You can break stock investing into two different styles: growth and value. Growth stocks have outperformed lately as the S&P 500 Growth index returned 37.9% over the last year through Nov. 22. That's about 10.9 percentage points higher than the S&P 500 Value index. Naturally, you'll want to pick a company that can sustain the momentum. Fortunately, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) still has strong growth pot...
You can break stock investing into two different styles: growth and value. Growth stocks have outperformed lately as the S&P 500 Growth index returned 37.9% over the last year through Nov. 22. That's about 10.9 percentage points higher than the S&P 500 Value index. Naturally, you'll want to pick a company that can sustain the momentum. Fortunately, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) still has strong growth potential. That may surprise some, given how fast the company's sales have grown since its 1997 initial public offering (IPO). Annual sales went from about $148 million to $470 billion during this period. While sales likely won't grow at that breakneck pace, Amazon remains my top growth stock. Growth engine Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been growing sales at a rapid clip for some time. That seems set to continue for the foreseeable future. Growth may accelerate as companies and organizations continue rapidly adopting artificial intelligence (AI). AWS is Amazon's cloud-computing business that offers various services from its data centers. Organizations have increasingly been using data to make key decisions, and that seems set to continue as they keep using machine learning and AI. The unit's sales grew more than 19% to $27.5 billion. With the highest operating margin out of Amazon's three segments, it remains a key profit driver. AWS' operating income increased nearly 50% to $10.4 billion and accounted for 60% of Amazon's total operating profit. Since these centers require large amounts of space and energy, AWS' large size remains a competitive advantage. AWS has a market-share lead of 31%, in this fast-growing area. That's followed by Microsoft's Azure (20% share) and Alphabet's 12% share. Several smaller competitors have less than 5% of the market. Other areas Amazon's other two segments, North America and international, encompass wide-ranging businesses. These include its online and physical retail operations, subscription services like Prime, and advertising. These have be...
We’re in the heart of tax season already, and the Bipartisan Policy Center has made clear that Americans should expect larger tax refunds in 2026 than in recent years. This is likely welcome news to retirees, who have been coping with economic headwinds like inflation in the post-COVID era. Getting a little extra back from ... Filing Your Taxes? Here’s The Truth About Changes to Social Security Ta...
We’re in the heart of tax season already, and the Bipartisan Policy Center has made clear that Americans should expect larger tax refunds in 2026 than in recent years. This is likely welcome news to retirees, who have been coping with economic headwinds like inflation in the post-COVID era. Getting a little extra back from ... Filing Your Taxes? Here’s The Truth About Changes to Social Security Tax Changes
Teens are sleeping less than ever and screens aren't primarily to blame fcafotodigital/E+/Getty Images The spring time change can mean waking up a little groggy. But the situation may be worse for many teenagers who appear to be getting less sleep than ever, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association. That's concerning because adolescents really need their beauty ...
Teens are sleeping less than ever and screens aren't primarily to blame fcafotodigital/E+/Getty Images The spring time change can mean waking up a little groggy. But the situation may be worse for many teenagers who appear to be getting less sleep than ever, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association. That's concerning because adolescents really need their beauty rest. "Sleep plays a crucial role in adolescent brain development," says Tanner Bommersbach, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. "It's important for emotional regulation in teenagers and important for their overall physical and mental health." Sponsor Message Bommersbach says that it's been clear for some time that teens are sleeping less now than they once did. But he and his colleagues wanted to know if that loss of sleep has been impacting certain groups of adolescents disproportionately. They analyzed data from almost 121,000 high school students included in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to understand trends in insufficient sleep, defined as less than eight hours per night. The bottom line is that things have gotten worse. Roughly three out of four American adolescents across all demographics reported insufficient sleep in 2023, which is up by 8% since 2007. This trend was driven by an increase in teens getting very short sleep of five hours or less, which swelled from 15.8% to 23.0% over that same time period. In addition, they found Black students showed a greater increase in getting too little sleep compared to white students, says Bommersbach. "But in general, we were seeing large increases across the population regardless of a student's age, sex, or race and ethnicity." The rise in insufficient sleep didn't appear to depend on certain risk behaviors either. "Regardless of mental health symptoms, substance use, how many hours a day they're watching TV or they're on social media, we saw widespread ...
A Nepali political party led by an ex-rapper is set for a landslide victory in the country’s first parliamentary election since Gen Z protests ousted the old leadership that has ruled the Himalayan nation for decades. The Rastriya Swatantra, or the National Independent Party (RSP), formed only four years ago, had already won 117 of 165 directly elected seats and led in eight other constituencies i...
