DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

That fell to 21-22 million tonnes by 2021, and after Russia invaded last year, output hit 6.3 million in 2022. But even with consumption nearly doubling to 2.6 million tonnes between January and September, that is not enough to sustain a sector that used to export four fifths of its output. Zaporizhstal expects to export two thirds of its 2.4-2.5 million tonnes of iron ore and rolled steel production in 2023. Before the invasion, output was 4.2 million tonnes a year. "We can say that blackouts last winter (reduced) steel production by two to three times," Zinchenko said, citing production data for the months when blackouts were most regular.

Persons: Oleksandr Ratushniak, ZAPORIZHZHIA, Roman Slobodianiuk, Ukraine's, Oleksandr Kalenkov, Slobodianiuk, Stanislav Zinchenko, Medkov, Oleksandr Yasunas, Zinchenko, Mike Collett, White, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Steel, REUTERS, Staff, Reuters, GMK, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Russia, Soviet, Ukrainian, Mariupol, Europe, Odesa, Kyiv, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russian

☆ Farm groups call on Australia to not sign 'dud' trade deal with EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CANBERRA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Australian farm industry groups on Monday called on the government to not sign a trade deal with the European Union unless it offered much greater market access for Australian agricultural products. Australia, one of the world's biggest exporters of farm goods from wheat and beef to wool and wine, has been negotiating a trade deal with the EU since 2018. "The message from Australian farmers is clear and united: if it's a dud deal, keep the signing pen in your pocket." Farrell said in a statement that he had made it clear that Australia wants a trade agreement with the EU, but not at any cost. While Australia wants access to EU markets for its farm output, much of which is now subject to tariffs and quotas, the EU is likely to gain simplified investment access to Australia's critical minerals industry.

Persons: Don Farrell, Farrell, Fiona Simson, Peter Hobson, Jamie Freed Organizations: CANBERRA, European Union, Trade, EU, National Farmers ' Federation, Livestock Australia, Australia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Australia, Canberra, Osaka

The benchmark S&P 500 index (.SPX) bounced above 4200, a key technical level, after falling almost a percent during the open. Microsoft (MSFT.O), Alphabet (GOOGL.O), Amazon.com (AMZN.O) and Meta Platforms (META.O), which have helped power the S&P 500 (.SPX) higher in 2023 while the other indexes lagged, report later this week. Chipmaker Intel (INTC.O), oil major Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), General Motors (GM.N) are among other major companies set to report results this week. Overall, earnings are expected to grow at 1.2% in the third quarter for S&P 500 companies, as per LSEG data. Seven of the 11 major S&P 500 sub sectors were in the green, with industrials (.SPLRCI) and communication services (.SPLRCL) leading gains.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Hess, Bill Ackman's, David Bahnsen, Piper Sandler, Morgan, advancers, Shubham Batra, Shashwat Chauhan, Sriraj Kalluvila, Maju Samuel Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Chevron, Walgreens, Dow, Nasdaq, Capital Management, Microsoft, Intel, Exxon Mobil, General Motors, Dow Jones, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Hess Corp, FMC, NYSE, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, East, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Bengaluru

BANGKOK (AP) — Foxconn, a Fortune 500 company known globally for making Apple iPhones, was recently subjected to searches by Chinese tax authorities, state media reported Sunday. Foxconn, a Taiwanese -headquartered company officially registered as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd, had its offices in Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces searched by tax officials, according to a report in the Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper. The Ministry of Natural Resources also inspected Foxconn offices in Henan and Hubei provinces, where the company has major factories. The report did not provide more details about the searches, including when they occurred or what was found. In recent years, China has banned pineapples, grouper fish and other agricultural products from Taiwan for import.

