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☆ Robert Downey Jr. disagreed with Chris Hemsworth that he was 'replaceable' as Thor, said he has 'most complex psyche out of all us Avengers'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Robert Downey Jr. disagreed with Chris Hemsworth, who said he was "replaceable" as Thor. AdvertisementRobert Downey Jr. disagreed with Chris Hemsworth after the "Thor" star said he was "replaceable" in the "Avengers" movies. "Hemsworth is, in my opinion, the most complex psyche out of all us Avengers. He's got wit and gravitas, but also such restraint, fire, and gentleness," Downey Jr. continued, before describing Hemsworth's work in "Thor: Ragnarok," "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Avengers: Endgame" as a "formidable hat trick." Downey Jr. and Chris Evans both left after "Endgame," and Scarlett Johansson exited following 2021's "Black Widow."

Persons: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Thor, Hemsworth, —, You've, Downey, Kenneth Branagh, Ken Branagh, He's, Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Anthony Hopkins, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Marvel Organizations: Service, Marvel, Fair, Marvel Studios

One of the architects of that plan for a Trump second term said as much in a video last year for the Heritage Foundation. Reissuing Schedule F is part of a roadmap, known as Project 2025, drafted for a second Trump term by scores of conservative groups and published by the Heritage Foundation. The new rules would not fully block reclassifying workers in a second Trump term. Greene said she worries for federal workers who might face the same choice in a second Trump term. The project includes a personnel database for potential hires in a second Trump administration.

Persons: Donald Trump, it’s, —, Trump, Joe Biden, Donald Moynihan, Georgetown University's, ” Donald Moynihan, ” Moynihan, “ It’s, ”, Russell Vought, “, you’re, Doreen Greenwald, Moynihan, Kenneth Baer, Barack Obama, ” Kenneth Baer, Peter Orszag, Pete Souza, Robert Shea, Eva Shea, George W, Bush, Laura Bush, Tina Hager, ” Biden, Baer, George Frey, ” Trump, Max Stier, Verna Daniels, ” Daniels, Catherine Greene, ” Greene, Tom Bewick, NIFA, ” Bewick, we’ll, Greene, Biden, “ We’ve, He’s, Hillary Clinton, he’d, James Comey, Bill Barr, Barr, Jeffrey Clark, Clark, Mark Meadows, Stephen Miller, Peter Navarro, he’ll Organizations: CNN, United, Republican, Democratic, Trump, ”, Georgetown, Georgetown University's McCourt School, Public, Georgetown University, Heritage Foundation, Management, Budget, of Justice, FBI, Environmental Protection Agency, Vought, National Treasury Employees Union, OMB, White, Personnel Management, Land Management, Department of Agriculture, Kansas City, Partnership for Public Service, Government, Office, GAO, Economic Research Service, National Institute of Food, Agriculture, USDA, National Institute for Food, NIFA, Applied Economics Association, BLM, Getty, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Univision, Justice, Department, U.S . Justice, Center, Washington Post, National Security and Intelligence, of Homeland Security, of Education and Commerce, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission Locations: United States, Washington, Georgetown, , Colorado, DC, Kansas, Colorado, Virginia, America, Grand Junction, Washington ,, New York City, New York, Georgia

☆ Armie Hammer is still laying low after his fall from grace. Here's what we know about his life today.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Hammer has remained out of the spotlight since his 2021 fall from grace. Effie later accused Hammer in a press conference of raping her, and other women also came forward with allegations about Hammer, Air Mail reported. Chris Pizzello/APThat same month, Hammer and Chambers finalized their divorce, each waiving their right to a divorce trial. AdvertisementHammer has also kept his personal life private but may have briefly been engagedHammer has posted sparingly on Instagram since his fall from grace. According to People, a since-removed Instagram post appeared to show that Hammer had proposed to Gris in October 2023.

Persons: Armie Hammer's, Elizabeth Chambers, Hammer, Chambers, —, Hammer's, Effie, Prosecutors, Jennifer Lopez, William Morris, Kenneth Branagh, didn't, Armie Hammer, Chris Pizzello, Pema Chödrön, Marina Gris Organizations: Service, Air Mail, Air, Los Angeles District, Business, William, William Morris Endeavor, Variety, China Morning Post Locations: Cayman Islands, Hollywood, Gris

NEW YORK (AP) — A man convicted in the notorious drug-related killing of a rookie New York City police officer at the height of the city's crack epidemic decades ago has been denied parole, a union representing NYPD officers said Sunday. Todd Scott had been serving 25 years to life for his role in the shooting death of Officer Edward Byrne in Queens. Scott was convicted of second-degree murder and has been serving his sentence at the maximum-security state prison in Shawangunk. Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said in a statement that the union was “relieved” Scott was denied parole. The union said it also will continue to oppose the release of two others convicted in the killing.

