Diplomatic Agreement

Business

Lockheed Martin Posts Record Backlog, Unveils Major Investment Push Amid Global Defense Demand Surge

Lockheed Martin capped a year of robust sales growth with a historic $194 billion order backlog, driven by soaring demand for its advanced defense systems. The aerospace giant announced plans for a significant 'step function' increase in capital investment for 2026 to ramp up production of missiles and next-generation capabilities.

Business

Beyond the Headlines: Three Middle Eastern Small-Caps Defying Geopolitical Turbulence

As regional tensions weigh on major Gulf indices, a closer look reveals resilient investment opportunities among smaller, financially sound companies. From energy giants to niche manufacturers, these picks highlight value where many fear to tread.

Business

Meta's $135 Billion AI Bet Signals Accelerating Arms Race, With CoreWeave Poised to Capitalize

Meta Platforms' staggering capital expenditure forecast for 2026, heavily weighted toward AI infrastructure, underscores the intensifying tech investment cycle. Specialized cloud provider CoreWeave emerges as a likely key beneficiary, its fortunes tied to the hyperscaler spending spree.

World

Panama's Top Court Strikes Down CK Hutchison Port Deals, Casting Uncertainty Over Canal Terminals

Panama's Supreme Court has nullified long-held port contracts operated by a CK Hutchison subsidiary, declaring them unconstitutional. The landmark ruling throws the future of key container terminals at both ends of the Panama Canal into doubt and reverberates amid broader geopolitical tensions over global trade chokepoints.

Business

OpenAI's $100B+ Funding Round Draws Tech Titans Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia

As OpenAI accelerates toward a potential year-end IPO, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia are in advanced talks to lead a funding round that could exceed $100 billion, reshaping the AI industry's financial and competitive landscape.

Business

Markets on Edge: Bitcoin Plunges 7%, Stocks Mixed as Trump Teases Fed Pick and Shutdown Deal

Asian markets opened to a volatile session Friday, with Bitcoin leading a sharp crypto sell-off and stocks swinging as traders weighed President Trump's signals on a key Fed nomination and a deal to avert a government shutdown.

Business

GSK Bolsters Pipeline with RAPT Buy, Expands RSV Vaccine to All Adults in Europe

GSK makes a dual strategic move, acquiring RAPT Therapeutics for its food allergy portfolio and securing broader European approval for its RSV vaccine Arexvy, reinforcing its focus on immunology and respiratory health.

World

Trump's Tariff Ultimatum Forces South Korea Back to Negotiating Table

Amid renewed threats of steep US tariffs, South Korean officials are scrambling to salvage a key trade deal, with high-level talks in Washington failing to yield an immediate breakthrough.

Business

Brunswick Charts Steady Course as Marine Market Rebounds, Touts Record Cash Flow and Debt Reduction

Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) closed its 2025 fiscal year on a confident note, citing a resilient recovery in the marine market, a historic surge in free cash flow, and significant debt reduction. While navigating persistent tariff headwinds, the company's leadership pointed to stabilizing retail demand and strategic market share gains as key drivers for cautious optimism heading into 2026.

Business

AstraZeneca Bets $1.2 Billion on CSPC's Weight-Loss Drug Pipeline in Major China Deal

British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has entered a strategic partnership with China's CSPC Pharmaceutical, committing over $1 billion upfront to co-develop next-generation obesity therapies, signaling intensified competition in the lucrative global weight-loss drug market.

Business

Western Digital's AI Storage Ambitions Face Earnings, Innovation Day Test

As Western Digital prepares to report its fiscal Q2 2026 results and host a key Innovation Day, investors are watching to see if the company's product roadmap and market commentary can justify its soaring stock price and meet burgeoning AI-driven storage demand.

Business

AI Data Surge Fuels Western Digital's Strong Q2, Drives High-Capacity Storage Demand

Western Digital's fiscal Q2 2026 results showcase robust growth, with revenue climbing 25% year-over-year to $3.0 billion. The company credits accelerating AI adoption for driving demand for its high-capacity nearline hard drives and advanced technologies like HAMR and UltraSMR.

Business

SkyWest Navigates Government Shutdown Turbulence to Post Strong 2025, Eyes Continued Growth with Fleet Renewal

SkyWest Airlines reported robust full-year earnings for 2025, overcoming a disruptive government shutdown in Q4. The regional carrier highlighted significant debt reduction, key contract extensions with major partners, and a bullish outlook for 2026 driven by new aircraft deliveries and improved operational leverage.

Business

LPL Financial Caps a Record Year with Strong Q4, Eyes Commonwealth Integration

LPL Financial reported record quarterly and annual earnings, driven by robust organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Executives detailed progress on integrating Commonwealth Financial Network and provided updated guidance, signaling confidence in sustained momentum despite market headwinds.

Business

U.S. Bets Big on Homegrown Rare Earths, Challenging Lynas Amid Leadership Shift

Major U.S. federal investment to build a domestic rare earth supply chain emerges as a direct competitive threat to Lynas Rare Earths, coinciding with the planned retirement of its long-serving CEO Amanda Lacaze. The developments test the Australian miner's strategic position in a market defined by geopolitical tensions and supply security concerns.

Business

Qualcomm's Strategic Pivot: From Mobile Dominance to AI at the Edge

Qualcomm is aggressively diversifying its business beyond smartphones, forging new partnerships in drone security and legal tech to establish its Snapdragon platform as a cornerstone for on-device AI and edge computing.