Its strikes also expanded beyond United States’ assets to include landmark buildings and airports, causing death and injury. As the regional instability intensifies , China, a strategic partner with Iran, walks a diplomatic tightrope as it also maintains deep economic relations with GCC states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 00:38 US President Donal...
Its strikes also expanded beyond United States’ assets to include landmark buildings and airports, causing death and injury. As the regional instability intensifies , China, a strategic partner with Iran, walks a diplomatic tightrope as it also maintains deep economic relations with GCC states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 00:38 US President Donald Trump seeks to justify striking Iran amid shifting White House account US President Donald Trump seeks to justify striking Iran amid shifting White House account Observers said the mutual economic reliance , driven by China’s energy needs and significant trade ties, prevented any radical diplomatic shifts from Beijing but risked raising long-term doubts among Gulf states about Beijing’s influence and commitment to the region. Advertisement China has not offered Iran any concrete assistance other than diplomatic support so far. In his first round of whirlwind phone calls on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with counterparts from Iran, Russia, France and Oman as part of Beijing’s diplomatic outreach amid the Gulf tensions. Iran on Tuesday denied reports that it carried out a military attack on Oman, describing the Gulf state as a “friend and neighbour.” Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff said that there had been no military strike on Omani territory, according to the state-run Press TV. Advertisement Wang told Oman’s foreign minister that China supported Gulf nations in “safeguarding their sovereignty and national interests”, his ministry said. He warned that a “spillover of the war does not serve” Gulf states’ interests and urged them to “truly hold their future firmly in their own hands”.
Barclays Plc is owed about £500 million ($669 million) by companies associated with Market Financial Solutions Ltd., one of the biggest exposures to the collapsed UK mortgage lender, a person familiar with the matter said. The sum owed to London-based Barclays is lower than the £600 million exposure initially described by the judge overseeing the collapse of MFS last week, according to the person,...
Barclays Plc is owed about £500 million ($669 million) by companies associated with Market Financial Solutions Ltd., one of the biggest exposures to the collapsed UK mortgage lender, a person familiar with the matter said. The sum owed to London-based Barclays is lower than the £600 million exposure initially described by the judge overseeing the collapse of MFS last week, according to the person, who requested anonymity as details aren’t currently public. The figure compares with the approximately £400 million owed to Apollo Global Management Inc. ’s Atlas SP Partners unit and about £200 million owed to Elliott Investment Management. MFS collapsed into a UK form of insolvency amid serious allegations of fraud, including the alleged double-pledging of assets. Barclays, Atlas and Elliott are among a group of Wall Street firms that arranged more than £2 billion of loans to the London-based firm. Read More: Elliott, SMBC and Macquarie Exposed to Collapsed Lender MFS
Workers work at a spindle factory in Jinzhong, Shanxi province, on Feb. 26, 2026. Photo: Visual China Group China’s factory activity contracted for a second straight month in February, as the Spring Festival holiday disrupted production and weakened demand, according to official data released Wednesday. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 49 from 49.3 in January, the Nationa...
Workers work at a spindle factory in Jinzhong, Shanxi province, on Feb. 26, 2026. Photo: Visual China Group China’s factory activity contracted for a second straight month in February, as the Spring Festival holiday disrupted production and weakened demand, according to official data released Wednesday. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 49 from 49.3 in January, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. A reading below 50 signals contraction. The composite PMI output index, which covers both manufacturing and services, also slipped to 49.5, indicating a broader decline in business activity.
Investors should see any correction in equities as a buying opportunity, rather than signaling the start of a bear market, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. strategists. Although risk assets face a “significant headwind” from war in the Middle East and anxiety over artificial intelligence disruption, underlying economic resilience and robust earnings growth mean the depth and extent of a pullb...
