Author: Lucas

A new wave of shrinkflation is hitting shop shelves, according to consumer champion Which?.Big brands are cutting back on the size or quality of popular products, including toothpaste, coffee and even heartburn medicine.”Households are already under immense financial pressure with food bills inching up and the expense of Christmas looming on the horizon,” says Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor.”So it can feel especially sneaky when manufacturers quietly reduce pack sizes or downgrade key ingredients. Supermarkets must be more upfront.”HealthAmong the worst examples of shrinkflation shared with Which? was Aquafresh Complete Care Original Toothpaste, which went from £1.30 for 100ml to…

The crypto market has continued its recovery following cooler US CPI data and growing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut this week.Amid the rebound, whale traders have been committing millions in position shifts and spot trades across Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and several major altcoins. These actions highlight a more positive sentiment and increased risk-taking among crypto whales.Sponsored Smart Money Bets on Bitcoin and Ethereum Rally As optimism continues to build across the crypto market, whales are betting on further upside for major digital assets. On-chain analytics platform Lookonchain reported that a smart money trader, identified as wallet 0xc2a3,…

A consortium of Japanese tech firms has completed trials of a marine hydrogen engine.The land-based tests took place at Japan Engine Corp’s facilities, in partnership with Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Yanmar Power Solutions.Launched in 2020 with government support, the project has seen partners develop a liquid hydrogen fuel supply system.Under the ¥2trn fund, Kawasaki Heavy is developing an eight-cylinder medium-speed four-stroke engine.Yanmar is developing a smaller four-stroke engine, while Japan Engine Co is working on a low-speed two-stroke engine.Initial trials have been conducted on the two four-stroke engines, while Japan Engine expects to begin tests in early 2026.After land-based trials,…

Doctor Who’s upcoming spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea will air earlier than previously announced, the BBC has confirmed.The five-part series, which is set to star Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw alongside several recurring Doctor Who actors, had been scheduled to air in 2026.However, the BBC has now confirmed the spin-off will arrive on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.The news comes alongside the BBC’s confirmation that Disney will not partner on further seasons of the beloved sci-fi, but that the British broadcaster is “fully committed” to more of the series.The show will return in…

The low valuation multiples for value stocks provide a margin of safety that growth stocks rarely offer. However, the challenge lies in determining whether these cheap assets are genuinely undervalued or simply on sale due to their potentially deteriorating business models. This distinction between true value and value traps can challenge even the most skilled investors. Luckily for you, we started StockStory to help you uncover exceptional companies. That said, here are two value stocks trading at big discounts to their intrinsic values and one climbing an uphill battle. Forward P/E Ratio: 10.8x Originally spun off from General Electric in…

October 28, 2025 | By Scott Jenkins The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA; Arlington, Va.; www.socma.org) released its 2026 Contract Manufacturing Outlook, capturing an industry that is resilient, innovative, and prepared for the challenges ahead. Nearly 70% of survey responses came from companies with annual revenues of $100 million or less, reflecting the voice of small and mid-sized firms that power the specialty chemical economy.   “This industry isn’t waiting for stability to return. It’s remaking itself in real time,” said Vera Stoeva, Interim President and CEO of SOCMA. “We’re seeing fundamental shifts in chemistry demand,…

If you’re middle-aged, you’re enjoying some of the lowest  of any demographic: A 50-year-old male driver pays an average of $2,515 a year for full coverage, or 6% less than a 40-year-old ($2,680) and more than 12% less than a 30-year-old ($2,871).Rates keep declining into your 60s, when that same motorist pays an average of $2,430 a year, or about 15% less than a 30-year-old. But the tables turn as you approach 70, when premiums increase to an average of $2,635.”That’s $350 more a year, which is significant when you’re on a fixed income,” says Laura Longero, editor-in-chief of CarInsurance.com. “You’ve…

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian refineries have reduced oil refinery capacity by 20%.This comes after the Trump administration announced sanctions on two major Russian oil companies.“Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent in a written statement. “Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine. Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to support President Trump’s effort to end yet another war.…

 India’s Shift to a Digital RupeeIndia has been pushing aggressively towards a Digital Rupee (e₹) as a central aspect of digital finance. RBI has already launched pilot initiatives for wholesale (CBDC-W) and retail (CBDC-R) forms, which allow participants such as chosen banks and users to test live transactions.Aim behind India’s CBDC initiative:Encourage financial inclusion and digitalization.Minimize utilization of hard currency.Enhance payment efficiency and lower transaction costs.Enhance India’s profile in the international digital economy.While CBDCs are on the rise, the government also gets to work on strengthening its Crypto Tax in India infrastructure — ensuring that the digital financial system is…

We recited תְּפִלַּת הַגֶּשֶׁם, the Prayer for Rain, the day after Sukkot, on Shmini Atzeret. Simultaneously, we began adding the phrase מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּשֶׁם, “He causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall”, in every Amidah (which we will continue to do until Pesach). However, this phrase is not actually a request for rain; it is no more than recognition that G-d provides us with the wind and the rain which are necessary for our survival.Today, on the 7th of Marcheshvan, in Israel we begin requesting rain from G-d in the ninth Blessing of the Amidah of…