News Gist .News

Andor season 2 is set to capture the hearts of audiences with its well-crafted storytelling, memorable characters, and a universe that fans of the original trilogy will appreciate. The show's creator has stated that the second season will explore the complexities of rebellion and loyalty, adding depth to the narrative that was missing from other Star Wars films. Andor's success also highlights the importance of quality over quantity in the production of TV shows.

Investors are preparing for a quieter week in earnings announcements following the recent tariff implementation and relief, but key inflation data could still influence market movements. Oracle, Kohl’s, Adobe, and Ulta Beauty are among the few companies set to report their quarterly results, providing insights into technology spending, retail health, and consumer trends. The release of crucial economic indicators, including the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index, will also be closely monitored for their potential impact on Federal Reserve policies regarding interest rates.

The UK Chancellor will unveil her Spring Statement on 26 March, presenting an update on economic forecasts and making key announcements about borrowing, spending, and taxation. The Office for Budget Responsibility's forecast is expected to confirm that the financial buffer set by the chancellor has been wiped out, leaving room for potential policy changes. The government is under pressure to address sluggish economic growth and rising inflation, with some reports suggesting possible tax rises or spending cuts.

The semiconductor industry, particularly AI chip stocks, is currently facing negative sentiment due to high valuations and economic concerns, leading to a dip in stock prices. Despite this, companies like Nvidia are well-positioned for long-term growth, driven by increasing demand for AI inferencing and significant investments from major tech firms. As infrastructure spending on data centers is projected to surge, Nvidia's innovative products, such as the Blackwell computing platform, are expected to bolster revenue significantly in the coming quarters.

Tesla has finally started delivering the new Model Y in the US. The automaker handed over the first units to the elated owners at its factories in Texas and Fremont. Company officials turned up to celebrate, posing for photos in front of the new vehicles, including head of design Franz von Holzhausen. Tesla’s official X handle marked the milestone in its local market with a post saying, “Celebrating first deliveries of the new Model Y at Giga Texas and Fremont Factory.”

Virgin Group is set to raise $900 million to fund its ambitious plan to launch cross-channel rail services, positioning itself as a major competitor to Eurostar. The high-frequency service would be the first direct rival to Eurostar's 30-year-old network and could launch as soon as 2029. Virgin Group plans to invest in equity and debt to support the project, which would benefit from increased competition.

Some investors rely on dividends for growing their wealth, and if you're one of those dividend sleuths, you might be intrigued to know that Dunelm Group plc (LON:DNLM) is about to go ex-dividend in just three days. The company's next dividend payment will be UK£0.515 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of UK£0.79 per share, indicating a trailing yield of 8.2% on its current share price of UK£9.62. This dividend payout is also covered by both profits and cash flow, suggesting that it is sustainable.

The recent sell-off in the tech sector, marked by the Nasdaq Composite nearing correction territory, is seen as a potential buying opportunity for long-term investors in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. Major tech companies are signaling increased capital expenditures on AI infrastructure, suggesting a competitive arms race that could lead to transformative advancements similar to those seen in the mobile market. Moreover, the financial strength of these tech giants indicates that they are likely to continue investing in AI, even amidst economic downturns, further solidifying the sector's long-term potential.

Deutsche Lufthansa's full-year 2024 earnings report revealed a revenue growth of 6.1% year-over-year, surpassing analyst estimates, and an earnings per share (EPS) beat by 34%. The airline company's net income declined by 28% compared to the previous year, while its profit margin decreased to 3.7%. Despite this, Deutsche Lufthansa's EPS growth suggests that the company is adapting to changing market conditions.

Gemini Code Assist, Google's AI coding tool, provides developers with real-time code suggestions, debugging assistance, and the ability to generate entire code blocks through natural language prompts. Launched widely in February 2025, it incorporates a free tier that allows up to 180,000 code completions monthly, positioning it as a strong competitor to established tools like GitHub Copilot. With seamless integrations into popular development environments, Gemini Code Assist aims to enhance productivity for developers at all experience levels.

A report from People's Daily highlights China's 2025 action plan to stabilize foreign investment, which outlines 20 policy initiatives across four strategic priorities: phased expansion of autonomous market opening, enhanced investment facilitation, functional upgrades to open-economy platforms, and service system optimization. The move reinforces China's commitment to institutional opening-up, aligning with global investors' calls for predictable regulatory frameworks. Opening up is a fundamental national policy of China, aiming to enrich the path of Chinese modernization by unlocking new frontiers.

SwifDoo PDF Pro offers a perpetual lifetime license for just $28, replacing the need for expensive Adobe Acrobat subscriptions. This all-in-one PDF editor provides tools to manage and edit PDFs without subscription hassles, including OCR, document splitting and merging, annotation, and file conversion. With SwifDoo, users can also compress files, add watermarks, encrypt PDFs, and sign documents digitally.

