Category: 3. Business

  • Great power clashes loom over Nvidia and Ukraine

    Great power clashes loom over Nvidia and Ukraine

    This article is an on-site version of our The Week Ahead newsletter. Subscribers can sign up here to get the newsletter delivered every Sunday. Explore all of our newsletters here

    Hello and welcome to the working week.

    Second-quarter earnings season is wrapping up, after a string of stellar releases from Wall Street banks and Silicon Valley tech groups. But there is one leviathan yet to report: Nvidia, which will publish its earnings on Wednesday.

    The world’s largest company by market capitalisation, Nvidia has in recent years been the capstone of earnings season. But it has lately had a difficult time of it. The chipmaker has so far shrugged off concerns that the artificial intelligence wave is poised to crash, despite the many think-pieces on the subject, including in these pages. Now, the troubles facing the company are chiefly geopolitical.

    Tensions between Washington and Beijing have stifled Nvidia’s expansion into China. The company’s chief executive, Jensen Huang, heralded a small victory this month when he managed to obtain H20 chip export licences to the world’s second-largest economy following a ban imposed by US President Donald Trump in April. But it required agreeing to an unusual revenue-sharing programme with the administration. Some rather undiplomatic comments from commerce secretary Howard Lutnick last week then quickly put paid to any growth ambitions in the region. Analysts expect these challenges to loom over Wednesday’s results.

    Nvidia isn’t the only entity caught in the middle of a great power clash. Peace talks regarding the future of Ukraine seemed to be progressing when Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

    But Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov soon threw cold water over the idea, saying on Friday that Putin was “not ready at all” to meet Zelenskyy. Expect protracted back-and-forths about the Kremlin’s demand that it be involved in Ukraine’s postwar security guarantees over the week ahead. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are set to meet in Berlin on Tuesday to discuss, among other things, the conflict. Though little is likely to come of that.

    There are a handful of economic data points that will shed light on the battle against inflation. On Friday, the US PCE index — a measure of prices American consumers pay for goods and services — is published. Analysts expect the reading to run hot, especially after CPI data for July came in above the Federal Reserve’s target at 2.7 per cent. The reading is likely to provoke anxieties for Fed chair Jay Powell, despite his squarely dovish tone at the Jackson Hole Symposium earlier this week.

    The European Central Bank will on Thursday publish the minutes from its July meeting, which analysts will scan for evidence that doves on the council argued for further cuts in the near term. Economic activity across the EU has been picking up, strengthening a growing consensus that the central bank will refrain from further interest rate cuts after summer.

    One more thing . . . 

    I am very much looking forward to the UK bank holiday on Monday. If you’re anything like me, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of taking leave to decompress. By that, I mean actually decompress. Not whatever this is . . . 

    I hope you manage to take some proper time off this summer. Let me know your out of office plans at [email protected] or, if you are reading this from your inbox, simply hit reply.

    Key economic and company reports

    Here is a more complete list of what to expect in terms of company reports and economic data this week.

    Monday

    Tuesday

    • Australia: Reserve Bank of Australia releases August meeting minutes

    • Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Catherine Mann speaks in Mexico

    • Federal Reserve Bank of New York president John Williams speaks at Bank of Mexico conference

    • Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond president Thomas Barkin speaks in Virginia

    • UK: British Retail Consortium releases shop prices data

    • Results: Bunzl HY, Ping An Insurance Group Q2

    Wednesday

    • Additional 25 per cent US tariff on Indian exports kicks in, raising total duties to 50 per cent

    • Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond president Thomas Barkin speaks in North Carolina

    • UK: Office for National Statistics publishes report on progress on restoring suspended PPI data

    • Results: Ageas H1, Aroundtown H1, JD Sports Fashion Q2 trading statement, Nvidia Q2, Prudential HY, Vienna Insurance Group HY

    Thursday

    • Bank of Japan board member Junko Nakagawa to speak in Yamaguchi prefecture

    • Federal Reserve Board governor Christopher Waller speaks in Miami

    • Finnish central bank governor Olli Rehn to give speech

    • European Central Bank publishes July meeting minutes

    • Results: Asda Q2 trading update, Delivery Hero H1, EVN Q3, Pernod Ricard FY

    Friday

    • Bank of Mexico presents its revised inflation figures and growth forecast for previous quarter

    • US: PCE index publishes

    • Results: China Construction Bank Corp Q2, CITIC Securities Co Ltd Q2

    World events

    Finally, here is a rundown of other events and milestones this week.

