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June 28 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. The MSCI World index climbed almost 1%, its best day in four weeks, while the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index snapped a six-day losing streak. Together with lower oil prices, falling market volatility and a generally weaker dollar, this augers well for Asian equity markets and risk appetite on Wednesday. Beijing may be better equipped to steer the yuan where it wants, as it already closely manages the currency. Rates traders see the RBA hiking rates by another 50 basis points to 4.55% by next March.

Persons: Jamie McGeever Organizations: Nasdaq, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Asia, Japan, Tokyo, China, Beijing, Australia, South Korea

☆ Abortion is ancient history and that matters today
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

This long view of abortion matters, according to Mary Fissell, a professor of the history of medicine at Johns Hopkins University. That’s because assumptions about how abortion was viewed in the past color present-day arguments about abortion rights. Abortion opponents portray the rights granted by Roe v. Wade and legal access to abortion as an historical aberration, according to Fissell, which is not accurate, historians say. Earliest references to abortionThe first written references to abortion are contained in an ancient Egyptian papyrus written about 3,500 years ago. For most of history, abortion has not been an issue about the fetus, like it is today, but rather about women’s behavior.

Persons: Mary Fissell, Roe, Wade, ”, Fissell, “, Dobbs, it’s, Lysistrata, Aristophanes, —, Lisa Briggs, Briggs, Pliny the Elder, ” Briggs, It’s, Maeve Callan, Callan, ’, Saint Brigid, Patrick, Brigid, Peter Morrison, God, ” Callan, “ quickening, Pope Sixtus V, Pope Gregory XIV Organizations: CNN, Johns Hopkins University, US, Jackson, Health Organization, Cranfield University, British Museum, “, Simpson College, AP, quicken Locations: United States, Dobbs v, Rome, Cyrene, Libya, Iowa, Medieval Ireland, Ireland, Leixlip, Kildare

Most economists expect another modest 10 bps LPR cut in the second half - on top of a 25 bps cut in banks' requirement ratio (RRR). The PROC last cut the RRR - the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves -- in March, by 25 bps. Each 5 basis points LPR cut could reduce pre-tax profits of major banks by as much as 1.8%, China Merchants Securities said in a report. "A small rate cut is a useful painkiller for symptoms but cannot alleviate the real problem," said Gary Ng, Asia Pacific senior economist of Natixis. On Friday, China's cabinet discussed policy measures to support the economy.

Persons: COVID, NIM, Wang Yifeng, Wang, Gary Ng, China's, Zhang Ming, Zhang, Morgan Stanley, Kevin Yao, Ziyi Tang, Kripa Jayaram, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: People's Bank of China, Reuters, Everbright Securities, China Merchants Securities, Asia Pacific, stoke, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Thomson Locations: China, BEIJING, Beijing, Asia

We used a professional device called a sound level meter to record the decibel levels of common sounds and environments. According to the World Health Organization, average road traffic noise above 53 dB or average aircraft noise exposure above about 45 dB are associated with adverse health effects. This chart shows how many people in the United States may be exposed to various outdoor noise levels, on average. Scientists believe that pronounced fluctuations in noise levels like this might compound the effects on the body. Nighttime noise shows similar inequities.

Persons: D’Lo, Jackhammers clack, San Diego —, Reagan, George Jackson, Mendenhall, Carolyn Fletcher, Ron Allen Organizations: Bankers, San Diego, thunders, Massachusetts General Hospital, World Health Organization, Department of Transportation, Queens, High Tech Middle School, San Diego International Airport, dBs, Noise, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety, Health, European Union Locations: San, Bankers Hill, San Diego, Greenpoint , Brooklyn, Brooklyn, D’Lo, Miss, Mississippi, New York City, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, United States, U.S, Point Loma, Swiss, Paris, Berlin, Switzerland

☆ Fight hot flashes with these expert-approved methods
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“Specifically, what we’re talking about are hot flashes and the accompanying night sweats because those are the most common,” Faubion said. “This is the first-of-its-kind medication, a neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist, that tackles moderate to severe hot flashes where they begin — the brain,” she said. Fezolinetant, which goes by the brand name Veozah, “targets the neural activity which causes hot flashes during menopause. Doucefleur/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesAn overactive bladder drug, oxybutynin, also “profoundly dropped hot flashes,” Shufelt said. Studies did show that weight loss reduces hot flashes, as do mindfulness practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy, Shufelt said.

