From brunettes to bangs and graying locs, the stars are showing off major hair transformations while front row at Paris Fashion Week.
Nicole Kidman, while attending Chanel's ready-to-wear spring/summer 2027 show in Paris on Oct. 5, debuted a new look that lets her typical blonde curtain bangs fall even lower, which in some shots nearly conceal her eyes from view.
Kidman, 59, paired the look with a tweed gray Chanel blazer dress and black tights. She was joined by 15-year-old daughter Faith Kidman Urban, a day after her older daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, 18, walked the runway for Valentino.
Lisa Bonet popped up at the Celine spring/summer 2027 collection show with a more dramatic transformation, marking her first public appearance in four years by showing off her full-on gray locs. Her light gray naturally loose curls peeked through at the top, with her longer, deeper gray locs underneath.
Bonet, 58, spoke to Harper's Bazaar about the collection, designed by Michael Rider, in which she complimented the "freshness" and "relevance" Rider is bringing to fashion.

#kidman #Paris #fashion #bangs

FBI Director Kash Patel is engaged to his country singer girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, the pair announced in a post to X on Sunday evening.
Wilkins, 27, posted a black-and-white photo of herself standing with Patel, 46, flashing her hand in front of them to show off her ring with the caption, "Went and got the law involved." The two have been dating since before Patel took over as head of the FBI in 2025, when she attended his swearing in.
The country singer and political commentator released her debut album in 2023. Wilkins has been affiliated with conservative groups and writes on her website that she "honors country tradition while adding relevance and current commentary."
Patel, who reposted Wilkin's photo, has faced criticism for traveling on government aircraft on trips that have no known or apparent law enforcement purpose, including using an FBI jet to fly to State College, Pennsylvania, for a pro wrestling event where Wilkins performed the national anthem. Photos posted to social media by Wilkins afterward showed the couple smiling while she held an oversized golden championship belt.
Wilkins also made headlines as a performer at President Donald Trump's Great American State Fair on the National Mall as part of America 250, as other artists pulled out of the event after finding out it was not a non-partisan celebration.

#singer

The Miami Heat were among the teams Ben Simmons was interested in joining before agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings. But the Heat reportedly passed on signing him despite their current priority of adding point guard depth.
According to Ira Winderman, the veteran senior writer with the Sun Sentinel, the Miami Heat turned down Ben Simmons because he is no longer a proven win-now player.
"At a certain point, a team in win-now mode has to draw a valuation line between players who can be developed/reclaimed and those needed to be able to contribute in the moment, without questions of whether they are healthy enough or still skilled enough."
"In the development bucket, the Heat have Ryan Conwell, Myron Gardner, Tre Donaldson and even, still, Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson. So adding an unknown quantity would have meant going without, say, a Nick Richards or Klay Thompson or Tim Hardaway Jr," Winderman explained in his latest report.
"The Kings make all the sense for Ben Simmons, and he makes all the sense for them. There is no pressure to produce in Sacramento, but rather to begin a potential climb back to relevance."

#sacramento #kings #winderman

Sep. 5—SEATTLE — I've heard so much bellyaching about the irrelevance of Sunday's game, this Washington State-Washington duel should be branded: The Crab-Apple Cup.
For instance, a comment heard from a sports fan/friend not affiliated with either institution engaged in this achingly non-traditional Apple Cup football clash at Husky Stadium on Sunday afternoon:
"Seems kind of meaningless, doesn't it?"
Well, like so many things, it depends on your perspective.
I would argue that this game is one of the few things left in contemporary college sports that does have meaning beyond the dollar signs, and which, rarer still, continues to make sense.

