterprise LLM market. Alphabet's breadth of products gives it ample revenue to outspend the competition and come out on top of the AI arms race. Look no further than what the company is doing with its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU). The TPU, which Alphabet co-developed with Broadcom (AVGO 0.54%), has emerged as one of only a handful of rivals to Nvidia's (NVDA 2.94%) graphics processing unit (GPU). There are pros and cons to both TPU and GPU, and I won't get into the technical weeds here. But it does say a lot about TPU's capabilities that the current enterprise LLM market leader, Anthropic, which closed 2025 with 40%...

Key Points Alphabet has emerged as a leader in the enterprise AI market with Google Gemini. It has introduced a serious competitor to Nvidia's GPU with its TPU hardware. The company's finances and balance sheet are incredible no matter how you look at them. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › I'm not a betting man. But if I were, I think I'd skip Polymarket and buy a plane ticket to Las Vegas. At least there, I could have a drink and watch a show while losing money. Instead of betting, I prefer to invest, where I have a better chance of making money. If you've got money to put to work that you don't need for other things, I'd say skip a Polymarket wager and take a look at Google's parent company, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL). 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 » It was start-ups like OpenAI and Anthropic that dominated the artificial intelligence (AI) sector for the first couple of years after ChatGPT brought large language models (LLM) AI into the mainstream. But it was only a matter of time until one of the big fish in the tech pond threw its weight behind its own AI program. And Alphabet might be the biggest fish. The tech juggernaut Google doesn't need much of an introduction. You've probably used it several times today. Google has basically become synonymous with search engines in the same way Xerox did with photocopiers. When's the last time anyone asked Jeeves anything? Beyond Google, Alphabet owns YouTube, and Gmail is the most widely used email platform, with 1.8 billion users or about one-fourth of the world's population. Alphabet's Google Cloud is racking up revenue. Meanwhile, Google Gemini -- the company's premier AI product -- is emerging as a leader in the enterprise LLM market. Alphabet's breadth of products gives it ample revenue to outspend the competit...

Buying and holding stocks with incredible long-term potential is the goal of a lot of investors. After all, who doesn't want to achieve monster returns? But market participants also have other objectives. Some investors simply want the businesses that they own to cut them a check every quarter. Generating income is the priority in this case. There are some very high-quality, industry-leading companies to zero in on. Here are the two best dividend stocks to buy now and hold forever. This beverage giant has a fantastic 64-year streak going The first dividend stock investors can confidently buy and hold forever is Coca-Cola (KO +0.12%). The leader in soft drinks has a phenomenal track record. It has raised its dividend payout for 64 straight years, after the board of directors approved a 4% increase last month. The current yield is 2.72%. Coca-Cola's longevity supports the case for its relevance well into the future. This is a stable business, with predictable demand that doesn't fluctuate with changing economic conditions. Consumers will buy Coca-Cola beverages regardless of the macro backdrop. The company's brand is its most important asset, which drives customer loyalty and pricing power. Anyone can start a new drink business. It would be almost impossible to scale up and compete effectively with Coca-Cola, however, because it has unmatched distribution and marketing capabilities. There is no risk that the dividend will go away. In the past decade, the business has posted an average operating margin of 27.5%. And it generates robust free cash flow. "We have an unwavering commitment to reinvest in our business and grow our dividend," CFO John Murphy said on the fourth quarter 2025 earnings call. Expand NYSE : KO Coca-Cola Today's Change ( 0.12 %) $ 0.09 Current Price $ 77.12 Key Data Points Market Cap $331B Day's Range $ 76.35 - $ 77.19 52wk Range $ 65.35 - $ 82.00 Volume 669K Avg Vol 18M Gross Margin 61.75 % Dividend Yield 2.65 % The world's top retailer has raised ...

