Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has concentrated nearly 40% of his Pershing Square Holdings hedge fund into three artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, according to recent disclosures. The prominent investor, known for his outspoken views on social media platform X and for managing a concentrated portfolio of just 10 to 12 stocks, has placed significant capital in Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta Platforms. This strategic allocation reflects growing confidence in AI stocks among institutional investors seeking compelling valuations in the technology sector. Pershing Square Capital Management has invested over 14% of its capital in Alphabet, primarily through Class C shares. The investment has…

President Donald Trump is expected to deliver his State of the Union address with a strong focus on economic policy, outlining key priorities for his administration. According to recent reports, the speech will emphasize three major economic initiatives designed to reshape the nation’s fiscal landscape. Trump’s economic pitch at the State of the Union is anticipated to address tax policy, trade reform, and deregulation measures that could significantly impact American businesses and consumers. The address comes at a critical time as lawmakers and markets await clarity on the administration’s economic agenda. Political analysts suggest the speech will serve as a…

Drone technology is emerging as a compelling investment opportunity in 2026, offering exposure to artificial intelligence, robotics, and defense sectors as investors seek diversification beyond traditional AI hyperscalers. Following a breakout year for AI technology in 2025, market analysts are identifying drones as a key 2026 tech investing trend that intersects multiple high-growth industries including aviation, natural resources, and consumer electronics. The Rex Drones ETF (DRNZ) has gained attention as a vehicle for accessing this multifaceted sector, according to VettaFi Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth. Speaking on BNN Bloomberg, Rosenbluth highlighted the fund’s approach to capturing both defense and commercial…

Investor sentiment around artificial intelligence stocks has shifted dramatically from fears of a market bubble to concerns about widespread industry disruption and obsolescence. The change accelerated this week following announcements from AI company Anthropic about its Claude system’s ability to modernize legacy code, triggering sharp selloffs in software and technology stocks. Market analysts are now warning that AI disruption fears may be outweighing hopes for productivity gains that initially drove the AI bull market. IBM experienced its worst single-day decline since 2000 after Anthropic’s founder discussed how AI could update COBOL programming used in ATM systems, many of which run…

Florida members of Congress are announcing their State of the Union guests as President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his address to Congress this week. The guest selections by members of Florida’s congressional delegation highlight key policy debates ranging from economic concerns and health care costs to international human rights and Cuba policy, reflecting the diverse priorities shaping the political landscape ahead of the State of the Union address. Sen. Rick Scott will bring Shark Tank host and investor Kevin O’Leary, who recently relocated to South Florida. Meanwhile, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic co-chair of the delegation, plans to…

President Donald Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union address tonight at 9 p.m. ET, with investors closely watching amid current market volatility. The State of the Union address comes at a pivotal moment as Americans face concerns about the economy, inflation, and the administration’s tariff policies, many of which were recently challenged by the Supreme Court. According to the Constitution, the President must address Congress annually to provide updates on accomplishments and outline future policy priorities. Tonight’s speech will be broadcast to Congress and viewers worldwide during a period of significant economic uncertainty. Market Impact of…

The Blockchain Association is calling for comprehensive reform of cryptocurrency taxation rules, arguing that current Internal Revenue Service guidelines fail to account for how digital assets function in modern blockchain ecosystems. The industry group’s recent policy proposals come as federal tax authorities expand reporting requirements and step up enforcement across the crypto sector, intensifying debate over whether existing frameworks are adequate for this rapidly evolving technology. According to the trade association, the current property-based tax treatment was designed for traditional assets and creates excessive compliance burdens for blockchain users and businesses. The proposals do not seek to eliminate crypto taxation…

FinTech Australia has submitted its 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission to the Federal Government, calling for sweeping reforms to government procurement and funding mechanisms that would better support fintech startups and small to medium businesses. The industry body is urging policymakers to broaden procurement pipelines and recalibrate venture capital tax concessions, superannuation settings, and the Research and Development Tax Incentive to create more predictable funding pathways for emerging financial technology companies. The submission argues that current government procurement processes disproportionately favor larger established companies, effectively locking out smaller fintechs that could deliver innovative solutions to federal financial challenges. According to FinTech Australia…