#state

Download the Complete Report Here
A premium multi-material surfaces platform becoming structurally lighter and more flexible. CSTE designs, develops, sources and markets premium quartz, ICON, porcelain, natural stone and complementary surface products, generating $397.2 million of revenue in 2025, with direct sales contributing 89% of revenue across its largest markets. The company has transitioned quartz production to external partners while retaining product development, quality, brand and customer control, with Lioli providing owned porcelain capacity. This broadens CSTE beyond legacy quartz while reducing fixed manufacturing exposure and increasing sourcing flexibility.
A differentiated model built on reinforcing sourcing, design, brand and direct-market capabilities supports commercial relevance across materials. CSTE combines partner-led quartz production with proprietary formulations, quality ***** urance, design know-how, premium brand recognition and local sales infrastructure. ICON provides the clearest proof point, with Australia delivering four consecutive quarters of y/y growth following the full rollout of CSTE's crystalline-silica-free collection. Porcelain extends the same commercial platform into additional applications, broadening the competitive advantage beyond any single product or manufacturing ***** et.
Growth strategy pairs a structural cost reset with targeted commercial and category expansion. CSTE is completing the partner-led production transition, rebuilding North American customer and channel engagement, sustaining Australia's ICON-led momentum, expanding porcelain and extending brand-led geographic reach. The restructuring targets more than $100 million of annualized savings by 2027 versus 2023, including approximately $22 million from the Bar-Lev closure. Execution is now focused on stabilizing core volumes, improving Lioli's commercial alignment, expanding channel productivity and mitigating the new U.S. quartz tariffs.
Material substitution and selective regional recovery broaden CSTE's addressable opportunity beyond legacy quartz. CSTE's existing and adjacent categories span approximately 53% of global countertop volume, while engineered quartz is forecast to recover and porcelain offers materially faster growth from a smaller base. Natural stone adds further U.S. optionality, while Australia demonstrates how regulatory change can redirect rather than eliminate premium-surface demand. North America remains the largest earnings opportunity, with renovation, ageing housing stock and material substitution providing recovery potential even before a full housing upcycle.

#porcelain #premium #icon #material

Eagle Capital Management, an investment management company, released its second quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the quarter, Eagle Capital Management discussed how enthusiasm around AI capital spending has driven strong S&P 500 earnings growth while also increasing risks from elevated valuations, concentrated demand, and aggressive investment ******* umptions. Eagle remains a strong believer in AI but prefers constructing a portfolio that can perform across multiple outcomes rather than relying on one forecast. The firm believes current earnings can overstate underlying economics because semiconductor equipment is depreciated over several years, while free cash flow growth remains much weaker. It also expects competition and additional capacity across AI labs, hyperscalers, and semiconductors to eventually create winners and losers. These dynamics are encouraging Eagle to recycle capital toward attractive opportunities outside the most crowded AI trades while maintaining selective exposure to high quality beneficiaries. The portfolio trades at a 20% market discount with faster expected EPS growth. Please review the Strategy's top five holdings for key selections.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Eagle Capital Management highlighted UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), a diversified healthcare company, contributed 2.5% to the Fund's performance during the quarter. On September 02, 2026, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) closed at $399.66 per share. Over the past month UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) was down 1.07%, and its shares gained 28.76% over the past 52 weeks. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) has a market capitalization of $358.73 billion and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $255.97 - $461.62.
Eagle Capital Management stated the following regarding UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Managed care (13% of capital): UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), Humana, Elevance: These managed care companies have significant scale advantages in a consolidated industry that outgrows the overall economy. The industry moves with its own cycle and, over the last several years, has faced cost/price pressures in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid. Even the largest firms are earning poor margins, and some weaker firms are unprofitable. We believe conditions have bottomed out and that we are transitioning to a multi-year improvement in margins and earnings. Al-driven technology projects can both reduce costs and improve service quality. Since returning as CEO at UnitedHealth last year, Stephen Hemsley and the management team have been correcting some of the company's missteps. Recent results provide growing evidence that the turnaround is well on track. We expect EPS growth of 15-20% over the next several years, driven by moderate revenue growth and significantly e

