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☆ US consumer prices rise moderately; underlying inflation subsides
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

An increase in prices at the pump late in the month will likely be reflected in the August inflation report. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the CPI would rise 0.2% last month and by 3.3% on a year-on-year basis. Reuters GraphicsThe CPI report is one of two before the Fed's Sept. 19-20 policy meeting. Underlying inflation was curbed by a 0.3% drop in core goods prices, which followed a 0.1% dip in June. But with worker productivity rising, economists are optimistic that labor costs will be contained.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Will Compernolle, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: Shoppers, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Labor Department, Fed, Reuters, Financial, Treasury, Services, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, WASHINGTON, New York

☆ Under Biden, US oil production is poised to break Trump-era records
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And yet, on his watch, US oil production is poised to shatter all-time records set during the Trump administration. If anything, the outlook for US oil production has brightened recently – in large part because oil prices have rebounded from recession fears and drillers have become more efficient. Climate vs. inflationWhen and if the oil production record falls, don’t expect any fireworks from the White House. Last week, Saudi Arabia vowed to extend its oil production cut for at least another month. It’s also true that domestic oil production -— unlike prices -— has been slow to recover from the Covid-19 crash.

Persons: Joe Biden, Trump, It’s, Biden, ”, Hunter Kornfeind, it’s, Mike Pence, Joe Biden’s, Pence, Barack Obama, “, Matt Smith, ” Biden, That’s, Kornfeind Organizations: New York CNN Business, Rapidan Energy, drillers, US Energy Information Administration, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, EIA, Exxon, Rapidan Energy Group, American Petroleum Institute, Biden, CNN, “ Locations: Saudi Arabia, Texas, Americas, Russia

☆ A Millennium Falcon-shaped comet heading toward Earth is so bright you'll able to see it with your naked eye, say astronomers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Ellie Zolfagharifard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Astronomers have spotted a "once-in-a-lifetime" comet shaped like the Millennium Falcon. The comet will make its closest approach to the sun next year, just weeks after a solar eclipse. The comet, known as Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, abruptly brightened 100-fold on July 20 as plumes of debris and ice were blasted off it into space. While it may be possible to see the comet with the naked eye, Miles advised using binoculars. A decades-old mysteryAstronomers aren't sure exactly why Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which orbits the sun every 71 years, has brightened so drastically in recent weeks.

Persons: Pons, Brooks, It's, Richard Miles, Miles, Dr Edward Gomez, Elek Tamás, Helen Usher of Cardiff, Carrie Holt, Gomez Organizations: Service, British Astronomical Association, Wales, Harsona, Comet, Open University, University of Maryland Locations: Wall, Silicon, Cardiff, Nyiregyhaza, Hungary

☆ US stocks rise on earnings outlook, global shares dip on China data
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Herbert Lash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 12, 2023. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led U.S. stocks higher, supported by megacap growth stocks including Apple, Nvidia and Tesla, ahead of quarterly results from industry heavyweights later this week. Second-quarter earnings are expected to decline 8.1%, according to Refinitiv data, down further than the 5.7% decline expected at the start of the month. Data on U.S. retail sales are expected to show a rise of 0.3% ex-autos, continuing the slower trend but solid enough to fit into the market's soft-landing theme. Futures are pricing in an additional 32 basis points of tightening this year, with the benchmark rate expected to peak at 5.40% in November.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Morgan Stanley, Goldman, it's, Anthony Saglimbene, James Ragan, Brent, Herbert Lash, Karen Brettell, Amanda Cooper, Wayne Cole, Lincoln, Christina Fincher, Barbara Lewis, Deepa Babington Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Wall, Nasdaq, Apple, Nvidia, Tesla, Tesla Inc, Bank of America Corp, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Netflix Inc, Dow Jones, Fed, Treasury, Reuters Graphics Oil, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, Troy , Michigan, Davidson, Seattle, Europe, New York, London, Sydney

