$ 107 billion. That is the estimate from Swiss Rest institute for insured losses from catastrophes around the globe this year. 83% of those losses happened in the United States with the LA wildfires becoming the most expensive wildfire event in history.Severe convective storms with wind, hail, and tornadoes are also driving the losses. And Swiss Revention, protection, and preparedness are crucial. Insurers are really sharpening their focus on mitigation, the ways that customers can lower their own risks.Whe ...

Catastrophes in the US are driving those losses. Contesta Brew is at the table this morning. She joins us with an exclusive first look at catastrophe costs in 2025.>> Good morning, guys. Nice to see you. Yeah, $ 107 billion.That is the estimate from Swiss Restitute for insured losses from catastrophes around the globe this year. 83% of those losses happened in the United States with the LA wildfires becoming the most expensive wildfire event in history. Severe convective storms with wind, hail, and tornadoe ...

When hurricane wind gusts hit 110 m an hour, a 2x4 can become a spear and standard plywood can't withstand that force. But increase the thickness of the wood by half an inch and watch. Helpful to know if you're boarding up windows ahead of a storm.Convective storms that produce fierce wind, tornadoes, and hail have become increasingly costly in the US. Building materials matter. FM employs 2,000 engineers who work with their commercial industrial insurance clients.At FM's Rhode Island research campus, engin ...

Core Insights - OppFi's total net originations increased by 12.5% year over year in Q3 2025, contributing to a 13.5% rise in revenue [1][9] - The company faces challenges in maintaining credit quality, with nearly 50% of originations coming from new customers [1] - Net charge-off ratios rose in Q3 2025, with net charge-off as a percentage of total revenues at 35.1%, up 80 basis points from the previous year [2][9] - Despite the elevated charge-off ratios, long-term trends show a decline in charge-offs, indicating improving loan quality [3][4] Financial Performance - Adjusted net income surged by 41.4% year over year in Q3 2025, prompting management to raise the income outlook for 2025 to $137-$142 million [4] - OppFi's stock has gained 20.7% over the past year, outperforming the industry average decline of 14.2% [5][9] - The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 5.43, significantly lower than the industry average of 19.47 [8] Valuation and Estimates - OppFi holds a Value Score of A, while competitors Futu Holdings and Dave have scores of B and D, respectively [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OppFi's earnings has increased by 10.6% and 15.5% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, over the past 60 days [10]

Core Insights - Lenders and investors are closely scrutinizing data center projects, emphasizing the importance of early risk identification and mitigation to attract investment and lower financing costs [1][2] - Clear documentation and realistic timelines are critical for securing financing, as developers often work under compressed schedules [2][3] Group 1: Land Control - Land control is fundamental for data center development, ensuring the project's legal and physical foundation is secure [1] - Addressing land issues early is crucial to avoid delays, increased legal costs, and disruptions that could jeopardize project closure [1] Group 2: Documentation and Timelines - Comprehensive documentation and realistic timelines are essential for successful data center transactions, differentiating them from traditional real estate deals [2] - Developers must prioritize best practices and collaboration to navigate the complexities of data center projects effectively [2] Group 3: Collaboration and Risk Management - Early engagement among legal, technical, and financial teams fosters transparency and helps identify and mitigate risks before they escalate [2] - An integrated approach is necessary to position projects for smooth financial closing, especially given the short timelines often faced by data center developers [2] Group 4: Construction Guarantees and Financial Documentation - Many data center transactions require construction guarantees to ensure timely completion and mitigate performance risks [3] - Lenders may demand financial instruments such as letters of credit or parent guarantees to protect against cost overruns or contractor defaults [3] Group 5: Operational Risk Considerations - Data centers must adhere to stringent uptime and reliability standards, introducing additional layers of technical and financial risk compared to standard real estate [3]

Risk Mitigation & User Protection - Inca Digital utilizes technical expertise, open-source information, and analytical capabilities to offer a third path for projects to mitigate risk and protect users [1] - This approach aligns with Brave's user-first ethos and AttentionToken ($BAT) holders [1] - Inca Digital provides high integrity risk mitigation for $BAT and Brave Rewards [2] - This is achieved without Brave compromising on its privacy promises to users [2]