Persons: —, Terry Gou, Gou Organizations: Fortune, Apple, Hai Precision Industry Co, Global Times, Natural Resources, Chinese Communist Party Locations: BANGKOK, Taiwanese, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Henan, Hubei, Foxconn, China, Taiwan

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference, in Tel Aviv, Israel October 12, 2023. The question of Iranian access to the funds has been in the spotlight since Iran-backed Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel on Saturday, killing more than 1,300 people and taking scores of hostages back to the Palestinian Gaza Strip. "Iran will not be able to access the funds for the foreseeable future," a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. Several U.S. media outlets reported on Thursday that the United States and Qatar had agreed to stop Iran from accessing the money. It did not respond to a request for comment on whether Iran had yet tried to access the funds.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jacquelyn Martin, Blinken, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's U.N, Donald Trump, John Kirby, Kirby, Parisa Hafezi, Andrew Mills, Michelle Nichols, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, TEL, United, Washington, Reuters, U.S, U.S . Treasury, U.S ., Government, United Nations, Qatar's, Media, White House, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, TEL AVIV, WASHINGTON, United States, Iran, Qatar, Palestinian, U.S, Tehran, South Korea, Seoul after Washington, Islamic Republic of Iran, New York, Qatari

The funds were moved to Qatari accounts as part of a broad deal to secure the release of five Americans whom the US deemed had been wrongfully detained in Iran. There were bipartisan calls to freeze the funds in the wake of the deadly Hamas attacks in Israel this weekend. Still, the “quiet understanding” not to move the money right now appears to be largely symbolic, given the strict restrictions that were already tied to the funds. Blinken did not confirm that “a quiet understanding” had been reached but made clear the US is able to freeze the funds. The process for Iran to be able to spend the funds was expected to take months, if not years.

Persons: Wally Adeyemo, Adeyemo, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, ” Blinken, John Kirby, “ It’s, “, we’ve, Saturday’s, CNN’s Jim Sciutto, Max Organizations: CNN, Saturday, Democrats, Administration, National Security Council, White, State Department Locations: United States, Qatar, Iran, Israel, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Qatari

☆ Elite investor Jim Rogers rings the alarm on US debt and dollar dominance - and warns of bubbles in stocks and real estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

George Soros' former business partner said stocks, bonds, and real estate are widely overvalued. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementAmerica's debts have ballooned to dangerous highs, the US dollar's dominance won't last, and there are bubbles in stocks, bonds, and real estate across many countries, Jim Rogers has warned. Rogers is best known as George Soros' former business partner, and the cofounder of Quantum Fund and Soros Fund Management. In May, he predicted the worst bear market of his life with "trouble" across stocks, bonds, real estate, and currencies.

Persons: Jim Rogers, George Soros, Rogers, —, dollarization Organizations: Service, YouTube, Quantum Fund, Soros Fund Management Locations: United States, China, Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa

☆ These defensive stocks could help investors fortify their portfolio in this risky market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

They must offer income — that is, a dividend yield in excess of 2%. Take a look at the stocks that can help bolster investors' portfolios: Beverage giant Molson Coors made the list of stocks ideal during unstable times. TAP YTD line Molson Coors year-to-date performance Networking and cloud solutions giant Cisco Systems also made the list. In September, Bunge also came up in a CNBC Pro screen for defensive stocks to help investors ride out a market sell-off. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Molson Coors year-to-date performanceNetworking and cloud solutions giant Cisco Systems also made the list.

Persons: Molson Coors, Roth, Bill Kirk, Molson, Kirk, Goldman Sachs, Bunge, FactSet, —, Darla Mercado, Michael Bloom, Tiffany Hagler Organizations: CNBC, Beverage, Molson, Molson Coors, TAP, Cisco Systems, Cisco, Packaging Corporation of America, CME Group, Geard, Bloomberg, Getty, Equity, AFL Aflac, Bunge, Corp, America, Molson Coors Beverage Co, FactSet Beverage, Cisco Systems Inc Locations: Israel

