DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

TOKYO (AP) — Shares in Asia were mostly higher on Wednesday, shrugging off a sharp decline on Wall Street that took benchmarks back to where they were in June. That pushed the Fed last week to say it will likely cut interest rates by less next year than earlier expected. Besides high interest rates, a long list of other worries is also tugging at Wall Street. On Wall Street, the vast majority of stocks fell Tuesday under such pressures, including 90% of those within the S&P 500. Big Tech stocks tend to be among the hardest hit by high rates, and they were the heaviest weights on the index.

Persons: shrugging, Hui Ka Yan, Australia's, ” Stephen Innes, Brent Organizations: TOKYO, Tokyo's Nikkei, Hang Seng, Bloomberg, Garden Holdings, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Fed, U.S, Management, Big Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, Seoul, Maryland, Carolinas

☆ Crisis at Evergrande deepens as it misses another bond payment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Evergrande Group has just missed another bond payment, casting further doubt over the future of the embattled property developer at the epicenter of China’s real estate crisis. China’s property industry once accounted for as much as 30% of the country’s gross domestic product. Questions about financial stabilityConcerns over China’s economic stability have resurfaced, driven by the deepening financial crisis at Evergrande, said Stephen Innes, managing partner of SPI Asset Management. On Sunday, Evergrande surprised investors with an announcement that it was unable to issue new notes due to the investigation into Hengda. It was the first criminal probe launched against Evergrande since it was hit by the debt crisis nearly two years ago.

Persons: Evergrande, Tao Wang, Stephen Innes, ”, Innes, Mengchen Zhang, Marc Stewart Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Evergrande, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Getty, China, Asia Economics, UBS, CNN, Evergrande Locations: China, Hong Kong, AFP, Asia, Evergrande

Stocks fell Wednesday in Asia after a slide in technology stocks dragged Wall Street lower ahead of a key report on U.S. inflation. Stocks have been see-sawing in recent weeks amid the revived uncertainty about whether the Federal Reserve is done with its avalanche of hikes to interest rates. High interest rates work to undercut inflation by slowing anentire economy and knocking down prices for stocks and other investments. Still, traders overwhelmingly expect next week’s meeting for the Federal Reserve to end with interest rates staying where they are. But it’s been struggling since the end of July and has reported three straight quarters where its revenue fell from year-earlier levels.

Persons: Stocks, Hang Seng, Australia's, Stephen Innes, ”, it’s Organizations: Nikkei, U.S, Federal, Federal Reserve, Management, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Software, Oracle, Apple, Google, Microsoft, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent Locations: Asia, Shanghai, Seoul, India, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, U.S

☆ A boss who uses a 'coffee cup test' to filter candidates in job interviews is being accused by some social media users of playing 'mind games'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

One executive uses a hiring strategy called the "coffee cup test" on candidates in job interviews. He said in a resurfaced 2019 clip that he doesn't hire people who don't offer to wash their cup after the interview. Social media users are calling him out for playing a "deeply disturbing psycho-social game." Most candidates did offer to take back their cup with only a few that didn't, Innes noted at the time. The podcast episode has now resurfaced on social media, being shared on both TikTok and Reddit, with some users saying that Innes' strategy is manipulative.

Persons: Trent Innes, Photios, Innes, I'd prob Organizations: Social, Service, jobseekers Locations: Wall, Silicon, Australia

Stock prices were mostly higher in Asia on Monday as investors awaited an update on U.S. inflation and China’s latest economic data. The futures for the S&P 500 and Dow were trading higher. That could lead the Federal Reserve and other central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer, which would hurt prices for shares and other investments. On Friday, stocks edged higher on Wall Street, but markets still ended their first losing week in the last three. High interest rates are supposed to slow the economy and hurt the job market, which should ultimately help undercut inflation.