Persons: Stephanie Faubion, ”, Chrisandra Shufelt, Shufelt, ” Faubion, “ We’re, “, ” Shufelt, “ You’ve, it’s, I’ve, It’s, Faubion, ‘, I’m Organizations: CNN, Mayo Clinic’s Center, Women’s Health, Women’s Health Research, Mayo Clinic, FDA Locations: Jacksonville , Florida

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, June 2 (Reuters) - China's yuan has skidded to six-month lows against the dollar and analysts say it could weaken further as investors fret over a bumpy pandemic recovery in the world's second-largest economy. "The yuan suffers as China's reopening story is less appealing than before, and there is no sign of further stimulus," said Gary Ng, senior economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis. "A weaker currency at the current juncture can help export performance, especially as global trade is shrinking this year." "A weaker yuan helps exporters when they convert the dollar receivables to yuan," said Barclays' FX strategist Lemon Zhang. A weaker yuan might also temper deflationary pressures being seen in parts of the economy due to weak domestic demand.

Persons: Gary Ng, Alvin Tan, Tan, Tommy Wu, Lemon Zhang, Serena Zhou, Winni Zhou, Brenda Goh, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill Organizations: Asia Pacific, Reuters, People's Bank of China, Asia FX, RBC Capital Markets, Barclays, FX, Mizuho Securities, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, United States, Natixis, Asia, China, Shanghai, Singapore

☆ China's fiscal revenue growth quickens as economy recovers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, May 18 (Reuters) - China's fiscal revenue rose 11.9% in the first four months of 2023 from the same period a year earlier, accelerating sharply from a 0.5% rise in January-March, official data showed, as the economy stages a gradual but uneven post-COVID recovery. Fiscal revenue totalled 8.32 trillion yuan ($1.20 trillion)in the first four months while fiscal expenditure grew 6.8% to 8.64 trillion yuan, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday. In April, fiscal revenue jumped about 70% from a year earlier, accelerating sharply from a 5.5% rise in March, according to Reuters calculations based on the ministry's data. The world's second-largest economy is recovering after three years of stringent COVID-19 curbs, but April data suggested the economy lost momentum at the beginning of the second quarter. ($1 = 6.9121 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Ellen Zhang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China factory activity unexpectedly shrinks in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Ellen Zhang | Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s manufacturing activity unexpectedly shrank in April, official data showed on Sunday, raising pressure on policymakers seeking to boost an economy struggling for a post-COVID lift-off amid subdued global demand and persistent property weakness. That missed expectations of 51.4 tipped by economists in a Reuters poll and marked the first contraction since December, when the official manufacturing PMI was at 47.0. The world’s second-biggest economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption, but factory output has lagged amid weak global growth. The manufacturing sector, which employs about 18% of China’s workforce, remains under pressure due to slack global demand. The composite PMI, which includes manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity, dropped to 54.4 from 57.0.

☆ China factory activity unexpectedly cools in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Ellen Zhang | Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Manufacturing PMI 49.2 in April vs 51.9 in MarchNon-manufacturing PMI 56.4 vs 58.2 in MarchBEIJING, April 30 (Reuters) - China's manufacturing activity unexpectedly shrank in April, official data showed on Sunday, raising pressure on policymakers seeking to boost an economy struggling for a post-COVID lift-off amid subdued global demand and persistent property weakness. That missed expectations of 51.4 tipped by economists in a Reuters poll, and marked the first contraction since December last year, when the official manufacturing PMI was at 47.0. China's economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption, but factory output has lagged amid weak global growth. The manufacturing sector, which provides jobs to about 18% of those employed nationwide, remains under pressure due to slack global demand. The composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity, dropped to 54.4 from 57.0.

