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☆ These are Mizuho’s top stock picks heading into May
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mizuho just released its top stock picks for May, and its basket of stocks includes three new selections for the month. The newest additions for May include EyePoint Pharmaceuticals , Universal Health Services and Block . Here are some of Mizuho's top picks for the month. Mizuho said this price target is 5.3% above the consensus, making the firm more bullish than its peers. Analyst Graig Suvannavejh's $39 price target represents 95% upside from where shares closed on Thursday.

Persons: Mizuho, Ann Hynes, Hynes, UHS, Graig, EyePoint, Dan Dolev's, Dolev Organizations: EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Universal Health Services, Block, titans, Microsoft, Behavioral

☆ 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

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Target, Coinbase, Berkshire Hathaway, Estee Lauder & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

JPMorgan upgrades Williams-Sonoma to neutral from underweight JPMorgan said in its upgrade of the stock that the home furnishings category is stabilizing. "We are downgrading shares of EXPE to Mkt Perform from OP with a target price of $145 vs. $165 previously." JPMorgan upgrades Joby to neutral from underweight JPMorgan said its bear thesis has largely played out for the aviation company. Guggenheim reiterates Target as buy Guggenheim said investors should buy the dip in shares of Target . Morgan Stanley downgrades Estee Lauder to equal weight from overweight Morgan Stanley said it sees a slower recovery for shares of Estee Lauder .

Persons: Stifel, Wells, Truist, OLLI, Guggenheim, Tim Cook, William Blair, Amgen, Jefferies, We've, Ari sta, it's, Morgan Stanley downgrades Estee Lauder, Morgan Stanley, Estee Lauder, TD Cowen, Parsons, Bernstein, Oppenheimer, CFRA, Berkshire Hathaway Organizations: RBC, FTAI Aviation, Pacific, Union Pacific, JPMorgan, Williams, WSM, BMO, Bank of America, Apple, Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, JOBY, Guggenheim, Target, Citi, MCW, Arista, PSN, Avidity, ~$ Locations: Sonoma, EXPE, GEICO

☆ Immigrant workers are helping boost the U.S. labor market
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Kate Rogers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The strong jobs market has been bolstered post-pandemic by strength in the immigrant workforce in America. And as Americans age out of the labor force and birth rates remain low, economists and the Federal Reserve are touting the importance of immigrant workers for overall future economic growth. Immigrant workers made up 18.6% of the workforce last year, a new record, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Despite the U.S. adding fewer-than-expected jobs in April, the labor force participation rate for foreign-born workers ticked up slightly, to 66%. "We don't have enough workers participating in the labor force and our birth rate has dropped down 2% last year from 2022 to 2023.

Persons: Jennie Murray, Phillip Swagel, Swagel Organizations: Federal, of Labor Statistics, Workers, National Immigration, Congressional Locations: America

☆ UK to suffer slowest growth of all rich nations next year, OECD says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.K.'s "sluggish" growth prospects have put it on course to be the worst-performing economy of all advanced nations next year, according to new forecasts from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The downbeat prediction comes as the global economy shows signs of recovery, with growth forecast to remain steady at 3.1% in 2024, before rising modestly to 3.2% in 2025. "We start seeing some recovery in many parts of the world," Alvaro Pereira, director of the OECD's policy studies branch, told CNBC's Silvia Amaro Thursday. Growth among advanced nations next year is set to be led by North America, which Pereira said follows "strong growth" forecasts of 2.6% in the U.S. in 2024. Growth in Europe, meanwhile, is expected to pick up next year after a sluggish 2024.

Persons: Alvaro Pereira, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Thursday, Pereira Organizations: Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, North Locations: Germany, Paris, Canada, France, Japan, U.S, North America, Europe

☆ Stanley Black & Decker's earnings beat fails to satisfy Wall Street. Here's why we bought the dip
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Stanley Black & Decker Why we own it: Stanley Black & Decker is in the later innings of a multi-year restructuring plan. The one problem is the broader demand environment is still mostly soft, preventing management from raising the midpoint of its outlook. This dynamic makes Stanley Black & Decker one of the more interest-rate-sensitive stocks we have in the portfolio. Stanley Black & Decker has been paying a dividend for 147 consecutive years, with increases in each of the past 56. Stanley Black & Decker power drills are displayed for sale at a Home Depot store in Colma, California.

