Category: 3. Business

Story Continues

Laureate Education (LAUR) shares edged slightly higher today, gaining around 0.2%. Investors might be taking note of the company’s solid year-to-date performance, as the stock has climbed over 64%.

See our latest analysis for Laureate Education.

Laureate Education’s momentum has clearly been building, with its share price return up 64.41% so far this year and a total shareholder return of 95.03% over the past twelve months. That recent strength follows several months of gains and signals that investors are increasingly upbeat about the company’s growth trajectory and long-term potential.

If this kind of momentum has you eager to spot the next growth story, now is a perfect moment to broaden your search and discover fast growing stocks with high insider ownership

But after such an impressive run, the key question for investors is whether Laureate Education remains undervalued or if market optimism has already priced in the bulk of its future growth potential.

Laureate Education’s most widely followed narrative points to a fair value estimate noticeably above the last close, suggesting room for further upside versus current levels. As anticipation mounts around the company’s recent upgrades and regional strategies, investors are watching how long-term assumptions stack up against the stock’s momentum.

Ongoing expansion into high-growth Latin American markets (Mexico, Peru) through new campus openings and targeted capacity investments leverages rising demand for private tertiary education. This approach is likely to drive sustained enrollment and revenue growth over the next several years.

Read the complete narrative.

What’s driving this bullish price? Hint: the narrative leans on ambitious projections for both top-line expansion and improving margins. This formula could recalibrate investor expectations. But what are the precise assumptions baked into these targets? Unlock the full story to see which future growth levers are underpinning the valuation call.

Result: Fair Value of $33.80 (UNDERVALUED)

Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what’s behind the forecasts.

However, risks remain, including the company’s reliance on Mexico and Peru, as well as the possibility that online growth could pressure tuition rates and margins.

Find out about the key risks to this Laureate Education narrative.

Feel like the story is missing something, or want to draw your own conclusions from the numbers? You can put together your own perspective in under three minutes. Do it your way.

A good starting point is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards investors are optimistic about regarding Laureate Education.

Seize the best opportunities by checking where the hottest growth, biggest yields, and groundbreaking tech are right now. These ideas are too good to miss, so get ahead of the crowd:

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include LAUR.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

(Bloomberg) — Policymakers in Washington and Ottawa will take the spotlight in the coming week, with interest-rate cuts in those two capitals likely while the rest of the Group of Seven stays on hold.

North America will probably be the main setting for monetary action as a global quartet of major central-bank decisions plays out over little more than 24 hours, starting Wednesday with widely anticipated quarter-point reductions from the US Federal Reserve and Bank of Canada.

The Bank of Japan, which is inching toward a potential rate hike, is predicted to hold off on such a move the following day, while European Central Bank officials have firmly signaled that their own meeting won’t lead to any further easing for now. The following week, the Bank of England is likely to keep its rate steady as officials await the government’s budget.

The impetus for action in North America reflects how worries about economic growth and the labor market on both sides side of the US-Canadian border are acute enough to justify immediate moves — even though policymakers remain focused on the danger of possible inflation pressure.

Across the Group of Seven industrialized nations as a whole, however, officials remain tentative, watching the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on global growth while gauging the domestic strength of consumer prices.

Aside from Japan’s slow push to tighten monetary policy, the current bias remains toward possible rate cuts, though without urgency. The outlook may become clearer by the final round of rate meetings for the year among G-7 members, in December.

What Bloomberg Economics Says:

“Fed Chair Jerome Powell will likely characterize the cut as insurance against downside risks to employment. While the government shutdown has delayed official data, alternative data suggest continued downside risks to employment. Policymakers have little reason to adjust their outlook from September, keeping another cut on the table for December.”

—Anna Wong, Stuart Paul, Eliza Winger, Estelle Ou, Chris G. Collins and Troy Durie, economists. For full analysis, click here

Elsewhere, inflation numbers from Australia to the euro zone, Chinese purchasing manager indexes and rate decisions in Chile and Colombia will be among the week’s highlights.

Meanwhile, Trump’s latest moves on trade will also be in focus. The US president is slated to meet a host of Asian leaders during his three-nation tour of the region, with a Thursday sit-down with Chinese President Xi Jinping watched most closely.

His visit coincides with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia and that of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in South Korea. He’ll also have a stopover in Tokyo.