Investors should see any correction in equities as a buying opportunity, rather than signaling the start of a bear market, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. strategists. Although risk assets face a “significant headwind” from war in the Middle East and anxiety over artificial intelligence disruption, underlying economic resilience and robust earnings growth mean the depth and extent of a pullback will be limited, the team led by Peter Oppenheimer wrote in a note. “We see correction risks as high given current valuations, but expect this to present a buying opportunity with relatively low risk of a more protracted and deep bear market,” Oppenheimer said. Global stocks have endured a turbulent start to the year, first as panic over the disruptive impact of AI on business models triggered selloffs in a number of sectors and then as war erupted in the Middle East. Even so, at the index level, the strategists noted that markets have remained broadly stable until recently, with trading marked by rapid rotation and volatility in sectors and individual stocks. A broadening out of equity returns across geographies and investing factors has led to higher-than-average valuations, with all global sectors expensive relative to their 20-year histories, the Goldman team said. Coupled with an unusually strong equity bull market led by the US, this makes equities more vulnerable to potential shocks, such as the threat to oil and gas markets from the Iran war. Will the conflict in Iran be enough to drive a 10% correction in the S&P 500 before the end of March? Let us know in the latest Markets Pulse survey. “The longer this uncertainty persists, or the worse it gets for energy supplies, the higher the perceived risk to growth and inflation will be,” Oppenheimer said. Still, he noted that “most geopolitical shocks in recent years have not had a long-lasting impact on markets.”
Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. BSET is in a restructuring mindset as it waits for furniture demand to pick up. Analysts have been cutting estimates on this Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) over the last 30 days. Bassett Furniture Industries operates 86 company and licensee-owned stores in the United States that sell home furnishings, including custom furniture design, free in-home design visits, an...
Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. BSET is in a restructuring mindset as it waits for furniture demand to pick up. Analysts have been cutting estimates on this Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) over the last 30 days. Bassett Furniture Industries operates 86 company and licensee-owned stores in the United States that sell home furnishings, including custom furniture design, free in-home design visits, and coordinated decorating accessories. It sells about 60% of its products through the stores but it also has a large traditional wholesale business with more than 1,000 open market accounts. The wholesale business, including the Lane Venture outdoor brand, also services general furniture stores and a growing number of interior design firms. Additionally, Bassett sells directly to consumers on its website. Bassett has been in the business of designing and building furniture for 120 years. 75% of what Bassett sells is built, finished and upholstered in the USA. Bassett Missed on the Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2025 Results On Feb 4, 2026, Bassett reported its fiscal fourth quarter 2025 results and missed on the Zacks Consensus by $0.07. Earnings were $0.23 compared to the Consensus of $0.30. It was the first earnings miss in five quarters. However, even though the company has talked about a challenging retail environment, revenue rose 5.1% year-over-year to $88.7 million. Retail sales were up 7.9% to $57.3 million. The company has benefited from its restructuring strategy. Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) were 53.2% of sales, 60 basis points lower than the prior year. This reflected benefits from the prior year’s restructuring plan and on-going cost containment activities coupled with greater leverage of fixed costs from higher sales levels. “Our well-defined strategic plan for 2026 is designed to grow and take market share in an environment where housing activity is projected to remain slow and discretionary demand has moderated,” said Rob Spilman, CEO. In a brig...
(RTTNews) - Canada Packers Inc. (CPKR.TO) revealed a profit for fourth quarter that Drops, from the same period last year The company's bottom line totaled C$23.2 million, or C$0.78 per share. This compares with C$50.6 million, or C$1.70 per share, last year. Excluding items, Canada Packers Inc. reported adjusted earnings of C$34.5 million or C$0.63 per share for the period. The company's revenue ...