Persons: Stanley Black, Decker, we're, there's, Stanley, Patrick Hallinan, Hallinan, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, David Paul Morris Organizations: Revenue, LSEG, Bosch, Techtronic Industries, Management, Industrial, CNBC, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Colma , California

☆ The Hollywood box office is slumping. 'The Fall Guy' could change that.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But the Hollywood strikes pushed the release date for "Deadpool & Wolverine, so "The Fall Guy" stepped in. 2012's "The Avengers" brought in $207 million opening weekend and grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide. 'The Fall Guy' doesn't need to earn what past Marvel titles did to be successfulRyan Gosling in "The Fall Guy." There have to be other big winners, and that's where "The Fall Guy" comes in. "The Fall Guy" is tracking in the mid-$30 million range for this weekend, multiple industry sources told BI.

Persons: Guy, —, David Leitch, Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Tim Handren, Hadren, Jeff Bock, Bock, Max Organizations: Marvel, Service, WGA, SAG, Santikos Entertainment, Marvel Studios, Hollywood Locations: Hollywood, Antonio

☆ Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy to step down, company to lay off 15% of staff as it looks to refinance debt
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

In a letter to staff, McCarthy said the company needed to implement layoffs because it wouldn't be able to generate sustainable free cash flow with its current cost structure. "Achieving positive [free cash flow] makes Peloton a more attractive borrower, which is important as the company turns its attention to the necessary task of successfully refinancing its debt," McCarthy said in the memo. McCarthy had also expected Peloton to reach positive free cash flow by June — a goal the company said it reached early during its third quarter. In a letter to shareholders, Peloton said it generated $8.6 million in free cash flow but it's unclear how sustainable that number is. The company didn't provide specific guidance on what investors can expect with free cash flow in the quarters ahead but said it does expect to "deliver modest positive free cash flow" in its current quarter.

Persons: Barry McCarthy, McCarthy, Karen Boone, Chris Bruzzo, Jay Hoag, It's, John Foley, hasn't, Goldman Sachs, Boone, Barry, Bruzzo, —, hadn't, Creditsafe, it's, Foley Organizations: Interactive, Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, Spotify, Netflix, JPMorgan, LSEG, outperformance, CNBC Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, lockstep

☆ Billionaire 'bond king' Bill Gross says soaring Treasury issuance means bond yields can't come down anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Bill Gross says bond prices will be higher rather than lower in the near term as Treasury issuance surges. Gross also said the "total return" bond strategy he helped develop in the 1980s is dead. AdvertisementThe high level of US debt issuance signals to investors that they should expect yields to move higher, not lower, according to "bond king" Bill Gross. AdvertisementGross explained that while Treasury debt has been growing at a rapid rate, other types of debt, including business and household debt, have been growing more slowly. As a result, in order to make up for this difference, the government must ramp up Treasury debt by over 10% to uphold 5.5% nominal GDP growth, he wrote.

Persons: Bill Gross, Gross, —, PIMCO Organizations: Service, Treasury, Federal

☆ Block shares jump on better-than-expected first-quarter results
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Earnings per share: 85 cents adjusted vs. 72 cents adjusted that was expected85 cents adjusted vs. 72 cents adjusted that was expected Revenue: $5.97 billion vs. $5.82 billion expectedBlock posted $2.09 billion in gross profit, up 22% from a year ago. Analysts tend to focus on gross profit as a more accurate measurement of the company's core transactional businesses. The Cash App business, which is the company's popular mobile payment platform, reported $1.26 billion in gross profit, a 25% year-over-year jump. Bitcoin, said bitcoin will ultimately help Block "serve more people around the world faster." He added that going forward, Block will be investing 10% of its gross profit from bitcoin products into purchases of bitcoin for investment.

Persons: Block, Jack Dorsey, Afterpay, Dorsey, Amrita Ahuja, Bitcoin, bitcoin Organizations: Twitter, CNBC

☆ A judge has ordered the owners of get-rich-on-Amazon startup Wealth Assistants to have their assets frozen
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Clients paid upfront fees ranging from $35,000 to more than $100,000 to have their stores run by Wealth Assistants. AdvertisementThe complaint also alleges that Carroll — who was Wealth Assistants' founder and CEO — and the Days violated securities laws because the business opportunity they sold through Wealth Assistants could be considered unregistered securities. Related stories"Plaintiffs' evidence shows that each of the Individual Defendants made intentional misrepresentations in connection with Wealth Assistants' services," the order reads. It follows another lawsuit that was brought against Wealth Assistants in California Superior Court in San Bernardino County in January. Wealth Assistants claimed that the digital bank froze its accounts without warning or explanation in October and is still withholding its funds.

