NEWS

HOUSTON — U.S. energy exports have surged to unprecedented levels in April 2026 as the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has rerouted global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, positioning American producers as the primary swing suppliers amid the U.S.-Iran conflict.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — GameStop Corp. has emerged as one of the most debated investment stories heading into the second half of 2026, with a dedicated base of retail investors and some prominent voices arguing the company offers compelling upside despite years of skepticism from traditional Wall Street analysts. With roughly $9 billion in cash and equivalents, new digital initiatives gaining traction and CEO Ryan Cohen steering a strategic overhaul, here are 10 key reasons some investors are betting on GME stock this year.

SYDNEY — Australian motorists are seeing some relief at the pump in late April 2026 as average unleaded petrol prices settle around $1.89 per litre nationally, but diesel costs remain elevated near $2.59 per litre amid lingering global supply concerns from Middle East tensions and recent excise adjustments.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nvidia Corp. remains one of the most compelling yet polarizing investment stories in 2026, with Wall Street analysts overwhelmingly recommending investors buy shares of the AI chip leader even as the stock trades at elevated valuations following massive gains driven by insatiable demand for its GPUs.

CINCINNATI — Chemed Corp. shares soared more than 10% in midday trading Friday, climbing to around $424 after the healthcare services company delivered a solid first-quarter 2026 earnings beat, highlighted by strong performance at its VITAS hospice business and an upgraded full-year outlook that exceeded Wall Street expectations.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Advanced Micro Devices Inc. shares have delivered strong gains in 2026, but the question of whether to buy, sell or hold the semiconductor giant remains a hot debate on Wall Street as the company rides the artificial intelligence wave while facing steep competition and elevated valuations.

TORONTO — POET Technologies Inc. shares surged more than 30% in midday trading Friday, climbing to around $15.33 as investors piled into the photonics innovator amid accelerating AI-driven demand for its optical interconnect technology and positive updates on financing and strategic positioning.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Intel Corp. shares exploded higher by more than 22% in morning trading Friday, climbing to around $82.05 after the chipmaker delivered a blockbuster first-quarter earnings beat and raised its outlook, signaling accelerating momentum in its data center and AI business under CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

CARLSBAD, Calif. — MaxLinear Inc. shares skyrocketed more than 66% in morning trading Friday, surging to around $56.99 after the semiconductor company delivered a strong first-quarter earnings beat and raised its full-year outlook, driven by explosive growth in its optical data center business fueled by artificial intelligence demand.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — GameStop Corp. shares rose modestly in morning trading Friday, climbing about 0.56% to $25.15 as investors digested the retailer's recent digital trading card initiative and its formidable $9 billion cash position amid ongoing transformation efforts under CEO Ryan Cohen.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped modestly in morning trading Friday, April 24, 2026, falling about 133 points or 0.27% to around 49,177 as lingering uncertainty over U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks and elevated oil prices kept investors on edge despite a string of solid corporate earnings.

US President Donald Trump has revealed that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been extended by another three weeks.

NEW YORK — World oil prices climbed sharply on Friday, with Brent crude topping $105 per barrel and WTI hovering near $97 as stalled U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks and persistent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz kept markets on edge amid one of the most significant supply shocks in recent years.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index fell sharply in afternoon trading Friday, dropping 42.7 points, or 0.49%, to 8,750.7 by 1:40 p.m. AEST as persistent Middle East tensions, elevated oil prices and domestic inflation concerns continued to pressure Australian equities for a third straight session.

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — Herc Holdings Inc. shares exploded higher by more than 17% in midday trading Thursday, climbing to around $126.69 as investors piled into equipment rental names amid broader sector momentum and positive positioning ahead of the company's first-quarter 2026 earnings next week.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Molina Healthcare Inc. shares skyrocketed more than 11% Thursday, surging to around $170.49 as investors cheered the managed care giant's first-quarter 2026 earnings beat and disciplined medical cost management amid a challenging environment for health insurers.

NEW YORK — United Rentals Inc. shares skyrocketed nearly 19% in morning trading Thursday, reaching $958.50 by 10:43 a.m. EDT on April 23 as the equipment rental giant reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results and highlighted robust demand across construction, infrastructure and industrial projects.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares edged lower in early trading Thursday, dipping 0.039% to $25.64 by 9:42 a.m. EDT on April 23 as the meme stock favorite continued its pattern of modest moves amid relatively quiet volume and broader market gains.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed above the historic 49,000 mark for the first time in early trading Thursday, reaching 49,284.85 by 9:30 a.m. EDT on April 23 as strong corporate earnings, cooling inflation signals and resilient consumer spending fueled fresh optimism on Wall Street.

NEW YORK — Millions of current and former Capital One customers could soon receive cash payments as part of a $425 million class-action settlement resolving allegations that the bank misled savers during the transition from its 360 Savings account to the higher-yielding 360 Performance Savings account.

NEW YORK — Bitcoin fell below $78,000 on Thursday, trading at $77,399.99 as of 10:45 a.m. UTC on April 23, down nearly 1% for the day as investors took profits following a strong rally earlier in the month and amid broader uncertainty in global financial markets.

MILPITAS, Calif. — SanDisk Corp. shares have delivered one of the most spectacular runs in recent memory, surging past $979 after climbing more than 1,200% since its 2025 spinoff from Western Digital, yet investors now face a classic Wall Street dilemma: is the memory chip maker still a compelling buy at these elevated levels, or has the AI-driven rally priced in too much optimism for 2026 and beyond?

SYDNEY — Australia's biggest bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, is cutting another 119 jobs across its operations, including a significant number at subsidiary Bankwest, citing the completion of internal programs, work simplification and an evolving mix of skills needed to meet changing customer demands.

SYDNEY — Australian shares posted mixed results Thursday with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closing down 0.57%, yet a handful of standout performers bucked the broader weakness, delivering double-digit gains that highlighted selective buying in healthcare, resources and consumer stocks amid shifting policy expectations and commodity moves.

SYDNEY — Shares in Regis Healthcare Ltd surged more than 16% on Thursday as investors cheered a major federal budget announcement that promises significant changes to aged care funding, providing fresh tailwinds for Australia's largest listed residential aged care provider.

Passengers have been able to return to Perth Airport Terminal 1 after an unattended bag led to parts of the airport to be cordoned off.

SYDNEY — Australia's fuel supply situation showed modest improvement Thursday as the number of service stations without diesel continued to fall and petrol reserves climbed to 46 days, but premiers gathered in a national cabinet meeting remained deeply concerned about the lingering impacts of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the risk of renewed volatility.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index closed lower Thursday, shedding more than 50 points as renewed uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz, a sharp drop in a major healthcare stock and broad sector rotation left investors cautious despite some resilience in energy and gold-related names.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that it would be impossible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz due to the actions of the US.