A Nepali political party led by an ex-rapper is set for a landslide victory in the country’s first parliamentary election since Gen Z protests ousted the old leadership that has ruled the Himalayan nation for decades. The Rastriya Swatantra, or the National Independent Party (RSP), formed only four years ago, had already won 117 of 165 directly elected seats and led in eight other constituencies in the results published on Sunday morning by Nepal’s Election Commission. Other political parties and independent candidates had won 36 seats in total so far. Officials were still counting the votes on Sunday, and final results were expected later in the week. Advertisement The party’s prime ministerial candidate is rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, who won the 2022 Kathmandu mayoral race. He emerged as a leading figure in the 2025 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. In Nepal, voters directly elect 165 members to the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Parliament. The remaining 110 seats in the 275-member body are allocated through a proportional representation system, under which political parties are assigned seats based on their share of the vote. On Sunday, RSP was also leading, with about 51 per cent of the 110 seats. Advertisement The relatively new RSP has unseated the two long-dominant parties: the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), who have taken turns ruling the country. Local papers called the sweeping win a historic moment. “RSP set for a landslide victory,” said the popular Himalayan Times. “People’s ballot revolt; shift in political paradigm,” said Annapurna Post.
The US was an oligarchy well before Trump’s first term. Recognizing this reality is essential to building a true democracy Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, American political life has taken on a familiar rhythm. Each week brings another court ruling framed as a breaking point, another election cast as the last real one, another executive order described as the moment it all finally ...
The US was an oligarchy well before Trump’s first term. Recognizing this reality is essential to building a true democracy Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, American political life has taken on a familiar rhythm. Each week brings another court ruling framed as a breaking point, another election cast as the last real one, another executive order described as the moment it all finally tips over the edge, another person murdered by a government that’s finally gone too far. Democratic party fundraising emails promise to “save the Republic”. Commentators warn that the guardrails are giving way. Anxious citizens refresh their screens, waiting for the collapse of American democracy. This state of permanent panic rests on what Sigmund Freud called an illusion: a belief embraced not because it reflects reality, but because it satisfies a psychological need. The illusion in this case is that the United States still has a democracy to lose. The more unsettling truth is that Americans are not living under threat of future democratic breakdown; we are living inside the aftermath of one that has already occurred. Eric Reinhart is a political anthropologist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Continue reading...
Will, 57 double quotation mark I worried that intimacy would no longer be possible in the same way and questioned what that would mean for my sense of identity and our marriage When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years ago, I was offered a range of treatments – hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. But the truth was that nothing would be as effective as surgery. After much consi...
Will, 57 double quotation mark I worried that intimacy would no longer be possible in the same way and questioned what that would mean for my sense of identity and our marriage When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years ago, I was offered a range of treatments – hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. But the truth was that nothing would be as effective as surgery. After much consideration, I decided to have a prostatectomy, which would eradicate the cancer, but came with considerable risks, including nerve damage that might result in erectile dysfunction. During the lead-up to the procedure and the weeks of recovery that followed, I worried that intimacy would no longer be possible in the same way, and questioned what that would mean for both my sense of identity and our marriage. In fact, and to my complete surprise, it’s transformed our sex life in the best possible way. Lucy and I have been together for 30 years, and while the sex between us was always great, my libido was a lot higher. The fact that I nearly always had to initiate sex became a source of mild tension but, as repressed Brits, we just muddled through. Until my surgery pushed us both to speak more plainly – about how we’d cope if I did have erectile dysfunction, and what sex meant for us as a couple. In a strange way it gave us a fresh start. double quotation mark Because I’ve got to take medication an hour before sex, we now discuss if and when it’s going to happen without anxiety A few months after I had my prostate removed, I came home one evening and found Lucy in lingerie, ready to rev me up. After initially proceeding with caution, we had some of the best sex of our marriage. Luckily, and to my intense relief, it turns out the nerve damage I have is manageable – as long as I take Viagra, I’m more than fine. We’re now having sex once a week, and perhaps the most significant thing is that we’re better communicators overall, which is a silver lining of my cancer journey. To give ...
The border between Ireland and Northern Ireland used to draw smugglers, paramilitaries, police and soldiers, but the landscape of twisting lanes and hedgerows may soon entice a new type of visitor: literary pilgrims. A plan is under way to rebrand it as Ireland’s “northern literary lands” and to create the world’s first Unesco region of literature. The initiative from Arts Over Borders, a group th...