☆ Iran prisoner swap for $6 billion in spotlight after Hamas attacks Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Iran has not yet been able to spend a single dollar of the $6 billion in funds that were unfrozen in a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap in September. WHAT WAS THE IRAN PRISONER SWAP DEAL? Five U.S. citizens detained by Tehran were allowed to leave the country in exchange for the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds that had been frozen in South Korea. The $6 billion was Iranian money that had been frozen in South Korean banks. Under the terms of the Iran prisoner deal, the money can only be used for humanitarian-related purposes, including purchasing food or other goods outside Iran for import, U.S. officials said.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Antony Blinken, Blinken, there’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, CNN's, Brian Nelson, we've, Nikki Haley, Heather Timmons, Idrees Ali, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Israel, After Washington, State Department, South, Republican, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Ashkelon, Israel, Iran, U.S, IRAN, Tehran, South Korea, United States, After, Seoul, Doha, South Carolina

☆ Factbox-Iran Prisoner Swap for $6 Billion in Spotlight After Hamas Attacks Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, there’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, CNN's, Brian Nelson, we've, Nikki Haley, Heather Timmons, Idrees Ali, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WASHINGTON, Israel, After Washington, State Department, South, Republican, Reuters Locations: Iran, U.S, IRAN, Tehran, South Korea, United States, After, Seoul, Doha, Israel, South Carolina

The Hamas attack left at least 250 dead and 1,500 wounded in Israel. The attack only adds new complications as the Biden administration and Iran are locked in disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program. Biden administration officials have also been working on brokering a normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state. Biden administration officials pushed back against the argument. Administration officials roundly rejected this, saying their efforts to help Palestinian civilians in Gaza and elsewhere do not involve money that Hamas can use or divert.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ unconscionable ”, ”, ” Biden, Obama, —, won’t, ” Netanyahu, Israel, Jonathan Schanzer, “, Netanyahu, Schanzer, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Matthew Miller, State Victoria Nuland, Barbara Leaf, Seung Min Kim, Jill Colvin, Thomas Beaumont Organizations: WASHINGTON, GOP, Hamas, Hezbollah, Biden, European, Middle East, White, Trump White, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Republican, Israel ., Israel . Florida Gov, Department, Foreign Relations, Islamic, State Victoria, Republicans, Administration, Associated Press Locations: Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Egypt, Syria, Washington, Israel . Florida, Carolina, U.S, Islamic Republic, Lebanon, New York, Waterloo , Iowa

☆ Organic? Free range? What do food labels actually mean?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Navigating the grocery aisle is overwhelming, especially when trying to make sense of food labels. Shoppers who want to know where their food comes from, or how long it will last, have to work even harder. Government agencies have strict guidelines for food safety and nutrition labels on packaged foods. But other information like sell-by dates or animal welfare labels are less regulated — and some are effectively meaningless. Here’s how to know what you’re looking at when you’re reading food labels.

Persons: Scott Olson, “, ”, “ FSIS, Dena Jones, Jones Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nutrition, Shoppers, Government, USDA, ” Companies, Safety, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Animal Welfare Institute, Global Animal Partnership Locations: New York, Chicago

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia could use sea mines to target civilian ships in the Black Sea, declassified intelligence warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Servicemen aboard the Romanian Navy King Ferdinand frigate observe smoke from a ship in a training drill in the Black Sea, near Constanta, Romania. Russia could use sea mines to target civilian ships in the Black Sea, the U.K. warned late Wednesday. The U.K. said newly declassified intelligence shows Russia may continue to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying sea mines in the approach to Ukrainian ports. The U.K. previously warned that the Russian military had attempted a missile strike against a cargo ship in the Black Sea. "The U.K. assesses that Russia would lay blame on Ukraine for any attacks," the FCDO said in a press statement.

Persons: Romanian Navy King Ferdinand Organizations: Romanian Navy, Initiative Locations: Constanta, Romania, Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine

☆ Starbucks is developing climate-proof coffee
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Coffee is a finicky crop — arabica coffee, the most popular variety, in particular. Joshua Trujillo/StarbucksSo Starbucks, which says it purchases about 3% of all the world’s coffee, is developing new arabica varietals that are specifically cultivated to hold up better on a warming planet. They, along with other coffee farmers across the globe, are struggling to adapt to global warming. But arabica coffee, the only variety used by Starbucks, is especially at risk. Starbucks has been working on developing new coffee varietals.

