Market volatility makes investing feel challenging, especially for those nearing retirement.Tensions in the Middle East have rattled global markets. Stocks and bonds have both taken hits, and oil prices are surging, which only adds to the uncertainty.However, some stock market sectors are more immune to the changes in the economic cycle. Here are four types of defensive stocks to protect a retirement portfolio when economic turbulence arises.Why Defensive Stocks Matter for Retirement PortfoliosMarket swings ...

5 Hidden Winners of Geopolitical Tensions Beyond Oil and Defense | Investing.com Traders placed $580M in oil bets minutes before Trump's Iran post Trump delays strikes on Iranian power plants, says talks with Tehran "very good" Wall Street averages end more than 1% higher on Middle East de-escalation hopes Oil prices jump over 4% after Iran refutes US talks claims 5 Hidden Winners of Geopolitical Tensions Beyond Oil and Defense By Tafara Tsoka Stock Markets Published 03/24/2026, 02:32 AM 5 Hidden Winners of ...

Rome, March 12th 2026 Please avoid printing this colourful slide. Let's save the planet together. Leonardo Industrial Plan 2026 Update (2026 – 2030) 1 © 2026 Leonardo - Società per Azioni AG E N D A 2 3 5 Last Three Years Michelangelo: The Security Dome Leonardo Product Portfolio 6 Group's targets 4 Dual-use multi-domain solutions for Global Security 1 Society-inspired innovation levers Let's see what happened during this mandate… 3 © 2026 Leonardo - Società per Azioni L A S T 3 Y E A R S At the beginning, ...

Core Insights - Leonardo is increasing investments in computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity over the next five years to become a significant player in digital defense [1] - The company aims to generate 21 billion euros ($24 billion) from its Michelangelo Dome air defense system over the next decade, with 6 billion euros expected between 2026 and 2030 [1] - Leonardo forecasts cumulative orders of 142 billion euros by the end of 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.1% [1] Investment and Growth Strategy - The updated five-year plan responds to evolving threats, with a focus on advanced technology rather than traditional defense [1] - Revenues are projected to grow at an average rate of 9% annually from 2026 to 2030, reaching a total of 126 billion euros [1] - Core profits are expected to double from end-2025 levels to 3.59 billion euros by the end of the plan [1] Workforce Expansion - The company plans to hire over 8,000 employees by 2030, with more than half being under the age of 30 [1] - Leonardo emphasizes that human capital is a key competitive advantage in addressing complex and interconnected threats [1] Financial Performance - Leonardo anticipates approximately 25 billion euros in orders for the current year, an increase from 23.8 billion euros in 2025 [1] - Expected revenues for the year are around 21 billion euros, compared to 19.5 billion euros last year [1] - Earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization are projected to reach 2.03 billion euros by year-end [1]

Company Achievements - BetaKit Incorporated celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a significant milestone for the media company, which is currently in its strongest position in history [1] - Stay22, a travel content monetization startup, raised $122 million USD ($167 million CAD) in an all-equity, minority growth investment from Summit Partners, completing a turnaround after losing 90% of its revenue in 2020 [11] Industry Insights - Quebec's CDAE-IA program offers potential funding for businesses integrating AI, emphasizing the importance of claiming available resources to avoid missed opportunities [5] - Canada's tech sector is experiencing a funding slowdown at early stages, contributing to sluggish growth and lost value, as discussed in a recent panel [18] Government and Policy - Canada's AI Minister Evan Solomon is set to meet with OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman to discuss new safety commitments following a tragic incident in Tumbler Ridge, BC, where OpenAI did not report a banned user who later committed a mass shooting [8] - Advocacy group Employee Ownership Canada is urging the government to extend a tax incentive that provides $10 million in capital gains tax relief for business owners transferring majority control to employees [12] Collaborations and Partnerships - The University of Toronto has partnered with BioLabs to manage 40,000 square feet of lab space in the MaRS Discovery District after Johnson & Johnson withdrew last year [15] - New agreements between YSpace and York University with the Korea Business Angels Association and Seoul AI Hub aim to create pathways for founders to access research, capital, and global markets [19]

Market Overview - The US stock market experienced a significant crash, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling over 500 points, the S&P 500 dropping nearly 1%, and the Nasdaq sliding over 1% as investors reacted to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East [1][7][20] - Rising oil prices were a primary catalyst for the selloff, with Brent crude jumping as much as 13% intraday, briefly crossing $82 per barrel before settling below $80, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude surged around 8% near $73 [1][21] Inflation and Interest Rates - Higher gas prices are directly contributing to consumer inflation, which in turn pressures the Federal Reserve to maintain elevated interest rates for a longer period [2][21] - The expectation of higher inflation is leading to a reassessment of corporate earnings and stock valuations, particularly affecting technology and AI-heavy indexes like the Nasdaq [16][21] Safe-Haven Assets - Gold prices surged past $5,400 per ounce as investors sought safety amid geopolitical instability and inflation concerns, with analysts predicting an additional risk premium of up to 10% for gold [3][11] - The US Dollar Index rose 0.91% to 98.50, adding pressure on international markets as investors flocked to safe-haven assets [3][21] Sector Performance - Energy stocks rallied, with Exxon Mobil shares gaining due to higher crude prices, while defense stocks like Lockheed Martin also saw increased buying amid rising geopolitical tensions [12][21] - Conversely, airline stocks fell sharply, with Delta Air Lines dropping nearly 6% due to higher jet fuel costs, reflecting the negative impact of rising energy prices on travel-linked companies [13][21] Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - Investors are currently focused on inflation risks and the upcoming US jobs report, with expectations of only 60,000 new jobs added in February, a significant drop from January's 130,000 [4][17][21] - Historical trends suggest that geopolitical-driven market selloffs often fade unless oil prices remain elevated for an extended period, with analysts noting that sustained Brent crude prices above $80–$85 per barrel could exacerbate inflation pressures [18][19]