Microsoft Visio has become an essential tool for transforming complex data into visually appealing charts and diagrams, now available at a significantly reduced price of $14.97. With an extensive library of over 250,000 shapes and templates, users can easily create flowcharts, org charts, and more, even generating org charts directly from Excel data. The tool's compatibility with touch-enabled devices enhances usability, making it accessible for those with varying levels of design experience.

The Trump administration has ended a waiver allowing Iraq to pay Iran for electricity as part of President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran, a decision that ensures the U.S. does not allow Iran any degree of economic or financial relief. The move aims to end Iran's nuclear threat, curtail its ballistic missile program, and stop it from supporting terrorist groups. The waiver's expiration presents temporary operational challenges for Iraq, which is actively working on alternatives to sustain electricity supply.

The ThinkPhone 25 by Motorola offers a superior rugged phone experience without breaking the bank. This device boasts IP68 certification, great cameras, and a powerful processor, all while maintaining an elegant design that sets it apart from other rugged phones. Its smaller battery may limit its usage time, but it charges quickly and is convenient to carry.

IMCD's full year 2024 earnings are in line with expectations, driven by a significant increase in revenue of 6.4% from the previous year, reaching €4.75 billion. The company's net income decreased by 4.8% to €278.2 million, primarily due to higher expenses. Despite this decline, IMCD's profit margin has dropped to 5.9%, a decrease from 6.5% in the previous year.

Investors in PageGroup plc had a good week as its shares rose 3.9% following the release of its full-year results, but the overall performance was not great. Revenues beat expectations, hitting £1.7b, but statutory earnings missed analyst forecasts by 14%, coming in at just £0.09 per share. The analysts have updated their forecasts, and while they expect revenue to decline by 11% in 2025, they are more bearish on the company's growth prospects.

Inchcape's Full Year 2024 earnings report revealed a revenue decline of 19% to UK£9.26b, largely attributed to the negative impact of cost of sales amounting to 83% of total revenue. The company's net income remained flat at UK£271.0m, while its profit margin increased to 2.9%, driven by lower expenses. Earnings per share (EPS) surpassed analyst estimates by 47%.

Flughafen Zürich reported a revenue increase to CHF1.33 billion for the full year 2024, reflecting a 7.3% growth from the previous year, while net income also rose by 7.4% to CHF326.7 million. Despite these positive revenue figures, the earnings per share (EPS) of CHF10.64 fell short of analyst expectations by 1.4%. Looking ahead, the company anticipates an average revenue growth of 4.3% per annum over the next three years, outpacing the broader infrastructure industry's forecast in Europe.

Grafton Group plc's periodic dividend will be increasing on the 15th of May to £0.265, with investors receiving 1.9% more than last year's £0.26. This will take the annual payment to 4.2% of the stock price, which is above what most companies in the industry pay. The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends, with a 13% per annum growth rate over the past decade.

China will step up resources and funding to support employment and unveil new policies to help college graduates get jobs, as the external environment could become more complex and severe. China faces an arduous task to stabilise and expand employment in 2025, minister Wang Xiaoping said, estimating this year's employment will be generally stable. The government aims to provide support for underemployed workers, including temporary job placement services and vocational training programs.

Admiral Group plc will increase its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 13th of June to £1.21, taking the dividend yield to an attractive 6.4%. This boost to shareholder returns may provide a significant advantage for investors seeking stable income, but it is essential to consider the long-term sustainability of this payout. The company's ability to maintain its high dividend yield without compromising its financial stability is crucial.

ITV plc's investors are due to receive a payment of £0.033 per share on 22nd of May, resulting in a dividend yield of 6.3%. However, concerns arise about the sustainability of the payments, given that EPS is set to fall by 29.5% over the next 12 months and the company has cut its dividend at least once in the last 10 years. While growing earnings per share could be a mitigating factor, ITV's dividend history suggests instability.

GFT Technologies reported in line with analyst predictions, delivering revenues of €871m and statutory earnings per share of €1.77, suggesting the business is executing well and in line with its plan. This performance is a testament to the company's ability to navigate the changing landscape of the financial services industry. However, the revised forecast for next year may indicate that GFT Technologies needs to adapt to new market conditions to maintain its growth trajectory.

Ströer SE & Co. KGaA has reported its annual earnings, with shares increasing by 6.0% to €56.35, as revenues reached €2.0 billion, aligning closely with analyst expectations. Despite a reconfirmation of revenue estimates for 2025 at €2.21 billion, analysts have not provided an earnings per share (EPS) forecast, indicating a shift in market focus towards revenue growth. Overall, Ströer is expected to outpace industry growth, with a consensus price target remaining stable at €70.87.

