Houston News

Business

Plains All American Doubles Down on Crude with EPIC Pipeline Deal, Sparking Investor Debate

Plains All American Pipeline's strategic pivot—selling its Canadian NGL unit for $3.8 billion to fund the acquisition of the EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline—has sharpened its focus on oil transportation. While a 10% distribution hike signals confidence, analyst downgrades and heightened options volatility ahead of earnings reveal deep divisions over the company's risk-reward profile.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

U.S. Antimony Shares Tumble as Policy Shift Clouds Expansion Ambitions

United States Antimony (UAMY) faces a volatile market reaction following Washington's reported reversal on critical mineral price supports, casting uncertainty over its strategic expansion into Bolivia.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

ARK's Cathie Wood Warns of Gold Peak Amid Historic $9 Trillion Market Tremor

As leveraged positions trigger a violent cross-asset selloff, ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood suggests gold's rally shows signs of a late-cycle bubble, pointing to extreme valuation metrics. The dramatic session saw nearly $9 trillion in market value swing across equities and metals.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Beyond the Trillion-Dollar Mark: Broadcom's AI-Driven Ascent and the Road Ahead for 2026

Having cemented its status as a trillion-dollar titan on the back of the AI boom, semiconductor leader Broadcom now sets its sights on sustained growth. We analyze the drivers behind its surge and what investors can expect in the coming year.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

CFTC Chair Charts New Course for Prediction Markets, Vowing Clarity for Polymarket and Kalshi

In a major policy shift, the CFTC under new Chairman Michael Selig is drafting a comprehensive rulebook for event contracts, aiming to bring regulatory certainty to the fast-growing prediction market industry while fostering 'permissionless innovation.'

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Sentient (SENT) Bucks Crypto Downtrend with 60% Surge: The Metrics Behind the Rally and Looming Risks

As the broader cryptocurrency market stumbles, Sentient's SENT token has staged a remarkable 60% rally. A deep dive into on-chain and derivatives data reveals the drivers of its resilience—and the significant vulnerabilities that could threaten its gains.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Murphy Oil Navigates Price Volatility, Bets Big on Vietnam and Offshore Growth in 2026

Despite a challenging price environment, Murphy Oil (MUR) reported strong operational execution for 2025 and laid out a capital plan focused on funding key international and offshore projects. While near-term production is set to dip, CEO Eric Hambly highlighted a transformative discovery in Vietnam and strategic portfolio expansion as pillars for future growth.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Vera Therapeutics Sees Major Price Target Hikes as Analysts Bet Big on Its Kidney Disease Drug

Vera Therapeutics (VERA) is drawing bullish attention from Wall Street, with multiple analysts significantly raising price targets following a key competitor's FDA approval and revised revenue forecasts for its lead drug candidate.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mineralys Therapeutics Submits New Drug Application for Hypertension Treatment Lorundrostat, Backed by Strong Clinical Data

Clinical-stage biopharma Mineralys Therapeutics has filed its New Drug Application for lorundrostat, a potential treatment for resistant hypertension, following positive results from multiple trials. The move positions the company for a potential 2026 market entry and has drawn upgraded price targets from analysts.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mizuho Lifts SanDisk Target to $600, Citing NAND Supply Crunch and AI-Driven Demand Surge

Mizuho Securities dramatically raised its price target on SanDisk, forecasting a severe NAND flash memory shortage driven by explosive AI server demand and constrained production capacity through 2027.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Barclays Taps Astera Labs as Key AI Infrastructure Bet for 2026, Sees Quality Firms Leading the Pack

Barclays raises Astera Labs' price target to $165, naming it a top pick for AI integration plays in its 2026 semiconductor outlook, while contrasting analyst views highlight the evolving debate on AI's infrastructure demands.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Australia Vows to Press Ahead with Critical Minerals Strategy Despite U.S. Policy Shift

Australia reaffirms its commitment to building resilient critical mineral supply chains and a strategic reserve, undeterred by the U.S. stepping back from plans to guarantee minimum prices for such projects.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Deckers Outdoor Soars on HOKA and UGG Momentum, Raises Full-Year Outlook

Fueled by exceptional demand for its HOKA and UGG brands, Deckers Outdoor Corp. posted a robust third-quarter performance, prompting the company to raise its fiscal 2026 guidance. Executives pointed to strategic product launches, direct-to-consumer strength, and clean marketplace inventories as key drivers.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

OSI Systems Beats Expectations, Raises Outlook Despite Sector Headwinds

OSI Systems posts record Q2 revenue and lifts full-year EPS guidance, navigating softness in security bookings and healthcare challenges with optimism for a stronger second half.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Apple Soars to Record Q1 Revenue on iPhone 17 Surge, Navigates Supply Headwinds

Apple's fiscal first-quarter earnings shattered expectations with $143.8 billion in revenue, fueled by unprecedented demand for the iPhone 17 in Greater China. While services hit new highs, the company flags memory cost pressures and supply constraints for the coming quarter.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Southern Copper Soars on Record Profits and Dual Dividend Payout, Fueling Investor Debate

Shares of Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) surged nearly 18% following the release of its blockbuster 2025 financial results, which featured record annual earnings and a dual cash-and-stock dividend. The performance underscores the miner's robust cash generation but also intensifies scrutiny over its lofty valuation and the execution risks of its massive project pipeline.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Starbucks Faces Legal and Supply Chain Headwinds Amid Turnaround Bid

A new lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and safety cover-ups, coupled with ongoing supply shortages, challenges the coffee giant's operational resilience and brand trust as its new CEO executes a critical recovery plan.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

International Seaways Charts New Course: Fleet Reshuffle and Full Tankers International Takeover Fuel Valuation Debate

International Seaways (INSW) is aggressively repositioning its fleet, securing full control of Tankers International and selling older vessels. As its stock surges, analysts are divided on whether the strategic moves have already been priced in or if significant upside remains.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Porsche Revs Up Middle East Presence with STARTRADER Partnership for Carrera Cup Series

Porsche has secured STARTRADER as the official partner for its Carrera Cup Middle East racing series, a strategic move to deepen engagement with performance-focused audiences in a key growth region, even as global delivery figures face headwinds.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Beyond the Penny Stock Label: Three Asian Equities Showing Financial Resilience

In a volatile market, certain low-priced Asian stocks are drawing attention not just for their valuation, but for underlying financial strength. We examine three such companies—from healthcare in New Zealand to property services in Greater China—that defy the typical 'penny stock' stereotype with solid fundamentals.

Jan 30, 2026