A wave of violence has erupted in Mexico following the killing of the longtime leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) on February 22.In a coordinated military raid with the support of U.S. Intelligence, Mexican forces killed Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes. Within hours, cartel gunmen torched vehicles, erected roadblocks across roughly 20 states, and launched attacks on civilian and security infrastructure.The removal of a cartel boss rarely ends violence in Mexico. It often accelerates i ...

二月二十四日，自治区党委副书记、兵团党委书记、政委何忠友在兵团财政局调研并座谈。 兵团日报 全媒体记者 张鑫 摄 本报乌鲁木齐讯（全媒体记者 沈元赓 王素凡） 2月24日，春节后首个工作日，自治区党委副书记、兵 团党委书记、政委何忠友到兵团财政局、兵团农业农村局调研并座谈。他强调，要深入学习贯彻党的二 十届四中全会精神，贯彻落实习近平总书记关于新疆和兵团工作的重要讲话重要指示批示精神，以中央 巡视反馈意见整改为契机，进一步盘活存量、做优增量、提升质量，收心鼓劲启新程，实干担当开新 局，为兵团经济社会高质量发展再立新功。 在兵团财政局，何忠友认真听取兵团闲置国有资产盘活进展和财政工作汇报。何忠友指出，做好财政工 作、迈好"十五五"发展第一步意义重大、事关长远。要进一步盘活兵团闲置国有资产，全面掌握闲置国 有资产底数，聚焦重点方向，坚持实事求是，分级分类分步盘活闲置国有资产，加快补齐管理短板、堵 塞制度漏洞、完善监管体系，推动各师市、各职能部门依法依规决策管理，切实提高国有资产治理水平 和治理能力。要树牢"大财政"理念，认真落实兵团党委部署，向更好保障重大战略聚焦、向更加有 效"投资于人"发力，创造性开展工作，提 ...

In November, President Trump announced he would quote, "permanently pause migration from all third world countries to the US after a member of the National Guard was killed and another badly wounded in Washington, allegedly by an Afghan refugee. But there is one group of refugees that Trump administration is welcoming. It's expediting the resettlement of white South Africans, mostly Africconers, who are descendants of Dutch settlers.President Trump says that white farmers are victims of a genocide. The Sout ...

IDFC First Bank Ltd disclosed a potential fraud incident, involving unauthorised activities worth ₹590 crore by certain employees at its Chandigarh branch, linked to Haryana Government accounts. The issue surfaced from a Haryana Government department’s account closure request, revealing discrepancies between stated balances and actual funds. Further probes from February 18 showed mismatches in other Haryana entity accounts at the branch. Preliminary review confirms the matter is isolated to specific governm ...

With that as background, let’s start building our simple trading system based on my 7 Market Rules, starting with #6: Fundamentals win in the end. In the past I’ve mentioned something I call the Vodka Vacuity, the reality there are no Absolut(e)s in market analysis. But there is one: Eventually, markets come down to supply and demand. No, I don’t mean government related estimates and imaginary numbers, but rather real fundamentals shown to us through spot (cash) price, basis (differential between spot/cash ...

Group 1 - Strengthening basic research is an urgent requirement for achieving high-level technological self-reliance and building a world-class scientific power [1] - The emphasis on basic research has led to significant achievements, with over half of the top ten scientific advancements in China for 2025 stemming from basic research [1] - The development of quantum computing in China illustrates the importance of foundational issues in advancing technology [2][3] Group 2 - Basic research serves as the theoretical foundation for technological breakthroughs and is a driving force for industrial transformation [4] - The establishment of collaborative frameworks between enterprises and research institutions is crucial for advancing basic research [5][9] - The integration of enterprises into the national basic research system allows for a collaborative innovation mechanism where companies can propose scientific challenges [6][7] Group 3 - The cultivation of young scientific talent is essential for the future of basic research, with significant support being provided to young researchers [10][11] - A high percentage of funded projects are led by researchers aged 45 and below, indicating a focus on nurturing young talent in the scientific community [12] - The National Natural Science Foundation has funded a substantial number of projects, contributing significantly to foundational scientific advancements [12]

Core Insights - Bill Gates has addressed concerns regarding his farmland holdings, stating he owns less than 1/4000 of U.S. farmland and aims to enhance productivity and job creation through his investments [1] - The trend of institutional investors and large private buyers acquiring farmland has been influenced by inflation and supply chain issues, raising questions about land consolidation and control [2] - Gates' recent acquisition of approximately 2,100 acres in North Dakota contributes to his status as the largest private farmland owner in the U.S., with total holdings estimated between 242,000 and 270,000 acres [4][6] Investment Trends - The farmland market is increasingly viewed as a long-term investment asset, attracting significant interest from institutional investors [2][6] - The investment strategy behind Gates' farmland purchases is managed by Cascade Investment LLC, focusing on land as a durable asset for long-term returns rather than direct farming operations [6] Public Perception and Debate - The expansion of Gates' farmland holdings has sparked discussions about the implications of large-scale land ownership and its limited scrutiny in public discourse [5][10] - The acquisition of farmland by foreign entities, such as the Chinese Fufeng Group, has further fueled debates about agricultural land ownership and its significance [3][4] Accessibility of Real Estate Investment - The concept of real estate as a long-term income-producing asset is becoming more accessible to smaller investors through platforms that allow fractional ownership in residential properties [8][9] - These platforms enable everyday investors to participate in real estate markets without the need for substantial capital or direct management of properties [8][9]

