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☆ Calls for accountability grow over October 7 failures, but Israel’s leadership is unlikely to act
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

On Monday, Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan 11, added to the growing mountain of evidence that the country’s leadership could have – or, at the very least, should have – known an attack was possible. In December, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman announced he would open an investigation into intelligence failures before the October 7 Hamas attack. Historically, Israel has had a public inquiry roughly every two years, he says, but not under its present and longest-serving leader. The most likely means of understanding the failures of October 7 was by dissecting it into smaller and more manageable issues, he said, like separating intelligence failures from those of operational doctrine. Major General Aharon Haliva, who was the commander of the IDF’s military intelligence, quietly announced in April that he would be stepping down.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, “, it’s, Netanyahu, Israel, Kan, Eyad Baba, ’, Matanyahu Englman, Englman, Raanan Sulitzeanu, Kenan, ” Sulitzeanu, ”, Sulitzeanu, Stringer, Yossi Fuchs, Yohanan Plesner, ” Plesner, I’m, Plesner, CNN’s Dana Bash, Aharon Haliva, Haliva, Avi Rosenfeld, Staff Gadi Eisenkot, Shin, ” Eisenkot Organizations: CNN, “, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli Special Forces, Getty, New York Times, Office, IDF, Israel’s, Hebrew University, International Court of Justice, Israel Democracy Institute, Brig, Staff, Southern Command, Military Intelligence Directorate, Defense, Israel’s Channel Locations: Israel, foreseeing, Gaza, AFP, Jerusalem, Lebanese, Jebbain, Gali Baharav, Gaza ., “

☆ Bank of England Keeps Rates Steady for First Time in Nearly Two Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Eshe Nelson | More About Eshe Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The central bank began its tightening cycle in December 2021, raising rates from near zero to levels last seen during the financial crisis of 2008. The central bank has said Ben Bernanke, the former U.S. Federal Reserve chair, will lead a review into the bank’s forecasting processes. But this week, some news landed in the central bank’s favor. Better still for the central bank, measures of domestic inflationary pressures also slowed. As inflation rates drop across much of the world and economies are weakening, in part because of the aggressive policy tightening by central banks, policymakers are trying to carefully calibrate the right level of interest rates.

Persons: Ben Bernanke Organizations: U.S . Federal

☆ LATAM Airlines sees stronger 2023 after Q2 results boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Latam Airlines airplane is seen at Guarulhos International Airport amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Guarulhos, near Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Amanda PerobelliSANTIAGO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - LATAM Airlines expects "record" net earnings in 2023 after posting stronger second-quarter results and improved forecasts, company executives said on Wednesday, hoping to bolster investor confidence after the company's exit from bankruptcy in November. "Without a doubt we are foreseeing a much better financial situation and very good profitability in 2023," he told reporters. Alfonsin added that the company was expecting to hit pre-pandemic level results for the year and record EBITDAR. LATAM Airlines, South America's largest airline, operates units across the continent, with routes across the world.

Persons: Amanda Perobelli SANTIAGO, Ramiro Alfonsin, Alfonsin, Fabian Cambero, Gabriel Araujo, Isabel Woodford, Valentine Hilaire, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Latam Airlines, Guarulhos, REUTERS, LATAM Airlines, South America's, Chilean, LAN, Brazilian, TAM, U.S . Department of Transportation, U.S, Thomson Locations: Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Santiago, South

Opposition parties are clamouring for a vote in parliament, but Meloni said on Wednesday that was not about to happen and linked the debate to ongoing discussions on a broader reform of European budget rules. "Italy's interest is addressing negotiations on European governance, which covers the entirety of our national interests," she told parliament. "Meloni does not want to leave the anti-ESM front to Salvini and nobody wants to lose face," he told Reuters. Despite irritation in Brussels over the dithering in Rome, EU officials have told Reuters that any attempt by Meloni to link ESM approval to much more significant budget reform will not pay off. Italy, which has the second largest debt mountain in relation to its GDP in the euro zone after Greece, has criticised the suggestion.

Persons: Giorgia, Meloni, Matteo Salvini, Francesco Galietti, Paschal Donohoe, Francesco Saraceno, Crispian Balmer Organizations: ROME, European Union, Treasury, Reuters, European, Rome's Luiss University, Sciences Po, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Italy, Brussels, Rome, Sciences Po Paris, Greece, Rome's

☆ How FDIC dropped the ball and picked up the tab
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

NEW YORK, April 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Bank watchdogs don’t have a crystal ball when it comes to spotting bank runs. The FDIC is one of several agencies that watches over American banks, but it’s the one that picks up the tab when a lender fails. Gruenberg, on the FDIC board since 2005, did not support the rapid phased prototyping data project, fretting that it amounted to outsourcing supervision, according to people familiar with the situation. For all but the biggest banks, the FDIC continues to rely on quarterly snapshots known as “call reports,” and the findings of its on-the-ground inspectors. Reuters GraphicsThe death of the 2020 project – and the fact it didn’t start years sooner – reflect deeper challenges at the FDIC.