    Monday

    • Indonesia: Annual Super Garuda Shield military exercises begin

    • South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and US President Donald Trump to meet in Washington

    • UK: Summer Bank Holiday; final day of Notting Hill carnival

    • US: alleged Sinaloa cartel co-founder El Mayo is set to enter a guilty plea

    Tuesday

    • Chancellor Friedrich Merz receives Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

    • France: Prime Minister François Bayrou to speak at a meeting organised by the CFDT labour union in Paris; the country also returns skulls kept in a museum since the late 19th century to Madagascar

    • Lithuanian parliament votes to confirm Inga Ruginienė as designated prime minister

    Wednesday

    Thursday

    Friday

    Sunday

    • Two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit begins, to which leaders from over 20 countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, are expected to attend

    Recommended newsletters for you

    Inside Politics — What you need to know in UK politics. Sign up here

    White House Watch — What Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world. Sign up here

    Continue Reading

  • NGSC 2025 wraps up Day 2, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s esports ambitions

    NGSC 2025 wraps up Day 2, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s esports ambitions

    Saudi Arabia offers ‘unparalleled potential’ for esports innovation and growth, says FACEIT boss


    RIYADH: Niccolo Maisto is the CEO of ESL FACEIT Group, a leading esports and video game entertainment company which was involved in the recently concluded Esport World Cup in Riyadh.


    Maisto, who co-founded the company in 2011, spoke to Arab News about his organization, its sale to Savvy Group in 2022 and the esports landscape in Saudi Arabia.


    How did the acquisition by Savvy come about and what did it mean on a personal level and for the organization?


    The acquisition and merging of ESL and FACEIT under the Savvy Games Group, backed by the Public Investment Fund, was a pivotal moment for esports. It was a powerful validation of competitive gaming’s emergence as a global entertainment powerhouse and a significant engine for cultural and economic progress. For me, it opened up an unprecedented pathway to realize our most ambitious goals for competitive gaming and community cultivation on a truly worldwide scale.


    The genesis of ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) was about more than just combining assets; it was about fusing the complementary businesses. We brought together FACEIT’s cutting-edge digital platform and vibrant community infrastructure with ESL’s unparalleled heritage in live events and global IPs. The result is a singular, integrated ecosystem, purpose built to deliver an unmatched experience to every player, fan, and partner, from grassroots to the pinnacle of professional play.


    My journey since the acquisition has been one of significant evolution, with a focus on harnessing our newfound scale and the substantial investment to ignite innovation, strategically expand into new territories, like the Middle East, and build the infrastructure essential for the industry’s long-term viability.


    This period of growth also brings with it an even greater sense of responsibility. We must serve not only our immediate community but the broader esports ecosystem, encompassing publishers, teams, players, and, most importantly, the fans.


    How do you find the gaming and esports scene in the Kingdom?


    Saudi Arabia, as one of the fastest-growing gaming markets, offers unparalleled potential for innovation and growth. It is also the first country in the world to have a dedicated National Games & Esports Strategy, which aims to create 39,000 jobs and contribute SAR 50 billion ($13.3 billion) to its GDP by 2030. This approach aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate esports on a global scale. As gaming becomes ever more popular in the Kingdom, so does the appetite for opportunities in esports, both recreationally and professionally. Hosting the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, as well as local events such as the ESL Saudi Challenge is an important step in offering local fans firsthand exposure to the opportunities that esports bring.


    What is your vision for the company development in the next few years, and how does it affect the esports scene in the Kingdom?


    To ensure that we are capitalizing on the esports momentum in the region, we’re significantly expanding our presence by establishing a dedicated local broadcast hub. We’re also actively adapting our core platforms, like FACEIT and Mobalytics, for the local audience and undertaking recruitment across various departments to ensure a deep, lasting footprint in the Kingdom.


    While we’re constantly looking ahead to exciting possibilities, such as bringing more live events like DreamHack to the region, our immediate priority is to forge a genuine regional hub. This hub won’t just deliver top-tier esports experiences; it’s designed to actively nurture local talent and develop capabilities within the community. By offering content in Arabic and organizing local tournaments like the ESL Saudi Challenge, we’re ensuring our initiatives truly resonate with Saudi audiences, all while respecting local culture and regulations.


    This approach creates a powerful link between global esports excellence and the Kingdom’s local ambitions. We’re not simply providing entertainment; we’re actively contributing to Saudi Arabia’s transformative vision, aligning with its goals for economic diversification and youth empowerment. Our efforts are geared towards building a robust and sustainable ecosystem that fosters new talent, sparks innovation, and firmly establishes the Kingdom as a global leader in gaming and esports.


    What are the company’s future projects?


    Establishing an office in Saudi Arabia underscores EFG’s long-term commitment to what is arguably the most rapidly expanding esports market globally. This physical presence allows us to integrate more closely with crucial partners and directly contribute to the ambitious Vision 2030 objectives and the Kingdom’s booming gaming and esports landscape.


    We’re actively exploring avenues for IP development specifically crafted for local audiences, ensuring our content is both culturally resonant and maintains EFG’s signature global quality. While we recognize the immense future potential for expanding into live events and immersive community experiences, our current priority is on solidifying the groundwork: building robust local teams, tailoring our products, and setting up the essential infrastructure to consistently deliver world-class esports across the entire region.


