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Orchid Island Capital Posts Stellar 2025 Earnings, Fueling Investor Optimism Amid Mortgage Market Shift

Orchid Island Capital, Inc. (NYSE:ORC) reported a dramatic surge in full-year 2025 net income, driven by a strategic expansion of its agency MBS portfolio and disciplined hedging. The results mark a potential inflection point for the mortgage REIT, reshaping its risk-reward profile after years of uneven performance.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Global Partners Maintains Steady Payout, but Tax Guidance Highlights Investor Hurdles

Global Partners LP reaffirms its quarterly cash distribution while issuing detailed U.S. tax withholding guidance for international investors, putting a spotlight on the balance between income reliability and the complexities of after-tax returns in a challenging market.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bitcoin's Weekend Plunge Leaves a Historic Futures Gap as Macro Fears Trigger $5.4 Billion Deleveraging

A confluence of geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic pressures sparked a broad crypto market rout over the weekend, creating one of Bitcoin's largest CME futures gaps on record and wiping out over $5.4 billion in leveraged positions.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING's Five-Year Slump: Shareholders Face 23% Loss Despite Recent Gains

While EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG (VTX:EMSN) shares have shown a recent uptick, a deeper look reveals a five-year decline of 23% in total shareholder return, significantly trailing the broader Swiss market. This performance gap persists even as the company's underlying earnings showed modest growth.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bitcoin's Wild Ride: How Prediction Markets Missed the Leverage Liquidation Storm

As Bitcoin tumbled below $80,000, a stark divergence emerged: options markets flashed warning signs while prediction contracts remained oddly calm, exposing a fundamental clash in how crypto markets price risk.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Nigerian Forces Eliminate Senior Boko Haram Commander in Sambisa Forest Raid

In a targeted night operation in Borno state, Nigerian troops neutralized a high-ranking Boko Haram leader and ten fighters, marking a significant blow to the militant group's command structure in its historic stronghold.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Explainer: The Baloch Liberation Army – Pakistan's Persistent Separatist Challenge

A recent wave of deadly attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan province, claimed by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), has spotlighted the escalating capabilities and ambitions of a group that threatens regional stability and critical Chinese investments.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens for Limited Transit in Pilot Phase, Signaling Fragile Progress in Gaza

Israel and Egypt have initiated a tightly controlled pilot reopening of the Rafah border crossing, a move tied to the broader U.S.-backed peace framework. The initial phase permits a small number of pre-vetted individuals to cross daily under heavy security coordination.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Pakistan Launches Major Counter-Insurgency Operation After Coordinated Balochistan Attacks Leave Dozens Dead

Pakistani security forces have killed 145 militants in a large-scale, two-day military operation across Balochistan, officials said Sunday. The offensive was launched in response to a wave of coordinated assaults by separatist fighters that killed nearly 50 people, marking one of the deadliest escalations in the restive province in recent years.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Costa Ricans Head to the Polls Amid Security Crisis, Chaves's Protégé Leads Race

Laura Fernández, former chief of staff to President Rodrigo Chaves, holds a commanding lead and could secure an outright victory, promising to double down on the incumbent's hardline security agenda.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Coordinated Assaults Rock Balochistan: Pakistan Hunts Separatists After Deadly Two-Day Siege

Pakistan launches a sweeping manhunt for Baloch separatist militants following a devastating wave of coordinated attacks across the volatile province. With over 190 dead, the government vows retaliation as the region reels from assaults on security installations, banks, and prisons.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Headlines: Three Middle Eastern Penny Stocks Drawing Investor Scrutiny Amid Shifting Markets

As regional markets navigate post-oil volatility and geopolitical shifts, a closer look reveals three penny stocks—from Turkish media to Saudi healthcare—that combine resilient balance sheets with high-risk, high-reward potential for the discerning investor.

Feb 2, 2026

California's Billionaire Tax Debate: A New Front in the Battle Over Wealth and Power

A proposed wealth tax on California's ultra-rich has ignited a fierce debate, pitting tech billionaires against a coalition of millionaires who argue it's time for the wealthy to pay more. The fight echoes past battles over Silicon Valley's influence and raises questions about the state's economic future.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Portugal Unveils €2.5 Billion Lifeline for Storm-Battered Communities

The Portuguese government has launched a massive financial aid package, combining loans and direct support, to accelerate recovery from the deadly Storm Kristin which left a trail of destruction across the country last week.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Trump's Tariff Threat on Cuba Oil Puts Mexico in Diplomatic Bind

Mexico faces a delicate balancing act as U.S. tariff threats targeting nations supplying oil to Cuba pressure a key trading partner to choose between economic interests and regional solidarity.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Fernandez Holds Commanding Lead in Costa Rica Presidential Vote, Early Results Show

With over half the early vote counted, governing party candidate Laura Fernandez appears poised to secure a first-round victory, potentially avoiding a runoff.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Markets Retreat as AI Bubble Fears Resurface, Oil Prices Tumble

Global markets stumbled on Monday, with Asian shares and U.S. futures declining sharply. The sell-off was led by a significant pullback in South Korean tech stocks amid renewed concerns over an AI sector bubble, while oil prices dropped over $2 per barrel.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Markets Stumble as AI Bubble Fears Resurface, Oil and Metals Retreat

Global markets opened the week under pressure, with Asian shares and U.S. futures declining amid renewed concerns over an AI sector bubble and falling commodity prices. South Korea's Kospi led losses with a sharp 4.6% drop.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Insider Confidence: Chasen Holdings Director Boosts Stake as Insiders Remain Net Buyers

Insiders at Chasen Holdings have been net buyers over the past year, with a key director significantly increasing his holdings. High insider ownership aligns leadership with shareholder interests, signaling internal optimism amid market fluctuations.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens for Limited Traffic After Two-Year Shutdown, Marking Fragile Ceasefire Milestone

The vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened for a trial period, allowing a restricted number of Palestinian civilians to cross. This move implements a key provision of the U.S.-mediated ceasefire, though severe limitations and high costs cast doubt on its immediate humanitarian impact.

Feb 2, 2026