Persons: Zichun Huang, Hong, Hang Seng, Australia's, Kroger, ” Stephen Innes, Brent, Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Dow, Federal Reserve, Economics, Nikkei, U.S, Labor, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Albertsons, Treasury, Management, New York Mercantile Exchange, Bank of Japan Gov Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, China

Shares slipped Thursday in Asia as China reported weaker global demand hit its trade in August, adding to pressures on its economy. Investors have been hoping that the Fed might moderate interest rate increases going forward as inflation has been easing for months. Wall Street expects the Fed to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at its next meeting later in September. Economic updates last week on consumer confidence, jobs and inflation reinforced those hopes. Wall Street will get several more economic updates on inflation and retail sales later in September ahead of the Fed’s next meeting.

Persons: Australia's, Stephen Innes, “, Brent Organizations: Nikkei, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Apple, Nvidia, Fed, Institute, Supply, Management, Treasury, Federal, Investors, New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S Locations: Asia, China, Seoul

☆ What’s going on with China’s shadow banking system?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The world’s second-largest economy is grappling with growing financial distress, which means big problems for the nation’s nearly $3 trillion shadow banking industry. What’s happening: Shadow lenders, including trust firms, operate outside of the formal banking system. That’s because shadow banks are not just a problem in China. The key concern, said Towes, is whether Western organizations have loaned to shadow banks and are now vulnerable. Production cuts by OPEC+, which produces 40% of the world’s crude oil, have helped send oil prices higher in recent months, a development that could have repercussions for inflation and interest rates.

Persons: they’ve, ”, Phillip Toews, “ we’ve, Toews, that’s, Goldman Sachs, Matt Egan, That’s, It’s, “, Jan Hatzius, ” Hatzius, —, CNN’s Hanna Ziady, Brent, ” Stephen Innes Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Asset Management, US, IMF, Global, Federal Reserve, West Texas, Organization of, Petroleum, Saudi Ministry of Energy Locations: New York, China, Beijing, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC

Crude oil prices pushed higher, adding to inflationary pressures at a time when investors are hoping to see central banks back away from interest rate hikes. Energy stocks rose along with crude oil prices after Saudi Arabia and Russia said they will extend their voluntary production cut of 1 million barrels of oil a day through the end of the year. Much of the information fueled hopes that the Fed might moderate interest rate increases to fight inflation, which has been easing for months. Wall Street expects the Fed to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at its next meeting later in September, just as it did at its previous meeting. The central bank has raised its main interest rate aggressively since 2022 to the highest level since 2001.

Persons: ” Stephen Innes, Russell, Cintas, Brent, Kroger, Alex Veiga, Damian J, Troise Organizations: Japan’s Nikkei, Management, Labor, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, Merck, Co, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Energy, Chevron, New York Mercantile Exchange, Institute for Supply Management, GameStop, Dave, AP Business Locations: Asia, U.S, Seoul, Australia, Shanghai, Saudi Arabia, Russia

☆ Oil prices surge after Saudi Arabia and Russia extend production cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Oil prices hit a new high for the year so far after Saudi Arabia and Russia — the world’s biggest crude exporters — said they would extend output cuts by at least another three months. The moves by Saudi Arabia and Russia reinforce efforts by the alliance known as OPEC+ — which includes members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers — to support oil prices by agreeing to deep and prolonged production cuts. Saudi Arabia needs Brent crude to trade at around $81 a barrel in order to balance its budget, according to the International Monetary Fund. Production cuts by OPEC+, which produces 40% of the world’s crude oil, have helped send oil prices higher in recent months, a development that could have repercussions for inflation and interest rates. “These impending increases in oil prices present a fresh challenge for central banks as they continue their diligent efforts to bring inflation levels back in line with their desired targets.”