Persons: —, — Ryan Carroll, Max K, Michael Day —, Max O, Carroll —, Judge Wesley Hsu, Carroll, Nico Banks Organizations: Service, Court, Central, Central District of, Wealth, Business, Washington, Banks Law Office, Bank Locations: Central District, Central District of California, DC, California, San Bernardino County, Tennessee, mstone@insider.com

☆ Apple's falling iPhone sales don't bother Wall Street so long as margins, buybacks are increasing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Instead of glaring too much at iPhone revenue, Wall Street chose to focus on the positive. Apple said iPhone sales suffered from a difficult comparison to last year, when sales were elevated after previous shortages. Annual iPhone revenue peaked in Apple's fiscal 2022. While Apple provided some guidance for total revenue, it avoided offering any sort of forecast for iPhone sales. "For the last couple of years we were doing $90 billion and now we're doing $110 billion," Maestri said on the call.

Persons: Tim Cook, Gene Munster, Munster, CNBC's, Apple, Luca Maestri, that's, Dow, Maestri, let's Organizations: Apple, Fifth, Wall, Wall Street, Android, Microsoft, Dow Jones Locations: New York City, There's

☆ John Eastman: Judge denies ex-Trump election lawyer’s request to reactivate law license while he fights disbarment
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Mary Kay Mallonee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —An attorney discipline judge in California has rejected a request from ex-Trump election lawyer John Eastman to reactivate his law license following her recent recommendation that he be disbarred, which rendered him unable to practice law for now. Judge Yvette Roland, who oversees state bar proceedings in California, recommended in March that Eastman be disbarred for his election subversion efforts. The California Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to endorse or reject Roland’s recommendation to disbar Eastman. “Eastman failed to uphold his primary duty of honesty and breached his ethical obligations by presenting falsehoods to bolster his legal arguments,” Roland wrote in her opinion recommending he be disbarred. He also was indicted last month in Arizona in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 election, along with more than a dozen other Trump allies, including Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani.

Persons: John Eastman, Eastman, Mike Pence, Yvette Roland, disbar Eastman, Roland’s, Donald Trump’s, “ Eastman, ” Roland, ”, Roland, disbarment, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “, Michael R, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani Organizations: CNN, California Supreme, ” Politico, Trump Locations: California, Georgia, Arizona

☆ Apple's China sales in focus ahead of earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In February, Apple said it expected sales similar to last year's $94.84 billion during the same period and flat iPhone sales. In the December quarter, sales dropped 13% in Greater China, which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $15.25 billion in China regional sales, which would be a 14% year-over-year decline. "In strong iPhone cycles, Apple's China revenues typically grow much faster than Apple overall, as Chinese consumers embrace the new phone," Sacconaghi wrote. Meanwhile, state statistics show iPhone sales falling 33% in February, the second consecutive month of declining shipments.

Persons: Tim Cook, Deirdre O'Brien, Apple, AAPL, Bernstein, Toni Sacconaghi, Sacconaghi, David Vogt, Aaron Rakers, There's, Morgan Stanley, Erik Woodring, Woodring Organizations: Apple, Analysts, FactSet, Huawei, Chinese Communist Party, Counterpoint Research, UBS Locations: China, Greater China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, repurchases

☆ We're raising our price target on Apple after its big earnings beat and raise
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Earnings per share rose 1% to $1.53, a March quarter record, and exceeded the LSEG consensus estimate of $1.50. This resulted in stronger-than-expected free cash flow, which is more important than operating cash flow because it is cash Apple can ultimately return to shareholders via buybacks and dividends. During the reported quarter, Apple paid over $27 billion to shareholders, including $3.7 billion in dividends and equivalents and another $23.5 billion via the repurchase of 130 million shares. Quarterly results Apple's services sales notched another record, which offset a slight miss in product sales and led to beats on gross and operating income. iPad sales are expected to gain double digits year over year, much better than the 5.9% expected on Wall Street.