The weight-loss market has become one of the most active therapeutic areas in the pharmaceutical industry over the past few years. And based on analyst projections, it will continue growing at a good clip for the foreseeable future. Plenty of drugmakers are looking to gain a foothold in this market. Two of the most promising candidates are Novo Nordisk (NVO 1.27%) and Amgen (AMGN +0.51%). But which one of these two giants is the better weight loss stock to buy right now? Let's find out. The case for Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is already a leader in weight loss. Its famous GLP-1 drug, Wegovy, is one of the best-selling medicines in this niche. And it recently launched an oral version of Wegovy. The company also has several pipeline candidates that should make meaningful progress in the next couple of years. It's CagriSema, which outperformed Wegovy in a head-to-head clinical study and is under consideration for approval. Expand NYSE : NVO Novo Nordisk Today's Change ( -1.27 %) $ -0.49 Current Price $ 38.58 Key Data Points Market Cap $130B Day's Range $ 38.17 - $ 38.84 52wk Range $ 35.85 - $ 82.57 Volume 738K Avg Vol 24M Gross Margin 80.90 % Dividend Yield 4.48 % Another promising candidate, amycretin, is in phase 3 studies. Still another of the company's exciting anti-obesity programs, UBT251, recently showed strong efficacy in a mid-stage trial conducted in China. Over the next few years, Novo Nordisk should expand its portfolio of approved weight loss medicines and could ride this wave well into the next decade. That's why it might be a good pick for investors to capitalize on this market. The case for Amgen Amgen doesn't have an approved weight loss medicine yet. However, it has made progress with its leading candidate, MariTide, which is now in phase 3 studies. The drug is being investigated in several different areas, including weight management, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment, and effects on cardiovascular outcomes. Expand NASDAQ : AMGN Amgen Today's Ch...

Broadcom (AVGO) Stock Climbs as AI Chip Sales More Than Double in First Quarter MEXC

NuScale Power's (SMR 4.02%) January rally didn't just stall in February; it collapsed. The stock plummeted 26.5% last month, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, erasing all its earlier gains and trading almost 18% lower in 2026, as of this writing. Things aren't looking good for NuScale. A critical project delay, an earnings report featuring a number that has spooked investors, share dilution, and multiple analyst reratings were just some of the major themes that hurt the nuclear energy stock in February, and continue to send it lower. Why is NuScale Power stock taking such a big hit? NuScale took the first big hit in the second week of February after TD Cowen analyst Marc Bianchi downgraded the stock's rating from buy to hold, warning investors that the company's flagship project in Romania could be delayed until 2034. NuScale is building small modular reactors (SMRs) called VOYGR based on its proprietary power modules. RoPower, a joint venture between Nuclearelectrica and Nova Power, is currently NuScale's only customer. The contract stated 2029-2030 as the targeted deployment date for a VOYGR plant at the Doicesti Power Station site in Romania. Last month, Nuclearelectrica shareholders approved the project's final investment decision, which allows NuScale to move to the next steps of securing financing. That's good news, but the first module may not enter commercial operation before 2033. That means the plant may not be operational before 2034, four years behind the original target. Bianchi also noted the material risks NuScale would face if the initial module failed to operate as expected. Expand NYSE : SMR NuScale Power Today's Change ( -4.02 %) $ -0.49 Current Price $ 11.69 Key Data Points Market Cap $3.7B Day's Range $ 11.62 - $ 12.23 52wk Range $ 11.08 - $ 57.42 Volume 1.1M Avg Vol 26M Gross Margin 33.84 % Meanwhile, NuScale Power's largest shareholder and engineering giant, Fluor is selling shares consistently in line with its deci...

