Core Viewpoint - The Avantis U.S. Equity ETF (AVUS) is recommended for investors prioritizing diversification, as it provides exposure to nearly 2,000 U.S. equities [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - The individual investor and writer Vasily Zyryanov employs various techniques to identify underpriced equities with strong upside potential and overappreciated companies with inflated valuations [1] - Zyryanov emphasizes the importance of analyzing Free Cash Flow and Return on Capital in addition to profit and sales analysis to gain deeper insights into investments [1] - While favoring underappreciated equities, Zyryanov acknowledges that some growth stocks may warrant their premium valuations, highlighting the need for thorough analysis to determine market correctness [1] Group 2: Sector Focus - Zyryanov pays particular attention to the energy sector, including oil & gas supermajors, mid-cap, and small-cap exploration & production companies, as well as oilfield services firms [1] - His research also encompasses a variety of other industries, such as mining, chemicals, and luxury goods [1]

Core Insights - Air Products and Chemicals reported an increase in profit and revenue for its fiscal first quarter, driven by higher prices resulting from increased energy costs [1] Financial Performance - The company experienced higher profit and revenue compared to previous periods, indicating strong financial performance [1]

Group 1 - Precious metals, particularly silver and gold, have reached all-time highs in early 2026, indicating a strong market sentiment among "gold bugs" [1] - The S&P 500 Materials Sector SPDR (XLB) is not reflecting the same bullish sentiment, suggesting a divergence between precious metals and industrial materials [2][4] - XLB includes major companies in the industrial sector, such as Linde PLC, Newmont Corp, and Freeport-McMoRan, but is struggling to keep pace with the S&P 500 Index despite higher metal prices [4] Group 2 - The current market situation indicates a cooling industrial demand for materials, as chemical companies and construction material providers face margin pressures from rising energy costs and slowing manufacturing data [5] - Historically, a scenario where precious metals rise while industrial materials lag signals a speculative rally rather than one based on economic fundamentals [6] - XLB is currently near its 200-day moving average and unable to break resistance levels, suggesting potential exhaustion in the rally of gold and silver [7] Group 3 - The high Percentage Price Oscillator (PPO) level and stretched price nature of XLB indicate caution for investors, although a rally in energy stocks could mitigate some of the potential downturn in precious metals [8]

Press release Regulated information Brussels, January 29, 2026, 17:45 CET In line with Belgian transparency legislation (Law of May 2, 2007), UBS Group AG recently sent to Solvay the following transparency notifications indicating that they crossed the threshold of 3%. Here is a summary of the notifications: Date on which the threshold is crossed Voting rights after the transaction Equivalent financial instruments after the transaction Total 21 January 2026 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 23 January 2026 0.11% 2.95% 3. ...

Key Takeaways DuPont introduces AmberLite FPA57, a next-gen resin for efficient organic acid purification. FPA57 offers 5-10% longer cycles, higher exchange capacity and improved fouling resistance.The resin reduces chemical use and wastewater, supporting cost-efficient, scalable production. DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DD) has launched DuPont AmberLite FPA57 resin, a next-generation weak base anion exchange resin aimed at improving efficiency in organic acid purification.  The new resin offers 5–10% longer cyc ...

Core Viewpoint - Dow is implementing a cost-saving program that includes cutting 4,500 employees, aiming to enhance productivity through artificial intelligence and improve shareholder returns, which will incur one-time charges between $1.1 billion and $1.5 billion [1] Group 1 - The company is reducing its workforce by 4,500 employees as part of its cost-saving measures [1] - The initiative will leverage artificial intelligence to boost productivity [1] - The expected one-time charges associated with this program will range from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion [1]

Dow said on Thursday it would slash about 4,500 jobs in a sweeping restructuring aimed at boosting profitability by at least $2 billion, as the chemicals maker battles persistent weak demand and ind... ...

