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☆ UK economy emerges from recession with 0.6% growth in first quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( April Roach | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.K. economy has emerged from recession as gross domestic product rose 0.6% in the first quarter, official figures showed Friday, beating expectations. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast growth of 0.4% on the previous three months of the year. The U.K. entered a shallow recession in the second half of 2023, as persistent inflation continued to hurt the economy. Although there is no official definition of a recession, two straight quarters of negative growth is widely considered a technical recession. The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee on Thursday warned that indicators of persistent inflation "remain elevated," and voted to keep its main interest rate at 5.25%.

Organizations: Reuters, of England's

☆ ‘She Is Such an Athlete’: Astoria the Wild Turkey Is a Manhattan Celebrity
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Alexandra E. Petri | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Manhattan has a new unlikely feathered friend, and she’s visiting luxury retailers, dining at high-end restaurants and roosting in Park Avenue’s densest, greenest trees. Known as Astoria, the wild turkey is about as tall as a toddler, with iridescent hues of orange and blue in her brown feathers, an elegant neck, a healthy figure and wings that have helicopter-like strength. Her unusual appearance in Manhattan this week has once again drummed up excitement, bemusement and a growing following of New Yorkers fascinated by the wild fowl’s adventures — and concerned for its safety — in the Big Apple. David Barrett, a birder who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert account on X, was out in Central Park with his camera when he received an alert from a birding website after 5 p.m. on Tuesday about a wild turkey sighting in Midtown Manhattan. He headed to the corner of 49th Street and Park Avenue, where he said the bird nestled in a planter outside of Fasano, a high-end Italian restaurant.

Persons: —, David Barrett Organizations: Manhattan, Big Apple Locations: Astoria, Manhattan, Central Park, Midtown Manhattan, Fasano

☆ Why you should buy stocks ahead of next week's inflation report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Investors should buy stocks ahead of next week's release of the April CPI report, according to Fundstrat's Tom Lee. An in-line CPI report or better would increase the chances of three interest rate cuts this year, Lee said. AdvertisementInvestors should buy stocks ahead of next week's release of the April CPI report, according to Fundstrat's Tom Lee. Sweden's Riskbank cut interest rates for the first time since 2016 on Wednesday, and the Bank of England signaled that interest rate cuts are imminent. And next week, we expect incoming data to show overall softening of the key components of inflation," Lee said.

Persons: Tom Lee, Lee, — Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Bank of England

☆ People Leaving Rafah Describe Fearful Flight From Israeli Assaults
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Raja Abdulrahim | Bilal Shbair | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Displaced from their home in Gaza City months ago, Ms. al-Wakeel and relatives began packing their bags on Monday and preparing to dismantle their tent in Rafah, at the southern edge of the Gaza Strip. Hamas had announced that it had accepted a cease-fire proposal from Qatar and Egypt, leaving many Gazans thinking that a truce was imminent. Instead, Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets in eastern Rafah telling people to flee and move to what Israel called a humanitarian zone to the north, as the Israeli military bombarded the area. Gazan health officials say that dozens have been killed since Israel’s incursion into parts of Rafah this week. “We thought that day a cease-fire was possible,” said Ms. al-Wakeel, 48, who helped the aid group World Central Kitchen prepare hot meals.

Persons: Manal, Israel, ”, Abu Yousef al, Marwan al Organizations: Hamas, Najjar Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Qatar, Egypt, Israel, Hams

☆ There's a new big bull on Wall Street, and he sees the S&P 500 rising above 5,400 by year-end
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

CFRA's Sam Stovall has emerged as one of the biggest bulls on Wall Street, seeing more room for the S & P 500 to run to a double-digit gain this year. This updated target marks one of the highest on the Street, behind only the 5,500 target from John Stoltzfus at Oppenheimer. It is also 6% higher than the average projection of 5,105, according to the CNBC Pro Market Strategist Survey , which rounds up the targets from the top 14 Wall Street strategists. .SPX YTD mountain S & P 500 The S & P 500 is up more than 9% this year, driven by the continuous rally in many megacap tech names. Stovall sees the S & P 500 hitting 5,610 in the next 12 months, which would translate into a 7.6% gain from Thursday's close of 5,214.