The border between Ireland and Northern Ireland used to draw smugglers, paramilitaries, police and soldiers, but the landscape of twisting lanes and hedgerows may soon entice a new type of visitor: literary pilgrims. A plan is under way to rebrand it as Ireland’s “northern literary lands” and to create the world’s first Unesco region of literature. The initiative from Arts Over Borders, a group that organises festivals on both sides of the border, aims to create nine “literary ways” to guide travellers through 11 counties that produced or inspired writers ranging from Jonathan Swift to Samuel Beckett and Lisa McGee. “We have this constellation of extraordinary writers associated with border counties,” said Seán Doran, the group’s artistic director. “We’re revealing a map of this heritage – an unsurpassed concentration of literary greatness crammed into one small corner of Europe.” Doran hopes that rebranding a 310-mile border roiled by the Troubles and Brexit will encourage inhabitants to recognise a shared cultural heritage and draw visitors to villages and towns that are off the usual tourist trail. The nine ways, or routes, include the “Nobel way” that encompasses parts of Sligo, County Fermanagh and County Derry that are respectively associated with WB Yeats, Beckett and Seamus Heaney. The “poetic way” takes in areas of Monaghan, Tyrone and Derry that are associated with Patrick Kavanagh, Paul Muldoon, John Montague and Tom Paulin. The “Wilde romantic way” includes a walking route through Enniskillen, the Fermanagh town where Oscar Wilde attended boarding school and which he drew on for his children’s story The Happy Prince. “We’re putting this out there for people to pick and do their own journeys,” said Doran. “The nine routes crisscross and you can do each in a day. It’s a way of illuminating how to join the dots.” The initiative will incorporate forthcoming festivals such as the Beckett Biennale, which will feature the first Ulster-Scots translation of Waiti...
Thousands of international delegates are gathering in New York this week for the world’s largest meeting on women’s rights. The United Nation’s annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is an opportunity for government ministers, UN officials, NGO representatives and activists to discuss the global state of gender equality and women’s empowerment. This year, there will be a strong focus on “e...
Thousands of international delegates are gathering in New York this week for the world’s largest meeting on women’s rights. The United Nation’s annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is an opportunity for government ministers, UN officials, NGO representatives and activists to discuss the global state of gender equality and women’s empowerment. This year, there will be a strong focus on “ensuring and strengthening access to justice”. But as senior UN figures urge countries to intensify their efforts to achieve gender equality, many of the delegates will be asking whether the UN is at risk of diluting its own commitment to women and girls. The question centres on a plan to merge UN Women, the agency dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment, with the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, the UNFPA. The aim of the merger is to improve efficiency, strengthen impact, reduce duplication and create a single body for governments and partners to work with. But since it was first proposed last year as part of UN80 – an initiative to reform the entire organisation – voices expressing concern over the idea have grown louder and more urgent. Women’s rights groups and a significant number of member states fear that restructuring the two agencies at a time of multiple global crises, plummeting levels of aid and a fierce rollback of rights is a high-risk strategy. ‘Dangerous climate’ Jessica Stern, co-president of the Alliance for Diplomacy and Justice, which advocates for human rights in US foreign policy, said: “These two agencies have been working in a resource-depleted environment for a very long time; they are not perfect and not the only solutions to achieving gender equality and ensuring people have access to reproductive rights, but they are what we have now. “And in the current climate,” she added, “when there is a violent and effective backlash, anything that destabilises the scant resources we have is dangerous.” Critics of the plan argue that c...
Hong Kong and Singapore have crossed swords over their ambitions to be the world’s gold trading hub, but experts say the city holds an advantage over its Southeast Asian rival, citing its access to mainland China’s robust market. As Hong Kong pushed ahead with measures to create an ecosystem for gold trading – highlighted as recently in the government’s budget late last month – the city state had ...