    What was the company’s role in EWC?


    EFG is the official operating partner for the Esports World Cup. EFG is responsible for building the identity and product proposition of the Esports World Cup with a unique cross-game format that unites the entire industry under a global and impactful tournament. This includes tapping EFG’s decades of expertise to oversee tournament operations, broadcast production, marketing, and more.

    Continue Reading

  • Rise in Foodie Perfumes May Be Linked to Weight-Loss Drugs

    Rise in Foodie Perfumes May Be Linked to Weight-Loss Drugs

    A rise in the number of sweet, food-scented perfumes on the market could be linked to an increase in the use of weight-loss medication, according to the market research firm Mintel.

    Food-inspired fragrances, with scent profiles that feature vanilla, coffee and caramel and referred to in the industry as “gourmand” perfumes, have surged in popularity in the past three years. Launches of sugary-scented, dessert-themed fragrances increased by 24 percent last year alone, Mintel said.

    The rise in popularity is happening alongside the increased use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss, such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.

    “Fragrance brands may increasingly explore such notes to address GLP-1-driven appetite suppression,” said Clotilde Drapé, a global beauty analyst at Mintel, as consumers “strive to stay lean while enjoying decadent, food-inspired scents.”

    Mintel’s Future of Fragrance 2025 report predicts a further resurgence in sweet scents, tied to increased weight-loss medication use. “Online discussions have linked GLP-1 medications to changes in appetite and sensory experiences, potentially driving interest in sensory stimulation like fragrances,” Drapé said.

    Gourmand perfumes are trending heavily among younger consumers online. Google and TikTok searches for “gourmand fragrances” have shown year-on-year growth of 170 percent in the US since 2023, according to the New York-based consumer research firm Spate.

    In April the singer, songwriter and actor Sabrina Carpenter released the fragrance Me Espresso, the latest addition to her gourmand-centred perfume line. It is described as a sugary iced coffee in olfactory form, with notes of espresso, biscuit and whipped cream. The Fragrance by Sabrina scents also include Sweet Tooth, Caramel Dream and Cherry Baby and are all shaped like chocolate bars, adding to the dessert-themed experience.

    “Generally speaking, it’s a Gen Z-inspired fragrance trend,” said Amanda Carr, a fragrance writer at the website We Wear Perfume.

    For younger generations, with recently acquired spending power, gourmand is an accessible gateway into the perfume market. “It’s like a baked cake or a sweet treat. It’s very easy for somebody who’s new to fragrance to understand it,” says Carr.

    “Vanilla does hang about, it’s a very heavyweight note. So it seems like a good value for money fragrance, and that appeals to Gen-Z as well.”

    The global fragrance market continues to boom, with an expected annual growth of 3.3 percent in 2025, according to the data company Statista.

    Popular trends shared on TikTok include “scent layering,” which involves buying multiple scented body care products, from body oil to lotions, to boost the longevity of the fragrance.

    Drapé said “mood-boosting” is the top reason for using fragrance in the UK, driving the popularity of sweet scents that are linked with indulgence.

    By Priya Bharadia

    Sign up to The Business of Beauty newsletter, your complimentary, must-read source for the day’s most important beauty and wellness news and analysis.

    Continue Reading

  • GBP/USD Price Prediction: Pound Eyes 1.36 After Bullish Rebound and Key U.S. Data Ahead

    GBP/USD Price Prediction: Pound Eyes 1.36 After Bullish Rebound and Key U.S. Data Ahead

    The pound is back up against the dollar after a big bounce that took GBP/USD above 1.3520. The move was on the back of a bullish…


    Register now to be able to add articles to your reading list.

    ” aria-hidden=”true”>

    Quick overview

    • The pound has rebounded against the dollar, with GBP/USD surpassing 1.3520 due to bullish market sentiment.
    • Key resistance is at 1.3545, and a close above this level could signal a bullish reversal with higher targets.
    • Economic events this week, including US durable goods orders and GDP data, will influence the pair’s direction.
    • Traders are advised to wait for a close above 1.3545 to go long, with potential upside targets at 1.3595 and 1.3647.

    The pound is back up against the dollar after a big bounce that took GBP/USD above 1.3520. The move was on the back of a bullish engulfing candle on the 2 hour chart, a classic sign of conviction buying. Price has hit the descending trendline that has capped rallies since early August and this level is now the key battleground for the next move.

    Momentum indicators agree. The 50 period SMA at 1.3470 is now support, the RSI is at 68, flirting with overbought but no bearish divergence and the MACD is bullish with a widening histogram.

    GBP/USD Levels to Watch

    The test is at 1.3545 where the trendline resistance converges. A close above this level would be a bullish reversal and could open up higher targets.

