
Moody's Cuts Afreximbank Rating on Zambia, Ghana Debt Workouts
The ratings company lowered Afreximbank to Baa2 from Baa1, it said in a statement on Tuesday. That's two steps from being rated speculative, which would limit the pool of funds allowed to invest in the lender's debt.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Buffett's 1 test to spot a 'satisfactory' asset - how to shockproof your nest egg amid Donald Trump's tariffs
Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. The stock market has been on a roller coaster this year, as escalating trade tensions under President Donald Trump have rattled investor confidence. Many are worried about the fate of their finances. But investing legend Warren Buffett has a simple test to help cut through the noise — and spot what truly counts. In a 2018 interview with Yahoo Finance, Buffett said there are two types of things people buy: one qualifies as a real investment — the other, not so much. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 4 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) No millions? No problem. With as little as $10, here's how you can access this $1B private real estate fund of diversified assets usually only available to major players The test to tell the difference is simple. If trading were banned for a period of time, would the asset still hold up? Buffett walked through how that works with some examples. 'If you buy something — a farm, an apartment house or an interest in a business — and look to the asset itself to determine whether you've done something, what the farm produces, what the business earns, and so on, you don't really care whether the stock market's open,' Buffett said. 'You look at the investment itself to deliver the return to you.' Simply put, the kinds of assets Buffett sees as real investments produce returns on their own. They don't need an open market — or a future buyer — to be worthwhile. That's not the case with more speculative assets. As Buffett explained: 'Now, if you buy something like Bitcoin or some cryptocurrency, you don't have anything that's producing anything. You're just hoping the next guy pays more — and you only feel you'll find the next guy to pay more if he thinks he's going to find somebody that's going to pay more.' Buffett's philosophy can offer peace of mind. Markets are inherently volatile. Even high-quality assets can swing wildly in price. But if your investment doesn't depend on being sold to someone else to deliver value, you can worry less about the day-to-day ups and downs. He summed it up clearly: 'If you ban trading in farms, you could still buy farms and have a perfectly decent investment.' Let's take a closer look at the kinds of assets that pass Buffett's test — and how you can get in on them. Buffett may not be known as a real estate investor, but he often uses real estate to illustrate what a productive, income-generating asset looks like. In 2022, Buffett stated that if you offered him '1% of all the apartment houses in the country' for $25 billion, he would 'write you a check.' Why? Because regardless of what's happening in the broader economy, people still need a place to live and apartments can consistently produce rent money. The best part? You don't need to be a billionaire investor to get in the game. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived have made it easier for average Americans to invest in rental properties without the need for a hefty down payment or the burden of property management. With Arrived, you can invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants. The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you'd like to purchase, and then sit back as you start receiving rental income deposits from your investment. For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors. With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property. With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets. If you're interested in commercial real estate, there are plenty of opportunities as well. First National Realty Partners (FNRP), for instance, allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord. With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns. Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Farmland is another asset Buffett likes to point to — and yes, it passes his test with flying colors. Alongside his comment about apartments in 2022, he also stated: 'If you said … for a 1% interest in all the farmland in the United States, pay our group $25 billion, I'll write you a check this afternoon.' Just like housing, farmland meets a basic human need. No matter what's happening in the markets, people still need to eat. That consistent demand makes farmland a resilient, long-term asset — and often a hedge during times of economic uncertainty. If you are interested in gaining exposure to this space, FarmTogether is an all-in-one investment platform that lets qualified investors buy stakes in U.S. farmland. The platform identifies high-potential agricultural properties and then partners with experienced local operators to manage the land effectively. Depending on the type of stake you want, you can get a cut from both the leasing fees and crop sales, providing you with a cash income. Then, years down the line after the farm rises in value, you can benefit from appreciation of the land and profits from its sale. When it comes to advice for everyday investors, Buffett suggests one simple thing: an S&P 500 index fund. These are investment funds that offer broad exposure to the S&P 500 — the top stocks listed on U.S. exchanges. Such a straightforward approach gives investors instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active trading. The beauty of this approach is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Just keep in mind that, while the S&P 500 has a healthy average annual rate of return, past gains don't guarantee future returns. There may be rough times ahead, but long term, tracking the index can provide results. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis There's a 40% chance of a recession hitting the U.S. economy this year — protect your retirement savings with these essential money moves (most of which you can complete in just minutes) Here's how 5 minutes could get you up to $2M in life insurance coverage — with no medical exam or blood test Rich older Americans are using these 3 retirement saving strategies to supercharge their nest eggs — here's how to use them to prepare for a comfy retirement Money doesn't have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Can a $10,000 Investment in Bitcoin Turn Into $100,000 by 2030?