Group 1: China-South Africa Trade Relations - China has announced a new zero-tariff policy for South Africa, granting duty-free access for 100% of South African tariff lines starting in May 2026, without requiring reciprocal tariff cuts from South Africa [2][9] - This agreement positions South Africa as the 33rd African nation to enter a zero-tariff framework, aimed at addressing a significant trade imbalance favoring China [2][3] - The policy is expected to benefit South African exporters in sectors such as mining, agriculture (notably citrus and rooibos tea), and automotive, while also enhancing China's influence within the BRICS+ bloc [3][9] Group 2: European Central Bank (ECB) Insights - The ECB's Economic Bulletin indicates a resilient Eurozone economy, with projected Q4 2025 growth of 0.3% and inflation falling to 1.7%, below the bank's 2% target [4][9] - ECB officials express caution regarding future rate paths, highlighting geopolitical risks and China's rising competitiveness as potential downward pressures on European growth and inflation [4][5] Group 3: U.S. Federal Reserve Outlook - Investors are anticipating comments from Federal Reserve officials, particularly regarding recent labor market data, which has been described as "strange" by Vice Chair Michelle Bowman [6][9] - The focus remains on whether the Fed will implement further rate cuts or maintain a "higher for longer" stance to address persistent inflation in the services sector [6][9]

Core Insights - Valmont Industries, Inc. (VMI) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $4.92 per share, a 28.1% increase from $3.84 in the same quarter last year, but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.95 [1] - The company's revenues for the fourth quarter were $1,038.3 million, reflecting a 0.1% year-over-year increase, yet fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,046.9 million [1] Segment Review - Fourth-quarter revenues in the infrastructure segment increased by 7.2% year over year to $819 million, missing the estimate of $825.8 million, driven by strong utility sales growth and steady sales in other North America infrastructure products [2] - Utility sales rose by 21%, supported by favorable pricing and higher volumes, although a significant decline in solar sales and softness in the Asia-Pacific market offset this growth [3] - Agriculture revenues decreased by 19.9% year over year to $222.7 million, but outperformed the estimate of $213.6 million, primarily due to softer demand for irrigation equipment and ongoing macroeconomic challenges [4] Financials - The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $187.1 million, and cash provided by operating activities was $456.5 million, down approximately 20% year over year [5] - VMI returned $85.6 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter and invested $40.8 million in capital expenditures for growth initiatives [5] 2026 Outlook - VMI provided guidance for full-year 2026, anticipating net sales of approximately $4.2-$4.4 billion, with infrastructure-segment revenues of about $3.25-$3.4 billion and agriculture-segment revenues of around $0.95-$1 billion [6] - The earnings per share outlook is set in the range of $20.5 to $23.50, with capital expenditures expected to be between $170-$200 million and an effective tax rate of approximately 26% [6] Stock Performance - VMI shares have increased by 20.8% over the past year, compared to the industry's growth of 25.0% [7]

Core Insights - CNH Industrial reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 19 cents, an increase from 15 cents in the prior-year quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 11 cents [1] - Consolidated revenues rose 5.8% year over year to $5.16 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.02 billion [1] Segmental Performance - Agriculture segment net sales increased 5% year over year to $3.6 billion, driven by favorable price realization and positive foreign exchange impacts, beating the estimate of $3.41 billion [2] - Adjusted EBIT for the Agriculture segment was $233 million, down 5% year over year due to lower volumes and higher costs, but still above the estimate of $172.6 million; adjusted EBIT margin decreased to 6.5% from 7.2% [2] - Construction segment sales rose 19% year over year to $853 million, attributed to higher volume and favorable price realization in North America, surpassing the estimate of $810.3 million [3] - Adjusted EBIT for the Construction segment was $5 million, down 72% year over year due to increased production costs, with adjusted EBIT margin decreasing to 0.6% from 2.5% [3] - Financial Services segment revenues fell 6% to $700 million, missing the estimate of $770.4 million, while net income increased from $92 million to $109 million year over year [4] Financial Details - As of December 31, 2025, CNH Industrial had cash and cash equivalents of $2.58 billion, down from $3.19 billion a year earlier [5] - Total debt was $26.76 billion, a slight decrease from $26.88 billion as of December 31, 2024 [5] - Net cash provided by operating activities was $945 million, compared to $1.69 billion in the prior year [5] - Free cash outflow from industrial activities was $817 million, slightly improved from $848 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 [5] 2026 Guidance - For 2026, Agriculture sales are expected to decrease and remain flat at 5% year over year, with adjusted EBIT margin projected between 4.5-5.5% [6] - Construction segment sales are expected to remain flat year over year, with adjusted EBIT margin anticipated in the range of 1-2% [6] - Free cash flow from industrial activities is expected to be between $150-$350 million, with adjusted EPS projected between 35 cents and 45 cents, down from 55 cents in 2025 [7] Zacks Rank & Key Picks - CNH currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) [8] - Other better-ranked stocks in the industrial product space include Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kennametal, and Proto Labs, each with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [10]