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☆ Gold prices flat as U.S. inflation data takes centre-stage
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices traded flat on Wednesday as investors looked forward to a critical U.S. inflation print that could offer clues on the Federal Reserve's interest rate-cut trajectory. Spot gold held its ground at $2,359.99 per ounce, as of 0704 GMT, trading in a narrow $6 range, after gaining 1% on Tuesday. According to a Reuters poll, the data is expected to show that core inflation in April rose 0.3% month-over-month, down from 0.4% the prior month. Bullion is known as an inflation hedge, but higher rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold. However, data on Tuesday showed that U.S. producer prices increased more than expected in April.

Persons: Kyle Rodda, Bullion, Jerome Powell Organizations: Fort, BHP Group Locations: Fort Knox Alaska, Kinross, Tetlin , Alaska, ., U.S, American

☆ Putin wants 3 things from Xi as he seeks to deepen Russia-China ties, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China this week is the latest sign of deepening strategic ties between both sides. Putin will make a two-day state visit to China from Thursday at the invitation of Xi, it was announced on Tuesday. This will be the Russian leader's first overseas trip since Putin kicked off his fifth term in office last week. Putin also wants access to Chinese financial markets and to use the "Chinese currency to further Russia's trade," Hess said. "So, it's really Putin going to China seeing what he can get."

Persons: Vladimir Putin's, Xi Jinping, Putin, Xi, Max Hess, CNBC's, Hess, it's Organizations: Foreign Policy Research Institute Locations: China, Russian, Beijing, Siberia, Ukraine

☆ Is meme trading back? These 4 stocks could benefit from a retail investor boom
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Whether retail investors profit from their bets on GameStop and AMC Entertainment or not, one group of companies looks set to cash in from the frenzied trading: stock exchanges. So-called meme stocks, which gained popularity through social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter (or X), have attracted retail investors looking to make a quick profit. Through this new innovative offer, we will offer retail investors a true one-stop-shop experience for equity trading," he said in May 2023. "The rise of retail options trading is another secular trend we're excited to build on with more platforms coming online for index options trading later this year, giving retail investors expanded access to our products," Howson said on an earnings call to analysts this month. ICE, which owns the New York Stock Exchange and several other exchanges, offers trading in stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies and derivatives.

Persons: Eric Leupold, Deutsche Boerse, Benjamin Goy, Stéphane Boujna, FactSet, David Howson, Howson, Oppenheimer, Hannah Gooch, Peters, Marco Iachini , Organizations: GameStop, AMC Entertainment, Twitter, Deutsche Borse AG Deutsche Börse, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Corona, Deutsche Börse, DB1, Deutsche Bank, Global Equity, Cboe, Wall Street, Intercontinental Exchange, Sanlam Investments, ICE, New York Stock Exchange, Vanda Locations: Germany, U.S, Switzerland, Italy, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo, Paris, France, Portugal, Europe

☆ Trading CPI: How stocks could react to Wednesday’s inflation report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Traders at JPMorgan broke down how they expect stocks will react to Wednesday's report, with a focus on core CPI month over month, based on six different scenarios: 40% chance — The reading rises 0.3%-0.35%: This is the most likely outcome, per JPMorgan traders. S & P 500 moves could range between a 0.5% loss and a 1% gain. 10% chance — Core inflation climbs more than 0.4%: The S & P 500 would drop 1.75% to 2.5% under such a hot report, JPMorgan traders think. 7.5% chance — Core CPI gains 0.2%-0.25%: A decline in housing cost increases along with lower core goods prices could make this outcome possible. It would also send the S & P 500 up 1.5% to 2%, JPMorgan traders said.

Persons: Dow Jones, Defensives outperforming Organizations: CPI, Traders, JPMorgan, of Labor Statistics

☆ Here's everything to expect from Wednesday's key report on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"I expect that inflation will move back down on a monthly basis to levels that were more like the lower readings we were having last year," he told attendees at a banking conference. So we're just going to have to see where the inflation data fall out." The index, a proxy for wholesale prices, accelerated 2.2% on an annual basis, the highest reading in a year. "This will be the most important read of the month [excluding nonfarm payrolls] as inflation continues to defy expectations," said Dan North, senior economist at Allianz Trade North America. Even if the report comes in around consensus expectations, it will be "inadequate progress for the Fed to consider a cut until September," he added.