Hong Kong and Singapore have crossed swords over their ambitions to be the world’s gold trading hub, but experts say the city holds an advantage over its Southeast Asian rival, citing its access to mainland China’s robust market. As Hong Kong pushed ahead with measures to create an ecosystem for gold trading – highlighted as recently in the government’s budget late last month – the city state had reportedly been courting global heavyweights. In response to the South China Morning Post’s queries about Singapore’s rumoured alliance with the world’s major market makers such as JP Morgan and UBS, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) did not deny the rumours and highlighted ongoing engagement with the sector. Advertisement “Since last year, MAS has been actively working with key gold market participants to look at ways to support the growth of the gold market in Singapore,” a spokesperson said. Singapore’s central bank added it would share more details on key initiatives in due course. Advertisement Commodities trading, especially gold and silver, is back in vogue, with precious metal prices shooting through the roof amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week in Borderlands Mexico: Authorities move to cancel permits for 350 Mexican steel importers; Serviacero USA buys rail-served site at Gulf Inland Logistics Park; and Phoenix-area men sentenced in $4.5M Amazon logistics fraud scheme. Authorities move to cancel permits ...
Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week in Borderlands Mexico: Authorities move to cancel permits for 350 Mexican steel importers; Serviacero USA buys rail-served site at Gulf Inland Logistics Park; and Phoenix-area men sentenced in $4.5M Amazon logistics fraud scheme. Authorities move to cancel permits for 350 Mexican steel importers Mexican authorities have suspended import activities and begun canceling permits for 350 companies involved in steel imports. The move arrives after the government identified alleged irregularities in importer operations as part of a nationwide crackdown on smuggling and misuse of government trade programs. Mexico’s Ministry of Economy said the companies were among 750 firms flagged for suspicious activities related to the manufacture and sale of steel products following inspections coordinated with multiple federal agencies. The investigation is part of a government enforcement effort known as “Operation Clean-Up,” which involves the Ministry of Economy, Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT), the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), and the Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency. The probe was launched after industry group CANACERO, Mexico’s National Chamber of the Iron and Steel Industry, identified companies suspected of irregular trading practices. Authorities said procedures have begun to cancel the companies’ participation in Mexico’s Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) — a key government program that allows manufacturers to temporarily import raw materials and components duty-free for export-oriented production. Steel is a critical input for industries driving North America’s nearshoring boom — including automotive, appliances, construction materials and heavy equipment manufacturing across the country Mexico’s crackdown on allegedly irregular steel imports could tighten oversi...
You're never as aware of how much things cost as you are when you're living on a fixed income. You do what you can to keep expenses down on everyday items, like shopping around and buying things on sale. But other costs are harder to control. Many retirees encounter this problem when they have to give a portion of their Social Security benefits back to Uncle Sam every year. This can cost thousands...
You're never as aware of how much things cost as you are when you're living on a fixed income. You do what you can to keep expenses down on everyday items, like shopping around and buying things on sale. But other costs are harder to control. Many retirees encounter this problem when they have to give a portion of their Social Security benefits back to Uncle Sam every year. This can cost thousands of dollars per year. For residents in the eight states listed below, there's another costly tax they could encounter in retirement. These 8 states still tax Social Security benefits In addition to federal benefit taxes, residents in the following eight states could also owe state Social Security benefit taxes: Colorado Connecticut Minnesota Montana New Mexico Rhode Island Utah Vermont West Virginian seniors with adjusted gross incomes (AGIs) greater than $50,000 for single adults or $100,000 for married couples could also owe state taxes on a portion of their Social Security benefits when they file their 2025 returns. However, West Virginia has eliminated its benefit tax for 2026 and beyond. Just because your state appears on the list above doesn't mean you're guaranteed to owe state benefit taxes. Most of these states have exemptions for low- to middle-income seniors. If you're not sure whether a state benefit tax will affect you, consult with an accountant for personalized advice. Federal benefit taxes will be a bigger problem The federal government taxes the Social Security benefits of seniors in all states, and these taxes are much harder to avoid. If you have a provisional income of $25,000 or more for a single adult or $32,000 or more for a married couple, the IRS will take a chunk of your benefits. These thresholds aren't indexed for inflation, either, so you could face them in future years, even if you don't owe them now. This doesn't mean you'll wind up with a tax bill when you file your return, though. It may just lead to a smaller refund check than you were expe...
UK Government Brands Union Flag A 'Tool Of Hate' In Leaked 'Social Cohesion' Strategy Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news, A leaked draft of the UK Government’s new ‘social cohesion’ strategy has sparked outrage by labeling the flying of English, Scottish, and Union Jack flags as potential “tools of hate.” The document claims these national symbols were sometimes used last summer to “exclu...
