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☆ Republican lawmaker seeks details of Tesla relationship with Chinese battery company CATL
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A senior Republican in Congress asked Tesla (TSLA.O) Tuesday to detail its relationship with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL (300750.SZ) amid concerns electric vehicle subsidies are flowing to foreign entities raising security concerns. Smith said the committee is concerned CATL "may be trying to negotiate other agreements like the agreement with Ford." The question is how what precisely constitutes a "foreign entity of concern", and so far no foreign battery supplier has been labeled as such. In July, Smith and Mike Gallagher, Republican chair of the Select Committee on China, demanded Ford answer questions about the CATL deal. Ford told Reuters Tuesday it agrees that "U.S. taxpayer dollars should support American manufacturers, not foreign entities of concern."

Persons: Florence, Tesla, Jason Smith, Elon Musk, Smith, Ford, Musk, Mike Gallagher, Janet Yellen, David Shepardson, Stephen Coates Organizations: Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Ford, Republicans, Nissan, Reuters, American, U.S . Treasury, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Michigan, CATL, United States

The UAW last week launched a strike against Ford (F.N), General Motors (GM.N) and Chrysler parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI), targeting one U.S. assembly plant at each company. The union said early on Tuesday that negotiations had been extended for 24 hours after it received a "substantive offer" from Ford. [1/2]An aerial view shows recently manufactured vehicles at Ford's Oakville Assembly Plant in Oakville, Ontario, Canada May 26, 2023. Once the Ford deal is completed, Unifor will turn to getting agreements with GM and Stellantis, whose deadlines were extended during the talks with Ford. The UAW at one point during the talks offered to lower its demand to 36%.

Persons: We're, Shawn Fain, Ford, Lana Payne, Carlos Osorio, Unifor, Janet Yellen, Stellantis's Ram, Jahnavi, Ben Klayman, Jamie Freed Organizations: DETROIT, United Auto Workers, Detroit Three, UAW, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Plant, REUTERS, GM, Reuters Graphics, Detroit automakers, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, Michigan Bronco, GM's, Silverado, Thomson Locations: Canadian, Canada, Ford, United States, Ontario, Kentucky, Dearborn , Michigan, Kansas City , Missouri, North America, Oakville, Oakville , Ontario, U.S, Michigan , Ohio, Missouri, Chevrolet Colorado, Kansas, Bengaluru, Ben, Detroit

☆ U.S. stocks close lower as investors take cover ahead of Fed decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

All three indexes ended the session lower in a broad sell-off ahead of the Fed's interest rate announcement on Wednesday, which is expected to culminate in a decision to leave key interest rates unchanged. The Fed is also due to release its Summary Economic Projections, including its dot plot, which should provide a glimpse into the Federal Open Markets Committee's forecast trajectory of interest rates, inflation and economic growth. On the economic front, a jump in Canada's annual inflation rate due to rising gasoline prices, and a bigger-than-expected plunge in U.S. housing starts helped feed investor uncertainty. Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 29, 2023. Starbucks (SBUX.O) lost ground following TD Cowen's decision to downgrade the coffee chain's shares to "underperform."

Persons: Bill Northey, Helena Montana, Northey, Michael Green, Brendan McDermid, Walt Disney, Stephen Culp, Ankika Biswas, Shristi, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Disney, Dow, Nasdaq, U.S . Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve, U.S, Bank Wealth Management, Federal, Management, Fed, Maplebear Inc, chipmaker, Holdings, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Arm Holdings, Dow Jones, Starbucks, General Motors, Ford Motor, United Auto Workers, NYSE, Thomson Locations: Helena, Philadelphia, New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Republican lawmaker seeks details of Tesla relationship with Chinese battery maker CATL
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Smith said the committee is concerned CATL "may be trying to negotiate other agreements like the agreement with Ford." Republicans in Congress have been probing Ford Motor's (F.N) planned $3.5 billion investment to build a battery plant in Michigan using technology from CATL, the world's largest battery maker. The question is what precisely constitutes a "foreign entity of concern", and so far no foreign battery supplier has been labeled as such. Tesla, CATL and Nissan did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In July, Smith and Mike Gallagher, Republican chair of the Select Committee on China, demanded Ford answer questions about the CATL deal.

