Author: Lucas

ISTANBULGlobal defense and aerospace companies’ stocks surged as countries ramped up their defense spending, particularly in Europe amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.The rising defense budgets of European countries have rapidly pushed up the shares of defense and aerospace firms, especially after US President Donald Trump took office in January, prompting Europe to revise its defense and security policies.Amid Trump-induced divisions between the US and Europe in economic and defense policies, Trump signed investment and arms deals worth over $3 trillion during his visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May.The US and Saudi Arabia’s…

Britain’s high property taxes are holding back efforts to grow the economy and provide more homes, a think tank has warned. Taxes on land and improvements are among the highest in the world, according to the Adam Smith Institute.It called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to use her Budget on November 26 to abolish stamp duty, increase tax breaks on new buildings and reform council tax and business rates. The think tank highlighted research showing property taxes in the UK are more than six times the average for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, a club of 38 countries with…

Movie channels have long used original documentaries to augment and thematically connect bunches of films, which is helpful if said movies are, well, mediocre. Encore joins in that practice via “Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible,” an entertaining hourlong doc that plays like little more than a promotional video for founder George Lucas’ special-effects house, which, as writer-director J.J. Abrams notes, has technically given filmmakers “the ability to do anything.” What this cheerleading production never bothers to ask, conveniently, is whether that’s an unqualified cause for cinematic celebration. Any history of ILM, of course, begins with “Star Wars,” and…

Oct 20, 2025 Platinum Explorer drillship (Credit: Vantage Drilling) Offshore drilling contractor Vantage Drilling has announced the termination of the contract for its ultra-deepwater drillship Platinum Explorer.The termination, with immediate effect, is for the 260-day campaign the Platinum Explorer drillship was hired earlier in 2025, following the signing of initial letter of intent.The campaign, with an undisclosed client and valued at approximately $80 million, was expected to begin in early 2026.“The termination is due to changes in economic sanctions applicable to the campaign, rendering the contract execution unlawful and therefore subject to termination,” Vantage Drilling said.The…

ertamina’s upgraded Balikpapan oil refinery will start operating in November, its chief executive has said, marking progress in the country’s long-delayed bid to cut reliance on costly fuel imports. As part of the Balikpapan Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP), the facility located in East Kalimantan will launch its residual fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) unit to produce diesel, jet fuel and a small volume of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Pertamina CEO Simon Aloysius Mantiri told reporters at the State Palace on Friday. “As I mentioned earlier, we plan to start operating the RFCC unit of the RDMP on Nov. 10 to produce…

Khaled A’yesh, CEO of FundingPips, has officially announced the launch of his new brokerage platform, Tradin. FundingPips has quickly become one of the leading names in the proprietary trading industry, boasting over 2 million users globally. Tradin is designed with a trader-centric approach, embodying the ethos of “built by traders for traders.”  The platform emphasizes an exceptional user experience and optimal trading conditions, featuring ultra-tight spreads, instant withdrawals, high-speed execution, and immediate human support. With institutional-grade liquidity, Tradin is committed to delivering a superior trading experience that combines competitive pricing with high-quality, reliable trade execution across various markets.…

A quick guide – how to start investing Set clear goals: Define what you’re investing for (retirement, children’s education, major purchase) and match your timeframeStart early and stay consistent: It’s never too early or too late – many investors benefit from staying invested over time, with regular investing and a diversified portfolioConsider ready-made options: Beginner-friendly funds, such as cautious, balanced or adventurous portfolios, are managed by experts to suit different risk levelsStay informed and diversify: Keep up with market trends, spread investments across asset classes, regions and sectors, and always keep an emergency cash fundUse tax-efficient tools: Make the most…

Image source: Getty Images The S&P 500 contains some outstanding businesses, with the companies known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ leading the way. But which shares could be the next big names to join them? One stock in particular stands out to me at the moment. With an asset-light business model, a strong competitive position, and impressive growth prospects, I think investors should take note. Robotaxis Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) is in the transportation business. Its mobility division moves people to where things are and its delivery unit moves food to where people are. The obvious threat at the moment is Tesla.…

In Hungary’s second-largest city Debrecen, workers are putting the finishing touches to a vast battery factory built by China’s CATL to supply BMW, Mercedes and other European car brands.The mile-long plant is part of a wave of Chinese investment that mushroomed across central and eastern Europe immediately after the Covid-19 pandemic, focused on building battery and electric vehicle factories.But nearly three years after CATL announced the €7.3bn “greenfield” project, weaker than expected EV demand in Europe is forcing a review of its size.The project’s first phase has increased 20 per cent to 40 gigawatt/hour but two subsequent stages are being…

Higher processing rates at Chinese refineries reduced the availability of crude for storage, Reuters’ Clyde Russell has reported, with the average crude surplus last month at just 570,000 barrels daily.For context, average surplus rates for crude oil have been estimated at close to 1 million barrels daily since the start of the year and 1.01 million barrels daily in August, Russell reported.Oil imports in September averaged 11.5 million barrels daily, data released earlier this month showed. The number represented a 3.9% increase on the year but a 4.5% decline on the month, and the lowest monthly average since the start…