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☆ Opinion | Why the Trump Trade Agenda Endures
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Farah Stockman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

They met in the 1990s, at an event about the North American Free Trade Agreement, where they were the only people arguing against it. He was a conservative trade lawyer who filed anti-dumping cases on behalf of American steel companies and predicted that the treaty would hurt American jobs. Her worry was that NAFTA’s rules would hurt working people and override U.S. legal standards on food safety and the environment. She hailed from Wausau, Wis., where her family had run a scrapyard. After that first meeting, they kept in touch, swapping notes on how to throw sand in the gears of a free trade machine that seemed unstoppable.

Persons: Bob Lighthizer, Donald Trump’s, Lori Wallach Organizations: North American Free Trade, American Economic Liberties Locations: Wausau, Wis, Ashtabula , Ohio, Donald Trump’s U.S

Here's what you need to know:WHAT ARE CARBON OFFSETS? Supporters of carbon offsets see them as key means to help meet these goals. At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, negotiators reached a breakthrough agreement to regulate trading of carbon credits, in schemes first envisioned in Article 6 of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Separate from the offsets trading envisioned under the Paris Agreement, there are two existing types of carbon markets – compliance and voluntary. It is not yet clear how various existing carbon markets might play into the U.N.-run trading scheme, which also would depend on national laws.

Persons: Chris Pryor, Elizabeth Frantz, WHAT'S, Marco Berg, Gilles Dufrasne, IETA, Jake Spring, Kate Abnett, Susanna Twidale, Katy Daigle, Josie Kao Organizations: New England Forestry Foundation, REUTERS, KliK Foundation, BE, Carbon Market Watch, Compliance, European Union, London Stock Exchange Group, Thomson Locations: New, Hersey, New Hampton , New Hampshire, U.S, Glasgow, Paris, U.S ., California

☆ US reduces beef exports as cattle herd shrinks, squeezing Tyson Foods
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Tom Polansek | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The decline in cattle numbers, after years of drought fried pasture lands used for grazing, led to soaring U.S. beef prices. Higher prices incentivize companies to import cheaper beef and discourage U.S. beef purchases by buyers like China, Japan and Egypt. For Tyson, the loss of U.S. export business compounds margin pressure from higher cattle prices, Goldman Sachs analysts said. U.S. beef exports typically command higher margins than domestic shipments, they said. The USDA on Thursday raised its forecasts for beef imports in 2023 and 2024 in a monthly report.

Persons: Amira Karaoud, world's, Tyson, Cargill, Pete Bonds, Bonds, Goldman Sachs, Donnie King, Katelyn McCullock, McCullock, Derrell, Tom Polansek, Rod Nickel Organizations: Corydon , Indiana U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Tyson, U.S . Department of Agriculture, USDA, U.S ., U.S, Marketing, Center, Oklahoma State University, Thomson Locations: Corydon , Indiana, United States, China, Japan, Egypt, Texas, U.S, Tyson's, Florida, South Carolina, Australia, New Zealand, Paraguay, Paraguayan, Mexico

Bottom line: Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab are two of the best robo-advisors for retirement savings, goal-building, and low-cost trading. Fidelity vs. Charles Schwab: The Biggest DifferencesFidelity and Charles Schwab are featured in a number of our guides, including the best brokerages for beginners. Fidelity Investments reviewAutomated Investing With FidelityFidelity offers two different automated accounts: Fidelity Go and Fidelity Personalized Planning & Advice. Charles Schwab Brokerage Account reviewAutomated Investing With Charles SchwabLike Fidelity, Charles Schwab's automated accounts — Schwab Intelligent Portfolios and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium — also include an automated-only account and an automated-plus-advice option. Fidelity vs. Charles Schwab — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Is Fidelity better than Charles Schwab?