Persons: Todd Scott, Edward Byrne, Queens . Byrnes, Scott, Howard “ Pappy ” Mason, Byrne, couldn't, Patrick Hendry, “, ” Scott, David McClary, Phillip Copeland, Scott Cobb, ” Hendry, Byrne's, Kenneth Byrne, ” “, Eddie Organizations: New York, Police, NYPD, Police Benevolent Association Locations: New York City, Queens, Shawangunk, ”

☆ Man Who Assaulted Six Officers on Jan. 6 Is Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Orlando Mayorquin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A Florida man was sentenced on Wednesday to five years in prison for assaulting at least six police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, including one officer who said that the attack had led him to retire early, the Justice Department announced. Prosecutors described the man, Kenneth Bonawitz, 58, of Pompano Beach, Fla., in court papers as “one of the most violent January 6 rioters.” He was also sentenced to 36 months of supervised release following his time in prison and fined $2,000 by Judge Jia M. Cobb of U.S. District Court in Washington, prosecutors said. Mr. Bonawitz, who was arrested in January 2023, pleaded guilty in August to three felony charges: civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding and assaulting a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, prosecutors said. Prosecutors asked the judge in a memorandum to sentence Mr. Bonawitz to the maximum prison sentence of 71 months, just shy of six years. In the memo, they included victim impact statements from two of the officers who were assaulted.

Persons: Kenneth Bonawitz, Judge Jia M, Cobb, Bonawitz Organizations: Justice Department, Prosecutors Locations: Florida, Pompano Beach, Fla, U.S, Washington

A Florida man described by prosecutors as one of the most violent rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol was sentenced on Wednesday to five years in prison, court records show. Kenneth Bonawitz, a member of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group's Miami chapter, assaulted at least six police officers as he stormed the Capitol with a mob of Donald Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb sentenced Bonawitz to a five-year term of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, according to court records. He jumped off a stage built for President Joe Biden’s inauguration and tackled two Capitol police officers. After police confiscated his knife and released him, Bonawitz assaulted four more officers in the span of seven seconds.

Persons: Kenneth Bonawitz, Donald Trump, Bonawitz, “, Sean McCauley, District Judge Jia Cobb, Joe Biden’s, Federico Ruiz, Ruiz, Enrique Tarrio, Bonawitz isn't, didn't Organizations: U.S . Capitol, Capitol, . Police, ”, U.S, District, Justice Department, Washington , D.C, Trump, West Plaza, The Associated Press, Boys, Proud Boys, Biden Locations: Florida, Miami, Pompano Beach , Florida, Washington ,

☆ A tech investor was fired after making offensive remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Shona Ghosh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Investor Kenneth Ballenegger was suspended from his firm Oyster Ventures after offensive posts on X.Ballenegger wrote on X that Israel should sterilize Gaza's population, among other remarks. AdvertisementAdvertisementVenture capitalist Kenneth Ballenegger has been suspended from the US investment firm he cofounded, Oyster Ventures, after making offensive remarks on X on the Israel-Hamas conflict. According to screenshots shared with Insider, Ballenegger wrote on Sunday: "After the war, Israel should handle Gaza like China handles Xinjiang. "Any employee's personal or political opinion does not reflect the values of Oyster Ventures or myself. The blowback over Ballenegger's comments also reflect ongoing tensions in the tech world.

Persons: Kenneth Ballenegger, Ballenegger, sterilize, —, Yashar Ali, Ballenegger's, Sophie Liao, Liao, I've, Bolt, Dealroom, Crypto, Paddy Cosgrave Organizations: Oyster Ventures, Service, Ventures, Summit Locations: Israel, Gaza, China, Xinjiang, San Francisco, Asia, Pitchbook

☆ YouTube ads aren't just for big companies — founders share 3 tips for using them to target customers and show off products
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

YouTube video ads allow businesses to target specific groups without spending a fortune. This article is part of "Marketing for Small Business," a series exploring the basics of marketing strategy for SBOs to earn new customers and grow their business. Here, two small business leaders offer tips for using YouTube ads and explain how it benefits their companies. YouTube ads can also be targeted based on location, a business' search terms, and other factors, Orzechowski said. Orzechowski said he'd seen video ads created with smartphones generate just as much, if not more, engagement than highly polished ones.