Bitcoin has grown by 10-fold during earlier five-year periods. There are more than a few reasons to suspect that the next five years will be similar. That doesn't mean you should discard good and careful investing practices. 10 stocks we like better than Bitcoin › Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has a knack for turning skeptics into storytellers, myself included. Five years ago, a single coin cost as much as a used car, but today it clears six figures. That kind of ascent makes investors wonder whether dropping $10,000 into the crypto today could realistically bloom into $100,000 by 2030. The question matters because the forces that once pushed Bitcoin north are changing shape. Still, Bitcoin's history reads like a roller coaster's safety disclaimer rather than a guaranteed profit machine. Let's dig into why a 10-fold or perhaps even more remains on the table with this asset, and why a measured approach beats a blind leap. During the past five years the coin has surged by 1,060%, from about $9,123 to roughly $109,600 (as of July 3), making for a compound annual growth rate just north of 63%. Therefore, even if that pace halves, a 10-fold gain by 2030 is mathematically possible. The drivers of the coin's value paint a similarly favorable picture. Demand keeps building, and from key sources like exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In particular, the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF now pulls in an estimated $187 million in annual fees, surpassing the issuing company's flagship S&P 500 fund, proving that mainstream money is eager to pay for exposure to Bitcoin. Plus, in the week ended June 30 alone, a whopping $2.2 billion flowed into Bitcoin ETFs; the tempo is accelerating here, not slowing. Furthermore, corporate appetite for holding the asset is rising too, and in multiple forms. Many publicly listed companies like Tesla are now opting to hold Bitcoin directly on their balance sheets, and they may be just the first of many. Separately, an entirely new class of company is emerging: Bitcoin treasury companies, which only aspire to buy and hold more of the coin as their main business model. Strategy, the most notable Bitcoin treasury company, just snagged another 4,980 coins, boosting its holdings past 597,000. Other treasury businesses from London to Tokyo are copying that playbook, further shrinking the float available for public trading and bringing in significant capital to compete for the supply that remains. Meanwhile, the total supply is locked in cement, and the rate of new coins being mined is only going to get slower and slower. The next halving, projected for late March 2028, will cut new issuance below 0.8% of coins outstanding. With about 94% of all coins already mined, each halving slows supply growth further just as ETFs and Bitcoin treasury companies are building positions. Put simply, more buyers are chasing fewer coins, and that can send its price upward in a very dramatic fashion, precisely as it has in the past. A 10-fold gain is very possible here, and on a long enough timeline, it is likely to occur. Let's temper the above. Bitcoin isn't actually allergic to smooth sailing, but it might be easy to get that impression based on the risks it has faced and the steep price declines it has experienced historically. A liquidity crunch, a regulatory swerve, or a plain old sentiment flip can slice prices in half very quickly -- and in the long run, it is guaranteed that such a plunge will happen again, even if it is subsequently very likely that a rebound occurs. Spot ETFs make exits from the traditional financial sector quite frictionless, so any panic could snowball faster than in the past. Investors should also keep an eye on Washington, as a sudden about-face on crypto policy -- or a failure to follow through on the promises that the current administration made -- could discourage many institutional buyers. Given those hazards, lump-sum bets can backfire. A steady dollar-cost-averaging plan spreads purchases across upswings and sell-offs, lowering the odds that a single bad month leaves you under water. Historically, holding through at least one full four-year halving cycle has left patient investors with gains, but there have been stretches, even spanning several years, when paper losses were brutal. Bitcoin's stars may be aligning to deliver gargantuan gains in the next few years, but the road from here to there might be more volatile than many expect. Framing the 10-fold goal as "possible, not promised" should keep your emotions in check. Use position sizing you are comfortable with, keep dry powder for inevitable dips, and remember that compounding only works if you stay in the game. Before you buy stock in Bitcoin, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Bitcoin wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $699,558!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $976,677!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 30, 2025 Alex Carchidi has positions in Bitcoin and iShares Bitcoin Trust. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Can a $10,000 Investment in Bitcoin Turn Into $100,000 by 2030? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
