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☆ Column: Reduced wind generation puts Texas power system to the test
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

However, even with those increases in capacity, recent wind power generation totals have slumped from year-ago levels as wind speeds dropped around the southern United States. Change in ERCT power generation in Jan-June 2023 from Jan-June 2022Combined with a roughly 25% drop in power generation from coal, and a 6.2% decline in nuclear output, the slump in wind generation has left ERCOT's total power generation roughly 3% down during the first half of June from the same period in 2022. RECOVERY DRIVEThe recent dip in wind power generation is clearly causing strain on the Texas power market, but steady increases in electricity generation capacity across the entire ERCOT system suggest the current stresses may only be temporary. In addition to the largest expansions to wind power capacity in the United States, Texas utilities are also expected to add around 7.7 GW of solar power capacity in 2023. Over the longer run, Texas' wind generation totals will play a decisive role in ERCOT system stability.

Persons: Refinitiv, Gavin Maguire, Jamie Freed Organizations: Electric, of Texas, Utilities, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Texas, Refinitiv, United States, Jan, California

The S & P 500 's recent rally has many investors convinced the bear market is drawing to a close, but Citi's Scott Chronert isn't convinced. Chronert, U.S. equity strategist at Citi, isn't buying the rally. He is maintaining his full-year S & P 500 target of 4,000 as he forecasts a pullback in the second half of 2023. According to CNBC Pro's Market Strategist Survey , Barclays, Morgan Stanley and UBS are forecasting the broad market index to fall below 4,000 at year-end. His base case for the S & P 500 forecasts a mid-year 2024 target of 4,400.

Persons: Citi's Scott Chronert isn't, Morgan Stanley, Chronert, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Citi, CNBC Pro's, Survey, Barclays, UBS Locations: U.S

Regional and global markets on Friday chalked up solid gains and volatility measures slumped after the release of forecast-smashing U.S. jobs figures. It looks like the 'sell in May and go away' maxim won't apply this year - investors are bullish and they are buying. Looking ahead, investors in Asia have plenty of economic events and monetary policy decisions to get their teeth into this week. Inflation data from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and China will be released, starting with Indonesia on Monday. Economists polled by Reuters expect annual CPI inflation eased in May to a one-year low of 4.22% from 4.33% in April.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Diane Craft Organizations: Nikkei, Manufacturing, U.S . State Department, Indonesia, Reuters, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reserve Bank of, Indonesia CPI, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, Japan, China, India, Australia, Korea's, Beijing, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Reserve Bank of India, Singapore

[1/2] A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. WTI was headed for its highest close since May 26 and Brent on track for its highest close since May 29. Open interest in futures contracts rose on Thursday to the highest since July 2021 for Brent and March 2022 for WTI. Oil traders have turned their attention to the June 4 meeting of OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia. On the demand side, manufacturing data out of China, the world's second biggest oil consumer, painted a mixed picture.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Brent, WTI, Baker Hughes, Craig Erlam, Erlam, Shadia Nasralla, Andrew Hayley, Susan Fenton, Kirsten Donovan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Congress, YORK, U.S, . West Texas, WTI, Senate, U.S . Federal Reserve, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: New York Harbor, of, New York City, U.S, Russia, OPEC, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, London, Beijing

☆ Stocks gain, dollar stumbles as US averts default and Fed skip bets rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Alun John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Markets are now focused on U.S. jobs data due at 0830 EST (1230 GMT), the most significant macroeconomic release of the week, for more cues on the Federal Reserve's rate hike path. European mining stocks (.SXPP) increased 4.4%, boosted by a Bloomberg report China is working on new measures to support its property market. Copper prices were heading for their first weekly gain since April with other metals trading higher too. Spot gold was up marginally at $1,979 an ounce, but set for its biggest weekly gain in nearly two months, as a softer dollar and lower yields bolstered the bullion's appeal. Reporting by Ankur Banerjee; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Kim Coghill, Sriraj Kalluvila and Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid LONDON, Jefferson, Jeff Schulze, payrolls, Philip Jefferson, Joe Biden, Phil Shucksmith, We've, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Lincoln, Kim Coghill, Sriraj Kalluvila, Andrew Heavens Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, U.S, Labor, U.S . Senate, Bloomberg, Asia Pacific, Japan's Nikkei, Nasdaq, Senate, Newton Investment, Investors, U.S . Treasury, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, Japan

☆ Stocks surge in Asia as US averts default, Fed pause bets rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The exuberant mood looked set to continue in Europe, with Eurostoxx 50 futures up 0.45%, German DAX futures up 0.49% and FTSE futures 0.18% higher. The Treasury Department had warned it would be unable to pay all its bills on June 5 if Congress failed to act. "The market's focus is shifting to the economic front and Fed's decision on rates now," said Tina Teng, markets analysts at CMC Markets. AMP's Oliver said the prevailing sentiment now is that there will be a pause in June and that's helped markets. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) rose 0.42%, while Japan's Nikkei (.N225) was 1% higher, continuing its hot run.

