Author: Lucas

You could call it being “investment-curious”. You hear people talking about investing all the time and you keep meaning to look into it. You know investing means that your money is working for you and, more often than not, growing in value rather than sitting idle or earning a minimal rate of interest. But investing can seem daunting if you’re only just starting out. From difficult terminology and small print to a baffling variety of products, it can feel like a lot to take in. So, where do you begin?For starters, you don’t need to be rich to start investing.…

Global markets opened the week on the back foot after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran heightened tensions in the Middle East and rattled investors.In the U.S., equities futures were trading lower ahead of Monday’s opening bell. S&P 500 futures were down 1.1% shortly after 8:15 a.m. ET, with Nasdaq 100 futures down 1.5% and Dow Jones Industrial Average about 1.1% lower. In Europe, all major regional bourses were in negative territory, as the pan-European Stoxx 600 fell almost 1.8% during Monday’s session. The oil and gas sector was the sole positive in the region’s sell-off.Earlier, Asian markets started the…

Gold and silver exchange-traded funds (ETFs) dropped sharply in trade on Wednesday (Mrach 4), tracking a steep global sell-off in bullion during the previous session when Indian markets were shut for a holiday.Silver-linked funds led the decline, falling as much as 9%. ICICI Prudential Silver ETF slipped about 7.3%, while Nippon India Silver ETF and SBI Silver ETF fell over 7% each in early deals. Tata Silver ETF also declined more than 7%. Gold ETFs also traded lower, though losses were relatively contained compared to silver. ICICI Prudential Gold ETF fell nearly 4%, while Nippon India ETF Gold BeES, SBI…

1. Which stock research app should I start with as a beginner?If you are just starting out, choose a platform that keeps things simple. Morningstar Investor and Dhanarthi are good options because they focus on company fundamentals and explain financial health clearly. Tickertape is also beginner-friendly and easy to navigate. Avoid starting with very complex institutional tools, as they can feel overwhelming in the early stages.2. Do I really need a paid stock research tool?Not always. Many free tools like TradingView (basic version) and Screener.in offer strong features. However, paid versions unlock deeper filters, alerts, and advanced analytics. If you…

Commodity trading has always been a risky business that moves quickly. The role of a trader has changed over time as technology and the global economy have changed. It has gone from busy exchange floors to high-tech electronic markets. But right now, the industry is going through one of its biggest changes ever. Digitalisation, worries about climate change and changes in global supply chains are changing the skills that are needed to be successful. The next generation of commodity professionals will need more than just a good sense of how prices move. They will also need to be able to…

LAST year’s record supply deficit in platinum is expected to narrow this year, but the precious metal will remain sought-after by investors amid complex geopolitics which have increased price volatility, said the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC). Commenting in its Platinum Quarterly, the council forecast a 240,000 ounce deficit for platinum in 2026, much lower than the 1,082 million oz last year – the deepest shortfall on record – but with many of the market drivers behind the metal’s rally still in evidence. “The key drivers of platinum’s price rally in 2025, namely strong supply/demand fundamentals, a depletion of above…

1. How did Amazon perform financially in 2025?Revenue reached $716.9 billion with operating income of $80.0 billion, reflecting improved margins and steady growth.2. Why is AWS important for Amazon Stock?AWS delivers higher profit margins than retail operations and grew roughly 20%, making it the core earnings engine.3. What role does AI play in Amazon’s future?Large-scale AI partnerships and cloud infrastructure investments aim to expand enterprise demand and long-term revenue streams.4. Is Amazon facing any risks?Risks include regulatory pressure, economic slowdown, and high capital spending on AI and data centers.5. What supports long-term growth potential?Cloud Computing expansion, Digital Advertising strength, retail…

Since President Trump launched a military strike in Iran on Saturday — effectively declaring war — bond market yields have been rising. It’s a sign that investors are actually selling Treasury bonds.In times of geopolitical turmoil, investors generally pour money into the safety of government bonds, which pushes bond prices higher and yields lower.In uncertain times, “other asset classes will tend to be a lot more volatile than Treasurys. So it’s a place to put your money when you’re being cautious,” said Kathy Jones, chief fixed income strategist with the Schwab Center for Financial Research. (Charles Schwab is a Marketplace underwriter.)Over the last few days, investors had…

Gold and silver regained ground on Wednesday (March 4) after a sharp fall on Tuesday (March 3), reflecting renewed safe-haven demand amid geopolitical tensions and market volatility.At the COMEX, gold last traded at ₹5,186.60 per 10 grams, up ₹62.90 (+1.23%), while silver rose to ₹85.10 per 100 grams, gaining ₹1.63 (+1.95%). Tuesday’s selloff had pushed gold to its lowest since February 20, down 4% to $5,136, largely due to a stronger dollar and profit-taking.Traders attribute the recovery to persistent geopolitical uncertainty, particularly tensions in the Middle East, and strategic buying from Asia following Tuesday’s dip.Robert Gottlieb, former head of precious…

Image source: Tesla Investors have long disagreed about what is the right valuation for Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA). Despite inconsistent business results, Tesla stock has done well over the past year. It stands 42% higher now than 12 months ago. But that means that it sells for a dizzying 375 times earnings. That makes it look far costlier even than pricey tech shares like Palantir (selling for 229 times earnings) or Nvidia (37 times earnings), let alone a car company like General Motors (24 times earnings). So what is propelling the stock – and can it last? As well as cars,…