Saudi Arabia bans rainbow-coloured toys and children’s clothing

Published

4 years ago

June 16, 2022

Brittany Coles

A rainbow in itself symbolises success, hope and fortune to many of us, gazing upon the vibrant colours brings happiness and excitement, but not for one country

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have been seizing rainbow-coloured toys and children’s clothing

They claim it encourages homosexuality.

A state-TV report showed officials removing a range of items from shops in the capital city

They included hair clips, toys, t-shirts, hats and pencil cases.

One official said the items “contradict the Islamic faith and public morals, and promote homosexual colours targeting the younger generation”.

The commerce ministry tweeted separately that its teams were confiscating

In the video they explain “products that contain symbols and signs calling for deviation and contradicting common sense”.

Shops found to be selling them would face legal penalties.

Under the country’s interpretation of Islamic law, consensual same-sex relationships is punishable by death or flogging

When it comes to the response from the White House, Karine Jean-Pierre says the U.S sees human rights as universal.

“We work around the globe to protect LGBTQI+ persons from violence and abuse […] and empower local LGBTQI+ movements and persons. “

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE

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Global markets outperform US stocks by largest margin as AI tech rallies in 2025

Global markets outperform US stocks in 2025, marking widest gap since 2009 as international gains surge

Published

17 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Global markets outperform US stocks in 2025, marking the widest gap since 2009 as international gains surge

In Short:
– Global markets outperformed U.S. stocks in 2025, with international equities showing significant gains.
– Helen Jewell highlighted that international performance was key, aided by the U.S. dollar’s decline.

In 2025, U.S. investors watching AI stocks closely may have missed the bigger picture: international markets delivered their strongest performance against U.S. equities in over three decades. While the S&P 500 rose just 15%, foreign markets outperformed by more than 10 percentage points, led by South Korea, Peru, and other European nations.

Helen Jewell, BlackRock’s CIO, highlighted that the dollar’s 13% decline earlier in the year further amplified returns for Americans holding foreign assets. This marked the widest performance gap since 2009 and reminded investors of the value of diversification beyond domestic tech giants.

Continued Tech Rally

Nvidia, Tesla, and Palantir Technologies emerged as the most-viewed ticker pages on Yahoo Finance in 2025. Nvidia alone attracted 250 million page views, while Palantir soared an eye-popping 140% for the year. Despite this hype, the S&P 500 lagged behind global peers, showing that concentrated U.S. tech gains can mask broader market opportunities.

U.S. stocks saw a boost after Micron Technology exceeded earnings expectations, jumping 10% on strong AI-related demand. The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund also gained 1.5%, driven by semiconductor optimism. However, analysts warn investors to avoid over-concentration in U.S. tech, even if AI-driven rallies persist into 2026.

As portfolios prepare for next year, the key question is whether semiconductor demand will expand beyond AI applications. Diversification remains essential, balancing excitement over tech gains with the risks of narrow market exposure.

Money

Australia’s sharemarket set for weakest annual return in three years

Australia’s sharemarket set for weakest return in three years; gains from gold and critical minerals offset blue-chip losses.

Published

2 days ago

December 22, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Australia’s sharemarket set for weakest return in three years; gains from gold and critical minerals offset blue-chip losses.

Australia’s sharemarket is on track for its weakest annual return in three years, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index expected to finish 2025 up around 6 per cent. Investors are feeling the impact of major losses from blue-chip companies, including Commonwealth Bank and CSL, which have dragged overall performance.

Despite the slow year, certain sectors provided a boost. Gains were largely driven by surging gold prices and rising interest in critical minerals, helping offset some of the losses from larger companies.

Smaller companies in the resources sector outperformed their larger counterparts, highlighting a shift in investor focus towards niche opportunities and high-demand commodities.

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Money

US stocks surge amid AI hype despite market volatility

US stock market bounced back, S&P 500 up 16% in 2023, driven by AI excitement amid policy uncertainties.

Published

2 days ago

December 22, 2025

Harvey Vargas

US stock market bounced back, S&P 500 up 16% in 2023, driven by AI excitement amid policy uncertainties.

The US stock market has experienced a rollercoaster year, with the S&P 500 nearly entering a bear market in April due to tariff concerns. Investor sentiment shifted following policy changes from President Trump, setting the stage for a dramatic rebound.

By June, the S&P 500 was hitting new records, fueled by excitement over artificial intelligence and its impact on the tech sector. Corporate profit forecasts improved, contributing to an overall annual gain of 16%, despite ongoing market fluctuations.

Yet, the S&P 500 still trails international markets, reflecting lingering policy uncertainties in the US.

Investors are watching closely to see how domestic and global factors will shape the next year.

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