Click here for what happened in the past week, and below is our wrap of what’s coming up in the global economy.

US and Canada

Friday’s mostly favorable September inflation data reinforced widespread expectations that the Fed will cut rates by another quarter point. Most officials are now primarily concerned by signs of weakness in the labor market, many also remain deeply uncomfortable with the current level of inflation.

In addition to lowering rates, policymakers may also halt the runoff of Treasury securities from the central bank’s balance sheet. Money markets have flashed warnings that a continued runoff might soon imperil overnight liquidity.

Economic data releases in the coming week will be sparse given the ongoing government shutdown. On Tuesday, the Conference Board is expected to report that consumer confidence retreated for a third straight month amid anxiety about jobs. National Association of Realtors data due Wednesday is projected to show a gauge of contract signings for previously owned homes increased as mortgage rates eased.

For more, read Bloomberg Economics’ full Week Ahead for the US The Bank of Canada is seen cutting its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 2.25% on Wednesday, despite recent inflation and jobs reports surprising to the upside.

Policymakers are likely to conclude that headline inflation of 2.4% and core measures averaging 3.15% are contained enough to justify delivering aid to the tariff-bruised economy.

On Friday, Statistics Canada will report gross domestic product by industry for August and a flash estimate for September. The data is likely to point to tepid third-quarter growth after expenditure-based figures showed a contraction between April and June.

Asia

The final week of October brings a wave of inflation, trade and confidence readings that will indicate how solid the region’s recovery remains as central banks pivot toward easier policy settings.

The spotlight falls first on Australia, where the third-quarter inflation print on Wednesday will shape expectations for the Reserve Bank’s Nov. 4 rate decision. Price pressures have eased overall, but sticky services costs and a recent firming in goods may keep policymakers cautious.

Attention will then turn to the Bank of Japan, where Thursday’s meeting caps months of speculation about the timing of further normalization. A majority of economists in a Bloomberg survey predict the BOJ will leave its benchmark rate unchanged on Thursday at the end of its two-day policy meeting after Sanae Takaichi, known as an advocate of monetary easing, became Japan’s prime minister.

There’ll be a focus on the vote split within the nine-member policy board, though. The BOJ surprised investors at its September meeting with two dissenters calling for a hike.

Japan’s central bank will also release its quarterly economic outlook, together with a policy statement. Some economists say any notable change could hint at the possibility of a near-term rate shift.

The Japanese jobless rate and industrial output along with Tokyo CPI figures due on Friday will further sharpen the economic picture.

China’s official PMIs arrive the same day, and are likely to show factory sentiment improving only marginally despite fiscal and credit support. Earlier in the week, China publishes industrial profits while Thailand will get customs data. Pakistan’s central bank is expected to leave rates at 11% on Monday.

Across Southeast Asia, trade will anchor the flow of news. Thailand and the Philippines report export and import figures that will test whether global demand for electronics and consumer goods remains strong.

South Korea publishes retail sales and department store sales for September as well as consumer confidence and industrial production that will capture the tug-of-war between improving exports and hesitant domestic consumption.

For more, read Bloomberg Economics’ full Week Ahead for Asia Europe, Middle East, Africa

The ECB’s decision on Thursday will be taken amid the Renaissance splendor of Florence, as Italy hosts one of the central bank’s annual policy meetings away from headquarters in Frankfurt.

It’s likely to be uneventful as officials reaffirm their deposit rate at 2%. New forecasts aren’t scheduled until December. President Christine Lagarde’s comments will be scrutinized for any hints at the possibility of a further cut at that point.

Hours before the outcome, growth data from across the region will highlight the damage wrought so far from Trump’s tariffs. The euro zone probably eked out growth of just 0.1% during the third quarter, according to the median forecast of economists.

Officials will need to wait until Friday for the latest reading of inflation in the region. Weakening in both the headline measure and the underlying core gauge toward the 2% target is predicted by forecasters, which would offer some comfort to policymakers.

Among the national reports scheduled, Germany may be the most prominent. Its Ifo business gauge on Monday is seen showing only mild improvement at the start of the fourth quarter, while data on Thursday will probably reveal no growth in the prior three months.

Meanwhile, chronic political instability in Paris may have had only a limited impact on France’s economy so far. Expansion there, to be revealed in its report on Thursday, is forecast to have slowed slightly in the third quarter, to 0.2%.

