25Aug2021 Market Close: Small Caps Soar On Biggest Short Squeeze In 7 Months, Bitcoin And Bond Yields Spike, DOW Closes Up 39 Points, Nasdaq Up 0.2%, WTI Settles At 68.24, Bitcoin 48900

Middle East Security Concerns Could Threaten The Global Economy

There was recently an attack on the Mercer Street vessel belonging to an Israeli billionaire, with Iran being blamed for the incident. These kinds of attacks have been happening since the beginning of the year, and it appears highly likely that they will continue. There is a possibility of maritime security breaches in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Such developments could lead to a rise in political, economic, and security issues, especially if they were to coincide with an Israel-Iran confrontation. Attacks on Israeli-owned ships:

Will Russia Emerge As A Dominant Influence In Central Asia?

There has been a good deal of speculation about how the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan and the dramatic change of power there will affect Central Asia’s relations with the big powers. Some say Russia’s presence in the region will be strengthened, or perhaps China’s, and U.S. influence will be on the wane in the coming years. It is arguably more likely that little about Central Asia’s relationships with the big powers, as they currently stand, will change at all. The United States Some have said the final U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan

Merkel Criticizes Russias Weaponization Of Natural Gas

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said natural gas should never be used as a geopolitical weapon and backed extending an energy partnership deal with Ukraine once it expires in 2024. Merkel made the remarks in Kyiv on August 22 at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Merkel is making her last visit to Ukraine before she is due to step down after elections in Germany next month. Her visit to the Ukrainian capital comes two days after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Merkel has been criticized for

Nearby Planetary System Could Spark A New Space Race

Astronomers researched a planetary system only 35 light-years away that contains rocky exoplanets, and they found that it may have a planet in the habitable zone, the area around a star where conditions are suitable for liquid water to exist. Using the European Southern Observatorys Very Large Telescope in Chile, a team of astronomers studied the planets around the nearby star L 98-59, which has planets resembling those in the inner solar system. Among their findings is a planet with half the mass of Venus, which is the lightest exoplanet

80% Of Afghanistans Budget Has Disappeared Overnight

For governing a country, $1.6 billion in cash cant be stretched too far. Thats how much comes in the coffers of the Taliban, which has now taken over Afghanistan. Now, banks and international organizations are cutting the cord. For the past two decades, some 80% of Afghanistan’s budget has been financed by the U.S. and other international donors. Now, its all gone. Last week, the IMF decided that Afghanistan would no longer be able to access its resources, including the over $370 million set to arrive later this

Shipping Giant Maersk Buys 8 Zero-Carbon Tankers

Shipping giant Maersk has today taken its biggest yet step towards greening its fleet by buying eight new tankers powered by carbon-neutral methanol. Each of the vessels, which will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, will be able to carry 16,000 containers. When they hit the water in early 2024 they will save 1m tons of carbon dioxide a year, the worlds biggest shipping firm said. The FT said that each ship would cost around $175m, giving the overall investment a value of around $1.4bn. Maersk will have the option to buy

Washington state officials say they’re short on hospital staff and running out of ICU beds as Covid resurges

In just the past month, 1,100 new Covid patients were hospitalized in Washington state, and they are doubling every 18 or 19 days, officials said.

Dick’s Sporting Goods, other retailers crack code of driving up profits

Retailers from Nordstrom to Target have spoken about fewer promotions and more curbside pickup, which have boosted profitability.

Global electric power demand surges above pre-pandemic levels

Carbon dioxide emissions from the global electric power sector surged past pre-pandemic levels to record highs in the first half of 2021, new research found.

Shares of Nordstrom tank after reporting revenue that fell short of 2019 levels

Nordstrom stock plummeted more than 17% after the company reported earnings that were not as impressive as those of other retailers.

Pediatric Covid hospitalizations surge to highest on record in U.S. as doctors brace for more

Since most students aren’t old enough to get the shots, doctors and epidemiologists say they fear the surge in Covid hospitalizations could get worse.

Gov. Hochul acknowledges nearly 12,000 more New York Covid deaths than Cuomo counted

Hochul’s administration acknowledged more Covid deaths in New York as part of a promise to offer more transparency after Cuomo left office.

Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat battle to achieve price parity with real meat

Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are perfecting plant-based meat products to have taste and texture similar to animal meat products, but costs are still high.

Rocket Lab begins trading on the Nasdaq, with SPAC merger growing its cash pile

Rocket Lab began trading on the Nasdaq on Wednesday, becoming the latest space company to close a SPAC merger and go public.

Delta Air Lines is raising health insurance premiums for unvaccinated employees by $200 a month to cover higher Covid costs

Delta is the latest company to issue new rules for employee vaccinations, but stopped short of an outright mandate.

American Airlines says August revenue weaker than expected because of rise in Covid cases

American is the latest airline to warn about the impact of the Delta variant on bookings and revenue.

Australian project to examine potential of using wastewater in hydrogen production

The idea of using waste to produce hydrogen is not unique to Australia.

Covid protection for the fully vaccinated is waning, UK study finds

Protection against the coronavirus is waning among those who have received both shots of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines, a new U.K. study has found.

Ford delays return-to-work program until January due to Covid delta surge

Ford informed staff of its plans Wednesday morning, about five months after initially announcing the flexible working program.