☆ Global shares dip after China data; US stocks gain
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Herbert Lash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 12, 2023. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led U.S. stocks higher, supported by megacap growth stocks including Apple and Tesla, ahead of quarterly results from industry heavyweights later this week. Stocks in Europe closed lower, with the pan-regional STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) down 0.63% while MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (.MIWD00000PUS), which is heavily weighted to U.S. megacap stocks, edged higher by 0.14%. Futures are pricing in an additional 32 basis points of tightening this year, with the benchmark rate expected to peak at 5.40% in November. U.S. crude fell $1.27 to settle at $74.15 per barrel and Brent settled down $1.37 at $78.50.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Morgan Stanley, Goldman, it's, Anthony Saglimbene, James Ragan, Brent, Herbert Lash, Karen Brettell, Amanda Cooper, Wayne Cole, Lincoln, Christina Fincher, Barbara Lewis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, YORK, Nasdaq, Apple, Tesla, Tesla Inc, Bank of America Corp, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Netflix Inc, Dow Jones, Fed, Treasury, Reuters Graphics Sterling, Bank of England, CBA, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, Troy , Michigan, Davidson, Seattle, Europe, New York, London, Sydney

☆ One family may have to travel 185 miles to Chicago to get gender-affirming care after Indiana banned treatment for trans minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Arleigh Rodgers | Michael Goldberg | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

An expert said trans kids need what all young people need: "to feel included and part of a family." The following afternoon, Flower and Jennilyn Nichols would see a doctor at the University of Chicago to learn whether they could keep Flower, 11, on puberty blockers. At least 20 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for trans minors, though several are embroiled in legal challenges. Flower Nichols hugs her mom, Jennilyn Nichols, as they watch the Pride Parade, Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Indianapolis. Flower Nichols, middle, watches the Pride Parade with her parents Kris and Jennilyn Nichols, Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Indianapolis.

Persons: Flower Nichols, Jennilyn Nichols, Eric Holcomb, Darron Cummings Jennilyn Nichols, Nichols, Parker, Kris, Darron Cummings, Robert Marx, Marx, Krisztina Inskeep, Inskeep, Indiana University's Riley, Flower, Jennilyn, —, Teresa Crawford, She's, ___ Arleigh Rodgers, Michael Goldberg, Rodgers, Goldberg Organizations: Indiana, Service, University of Chicago, Republican Gov, AP, of Science, Industry, Republican, San José State University, Indiana University's Riley Children's Hospital, Hoosier, Red, Indiana Statehouse, Scout, Chicago's Museum of Science and, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Indianapolis, Chicago, Wall, Silicon, Indiana, Indiana , Mississippi, babysit, brightened, Chicago's, Jackson

☆ June inflation data will be closely watched by investors in the week ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Investors are turning their attention to inflation data in the week ahead, following this week's hot jobs data, to further clarify the path of future monetary policy. Market participants are hoping next week's release of the June consumer price index on Wednesday, as well as last month's producer price index on Thursday, will show a downward trajectory in inflation after this week's strong ADP data spurred investor fears of further rate hikes ahead. Broadly speaking, investors are pricing in another quarter point rate hike at the July meeting. Of note, stocks tumbled Thursday after hotter-than-expected ADP data suggested the Federal Reserve has further to go in its tightening campaign. FactSet data shows analysts expect S & P 500 earnings fell 7% in the second quarter against the same quarter a year ago.

Persons: James Ragan, Davidson, Hogan, Rhys Williams, Williams, you've, Davidson's Ragan, Citigroup startegists, Wells, UnitedHealth, Michael Barr Organizations: Traders, Federal Reserve, Riley, Dow Jones Industrial, Treasury, Asset Management, JPMorgan, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock, Dow, PepsiCo, Delta Air, Conagra, Delta Air Lines, Fastenal Locations: Wells Fargo, Cintas, UnitedHealth

☆ Wall Street prepares for more gains this month after past week's breakout
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Scott Schnipper | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

For now, it's not a brighter economic picture or an exuberant earnings outlook pushing stocks higher. Another reason that some investors have come back to stocks is simply because the S & P 500 ended the week more than 23% above last October's low. "The next level of resistance is above 4,500 on the S & P. Historically, the market gains 14.5% on average between the 20% threshold level and the next decline of 5% or more. "Inflation peaked in June of last year and has been rapidly declining over the past 12 months. Trading the week after is often treacherous, Hirsch said, with the Dow Jones Industrials falling in 27 of the past 33 years and the S & P 500 down in 23 of 33 years.