Persons: Florence, Tesla, Jason Smith, Elon Musk, Smith, Ford, Musk, Mike Gallagher, Janet Yellen, David Shepardson, Stephen Coates, Himani Organizations: Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Ford, Reuters, Republicans, Nissan, American, U.S . Treasury, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Michigan, CATL, United States, America

The UAW says it will strike against more U.S. plants on Friday if no serious progress was made in talks with automakers. The UAW launched a strike against Ford (F.N), General Motors (GM.N) and Chrysler parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI), last week, targeting one U.S. assembly plant at each company. [1/7]Striking United Auto Workers members Laura Zielinski and Aisha Cochra hold their strike signs outside the Stellantis Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio, U.S. September 19, 2023. The strikes have halted production at plants in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri that produce the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler and Chevrolet Colorado, alongside other popular models. Reuters GraphicsReporting by David Shepardson in Washington, Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru and Ben Klayman in Toledo, Ohio Editing by David Gaffen, Jamie Freed, Matthew Lewis and Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Laura Zielinski, Stellantis, Ram, ”, Candis Holmes, Aisha Cochra, Rebecca Cook, Holmes, Julie Su, Gene Sperling, Ford, Unifor, David Shepardson, Jahnavi, Ben Klayman, David Gaffen, Jamie Freed, Matthew Lewis, Deepa Babington Organizations: United Auto Workers, Detroit Three, UAW, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Workers, GM's, Silverado, REUTERS, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, Labor, Michigan Bronco, GM, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TOLEDO , Ohio, Michigan, Ohio, Wayne , Michigan, Toledo , Ohio, Toledo, U.S, Ford's Wayne , Michigan, Michigan , Ohio, Missouri, Chevrolet Colorado, Washington, Detroit, Kansas, Canadian, Canada, Kentucky, Dearborn , Michigan, Kansas City , Missouri, Bengaluru, Ben

☆ Bernie Sanders’s push for four-day weeks has merit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Bernie Sanders speaks to the crowd as United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English listen during a rally in support of striking UAW members in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., September 15, 2023. The United Auto Workers on Friday began strikes at Detroit carmakers Ford Motor (F.N), General Motors (GM.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI). Sanders voiced enthusiasm for their biggest demand: moving to a four-day workweek while maintaining five-day pay. UAW members pushed for this policy in the middle of the last century during a prior wave of automation. With artificial intelligence poised to reshape white-collar jobs, more workers might come to see things Sanders’s way.

Persons: Bernie Sanders, Shawn Fain, Rebecca Cook, Sanders, Jim Farley, Jonathan Guilford, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, REUTERS, Reuters, Friday, Detroit, Ford, General Motors, X, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S

On Monday, the UAW held talks with Stellantis though no deal was reached. About 12,700 UAW workers are on strike as part of a labor action targeting three U.S. assembly plants - one at each of the Detroit Three - after the prior four-year labor agreements expired. He said the UAW is ready to do what was necessary when asked whether it would extend the strike to other plants this week. Ford has an assembly plant and two engine plants in Canada with a total of about 5,000 union workers. Shares of BlueScope Steel (BSL.AX) slipped to an over three-month low as the strike weighs on its North American business.

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries, Rebecca Cook, plateauing, Shawn Fain, Fain, Unifor, Ford, Janet Yellen, Biden, Yellen, Stellantis's Ram, David Shepardson, Ben Klayman, Doina Chiacu, Deepa Babington, Alexander Smith Organizations: Democratic, U.S . House, United Auto Workers, Ford Motor Michigan, Plant, Wayne , Michigan U.S, REUTERS, Detroit Three, Union, General Motors, Ford, UAW, Detroit, MSNBC, CNBC, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, Michigan Bronco, GM's, Silverado, BlueScope, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wayne , Michigan, Canada, Michigan , Ohio, Missouri, Chevrolet Colorado, Kansas, North America, Michigan