Persons: Morningstar, Charles Schwab, Schwab, Charles Schwab's, It's, Fidelity's, you'll, Charles Schwab Charles Schwab, Roth, IRAs, Charles, Charles Schwab —, you've Organizations: Fidelity Investments, Fidelity, Business Daily, screeners, Fidelity Fidelity Investments, Fidelity Fidelity, Fidelity Go, Schwab, Better Business Bureau, & $ Locations: cryptocurrencies, Chevron

This will be a basis for protecting our forest," Dasai said. But countries only agreed to a carbon trading rulebook in United Nations climate talks in December 2021, with trading yet to begin. Suriname's forest credits are generated using a baseline it registers with the United Nations stating how much carbon stock its forest contains. If the country protects its forest so the carbon stock rises, every additional metric ton of carbon dioxide absorbed can be packaged as one carbon credit. Dasai said he hopes other rainforest nations can follow their lead in selling ITMO carbon credits to unlock the necessary financing.

Persons: Marciano Dasai, Dasai, Jake Spring, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Spatial, REUTERS, SAO PAULO, Suriname's, Reuters, Paris, Nations, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Paramaribo, Paris, Suriname, Nations

BANGKOK (AP) — Share prices were mixed on Monday after the Israeli government declared war following deadly attacks by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. U.S. futures were lower and oil prices gained more than $3 a barrel. Conflict in the Middle East often raises the specter of higher oil prices given the risk of disruptions to supplies. Wall Street hates high interest rates because they knock down prices for all kinds of investments. It means the economy is still doing well despite high rates, which could support corporate profits.

Persons: ” Stephen Innes, Brent, India's Sensex, SET, Lloyd Austin, GM, JPMorgan Chase Organizations: Management, New York Mercantile Exchange, Shanghai, U.S . Defense, Ford, Wall Street, Federal Reserve, Dow, Nasdaq, Treasury, Fed, Workers, General Motors, United Auto Workers, Detroit’s, Delta Air Lines, JPMorgan, UnitedHealth Group Locations: BANGKOK, Gaza, Tokyo, Australia, Hong, Palestinian, Israel

BANGKOK (AP) — Crude oil prices surged and share prices were mostly lower on Monday after the Israeli government declared war following deadly attacks by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. Oil prices fell back slightly after gaining more than $3 a barrel. Conflict in the Middle East often pushes oil prices higher given the risk of disruptions to supplies. Wall Street hates high interest rates because they hurt prices for all kinds of investments. It means the economy is still doing well despite high rates, which could support corporate profits.

Persons: ” Stephen Innes, Brent, Germany's DAX, Australia's, India's Sensex, Lloyd Austin, GM, JPMorgan Chase, Jon Gambrell Organizations: Management, New York Mercantile Exchange, Israel’s, Bank, U.S ., CAC, Dow, U.S . Defense, Ford, Wall Street, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, Fed, General Motors, United Auto Workers, Detroit’s, Delta Air Lines, JPMorgan, UnitedHealth Group Locations: BANGKOK, Gaza, Tel, Paris, London, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, Palestinian, Israel, Jerusalem

A sign is pictured in front of the Vitol Group trading commodities building in Geneva October 4, 2011. The two Pemex documents are also not public. As part of the settlement, Vitol also dropped a lawsuit against PMI Comercio Internacional, Pemex's international trading arm, for $1.21 million for alleged damages to a refinery in Cressier, Switzerland. Meanwhile, legal proceedings tied to the graft scandal continue in Mexico but also the U.S., where a former employee is on trial, and Ecuador. The graft scandal Vitol acknowledged dates back to Lopez Obrador's predecessors.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Pemex, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Vitol, Lopez, Adriana Barrera, Stefanie Eschenbacher, Ana Isabel Martinez, Stephen Eisenhammer, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Vitol, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Reuters, U.S . Department of Justice, PMI Comercio Internacional, Mexican, Thomson Locations: Geneva, MEXICO, Swiss, Brazil, Ecuador, Vitol, Mexican, U.S, Cressier, Switzerland, Veracruz, Mexico

Expectations of resilient coal demand in China, the world's largest consumer and importer of the fuel, could delay a peak in global coal use, envisaged under climate goals, as miners supply coal for longer at competitive prices, traders say. Six Chinese traders Reuters spoke to said they expected harsh weather to drive overall imports higher in the last quarter of 2023. So I think Chinese demand growth is going to steady at where it is," a seventh trader from a large international trading firm said. It was the first global conference for many Chinese traders whose overseas travel was restricted due to strict Covid restrictions. Echeverri said a fall in average calorific value - an indicator of quality - of domestically mined coal was also contributing to the higher imports.

