Alphabet's cash flows allow it to continue funding AI build-outs as it desires.Identifying which artificial intelligence (AI) stock has the most potential in 2026 and beyond is no simple task. If your time frame after 2026 is only a few years, then an AI infrastructure company like Nvidia may be the best option. If your time frame runs for a decade after 2026, you may be better off with a software company like Palantir.However, if you're looking for a combination of these two options, Alphabet (GOOG +1.55%) ...

Core Insights - 7-Eleven's president and CEO Joe DePinto will step down at the end of this year after over 20 years in the role [1] - The company will be led on an interim basis by Stanley Reynolds and Douglas Rosencrans until a permanent CEO is appointed [2][3] - The board of directors has initiated a formal succession process with a globally recognized executive search firm to find DePinto's long-term replacement [3] Leadership Background - Stanley Reynolds has been president of 7-Eleven since 2023 and previously served as CFO from 2005, with a tenure at the company since 1997 [4] - Douglas Rosencrans has been executive vice president and COO since 2022, responsible for store expansion and profitability across over 13,000 outlets in the US and Canada [4][5] Company Overview - 7-Eleven operates, franchises, and licenses over 13,000 convenience stores in the US and Canada under various banners including 7-Eleven, Speedway, Stripes, and Laredo Taco Company [6] - The company is part of Japan's Seven & i Holdings, which has seen significant expansion in its international and US store network under DePinto's leadership [6]

Core Insights - American International Group (AIG), Amwins, and Blackstone are forming a new Lloyd's syndicate, Syndicate 2479, which will begin underwriting on January 1, 2026, with an initial premium volume of $300 million [1] - The syndicate will leverage Amwins' delegated authority premiums, which amount to approximately $6 billion [1] Group 1: Partnership and Strategic Goals - Amwins CEO Scott Purviance expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the alignment of capital investment with their underwriting portfolio and the potential for creating new programs and sustainable capacity [2] - AIG's underwriting expertise and GenAI capabilities were instrumental in establishing the new syndicate [2] - AIG plans to utilize Palantir's Foundry platform to enhance its risk assessment and underwriting processes, allowing for detailed comparisons between Amwins' portfolio and the syndicate's risk appetite [3] Group 2: Technological Integration - AIG intends to expand its use of Palantir's Foundry platform and large language models (LLMs) to analyze over four million industry data points for improved underwriting processes [3] - The partnership aims to innovate technical modeling and leverage GenAI for portfolio underwriting, enhancing risk evaluation through advanced data analytics [4][5] Group 3: Investment Plans - AIG is also planning to acquire a 35% stake in Convex Group for approximately $2.1 billion and a 9.9% stake in Onex Corporation for about $646 million, further diversifying its investment strategy [6]

Core Viewpoint - Piramal Finance is divesting its 14.72% equity interest in Shriram Life Insurance to Sanlam Emerging Markets for approximately Rs6 billion ($66.5 million), pending regulatory approvals, with completion expected by March 31, 2026 [1][2]. Group 1: Transaction Details - The stake sale is part of Piramal Finance's strategy to monetize non-core assets, which will enhance its balance sheet [2]. - Upon completion of the divestment, Sanlam's stake in Shriram Life Insurance will increase to nearly 38% [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Shriram Life Insurance reported a 17% increase in individual new business premium for the first half of financial year 2026, totaling Rs6.35 billion, compared to an 8% growth rate for the overall sector [3]. - Shriram Life contributed Rs126.8 million in dividends to Piramal Finance for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, accounting for approximately 0.12% of Piramal Finance's total revenue [4]. Group 3: Company Background - Shriram Life Insurance operates as a joint venture between Shriram Capital and Sanlam Group, with Sanlam Emerging Markets (Mauritius) being fully owned by Sanlam Emerging Markets [4][5]. - Sanlam Group provides financial services across more than 30 countries, with a significant presence in developing economies, including India [5].

