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☆ Toronto stocks join global selloff as Credit Suisse sparks concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 15 (Reuters) - Canada's resources-heavy main stock index fell on Wednesday, dragged by energy and financial stocks, as Credit Suisse's turbulence sparked renewed concerns of a banking crisis. Global financial stocks slumped once again after a brief relief rally on Tuesday as Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) hit a record low after the Swiss lender's biggest backer said it would not buy any more shares. Energy stocks (.SPTTEN) were the top decliners, falling 5.7%, as oil prices extended losses with Brent crude hitting a three-month low. Financials (.SPTTFS), Canada's largest sector by weight, joined a global selloff in bank stocks, falling 2.2%. Canadian stocks have lost nearly all of their yearly gains in the last few days, with the index now at par after the collapse of U.S. lenders SVB and Signature sparked contagion concerns in global financial stocks.

☆ US railroad group warns carriers to stop using cars with loose wheels
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - A group representing major U.S. railroads on Thursday warned carriers to stop using rail cars with loose wheels until those wheel sets can be replaced. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) said Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) had identified loose wheels on a series of cars that present an increased risk of an out of gage derailment. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was looking at the role of the loose wheels in recent derailments and praised the industry action. Norfolk Southern had 517 railcars in use with the wheels at issue, she added. Norfolk Southern did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ Norfolk Southern makes broad safety adjustments after third train derailment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An internal Norfolk Southern email sent Sunday and obtained by CNBC with a time stamp approximately 11 hours after the latest derailment indicated that Norfolk Southern was planning to reduce train length in an effort to prevent future incidents. Sources tell CNBC the email was given to Norfolk Southern yard managers, who are union workers in charge of stacking the trains. Norfolk Southern told CNBC other railroad carriers currently have this safety practice in place. "At Norfolk Southern, the safety of our crews and the communities we serve comes first," Connor Spielmaker, spokesman for Norfolk Southern, wrote via email. Norfolk Southern told CNBC it is actively reviewing all safety protocols to make sure trains are operating appropriately across the network.

☆ Despite East Palestine toxic train disaster, railroads still want single-person crews
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The rail safety legislation, introduced in Congress Wednesday with bipartisan support, would include a prohibition on single-person crews. There is no such existing law or federal regulation requiring both an engineer and a conductor to be on a train. The Association of American Railroads confirmed that its position in favor of one-person crews has not changed. “No data shows a two-person crew confined to a cab is safer, and train crew size should continue to be determined through collective bargaining,” a statement from UP. But it might have one or two provisions which are deal breakers for the unions, such as allowing single-person crews.

☆ Senator Warren urges transport regulator to block U.S. railroad deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 3 (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has urged a U.S. regulator to reject Canadian Pacific's (CP.TO) $31 billion deal to take control of U.S. railroad Kansas City Southern, saying it would hurt competition, prompt job losses and disrupt service, a letter seen by Reuters showed. The acquisition, which combines the sixth- and seventh-largest U.S. railroads by revenue, was agreed in 2021. The deal has since closed but Kansas City shares were transferred to a trust and the railroad must operate independently until the Surface Transportation Board, which oversees U.S. freight railroads, approves the transaction. The number of big U.S. railroads has already shrunk to just seven from 33 in 1980, Warren wrote. Last month, Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth asked the board to defer a decision until it completes a Chicago region impact assessment.

☆ This week's best performers include Salesforce and these solar stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Solar energy names First Solar and SolarEdge Technologies both made the list of this week's biggest gainers. First Solar was this week's top performer, with shares popping 23.2% following strong guidance for 2023. More than half of analysts covering the stock rate it a buy, but also see it coming down slightly from current levels. Software company Salesforce was also one of this week's notable gainers, with the stock on Thursday having their best day since 2020 following a blowout earnings report. Several non-energy materials stocks were also strong performers this week, with Steel Dynamics and Mosaic gaining 12.5% and 9.4%, respectively.