Investors will watch closely as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu attempts to negotiate a budget with a fractured National Assembly. He’s already been forced to ditch President Emmanuel Macron’s signature pension reform in order to cling to power, and may yet have to offer the Socialists more concessions while attempting to keep France on the long road to fiscal repair.

The outcome of elections in the Netherlands on Wednesday may also draw market attention in the region. The snap poll was triggered by the collapse of Premier Dick Schoof’s coalition government.

Elsewhere in the European Union, Bulgaria’s government may publish its budget bill for next year, seeking to keep its deficit within the bloc’s 3%-of-output goal despite challenging circumstances.

The Swiss National Bank, confronting the franc’s approach to near decade-highs against the euro, will release nine-month earnings on Friday that may reveal a potential swing to profit.

The UK has a quieter time ahead, with BOE officials on the sidelines in advance of their meeting the following week. Mortgage approvals are among the few reports due. Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her November budget a month, so noise and speculation about its contents may pick up.

Further afield, a recession in Botswana will likely see policymakers leave their key rate unchanged at 1.9% on Thursday to support the economy.

For more, read Bloomberg Economics’ full Week Ahead for EMEA Latin America

Brazil’s market readout and Mexico’s September trade data get the week rolling, right into Tuesday’s rate decision in Chile.

Chile’s economy is downshifting but inflation is running above the top of the central bank’s target range and is sticky, likely kicking any fourth-quarter reduction in borrowing costs down the road to the December policy meeting.

From there, officials may have as many as two quarter-point cuts left for 2026, especially should inflation grind lower to 3% in the third quarter, as the bank has forecast.

Mexico on Thursday kicks off region’s third-quarter output reports. The flash reading may show negative quarterly and annual readings as declines in manufacturing outweigh resilient household consumption.

Most analysts are on board with the central bank’s view that the economy will pick up into year end — Banxico has revised its 2025 GDP estimate to 0.6% from 0.1% previously.

Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile all post unemployment readings for September, following the month’s 5.7% surprise from Peru’s megacity capital of Lima.

Monetary policy closes out the week, with the split board at Colombia’s BanRep confronted by some uncooperative inflation readings.

The country’s president, Gustavo Petro, is pushing for lower rates to bolster growth, while one central banker at mid-month went so far as to say that — given unanchored expectations — a rate hike “is on the table.” Analysts are tuning out the jawboning and look for a fourth straight hold at 9.25%.

For more, read Bloomberg Economics’ full Week Ahead for Latin America –With assistance from Swati Pandey, Robert Jameson, Monique Vanek, Mark Evans, Laura Dhillon Kane, Christopher Condon, Vince Golle, Piotr Skolimowski, Alexander Weber and William Horobin.

©2025 Bloomberg L.P.

Interventional cardiology will be in the spotlight during TCT 2025 in San Francisco and amongst the Featured Clinical Research are presentations looking at outcomes in patients following coronary procedures and the risk of radiation for operators.

A substudy from the randomized FAME 3 trial, simultaneously published in JACC, found that PCI was more cost-effective than CABG in 1,500 patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease, while quality-adjusted life-years were similar at five years in the two groups (4.05 vs. 4.03, respectively). PCI was guided by fractional flow reserve and zotarolimus drug-eluting stents were implanted.

Researchers reported that cumulative costs over five years were 30% higher in patients randomized to CABG ($36,990 vs. $25,667 for PCI; p<0.001).

No significant difference was observed for all-cause mortality or for a composite outcome of mortality, myocardial infarction or stroke. More patients who were younger than 65 when they had a CABG vs. PCI were still working at five years (56% vs. 47%).

“The equal survival rates at five-years in FAME 3 means there was no long-term survival benefit from CABG to justify its substantially higher costs, which is the main reason we found PCI to be the more cost-effective alternative, both at five years and in lifetime projections,” write study investigators Mark A. Hlatky, MD, FACC; Victoria Ding, MS; et al.

The DOSE study, simultaneously published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, found no significant differences in the amount of radiation exposure of operators who used a strategy of left distal radial access (DRA) vs. right transradial access (TRA) during coronary procedures.

Conducted at three sites in South Korea, this prospective, open-label trial randomized patients who were undergoing a coronary procedure to DRA (n=501) or right TRA (n=500).