Persons: IADB, Joshua Trujillo, Michelle Burns, Carlos Mario Rodriguez, Suzanne Shriner, Shriner, ”, “ we’re, Miguel Gomez, it’s, Monika Firl, Burns, Cornell’s Gomez Organizations: New, New York CNN, Inter, American Development Bank, Starbucks, Lions, Coffee Research, Cornell’s Dyson, Applied Economics, Management, Fairtrade Locations: New York, America, Caribbean, Hacienda Alsacia, Costa Rica, Hawaii

☆ Five new cargo vessels heading for Ukrainian Black Sea ports: MarineTraffic
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A cargo ship carrying Ukrainian grain, and another originating from Ukraine, sail at the entrance of Bosphorus, in the Black Sea off the coast off Kumkoy, north of Istanbul, on November 2, 2022. Five new ships are on their way to Ukrainian sea ports using a new corridor opened to resume predominantly agricultural exports, an alternative arrangement to the Black Sea grain deal blocked by Russia, the MarineTraffic database showed on Sunday. The MarineTraffic database showed earlier on Sunday that three cargo vessels left Ukrainian Black Sea ports after loading, the latest to sail since Kyiv set up a temporary "humanitarian corridor" after Russia quit a deal allowing safe passage for Ukraine exports. The database identified the five vessels heading toward the ports as Olga, Ida, Forza Doria, New Legacy and Danny Boy. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said last month that three cargo ships were heading towards Ukrainian Black Sea ports for further food and steel exports.

Persons: Olga, Ida, Forza, Danny Boy, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ying Hao, Moscow Organizations: Russia, United Locations: Ukraine, Bosphorus, Kumkoy, Istanbul, Russia, Ukrainian, Forza Doria, China, Egypt, Spain, Moscow, Kyiv, United Nations, Turkey

☆ Five new cargo vessels heading for Ukrainian Black Sea ports -MarineTraffic
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Liberia-flagged bulk carriers Eneida and Ying Hao 01 are seen in the sea as they leave the sea ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Odesa, Ukraine October 1, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Five new ships are on their way to Ukrainian sea ports using a new corridor opened to resume predominantly agricultural exports, an alternative arrangement to the Black Sea grain deal blocked by Russia, the MarineTraffic database showed on Sunday. The MarineTraffic database showed earlier on Sunday that three cargo vessels left Ukrainian Black Sea ports after loading, the latest to sail since Kyiv set up a temporary "humanitarian corridor" after Russia quit a deal allowing safe passage for Ukraine exports. The database identified the five vessels heading towards the ports as Olga, Ida, Forza Doria, New Legacy and Danny Boy. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said last month that three cargo ships were heading towards Ukrainian Black Sea ports for further food and steel exports.

Persons: Ying Hao, Stringer, Olga, Ida, Forza, Danny Boy, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Moscow, Pavel Polityuk, Michael Perry, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Russia, United, Thomson Locations: Liberia, Chornomorsk, Ukraine, Odesa, Russia, Ukrainian, Forza Doria, China, Egypt, Spain, Moscow, Kyiv, United Nations, Turkey

☆ Five more cargo ships head for Ukraine's Black Sea ports -deputy PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Liberia-flagged bulk carriers Eneida and Ying Hao 01 are seen in the sea as they leave the sea ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Odesa, Ukraine October 1, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Five more ships are on their way to Ukrainian sea ports using a new corridor opened to resume predominantly agricultural exports, an alternative arrangement to the Black Sea grain deal blocked by Russia, a top Ukrainian official said on Sunday. "5 new vessels are waiting to be loaded in Ukrainian ports," Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on the X social media platform. "Bulk carriers OLGA, IDA, DANNY BOY, FORZA DORIA, NEW LEGACY are going to export almost 120,000 (metric) tons of Ukrainian grain to Africa and Europe," he added. The three cargo vessels are the latest to sail since Kyiv set up a temporary "humanitarian corridor" after Russia quit a deal allowing safe passage for Ukraine's exports.