Persons: Frederic J, Brown, Dow Jones, Jerome Powell, we're, Dan North Organizations: AFP, Getty, Federal Reserve, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Allianz Trade North, Fed Locations: Rosemead , California, Amsterdam, Allianz Trade North America

☆ What Forecasters Say About Interest Rates (and Why They Disagree)
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Talmon Joseph Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

How soon is soon? As the year started, there was a widespread view among economists and on Wall Street that the Federal Reserve would lower interest rates in the first half of the year. It was called “the pivot party,” and everyone was invited. And it seems the pivot party has been canceled. But some experts argue that it has only been postponed, leaving forecasters divided about what the rest of the year will bring.

Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, Financial

☆ How to generate some return on Costco after a nice rally, without having to sell the stake
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Michael Khouw | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

How I think about Jim Simons' legacy, and a trade on one of the most successful retailers, Costco, follows. First, a contrarian view in Costco: Costco (COST) is one of the best performing retailers over the past year. Last week, Costco released their four-week retail sales results for the period between Monday, April 8th and Sunday, May 5th. There is only one thing I don't like about Costco, the price. The weak form suggests past market prices, which are generally observable, are fully reflected in stock prices.

Persons: Jim Simons, that's, Jim, James Surowiecki, Francis Galton, Eugene Fama Organizations: Costco, Fund Locations: Costco, U.S, New York, Surowiecki

☆ Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, US officials warn
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Unlike traditional banks, nonbank mortgage companies like Rocket Mortgage are heavily exposed to swings in the mortgage market, depend on funding that can dry up during times of stress and don’t have stable deposits to rely on as a safety net. Despite the wonky term, nonbank mortgage companies have become vital players that make most home mortgages in the United States today. As of 2022, nonbank mortgage companies originated about two-thirds of US mortgages and owned the servicing rights on 54% of mortgage balances, according to FSOC. “Nonbank mortgage firms are thinly capitalized, which makes them vulnerable to failure if they lose financing or mortgage defaults spike,” said McCoy, a former mortgage regulator. “Starting in early 2007, we saw a tsunami of nonbank mortgage firms fail precisely for these reasons.”

Persons: Janet Yellen, FSOC, Cooper, ” FSOC, Ginnie Mae, Bob Broeksmit, Patricia McCoy, ”, McCoy Organizations: New, New York CNN, Rocket, Mortgage, Mortgage Bankers Association, ABA, Boston College Law School, “ Locations: New York, United States

☆ 3 reasons the dollar can't be dethroned as the world's dominant currency, according to Morgan Stanley
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

De-dollarization efforts won't do much to dethrone the dollar, Morgan Stanley said. There are no true alternatives to holding the US dollar at the moment, Morgan Stanley strategists said. AdvertisementThe dollar's status as the top currency of central banks and for international trade probably isn't fading soon, according to Morgan Stanley. "Now, reasonable people can disagree about whether cryptocurrencies are going to appreciate or depreciate, but I'd argue that the best outcome for a dominant currency is neither." Displacing a dominant currency is something that happens over the course of decades, economists previously told Business Insider, as it takes time for people to shift to other currencies once a dominant currency is recognized as "safe."

Persons: Morgan Stanley, —, James Lord, Michael Zezas, That's, Lord, there's, Zezas, Crypto, David Adams, Morgan Stanley's Organizations: Service, Rivals, greenback, Business Locations: Beijing, China

☆ Oil prices up on stronger Chinese data, Middle East conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil prices rose on Friday, continuing upwards trend on the signs of improving economy in China and as negotiations to halt hostilities in the stand-off between Israel and Hamas yielded no results. In the previous session, oil prices edged up to a one-week high on data of rising crude oil imports in China in April and as investors saw the cooling U.S. job market as an indication of possible interest rate cuts. China's exports and imports returned to growth in April after contracting in the previous month, signaling an improvement in demand. "Ongoing signs of strength in demand in China should see commodity market remain well supported," ANZ Research said in a note. Daly did not say if she felt the U.S. central bank was likely or not to cut interest rates this year.