Small Caps Soar On Biggest Short Squeeze In 7 Months, Bitcoin & Bond Yields Spike

Small Caps Soar On Biggest Short Squeeze In 7 Months, Bitcoin & Bond Yields Spike

On the back a fourth straight day of short-squeeze – the biggest since January’s peak (all thanks to a massive bank buyback scheme being unleashed with perfect timing)…

Source: Bloomberg

Which helped send Small Caps ripping higher on the day (though notice how it appears the squeezers ran out of ammo late in the day again)…

“US Troops Call It World War Z”: Shocking New Images Capture ‘Post-Apocalyptic’ Scenes Outside Kabul Airport

“US Troops Call It World War Z”: Shocking New Images Capture ‘Post-Apocalyptic’ Scenes Outside Kabul Airport

A Russian media correspondent, Murad Gazdiev, arrived at Kabul airport this week to report on the ground and was shocked by the deteriorating conditions and continued spiraling crisis. “We’ve just arrived at Kabul airport. American troops call what is happening here ‘World War Z,’A referring to the zombie movie starring Brad Pitt. It is clear why,” he narrated.A

“The situation is horrendous. The entire airport is littered with bullet casings and flash-bang grenades,” he continued.A “Everything, absolutely everything is covered in barbed wire. The entire runway is lined with barbed wire.” And there are tragic scenes of desperate Afghan civilians standing outside the airport walls in knee-deep sewage.

NOW – Afghans stand knee-deep in sewage outside #Kabul airport, waving their papers and begging to be let in as the Taliban now control all routes to the main gates.pic.twitter.com/ZH1NEu8r2B

” Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 25, 2021

This as new reports emerge from US officials, and even a pair of congressman who just went to Kabul’s international airport on a fact finding mission, that i …

Illinoisans Paid Almost As Much On Unemployment As At Work

Illinoisans Paid Almost As Much On Unemployment As At Work

Authored by Bryce Hill via RealClearPolicy.com,

Illinois’ unemployment rate reachedA 7.2%A in July, yet many businesses are struggling to find workers.

We’ve all seen the help wanted � signs at businesses and social media posts asking us to be kind to those who did show up to work. With the vaccineA readily availableA to anyone ages 12 and older, why are people hesitant to go back to work?

The answer, in part, lies in the benefits Illinoisans are receiving.

According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the average Illinoisan earns approximately $55,770 per year at work.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Policy Institute found if that person stayed home with their kids and collected unemployment, they could earn $51,627.

Baby From Nirvana’s “Nevermind” Album Cover Sues Band For Profiting From Child Porn

Baby From Nirvana’s “Nevermind” Album Cover Sues Band For Profiting From Child Porn

The famous baby on the cover of Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album – now at the grown-up age of 30, has taken #metooA and snowflake culture to its absurd extreme, and sued the band claiming “sexual exploitation” as a result of the “child porn” photograph.A

Spencer Elden is claiming that his parents “never signed a release” authorizing the use of his image for the album cover, according to the BBC.A A Elden is also claiming that the nude imageA “constitutes child pornography”A even though non-sexualized photos of infants aren’t generally considered child pornography.

The suit argues that the inclusion of the dollar bill on the album’s cover “makes the minor seem like a sex worker”.A

“The images exposed Spencer’s intimate body part and lasciviously displayed Spencer’s genitals from the time he was an infant to the present day,” his lawsuit states.

Tesco and Iceland bosses warn over Christmas supplies

But Tesco’s chairman says don’t “overdramatise” lorry driver crisis, as Iceland warns problem getting worse.

Delta Airlines imposes $200 monthly surcharge on unvaccinated staff

The US airline also says Covid sufferers won’t get sick pay unless they are double-jabbed.

Amigo warns of collapse as losses jump and compensation payouts rise

Sub-prime lender Amigo faces a APound Sterling345m compensation bill for mis-selling and warns it may not survive.

Sadbhav Engg lost 50% in 2 months but can still double investor money

Following the recent sharp correction, the risk-reward has, however, turned positive, with brokerage targets of up to Rs 100 suggesting a potential 32-100 per cent upside from prevailing levels.

Sebi orders defreezing of bank, demat accounts, MF folios of Rana Kapoor

The regulator, in March, had attached bank accounts, share and mutual fund holdings of Kapoor to recover dues of over Rs 1 crore. The decision was taken after Kapoor failed to pay the fine imposed on him.

Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance among 7 stocks primed for another leg of rally

Benchmark indices have been hitting fresh record highs every other day, but some segments are volatile, leading to uncertainty about the future. In order to come out victorious from the volatile phase of the market, right stock picking is required. Here are 7 stocks that analysts suggest can deliver strong returns in the short term.

July 2021 Trucking Data Again Slows

Written by Steven Hansen

Headline data for the CASS Freight Index show that freight volumes show slowed month-over-month – and the year-over-year growth is 15.6 % (compared to the beginning of the recovery one year ago). In the opposite corner, the American Trucking Association (ATA) index declined but is in expansion year-over-year.

Bond Report: Long dated Treasury yields see biggest one-day gains in more than two weeks

U.S. Treasury yields edged higher Wednesday, with the 10- and 30-year at their highest levels since Aug. 12, as stocks moved further into record territory and durable-goods orders dipped in July.

: U.S. state tax revenues end 2021 higher than 2019, report finds

Tax collections in fiscal 2021 beat not just last year, but 2019 as well, thanks to buoyant consumer confidence, an improving economy and federal stimulus

: Consumer advocate Barbara Roper to join SEC

Barbara Roper, the long time advocate for investor protection, will join the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a senior advisor to Chairman Gary Gensler, the SEC announced Wednesday.