Eagle Capital Management, an investment management company, released its second quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the quarter, Eagle Capital Management discussed how enthusiasm around AI capital spending has driven strong S&P 500 earnings growth while also increasing risks from elevated valuations, concentrated demand, and aggressive investment ***** umptions. Eagle remains a strong believer in AI but prefers constructing a portfolio that can perform across multiple outcomes rather than relying on one forecast. The firm believes current earnings can overstate underlying economics because semiconductor equipment is depreciated over several years, while free cash flow growth remains much weaker. It also expects competition and additional capacity across AI labs, hyperscalers, and semiconductors to eventually create winners and losers. These dynamics are encouraging Eagle to recycle capital toward attractive opportunities outside the most crowded AI trades while maintaining selective exposure to high-quality beneficiaries. The portfolio trades at a 20% market discount with faster expected EPS growth. Please review the Strategy's top five holdings for key selections in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Eagle Capital Management highlighted Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM). Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) is an American insurance company that provides medical and specialty insurance products. On September 02, 2026, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) closed at $400.97 per share. Over the past month, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) returned 9.18%, and its shares gained 28.52% over the past 52 weeks. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) has a market capitalization of $48.15 billion with a 52-week trading range between $163.11 and $428.88.
Eagle Capital Management stated the following regarding Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Managed care (13% of capital): UnitedHealth Group, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM), Elevance: These managed care companies have significant scale advantages in a consolidated industry that outgrows the overall economy. The industry moves with its own cycle and, over the last several years, has faced cost/price pressures in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid. Even the largest firms are earning poor margins, and some weaker firms are unprofitable. We believe conditions have bottomed out and that we are transitioning to a multi-year improvement in margins and earnings. Al-driven technology projects can both reduce costs and improve service quality. Humana is also making good strides, and we expect significantly improved Star ratings for the company later this year. We expect EPS growth of 15-20% over the next several years, driven by moderate revenue growth and significantly expanding margins."

#eagle

While Texas Instruments (TXN) doesn't always get the attention it deserves when it comes to relevance for the artificial intelligence boom, the semiconductor specialist — which focuses on ******* og chips and embedded processors — remains a pivotal cornerstone entity. Year-to-date, TXN stock is up nearly 47%. However, a recent downturn may be setting up a mean-reversion play.
To be sure, the print isn't very encouraging at the moment. In the past two months, TXN stock has lost roughly 15% of equity value. At the same time, the fundamental underpinning is vital for AI applications. Because AI servers and data centers consume massive amounts of electricity (and thus run extremely hot), they require specialized ******* og chips — that's where Texas Instruments fills the gap.
Unusually Heavy Volume in Snowflake Call Options Ahead of Earnings Today
Home Depot Bear Put Spread Could Return 181% in 45 Days
After Nvidia's Earnings Pop, Options Traders Set Their Sights on $260. What It Will Take to Get There.

#chips #Stock

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is taking a long-term view of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's astonishing rise, with secretary Devajit Saikia revealing that the board is closely monitoring the 15-year-old and wants to ensure his early success translates into a long and distinguished international career.

Sooryavanshi's rapid emergence was among the matters discussed at Thursday's high-level BCCI review meeting in Mumbai, which was attended by Saikia, India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, head coach Gautam Gambhir, Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman and other senior officials.

The teenager has already gone from being an IPL sensation to becoming India's youngest men's international debutant, and the BCCI is now determined to ensure that his development is handled carefully rather than allowing the weight of expectation to derail his progress.

"We want Vaibhav Sooryavanshi or any player of his stature to continue and serve like Sachin Tendulkar did for the country or other players who in the past became legends," Saikia said.

"So we look at Vaibhav in a very serious manner. He's monitored from every angle and every step he is taking forward in his international career. The BCCI is taking a very close look at his future."
Saikia made it clear that the BCCI's objective is not simply to maximise Sooryavanshi's immediate impact but to build a career that can last for years.

"You see, the BCCI can be proud that we are promoting a player of the age of 15 years who is already making his mark in the international scenario and we are very cautious that every right step he should take forward so that it should not be a one series or one year wonder," he said.

The comparison with Tendulkar was particularly significant. Like Sooryavanshi, Tendulkar was thrust into the international spotlight as a teenager before going on to enjoy one of the longest and most successful careers in the history of the game.

The BCCI secretary stressed that Sooryavanshi's progress would be closely tracked at every stage.