UK Government Brands Union Flag A 'Tool Of Hate' In Leaked 'Social Cohesion' Strategy Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news, A leaked draft of the UK Government’s new ‘social cohesion’ strategy has sparked outrage by labeling the flying of English, Scottish, and Union Jack flags as potential “tools of hate.” The document claims these national symbols were sometimes used last summer to “exclude or intimidate,” adding that the “extreme right has tried to turn symbols of pride into tools of hate.” The 47-page draft, leaked to the Spectator magazine, also highlights how antisemitism has become “normalised in many corners of society” from schools and universities to workplaces and the NHS. Flying a Union Jack flag is branded a 'tool of hate' in Government's leaked 'social cohesion' strategy https://t.co/NePt9iDMJk — Daily Mail (@DailyMail) March 7, 2026 Under the proposals, titled Protecting What Matters, some £800 million over 10 years would be allocated to 40 areas where social cohesion is “under pressure.” The strategy is set for a cross-Government rollout next week, but critics are already slamming it as divisive. Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice blasted the draft, telling the Sun: “Absurdly, this says our national flag is a tool of hate used to intimidate. The whole paper is a divisive nonsense that should be consigned to the bin.” The leak ties directly into ongoing controversies over national flags, as detailed in our previous coverage where English councils admitted spending tens of thousands to remove “unauthorised” English and Union Jack flags from lampposts. As we highlighted, leftist activist Pablo O’Hana was caught on video removing flags from a bridge in Manchester, telling a man who placed them: “that’s not what our country is.” Freedom of Information requests revealed councils spent at least £70,000 on flag removals, with O’Hana suggesting the true cost is far higher as many incorporate it into existing budgets. Medway Council alone spent near...
U.S. Senate Candidate Kari Lake (R-AZ) Kari Lake speaks during Day 2 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 16, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters A federal judge ruled on Saturday that Kari Lake's leadership of the U.S. Agency for Global Media for much of last year violated federal law, invalidating a sweeping series of actions she took to cu...
U.S. Senate Candidate Kari Lake (R-AZ) Kari Lake speaks during Day 2 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 16, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters A federal judge ruled on Saturday that Kari Lake's leadership of the U.S. Agency for Global Media for much of last year violated federal law, invalidating a sweeping series of actions she took to cut staff and end many operations at its Voice of America unit. In another blow to the Trump administration's attempts to diminish various government agencies, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted a summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs — including VOA journalists and a union representing federal employees — who argued that Lake's appointment as acting CEO and actions she took in that role ran afoul of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Constitution's Appointments Clause. Lamberth ruled that Lake was ineligible to serve as acting CEO because she was not employed by USAGM when former CEO Amanda Bennett resigned in January 2025, and had not been confirmed by the Senate to any other federal post. Lake officially joined USAGM in March as a senior adviser. A November 21 news release from the agency called her deputy CEO. The judge also rejected the administration's argument that Lake could wield CEO authority through a delegation from the previous acting CEO, Victor Morales. Saturday's decision marks at least the third time Lamberth has ruled against the Trump administration in cases involving the Voice of America. The judge, in April and September, halted plans that would have put many VOA employees out of work, although the April ruling was later overturned by an appeals court. Lake vowed to appeal Lamberth's latest ruling. "Judge Lamberth has a pattern of activist rulings — and this case is no different," she said in a statement. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately return a request for comment. Under the Vacancies Act, actions taken by someone...
The post Best Plus500 Alternatives in March 2026 by Ryan Peterson appeared first on Benzinga . Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this. If you’re here, you’ve probably hit a snag with Plus500 and wondered if there’s something better out there. Maybe it’s the fees, the platform’s limitations or you just want to explore other options, such as Interactive Brokers , FOREX.com and eToro . Wh...
The post Best Plus500 Alternatives in March 2026 by Ryan Peterson appeared first on Benzinga . Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this. If you’re here, you’ve probably hit a snag with Plus500 and wondered if there’s something better out there. Maybe it’s the fees, the platform’s limitations or you just want to explore other options, such as Interactive Brokers , FOREX.com and eToro . Whatever the reason, you’re in luck – we’ve lined up a list of the best alternatives that bring their A-game where Plus500 might fall short. Let’s dive in and help you find your perfect trading platform match. Quick Look at the Top Alternatives to Plus500: Best for CFD trading: Vantage Markets Best for trading ideas: Public.com Best for forex trading : FOREX.com Best for global marketa : Interactive Brokers Best for social trading : eToro Best for active traders: tastyfx Best for advanced tools : XTB Best for copy trading : AvaTrade Best for scalping : Pepperstone Best for professional traders : Saxo Best for high leverage : Octa Best for U.S. investors : Charles Schwab Table of contents [ Show ] Quick Look at the Top Alternatives to Plus500: 12 Best Alternatives to Plus500 1. Best for CFD Trading: Vantage Markets 2. Best for Trading Ideas: Public.com 3. Best for Forex Trading: FOREX.com 4. Best for Global Market Access: Interactive Brokers 5. Best for Social Trading: eToro 6. Best for Active Traders: tastyfx 7. Best for Advanced Tools: XTB 8. Best for Copy Trading: AvaTrade 9. Best for Scalping: Pepperstone 10. Best for Professional Traders: Saxo 11. Best for High Leverage: Octa 12. Best for U.S. Investors: Charles Schwab Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Plus500 Alternative What Is Plus500? Is Plus500 Worth It? Level Up Your Trading Game Frequently Asked Questions 12 Best Alternatives to Plus500 There’s no need to settle for a trading platform that doesn’t meet your needs. Here’s a breakdown of some of the top choices that might just be the upgrade you’re looking f...
