Equity markets around the globe are bracing for a sudden downturn, as investors weigh the prospect of the United States joining hostilities between Israel and Iran. With stock indices trading near multi‑year highs amid a backdrop of trade tensions and… Read More ›
Strategy
Marine Insurance Rates Surge Amid Growing Middle East Risk
Insurance premiums for vessels traversing the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and adjacent waters have climbed sharply in recent weeks, driven by the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran and the spillover of conflict into crucial maritime chokepoints. Underwriters now demand… Read More ›
Private Equity Holds $1 Trillion in Limbo as Dealmaking Falters
Private equity firms are sitting on approximately $1 trillion of undeployed or unrealized capital—funds that, under normal market conditions, would have cycled back to investors by now. A perfect storm of elevated interest rates, oscillating trade policies, and geopolitical uncertainty has… Read More ›
Battery Makers in Trouble as Antimony Shortage Hits After China’s Export Curbs
Global manufacturers of lead‑acid batteries are confronting an acute antimony crisis after China’s recent export restrictions choked off much of the world’s supply of the critical mineral. Antimony, a key alloying agent that enhances battery durability and performance, has seen… Read More ›
US Eliminates Prescriptive Daily Alcohol Limits to Reflect Evidence Uncertainty
The long‑standing recommendation that adults restrict their alcohol intake to one drink per day for women and two for men is set to disappear from the forthcoming U.S. Dietary Guidelines, reflecting growing questions about the scientific basis for specific daily… Read More ›
Trump’s Crypto Partnerships Spark Regulatory Rollbacks and Ethical Outrage
In recent months, President Trump’s foray into cryptocurrency ventures has coincided with an unprecedented rollback of federal oversight—fueling concerns among watchdogs, former prosecutors and legal scholars that his personal financial interests are driving policy rather than public welfare. Experts argue… Read More ›
Social Media’s Ascent: Why Americans Now Turn to Platforms First for News
As the digital landscape evolves, social media platforms have surpassed television and traditional news websites to become the primary news source for a majority of Americans. Recent research shows that more than half of U.S. adults now look to Facebook,… Read More ›
Gold Reigns Supreme as Investors’ Shelter Amid Turbulent Markets
Gold’s preeminence among safe-haven assets begins with its intrinsic, tangible worth. Unlike government bonds or fiat currencies—whose value depends on policymakers’ decisions and the solvency of issuing entities—gold cannot default or be devalued by a central bank’s printing press. Every… Read More ›
Tariff Pressures Fail to Ignite Inflation Surge Despite Rising Levies
Since the imposition of sweeping import duties, economists and policymakers have braced for a surge in consumer prices. To date, however, the impact of tariffs on headline inflation remains surprisingly muted. A confluence of corporate strategies, timing lags and restrained… Read More ›
Geopolitical Turmoil in Middle East Sends Ripples Through Global Oil Markets
Oil markets responded sharply this week as the violent escalation between Israel and Iran underscored how swiftly geopolitical shocks can reverberate across energy prices worldwide. Benchmark Brent crude climbed back above \$73 a barrel on renewed fears that the conflict… Read More ›