(RTTNews) - Canada Packers Inc. (CPKR.TO) revealed a profit for fourth quarter that Drops, from the same period last year The company's bottom line totaled C$23.2 million, or C$0.78 per share. This compares with C$50.6 million, or C$1.70 per share, last year. Excluding items, Canada Packers Inc. reported adjusted earnings of C$34.5 million or C$0.63 per share for the period. The company's revenue for the period rose 1.3% to C$429.4 million from C$424.0 million last year. Canada Packers Inc. earnings at a glance (GAAP) : -Earnings: C$23.2 Mln. vs. C$50.6 Mln. last year. -EPS: C$0.78 vs. C$1.70 last year. -Revenue: C$429.4 Mln vs. C$424.0 Mln last year. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Despite escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, gold may not be the safe haven many investors expect, according to Seeking Alpha James Kostohryz . In a recent interview, Kostohryz argued that gold has already priced in significant crisis risk and appears vulnerable to a decline, even as geopolitical uncertainty intensifies in the Middle East. “Gold right now is higher than it has bee...
Despite escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, gold may not be the safe haven many investors expect, according to Seeking Alpha James Kostohryz . In a recent interview, Kostohryz argued that gold has already priced in significant crisis risk and appears vulnerable to a decline, even as geopolitical uncertainty intensifies in the Middle East. “Gold right now is higher than it has been at any time in the last 400 years” in real purchasing power terms, Kostohryz noted. “This gives you an indication of the fact that gold is pricing in some sort of major long-term inflationary scenario.” The strategist pointed to troubling technical signals as evidence of gold’s vulnerability. On a recent trading day when crude oil prices surged approximately 8%, gold declined nearly 4%—the opposite of what investors would typically expect during a risk-off environment. “When you have gold falling on a day where it should be rising, that’s really bad news for gold investors,” Kostohryz explained. While acknowledging that gold could potentially rally to $6,000 if the crisis intensifies, Kostohryz said he has exited his gold positions because the metal is “pricing in too much doom and gloom.” He expressed skepticism about extreme scenarios being factored into current prices, stating he doesn’t believe the current crisis signals “the end of the dollar” or the collapse of fiat currency regimes worldwide. For investors seeking inflation protection without gold’s current risks, Kostohryz suggested Treasury Inflation Protected Securities ( ( TIPS ) ) as an alternative that provides direct exposure to long-term inflation without the speculative premium embedded in gold prices. For more Seeking Alpha podcasts, click here . More on Gold Central Bank Gold Statistics: Momentum Eases In January While Demand Base Broadens Another Gold Shakeout Is Likely Ahead (But I'm Not Selling) Commodities: Persian Gulf Disruptions Hitting Upstream Oil Production U.S. Senate set to vote on Trump’s Ir...
Wall Street futures firmed up pre-bell Wednesday on reports that Tehran seeks talks with the US rega Upgrade to read this MT Newswires article and get so much more. A Silver or Gold subscription plan is required to access premium news articles.
Wall Street futures firmed up pre-bell Wednesday on reports that Tehran seeks talks with the US rega Upgrade to read this MT Newswires article and get so much more. A Silver or Gold subscription plan is required to access premium news articles.
Continental press release ( CTTAY ): FY Revenue of €19.7B (-2.0% Y/Y); organic growth of 0.8 percent. Adjusted EBIT of €2.0 billion (2024: €2.2 billion, -8.0 percent). Adjusted EBIT margin of 10.3 percent (2024: 11.0 percent). Net income before non-cash special effects of €1.1 billion. Adjusted free cash flow of €959 million (2024: €598 million, +60.4 percent). Dividend proposal of €2.70 per share...
Continental press release ( CTTAY ): FY Revenue of €19.7B (-2.0% Y/Y); organic growth of 0.8 percent. Adjusted EBIT of €2.0 billion (2024: €2.2 billion, -8.0 percent). Adjusted EBIT margin of 10.3 percent (2024: 11.0 percent). Net income before non-cash special effects of €1.1 billion. Adjusted free cash flow of €959 million (2024: €598 million, +60.4 percent). Dividend proposal of €2.70 per share (2024: €2.50 per share). Successful together – Continental awards bonus to all employees worldwide Expectations for fiscal 2026: consolidated sales of around €17.3 billion to €18.9 billion; adjusted EBIT margin of around 11.0 to 12.5 percent More on Continental Continental: Why The Spin-Off Adjusted Performance Looks Far Better Than The Chart Shows Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Continental Historical earnings data for Continental Dividend scorecard for Continental Financial information for Continental
Flowserve Corp. FLS is bullish about the power generation opportunities coming in 2026. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) is expected to grow earnings by the double digits in 2026. Flowserve is a leading provider of fluid motion and control products and services. The company produces engineered and industrial pumps, seals and valves as well as a range of related flow management services. It operates...