    • Resistance levels: 1.3545, 1.3595, 1.3647
    • Support levels: 1.3480, 1.3440, 1.3390

    If price fails to clear resistance it could trigger profit taking and send the pair back to 1.3480 or 1.3440 where buyers have stepped in before. Either way, expect volatility to increase as price action narrows into this zone.

    Economic Events to Watch

    This week’s US calendar will determine if GBP/USD can continue to rally or stall. Tuesday is durable goods orders and consumer confidence, Thursday is Preliminary GDP (3.1%) and jobless claims and Friday is Core PCE (Fed’s preferred inflation gauge).

    For the pound Monday is a UK bank holiday so liquidity will be light early in the week but attention will quickly turn to if sterling can capitalise on dollar weakness. Traders will also be watching European CPI for broader risk sentiment cues.

    EUR/USD Price Chart - Source: Tradingview
    EUR/USD Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

    GBP/USD Trade Setup and Outlook

    For beginners, the trade is simple: wait for a close above 1.3545 and go long. A stop below 1.3480 limits risk and allows for volatility. Upside targets are 1.3595 and 1.3647 and more if US data disappoints and dollar weakness continues.

    If buyers hold on, this could be the catalyst for sterling to challenge 1.37 in the coming weeks. With the technicals in place and macro events on the horizon, GBP/USD is ready to make its next big move—perhaps the start of a bigger bull run for the pound.

    Arslan Butt

    Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)

    Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics.

    His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker.

    His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.

    Related Articles


    Continue Reading

  • Elranatamab and MagnetisMM-3 Results are Superior to Real-World Multiple Myeloma Outcomes

    Elranatamab and MagnetisMM-3 Results are Superior to Real-World Multiple Myeloma Outcomes

    An observational study reported that results with elranatamab for patients with RRMM from the MagnetisMM-3 trial were superior to what was observed across 5 centers in the UK.

    Elranatamab-bcmm (Elrexfio) prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) compared with other routine treatments available for patients with triple class-exposed relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in the real world, according to results from a retrospective, observational study published in BMC Cancer.

    This study included 2 groups of patients: 1, the trial cohort, those from cohort A of the single arm, multicenter, phase 2 MagnetisMM-3 trial (NCT04649359), including patients who were naïve to BCMA targeted therapy; and 2, the control cohort, patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who were treated across 5 UK centers.

    In the control cohort, the median PFS was 3.71 months (95% CI, 2.73-4.73), and the median overall survival (OS) was 11.00 months (95% CI, 8.02-18.10). In the trial cohort, the median PFS was not reached (NR; 95% CI, 95% CI, 10.11-NR), and the median OS was NR (95% CI, 13.85-NR).

    In unweighted analyses, significant PFS improvements were observed (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.33-0.70), highlighting the differences in restricted mean survival time of 6.95 months (95% CI, 4.08-9.61); the authors noted that the HR results should be “treated with caution” because the proportional hazards null hypothesis was rejected (P = .002). Significant OS improvements were also observed with elranatamab (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45-0.96), with a difference in restricted mean survival time of 3.01 months (95% CI, 0.32-5.70); with the proportional hazard assumption upheld (P = .32).

    Weighted analyses showed a PFS improvement with elranatamab (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.35-0.80), with a difference in restricted mean survival time of 6.45 months (95% CI, 3.05-9.45). The weighted results for OS were not statistically significant (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.46-1.26), with a difference in restricted mean survival time of 2.02 months (95% CI, –1.43 to 5.27). The proportional hazards were violated for PFS (P = .003), but not OS (P = .34).

    In sensitivity analyses where a propensity score model was applied, the results were congruent with findings from the weighted analyses.

    “By using [electronic health records] from multiple [national health service] centers that reflect recent clinical practice and overlap with the MagnetisMM-3 study period, we demonstrated that elranatamab has a strong PFS benefit over existing treatments for [relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma] in the UK,” the study authors wrote in the paper. “The integration of new therapeutic options, alongside holistic clinical management incorporating clinical, nutritional, and mental health care, is critical in the management of triple-class refractory [multiple myeloma].”

    A total of 123 patients from the MagenetisMM-3 trial and 81 patients from the real-world setting were included in the study. Patient identification occurred between January 2015 and August 2023.

    Patients from the real world were included if they had relapsed/refractory disease that met certain criteria, including receipt of at least 1 proteasome inhibitor, receipt of 1 immunomodulatory drug, receipt of at least 1 anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and documented disease progression within 60 days of the last dose. Further, all real-world patients had to meet the eligibility criteria for MagentisMM-3.

    Eligibility criteria for MagnetisMM-3 included measurable disease, an ECOG performance status of 2 or less, and resolved acute effects of any prior therapy to baseline severity.2 Reasons for exclusion were smoldering multiple myeloma, active plasma cell leukemia, and any other active malignancy within 3 years prior to enrollment.

    The primary trial end point was PFS. A real-world proxy of International Myeloma Working Group-defined PFS was applied in the real-world cohort. OS was defined as the time from the index date to the date of death.