☆ Hyundai Motor's South Korea union accepts 12% wage hike deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Hyundai Motor Company is pictured at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 13, 2022. Workers at Hyundai Motor, the No.3 global automaker by sales with its affiliate Kia Corp (000270.KS), last went on strike in 2018. The United Auto Workers (UAW) last week went on strike against all three Detroit automakers - General Motors Co (GM.N), Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI) - at once for the first time. Hyundai Motor Group, which houses Hyundai Motor, Kia, luxury brand Genesis, operates U.S. production sites in Alabama and Georgia. “The labour risks have been there all along, especially in the auto sector, but this UAW strike is unprecedented.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, ”, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Andrew Heavens, Jan Harvey, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Hyundai Motor, New York, REUTERS, Rights, Hyundai, Workers, Kia Corp, United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit, General Motors Co, Ford Motor, Hyundai Motor Group, Kia, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Rights SEOUL, South Korea, Alabama, Georgia, United States

☆ UAW and automakers GM, Ford and Stellantis try to reach deal before strike widens
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Striking United Auto Workers walk the picket line outside the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, U.S. September 17, 2023. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook Acquire Licensing RightsSept 18 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit Three automakers enters its fourth day on Monday as both sides try to hammer out deals to avoid costly disruptions to more plants. Sample HTML blockAbout 12,700 UAW workers are on strike as part of a coordinated labor action targeting three U.S. assembly plants - one at each of the Detroit Three automakers after the prior four-year labor agreements expired. The strikes have halted production at three plants in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri that produce the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler and Chevrolet Colorado, along with other popular models. Besides higher wages, the UAW is also demanding shorter work weeks, restoration of defined benefit pensions and stronger job security as automakers make the shift to electric vehicles.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Shawn Fain, Stellantis's Ram, David Shepardson, Ben Klayman, Deepa Babington Organizations: United Auto Workers, Ford Michigan Assembly Plant, REUTERS, Detroit Three, Union, General Motors, Ford, UAW, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, GM's, Silverado, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wayne , Michigan, U.S, Michigan , Ohio, Missouri, Chevrolet Colorado

☆ What are Republican U.S. presidential candidates saying about the UAW strike?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, walks the picket line with striking United Auto Workers members outside the Ford Motor Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan U.S., September 17, 2023. REMEMBER, BIDEN IS A CROOK WHO HAS BEEN PAID MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY CHINA, & OTHERS. On Friday, he wrote: "The all Electric Car is a disaster for both the United Auto Workers and the American Consumer. If this happens, the United Auto workers will be wiped out, along with all other auto workers in the United States. So I understand the frustration, but I think union bosses may be directing that ire in the wrong direction when it belongs at the feet of our current government."

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries, Rebecca Cook, Joe Biden, DONALD TRUMP, CROOKED JOE, YOU'LL, BIDEN, I'm, Biden, Pence, VIVEK RAMASWAMY, NIKKI HALEY, emboldens, Haley, Richard Chang Organizations: Democratic, U.S . House, United Auto Workers, Ford Motor Michigan, Plant, Wayne , Michigan U.S, REUTERS, Labor, Detroit Three, General Motors, Ford, Republican, Democratic U.S, Electric, CHINA FIRST, TRUMP, YOUR, WHO, American Consumer, United Auto, Trump, CNN, South, United Nations, Fox News, TIM SCOTT The, UAW, Thomson Locations: Wayne , Michigan, China, CHINA, United States, Washington, South Carolina, TIM SCOTT The U.S

☆ Morning Bid: Chips are down
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The global chip sector is stealing the spotlight from major central banks, after the world's top contract chipmaker raised concerns over demand, hitting share prices of semiconductor stocks. In a week packed with central bank meetings, decisions are also due from the U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday and Bank of England on Thursday. After the European Central Bank's fireworks last week, the euro will be closely watched as a signal for whether the backlash from more hawkish ECB members is gaining any traction with traders and investors. The BOE is likely to hike interest rates for the 15th time later in the week, while the Fed seems set for a hawkish pause. One more little complication is the steady grind higher in oil prices to new highs that is stoking inflation concerns, just as central banks in most developed economies are at or approaching the end of their tightening cycles.

