ST. LOUIS, Feb. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight filed an ERISA class action Complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri that alleges retirement plan mismanagement by Stifel Financial, Corp. and other fiduciaries of the Stifel Financial Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan. According to the allegations in the Complaint, Stifel failed to remove two funds from its Plan – the American Century Large Cap Growth Fund and the Artisan Mid-cap Growth Fund – even a ...

Group 1 - Sharp announced the termination of the sale of its second LCD panel factory in Kameyama, Japan, to its parent company Foxconn due to the ongoing weakness in LCD panel prices [1][3] - Following the cancellation of the acquisition, Sharp plans to shut down the Kameyama factory in August this year and will offer a voluntary resignation program for its 1,170 employees [3] - Sharp expects to incur a restructuring cost of 10 billion yen as a special loss for the fiscal year ending in March, with an additional 2 billion yen in related costs for the next fiscal year [3] Group 2 - Foxconn initially intended to maintain panel production and establish a new production line for AI server manufacturing after acquiring the factory, but is now considering utilizing another idle building in the Kameyama area for AI server production [3] - Sharp's CEO Masahiro Okitsu stated that the partnership with Foxconn remains stable despite the failed acquisition [3] - In addition to the factory sale cancellation, Sharp has also scrapped a technology transfer plan to an Indian company, which was aimed at accommodating workers from its Sakai factory, set to cease production in August 2024 [3] - The cancellation of the technology transfer plan will lead to a voluntary resignation program for 240 affected employees and an additional special loss of 2.2 billion yen for the fiscal year ending in March [3]

Group 1 - Sharp announced that the acquisition deal with its parent company Foxconn for the second LCD panel factory in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture, has officially fallen through due to the ongoing weakness in LCD panel prices [1][3] - Following the termination of the acquisition, Sharp plans to shut down the Kameyama factory in August this year and will offer a voluntary resignation program for its 1,170 employees [3] - Sharp expects to incur a restructuring cost of 10 billion yen as a special loss for the fiscal year ending in March, with an additional 2 billion yen in related costs for the next fiscal year [3] Group 2 - Foxconn initially intended to maintain panel production and establish a new production line for AI server manufacturing after acquiring the factory, but is now considering utilizing another idle building in the Kameyama site for AI server production [3] - Sharp's CEO Masahiro Okitsu stated that the partnership with Foxconn remains unaffected and stable despite the failed acquisition [3] - In addition to the failed factory acquisition, Sharp has canceled a technology transfer plan to an Indian company, which aimed to accommodate workers from the Sakai factory, set to cease production in August 2024 [3] - The cancellation of the technology transfer plan will also lead to a voluntary resignation program for 240 affected employees, with an additional special loss of 2.2 billion yen expected for the fiscal year ending in March [3]

Core Viewpoint - Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. has appointed Heath Sharp to its Board of Directors, highlighting his extensive experience in scaling industrial businesses internationally [1] Company Summary - Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. is recognized as a global leader in the filtration industry [1] - The CEO and President of Atmus, Steph Disher, emphasized Sharp's over 30 years of leadership experience in manufacturing, product development, and commercial execution [1] Leadership Impact - Heath Sharp's appointment is expected to enhance Atmus's strategic direction and operational execution due to his seasoned background in the industrial sector [1]

Core Viewpoint - Gold and silver prices have rebounded after two sessions of significant selling, driven by strong underlying demand and renewed interest from buyers at current price levels [1] Group 1 - The recent price levels of gold and silver have attracted renewed buyer interest, indicating a potential shift in market sentiment [1] - The underlying drivers of demand for gold and silver remain robust, suggesting that the fundamentals supporting these metals are still intact [1]

Market Overview - Gold futures experienced a significant decline, dropping below $4,800 per troy ounce, marking the steepest one-day drop since the early 1980s [1] - Silver futures fell more than 13% on the same day, with iShares Silver Trust (SLV) plunging 24.1% last week and SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) retreating 4.7% [1] Federal Reserve Influence - The market sell-off was influenced by President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve, interpreted as reducing concerns over the Fed's independence due to Warsh's hawkish policy stance [2] - Evercore ISI noted that markets were "trading Warsh hawkish," suggesting that his appointment could stabilize the dollar, although risks remain [7] Price Corrections and Projections - Analysts from JPMorgan indicated that a correction in silver prices was inevitable after a strong rally, as prices had exceeded projected averages [3] - Despite the recent decline, Goldman Sachs raised its year-end gold price target to $5,400, citing potential upside from increased private-sector investment [4] Dollar Dynamics - A weakening U.S. dollar has been beneficial for gold and commodity investments, recently hitting a four-year low due to yen strength [5] - The decline in the dollar is seen as positive for gold prices, especially in light of U.S. policy uncertainty and trends toward de-dollarization [6] Central Bank Activity - Central bank buying, which has supported gold prices, has slowed in recent months, reducing a key source of upward momentum [10] - The outlook for gold in 2026 appears limited, with reduced geopolitical tensions and a potential fading of dollar weakness [9] Long-term Outlook - The strategic case for de-dollarization remains strong, influenced by Trump's trade policies, which may deter countries from holding U.S. assets [12] - Gold's upside in 2026 is expected to be limited, with silver also facing challenges despite its industrial demand linked to AI [11]

