Core Insights - Equitable has agreed to acquire Stifel Financial's independent advisor business, expected to close in Q1 2026, adding approximately $9 billion in client assets and over 110 advisors to Equitable Advisors [1][2] Company Overview - Equitable Advisors currently manages over $110 billion in assets under administration with a workforce of about 4,500 employees [3] - The acquisition will enhance Equitable's wealth practice, which has an organic growth rate of 12% on a 12-month trailing basis, making it the fastest-growing segment of Equitable Holdings [2] Strategic Implications - The deal allows Equitable to access Stifel's open-architecture platform, marketing tools, and succession planning processes for independent advisors operating on a 1099 contractor model [5] - Stifel's CEO indicated that the independent advisor channel was "immaterial" to Stifel's larger wealth and banking business, emphasizing Stifel's focus on its core employee-channel advisory business [4][5] Future Outlook - Equitable has indicated intentions for further deal-making, promoting Nick Chan to head of mergers and acquisitions, reflecting a strategic focus on growth through acquisitions [6]

The stock market is running high. Too high, some analysts say. A number of Wall Street observers warn the stock market may have entered "bubble" territory. It’s an analogy to the overhyped markets of 2008 and 1999, which crashed when the bubbles burst. Lately, there's talk of an AI bubble, a runup in the prices of tech stocks fueled by enthusiasm over artificial intelligence. Several tech giants report earnings in late October, numbers that could inflate the bubble further – or cause it to pop. When inv ...

Ahafo North could add about 300,000 oz. to Newmont’s annual output. Credit: Newmont Newmont’s (NYSE, ASX: NEM) Ahafo North project in Ghana is now officially in commercial production, the company announced last Friday, marking the successful completion of one of West Africa’s most significant mining developments in recent years.The milestone, the Denver, Colorado-based gold miner says, represents a “culmination of a comprehensive development program” that included extensive infrastructure construction, proc ...

US-based energy services company Petrofac has initiated administration proceedings for its holding company, as reported by the BBC. With approximately 2,000 employees in Scotland, the company assured that its North Sea operations would remain unaffected. In its statement, Petrofac confirmed the application for administrators while also considering other restructuring possibilities. The appointed administrators aim to maintain value, operational capability, and ongoing service delivery. This action foll ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the 13 best AI stocks to buy under $20, highlighting the significant role of artificial intelligence in investment strategies over the past two years, contributing to record highs in the equity market [1] - Concerns about an AI bubble are rising, with experts suggesting the need for diversification into stocks trading at discounted valuations [3][4] - A Bank of America survey indicates that a third of fund managers view the AI bubble as a major risk, yet this has not significantly dampened overall positive market sentiment [4][5] Industry Overview - The AI sector has been a driving force behind the recent equity market rally, with major tech companies significantly influencing the S&P 500 index [1] - The AI boom has led to historical highs in stock valuations, prompting investors to reconsider their strategies [2] - The concept of a "rational bubble" has been introduced, suggesting that while there are opportunities, only a few companies will emerge as winners [3] Company Insights - **Veritone Inc. (NASDAQ:VERI)**: - Current share price is $6.14, with a 180% increase over the past six months [9] - Analysts at Needham initiated coverage with a 'Buy' rating and a $10 price target, expecting continued outperformance driven by growth in its aiWARE platform and other market opportunities [10][11][12] - **Spectral AI Inc. (NASDAQ:MDAI)**: - Current share price is $2.22, with 7 hedge fund holders [13] - The company announced a $7.6 million offering to support the expansion of its DeepView System, which is aimed at enhancing clinical indications and preparing for commercial readiness in 2026 [13][14][15] - Spectral AI utilizes AI and multispectral imaging for medical diagnostics, particularly in assessing wound healing potential [16]

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Vistra.Looking at options history for Vistra (NYSE:VST) we detected 17 trades.If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 52% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 41% with bearish.From the overall spotted trades, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $509,270 and 11, calls, for a total amount of $671,440.Predicted Price RangeBased on the trading activity, it appears that the signifi ...

Welcome back to Morning Trade Live. It is now time for the big picture. Let's welcome in the team from Charles Schwab for this Monday.Nathan Peterson, director of derivatives analysis of Schwab Center for Financial Research and Colin Martin, director and fixed income strategist, Schwab Center for Financial Research. Okay, let's start with you Nathan just as far as your take on the action we're seeing this morning off the back of the weekend's development between the US and China. What do you make of it.>> Y ...

Group 1 - The U.S. has established a $1 billion partnership with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to develop two supercomputers [1] - The supercomputers will address significant scientific challenges, including nuclear power and cancer treatment [1] - This initiative highlights the increasing investment in high-performance computing to solve complex problems [1]

Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong momentum characteristics for investors to consider today, Oct. 27th:Perimeter Solutions, SA (PRM) : This company, which is a manufacturer of firefighting products and lubricant additives, has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 10.9% over the last 60 days.Perimeter Solutions' shares gained 33.4% over the last three month compared with the S&P 500’s gain of 6.4%. The company possesses ...

For the quarter ended September 2025, Bank of Marin (BMRC) reported revenue of $31.1 million, up 14.5% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.47, compared to $0.28 in the year-ago quarter.The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.01% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $31.1 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.42, the EPS surprise was +11.9%.While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street ...