Flowserve Corp. FLS is bullish about the power generation opportunities coming in 2026. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) is expected to grow earnings by the double digits in 2026. Flowserve is a leading provider of fluid motion and control products and services. The company produces engineered and industrial pumps, seals and valves as well as a range of related flow management services. It operates in more than 50 countries. Flowserve Beats in the Fourth Quarter of 2025 On Feb 5, 2026, Flowserve reported its fourth quarter 2025 and full year results. It beat on the fourth quarter consensus by $0.17, reporting $1.11 versus the Zacks Consensus of $0.94. It was the fourth earnings beat in a row. Flowserve had fourth quarter bookings of $1.2 billion, up 2.9%, including 10.4% aftermarket growth to $682 million. “With healthy end markets, a focus on expanding power generation opportunities, and the continued progress of the Flowserve Business System, we are confident in our 2026 guidance and updated long-term financial targets,” said CEO Scott Rowe. Flowserve has been making strategic acquisitions to expand in the power generation category which is in the hot AI infrastructure area. Flowserve Guides Higher for 2026 Flowserve was bullish about 2026, as it guided higher than the Zacks Consensus. As a result, 5 estimates have been revised higher for 2026 since the earnings report, with one even being revised higher in the last week. That has pushed the Zacks Consensus up to $4.11 from $3.93. That’s earnings growth of 12.4% as the company only made $3.64 last year. 2027 is also looking bullish. One estimate has been revised in the last week, with 3 higher in the last month. The Zacks Consensus has jumped to $4.67 from $4.26. That’s another 14.2% earnings growth. Here’s what it looks like on the 5-year price, consensus and surprise chart. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Shares of Flowserve Trade Near 5-Year High The AI infrastructure stocks, which include companies that...
Key Takeaways Broadcom is set to report earnings after the closing bell Wednesday, with Wall Street analysts projecting record results on surging AI demand. Options pricing suggests traders expect Broadcom's stock could move close to 8% in either direction in the days after its results. Broadcom is due to report earnings after the closing bell Wednesday. Traders anticipate the event could lead to ...
Key Takeaways Broadcom is set to report earnings after the closing bell Wednesday, with Wall Street analysts projecting record results on surging AI demand. Options pricing suggests traders expect Broadcom's stock could move close to 8% in either direction in the days after its results. Broadcom is due to report earnings after the closing bell Wednesday. Traders anticipate the event could lead to a big swing in the chipmaker's stock. Options pricing suggests traders see Broadcom (AVGO) stock moving nearly 8% in either direction by the end of the week. A shift of that size from Tuesday's close could lift shares back to around $339, recovering some of their recent losses, or pull them down to $289. Shares of Broadcom have lost nearly one-quarter of their value from their December highs, amid concerns about growing competition, margin pressures from rising memory prices, and some skepticism around the sustainability of AI-driven growth. Many of its rivals, including Nvidia (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), have also been pressured in recent weeks. Why This Is Significant Broadcom, like AI chip leader Nvidia, could be hard pressed to turn around weak sentiment with its results this week. Shares of Nvidia have lost ground in the wake of the company's earnings last week, despite a blockbuster report. Earlier this month, Bank of America analysts said they expect Broadcom to top consensus estimates, as major clients such as Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) dramatically boost spending on AI infrastructure. Jefferies analysts warned they see likely parallels with Nvidia's recent performance, however. "We expect a significant beat & raise but this may not be enough to get things moving in the right direction," they wrote. Broadcom is seen reporting adjusted earnings per share of $2.02 on a nearly 29% year-over-year jump in revenue to a record $19.21 billion in its fiscal first quarter, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. Wall Street analysts are overwhelming...