Key Points Although the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite have thrived under President Donald Trump, these outsize gains have also been accompanied by historic bouts of volatility. The Middle East conflict has investors on edge, with wars often leading to impacts far from where battles are being waged. However, one economic data point indicates growing skepticism for Wall...
Key Points Although the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite have thrived under President Donald Trump, these outsize gains have also been accompanied by historic bouts of volatility. The Middle East conflict has investors on edge, with wars often leading to impacts far from where battles are being waged. However, one economic data point indicates growing skepticism for Wall Street's bull market rally. 10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index › The stock market has been booming since the end of the financial crisis 17 years ago. Aside from the five-week COVID-19 crash in February-March 2020 and the nine-month 2022 bear market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI), S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), and Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) have been relatively unstoppable. Of note, the stock market has performed exceptionally well under President Donald Trump. While 26 of the previous 33 presidential terms have featured gains for the Dow Jones Industrial Average or S&P 500, annualized returns under Trump have been among the best of any president, looking back over a century. 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 these outsize gains under Donald Trump have also been accompanied by historic bouts of volatility. The aforementioned COVID-19 crash, in which the S&P 500 lost 34% of its value in 33 calendar days, and his Liberation Day tariff and trade policy announcement in early April 2025 that saw the S&P 500 endure its fifth-steepest two-day percentage decline since 1950, are perfect examples. The beginning of the Iran war on Saturday, Feb. 28, is another event under President Trump that's clearly heightened stock market volatility and put investors on edge. But when examining the stock market objectively and with a wider lens, there's a much bigger worry...
Global oil prices could breach the $100 (£74) a barrel mark within days, and reach $150 a barrel by the end of the month, without a solution to the severe disruption in crude flows through the strait of Hormuz, Goldman Sachs has warned. Oil exports via the vital trade route linking the world’s biggest oil producers to buyers in the global market have fallen further than the US investment bank ha...
Global oil prices could breach the $100 (£74) a barrel mark within days, and reach $150 a barrel by the end of the month, without a solution to the severe disruption in crude flows through the strait of Hormuz, Goldman Sachs has warned. Oil exports via the vital trade route linking the world’s biggest oil producers to buyers in the global market have fallen further than the US investment bank had initially expected after the US-Israeli attack on Iran a little over a week ago. Goldman Sachs had anticipated that flows of crude through the strait would fall to 15% of normal levels but Iran’s effective blockade on tankers passing through the narrow waterway mean that only 10% of oil cargoes that usually transit the trade route have been able to pass. The bank, an influential oil commentator, warned that its analysis of trade flows last week suggested the impact was 17 times larger than the peak April 2022 hit to Russia production after the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, which pushed the oil price to $110 a barrel. “Based on these new data, developments and the size of the shock, we now think that oil prices would likely exceed $100 next week if no signs of solutions emerge by then,” it said in a note on Friday night. “We now also think it’s likely that oil prices, especially for refined products, would exceed the 2008 and 2022 peaks, if strait of Hormuz flows were to remain depressed throughout March.” The international oil benchmark briefly climbed above $120 a barrel in 2022 and reached highs of $145 a barrel in 2008, in both cases leading to severe consequences for the global economy. The oil price pushed above $90 a barrel late last week, amid the highest weekly gains since the Covid-19 pandemic six years ago, and included a $10 increase on Friday alone. Oil has risen further on brokerage IG’s weekend markets, where US crude traded at more than $94 a barrel on Sunday. That indicates the oil price will rise once financial markets reopen. “The grace period given by ...