將軍澳醫院八旬婦造口手術出錯亡 林志釉質疑為何非官方公布、會否呈報醫委會調查 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】將軍澳醫院結腸癌女病人完成橫結腸造口手術，三周後才發現造口位置出錯死亡，有病人組織質疑事件起初為何由傳媒而非官方公布，又關注院方會否將事件呈報醫委會調查。 病人政策連線主席林志釉：「如果本身是專科資歷，發生這些事件，明顯看到可能在執行能力有問題。我們關注固然是事件，醫生對事件出現的説法是甚麼、難度是在哪，令事件發生堵塞可以做甚麼功夫。手術室有三名醫生，兩位雖然正在接受培訓，但是我相信他們有一定資歷，所以三對眼睛看著事情發生。我認為這是很稀奇的事情，希望分析中可以有詳細交代。」

男子深井泳灘對開海面漂浮 當場證實不治 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】一名男子被發現在深井一泳灘對開海面漂浮，當場證實不治。 男子遺體被移至沙灘，用帳篷覆蓋，身上沒有身份證明文件，經檢驗後當場證實不治，警員在場調查。早上七時許，警方接報釣魚灣泳灘對開約一米海面有人型物體漂浮，案件列作屍體發現。

格隆汇3月9日｜以色列参谋长：这场战役将持续很长时间。这是我们这一代的战争，至关重要且具有决定性。它将决定我们未来的安全。

格隆汇3月9日｜法国总统马克龙：我与伊朗总统进行了会谈。我强调了伊朗必须立即停止对该地区国家的攻击。伊朗还必须确保航行自由，结束霍尔木兹海的事实封锁。最后，我重申了我们对伊朗核武器和弹道导弹计划发展的强烈关切，以及对其在该地区一切破坏性活动的关注，这些活动是当前危机的根源。应对这些关键挑战、结束升级并维护和平，外交解决方案比以往任何时候都更为必要。我们同意保持联系。

【有線新聞】宏福苑恢復加固工程，警方加強保安，工人入地盤不可帶多於500元現金、離開要搜身。有工人認為太嚴厲，居民就認為措施太遲。 宏福苑發生失竊案後恢復加固工程，警方加強保安，工人出入要登記，每人不准攜帶超過500元現金，要將袋等個人物品放在儲物櫃，離開時要搜身。地盤工人黃先生：「入得人家地方工作一定要放下那些東西（個人物品），保障自己，也保障別人，對不對？」地盤工人陳先生：「我們簽簿時要多簽一份。（平時上樓的流程是怎樣？）平時我們是有警察帶我們上去，即是我們登記之後才上樓。其實很少見地盤有人偷竊，以前也是，很少見的。（對事件有何看法？）如果單是為此事而加強保安似乎是過份了一點，因為全部人都要搜身。」 居民連月要求盡早上樓，希望執拾個人物品。政府重申安全考慮，要先加固，目前預料下月底才可安排居民上樓。宏福苑居民歐陽先生：「應該讓居民先上去執拾，才讓工人入去，我們有物品遺失可追究誰？他所謂的危險是怎樣危險？他又是人、我又是人。你解釋到我便不入去，為甚麼你走入去不危險、我入去會危險？你如何解釋，你是地盤工人、我也是。你要求『三寶』，我也有，你要求安全措施我都有。」 有居民亦說措施來得太遲。宏福苑居民吳小姐：「有街坊12月時曾致電1823、寄過電郵予大埔警區，反映擔心有偷竊案發生，曾要求警方鎖好1984戶宏福苑單位，但他們的回覆就是大閘已上鎖就算。拆棚印象中1月初當時也開始做加固工程，街坊的估計每一戶都中門大開，任意工人進入、毫無防備。警方到現時才亡羊補牢，還要街坊發現有燈光，當晚一班街坊人心徨徨，第二天便公布真的發生偷竊。覺得一切已為時已晚，如何判斷其他單位沒有人偷竊，2個月才揭發一宗？我們宏福苑居民真的不能再信任警方。」 她說希望當局可人性化，盡早安排居民分批上樓，例如先安排低層住戶上樓。