    References

    1. Tsang C, O’Reilly JE, Carpenter L, et al. Comparison of outcomes with elranatamab and real world treatments in the UK for triple class exposed relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. BMC Cancer. 2025;25(1):1219. Published 2025 Jul 25. doi:10.1186/s12885-025-14624-9
    2. MagnetisMM-3: study of elranatamab (PF-06863135) monotherapy in participants with multiple myeloma who are refractory to at least one PI, one IMiD and one Anti-CD38 mAb. ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated January 27, 2025. Accessed August 21, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/ykyhjykr

    Continue Reading

  • SpaceX tests launch of massive Starship rocket after three explosive failures | SpaceX

    SpaceX tests launch of massive Starship rocket after three explosive failures | SpaceX

    The latest iteration of Elon Musk’s gargantuan Starship space rocket is poised to launch into the skies above Texas on Sunday for the first time in three months, with the billionaire entrepreneur’s ambitious timetable for reaching the moon and conquering Mars hinging on the success of the pivotal mission.

    Skywatchers are eager to see which version of the world’s most powerful rocket will be produced for its 10th launch attempt. Of its nine previous uncrewed outings, dating to April 2023, failures have outnumbered the successes. All three test flights this year ended in huge explosions and debris raining down on Caribbean islands from the Bahamas to the Turks and Caicos in January and March, and the Indian Ocean in May.

    Sunday night’s test flight, from SpaceX’s sprawling complex in Starbase, Texas, formerly known as Boca Chica, has a launch window opening at 6.30pm CT, and has various mission objectives, including the first successful deployment of Starlink communications satellite simulators.

    Starship was moved to its launchpad on Thursday in anticipation of good launch weather for Sunday night’s attempt.

    Musk has remained uncharacteristically quiet ahead of the mission. “Getting ready to launch Starship,” he posted on Thursday to the X platform he also owns, alongside images of the rocket assembly moving into position. SpaceX has not achieved a safe return landing of the upper stage of Starship, which Musk is hoping to have certified for human spaceflight as early as next year.

    SpaceX engineers have made a number of changes following reviews of the rocket’s previous failures, which include “a catastrophic explosion” that destroyed a Starship rocket during a ground test in June. The company is testing a variety of new heat-resistant tiles designed to stand the stresses of re-entry, and aims to return the upper stage to its landing site for the first time.

    The entire Starship stack, at 403ft (123 meters), is considerably larger and more powerful than Nasa’s Apollo-era Saturn V rocket that last took humans to the moon in 1972.

    Musk’s vision is a fully reusable space vehicle capable of repeated return trips to Mars beginning in late 2026 without astronauts, then with crews making the six-month space voyage as early as 2029. Ultimately, the SpaceX and Tesla founder aims to build a thriving city for humans on the red planet in the coming two to three decades.

    Experts say it is a hugely ambitious undertaking. First, Musk needs to prove SpaceX can launch and recover Starship’s components safely from short hops into the atmosphere, to say nothing of a journey to the moon.

    Only four Starship launches have been considered successful, although the company has made progress in recovering the first-stage Super Heavy rocket booster by capturing it in a giant pair of robotic arms nicknamed the chopsticks.

    SpaceX said it would not attempt to catch the booster from Sunday’s flight because the component would instead be used for in-flight experiments “to gather real-world performance data on future flight profiles and off-nominal scenarios”.

    skip past newsletter promotion

    In the eyes of investors, the mission is also a test of Musk’s commitment to focusing on his core businesses – space and electric vehicles – since leaving his controversial government job as head of the so-called department of government efficiency (Doge) in May. When he left the government, Musk said he would return to his businesses. He has since backtracked on the pledge and said he will start a new political party, though he may already be backing off the initiative.

    Ethics watchdogs have questioned Musk’s former role for the White House, in which he slashed tens of thousands of government jobs in the name of efficiency while preserving and benefiting from billions of dollars in federal contracts.

    Donald Trump said this month he planned to relax regulations that will allow Musk, and fellow billionaires with space ambitions such as the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, to avoid reviews previously required by the National Environmental Policy Act (Nepa) before launch permits can be granted.

    Authorities and environmentalists have expressed concerns over the environmental impacts of SpaceX operations in Mexico, after the explosion near its border in June, and in Hawaii, where authorities and environmentalists fear the impact on its sensitive marine ecosystem from new rules that will allow Musk to launch 25 Starship flights from Texas instead of just five.

    Continue Reading

  • From Surge to Stability: Telemedicine Use in Urology Four Years After the Pandemic

    From Surge to Stability: Telemedicine Use in Urology Four Years After the Pandemic


    Continue Reading

  • 5 Monster Stocks to Hold for the Next 10 Years — Including Nvidia and Palantir

    5 Monster Stocks to Hold for the Next 10 Years — Including Nvidia and Palantir

    Key Points

    I’m about to suggest some very promising “monster” stocks you might want to hold over the coming decade. They’re not all monster-ish in the same way, as you’ll see, but they each have great potential to deliver a monstrously wonderful performance in the years ahead.