Persons: Vidya Ranganathan, chipmaker, There's, Kazuo Ueda, BOE, Guindos, Panetta, Sam Holmes Organizations: Vidya, Reuters, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, International, Co, of, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of England, ECB, Thomson Locations: Asia, Detroit

☆ Morning Bid: Dot plots, oil blots and auto strikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A nighttime view of Marathon Petroleum's Los Angeles Refinery, which processes domestic & imported crude oil into gasoline, diesel fuel, and other refined petroleum products, in Carson, California, U.S., March 11, 2022. But updated quarterly economic and rate projections from its individual policymakers will map out the remainder of the year and 2024. And just like global markets have been discombobulated this month, the central bank will be grappling with low visibility and a plethora of mixed signals. Chief among the irritants for the central banks has been the rebound in crude oil price and the fading annual base effects that have flattered headline disinflation progress this year. Events to watch for on Monday:* U.S. September NAHB Housing Market Survey, July TIC data on foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries* U.S. Treasury auctions 3- and 6-month bills* European Central Bank Board Member Fabio Panetta speaksReuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsBy Mike Dolan, editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bing Guan, Mike Dolan Gatecrashed, That's, Detroit's, Taiwan's, TW, chipmaker, Member Fabio Panetta, Mike Dolan, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Petroleum's, Angeles Refinery, REUTERS, U.S . Federal, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, University of Michigan's, automakers, United Auto Workers, General Motors, Ford, chipmakers, China, HK, Survey, Treasury, Central Bank, Member, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Angeles, Carson , California, U.S, Saudi, China

☆ UAW strike could buy GM time to address nagging EV issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Paul Lienert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The company delivered just 1,348 Lyriqs and 47 Hummers in the second quarter, far below expectations, in part because of issues with battery module assembly. A longer strike could help GM address and potentially resolve some of those ongoing issues in its EV and battery operations, according to Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. "A production stoppage could allow GM to solve bottlenecks,” Fiorani said. Wedbush auto analyst Daniel Ives said the strike was "a potential nightmare situation" for GM given it comes exactly at a key period of ironing out EV issues. In addition, the UAW strike in the United States could affect the flow of critical auto parts to GM operations in Canada and Mexico, which would hamper EV production there, Rinna said.

Persons: Jennifer Granholm, Jonathan Ernst, GlobalData, Mary Barra, Rory Harvey, Hummer, Sam Fiorani, Fiorani, GM's Barra, Bill Rinna, Daniel Ives, Ives, Rinna, GM’s Ramos, Paul Lienert, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S . Energy, Washington Auto, REUTERS, Rights, General Motors, Ford Motor, UAW, Ford, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, GM, GMC, AutoForecast Solutions, EV, Chevrolet Blazer, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, Canada, Mexico, Ingersoll, Detroit

☆ Autoworkers strike against Detroit Three enters third day
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

United Auto Workers members hold up strike signs across from the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, U.S., September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 17 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit Three automakers is set to enter its third day Sunday with no immediate resolution on the horizon. About 12,700 UAW workers remain on strike as part of a coordinated labor action targeting three U.S. assembly plants - one at each of the Detroit Three automakers after the prior four-year labor agreements expired at 11:59 p.m. Stellantis said main bargaining talks are to resume Monday, while some subcommittee negotiations are set for Sunday at General Motors. "The truth is UAW leadership ignored Belvidere in favor of a strike," the company said.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Stellantis, Shawn Fain, Mark Stewart, Ford, David Shepardson, Kim Coghill Organizations: United Auto Workers, Ford Michigan Assembly Plant, REUTERS, Detroit Three, Ford, Chrysler, . Union, General Motors, UAW, Sunday, GM, North American, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, Thomson Locations: Wayne , Michigan, U.S, Belvidere , Illinois, Belvidere, Illinois, Michigan , Ohio, Missouri, Chevrolet Colorado, Michigan, Kansas, GM Missouri