Persons: CFRA's Sam Stovall, John Stoltzfus, Stovall, he's, Jerome Powell, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: CNBC Pro Market, Survey, Federal Locations: Oppenheimer

☆ Live Updates: Former White House Aide Will Return to Stand in Trump Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Matthew Haag | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The judge denied the request and Mr. Trump’s second motion this week for a mistrial. Mr. Trump, 77, has denied the charges and says he did not have sex with Ms. Daniels. Credit... Todd Heisler/The New York TimesThe defense did get Ms. Daniels to concede that she had made money from the scandal. When Ms. Daniels stepped down from the stand Thursday afternoon, Mr. Trump stared at a monitor, not glancing up as she walked by. Image Madeleine Westerhout described life in the Oval Office, including Mr. Trump signing checks there.

Persons: Donald J, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Susan Necheles, Daniels’s, Necheles, ”, Daniels, Trump’s, Todd Blanche, Juan M, Todd Heisler, Mr, Necheles’s, “, Ms, Lucas Jackson, Thursday’s, Madeleine Westerhout, Bill O’Reilly —, Erin Schaff, Westerhout, Michael D, Cohen Organizations: Trump, New York Times, Trump . Credit, Trump glowered, Prosecutors, White House, The New York Times Locations: Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Trump .

☆ Could your buy now, pay later loans affect your credit score? Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But there's one place they're notable absent: your credit report. Earlier this year, Apple became the first major BNPL provider to start reporting all user account information to a credit reporting agency. Providers including AfterPay, Affirm and Klarna already report some loans to the credit bureaus and experts say more are likely to follow, paving the way for a consumer's BNPL history to factor into their credit history and ultimately their credit score. (One of the main aspects of a credit score comes down to your history of paying bills on time.) When BNPL credit reporting could sting

Persons: Klarna, Liz Pagel, BNPL, Wells, Tim Quinlan, Ethan Dornhelm, TransUnion's, Silvio Tavares, Tavares, Pagel Organizations: Apple, Adobe Analytics, CNBC, Finance Locations: TransUnion, Wells Fargo

☆ Hattan Alsaif: ‘When I fight, I can feel my soul alive,’ says Saudi Arabia’s groundbreaking MMA star
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Alsaif is acutely aware of her status as a trailblazer for female MMA fighters in Saudi Arabia and takes such a responsibility seriously. I feel I’m alive when I train, when I fight, in the gym – I can feel my soul alive. “When I breathe after the rounds, when I feel sick, when I feel tired, when I feel courage, when I feel scared, those moments, every part of that, it makes me feel alive. It’s something that means a lot to me.”Alsaif (right) competed in Muay Thai prior to MMA. Sadaa, coach of Saudi Arabia’s Muay Thai national team, has been central to Alsaif’s success, though his influence extends far beyond a sporting sphere.

Persons: Hattan, Saudi Arabia –, – Alsaif, “, ” Alsaif, I’m, “ It’s, Egypt’s Nada Faheem, Alsaif, ”, it’s, Abdullah Al, Feras Sadaa, Sadaa, Claressa Shields, Kelsey De Santis, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Professional Fighters League, wasn’t, Professional, League, Thailand –, Combat Games, Saudi Games, International Federation of Muaythai, Muay Thai, Al, SRJ Sports Investments Company, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Thai, Thailand, East, North Africa, MENA

☆ UK GDP growth: Country exits recession as services bounce back
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Hanna Ziady | Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The increase follows falls of 0.3% in the fourth quarter and 0.1% in the third quarter of last year. The Bank of England now expects UK GDP to expand by 0.5% this year, double the pace forecast in February, according to projections published Thursday. A growing economy could, however, delay the interest rate cuts widely expected this year. “Stronger GDP growth raises the risk of stronger demand pressures on inflation,” analysts at Nomura wrote in a note, adding that Friday’s GDP release “casts doubt” over a cut in June. Annual UK inflation came in at 3.2% last month, a sharp slowdown from a rate above 10% about a year ago.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Nomura, ”, Andrew Bailey, Bailey Organizations: London CNN, Gross, Office, National Statistics, Conservative Party, Labour Party, The Bank of England, P Global . Service, Bank of England Locations: United Kingdom

☆ There’s a surprising bit of good news lurking in the stock market
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Traders fear that elevated rates will uphold painfully high borrowing costs for consumers, squeeze corporate profit and weigh down the market. The labor market has stayed strong, consumers have continued spending and stocks have notched repeated record highs. The April jobs report was a welcome sign that the labor market is cooling without cratering. The labor market added just 175,000 positions last month, marking its lowest tally since October 2023 and a sharp cooldown from the upwardly revised 315,000 jobs added in March. First-time applications for unemployment benefits climbed last week to 231,000, the highest level since last August, in another sign that the labor market is cooling.