粵車南下｜陳帆：惠民政策有空間加大名額 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】全國人大代表、前運輸及房屋局局長陳帆表示，粵車南下等政策惠民有空間加大名額。 陳帆：「任何惠民的、讓市民感到幸福感、獲得感、安全感都逐漸應該加大，讓市民感受到，也可以享受到。（粵車南下方面名額？）我相信是有空間的，我相信讓政府多給些時間它，我相信政府在進行工作亦是積極處理中。」

As oil prices surge amid the escalating conflict with Iran, one unexpected beneficiary has emerged: Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Robin Brooks, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former Goldman Sachs chief FX strategist, argues that while markets have been fixated on crude prices, the real story lies elsewhere -- particularly in Moscow’s windfall. The Brent oil price ( CO1:COM ) ( BNO ) has jumped 28% since hostilities began, outpacing even the 17% rise seen on a similar timeline after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Iran’s de facto blockade of the Straits of Hormuz has proven a powerful weapon in its fight for regime survival, designed to spike oil prices and turn American public opinion against the war. But the unintended consequence has been transformative for Russian oil exports. According to Brooks, the closure of the Straits has pushed global oil markets from surplus to deficit virtually overnight. Russian crude, once trading at steep discounts as a pariah commodity, has become highly sought after. The discount on Urals crude has likely shrunk below $10 per barrel -- a massive windfall for Putin’s war machine. Brooks notes there’s even anecdotal evidence that Urals prices have topped Brent in India, signaling just how severe the hit to global oil markets has become. “It’s already clear who’s the real winner in this war and that’s Russia,” Brooks writes, adding that amid the chatter about oil going above $100, investors should focus on where people aren’t yet looking -- and that includes Moscow’s unexpected gains. Oil ETFs: ( USO ), ( UCO ), ( DBO ), ( OILK ), and ( USL ). Dear readers: We recognize that politics often intersects with the financial news of the day, so we invite you to click here to join the separate political discussion. More on United States Brent Oil Fund LP ETF U.S. Energy Chokehold: How Interventions In Venezuela And Iran Are Reshaping China's Growth Outlook Oil Could Crash The S&P 500 Or Send It To 7,500 How The Mideast War Impacts Oi...

格隆汇3月9日｜英国海上贸易行动办公室：已收到关于阿曼北部6海里处、霍尔木兹海峡内发生一起事件的报告。第三方消息来源称一艘拖船遭不明飞行物击中，当局正在调查。

格隆汇3月9日｜英国海上贸易行动办公室：已收到关于阿曼北部6海里处、霍尔木兹海峡内发生一起事件的报告。

Photos: Scenes from Jesse Jackson's homegoing services toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR Rev. Jesse Jackson was laid to rest on Saturday at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago, following a week of services including lying in repose at Rainbow PUSH headquarters, lying in state at the South Carolina state capitol, a homegoing service on Friday at House of Hope megachurch that drew thousands of attendees, including former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. Services for the civil rights leader, who died last month at the age of 84, culminated with a final private ceremony on Saturday at Rainbow PUSH headquarters on Chicago's south side. toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR toggle caption Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR

Key Points Claiming at 70 gives you the largest monthly benefit and possibly the largest lifetime benefit. However, this move has its drawbacks. Consider your health and finances when deciding whether it's right for you. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › If you want the largest monthly Social Security checks that you can get, nothing beats waiting until age 70 to claim. That's when you qualify for your maximum retirement benefit. While the gains can be pretty significant, this move isn't without its drawbacks. You'll have to find another way to cover your expenses until you're ready to sign up for Social Security. That could mean working longer than you want to or burning through your personal savings more quickly. And that's not the only factor you have to weigh when deciding whether claiming at 70 is right for you. 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 » What to consider when deciding whether to apply for Social Security at 70 There are two main factors to consider when deciding whether claiming at 70 makes sense for you. The first is your financial situation. If you cannot work and have no other way to cover your expenses, delaying your Social Security application isn't right for you. Claim your checks to maintain your financial security, even if it means settling for a smaller lifetime benefit. You may also want to claim Social Security earlier if you have a short life expectancy. Delaying can be risky in this situation, as waiting too long may mean you don't receive any money from the program. However, married individuals in this situation should note that early claiming may reduce the spousal benefit available to their partner after they die. If neither of those things applies to you, claiming at 70 could be a smart move. It may lead to a larger li...

