just now (543+ words) Two of the hottest stocks of 2025 aren't what you think. They have nothing to do with Meta (META), Nvidia (NVDA), Google (GOOGL, GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), Netflix (NFLX), Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), or Tesla (TSLA). They also have nothing to do with bitcoin (BTC-USD), AI, or humanoid robots. But they have everything to do with the real state of the US economy. The two names: Dollar Tree (DLTR) and Dollar General (DG), whose stock prices have gained 55% and 65% year to date, respectively. Nvidia's stock is up 35% on the year. What each of these two retailers " which operate thousands of stores across the country and serve as vital consumption points for households " said on their earnings days blew me away this week. Dollar General's third quarter same-store sales rose 2.5%. Dollar Tree's same-store sales gained 4.2%. For perspective, Target's same-store sales fell 3.8% in the…...

just now (759+ words) American families collectively have a jaw-dropping $35.8 trillion in home equity as of mid-2025, according to the Federal Reserve (1). Unfortunately, much of that immense wealth is relatively illiquid and difficult to access. Perhaps the most popular way to tap into your home equity " besides selling the house " is a home equity line of credit (HELOC). However, there's been a surge in demand for a new financial instrument that promises to give you access to your home equity without "interest rates" or "monthly payments." I'm almost 50 years old and have nothing saved for retirement. What do I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 easy ways to catch up (and fast) Home equity agreements (HEA) or home equity investments (HEI) contracts have been gaining traction as an alternative to traditional HELOCs. But the finer print on these complex agreements reveals why their growing popularity could…...

5+ min ago (831+ words) Cameco is a top provider of uranium and nuclear infrastructure in North America. Constellation Energy is the largest nuclear operator in the U.S. and has secured long-term power purchase agreements with major technology companies. 10 stocks we like better than Cameco " With energy demand surging globally, nuclear power is one energy source that checks all of the boxes. That's because it provides reliable, carbon-free power, providing consistent baseload energy around the clock -- making it an ideal solution to meet growing energy demand and carbon-neutral goals. The industry is also riding a wave of political support. At COP 23, numerous countries pledged to triple their nuclear energy capacity by 2050. In the United States, nuclear capacity would need to grow to 200 gigawatts (GW) by then to meet this goal. Advanced technologies, such as small modular reactors, could forge a new path for the industry. Meanwhile,…...

8+ min ago (703+ words) Wall Street rose to the edge of its all-time high on Friday. The S&P 500 added 0.2 per cent and finished just 0.3 per cent shy of its record closing level, which was set in October. It had briefly topped the mark during the day, before paring its gain. Wall Street advanced on Friday to the cusp of a new record.Credit: AP The Dow Jones added 104 points, or 0.2 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.3 per cent. The Australian sharemarket is set to retreat, with futures pointing to a fall of 13 points, or 0.2 per cent, at the open. The Australian dollar was trading at US66.35" at 5.18am AEDT. The modest moves capped a quiet week for Wall Street, offering a respite following weeks of sharp and scary swings. Ulta Beauty helped lead the market and jumped 12.7 per cent after the retailer reported stronger…...

8+ min ago (703+ words) Wall Street rose to the edge of its all-time high on Friday. The S&P 500 added 0.2 per cent and finished just 0.3 per cent shy of its record closing level, which was set in October. It had briefly topped the mark during the day, before paring its gain. Wall Street advanced on Friday to the cusp of a new record.Credit: AP The Dow Jones added 104 points, or 0.2 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.3 per cent. The Australian sharemarket is set to retreat, with futures pointing to a fall of 13 points, or 0.2 per cent, at the open. The Australian dollar was trading at US66.35" at 5.18am AEDT. The modest moves capped a quiet week for Wall Street, offering a respite following weeks of sharp and scary swings. Ulta Beauty helped lead the market and jumped 12.7 per cent after the retailer reported stronger…...

8+ min ago (586+ words) Micro-cap tokens under one cent are getting more attention as investors search for early-stage crypto projects with real utility and simple growth paths. Many want clean ideas, easy models, and room for long-cycle upside potential. This shift is why the best crypto under $0.01 list is gaining speed. IPO Genie $IPO stands out as the top crypto presale in this group due to its access-focused design. Tapzi, Nexa, Digitap, and WeWake also show strong movement and clear signals of early investor accumulation. Together, these tokens offer low-cost entry points with strong potential heading into 2026. Micro-cap tokens can look similar on the surface, but a few traits help separate strong ideas from short-lived noise. Investors now look for simple, useful models and clean growth paths they can understand without guessing. Here are common signs that guide smart picks. These points help filter…...

8+ min ago (270+ words) The Forum opened with clear and aligned messages from Libya's leadership. The regional perspective was reinforced by H.E. Mohammed Hamel, Secretary General of the GECF, who underlined Africa's rising influence in shaping global gas markets. He noted Libya's role not only as a producer, but as a platform for inter-African collaboration, transparency, and knowledge exchange elements critical to the continent's long-term energy stability and economic growth. The Forum also featured strategic contributions from major international operators, each presenting a clear message of continuity and confidence in Libya's gas sector. Repsol presented updated subsurface insights suggesting significant untapped gas potential and a strong runway for new discoveries. TotalEnergies Libya reaffirmed its long-term presence in the country, emphasising ongoing investments in imaging, digital analysis, and improved development techniques with focus on local content Eni North Africa B.V. reiterated that Libya remains central to its…...

12+ min ago (195+ words) Mumbai: A 78-year-old retired government official from Thane lost more than Rs1 crore after falling victim to an online share trading scam. The Thane police said the fraud began on October 3 when the victim clicked on an online advertisement offering AI-based portfolio analysis. His number was subsequently added to a WhatsApp group with 94 members, where supposed investment tips were shared. The scammers then sent him a link to download a trading app and promised returns of over 50%. Between October 14 and November 20, the victim transferred Rs1.06 crore to multiple bank accounts in 21 transactions, following instructions from persons posing as chief investment officers. Although he could see the credited earnings on the app, he was repeatedly blocked from withdrawing funds. When he confronted the group, the scammers demanded an additional Rs40 lakh as "commission." Realising he had been cheated, he filed a complaint on the…...

13+ min ago (243+ words) Posted by Sarita Garza on Dec 7th, 2025 Futu (NASDAQ:FUTU " Get Free Report) and AstroNova (NASDAQ:ALOT " Get Free Report) are both business services companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk and institutional ownership. This table compares Futu and AstroNova's top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Futu and AstroNova, as reported by MarketBeat. Futu currently has a consensus price target of $203.67, suggesting a potential upside of 18.89%. Given Futu's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Futu is more favorable than AstroNova. This table compares Futu and AstroNova's net margins, return on equity and return on assets. 43.0% of AstroNova shares are held by institutional investors. 35.2% of Futu shares…...

13+ min ago (176+ words) Posted by Mitch Edgeman on Dec 7th, 2025 PEDEVCO (NYSE:PED " Get Free Report) and Trillion Energy International (OTCMKTS:TCFF " Get Free Report) are both small-cap energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, risk and earnings. PEDEVCO has a beta of 0.32, meaning that its share price is 68% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Trillion Energy International has a beta of 3.51, meaning that its share price is 251% more volatile than the S&P 500. This is a breakdown of current ratings for PEDEVCO and Trillion Energy International, as provided by MarketBeat. This table compares PEDEVCO and Trillion Energy International's net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This table compares PEDEVCO and Trillion Energy International's gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and…...