Oman Said to Consider Selling Stake in $8 Billion Gas Fields
State-owned firm Energy Development Oman SAOC is seeking partners for a minority stake in the fields contained in Block 6, which also holds the country's most prized oil assets, the people said, asking not to be named because the plans are private. Besides bringing in funds for Oman, a sale would also help spread the billions of dollars of costs needed to develop and operate the fields, which consultant Wood Mackenzie Ltd. values at about $8.2 billion.
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29 minutes ago
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Is China waking up to Israel's strategic importance? Beijing rethinks Middle East strategy
An expert analyzes how China is responding to a new set of global challenges. China's growing engagement in the Middle East—heightened by the recent escalation of conflict in Gaza—has drawn significant global attention and speculation. Traditionally, Beijing's regional strategy has focused on securing long-term economic and energy interests: ensuring access to vital energy resources, safeguarding major international trade corridors, and investing extensively in infrastructure, technology, and energy sectors, particularly in the Persian Gulf. Yet, despite these strategic imperatives, China continues to pursue a deliberately ambivalent and multidimensional approach toward key regional actors, most notably Iran and Israel. This carefully calibrated posture reflects broader geopolitical shifts, the erosion of US hegemony, and, above all, the mounting instability across the Middle East—developments that increasingly threaten both regional equilibrium and China's own economic security. Energy and strategic interests Energy security is a central pillar of China's strategic outlook. As the world's largest oil importer, China currently sources around 40% of its oil from the Middle East–a figure expected to double by 2035. This heavy reliance exposes Beijing to acute vulnerabilities should conflict or instability disrupt critical maritime chokepoints such as the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. These strategic routes also account for roughly 60% of China's trade with Europe and Africa, further amplifying the stakes of regional volatility. Beyond energy, China's broader economic footprint in the region—particularly through the global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—faces mounting risks. Saudi Arabia, China's largest trading partner in the region, exemplifies this accelerating interdependence: their bilateral trade reached $107.53 billion in 2024, underscoring the rapid deepening of their economic ties. Navigating regional rivalries Alongside its pursuit of undermining the American regional influence and asserting itself as a stabilizing global power, Beijing–long known for its cautious and natural approach–has recently adopted a more pragmatic, proactive stance in the diplomatic arena. This shift reflects a delicate balancing act and the adaptation of a flexible, well-calibrated strategy, aimed at maximizing the value derived from diverse strategic partnerships while carefully avoiding alienating any particular state or favouring one over another. China's sophisticated manoeuvring between rival actors and competing regional interests—exemplified by its concurrent cooperation with Saudi Arabia, whose Crown Prince's global ambitious vision, "Vision 2030," is being advanced in tandem with China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This occurs despite its deepening ties with Iran and opposition to its nuclear program and while simultaneously leading diplomatic efforts and negotiations with both the United States and Arab leaders, aimed at promoting a ceasefire and preventing further security escalation in the Middle East. Furthermore, China draws a clear distinction between declarative rhetoric and operational conduct, as well as between political confrontations and broader systemic interests. These distinctions enable it to uphold the principle of non-intervention—avoiding direct political or military involvement—while simultaneously continuing to lead a critical discourse that includes sharp condemnation of Israel and its military policies, alongside consistent support, on the other hand, for the Palestinian and Iranian positions. The Israel-Iran conflict: A critical turning point However, a closer look reveals that the recent direct confrontation between Iran and Israel, which erupted in June, along with US military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, has triggered a significant shift in China's perception of both actors. This shift is already challenging its previously neutral stance, testing its relationships with regional states and its ability to navigate among them. Moreover, this development increases China's dependence on oil powers, intensifying its need to diversify energy sources and alternative trade and supply routes, including diversified engagements with Central Asian states. Alongside its commitment to invest approximately $400 billion in the development of critical infrastructure across Iran, including the establishment of logistical corridors and the strengthening of security and economic cooperation as part of the BRI project, Beijing is simultaneously