Shares of Lemonade (LMND +0.22%) sank a whopping 40% in February, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The high-flying insurer, trying to disrupt the legacy market, posted fourth-quarter earnings that disappointed investors. Shares of the stock are still up close to 70% in the last year, marking a huge run for Lemonade shareholders. Here's why the stock sank in February, and whether now is a good time to buy the dip for your own portfolio. Expand NYSE : LMND Lemonade Today's Change ( 0.22 %) $ 0.12 Current Price $ 55.16 Key Data Points Market Cap $4.2B Day's Range $ 52.81 - $ 56.80 52wk Range $ 24.31 - $ 99.90 Volume 76K Avg Vol 2.7M No profits and a premium valuation Lemonade has sought to disrupt traditional consumer insurance markets, such as renters, home, and car insurance, through an easy-to-use online platform. With lower overhead costs, the company believes it can offer insurance rates lower than the competition's and still generate profits. So far, it has been able to use its lower pricing to drive customers to its services. In-force premiums -- a topline metric for an insurer such as Lemonade -- totaled $1.24 billion last quarter, up 31% year over year. More customers are joining Lemonade for its various insurance offerings, driving strong topline growth. The problem is, the company is failing to turn this premium into a profit, with a net loss yet again in Q4. Management claims this is due to its reinvestments for growth, but investors are nervous that it is gaining market share without actually building a sustainable insurance operation. What's more, Lemonade's valuation was high going into the Q4 earnings report, with a price-to-book value (P/B) of 14. This is the best metric for valuing an insurance operator, and it was quite the premium. Lemonade still trades at a P/B of 7.9 as of this writing. Time to buy Lemonade stock? After falling 40%, Lemonade trades at a cheaper, but still not cheap, P/B of 7.9. The company has consistently de...

Key Points Lemonade reported its Q4 earnings in February. The company is growing quickly but losing money. Shares of Lemonade stock are still expensive even after this recent collapse. 10 stocks we like better than Lemonade › Shares of Lemonade (NYSE: LMND) sank a whopping 40% in February, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The high-flying insurer, trying to disrupt the legacy market, posted fourth-quarter earnings that disappointed investors. Shares of the stock are still up close to 70% in the last year, marking a huge run for Lemonade shareholders. Here's why the stock sank in February, and whether now is a good time to buy the dip for your own portfolio. 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 » No profits and a premium valuation Lemonade has sought to disrupt traditional consumer insurance markets, such as renters, home, and car insurance, through an easy-to-use online platform. With lower overhead costs, the company believes it can offer insurance rates lower than the competition's and still generate profits. So far, it has been able to use its lower pricing to drive customers to its services. In-force premiums -- a topline metric for an insurer such as Lemonade -- totaled $1.24 billion last quarter, up 31% year over year. More customers are joining Lemonade for its various insurance offerings, driving strong topline growth. The problem is, the company is failing to turn this premium into a profit, with a net loss yet again in Q4. Management claims this is due to its reinvestments for growth, but investors are nervous that it is gaining market share without actually building a sustainable insurance operation. What's more, Lemonade's valuation was high going into the Q4 earnings report, with a price-to-book value (P/B) of 14. This is the best metric for valuing an in...

