1 hr. ago
As of right now, Manchester City are short of midfield options ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season getting under way this weekend. Looking at Enzo Maresca's squad, there is Elliot Anderson, Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, Nico O'Reilly, Phil Foden, Nico Gonzalez and Rayan Cherki who will form City's midfield against Bournemouth. Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders left earlier this week, and Bernardo Silva departed when his contract expired at the end of the 2025-26 season. It has now been revealed that Nico Gonzalez has been informed that he can leave Manchester City. If that report is correct, yet another midfield option could leave Enzo Maresca's squad.
Craig Hope of the Daily Mail has reported that Nico Gonzalez has been informed that he can leave Manchester City this summer. Furthermore, it is reported that Newcastle United maintains a strong interest in signing the Spanish midfielder and he is becoming open to the move. Lastly, it is also reported that some of Nico Gonzalez's City teammates are trying to convince him to shun Newcastle's interest and stay at City.
If Craig Hope's report is on the money, Nico Gonzalez is heading for an exit from Manchester City. He'd be another midfielder that City would have to replace. It is seemingly City's plan to replace any player who leaves from this point onwards.
It does seem harsh that Nico Gonzalez has been told he can leave the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. The Spanish midfielder is the only number six in Enzo Maresca's squad. Also, Nico Gonzalez showed during the first half of last season that he can play a role for this City team. He held down the fort superbly well while Rodri was out last season playing in Rodri's role. So there is evidence that Nico is good enough to play in an Enzo Maresca side.
It is hard to see why Pep Guardiola cast Nico Gonzalez aside during the second half of last season. Enzo Maresca seems to prefer Mateo Kovacic in midfield rather than Nico. Maybe Nico isn't thought to be physically strong enough to compete consistently in Manchester City's midfield. Perhaps the issue is that Nico's work in possession isn't up to standard. I'm not sure what the issue but clearly there is something that the majority are missing.
#city #manchester #midfield #season
Craig Hope of the Daily Mail has reported that Nico Gonzalez has been informed that he can leave Manchester City this summer. Furthermore, it is reported that Newcastle United maintains a strong interest in signing the Spanish midfielder and he is becoming open to the move. Lastly, it is also reported that some of Nico Gonzalez's City teammates are trying to convince him to shun Newcastle's interest and stay at City.
If Craig Hope's report is on the money, Nico Gonzalez is heading for an exit from Manchester City. He'd be another midfielder that City would have to replace. It is seemingly City's plan to replace any player who leaves from this point onwards.
It does seem harsh that Nico Gonzalez has been told he can leave the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. The Spanish midfielder is the only number six in Enzo Maresca's squad. Also, Nico Gonzalez showed during the first half of last season that he can play a role for this City team. He held down the fort superbly well while Rodri was out last season playing in Rodri's role. So there is evidence that Nico is good enough to play in an Enzo Maresca side.
It is hard to see why Pep Guardiola cast Nico Gonzalez aside during the second half of last season. Enzo Maresca seems to prefer Mateo Kovacic in midfield rather than Nico. Maybe Nico isn't thought to be physically strong enough to compete consistently in Manchester City's midfield. Perhaps the issue is that Nico's work in possession isn't up to standard. I'm not sure what the issue but clearly there is something that the majority are missing.
#city #manchester #midfield #season
3 hours ago
NEW YORK — The Indiana Fever are officially postseason bound.
The Fever did not play Friday, but they clinched the spot via a Portland loss 82-79 to Toronto early Saturday morning. Indiana (24-13) is the fourth team to clinch a playoff spot, joining the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces.
This is the third-straight season that Indiana has clinched a playoff spot, marking a new standard for the franchise after seven seasons of missing the playoffs from 2017-23. The Fever's rise amounted from the additions Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, back-to-back picks in 2023 and 2024, along with Kelsey Mitchell's ascension.
Buy Indiana Fever tickets!
Indiana sit fourth in the standings, just half a game behind Las Vegas and in line for homecourt advantage in the first round.
#indiana #clinched
The Fever did not play Friday, but they clinched the spot via a Portland loss 82-79 to Toronto early Saturday morning. Indiana (24-13) is the fourth team to clinch a playoff spot, joining the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces.
This is the third-straight season that Indiana has clinched a playoff spot, marking a new standard for the franchise after seven seasons of missing the playoffs from 2017-23. The Fever's rise amounted from the additions Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, back-to-back picks in 2023 and 2024, along with Kelsey Mitchell's ascension.
Buy Indiana Fever tickets!
Indiana sit fourth in the standings, just half a game behind Las Vegas and in line for homecourt advantage in the first round.
#indiana #clinched
3 hours ago
NEW YORK — The Indiana Fever are officially postseason bound.
The Fever did not play Friday, but they clinched the spot via a Portland loss 82-79 to Toronto early Saturday morning. Indiana (24-13) is the fourth team to clinch a playoff spot, joining the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces.
This is the third-straight season that Indiana has clinched a playoff spot, marking a new standard for the franchise after seven seasons of missing the playoffs from 2017-23. The Fever's rise amounted from the additions Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, back-to-back picks in 2023 and 2024, along with Kelsey Mitchell's ascension.
Buy Indiana Fever tickets!
Indiana sit fourth in the standings, just half a game behind Las Vegas and in line for homecourt advantage in the first round.
#indiana #vegas #back
The Fever did not play Friday, but they clinched the spot via a Portland loss 82-79 to Toronto early Saturday morning. Indiana (24-13) is the fourth team to clinch a playoff spot, joining the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces.
This is the third-straight season that Indiana has clinched a playoff spot, marking a new standard for the franchise after seven seasons of missing the playoffs from 2017-23. The Fever's rise amounted from the additions Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, back-to-back picks in 2023 and 2024, along with Kelsey Mitchell's ascension.
Buy Indiana Fever tickets!
Indiana sit fourth in the standings, just half a game behind Las Vegas and in line for homecourt advantage in the first round.
#indiana #vegas #back
7 hours ago
As the eastern slate of Week 1 high school football games comes to a close, the west picks up with what may be one of the best matchups of the season: No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) vs. No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).
Entering the season as two of the best three teams in the nation, the Braves and the Gaels will stake their claim on an early-season spot in the top-2 of the Super 25 national rankings.
Follow live here, and watch on NFHS Network.
Watch St. John Bosco vs. Bishop Gorman on NFHS Network
St. John Bosco went 9-2 last season and did not reach the CIF-SS championship game, a bit of a disappointing season for a team with such high standards. With that said, the team spent some time at the No. 1 spot in the Super 25, impressive for such a young and inexperienced team. Now, quarterback Koa Malau'ulu returns to the driver's seat as a junior with a year of experience, and was named to the All-USA West preseason second team offense.
#network
Entering the season as two of the best three teams in the nation, the Braves and the Gaels will stake their claim on an early-season spot in the top-2 of the Super 25 national rankings.
Follow live here, and watch on NFHS Network.
Watch St. John Bosco vs. Bishop Gorman on NFHS Network
St. John Bosco went 9-2 last season and did not reach the CIF-SS championship game, a bit of a disappointing season for a team with such high standards. With that said, the team spent some time at the No. 1 spot in the Super 25, impressive for such a young and inexperienced team. Now, quarterback Koa Malau'ulu returns to the driver's seat as a junior with a year of experience, and was named to the All-USA West preseason second team offense.
#network
10 hours ago
Everton have received a significant late boost in their attempt to sign Brooke Norton-Cuffy from Genoa, according to a report by Kaustubh Pandey for Sport Witness, drawing on quotes translated from Italian outlets Genova24 and Secolo XIX. Genoa head coach Daniele De Rossi publicly confirmed that a late-window sale is a genuine possibility, and that discussions could move fast after their Serie A fixture against Napoli. That's a fairly open door from a manager whose club have, crucially, already identified a replacement in Como's Ignace Van Der Brempt.
Giving Everton transfer hope, he said – via Genova24: "As long as he's here, he'll play. He's training well. I think he's better than last year. I know the transfer market issues well. At most, I'll talk about it after the match."