☆ China PMI factory activity unexpectedly cools in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) declined to 49.2 last month from 51.9 in March, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, below the 50-point mark that separates expansion and contraction in activity. That missed expectations of 51.4 tipped by economists in a Reuters poll and marked the first contraction since December, when the official manufacturing PMI was at 47.0. The world’s second-biggest economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption, but factory output has lagged amid weak global growth. China's manufacturing activity unexpectedly shrank in April, according to official data. The composite PMI, which includes manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity, dropped to 54.4 from 57.0.

☆ VW pledges to double down on EVs in China, urges extension of NEV tax breaks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"The market is flush with new, highly competitive players but strong competition simply motivates us to constantly innovate and improve," Mecha said. He added that despite softer short term demand in China, the company is confident that there would be a recovery. In February, Chinese electrified vehicle maker BYD outsold the Volkswagen-branded cars to be the best-selling passenger car brand in the world's largest auto market for the second month in four. In September, China extended the tax exemption on such vehicles by a year to the end of 2023. ($1 = 0.9226 euros)Reporting by Zhang Yan, Hongwei Li, Brenda Goh; Editing by William Mallard and Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine to receive Abrams tanks from US as soon as this fall -officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In January, the U.S. pledged to supply Ukraine with 31 advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks after months of shunning the idea of deploying the difficult-to-maintain tanks to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. The new plan would give Ukraine the M1A1 SA Abrams tank variant, which can run on diesel fuel like the majority of the Ukrainian fleet, one of the officials said. US soldiers stand with Polish and US flags near M1/A2 Abrams tank outside a hall of 30th International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, Poland September 5, 2022. The General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) production line is currently completing about 12 Abrams tanks a month. The M1A2 tanks would be sourced from government owned "hulls" and refurbished specifically for Ukraine, Ryder said.

☆ Tech pressure, Yellen everywhere: How Washington scrambled as SVB collapsed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Yellen heads to the White House, Brainard meets with her staff and holds Zoom calls in her wood-paneled office in the West Wing. Treasury staff hustle to get Yellen on CBS News' "Face the Nation" program on Sunday, in an attempt to reassure markets. White House officials draft news releases with various scenarios, uncertain until shortly before 6 p.m. if an acquisition can still happen. As he leaves Delaware to return to the White House, Biden tells reporters he will make a statement on Monday. Treasury and White House officials reach out to members of Congress and their staffs throughout the evening to explain the plan, with discussions continuing into Monday.

"This is an encouraging set of data, but still is only one month, and challenges remain." Global oil prices went higher, underlining how a strong Chinese recovery could fuel global inflation through increased energy demand. STUBBORN INFLATIONIn Europe, German data showed the fight against inflation still has some way to go. Factory activity continued to shrink in Taiwan and Malaysia in February, and expanded at a slower pace in the Philippines, surveys showed. Separate data showed South Korea's exports fell 7.5% in February from a year earlier, marking the fifth straight month of declines, partly due to a plunge in semiconductor exports.

☆ Euro zone factory output returned to growth in February -PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

S&P Global's final manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dipped to 48.5 in February from January's 48.8, in line with a preliminary reading but still below the 50 mark separating growth from contraction. That healing of supply chain strains led to another sharp diminishing of the cost burden faced by factories. The input prices index slumped to 50.9 from 56.3 in January, its lowest reading since September 2020. However, the output prices index remained high. "Although factory selling prices continued to rise sharply, albeit with the rate of increase easing to a two-year low, this in part reflects the usual lagged effect of changes in costs feeding through to output prices," Williamson said.

☆ Yale expert: This is how you build 1 trait highly successful people share
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The key lies in a simple trait that highly successful people share: self-awareness. For Gendler, who studies how insights from ancient scholars can solve modern problems, building the trait involves tapping into your inner Socrates. Start doing the same for any belief you're trying to unlearn. People on the unstable bridge reported that they felt more attracted to the person alongside them. "Imagine having an inner Socrates with you on the bridge," Gendler said.