The agreement aims to mitigate the effects of a sharp decline in the Turkish lira, providing liquidity and supporting the country's foreign exchange reserves. Qatar has long been a key backstop for Turkey's economy, offering financial support to help stabilize its currency. The deal is seen as a significant step towards bolstering Turkey's economic resilience.

Banijay Group N.V. (AMS:BNJ) has just released its latest full-year results, and despite a 5.0% increase in shares, the company's revenue growth forecast is being overshadowed by industry expectations. The analysts have updated their earnings model, but it remains to be seen whether they believe there's been a significant change in the company's prospects or if business as usual will prevail. Banijay Group's revenue growth slowdown seems to be on par with the wider industry, which may indicate a more conservative outlook.

SFS Group's full-year 2024 earnings missed expectations, with revenue down 1.4% from the previous year and net income decreasing by 9.3%. The company's profit margin also declined to 7.9%, a decrease from 8.6% in the previous year. Despite this, SFSN's share price has remained broadly unchanged.

Legal & General's forecasted dividend increase for 2025 and 2026 may be unsustainable due to declining coverage of expected earnings. The company's asset management division is vulnerable to economic downturns, which could impact profits and dividend payments. Additionally, the firm's large share buyback plan could lead to decreased payouts if investor appetite wanes.

Virgin Group, led by billionaire Richard Branson, is seeking to raise £700 million ($900 million) to establish cross-channel rail services that would compete directly with Eurostar. The company plans to connect London with Paris and Brussels, with future extensions to Amsterdam, and aims to offer a high-frequency service that could commence as early as 2029. This initiative signals a significant move in the European rail market, emphasizing the potential for competition and innovation in rail transport.

Ari Last founded Bubble in 2017 out of frustration with the challenges parents face in finding reliable childcare, ultimately turning it into a multi-million pound business with over 350,000 users. The app emphasizes trust and community through its unique marketplace model, enabling parents to discover and book approved sitters on-demand, which has led to its reputation as a "life-changing" service. Last's personal experiences as a parent have shaped the app's development, focusing on solving a fundamental pain point for millions of families.

Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party has experienced a significant resurgence in polling, now exceeding 30% support, largely due to U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive rhetoric about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state. This shift comes as the Conservative Party, previously favored for victory, has seen its messaging falter in light of rising Canadian patriotism and fears over Trump's tariffs and their economic implications. As the Liberal Party prepares for a leadership transition amidst this evolving political landscape, the impact of Trump's presidency on Canadian politics remains a critical focal point.

The new CEO of LIV Golf, Scott O'Neil, predicts that golf will eventually "open up again" as the Saudi-bankrolled league continues to grow the sport around the world. American sports executive O'Neil believes that LIV has a unique place in golf and is optimistic about the future of player movement between tours. However, despite recent progress in talks with the PGA Tour, no deal has been reached yet.

The Environmental Non-Profit Organization (Climate United) is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Citibank for billions of dollars in solar and other projects frozen by the bank as part of the Trump administration's spending cuts. The lawsuit alleges that the EPA's actions prevented Citibank from dispersing funds, causing harm to Climate United, its borrowers, and the communities they serve. This case is part of a series of lawsuits filed by non-profit groups, state attorneys general, and others challenging President Donald Trump's efforts to roll back policies implemented by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

The environmental nonprofit Climate United Fund is suing the US Environmental Protection Agency and Citibank over billions of dollars in frozen grant money intended to encourage climate-friendly power. The group alleges that the EPA's actions are preventing the dispersal of funds, harming its borrowers and the communities they serve. The suit is part of a broader effort by non-profits and state attorneys general to challenge President Trump's rollbacks of Democratic policies.

A recent DeskTime study found that 72% of US workplaces adopted ChatGPT in 2024, with time spent using the tool increasing by 42.6%. Despite this growth, individual adoption rates remained lower than global averages, suggesting a slower pace of adoption among some companies. The study also revealed that AI adoption fluctuated throughout the year, with usage dropping in January but rising in October.

A significant storm system, downgraded from a tropical cyclone, has left over 316,000 residents in Queensland without power due to damaging winds and heavy rainfall, particularly affecting the Gold Coast. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned of serious conditions, including flash flooding and strong winds, while the Bureau of Meteorology predicts ongoing adverse weather patterns. As recovery efforts begin, the state is assessing the impact on schools and infrastructure, highlighting the community's resilience amidst the challenges.