Persons: it's, Sam Stovall, Clinton, Wells Fargo, Chris Harvey, Harvey, Jay Hatfield, Price, CarMax, Stovall, Jeffrey Hirsch, Hirsch, Dow Jones Industrials, York Fed's John Williams, Jerome Powell, Philip Jefferson, Lisa Cook, Adriana Kugler, Avid Bioservices, Patterson Cos, Christopher Waller, Michael Bloom, Fred Imbert, Alex Harring Organizations: Fed, CFRA, Microsoft, Infrastructure Capital Management, Consumer, PPI, FedEx, Darden, Dow, Housing, Financial, Enerpac, Avid, Banking, Accenture, Commercial Metals, P, PMI Locations: New York, York, Dublin

☆ Millionaires are hoarding cash, betting on higher rates, CNBC survey says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Millionaire investors are adding to their mountains of cash, betting on higher interest rates and weak stock markets in 2023, according to the CNBC Millionaire Survey. Of the survey respondents, 28% said they have purchased more fixed income, as they expect interest rates to remain high. Millionaire investors are still betting inflation will persist for years, potentially keeping interest rates higher for longer. Three-quarters of millennial millionaires say inflation will come down to 2% within two years, with one in four saying it will hit the 2% target within a year. CNBC's Millionaire Survey was conducted online in April.

Persons: Elias Ghanem, George Walper, Walper Organizations: CNBC Millionaire Survey, Capgemini Research Institute, Financial Services, Spectrem, Millionaire Survey, CNBC, Millionaires, Millionaire, Valley Bank, First, Signature Bank, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

☆ Sterling slips after survey data shows house building slump
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Harry Robertson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) - The pound slipped on Tuesday as data showed that British house building wilted in May and the dollar found a footing. The survey data showed house building in Britain fell at its fastest pace since May 2020 last month as construction companies struggled with rising interest rates. Yet the headline concealed divergence within the construction sector, with commercial and civil engineering activity rising but house building suffering. Turner said this could lead to the Bank of England (BoE) raising interest rates by less than markets expect. Traders currently envisage rates rising to around 5.4% later this year, from 4.5% currently.

Persons: Sterling, Chris Turner, Turner, BoE, Harry Robertson, Mark Potter Organizations: ING, Bank of England, Traders, Thomson Locations: Britain

☆ Strong US consumer spending, inflation readings put Fed in tough spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Consumer spending jumped 0.8% last month after gaining 0.1% in March. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, would rise 0.4%. Adjusting for inflation, consumer spending shot up 0.5% after being unchanged in March. Consumer spending is being supported by strong wage gains in a tight labor market. The current pace of consumer spending is, however, unlikely to be sustained as Americans grow weary of inflation.

☆ Wall Street rallies, dollar gains as debt limit talks progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermidSINGAPORE, May 17 (Reuters) - Wall Street moved higher on Wednesday, gathering momentum in afternoon trading, and the dollar touched a six-week high as regional banks surged and negotiations in Washington over raising the debt ceiling moved forward. Retail salesRegional banks provided some lift, with the KBW Regional Banks index (.KRX) surging 6.8% amid waning concerns of a liquidity crisis in the sector. The dollar gained touched a six-week high against a basket of world currencies, benefiting from its safe-haven status as debt ceiling talks grind on, but pulled back as investors trimmed their bets on near-term interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. The dollar index rose 0.3%, with the euro down 0.23% to $1.0836. Oil prices rebounded on a brightened demand outlook and optimism over a debt ceiling resolution.