Persons: Brent, Mary Daly, Daly, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden's Organizations: U.S, West Texas, ANZ Research, San Francisco Federal, Financial Locations: China, Israel, U.S, Rafah, Gaza, Cairo

☆ If it feels like NYC is richer, you're right. One in every 24 residents is a millionaire.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

New York City is now home to 349,500 millionaires. Meanwhile, rising living costs are forcing lower-earning residents out of the city. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementNew York City is the metro with the highest number of millionaires, according to a ranking released Tuesday by immigration consultancy Henley & Partners. Some wealthy residents moved out, but lots more moved in during the pandemic, bringing the Big Apple's millionaire count to 349,500 — more than any other city in the world,With a population of 8.2 million, this means that one in 24 New York residents is a millionaire.

Persons: — Organizations: Henley & Partners, Service, Big, Business Locations: York City, New York

☆ 'The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a uniquely American construct,' analyst says. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Most U.S. homebuyers taking out a mortgage opt for a 30-year fixed-rate — but they may not realize how unusual that offering is. "The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a uniquely American construct," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate. True to its name, a 30-year fixed spreads out repayment over 30 years, with an interest rate that remains the same for the life of the loan. In 2022, 89% of homebuyers applied for a 30-year mortgage, according to government data analyzed by Homebuyer.com. "If we did not have the dominance of the fixed-rate mortgage in the U.S. residential mortgage market, we would see a much higher level of stress among existing homeowners," McBride said.

Persons: Greg McBride, Jacob Channel, McBride Organizations: homebuyers, Bankrate, LendingTree, Homebuyer.com, Finance Locations: U.S

☆ The alleged architect of a multibillion-dollar fraud that shook Wall Street heads to trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —In the spring of 2021, you might have heard about a small investment firm with an odd name, Archegos, that imploded practically overnight and left big Wall Street banks sweating over billions of dollars in losses. Put simply, prosecutors say Hwang had used financial instruments called “total return swaps” to gain exposure to the stocks without actually owning them. Over the course of a year, prosecutors say, Hwang grew his $1.5 billion portfolio into a $35 billion portfolio. Why the case mattersWhite-collar crime on Wall Street may seem like a distant problem for most Americans, and that may be true. And sometimes, as in the financial crisis of 2008, it was a bit of Wall Street tinkering in derivatives contracts that blew up in banks’ faces and collapsed the housing market.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Bill Hwang, Hwang, Matt Egan, Banks, Archegos, ” Hwang, Hwang didn’t, ”, isn’t, Dennis Kelleher Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Archegos, Management, Viacom, Discovery, Warner Bros, CNN, Term Capital Management, Credit Suisse, Employees, Bloomberg, Tiger Asia Management Locations: New York, Korean, York City, ’

☆ New York tops the list of the 50 richest cities in the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

New York's millionaire population is now larger than the entire populations of Orlando or Pittsburgh. The Bay Area's millionaire population has surged by 82% over the past decade, to 305,700. The U.S. is home to 11 of top 50 richest cities, according to the report. "Notably, U.S. cities have significantly outperformed other western cities over the past decade when its comes to overall wealth and millionaire growth." Here is the full ranking of the world's richest cities, according to Henley & Partners and New World Wealth:1.

Persons: Andrew Amoils, Amoils, Juerg Steffen, Robert Frank Organizations: Henley & Partners, Area, Federal Reserve, Research, New, London, Sydney Locations: York, California, Orlando, Pittsburgh . New York, Brazil, Italy, Canada, San Francisco, U.S, Tokyo, London, China, Beijing, Singapore, Los Angeles, New York, Area, France, Hong Kong

☆ Stocks are primed to tumble into a bear market as bullish investors have driven equities to 1929 extremes, famed fund manager says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The stock market looks poised to fall from its extreme heights, legendary investor John Hussman said. Hussman said the stock market is mirroring the extremes leading up the 1929 crash. The S&P 500 has broken a series of record highs this year, and has regained momentum in recent days after a lackluster month in April. AdvertisementHussman's firm is expecting the S&P 500 to underperform Treasury bonds by 9.3% a year for the next 12 years, based on his firm's internal metrics. Just 39% of investors said they were bullish on stocks over the next 6 months, according to the AAII's latest Investor Sentiment Survey.