Core Insights - The company reported a significant decline in net sales and increased losses in the fourth quarter of 2025, with net sales of $9.46 billion, down 9% year-over-year and 5% sequentially [5][40]. - The GAAP net loss for the quarter was $1.5 billion, compared to a loss of $35 million in the same quarter last year [5][34]. - The company is implementing a comprehensive cost reduction program, which is expected to yield significant savings and improve productivity [6]. Financial Performance - Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $9,460 million, down from $10,405 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 [2][34]. - GAAP income (loss) net of tax was $(1,477) million, compared to $(35) million in the previous year [2][34]. - Operating EBIT was $33 million, a decrease of $421 million year-over-year, primarily due to price declines and lower operating rates [5][34]. - Operating EBITDA was $741 million, down from $1,205 million in the same quarter last year [2][34]. - Cash provided by operating activities was $298 million, down from $811 million year-over-year [5][34]. Segment Performance - The Packaging & Specialty Plastics segment reported net sales of $4,744 million, down 11% year-over-year, driven by lower downstream polymer prices [7][40]. - The Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segment saw net sales of $2,688 million, a 9% decline compared to the previous year, with operating EBIT falling to $(201) million [12][40]. - The Performance Materials & Coatings segment had net sales of $1,852 million, down 6% year-over-year, with operating EBIT increasing to $25 million [18][40]. Outlook and Strategic Initiatives - The company is focused on delivering near-term cost savings and simplifying its operating model through the "Transform to Outperform" initiative, which aims to enhance productivity and shareholder returns [6][22]. - The CEO emphasized the importance of reducing complexity and adopting advanced technologies to improve operational efficiency [6][22]. - The company expects these efforts to generate at least $2 billion in additional near-term earnings [6]. Shareholder Returns - The company returned $251 million to shareholders in dividends during the fourth quarter [5][34]. - For the full year 2025, total returns to shareholders amounted to $1.5 billion in dividends [5]. Cash Flow and Capital Expenditures - Cash provided by operating activities for continuing operations was $1,062 million for the year, down from $2,903 million in 2024 [38]. - Capital expenditures for the year were $2,479 million, compared to $2,940 million in the previous year [38]. - The company ended the year with cash and cash equivalents of $3,816 million, up from $2,189 million in 2024 [38].

Core Viewpoint - Dow has announced a comprehensive plan called "Transform to Outperform" aimed at simplifying operations, streamlining processes, and modernizing customer service, targeting at least $2 billion in near-term operational EBITDA improvement through AI and automation [1][2][8] Group 1: Transformation Goals and Benefits - The transformation aims to achieve significant growth and productivity gains, enhancing Dow's competitive position and resilience [2] - Approximately two-thirds of the expected benefits will come from productivity improvements, while one-third will be from growth [2] - The company has established a dedicated internal team to guide the transformation process [2] Group 2: Financial Projections and Costs - Dow anticipates one-time costs of approximately $1.1 to $1.5 billion associated with the transformation, including $600 to $800 million in severance for around 4,500 roles [3] - The estimated cash costs to achieve operational EBITDA targets are projected to be $800 to $1,000 million in 2026, $300 to $500 million in 2027, and $0 in 2028 [4] Group 3: Commitment to Long-Term Strength - The transformation is designed to ensure Dow's continued global leadership by leveraging best-in-class processes and technologies [5] - The company emphasizes a focus on safe and reliable operations while driving accountability and continuous improvement [5] - Local stakeholders will be engaged in each region during the implementation of the announced actions [5] Group 4: Company Overview - Dow is a leading materials science company with a focus on high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications [6] - The company operates manufacturing sites in 29 countries and employs approximately 34,600 people, with sales of around $40 billion in 2025 [6]

ADNOC and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) have entered into a 27-year Utilities Purchase Agreement that will underpin the development of the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone in Ruwais Industrial City, a cornerstone project in the UAE’s push to expand downstream manufacturing and industrial self-sufficiency. The long-term deal covers both the construction phase and the offtake period for a central utilities platform that will supply electricity grid connectivity, steam, process cooling, and ...