Category: What I’m Reading Today

Be in the know. 14 key reads for Monday…

  1. Oil jumps 10% on Iran conflict and could spike to $100 a barrel, analysts say (reuters)
  2. Oil Prices Could Rise Further on Hormuz Delays, Analysts Say (bloomberg)
  3. The Strait of Hormuz crisis explained: What it means for global shipping (cnbc)
  4. Morgan Stanley’s Wilson Says Iran Unlikely to Dent Bullish View (bloomberg)
  5. Stifel sees transport stocks benefiting from Iran developments (investing)
  6. Iran conflicts just adds to wall of worry for U.S. stocks, says Citi strategist (marketwatch)
  7. Are We Still In the Early Innings of a Massive Emerging Market Rotation? (zerohedge)
  8. Goldman Sachs upgrades Alibaba stock on AI-driven cloud growth (investing)
  9. Alibaba unifies large model brand under Qwen (techinasia)
  10. China’s annual parliament meet to unveil roadmap for tech race with the West (reuters)
  11. Chinese AI Firm MiniMax More Than Doubles Revenue in First Post-IPO Results (wsj)
  12. Mizuho raises Dentsply Sirona stock price target on restructuring (investing)
  13. 2026 Jeep Cherokee hybrid makes a strong return (usatoday)
  14. Ex-Goldman CEO Fears ‘Reckoning’ As Private Credit Chases Main Street (bloomberg)

Be in the know. 14 key reads for Sunday…

  1. Altra Builds Super Feet in the Era of Super Shoes (vfc)
  2. China’s Record-Long Spring Festival Holiday Sparks Travel and Offline Entertainment Boom (alizila)
  3. China’s Policy Summit Puts Tech, Stimulus in Focus for Investors (bloomberg)
  4. Qwen to unveil AI smart glasses at MWC 2026, plans global rollout of AI hardware lineup (technode)
  5. All things considered, the outlook is getting brighter (scottgrannis)
  6. More Homeowners Have a Rate Above 6% Than a Rate Below 3% For the First Time in 5 Years (redfin)
  7. Fed Plans To Release Sweeping Bank‑Capital Rule By Late March: Top Regulator (zerohedge)
  8. The AI boom is really an energy story (fastcompany)
  9. Will Data Centers Overload The Power Grid? (worth)
  10. $100 oil? Prolonged Hormuz closure could spark a 1970s-style energy shock (cnbc)
  11. Three Questions Emerging from the QXO-Kodiak Acquisition (roofingcontractor)
  12. Hormel Foods taps first CTO to drive enterprise IT, data strategy (ciodive)
  13. Markets are churning furiously beneath the surface (economist)
  14. Cox Automotive Forecast: February New-Vehicle Sales Rebound from Weather-Hit January but Fall Short of Last Year (coxauto)

Be in the know. 14 key reads for Saturday…

  1. US Crude Oil Production Hit Six-Month Low in December, EIA Says (bloomberg)
  2. Hedge Funds Hike Bullish Oil Bets to 22-Month High on Iran Risks (bloomberg)
  3. U.S. and Israel Attack Iran. What It Means for Oil Prices. (barrons)
  4. Buried in Stargate’s Permits: A Generator Engine Almost No One Sells. Except Generac. (hunterbrook)
  5. Soaring Electricity Demand Meets Gas Turbine Shortage (zerohedge)
  6. Can New Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Weather AI, Revitalize ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel and Save the Magic Kingdom? (variety)
  7. US construction spending increases in line with expectations in December (reuters)
  8. Trump Tells Buyers Priced Out of Housing: ‘Wait a Little Longer’ (bloomberg)
  9. Yields Dive Below 4%, Bond Spreads Hit Yearly Highs as Traders Get Spooked (barrons)
  10. Average IRS tax refund is up 10.2%, based on early filing data (cnbc)
  11. UBS downgrades U.S. tech to neutral, prefers China and Europe (streetinsider)
  12. MWC 2026: Alibaba to launch new smart glasses powered by Qwen AI assistant (scmp)
  13. Tech Has Never Caused a Job Apocalypse. Don’t Bet on It Now. (wsj)
  14. AI Hurtles Ahead (oaktree)

Be in the know. 16 key reads for Friday…

  1. U.S. Mortgage Rates Fall Below 6% for First Time in Years (nytimes)
  2. Trump’s Push to Make Homes More Affordable Needs the Banks to Play Ball (wsj)
  3. The AI Trade Is Alive and Living in Industrials, Small-Caps, and Asia (barrons)
  4. AI and Tech Stocks Are in Trouble. Look to These Other Sectors, Says This Veteran Strategist. (barrons)
  5. AI Capex Fueling Strongest EM Earnings in Two Decades, MS Says (bloomberg)
  6. BofA’s Hartnett sees international stocks beating U.S. this decade (investing)
  7. China Gets a Major Reprieve on Tariffs. Don’t Expect a Reversal. (barrons)
  8. Yes, consumers in China are consuming again. It’s just not their No. 1 priority these days. (marketwatch)
  9. Restaurants emerge as bright spot for US job growth as consumers seek treats (reuters)
  10. Papa John’s International Closing Hundreds of Pizza Shops (wsj)
  11. Hormel’s Turnaround Gains Traction in Face of Continued Headwinds (wsj)
  12. Baxter at Citi’s MedTech Day: Strategic Shifts Amidst Challenges (investing)
  13. Boeing Lifts Africa’s Aircraft Order Outlook on Strong Growth (bloomberg)
  14. Fed’s Miran Says Four Cuts Are Appropriate This Year (wsj)
  15. Howard Marks Says Great Investors Are Strong Where AI Is Weakest (bloomberg)
  16. Block shares soar as much as 24% as company slashes workforce by nearly half (cnbc)

