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
Stock Research
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
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
IKEA to close large China stores as property slump reshapes retail strategy
IKEA is closing a number of its large-format stores in China as it reworks how it reaches customers in a market reshaped by a prolonged property downturn and tougher competition. The Swedish furniture retailer is moving away from its long-standing blue-box model in some major cities and placing greater emphasis on smaller outlets and faster… Continue reading IKEA to close large China stores as property slump reshapes retail strategy
Elon Musk’s xAI secures $20B in funding amid intensifying scrutiny
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence start-up xAI has raised $20 billion in new funding in an upsized round that more than doubles its valuation since last spring, underscoring investors’ appetite for AI even as the company faces mounting criticism over the content generated by its technology. The company, which develops the Grok chatbot and its underlying… Continue reading Elon Musk’s xAI secures $20B in funding amid intensifying scrutiny