Persons: Rodrigo Echeverri, Ramli Ahmad, Ombilin Energi, Ahmad, Echeverri, Sudarshan, Ros Russell Organizations: Traders, Indonesia, Noble Research, Thomson Locations: NUSA DUA, Indonesia, China, Bali's Nusa Dua

Shares in Asia were mostly lower on Monday, with Tokyo the only major regional market to advance, after Wall Street wheezed to more losses with its worst week in six months. Worries over China’s property sector, a U.S. government shutdown and the continued strike by American autoworkers were weighing on investor sentiment. The retreat has deepened with Wall Street’s growing understanding that interest rates likely won’t come down much anytime soon. Pressure has built on Wall Street as yields in the bond market climbed to their highest levels in more than a decade. The Nasdaq composite, which is full of tech and other high-growth stocks, slumped 3.6% for its worst week since March.

Persons: Hang Seng, Australia's, They’d, Shawn Fain, Ford, It’s, Brent Organizations: American, China Evergrande, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, U.S, Motors, United Auto Workers, Auto, Treasury, that’s, Nvidia, Microsoft’s, Activision, Microsoft, New York Mercantile Exchange Locations: Asia, Tokyo, U.S, China, Shanghai, Seoul, American

Asian shares were mixed on Friday after another slump on Wall Street driven by expectations that U.S. interest rates will stay high well into next year. Political Cartoons View All 1173 ImagesTokyo's Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% to 32,501.59. Why chance their big swings when Treasurys are paying higher interest. That in turn could give the Fed more reason to keep rates higher for longer. Manufacturing and the housing industry have felt the sting of higher interest rates in particular and have struggled more than the broad job market.

Persons: Hang Seng, Sensex, Australia's, Telsa, Splunk Organizations: Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, Fed, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Big Tech, Nvidia, Cisco Systems, Cisco, Wall Street, FedEx, Treasury, Manufacturing, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, Hong, Wall, U.S

Asian shares are lower, tracking a slump on Wall Street after the Federal Reserve said it may not cut interest rates next year by as much as it earlier thought. U.S. stocks slumped Wednesday after the Federal Reserve said it may not cut interest rates next year by as much as it earlier thought, regardless of how much Wall Street wants it. The Fed held its main interest rate steady at its highest level in more than two decades, as was expected. Wednesday on Wall Street, the S&P 500 fell 0.9% to 4,402.20. Shares of Klaviyo, which helps advertisers market over email and text messaging, rose 9.2% in their first day of trading.

Persons: Jerome Powell, it’s, ” Anderson Alves, ActivTrades, Hang Seng, Australia's, Grant Robertson, Fonterra, Powell, ” Powell, Instacart, Brent, Nick Perry Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, Nikkei, Toshiba Corp, Statistics New, Finance, Zealand, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Treasury, Big Tech, Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Arm Holdings, New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S Locations: U.S, Shanghai, Seoul, Statistics New Zealand, China, Wellington , New Zealand

Shares fell Monday in Asia, with Hong Kong's benchmark pulled lower by property stocks following reports that police had detained staff at the wealth management business of troubled real estate developer China Evergrande. U.S. futures edged higher and oil prices advanced. Political Cartoons View All 1163 ImagesEvergrande's Hong Kong traded shares were up 1.6% after plunging early in the session. The market had posted some gains last week following reports of several healthy economic indicators ahead of the Federal Reserve's two-day meeting, which ends Wednesday. Oil prices have been climbing over the summer after Saudi Arabia decided to maintain production cuts.