Persons: —, Brent, Alexander Novak, Novak, “, ” Stephen Innes Organizations: London CNN, West Texas, Organization of, Petroleum, Saudi Ministry of Energy, International Monetary Fund, Russia’s, Reuters Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, Saudi, Riyadh, Ukraine

CNN —One year after catastrophic floods devastated swathes of Pakistan, some 4 million children in the South Asian nation remain without access to safe water, the United Nations children’s agency has warned. “Vulnerable children living in flood-affected areas have endured a horrific year,” Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, said in the statement. “The climate-related disaster deepened pre-existing inequities for children and families in affected districts,” UNICEF said in the statement. Children pick vegetables from water at a flooded market after heavy rainfall in Lahore on June 26, 2023. Fadil from UNICEF said the agency has called on the government of Pakistan and its partners to “increase and sustain investment in basic social services for children and families.”He added: “We cannot forget the children of Pakistan.

Persons: ” Abdullah Fadil, “, Asim Hafeez, Dera Allah Yar, Fida Hussain, Imran Khan, Khan, ”, Stephen Innes, Arif Ali, Fadil Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UNICEF, UNICEF Representative, Bloomberg, Getty, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Capital Economics, Analysts Locations: Pakistan, Karachi Division, Sindh province, Pakistan’s, Dera, Jaffarabad district, Balochistan, AFP, Asia, Lahore, South Asia, Afghanistan, India

☆ Asian markets tumble as Fitch downgrades US debt rating
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Asian markets may “tread cautiously” as investors turn wary of foreign holders selling their US Treasuries, said Stephen Innes, managing partner of SPI Asset Management. Just hours before, Fitch Ratings had cut the credit rating of US debt from the top AAA level to AA+. Together they own $2 trillion, which is more than a quarter of the $7.6 trillion in US Treasury securities held by foreign countries. Nonetheless, Goldman Sachs analysts said on Wednesday that they don’t believe there are any meaningful holders of Treasury securities who will be forced to sell due to a downgrade. “Because Treasury securities are such an important asset class, most investment mandates and regulatory regimes refer to them specifically, rather than AAA-rated government debt,” the Goldman Sachs analysts said.

Persons: Fitch, “, Australia’s, Stephen Innes, Goldman Sachs, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Nikkei, . Tech, China’s, Fitch, AAA, AA, Treasury Locations: Hong Kong, China’s Shanghai, United States, China, Japan

☆ Japan sends yen soaring and stocks tumbling with hint it could join rate-hiking party
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Japan’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged Friday despite rising inflation but hinted that it could gradually abandon years of ultra-cheap money, sending the yen soaring and stocks tumbling. “No introduction of the policy rate guidance suggests that the Bank [of Japan] left open the near-term policy rate hike optionality, in our view,” UBS analysts noted. The Japanese yen surged by as much as 1% against the US dollar in response to the BOJ announcement. It has stayed above the central bank’s inflation target for the fifteenth straight month. On paper, the headline numbers suggest the BOJ’s inflation target has already been met.

Persons: ”, Stephen Innes, “, Kazuo Ueda Organizations: CNN, Bank of Japan, Bank, UBS, US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Nikkei Locations: Japan, EU, China

☆ China economy: Leaders promise more support for 'tortuous' recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s top leadership has vowed to do more to support a “tortuous” economic recovery, which has lost steam after an initial burst of activity early in the year. The assurances, made by the Communist Party’s 24-member Politburo — a top decision making body — boosted stocks in China-related companies on Tuesday. Shares in China’s property developers, currently mired in the industry’s worst slump on record, have soared in response. They added at a meeting chaired by leader Xi Jinping that the current economic recovery was making “tortuous” progress. Last week, official data showed economic recovery in China continued to lose momentum in the April to June months, prompting urgent calls for more help from the central government.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, —, China’s, Xi Jinping, Stephen Innes, ”, ” Innes Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist, Mainland Properties, Longfor Group, Sunac China Holdings, Management, “ Investors Locations: Hong Kong, China, Hong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing

☆ China extends some policies to support its troubled property market
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has extended some policies to bolster its ailing property market, as the country struggles to reignite economic growth. Larry Hu, chief China economist at Macquarie Group, wrote in a research note that the extension of policies on two types of loans were meant to encourage commercial banks to increase their exposure to the property sector. “[This] move will help restore confidence and bring much-needed liquidity into the property supply chain, with beneficial effects on short-term confidence,” he said. The property market is still in the midst of a historic downturn. To bolster growth, the People’s Bank of China cut its main benchmark lending rates in June for the first time in 10 months.

