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• Kraft Heinz rapporteerde voor het eerste kwartaal van 2026 een omzet van $ 6.047 miljoen, een nettoresultaat van $ 798 miljoen en een basis winst per aandeel (EPS) van $ 0,67, waarmee de verwachtingen werden overtroffen. • Het bedrijf voltooide een eigen aandeleninkoop van $ 1,51 miljard en lanceerde een tenderbod van $ 1,10 miljard voor langlopende schuldbrieven, en bevestigde het kwartaaldividend van $ 0,40 dat op 26 juni betaalbaar is. • De resultaten onderstrepen de vroege vooruitgang van het herstelplan onder CEO Steve Cahillane te midden van zwakke volumes in Noord-Amerika en inflatiedruk; de omzetprognose voor 2029 bedraagt $ 24,8 miljard.

• HSBC publiceerde het transcript van de resultatenconferentie over Q1 2026, waaruit blijkt dat de resultaten achterbleven bij de verwachtingen vanwege uitdagende marktomstandigheden. • Ondanks de tegenvallende winst steeg de koers van HSBC na de aankondiging, wat wijst op het vertrouwen van beleggers in de toekomstvisie van de bank. • De resultaten onderstrepen de aanhoudende druk in de wereldwijde bankensector, met mogelijke gevolgen voor het sentiment van beleggers ten opzichte van internationale financiële instellingen die in de VS genoteerd staan.

• Aandelen Pop Mart [HKG: 9992] stegen met 7% tijdens de handel in Hong Kong nadat miljardairsbelegger Duan Yongping op sociale media aankondigde dat hij al zijn belangen in steenkool, waaronder China Shenhua Energy, heeft ingeruild voor aandelen van de speelgoedmaker. • De zet signaleert vertrouwen in het bedrijfsmodel van Pop Mart en weerspiegelt een bredere verschuiving onder grote beleggers, weg van traditionele energiesectoren richting consumentengerichte aandelen. • De ruil demonstreert de aanhoudende belangstelling van beleggers voor Chinese consumentengerichte bedrijven, ondanks macro-economische tegenwind en regelgevend toezicht in de technologie- en financiële sectoren.

• BSE shares climbed 3% to Rs 3,833 on the NSE following robust March quarter results from the National Stock Exchange, which reported an 8% rise in consolidated net profit driven by equity derivatives trading growth. • The Nifty Capital Market index gained 1.5%, with 15 of 17 constituents in the green, boosted by NSE's performance and Angel One's positive April business update. • This upmove reflects renewed investor confidence in capital market firms amid broader market recovery and increased trading volumes.

Ryan Cohen said he didn’t understand questions about how the video games retailer could afford its $55.5bn bidSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailGameStop’s shares fell more than 10% on Monday as questions emerged about how the company would finance its surprise $55.5bn bid for eBay.In an interview with CNBC, Ryan Cohen, GameStop’s CEO, skirted repeated inquiries about how the video games retailer could afford the deal, saying he didn’t understand the questions. Continue reading...

Shares in Domino’s Pizza, KFC operator Collins Foods and multi-brand food franchise owner Retail Food Group have all suffered double-digit fallsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOnce a symbol of cheap eating, fast food is transforming into a luxury many can no longer afford due to resurgent living costs.This shift is reflected on the ASX, where major pizza, fried chicken and doughnut outlets are seeing significant price drops, raising the question: are consumers so downbeat that they are even giving up on fast food? Continue reading...

FTSE 250 firms Paragon and OSB Group, owner of Kent Reliance and Precise Mortgages, slide on London Stock ExchangeRachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war falloutBusiness live – latest updatesShares in some of the UK’s biggest buy-to-let lenders such as Paragon and One Savings Bank have fallen after it emerged that the chancellor may make private landlords commit to a one-year rent freeze.In an effort to protect households from rising living costs as a result of the Iran war, Rachel Reeves is considering whether to ban landlords in England from increasing rents for a limited period of time, the Guardian revealed on Monday night. Continue reading...