☆ How the CEO behind ChatGPT won over Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

It was a pivotal moment for the AI industry. He agreed that large-scale manipulation and deception using AI tools are among the technology’s biggest potential flaws. On Tuesday, they seemed ready — or even relieved — to be dealing with another area of the technology industry. The AI industry’s biggest players and aspirants include some of the same tech giants Congress has sharply criticized, including Google and Meta. Here too, Altman deftly seized an opportunity to curry favor with lawmakers by emphasizing distinctions between his industry and the social media industry.

☆ European Union upgrades outlook for economy as energy prices retreat
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Yet Europe’s economic prospects have brightened in recent months, according to the European Commission. It now expects the EU economy to expand 1% this year, up from an estimate of 0.8% in February. But it reflects sharply lower energy prices, which are reducing costs for businesses and easing the strain on households. Even so, the Commission acknowledged that higher borrowing costs aimed at taming rising prices will weigh on growth in the months to come. Growth in Germany, the bloc’s biggest economy, is expected to slow sharply to 0.2% in 2023.

☆ Financials bounce back from Friday's slide to lift Indian shares
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Bharath Rajeswaran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Nifty 50 (.NSEI) was up 0.81% at 18,215.75 as of 10:04 a.m. IST, while the S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) rose 0.87%. Nifty Bank (.NSEBANK) and Nifty Private Bank (.NIFPVTBANK) also gained over 1%. On Monday, IndusInd Bank Ltd (INBK.NS) rose nearly 5% and was the top Nifty 50 gainer. Analysts expect the Nifty 50 to witness consolidation in the near-term with resistance seen near 18,200 levels. read more($1 = 81.7330 Indian rupees)Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia CheemaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Saudi bourse jumps on earnings; Egypt extends losses
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Ateeq Shariff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 7 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock market ended higher on Sunday boosted by a slew of strong earnings, although the Egyptian bourse extended losses. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) gained 1.2%, buoyed by a 6% jump in Saudi British Bank (1060.SE), its biggest intraday gain since Dec. 2021, following a steep rise in first-quarter earnings. The lender reported a quarterly net profit of 1.77 billion riyals ($471.99 million) up from 1 billion riyals year ago. In Qatar, the index (.QSI) added 0.3%, with Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA) climbing 2.7%. However, the index's gains were limited by a 1.1% fall in petrochemical maker Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA) ahead of its earnings announcement.

☆ Astronomers observe star swallowing planet for first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —In a world first, scientists have observed the moment that a dying star consumed a planet — a fate that eventually awaits Earth. Astronomers observed this as a white-hot flash, followed by a longer-lasting colder signal, which they later deduced was caused by the star engulfing a planet. “That infrared data made me fall off my chair,” De said, with the readings suggesting the star could have been merging with another star. However, further analysis using readings from NASA’s infrared space telescope, NEOWISE, revealed that the star was in fact consuming a planet. Our own planet will meet the same fate, but not for 5 billion years, researchers say.

That meant revenue growth rates were about 5 percentage points lower in April than in the first quarter, he said, referring to a period that saw a sequential drop. Its economy-wary customers aside, Amazon aimed to project confidence for its cloud longer-term. Jassy said the growing adoption of generative AI, which can create text, imagery and other content from past data, represented a huge opportunity for Amazon's cloud. Likewise, Olsavsky told reporters, Amazon had seen no shift in the competitive balance among cloud providers. AWS sales growth slowed to 15.8% in the first quarter.

☆ S&P sees brighter outlook for UK credit rating as budget risks recede
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 21 (Reuters) - Ratings agency S&P Global revised up its outlook for Britain's sovereign credit rating on Friday, removing the "negative" label which it applied after September's "mini-budget" under then-Prime Minister Liz Truss. "The government's decision to abandon most of the unfunded budgetary measures proposed in September 2022 has bolstered the fiscal outlook for the UK," S&P said. S&P maintained its AA rating for British government debt and now has a "stable" outlook for the rating. Lower energy prices have brightened Britain's economic outlook - with the International Monetary Fund revising up its forecasts last week - although the squeeze on consumer spending from continued high inflation means the IMF still forecasts Britain's economy will contract by 0.3% in 2023. S&P said it expected British economic output to fall by 0.5% this year before growing by an average of 1.6% a year between 2024 and 2026.