cultivating economic and strategic partnerships with Israel, primarily in the fields of high-tech, innovation, and science. Recent reports indicate that bilateral trade volume between China and Israel reached $16.27 billion in 2024, compared to $14.56 billion in 2023. Furthermore, in May of this year, Chinese exports to Israel totalled $1.45 billion, while imports from Israel reached $1.7 billion–figures that reflect Israel's rising significance in Beijing's calculations. Moreover, alongside efforts to restore Iran's military capabilities and renew its missile systems damaged during Israeli and American strikes, China—having for the first time adopted a relatively moderate and conciliatory stance toward Israel—simultaneously directed sharp criticism at the Iranian leadership, accusing it of ideological dogmatism and adherence to an extreme political position. From Beijing's perspective, the conflict with Israel has demonstrated that Iran—significantly weakened—is no longer keeping pace with global developments, and that the so-called 'Axis of Resistance,' including the network of proxies it has cultivated across the Middle East over the years, is gradually fracturing. Senior Chinese scholars have even suggested that the Ayatollah regime, now perceived as teetering on the brink of collapse, no longer serves the strategic interests of China's leadership in the region. Strategic adjustments Recently, voices in Israel are increasingly calling for a reassessment of relations with China, despite constraints imposed by the United States. This presents an opportunity to adopt a new, pragmatic foreign policy approach—one that advances Israel's interests in China, across Asia, and more broadly among countries of the 'Global South.' At the same time, it could help integrate China into initiatives aimed at promoting stability in the Middle East, including the future rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip. All of this is especially relevant today, amid mounting global criticism of Israel, the renewal of nuclear talks with Iran, and the unpredictable foreign policy of the President of the United States. From a broad geopolitical and strategic perspective, it is already becoming apparent that even a partial or limited shift in China's stance toward Israel constitutes an important diplomatic signal—one that could eventually lead to a significant strategic turning point. Beyond the inherent advantages of strengthening bilateral ties and expanding Beijing's role as a mediator between regional adversaries, deeper Chinese involvement could help restrain Iran or, at the very least, counterbalance its negative influence while reducing the risk of regional security escalation. In addition, recognition from China could enhance Israel's prestige and global image—not only as a member of the American-Western bloc and a close ally of the United States, but also as a powerful and legitimate actor on the international stage. Strengthening ties between the two countries could lead to diversification and expansion of investments and partnerships in fields such as technology, innovation (AI), agriculture, and healthcare. This would boost Israeli exports to China's vast market and help position Israel as a regional power. Furthermore, closer relations and a more balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could influence other countries in the Global South and improve Israel's standing in their eyes. China's real politics Looking from a broad Chinese vantage point, it is evident that China's diplomatic pivot is a sophisticated and calculated move—another layer in its global geopolitical strategy. Beyond expanding its political and economic influence in the Middle East, strengthening ties with Israel is expected to help China position itself as a responsible, moderate, and balanced global power—one capable of acting as a potential mediator in other regional and international conflicts (such as the dispute between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, the fight against the Houthis, and the war between Russia and Ukraine). Through this initiative, China seeks to establish its own network of bilateral and multilateral relationships that will grant it geopolitical flexibility, reduce its dependence on any single country, and enhance its status and image on the international stage. Although this shift may provoke opposition from Iran and other Muslim countries—as well as Western criticism regarding the disruption of the regional balance of power—the success of the move largely depends on how China chooses to frame its new policy. If Beijing emphasizes its pragmatic stance and clarifies that it does not aim to create a new regional security order or to replace the United States in the region, it could profoundly reshape the Middle East landscape, contribute to the regional and global geopolitical balance. Solve the daily Crossword
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3 hours ago
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This More Than 4%-Yielding Stock's Smart Strategy Continues to Pay Big Dividends