Persons: John Hussman, Hussman, he's, — Organizations: Service, Investment Trust, Investor

☆ The AI boom reminds this expert of the dot-com bubble — with one dangerous difference
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe AI boom resembles the dot-com bubble — but there's one big difference that makes this craze far more dangerous, says one expert. "Many dot-com companies that drove the internet change went broke doing it. Many AI companies driving as big a change will go broke or lose half their value." "The giant AI pioneers won't go broke, but if AI losses drive their stock prices down, lots of investors will suffer," Gordon said. He's previously drawn a line between the dot-com bubble and the tech-stock boom.

Persons: —, Erik Gordon, Gordon, He's Organizations: Service, Business, University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, Nvidia, Microsoft, Big Tech

☆ Inflation is scrambling Americans' perceptions of middle class life
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

For many in the middle class, inflation is at the heart of this feeling. That's making people feel locked out of many of the milestones long associated with middle-class life. 74% of middle class Americans have cut back on non-essential spending, according to Primerica's survey. 46% of middle-class Americans said they've dialed back or completely paused saving for the future and 38% said they didn't think they could afford an unexpected expense over $1000. Buying a home may be the greatest example of a tenet of middle-class life feeling out of reach for many, and that struggle is very real rather than merely negatively perceived.

Persons: —, Vincent, he'd, he's, Eoin Sheehan, Chris Collins, Collins, Jessica, they're, Kayla, Primerica, they've, Sheehan Organizations: Service, Business, Pew Research Center, Redfield & Wilton, Federal, Northwestern Mutual's Collins, Northwestern Mutual, Newsweek, National Association of Realtors Locations: Santa Barbara, California, Alabama, Primerica

☆ The Perils of the Fed’s Vast Bond Holdings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jeff Sommer | More About Jeff Sommer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But even after two years of quantitative tightening, the amount of bonds and securities that the Fed still retains is stupendous. Quantitative tightening is a perilous operation. Earlier attempts — notably, in 2019 — disrupted financial markets. The slow pace of quantitative tightening is partly responsible for the Fed’s inability to contribute to the national budget. That’s because the Fed has also raised interest rates, which move in the opposite direction of bond prices.

Persons: — Organizations: Fed, Treasury, Silicon Valley Bank Locations: United States

☆ There are 4 big factors to watch that could bring turmoil to financial markets, research firm says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Stocks and the economy look strong but there are four factors that could pose a problem, Capital Economics said. Geopolitical risks in the Middle East and high interest rates are big risks to markets. A depreciation of the Chinese yuan and soaring US debt are also the two factors investors need to watch. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Thirdly, with the rising value of the Chinese yuan, any depreciation could trigger currency market volatility elsewhere.

Persons: —, Ruben Gargallo Abargues, Jonas Goltermann, Wednesday's, Goltermann, Bill Gross Organizations: Economics, Service, Capital Economics, Brent Locations: Israel, Treasuries

☆ Trump Media stock tumbles as the SEC charges its auditor with 'massive fraud'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump Media's stock price dropped on Friday after its auditor was accused of "massive fraud." The auditor BF Borgers did not comply with common accounting standards, the SEC said. BF Borgers CPA PC, which audited the financials of Trump Media, had "deliberate and systemic failures to comply" with public company accounting standards, the regulatory agency said. BF Borgers settled the SEC charges by paying a $12 million penalty, while Borgers, the owner, paid a separate $2 million penalty. "Trump Media looks forward to working with auditing partners in accordance with today's SEC order," a spokesperson for TMTG said.

