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RTX (RTX) And Lockheed Martin (LMT) Post Weekly Gains As Record Backlogs And Rising Defense Budgets Fuel Investor Confidence

Thomas ShelterJuly 24, 202606 mins

RTX Corp. and Lockheed Martin have emerged as standout performers this week, riding a wave of investor enthusiasm following strong second-quarter 2026 earnings reports. Both defense giants delivered results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, raised their full-year outlooks, and reported record contract backlogs that signal durable demand for years ahead. RTX posted double-digit revenue and…

China’s Growing Middle East Influence Sets Stage For Gold And Dollar Shifts

Anthony SinclairJuly 24, 202603 mins

China has steadily expanded its economic and political footprint across the Middle East, positioning itself as a dominant force in the region’s shifting power dynamics. Analysts who track global currency flows and commodity markets say Beijing’s deepening ties with Middle Eastern nations carry significant implications for both gold prices and the U.S. dollar. As China…

Wealthy Retirees Question Whether Social Security Should Be Optional For High Savers

Thomas ShelterJuly 24, 202604 mins

A 63-year-old semiretired physician is raising a pointed question about whether high-net-worth Americans should be allowed to opt out of Social Security entirely. The physician, writing to MarketWatch’s “Dear Quentin” advice column hosted by Quentin Fottrell, says they have accumulated $2 million in retirement savings. The letter writer argues that wealthy retirees with substantial nest…

Wise Group (WSE) Shares Plunge After OCC Rejects U.S. Bank Charter Application

Anthony SinclairJuly 24, 202604 mins

Wise Group PLC (WSE) saw its shares fall more than 10% after U.S. regulators rejected its application for a national trust bank charter. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency denied the application from Wise US Inc., citing concerns over compliance and anti-money laundering standards. The OCC also pointed to historical issues that Wise…

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) And Rocket Lab (RKLB) Slide As SpaceX Halts Falcon 9 Bookings Beyond 2028

Thomas ShelterJuly 24, 202605 mins

Shares of AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) slipped in overnight trading heading into Friday, pressured by reports that SpaceX is pulling back on future Falcon 9 launch availability. ASTS fell roughly 1% while RKLB dropped approximately 0.3%, though both stocks remained positive on the week, with ASTS up 2% and RKLB gaining 4%….

Five Quantum Computing Stocks Face Off: Which Pure Play Deserves Your Investment In 2026?

Anthony SinclairJuly 24, 202604 mins

The quantum computing sector has emerged as one of the most hotly debated investment categories, with five major pure-play companies competing for dominance in the space. IonQ (IONQ), Quantinuum (QNT), Rigetti Computing (RGTI), Infleqtion (INFQ), and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) represent the most prominent names investors are watching closely right now. All quantum computers are built…

Industrial Stocks And ETF (XLI) Buck Market Selloff As Earnings Deliver Blowout Results

Thomas ShelterJuly 23, 202603 mins

Industrial stocks defied a broadly falling market on Thursday, with several major names posting sharp gains driven by stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings results. The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) surged 1.73% on the session, clawing its way back into a buy zone as investors responded enthusiastically to a wave of earnings beats across…

Wall Street’s August Stock Slump Narrative Is A Myth, Columnist Argues

Anthony SinclairJuly 23, 202603 mins

MarketWatch columnist Mark Hulbert is pushing back hard against one of Wall Street’s most persistent seasonal narratives about August stock market performance. Hulbert argues that the so-called “August stock market slump” is a myth, and that equities actually tend to perform well during the month, contrary to widespread belief. The piece takes direct aim at…

Trump’s Forced-Labor Tariffs Face Global Backlash As Trade Partners Reject Justification

Thomas ShelterJuly 23, 202604 mins

U.S. trading partners from Canberra to Brasília have pushed back against the forced-labor rationale underpinning President Donald Trump’s sweeping new global tariffs. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative acted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, imposing tariffs on 60 economies for what Washington called a failure to ban goods made with…

FDA Advisers Back Access To Peptides Like BPC-157 And TB-500 As U.S. Market Eyes $295 Billion Opportunity

Anthony SinclairJuly 23, 202603 mins

The FDA’s Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee met to review seven controversial peptide injections and whether compounding pharmacies should be permitted to dispense them. Peptides are short amino acid chains heavily promoted in wellness and longevity circles for injury recovery, muscle growth, skin health, and metabolism support. The global peptide market could exceed $295 billion by…