Be in the know. 15 key reads for Thursday…

  1. Hormel Posts Higher Profit, Sales Amid Turnaround (wsj)
  2. Papa Johns Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results (papajohns)
  3. Shipping Industry Sends Strong Consumer Demand Signal For The Year (wsj)
  4. UBS Sees 20% Upside for China Stocks on Reflationary Potential (bloomberg)
  5. China holiday spending sends a strong signal on consumer stimulus plans (cnbc)
  6. Chinese AI glasses sales surge on strong demand (techinasia)
  7. Hong Kong home prices continue recovery as analysts forecast 2026 increase of at least 10% (reuters)
  8. Yuan Extends Advance to Mark Longest Winning Streak Since 2010 (bloomberg)
  9. Slowing US Shale Growth Has Fracking Companies Finding New Markets Abroad (bloomberg)
  10. Lamborghini abandons full EVs, pivots to hybrids. Here’s why (usatoday)
  11. US probably shed jobs last year, top Federal Reserve official says (ft)
  12. Trump Proposed a New Retirement Plan With Up to a $1,000 Match. How Might It Work? (nytimes)
  13. AI Doom Overstated: Citadel Says Historical Precedent Suggests Slow Adoption, Economic Resilience (zerohedge)
  14. Markets Didn’t Need Citrini’s AI Dystopia. They’ve Feared New Tech for Decades. (barrons)
  15. Why Nvidia’s Huge Numbers Don’t Settle the Latest AI Fears (wsj)

Be in the know. 18 key reads for Wednesday…

  1. Diageo’s New CEO Wants Distiller to Get Back to Serving Drinkers (bloomberg)
  2. Diageo Cuts Guidance as New CEO Targets Portfolio Growth (wsj)
  3. Payments Processor Stripe Expresses Interest in PayPal (bloomberg)
  4. Stripe May Be Looking to Buy PayPal. What It Means for the Stock. (barrons)
  5. Pfizer wins full FDA approval for Braftovi in colon cancer (investing)
  6. Dentsply Sirona adds two directors with healthcare finance experience (investing)
  7. US Mortgage Rates Reach Lowest Since 2022, Boosting Refinancing (bloomberg)
  8. U.S. Home-Price Growth Slows In December (wsj)
  9. Lowe’s Sales Rise on Pro Builder Business Growth (wsj)
  10. Alibaba Pushes Deeper Into AI Coding Tools With Low-Cost Access (bloomberg)
  11. US investors increase buying of Hong Kong, mainland Chinese stocks despite trade tensions (scmp)
  12. These Are the Winners and Losers From Hong Kong’s 2026 Budget (bloomberg)
  13. Trump makes little mention of China in the longest State of the Union speech (cnbc)
  14. Trump’s Tariff Goes Into Effect at 10 Percent, Not the 15 Threatened (nytimes)
  15. The Anti-AI Trade Is Red Hot. Here’s What’s Beating Artificial-Intelligence Stocks. (barrons)
  16. A Turning Point Approaches for Big Tech Spending (zerohedge)
  17. Private Equity Was Headed for a Correction, Even Without AI Gloom (wsj)
  18. Why 2026 will be a blockbuster year for biotech M&A (ft)

Be in the know. 21 key reads for Tuesday…

  1. PayPal Attracts Takeover Interest After Stock Slump (bloomberg)
  2. PayPal’s stock pops on takeover hopes. Here’s who could swoop in with a purchase. (marketwatch)
  3. China Holiday Travel Booms in Sign of Consumer Sentiment Rebound (bloomberg)
  4. AI apps soar in China as Lunar New Year giveaway battle boosts user growth (scmp)
  5. China Is More Attractive as Inflows Rise, Deutsche Bank CIO Says (bloomberg)
  6. China leaves benchmark lending rates unchanged as Beijing signals tolerance for stronger yuan (cnbc)
  7. China’s BYD Opens 2026 With Blockbuster Sales Growth in Europe (wsj)
  8. New Jeep Cherokee set to lead Stellantis’ U.S. sales turnaround (cnbc)
  9. American homebuyers gain most purchasing power since 2022 (foxbusiness)
  10. Mortgage rates just dropped below 6%, matching lowest level since 2022 (cnbc)
  11. Home Depot Sees Steady Housing Demand as Sales Top Estimates (bloomberg)
  12. More Than Half a Million Customers Have Lost Power on East Coast (nytimes)
  13. XLE Shorts Carried Out On Stretchers As Oil Breaks Trendline (zerohedge)
  14. Oil prices hover near seven-month highs on US-Iran tensions (reuters)
  15. Shale Giant Diamondback Says Threat of Oil Glut Is Receding (bloomberg)
  16. Pfizer Nabs China Obesity Drug Rights in $495 Million Deal (bloomberg)
  17. Intel partners with AI chip startup SambaNova after acquisition talks reportedly failed (cnbc)
  18. This e-commerce stock could be among biggest beneficiaries of the tariff ruling (streetinsider)
  19. AI Is Repricing the Future. Tech Valuations May Not Be Done Falling. (barrons)
  20. Tariff Refunds Are Now In Play. Here’s What to Know. (barrons)
  21. All About Section 122, Trump’s New Go-To Tariff Provision (bloomberg)