Persons: BF, —, Benjamin Borgers, BF Borgers, Borgers, Ben Borgers, Gurbir Grewal, TMTG Organizations: Trump, SEC, Service, Trump Media, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: SEC's

☆ Yen gives up ground vs dollar following surge on suspected intervention
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An attendant holds a sample of newly-designed Japanese 10,000 yen banknote, with three-dimensional holographic technology to prevent forgery, for a photograph at the National Printing Bureau Tokyo plant in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The yen gave up ground in early trade on Thursday, reversing direction after a sudden surge against the dollar overnight that traders and analysts were quick to attribute to intervention by Japanese authorities. The dollar was 0.9% higher at 155.98 yen as of 0100 GMT, retracing about half of its late Wednesday surge from around 157.55 to exactly 153 over a period of about 30 minutes. "The 'sneak attack' element really is the MOF (Japan's Ministry of Finance) looking to punish speculators and send a warning about shorting the yen." That helped lift the dollar to a 34-year peak of 160.245 yen on Monday and also spurred a sharp reversal which official data suggested was due to Japanese intervention totalling about $35 billion.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Masato Kanda, Kyle Rodda, Sterling, Powell, Jack Mclntyre Organizations: National Printing Bureau, Federal Reserve, Reuters, Capital.com, Japan's Ministry of Finance, Bank of Japan, Brandywine Locations: National Printing Bureau Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Melbourne

☆ Stock market today: Indexes mixed after Fed meeting as Powell calms nerves over possible hike
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Central bankers chose to keep interest rates steady, and Powell said a rate hike was "unlikely." Fed officials chose to keep interest rates unchanged, in line with the market's expectations. Investors have been fretting over higher interest rates as inflation came in hotter-than-expected throughout the first quarter. The odds of a Fed rate hike in June are less than 1%. Calling that out in the first paragraph is tantamount to saying that interest rate cuts are not coming soon."

Persons: Powell, —, Greg McBride, Bankrate, Charlie Ripley Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, Fed, Allianz Investment Management

☆ Stock futures rise after Fed decides to hold rates steady: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stock futures advanced Wednesday night as investors looked ahead to more corporate earnings due Thursday and key labor data set for later in the week. S&P 500 futures climbed 0.3%. Restaurant delivery service DoorDash dropped 15% after reporting a wider loss per share than Wall Street forecast. Those moves followed a choppy day on Wall Street as investors reacted to the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged. The Dow finished about 0.2% higher, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both closed the session lower by roughly 0.3%.

Persons: DoorDash, Jerome Powell, Eric Winograd, Winograd, Coinbase Organizations: Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Qualcomm, Federal, Dow, Apple, Moderna Locations: AllianceBernstein, Friday's

☆ Gold subdued as traders ready for Fed rate verdict
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Gold prices struggled for momentum on Wednesday as investors refrained from taking big positions ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve policy decision that could offer for more cues on its rate-cut timeline. U.S. gold futures were down 0.2% at $2,298.30 per ounce. The Fed is expected to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at 5.25% to 5.5%. Gold is known as an inflation hedge but elevated interest rates reduce the appeal of holding the non-yielding asset. Among other metals, spot silver rose 0.2% to $26.32 per ounce and platinum inched up 0.2% to $935.10.

Persons: Edward Meir, Jerome Powell, Powell, Meir Organizations: U.S, Federal, Focus, Labor, Palladium

☆ Federal prosecutors are examining financial transactions at Block, owner of Cash App and Square
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Gretchen Morgenson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Cash App, introduced in 2013, allows users to send and receive money instantaneously among themselves and to buy stocks and Bitcoin. As of December, Cash App had 56 million active transacting accounts and $248 billion in inflows during the previous four quarters, the company said. (Merchants are considered customers at Square, while users are considered customers at Cash App.) Cash App is not a bank, but it uses external banking partners to conduct various services. On March 29, Sutton Bank settled a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that echoed the whistleblowers' allegations.

Persons: Jack Dorsey, Block, Venezuela —, Edward Siedle, Prosecutors, Cash, OFAC, Lawrence Summers, Sharon Rothstein, Summers, Rothstein, Lord Paul Deighton, Goldman Sachs, Deighton, Dorsey, Banks, Sutton, James Booker Organizations: Twitter, Southern, of, NBC, NBC News, Securities and Exchange Commission, Block, Foreign Assets Control, U.S . Treasury, Cash, OFAC, Goldman, Financial Market, Bank of Lithuania, Payments Lithuania UAB, PayPal, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, Sutton Bank, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, FDIC Locations: of New York, Cuba, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Ohio, Sutton

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