The radiation dose in the left DRA and right TRA groups was 4.76 vs. 5.20 μSv (p=0.342) measured at the left wrist, 2.00 vs. 1.83 μSv (p=0.416) measured at the head and 1.28 vs. 1.07 μSv (p=0.199) measured at the chest.

Looking a secondary endpoints, investigators found no significant differences in the incidence of crossover (6.6% vs. 5.2%), fluoroscopy time (4.5 vs. 4.2 min), procedure time (16.0 vs. 15.0 min) or contrast volume (80 Ml for both).

“The present study is of particular significance in that it provides direct evidence that left DRA does not increase radiation exposure compared to right TRA,” write study authors Oh-Hyun Lee, MD; Ji Woong Roh, MD, PhD, et al. “This finding suggests that radiation hazard should not be considered a limiting factor for the adoption of left DRA in routine clinical practice.”

Clinical Topics:
Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Care Team, Invasive Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Atherosclerotic Disease (CAD/PAD), Aortic Surgery, Interventions and Coronary Artery Disease

Keywords:
Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics, TCT25, Drug-Eluting Stents, Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial, Coronary Artery Disease, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Coronary Artery Bypass

The weakest consumers are increasingly struggling, and debt investors are starting to take notice.

While many asset-backed securities tied to subprime auto lending are relatively steady, risk premiums have surged in some of the lowest-rated bonds over the last three months, widening by 0.75 percentage point over Treasuries, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

• In the past week, Meta Platforms announced the layoff of about 600 employees from its artificial intelligence and Superintelligence divisions, following CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s push to accelerate AI development after mixed results from recent language model releases.

• At the same time, Meta is moving forward with major investments in new data centers and infrastructure partnerships, highlighting a clear shift from its earlier focus on the metaverse to artificial intelligence as its central area for growth and efficiency.

• We’ll examine how Meta’s simultaneous workforce restructuring and expansion of AI infrastructure could reshape its investment narrative heading into earnings season.

AI is about to change healthcare. These 33 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part – they are all under $10b in market cap – there’s still time to get in early.

To own Meta Platforms, you have to believe its pivot to AI will drive sustained growth in advertising and new revenue streams, while keeping expenses and margin pressure in check. The recent layoffs in Meta’s AI and Superintelligence divisions may streamline decision-making, but do not appear material to the company’s biggest near-term catalyst, successful AI-driven ad monetization, nor to the most important risk, which remains escalating capital expenditure outpacing revenue growth.

Among the latest announcements, Meta’s joint venture with Blue Owl Capital to fund the $27 billion Hyperion data center stands out. This move reinforces Meta’s commitment to AI infrastructure and may help fuel future engagement and advertising gains, tying directly into the company’s main catalyst: enhanced AI-enabled ad performance.

By contrast, what investors should not overlook is how much Meta’s rising data center and AI spending could start to …

Read the full narrative on Meta Platforms (it’s free!)

Meta Platforms’ outlook anticipates $275.9 billion in revenue and $92.1 billion in earnings by 2028. This is based on an expected annual revenue growth rate of 15.6% and a $20.6 billion increase in earnings from the current $71.5 billion.

Uncover how Meta Platforms’ forecasts yield a $863.20 fair value, a 17% upside to its current price.

Fair value estimates from 100 Simply Wall St Community members range from US$538 to over US$1,100 per share. Many are closely watching whether Meta’s surge in AI and data center investment translates into sustainable profit growth or places further pressure on cash flows.

Explore 100 other fair value estimates on Meta Platforms – why the stock might be worth as much as 49% more than the current price!

Disagree with existing narratives? Create your own in under 3 minutes – extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd.

Our daily scans reveal stocks with breakout potential. Don’t miss this chance:

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include META.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

• Astera Labs recently announced a collaboration with Arm Total Design to integrate its Intelligent Connectivity Platform with Arm Neoverse Compute Subsystems, aiming to streamline custom AI infrastructure chiplet solutions for clients seeking multi-protocol connectivity.

• This move highlights Arm Holdings’ expanding influence across the AI hardware supply chain, signaling growing adoption of its technologies in custom architectures beyond traditional markets.

• We’ll explore how Arm’s new partnerships in AI data center hardware may impact the company’s long-term investment case and market positioning.

Rare earth metals are the new gold rush. Find out which 37 stocks are leading the charge.