The financials make this one genuinely attractive for Everton. Genoa originally signed Norton-Cuffy for just €2m, so even at the €20m asking price, they would be pocketing a healthy profit and negotiating from a relaxed position. For Everton, the reported £17m fee is modest by current market standards for an English full-back with real Premier League-ready qualities.
Norton-Cuffy, 22, is an England under-21 international who spent time with ******* nal's academy before building genuine senior experience across multiple loan spells in English football. That background means there is no adaptation period to account for, no bedding-in process, no language barrier. He has recorded 44 appearances across two Serie A seasons with Genoa, including 27 this campaign with two goals, one ******* ist and 25 starts.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 27: Brooke Norton-Cuffy of Coventry City warms up prior to the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Coventry City and Luton Town at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
#everton #genoa
Giving Everton transfer hope, he said – via Genova24: "As long as he's here, he'll play. He's training well. I think he's better than last year. I know the transfer market issues well. At most, I'll talk about it after the match."
The financials make this one genuinely attractive for Everton. Genoa originally signed Norton-Cuffy for just €2m, so even at the €20m asking price, they would be pocketing a healthy profit and negotiating from a relaxed position. For Everton, the reported £17m fee is modest by current market standards for an English full-back with real Premier League-ready qualities.
Norton-Cuffy, 22, is an England under-21 international who spent time with ******* nal's academy before building genuine senior experience across multiple loan spells in English football. That background means there is no adaptation period to account for, no bedding-in process, no language barrier. He has recorded 44 appearances across two Serie A seasons with Genoa, including 27 this campaign with two goals, one ******* ist and 25 starts.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 27: Brooke Norton-Cuffy of Coventry City warms up prior to the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Coventry City and Luton Town at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
#everton #genoa
10 hours ago
In my day job, I am an English professor. This is relevant because in my hobby of writing about football, I frequently encounter people who forget that words mean things. ESPN just released a ranking of NFL positional groups that includes this statement: "you would be surprised by what you can learn sitting down and objectively grading and/or ranking each positional unit of all 32 teams."
This is probably true. The author of the article should try it some time. "Objectively," per Merriam-Webster, involves "evaluation with a basis in observable facts rather than feelings or opinions." He then proceeds to just rattle off a bunch of rank lists without actually providing any criteria for how the lists were composed. To be clear–this is an author writing to the standard of "trust me bro" and vibes, and it says a lot about the state of ESPN and sports journalism in general.
Because a detailed ***** ysis of everything wrong with the article would take framing and ***** ysis that exceeds what the low quality of its argumentation deserves, I am simply going to focus on three Bears-centric rankings that make me wonder whether or not the author was even bothering.
ESPN ranks Chicago's running back room as 24th in the NFL. In 2025, Chicago had the 4th-best rushing attack in the league by EPA/run, and it was one of only ten teams in the league that had positive value in EPA per run. Not only was Chicago third in total rushing yards, it was one of only three teams in the league with two running backs (Swift and Monangai) with at least 25 attempts in the top twenty in terms of success rate and EPA per rush. Those two were 12th and 21st in terms of yards per carry in terms for backs with at least 50 rush attempts, and 3rd and 19th in terms of total EPA.
Either would be the basis of a rushing attack above 24th in the league, and Chicago has both of them. By any objective standard, Chicago has a 1-2 punch at running back that is near the top of the league. If the concern is that Chicago's third running back is going to bring down the rest of the group, we would need to believe that 23 teams in the NFL have third-string running backs sufficient to make up the difference over this pairing.
#author
This is probably true. The author of the article should try it some time. "Objectively," per Merriam-Webster, involves "evaluation with a basis in observable facts rather than feelings or opinions." He then proceeds to just rattle off a bunch of rank lists without actually providing any criteria for how the lists were composed. To be clear–this is an author writing to the standard of "trust me bro" and vibes, and it says a lot about the state of ESPN and sports journalism in general.
Because a detailed ***** ysis of everything wrong with the article would take framing and ***** ysis that exceeds what the low quality of its argumentation deserves, I am simply going to focus on three Bears-centric rankings that make me wonder whether or not the author was even bothering.
ESPN ranks Chicago's running back room as 24th in the NFL. In 2025, Chicago had the 4th-best rushing attack in the league by EPA/run, and it was one of only ten teams in the league that had positive value in EPA per run. Not only was Chicago third in total rushing yards, it was one of only three teams in the league with two running backs (Swift and Monangai) with at least 25 attempts in the top twenty in terms of success rate and EPA per rush. Those two were 12th and 21st in terms of yards per carry in terms for backs with at least 50 rush attempts, and 3rd and 19th in terms of total EPA.
Either would be the basis of a rushing attack above 24th in the league, and Chicago has both of them. By any objective standard, Chicago has a 1-2 punch at running back that is near the top of the league. If the concern is that Chicago's third running back is going to bring down the rest of the group, we would need to believe that 23 teams in the NFL have third-string running backs sufficient to make up the difference over this pairing.
#author
12 hours ago
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri court has rejected a request to let voters decide in November whether to erect some of the nation's strongest protections for laws and constitutional amendments passed by citizen initiative.
Citizen initiatives are placed on the ballot in Missouri if voters collect enough signatures. The secretary of state can reject measures that he deems violate the constitution.
The ruling Wednesday by a Cole County judge upholds a decision by Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who had blocked the amendment from the November ballot despite thousands of petition signatures for it. Hoskins ***** erted that the measure violated the state constitution by containing multiple subjects and restricting a republican form of government.
The group Respect Missouri Voters, which backed initiative petition, said it will appeal and expects to prevail.
Missouri has been at the center of a national battle over direct democracy. In August, voters overwhelmingly defeated a measure placed on the ballot by lawmakers that would have imposed one of the nation's toughest standards for passing citizen-initiated amendments.
#missouri
Citizen initiatives are placed on the ballot in Missouri if voters collect enough signatures. The secretary of state can reject measures that he deems violate the constitution.
The ruling Wednesday by a Cole County judge upholds a decision by Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who had blocked the amendment from the November ballot despite thousands of petition signatures for it. Hoskins ***** erted that the measure violated the state constitution by containing multiple subjects and restricting a republican form of government.
The group Respect Missouri Voters, which backed initiative petition, said it will appeal and expects to prevail.
Missouri has been at the center of a national battle over direct democracy. In August, voters overwhelmingly defeated a measure placed on the ballot by lawmakers that would have imposed one of the nation's toughest standards for passing citizen-initiated amendments.
#missouri
12 hours ago
BEIJING, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Tesla will roll out software fixes for millions of vehicles in China, the country's market regulator said on Monday, marking the automaker's largest-ever recall in the market.
Effective September 25, Tesla will recall 2.98 million China-made and imported Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles because emergency door release handles may be difficult to identify, potentially hindering escape or rescue after a severe crash and electrical system failure. The remedy includes warning labels and an over-the-air (OTA) update that lowers windows after a collision.
Separately, Tesla is immediately recalling 2.74 million China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles for an OTA software update to enhance driver-attention monitoring while ******* isted steering and other driver-assistance functions are engaged, reducing the risk of collisions if drivers fail to respond promptly.
(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Joe Bavier)
The supertruck arms race is getting petty in the best way possible. With Ram resurrecting the supercharged 777-horsepower TRX SRT and aggressively pushing its 540-hp inline-six Ram 1500 RHO, Ford is making a aggressive move to protect its territory. For the 2027 model year, The Blue Oval has slashed $4,010 off the standard F-150 Raptor's entry sticker, bringing the delivered base price down to $77,790.
#vehicles #beijing #made
Effective September 25, Tesla will recall 2.98 million China-made and imported Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles because emergency door release handles may be difficult to identify, potentially hindering escape or rescue after a severe crash and electrical system failure. The remedy includes warning labels and an over-the-air (OTA) update that lowers windows after a collision.
