Informal Lending

Business

Robinhood's Pivot: From Meme Stocks to Government Mandates and Tokenized Markets Amid Valuation Scrutiny

Robinhood Markets is navigating a transformative phase, reportedly in talks to manage a potential federal 'Trump account' program for minors while simultaneously expanding into tokenized equities and prediction markets. This strategic shift raises critical questions about its regulatory footprint, business model evolution, and long-term valuation.

Jan 31, 2026

Business

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust Posts Strong Q4 on Securitization Surge, Navigates Production Headwinds

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (PMT) closed 2025 with robust earnings, driven by a dramatic expansion in its private-label securitization business. While this growth fueled returns, the company's correspondent lending segment faced pressure, and faster mortgage prepayments impacted servicing rights income.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust Posts Strong Q4 Results, Eyes Growth in Non-Agency Market

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (PMT) reported a robust fourth quarter, highlighted by a 13% return on equity and strategic advancements in its securitization business. Executives outlined a confident outlook for 2026, emphasizing disciplined risk management and growth in targeted lending segments.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Golden Burden: Soaring Prices Crush Borrowers, Enrich Savers in Vietnam

As global gold prices hit historic highs, Vietnam's deep-rooted culture of gold ownership is creating starkly divided fortunes, turning traditional family loans into crushing debts while minting paper billionaires among long-term holders.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Columbia Financial Surpasses Revenue Forecasts with Stellar Q4 Performance

Columbia Financial (NASDAQ: CLBK) reported fourth-quarter revenue that significantly exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by a 247% year-over-year surge. The community bank's performance highlights strengthening net interest income and an accelerating tangible book value.

Feb 2, 2026

Beyond the Aisle: How Eataly is Redefining Italian Culture in America

From a repurposed Florida church to compact city cafés, the Italian marketplace giant is expanding its U.S. footprint with new formats focused on immersive experiences, not just groceries.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Fifth Third Completes Comerica Acquisition, Sets September Integration Date

Fifth Third Bancorp has finalized its $12.3 billion acquisition of Comerica Bank, with customer system conversions and branch rebranding scheduled to begin after Labor Day. The deal reshapes Michigan's banking landscape and creates the nation's ninth-largest bank.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Behind the $500 Million Deal: Abu Dhabi Royal Family Acquires Major Stake in Trump-Linked Crypto Venture

A company linked to a key UAE national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, secured a 49% equity stake in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's flagship crypto firm, just days before President Trump's 2025 inauguration. The investment raises fresh questions about the intersection of foreign capital, presidential family businesses, and U.S. policy.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Robinhood Shares Tumble as Crypto Rout Sparks Brokerage Sell-Off

The retail-focused trading platform saw its stock drop sharply Monday, dragged down by a weekend cryptocurrency sell-off that threatens to dampen user activity and near-term growth prospects.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

A Ponzi in the Parts Aisle: How First Brands' Founders Allegedly Engineered a $9 Billion Collapse

Federal prosecutors have charged the founders of the once-dominant auto parts supplier First Brands Group with orchestrating a massive, years-long fraud, alleging a scheme that misled lenders and ultimately led to the company's catastrophic bankruptcy, sending shockwaves through the industry.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

A Warsh-Led Fed: Banking's Golden Promise or Political Mirage?

Regional banks like Fifth Third are betting on a historic profit surge if Kevin Warsh reshapes the Fed. But Wall Street warns his ambitious plan to slash rates and shrink the balance sheet faces fierce internal and political headwinds, threatening market stability.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Adidas Bets Big on U.S. Soccer Boom, Debuts First Dedicated Store Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Adidas unveils its first U.S.-exclusive soccer flagship at the American Dream Mall, launching an immersive retail experience and exclusive product lines as anticipation builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted in North America.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Myriad and AceTrader Launch $30K Prediction Contest Around High-Stakes Crypto Trading Showdown

Prediction market platform Myriad partners with crypto prop firm AceTrader, allowing users to bet on the outcomes of a million-dollar trader competition while competing for a share of a $30,000 prize pool.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Headlines: Three Undervalued Small-Cap Banks Poised for Growth in February 2026

As major indices hold steady amid market volatility, a closer look reveals resilient small-cap banks with strong fundamentals trading at a discount. We analyze three community-focused institutions that may offer investors a compelling opportunity.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Exclusive: US Contractor's Gaza Reconstruction Plan Sought 300% Profit Guarantee and Seven-Year Monopoly

A draft proposal from disaster response firm Gothams LLC, obtained by The Guardian, outlined terms for a trucking and logistics monopoly in Gaza that would guarantee extraordinary returns, raising questions about oversight and ethics in post-conflict rebuilding.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Saks to Shutter Three New Jersey Stores, Cutting 69 Jobs Ahead of 2026 Bankruptcy

Luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue is laying off 69 employees in New Jersey as it closes three discount outlets, part of a broader restructuring following its acquisition of Neiman Marcus and a pre-negotiated bankruptcy filing.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter in 140th Annual Groundhog Day Spectacle

The famed Pennsylvania groundhog saw his shadow on Gobbler's Knob, forecasting a prolonged winter season as thousands braved the cold for the iconic ceremony, while meteorologists warn of ongoing cold spells across the eastern U.S.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Fidelity, Broadcom Reach Settlement in Critical Software Access Dispute

Fidelity Investments and Broadcom have settled a legal dispute that threatened Fidelity's access to business-critical software, averting a potential operational crisis. The agreement, reached just before a key court hearing, ensures continued service for a Fidelity subsidiary.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Banorte's Shifting Price Targets Signal Renewed Market Scrutiny

A revised analyst price target for Grupo Financiero Banorte (BMV:GFNORTE O) is refocusing investor attention on the Mexican banking giant, highlighting how evolving assessments of risk and growth potential can rapidly reshape a stock's narrative.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Barrell Craft Spirits Sells Kentucky Facility as Whiskey Market Cools

Barrell Craft Spirits has sold a contract bottling plant in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, consolidating operations back to its Louisville site amid shifting consumer demand and a broader slowdown in the US whiskey category.

Feb 2, 2026