To be a shareholder in Arm Holdings, you need conviction that Arm’s ongoing expansion into AI infrastructure and custom chip solutions can successfully offset potential saturation in its core smartphone markets. The recent Astera Labs collaboration strengthens Arm’s industry partnerships but does not materially change the near-term focus on ramping AI data center design wins as the main catalyst, nor does it resolve the execution risks tied to diversification and rising R&D expenses.

Among recent announcements, the partnership with Astera Labs is the most relevant because it boosts Arm’s ability to embed its Neoverse Compute Subsystems in next-generation AI hardware. This underscores Arm’s growing footprint in custom architectures, directly tying into the current catalyst of gaining AI data center share, even as execution risk, particularly in new, complex verticals, remains front of mind for investors.

Yet, it’s worth contrasting that expanded opportunity with the ongoing risk that major customers could…

Read the full narrative on Arm Holdings (it’s free!)

Arm Holdings’ narrative projects $7.4 billion revenue and $2.3 billion earnings by 2028. This requires 21.5% yearly revenue growth and a $1.6 billion earnings increase from $699 million currently.

Uncover how Arm Holdings’ forecasts yield a $155.61 fair value, a 9% downside to its current price.

Compared to the consensus, the most optimistic analysts see Arm’s data center share soaring and forecast US$8.6 billion in revenues by 2028. They expect Arm’s industry partnerships and AI momentum could drive revenue and margin acceleration, though emerging competition and rising R&D costs suggest these bullish assumptions might face more volatility. As you weigh your own view, keep in mind just how wide the range of possible futures for Arm could be.

Explore 17 other fair value estimates on Arm Holdings – why the stock might be worth less than half the current price!

Disagree with existing narratives? Create your own in under 3 minutes – extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd.

• A great starting point for your Arm Holdings research is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards that could impact your investment decision.

• Our free Arm Holdings research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual – the Snowflake – making it easy to evaluate Arm Holdings’ overall financial health at a glance.

Our daily scans reveal stocks with breakout potential. Don’t miss this chance:

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include ARM.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

TotalEnergies is close to restarting one of Africa’s biggest energy projects four years after it was halted by a terrorist attack, with the French group and its partners judging that it is safe to proceed.

The $20bn plan for a liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique has been on hold since 2021 when a deadly attack by Islamist militants in the Cabo Delgado province where the project is located prompted TotalEnergies to activate a contractual get-out, known as force majeure.

On Saturday, Total said that the consortium behind the project had “taken the decision to lift the Force Majeure” and that it had informed the Mozambican government.

The decision is a key step towards resuming a project that has been touted as potentially transformative for Mozambique’s economy. Also backed by Japanese energy company Mitsui, the project will have a maximum capacity of up to 43mn tons of LNG per year.

Mozambique’s government must approve updates to the budget for the project, known as MozambiqueLNG, before it is relaunched, Total added.

MozambiqueLNG has been backed with loans from countries including the US government and is strategically important project for Total, as it seeks to increase its production of LNG.

Following the 2021 attack, Mozambique’s military collaborated with Rwandan forces to restore order to the province, including protecting the Afungi Peninsula where the Total-led project and a $30bn development led by US oil company ExxonMobil are based.

Lifting of force majeure is a positive development for Exxon’s planned project. Last month the company’s chief executive Darren Woods sought reassurances from Mozambican president Daniel Chapo about security of the region.

TotalEnergies move to lift force majeure is a signal that concerns over the safety of employees and the security of the project have eased.

Despite the potential economic benefits of MozambiqueLNG, it has been dogged by controversy, including allegations of human rights abuses by Mozambican soldiers protecting the project.

This year, the FT reported that the UK government was seeking legal advice over how to pull out of its $1.15bn backing for the project, while it has also commissioned a human rights review of the development.

When I travel, I don’t just want to sample new foods, I want to see how they’re made. I love peeking into kitchens and observing the daily habits and techniques of local cooks, which always include some new-to-me gadgets or implements less common in the United States. After my first trip to France, for example, I convinced myself I needed a Nespresso machine and a breadboard for morning tartines and coffee. The habit stuck.