"We want Vaibhav's relevance, or any player of his stature, to continue and serve as Sachin Tendulkar did for the country or other players who in the past became legends," Saikia said.

The teenager's rapid rise has given the board plenty of reason for optimism. He was India's youngest-ever men's international debutant after earning his maiden call-up following a sensational IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals.

Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30, including a century and five fifties, while his 72 sixes set an IPL record for a single season. He subsequently won several awards, including the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker and Super Sixes honours.

He also made an immediate impact for India against Zimbabwe, scoring 151 runs in three matches as India completed a 3-0 sweep and claimed his maiden Player of th

Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is the second largest health insurer, and one of the largest commercial insurers in the United States. Shares rose during the quarter after the company reported quarterly earnings that beat consensus estimates. It was further supported by news that the US agreed to increase 2027 payments for private Medicare Advantage plans above the initial proposal. The company is priced at a discount to the market, driven by skepticism surrounding margins and growth, despite being a superior business that grows above GDP while returning most of its cash to shareholders."

#NYSE #fund #fundamental #wiley

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ***** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ***** an) was the only detractor, and ***** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shares of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV), the health insurer and healthcare-services provider formerly known as Anthem, rallied during the quarter as margins expanded—after a protracted decline—due to declining medical costs, stronger pricing and increased utilization with higher premiums."
Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 84 hedge fund portfolios held Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) at the end of the second quarter, which was 87 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring tr

You might find it hard to believe that Edward Enninful's 72 Magazine is celebrating its first anniversary. The commemorative issue of 72 celebrates the creative legacy of the 90s and "its continued influence on fashion and culture". The independent London-based print publication, founded by the former British Vogue editor-in-chief under his EE72 media company, bestows upon us a total of 9 dual cover offerings for Issue #5 Fall 2026. Two generations of supermodels come together for the occasion. Gigi Hadid (wearing Versace Spring 1994), Anok Yai, Paloma Elsesser, Imaan Hammam, He Cong, Adwoa Aboah, Mica Argañaraz, Julia ***** is, and Emily Ratajkowski feature on one side of the 72 Magazine cover. Archival photos of 90s icons Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Kristen McMenamy, Yasmeen Ghauri, Karen Elson, Christy Turlington, and Amber Valletta appear on the flip side.
IMAGE | EE72.COM
"Gigi actually looks good, for a change! I give credit where credit is due, unlike Vogue France," remarked BalkaniStaCouture upon checking out the covers.
"I like the concept of the dual covers and the two generations of models on each side; very nicely done. There's some strong cover imagery here; I am particularly fond of the Gigi Hadid cover – and love the archival Versace," voiced vogue28.
Yet not everyone was feeling it. "What an unfortunate decision to juxtapose the 90s vs today. You make people realize how the past is superior to the present. This magazine is already setting itself up for irrelevance," Lola701 noted.

#ee72 #ISSUE

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, joined by 22 states, has sued Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) over allegations that the company secretly inflated prices in its advertising auctions for more than seven years. The FTC alleges that Amazon used an undisclosed "soft reserve price" to raise the amount advertisers paid above what competitive bidding would have produced.
According to the complaint, the practice affected more than one million brands and sellers and may have generated tens of billions of dollars in additional revenue for Amazon. The FTC also alleges that the pricing changes became increasingly aggressive, with advertisers paying their own bids roughly 80% of the time for Sponsored Products by 2024.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) disputes the allegations, arguing that the FTC misunderstands how its advertising auctions work and that its pricing practices improve ad relevance and value for advertisers.
Photo by Bryan Angelo on Unsplash
The biggest positive for Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is that the lawsuit does not immediately undermine the underlying strength of its advertising business. Amazon generated about $68 billion in advertising revenue in 2025, making advertising an increasingly important and high-margin contributor to the company's overall profitability.