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) disclosed that co-founder Peter Thiel plans to sell up to 2 million shares of the company's stock, valued at about $280 million, according to a Monday regulatory filing. The filing indicates the proposed sale would be executed under a pre-arranged trading plan, a mechanism commonly used by executives and major shareholde...
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) disclosed that co-founder Peter Thiel plans to sell up to 2 million shares of the company's stock, valued at about $280 million, according to a Monday regulatory filing. The filing indicates the proposed sale would be executed under a pre-arranged trading plan, a mechanism commonly used by executives and major shareholders to sell shares over time while complying with insider trading rules. Such plans are typically established in advance to avoid conflicts related to material nonpublic information. Thiel is among the company's largest shareholders, based on publicly available ownership data. The transaction, if completed in full, would represent a portion of his overall holdings in the artificial intelligence and data analytics firm, which provides software platforms used by government and commercial customers. The disclosure comes amid broader investor focus on insider transactions at high-growth technology companies, particularly those operating in defense and AI-related markets.
Innovative Industrial Properties ( IIPR ) has set a new share repurchase program to buy back up to $100M of its common stock. The program replaces the company's existing share repurchase plan, which is scheduled to expire on March 17, 2026. More on Innovative Industrial Properties Cannabis Rescheduling And IIPR REIT Investment Strategy Innovative Industrial Properties: Cannabis REIT At Risk Premiu...
Innovative Industrial Properties ( IIPR ) has set a new share repurchase program to buy back up to $100M of its common stock. The program replaces the company's existing share repurchase plan, which is scheduled to expire on March 17, 2026. More on Innovative Industrial Properties Cannabis Rescheduling And IIPR REIT Investment Strategy Innovative Industrial Properties: Cannabis REIT At Risk Premium (Rating Upgrade) Innovative Industrial: 15% Yield, 1.4x Debt To EBITDA, Inflection Point In Defaults Innovative Industrial Properties rises after Q4 beat, resolution in tenant matters Innovative Industrial Properties FFO of $1.78 beats by $0.09, revenue of $66.66M beats by $0.73M
Singaporean fashion photographer and former model Chuando Tan has turned 60, and his birthday photos are once again fuelling disbelief online over the youthful appearance that first made him a social media sensation nearly a decade ago. Tan shared a reflective message alongside photos posted to Instagram on Tuesday to mark the milestone, quickly attracting hundreds of thousands of likes and a wave...
Singaporean fashion photographer and former model Chuando Tan has turned 60, and his birthday photos are once again fuelling disbelief online over the youthful appearance that first made him a social media sensation nearly a decade ago. Tan shared a reflective message alongside photos posted to Instagram on Tuesday to mark the milestone, quickly attracting hundreds of thousands of likes and a wave of comments from followers marvelling at how little he appears to have aged. “Today, on my 60th birthday, I am reminded that time is the only real wealth. Each sunrise arrives as an inheritance, not a guarantee,” Tan wrote in the post. “The wiser path now is simple: Return daily to nature and sunlight and align myself with what endures. I wish for peace on earth,” he wrote in the caption to the post. “60 and looking 35! Truly remarkable,” wrote one commenter, adding a shocked face emoji. Advertisement Another wrote: “I know he’s a vampire, but I can’t just prove it.” The celebrity, who is single, has built a global following partly because of that enduring fascination with his looks, which many online commenters say make him appear decades younger than his actual age. Advertisement Tan first attracted international attention in 2017 when images from his Instagram account circulated widely online, prompting media outlets around the world to spotlight the Singaporean creative whose sharply defined physique and youthful features contrasted strikingly with his age at the time at 51.