Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv February 24, 202610:35 PM UTCUpdated ago By Reuters Brazil hails zero US tariff on aircraft exports An airplane adorns the roof at Embraer headquarters and aircraft factory in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Roosevelt Cassio/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab BRASILIA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Brazil's government on Tuesday welcomed a decision by Washington to all ...

Core Insights - PayPal's decline is attributed to a strategic choice for safety over innovation during a transformative period in the payments industry [1] - The company's branded checkout growth has stagnated at just 1%, indicating a failure to adapt to competitive pressures [2] Strategic Missteps - The focus on optimizing total payment volume rather than leveraging unique product offerings was a critical error [2] - After the eBay spinoff, leadership transitioned from product-focused individuals to financial engineers, which led to a cultural shift prioritizing short-term predictability over long-term platform risk [3] Missed Opportunities - Acquisitions like Honey and Xoom did not provide strategic leverage and failed to enhance the critical checkout experience [4] - The current leadership change raises questions about whether the board will realign incentives to transform PayPal into the network it was intended to be [4]

Core Viewpoint - Almunajem Foods Co. is in discussions to acquire a minority stake in Al Jouf Agricultural Development Company, aligning with its strategy for growth and strengthening its position in the food sector [1][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - Al Jouf Agricultural Development Company, founded in 1988, cultivates fruits, vegetables, and grains, and produces olive oil, honey, pickles, and French fries [2]. - Almunajem Foods primarily engages in poultry production and processing and is exploring a transaction to subscribe to new shares of Al Jouf priced at SR52.5 ($14) each [2]. Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - The potential investment is part of Almunajem Foods' efforts to enhance integration across the food value chain, evaluate investment opportunities, support food security, diversify growth sources, and create added value for shareholders [3]. - The discussions follow a recent seven-year processing and distribution agreement with Balady Poultry in Saudi Arabia [4]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Almunajem Foods received the first tranche of a long-term loan from the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) amounting to SR11.6 million, part of a total approved facility of SR97.3 million, to finance capital expenditure for expanding its food production facility in Jeddah [5]. - The company reported a 2.2% increase in revenue for Q3 to SR816.1 million, but operating profit fell by 5.2% to SR36.4 million, and net profit dropped by 21.7% to SR31.7 million [6]. - For the nine-month period, revenue decreased by 0.5% to SR2.51 billion, with operating profit down 46% to SR118.3 million and net profit down 52% to SR102.7 million [7].

Global Equity Markets - Major global stock indices closed the week lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) falling 0.54% to 49087, NASDAQ Composite (IXIC) dropping 0.82% to 25319, and S&P 500 (SPX) declining 0.38% [2][8] - European markets mirrored this trend, with Germany's DAX falling 0.97% to 25077, FTSE 100 dropping 0.83% to 10171, and Hang Seng Index shedding 0.61% to 26469 [3][8] - Despite solid earnings from major banks, investor sentiment was affected by diminishing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, with the probability of a 25-basis-point cut in March easing to 23% from 30% [2][8] Commodities Market - Commodities saw gains, with Gold (XAU) rising 0.55% to $4623 and US Oil (CL=F) increasing 0.64% to $5964, driven by softer U.S. inflation data and ongoing geopolitical tensions [4][8] - The EUR/USD currency pair experienced a slight dip of 0.18% to 11577 [4] Geopolitical Developments - The Syrian army announced control over the Koniko natural gas field, a significant energy asset previously capable of producing up to 13 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, following the withdrawal of US forces [5][8] - The European Union warned of a "dangerous downward spiral" in transatlantic trade relations due to former President Trump's proposed tariffs on European countries, starting at 10% from February 1st and potentially rising to 25% in June [6][7][8] Turkey's Honey Industry - Turkey's honey industry is facing severe pressure from fake honey products, leading to intense price competition, with fake honey selling for approximately EUR1.60 per kilogram compared to authentic honey reaching up to EUR8 per kilogram [9][10] - Authorities have seized 8,150 tons of glucose, fructose, and sugar used in counterfeit production, along with 100,000 fake honey labels, highlighting the industry's struggle with reputation and quality [10] Japan's Nuclear Energy Policy - Japan is moving forward with the restart of its nuclear power plants, including the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, aiming for nuclear power to account for 20% of its energy supply by 2041 [11] - This shift in energy policy follows substantial safety upgrades and a 1.2 trillion yen investment by TEPCO [11]