Meta Platforms (META 2.38%) has been one of the most promising stories of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom so far. You may know the company best for its social media apps -- Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp -- but Meta also is very present in the world of AI. The company has major AI ambitions and has been investing heavily in the area. But, in recent weeks, along with other tech players, Meta stock has faltered. This is as investors grapple with a series of concerns, from geopolitical to industry-specific. What's most weighed on Meta are these industry-related worries, with the idea that the AI revenue opportunity may not match the spending levels we've seen. Still, Meta has been reporting solid earnings growth, and the overall message from the AI community is that demand continues to roar higher. With this in mind, could Meta stock reach $800? Let's find out. Billion-dollar revenue As mentioned, Meta is a social media giant, and today that's what drives the company's billion-dollar revenue. Advertisers come to Meta to reach us across these apps, and that's been delivering double-digit revenue growth -- and high profitability. In fact, Meta has developed such financial strength that it can afford to pay shareholders dividends and invest aggressively in its AI development. Meta sees its role in AI as "building personal superintelligence." Across its apps, Meta aims to deliver content and services that are personalized to the user, and this should result in us spending more time on these apps. As a social media leader, Meta is well-positioned to take on such a task. Meanwhile, Meta is working to automate the advertising process and make ads increasingly profitable for those who place them. The company's AI research and development also should help it develop new products and services over time that may expand its revenue opportunities. So there's reason to be optimistic about Meta's AI journey -- and its strong and steady social media business too. E...

Great Britain has only two days of natural gas after a decline in energy reserves, as more tankers carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) are diverted from their course to Europe towards Asia because of the Iran war. Great Britain had 6,999 gigawatt hours (GWh) of natural gas stored on Saturday, according to figures from National Gas, which owns and operates the gas national transmission system. This compares with 9,105 GWh a year earlier. Maximum capacity is 12 days of gas, and current storage levels equate to under two days of reserves, leading to concerns that Great Britain could run out of gas if the crisis in the Middle East escalates further. However, even when storage stocks are low, Great Britain continues to receive large volumes of gas from other sources, National Gas said. A National Gas spokesperson said: “Britain’s gas storage levels are broadly in line with what we would expect at this point in the year and are comparable to this time last year. It’s important to remember that storage makes up only a small part of Britain’s diverse gas supply mix. The majority of our gas comes from the UK continental shelf and Norway, complemented by LNG, interconnectors with continental Europe, and storage. “Great Britain benefits from a wide range of supply sources that the market draws on every day. Together, these provide the flexibility needed to balance supply and demand reliably throughout the year.” At least two tankers have redirected in the middle of the Atlantic from Europe to Asia since Friday, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. This comes after three similar diversions last week. Gas prices have soared since the US and Israel began intense air strikes on Iran over a week ago. Iran effectively closed the strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global seaborne gas shipments pass. Qatar halted production at the world’s biggest LNG plant last week following a drone attack. LNG prices in Asia, which imports much of Qatar’s gas exports, soar...

As if the ugliness of the 120 minutes wasn't enough - the grisly battle, the hair-on-fire panic, the abysmal lack of anything resembling coherence or even competence - there was the disgrace of the post-match. Celtic had made it through to the Scottish Cup semi-finals after one shot on goal and no shot on target. They had survived their way through the day despite their own awful shortcomings, winning on penalties because Rangers were an abomination in reply. On a day of blocks, misplaced passes, crosses flying out of play, free-kicks wasted, aerial duels, hoofball, head tennis, punts downfield, unending fouls and a chronic lack of accuracy, the last act was Tomas Cvancara beating Jack Butland. Or, at least, we hoped it was the last act. It wasn't, of course. The finale to the day involved a pitch invasion from many, many Celtic supporters at the Broomloan Road end. There were 7,500 of them at Ibrox. A return to the way things were pre-2018. Mistake. Big, big mistake. Initially, the Rangers fans in the Copland Stand reacted, a tiny number threatening to pile on to the pitch and head into the fray. They were shoved back in quick order. More Celtic people streamed on, dancing and waving and cajoling. Red rags to Rangers' bulls. Celtic staff beseeched them to clear off but their pleas were ignored.