#amazon #amzn #allegations

Decathlon and Céraclès Coopérative, formerly Groupe Sport 2000 France, have signed a letter of intent for Decathlon to acquire a 50% holding in SAS Sport 2000 France.
According to a translated version of the press statement, the proposed deal is confined to French operations.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Under the proposed arrangement, the two retailers are exploring how to leverage the complementarity of their store networks, product ranges, and specialist expertise to provide a service centred on advice and local relevance.
In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Céraclès Coopérative said: "This approach is based on a simple but very strong conviction: our two ecosystems have complementarities that can contribute to better serving athletes, all levels combined, and to strengthening proximity with customers, clubs and territories."

#coop #france #racl

Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is the second largest health insurer, and one of the largest commercial insurers in the United States. Shares rose during the quarter after the company reported quarterly earnings that beat consensus estimates. It was further supported by news that the US agreed to increase 2027 payments for private Medicare Advantage plans above the initial proposal. The company is priced at a discount to the market, driven by skepticism surrounding margins and growth, despite being a superior business that grows above GDP while returning most of its cash to shareholders."

#value #company

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ******* ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ******* an) was the only detractor, and ******* an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shares of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV), the health insurer and healthcare-services provider formerly known as Anthem, rallied during the quarter as margins expanded—after a protracted decline—due to declining medical costs, stronger pricing and increased utilization with higher premiums."
Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 84 hedge fund portfolios held Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) at the end of the second quarter, which was 87 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshor

Liverpool's pursuit of Ismaïla Sarr appears to be moving with purpose, with confidence growing around the proposed transfer as the club continues to shape its attacking options for Andoni Iraola. Credit to Khadim Diakhate, whose report indicates there is increasing belief among those close to the situation that the move can be completed.
There is also a significant detail on Liverpool's side of the negotiations. The report suggests the club are expected to improve their offer for Sarr, with that revised bid likely to be their final proposal. That usually signals a club entering the decisive phase of talks, trying to establish whether an agreement can be reached without allowing the process to drag on.
The wider picture is also revealing. Liverpool are said to want two wingers, with Sarr part of that plan alongside either Yankuba Minteh or Estêvão, who is referenced as Chelsea. That points to a recruitment drive focused on adding pace, directness and flexibility in the attacking line, particularly after a summer of change and the need to refresh options in the final third.
Sarr's appeal appears to go beyond the wing. He is viewed as someone capable of playing through the middle too, which may carry extra relevance if Alexander Isak fails to deliver at the required level, while Hugo Ekitike is currently unavailable through injury. That versatility could be a major factor in Liverpool's thinking.
From Liverpool's perspective, this looks like a deal built around tactical utility as much as raw talent. Sarr has long been **** ociated with speed, running power and vertical threat. For a head coach like Iraola, those qualities can be valuable across multiple attacking roles, especially in a system that asks forwards to attack **** e quickly and work intensely without the ball.

#sarr #appears #options #without

CNBC reported on August 21, 2026, that Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) and NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) are among several major US brands that have seen their China businesses shrink over the past few years, as domestic Chinese competitors and a lack of local relevance erode market share once considered a guaranteed growth engine.
China was once the fastest-growing market for many American brands. However, Bain & Company's Aaron Cheris said the question now "isn't what's going wrong in China, it's why isn't that happening in the rest of the world," showing the problem is these brands' own strategy, not China itself.
Can Starbucks and Nike actually win back Chinese consumers, or has the moment already passed to nimbler domestic rivals?
Pixabay/Public Domain
CEO Brian Niccol created a joint venture with Boyu Capital, which holds a roughly 60% stake and aims to use its local market knowledge to revive Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)'s China sales. Some American brands are proving the China playbook can still work: Lululemon expects about 20% China growth this year, Ralph Lauren saw 40% growth in its most recent quarter, and Kentucky Fried Chicken continues finding success in the market, showing the opportunity hasn't disappeared entirely.