☆ UAW cites 'productive' talks with Ford on second day of US auto strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

About 12,700 UAW workers remained on strike for a second day as part of a coordinated labor action targeting three U.S. assembly plants - one at each of the Detroit Three automakers. However, the UAW comment about the tenor of talks at Ford was more positive than the union's characterization of progress ahead of the kickoff of the strikes. "As we have said all along, Ford has bet on the UAW more than any other company. We are committed to reaching an agreement with UAW that rewards our workers and allows Ford to invest in the future. GM said on Thursday the UAW wage and benefits proposals would cost it $100 billion, while Ford's Farley said the a 40% UAW wage hike would "put us out of business."

Persons: Stellantis, Jim Farley, Ford, Mark Truby, Mark Stewart, Stewart, Shawn Fain, Fain, Ford's Farley, Joe Biden, David Shepardson, Joseph White, Paul Simao Organizations: United Auto Workers, Ford, Chrysler, UAW, Detroit Three automakers, Union, General Motors, GM, North American, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, Thomson Locations: Illinois, Belvidere , Illinois, Michigan , Ohio, Missouri, Chevrolet Colorado, Michigan, Kansas, Toledo , Ohio

☆ Explainer: UAW strikes target Detroit Three automakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 16 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers (UAW) union on Friday launched strikes at three U.S. auto plants after failing to reach an agreement over new contracts, the first-ever simultaneous labor action against the Detroit Three automakers. Detroit automakers, like their global counterparts, have been focused on cost reductions, which in some cases include job cuts, to help accelerate a shift to electric vehicles (EVs) from gasoline-powered vehicles. Contract talks between the UAW and the Detroit automakers in past years had gone on until the strike deadline and beyond. In fiscal 2019, GM's fourth-quarter profit took a $3.6 billion hit from a 40-day UAW strike. The walkout on Friday was smaller than some analysts expected, with only three auto plants in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri targeted.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Shawn Fain, Stellantis, Fain, Biden, Tesla, GM's, Nathan Gomes, Paul Simao, Sriraj Kalluvila, Diane Craft Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, International Workers, REUTERS, Detroit Three automakers, General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler, Detroit, WHO, Ford, FROM, GM, EV, Deutsche Bank, Lear Corp, Anderson Economic Group, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, Thomson Locations: New York, Manhattan , New York City , New York, U.S, Michigan , Ohio, Missouri, Chevrolet Colorado, Bengaluru, Washington

☆ UAW, automakers resume labor talks; Stellantis hikes wage offer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The four-year labor deal between the union and General Motors (GM.N), Ford Motor (F.N) and Chrysler-parent Stellantis expired at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday. Stellantis said on Saturday it has hiked its offer, proposing cumulative raises of nearly 21% over a four-and-a-half-year contract term, including an immediate 10% hike. GM and Ford are also offering wage hikes of 20% over the same period. The union is demanding higher wages, shorter work weeks, restoration of defined benefit pensions and stronger job security as automakers make the EV shift. Stellantis said it is offering more than $1 billion in retirement security improvements and other increases in benefits.

Persons: Stellantis, Ford, Shawn Fain, Fain, David Shepardson, Paul Simao Organizations: United Auto Workers, Detroit Three, General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler, GM, Ford, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, UAW, Thomson Locations: Chevrolet Colorado, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri

The truth is we are going to wreck the billionaire economy," said UAW President Shawn Fain. UAW vice president Chuck Browning, who is leading talks with Ford, told a rally of hundreds of UAW workers in downtown Detroit on Friday afternoon that recent talks have made "good progress, but we have far to go." Striking workers said "tier two" employees can make only half the hourly wages of senior UAW workers and get worse benefits. GM said on Thursday the UAW wage and benefits proposals would cost the automaker $100 billion, but did not elaborate. Biden's likely opponent, former president Donald Trump, on Friday criticized the shift to EVs as a job-killer for the UAW.