Separately, Tesla is immediately recalling 2.74 million China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles for an OTA software update to enhance driver-attention monitoring while ******* isted steering and other driver-assistance functions are engaged, reducing the risk of collisions if drivers fail to respond promptly.
(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Joe Bavier)
The supertruck arms race is getting petty in the best way possible. With Ram resurrecting the supercharged 777-horsepower TRX SRT and aggressively pushing its 540-hp inline-six Ram 1500 RHO, Ford is making a aggressive move to protect its territory. For the 2027 model year, The Blue Oval has slashed $4,010 off the standard F-150 Raptor's entry sticker, bringing the delivered base price down to $77,790.
#vehicles #beijing #made
12 hours ago
When reading this "Busts" column, it is important to point out that I perceive these players to be overvalued at their current draft position, not that they are outright "off-my-board" unless otherwise specified.
Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!
As I've mentioned in previous columns, pro-style quarterbacks have major difficulty reaching the all-important 20-fantasy-point-per-game mark in Yahoo Standard scoring without a defined rushing component. Running backs in committees are always dicey propositions, and it's vital to target receivers and tight ends who are targeted downfield in pass-friendly offenses.
With that, here are the most overvalued players currently being selected in Yahoo Standard Leagues.
Please understand this "Bust" label pertains to Yahoo Standard scoring where pro-style signal-callers are depreciated by way of 4-point passing touchdowns. Philosophically, we've seen Ohio State morph from the up-tempo attack of Ryan Day's formative head coaching years, to the glacial offense we witnessed last year that slowed OSU down to the 135th slowest pace in the country.
#fantasy
Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!
As I've mentioned in previous columns, pro-style quarterbacks have major difficulty reaching the all-important 20-fantasy-point-per-game mark in Yahoo Standard scoring without a defined rushing component. Running backs in committees are always dicey propositions, and it's vital to target receivers and tight ends who are targeted downfield in pass-friendly offenses.
With that, here are the most overvalued players currently being selected in Yahoo Standard Leagues.
Please understand this "Bust" label pertains to Yahoo Standard scoring where pro-style signal-callers are depreciated by way of 4-point passing touchdowns. Philosophically, we've seen Ohio State morph from the up-tempo attack of Ryan Day's formative head coaching years, to the glacial offense we witnessed last year that slowed OSU down to the 135th slowest pace in the country.
#fantasy
14 hours ago
On August 13, Figure Technology Solutions (NASDAQ:FIGR) reported second quarter 2026 results that leaned hard into the story it has been telling investors since its IPO. Consumer loan marketplace volume reached $4.3 billion, up 132% from a year earlier and 4% ahead of the top end of guidance, marking a third straight quarter of triple digit growth. The message from management was simple: the shift of mortgage lending onto Figure's tokenized marketplace is accelerating, not slowing down.
Revenue and profitability grew alongside volume rather than behind it. Adjusted net revenue climbed 95% year over year to $218 million, and adjusted EBITDA rose 126% to $119 million, pushing the margin to 55% from 47% a year earlier. Net income jumped to $87 million from $30 million. Figure Connect, the company's capital-light marketplace that lets loans trade directly between originators and buyers on chain, drove much of that lift. Connect volume climbed to 65% of total marketplace volume, up from 42% a year ago, and management now expects that share to approach 70% in the medium term, higher than the 60% target it had set previously. Partner count grew to 489, up from 387 last quarter, and at least one newly onboarded partner has already become the company's largest or second-largest.
That growth has not come by loosening lending standards. Average FICO scores at origination have risen from 737 in 2020 to 756 so far this year, while combined loan-to-value ratios have fallen to 62.1%. Spreads on Figure's HELOC securitizations have tightened from around 255 basis points in 2023 to roughly 135 basis points across 22 priced deals, and the buyer base for those deals has grown to more than 100 unique investors from just a handful a few years ago. The pending acquisition of Kiavi, a residential transition loan lender, is expected to add 40% to volume and $100 million of EBITDA with a payback period under four years, giving Figure a new ****** et class to run through the same marketplace playbook.
Not every metric moved in Figure's favor. Net take rate, the cut Figure earns on marketplace volume, fell to 3.6%, the low end of its 3.5% to 4% guided range, and management expects it to stay there in the third quarter. Three forces are pushing it down at once. Figure Connect itself carries the lowest take rate of the company's three channels, and the partners moving fastest onto it are large ones skipping the higher take rate Figure branded channel entirely. Rising interest rates during the quarter also hurt gain on sale economics, and first lien loan volume, which carries lower take rates than home equity lines, tripled year over year.
#figure #quarter #connect #take
Revenue and profitability grew alongside volume rather than behind it. Adjusted net revenue climbed 95% year over year to $218 million, and adjusted EBITDA rose 126% to $119 million, pushing the margin to 55% from 47% a year earlier. Net income jumped to $87 million from $30 million. Figure Connect, the company's capital-light marketplace that lets loans trade directly between originators and buyers on chain, drove much of that lift. Connect volume climbed to 65% of total marketplace volume, up from 42% a year ago, and management now expects that share to approach 70% in the medium term, higher than the 60% target it had set previously. Partner count grew to 489, up from 387 last quarter, and at least one newly onboarded partner has already become the company's largest or second-largest.
That growth has not come by loosening lending standards. Average FICO scores at origination have risen from 737 in 2020 to 756 so far this year, while combined loan-to-value ratios have fallen to 62.1%. Spreads on Figure's HELOC securitizations have tightened from around 255 basis points in 2023 to roughly 135 basis points across 22 priced deals, and the buyer base for those deals has grown to more than 100 unique investors from just a handful a few years ago. The pending acquisition of Kiavi, a residential transition loan lender, is expected to add 40% to volume and $100 million of EBITDA with a payback period under four years, giving Figure a new ****** et class to run through the same marketplace playbook.
Not every metric moved in Figure's favor. Net take rate, the cut Figure earns on marketplace volume, fell to 3.6%, the low end of its 3.5% to 4% guided range, and management expects it to stay there in the third quarter. Three forces are pushing it down at once. Figure Connect itself carries the lowest take rate of the company's three channels, and the partners moving fastest onto it are large ones skipping the higher take rate Figure branded channel entirely. Rising interest rates during the quarter also hurt gain on sale economics, and first lien loan volume, which carries lower take rates than home equity lines, tripled year over year.
#figure #quarter #connect #take
18 hours ago
By Selena Li
HONG KONG, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Ant International launched an upgraded version of its artificial intelligence model on Thursday, signing up major global banks as financial institutions accelerate the adoption of specialised AI to manage liquidity risks.
The Singapore-based fintech giant rolled out its Falcon Time-Series Transformer Model 2.0 and has partnered with six large banks including Citi, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered, and Barclays, according to Kelvin Li, the firm's general manager of platform tech.
The launch comes amid an accelerating global race among financial institutions to embed AI into their core operations.
Li said the model specialises in financial scenarios and has an edge over general-purpose large models, which have "yet to achieve a universal breakthrough in the financial sector."
#institutions #large
HONG KONG, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Ant International launched an upgraded version of its artificial intelligence model on Thursday, signing up major global banks as financial institutions accelerate the adoption of specialised AI to manage liquidity risks.
The Singapore-based fintech giant rolled out its Falcon Time-Series Transformer Model 2.0 and has partnered with six large banks including Citi, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered, and Barclays, according to Kelvin Li, the firm's general manager of platform tech.
The launch comes amid an accelerating global race among financial institutions to embed AI into their core operations.
Li said the model specialises in financial scenarios and has an edge over general-purpose large models, which have "yet to achieve a universal breakthrough in the financial sector."
#institutions #large
21 hours ago
Meghan Markle reportedly felt "attacked" over one Princess Diana comparison while Kate Middleton avoided the same heat. The ******* ss of Sussex faced online backlash after sharing a birthday pool photo that critics compared to Diana's yacht image. A source claimed Meghan viewed the reaction as unfair because Kate also draws inspiration from Diana. The reported tension centered on fashion, public image, and who gets praised for royal homage.
