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[1/2] A person walks past a First Republic Bank branch in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoApril 26 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. An unholy trinity of U.S. developments on Tuesday - poor corporate earnings, a bank's value going up in smoke and slumping consumer confidence - will likely set an extremely gloomy tone for Asian markets on Wednesday. The wider U.S. regional banking index's 4% slide - its fourth straight decline - took its year-to-date decline to 25%. If there is a tailwind for Asian markets on Wednesday amid the headwinds it will be the after-hours results from Google's parent company Alphabet GOOGL.O and Microsoft .MSFT.O.

☆ Oil dips 2% on economic woes and stronger dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An oil pumpjack pulls oil from the Permian Basin oil field on March 14, 2022 in Odessa, Texas. Oil dropped 2% on Tuesday after two sessions of gains as deepening concerns of an economic slowdown and a stronger dollar outweighed hopes of higher Chinese demand and lower U.S. crude stocks. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $1.69, or 2.2%, to settle at $77.07. A stronger dollar pressures oil demand by making the commodity more expensive for buyers holding other currencies. Gold prices also were flat as the dollar strengthened, while U.S. stocks fell as weak earnings fanned economic fears.

☆ Oil prices settle higher on optimism about fuel demand in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said finger-pointing and misrepresenting the actions of OPEC and OPEC+ was "counterproductive." Oil prices settled higher on Monday, reversing losses as investors grew optimistic that holiday travel in China would boost fuel demand in the world's largest oil importer. China's bumpy economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic has clouded the oil demand outlook, though Chinese customs data on Friday showed record volumes of imports in March. "There's a lot of optimism around Chinese holidays as it relates to jet fuel demand, the first genuine numbers on Chinese demand construction," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho. "Planned output cuts by the OPEC+ alliance and a strong demand outlook from China could provide a fillip to prices in the coming days", said independent oil analyst Sugandha Sachdeva.

April 24 (Reuters) - Iraq's northern oil exports showed few concrete signs of an imminent restart after a month of standstill, as aspects of an agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have yet to be resolved, according to four sources. Baghdad and Erbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, signed a temporary agreement on April 4 to restart northern oil exports. The KRG and Iraq's oil ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Iraq's lack of willingness to discuss these issues has frustrated Turkey, according to one source. Fields which are still running include Khurmala, which has reduced output from around 135,000 bpd to 100,000 bpd, according to a source familiar with field operations.

April 24 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co (KO.N) on Monday topped estimates for first-quarter revenue and profit on resilient demand for its sodas and multiple price increases by the beverages maker to combat higher commodity and shipping costs. Average selling prices increased 11%, the maker of Fanta and Sprite said, while global unit case volumes rose 3%. Coca-Cola said in February it would raise soda prices further in 2023 "across the world" to combat the stubbornly high costs but at a moderating pace, while rival PepsiCo (PEP.O) hit a pause on price hikes. Still, Pepsi and Coca-Cola faced little or no pushback from consumers, thanks to their near domination of the global carbonated drinks market. Coca-Cola's first-quarter operating margin was 30.7%, compared to 32.5% a year earlier, as price hikes did not fully help offset an impact from higher operating costs, an increase in marketing spending, investments and a stronger dollar.

☆ Big Tech earnings, crucial inflation call — here comes the biggest week of earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Stocks stuck to a holding pattern this week as investors brace for an incoming wave of Big Tech earnings and the Fed's favorite inflation reading. Earnings reports have generally been better than expected so far this first quarter. Humana (HUM) reports before the bell Wednesday; Meta Platforms and Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) report after the bell Wednesday. ET: Personal Spending & Income (includes PCE Price Index) Club trades this week Just one trade: We added 150 shares of Coterra Energy (CTRA) on Wednesday. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

OAKLAND, California, April 19 (Reuters) - Silicon Valley 5G chip startup EdgeQ Inc said on Wednesday it raised $75 million to help fund a ramp up in production as the company starts selling its technology to customers, including telecom operators. EdgeQ makes semiconductors that power base stations for 5G telecom towers and for 5G access points that can be installed inside places like factories to run robots and autonomous vehicles wirelessly, said Vinay Ravuri, CEO and co-founder of EdgeQ. The fundraising shows that companies viewed as promising by investors are able to secure financing even though funding has dried up for many startups following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the ensuing banking sector turmoil in March. EdgeQ has a valuation of "hundreds of millions of dollars", said Ravuri, adding it was "definitely less than" $1 billion. The recent advent of a new open standard chip architecture called RISC-V has made it possible to design its new 5G chip more cost effectively, he said.

☆ Nasdaq profit beats as market volatility bolsters trading
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 19 (Reuters) - Nasdaq Inc's (NDAQ.O) first-quarter profit beat Wall Street estimates on Wednesday as increased market volatility boosted trading and helped mitigate a hit to the indexing business of the Transatlantic-exchange operator. Trading volumes rose as investors rejigged their portfolios in response to slowdown worries due to a sharp rise in interest rates, persistently high inflation and the banking crisis. Nasdaq's net trading services revenue rose 1% to $267 million, helped by strong growth in North America that offset the decline in European trading. The New York-based company had in the last quarter reorganized its corporate structure into three divisions — market platforms, capital access platforms and anti-financial crime. Reuters GraphicsThe company's net revenue, excluding transaction-based expenses, rose 2% to $914 million.