Foreign ministry says remarks of conservative podcast host Michael Savage that were shared by US president were ‘obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste’India on Thursday criticised as inappropriate a post by Donald Trump in which he shared comments that called the South Asian country a “hellhole”.The inflammatory post on Truth Social comes ahead of a planned visit next month to India by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who is seeking to ease recent tensions between the normally friendly powers. Continue reading...

• Nvidia shares jumped 5% in extended trading after a strong AI forecast, positioning the company to gain $220 billion in market value amid easing bubble concerns. • The stock had dropped nearly 8% in November following a 1,200% surge over three years, but positive results calmed investor jitters. • This development underscores Nvidia's role as AI market bellwether and highlights sustained demand for its chips.

• PepsiCo reported better-than-expected quarterly results on April 16, 2026, with shares rising 2.3% as customers bought more snacks. • Price cuts on Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, and Tostitos chips announced in February helped regain demand from price-sensitive consumers. • The earnings contribute to broader corporate profit growth exceeding analyst forecasts amid market optimism.

Rebrand as NewBird AI sent shares up 582% in bizarre and rapid turnaround for firm that had fallen on hard timesAllbirds, the maker of minimalist wool sneakers beloved by Silicon Valley, announced on Wednesday that it is leaving shoes behind and pivoting to artificial intelligence. The new focus and rebrand as “NewBird AI” sent the company’s stock up 582% as of mid-day during a flurry of trading.The surging stock price and new direction is a bizarre, rapid turnaround for a company that had fallen into disrepair in recent years. Once valued at $4bn, Allbirds’ shares had lost 99% of their worth since 2021 and earlier this month the company announced plans for a $39m sale to brand management firm American Exchange Company. Continue reading...

Leo doubles down on his message of peace as Trump and JD Vance continue to squabble with and insult the VaticanThe ongoing squabble between the Trump administration and the Vatican over the war in Iran took another twist on Wednesday when Pope Leo shared a message of peace and healing after the latest angry broadside from the White House.On Tuesday, JD Vance capped several days of insults by insinuating the pontiff was not being truthful in matters of theology, and did not understand the concept of war. Continue reading...

Specialist lender says it expects its slice of £9.1bn compensation set by FCA to be about £320mClose Brothers shares surged on Wednesday after the UK bank declared it could “comfortably absorb” its slice of a £9.1bn compensation bill over the motor finance scandal, hours after one of its rivals announced it was selling its UK operations over looming costs.The specialist lender said it expected the final terms of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) compensation scheme to cost roughly £320m, a sum that is “broadly similar” to previous estimates and the £294m put aside to date. Continue reading...

• Nike's stock tumbled 13.1% after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly profits but issued weak financial forecasts. • Investors reacted negatively to cautious guidance amid softening consumer demand and competitive pressures in apparel. • The drop underscores broader concerns in consumer discretionary stocks, impacting sector sentiment on Wall Street.

• Uber Technologies announced plans to launch robotaxi services in 28 cities starting next year, driving shares up 4.2% on March 18, 2026. • The expansion marks a major step in autonomous vehicle deployment, building on partnerships with self-driving tech firms amid rising AI integration in mobility. • This development intensifies competition in the US ride-hailing market and could reshape urban transportation, with implications for jobs and infrastructure.

Micron Technology closed at $426 on March 13, 2026, up significantly year-to-date by about 50%, following analysts' reiteration of an outperform rating and price target increase to $500 from $320. The upgrade highlights Micron's strong positioning in memory chips despite broader market declines driven by oil surges and geopolitical tensions. This move underscores investor optimism in semiconductors even as the Nasdaq fell 0.9% and S&P 500 dropped 0.6% on Friday. Upcoming earnings could test sustained momentum amid sector volatility.