Persons: “, ”, Jeff Buchbinder, Jerome Powell, ” Powell, April’s, David Russell, Matt Egan, Wally Adeyemo, Read, Diksha Madhok, Narendra Modi, Modi, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Ambani, Ji, ” Modi, Rahul Gandhi Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal, Traders, CNN, Fed, LPL, ” Treasury, Treasury, Reliance Industries, Adani, Indian National Congress Locations: New York, Thursday’s, ’, India

☆ CNBC's Inside India newsletter: A disconnected stock market
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

CNBCThis report is from this week's CNBC's "Inside India" newsletter which brings you timely, insightful news and market commentary on the emerging powerhouse and the big businesses behind its meteoric rise. For local investors, Indian stocks would have underperformed the U.S. benchmark by more than 45 percentage points since Buffett's 2008 bet. It appears that India's near 8% GDP growth isn't transforming into stock market returns. But that has also meant significant competition for the incumbents, many of which are listed on the stock market. This year has also been particularly unlucky for Indian stock market investors thanks to the uncertainty added by politics.

Persons: Warren Buffett, it's, Jonathan Pines, Federated Hermes, Rajeev Agrawal, Agrawal, Narendra Modi's, Kevin Carter, Buffett, Carter, Modi, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar Organizations: Berkshire, CNBC, BSE, Federated, DoorDarshi Advisors, Narendra Modi's BJP, India, Ecommerce, One97 Communications, Ujjivan Financial, BJP, Russia, Indian, Ukraine, India's Central Bureau of Investigation, Indian Premier League, Wednesday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Locations: Omaha , Nebraska, Omaha, BSE India, India, United States, Gandhinagar Lok Sabha, Russia, Mumbai, Punjab Kings

☆ Japan aging: Women’s participation in ‘naked festival’ a sign of how aging is forcing changes to male-centric traditions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Himari Semans | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Tokyo/Hong Kong CNN —With a history spanning more than 1,200 years, “hadaka matsuri,” or the naked festival, is Japanese masculinity on full display. Some women in Japan still battle deep-rooted cultural expectations that require them to take the role of “shufu,” or housewife, experts say. But in the naked festival, women have recently found hope. Men strip naked — except for a delicate piece of crotch-covering white loincloth — to take part in the naked festival at Konomiya Shrine on February 22, 2024. Women — donning happi, a traditional festive coat — are responsible for carrying a bamboo offering during the naked festival at Konomiya Shrine on February 22, 2024.

Persons: —, Saudi Arabia —, “, Christopher Gallagher, ”, we’ve, ” Haruhiko, Atsuko Tamakoshi, Chris Gallagher, Enyukai, Ayaka Suzuki, Mitsuko Tottori, Yoko Kamikawa, Fumio, Kaori Katada, Hiyori Kon, Sumo, won’t Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Economic, Japan, Reuters, Mikiko, Hosei University, pre, CNN, ”, Ministry of Health, ” Eto, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Japan Airlines, Netflix, Little Locations: Tokyo, Hong Kong, Japan, jostle, Germany, Britain, United States, India, Saudi Arabia, Konomiya Shrine, Konomiya

☆ Consumer sentiment tumbles as inflation fears surge, closely watched survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Consumer sentiment slumped as inflation expectations rose, despite otherwise strong signals in the economy, according to a closely watched survey released Friday. The University of Michigan Survey of Consumers sentiment index for May posted an initial reading of 67.4 for the month, down from 77.2 in April and well off the Dow Jones consensus call for 76. Along with the downbeat sentiment measure, the outlook for inflation across the one- and five-year horizons increased. The inflation readings represent the biggest pitfall for policymakers as the Federal Reserve contemplates the near-term path of monetary policy. The next important data point for inflation comes Wednesday when the Labor Department releases its consumer price index report for April.

Persons: Dow Jones, Joanne Hsu, Paul Ashworth, Jeffrey Roach, it's, Jerome Powell Organizations: The University of Michigan Survey, Dow, North, Capital Economics, Federal Reserve, LPL, Fed, Labor Department Locations: North America, Michigan

☆ Consumers haven’t felt this bad about the economy since November
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Additionally, consumers are bracing for even higher price increases in the year ahead compared to readings from prior months, the survey found. However, the latest reading is still better than last May, when inflation was running at 4%, versus the latest reading of 3.5%. Long-run inflation expectations also rose, to 3.1% from 3.0% in April. Since inflation expectations can effectively control the pace of price hikes, businesses take those expectations into account when pricing goods and services. The survey suggests that the recent optimism consumers had about the state of the economy is waning.