Persons: Tim Cook, Cook, we're, Apple, Luca Maestri, Maestri, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Apple, Management, MacBook, MacBook Air, Apple Watch, Fortune, Apple Vision, KLM Airlines, CNBC, Apple Inc, Visual China, Getty Locations: China, Greater China, America, East, Canada, India, Spain, Turkey, Indonesia, WWDC, U.S, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Shanghai

☆ Estee Lauder is punished for its light guidance. Here's why we are not joining the sellers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Estee Lauder tumbled Wednesday as investors focused on the company's weak fiscal fourth-quarter outlook instead of its strong third-quarter numbers. Estee Lauder Why we own it: We see profitability improving as management executes on its turnaround plan and works to improve gross margin performance. These are signs the worst should be behind Estee Lauder. While full-year adjusted earnings are still expected to decline on an annual basis, Estee Lauder encouragingly bumped up its outlook. An Estee Lauder pop-up store is seen inside daimaru Department Store on Nanjing Road Pedestrian street in Shanghai, China, August 6, 2021.

Persons: Estee Lauder, Fabrizio Freda, Freda, Estee Lauder encouragingly, we're, That's, Estee, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Revenue, LSEG, L'Oreal, Chanel, Body, Street, Management, Wall, Japan, CNBC, daimaru, Getty Locations: LVMH, —, Asia, North America, Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Mainland China, Nanjing, Shanghai

☆ Carvana shares spike 30% as used car retailer posts record first quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Vehicles are seen on display at a Carvana dealership in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 20, 2023. Shares of Carvana popped more than 30% during after-hours trading Wednesday after the automaker reported record quarterly results and turned a profit during the first quarter. It also posted an all-time-best adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $235 million, up from a $24 million loss a year earlier. Carvana's adjusted profit margin for the quarter was 7.7%. They had climbed roughly 67% so far this year before the company reported its first-quarter results.

Persons: Carvana, Ernie Garcia III, Garcia, Mark Jenkins Organizations: Wednesday Locations: Austin , Texas

☆ Once-hot AI play Super Micro is getting crushed, but most analysts are staying bullish
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Super Micro Computer shares are selling off at the moment, but major Wall Street firms are hopeful about the company's long-term prospects. Super Micro, one of the vendors that builds Nvidia-based servers, released quarterly results on Tuesday after market close. Super Micro also bumped up its fiscal 2024 revenue guidance above its previously estimated range and what analysts are expecting. But a revenue miss dragged shares of Super Micro 16% lower on Wednesday. On the other hand, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo maintained their neutral-equivalent ratings for shares of Super Micro.

Persons: LSEG, Samik, Chatterjee, Ruplu Bhattacharya, George Wang, Wang, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Wells, SMCI, Michael Ng, Ng Organizations: Micro Computer, Nvidia, Super, JPMorgan, Barclays, Bank of America, DELL Locations: CY25, East, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Japan, Korea, Malaysia

☆ 'Tough near-term setup': Here's what Wall Street expects from Apple's 2nd-quarter earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Investors are focused on Apple's iPhone sales in China as competition ramps up. Here's what Wall Street expects from Apple's upcoming earnings report. Here are the quarterly figures Wall Street expects, according to data from Bloomberg. Here's what Wall Street analysts are saying about Apple's upcoming earnings report. The firm said Wall Street estimates on Apple are too high, with analysts underestimating the ongoing weakness in China.

Persons: —, Wells, Wells Fargo, shouldn't, Goldman Sachs, underwhelming Organizations: Apple, Investors, Service, Bloomberg, Revenue, Huawei, Barclays, Better, JPMorgan Locations: China, Wells Fargo, Wells, C1Q, Apple's

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla, 3M, Pinterest, AMD, Meta and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Barclays reiterates Advanced Micro Devices as overweight Barclays said the chipmaker is "best positioned" following earnings on Tuesday. JPMorgan reiterates Apple as overweight JPMorgan said it sees an attractive entry point ahead of Apple earnings on Thursday afternoon. JPMorgan upgrades Fifth Third to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said it sees earnings upside for the regional bank. JPMorgan upgrades 3M to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said shares of the company are compelling at current levels. Bank of America reiterates Pinterest as buy Bank of America said it sees "multiple tailwinds to aid growth & margins" following earnings on Tuesday.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Tesla, JPMorgan, Wedbush, TD Cowen downgrades Skyworks, Cowen, Pinterest, Goldman Sachs, Goldman Organizations: Bank of America, Amazon, Barclays, AMD, JPMorgan, Apple, Nvidia, Seagate, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Starbucks, Deutsche, Logitech, Meta Locations: China, 3QFY24, Pinner, SiriusXM

