CHIPS Act

Business

Lloyds Banking Group Announces £1.75bn Share Buyback and Dividend Hike Amid Regulatory Balancing Act

Lloyds Banking Group has unveiled a significant capital return to shareholders, launching a £1.75 billion share buyback and raising its dividend by 15%. The move follows robust full-year results and digital progress, but unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing regulatory scrutiny and strategic reinvestment needs.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Barclays Cautiously Optimistic on Bloom Energy, Sees Growth Already Factored Into Stock Price

Barclays has initiated coverage on Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) with an 'Equal Weight' rating and a $153 price target, citing strong fundamentals but suggesting the market has already priced in its near-term growth trajectory, particularly from AI data center demand.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Lilly Bets Big on Repertoire's Immune Decoding Tech in Up to $1.9B Autoimmune Pact

Eli Lilly commits $85 million upfront and over $1.8 billion in potential milestones to partner with Repertoire Immune Medicines, aiming to develop a new class of 'tolerizing' therapies that reset the immune system without broad suppression.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Digital Dragnet: Inside the Surveillance Tactics Powering Trump's Minnesota Immigration Crackdown

A routine commute in Minneapolis turns into a biometric checkpoint, spotlighting the advanced surveillance tools—from facial recognition apps to vast data networks—now central to federal immigration enforcement. As operations intensify, questions mount over privacy, oversight, and the line between targeted enforcement and dragnet surveillance.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Minneapolis Mayor Urges National Coalition Against Federal Immigration Tactics, Warns of Civil Rights Erosion

In a fiery address to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called on local leaders nationwide to resist what he described as aggressive federal immigration enforcement, arguing such operations undermine public safety and constitutional rights.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Rheinmetall Secures Multi-Year Hand Grenade Contract with Dutch Military, Expanding European Ammunition Partnership

German defense giant Rheinmetall has inked a significant, multi-year framework agreement to supply the Dutch armed forces with a range of hand grenades, deepening a strategic partnership that now spans artillery shells to infantry ordnance amid heightened European security concerns.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Taiwan's Economy Soars to 15-Year High, Fueled by AI Exports and U.S. Trade Pact

Taiwan's economy surged 8.6% in 2025, its fastest growth since 2010, driven by a global AI boom and a landmark trade agreement with the United States. While analysts project a moderation in 2026, the island's pivotal role in the tech supply chain has delivered record profits for its leading firms.

Jan 30, 2026

World

ICAS Expands Rising Stars Awards, Adding Social Impact Category to Spotlight Next-Gen Accountants

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland launches its 2026 CA Rising Stars search, introducing a new 'Community and Social Value' award to recognize young professionals driving ethical and technological change in the field.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Morgan Stanley Bullish on Full Truck Alliance, Sees 30%+ Transaction Revenue Surge by 2026

Despite a mixed analyst outlook, Morgan Stanley projects robust growth for Full Truck Alliance's core commission business, even as overall revenue faces headwinds. The digital freight platform's long-term strategy is gaining favor.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

DXC Technology Charts Dual-Track Future: AI Push Gains Traction Amid Revenue Headwinds

DXC Technology's latest earnings reveal a company in transition, betting big on 'AI-native' products to offset declines in its legacy IT services. While revenue dipped, improved bookings and a strong cash position signal cautious optimism for its strategic pivot.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

EPB Group's 15% Stock Slump: Market Overreaction or Valid Concern?

Despite a recent 15% share price decline, EPB Group Berhad (KLSE:EPB) presents a complex picture with respectable financial fundamentals. We analyze its Return on Equity and growth trajectory to assess if this is a buying opportunity or a sign of deeper issues.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Lockheed Martin Shares Surge on Strong Defense Outlook, Expanded Military Production Pact

The defense giant's stock jumped over 4% following an optimistic sales forecast and a major new agreement to significantly boost production of a key missile defense system for the U.S. military.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

UK Watchdog Probes Boots and Superdrug Over 'Misleading' Loyalty Pricing Tactics

A major consumer group has filed a complaint with the Competition and Markets Authority, alleging the pharmacy chains used inflated reference prices to make member discounts appear more substantial than they truly were.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Beyond the Chatbot: Veteran Analyst Pivots AI Investment Thesis to Physical World, Backs Tesla and Nvidia

As Wall Street remains fixated on software-based AI, a leading tech analyst argues the next trillion-dollar opportunity lies in 'physical AI'—machines that see, move, and act. Dan Ives of Wedbush singles out Tesla and Nvidia as the indispensable architects of this new industrial revolution.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Benchmark: Three Fidelity ETFs Poised to Outpace the S&P 500

While the S&P 500 remains a core holding for many, actively managed and thematic ETFs offer a path to potentially superior returns. We analyze three Fidelity funds with distinct strategies—from U.S. tech dominance to international dividend income—that have historically beaten the market.

Feb 2, 2026

Senate Showdown Looms Over Warsh Fed Nomination as Tillis Vows to Block Vote

A pledge by Senator Thom Tillis to halt Kevin Warsh's confirmation until an investigation into current Chair Jerome Powell concludes threatens to trigger a protracted and messy political standoff in the Senate, with implications for Federal Reserve leadership and market stability.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Intel's Foundry Ambitions Gain Momentum as Apple, Nvidia Explore U.S. Chip Production Deals

Intel's bid to become a major contract chipmaker receives a significant boost as tech giants Apple and Nvidia engage in talks to shift portions of their advanced semiconductor manufacturing to Intel's U.S. facilities, challenging the long-standing dominance of TSMC and Samsung.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

TSMC: The Unseen Engine of Global Tech Powers Up U.S. Expansion

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), commanding over 70% of the advanced chip foundry market, is accelerating its U.S. manufacturing footprint amid shifting trade policies and sustained explosive financial growth, solidifying its indispensable role.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Snowflake Inks Major $200M AI Pact with OpenAI, Embedding Models Directly Into Data Cloud

Snowflake announces a strategic $200 million partnership with OpenAI to integrate its AI models natively into the data cloud platform. The move aims to let enterprises query and analyze proprietary data using natural language, intensifying competition in the AI-infused data management sector.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

GenLogs Secures $60M to Power Next-Gen Supply Chain Intelligence, Drawing on Intelligence Community Tactics

FreightTech innovator GenLogs has closed a $60 million Series B round led by Battery Ventures. The startup, founded by a former CIA officer, leverages a vast sensor network and AI to bring unprecedented visibility and security to the fragmented trucking industry.

Feb 2, 2026