    Read on, to see which one(s) seem like they’d be a good fit for you and your long-term portfolio.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »

    Image source: Getty Images.

    1. Palantir Technologies

    Let’s start with Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR), a specialist in artificial intelligence (AI) software. The most monstrous thing about it is its performance in recent years. For example, despite having sunk some 15%-plus in the past week, its average annual gain over the past three years is 165%! Over the past year, its shares have gained an incredible 385%. And year-to-date (it’s only August), they’ve more than doubled.

    That’s enough to make anyone want to jump into the stock, but hold on — because its valuation is also monstrous. Yes, if everything goes to plan, it could still serve investors well. But it’s priced for perfection, and things don’t always turn out perfectly. So I can’t recommend buying it now, but if you already own it, you might hold — or, to play it safer, perhaps sell part of your position to lock in those gains.

    In your deliberations, know that Palantir, co-founded by Trump ally Peter Thiel, has been favored by the Trump administration and its software may be helping it collect and process data on Americans and immigrants. The U.S. military is a big customer, too.

    2. DoorDash

    DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) also sports impressive trailing returns, averaging annual gains of 56% over the past three years. It, too, has seen its valuation grow quite high, with a recent price-to-sales ratio of 9.3, well above its five-year average of 4.2.

    It’s been growing well and now operates in some 30 countries. Its second-quarter earnings report featured total orders growing by 20% year over year to 761 million, and revenue rising by 25%. Management noted that “…solid execution helped us make our consumer experience more personalized, attract tens of thousands of new merchant partners, and reduce average delivery times. The improvements we made over the last few years continue to compound and helped drive accelerated [year-over-year] growth in monthly active users…”

    3. Nvidia

    Semiconductor specialist Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is another monster performer, averaging annual gains of 71% over the past five years and 77% over the past decade. Better still, it doesn’t seem wildly overvalued, like some other growth stocks. Its recent forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 39, for example, is on par with its five-year average — though that number is still on the high side.

    Nvidia has long been known as a gaming-chip semiconductor company, but it’s gotten a lot more involved in the AI boom and it’s been providing chips for data centers — which are increasingly needed for AI and other technologies. The company has cut some deals with the Trump administration that might serve it and its shareholders well, too.

    4. Altria Group

    The next monster stock is perhaps an unexpected one: tobacco giant Altria (NYSE: MO). Before you hit the snooze button, know that it’s up some 37% over the past year and it offers a fat dividend, recently yielding 6.1%. It’s been hiking that payout, too. Its total annual payout was recently $4.08 per share, for example, up from $3.00 in 2018 and $2.17 in 2015.

    This can be a great stock to buy and/or hold simply for the generous (and growing) income it provides. But it’s not a stock to buy and forget. Know that smoking rates in the U.S. have fallen considerably and that doesn’t bode well for Altria’s future. The company has been investing in smokeless products, though, which may make up for losses in cigarettes. (It has been having success in raising prices for its offerings, too.)

    5. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

    Finally, there’s Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM). It’s not just a giant semiconductor company — it’s a special one, because while most such companies only design chips, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing actually manufactures them. It’s the biggest chip maker by far — with a recent market share of 67.6%.

    The company’s growth potential is enormous, given that semiconductors are now used in all kinds of things, including cars and refrigerators — and AI, of course. The company expects its AI accelerator revenue to double in this year alone. But some worry that the Trump administration might want to take a bite out of its business.

    Give any or all of these stocks some consideration for your long-term portfolio. They might help your money grow like gangbusters.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Palantir Technologies right now?

    Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this:

    The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Palantir Technologies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

    Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $649,657!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,993!*

    Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,057% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

    See the 10 stocks »

    *Stock Advisor returns as of August 18, 2025

    Selena Maranjian has positions in Altria Group, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends DoorDash, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

    The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

    Continue Reading

  • 5 Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist and 1 to Avoid

    5 Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist and 1 to Avoid

    Key Points

    It will be a long, long time before someone racks up the investing credentials of Warren Buffett. The Oracle of Omaha led Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) for 60 years, and has said he plans to retire at the end of the year, a few months after celebrating his 95th birthday. Buffett’s legendary career led Berkshire to amass a 19.9% compounded annual gain since 1965, compared to the S&P 500‘s 10.4% gain.

    In that time Berkshire saw an overall gain of 5,550,000% versus the market’s 39,000% gain. That’s a huge return — and it shows the absolute power of compounded returns.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »

    Buffett’s career is closely followed, and he’s taken positions in some of the biggest and most well-known companies in the world — Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, and others. But he’s also making some quiet, deliberate investments in some under-the-radar companies — five of them in particular — that could be great investment opportunities. Let’s look at all five, plus a high-profile Buffett stock that I think you should avoid at all costs right now.

