Group 1: BHP Group Limited - BHP Group Limited reported a strong first-half underlying profit of $6.20 billion and a net income of $5.64 billion, maintaining its full-year output guidance and declaring an interim dividend of $0.73 per share, supported by an EBITDA of $15.46 billion [2][13] - BHP announced a significant $4.3 billion silver streaming deal with Wheaton Precious Metals Corp., providing a substantial capital injection as the company optimizes its global portfolio [3][13] Group 2: Woodside Energy Group Ltd - Woodside Energy Group Ltd reported its annual reserves statement, confirming a resilient resource base with 1,882.1 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) in proved reserves and 2,999.5 MMboe in proved plus probable reserves as of year-end 2025 [4][13] - The company has 5,795.7 MMboe in contingent resources, indicating a strong pipeline for future development, focusing on maximizing value from its Australian and international assets, including the Sangomar and Scarborough projects [5] Group 3: Economic and Geopolitical Context - New Zealand experienced a sharp 2.5% month-on-month increase in food prices for January, marking the largest monthly increase since 2022, driven by rising costs for groceries and produce, indicating persistent inflationary pressure [10][11][13] - The US is intensifying military pressure on Iran by deploying a second aircraft carrier strike group ahead of critical diplomatic negotiations, with markets closely monitoring the situation for potential impacts on global oil supply and regional stability [6][7][13]

Core Insights - Dollar Tree is strategically opening new stores in affluent areas to attract higher-income customers who tend to spend more per visit [1][6] - The percentage of new Dollar Tree stores in high-income ZIP codes has increased to 19% over the last six years, while those in low-income areas have decreased to 14% [2] - Higher-income households are becoming a significant driver of consumer spending, prompting Dollar Tree to adapt its strategy to appeal to these shoppers [3][10] Store Location Strategy - 49% of new Dollar Tree stores opened in the last six years are in wealthier parts of metro areas, up from 41% in the previous six years [1] - The share of new stores in ZIP codes with significantly higher incomes rose from 16% to 19% in the same timeframe [2] - Conversely, the share of stores opened in lower-income ZIP codes fell from 20% to 14% [2] Customer Demographics - In the last quarter, 60% of new Dollar Tree customers had annual incomes of at least six figures, with 30% being middle-income households earning between $60,000 and $100,000 [6] - Higher-income customers spend an average of $1 more per visit compared to lower-income customers, and an additional visit per year from these customers could increase annual sales by $1 billion [6] Market Trends - Economic downturns typically boost business for dollar stores, but the current strategy focuses on attracting higher-income shoppers who are making more deliberate spending choices [3][7] - The shift in consumer shopping preferences, driven by inflation, has led more households to seek out discount retailers like Dollar Tree [11]

With the support of the "Takaichi Trade," Japanese stocks and this iShares ETF could extend their hot starts to 2026.International stocks -- both the developed and emerging market varieties -- are extending last year's outperformance of the S&P 500 in the early stages of 2026. For many investors, a broad-based index fund is the preferred way to access non-U.S. stocks, but some market participants choose to take on tactical exposures targeting specific countries.Fortunately, they don't have to embrace exotic ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures showed a positive bias during the Presidents' Day holiday, with S&P 500 futures up approximately 0.4% and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbing 0.3% [1] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 futures also gained 0.4%, reflecting optimism from the previous trading session [1] Economic Indicators - Headline inflation has cooled to 2.4%, with core inflation dropping to 2.5%, the lowest since early 2021, reinforcing expectations for a potential interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve as early as June [2] - The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has stabilized near 4.07%, providing a supportive backdrop for equities [2] Major Index Performance - The S&P 500 finished at 6,836.17, up less than 0.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 49,500.93, adding roughly 48 points [3] - The Nasdaq Composite slipped by 0.2% to 22,546.67, primarily due to a pullback in the semiconductor sector [3] - The Russell 2000 showed significant year-to-date strength, up over 6.6% as investors rotate into small-cap value plays [3] Upcoming Market Events - Palo Alto Networks is set to release its quarterly results on Tuesday, followed by Analog Devices and Booking Holdings on Wednesday [4] - Walmart will report its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 earnings on Thursday, with analysts expecting revenue growth of 5.4% [5] - The Federal Reserve will release minutes from its recent policy meeting, along with upcoming U.S. GDP and PCE inflation data, which may signal potential rate cuts [5] Corporate News - Rivian Automotive saw a significant stock increase of over 26% due to analyst upgrades and rumors of expanded electric vehicle partnerships [6] - Coinbase Global surged 16.46% following a completed share buyback tranche and increased crypto-asset volatility [6] - Constellation Brands experienced an 8.04% decline after announcing a leadership transition [7] - Nvidia shares were down 2.2% ahead of its earnings call on February 25th [7] - AppLovin rebounded 6.4% amid discussions on the impact of artificial intelligence on SaaS business models [7]

