New Zealand’s government has come under fire for keeping its talks with the United States over critical minerals under wraps, as opposition parties level accusations of secrecy amid mounting concern about environmental damage and foreign influence. Analysts say Wellington is reluctant to promote any formal agreement with Washington or invite public debate on the issue, even as both governments hav...
New Zealand’s government has come under fire for keeping its talks with the United States over critical minerals under wraps, as opposition parties level accusations of secrecy amid mounting concern about environmental damage and foreign influence. Analysts say Wellington is reluctant to promote any formal agreement with Washington or invite public debate on the issue, even as both governments have confirmed that they are “exploring further opportunities” on critical minerals cooperation. In a...
In a diplomatic offensive that oscillated between appeals for global harmony and sharp rebukes of regional rivals, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi used the Munich Security Conference to outline Beijing’s vision for a reformed international order while issuing a stark warning to Japan over the issue of Taiwan. Speaking on Feb. 14, at the annual gathering of defense and foreign policy elites, Wang ...
In a diplomatic offensive that oscillated between appeals for global harmony and sharp rebukes of regional rivals, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi used the Munich Security Conference to outline Beijing’s vision for a reformed international order while issuing a stark warning to Japan over the issue of Taiwan. Speaking on Feb. 14, at the annual gathering of defense and foreign policy elites, Wang presented a picture of a world at a crossroads, torn between multilateral cooperation and the fracture of competing blocs. While much of his address focused on stabilizing ties with Europe and navigating the complex relationship with the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, his most pointed comments were reserved for Japan, drawing a scathing comparison between Tokyo’s handling of its wartime past and Germany’s post-WWII reckoning.
mustafaU/iStock via Getty Images To kick off the first month of the new year, we have micro- and small-cap stocks surging, followed by mid-caps also having a strong first month. The major indexes, Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average, weren't participating to the same extent, but they did start off on a positive note. Though thanks to earnings season, we have seen quite a few more...
mustafaU/iStock via Getty Images To kick off the first month of the new year, we have micro- and small-cap stocks surging, followed by mid-caps also having a strong first month. The major indexes, Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average, weren't participating to the same extent, but they did start off on a positive note. Though thanks to earnings season, we have seen quite a few more volatile days as the mega-caps post their latest quarterly results. U.S. Index Performance January 2026 (Seeking Alpha) In terms of sectors, we have energy surging, followed by strong moves in basic materials, consumer staples, and industrials. Sector Performance For January 2026 (Seeking Alpha) With that, every month I make some purchases in my closed-end fund portfolio. These five are the names that I kicked off 2026 with, which are all positions I held previously, so this was simply adding to them. #1 Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund ( RQI ) and #2 Cohen & Steers Real Estate Opps and Income Fund ( RLTY ) I'm lumping both RQI and RLTY into the same basket because these funds have significant overlap. We covered RQI more specifically quite recently. For RLTY, our last update was quite a while ago, but it can still be worth giving a look at because some of the points remain relevant. This is because we discuss the impact of rates more broadly and look back at the performance relative to its sister funds. With that, I also picked these names up at the beginning of the month, which is important to note because at that time, RQI was trading at an attractive discount. Since then, the discount on RQI has tightened up quite meaningfully. YCharts While I believe that RQI is a solid hold over the long term, I wouldn't be buying now. At least, not in an aggressive manner. For RLTY, the discount, relatively speaking, is looking more appealing, but looking back over the longer term, even this discount isn't necessarily a screaming buy. YCharts RLTY is the much younger fund, ...
Former US president Barack Obama criticised a lack of shame and decorum in the country’s political discourse, responding on Saturday for the first time to a post on Donald Trump’s social media account that depicted him and his wife Michelle as monkeys. The video shared on Trump’s Truth Social account on February 5 sparked censure across the US political spectrum, with the White House initially rej...
Former US president Barack Obama criticised a lack of shame and decorum in the country’s political discourse, responding on Saturday for the first time to a post on Donald Trump’s social media account that depicted him and his wife Michelle as monkeys. The video shared on Trump’s Truth Social account on February 5 sparked censure across the US political spectrum, with the White House initially rejecting “fake outrage” only to then blame the post on an error by a staff member and take it...
Retirement can be a tough adjustment. It's not an easy thing to go from working full-time to suddenly having your weeks free with nothing scheduled. So, if you're not exactly loving those early days of retirement, know that you're not alone. And rest assured that things may get much better over time once you've settled into your new existence. But if you're already a year or more into retirement a...
Retirement can be a tough adjustment. It's not an easy thing to go from working full-time to suddenly having your weeks free with nothing scheduled. So, if you're not exactly loving those early days of retirement, know that you're not alone. And rest assured that things may get much better over time once you've settled into your new existence. But if you're already a year or more into retirement and aren't enjoying it, some key changes may be in order. Here are three to consider, depending on what's ailing you. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
Coupang (NYSE: CPNG) , a Seattle-headquartered technology company, has been embroiled in the fallout from a data breach in its main market of South Korea that is hurting its reputation. Investors, nervous about uncertainties facing the business, have decided to sell off Coupang stock amid South Korean government hearings and investigations into the company's security practices. The stock is down 2...
Coupang (NYSE: CPNG) , a Seattle-headquartered technology company, has been embroiled in the fallout from a data breach in its main market of South Korea that is hurting its reputation. Investors, nervous about uncertainties facing the business, have decided to sell off Coupang stock amid South Korean government hearings and investigations into the company's security practices. The stock is down 26% in the past year. While what's going on should not be ignored, investors focused on the long term are being given a gift with this current Coupang stock drawdown. Here's why buying this stock today could set you up for life. Continue reading
Andrew Ferguson, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman, has written a letter to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook expressing concerns about alleged political bias in the company’s news service. FTC Chairman Flags Political Bias in Apple News In a letter sent to Cook on Wednesday, Ferguson raised concerns about allegations that Apple News has been systematically promoting news articles fr...
Andrew Ferguson, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman, has written a letter to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook expressing concerns about alleged political bias in the company’s news service. FTC Chairman Flags Political Bias in Apple News In a letter sent to Cook on Wednesday, Ferguson raised concerns about allegations that Apple News has been systematically promoting news articles from left-wing outlets while suppressing content from conservative publications. Today I sent a letter