Global markets opened the week under pressure as investors reacted to escalating political tensions in the United States, fresh uncertainty over central bank independence, and a series of geopolitical and political developments spanning Asia and Europe. Moves in currencies, equities, and commodities reflected growing unease, while attention also turned to Japan’s domestic politics and renewed… Continue reading Morning brief: Markets slide on Powell probe, Japan prepares for snap election
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Gold, silver hit fresh record highs; here’s why more upside is imminent
Gold and silver continued their merry run from last year as prices reached fresh record highs on Monday. Investors flocked to bullion as safe-haven demand increased due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Growing bets that the US Federal Reserve will further cut interest rates this year also boosted sentiment among investors. Lower interest rates bode well… Continue reading Gold, silver hit fresh record highs; here’s why more upside is imminent
Malaysia, Indonesia block Musk’s Grok AI over explicit deepfake images
Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, citing concerns that the tool is being used to generate non-consensual, sexually explicit, and obscene content, including material involving women and children. The coordinated action over the weekend marks the first known bans of the AI tool globally and adds to growing… Continue reading Malaysia, Indonesia block Musk’s Grok AI over explicit deepfake images
How Solidaris’ promotion of NovaDerm exposes pattern of regulatory evasion, charitable tax misuse
Over the past year, a series of articles have appeared across fringe legal and financial news platforms claiming to expose fraud, investor deception, and regulatory misconduct tied to a Dallas County lawsuit involving Solidaris Capital and its principal, Geoff Dietrich. These articles present a familiar narrative: a supposed whistleblower, a shadowy technology company, misled investors,… Continue reading How Solidaris’ promotion of NovaDerm exposes pattern of regulatory evasion, charitable tax misuse
From LUV to HOG to RACE: do quirky stock tickers influence performance?
Every trading day, three-four or sometimes five-letter stock tickers move steadily up and down on screens. Behind those simple symbols sit the shifting emotions of millions of investors, ranging from hope to fear. Some tickers, however, carry a story. From Southwest Airlines’ LUV to Harley-Davidson’s HOG and Ferrari’s RACE, certain stock symbols have long stood… Continue reading From LUV to HOG to RACE: do quirky stock tickers influence performance?
India’s economy looks strong with low inflation—but do people feel it
India heads into 2026 with headline indicators that would be the envy of many major economies. Growth is strong, inflation is subdued, and political stability remains intact. Yet beneath these reassuring numbers lies a widening disconnect between macro performance and lived economic reality, said a Financial Times report. For investors and policymakers alike, this dichotomy… Continue reading India’s economy looks strong with low inflation—but do people feel it
What to expect from US big banks as they report earnings next week?
US big banks are set to kick off earnings season next week, and experts are bracing for solid results. According to Ken Leon, a senior CFRA analyst, the outlook for these banking giants is “very positive”, with several tailwinds that could lift both profits and stock prices. Note that iShares’ big banks exchange-traded fund (ETF)… Continue reading What to expect from US big banks as they report earnings next week?
Kansas crop woes fuel wheat rally ahead of USDA winter acreage estimate
Wheat kicked off the new year with a price surge, as the most actively traded futures contract on the CBOT climbed to 522 US cents per bushel on Thursday, marking its highest level since December 26. At the time of writing, US wheat futures for the March contract were at 518 cents. Wheat prices began… Continue reading Kansas crop woes fuel wheat rally ahead of USDA winter acreage estimate
This $1B OpenAI–SoftBank bet reveals what AI can’t function without
OpenAI and SoftBank announced a joint $1 billion investment in SB Energy on Friday to build and operate a 1.2-gigawatt data centre in Milam County, Texas. On the surface, it reads like yet another megadeal in the booming AI infrastructure arms race. But it signals something more urgent: electricity has become AI’s single largest production… Continue reading This $1B OpenAI–SoftBank bet reveals what AI can’t function without