#sbux #nike

SAP (NYSE:SAP) faces a slower path to monetizing artificial intelligence, according to UBS, which downgraded the German software giant to Neutral from Buy on concerns that agentic AI is reaching customers too slowly.
The Swiss bank said SAP remains a dominant system of record with a deep moat around its core enterprise resource planning business, but the pace of "out-of-the-box" AI agent delivery is lagging. SAP has rolled out just 17 such agents to date, with another 15 in ramp-up, leaving its target of 200 by year-end looking difficult to reach, UBS **** ysts wrote.
The complexity of SAP's largest customers, many running multiple ERP instances across different versions and often on private cloud deployments with custom coding, complicates the company's ability to deliver standardized AI tools, according to the note. UBS said it is hearing positive signals on customers building their own agents through Joule Studio, but adoption remains gradual, making it hard to disprove bearish views on SAP's AI relevance in the near term.
UBS expects cloud backlog growth to decelerate in the second half of the year toward management's guided ~23% constant-currency pace, down from Q2's 26% (24.6% organic), a slowdown likely to pressure shares without clearer AI traction.
UBS also cited falling cloud gross, higher AI token costs pressuring R&D spending, a 100 million euro cut to 2026 EBIT guidance from acquisition dilution, and management's warnings about IT spending risks tied to the Gulf conflict.

#remains #german

Alluvial Capital Management's Q2 2026 investor letter for the Alluvial Fund reported a 4.9% return, with a year-to-date increase to 8.0%. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. While these results are acceptable, they are overshadowed by the impressive performance of small-cap and micro-cap stocks, particularly in AI and semiconductor sectors. The portfolio remains stable and focused on dependable cash flow producers, although it sometimes lags in momentum-driven markets. July showed improvement for Alluvial Fund as benchmarks declined. The author emphasizes the importance of a dependable investment strategy focused on solid cash flow producers, while expressing confidence that the portfolio's intrinsic value discount will lessen over time. The letter aims to communicate the fund's approach and highlights potential opportunities in overlooked sectors, urging a long-term investment perspective amidst current market trends. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Alluvial Fund highlighted Vistance Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:VISN) as a newly added position. Vistance Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:VISN) is a global provider of infrastructure solutions for communications, data center, and entertainment networks. On August 26, 2026, Vistance Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:VISN) closed at $11.05 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $2.55 billion. Vistance Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:VISN) posted a one-month return of -5.64%, while its shares lost 30.76% over the past 52 weeks.
Alluvial Fund stated the following regarding Vistance Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:VISN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Vistance Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:VISN), a new holding for Alluvial Fund, is a company in the midst of dismantling itself. Over the past twelve months, Vistance has sold its two largest businesses. Vistance is now down to just one remaining operating ****** et, Aurora Networks, which manufactures equipment for cable networks like Comcast and Charter. It's not a wonderful business—results are lumpy and customer concentration is high—but it is not going away. Faced with relentless competition from fiber and wireless internet alternatives, cable operators have no choice but to continue to invest in speed and reliability upgrades. On the heels of this radical reduction in scale, I don't think Vistance stays independent. Management has gone from running an enterprise doing almost $7 billion in annual sales to one doing just $1 billion. Once it pays out the proceeds from its latest business sale, Vistance will have a market capitalization below $1 billion. As a newly-minted micro-cap company, it might as well be invisible. Being a listed, SEC-reporting micro-cap comes with all the headaches and annoyances of being public, but without most of the benefits. Given the choice between fading into irrelevance as a micro-cap network equipment maker and achieving a neat resolution (and a nice liquidity event for management,

The NFL has spent years trying to fix the Pro Bowl.
Change the location. Change the rules. Remove tackling. Add skills competitions. Turn it into flag football. Move it to Super Bowl week.
Apparently, the league has finally landed on the one solution it hadn't tried yet.
Stop playing the game.
According to The Athletic's Jonathan Jones, the NFL will no longer hold a Pro Bowl game, ending its annual all-star exhibition after years of declining relevance and repeated attempts to reinvent it.