As per a HeatWorld report, a source claimed Kate Middleton stayed silent after Meghan Markle's birthday photo backlash. The insider said Kate "won't have missed the skewering Meghan got." The source added that many people called it "an obvious attempt to copy Diana." However, Kate reportedly kept "totally out of the fray." The insider said she refused to upset Prince William by joining a "fashion war."
Meanwhile, the source said Kate clearly valued Diana's style legacy. The insider claimed there was "no doubt" Kate took inspiration from Diana's "timeless fashion choices." The Princess of Wales was also given some of Diana's jewelry by William. The source said Kate "treasures" those pieces. Still, the insider added that Kate would never want to feed a "catty narrative" about Princess Diana.
However, the same report claimed Markle viewed the different reactions as unfair. The source said Meghan would argue she was "only doing the same thing." Instead of being praised like Middleton, she was "attacked," the insider claimed. For context, Meghan shared black-and-white birthday photos. The images showed her jumping into a circular pool with balloons.
Soon after, the pictures sparked Princess Diana comparisons online. A recent report said one X account shared a side-by-side with Diana's 1997 Saint-Tropez vacation photo. Some users claimed Meghan was "cosplaying," while another wrote, "She always recreates her images." The HeatWorld insider pushed back, saying Meghan had shared "a fun photo" from her birthday. The source added she was "torn apart" because Diana was once photographed jumping from a yacht. For Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton, the source framed the dispute as a double-standard debate.
#diana #insider #middleton #birthday
As per a HeatWorld report, a source claimed Kate Middleton stayed silent after Meghan Markle's birthday photo backlash. The insider said Kate "won't have missed the skewering Meghan got." The source added that many people called it "an obvious attempt to copy Diana." However, Kate reportedly kept "totally out of the fray." The insider said she refused to upset Prince William by joining a "fashion war."
Meanwhile, the source said Kate clearly valued Diana's style legacy. The insider claimed there was "no doubt" Kate took inspiration from Diana's "timeless fashion choices." The Princess of Wales was also given some of Diana's jewelry by William. The source said Kate "treasures" those pieces. Still, the insider added that Kate would never want to feed a "catty narrative" about Princess Diana.
However, the same report claimed Markle viewed the different reactions as unfair. The source said Meghan would argue she was "only doing the same thing." Instead of being praised like Middleton, she was "attacked," the insider claimed. For context, Meghan shared black-and-white birthday photos. The images showed her jumping into a circular pool with balloons.
Soon after, the pictures sparked Princess Diana comparisons online. A recent report said one X account shared a side-by-side with Diana's 1997 Saint-Tropez vacation photo. Some users claimed Meghan was "cosplaying," while another wrote, "She always recreates her images." The HeatWorld insider pushed back, saying Meghan had shared "a fun photo" from her birthday. The source added she was "torn apart" because Diana was once photographed jumping from a yacht. For Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton, the source framed the dispute as a double-standard debate.
#diana #insider #middleton #birthday
23 hours ago
Circle Internet Stock (NYSE: CRCL) is soaring today, up 8.7% as of 3:35 p.m. ET on Aug. 19, 2026, on news of a White House meeting between President Donald Trump and crypto-industry executives.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were up 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Trump is set to meet today with representatives from crypto companies as well as key regulators like Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Mike Selig.
The meeting comes a day after the SEC proposed a rule change that would let some crypto companies skip standard securities-registration requirements. More changes could come from tomorrow's CFTC meeting.
#Crypto
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were up 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Trump is set to meet today with representatives from crypto companies as well as key regulators like Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Mike Selig.
The meeting comes a day after the SEC proposed a rule change that would let some crypto companies skip standard securities-registration requirements. More changes could come from tomorrow's CFTC meeting.
#Crypto
1 day ago
After a tame first half for his standards, 5-star Tennessee football commit David Gabriel Georges took over in the second half of Baylor's TSSAA football season opener.
Georges scored three touchdowns in the second half and totaled 250 total yards in the Red Raiders' 38-20 victory over Brentwood Academy on Aug. 20 in Chattanooga.
According to the ESPN broadcast, Georges compiled 172 rushing yards and 78 receiving yards in the first game of his senior season.
DGG showed his customary balance throughout the game, starting with an early first-quarter run where he left his feet after making contact with a Brentwood Academy defender but continued on for an 8-yard carry.
WEEK 1 PICKS: TSSAA football predictions for top Week 1 games include Brentwood Academy vs Baylor
#brentwood #yards
Georges scored three touchdowns in the second half and totaled 250 total yards in the Red Raiders' 38-20 victory over Brentwood Academy on Aug. 20 in Chattanooga.
According to the ESPN broadcast, Georges compiled 172 rushing yards and 78 receiving yards in the first game of his senior season.
DGG showed his customary balance throughout the game, starting with an early first-quarter run where he left his feet after making contact with a Brentwood Academy defender but continued on for an 8-yard carry.
WEEK 1 PICKS: TSSAA football predictions for top Week 1 games include Brentwood Academy vs Baylor
#brentwood #yards
1 day ago
On August 11, Bicara Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BCAX) used its second-quarter earnings call to deliver two headlines at once. CEO Claire Mazumdar announced she will step into a Vice Chair and Strategic Adviser role at the start of next year, handing the top job to President and Chief Operating Officer Ryan Cohlhepp. That handoff arrives just as the company points to fresh survival data for ficerafusp alfa, its lead drug candidate for frontline recurrent or metastatic HPV-negative head and neck cancer, and pushes its pivotal trial toward a critical readout.
At May's ASCO meeting, Bicara presented three-year follow-up data spanning roughly 90 patients across three dose cohorts, the longest follow-up reported for any investigational agent in HPV-negative head and neck cancer. At the 1,500 milligram weekly pivotal dose, about one in three patients was still alive at three years, roughly double the survival rate seen in retrospective **** yses of standard-of-care pembrolizumab in this population. Management ties that benefit to the drug's TGF-beta inhibition, which it says drives tumor penetration and immune cell infiltration rather than blocking a single pathway. Overall survival nearly doubled against the standard of care while the safety profile stayed consistent, the company said.
Execution on the pivotal Phase III FORTIFI-HN01 study has kept pace. Bicara says it is on track for substantial enrollment by the end of 2026, with more than 200 sites now active, positioning the trial for a mid-2027 interim readout that could open the door to accelerated approval. The company also launched FORTIFI-FLEX, a study of an every-three-week maintenance dose built on encouraging results from an exploratory every-two-week cohort shown earlier this year, with data targeted for the time of any U.S. approval decision. Beyond the core indication, Bicara points to early proof of concept in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and **** canal cancer, backed by roughly $497 million in cash that management says funds operations through the first half of 2029.
The leadership overhaul goes well beyond the CEO chair. Jenn Larson took over as Chief Financial Officer the day after the call, succeeding Ivan Hyep, who had a hand in raising over $800 million for the company since its early days. Two more transitions take effect in January: Chief Development Officer Tanya Green moves into the Chief Operating Officer seat, and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Jenna Cohen becomes Chief Business Officer. A new Chief Legal Officer and two new board members are joining as well, a lot of change concentrated in a single quarter right as the company approaches its most consequential trial milestone.
#bicara #three #survival #cancer
At May's ASCO meeting, Bicara presented three-year follow-up data spanning roughly 90 patients across three dose cohorts, the longest follow-up reported for any investigational agent in HPV-negative head and neck cancer. At the 1,500 milligram weekly pivotal dose, about one in three patients was still alive at three years, roughly double the survival rate seen in retrospective **** yses of standard-of-care pembrolizumab in this population. Management ties that benefit to the drug's TGF-beta inhibition, which it says drives tumor penetration and immune cell infiltration rather than blocking a single pathway. Overall survival nearly doubled against the standard of care while the safety profile stayed consistent, the company said.
