Latest news with #Europe-based
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Tariff confusion has investors in search of the boring
European equities are beating U.S. stocks this year. Volatility caused by Trump's tariff policies is partly to blame. Fixed-income salesmen from a previous era used to rely on a safe but sound principle when hawking their products to investors. Bland is good. But boring is better. Clipping coupons, collecting interest, and enjoying predictable returns was pitched as a far better option than riding the day-to-day vagaries of the stock market. Global investors are now starting to separate at least some of their allocations into the world's two biggest markets—the U.S. and Europe—based on similar thinking. It could almost be argued that investors are seeing European investments acting like bond returns, and U.S. allocations bouncing around like stocks, thanks in part to shifting tariff headlines and the administration's tax and spending policies. An EU official touched on that very theme Friday during a briefing with reporters in Brussels about nascent U.S. trade talks. 'This is the watchword: uncertainty. It is impossible to know what the status of the tariffs will be next week, not to mention next month," Reuters quoted the EU official as having said. 'If you want sane, stable, even boring, rules-based order and predictable business environment, Europe is the place for you." There's at least a kernel of truth to that. Europe's Stoxx 600, the region's broadest benchmark, has outperformed the S&P 500 by more than 7.5% this year. That is despite having no megacap tech names and working against a backdrop of sclerotic economic growth. It's also reversing a two-decade trend starting in the mid-2000s during which European equities fell 60% relative to their U.S. peers, according to Bank of America. The bank's closely-tracked 'Flow Show" report, published Friday, also notes that while U.S. equity funds have seen outflows of around $5.1 billion over the past two weeks, Europe-based funds drew in $1 billion over the past seven weeks. The inflow, small in comparison to U.S. funds, is nonetheless a larger portion of the Stoxx 600's $14 trillion market cap. The S&P 500, by contrast, is more than three times larger at $47.6 trillion In U.S. dollar terms, Bank of America data show European equities with a return of 22% this year, ranking just shy of the 25% return for gold, which tops its table of global asset performance. U.S. equities, by contrast, have returned -0.1%. The report also suggests that divergence could continue, given the weakness in the U.S. dollar and policies from the Trump administration that are likely to extend the greenback's decline against its largest global peers. The daily uncertainty on tariffs, exemplified by the U.S. Court of International Trade ruling that most of the president's levies are illegal and the subsequent stay on that ruling granted by a federal appeals court, isn't helping. 'While this might be just the beginning of yet another chapter in the U.S. trade policy, the turbulence is further chipping away at confidence in the broader U.S. economic outlook," said Kevin Ford, FX and macro strategist at payments platform group Convera. 'Positioning remains bearish on the dollar over the next three months." With first-quarter earnings effectively over, headline risks over the coming weeks will be largely focused on tariff developments, economic growth, and inflation pressures. All of them are likely to trigger fresh rounds of market volatility and test investors' patience heading into the back half of the year. Over the longer term, according to recent data from Vanguard, U.S. stocks are expected to underperform their international peers as well. The group sees domestic equities returning between 4.3% and 6.3% over the next 10 years, compared with 6% and 8% for a basket of global equities. Europe's challenges are myriad, of course, and its slow growth, Byzantine regulations, and disparate collection of 27 different economies make it far less efficient than it could otherwise be. But with U.S. markets captured by tariff risks, bloated government budgets, and a dollar in deep decline, Europe's predictability is paying off. Write to Martin Baccardax at
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Drawing the cheers
Getting intense: Malaysia's Arif Aiman Hanapi (centre) trying to get past two Cape Verde players at the Cheras Football Stadium. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: It was not a win but a performance filled with belief, grit, and glimpses of a new identity taking shape. Malaysia coach Peter Cklamovski was full of pride as Harimau Malaya battled to a 1-1 draw against world No. 72 Cape Verde at the Cheras Football Stadium on Thursday night. Despite trailing early and facing a side boasting several Europe-based talents, the Malaysians refused to bow. The hosts adapted and grew stronger as the game progressed. Cape Verde took the lead in the ninth minute through wingback Sidny Cabral, who rifled a powerful finish past the Malaysian defence. But the equaliser, when it came in the 79th minute via Paulo Josue, was well deserved, the result of sustained attacking pressure and smart substitutions from the touchline. For Cklamovski, it wasn't just about the result – it was about the process. 'I am proud of the professionalism, the mindset and the way the boys carried themselves,' said the Australian tactician, who previously coached FC Tokyo. 'We are building something. You could see the layers in our performance, the structure from defence to attack.' The match played in front of a lively home crowd, served as part one of a two-match series against Cape Verde with the return fixture set for June 3 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. While the draw was encouraging, Cklamovski is already focused on sharpening the team further. 'We played a very good opponent, with world-class players in their ranks,' he said. 'From a defensive standpoint, we were brave. We pressed, we took risks and we improved as the game went on. With the ball, there's still a lot to improve and we will bring that into the next match.' One of the biggest talking points was Cklamovski's starting 11, which featured seven local players - a bold and refreshing approach. Yet, for the coach, the talk of local, mixed heritage and naturalised players does not matter. 'Whether they play abroad or in the Super League, it doesn't matter. I choose the best squad available - players who are ready to give everything for the badge,' he stressed. 'This camp is unique because of the off-season timing and our phased approach. But the stadium was electric, and the players responded. That connection with the fans was special. 'I believe in the potential of Malaysian football. It's time to show the world what Malaysians can do.' Meanwhile, Cape Verde coach Pedro 'Bubista' Brito was gracious in praise for the home team. 'We're not surprised with Malaysia. Rankings mean little. This is football - anyone can beat anyone,' he said. 'We fielded 12 new players and are trying to find our rhythm and chemistry. This was a good test and Malaysia gave us a strong game. We wish them all the best in the future.'
The Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Malaysia show glimpses of a new identity taking shape after draw with Cape Verde
KUALA LUMPUR: It was not a win but a performance filled with belief, grit, and glimpses of a new identity taking shape. Malaysia coach Peter Cklamovski was full of pride as Harimau Malaya battled to a 1-1 draw against world No. 72 Cape Verde at the Cheras Football Stadium on Thursday night. Despite trailing early and facing a side boasting several Europe-based talents, the Malaysians refused to bow. The hosts adapted and grew stronger as the game progressed. Cape Verde took the lead in the ninth minute through wingback Sidny Cabral, who rifled a powerful finish past the Malaysian defence. But the equaliser, when it came in the 79th minute via Paulo Josue, was well deserved, the result of sustained attacking pressure and smart substitutions from the touchline. For Cklamovski, it wasn't just about the result - it was about the process. "I am proud of the professionalism, the mindset and the way the boys carried themselves," said the Australian tactician, who previously coached FC Tokyo. "We are building something. You could see the layers in our performance, the structure from defence to attack." The match played in front of a lively home crowd, served as part one of a two-match series against Cape Verde with the return fixture set for June 3 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. While the draw was encouraging, Cklamovski is already focused on sharpening the team further. "We played a very good opponent, with world-class players in their ranks," he said. "From a defensive standpoint, we were brave. We pressed, we took risks and we improved as the game went on. With the ball, there's still a lot to improve and we will bring that into the next match." One of the biggest talking points was Cklamovski's starting 11, which featured seven local players - a bold and refreshing approach. Yet, for the coach, the talk of local, mixed heritage and naturalised players does not matter. "Whether they play abroad or in the Super League, it doesn't matter. I choose the best squad available - players who are ready to give everything for the badge," he stressed. "This camp is unique because of the off-season timing and our phased approach. But the stadium was electric, and the players responded. That connection with the fans was special. "I believe in the potential of Malaysian football. It's time to show the world what Malaysians can do." Meanwhile, Cape Verde coach Pedro 'Bubista' Brito was gracious in praise for the home team. "We're not surprised with Malaysia. Rankings mean little. This is football - anyone can beat anyone," he said. "We fielded 12 new players and are trying to find our rhythm and chemistry. This was a good test and Malaysia gave us a strong game. We wish them all the best in the future."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Washington's Esme Morgan on visiting the White House, England and adopting a kitten
Life in Washington DC is treating Esme Morgan very well indeed. Not only has she discovered some of the best form of her career, but she has sneaked into the White House correspondents dinner as a guest and adopted a kitten called Biscuit. Morgan will now be hoping to enjoy the sweet taste of success with England and the Washington Spirit defender believes the American NWSL's summer calendar can help her arrive at July's European Championship in Switzerland in peak fitness because of the schedule, compared to going to a major tournament during what is – for Europe-based participants – the off-season. Advertisement 'The calendar running from March to November was something that I looked at as a real positive of coming to this league, in terms of setting you up for being able to sort of peak for international tournaments,' Morgan says. 'I think that's part of the reason the US have historically had so much success in the international windows because a lot of the European teams, the majority of their players, are obviously either at the end of a very long season or really at the start of pre-season so that can be quite difficult. So I feel like it's a really positive thing that – if selected – myself and other players playing over here would be in the midst of playing high-level, competitive football and in that rhythm and hopefully feeling really sharp.' Morgan is preparing for England's Women's Nations League meeting with Portugal at Wembley on Friday but, speaking after Washington Spirit's 3-2 win at Chicago Stars and before their 2-1 away victory against Seattle Reign, adds: 'I feel in really good form, to be honest. Coming back in to pre-season, I felt fit and strong. I'd worked hard over Christmas back in the UK to kind of get into good shape, so I just felt really sharp and confident. And like a lot of the things that I worked on last season while I was still adjusting to the league and the types of opposition we play, over the off-season, I've kind of been able to consolidate and heavily focus each training session on specific things that I want to work on.' Morgan's side – who were runners-up in the NWSL playoffs last November, five months after her switch from Manchester City – are enjoying a strong start in 2025, sitting fourth in the table after 10 games, eight of which Morgan has started. She says: 'I feel comfortable and confident on the pitch now that I know all my teammates a lot better and the style of playing the league, I feel like you've got a lot less time on the ball here than you do at home and the strikers are slightly different in terms of the threats that they offer, so getting used to that and the challenges that they pose and working on the things that I wanted to I feel has helped me this season.' The 24-year-old from Sheffield