BayPort Credit Union has received a 2025 Savvy Award from SavvyMoney in the Financial Wellness category for its innovative Credit Score Member of the Month sweepstakes program. The Newport News, Virginia-based credit union announced the recognition on February 24, 2026, highlighting its efforts to promote financial literacy and help members improve their credit scores. The award-winning program demonstrated measurable success by boosting Credit Score tool adoption by 27 percent and maintaining active engagement from 44,000 members. The Savvy Awards recognize partner organizations that excel in adoption, engagement, financial wellness, and analytics. According to the announcement, BayPort’s sweepstakes program effectively combines…

Global financial markets are experiencing significant developments as trading platforms enhance their data services and partnerships with leading providers. TradingView, a prominent charting and social networking platform for traders and investors, continues to expand its comprehensive market data offerings through strategic collaborations with industry giants including ICE Data Services, FactSet Research Systems, and specialized document provider Quartr. These partnerships underscore the growing importance of reliable financial data in modern trading environments. According to recent disclosures, the platform integrates select market data from ICE Data Services while reference data comes from FactSet. Additionally, CUSIP database information provided by FactSet Research Systems…

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon issued a stark warning Monday about potential financial market risks, comparing current conditions to the environment preceding the 2008 financial crisis. Speaking to investors, Dimon expressed heightened anxiety over risky lending practices and elevated asset prices, cautioning that banks engaging in questionable behavior could trigger a significant market downturn. The CEO of the nation’s largest bank emphasized his concern about financial institutions taking on excessive risk despite record market valuations. According to Dimon, several factors including record-high market levels and complacency among market participants mirror the conditions observed during 2005 through 2007. He noted that…

Online prediction markets face mounting legal challenges across the United States as state officials launch lawsuits against major platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket. According to The Guardian, at least 20 federal lawsuits have been filed nationwide, with states alleging these online prediction markets operate as unregulated gambling operations rather than legitimate financial exchanges. While these platforms remain legal to use throughout the country, the growing wave of litigation signals increasing concern from regulators about their impact on consumers. The legal disputes center on whether companies like Kalshi and Polymarket should be classified as federally regulated financial exchanges or state-regulated gambling…

Payments infrastructure giant Stripe has completed a secondary stock sale at a valuation of $159 billion, marking a significant milestone for the fintech company. The tender offer, announced Tuesday, provides liquidity to current and former employees and represents a substantial increase in the company’s worth. According to a written statement from Stripe, the majority of funds are being provided by investors including Thrive Capital, Coatue, and Andreessen Horowitz. The new valuation reflects an impressive 49% jump from the $106.7 billion Stripe was valued at in September during a separate tender offer. That previous deal marked the first time Stripe had…

AI accounting startup Basis has successfully secured $100 million in Series B funding, achieving a valuation of $1.15 billion, according to recent reports. The financing round underscores growing investor confidence in agentic AI accounting solutions that can autonomously handle complex financial workflows. This development marks a significant milestone for AI-driven automation in professional services, particularly as accounting firms face ongoing workforce challenges. The funding round was led by venture capital firm Accel, with participation from GV (formerly Google Ventures), Khosla Ventures, and former Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein, according to the announcement. Basis currently serves approximately seven of the…

Mortgage lender Rate has launched RateFi, a nationwide mortgage product allowing borrowers to use verified cryptocurrency holdings toward mortgage qualification without liquidating those digital assets. The Chicago-based lender announced Tuesday that RateFi is fully operational within its digital mortgage platform and available under its non-qualified mortgage guidelines. The move reflects a broader shift in financial services as lenders experiment with integrating digital assets into traditional underwriting while remaining within established compliance frameworks. Under the program, qualified borrowers can use verified cryptocurrency as reserves and, in some cases, as qualifying income, according to the company. How the Cryptocurrency Mortgage Program Works…

Mortgage lender Rate has launched RateFi, a nationwide mortgage product that allows borrowers to use verified cryptocurrency holdings toward mortgage qualification without liquidating those digital assets. The Chicago-based lender announced Tuesday that RateFi is fully operational within its digital mortgage platform and available under its non-qualified mortgage guidelines. The move reflects growing recognition of cryptocurrency as a legitimate financial asset in traditional lending markets. According to the company, qualified borrowers can use verified cryptocurrency as reserves and, in some cases, as qualifying income. However, down payments and closing costs must still be paid in U.S. dollars, though borrowers may convert…