☆ Federal Reserve interest rate verdict: Central bankers meet to decide on next move
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —The Federal Reserve is expected to announce Wednesday that it is keeping interest rates at a quarter-century high for the sixth-straight meeting. Other Fed officials have already introduced the possibility of a rate hike, in addition to the chance of no rate cuts this year. Williams later said that another rate hike is possible if economic data warrants it. That combination eerily resembled stagflation, which triggered a broad stocks selloff on Wall Street Thursday. The threshold for a rate hike is ‘extremely high’Another interest rate hike is back in the conversation, but at the moment, it’s still not likely the Fed will do that.

Persons: Jerome Powell, ” Powell, Powell, John Williams, Williams, Neel Kashkari, Austan Goolsbee, “, can’t, it’s, Goldman Sachs, Wall, ” Oren Klachkin Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, Index, New York Fed, Bloomberg, Minneapolis, Chicago Fed, Commerce Department, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Nationwide, CNN Locations: New, Chicago, Wells Fargo

☆ Two Men Are Charged Over the Felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jenny Gross | More About Jenny Gross | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two men in their 30s were charged on Tuesday in connection with the chopping down last year of the 200-year-old Sycamore Gap tree, which stood in a dip along Hadrian’s Wall in northern England. The beloved sycamore’s mysterious felling, which took place on a stormy September night, led to an outpouring of sorrow, anger and confusion at the senselessness of the act: Why would anyone cut down one of Britain’s most iconic trees? Two men, Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, from Cumbria, England, were charged with damaging both the tree and part of Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to the local Northumbria Police. Hadrian’s Wall, about 100 miles southeast of Edinburgh and near England’s border with Scotland, was built by the Roman Army after the emperor Hadrian’s visit to Britain in A.D. 122. “We recognize the strength of feeling in the local community and further afield the felling has caused, however we would remind people to avoid speculation, including online, which could impact the ongoing case,” Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney, the senior office on the case, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Persons: Daniel Graham, Adam Carruthers, Hadrian’s, “, Rebecca Fenney Organizations: UNESCO, Heritage, Northumbria Police, Roman Army Locations: England, Cumbria, Northumbria, Edinburgh, England’s, Scotland, Britain

☆ Darren Criss says he’s ‘culturally queer’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The “Glee,” star Darren Criss, who played the queer character Blaine on the show, was a favorite of LGBTQ+ audiences, although in real life Criss identities as a straight, cisgender man. Criss was at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo over the weekend, where he was asked about his “Glee” character being in a gay relationship on the show. But to contextualize it, a gay relationship on mainstream Fox, that’s a pretty cool thing to be a part of,” he said. Not because I’m trying — you know, actually, I was gonna say not because I’m trying to be cool but I’m gonna erase that, because I am trying to be cool. “And I’d say that’s a gross generalization, that’s a lot of things and a lot of people.

Persons: Darren Criss, Blaine, Criss, Glee, that’s, ”, PFLAG, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Chicago Comic, Entertainment, Fox Locations: San Francisco

☆ European markets head for lackluster open ahead of euro zone inflation, GDP data
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European markets are heading for a lackluster open Tuesday ahead of a busy day of earnings and major data releases in the region. Preliminary euro zone inflation data for April and first-quarter gross domestic product figures for the single currency area are due Tuesday, while earnings come from AF-KLM, Stellantis, Capgemini, Mercedes, VW, Lufthansa, Santander, Caixabank, OMV, HSBC, Glencore and Whitbread, among others. Overnight, Asia-Pacific markets largely rose on Tuesday, tracking Wall Street moves, with investors awaiting China manufacturing purchasing managers' index for April. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures were little changed Monday night after a positive start to the week, as investors brace for megacap earnings, the latest Federal Reserve interest rate decision on Wednesday, and a jobs report. The central bank is broadly anticipated to keep interest rates steady, but traders will be looking to see if Fed Chair Jerome Powell's post-meeting comments are more hawkish after the recent spate of hotter inflation reports.

Persons: Jerome Powell's Organizations: AF, KLM, Stellantis, VW, Lufthansa, HSBC, Glencore, Whitbread Locations: Santander, Caixabank, OMV, Asia, Pacific, China

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