Persons: Ying Hao, Stringer, Oleksandr Kubrakov, DANNY BOY, FORZA, Kubrakov, Moscow, Pavel Polityuk, Michael Perry, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, FORZA DORIA, Ukrainian Navy, Russia, United, Thomson Locations: Liberia, Chornomorsk, Ukraine, Odesa, Russia, Africa, Europe, Moscow, Kyiv, United Nations, Turkey

☆ Global warming will hit Australian crop yields and GDP, treasurer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Harvesting machinery can be seen behind a wheat crop in a paddock located on the outskirts of the South Australian town of Jamestown, in Australia, December 1, 2017. Global warming is leading to hotter and more extreme weather in Australia, one of the world's largest exporters of agricultural products. "The latest analysis out of Treasury tells us that disasters and a warming climate have big, economy wide effects," Chalmers told an agricultural conference in Queensland dedicated to drought. "If further action isn't taken, Australian crop yields could be 4 per cent lower by 2063 – costing us about A$1.8 billion in GDP in today's dollars." ($1 = 1.5569 Australian dollars)Reporting by Peter Hobson; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Peter Hobson, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Jamestown, Australia, Queensland, decarbonisation

☆ Cargo vessel sets off from Ukrainian Black Sea port - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, Sept 26 (Reuters) - A cargo vessel set off from a Ukrainian Black Sea port on Tuesday after loading but remained close to the port, an industry source said, without giving any further details. The vessel was the latest to set off from a Ukrainian Black Sea port since Kyiv established a temporary "humanitarian corridor" hugging the coastline following Russia's decision to quit a deal that had allowed safe Ukrainian exports. Two bulk carriers left the port of Chornomorsk last week via the humanitarian corridor. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said last week that three cargo ships were heading towards Ukrainian Black Sea ports for further food and steel exports. The blockage of deep sea ports has already affected Ukrainian grain exports, which have decreased by 51% so far in September to 1.57 million tons from 3.21 million tons in the corresponding period last year.

Persons: Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ying Hao, Moscow, Pavel Polityuk, Timothy Organizations: United, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Kyiv, Chornomorsk, China, Egypt, Spain, Ukraine, Moscow, United Nations, Turkey, Russia

Hong Kong/Taipei CNN —China and the European Union have agreed to exchange information on export controls as part of efforts to dial down tension over trade imbalances and geopolitical issues. I am glad that we made progress in addressing some market access issues,” Valdis Dombrovskis said in a statement. Hours before meeting He on Monday, Dombrovskis said China’s trade practices have forced the European Union to become more assertive in its dealings with the world’s second largest economy. China recently slapped export curbs on two semiconductor materials in a warning shot to Europe and the United States, after they imposed restrictions on China’s access to advanced chipmaking equipment. Moscow has become increasingly dependent on Beijing since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with trade between Russia and China soaring this year.

Persons: rebalancing, ” Valdis Dombrovskis, Dombrovskis, ”, ” Jorge Toledo, it’s, ” Dombrovskis, — Laura Organizations: Taipei CNN —, European Union, European Commission, EU, Union, Tsinghua University, China, Reuters Locations: China, Hong Kong, Taipei, Taipei CNN — China, Beijing, ”, EU, Europe, United States, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The foreign minister of Belarus, which has a strategic partnership with Russia, says he cannot envision a situation where his country would enter the war in Ukraine alongside Russian forces. Sergei Aleinik said in an interview with The Associated Press that he also can’t imagine a situation where Russia would order his country to use the tactical nuclear weapons it recently deployed in Belarus. The foreign minister disputed the assertions by some opponents that Belarus’ ties to Russia were isolating the country. “It’s clear that by increasing weapons deliveries to this country, the West is determined to continue the war down to the last Ukrainian.”Could he see a situation where Belarus could support the war in Ukraine alongside Russia? The Viasna Human Rights Center recorded 1,496 political prisoners in Belarus at the end of August, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski.