Core Viewpoint - Sharp Therapeutics Corp. is initiating a non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible notes totaling up to US$3.0 million, with the aim of using the proceeds for general working capital purposes [1]. Group 1: Note Offering Details - The proposed Note Offering will consist of notes with a principal amount of US$1,000 each, convertible into common shares at a price of US$2.00 per share [2]. - Each note will bear an interest rate of 6.0% per annum, calculated as simple interest and payable in cash on the maturity date [3]. - The notes will convert into common shares if the company completes an equity financing of at least US$7,000,000 prior to the maturity date, with a 20-day notice to note holders [4]. Group 2: Participation and Commitments - STX Partners, LLC and other insiders have confirmed their intention to participate in the Note Offering [5]. - The company previously announced a common share offering at US$2.50 per share, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, with proceeds also aimed at general working capital [6]. - STX, the largest shareholder, has committed to purchase at least 1,600,000 common shares, contingent upon raising at least US$6,000,000 from other investors [7]. Group 3: Regulatory and Offering Conditions - The offerings will be conducted as private placements under Canadian securities laws and may also be offered in the U.S. under applicable exemptions [9]. - All issued notes and common shares will be subject to a four-month hold period and require approval from the TSX Venture Exchange [10]. - The insider participation in the offerings is classified as a related-party transaction, exempt from formal valuation or minority shareholder approval due to the market capitalization criteria [8]. Group 4: Company Overview - Sharp Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage company focused on developing small-molecule therapeutics for genetic diseases, utilizing a discovery platform that combines high throughput screening technologies [11].

Group 1 - The core finding indicates that by 2025, the Chinese stock market is projected to have the highest Sharpe ratio of 1.72 among major global markets, characterized by significantly reduced annual volatility, making it an attractive investment option [1][2][7] - The average Sharpe ratios over the past two decades for China and the US were 0.20 and 0.85 respectively, but in 2025, China's ratio surpasses the US for the first time since 2020, with the US at 0.72 [1][2][7] - Emerging markets like China and Vietnam exhibit higher volatility in their Sharpe ratios compared to developed markets, with China's ratio volatility being the highest at 1.60 [6][7] Group 2 - In 2025, the performance of global asset classes shows a clear "strong stocks, weak bonds" trend, with equity assets becoming the primary source of excess returns, while bond markets face significant challenges [2][3] - The Chinese stock market's Sharpe ratio of 1.72 is supported by an annualized return of nearly 20% and a volatility of only 11.6%, indicating a robust recovery following macro policy adjustments [2][3] - The bond market in China faces difficulties, with a Sharpe ratio of -1.93, primarily due to negative annualized returns, contrasting with the US and India, which maintain positive Sharpe ratios [3] Group 3 - Historical analysis shows that the Sharpe ratio for the Chinese market in 2025 is the highest since 2014, achieved under low volatility conditions, indicating a shift towards a "high efficiency, low volatility" investment environment [7] - The relationship between Sharpe ratios and the proportion of equity assets in residents' financial portfolios is significant, with higher Sharpe ratios correlating with increased equity allocation [10] - In OECD countries, a 0.1 unit increase in the Sharpe ratio corresponds to a 1.56 percentage point increase in the equity allocation of residents' financial assets, suggesting potential for increased stock market participation in China if the Sharpe ratio continues to rise [10]

Core Insights - Jaguar Health has received an initial payment of $16 million related to a US out-license agreement for Mytesi® and Canalevia®-CA1, with the potential for an additional $22 million through milestones and future payments [1] - The company is focusing on near-term milestones for its intestinal failure program, supported by significant results showing parenteral support (PS) reduction of 12% to 37% in an ongoing proof-of-concept study of crofelemer in pediatric patients [1] - Jaguar's rare-disease pipeline is currently in discussions for business development with potential partners, aiming for NDA-ready data within 12 to 18 months [1] Financial Updates - The initial payment of $16 million marks a significant financial milestone for Jaguar Health, with the potential for further payments totaling up to $22 million [1] Product Development - Crofelemer is being developed for the treatment of intestinal failure in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS-IF) and microvillus inclusion disease (MVID), for which the company has received Orphan Drug Designation in both the US and EU [1] - The ongoing proof-of-concept study indicates a promising reduction in parenteral support, which is critical given the associated toxicities and lethal nature of PS [1] Upcoming Events - Jaguar Health is scheduled to present at the Sequire Investor Summit in Puerto Rico on January 22, and a replay of a previous fireside chat during the Lytham Partners Healthcare Investor Summit is available for viewing [1]

Group 1 - The article discusses the growing trend of "cute" artificial intelligence (AI) products designed to foster deeper connections with users, particularly through appealing designs and functionalities [1][4] - Companies like Sharp and Razer are developing AI devices that cater to specific demographics, such as young women and gamers, by incorporating cute aesthetics and interactive features [1][2] - The "Wonderful Platform" company has created a caregiving robot for the elderly, emphasizing a friendly design and user-friendly AI interactions to help combat loneliness among older adults [3] Group 2 - The article raises concerns about the implications of "cute" AI designs, suggesting that while they may enhance user engagement, they also risk leading individuals to share personal information more readily [4] - Experts highlight the psychological effects of cute interfaces, which can trigger protective instincts and emotional connections, potentially making users more vulnerable to data sharing [4] - The article suggests that while these AI companions can provide support, users should remain cautious about the extent of personal information they disclose to these technologies [4]