Persons: Ford, We’re, Shawn Fain, Chuck Browning, Joe Biden, Bruce Baumhower, Rebecca Cook, Arthur Wheaton, Jim Farley, Mary Barra, Bernie Sanders, “, Sofus Nielsen, Biden, Julie Su, Gene Sperling, White, Stellantis, Fain, Biden's, Donald Trump, Joseph White, Kevin Krolicki, David Shepardson, Steve Holland, Mehr Bedi, David Gaffen, Peter Henderson, Matthew Lewis, Chris Reese Organizations: DETROIT, United Auto Workers, General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet, UAW, Ford, Detroit, Ford Michigan Assembly Plant, REUTERS, Cornell's School of Industrial, Labor, CBS, Reuters Graphics, Tesla, GM, Thomson Locations: Chevrolet Colorado, Kansas, Detroit, Toledo , Ohio, Wayne , Michigan, Barra, Wayne, Milan, Washington, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsReuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe S&P 500 dropped 1.22% to end at 4,450.32 points. All 11 S&P 500 sector indexes declined, led lower by information technology (.SPLRCT), down 1.95%, followed by a 1.88% loss in consumer discretionary (.SPLRCD). For the week, the S&P 500 fell 0.16% and the Nasdaq lost 0.39%. Declining stocks outnumbered rising ones within the S&P 500 (.AD.SPX) by a 4.4-to-one ratio. The S&P 500 posted seven new highs and eight new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 48 new highs and 216 new lows.

Persons: chipmakers, Lam, Stoking, Lisa Erickson, Brendan McDermid, Amgen, Japan's, Ankika Biswas, Shristi, Noel Randewich, Vinay Dwivedi, Richard Chang Organizations: Nasdaq, Dow, Lam Research, KLA Corp, Reuters, Nvidia, Devices, Broadcom, Micron Technology, Philadelphia Semiconductor, United Auto Workers ', General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Federal Reserve, U.S, Bank Wealth Management, Traders, Microsoft, Adobe, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Dow Jones, SoftBank's Arm Holdings, Neumora Therapeutics, Thomson Locations: U.S, Minneapolis, New York City, Bengaluru, Oakland , California

☆ Ford’s boss evokes empty threats in union battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Phil Noble Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Ford Motor (F.N) boss Jim Farley is breaking out the "B" word. In a Thursday interview with CNBC, Farley said that pay-rise demands from the United Auto Workers would have driven Ford “bankrupt” if implemented back during 2019 contract negotiations. For now, using “bankrupt” and “Ford” in the same sentence seems like an empty threat. Even in the event of a prolonged strike, Ford has a buffer. The company is sitting on $10 billion of cash net of debt and $47 billion in total liquidity.

Persons: Phil Noble, Jim Farley, Farley, “ Ford ”, Ford, wishlist, Jonathan Guilford, Lauren Silva Laughlin Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Ford, REUTERS, Reuters, CNBC, United Auto Workers, General Motors, X, Thomson Locations: Liverpool, Britain, North America

☆ US junk debt deals carry higher guardrails for investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Matt Tracy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Twelve high-yield issuers have raised $9.6 billion this week, making it the busiest week since November 2021, according to JPMorgan. This stands in stark contrast to the same period in 2022, when only 25% of a total $81 billion was secured debt, according to Informa Global Markets data. According to rating agency Fitch, junk debt defaults are expected to reach 4.5% of all outstanding U.S. junk debt by the end of 2023, up from 2.8% in July. The extra level of protection and high investment returns are ensuring strong demand for new junk debt. The loans are part of a $9.4 billion debt package - the largest since last year's buyout of Twitter by billionaire Elon Musk.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Fitch, Anthony Canale, it's, Brian Gelfand, TCW, Goldman Sachs, Elon Musk, Jefferies, Simon, Matt Tracy, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Hugh Lawson Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, JPMorgan, Informa, Reuters, Covenant, ICE, Morningstar, GTCR, KKR, Jefferies, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S