D-Wave and Rigetti: Cantor Chooses the Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy
Not every generation witnesses the birth of a truly game-changing technology, but today's breakthroughs in quantum computing are handing us a front-row seat to history. Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. Put simply, quantum computing brings the power of superpositioning to the world of computers. Where traditional computers operate in binary, with any given byte of data represented by a 1 or a 0, on or off, quantum computing uses qubits, quantum bits, to hold data. And qubits, following the principles of quantum physics, can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This fundamental difference is what sets quantum computing apart, enabling quantum machines to run at far higher speeds and tackle far larger data volumes than traditional computers. In fact, quantum computers are capable of solving problems so complex that even the most advanced 'classical' supercomputers would struggle. Analyst Troy Jensen from Cantor has summed up the broader investment outlook for this breakthrough technology, noting: 'Quantum computing is in its infancy, but remains one of the most highly coveted technical milestones with significant economic implications. While we are likely years away from full-scale quantum capabilities, the technology has already captured the interest of investors… The quantum computing sector remains in an early growth phase, with valuation multiples still based on potential rather than current financial performance. As commercial applications scale beyond research partnerships and into enterprise adoption, investor confidence is expected to grow, leading to more stable stock performance for leading players.' Reflecting this perspective, Jensen has singled out D-Wave (NYSE:QBTS) and Rigetti (NASDAQ:RGTI) as some of the most promising quantum computing stocks to buy at the moment. And he's not alone — TipRanks data shows the analyst community has assigned both companies a Strong Buy rating. Let's take a closer look to find out what makes them stand out. D-Wave Quantum The first quantum computing stock we'll look at is D-Wave, one of the sector's leaders. This company hails from Palo Alto, in the heart of California's Silicon Valley, where it was founded in 1999. D-Wave has developed both hardware and software systems for quantum computing, as well as the cloud services, app development tools, and professional support services necessary to provide 'end-to-end' quantum computing. The company boasts that it was the world's first supplier of quantum computers, putting the new technology on the map and in real-world use. D-Wave's systems can claim an impressive 99.9% availability, and the company can provide quantum computing to its customers via the cloud or 'on premises.' In an important announcement, showing the rapid advancements in the field, D-Wave released its latest quantum computing system for general availability this past May. The system, the Advantage2, is a sixth-generation quantum computer with a proven ability to solve complex computational problems that are beyond the reach of current, 'classical' computer technology. The Advantage2 uses D-Wave's most advanced quantum processor, and the company has built the system to commercial-grade, optimizing it to address real-world computing needs such as AI. In its 25-plus years of operation, D-Wave has built itself into a $4.6 billion company, with some 200 employees at work bringing quantum computing from the drafting tables to the real world. The company's teams are composed of experts in a wide range of fields, including physics, cloud computing infrastructure, processor development, and even chip fabrication. The company takes care to protect its intellectual property, and has been granted more than 250 US patents. Turning to the company's financial results, we find that D-Wave reported a strong increase in revenue during 1Q25, its last reported period. The top line in that quarter came to $15 million, up an impressive 507% year-over-year, beating the forecast by $4.5 million, and coming in at a company record. D-Wave's GAAP EPS for the quarter came to a loss of 2 cents per share – but we should note that this figure was 3 cents per share better than had been expected. The company finished Q1 with a record quarter-end cash balance, reported as $304.3 million. Checking in with Cantor analyst Troy Jensen, we find him upbeat on