hails her new coach, the former Barcelona coach Jonatan Giráldez, as 'super detailed', and also describes the NWSL as 'super intense and competitive'. Morgan says: 'Really, the gap between the teams at the top and those at the bottom is minuscule. Any one on any given day can take points off another team. Everyone here is so fast and athletic and it is more transitional than the WSL. When I played at City often when we'd play teams who'd just kind of low block and sit back and hope to just frustrate and then hit on the counter attack – whereas here it's very rare that teams low block, which is probably why you see some of the crazy scorelines and endings to games that you do.' Advertisement Morgan starred in one such game at the start of May, a dramatic 4-3 loss at home to Angel City in which she scored twice, her first competitive goals in four years. What spurred on such rare attacking prowess? Biscuit. The match was designated as Washington Spirit's 'Pitchside Pups' game, where the club encourage the adoption of animals by raising awareness for a local shelter. Fans were also allowed to bring their dogs and cats to the match. 'I just fell in love with this little kitten,' Morgan says with adoring eyes. 'She's so cute. She was at the game before the Angel City game, so I got to see her and cuddle her. And people keep saying that's why I scored two goals, because I had the power of Biscuit with me!' The England international with 12 caps also had a sneak peak behind the corridors of power in the USA when she was invited – by a Lionesses fan who works for Bloomberg – to attend April's White House correspondents dinner, which she described as a 'fantastic evening' even if feeling like she was in another world. She met several ambassadors and diplomats, including a counsel from the British Consulate General in New York, and recalls: 'My brother and I kept just looking at each other like what on Earth are we doing here with all these amazing people? It was just so much fun to be able to pick people's brains and understand more about such a different industry.' This week, it's back to more familiar surroundings with England, but when she flies home after Tuesday's meeting with Spain her kitten will be ready to move in with her.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Shell Reshapes Operations in Indonesia With Fuel Business Divestment
Shell plc's SHEL Indonesian affiliate has taken a bold step in reshaping its business strategy by divesting fuel retail operations to a joint venture between Citadel Pacific Limited and Sefas Group. This transaction includes the transfer of around 200 gas stations and a fuel storage terminal located in Gresik, with completion expected by next year. Despite this move, Shell remains firmly rooted in Indonesia. The company emphasized that it will continue to operate under brand licensing agreements, maintaining visibility and legacy in the region. The acquiring joint venture brings together the strengths of two long-standing Shell partners. Citadel Pacific, a private holding company based in the Philippines, has its presence across various industries like aviation-related services, telecommunication, gas distribution and fuel marketing. The company licenses the Shell brand across multiple territories, including Guam, Hong Kong and Macau. Sefas Group, on the other hand, is Indonesia's largest Shell lubricants distributor. Their collaboration signals continuity for customers and partners, backed by a solid history of representing the Shell brand across various markets. While Shell is stepping away from fuel retailing, it is optimizing the portfolio by doubling down on the lubricants business in Indonesia, a market described as key for growth. Shell operates a major lubricant blending plant in the country with a capacity of up to 300 million litres annually and a new grease manufacturing plant is currently under construction. With this repositioning, Shell reinforces its strengths in high-growth, high-margin segments that can alleviate its profitability in the future. London-based Shell is one of the primary oil supermajors, a group of U.S. and Europe-based big energy multinationals with operations that span almost every corner of the globe. Currently, SHEL has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like Flotek Industries, Inc. FTK, Global Partners LP GLP and RPC, Inc. RES. While Flotek Industries and Global Partners currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, RPC carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Flotek Industries develops and delivers prescriptive chemistry-based technology, including specialty chemicals, to clients in the energy, consumer industrials and food & beverage industries. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FTK's 2025 earnings indicates 55.88% year-over-year growth. Global Partners is a Delaware limited partnership formed by affiliates of the Slifka family. The company owns, controls or has access to one of the largest terminal networks of refined petroleum products in New England. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Global Partners' 2025 earnings indicates 17.84% year-over-year growth. Atlanta, GA-based RPC is an oilfield service provider in almost all of the prospective plays, like the Rocky Mountain regions, Appalachian area, Gulf of Mexico and other resources in the United States. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RES' next quarter earnings indicates 33.33% growth. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Global Partners LP (GLP) : Free Stock Analysis Report RPC, Inc. (RES) : Free Stock Analysis Report Flotek Industries, Inc. (FTK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Shell PLC Unsponsored ADR (SHEL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