Persons: Biden, FactSet, it’s, they’re, Joanne Hsu Organizations: New, New York CNN, University of Michigan, Federal Reserve, Fed, Consumers Locations: New York

☆ Traders reassess Bank of England rate cuts as UK grows at fastest rate in nearly 3 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey attends the central bank's Monetary Policy Report press conference at the Bank of England, in London, on May 9, 2024. Markets on Friday were pricing in an around 48% chance of a rate cut in June according to LSEG data, slightly higher than Thursday's 45% probability. "The broader message and the tone of the MPC were more dovish than we had anticipated," they said in a note published following the BOE's latest interest rate decision. The central bank on Thursday said it would leave interest rates unchanged for now, and stressed that a June rate cut was in no way guaranteed. Two members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted to cut rates, one more than at the central bank's previous meeting.

Persons: Andrew Bailey, Yui Mok, YUI MOK, BOE Organizations: England, Bank of England, The Bank of England, Getty, Swiss Bank UBS, MPC, Monetary Locations: London

☆ Bank of England holds interest rates steady, but signals a cut is coming
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — The Bank of England on Thursday announced a widely-expected hold on interest rates following its May meeting, as it said restrictive monetary policy was working to bring down inflation. Members of the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to hold, with the latter favoring a cut. In the prior meeting only one member voted for a cut. It keeps the BOE's key Bank Rate at 5.25%. Some economists see a cut as soon as the next meeting in June, and three or more cuts in 2024.

Persons: Matthew Swannell, CNBC's Organizations: Bank of England, Monetary, MPC, BNP

☆ 'It's our duty': Bank of England chief says cutting rates just before a UK election wouldn't be an issue
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Matt Clinch | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey addresses the media during the central bank's Monetary Policy Report press conference at the Bank of England, in London, Britain, on February 1, 2024. LONDON — Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey on Thursday played down any political pressure received by his institution, confirming that a rate cut immediately before a General Election wouldn't be out of the question. This is especially true in election cycles if citizens are dealing with an economic downturn or a cost-of-living squeeze. The Bank of England, which became officially independent in 1998, is no stranger to this pressure with elections expected before the end of this year. The Bank is nearing its first rate cut since 2020, despite holding steady on Thursday.

Persons: Andrew Bailey, wouldn't, Bailey, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, it's Organizations: England, Bank of England, LONDON — Bank of England Locations: London, Britain

☆ Prices have surged so much in Argentina that the government will print 10,000 peso notes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Astronomic inflation in Argentina has caused the government to higher denominations of the country's peso. The central bank next month will issue a 10,000 peso note, worth about $11 based on Thursday's exchange rate. AdvertisementInflation is so bad in Argentina that the central bank will issue 10,000 peso notes to relieve people from the burden of having to haul bags of cash around for day-to-day needs. The note, worth about $11 based on Thursday exchange rates, tops the 2,000 peso note as the country's biggest bill. Meanwhile, the central bank also announced that it will launch a larger bill — a 20,000-peso note — later this year.

Persons: —, Javier Milei Organizations: Service, Associated Press Locations: Argentina

☆ A Former Guantánamo Prisoner’s New Life
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Carol Rosenberg | Natalie Keyssar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On the 15th night of Ramadan in a suburb of Belize City, Majid Khan and his family of four sat down for a traditional iftar meal to break the daylight hours fast. There was a leg of a lamb that Majid, a former Guantánamo detainee, had slaughtered himself, sweets brought by a sister in Maryland, dates from Saudi Arabia. The talk was small, about whether the biryani dish was too spicy and how the lamb was perfectly roasted. For two decades, this family meal was not possible. He pleaded guilty and became a government cooperator — and, all that time, his wife waited for him in Pakistan.

Persons: Majid Khan, Majid, Hamza, Rabia, Manaal, Khan, — Organizations: Central Locations: Belize City, Maryland, Saudi Arabia, Central American, Al Qaeda, Belize, Indonesia, United States, Guantánamo, Pakistan

☆ Chad’s Military Ruler Is Announced as Winner of Disputed Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Ruth Maclean | More About Ruth Maclean | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Celebratory gunshots rang out in the capital of the Central African nation of Chad on Thursday night after its military ruler, President Mahamat Idriss Déby, was declared the winner of a highly scripted presidential election on national television. Two hours before the official broadcast, a “resounding victory” had been claimed by his main challenger, Succès Masra, the opposition leader who has been the country’s prime minister since January, after he returned from exile abroad and made a deal with Mr. Déby. But the preliminary results announced by Chad’s National Elections Management Agency depicted a resounding victory for the other side. Mr. Déby, it said, won 61 percent of the vote, and Mr. Masra 18.5 percent. Many analysts saw the result of Chad’s election as a foregone conclusion, and one that had been masterminded by a supposedly transitional government that never had any intention of relinquishing power.