Nowadays, if I am shopping for souvenirs, I’m likely browsing the shelves at a local culinary store to see what I can tuck into my luggage, or I am taking mental notes for what to search for when I get back home. But you don’t need to leave the country to find inspiration or get your hands on some genius culinary tools that many Americans haven’t yet embraced. Here are some of my favorites and why chefs around the world find them indispensable.

All prices current at the time of publication.

Terracotta cazuela (Spain)

$59 at La Tienda

From pintxo and tapas bars to more elaborate restaurants, the fairly inexpensive and very versatile terracotta cazuela is one of the most commonly used vessels I saw in Spain’s restaurants. “I mostly use it for recipes that need gentle, consistent heat–like albóndigas en salsa, fabes con almejas, or even gambas al ajillo,” says Guillermo Varela de Limia Muñoz, chef at Cooking From Spain.

It can go from stovetop and oven directly to the table, and comes in a multitude of sizes. Grab a handful of petite ones for serving olives, nuts or condiments, medium ones for appetizers, or larger ones for making stews and casseroles, or simply serving as a tray for chips during a party.

Crepe pan (France)

$50.47 at Amazon

We love crepes in our house, so I lugged a large aluminum Tefal crepe pan purchased from a French supermarket back to the states in my suitcase. “The flatness of the pan will ensure even cooking, and also allows for the use of a râteau (like a tiny wooden rake) to spread your crêpes and galettes like a pro,” says Omid Tavallai, the owner of Paris-based purveyor Emperor Norton. “It may be a specialty pan, but it’s also extremely flat, so it won’t take too much storage space in the kitchen.”

It’s no one-trick pony either; the large surface can be used as a griddle for pancakes and bacon or as a comal for heating tortillas. The induction-ready pan I bought isn’t available in the US market, but I have used this Tefal Elegance pan many times at my mother-in-law’s house on a gas hob with consistently excellent results. And because it’s nonstick, a quick hand wash with warm, soapy water is all it takes to get clean.

Nakiri knife (Japan)

$163.95 at Shun

$163.95 at Williams Sonoma

There is a Japanese knife for every task, and for cutting vegetables it’s a Nakiri. “The way we cut ingredients directly affects how they feel when eaten,” says Shota Nakajima, Top Chef finalist and owner of Seattle-based restaurants Taku and Kobo. “Slicing through the fibers rather than tearing or crushing them keeps vegetables crisp, helps them absorb seasoning evenly, and brings out a more delicate mouthfeel.”

Built like a miniature cleaver, its flat edge ensures full contact with the cutting board, making it perfect for straight-down, clean cuts without requiring a rocking motion (unlike western chef’s knives). The Premier Nakiri from Shun is made of 68 layers of stainless Damascus steel cladding, making it extra durable and resistant to corrosion. A full-tang blade and finished Pakkawood handle ensure optimal control, whether you’re slicing tomatoes, julienning carrots, or creating thin sheets of daikon or cucumber using a katsuramuki cut.

Stainless steel chopsticks (Korea)

$4 at Crate & Barrel

I grew up using the long, plastic chopsticks commonly found at Chinese restaurants, or Japanese lacquered wood chopsticks, which require careful hand-washing and drying. In Korea, metal chopsticks are more common, as they were originally used by royals and were eventually embraced by the general public. “Metal chopsticks are less porous than wood chopsticks and don’t absorb bacteria,” says SuYeon Lee, owner of Palace Cooking, a Korean cooking school in Seoul. “It’s considered more hygienic since communal eating is central to Korean culture.”

Since they are sturdy and easier to keep clean, I sought out a set immediately. While it is challenging to find flat stainless chopsticks in the US like those commonly seen in Seoul, the squarish shape of this pair is easier to handle for most people. High-quality stainless steel makes them dishwasher safe, ensuring that they will make it through the wash unscathed and sparkling clean.

Electric kettle (UK)

$150 at Saki

$150 at Amazon

According to my British friends, microwaving water for tea is a mortal sin – they insisted I needed an electric kettle. “The only way to prepare good tea is by pouring water at the correct temperature onto the loose leaves or teabag,” says Jane Pettigrew, a tea historian and the director of studies of the UK Tea Academy. “A well-designed, reliable, temperature-controlled kettle can be set to reach the most suitable temperature for each chosen tea.”