And now, Shawn Fain is representing nearly 150,000 auto workers in one of the biggest labor strikes in decades. Referring to Biblical scripture, Fain asked union members: "Are you willing to have faith and move that mountain? The Wednesday before contract expiration, he said UAW members must fight for a better contract "by any means necessary" - one of Malcolm X's most quoted phrases. That six-week strike cost GM $3.6 billion and stressed the finances of UAW members. Company executives have said the UAW's demands will make them uncompetitive as the shift to EVs offsets the profits delivered by the combustion trucks UAW members build.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Rebecca Cook, Malcolm X, Detroit carmakers, Fain, handshakes, Bernie Sanders, they’ve, “, ”, Darwin Segers, Mack, Malcolm X's, Garrett Nelson, Jim Farley, Joe White, Ben Klayman, Eric Cox, Bianca Flowers, David Shepardson, Matthew Lewis, Diane Craft Organizations: United Auto Workers, Ford Motor Michigan, REUTERS, Detroit, Ford Motor, General Motors, Detroit Three, Wall, UAW, GM, CFRA, Teamsters, United Parcel Service, UPS, Hollywood, Company, Ford, CNBC, Thomson Locations: Wayne , Michigan, U.S, Detroit, Hollywood, Chicago, Washington

☆ UAW strike could brake hard-driving US economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Dan Burns | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"UAW on strike" signs lean against a pile of wood on the picket line outside the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly in Hamtramck, Michigan, U.S. October 25, 2019. RSM estimates the U.S. economy would suffer a modest 0.2% drag to annualized growth of gross domestic product this quarter should the strike action last for a month, Brusuelas said. Other economists offered comparable estimates of the potential drag from a prolonged strike by the Big Three's full union membership. A full-blown strike "could push U.S. payroll growth temporarily negative," Michael Pearce, lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, wrote on Wednesday. Pearce also estimated a full strike lasting a month could cut U.S. auto output by nearly a third, much as it did during the 1998 strike.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Detroit's, Joe Brusuelas, Brusuelas, Michael Pearce, Pearce, Dan Burns, Deepa Babington, Diane Craft Organizations: UAW, General Motors Detroit, Hamtramck, REUTERS, General Motors, Ford, United Auto Workers, RSM, Big, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Oxford Economics, Labor, payrolls, Thomson Locations: Hamtramck , Michigan, U.S

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 29, 2023. SoftBank's Arm Holdings gained 6.5% after a stellar Nasdaq debut on Thursday, rekindling hopes of a turnaround in the initial public offering (IPO) market. U.S.-listed shares of Alibaba Group Holdings , JD.com , PDD Holdings (PDD.O) and Xpeng rose between 0.1% and 1.6%. ET, Dow e-minis were up 85 points, or 0.24%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 6 points, or 0.13%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 4.5 points, or 0.03%. Reporting by Ankika Biswas and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru Editing by Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Lam, Taiwan's TSMC, Stellantis, rekindling, Russ Mould, AJ Bell, Ankika Biswas, Shristi, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Ford, Motors, UAW, Dow, Nasdaq, Lam Research, KLA Corp, Reuters, Ford Motor, General Motors, United Auto Workers, Chrysler, SoftBank's Arm Holdings, Nvidia, there's, Therapeutics, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Traders, Federal Reserve, University of, Alibaba Group Holdings, PDD Holdings, Dow e, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Auto strike could be speed bump for hard-driving US economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Dan Burns | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"While that amount is large in nominal dollar terms, it would not be large enough to tip the economy into recession. In the end, the impact of a such a strike would be modest compared to previous generations," Brusuelas said. Other economists offered comparable estimates of the potential drag from a prolonged strike by the Big Three's full union membership. A full-blown strike "could push U.S. payroll growth temporarily negative," Michael Pearce, lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, wrote on Wednesday. Pearce also estimated a full strike lasting a month could cut U.S. auto output by nearly a third, much as it did during the 1998 strike.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Detroit's, Joe Brusuelas, Brusuelas, Michael Pearce, Pearce, Dan Burns, Deepa Babington Organizations: UAW, General Motors Detroit, Hamtramck, REUTERS, General Motors, Ford, United Auto Workers, RSM, Big, Federal Reserve, Oxford Economics, Labor, payrolls, Thomson Locations: Hamtramck , Michigan, U.S

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