Execution on the pivotal Phase III FORTIFI-HN01 study has kept pace. Bicara says it is on track for substantial enrollment by the end of 2026, with more than 200 sites now active, positioning the trial for a mid-2027 interim readout that could open the door to accelerated approval. The company also launched FORTIFI-FLEX, a study of an every-three-week maintenance dose built on encouraging results from an exploratory every-two-week cohort shown earlier this year, with data targeted for the time of any U.S. approval decision. Beyond the core indication, Bicara points to early proof of concept in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and **** canal cancer, backed by roughly $497 million in cash that management says funds operations through the first half of 2029.
The leadership overhaul goes well beyond the CEO chair. Jenn Larson took over as Chief Financial Officer the day after the call, succeeding Ivan Hyep, who had a hand in raising over $800 million for the company since its early days. Two more transitions take effect in January: Chief Development Officer Tanya Green moves into the Chief Operating Officer seat, and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Jenna Cohen becomes Chief Business Officer. A new Chief Legal Officer and two new board members are joining as well, a lot of change concentrated in a single quarter right as the company approaches its most consequential trial milestone.
#bicara #three #survival #cancer
1 day ago
On August 17, Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), agreed to buy internal business data from bankrupt Spirit Airlines for $10 million, outbidding a $7.5 million offer from AI data company Mercor. The haul includes employee emails, Microsoft Teams messages, spreadsheets, calendars, and marketing and operations records, all to be stripped of customer information before the sale closes at a bankruptcy court hearing. It is a tiny deal by Alphabet's standards. But it says something about how aggressively the company is hunting for raw material to train its AI models.
Google Cloud revenue grew 82% year over year to $24.8 billion in the second quarter, accelerating from 63% growth in the first. That pace dwarfs the 43% growth Microsoft reported for Azure and the 37% growth Amazon posted for AWS over the same period. Google Cloud is still the smallest of the three in dollar terms, but its operating income more than tripled, from $2.8 billion to $8.8 billion, pushing its margin from about 21% to 36%. Its backlog reached $514 billion, roughly five years of work at the current pace, and Alphabet expects to recognize just over half of it as revenue within 24 months. CEO Sundar Pichai said nearly 90% of the Fortune 100 now use its Gemini Enterprise model, with existing customers exceeding their original commitments by more than 50%.
AI is reshaping the advertising side of the business too. Gemini is helping Alphabet find relevant ads for longer, harder-to-monetize searches, while a tool called AI Max uses AI to expand keyword matches and rewrite ad copy automatically. Management has credited AI Overviews and AI Mode with lifting search revenue by making results more relevant, all built on top of a Chrome browser with 68% global market share and a Google Search engine that holds 91%.
Alphabet's headline numbers are less impressive up close. The company reported net income of $112.2 billion on revenue of $119.8 billion in the second quarter, but $98 billion of that came from "other income," driven mainly by a $94.1 billion unrealized gain tied to its early stake in **** eX. Alphabet invested $900 million in **** eX back in 2015 for roughly 7.5% of the company, a position that ballooned in value after **** eX's June IPO priced shares at $135 and closed the quarter at $170.86. Strip that gain out and Alphabet's net income falls closer to $18 billion, which works out to a 35% year-over-year decline in earnings per share. Because the gain is unrealized, it rises and falls with **** eX's stock price and could reverse just as fast as it appeared.
#year
Google Cloud revenue grew 82% year over year to $24.8 billion in the second quarter, accelerating from 63% growth in the first. That pace dwarfs the 43% growth Microsoft reported for Azure and the 37% growth Amazon posted for AWS over the same period. Google Cloud is still the smallest of the three in dollar terms, but its operating income more than tripled, from $2.8 billion to $8.8 billion, pushing its margin from about 21% to 36%. Its backlog reached $514 billion, roughly five years of work at the current pace, and Alphabet expects to recognize just over half of it as revenue within 24 months. CEO Sundar Pichai said nearly 90% of the Fortune 100 now use its Gemini Enterprise model, with existing customers exceeding their original commitments by more than 50%.
AI is reshaping the advertising side of the business too. Gemini is helping Alphabet find relevant ads for longer, harder-to-monetize searches, while a tool called AI Max uses AI to expand keyword matches and rewrite ad copy automatically. Management has credited AI Overviews and AI Mode with lifting search revenue by making results more relevant, all built on top of a Chrome browser with 68% global market share and a Google Search engine that holds 91%.
Alphabet's headline numbers are less impressive up close. The company reported net income of $112.2 billion on revenue of $119.8 billion in the second quarter, but $98 billion of that came from "other income," driven mainly by a $94.1 billion unrealized gain tied to its early stake in **** eX. Alphabet invested $900 million in **** eX back in 2015 for roughly 7.5% of the company, a position that ballooned in value after **** eX's June IPO priced shares at $135 and closed the quarter at $170.86. Strip that gain out and Alphabet's net income falls closer to $18 billion, which works out to a 35% year-over-year decline in earnings per share. Because the gain is unrealized, it rises and falls with **** eX's stock price and could reverse just as fast as it appeared.
#year
1 day ago
This year's rally is no longer just a megacap story. Now the calendar is pushing back.
The S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index (^SP500EW) is up about 15% in 2026, beating the roughly 12% gain for the standard S&P 500 (^GSPC).
That distinction is useful here. The standard S&P 500 gives its biggest companies the most influence, while the equal-weight version gives each stock the same weight. In other words, it is a better look at how the average S&P 500 stock is doing.
And lately, the average stock has been doing quite well. The broader rally has helped push some of Wall Street's riskiest trades back to the top.
But BTIG technical strategist Jonathan Krinsky sees a tougher stretch of the calendar arriving right on schedule.
#standard #gives #doing
The S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index (^SP500EW) is up about 15% in 2026, beating the roughly 12% gain for the standard S&P 500 (^GSPC).
That distinction is useful here. The standard S&P 500 gives its biggest companies the most influence, while the equal-weight version gives each stock the same weight. In other words, it is a better look at how the average S&P 500 stock is doing.
And lately, the average stock has been doing quite well. The broader rally has helped push some of Wall Street's riskiest trades back to the top.
But BTIG technical strategist Jonathan Krinsky sees a tougher stretch of the calendar arriving right on schedule.
#standard #gives #doing
1 day ago
STURGIS — Sarah Arreola kept her nerves in check pretty well on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
She was confident in being able to do so, but as a varsity head volleyball coach, she was ready for anything as well.
Arreola returned to the sidelines after a long stint away from being a varsity head coach. She's been an educator at Sturgis High School for a bit, but Wednesday evening was her first experience as a varsity head coach for the orange and black.
It went well, by her standards. Sturgis opened its season with a three-set victory over visiting White Pigeon, 25-18, 25-11, 25-21.
"I'd say it was a nine out of 10," Arreola said of her first varsity head coaching experience for Sturgis, noting it was the first match for both teams and there are plenty of things to continue to work on. "When they are enjoying what they do, we are at our absolute best. They know it. When we started having fun, you saw smiling and lots of noise. It makes things easier."
#head #experience
She was confident in being able to do so, but as a varsity head volleyball coach, she was ready for anything as well.
Arreola returned to the sidelines after a long stint away from being a varsity head coach. She's been an educator at Sturgis High School for a bit, but Wednesday evening was her first experience as a varsity head coach for the orange and black.
It went well, by her standards. Sturgis opened its season with a three-set victory over visiting White Pigeon, 25-18, 25-11, 25-21.
"I'd say it was a nine out of 10," Arreola said of her first varsity head coaching experience for Sturgis, noting it was the first match for both teams and there are plenty of things to continue to work on. "When they are enjoying what they do, we are at our absolute best. They know it. When we started having fun, you saw smiling and lots of noise. It makes things easier."
#head #experience
1 day ago
On August 11, Bicara Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BCAX) used its second-quarter earnings call to deliver two headlines at once. CEO Claire Mazumdar announced she will step into a Vice Chair and Strategic Adviser role at the start of next year, handing the top job to President and Chief Operating Officer Ryan Cohlhepp. That handoff arrives just as the company points to fresh survival data for ficerafusp alfa, its lead drug candidate for frontline recurrent or metastatic HPV-negative head and neck cancer, and pushes its pivotal trial toward a critical readout.