Enter the Saki Luna Kettle Pro, with its sleek, modern design and stainless steel interior. This model checks all the boxes, with a variable temperature control and seven presets that come in handy when you’re switching between hot beverages. Additionally, you can toggle the digital display between celsius and fahrenheit, depending on your preference. I use this kettle daily, for making pour-over coffee, tea, and heating water to add when cooking, so I don’t drop the temperature of what is already in the pot.

Tortilla press (Mexico)

$95 at Masienda

I watched street taco vendors in Puerto Vallarta and Ensenada churn out little corn tortillas to order, and I decided I needed to up my tortilla game at home. “A metal tortilla press is always the best, the heavier the better,” advises Fátima Juárez, chef and co-owner of Komal in Los Angeles. “The heavy weight will help with even distribution when pressing the masa flat into your desired thickness.”

skip past newsletter promotion

after newsletter promotion

That said, the Masienda Tortilla Press is a hefty and sturdy version that is also wonderfully ergonomic, making it easy to press balls of masa into the perfect base for your favorite taco fillings. This press comes in a variety of festive colors, as well as solid black, if you’re like me and prefer to match your tools to your existing kitchen appliances. If you have a gas stove or barbecue grill, you can also pick up a Masienda x Made In Comal to cook up to four taco-sized tortillas at a time.

Moka pot (Italy)

$64.99 at Macy’s

$64.99 at Amazon

If you appreciate a simple but bold cup of coffee, you may understand why the moka pot is a fixture in many Italian homes. “It produces a coffee that satisfies Italy’s espresso-loving palate,” says Alberto Polojac, Bloom Coffee School’s director and the 2018 winner of the Professional Moka Challenge. “In many ways, it bridges the gap between home brewing and the espresso bar, bringing a taste of the Italian cafe ritual into the kitchen.”

Its compact design makes it easy to store in a kitchen lacking in storage space, and it requires no special expertise to use. Just fill the bottom chamber with water, add grounds to the coffee basket, and put it on the stove, and in minutes, you’ll have a seriously strong cup ready to go.

Pepper mill (France)

$69 at Crate & Barrel

I haven’t used pre-ground black pepper in years, thanks to my Peugeot Paris Bistro Pepper Mill. I love its rounded shape and hefty weight; it has multiple grind options and looks great sitting on the countertop. “Everyone’s got room for a pepper mill,” says Tavallai. “Not only can you have freshly ground pepper on top of your dishes, you can choose what kind of pepper you want to fill your mill with. Kampot, Penja, Tellicherry, the world – or at least the global south – is your oyster.”

I bought the walnut finish version 13 years ago, and though the wood finish is a bit worn, its mechanism – backed by a lifetime warranty – is still going strong. Since I keep multiple types of black pepper on hand, I recently purchased the same model, this time in durable stainless steel.

Clay tagine (Morocco)

Named after the North African stew that it is intended to cook, the Moroccan Cooking Tagine has been around for more than 2,000 years. “It isn’t just a cooking vessel, it’s a symbol of how we approach food: slow, generous, and deeply layered in flavor,” says Nargisse Benkabbou, chef and author of Casablanca: My Moroccan Food. Like a Dutch oven, it maintains heat well and keeps moisture and aromas contained during the cooking process.

Moroccan Cooking Tagine For Two

$60 at Verve Culture

When looking for a tagine, take note of its construction. According to Benkabbou, it needs a snug-fitting lid to trap steam, and the clay must be dense yet slightly porous, allowing the food to cook gently and evenly while keeping moisture in. This modern version doesn’t require the same curing and care as its terracotta cousin, though either option makes for a beautiful serving presentation – the conical lid helps keep food warm and also adds a little flourish when removed to reveal its contents.

Emile Henry French Ceramic Tagine

$134.95 at Amazon

$149.95 at Williams Sonoma

Quality tea towels (France)

$17.97 at Amazon

$23.67 at Walmart

Available in a multitude of designs, tea towels are one of my favorite souvenirs to bring home from France. Made of cotton jacquard, they are both beautiful and functional. “Torchons are plentiful in any professional French kitchen and should be at home,” says Tavallai. “They’re inexpensive and versatile, and having a neatly folded stack of them within easy reach makes any kitchen feel that much more organized.” Whether I’m drying dishes, wiping hands, covering rising bread dough or grasping a hot lid handle, I use them in some capacity every single day. Even with frequent laundering, they keep their color and shape nicely for years on end.

Story Continues