☆ Russia is likely to claim a big victory in Bakhmut as 1-year anniversary of its invasion approaches, regardless of the reality on the ground, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia is under increasing political pressure to capture Bakhmut by February 24, UK intel said. It's "likely" that Russia will claim victory there regardless of the reality on the ground, it said. Analysts say that Russia will struggle to seize Bakhmut by the first anniversary of the Ukraine war. "It is likely that Russia will claim that Bakhmut has been captured to align with the anniversary, regardless of the reality on the ground," the MoD said. The UK intelligence update added that Russia is continuing to pursue several offensive axes in eastern Ukraine, with casualties reportedly remaining high in Bakhmut.

☆ Asian equities hit 9-month high as recession fears wane
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose as much as 0.55% to hit an almost nine-month high of 562.10, and was last at 559.39. The index, which fell nearly 20% last year, is up nearly 11% so far this month and is on course for its best-ever January performance. European stock futures indicated that stocks were set to rise, with the Eurostoxx 50 futures up 0.3%, German DAX futures 0.28% ahead and FTSE futures up 0.16%. Oil prices rose on expectations of a boost to demand from China's reopening and after the strong U.S. data. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.41% to $81.34 per barrel and Brent was at $87.83, also up 0.41% on the day.

☆ Asian equities hit 9-month high as recession fears ebb
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose as much as 0.55% to hit an almost nine-month high of 562.10. European stock futures indicated that stocks were set to rise, with the Eurostoxx 50 futures up 0.31%, German DAX futures 0.28% ahead and FTSE futures up 0.17%. The dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against six other peers, rose 0.12%, with the euro down 0.11% to $1.0877. Oil prices rose on expectations of a boost to demand from China's reopening and after the strong U.S. data. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.33% to $81.28 per barrel and Brent was at $87.75, up 0.32% on the day.

☆ See the pitch deck this company used to raise $21.5 million and help small landlords prepare for tough times by guaranteeing rent
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The property-management company Doorstead raised funds in a tough venture-capital market. The company's cofounders walked Insider through the pitch deck they used to raise $21.5 million. It was late 2021, and the founders of Doorstead, a tech-focused property-management company, were losing sleep. "One customer lost $20,000 in rent because their former property manager sold a promise that couldn't be fulfilled by the market," Waliany said. The combination of the rental guarantee and property-management services has helped the company attract property owners seeking passive income.

☆ When Does Life Begin?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Elizabeth Dias | Bethany Mollenkof | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +19 min

“It is not black and white.”America’s fight over abortion has long circled a question, one that is broad and without consensus:When does life begin? The question of when life begins has been so politicized it can be hard to thoughtfully engage. Ancient Egypt gave the power to create new human life almost entirely to men. The scientific revolution, from Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to reproductive science, disrupted centuries of thought on human life. “When does the responsibility for a life begin and end?”

☆ A moment of truth is fast approaching for both Trump and the DOJ
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

She then rebuffed White House condemnations of her comments by insisting she was joking. Smith has also issued a flurry of grand jury subpoenas since Thanksgiving, including to ex-Trump adviser Stephen Miller and two former White legal counsels. A judge on Monday formally dismissed Trump’s case challenging the Mar-a-Lago evidence collection and in which she had appointed a special master. If a moment of truth is approaching for Trump, the same can be said of Garland and the DOJ. Trump has already tried to use claims that justice is being weaponized against him as rocket fuel for his 2024 presidential bid.

☆ Four Ways to Save Money on Home Insurance as Rates Rise
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Veronica Dagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Homeowners had to shell out more money for mortgage payments, routine maintenance and heating costs this year as quickening inflation and rising interest rates strained monthly budgets. One more bigger bill to add to that list: home insurance. Home insurance premium rates rose 9.3% from Jan. 1, 2021, through Nov. 25 on average nationwide, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. The Insurance Information Institute, an industry trade group, also known as Triple-I, said premiums are likely to rise further in 2023.

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