Company Overview - PayPal Holdings, Inc. is a leading global fintech company based in San Jose, California, providing digital and mobile payment solutions for consumers and merchants to manage money across online and in-person channels [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $58.7 billion and operates a broad payments ecosystem that includes services like Venmo, Braintree, Xoom, and Honey, supporting e-commerce and global transactions [1][2] Stock Performance - PayPal's stock (PYPL) has experienced a significant decline, dropping 33.1% from its 52-week high of $93.66 on December 9, 2024, and has fallen 10.5% over the past three months, underperforming the Nasdaq Composite's 7.7% increase during the same period [3] - Year-to-date, PYPL stock has plunged 26.6%, and over the past 52 weeks, it has decreased by 27.6%, notably lagging behind the Nasdaq's 21% surge in 2025 [4] Market Sentiment - On November 21, shares of PayPal rose by 4.4% due to increased investor optimism regarding a potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December, following comments from New York Fed President John Williams [5] - Market expectations for a December rate cut increased from 37% to 70%, contributing to a rally in financial stocks, which positively influenced sentiment around PayPal [5] Competitive Position - Compared to its peer Block, Inc., PayPal has underperformed, with Block achieving a 24.8% gain over the past 52 weeks and a 21.4% rise in 2025 [6] - Despite the underperformance, PayPal maintains a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating among 42 analysts, with a mean price target of $80.88, indicating a 29% upside potential from current price levels [6]

Group 1 - PayPal is considered one of the most undervalued financial stocks according to Wall Street analysts, with a recent partnership with Spark aimed at increasing PYUSD deposits from $100 million to $1 billion [1] - The integration of PYUSD, a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, into SparkLend allows users to supply and borrow the asset, supported by Spark's $8 billion stablecoin reserve, facilitating predictable liquidity [2] - The collaboration comes at a time of increased stablecoin activity, with global supply rising by $30 billion to $263 billion and daily volumes exceeding $100 billion, positioning PYUSD for rapid scaling [3] Group 2 - PayPal operates a global two-sided network for digital payments, enabling consumers and merchants to send, receive, and process payments through various platforms, including PayPal, Venmo, Braintree, Xoom, and Honey [4]

Product Integration - PayPal's Honey 将与 ChatGPT 合作，以寻找购物优惠 [1]

Core Insights - The article discusses strategies to mitigate the impact of inflation on cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for 2026, suggesting that adopting new habits can help retain more of the COLA despite inflationary pressures [1][7]. Group 1: Financial Strategies - Recasting a mortgage can be beneficial for retirees who did not plan for a large mortgage payment, allowing for reduced monthly payments by making a lump-sum payment towards the mortgage balance [4][5][8]. - Utilizing online or mobile shopping apps can help seniors save money through digital coupons, deal alerts, cash back offers, and loyalty rewards, thus maximizing their Social Security benefits [6][9][10]. Group 2: Cost-Saving Tips - The article emphasizes the importance of reviewing monthly budgets to identify unnecessary expenses, which can lead to additional savings [7]. - It highlights popular mobile shopping apps such as Fetch, Ibotta, RetailMeNot, TopCashBack, and Honey, which provide significant discounts and savings opportunities [10].

Core Insights - Gen Z faces unique financial challenges during the holiday season, including student loans, entry-level salaries, and inflation, making holiday spending particularly difficult [1] - Strategic financial moves can help Gen Z enjoy the holidays without jeopardizing their financial future [2] Budgeting Strategies - Setting a realistic holiday budget based on actual income and expenses is crucial, with suggested spending of $200-$400 instead of the $800+ often portrayed on social media [3][4] - Tracking expenses using apps like Mint or YNAB can help maintain budget limits and avoid overspending during the holidays [4] Last-Minute Savings - Starting a last-minute holiday fund, even with small amounts, can be beneficial, as small savings can accumulate over time [5] - Suggestions for finding extra money include cooking at home instead of dining out, canceling unused subscriptions, and selling unneeded items [6] Technology Utilization - Technology can be leveraged to prevent impulse spending, with tools that align with digital habits [7] - Setting up spending notifications and using apps to find discounts can save 10%-20% on purchases, helping to stay within budget [8]