Persons: Australia's, Brent Organizations: Hong Kong, Dow, Nasdaq, Federal, U.S, United Auto Workers, Ford, Motors, Stellantis, Milan Stock Exchange, Traders, New York Mercantile Exchange Locations: Asia, China, ., Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hong, Seoul, Italy, Saudi Arabia

That’s discouraging for shoppers paying higher prices, but much of the acceleration was because of higher fuel costs. The inflation report was so highly anticipated because it will help steer what the Federal Reserve does next on interest rates. Even though economists are willing to ignore fuel costs when looking at inflation to find the underlying trends, households and companies don’t get the same luxury. American Airlines cut its forecast for profits during the summer because fuel costs are running higher than it expected. Spirit Airlines said it’s also paying higher fuel costs this summer than expected, roughly $3.06 per gallon instead of the $2.80 it had earlier forecast.

Persons: don’t, it’s, It’s, Brent Organizations: Federal Reserve, Nikkei, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Fed, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Microsoft, Nvidia, Moderna, New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S Locations: Asia, Seoul, Hong, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Australia, U.S

Stock prices were mostly higher in Asia on Monday as investors awaited an update on U.S. inflation and China’s latest economic data. The futures for the S&P 500 and Dow were trading higher. That could lead the Federal Reserve and other central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer, which would hurt prices for shares and other investments. On Friday, stocks edged higher on Wall Street, but markets still ended their first losing week in the last three. High interest rates are supposed to slow the economy and hurt the job market, which should ultimately help undercut inflation.

Persons: Zichun Huang, Hong, Hang Seng, Australia's, Kroger, ” Stephen Innes, Brent, Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Dow, Federal Reserve, Economics, Nikkei, U.S, Labor, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Albertsons, Treasury, Management, New York Mercantile Exchange, Bank of Japan Gov Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, China

Shares fell Friday in Asia after Japan reported its economy grew less than earlier estimated in the last quarter. Much of that growth was driven by exports, which rose nearly 13%, while private consumption fell 2.2% on weak investment spending. On Thursday, Wall Street slipped in mixed trading Thursday as the threat of high interest rates continued to dog Big Tech stocks. The Nasdaq composite was hit particularly hard by the drop for tech stocks, sinking 0.9% to 13,748.83. Yields remained high after a report on Thursday said fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week than expected.

Persons: Stocks, Brent Organizations: Nikkei, Hong, Big Tech, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Federal Reserve, Fed, Apple, Nvidia, New York Mercantile Exchange Locations: Asia, Japan, Seoul, Shanghai

Shares slipped Thursday in Asia as China reported weaker global demand hit its trade in August, adding to pressures on its economy. Investors have been hoping that the Fed might moderate interest rate increases going forward as inflation has been easing for months. Wall Street expects the Fed to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at its next meeting later in September. Economic updates last week on consumer confidence, jobs and inflation reinforced those hopes. Wall Street will get several more economic updates on inflation and retail sales later in September ahead of the Fed’s next meeting.

Persons: Australia's, Stephen Innes, “, Brent Organizations: Nikkei, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Apple, Nvidia, Fed, Institute, Supply, Management, Treasury, Federal, Investors, New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S Locations: Asia, China, Seoul

Crude oil prices pushed higher, adding to inflationary pressures at a time when investors are hoping to see central banks back away from interest rate hikes. Energy stocks rose along with crude oil prices after Saudi Arabia and Russia said they will extend their voluntary production cut of 1 million barrels of oil a day through the end of the year. Much of the information fueled hopes that the Fed might moderate interest rate increases to fight inflation, which has been easing for months. Wall Street expects the Fed to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at its next meeting later in September, just as it did at its previous meeting. The central bank has raised its main interest rate aggressively since 2022 to the highest level since 2001.

Persons: ” Stephen Innes, Russell, Cintas, Brent, Kroger, Alex Veiga, Damian J, Troise Organizations: Japan’s Nikkei, Management, Labor, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, Merck, Co, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Energy, Chevron, New York Mercantile Exchange, Institute for Supply Management, GameStop, Dave, AP Business Locations: Asia, U.S, Seoul, Australia, Shanghai, Saudi Arabia, Russia

☆ Domino effect: India rice export ban puts market on edge for copycat curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Rajendra Jadhav | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

New Delhi had already restricted lower quality broken rice supplies in 2022. In 2008, rice prices reached a record high above $1,000 per ton after India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Egypt, Brazil and other small producers restricted exports. CHAIN REACTIONGlobal prices have risen by around 20% since India's ban. This week, rice prices in Thailand and Vietnam soared to 15-year highs as buyers rushed to cover shipments to compensate for the decline in India's exports. Rao said only Indian supplies can restore equilibrium in the global rice market.