Persons: Sergei Aleinik, “, ”, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Aleinik, Antonio Guterres, Lukashenko’s, didn’t, ” Aleinik, Ales Bialiatski, Edith M, Lederer Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Russian, Associated Press, NATO, Belarus, General Assembly, U.N, European Union, Belarus ’, Moscow, General, AP, United Nations, “, Human Rights, The Associated Press Locations: Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Soviet, BELARUS, RUSSIA, New York, America, China, Lithuania, “ Lithuania, Baltic, Soviet Union, Minsk, Moscow, Western, West, Ukrainian, Russian

☆ Battle the turmoil with these elite defensive stocks loved by Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Wall Street largely took documents from the meeting and comments from Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell to imply higher-for-longer interest rates. Against this backdrop, here's the list of defensive stocks to play a mixed market, compiled using the new CNBC Pro stock screening tool . All stocks on the list meet the following criteria: Beta rating, which measures a stock's implied risk to market moves, under one. A beta rating above one typically indicates higher volatility. Fast-food giant McDonald's has a 0.65 beta rating, and its stock has added about 3% from the start of the year.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell, Mondelez Organizations: CNBC Pro, Federal, Fed, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Kroger, Friday's, KR, Hasbro, Lionsgate, Bunge

The Romanian government has said it aims to double the monthly transit capacity for Ukrainian grain through its Constanta port to four million metric tons in the coming months from virtually zero before the Russian war started. In August, roughly 2.7 million tons of Ukrainian grain passed through Constanta, Comvex manager Viorel Panait said in an interview with Reuters. Port operator SOCEP S.A. (SOCP.BX) said it had paid 10 million euros for new equipment at its grain terminal silo and ship loader. "I would say more than half of the port's 13 grain operators are already authorized or in the process of being so." A government source told Reuters Constanta now had a logistics capacity of 40 million tons of grains per year, sharply higher than its annual record high 25 million tons set in 2021.

Persons: George Calin, Viorel Panait, Panait, Gabriel Techera, Luiza Ilie, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Union, NATO, Moldovan, Decirom S.A, SOCEP S.A, Constanta Port Business Association, Thomson Locations: Constanta, Romania, Rights BUCHAREST, Romanian, Black, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukraine's, Russia, Ukrainian, Vadul Siret, Dornesti, Reuters Constanta

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine's Zelenskyy set for awkward encounter with Russians at UN; China urged to pressure Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine intends to sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over their restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports, officials said. Ukrainian Trade Representative Taras Kachka told Politico in an interview it was "important to prove that these actions are legally wrong," and that an appeal would be made through the World Trade Organization. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on Friday announced import curbs after European Commission-led restrictions on Ukrainian imports into the countries — as well as Romania and Bulgaria — expired. The EU deal allowed products to transit via the countries but required them to be sold elsewhere. Ukraine has agreed to introduce measures intended to prevent a "surge" in EU imports, however the details have not been specified.

Persons: Taras Kachka, Viktor Orban, Saturday, Ľudovít Ódor, — Jenni Reid Organizations: Ukrainian, Politico, World Trade Organization, Reuters, Friday, Commission, EU, Slovakia's Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukrainian, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Africa

☆ Ukraine says it will sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over food import bans
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KYIV, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine plans to sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in the World Trade Organization over bans on Ukrainian agricultural products, Ukrainian officials said on Monday. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports on Friday after the executive European Commission decided not to extend its ban on imports into Ukraine's five EU neighbours. Kachka told Politico that Ukraine could also impose reciprocal measures on the import of fruit and vegetables from Poland if Warsaw did not drop its additional measures. Ukraine ships grain by train via crossings with Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Ukraine also shipped by rail an additional 1 million tons of oils and oilseeds.

Persons: Taras Kachka, Kachka, Robert Telus, Radoslaw Fogiel, Tom Balmforth, Pavel Polityuk, Anna Wlodarczuk, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: World Trade Organization, Politico, Kyiv, European Union, European Commission, EU, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Warsaw, Bratislava, Budapest

Search resuls for: "Agricultural Products"

25 mentions found