Persons: Larry Hu, ”, ” Stephen Innes Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Financial Regulatory Administration, Macquarie Group, Management, Beijing, People’s Bank of China Locations: Hong Kong, China, China’s

☆ Hong Kong stocks slump on worries about Chinese banks, US interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Hong Kong stocks on Thursday recorded their worst day in four months, after Goldman Sachs downgraded major Chinese banks on local government debt risks and the US Federal Reserve gave a hawkish outlook. Financial shares led the sell-off, after Goldman Sachs downgraded several Chinese banks. The Hang Seng Mainland Banks Index, which tracks mainland Chinese banks listed in Hong Kong, plummeted 6.5%. These banks face earnings risks stemming from their exposure to China’s local government debt, the Wall Street firm said. Sentiment in Hong Kong markets was also affected by the Fed’s hawkish rate outlook.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Xi Jinping’s, ” “, ”, Stephen Innes, Janet Yellen, Biden, Korea’s Kospi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US Federal Reserve, Asia Pacific . Financial, Mainland Banks Index, Commerical Bank of China, Industrial Bank, Bank of China, Bank of Communications, Huaxia Bank, US, Nikkei Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Mainland, “, China, Beijing, Shanghai

☆ A critically endangered rat-sized marsupial that looks like a mini kangaroo is returning to parts of Australia for the first time in a century
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Brush-tailed bettongs are thriving in Southern Australia after being reintroduced in 2021. These cute, kangaroo-looking marsupials have been critically endangered for decades. Scientists say it could be the first successful reintroduction of the species in Australia. According to the results of their monitoring of 85 bettongs, 40% of them were newborns, according to the release. A woylie also known as a brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata) is an extremely rare, small marsupial and is endemic to Australia.

☆ Man accused of applying to RentAHitman.com and taking money from an undercover agent for a contract killing is arrested
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Tennessee man was arrested this week, charged with accepting money from an undercover FBI agent to kill someone. Authorities say Garcia was given opportunities to back out, but said he wanted to do it to make money. Josiah Garcia was arrested this week and charged with using interstate facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, authorities announced Friday. On April 3, an undercover FBI agent used the number Garcia provided to Innes, and the two spoke several times on the phone and by text before meeting in person. Authorities said they discovered an AR-style rifle upon searching Garcia's home, and that he had told the undercover agent he was planning to buy a handgun.

☆ Inclusive Capital's Ubben named to Vistry board as homebuilder looks to leverage recent acquisition
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

As a pioneering activist ESG investor (AESG), Inclusive seeks long-term shareholder value through active partnership with companies whose core businesses contribute solutions to this pursuit. Their primary focus is on environmental and social value creation, which leads to shareholder value creation. They build communities that are mixed tenure, placing affordable housing among open market homes, retail stores, etc. This model has the benefits of a secular shift to affordable housing and is capex light since they do not have to acquire the land. But, in this case the community benefits align so perfectly with the company growth prospects – topline company growth means more affordable housing.

☆ Stocks up, bond yields fall as markets mull a Fed policy pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Koh Gui Qing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Fed's hint of a pause after announcing a quarter-point rate rise on Wednesday, even as it re-stated its commitment to fight inflation, provided relief to markets. "Note the modern-day history book of Fed pauses is very bullish for stocks," Innes said. In Europe, news of the rate hikes in Switzerland and Britain helped push the European-wide STOXX 600 share index (.STOXX) down 0.21%. For bond markets it meant European government bond yields - which reflect borrowing costs - were heading down again. German Bunds were back at 2.25%, having seen 10-year U.S. Treasury yields dip back below 3.5%.