Persons: SBOs, —, Chris Orzechowski, hasn't, Orzechowski, Kenneth Burke, you'll, he'd, Burke Organizations: YouTube, Small, Service, Google Locations: New Jersey, Chattanooga , Tennessee

☆ West End Theatergoers Grumble as Prices for the Best Seats Surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Alex Marshall | More About Alex Marshall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When hundreds of playgoers lined up outside Wyndham’s Theater in London this week, the mood was excited. West End prices, Hooper said, were “out of control.”Another audience member, George Butler, 28, said that he was overjoyed to have secured two tickets for 20 pounds, or about $24, each, even if they were in the nosebleeds. “Theater is becoming very elitist,” Butler said. “The minute there’s a well known person in a play, it’s unaffordable.”London’s theater world is increasingly simmering with complaints over soaring ticket prices, and a perception that they are creeping closer to Broadway levels. Even as producers insist that a fraction of tickets must be sold at steep prices to offset cheap seats for low earners, concern is growing that a night at the theater is becoming an unaffordable luxury.

Persons: Kenneth Branagh, “ King Lear, Alan Hooper, Hooper, George Butler, ” Butler, “, it’s, ” Organizations: Wyndham’s, “, Broadway Locations: London

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it plans to expel a U.S. soldier who crossed into the country in July. Other Americans have entered North Korea over the years, including a few U.S. soldiers. Five months later, North Korea announced it was expelling Lowrance who had entered the country illegally through China. While North Korea officially guarantees freedom of religion, analysts and defectors describe the country as strictly anti-religious. In 2009, American missionary Robert Park walked into North Korea with a Bible in his hand to draw attention to North Korea’s human rights abuses.

Persons: CHARLES JENKINS, Charles Jenkins, Jenkins, Hitomi Soga, Soga, BRUCE BYRON LOWRANCE, Bruce Byron Lowrance, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, Lowrance, – Kim Dong Chul, Tony Kim, Kim Hak, —, Mike Pompeo, MATTHEW MILLER, Matthew Miller, Miller, Barack Obama, Kenneth Bae, Weeks, KENNETH BAE Bae, Bae, James, JEFFREY FOWLE, Jeffrey Fowle, Tony Hall, Robert Park, OTTO WARMBIER Otto Warmbier, Warmbier, Warmbier’s, ”, — Fred, Cindy Warmbier — Organizations: Army, North, Washington, Trump, Associated Press, of Virginia Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, North Korea, U.S, Rich Square , North Carolina, North Korean, Japan, China, North, United States, Kim, Bakersfield , California, Pyongyang’s, Pyongyang, Korean, Lynnwood , Washington, Ohio, Chongjin, New York, Washington

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham weren't enough to save “ Expend4bles ” from a debut box office flop. The Lionsgate and Millennium's film, also known as “Expendables 4,” pulled in a mediocre $8.3 million for the big-budget project. It starred several popular names, including Stallone, Statham, Curtis “50 Cent" Jackson, Megan Fox and Dolph Lundgren. It's been nearly a decade since the franchise released a film, which opened with $15.8 million and eventually grossed $214 million globally. But times have certainly changed, as the film barely placed second behind “The Nun 2," a horror movie that earned $8.4 million in its first week.

Persons: — Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham weren't, “, ”, Comscore, Stallone, Statham, Curtis “, Jackson, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren, It's, Michael Chaves, Venice ”, Kenneth Branagh’s, Agatha Christie, Denzel Washington, “ Barbie, Greta Gerwig, “ Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan Organizations: ANGELES, Lionsgate, Warner Bros, Orient Express, Sony, GameStop, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America Locations: Venice

NEW YORK (AP) — “The Nun 2” and “A Haunting in Venice” virtually tied for the No. In its second weekend of release, Warner Bros.' “The Nun 2,” a spinoff from the studio's lucrative “Conjuring” franchise, grossed $14.7 million. If numbers hold, that will give “The Nun 2” (up to $56.5 million total and $158.8 million worldwide) the top spot at the box office for the second straight week. In three weeks, its grossed $73.7 million domestically and $132.4 million worldwide. Fourth place went to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” with $4.7 million in its second weekend of release.

Persons: —, Venice ”, Hercule Poirot, ” Kenneth Branagh's, Agatha Christie, ”, Denzel Washington, “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer ”, Barbie ”, Greta Gerwig's, Comscore, “ Barbie, “, “ Oppenheimer, Jake Coyle Organizations: Warner Bros, Orient Express, Century Studios, Walt Disney Co, It's, SAG, WGA, GameStop, Twitter Locations: Venice, ”, Telluride, Toronto

☆ Opinion: Musk, McCarthy and Romney are three kinds of leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. A vain and ambitious cigar-smoking bully who wore riding breeches, a polished helmet and boots and carried ivory-handled revolvers, he led troops on successful lightning strikes through German-held territory near the end of World War II. Musk has repeatedly been criticized for enabling and boosting antisemitic content on the platform.”“Isaacson tries to square these two Musks. During Trump’s first impeachment, Romney became the first senator in US history to vote to remove a president of his own party from office. He has been willing to do what he believes to be right — consequences be damned.”The differences between Romney and Trump were many.

Persons: CNN — “ Troy, Hadrian, …, ”, George S, Patton, “, Stephen D, Clay Jones, Elon Musks, Elon, Nicole Hemmer’s, Walter Isaacson, Musk “, Musk, ” “ Isaacson, Isaacson, ” Hemmer, Walt Handelsman, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, McCarthy, Joe Biden, “ Trump, impeaching Biden, Norman Eisen, Trump, ” Eisen, Biden, James Antle III, ’, Hunter, McCarthy “, John Avlon, Dennis Aftergut, Lindsey Graham wasn’t, Michelle Lujan Grisham, she’s, Hunter Biden, Robert J, Spitzer, It’s, ” Vladimir, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Frida Ghitis, Putin, vaingloriously, Peter the Great, Sébastien Roblin, Don’t, Romney Francis Chung, AP Sen, Mitt Romney, Romney, Sen, John McCain, Trump’s, Lanhee J, Chen, Lisa Benson, Kate Bahn, ’ I’m, —, Dana Peterson, Erik Lundh, ” Dana Summers, Kunis Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Danny Masterson, Jill Filipovic, “ Kutcher, Kunis, Kutcher, Masterson, Danilo Cavalcante, Arick, Scott Stantis, Jeff Yang, Jets Phil Hands, Julian Zelizer, Aaron Rodgers ’, ” Don’t, Nick Anderson, Tess Taylor, Tommy Tuberville, Mahnaz, Roxanne Jones, Coco Gauff, Amanda Tyler, Lara Setrakian, Paul Hockenos, Don Lincoln, Sophia Nelson, Tim Scott, Kenneth Branagh, Agatha Christie’s, Hercule Poirot, Noah Berlatsky, Poirot, Branagh, Sara Stewart, Winona Ryder Organizations: CNN, US, Marine Corps, Third Army, Vostochny, Twitter, Defamation League, Agency, Caucus, Republicans, Democrats, White, North, Putin, AP, Senate, Hollywood, Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Peugeot, United Auto Workers, UAW, “, Federal Reserve, Conference Board, Ninth, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, REUTERS, Reuters, Apple, European Union, Jets, Boston Red Sox, The Chicago Cubs, The New York Jets, New York Jets, MetLife, Tribune, Studios Locations: China, Washington, New Mexico, Detroit, Russia’s, South Africa, Hunter Biden’s, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, Russia, Ukraine, ”, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Aude, Pennsylvania, Brazil, Cupertino , California, Iran, New Texas, Venice

☆ The Many Mustaches of Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Calum Marsh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“It was my ritual every night after the shoot,” Yoshihara said recently in a video interview. “Me and the mustache sit together. The mustache became like a friend.”Yoshihara takes facial hair very seriously. The first iteration of Branagh’s Poirot mustache was created for “Orient Express” by the designer Carol Hemming, with whom Yoshihara worked closely as the head of the hair and makeup departments. The colossal gray swath of hair was meant to pay tribute to Poirot’s military background and the vogue after World War I.

Persons: Kenneth Branagh, Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, Wakana Yoshihara, ” Yoshihara, “, ”, Branagh, Yoshihara, Carol Hemming Organizations: Orient Express, “ Orient Locations: Venice

☆ ‘A Haunting in Venice’ Review: Poirot Sits In on a Séance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Kyle Smith | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Kenneth Branagh as the mustachioed Belgian sleuth Photo: 20th Century Studios‘A Haunting in Venice” takes place in the aftermath of a shameful event: During a plague, children were locked down and forced to suffer in a Venetian palazzo. Cold-blooded doctors and nurses confidently proclaiming science was on their side made the policy, which resulted in killing the children. Now, many years later, restless spirits seemingly are carrying out a children’s vendetta: Doctors and nurses are dying in horrible, unexplained ways.

Persons: Kenneth Branagh, Venice ” Locations: Belgian, Venice

Just as important will be persuading people like Mr. Marohn that electric cars, renewable energy and electric heaters and stoves are practical, economical and exciting. Many, conservatives in particular, chafe at the prospect of the government forcing them to buy electric cars or ditch their natural gas appliances, polls show. By The New York TimesA clean energy future will require painstaking and individually tailored persuasion campaigns. “Even if some of them deny the science of climate change, they can’t deny good-paying jobs,” he said. “I just want to change the perception that electric cars are not as good as big, noisy muscle cars,” Mr. Lawson said.

Persons: Mikey Marohn, “, ”, Marohn, Alicia Cox, Cox, , chafe, Jesus, Ms, ” “, Jae Landreth, “ That’s, “ Nobody’s, Mr, Landreth, Phil Collins, Rob Leach, Leach, ‘, “ I’ve, Jack Conness, Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Vladimir V, Putin, Sue Burns, Burns, Marjorie Taylor Greene, William Turner, didn’t “, Jason Walsh, Walsh, Tia Williams, Ms . Granholm, ” Ms, Williams, Joe Wilson, ” “ Didn’t, Roy Cooper of, Cooper, Patrick Lawson, Ford, Lawson, Lawson’s, Susan Lawson, Cheryl, Tesla, They’re, Kent Wheeler, “ It’s, ’, Josh Hermes, Paul Rosenzweig, Rosenzweig, Mary T, Barra, ” Kenneth Boswell, Quinton Lucas, Lucas, ” Mr Organizations: Clean, Biden, General Motors, nonbelievers, Republican, Pew, The New York Times, Pew Research Center, Toyota, Clean Energy Manufacturing, Energy Innovation, Trump, Trump Biden, Savings, Yale, Pontiac, BlueGreen Alliance, Democratic, Georgia Institute of Technology, Mr, Republicans, Flex, Gov, Northern Arapaho Tribe, Tesla, Rocky Mountain Rebels, Elks, Wild West EV, Polaris, Northern Arapaho, Chevy Silverado, Mercedes, Benz, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Kansas City, Fire Department Locations: Teton, Wyoming, Yellowstone, Baldwin City, Kan, Kansas City, G.O.P, Counties, Russia, Memphis, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Murfreesboro, Tenn, Dalton, Ga, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Riverton, Jackson, Minnesota, Louisiana, Alabama, Missouri, Quinton Lucas , Kansas, Kansas

☆ US bank regulators announce sweeping proposals on capital rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators unveiled a sweeping overhaul Thursday that would direct banks to set aside billions more in capital to guard against risk. If fully implemented, the proposal would raise capital requirements for large banks by an aggregate 16% from current levels, with the brunt felt by the largest and most complex firms, regulators said. Here are key quotes about the proposal:FINANCIAL SERVICES FORUM CEO KEVIN FROMER"There is no justification for significant increases in capital at the largest U.S. ANDY DUANE, ATTORNEY AT POLUNSKY BEITEL GREEN "Raising capital requirements could see regional banks shift away from mortgage lending. Even larger bank lenders could continue to retreat from mortgage lending or impose sharp increase in fees passed along to borrowers."

Persons: KEVIN FROMER, RICK MECKLER, CHERRY, MAYRA RODRIGUEZ VALLADARES, KENNETH BENTSEN, BRIAN MOYNIHAN, ANDY DUANE, GREG BAER, Pete Schroeder, Matt Tracy, Tatiana Bautzer, Nupur Anand, Sinead Carew, Lananh Nguyen, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Regulators, NEW VERNON, NEW, MRV, AMERICA, FOX, Thomson Locations: U.S, CHERRY LANE, NEW JERSEY, Basel, United States, Washington, New York

BoJ policymakers prefer to scrutinize more data to ensure wages and inflation keep rising before changing the policy, five sources familiar with the matter said. The report added there was no consensus within the central bank and the decision could still be a close call. The dollar gained 1.24% to 141.81 yen , after earlier reaching 141.95, the highest since July 10. The greenback is on track for its best weekly percentage gain against the Japanese currency since October at 2.22%. The pound is on track for a 1.75% weekly fall, its largest since early February.

Persons: Edward Moya, Moya, Kenneth Broux, Broux, Masato Kanda, Jerome Powell, Powell, Scherrmann, Karen Brettell, Iain Withers, Angus MacSwan, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Bank of Japan, FX, Societe Generale, Ministry of Finance, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Europe, New York, United States, U.S, London

☆ Yen slides after sources say Bank of Japan leaning to holding key policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Iain Withers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BoJ policymakers prefer to scrutinise more data to ensure wages and inflation keep rising before changing the policy, five sources familiar with the matter said. The report added there was no consensus within the central bank and the decision could still be a close call. The dollar was heading for its biggest one-day gain versus the yen since April, rising as much as 1.3% to a nearly two-week high of 141.95. Prior to the report, the dollar had been up around 0.3% versus the yen. The dollar index - which tracks the greenback against six major peers including the yen - was last up 0.3% at 101.040.

Persons: Kenneth Broux, Broux, Kazuo Ueda, Masato Kanda, Scherrmann, Iain Withers, Ankur Banerjee, Angus MacSwan, David Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Bank of Japan, Trade, FX, Societe Generale, Ministry of Finance, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Europe, United States, U.S, Singapore

☆ Oppenheimer's famous quote 'I am become Death' isn't really his. The ominous words come from Hindu scripture.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

J. Robert Oppenheimer watched the first atom bomb explode and thought, "Now I am become Death." That's right," Alan Robock, a climatologist and leading expert on nuclear winter, told Insider. The mushroom cloud of the Trinity nuclear test rises over the New Mexico desert. It was the first atom bomb explosion, ever. Similarly, the new film grapples with the question of how much Oppenheimer was (or wasn't) responsible for how the US used the atom bomb, and for the people it killed.

Persons: Robert Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer, Vishnu, —, Alan Robock, Christopher Nolan's, Prince, Kenneth Bainbridge, Rev, Stephen Thompson, Gita, Leslie Groves, J, Arjuna, Lord Krishna, Krishna, Thompson Organizations: NBC, Service, Manhattan, Trinity, National Security Research, Trinity Test, Wired Locations: Wall, Silicon, New Mexico, Hiroshima, Nagasaki

☆ Wall Street on ice ahead of big tech earnings, UK shines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Naomi Rovnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Tech stocks have been boosted by exuberance about artificial intelligence as well as hopes the Federal Reserve will soon end the aggressive interest rate rises that bludgeoned valuations of more speculative businesses in 2022. Owning big tech is also the "most crowded" trade in global markets, Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett warned in a note to clients this week. This was just the latest downside surprise on prices for a major economy after more than 18 months of central banks cranking interest rates higher. Sterling lost 0.96% to trade at $1.291 as market bets that the Bank of England would raise interest rates as high as 6%, from the current 5%, faded out. London's blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) added 1.6% and the domestically focused FTSE 250 (.FTMC) rose 3.2%, on track for its best daily performance since February 2.

Persons: Sterling, Michael Hartnett, Hartnett, BofA, Stuart Kaiser, Eren Osman, Arbuthnot Latham, BoE, Samuel Tombs, Kenneth Broux, Germany's, Tom Westbrook, Bernadette Baum, Kim Coghill, Chizu Organizations: Stock, Wall, Tesla, Netflix, Nasdaq, Tech, Reserve, Bank of America, Citi, Bank of England, Macroeconomics, Sterling, . Federal, Societe Generale, Thomson Locations: London, Sydney

Headline British consumer price inflation fell to 7.9% year-on-year in June, against expectations for 8.2%, in the latest downside surprise for a major economy after more than 18 months of central banks cranking interest rates higher. The BoE now had "the green light" for a 25 basis point (bps) rate rise next month, Pantheon Macroeconomics chief UK economist Samuel Tombs said, after markets had previously priced a further 50 bps hike. "Profit taking in sterling should not be a surprise," added Kenneth Broux, head of FX and rates corporate research at Societe Generale in London. The 10-year yield, a benchmark for debt costs in the Euro-zone, fell 5 bps to 2.35% . Futures trading indicated Wall Street's S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 share indices would open steady later in the day.