Persons: Nitin Gupta, Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Rice, B.V, Krishna Rao, Rao, Peter Clubb, Rajendra Jadhav, Naveen Thukral, Khanh Vu, Panarat, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Olam Agri, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, of Industry, Trade, Rice, Association of Pakistan, Association of India, International Grains Council, Thomson Locations: Kolkata, India, MUMBAI, New Delhi, Thailand, Vietnam, Delhi, Asia, Africa, Olam Agri India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Brazil, Pakistan, Philippines, China, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa, Malaysia, Cote d'Ivoire, El, London, Singapore, Hanoi, Bangkok

The unpaid invoices originated with dozens of little-known companies acting as middlemen for Venezuela's oil exports since U.S. sanctions in 2020 halted deals with international trading firms and customers. Venezuela's Attorney General's office in October began a probe after oil tankers absconded without full payment to PDVSA. Venezuela's oil ministry and PDVSA did not reply to a request for comment. Maroil boosted Venezuela's petcoke exports following a commercial pact with PDVSA in 2016. In Venezuela, two heavy oil upgrading facilities controlled by PDVSA, Petro San Felix and Petrocedeno, produce and store petcoke.

☆ From 'completely broke' to anchoring CNBC's 'Last Call': Brian Sullivan knows the 'ups and downs' of money
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Rather, it comes from a lifelong drive for knowledge, stemming from a childhood where money was a huge issue for him and his family. "We moved from California to Virginia when I was starting high school for money reasons, which was: We didn't have any," Sullivan tells CNBC Make It. "My dad lost his job, and we were starting over — I mean completely broke, stuff in our car, driving across the country." "[There were times when] we had a little money and we didn't have any money. And we had a little money [again], then we didn't have any money at all.

☆ Exclusive: State-backed Chinese fund buys stake in energy trader Mercuria
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - A subsidiary of China's CNIC Corp has bought a minority stake in Swiss-based global energy trader Mercuria, sources familiar with the matter said. China's top oil producer CNOOC was in 2022 preparing to sell its stakes in assets in Britain, Canada and the United States. The CNIC subsidiary bought the stake of just under 5% in Mercuria last year, the sources said. The unit that bought into Mercuria is focused on China's energy transition and provides a foothold for Mercuria in the country as the Geneva-based trader seeks to expand its presence in clean energy sources. Founded in 2004, Mercuria is among the top five global oil traders, moving around two million barrels per day of crude oil and refined products.

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The additional demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and tighter supplies of piped gas placed enormous strain on the global market, spurring an energy crisis that pushed gas prices to historic highs. Newcastle coal futures have soared almost 140% in 2022, the biggest jump since 2008. U.S. gas futures jumped by more than 20% and Dutch wholesale gas prices rose by almost 8%, both rising for a third consecutive year. Power-generation fuels - coal, natural gas and gasoil - outperform other energy products in 2022 following cut in Russian energy supplies to EuropeBecause Europe will continue to import LNG to rebuild gas inventories next year after winter, gas prices are expected to remain elevated as limited new supplies come onstream. However, a European cap on gas prices starting in February could keep a lid on the market and reduce the volatility seen this year.

Industrial metals, iron ore and rubber are on track to finish in negative territory, pushed down in 2022 by China's strict zero-COVID policy and fears of a world recession. The additional demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid tighter supplies of piped gas placed enormous strain on the global market, spurring an energy crisis that pushed gas prices to historic highs. U.S. gas futures and Dutch wholesale gas prices have jumped by more than 20%, rising for a third consecutive year. Power-generation fuels - coal, natural gas and gasoil - outperform other energy products in 2022 following cut in Russian energy supplies to EuropeBecause Europe will continue importing LNG to rebuild gas inventories next year after winter, gas prices are expected to remain elevated amid limited new supplies coming on-stream. However, a European cap on gas prices starting in February could help keep a lid on the market and reduce the volatility seen this year.

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