At May's ASCO meeting, Bicara presented three-year follow-up data spanning roughly 90 patients across three dose cohorts, the longest follow-up reported for any investigational agent in HPV-negative head and neck cancer. At the 1,500 milligram weekly pivotal dose, about one in three patients was still alive at three years, roughly double the survival rate seen in retrospective ****** yses of standard-of-care pembrolizumab in this population. Management ties that benefit to the drug's TGF-beta inhibition, which it says drives tumor penetration and immune cell infiltration rather than blocking a single pathway. Overall survival nearly doubled against the standard of care while the safety profile stayed consistent, the company said.
Execution on the pivotal Phase III FORTIFI-HN01 study has kept pace. Bicara says it is on track for substantial enrollment by the end of 2026, with more than 200 sites now active, positioning the trial for a mid-2027 interim readout that could open the door to accelerated approval. The company also launched FORTIFI-FLEX, a study of an every-three-week maintenance dose built on encouraging results from an exploratory every-two-week cohort shown earlier this year, with data targeted for the time of any U.S. approval decision. Beyond the core indication, Bicara points to early proof of concept in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and ****** canal cancer, backed by roughly $497 million in cash that management says funds operations through the first half of 2029.
The leadership overhaul goes well beyond the CEO chair. Jenn Larson took over as Chief Financial Officer the day after the call, succeeding Ivan Hyep, who had a hand in raising over $800 million for the company since its early days. Two more transitions take effect in January: Chief Development Officer Tanya Green moves into the Chief Operating Officer seat, and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Jenna Cohen becomes Chief Business Officer. A new Chief Legal Officer and two new board members are joining as well, a lot of change concentrated in a single quarter right as the company approaches its most consequential trial milestone.
#three
At May's ASCO meeting, Bicara presented three-year follow-up data spanning roughly 90 patients across three dose cohorts, the longest follow-up reported for any investigational agent in HPV-negative head and neck cancer. At the 1,500 milligram weekly pivotal dose, about one in three patients was still alive at three years, roughly double the survival rate seen in retrospective ****** yses of standard-of-care pembrolizumab in this population. Management ties that benefit to the drug's TGF-beta inhibition, which it says drives tumor penetration and immune cell infiltration rather than blocking a single pathway. Overall survival nearly doubled against the standard of care while the safety profile stayed consistent, the company said.
Execution on the pivotal Phase III FORTIFI-HN01 study has kept pace. Bicara says it is on track for substantial enrollment by the end of 2026, with more than 200 sites now active, positioning the trial for a mid-2027 interim readout that could open the door to accelerated approval. The company also launched FORTIFI-FLEX, a study of an every-three-week maintenance dose built on encouraging results from an exploratory every-two-week cohort shown earlier this year, with data targeted for the time of any U.S. approval decision. Beyond the core indication, Bicara points to early proof of concept in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and ****** canal cancer, backed by roughly $497 million in cash that management says funds operations through the first half of 2029.
The leadership overhaul goes well beyond the CEO chair. Jenn Larson took over as Chief Financial Officer the day after the call, succeeding Ivan Hyep, who had a hand in raising over $800 million for the company since its early days. Two more transitions take effect in January: Chief Development Officer Tanya Green moves into the Chief Operating Officer seat, and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Jenna Cohen becomes Chief Business Officer. A new Chief Legal Officer and two new board members are joining as well, a lot of change concentrated in a single quarter right as the company approaches its most consequential trial milestone.
#three
1 day ago
This year's rally is no longer just a megacap story. Now the calendar is pushing back.
The S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index (^SP500EW) is up about 15% in 2026, beating the roughly 12% gain for the standard S&P 500 (^GSPC).
That distinction is useful here. The standard S&P 500 gives its biggest companies the most influence, while the equal-weight version gives each stock the same weight. In other words, it is a better look at how the average S&P 500 stock is doing.
And lately, the average stock has been doing quite well. The broader rally has helped push some of Wall Street's riskiest trades back to the top.
But BTIG technical strategist Jonathan Krinsky sees a tougher stretch of the calendar arriving right on schedule.
#calendar #doing
The S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index (^SP500EW) is up about 15% in 2026, beating the roughly 12% gain for the standard S&P 500 (^GSPC).
That distinction is useful here. The standard S&P 500 gives its biggest companies the most influence, while the equal-weight version gives each stock the same weight. In other words, it is a better look at how the average S&P 500 stock is doing.
And lately, the average stock has been doing quite well. The broader rally has helped push some of Wall Street's riskiest trades back to the top.
But BTIG technical strategist Jonathan Krinsky sees a tougher stretch of the calendar arriving right on schedule.
#calendar #doing
2 days ago
Brian Schottenheimer identifies two major Cowboys concerns originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys won their preseason opener, but Brian Schottenheimer found two areas that failed to meet his standard. Dallas defeated the Seattle Seahawks 17-7 behind an impressive defensive performance. The Cowboys allowed only 76 total yards over Seattle's final seven possessions and received multiple encouraging contributions from players competing for roster spots.
Schottenheimer still was not pleased with the special teams or the offensive line. The Cowboys allowed 144 yards on six combined kickoff and punt returns. Seattle's average offensive possession began at its own 42-yard line, repeatedly creating difficult situations for the Dallas defense.
"Our mantra is get back to basics," Schottenheimer said. "Got to pay more attention to detail. Very, very disappointed in how we lost contain. Very disappointed in how we gave up kick-side leverage."
Schottenheimer also criticized the communication from Dallas' coverage units.
#brian #sporting #line #disappointed
The Dallas Cowboys won their preseason opener, but Brian Schottenheimer found two areas that failed to meet his standard. Dallas defeated the Seattle Seahawks 17-7 behind an impressive defensive performance. The Cowboys allowed only 76 total yards over Seattle's final seven possessions and received multiple encouraging contributions from players competing for roster spots.
Schottenheimer still was not pleased with the special teams or the offensive line. The Cowboys allowed 144 yards on six combined kickoff and punt returns. Seattle's average offensive possession began at its own 42-yard line, repeatedly creating difficult situations for the Dallas defense.
"Our mantra is get back to basics," Schottenheimer said. "Got to pay more attention to detail. Very, very disappointed in how we lost contain. Very disappointed in how we gave up kick-side leverage."
Schottenheimer also criticized the communication from Dallas' coverage units.
#brian #sporting #line #disappointed
2 days ago
Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Madison Large Cap Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, U.S. stock market indices achieved their best performance since 2020, driven largely by a narrow group of Artificial Intelligence-related stocks. As in the pandemic's early days, investors are fixated on who will benefit from AI, reminiscent of the late 1990s internet bubble. Against this backdrop, The Madison Large Cap Fund (class I) returned 8.4% in the second quarter of 2026, compared to a 15.2% increase in the S&P 500 Index. The current market's extreme narrowness is concerning, and history suggests this won't persist. While AI is reshaping society and the economy, today's winners may not remain so, and booms could lead to busts. Additionally, factors such as a volatile federal administration, growing budget deficits, inflation, high interest rates, and strained consumer finances will significantly impact the economy and stock market in the future. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In Q2 2026, Madison Large Cap Fund added Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), a US-based financial services company that provides technology, data, and market infrastructure to financial institutions, corporations, and government entities. On August 19, 2026, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) closed at $157.24 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $88.27 billion. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) posted a one-month return of 9.75%, and its shares lost 12.30% over the past 52 weeks.
Madison Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), an operator of leading financial exchanges and ancillary data products, reported strong results in the quarter, but its stock has been caught up in the broad sell-off in ****** et-light companies that are perceived as "AI losers".