The extrajudicial killing has sparked widespread concern about the state of law and order in Uttar Pradesh as well as fears of retaliation. A decade later, he was elected as a member of Uttar Pradesh’s legislative assembly where he served five times, from 1989 to 2004. Police in Uttar Pradesh have killed more than 180 suspected criminals during encounters over past six years, according to Reuters. “The shoot out that happened is unacceptable.”CNN reached out to Uttar Pradesh police for comment on the situation but did not receive a response prior to publication. A political flashpointFollowing the incident, the Uttar Pradesh state government announced it will form two three-member Special Task Forces (SIT) to investigate the killing of Atiq and his brother.

[1/2] The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S., November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File PhotoSummarySummary Companies U.S. dollar, interest rate concerns pressure oilG7 coalition to keep Russian oil price cap at $60/bbl -sourceBaghdad, KRG take step toward resuming Iraq oil exportsChina's Q1 GDP data expected to support oil pricesSINGAPORE, April 17 (Reuters) - Oil prices turned lower on Monday as the U.S. dollar strengthened and as investors mulled over a possible May interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve, which could dampen economic recovery hopes. The U.S. dollar has been strengthening alongside interest rate hikes, making dollar-denominated oil more expensive for holders of other currencies. "The dollar is a little bit stronger, and that seems to be putting a little bit of pressure on oil here," Price Futures Group analyst Phil Flynn said. In Saudi Arabia, crude oil exports in February fell to 7.455 million bpd from 7.658 million bpd in January, official data showed on Monday.

Analyst Samik Chatterjee upgraded HP shares to overweight from neutral. "We are looking to turn a corner in relation to the headwinds that have plagued the PC end-market," Chatterjee wrote in a note Monday. He added that structural margin improvement in the printer segment should help HPQ offset some of the downward pressures from easing supply. The analyst admitted that HP still faces long-term challenges in its printer segment. Shares have jumped almost 11% in 2023 amid a rally in tech shares, after slumping almost 29% in 2022.

ORLANDO, Florida, April 14 (Reuters) - Engineering a soft landing is hard. Blinder posits that the soft landing parameters of avoiding recession completely are too narrow. "To achieve another soft landing under these circumstances, the Fed will have to be skillful indeed," Blinder concludes. The Fed cut rates five months later and the rest is soft landing history. Of these 70 episodes, 41 ended with a hard landing and 29 with a soft landing.

☆ Instagram's creator marketplace could see an influx of brand deal opportunities as it opens up to 3rd-party platforms and agencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Instagram is now onboarding third-party influencer-marketing platforms and agencies. Despite being less than a year old, Instagram's test of a creator marketplace has already had its share of ups and downs. That means Instagram's creator marketplace could potentially see an increase in brands and paid opportunities for influencers in the coming weeks. Agencies will be able to communicate with creators directly via Meta's Creator Marketplace. InstagramTikTok's creator marketplace made a nearly identical move in 2021 when it brought on "alpha partners" such as Influential, Whalar, and Captiv8.

☆ British EV startup Arrival announces reverse stock split
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 11 (Reuters) - British EV startup Arrival SA said on Tuesday its shareholders, on April 6, approved a reverse stock split at a ratio of one-for-fifty to gain compliance with Nasdaq's listing regulations. Arrival's stock fell about 8% to $0.13 in trading before the bell. The reverse stock split will be effective on April 14. Last week Arrival said it would merge with blank-check firm Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp V (KCGI.N). The special purpose acquisition company had about $283 million in cash held in trust, that will contribute to the business, Arrival had said.

☆ Oil edges higher as tighter supply looms, growth concerns weigh
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I am in the latter camp and still see prices moving higher from here as we go through the year." Adding to tightness in supply has been a shutdown of Iraq's northern exports. A deal was signed last week to restart the flows, but as of Thursday they hadn't resumed. Oil also drew support from a steeper-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories last week, as well as a decline in gasoline and distillate stocks, hinting at rising demand. Also coming up are monthly reports from OPEC on Thursday and the International Energy Agency on Friday, which will update oil demand and supply forecasts.

☆ Oil steadies as tighter supply balances growth concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brent crude slipped 3 cents to $85.09 a barrel by 0816 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 8 cents to $80.78. "I am in the latter camp and still see prices moving higher from here as we go through the year." Adding to tightness in supply has been a shutdown of Iraq's northern exports. Oil also drew support from a steeper-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories last week, as well as a decline in gasoline and distillate stocks, hinting at rising demand. In global financial markets, a U.S. inflation report to be released on Wednesday could help investors gauge the near-term trajectory for interest rates.