Persons: Mahamat Idriss Déby, ”, Succès Masra, Déby Organizations: Central, Mr, Chad’s National Elections Management Agency Locations: Central African, Chad

☆ 10-year Treasury yield rises as investors consider remarks from Fed officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Treasury yields were higher on Thursday as investors considered remarks from Federal Reserve officials, scanning them for hints about the interest rate outlook. Collins' comments echoed those made by Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari and Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin earlier in the week. More Fed officials are set to speak on Thursday and Friday. Elsewhere, the Bank of England is due to announce its latest interest rate decision on Thursday. The BoE is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged, but investors will be scanning Governor Andrew Bailey's statement for hints about a potential summer rate cut.

Persons: Susan Collins, Collins, Neel Kashkari, Tom Barkin, BoE, Andrew Bailey's Organizations: Treasury, Federal Reserve, Boston, Wednesday, Minneapolis, Richmond Fed, Fed, Bank of England

☆ Planet Fitness will raise its $10 membership plan for the first time in 26 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The Planet Fitness $10-a-month membership plan is a powerful marketing tool and a central part of its strategy. Planet Fitness will raise the price of its “classic” membership from $10 a month to $15 for new members beginning in the summer. “It’s a ‘get you off the couch’ price,” Planet Fitness’ former CEO told CNN in 2022. Planet Fitness blared out the $10 gym plan, which includes annual fees and free training, in commercials. “We’ve seen in every industry people move in price,” Planet Fitness interim CEO Craig Benson said.

Persons: Sharon Zackfia, William Blair, “ We’ve, Craig Benson, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Fitness, Black Card Locations: New York, United States, Square

☆ Oil rises on U.S. crude storage draw, Fed rate cut hopes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An oil pump jack at the New Harmony Oil Field in Grayville, Illinois, US, on Sunday, June 19, 2022. Oil prices rose in early trade on Thursday as shrinking U.S. crude inventories signaled tighter supply, and amid rising hopes that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates by the end of the year. Crude inventories dropped last week by 1.4 million barrels to 459.5 million barrels, according to the Energy Information Administration, more than analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.1 million-barrel draw as refinery activity increased. Increasing expectations that the U.S. central bank will cut interest rates by year end after weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs data also boosted oil prices. Lower interest rates can increase spending on crude oil.

Organizations: New Harmony Oil, Federal Reserve, Brent, . West Texas, Energy Information Administration, EIA Locations: Grayville , Illinois, U.S, Gaza, Israel

☆ In Budapest, Xi Hails a ‘Deep Friendship’ With Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Xi Jinping of China on Thursday found another safe zone in a continent increasingly wary of his country, meeting in Budapest with the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, the European Union’s perennial odd-man-out as a vocal supporter of warm relations with both China and Russia. As happened at his previous stop in Serbia, Mr. Xi received a rapturous welcome and was spared from protesters, with his motorcade from the airport on Wednesday evening taking a roundabout route into the Hungarian capital, avoiding Tibetan protesters. Police banned a protest planned for Thursday in the center of Budapest and a large Tibetan flag that had been hoisted on a hill overlooking the venue of a welcome reception was covered with a Chinese one. In an article in Magyar Nemzet, which is controlled by Mr. Orban’s governing Fidesz party, Mr. Xi gushed about his “deep friendship” with Hungarian leaders and described Hungary as a trusted “traveling companion” on what he called a “golden voyage” that had taken relations to their “best period of history.” Hungary, he noted, was “the No. 1 target in the central Eastern European region for Chinese investment.”

Persons: Xi Jinping, Viktor Orban, Xi, Orban’s, Xi gushed, ” Organizations: Police, Fidesz, ” Locations: China, Budapest, Russia, Serbia, Magyar, Hungary, ” Hungary

☆ Why Higher Fed Rates Are Not Totally Off the Table
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Investors do not expect the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again, and officials have made it clear that they see further increases as unlikely. But one important takeaway from recent Fed commentary is that unlikely and inconceivable are not the same thing. After the central bank held rates steady at 5.3 percent last week, the Fed’s chair, Jerome H. Powell, delivered a news conference where what he didn’t say mattered. Asked whether officials might raise interest rates again, he said he thought they probably would not — but he also avoided fully ruling out the possibility. And when asked, twice, whether he thought rates were high enough to bring inflation fully under control, he twice tiptoed around the question.

Persons: Jerome H, Powell, Mr, ” Organizations: Federal Reserve

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