    Image source: The Motley Fool.

    Buffett’s five hidden gems

    In 2019, Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway took out positions in five Japanese-based trading houses: Itochu (OTC: ITOCF), (OTC: ITOCF), Marubeni (OTC: MARUY) (OTC: MARUF), Mitsubishi (OTC: MSBHF), Mitsui (OTC: MITSF) (OTC: MITSY), and Sumitomo (OTC: SSUM.Y) (OTC: SSUM.F). The companies are diverse conglomerates that work in a variety of fields in Japan and China, including industrial metals, energy, real estate, financial services, healthcare, consumer, and automotive.

    Each of them have a lot in common with Berkshire Hathaway itself, which got its start as a textile company before Buffett turned it into the conglomerate we know today.

    Buffett wrote at length about the Japanese sogo shosha in Berkshire’s 2024 letter to investors, saying:

    “We simply looked at their financial records and were amazed at the low prices of their stocks. As the years have passed, our admiration for these companies has consistently grown. (Incoming CEO) Greg (Abel) has met many times with them, and I regularly follow their progress. Both of us like their capital deployment, their managements and their attitude in respect to their investors. Each of the five companies increase dividends when appropriate, they repurchase their shares when it is sensible to do so, and their top managers are far less aggressive in their compensation programs than their U.S. counterparts.”

    Berkshire’s holdings in these companies is small compared to the full Berkshire portfolio, which has a value of $1.05 trillion. Currently, the companies have a collective market value of $28.6 billion, or only 2.7% of Berkshire’s holdings.

    However, that is sure to increase, even after Buffett steps down and Abel takes the helm. Buffett disclosed in his shareholder letter that Berkshire had originally promised to keep his interests in each of the Japanese trading houses below 10%, but now that Berkshire is approaching the limit in each, the sogo shosha are relaxing the ceilings, so Berkshire will likely continue to increase its shares, he says.

    Each of these companies have the valued Buffett stamp of approval, providing U.S. investors with an opportunity to diversify their portfolios into Asia while also collecting a consistent dividend.

    ITOCF Dividend Yield Chart

    ITOCF Dividend Yield data by YCharts

    A Buffett stock to avoid

    Not every stock can be a winner. And right now, Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) is taking it on the figurative chin. The stock is down 21% this year, with much of the drop coming last month after the company’s disastrous second quarter earnings report.

    In the report, Charter reported revenue of $13.7 billion, which was up only 0.6% from a year ago. But the market pulled back abruptly as the company’s earnings of $9.18 per share fell far short of analysts’ expectations for $9.58 per share.

    This really isn’t a new problem — Charter’s is struggling to grow revenue, with sales expected to increase only 2% in the next two years. The company’s biggest growth driver is its mobile service, which increased 24.9% on a year-over-year basis. But it brought in only $921 million in the quarter, which is only 6.6% of the company’s quarterly revenue. Meanwhile, the company’s cable service dropped 9.9% in revenue to $3.48 billion.

    To add insult to injury for income investors, Charter doesn’t even pay a dividend. Dividend stocks are a staple to Buffett’s portfolio, but Charter doesn’t do a good job of rewarding shareholders with a payout.

    The bottom line

    For investors, the lesson is simple: follow the principles, not the person. Buffett has always looked for undervalued businesses with strong fundamentals and management that believed in rewarding shareholders. The five Japanese trading houses fit the bill, and it’s no wonder that Buffett is excited to add to his positions there. Charter isn’t providing value right now — and I am wondering how long it will take for Buffett to shed its $284 million position.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Berkshire Hathaway right now?

    Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, consider this:

    The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Berkshire Hathaway wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

    Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $649,657!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,993!*

    Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,057% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

    See the 10 stocks »

    *Stock Advisor returns as of August 18, 2025

    Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Patrick Sanders has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

    The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

    Continue Reading

  • Prediction: Chamath Palihapitiya’s $250 Million SPAC Could Create the Next Palantir for America’s Energy Grid

    Prediction: Chamath Palihapitiya’s $250 Million SPAC Could Create the Next Palantir for America’s Energy Grid

    Key Points

    • Palihapitiya’s new SPAC focuses on four core themes: artificial intelligence (AI), energy production, crypto, and defense.

    • While there are limitless candidates for the new SPAC, one software startup stands out as a compelling opportunity — sharing some similarities with Palantir in its early days.

    • SPACs have been overly risky investments for quite some time, and Palihapitiya’s personal track record is mixed.

    • 10 stocks we like better than Palantir Technologies ›

    Remember when special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) dominated Wall Street headlines just a few years ago?