Persons: DAX, Shane Oliver, Tina Teng, Patrick Harker, Harker, AMP's Oliver, that's, there'll, Australia's, Sterling, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Lincoln, Kim Coghill Organizations: Federal Reserve, U.S . Senate, Representatives, Treasury Department, AMP, CMC Markets, Labor, Philadelphia Federal, Japan's Nikkei, Treasury, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Europe, Sydney, U.S, China, Shanghai

☆ Morning Bid: Markets feel Friday cheer as signs point to Fed pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Treasury Department had warned it would be unable to pay all its bills on June 5 if Congress failed to act. Markets though seemed to have moved on to focus on what the Fed will do in two weeks as U.S. economic data bolstered the case for the Fed to stand pat. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX), which has been languishing near two-month lows, should get a lift. In the corporate world, Goldman Sachs plans to cut more jobs, the bank's president said, as a difficult economic environment weighs on dealmaking. In January, it let go about 3,200 employees, its biggest head count reduction since the 2008 financial crisis.

Persons: Ankur Banerjee, Joe Biden, Patrick Harker, Labor Department's, Goldman Sachs, Ella Irwin, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Ankur, Reserve, U.S, Senate, Treasury Department, Fed, Philadelphia Federal, Nikkei, Labor, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Asia, Europe, U.S, Japan, Singapore

"We are avoiding default tonight," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday as he steered the legislation through his 100-member chamber. "In the coming months, Senate Republicans will continue working to provide for the common defense and control Washington Democrats’ reckless spending," he said in a statement. McConnell was referring to 12 bills Congress will work on over the summer to fund government programs in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, which will also carry out the broad instructions of the debt limit bill. Unlike most other developed countries, the United States limits the amount of debt the government can borrow, regardless of any spending allocated by the legislature. The last time the United States came this close to default was in 2011.

Persons: Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Janet Yellen, Schumer, McCarthy, Yellen, Roger Marshall, Richard Cowan, David Morgan, Moira Warburton, Gram Slattery, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell, Diane Craft, Kieran Murray, William Mallard Organizations: U.S, Senate, Representatives, Republicans, The Treasury Department, Democratic, Republican, Washington Democrats, Social Security, Treasury, Russia, Office, Thomson Locations: United States, America, West Virginia, U.S, Mexico, Ukraine, China, Russia

☆ Morning Bid: Jubilant markets eye jobs in June jump
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzA look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike DolanWith the U.S. debt ceiling removed, world markets see the sky again - encouraged that robust U.S. labor markets continue to defy recession fears as interest rates near peaks. And judged by all the other labor market soundings this week, there are few signs yet of any significant disturbance to the still-robust employment picture. Wall St's "fear index" - the VIX (.VIX) gauge of implied equity volatility - hit its lowest level since November 2021 early on Friday. To the extent the dollar was bid by debt-ceiling stress and thoughts of another June Fed hike, then it's fallen back again too. Elsewhere, oil markets are closely watching the weekend OPEC ministers meeting - although further production cuts are not expected.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Mike Dolan, Hong Kong's, Hang, Lululemon, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Senate, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, Fed, The United, Broadcom, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, China, Hong Kong, The United Nations, South Africa

☆ Biden to Deliver Oval Office Address as U.S. Averts Default
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Presidents often reserve the Oval Office for addresses to the nation about war, economic crises or natural disasters. President Ronald Reagan delivered somber remarks from the Oval Office about the space shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986. President Donald J. Trump announced pandemic restrictions from the Oval Office in early 2020. Mr. Biden’s decision to use the same venue on Friday underscores how close he believes the two sides had veered toward economic calamity. White House officials were cagey about what Mr. Biden planned to say in his remarks.