Core Insights - Shanghai Electric has begun construction on the Euphrates combined-cycle extension in Iraq, targeting a capacity of 625 megawatts (MW) and aiming to enhance overall plant efficiency by approximately 50% [1][3] - The project is expected to generate an additional 5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually without increasing fuel consumption, addressing Iraq's ongoing power shortages [2][3] Company Initiatives - The company is modernizing power plants in four Iraqi governorates by converting simple-cycle units into combined-cycle systems, with a focus on energy security and green development [1][3] - Core equipment for the project has arrived, and construction is progressing through collaboration between Chinese and Iraqi teams [4][6] Industry Context - Iraq has faced severe electricity shortages for over 30 years, primarily due to a reliance on imported natural gas and underdeveloped domestic gas resources [3][4] - The upgrade at the Najaf power plant will utilize high-temperature exhaust from existing gas turbines to produce additional electricity, thereby reducing reliance on imported natural gas and lowering fuel costs for power generation [5][6] Technological Advancements - The combined-cycle approach will enhance output and efficiency without additional fuel, while also reducing thermal pollution from the original units [6] - This project marks one of Iraq's first combined-cycle upgrades to fully utilize Chinese equipment and standards, with core systems engineered and built in China [7]

General Dynamics Corporation ( GD ) is a prime defense contractor with many strengths and an in-demand product portfolio. Essentially, all its defense platforms are undergoing replacement or upgrades or will do so in the nextI am a self-taught individual investor and I have been investing in stocks for over 25 years. I focus on dividend growth investing with a long-term horizon since I believe in the compounding power of dividend growth investing. I generally look for undervalued large cap stocks with susta ...

Group 1 - General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is a leading defense contractor with a strong product portfolio and is currently experiencing upgrades and replacements across all its defense platforms [1] - The company is positioned well in the market due to the high demand for its products, which are essential for defense operations [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide specific financial data or performance metrics related to General Dynamics Corporation [3]

A rise in geopolitical tensions and the search for inflation hedges are fuelling the surge in precious metal prices ...

China announced tariffs of up to 42.7% on dairy products from the European Union Monday, following the results of an anti-subsidy investigation that began in August 2024. In a statement by the country's Ministry of Commerce, China said that EU subsidies for dairy products had caused "substantial damage" to China's domestic dairy industries. The tariffs are set to take effect on April 23, the ministry said, and the rates would be determined by the amount of "ad valorem subsidy rates" from the Customs Tariff ...

Acquisition Overview - An investor group led by Permira and Warburg Pincus has agreed to acquire Clearwater Analytics for approximately $8.4 billion, with Temasek and Francisco Partners also participating in the deal [1] - Clearwater Analytics' shareholders will receive $24.55 per share in cash as part of the acquisition [1] Company Profile - Clearwater Analytics has developed a cloud-based investment management platform that serves institutional investors across global public and private markets, managing over $10 trillion in assets [2] - The platform provides an integrated system for portfolio management, trading, investment accounting, regulatory reporting, performance tracking, compliance, and risk analytics, catering to a diverse client base including insurers, asset managers, hedge funds, banks, corporations, and government entities [2] Management Insights - CEO Sandeep Sahai stated that the acquisition represents a positive outcome for Clearwater Analytics and its shareholders, positioning the company for future growth as a private entity [3] - The company aims to invest in integrating its platforms to create a next-generation solution that addresses alternative assets and enhances risk analytics [3] Transaction Approval Process - The acquisition has been unanimously recommended by Clearwater Analytics' board of directors, which consists of independent members, after consulting with legal and financial advisers [3] - The transaction is subject to approval from Clearwater Analytics' shareholders, requiring a majority vote from disinterested shareholders, as well as regulatory clearance and other customary conditions [4] - The parties anticipate that the acquisition will close in the first half of 2026 [4] Strategic Vision - Warburg Pincus managing director Alex Stratoudakis expressed excitement about investing in Clearwater Analytics, emphasizing the goal of creating an open, modular platform for institutional investment management [5] - The partnership aims to leverage financial technology expertise to drive innovation and growth for Clearwater Analytics [5]