Group 1: Market Impact of Conflict - The conflict is expected to have a "sharp but short-lived" impact on oil and gas prices, according to George Lagarias, chief economist at Forvis Mazars [2] - Oil prices have increased by 30% since last December, with Brent crude oil rising almost 10% to just under $80 a barrel and US WTI up 9% to just over $73 a barrel [3][6] - UK natural gas prices have surged by 25% to 98.5p per therm, nearing spikes seen in January, which were the highest in 10 months [7] Group 2: Stock Market Reactions - The FTSE 100 index dropped 82 points to 10,828 at the start of the week, driven down by airlines, hotels, banks, and retailers [10] - British Airways owner IAG experienced the largest decline, falling by 9.78%, followed by Informa down 6.7% and IHG down 5.3% [10][11] - Defence companies saw gains, with BAE Systems rising 6.9%, and oil and gas producers Shell and BP both increasing by over 5% [12] Group 3: Commodity Price Movements - Gold prices increased by 2.4% to above $5,400 an ounce, while silver rose by 1.7% to $95.4 per ounce [8] - Copper prices decreased by 0.7%, with coal and steel also down, and iron ore remaining flat [9] Group 4: Regulatory Developments - The Competition and Markets Authority has initiated an investigation into Intercontinental Hotels, Hilton, and Marriott for suspected sharing of sensitive commercial information [14]

Core Viewpoint - Third Point, a U.S. hedge fund, has acquired a stake in Spanish defense company Indra and supports its chairman's plan to acquire Escribano Mechanical & Engineering, indicating a strategic move to strengthen Indra's position in the defense sector [1]. Company Summary - Third Point's investment in Indra aligns with its CEO Dan Loeb's support for the acquisition of Escribano Mechanical & Engineering, which is seen as a unique opportunity to create a leading Spanish defense entity [1]. - The size of Third Point's stake in Indra has not been disclosed, and both Indra and Sepi, which manages a 28% stake in Indra, have declined to comment on the matter [1]. Industry Context - The potential acquisition of Escribano Mechanical & Engineering has raised concerns among some Indra shareholders regarding possible conflicts of interest, as the company is owned by Indra's chairman and his brother [1].

Core Viewpoint - Iveco Group N.V. is planning a demerger to transfer its Defence Business to a newly formed entity, IDV Group N.V., with subsequent listing on Euronext Milan [1] Group 1: Demerger and Shareholder Meeting - An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) is scheduled for 25 March 2026 to approve the sale of the Defence Business to Leonardo S.p.A. and discuss an extraordinary interim dividend distribution estimated at €5.5-6.0 per common share [2][3] - If the sale transaction is not completed by 31 March 2026, the EGM will also consider a statutory demerger of Iveco Group, transferring the Defence Business to IDV Group [4] Group 2: Dividend and Transaction Conditions - The Board of Directors may remove the discussion of the interim dividend from the EGM agenda if the sale transaction is not completed by the specified date [5] - Conversely, if the sale transaction is completed or expected to be completed, the discussion of the demerger may also be removed from the agenda [5] Group 3: Company Overview - Iveco Group N.V. operates under several brands, including IVECO, FPT Industrial, IVECO BUS, HEULIEZ, IDV, ASTRA, and IVECO CAPITAL, employing 36,000 people globally with 19 industrial sites and 30 R&D centers [9]

Group 1: CSG's Participation in the Munich Security Conference - CSG will partner with the Munich Security Conference for the first time, which will take place from February 13 to 15, 2024, highlighting its growing importance in Europe and globally [1][4] - The Czech Republic will be represented by President Petr Pavel and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, with numerous heads of state and leaders of international organizations confirmed to attend [2] - CSG representatives, including owner Michal Strnad and other key executives, will participate in both the official program and informal discussions at the conference [3] Group 2: CSG's Business Expansion and Developments - CSG has entered the German market by acquiring a nitrocellulose production facility in Bomlitz, Lower Saxony, from IFF, which was completed last year [5] - The company plans to produce energetic nitrocellulose at the new facility, a key component for ammunition manufacturing, with production expected to begin in 2026 [6] - Following a successful IPO on Euronext Amsterdam on January 23, CSG's valuation exceeded CZK 700 billion, making it the most valuable Czech company, with funds raised to be used for further acquisitions and development [6] Group 3: Overview of CSG - CSG N.V. is a leading European defense industrial group headquartered in Prague, focusing on defense and industrial technologies [7] - The group operates key manufacturing facilities across multiple countries and employs over 14,000 people, reporting annual revenues of EUR 4.0 billion in 2024 [7]