American Express stock pulled back to levels offering strong upside potential on March 13, 2026, prompting portfolio managers to track for additional purchases. The credit card giant benefits from premium products like the refreshed Platinum card driving earnings growth amid consumer spending resilience. Shares present a favorable entry as broader financials face pressure from rising yields and oil shocks. Analysts maintain a buy rating targeting significant appreciation from current levels around recent lows.

American Express stock has pulled back to attractive levels around recent lows on March 13, 2026, prompting portfolio managers to monitor for additional purchases with a revisit to buy rating. The company's premium Platinum card refresh is expected to drive higher earnings through increased spending among high-net-worth clients. Amid market volatility, AmEx's positioning in consumer finance offers upside potential as economic indicators stabilize. Investors anticipate a rebound if consumer spending data supports premium services growth.

Comfort Systems USA stock gained 15% for the week ending March 13, 2026, forming an outside week upside reversal pattern that caught investor attention amid market turbulence. The HVAC services provider demonstrated resilience with solid performance, positioning it as a potential leader in industrial stocks. This breakout underscores strength in infrastructure-related sectors as broader indexes like the S&P 500 approached their 200-day lines. Upcoming catalysts could include contract wins tied to US construction spending data.

American Express stock retreated on March 13, 2026, prompting portfolio managers to track it closely for additional purchases amid a favorable risk-reward setup. The pullback follows premium card refreshes like Platinum, expected to boost earnings through higher spending. Managers highlight AmEx's positioning for revenue growth in a high-price consumer segment despite market volatility. A revisit to buy rating is anticipated if shares dip further.

Micron Technology closed at $426 on March 13, 2026, after analysts reiterated an outperform rating and raised the price target to $500 from $320 amid robust semiconductor demand. The stock has climbed about 50% year-to-date, outperforming broader market declines driven by oil surges and geopolitical tensions. This upgrade highlights Micron's potential in memory chips despite upcoming earnings risks, positioning it as a key watch for investors amid sector volatility. Analysts expect continued momentum if AI-driven demand persists.

Ulta Beauty stock tumbled 12.5% on Friday, March 13, 2026, becoming the biggest decliner in the S&P 500 after reporting quarterly results that fell short of Wall Street profit expectations. The company's profit was hit by a 23% surge in selling, general, and administrative expenses, which reached $1 billion in the period. This decline highlights vulnerabilities in consumer discretionary sectors amid broader market pressures from oil price volatility, with analysts watching for potential impacts on retail spending. Upcoming earnings from peers may signal if this is an isolated miss or indicative of wider consumer weakness.

Charles Schwab stock rose 1.8% on March 13, 2026, amid gains in financial services, health care, and consumer goods sectors during a choppy session. About 61% of S&P 500 stocks advanced, with Schwab benefiting from defensive positioning. This resilience contrasts tech declines, pointing to rotation into value areas. Sector performance may persist if volatility continues.

Nokia shares increased 1.4% on March 13, 2026, supported by robust trading volume as investors sought defensive plays amid S&P 500 and Nasdaq declines. The gain highlights telecom resilience in a session dominated by AI and crypto volatility. With VIX at 26.49, such stocks provide stability during consolidation. Future trading may hinge on 5G infrastructure spending news.

Chevron shares climbed 30% year-to-date as of March 13, 2026, buoyed by Brent oil breaking $100 per barrel on supply concerns from Middle East tensions. The energy major benefited from higher crude prices despite broader market declines. ConocoPhillips saw minor premarket pullback but remains elevated. Investors eye sustained oil gains boosting Big Oil profits amid inflation trade.

Kelley Carter, senior entertainment reporter at ESPN's Andscape, previewed her 2026 Oscars predictions on ABC News Live, highlighting frontrunners in key categories. The segment aired as Hollywood gears up for Conan O'Brien's hosting debut this Sunday at the Dolby Theatre. Carter's insights come amid widespread speculation on winners like Warner Bros' contenders. Fans anticipate surprises in best picture and acting races during the live broadcast.