Curve Finance founder Michael Egorov has outlined his vision for stablecoins in 2026, predicting that the digital assets will increasingly function as core financial infrastructure rather than merely a cryptocurrency niche. According to Egorov, the coming year will focus on determining what role stablecoins will play in the global financial system and which entities will drive their mainstream adoption. This shift comes as regulatory frameworks become clearer and on-chain liquidity matures to support genuine economic activity. Throughout 2025, stablecoins demonstrated behavior more consistent with financial plumbing than a speculative crypto category, Egorov noted. The introduction of regulatory frameworks like the…

Portillo’s Inc. reported a 3.3% decline in same-store sales for the fourth quarter ended December 28, 2025, as the Chicago-based fast-casual chain continues to address challenges stemming from rapid expansion, particularly in the Texas market. The company announced it is implementing a strategic reset to focus on strengthening unit economics and improving brand awareness in newer regions. According to interim CEO and chairman Mike Miles, Portillo’s has paused development momentum to avoid further cannibalization and concentrate on improving performance at existing locations. Incoming CEO Brett Patterson, who was appointed earlier this month and begins his role this week, will lead…

Warner Bros. Discovery is officially reviewing a revised acquisition proposal from David Ellison’s Paramount, the company confirmed Tuesday. The announcement comes as WBD navigates competing bids for the media conglomerate, with streaming giant Netflix already holding a signed agreement to acquire portions of the company. The Warner Bros. Discovery board stated it is consulting with financial and legal advisors on the sweetened Paramount offer. According to a statement from the WBD board, the company received the revised proposal from Paramount during a seven-day limited waiver period. While specific details of the enhanced bid were not disclosed, the board emphasized that…

UK fintech companies are increasingly eyeing the United States market as investment in the sector hits a four-year low domestically, according to recent industry reports. While the UK remains Europe’s fintech leader, many innovative financial technology firms are looking to American shores for growth opportunities as the digital banking landscape there continues to mature. American banking infrastructure still lags behind European markets in several critical areas, including open banking adoption, fast payment systems, and mobile-first experiences. For agile fintech businesses that have prioritized customer experience in their home markets, this gap represents significant potential for expansion and market penetration. Adapting…

Ukrainian workers have become a critical component of Poland’s economic landscape, with recent data highlighting their substantial contribution to the labor market and overall economic growth. According to figures released by Polish authorities, Ukrainians now represent the largest group of foreign workers in Poland, filling essential roles across multiple sectors. The integration of Ukrainian workers into the Polish economy has accelerated significantly since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, fundamentally reshaping workforce dynamics in the country. Statistical data indicates that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are currently employed in Poland, making them indispensable to key industries. The…

Anthropic has launched its new enterprise agents program, marking the company’s most ambitious effort to integrate agentic AI into corporate workplaces. The announcement came Tuesday as the AI company unveiled a comprehensive system designed to deploy pre-built agents for common business tasks. According to Anthropic’s head of Americas, Kate Jensen, the initiative aims to fulfill the promise of enterprise AI agents after previous attempts fell short of expectations. The program builds on Anthropic’s previously announced Claude Cowork platform and plugin system, which entered research preview in late January. Companies can now access pre-built agents tailored for departments including finance, legal,…

Consumer confidence edged higher in February as Americans expressed a more optimistic view of the labor market and other facets of the economy, according to a new survey released this week. The Conference Board, a nonprofit research group, reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index increased by 2.2 points in February, rising to 91.2, marking a notable improvement from the previous month. The February uptick follows a sharp decline in January, when consumer sentiment fell amid concerns over household income and job prospects. However, the current reading remains below the peak reached in November 2024, according to the Conference Board’s…

Digital Asset and a consortium of leading financial institutions have completed a fourth round of transactions on the Canton Network, marking a significant advance in cross-border intraday repo activity. The latest milestone introduces tokenized Gilts for the first time in cross-border intraday repurchase transactions, expanding the range of asset classes available for 24/7 global collateral mobility. According to the announcement, the working group also conducted the first cross-currency intraday repo transaction using tokenized Gilts against non-GBP tokenized deposits. Participants in the transactions included LSEG, Euroclear, Citadel Securities, Tradeweb, Societe Generale, Virtu Financial, DTCC, Digital Asset, Cumberland DRW, TreasurySpring, Archax, and…