D-Wave's leading position as a supplier of commercial-grade quantum computing. Jensen also notes the company's sound cash position, and in summing up his stance writes, 'D-Wave presents a differentiated opportunity in the quantum computing landscape as the only public company delivering commercially deployed quantum systems with near-term revenue visibility. With a defensible position in Annealing-based quantum optimization, expanding enterprise use-cases, and with over $300 million cash in its balance sheet, D-Wave offers a compelling mix of de-risked technology, maturing go-to-market executing, and asymmetric upside as quantum adoption accelerates across government, automotive, logistics, and research sectors.' The analyst goes on to put an Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating on the stock, and his $20 price target points toward a one-year upside potential of 25%. (To watch Jensen's track record, click here) The Strong Buy consensus rating here is unanimous, based on 6 recent positive analyst reviews. The shares are priced at $15.98, and their $17.33 average price target implies an 8.5% gain for the next 12 months. (See QBTS stock forecast) Rigetti Computing Next on our list is Rigetti Computing, another leader in the space. The company has created a basic architecture for an advanced quantum computer system, based on a supercooling dilution refrigeration system designed to generate temperatures as low as one-hundredth of a degree Kelvin. That level of cooling is needed to support Rigetti's QPUs, or quantum processor units; these are the quantum integrated circuits which form the base of Rigetti's quantum computing technology. Because Rigetti involves itself in every aspect of designing and building out its quantum computers, the company is able to custom-create machines to fit any customer's design specs and scale. In an important feature, Rigetti also provides quantum cloud services, a hybrid service of quantum and classical computing offered via the cloud – giving customers access to quantum computing who may not need a whole quantum device in-house. Rigetti's system can support ultra-low-latency connections and forms the hybrid by linking high-performance classical computers to its quantum cloud. Rigetti's most powerful quantum computer is its Ankaa-3 system, which was deployed in December of last year and can handle more than 80 qubits of processing power. The company has also developed and made available a smaller, 9-qubit system derived from the Ankaa-3. This system, Novera, is intended to make quantum computing available on a smaller scale, allowing a wider range of customers to access the new technology's high computing performance. On the financial side, Rigetti's 1Q25 results showed that the company is clearly still in development stages. Rigetti's revenue for the quarter came to $1.5 million, missing the forecast by over $1 million, while the company's operating expenses came to $22.1 million. The company's operating loss in Q1 was reported as $21.6 million. At the same time, the company has achieved some important business developments recently. During Q1, Rigetti was chosen to participate in a DARPA quantum benchmarking initiative, and more recently, in May, the company announced that it will participate in an international collaboration with QphoX and NQCC on a multi-channel optical readout for quantum processors. Rigetti's strengths in scaling its quantum technology and its successes in entering strategic R&D partnerships caught the attention of Cantor's analyst. Jensen writes of Rigetti and its prospects, 'Rigetti Computing is a vertically-integrated superconducting quantum company advancing toward scalable, fault-tolerant systems through its proprietary modular chip architecture, and leading gate fidelities. With strategic backing from Quanta Computer–including a $250 million co-development agreement and joint IP ownership–we think Rigetti is well-capitalized to execute its roadmap, including a >100-qubit system by end-2025. The company's diversified go-to-market approach spans cloud services, on-premise deployments, and long-term government-funded R&D with partners like DARPA, NASA, and the UK's NQCC. This combination of technical progress, strategic capital, and commercial traction positions Rigetti to compete for early quantum advantage and sustained leadership in the quantum industry.' Quantifying his stance, Jensen rates RGTI shares as Overweight (i.e., Buy), and he complements that with a $15 price target, implying a one-year gain for the stock of 15%. These shares have 6 positive reviews on file, for a unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating from the Street. The stock is priced at $13.08, and its average target price is $15, matching the Cantor view. (See RGTI stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue