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☆ Jamie Dimon says JPMorgan stock is too expensive: 'We're not going to buy back a lot'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty ImagesJamie Dimon thinks shares of JPMorgan Chase are expensive. We're not going to buy back a lot of stock at these prices," Dimon said. JPMorgan shares traded recently for around 2.4 times book value. "Buying back stock of a financial company greatly in excess of two times tangible book is a mistake," Dimon said. The JPMorgan CEO has often resisted pressure from investors and analysts that he deemed short-sighted.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase, Tom Williams, Dimon, buybacks, Charles Peabody Organizations: JPMorgan, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, Wall Street Firms, Cq, Inc, Getty, JPMorgan Chase, Portales Partners, Bank of America

☆ Senate Banking Chair Sherrod Brown calls for new FDIC leadership after misconduct report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Josephine Rozzelle | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, on Monday called on President Joe Biden to replace Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Martin Gruenberg after allegations of widespread sexual harassment and misconduct within the agency. There "must be fundamental changes at the FDIC," Brown, who chairs the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, said in a statement. With his statement, Brown broke from fellow Democrats, who have largely condemned the allegations but refrained from pushing for Gruenberg's resignation, instead calling for him to drive changes at the agency. Law firm Cleary Gottlieb in April released a scathing report detailing an alleged culture of "sexual harassment, discrimination, and other interpersonal misconduct" at the FDIC. In one instance, Gruenberg allegedly screamed profanities at employees after they delivered bad news, the report said.

Persons: Sen, Sherrod Brown, Joe Biden, Martin Gruenberg, Brown, Cleary Gottlieb, Gruenberg Organizations: Federal Deposit Insurance, FDIC, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Senate, Biden, Employees Locations: Ohio

☆ I supercommute through 4 states to get to work. I love earning a 6-figure NYC salary but living a suburban life in Delaware.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kyle Rice, a 38-year-old EMS provider based in Willmington, Delaware. I came across a job on a job board as a protocol architect for a project manager at an EMS software company. I live in Wilmington, Delaware, with my wife and two kids — 125 miles from the office. AdvertisementI earn more and save more by working a NYC jobI'd never consider relocating to NYC because it wouldn't be smart financially. Whenever the commute frustrates me, I remember how grateful I feel that I can pass through a handful of states on my way to work.

Persons: —, Kyle Rice, Rice, I'd, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Amtrak, Newark Penn Station, World Trade Center Locations: Willmington , Delaware, New York City, Wilmington , Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Long, Wilmington, Newark, Delaware, NYC, Manhattan

☆ Musk launches SpaceX’s Starlink internet services in Indonesia, says more investments could come
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Musk launched on May 19 his Starlink service on Indonesia's resort island of Bali as the country aims to extend internet to its remote areas. Millions of people in Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, are not currently hooked up to reliable internet services. (Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP) (Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP via Getty Images)Elon Musk has launched SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet services in Indonesia as the Southeast Asian nation seeks to boost internet connectivity in remote areas. SpaceX, which manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft, is also a developer of Starlink satellites which provide internet connectivity to remote locations. Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi previously said Starlink would help Indonesia extend internet access to regions not covered by local internet providers, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.

Persons: Elon Musk, Budi Gunadi, Musk, SONNY TUMBELAKA, Budi Arie Setiadi, Starlink Organizations: Tech, Indonesia's Health, Getty Images, SpaceX, Communication, Informatics Locations: Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, AFP, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Philippines

☆ How Apple's AI push could do more than just reignite iPhone sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"I think the iPhone next generation has to incorporate far more AI than it does now," Jim said on Monday. The Club's belief is that doing so will prompt iPhone users to upgrade to the newer model, helping reignite topline growth for Apple following a prolonged period of sluggishness. The majority of Apple's installed base of more than 2.2 billion devices is iPhones, Melius said in its note Monday. AAPL YTD mountain Apple (AAPL) year-to-date performance AI can boost more than just iPhone sales, according to Melius. In the three months ended March 30, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max held the No.

Persons: Jim Cramer, Jim, Melius, Max, Jim Cramer's Organizations: Melius Research, Apple, Conference, Cupertino, Reuters, Huawei, CNBC, Citizens, Nurphoto, Getty Locations: China, Melius, India, Shanghai

☆ One-third of single-family homes for sale are newly built, report finds. Here's what buyers need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

While new builds are still sold for slightly more than existing homes, the price gap has significantly narrowed. Over the last six months, the median price for a new home is only about 4% higher than the median price of an existing house. Reducing the square footage of your home can help reduce construction costs as well as utility and maintenance costs down the line. Keep construction costs down: Major factors like lumber and labor costs significantly impact the cost of a new house. And depending on the kinds of materials you add to the house, builders are "adding up the tab," Veronica Fuentes, a wealth management advisor based in Washington, D.C., previously told CNBC.

Persons: Alistair Berg, Digitalvision, Nicole Bachaud, Dietz, Matthew Walsh, Walsh, homebuilders, Veronica Fuentes Organizations: Getty, Zillow Group, CNBC, U.S . Census, U.S . Department of Housing, Urban, Moody's, Washington , D.C Locations: U.S, Washington ,

☆ Americans are going into debt to buy groceries. Here's why those balances can be difficult to pay down
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Lordhenrivoton | E+ | Getty ImagesMany shoppers have been shocked by what they pay at the grocery store checkout. Many families dipped into their savings or turned to credit cards, buy now, pay later installment programs or payday loans to pay for groceries in 2023, according to new research from the Urban Institute. watch now"That might mean that folks are having to rely on liquidity sources other than their income to be able to meet their very basic needs, their food needs," she said. Households with greater levels of food insecurity were more likely to use payday loans, buy now, pay later programs or savings to pay for basic needs, according to the Urban Institute. Of those who used buy now, pay later for groceries, 37% of adults missed payments on those loans.

Persons: Kassandra Martinchek, It's Organizations: Getty, Urban Institute

☆ Detroit's population has grown for the first time in 66 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewFor decades, Detroit was an international symbol of urban decay: abandoned neighborhoods, decrepit former factories, and a population exodus. From July 2022 to July 2023, the US Census Bureau says Detroit's population grew by close to 2,000 residents, bumping the city's population to 633,218. AdvertisementWith Detroit's latest population numbers, the city also jumped from the 29th-largest to the 26th-largest city in the United States, overtaking Memphis, Louisville, and Portland. Detroit's numbers are still far from 1950, when the city's population peaked at about 1.85 million. Back then, it was the fifth-largest city in the United States, behind only New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

Persons: —, There's, it's, Mike Duggan, Duggan Organizations: Service, Detroit, Business, Bureau, Memphis, Sun Belt, Associated Press Locations: Detroit, United States, Louisville, Portland, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles . Detroit, Michigan's

☆ Russia and Ukraine Engage in Dueling Air Assaults Behind the Front Lines
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Russia and Ukraine targeted each other’s territory on Sunday with drone attacks and airstrikes that hit urban centers and energy facilities, as both sides look for ways to inflict damage beyond the battlefield. The Russian military said it had shot down nearly 60 Ukrainian drones over the Krasnodar region of southwest Russia, which Ukraine has increasingly targeted in recent weeks because it is home to energy and military facilities supporting combat operations. Local Russian officials said an oil refinery had been struck in the attack. Russian officials did not comment on the reported strike on the airfield. Ukrainian officials said Russia struck northeast Ukraine, including the city of Kharkiv, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding more than 20 people.

Organizations: Local, Kharkiv Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Krasnodar, Russian, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s

☆ Wealthy Americans are starting to spend more carefully
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A robust stock market coupled with rising home values have boosted Americans’ wealth from 2019 through 2022, according to a Federal Reserve report on household finances. There’s been some evidence of wealthy Americans growing cautious in the latest round of company earnings results. Federal Reserve officials Michael Barr, Christopher Waller, Philip Jefferson and Raphael Bostic deliver remarks. Federal Reserve officials Christopher Waller, John Williams, Raphael Bostic, Michael Barr, Loretta Mester and Susan Collins deliver remarks. The Federal Reserve release minutes from its May policymaking meeting.

Persons: they’ve, “, ” Nanette Abuhoff Jacobson, There’s, ” Jonathan Akeroyd, Moet, The Beverly Hilton, Michael Kovac, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, ”, Jacobson, ’ Ariel Barnes, Barnes, ” Barnes, Baby Boomer, Xers, Matt Egan, Read, Michael Barr, Christopher Waller, Philip Jefferson, Raphael Bostic, John Williams, Loretta Mester, Susan Collins, Robin, Ralph Lauren, Booz Allen Hamilton, Buckle Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, Washington CNN, Federal, Fed, Hartford Funds, CNN, Burberry, The Beverly, The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Walmart, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Jackson State University, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Palo Alto Networks, Urban Outfitters, NVIDIA, National Statistics, National Association of Realtors, Reserve, Intuit, US Labor Department, Chicago Fed, Global, US Commerce Department, Atlanta Fed, Booz, University of Michigan Locations: Washington, British, Americas, Beverly Hills , California, Jackson , Mississippi, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Palo, Ross, Burlington

☆ Low-income Americans wait years to get housing vouchers that are often impossible to use. Fixing the system could mean more funding and less red tape.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, is also the biggest, aiding about 5 million people in 2.3 million households. While it's illegal in some places to discriminate against voucher holders, the practice isn't outlawed everywhere. Fully funding housing vouchers would mean many more housing-insecure and unhoused people would get help. Related storiesIn its budget for fiscal year 2025, the Biden administration requested a $2.5 billion increase for voucher funding over 2023 levels. Researchers at the Department of Housing and Urban Development have proposed piloting a direct cash transfer program for rent as an alternative to housing vouchers.

Persons: Will Fischer, Biden, Jenny Schuetz, isn't, Lindsey Nicholson, Michael Stegman, Stegman, Tara Radosevich, Fischer, Schuetz Organizations: Service, Business, of Housing, Urban Development, Budget, Harvard, The New York Times, Republicans, Brookings Institute, Getty, Urban Institute, HUD, Washington State, Department of Housing Locations: —, Los Angeles, Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Iowa, Long Island City, Queens, Oregon

☆ Nvidia and 2 other portfolio stocks report earnings next week. Here's what we want to see from each
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

All three major averages closed higher for the week, driven by softer retail sales and consumer price data for April. And the data has been mostly good, with 78% reporting a positive earnings surprise and 60% delivering a positive sales surprise. But we will get earnings from three portfolio companies, including one of our two "own, don't trade" stocks. In the week ahead, three portfolio companies will report results, while it will be fairly slow for economic data, except for a couple of housing reports. Earnings : After a week without earnings from any Club stocks, we'll get three this coming week.

Persons: Dow Jones, Dow, we'll, TJX, Blackwell, Li Auto, James Hardie, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Booz Allen, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Jensen Huang, Justin Sullivan Organizations: Wall, Federal Reserve, Dow, Nasdaq, CPI, Palo Alto Networks, Palo, TJX Companies, Nvidia, Nexxen, Alto Networks, Video Communications, Trip.com, James Hardie Industries N.V, Nordson Corp, Keysight Technologies, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, Lowe's Companies, Eagle Materials, Toll, ViaSat, Urban Outfitters, Target Corp, Devices, Dorian LPG, Dycom, Golden Ocean Group, Petco, Wellness Company, Sonoma, WSM, VF Corp, Star Bulk Carriers Corp, LiveRamp Holdings, Chemical & Mining Co, Grupo Supervielle S.A, BJ's Wholesale, Technologies, TD Bank Group, Intuit, Ross Stores, Booz Allen Hamilton Holding, Mesa Laboratories, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Intelligence, SAP Center Locations: Palo Alto, Williams, Chile, San Jose , California

In Mexico City, one of the world’s largest cities, the struggle for water is constant. Poor planning, urban sprawl and scorching dry weather have strained the water supply. One key system may soon be unable to provide water.

Locations: Mexico City

My condolences go out to the families that lost a loved one during yesterday’s severe weather event,” Gonzalez said. Over 531,000 customers in Harris County remain without power early Saturday following the line of storms, according to PowerOutage.us. “Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms appear possible across portions of the Southeast and Carolinas on Saturday, and parts of the Upper Midwest,” the center said. The greatest chances for severe weather are across parts of Nebraska and Kansas, with a slight level 2 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms issued by the Storm Prediction Center. By the end of the weekend, thunderstorm chances will diminish for most of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, the weather service said.

Persons: Samuel Peña, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Gonzalez, ” Gonzalez, David J, Phillip, –, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, ” Whitmire, Logan Riely Organizations: CNN, Houston Fire, Harris County Sheriff, Authorities, CenterPoint Energy, National Weather Service, Houston Mayor, Carolinas, Storm Prediction Locations: Houston, Southeast, Gulf, Harris County, Cypress , Texas, City, Texas, Louisiana, Houston , Texas, Mexico, Carolinas, Midwest, Plains, Nebraska, Kansas

☆ World’s biggest waste-to-energy facility will power more than 100,000 homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Ana De Oliva | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Much of it ends up at a plant operated by the Warsan Waste Management Company. “Around 45% percent of Dubai’s total waste comes to this facility,” says Tim Clarke, the company’s CEO. Operational since March of this year, the Warsan plant will use 2 million metric tons of trash annually to produce electricity, enough to power approximately 135,000 homes, according to the company. However, since the plant produces power, replacing the burning of fossil fuels, Warsan Waste Management believes the overall result is positive. But some environmental groups, such as Zero Waste Europe, argue that burning waste to generate electricity discourages efforts to cut waste and initiatives to increase recycling.

Persons: ”, Tim Clarke, Clarke, “, Bryan Staley, Staley Organizations: Dubai CNN, CNN, Warsan Waste Management Company, “, United Nations Environment, Waste Management, Energy, Research, Education Foundation Locations: Dubai, Europe, Japan, China, UAE

☆ Election Updates: Trump will speak at a Minnesota fund-raiser, hoping the state’s political divide will put it in play.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Jonathan Weisman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

On Friday, the former president will be back, speaking at a fund-raising dinner for the Minnesota Republican Party in St. Paul that is open only to paying guests and invited media. Whether the visit is a feint to draw Democratic dollars to the state or a true effort to expand the electoral map, only the Trump campaign knows. The Trump campaign believes it can capitalize on — or foment — a backlash to the leftward march of the Twin Cities and still-fresh memories of the unrest after the killing of George Floyd. “We have a real opportunity to expand the map here,” Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump campaign adviser, told The Associated Press ahead of Mr. Trump’s visit. In an interview with a conservative radio station in March, Mr. Trump falsely claimed he won Minnesota in 2020.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Hillary Clinton, Paul, ”, Angie Craig, Richard M, Nixon, Trump’s, Clinton, Biden, “, Pete Stauber, Donald Trump, Dean Phillips, Phillips, Mr, Jack Rendulich, Collin Peterson, Rick Nolan, Stauber, Tim Walz, George Floyd, Ilhan Omar, Floyd’s, Chris LaCivita, Jim Manley, Barack Obama, Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota’s Organizations: Minnesota Republican Party, Trump, Republican, Republicans, Democratic, ”, Democrat, Mr, Associated, Agriculture, Democratic Socialists of America, City Council, Democrats, Twin, Alpha, Associated Press, North, North Carolina, Midwest, Minnesota Locations: Minnesota, St, Minneapolis, Paul, ” Minnesota, Northeast Minnesota, Twin Cities, Democratic, City, Gaza, North Carolina, Illinois

☆ Chinese EV maker Xpeng aims to deliver its first flying car in 2026
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this article XPEV9868-HK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTXpeng's "Land Aircraft Carrier" vehicle has a flying passenger drone hidden inside the truck. XPENG AEROHTXpeng AeroHT, an affilaite of Xpeng , aims to deliver its flying car to customers in 2026, the Chinese electric vehicle maker's co-president told CNBC on Friday, Last year, Xpeng AeroHT introduced the Land Aircraft Carrier — a large truck with a flying two-seater passenger electric drone inside. The flying car can detach from the truck, and people can then get into the drone and fly it. Xpeng said this year that the flying car is currently going through a certification process with the Chinese aviation regulator. The 2026 timeline is slightly later than the fourth-quarter 2025 delivery target that Xpeng had previously touted.

Persons: Xpeng AeroHT, Brian Gu, Xpeng, Gu, Xiaopeng Organizations: HK, CNBC, Aircraft Locations: Xpeng

☆ Trump Visits Minnesota, Hoping Its Political Divide Will Put It in Play
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Jonathan Weisman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Friday, the former president will be back, speaking at a fund-raising dinner for the Minnesota Republican Party in St. Paul that is open only to paying guests and invited media. Whether the visit is a feint to draw Democratic dollars to the state or a true effort to expand the electoral map, only the Trump campaign knows. But it is a moment to look at the stark divisions in a state where the urban and rural political and social gulf is particularly vast. “Look, I was on the ballot in 2016 when Trump first ran. We’re all going to have to work really, really hard this year.”

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Hillary Clinton, Paul, ”, Angie Craig Organizations: Minnesota Republican Party, Trump Locations: Minnesota, St, Minneapolis, Paul

☆ Opinion: Israel could defeat Hamas in Gaza more quickly if the US didn’t hold it back, this military expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Hilary Krieger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

CNN: Do you think that Israel can defeat Hamas without conducting a ground invasion in Rafah? The fact is that Rafah’s where the hostages and remaining Hamas military power and leadership are believed to be, their rockets and weapons production and other capabilities, everything. CNN: Couldn’t Israel’s offensive still have the effect of creating more militants who are going to join Hamas and fight against Israel? But it’s also a very winnable war for Hamas at this point because wars are not determined just by military capability. The problem is that the international community pushed Israel into this framework of going slower, going methodically, evacuating every area beforehand.

Persons: CNN —, John Spencer, Spencer, John Spencer Spencer, He’s, ” Spencer, JACK GUEZ, they’ve, we’re, there’s, Couldn’t, David Petraeus, Petraeus, who’s, it’s, You’ve, Dawoud Abo, Israel, I’ve, Israel doesn’t, that’s, — we’re, they’re, would’ve Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Modern, Institute, IDF, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Getty, Israel, Nazi, Spencer, Shiva, Dawoud Abo Alkas, ISIS, UN, Gaza, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iraq, West, Rafah, Spencer, Israeli, Hamas, Gaza City, AFP, Iran, Palestine, Northern Gaza, Afghanistan, United States, Egypt, Sinai, Anadolu, Qaida, Mosul, Panama, Tokyo

☆ With Few Details About Assassination Attempt, Questions Swirl in Slovakia
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | Katarina Urban Richterova | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Questions were swirling in Slovakia on Friday, as shock over the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fico began to give way to trepidation over what comes next for the deeply polarized country. The authorities have kept details about the attack, the assailant and even who is leading the country while the prime minister is hospitalized to a minimum. Officials say they will provide more information soon but that the situation is sensitive. They have called the shooting politically motivated, while urging the public and politicians to dial down political rhetoric and hatred as investigations play out. The police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Robert Fico Locations: Slovakia, Slovak, Levice

☆ China retail sales, investment data miss expectations in April
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING — China reported data Friday that pointed to slower growth on the consumer side while industrial activity remained robust. Retail sales rose by 2.3% in April from a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics said. That was less than the 3.8% increase forecast by a Reuters poll, and slower than the 3.1% pace reported in March. But fixed asset investment rose by 4.2% for the first four months of the year, lower than the 4.6% expected increase. Statistics bureau spokeswoman Liu Aihua pointed out that last year, the multi-day May 1 Labor Day holiday had included two days in April.

Persons: Liu Aihua, Liu Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, China's Ministry of Commerce, Labor, Statistics, Oxford Locations: Huai'an, China, BEIJING — China

☆ These tiny EVs are making a big impact
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Here are some of the tiny EVs making a splash in Asia and Europe. AdvertisementChief among those is the Seagull, a tiny EV that can go 305 km on a single charge and costs $11,000. SOPA Images/Getty ImagesJapan has long had a soft spot for tiny EVs, known as Kei cars — and the Nissan Sakura is one of the most popular. BITechnically speaking, the Citroen Ami isn't an electric car at all, but an "electric quadricycle." The tiny microcar has been on sale in Europe since 2021, with a UK launch mooted for later this year.

Persons: —, Nissan Sakura, Tesla, Aly Song, Reuters BYD, Elon, HECTOR RETAMAL, Citroen Ami, Citroen Ami isn't, Ami, Merlin Ouboter Organizations: Service, Nissan, Tesla, Ford, Business, Reuters, SAIC, General Motors, Japan, Citroen, BI, Getty Locations: China, Japan, Europe, Asia, Guang, Shanghai, France, London, Swiss

☆ China pledges $42 billion in a slew of measures to support the struggling property sector
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

China announced "historic" steps to stabilize the crisis-hit property sector on May 17, 2024, allowing local governments to buy "some" apartments, relaxing mortgage rules and pledging to deliver unfinished homes. These and other measures announced Friday marked Beijing's latest efforts to address issues in the massive real estate sector. The real estate companies can then use funds earned from those sales to complete construction on other apartments, the central bank said. Pre-sold, unfinished homesFor years, many apartments in China tended to be sold before construction was finished. Nomura estimated last year there were around 20 million such pre-sold, unfinished apartments in China.

Persons: Zhu Ning, Tao Ling, Xiao Yuanqi, Larry Hu, Dong Jianguo, Lifeng, Zhu, Nomura Organizations: China, Nurphoto, Getty, Tsinghua University, People's Bank of China, National Financial Regulatory, Macquarie, CNBC, of Housing, Housing, Future Publishing Locations: BEIJING, Wanxiang City, Huai'an City, East China's Jiangsu, China

☆ Asia-Pacific markets are mostly lower as investors await key economic data from China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Asia-Pacific markets took a breather after rallying in the previous session, as investors await key China data to assess the state of the world's second largest economy. China data, including new house prices, urban unemployment and retail sales figures for April, is due later in the day. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a two-day state visit to China, said at a press conference that discussions had been "warm and comradely" and had shown the importance of the two countries' relationship. Singapore will also release its non-oil domestic export figures for April, with NODX expected to fall 10% year on year.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, NODX Locations: Asia, Pacific, China, Singapore

☆ Haunting photos show a Six Flags in New Orleans that has been abandoned for almost 2 decades
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

During Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, Six Flags New Orleans was completely flooded. Since then, the park has stood abandoned, save for visits from urban explorers and alligators. A lease was signed in October 2023 to begin redeveloping the land, but work has not started yet. AdvertisementBefore Hurricane Katrina hammered the Gulf Coast in 2005, killing almost 1,400 people and destroying millions of dollars worth of property, there was a Six Flags just outside New Orleans. Almost two decades later, Six Flags New Orleans still sits abandoned, now a time capsule of life before Katrina.

Persons: —, Axios, it's Organizations: Flags, Service, Business Locations: Orleans, New Orleans

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