    At the center of the frenzy was Chamath Palihapitiya — better known on Wall Street as the “SPAC king”. A former executive at AOL and Meta Platforms turned billionaire venture capitalist (VC), Palihapitiya made his name taking bold bets on disruptive companies.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »

    For a while, SPACs seemed to fade quietly into the background of stock market activity. But just as investors began to write them off, Palihapitiya reignited the conversation with a new prospectus for his latest $250 million “blank check company”: American Exceptionalism Acquisition Corp. While details are limited at the moment, Palihapitiya has hinted at the kinds of businesses he’s targeting.

    Let’s break down what investors need to know about this SPAC, why Palihapitiya’s recent move matters, and which company I think could be on his radar — a potential candidate to become the next Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR).

    What is American Exceptionalism Acquisition Corp.?

    In the S-1 filing for American Exceptionalism Acquisition Corp., Palihapitiya outlines four core pillars he believes are essential to U.S. competitiveness — artificial intelligence (AI), decentralized finance (DeFi), defense, and energy production.

    At first glance, these may look like broad, boilerplate themes. But I see something deeper — a unifying thesis that ties together some of the biggest secular growth opportunities underpinning the American economy.

    Right now, the American economy is experiencing something akin to the Industrial Revolution thanks to the booming impacts of AI. But with any megatrend comes significant trade offs.

    For AI, the most pressing challenges are not software development or infrastructure manufacturing — it’s the strain on the U.S. power grid. Hyperscalers such as Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Oracle, and OpenAI are pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into data centers, each requiring massive amounts of electricity to operate at scale.

    And it’s not just the private sector. The U.S. government is moving aggressively with initiatives like Project Stargate, a $500 billion domestic infrastructure program designed to establish America’s digital transformation.

    Against this backdrop, I think Palihapitiya may be eyeing a start-up sitting at the intersection of his four pillars.

    Image source: Getty Images.

    What company could fit the bill for Chamath?

    In my eyes, Houston-based Amperon could be a natural fit for the American Exceptionalism SPAC.

    Amperon functions as an operating system for the power grid, offering AI-powered software that delivers real-time intelligence to utilities, energy traders, and large power buyers. Its platform enables decision-makers to forecast demand, renewable output, and wholesale prices with greater precision — addressing some of the most pressing challenges in the energy economy.

    In many respects, Amperon can be thought of as the Palantir of climate tech. Just as Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) synthesizes massive volumes of unstructured data and turns them into actionable insights for government agencies and large private enterprises, Amperon applies the same methodology to the grid. It translates fragmented inputs — from weather patterns or anomalies in demand surges — into a unified model for energy stakeholders.

    The company has also built strategic collaborations with Microsoft, National Grid, and Acario (part of Tokyo Gas). Much like Palantir’s early contracts, these partnerships have the potential to deepen and expand over time — embedding Amperon’s tools more firmly into data workflows.

    Both Amperon and Palantir demonstrate how AI-driven software layers can evolve into indispensable infrastructure. Where Palantir dominates defense and enterprise intelligence, Amperon is carving out a parallel role capturing energy, climate, and grid optimization.

    And because energy touches every sector, Amperon’s reach extends even further. Its intelligence platform could support crypto and DeFi protocols, where mining depends on reliable power sources, and strengthen defense applications, where resilient energy sources are critical to national security. This suggests that Amperon’s total addressable market (TAM) is far broader than it might initially appear.

    Ultimately, this vision aligns almost perfectly with the ethos of Palihapitiya’s new SPAC: backing companies at the intersection of AI, defense, DeFi, and energy — all rolled up and packaged into a compelling opportunity reshaping conscious capitalism.

    Remember to be careful with SPACs

    In the disclosure section of the prospectus, Palihapitiya reminds investors that they should only consider this SPAC if they can “embody the adage from President Trump that there can be ‘no crying in the casino.’” Harsh as it sounds, the warning is well placed.

    History hasn’t been kind to SPACs. A University of Florida study found that SPACs across nearly every major industry have consistently underperformed the broader market over the past decade.

    SPCE Chart

    SPCE data by YCharts

    Palihapitiya’s own track record underscores this risk. Aside from MP Materials and SoFi Technologies, most of his SPACs have been financial catastrophes. As an investor, he has also backed other high-profile deals that flamed out — including Desktop Metal and Berkshire Grey (both delisted) and Proterra and Sunlight Financial (both bankrupt).

    My take is to approach the new SPAC with measured optimism, while keeping Palihapitiya’s history of stewarding outside capital at the forefront of your thesis.

    American Exceptionalism’s converging focus on emerging themes across AI, defense, crypto, and energy might position it as a unique opportunity potentially poised for explosive growth. But smart investors understand that promise and hope are never true substitutes for prudent, disciplined investing.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Palantir Technologies right now?

    Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this:

    The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Palantir Technologies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

    Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $649,657!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,993!*

    Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,057% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

    See the 10 stocks »

    *Stock Advisor returns as of August 18, 2025

    Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Palantir Technologies, and SoFi Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Oracle, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends MP Materials and National Grid Plc and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

    The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

    Continue Reading