Persons: Ronald Reagan, Donald J, Mr, Biden, “ Organizations: Office, Trump, United, ”, Republican Locations: United States

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) rose 0.78% after closing at a two-month low in the previous session. The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury notes dropped to 3.605%, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was down at 3.8348%. The dollar index fell 0.47%, with the euro up 0.51% at $1.0743. Spot gold added 1.0% at $1,982.03 an ounce, while U.S. gold futures gained 0.85% at $1,980.50 an ounce. Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York Editing by Nick Zieminski and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Klink, Christine Lagarde, Chibuike Oguh, Nick Zieminski, Richard Chang Organizations: YORK, U.S . House, U.S, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Republicans, Senate, Huntington Private Bank, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Labor Department, European Central Bank, Brent, West Texas, Thomson Locations: New York

WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - The bipartisan debt-ceiling deal that could clear Congress as soon as Thursday would stave off an imminent U.S. default, but might deliver less budget savings than Republicans have hoped for, according to nonpartisan budget analysts. The agreement ensures that President Joe Biden will not have to grapple with another debt-ceiling showdown until after the November 2024 election. That is less than the $4.8 trillion Republicans had initially sought, but still the largest deficit-reduction package since a 2011 deal that emerged from a similar debt-ceiling showdown. That would put more $1 trillion of the deal's anticipated savings at risk, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a research group. The deal increases spending on defense and veterans' care, even as it aims to clamp down on other discretionary programs.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, MacGuineas, Biden, Veronique de Rugy, George Mason University's, Penn Wharton, McCarthy, Emily Gee, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell Organizations: Penn Wharton Budget, White, Internal, Service, Office, Republican, SNAP, Social Security, Center for American, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington

Meanwhile districts reported that the pace of inflation had slowed, with prices rising "moderately" and contacts in most parts of the country expecting a similar pace of price increases in the coming months. But many Fed policymakers since then have signaled they may rather wait before undertaking any further policy tightening. Fed policymakers have said credit conditions are a key input to their calculations for monetary policy-setting. About half of districts reported no change in economic activity in recent weeks, the report showed, while four reported small increases and two reported "slight to moderate declines." At the St. Louis Fed, banking contacts said loan demand had softened and they expected further weakening ahead.

Persons: Louis, Ann Saphir, Andrea Ricci, Chizu Organizations: Federal, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, Cleveland Fed, Minneapolis Fed, St, Louis Fed, Thomson Locations: U.S, Silicon

☆ In Pursuit of Consensus, Did Biden Find the Reasonable Middle or Give Away Too Much?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

This is not a moment, however, in which bipartisanship is valued in the way it was when Mr. Biden came up through the Senate in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. “The agreement represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want,” Mr. Biden said in a written statement issued late Saturday night as the deal was being announced. He is banking on the assumption that Americans will appreciate mature leadership that does not gamble with the nation’s economic health. But many on the political left are aggravated that Mr. Biden in their view gave into Mr. McCarthy’s hostage-taking strategy. The president who said the debt ceiling was “not negotiable” ended up negotiating it after all to avoid a national default, barely even bothering with the fiction that talks over spending limits were somehow separate.

☆ Canadian Airline WestJet Averts Strike, Reaches Deal With Pilots
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Vipal Monga | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/canadian-airline-westjet-averts-strike-reaches-deal-with-pilots-9feae266

☆ Walgreens reaches $230 million opioid settlement with San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

San Francisco said on Wednesday it reached a $230 million settlement with Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc over its role in the city’s opioid epidemic. Breyer faulted Walgreens for its “15-year failure” to properly scrutinize opioid prescriptions and flag possible misuse of the sometimes highly addictive drugs. At a press conference, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu called Walgreens’ settlement the largest awarded to a local government in years of opioid litigation nationwide. Breyer found that Walgreens’ San Francisco pharmacies had received more than 1.2 million opioid prescriptions with “red flags” from 2006 to 2020, yet performed due diligence on less than 5% before dispensing them. Last May, Walgreens reached a $683 million opioid settlement with Florida, paying more than three-quarters of the $878 million that four other companies, including rival CVS Health Corp, agreed to pay in similar, earlier settlements.

May 8 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) agreed to pay $215 million to settle a class action alleging widespread bias against women in pay and promotions, ending one of the highest-profile lawsuits claiming unequal treatment of women on Wall Street. In a well-known 1990s case, Smith Barney settled charges that men harassed women in a space known as the "Boom-Boom Room." "This settlement will help the women I had in mind when I filed the case," Orlich said in a statement. The settlement also calls for Goldman to hire independent experts to analyze its gender pay gaps and performance evaluation processes. In 2020, the bank said it aimed for 40% of vice presidents to be women within five years.