☆ A veteran real-estate investor who owns over 1,250 units across the country explains why 'more millionaires are made in downturns' like the upcoming housing correction — and shares 4 strategies invest
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Veteran real estate investor Dave Allred has ownership in over 1,250 units across the country. Allred believes the upcoming housing downturn will provide significant opportunities for investors. Today, the 42-year-old Allred has built a real estate empire that spans several states, including Utah, where he currently resides with his family. Besides migratory patterns, Allred also believes that the political landscape of a state can particularly affect a real estate investor's success. According to Allred, investors also shouldn't let trepidation weigh them down this year.

☆ Too far, too fast: These stocks are set to decline after hot 2023 starts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

However, analysts believe some stocks are getting ahead of themselves and are set to fall. We used FactSet data to screen for S & P 500 stocks whose consensus price targets indicate an expected decline. Here are 20 stocks analysts predict will have the biggest drops this year. Macquarie downgraded Paramount shares to underperform from neutral the day after Paramount announced its integration plans. Carnival Cruise Line 's stock has popped more than 40% in 2023 as of Thursday morning, but analysts anticipate it will drop 8.1%.

☆ The 'problematic' stock rally will fade as the Fed wrangles sticky inflation and recession hits in the 2nd half of the year, Credit Suisse strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The rally in stocks that's kicked off 2023 is "problematic," according to Credit Suisse strategist Patrick Palfrey. Palfrey warned that gains will be fleeting as the Fed continues to battle sticky inflation. That could spark a recession and a sell-off in the market in the second half of the year, he predicted. Though prices cooled to 6.5% in December, inflation is likely to remain sticky in the second half of the year, Palfrey said. I think those are going to be a headwind for the market as we start to approach the latter half of the year," Palfrey warned.

☆ Futures slide as hawkish Fed quashes policy pivot hopes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Sruthi Shankar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Investors currently expect at least two 25 bps rate hikes next year and borrowing costs to peak at 4.9% by May next year, before falling to around 4.4% by year-end. Both central banks are expected to hike borrowing costs by 50 bps. Shares of megacap companies, including Apple (AAPL.O), Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) and Nvidia Corp , fell between 1.1% and 2.1% in premarket trading. Trade Desk Inc (TTD.O) slipped 4.1% after Jefferies downgraded its rating for the adtech firm to "hold" from "buy". Reporting by Sruthi Shankar and Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Raymond James downgrades Home Depot, says there are challenges ahead despite solid earnings report
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hold off on Home Depot for now, according to Raymond James. Analyst Bobby Griffin downgraded shares of Home Depot to market perform from outperform, foreseeing challenges next year for the housing sector. Home Depot posted on Tuesday better-than-expected results for the third quarter , while reaffirming its full-year outlook. "[Any] potential decrease in home prices ... could hinder consumer's perceived return on investment in their homes following several years of record spend in the category," Griffin wrote. Still, Griffin said the long-term investment case for Home Depot remains intact, as he expects that the retailer will continue to take market share from here.

☆ Vatican confirms renewal of contested accord with China on bishops' appointments
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

VATICAN CITY, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Saturday said that it and China had renewed a secret and contested agreement on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in the communist country. The deal was a bid to ease a longstanding divide across mainland China between an underground flock loyal to the pope and a state-backed official church. The Vatican-China deal centres on cooperation over the appointment of bishops, giving the pope the final and decisive say. They also point to increasing restrictions on religious freedoms in China for Christians and other minorities. Last month, the Vatican tried to arrange a meeting between Xi, 69, and the pope, 85, while both leaders were in Kazakhstan, but China declined.

☆ Chatbots are gaining traction
▼ + stars: | 2017-05-11 | by ( Laurie Beaver | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chatbots are gaining popularity globally, according to a new survey by LivePerson. BI IntelligenceOnly 11% of those surveyed globally reported a negative perception of chatbots, while the remaining 51% had neutral stances. Chatbots used for productivity purposes — such as scheduling — ranked lowest, as only 14% of those surveyed did so in the past year. The report also forecasts the potential annual savings that businesses could realize if chatbots replace some of their customer service and sales reps. Forecasts the potential impact chatbots could have for businesses.

Persons: Chatbots, chatbots, Laurie Beaver Organizations: Intelligence, Business, BI, US, HP, CNN, Insider Intelligence, Google Locations: France, Japan

☆ 80% of businesses want chatbots by 2020
▼ + stars: | 2016-12-14 | by ( Insider Intelligence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Businesses are beginning to see the benefits of using chatbots for their consumer-facing products, according to a survey by Oracle. And 48% said that they already use automation technology for these business functions, with 40% planning to implement some form of automated technology by 2020. Twenty-nine percent of customer service positions in the US could be automated through chatbots and other tech, according to Public Tableau. Foreseeing immense potential, businesses are starting to invest heavily in the burgeoning bot economy. The report also forecasts the potential annual savings that businesses could realize if chatbots replace some of their customer service and sales reps.

Persons: Laurie Beaver Organizations: Intelligence, Oracle, HP, CNN, Insider Intelligence, Business, Google Locations: France, Netherlands, South Africa

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