Regional banking company First Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q2 CY2025 as sales rose 2.8% year on year to $164.3 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.98 per share was 3.7% above analysts’ consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy First Merchants? Find out in our full research report. Net Interest Income: $133 million vs analyst estimates of $139.1 million (3.5% year-on-year growth, 4.4% miss) Net Interest Margin: 3.3% vs analyst estimates of 3.3% (9 basis point year-on-year increase, in line) Revenue: $164.3 million vs analyst estimates of $165.8 million (2.8% year-on-year growth, 0.9% miss) Efficiency Ratio:…
Author: user
President Trump is once again floating the idea of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, ostensibly in objection to excessively high interest rates. But this debate is not about monetary policy. It’s a power play aimed at subordinating America’s central bank to the fiscal needs of the executive branch and Congress. In other words, we have a textbook case of “fiscal dominance” on our hands — and that always ends poorly.I’m no cheerleader for Powell. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he enthusiastically backed every stimulus package, regardless of size or purpose, as if these involved no trade-offs. Where were the calls…
Citigroup Inc. is expanding its research on private companies, joining rivals including JPMorgan Chase & Co. in covering firms that aren’t publicly traded.Heath Terry, who has worked at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Third Point and Balyasny Asset Management, joined Citigroup to lead coverage of the heavily private artificial-intelligence sector and guide other analysts in their research on private firms in their own industries.Closely held firms, which have proliferated as the number of public companies globally has declined, are dominating increasingly important sectors such as AI and aerospace. That shift has made financial data in global markets less transparent and increased…
(Bloomberg) — Treasuries held steady after an auction of 20-year bonds was met with strong demand, a sign investors are willing to snap up longer-dated US government debt while rates remain high. Most Read from Bloomberg Yields traded about four to five basis points higher as of early afternoon in New York, following the $13 billion sale. The benchmark 10-year note’s was trading near session highs of around 4.39% shortly after the 1 p.m. auction. “The results are a small positive for the market,” said John Canavan, analyst at Oxford Economics. The reopening of 20-year debt drew a yield of…
Surprise, surprise. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the bond market may be taking its risk cues from equities. At least, that appears to be the case when fluctuations in the two major volatility indices are compared. Equity investors often look to the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) as a gauge of fear or future uncertainty in the stock market. Meanwhile, fixed-income investors rely on the Merrill Lynch Option Volatility Estimate (MOVE Index) to track expectations of future volatility in the bond market. But which market sets the tone for the other? Does one of these volatility measures lead the other, or are…
Commercial flying depends on medical fitness as much as technical skill. Any sudden illness or medical condition can cost a pilot their licence to fly. To manage this risk, some pilots choose specialised insurance that covers loss of income if they are grounded for health reasons.Known as loss of licence (LoL) insurance, this provides financial compensation if a pilot is declared medically unfit to fly and loses the right to operate aircraft.Adarsh Agarwal, Appointed Actuary at Digit Insurance, explained, “The demand for loss of licence insurance for pilots has seen a rise in recent years due to the compelling financial…
Image source: Getty Images Metals One (LSE: MET1) is in penny share territory after its share price fell from a 52-week high of 55p to 10p at the time of writing (23 July). The market cap is down from £295m to £54m. The shares had spiked in May 2025 on news of an acqusition in Norway that could give it access to gold, copper, and nickel deposits. One commentator claims the mineral reserves could be worth £3bn, and tips the stock for a 2,000% share price surge. Another talks of a “massive” uranium find, claiming it could put Metals One…
Welcome to Zephyr’s Adjusted for Risk podcast! This episode features an in-depth conversation between host Ryan Nauman and David Sherman, founder and CIO of CrossingBridge Advisors. David shares his extensive experience in the financial industry and discusses the intricacies of duration, fixed income markets, and investment strategies. Learn about the importance of protecting capital, the risks and benefits of low-duration bonds, and how to match investment strategies with financial goals. David also shares insights on the Nordic fixed income market and high-yield bonds, providing valuable tips for financial advisors and investors alike. Don’t miss this comprehensive guide to navigating interest…
Image source: Getty Images Back in 2021, some speculative shares went to the moon as US and UK retail stock investors throw caution to the wind and piled in. Then the proverbial hit the fan in 2022 and most lost 90% or more of their value inside 18 months. One of those was Opendoor Technologies (NASDAQ: OPEN). Shares of the real estate platform soared nearly 200% to reach $34 in 2021, only to plunge 95% over the next two years. Now though, meme stocks like this are back in vogue as a new speculative frenzy has taken over. Opendoor has…
Image source: Rolls-Royce plc This has been a fantastic year for shareholders in aeronautical engineer Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR). This month, Rolls-Royce shares broke through the £10 price level for the first time in history (although they have since fallen slightly). That reflects the incredible turnaround story at Rolls-Royce that has seen the FTSE 100 firm’s share price soar 969% in just five years. That sort of performance is exceptional – and exceptionally attractive for many investors, including me. So, ought I to put some money into Rolls-Royce shares now, or am I too late? Growing into its current valuation Before…