Core Insights - February has shown increased volatility compared to January, with investors adopting a "sell first, ask questions later" strategy due to AI-driven disruption fears [1] - The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) release provided some relief by easing inflation concerns, leading to expectations that the Federal Reserve may start cutting rates around mid-year [1] Inflation Data - Consumer inflation rose 2.4% year-over-year in January, down from 2.7% in December, returning to its April 2025 level [2] - Core CPI increased 2.5% annually, marking its lowest reading since April 2021, while economists had anticipated both headline and core inflation to be at 2.5% [2] Federal Reserve Rate Expectations - Following the softer-than-expected January inflation data, U.S. interest rate futures increased the probability of a June rate cut to approximately 70%, up from 64% prior to the report [4] - The CME FedWatch tool indicates a 50.7% likelihood of interest rates being lowered to 3.25-3.5% in June 2026, an increase from 44.5% a month earlier, with expectations for July strengthening to an 80.4% likelihood of a rate cut [5] Investment Opportunities in ETFs - Small-cap stocks, which are heavily reliant on external borrowings, could significantly benefit from lower interest rates, enhancing capital availability and allowing for refinancing of existing debt [7] - Suggested small-cap ETFs include iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR), iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), and Vanguard Small Cap ETF (VB), all rated Zacks ETF Rank 2 (Buy) [8] - Financial ETFs are expected to gain from anticipated Fed interest rate cuts, which could lower capital costs for banks and boost loan activity [9] - Recommended financial ETFs include State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH), and iShares U.S. Financials ETF (IYF), with XLF and VFH rated Zacks ETF Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [12] - The utilities sector, being capital-intensive, will also benefit from reduced financing costs, making utility ETFs like Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU), Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU), and iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU) attractive options [13][14]

There are many reasons why volatility in the fixed income (bond) market can be expected to continue for the remainder of 2026. Indeed, we've only just kicked off the year, and the amount of volatility we've already seen to start 2026 has been notable. Quick Read Job reports show red across the board outside healthcare, construction and hospitality sectors. Inflation declined from 9% in 2022 to 2.4% today, nearing the Fed’s 2% target. Housing costs represent over one-third of CPI as rents and propert ...

Core Insights - President Trump's tariffs have led to layoffs in some supply chain sectors, while other industries are thriving during his second term [1] Defense and Aerospace - Defense contractors and military suppliers are benefiting from increased federal budgets and spending on national defense, resulting in significant backlogs and revenue growth [2] - The U.S. aerospace and defense industry generated nearly $1 trillion in economic activity, highlighting its importance [3] Energy and Fossil Fuels - The U.S. is the largest exporter of crude oil and natural gas, with recent production increases due to deregulation and domestic fuel production, creating jobs and capital investment [4] Healthcare and Social Assistance - The healthcare sector continues to grow, driven by demographic trends and increased longevity, making it one of the largest job-producing sectors [5] Blue Collar Jobs - There is a rising interest in vocational careers such as plumbing and HVAC due to the instability of digital services caused by inflation and policy changes [6] - Industries that combine trade skills with modern technology, like AI, are seeing higher profit margins compared to traditional tech roles [7]

Quick Read Suze Orman advises parents to fully secure their retirement before giving money to children. American savings rates fell from 6.2% in Q3 2024 to 4.2% by Q3 2025. Children can borrow for college and homes. Retirees cannot borrow for retirement. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. Financial advice personality Suze Orman has a clear rule about giving money to your children: do n ...

Group 1 - Elections are a normal aspect of democratic societies, accompanied by promises and narratives from candidates [1] - Rida Morwa has over 35 years of experience in investment and commercial banking, advising clients on high-yield investment strategies since 1991 [1] - The Investing Group High Dividend Opportunities focuses on sustainable income through high-yield investments with a targeted safe yield of +9% [1] Group 2 - The service includes a model portfolio with buy/sell alerts, preferred and baby bond portfolios for conservative investors, and regular market updates [1] - The philosophy emphasizes community, education, and the belief that investors should not invest alone [1]

Group 1 - GDP and inflation data are expected to be released in the coming days, which may impact market sentiment and investment strategies [1] - Walmart is highlighted as a key focus in the upcoming batch of blue-chip earnings reports, indicating its significance in the retail sector [1]