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) operates leading financial exchanges and clearing houses, as well as provides data and software to its customers. Founder and CEO Jeff Sprecher has long characterized ICE's overarching strategy as "bringing transparency, efficiency, and standardization to markets with a mission to digitize the ****** og". We believe ICE should continue to grow revenue and profits at an attractive clip over time and could even see the rate improve if AI trading strategies proliferate, ICE expands into new markets, and the mortgage market picks up after a multiyear slumber. ICE is currently priced at a decade low valuation as investors are concerned about the potential impact of artificial intelligence technologies. We believe this sentiment is misplaced, as ICE's exchanges could actually benefit from AI trading strategies, and its data and software are regulatory-compliant, largely p
In Q2 2026, Madison Large Cap Fund added Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), a US-based financial services company that provides technology, data, and market infrastructure to financial institutions, corporations, and government entities. On August 19, 2026, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) closed at $157.24 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $88.27 billion. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) posted a one-month return of 9.75%, and its shares lost 12.30% over the past 52 weeks.
Madison Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), an operator of leading financial exchanges and ancillary data products, reported strong results in the quarter, but its stock has been caught up in the broad sell-off in ****** et-light companies that are perceived as "AI losers".
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) operates leading financial exchanges and clearing houses, as well as provides data and software to its customers. Founder and CEO Jeff Sprecher has long characterized ICE's overarching strategy as "bringing transparency, efficiency, and standardization to markets with a mission to digitize the ****** og". We believe ICE should continue to grow revenue and profits at an attractive clip over time and could even see the rate improve if AI trading strategies proliferate, ICE expands into new markets, and the mortgage market picks up after a multiyear slumber. ICE is currently priced at a decade low valuation as investors are concerned about the potential impact of artificial intelligence technologies. We believe this sentiment is misplaced, as ICE's exchanges could actually benefit from AI trading strategies, and its data and software are regulatory-compliant, largely p
2 days ago
Standard Life has agreed to a partnership with a consortium of investors to expand its pension risk transfer (PRT) business, with a combined initial capital commitment of up to $2.72bn (£2bn).
The consortium consists of CVC Capital Partners, Prudential Financial (PFI), Goldman Sachs and MS&AD Insurance Group, together with other long-term institutional investors.
Capital will be drawn over five years, subject to regulatory approval.
The partnership is designed to allow Standard Life to support a wider range of defined benefit (DB) schemes including the "largest and most complex".
Of the total £2bn commitment, £500m will be provided by Standard Life, funded through yearly excess cash generation, while the balance will come from the consortium, led by CVC and PFI.
#financial
The consortium consists of CVC Capital Partners, Prudential Financial (PFI), Goldman Sachs and MS&AD Insurance Group, together with other long-term institutional investors.
Capital will be drawn over five years, subject to regulatory approval.
The partnership is designed to allow Standard Life to support a wider range of defined benefit (DB) schemes including the "largest and most complex".
Of the total £2bn commitment, £500m will be provided by Standard Life, funded through yearly excess cash generation, while the balance will come from the consortium, led by CVC and PFI.
#financial
2 days ago
By Yoruk Bahceli, Ben Welsh, Dhara Ranasinghe and Rocky Swift
LONDON/NEW YORK/TOKYO, August 20 (Reuters) - U.S. debt has topped $40 trillion for the first time, underscoring the pressures on the world's major economies to fund ever-increasing spending demands -- from ageing populations to climate change and defence.
This year, the Iran war has rekindled inflation risks, while damage wrought by Europe's increasingly volatile weather is a further strain on public finances.
No wonder perhaps that U.S. 30-year Treasury yields have risen to their highest since 2007, prompting government action to contain rising borrowing costs. ******* anese borrowing costs are also near their highest in three decades and even Germany -- whose debt load is considerably lighter -- has seen its yields jump to the highest levels since 2011.
A high debt burden that brings higher borrowing costs risks hurting living standards by constraining spending and capping growth. Sovereign debt sets the benchmark for borrowing costs for companies and other loans, including household mortgages.
#spending #since
LONDON/NEW YORK/TOKYO, August 20 (Reuters) - U.S. debt has topped $40 trillion for the first time, underscoring the pressures on the world's major economies to fund ever-increasing spending demands -- from ageing populations to climate change and defence.
This year, the Iran war has rekindled inflation risks, while damage wrought by Europe's increasingly volatile weather is a further strain on public finances.
No wonder perhaps that U.S. 30-year Treasury yields have risen to their highest since 2007, prompting government action to contain rising borrowing costs. ******* anese borrowing costs are also near their highest in three decades and even Germany -- whose debt load is considerably lighter -- has seen its yields jump to the highest levels since 2011.
A high debt burden that brings higher borrowing costs risks hurting living standards by constraining spending and capping growth. Sovereign debt sets the benchmark for borrowing costs for companies and other loans, including household mortgages.
#spending #since
2 days ago
Manchester City have set their sights on a deal for AS Roma's Manu Kone following the confirmation of Tijjani Reijnders's exit yesterday.
Reijnders joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Qadsiah after only one season at the Etihad.
Having also facilitated the departure of talisman Rodri to Barcelona in recent days, Enzo Maresca is now sweating over how his side will be lining up for the season ahead with such crucial names gone.
Along with the two midfielders this week, long-serving Blues Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and John Stones all bid farewell to City at the end of 2025/2026 – not to mention the fact that Pep Guardiola also pulled the curtains on his tenure.
His successor, formerly of Chelsea and Leicester City, faces an uphill battle to maintain the standard Guardiola had set over the last nine years.
#saudi
Reijnders joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Qadsiah after only one season at the Etihad.
Having also facilitated the departure of talisman Rodri to Barcelona in recent days, Enzo Maresca is now sweating over how his side will be lining up for the season ahead with such crucial names gone.
Along with the two midfielders this week, long-serving Blues Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and John Stones all bid farewell to City at the end of 2025/2026 – not to mention the fact that Pep Guardiola also pulled the curtains on his tenure.
His successor, formerly of Chelsea and Leicester City, faces an uphill battle to maintain the standard Guardiola had set over the last nine years.
#saudi
2 days ago
Kalshi filed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Tuesday to launch perpetual futures contracts tied to U.S. equity indexes and copper, the company's latest effort to expand beyond its prediction market roots into traditional derivatives territory.
The equity index filing seeks to list a perpetual futures contract — known as a "perp" — on the MerQube U.S. Large Cap Index, which tracks the 500 largest companies listed and based in the U.S., according to CNBC. SEC approval is not required for the equity index contracts, Reuters reported, because broad-based equity baskets fall within the CFTC's regulatory purview rather than the SEC's.
The copper contract, designated COPPERPERP, would be a cash-settled perpetual futures contract referencing the spot price of copper in U.S. dollars per pound, using the Pyth Network XCU/USD price feed as its underlying price index, Kalshi said. Each contract would represent 1,000 pounds of copper, with a minimum tick of $0.0005 per pound. The contract would trade continuously from 6:00 PM Eastern Time on Sunday through 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, with a funding payment calculated daily at 10:00 AM Eastern Time on weekdays to keep the contract price aligned with the spot reference price, Kalshi said.
Unlike standard futures, perpetual contracts have no set expiration, meaning traders can maintain a position for as long as they choose. To keep the contract price close to the spot market, the structure relies on periodic funding payments exchanged between opposing sides of the trade.
A month earlier, Kalshi had submitted a CFTC proposal for perps on precious metals such as gold and silver, according to CNBC. The equity index and copper filings extend that push into additional ****** et classes as the company works to position itself as a multi-asset derivatives exchange competing with established operators.
#price #kalshi #futures #time
The equity index filing seeks to list a perpetual futures contract — known as a "perp" — on the MerQube U.S. Large Cap Index, which tracks the 500 largest companies listed and based in the U.S., according to CNBC. SEC approval is not required for the equity index contracts, Reuters reported, because broad-based equity baskets fall within the CFTC's regulatory purview rather than the SEC's.
The copper contract, designated COPPERPERP, would be a cash-settled perpetual futures contract referencing the spot price of copper in U.S. dollars per pound, using the Pyth Network XCU/USD price feed as its underlying price index, Kalshi said. Each contract would represent 1,000 pounds of copper, with a minimum tick of $0.0005 per pound. The contract would trade continuously from 6:00 PM Eastern Time on Sunday through 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, with a funding payment calculated daily at 10:00 AM Eastern Time on weekdays to keep the contract price aligned with the spot reference price, Kalshi said.