Be in the know. 14 key reads for Monday…

  1. Estée Lauder Eyes M&A Opportunities to Help Turnaround, CEO Says (bloomberg)
  2. Estée Lauder CEO: Open to More M&A (bloomberg)
  3. Why JPMorgan says the international stock story still has legs (marketwatch)
  4. China Stocks in Hong Kong Jump as US Court Strikes Down Tariffs (bloomberg)
  5. Alibaba Stock Is Volatile After China’s Lunar New Year. Why There’s More to Come. (barrons)
  6. Behind Trump’s truce with China (ft)
  7. Trump’s Options After the Supreme Court Said His Tariffs Are Illegal (bloomberg)
  8. Own these sectors into restocking cycle after tariff ruling: WF (investing)
  9. Goldman Says The Market Is Under-Valuing ‘Growth’ As ‘Broadening’ Continues (zerohedge)
  10. Global Upswing Should Justify Rising Multiple On European Stocks (zerohedge)
  11. US Natural Gas Jumps on Powerful Blizzard and Higher LNG Exports (bloomberg)
  12. Here’s a response to all of the ‘Yeah, buts’ that followed my 2026 economic forecast (nypost)
  13. This Is No Miracle—It’s Team USA History to Remember Forever (wsj)
  14. Meta Rakes It In, Yet Still Borrows Billions for AI (wsj)

Be in the know. 12 key reads for Sunday…

  1. GXO sees demand tailwinds across North America as automation drive intensifies (freightwaves)
  2. QXO Lays Out Growth Plan After $2.25 Billion Kodiak Acquisition (hardwareretailing)
  3. This Billionaire Made His Fortune By Saying “Womp Womp” To Bad Ideas (forbes)
  4. Is The Housing Market About To Surprise Everyone? (seeitmarket)
  5. Home Prices Start Year Up Just 1% as Buyer’s Market Keeps Growth in Check (redfin)
  6. New-Vehicle Affordability Improves in January on Higher Income, Lower Loan Rates (coxauto)
  7. Papa Johns is desperate to get a Michelin star for its fast-food pizza — and changed the recipe to make that happen (nypost)
  8. Hormel to sell off Thanksgiving turkey assets (fooddive)
  9. Why the IMF’s newest report finds that the yuan is undervalued (economist)
  10. 130 Million First-Time AI Shoppers During Qwen App’s Chinese New Year Campaign (alizila)
  11. Trump Boosts New Global Tariff to 15% After Supreme Court Setback (wsj)
  12. Team USA vs. Canada: American Hockey Finally Has Its Bruising Olympic Showdown (wsj)

Be in the know. 16 key reads for Saturday…

  1. Cooper Standard Announces Pricing of $1.1 Billion of Senior Secured First Lien Notes (cooperstandard)
  2. Detroit Auto Industry Spared From Trump’s Latest Tariff Program (bloomberg)
  3. Tax season presents a boom-or-bust test for U.S. auto sales (cnbc)
  4. Average IRS tax refund is up 14.2%, according to early filing data (cnbc)
  5. GDP grew 2.2% in 2025. The economy might do better this year. (marketwatch)
  6. US economy can grow at least 3.5% in 2026, Bessent tells Fox News (reuters)
  7. 2025 New Home Sales Highest Since 2021 (zerohedge)
  8. Benchmark reaffirms QXO stock Buy rating after Kodiak deal (investing)
  9. Court’s Tariff Ruling Puts $133 Billion in State of Limbo (wsj)
  10. Don’t Overreact: Tariffs Overturned, but Fundamentals Still Rule (morningstar)
  11. Warsh Eyes Slashing the Fed’s Balance Sheet. How He Could Do It. (barrons)
  12. China’s AI labs unleash new models and bubble tea to lure in customers (ft)
  13. Trump Will Travel to China in Late March for High-Stakes Xi Meet (bloomberg)
  14. BofA Says US Stocks Draw Lowest Share of Global Flows Since 2020 (bloomberg)
  15. China’s tech giants report huge gains from Spring Festival marketing blitz (scmp)
  16. Truist raises Etsy stock price target to $83 on Depop sale, growth (investing)