☆ M.T.A. Averts Fiscal Crisis as New York Strikes Budget Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Ana Ley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

During each budget cycle, the authority has had to jockey for money against an array of other interests. “This was the most consistent and dependable funding proposal on the table,” said Danny Pearlstein, a spokesman for Riders Alliance, a grass-roots organization of transit riders. The Covid-19 emergency plunged the system into crisis as riders abandoned it, depleting fare revenue it had critically depended on. The state deal will provide $65 million to reduce the first potential fare hike, which could bring the fare closer to $2.86 instead of $2.90. There has not been a fare hike since the start of the pandemic.

☆ Defamation suit settlement will hold Fox accountable for election claims, Dominion negotiator says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The last-minute $787.5 million settlement of the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox Corp. was a major step toward making Fox News answer for false claims that Dominion's machines influenced the 2020 election, a key negotiator of the deal said Wednesday. Yaghoobzadeh was one of the people who cut the settlement deal. He declined to disclose when Fox had made its first offer, saying only that the initial sum "was not enough." CNBC previously reported that anchors will not have to acknowledge the settlement or apologize on air, according to people familiar with the matter. The massive settlement sum will go to legal fees and taxes first, Yaghoobzadeh said.

☆ US regulators say deposits into First Republic Bank show system's resilience
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - Federal regulators and the Treasury Department on Thursday welcomed a decision by 11 larger banks to deposit $30 billion into regional bank First Republic Bank (FRC.N) and said it showed the resilience of the U.S. banking system. "This show of support by a group of large banks is most welcome, and demonstrates the resilience of the banking system," they said. First Republic was one of the banks that had been under more stress amid worries of another run on a regional bank, and a significant shift in deposits to larger banks. The rescue plan executed for First Republic averts an outright takeover of the bank by a larger institution, which would have run counter to a broad White House push against excessive concentration in other U.S. sectors. Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Rami Ayyub; editing by Dan Whitcomb and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan's economy averts recession, but rebounds much less than expected in fourth quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Japanese national flag flies outside the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 27, 2021. Japan's economy averted recession but rebounded much less than expected in October-December as business investment slumped, a sign of the challenge the central bank faces in phasing out its massive stimulus program. The world's third-largest economy expanded an annualized 0.6% in the final quarter of last year after slumping a revised 1.0% in July-September, government data showed on Tuesday. The increase in gross domestic product (GDP) was much smaller than a median market forecast for a 2.0% rise, due to a downswing in capital expenditure and inventory. "With other advanced economies heading into recessions, we still expect net trade to drag Japan into a recession as well in the first half, especially since business investment is weakening faster than we had expected," said Darren Tay, Japan economist at Capital Economics.

☆ WWE’s Vince McMahon Settles With Ex-Wrestling Referee Who Accused Him of Rape
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Joe Palazzolo | Ted Mann | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Vince McMahon , the executive chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., has agreed to a multimillion-dollar legal settlement with a former wrestling referee who accused him of raping her in 1986, according to people familiar with the agreement. Mr. McMahon’s settlement with Rita Chatterton, completed last month, averts a public legal fight over her allegations as Mr. McMahon pursues a possible sale of the company.

☆ Supreme Court keeps in place Trump-era immigration policy allowing asylum-seekers to be quickly turned away
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Lawrencehurley_Pic.Jpg | Lawrence Hurley | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

The court voted 5-4 to grant an emergency request by 19 Republican state attorneys general who sought to intervene in defense of the policy. The brief court order said that while the administration cannot set aside the Title 42 policy, the decision "does not prevent the federal government from taking any action with respect to that policy." Gavin Newsom, has warned that the system for handling migrants seeking asylum would “break” if Title 42 is ended. Chief Justice John Roberts on Dec. 19 placed a temporary hold on Sullivan’s ruling while the Supreme Court weighed its next steps. Title 42, named after a section of U.S. law, gives the federal government power to take emergency action to keep diseases out of the country.

☆ BOJ to keep ultra-low rates, hold fire until global outlook clearer
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Markets are rife with speculation that the BOJ will adjust its policy when Kuroda's second, five-year term ends in April. CONTENT WITH STATUS QUOAmid uncertainty over the global outlook and pace of Japanese wage rises, the BOJ is content with maintaining the status quo for now, the sources said. The BOJ expects the inflation rate to slow below its target next year because cost pressure will dissipate. Any chance of a BOJ policy adjustment will disappear if the Fed fails to tame inflation without pushing the U.S. economy into deep recession, analysts say. "But the BOJ will probably find it hard to phase out stimulus if the global economy is in bad shape," he said.

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.

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