Unlike standard futures, perpetual contracts have no set expiration, meaning traders can maintain a position for as long as they choose. To keep the contract price close to the spot market, the structure relies on periodic funding payments exchanged between opposing sides of the trade.
A month earlier, Kalshi had submitted a CFTC proposal for perps on precious metals such as gold and silver, according to CNBC. The equity index and copper filings extend that push into additional ****** et classes as the company works to position itself as a multi-asset derivatives exchange competing with established operators.
#price #kalshi #futures #time
2 days ago
Colombia's state-controlled oil company Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) has completed its roughly $1.2 billion acquisition of a controlling 51% stake in Brazil's Brava Energia, significantly expanding its position in one of Latin America's most important oil-producing markets.
The deal combines approximately 25% of Brava's shares acquired through a voluntary tender offer with another 26% purchased under an agreement reached with existing shareholders in April. Ecopetrol had offered R$23 per share in the tender and said earlier this month that the auction had been successfully completed.
The acquisition gives Ecopetrol control of a sizeable portfolio of Brazilian offshore and onshore **** ets. Brava produced an average of around 78,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) during the first half of 2026, rising to approximately 84,400 boed in June.
Brava also reported 459 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) of proved reserves at the end of 2025 under PRMS standards. Ecopetrol previously described Brava as Brazil's second-largest listed independent oil company by reserves and production.
At the approximately $1.2 billion purchase price, Ecopetrol is paying an implied $8.40 per boe of proved reserves and around $6.30 per boe of proved-plus-probable reserves. Brava generated approximately $2.34 billion in revenue and $1.05 billion in EBITDA during the 12 months through June 2026.
#approximately
The deal combines approximately 25% of Brava's shares acquired through a voluntary tender offer with another 26% purchased under an agreement reached with existing shareholders in April. Ecopetrol had offered R$23 per share in the tender and said earlier this month that the auction had been successfully completed.
The acquisition gives Ecopetrol control of a sizeable portfolio of Brazilian offshore and onshore **** ets. Brava produced an average of around 78,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) during the first half of 2026, rising to approximately 84,400 boed in June.
Brava also reported 459 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) of proved reserves at the end of 2025 under PRMS standards. Ecopetrol previously described Brava as Brazil's second-largest listed independent oil company by reserves and production.
At the approximately $1.2 billion purchase price, Ecopetrol is paying an implied $8.40 per boe of proved reserves and around $6.30 per boe of proved-plus-probable reserves. Brava generated approximately $2.34 billion in revenue and $1.05 billion in EBITDA during the 12 months through June 2026.
#approximately
3 days ago
For nearly two decades, September has usually meant one thing for Apple investors: a new iPhone cycle.
That pattern may be about to change.
Apple (AAPL) is reportedly planning to launch the iPhone 18 Pro series this fall and delay the standard iPhone 18 to the first quarter of 2027, according to supplier commentary reported by Economic Daily News and The Verge. The more affordable iPhone 18e and a new iPhone Air are also expected to launch around early 2027.
That would be a big change for a product franchise that had a record $54.25 billion of revenue in Apple's latest quarter, up 21.7% from a year earlier. Total company revenue was up 16% to $109.4 billion.
That reason appears to be more than just product marketing.
#iphone #revenue
That pattern may be about to change.
Apple (AAPL) is reportedly planning to launch the iPhone 18 Pro series this fall and delay the standard iPhone 18 to the first quarter of 2027, according to supplier commentary reported by Economic Daily News and The Verge. The more affordable iPhone 18e and a new iPhone Air are also expected to launch around early 2027.
That would be a big change for a product franchise that had a record $54.25 billion of revenue in Apple's latest quarter, up 21.7% from a year earlier. Total company revenue was up 16% to $109.4 billion.
That reason appears to be more than just product marketing.
#iphone #revenue
3 days ago
TORONTO — The standard 5 o'clock pedestrian traffic of financiers in suits featured pops of red and No. 22 jerseys in the Entertainment District on Tuesday night. The promenade at Scotiabank Arena was populated with even more two hours before tip-off.
The Indiana Fever show touched down across the border for the first time and hit all of its typical beats. The game moved to a larger NBA-sized arena filled to the brim at an announced sellout of 19,300. Fans waited in line longer than even Caitlin Clark herself thinks she would consider. And attention honed in on the visitors, with fans giddy at the arrival of the league's most talked-about team.
"It is a spectacle sometimes," Fever head coach Stephanie White said. "But when it's time to play, it's time to play."
No steam was lost in this trip up north, despite the Fever reaching for another beat they'd rather not. The final minutes were made more scintillating than needed after Indiana allowed a 17-point lead to fade, and Tempo guard Marina Mabrey drained back-to-back 3s to pull within four. It was as close as the game had been since the start of the third quarter.
But the Fever held on, and are now riding a five-game win streak with their magic number to clinch a playoff spot at two. They are playing their best basketball in the recent stretch, led again by their big 3 of Clark (24 points, 7 ******* ists), Kelsey Mitchell (29 points) and Aliyah Boston (16). Mitchell extended her streak of 20-plus point games to 20, tying the league record, but missed the fourth quarter. White said all indications are she "got overheated" in their second straight game played in an arena set closer to the temperature of an actual fever.
#indiana #mitchell
The Indiana Fever show touched down across the border for the first time and hit all of its typical beats. The game moved to a larger NBA-sized arena filled to the brim at an announced sellout of 19,300. Fans waited in line longer than even Caitlin Clark herself thinks she would consider. And attention honed in on the visitors, with fans giddy at the arrival of the league's most talked-about team.
"It is a spectacle sometimes," Fever head coach Stephanie White said. "But when it's time to play, it's time to play."
No steam was lost in this trip up north, despite the Fever reaching for another beat they'd rather not. The final minutes were made more scintillating than needed after Indiana allowed a 17-point lead to fade, and Tempo guard Marina Mabrey drained back-to-back 3s to pull within four. It was as close as the game had been since the start of the third quarter.
But the Fever held on, and are now riding a five-game win streak with their magic number to clinch a playoff spot at two. They are playing their best basketball in the recent stretch, led again by their big 3 of Clark (24 points, 7 ******* ists), Kelsey Mitchell (29 points) and Aliyah Boston (16). Mitchell extended her streak of 20-plus point games to 20, tying the league record, but missed the fourth quarter. White said all indications are she "got overheated" in their second straight game played in an arena set closer to the temperature of an actual fever.
#indiana #mitchell
3 days ago
On Monday came the stunning news that five of the six Buss family siblings had voted to sell their remaining share of the Los Angeles Lakers that they hadn't sold to Mark Walter last year. They agreed to sell that remaining stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who had already agreed to purchase Walter's majority share last week.
The lone dissenter among the Buss siblings is Jeanie Buss, the governor of the team. The other five issued a statement on Tuesday reiterating their decision to sell, per ESPN.
"The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives," the Buss family said in a statement to ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday. "Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.
"Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family's remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process."
It was Dr. Jerry Buss, the late father of the six Buss siblings, who first purchased the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979. In the 34 years he owned the team, it won 10 NBA championships and reached the NBA Finals 16 times, transforming it from a bridesmaid franchise into the gold standard of basketball.
#remaining #decision #tuesday
The lone dissenter among the Buss siblings is Jeanie Buss, the governor of the team. The other five issued a statement on Tuesday reiterating their decision to sell, per ESPN.
"The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives," the Buss family said in a statement to ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday. "Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.
"Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family's remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process."
It was Dr. Jerry Buss, the late father of the six Buss siblings, who first purchased the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979. In the 34 years he owned the team, it won 10 NBA championships and reached the NBA Finals 16 times, transforming it from a bridesmaid franchise into the gold standard of basketball.
#remaining #decision #tuesday