☆ KBW downgrades this payments stock with 'small risks starting to add up'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A growing list of headwinds is beginning to signal worry for Jack Dorsey's Block , according to KBW. The firm downgraded Block to market perform from outperform, citing pressure from small risks that are piling up. KBW also lowered its price target on Block shares to $75 per share from $90. "We think SQ's risk/reward profile has become less attractive as multiple risks are starting to add up," KBW's Steven Kwok wrote. "This could pressure volume growth, take rates, and ultimately profitability," Kwok said.

☆ Apple's esteemed reputation brings a competitive edge to its VR rollout, says GQ's Zach Baron
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailApple's esteemed reputation brings a competitive edge to its VR rollout, says GQ's Zach BaronZach Baron, senior staff writer at GQ, and CNBC's Steve Kovach join 'The Exchange' to discuss Tim Cook's future career plans, the Apple VR headset, and Apple's creative reputation.

☆ The Russian air force's struggles in Ukraine reveal glaring problems in now Moscow trains its pilots
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Alex Hollings | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +35 min

Despite being bigger and more advanced than its enemy, Russia's air force has struggled in Ukraine. It's commonly said that Russian fighter pilots are not as well trained as their Western counterparts, particularly those from the United States. But however ineffective you may think Russian pilot training is compared to the West, the truth seems to be … much worse. A Russian air force pilot prepares to take off in an Su-35 fighter jet at Hemeimeem air base in Syria in September 2019. Put simply, the Gulf War air campaign creates a damning juxtaposition when compared directly to Russia's air campaign over Ukraine.

☆ Iraq calls on Turkey to apologize for attack on Sulaymaniyah airport
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Erbil, April 8 (Reuters) - Iraq called on Turkey on Saturday to apologize for what it said was an attack on Sulaymaniyah airport in Iraq's north, saying the Turkish government must cease hostilities on Iraqi soil. A Turkish defence ministry official told Reuters that no Turkish Armed Forces operation took place in that region on Friday. Turkey has conducted several large-scale military operations including air strikes over the decades in northern Iraq and northern Syria against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, Islamic State and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Claims of an attack came days after Turkey closed its airspace to aircraft travelling to and from Sulaymaniyah due to what it said was intensified activity there by PKK militants. The outlawed PKK, which has led an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

☆ Here are Thursday's biggest analyst calls: Netflix, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, FedEx, Pinterest & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Raymond James upgrades FedEx to outperform from market perform Raymond James said and "undeniable" positive change is underway at the shipping giant. "We are initiating coverage of XPO, one of the largest less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers, in North America, with an Outperform rating and a $44 target price." "We are initiating coverage of Skyworks Solutions, with a Buy rating and $150 target price. Raymond James upgrades Wells Fargo to strong buy from outperform Raymond James said the banking giant is well positioned in the current environment. Raymond James initiates Pinterest as outperform Raymond James said it sees "steady user growth" for Pinterest.

☆ Apple CEO Tim Cook keeps his email address public, and says he starts each day at 5 a.m. reading customers' feedback
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tim Cook told GQ that he starts every day by reading emails from customers at 5 a.m. According to GQ's profile of Cook, he often forwards these emails to other Apple employees. Cook is one of the few CEOs of big tech companies to have his email address open to the public. By keeping his email open, Cook is likely showing that the company is motivated by customer feedback. Insider previously reported that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates starts his day with an hour on the treadmill while his wife says he doesn't eat breakfast.

Iraq, OPEC's second largest oil producer, exports the bulk of its oil through its southern Gulf port of Basra. An Iraqi oil ministry official with knowledge of the meeting said the aim was to reassure the companies that their deals with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) were secure. Baghdad and the KRG signed a temporary agreement on Tuesday to restart northern oil exports as part of efforts to end decades of political and economic disputes. Petraco confirmed its presence at talks in Baghdad and said it was currently awaiting further developments. Further complicating the picture, Kurdistan has borrowed billions of dollars from trading houses and oil producers, including to build a new pipeline to Turkey, pledging to repay debts from future oil exports.

☆ Frank's founder just got hit with federal charges, but questions remain about JPMorgan's handling of the deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Drop any Wall Street (or non-Wall Street) questions you have for me here. A quick refresher: JPMorgan accused Javice of juicing Frank's customer numbers in a lawsuit filed at the end of last year. Prosecutors charged Javice with wire fraud affecting a financial institution, securities fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy. I've joked about it before, but Taylor Swift really should teach a class on this stuff for Wall Street. It's not the president or Wall Street or Congress that's to blame.

Companies TotalEnergies SE FollowBAGHDAD, April 4 (Reuters) - Baghdad has reached an agreement to hold a 30% stake in TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) long-delayed $27 billion Iraq project, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The deal was signed in 2021 for TotalEnergies to build four oil, gas and renewables projects with an initial investment of $10 billion in southern Iraq over 25 years. Iraq's demand for a 40% share in the project was a key sticking point as TotalEnergies wants a majority stake. The agreement to lower the share to 30% was struck after meetings in Baghdad over the past few days, an industry source said. "The deal should be activated within days," a senior Iraqi oil ministry official said.

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