Key Points Brookfield Infrastructure reported solid second-quarter results. The company made excellent progress on its capital recycling strategy. That smart strategy positions it to deliver strong growth in the coming years. 10 stocks we like better than Brookfield Infrastructure › Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIPC)(NYSE: BIP) has a straightforward investment strategy. The global infrastructure operator acquires high-quality assets on a value basis, enhances their operations, and, eventually, sells the mature business. The company then recycles that capital into new investments with higher returns. This strategy has driven healthy growth in its funds from operations (FFO) and its high-yielding dividend. The payout, which yields over 4%, has grown at a 9% compound annual rate over the past 16 years. The company's wise strategy was on full display during the second quarter. It puts Brookfield in an excellent position to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend, making it an appealing option for those seeking passive dividend income. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » Image source: Getty Images. Another solid showing Brookfield Infrastructure generated $638 million of FFO during the second quarter. This is a 5% increase from the prior year. The company benefited from strong organic growth and recently closed acquisitions. Organic growth drivers included inflation-linked rate increases in its utilities and transport sector. It also received contributions from over $1.5 billion in capital project completions, primarily new data centers. These growth catalysts helped mitigate the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations and asset sales associated with its capital recycling initiatives. The company's data segment provided the largest quarterly boost. FFO jumped 45% to $113 million. Brookfield benefited from its acquisition of a tower portfolio in India, which closed last year. It also commissioned several new data centers. Brookfield's midstream sector also delivered a strong quarter. FFO rose 10% to $157 million. The company's diversified midstream operations in Canada were standout performers thanks to high customer activity. This helped offset the sale of its U.S. gas pipeline in the second quarter. The robust growth from these two segments offset relatively flat results from the company's transportation and utilities businesses. Solid organic growth from rate increases and capital project completions muted the impact of asset sales and foreign exchange fluctuations in those businesses. Ready for the next wave Brookfield Infrastructure has been busy executing its capital recycling strategy this year. The company has already secured $2.4 billion in proceeds from nine asset sales. "This would be a good result in any given year, and we are only in July," the company noted in the second-quarter earnings press release. It secured four sales in the second quarter. Brookfield sold a 23% interest in its Australian export terminal, a 60% stake in a 244-megawatt portfolio of European data centers, a 33% interest in a portfolio of fully contracted shipping containers, and a partial interest in its U.K. ports operation. The company is selling these assets at very attractive values. The infrastructure operator will deploy this capital in new, higher-returning investment opportunities. Brookfield has secured three new investments to enhance its data, transport, and midstream sectors: Hotwire: Brookfield is investing $500 million into Hotwire, a leading bulk fiber-to-the-home service company. This business generates stable and steadily rising cash flow backed by long-term, take-or-pay, and inflation-linked contracts. Hotwire currently has over 300,000 billing customers and a significant contracted backlog. Railcar leasing platform: Brookfield is investing $300 million into a leading railcar leasing platform through a joint venture with GATX. The portfolio is the second-largest railcar leasing platform in North America, with over 125,000 railcars that generate very stable cash flow. Colonial Enterprises: The company is investing $500 million into the acquisition of Colonial, the largest refined products pipeline system in the country. It's paying an attractive value for an asset that generates very stable cash flows. Brookfield expects even more deals ahead. The company has several additional asset sales in advanced stages that could close in the coming months. These deals will provide more capital to recycle into new investment opportunities, which should be plentiful. In its earnings release, the company wrote, "We also continue to advance a large and diversified array of new investment opportunities that continues to grow and is driven by the digitalization, decarbonization, and deglobalization megatrends impacting our entire investable universe." The company believes that its organic growth and capital recycling strategy will drive annual FFO per share growth of over 10% in the long term. That supports its plan to increase its high-yielding dividend by 5% to 9% per year. Brookfield's brilliant growth strategy continues to pay big dividends Brookfield's approach of selling mature assets to reinvest in higher-return opportunities continues to drive growth. While the asset sales side of this strategy was a minor headwind in the second quarter, it should become a tailwind as the company closes its recently secured new investments. This strategy should also continue boosting its results in the future as Brookfield secures additional sales and new investments. Combined with healthy organic growth drivers, Brookfield should have plenty of power to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend going forward. Should you invest $1,000 in Brookfield Infrastructure right now? Before you buy stock in Brookfield Infrastructure, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Brookfield Infrastructure 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 $625,254!