Core Insights - Bot Auto, an autonomous trucking company, has secured a comprehensive insurance program for its driverless fleet, which will scale with the deployment of its trucks [1][6] - The insurance program was developed in collaboration with Marsh, a global insurance broker, and includes various protections such as auto liability, property, general liability, cargo, and a separate cyber policy [2][6] - Autonomous trucking operations present a different risk profile compared to traditional trucking, allowing for more data transparency and accountability due to the technology used in the trucks [3][4] Insurance Program Details - The insurance program is underwritten by an A-rated insurance carrier and is tailored to meet the unique needs of autonomous trucking [2] - Bot Auto's approach to risk mitigation exceeds standard industry practices, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of autonomous trucking in the U.S. [6] Operational Updates - With the insurance coverage in place, Bot Auto is currently operating daily commercial loads between Houston and San Antonio, with plans for further lane expansions [5] - The company has successfully completed driverless runs on public roads in Houston, demonstrating the operational capabilities of its autonomous fleet [5]

Core Insights - Investing in the stock market does not require significant wealth; a $1,000 investment can potentially yield substantial returns [1] - Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are effective for building long-term wealth with minimal effort, as they consist of a collection of stocks [2] ETF Overview - The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: VGT) is highlighted as a strong option for maximizing earnings with minimal effort [3] - This ETF includes 314 technology stocks, providing diversification and risk mitigation [5] Holdings and Risk Management - The top three holdings in the ETF are Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple, which together account for nearly 44% of the fund [6] - A mix of industry leaders and smaller companies within the ETF can help balance risk and reward, with smaller stocks offering explosive earnings potential [7] Market Considerations - The tech sector is known for significant volatility, which can lead to severe fluctuations in the ETF's performance [8] - A long-term investment horizon is recommended to weather market downturns and avoid losses [9]

Core Insights - Interactive Data, LLC (IDI) has announced a strategic partnership with TazWorks to enhance identity verification and risk mitigation solutions for the background screening industry [1][5] - The collaboration aims to improve client trust and satisfaction while increasing profitability for consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) [1][5] Company Overview - IDI is a leader in identity verification and risk mitigation, utilizing a cloud-native, AI/ML-driven technology platform to provide innovative identity intelligence solutions [6] - IDI's consumer identity graph covers nearly 100% of the U.S. adult population, leveraging proprietary and publicly available data [2] Product Offerings - IDI's solutions include idiTRACE™, which helps uncover an applicant's address and alias history, and idiCRIM™, a national criminal history database that reduces false positives and streamlines background screening processes [3][4] - idiALIAS™ combines address trace and national criminal database searches to enhance efficiency and outcomes in background checks [4] Strategic Partnership - The partnership with TazWorks will integrate IDI's identity intelligence solutions into TazWorks' platform, providing mutual customers with deeper insights and faster verifications [2][5] - TazWorks is part of MeridianLink, which offers a unified data platform to empower financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies [8][9]

Market Overview - Wall Street concluded the trading day lower, with the S&P 500 Index declining by 0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 0.7%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index losing 0.5% due to concerns surrounding regional banks and credit quality [2][7] - Zions Bancorp's stock plummeted over 11% after announcing a $50 million charge-off related to problematic loans, intensifying worries about the banking sector [2][7] - Western Alliance Bancorp also faced a significant drop of over 10% following allegations of fraud by a borrower, further amplifying concerns about the health of regional banks [2] Company Performance - Jefferies Financial Group experienced a decline in its shares, falling more than 7% on Thursday and nearly 23% in October, potentially marking its worst month since March 2020 [3] - Morgan Stanley raised questions regarding Jefferies' risk management capabilities despite noting solid Q4 performance and a positive outlook on core business [3] - Interactive Brokers Group reported higher profit and revenue, with a 47% year-over-year increase in Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs), pushing its stock to a new 52-week high [4] Economic and Political Developments - Former President Donald Trump outlined his economic agenda, aiming to lower gasoline prices to $2 a barrel and reduce costs for IVF treatment, beef, and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic [5][7] - The US Justice Department is reportedly charging former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton with handling classified documents, indicating ongoing political tensions [5] Broader Market Movements - Treasuries and gold rallied amidst a risk-off sentiment, while the Canadian dollar edged lower as oil prices hit a five-month low [6] - The Federal Reserve's discount-window loans saw a slight fall to $6.02 billion in the week ended October 15, down from $6.24 billion prior [6]