#remove #turn #super #stop

With a market cap of $86.9 billion, Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV) is a leading health benefits company that provides comprehensive health plans, pharmacy services, and healthcare solutions across the United States. Operating under the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Wellpoint, and Carelon brands, it supports individuals and communities in leading healthier lives.
Shares of the health insurer have outperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks. ELV stock has increased 27.6% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 18.3%. Moreover, the stock has risen 15.3% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 11.8% YTD rise.
Soros Fund Management Opened a New Position in Nebius During Q2. What This Means for NBIS Stock.
Nvidia Earnings, Jackson Hole and Other Key Things to Watch this Week
Ahead of Nvidia Earnings, Here's What Barchart Data Says Comes Next for NVDA Stock

#earnings #market #broader #united

When Deshaun Watson booed the boos that rained down from fans on Saturday, the Cleveland Browns quarterback questioned not only his fan base's actions but also their intentions.
"I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do with the performance," Watson told reporters after the 31-7 loss.
The line left plenty to unpack about the history between quarterback and fan base. It also seemed to gain further relevance Monday when the Browns named Watson their starting quarterback for their season opener. Because while Watson (accurately or not) believed fans' boos had "nothing to do with the performance," Cleveland's decision to name Watson its Week 1 starter has plenty to do with it. If the Browns' decision was about fan popularity or podium performance or medium- to long-term upside, 2025 fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders would have received the nod Monday.
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Instead, a conversation about who gives the club its best chance to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville on Sept. 13 unfolded.

#boos #plenty

After BCCI dissolves national selectors' role in picking zonal teams, sanctity of the tournament comes under scanner

CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: A few days before the Duleep Trophy got underway at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Sunday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced that the final will be shifted to MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The reason given was that there will be fans who will come to watch the match, which doesn't happen in the CoE.

Chennai is a cricket-crazy centre. But when you ask those who 'book' their IPL tickets long before the event, whether they would be interested in attending the Duleep final, the standard query is: "Will Shubman Gill play?"

Gill, in this case, stands for all the stars of Indian cricket. The Duleep final is from Sept 6-10, and it will be interesting to see that those who are not part of the Afghanistan T20 series starting on Sept 12 turn out at MAC.

That said, the primary purpose of the inter-zonal tournament is to check out the best performers in the Ranji Trophy go head-to-head against each other. The relevance of the tournament, especially after the inception of IPL, has diminished drastically. Yet, it remains a stepping stone for a lot of players.

The tournament's sanctity has been up for debate with the selection process. The BCCI, in the last decade, has often tried playing the tournament with national selectors picking the India 'A', 'B' and 'C' teams.

This year, the board has reverted to the inter-zonal format and has kept the national selectors out of the equation. The result? Delhi opener Sanat Sangwan, who scored 828 runs in seven Ranji Trophy matches, was on Sunday, benched by the North Zone management and instead middle-order batter Yash Dhull was played as an opener. The Central Zone team has only one player from semifinalist Uttarakhand while Madhya Pradesh was the only team from the zone to have qualified for the quarterfinals. There have been a few debatable selections in the South Zone team as well.

Former national selector Devang Gandhi believes that a national selector has to be involved in the selection process if the sanctity of the tournament is to be saved. "When we were selectors from 2016-2021, BCCI had given us the responsibility of picking the Duleep Trophy to maintain continuity in a player's development. If the opener with the highest runs in the country doesn't get to play Duleep Trophy, it defeats the purpose of the tournament. The board must at least ensure one selector from each zone is present in planning their respective zonal teams. Otherwise, politics at the state **** ociation level can crop up. There's no accountability if BCCI selectors are not used," Gandhi told TOI.

"Today we are seeing Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain as products of domestic cricket. If that structure is compromised, then it will be difficult to see such journeys," Gandhi added.

TOI understands that the selection committee has been asking for a greater role

Although Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) easily ranks among the most relevant names in the market today, the journey forward hasn't always been smooth. Yes, TSM stock is up over 40% on a year-to-date basis, a byproduct of its foundry business feeding virtually the entire global supply of advanced artificial-intelligence hardware. However, the ticker happens to be down roughly 11% since the end of June.
Still, many investors are optimistic about TSM stock for the underlying fundamentals, which may very well enjoy permanent relevance. Notably, despite the near-term choppiness, the Barchart Technical Opinion indicator rates TSM as a 72% Strong Buy. While there might be some turbulence, the overall picture appears enticing.
Investors in Microsoft Love Shorting Out-of-the-Money MSFT Puts
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Alphabet Stock Has Attractive Short-Put Yields As GOOGL Stock Treads Water