Persons: Sterling, BoE, Samuel Tombs, Kenneth Broux, Germany's, Klaas, Chris Weston, Sam Holmes, Bernadette Baum Organizations: LONDON, Headline, Sterling, . Federal, Bank of England, Macroeconomics, Societe Generale, European Central Bank, ECB, Pepperstone, Nasdaq, Bank of, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, London ., disinflation, Europe, Melbourne

[1/3] Pound notes and change are seen inside a cash resgister in a coffee shop in Manchester, Britain, Septem,ber 21, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/LONDON/SINGAPORE, July 19 (Reuters) - Sterling slid on Wednesday after lower-than-expected British inflation data suggested the Bank of England might not have to raise rates quite as high as expected, while the latest dovish comments from the Bank of Japan caused the yen to soften. ,That was the British currency's lowest in a week against the dollar, as it continued to roll off a 15-month high of $1.3144 hit Thursday. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Tuesday there was still some distance to sustainably achieving the central bank's 2% inflation target, signalling his resolve to maintain ultra-loose monetary policy for the time being, in contrast to the hawkishness at other major central banks. Economists polled by Reuters expect the Fed to deliver a 25-basis-point rate hike at its upcoming policy meeting this month, with a majority betting that will bring an end to the central bank's current monetary tightening cycle.

Persons: ber, Phil Noble, Sterling, “, Kenneth Broux, Kazuo Ueda, Alun John, Rae Wee, Shri Navaratnam, Sam Holmes, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, LONDON, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Societe Generale, New Zealand, Federal, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, SINGAPORE, British, Asia Pacific, London, Singapore

☆ Dollar gains as pound tumbles on cooling UK inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. dollar bounced on Wednesday after inflation in the United Kingdom cooled more than economists expected in June, sending the pound sharply lower against other major currencies. Before Wednesday's data, investors had assigned a roughly 60% chance that the BoE would hike rates on Aug. 3 by a half-percentage point. "The dollar is catching a reprieve because it's the inflation data that's really dictating sentiment, the dollar was whacked by cooler inflation last week and now it's the pound's turn today," Manimbo added. Fed funds futures traders are pricing in 33 basis points of additional tightening with the benchmark rate expected to peak at 5.40% in November. The New Zealand dollar was volatile, briefly spiking after consumer inflation came in slightly above expectations in the second quarter, before falling to last trade down 0.4% at $0.6250.

Persons: Joe Manimbo, BoE, Manimbo, Sterling, Kenneth Broux, Kazuo Ueda Organizations: U.S, Bank of England, Reuters, Bank of, Societe Generale, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, New Zealand Locations: Zealand, United Kingdom, May's, Convera, Washington ,, Bank of England

☆ Reactions: UK inflation cools in June, pound drops
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Sterling dropped broadly, falling against the dollar, the euro and the yen, as interest-rate futures showed investors no longer expect UK rates to peak above 6%. COMMENTS:KEVIN BRIGHT, GLOBAL LEADER, CONSUMER PRICING PRACTICE, MCKINSEY & COMPANY, LONDON:"Inflation dipped more than expected; but the gulf between the UK and the Eurozone inflation levels remains. Despite most categories seeing a decline, food & non-alcoholic beverage inflation at 17.3% remains only 1.8% below its peak in March 2023. "Continued rising prices, higher interest rates and below inflation wage growth – are a triple blow to household budgets. NEIL BIRRELL, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, PREMIER MITON INVESTORS, LONDON:"Some good news on UK inflation at last, coming in below expectations for June and most importantly the core inflation rate fell more than thought.

Persons: Sterling, BoE, KEVIN, JOE TUCKEY, JORDAN, NOMURA, CHRIS BEAUCHAMP, Andrew Bailey, JEREMY BATSTONE, CARR, RAYMOND JAMES, ” KENNETH BROUX, It's, JOSEPH CALNAN, NEIL BIRRELL, Amanda Cooper, Andrew Heavens, Catherine Evans Organizations: Bank of England's, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Reuters, MCKINSEY, COMPANY, LONDON, Bank of England, JORDAN ROCHESTER, CPI, IG GROUP, Bank of, SOCIETE GENERALE, U.S, EMEA, Thomson Locations: homebuilders, Bank of England, EUROPEAN

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