Commercial Blaze

Business

Twist Bioscience Powers Ahead: Q1 2026 Revenue Jumps 17%, Fueled by AI-Driven Discovery Boom

Twist Bioscience kicks off fiscal 2026 with robust growth, reporting a 17% year-over-year revenue increase to $103.7 million. The company credits its semiconductor-based DNA synthesis platform and surging demand from AI-enabled drug discovery programs as key drivers, while reiterating its path to adjusted EBITDA breakeven within the year.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Zions Bancorporation Greenlights $75M Share Buyback, Signaling Confidence Amid Sector Scrutiny

Zions Bancorporation has authorized a new $75 million stock repurchase program, a move analysts see as a bet on its undervalued shares and a commitment to shareholder returns as regional banks navigate a cautious regulatory environment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Ford Shifts Gears: New 'Ford Energy' Unit Aims to Power Grids, Reshape Investor Outlook

Ford Motor Company launches a dedicated energy storage business, Ford Energy, appointing Lisa Drake to lead the charge into the rapidly growing battery storage market, signaling a strategic expansion beyond vehicle manufacturing.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Edwards Lifesciences Halts JenaValve Acquisition, Doubles Down on Core Valve Technology

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) has terminated its planned takeover of JenaValve, opting instead to reinvest capital into its internal transcatheter aortic (TAVR) and mitral valve development programs. The strategic pivot underscores a renewed focus on organic growth in its core structural heart business.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Massachusetts Homeowner's Blowtorch Ice Removal Attempt Ignites Major House Fire

A Milton, Massachusetts man's attempt to clear roof ice with a blowtorch during a severe winter storm sparked a fast-moving attic fire, prompting warnings from officials about the dangers of DIY ice removal.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the FTSE Slump: Three UK Penny Stocks Showing Resilience Amid Market Uncertainty

While broader UK indices face headwinds, a closer look reveals potential in smaller-cap companies. We examine three penny stocks—Alumasc Group, Mercia Asset Management, and Roebuck Food Group—that are navigating economic challenges with distinct strategies and financial profiles.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Retirement Income Boost: Five Dividend Kings Defy Expectations With Strong Q4 Earnings

Amid market volatility, five established companies with long histories of dividend payments—known as 'Dividend Kings'—have reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, offering retirees potential sources of reliable passive income.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

GSK Returns Rights to Wave's Pioneering RNA Editing Therapy, Citing Strategic Focus Shift

In a strategic reversal, GSK has handed back global rights to the clinical-stage RNA editing drug WVE-006 to Wave Life Sciences. Wave asserts the move allows it to faster advance the potential 'functional cure' for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, while GSK refocuses on broader respiratory markets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Campbell Oil Expands Fuel Footprint with Strategic Acquisition of North Carolina Distributor

Campbell Oil, following recent investments in its convenience store chain, has acquired Smith Oil Distributors, signaling a renewed strategic push to grow its fuel and energy services segment in the Southeastern U.S.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Epstein Files Reveal Early Crypto Rivalry: 2014 Email Shows Bitcoin Insiders Saw Ripple as Strategic Threat

A newly surfaced 2014 email from the Jeffrey Epstein documents reveals Bitcoin-aligned executives warning investors about backing rival projects like Ripple. Some XRP proponents are framing the disclosure as validation of the token's early significance, though market momentum remains bearish.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens Under Fragile Ceasefire, Offering Glimmer of Hope for Gaza's Medically Vulnerable

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened under the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire, permitting a limited number of medical evacuations for the first time in nearly two years, as tens of thousands await passage.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Qatar Launches Historic Offshore Decommissioning, Taps McDermott for Landmark Project

QatarEnergy awards McDermott a pivotal contract to plan the removal of 27 aging offshore platforms, marking the nation's first major step in responsibly retiring legacy oil and gas infrastructure.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Fifth Third Completes Comerica Merger, Cementing Status as Top 10 U.S. Bank

The finalized merger between Cincinnati-based Fifth Third and Dallas's Comerica creates a banking giant with nearly $300 billion in assets, dramatically expanding its footprint in the nation's fastest-growing markets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Hilltop Honey Appoints Tom Delaney as CEO to Spearhead Ambitious £100m Growth Plan

Founder Scott Davies steps into executive chairman role as the Welsh honey maker rebrands to Hilltop Food Group and targets doubling turnover within five years through international expansion and new product categories.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Giverny Capital Bets on HVAC Giant Watsco Amid Tech-Led Market Volatility

Investment firm Giverny Capital outlines its rationale for adding Watsco to its portfolio, highlighting a value-oriented strategy as markets remain dominated by AI euphoria. The firm's latest investor letter reveals a challenging quarter of narrow returns.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Giverny Capital Bets on Insurance Platform TWFG Amid Tech-Driven Market Headwinds

Investment firm Giverny Capital highlights insurance distributor TWFG as a key holding in its latest letter, revealing a challenging year where its value-focused strategy lagged the AI-fueled market rally.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Cboe Eyes Retail Market with 'All-or-Nothing' Options, Challenging Prediction Platforms

The derivatives exchange is in early talks to reintroduce binary options for individual investors, aiming to capture the growing appetite for event-based wagering while staying within regulated financial markets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Rosendin Holdings Adopts Co-President Model to Navigate Surging Data Center Demand

The parent company of Rosendin Electric has restructured its executive leadership into a co-president model, a strategic move aimed at capitalizing on the explosive growth in AI infrastructure and data center construction.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Penny Label: Three TSX-Listed Small Caps With Strong Balance Sheets and Growth Ambitions

As the TSX rides a wave of broad-based earnings optimism, a closer look reveals smaller companies, often miscategorized as 'penny stocks', that combine financial resilience with clear growth trajectories. We examine three such firms with market caps up to CA$700 million.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Japan Achieves Deep-Sea Breakthrough in Quest for Rare Earth Independence

Japan has successfully retrieved rare-earth-rich sediment from the deep Pacific seabed in a world-first test, marking a significant step in its national strategy to diversify critical mineral supplies and reduce dependence on China.

Feb 2, 2026