☆ Rail unions tell Biden officials workers have fallen ill at Norfolk Southern derailment site
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pete Buttigieg, US transportation secretary, speaks during a news conference near the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, US, on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. The presidents of U.S. railroad unions told Biden administration officials that rail workers have fallen ill at the Norfolk Southern derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio, in a push for more train safety. The meeting comes on the heels of letters sent to both the DOT and the FRA Wednesday in which union representations claimed rail workers had gotten sick at the derailment site. According to the letter, Norfolk Southern rail workers who have worked or continue to work the cleanup site have reported experiencing "migraines and nausea." One worker reportedly asked his supervisor to be transferred off the derailment site because of his symptoms, but never heard back from his supervisor and was left at the job site.

☆ Stocks close slightly up after prior week's selloff
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

All three main stock indexes climbed more than 1% shortly after the opening bell, in part due to an easing in Treasury yields, and all three closed well off their session highs. Stocks steadily gave up gains throughout the session as U.S. Treasury yields moved off the day's lows. Traders work on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., January 27, 2023. Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.69-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.41-to-1 ratio favored advancers. The S&P 500 posted 4 new 52-week highs and 8 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 71 new highs and 102 new lows.

☆ Wall Street bounces modestly after prior week's selloff
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Each of the three main indexes climbed more than 1% shortly after the opening bell, in part due to an easing in Treasury yields. The yield on two-year Treasury notes , which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, slipped after touching a near four-month high. Seagen Inc (SGEN.O) surged 9.73% after the Wall Street Journal reported that Pfizer (PFE.N) was in early talks to acquire the biotech firm. Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 2.30-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.66-to-1 ratio favored advancers. The S&P 500 posted four new 52-week highs and five new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 58 new highs and 82 new lows.

☆ Wall Street edges higher after last week's rout
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Sruthi Shankar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Some relatively significant losses last week is the starting point," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth. "Also, when you look at the drivers last week, better-than-expected economic data pushed yields higher. The yield on two-year Treasury notes , the most sensitive to short-term rate expectations, slipped after touching a near four-month high earlier. Seagen Inc (SGEN.O) surged 10.5% after the Wall Street Journal reported that Pfizer (PFE.N) was in early talks to acquire the biotech firm. The S&P index recorded three new 52-week highs and three new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 51 new highs and 64 new lows.

☆ Wall Street climbs after worst weekly selloff of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Sruthi Shankar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"February historically is the second worst month of the year for the stock market. So investors are concluding from a seasonal perspective that maybe stocks could rally at least in the near term." The yield on two-year notes , the most sensitive to short-term rate expectations, slipped after touching a near four-month high earlier in the session. After last week's hawkish comments from the Fed policymakers, investors will turn to Fed Governor Philip Jefferson's speech later in the day. Seagen Inc (SGEN.O) surged 12.2% after the Wall Street Journal reported that Pfizer (PFE.N) was in early talks to acquire the biotech firm.

☆ Wall Street set for opening gains after sharp weekly losses
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Sruthi Shankar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Futures pointed to a recovery in sentiment on Monday as U.S. Treasury yields slipped after a strong rally. Rate-sensitive growth stocks such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) climbed in premarket trading. So investors are concluding from a seasonal perspective that maybe stocks could rally at least in the near term." After last week's hawkish comments from the Fed policymakers, investors will turn to Fed Governor Philip Jefferson's speech later in the day. Seagen Inc (SGEN.O) surged 13.2% after the Wall Street Journal reported that Pfizer (PFE.N) was in early talks to acquire the biotech firm.

☆ Union Pacific shares rise after CEO Fritz to step down amid investor pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Shares of Union Pacific Corp (UNP.N) surged nearly 10% before the bell on Monday, a day after the U.S. railroad operator announced that its Chief Executive Lance Fritz would step down this year amid pressure from investor Soroban Capital Partners. The gains came after some Wall Street analysts backed the leadership change at the company, which has struggled with labor shortages and service issues. Union Pacific's shares have dropped more than 25% over the past 10 months. Other analysts said a new leadership has the potential to improve the company's operating ratio — a key profitability metric. In its most-recent quarter, the company flagged higher operating expenses caused by operational inefficiencies and the current economic environment hitting its revenue growth.