☆ Asia Pacific shares join US gains as investors await key Fed decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Asia Pacific shares opened higher on Wednesday, tracking US gains, as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve’s next monetary policy decision later in the day. Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng (HSI) index was trading 2.3% higher, leading gains in the region. The MSCI Asia Pacific index, which excludes Japanese companies, was broadly higher, rising 0.8%. On Tuesday, US stocks closed higher as shares of regional banks rebounded from record-breaking losses earlier in the month. The SPDR Regional Banking ETF (KRE), which tracks a number of small and mid-sized bank stocks, gained 5.8% for the day.

☆ Crude prices rise slightly on China recovery, weaker dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Andrew Hayley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, March 13 (Reuters) - Oil prices ticked up in Monday's Asian trade, reversing a weak start as a recovery in Chinese demand and a weaker dollar provided support to a market rattled by the prospect possible further U.S. interest rate increases. After initially slipping in early trading, Brent crude futures were up 25 cents, or 0.30%, to $83.03 per barrel by 0700 GMT. West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) ticked up by 23 cents, or 0.30%, to $76.91 a barrel. A weaker dollar makes oil cheaper for holders of other currencies, lending support to oil prices. Comments on Sunday from Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser on crude demand from China also provided some support.

☆ Oil prices tick up on China demand and weaker dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, March 13 (Reuters) - Oil prices ticked up in Monday Asian late morning trade, reversing a weak start as a recovery in Chinese demand and a weaker dollar provided support to a market rattled by the prospect possible further U.S. interest rate increases. West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) ticked up by 20 cents, or 0.26%, to $76.88 a barrel. "From an oil trader's perspective, the U.S. dollar should pull back as traders give up on a re-acceleration of Fed hikes; this, in turn, clears a path for more robust Chinese fundamentals to dominate commodity trading," Innes added. A weaker greenback makes oil cheaper for holders of other currencies, lending support to oil prices. Comments on Sunday from Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser on crude demand from China also provided some support.

☆ US futures and Asia Pacific stocks react to SVB recovery efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

On Sunday, the Biden administration promised that customers of the failed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank would have access to all their money starting Monday. In a joint statement, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg said the FDIC will make SVB and Signature Bank’s customers whole. In a related action, the government shut down Signature Bank, a regional bank that was teetering on the brink of collapse in recent days. “Cross-asset traders of all stripes are heaving a sigh of relief as bank runs have a tendency to catch on globally,” he told CNN. Bank shares in Asia were under pressure Monday, following a heavy rout for their US and European counterparts late last week.

But it is spreading across finance, energy, retail and aviation, threatening to push up labour costs in industries facing supply-chain bottlenecks and worker shortages. The turmoil is especially pronounced because union power was curtailed in Australia under laws in place since the 1990s. In the year to June, the average Australian wage rose 2.6%, compared with inflation of 6.1%, according to official data. Despite seven interest-rate hikes since May, inflation is set to climb further before subsiding in 2023, the government says. But in the current climate in Australia, workers are in no mood to back down.

☆ Global markets fall after protests erupt in China over Covid lockdowns
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN Business —Global markets fell on Monday after widespread protests in China against the country’s stringent Covid-19 restrictions roiled investor sentiment. The markets tumble comes after protests erupted across China in an unprecedented show of defiance against the country’s stringent and increasingly costly zero-Covid policy. US stock futures — an indication of how markets are likely to open — fell, with Dow futures down 0.3%, or 108 points. Oil prices dropped sharply, with investors concerned that surging Covid cases and protests in China may sap demand from one of the world’s largest oil consumers. US crude futures fell 2.7% to trade at $74.22 a barrel.

Search resuls for: "Innes"

25 mentions found