#Stock #investors

Studbudz, Courtney Williams (left) and Natasha Heideman (right).
The StudBudz generated more than $1 million in self-reported brand deals in just 72 hours around this year's WNBA All-Star Weekend.
For Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, the whirlwind began a year earlier. The duo, former teammates and close friends who launched their Twitch channel in 2025, took WNBA All-Star Weekend by storm by streaming for 72 straight hours, giving fans an unfiltered look at the players, personalities, and off-court moments surrounding the league's marquee event.
What started as a way to bring fans behind the scenes quickly became something more valuable, an audience brands wanted to reach.
The StudBudz have since parlayed that growing audience into partnerships with more than 20 global brands. Now, the duo is demonstrating how WNBA players can turn cultural relevance and direct connections with fans into a business of their own.

#audience

As is now tradition, The Hundred reaches its conclusion just as the new football season starts and exhausted parents try to tough out the end of the summer holidays.
For cricket fans, journalists and pundits, this is also peak time for the eternal debate that rumbles on about the future of The Hundred, its relevances, and its success.
The key difference this season was that it was the first since the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sold stakes of all eight teams to various private owners, which generated a staggering £975m.
But in a summer of soaring temperatures, The Hundred's crowds have stagnated.
The ECB confirmed on Friday their ticket sales had dropped just over 5% from last year, down to 550,000 from 580,000.

#hundred #season #england #wales

The Seattle Mariners have not lived up to expectations this season, and their five-game losing streak has them four games out of a wild card spot.
The Mariners have a minus-22 run differential this year. Last season they won the third most games in the American League and had a plus-72 run differential. Cal Raleigh had an MVP-caliber season last year, hitting 60 home runs and notching 125 RBIs. This year has been very different.
He has a .564 OPS and just 12 home runs. A regression from Raleigh was very likely, buit no body expected one of the best hitters in baseball to fade into irrelevance. He is wearing a lot of the balme for the team's struggles.
"We're not playing well, that starts with me — I'm awful," Raleigh said on Tuesday, per The Athletic's Tyler Kepner. "So it is what it is. I've got to find a way to be better and to help bring the guys along, and we've just got to play better.
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#Mariners #last #differential

Meta Platforms (META) Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg warned Monday against a "concentration of power" in AI as the social media giant introduced a new open-source large language model. Meta stock rose premarket.
The Facebook parent company's new Muse Glimmer AI model will be capable of "agentic" tasks while being offered under an open source license, the company said in a blog post. The designation will allow developers to download and modify the large language model.
In a separate blog post, Zuckerberg pledged to focus on a "positive AI future" that is focuses on "individual empowerment."
While not mentioning names, the Facebook founder appeared critical of leading AI labs OpenAI and Anthropic and their previous warnings about the significant economic risks of the technology.
"It is surprising that the discourse from many developing AI is so filled with doom. I do not understand why anyone who believes that AI will eliminate most jobs and much of humanity's relevance would rush to build that future," Zuckerberg wrote. "The notion that AI is so dangerous that the only safe path is an extreme concentration of power seems inherently problematic."

#concentration #open #large

Jordan Spieth reached the PGA Tour postseason for the 14th consecutive year, this time with a most curious achievement. He finished the regular season at No. 54 in the FedEx Cup despite not finishing in the top 10 in any of his 21 tournaments.
How was that possible?
For starters, top 10 really doesn't have as much relevance since 2008 when the Ryder Cup (thanks to U.S. captain Paul Azinger) went away from awarding points only to top-10 finishes.
Spieth had four finishes in the top 12, including the Masters and two signature events. Those four top 12s — the other was a tie for 11th in the Valspar Championship — accounted for 52% of his FedEx Cup points.
He played in all eight signature events this year, but he received only two exemptions — Bay Hill (tie for 11th worth 125 points) and the Travelers Championship (tie for 66th worth seven points). Take out those two sponsor exemptions and Spieth would have finished at No. 64 and still qualified for the FedEx Cup playoffs.

#championship