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,090,257!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,036% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 181% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025 Matt DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Infrastructure and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warren Buffett Said Buying 'Distressed' Homes With 30-Year Mortgages And Renting Them Out Might Be The 'Most Attractive' Investment Available
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. If you remember 2008, chances are you also remember the fear. Home values were collapsing. Borrowers were defaulting. The phrase "underwater mortgage" was everywhere. But fast forward to 2012, and Warren Buffett was telling CNBC viewers something no one expected to hear: that housing—yes, housing—was one of the best investment opportunities available. Buy the House, Not the Hype— Buffett's Surprising Advice for Young Investors During CNBC's three-hour "Ask Warren" Squawk Box special, host Becky Quick asked Buffett a question aimed at everyday investors: "If you are a young individual investor at home and you have your choice between buying your first home or investing in stocks, where would you tell someone is the better bet?" Shop Top Mortgage Rates Your Path to Homeownership A quicker path to financial freedom Personalized rates in minutes Don't Miss: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share. Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here's how you can earn passive income with just $100. Buffett didn't hesitate. "If I knew where I was going to want to live the next five or 10 years, I would buy a home and I'd finance it with a 30-year mortgage, and it's a terrific deal," he said. He didn't stop there. "If I was an investor that was a handy type, which I'm not, and I could buy a couple of them at distressed prices and find renters... it's a leveraged way of owning a very cheap asset now, and I think that's probably as attractive an investment as you can make now." At the time, homes really were cheap. Prices had bottomed out after the crash, mortgage rates hovered near 3.5%, and properties were sitting untouched, waiting for someone with courage—and a toolkit. Buffett made it clear he wasn't that guy. His daughter Susie once joked he couldn't even find the light switch in their house. He understood the math of real estate, not the manual labor. Still, his message was simple: if you had the skills and long-term vision, buying homes in 2012 was a rare opportunity. It's Not 2012 Anymore, and It's Definitely Not a Buyer's Market In 2025, Mortgage rates have climbed past 6.7%, according to Freddie Mac, making monthly payments significantly more expensive than they were a few years ago. Meanwhile, home prices remain elevated. Zillow reports that the typical U.S. home value in June was around $369,000—up 0.5% from the same time last year and still more than 30% above pre-pandemic levels. Sellers with sub-4% mortgage rates are hesitant to list, and many buyers are sitting out, unable or unwilling to purchase at current prices and borrowing costs. In short, it's a standoff. The kind where nothing moves. Buffett's advice worked in a world where homes were undervalued and financing was cheap. But what about now? For young investors, getting started in real estate is harder than ever. Finding a "very cheap asset" just isn't realistic in this market. Still, the idea behind his advice hasn't changed: real estate can be a strong, long-term investment—if you can get in and hold on. And while Buffett dismissed the landlord role for himself, that exact limitation is what new investment models are trying to solve. Skip the Wrench, Keep the Wealth? Today, platforms like Arrived Homes let people buy fractional shares in rental homes without dealing with tenants, maintenance, or paperwork, with as little as $100. The company handles everything from property management to repairs, so investors can own a piece of real estate without ever showing up with a screwdriver. It's not what Buffett described in 2012—but it does speak to the same problem he pointed out: owning homes one by one is "enormous" to manage. He saw the opportunity. He also saw the workload. In 2025, the math has changed, but the question is still on the table: If you could invest in real estate without the real-world hassle—would you? Buffett's answer might still be yes. Just don't hand him a wrench. See Next: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation. It's no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — this beloved alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. This article Warren Buffett Said Buying 'Distressed' Homes With 30-Year Mortgages And Renting Them Out Might Be The 'Most Attractive' Investment Available originally appeared on