☆ Futures rise after Wall Street's worst weekly rout of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Futures up: Dow 0.41%, S&P 0.46%, Nasdaq 0.53%Feb 27 (Reuters) - Futures tracking the main U.S. indexes rose on Monday after Wall Street posted its worst weekly performance of 2023 on fears that the Federal Reserve would keep raising rates this year. Futures pointed to a slight recovery in market sentiment on Monday as some of the rate-sensitive growth stocks rose in premarket trading. ET, Dow e-minis were up 135 points, or 0.41%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 18.25 points, or 0.46%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 64 points, or 0.53%. Seagen Inc (SGEN.O) surged 14.9% after the Wall Street Journal reported that Pfizer (PFE.N) was in early talks to acquire the biotech firm. Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb ChakrabartyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Union Pacific CEO to step down as hedge fund presses for change
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 26 (Reuters) - U.S. railroad Union Pacific (UNP.N) on Sunday said it expects to name a successor to assume the position of chief executive officer replacing Lance Fritz in 2023. "Union Pacific has been my home for 22 years and I am confident that now is the right time for Union Pacific’s next leader to take the helm. The announcement comes after U.S. hedge fund Soroban Capital Partners in a letter on Sunday called for Fritz to be replaced. Union Pacific in a statement said as part of the board's succession planning process it has considered shareholder input and will continue to do so, adding it has been actively engaging with Soroban Capital since 2017. Reporting by Rhea Binoy and Kanjyik Ghosh in Bengaluru Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Buttigieg urges U.S. railroads to boost safety, not oppose reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/7] Drone footage shows the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released by the NTSB. Buttigieg said he would soon outline specific safety improvements railroads should take immediately. He harshly criticized them for lobbying against steps "intended to improve rail safety and to help keep Americans safe." Buttigieg said he also planned to outline "prioritized actions planned" by the U.S. Department of Transportation on rail safety. In response to the derailment, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell Friday opened an inquiry into railroad hazardous materials safety practices.

[1/3] Drone footage shows the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released by the NTSB. NTSBGov/Handout via REUTERSFeb 14 (Reuters) - Cleanup is moving quickly after a train carrying toxic materials derailed in Ohio 11 days ago, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said on Tuesday, while residents and observers questioned the health impacts of pollution that spilled into the Ohio River. Officials said the volume of the river diluted the plume and the plume did not pose a serious threat. UNION WARNINGSRailroad union officials said they have been warning that such an accident could happen because railroad cost-cutting harmed safety measures. "No one wants to listen until we have a town blown off the face of the earth, then people listen," said Whitaker, whose union is the largest U.S. railroad union representing conductors, engineers and other workers.

☆ SEC ends insider trading probe of ex-Sen. Richard Burr and brother-in-law without taking action, lawyers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Burr and Fauth had a very short phone call on the same day as the stock sales, the SEC has said in court filings. The Department of Justice earlier had closed a criminal investigation of Burr and Fauth without taking action against either man. The SEC in court filings has said that on Feb. 13, 2020, Burr called his stockbroker and directed him to sell more than $1.65 million worth of stock. Almost three hours later, Burr called Fauth's cellphone for a call that lasted 50 seconds, the SEC has said. A minute or less after that, Fauth called his primary stockbroker, who did not answer, the SEC has said in filings.

☆ Sick and family leave are top union demands post-Covid-pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Eli M. Rosenberg | Eli Rosenberg Is An Investigative Tech Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Rail workers nearly went on strike over paid sick leave. Glen Stubbe / Star Tribune via AP fileMore than 100,000 rail workers were days away from a likely strike after the rail companies refused demands for five paid sick days. Labor experts and organizers say the pandemic aimed a floodlight at the public health ramifications of in-person work, elevating for workers the importance of paid leave in contract disputes. “This was the sticking point for the railroads.”Following Congress’ resolution of the impasse, activist investors have put forth proposals to get two of the biggest rail companies, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, to offer their workers paid sick leave next year. “We appreciate the work of the negotiating teams and the mediator in reaching this agreement in principle.”Other unions are paying attention to these fights — and gearing up to make sick leave a major part of their negotiations.