China’s consumer inflation has unexpectedly dropped below zero for the first time in 13 months, reflecting ongoing deflationary pressures within the economy, with the consumer price index declining by 0.7% year-on-year. This downturn is attributed to weak domestic demand, a decline in services prices, and a rare negative reading for core inflation, which fell by 0.1%. Analysts predict that a clearer picture of inflation trends will emerge in March as the effects of recent stimulus measures are assessed.

Consumer prices in China have fallen for the first time in a year, with authorities struggling to revive spending amid intensifying trade headwinds. The country's exports are expected to be impacted by US tariffs, which could limit economic growth this year. A prolonged trade war would likely keep inflation at bay, but also mean that consumers cannot rely on exports for strong economic recovery.

Canadian farmers could take significant financial losses due to China's sudden retaliatory tariffs on canola and other food commodities, which are expected to kick in on March 20. The tariffs, imposed at a rate of 100% for canola oil and peas, and 25% for pork and aquatic products, are likely to have far-reaching impacts on the entire industry chain. The Canadian government has pledged to support affected farmers and workers, but the long-term effects of these tariffs remain uncertain.

China's consumer price index in February missed expectations and fell at the sharpest pace in 13 months, while producer price deflation persisted, as seasonal demand faded and households remained cautious about spending amid job and income worries. The government has vowed to boost consumption through various measures, but analysts expect deflationary pressures to continue. China's economy is still struggling with weak consumption capacity and willingness.

China's consumer prices dropped for the first time since January 2024, falling 0.7 percent year-on-year in February, as authorities struggle to kickstart spending amid a pandemic-induced slump in domestic consumption.The country's key measure of inflation declined more sharply than forecast, reversing the uptick recorded in January when Lunar New Year festivities boosted inflation. The steep decline is attributed to various factors including the shift in lunar new year celebrations, holidays, and price fluctuations of international staple commodities.According to Dong Lijuan of the National Bureau of Statistics, the drop was primarily caused by these seasonal adjustments.

A man who scaled the lower sections of Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower at London's Palace of Westminster early on Saturday came down after 16 hours and was subsequently arrested, the British police said. The incident occurred as he was waving a Palestinian flag and shouting "free Palestine". Emergency crews used a crane to negotiate with the man before he voluntarily came down.

The euro has managed to surpass its 100-day moving average against the dollar, suggesting it maintains confidence in the market for now. The European Central Bank's (ECB) decision not to raise interest rates further was seen as a positive development for the euro, which had been under pressure due to rising inflation concerns. Investors are also hoping that economic data from the US will show a slowdown in growth.

China has agreed to roll over a $2 billion loan to Pakistan, as confirmed by Khurram Schehzad, an adviser to Pakistan's finance minister. This financial maneuver comes as Pakistan seeks to stabilize its economy after obtaining a $7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September 2024. With over $22 billion in external debt due in fiscal year 2025, including substantial bilateral deposits, securing this loan is crucial for the country's financial recovery.

The Retroid Pocket Mini, a handheld gaming console designed for playing retro games, has been plagued by an unfixable issue that affects graphical effects. The company has announced a limited return policy, accepting only 200 overseas returns during a specific window, but with some conditions that may raise concerns about customer satisfaction and quality control. This move highlights the challenges faced by small companies in addressing product issues while maintaining profitability.

Key players in the financial markets are expected to be influenced by economic indicators and central bank decisions, with a focus on inflation rates and interest rate hikes, potentially leading to volatility in currency markets. Investors are also watching corporate earnings reports from major companies, as well as updates on government policy and regulatory changes. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is also having an impact on global energy prices.

The expansion of the controversial cafe chain Gail's into towns like Macclesfield has sparked mixed reactions among residents, with some welcoming the new addition while others express concern over its impact on local businesses and community identity. Critics argue that the presence of yet another chain threatens the survival of independent cafes and could lead to rising prices in the area. Conversely, supporters view Gail's as a positive addition that could enhance the local economy and attract more visitors to the town.

Singapore Airlines Limited (SGX:C6L) has seen a significant share price surge in recent months, trading at yearly-high levels, but its valuation remains relatively cheap compared to industry peers. The company's earnings and revenue growth prospects are uncertain, with an expected negative double-digit change in profit over the next couple of years, making it a high-risk investment. Despite this, the stock's stable performance and low volatility may make it an attractive option for risk-averse investors.

Global fund managers are in no rush to load up on Indian stocks even after an unprecedented losing streak has lowered equity valuations, as the market is still grappling with challenges posed by an economic slowdown, profit downgrades, and potential US tariffs. Overseas investors have pulled almost $15 billion from local shares so far this year, putting outflows on track to surpass the record $17 billion registered in 2022. The selloff has wiped out $1.3 trillion from India’s market value.