☆ Morning Bid: Banks calm the horses
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

As U.S. banking giants calm the horses, global investors are now concentrated on world growth and earnings signals more than interest rate rises for direction - with an assumption the latter are near an end anyway. Somewhat relieved analysts marginally brightened their dim outlook for first-quarter U.S. results compared with a week ago. Futures markets now see a more than 80% chance the Fed will execute one final quarter point rate rise next month - reversing it by September. That rate rise would bring the real Fed policy rate - adjusted by headline consumer price inflation - into positive territory for the first time in three years. The dollar extended Friday's rebound as the May rate rise pricing hardened.

☆ Asia shares gain as Singapore stops tightening, euro climbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The dovish signals helped keep non-yielding gold near one-year highs, while the euro led the currency pack as the European Central Bank stays stubbornly hawkish. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) surprised many by leaving policy unchanged, saying the tightening already underway would ensure inflation slowed sharply later this year. A break under 100bp would see the spread at its narrowest since early 2014, when the euro was up around $1.3600. The dollar was relatively steady on the yen at 132.51 yen , supported by the Bank of Japan's easy policy stance. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Thursday he told his G20 counterparts the central bank will likely keep monetary policy ultra-loose.

☆ Asia shares up as Singapore joins the pause camp
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) surprised many by leaving policy unchanged, saying the tightening already underway would ensure inflation slowed sharply later this year. The prospect of a peak for rates helped offset worries about recession and MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) nudged up 0.4%. The euro was also near highs seen back in November above 146.00 yen , and jumped to a 10-month peak on the Singapore dollar after the MAS decision. The dollar was relatively steady on the yen at 132.57 yen , supported by the Bank of Japan's still uber-easy policy stance. Brent edged up 27 cents to $86.36 a barrel, while U.S. crude rose 26 cents to $82.42 per barrel.

☆ As earnings season begins, S&P 500 forecast looks less weak
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

That compares with their week-ago forecast for a 5.2% year-over-year decline in the quarter. S&P 500 earnings fell 3.2% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2022, based on Refinitiv data, which means the first quarter still would mark a second straight quarterly decline in U.S. earnings, or a profit recession. Investors have been eagerly awaiting quarterly results from banks following the collapse of two U.S. regional banks in March. A slew of other regional banks are still due to report in the coming weeks, including Zions Bancorp (ZION.O) on Wednesday. Quarterly results are also expected next week from Goldman Sachs Group (GS.N) and Netflix (NFLX.O).

☆ She met her long lost cousin on a cruise ship
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The following year, 2015, Eileen celebrated her 70th birthday with a voyage on board Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship. She was in shock when she met Paddy at the cruise bar. “We compared stories of travels around the world.”Transatlantic friendshipHere's Paddy, Hazel, Gerard and Eileen photographed on board the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship in 2015, not long after they met. Monaghan familyFor the remaining two weeks of the cruise, the two long lost cousins and their spouses were inseparable. Eileen has also met a whole host of other Irish family members through Paddy.

☆ Shadow banks: The other financial firms worrying investors and regulators
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

London CNN —The International Monetary Fund warned this week of “vulnerabilities” among so-called non-bank financial institutions, saying global financial stability could hinge on their resilience. The term encompasses financial firms, other than banks, that provide all manner of financial services, including lending to households and businesses. The sector has grown strongly since the global financial crisis in 2008, with its asset base expanding by 7% a year on average, according to FSB data. Non-banks that provide credit are known as “shadow banks,” although the term is often used imprecisely to mean all non-banks. Shadow banks now make up about 14% of the world’s financial assets and, like many non-banks, operate without the same level of regulatory oversight and transparency as banks.

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