☆ U.S. lawmakers urge Biden to guarantee rail workers' sick leave
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - More than 70 lawmakers including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday urged President Joe Biden to take executive action to guarantee rail workers paid sick days. On Dec. 2, Biden signed legislation to block a national U.S. railroad strike that could have devastated the American economy after some unions voted against the deal over a lack of paid sick leave. The White House did not immediately comment on the lawmakers' letter, signed by 72 Democratic lawmakers and Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. Railroad workers have no paid short-term sick days after unions representing 115,000 workers asked for 15 days and railroads settled on one personal day. "Guaranteeing that workers are not operating trains or inspecting rail signals while sick or tired would fundamentally improve the safety of our national rail operations," the letter said.

☆ U.S. railroad investor resolutions urge paid sick leave for workers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Investors have proposed shareholder resolutions at two U.S. railroads calling for paid sick leave for workers, an issue that nearly caused a national rail strike, and they could go to an advisory vote at shareholder meetings in the spring. But the deal he approved did not include paid sick days for workers, a key sticking point for unions in contract talks with five major U.S. railroads. read moreProposals seen by Reuters filed by activist investors ask Norfolk Southern Corp (NSC.N) and Union Pacific Corp (UNP.N) to offer "a reasonable amount" of paid sick time, determined by company directors. Kate Monahan, a director at Trillium Asset Management, the socially minded investor that filed the resolution at Union Pacific, said more flexible sick time would have broader benefits like reducing workforce turnover. Railroads worry implementing paid sick leave would require more employees at a time when many have cut their workforces dramatically.

Paid sick leave was one of the outstanding issues in the negotiations. Rail workers get zero paid sick days. Paid sick leave is a basic human right. The measure to provide seven paid sick days did not win the required 60-vote supermajority in the Senate and was not endorsed by the White House. Senator Bernie Sanders and others denounced railroad companies for refusing to offer paid sick leave.

[1/3] U.S. President Joe Biden addresses a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., December 1, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstWASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden signed legislation Friday to block a national U.S. railroad strike that could have devastated the American economy. But the Senate failed to approve a measure that would have provided paid sick days to railroad workers. Rail workers get zero paid sick days. Paid sick leave is a basic human right.

☆ Rail union bosses warn of election consequences as Senate moves closer to vote on labor deal to prevent strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

watch nowLeaders of the rail labor unions that have voted not to ratify the tentative labor deal tell CNBC that as the Senate moves closer to a vote on Thursday afternoon on legislation to prevent a rail strike, senators need to realize this is a humanitarian issue and their members will not forget who supported them. On Wednesday, the House passed the tentative rail labor agreement and additional legislation to add seven paid sick days, which has been one of the most important issues to rail workers in the breakdown of negotiations with freight rail companies. All three union presidents say they understand why President Biden had to push Congress to pass the tentative agreement. Biden's PEB deal 'missed the mark'Ferguson said the Presidential Emergency Board rail labor deal "missed a few marks and sidestepped a few, mainly our attendance policy issues." Supply chain congestion and rail embargoesThe unions argue that precision railroading and the lack of labor are the reasons behind congestion in the supply chain.

☆ Biden says his administration is engaged in talks to avert railroad strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Nandita Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On Monday, workers at the largest U.S. rail union voted against a tentative contract deal reached in September, raising the possibility of a year-end strike. read moreLabor unions have criticized the railroads' sick leave and attendance policies and the lack of paid sick days for short-term illness. There are no paid sick days under the tentative deal. Unions asked for 15 paid sick days and the railroads settled on one personal day. The Biden administration helped avert a service cutoff by hosting last-minute contract talks in September that led to the tentative contract deal.

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