International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) shares flew higher on Friday as the airline group announced forecast-beating results for quarter one. At 294.4p per share, the FTSE 100 company was 1.4% higher in end-of-week trading. The business – whose airline brands include British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus – saw revenues rise 9.6% between January and March, to €7 billion. Operating profit swelled 191.2%, to €198 million, helped by a 17-basis-point improvement in operating margin which increased to 2.8%. IAG said that rising profits reflected “strong revenue growth and a lower fuel price [which] offset expected cost increases.” Net debt dropped by…

Brand execs are always blind-sided when ad campaigns blow up in their faces, but the pain is usually self-inflicted. What’s a Chief Marketing Officer to do? As if Nike didn’t have enough problems (sales slump, stale designs, unfocused branding, executive shakeup), the company recently found itself on center stage in one of those increasingly frequent cultural sideshows that masquerade as news. In Nike’s case, the culprit was a branded slogan that appeared prominently on giant billboards during a recent marathon in London. In bold black letters on a solid field of deep red—“Never Again,” on the top line and “Until…

Key News Asian equities were mixed overnight, as Northeast Asia outperformed Southeast Asia. Pakistan plunged 6.7% as their skirmish with India continues, though India was off only 0.58%. I had no idea how well Pakistan’s stock market has done since it bottomed in mid-2023, which puts the pullback in perspective. Both Hong Kong and Mainland China posted gains after yesterday’s interest rate cuts and economic policy support, as market indices are back at the pre-Liberation Day level, which appears to be acting as resistance. President Trump’s announcement of a major trade deal may have helped sentiment, though the release of…

Vanilla investors fixate on price. We contrarians, focusing on retirement income, know better. It’s all about the NAV. Net asset value, baby. Price is what people pay at a given moment. But people panic. Many like to buy high—and sell low! NAV, on the other hand, is what something is worth at that same moment. Price and NAV can become disconnected, especially during emotional market moments. When this happens, it is often a buying opportunity for careful contrarians like us. Let’s take a pop quiz. Think about the funds you hold in your portfolio. What was your top performing NAV…

Global exchange-traded funds (ETFs) backed by gold bullion reported their highest monthly inflows for more than three years in April, data from the World Gold Council (WGC) shows. Ending the month at 3,561 tonnes, total holdings in these gold funds rose by 115 tonnes from March’s levels. Consequently, holdings reached levels not seen since the pandemic era in October 2020. The total value of last month’s inflows came in at $11 billion, a figure that helped drive total assets under management (AUMs) to fresh record peaks of $379 billion. AUMs also benefitted from yellow metal values reaching new record peaks…

The title of Kenneth Rogoff’s 2009 bestselling book, This Time Is Different, was meant to be ironic. During every financial bubble a narrative emerges to explain why lofty valuations are justified and “this time” there won’t be a crash. Then the crash comes. Now Rogoff’s new book – Our Dollar, Your Problem – has arrived during a crisis that may indeed be different. The US dollar is the world’s dominant currency and one of the most important benefits of that status is that demand to hold it rises in a crisis. This matters, because it means the US government can…

Vivian Tu, better known as “Your Rich BFF,” has emerged as one of the most accessible and impactful voices in financial literacy for the digital generation. After beginning her career on Wall Street as an equity trader at J.P. Morgan, Tu pivoted to creating financial education content that demystifies complex money concepts for everyday people, particularly targeting young women and communities traditionally underserved by the financial industry. With over 10 million followers across social media platforms, Tu has built an empire based on straight-talking financial advice that breaks through the intimidation and privilege often associated with wealth-building. Her meteoric rise…

The world economy and politics might be in turmoil but things can’t be that bad; the rich are still buying Ferraris. The legendary Italian luxury sports car maker raised core earnings 15% in the first quarter compared with the same period last year to €693 million ($786 million), and more significantly, retained its financial guidance for 2025. Lesser mortals like Stellantis, Volvo and even Mercedes, in the face of President Trump-driven tariff turmoil, decided times were too volatile to predict short-term profits. Ferrari’s guidance for 2025 remains earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of at least €2.68 billion…

President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war with China has crushed the stocks of apparel and shoe businesses facing the prospect of profit-killing tariffs on a nation they depend on for manufacturing. But for investment firm 3G Capital, which agreed to buy Skechers Monday in a deal valuing the brand at $9.4 billion, it presented more of an opportunity than a deterrent in a year marked by a dearth of mergers and acquisitions. The purchase price was a 28% premium from Skechers’ closing stock price Friday, but still a 20% discount from its peak in January, before the market took notice…

Kit Kemp, the creative force behind Firmdale Hotels, has reimagined what luxury hospitality looks like. Known for her bold and eclectic style, the British interior designer and hotelier has turned hot spots like the Soho Hotel, Covent Garden Hotel and the Whitby into more than just places to rest, meet and work—the vibe is beautifully curated homes. With properties spanning from London to New York plus Barbados, each location reflects Kemp’s signature flair for vibrant color, unexpected details and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. What sets Kemp apart from her peers is her fearless approach to pattern, texture and color, combined…