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☆ Here are Morgan Stanley's favorite quality stocks to buy as bear market nears end
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

As investors start preparing for the end of the bear market, Morgan Stanley has identified a number of stocks it expects to outperform once the next bull market begins. He has an overweight rating on the stock and a $135 price target, which suggests about 33% upside from Monday's close. He has an overweight rating on Costco and a $520 price target, which implies a little more than 6% upside from Monday's close. Graseck has an overweight rating on JPM and a $173 price target, which implies 36% upside from Monday's close. His $155 price target suggests the stock could rally more than 20% from Monday's close.

☆ UK economy rebounds with stronger-than-expected January GDP print
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — The U.K. economy grew by 0.3% in January, official figures showed on Friday, exceeding expectations as it continues to fend off what economists see as an inevitable recession. The U.K. economy showed no growth in the final quarter of 2022 to narrowly avoid a recession — commonly defined as two quarters of negative growth — but shrunk by 0.5% in December. The ONS said Friday that monthly GDP is now estimated to be 0.2% below its pre-pandemic levels. Despite the better-than-expected January print, economists still broadly believe activity is on a downward trajectory, as high inflation eats into household incomes and business activity. While extending energy support will provide some relief to struggling households, aggressive tax rises would risk eliminating any lingering momentum from the economy," Thiru said.

☆ Here's why it makes sense that stocks are rallying as rates rise and a recession approaches, and what to own because they could keep going, according to research firm Leuthold Group.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Marley Jay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Leuthold Group CIO Doug Ramsey says the "irrational" stock market rally could continue. Ramsey says that when economic indicators hit a low point, it's generally very good for stocks. It might not make a lot of sense that stocks have jumped in 2023 even as recession concerns have risen and interest rates have climbed to 15-year highs, notes Doug Ramsey, investment chief at Leuthold Group. Ramsey concedes that the moves are "irrational," but that doesn't mean there is no reason to be optimistic about stocks. He notes that a closely watched measurement of economic activity, the Conference Board's Leading Economic Index, is in a downturn.

☆ The highest-paying college majors, top jobs in 2023 and who’s hiring right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Cindy Perman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Tech jobs are still hotOnce again, if you just followed the headlines (layoffs at Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, etc.) Jobs in the sector ranked among the Best Jobs for 2023, according to job site Indeed.com: Full-stack developer Data engineer Cloud engineer Senior product manager Back-end developer Almost half, 44%, of the top 25 jobs on that list were tech jobs. "I'm sure there are plenty of unfilled positions for tech workers in financial services or state and local governments. Tech workers laid off by tech companies may end up there." *MINDBLOWN*), plus jobs where you're a top applicant and some jobs that you might have missed.

Bob Berg | Moment Mobile | Getty ImagesIn a fragmented media landscape, events like the Super Bowl are prized by advertisers for the exposure they offer. These commercials are an institution in and of themselves, with the ads generating conversation for weeks ahead and days after the big game. Consumers might recall well-crafted Super Bowl ads years after their debut. So does Super Bowl exposure truly help boost business? It drove so many viewers to Coinbase's app that it crashed on the night of the Super Bowl.

☆ Amazon Studios is growing fast and spending big on shows like 'Citadel,' but insiders say unclear creative direction, leadership shifts, and tech bureaucracy threaten to drive away staff and talent
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Lucia Moses | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

The dust has been settling at Amazon Studios after a big reorg in the fall that solidified Jen Salke's power. Yet Amazon Studios faces major challenges. Amazon Studios' Head of Global Television Vernon Sanders told Insider that the goal is to deliver content with global cultural relevance. Amazon Prime VideoWhile spending on such big swings has soared, some insiders see far less budgetary support for underrepresented casts. "I do think people wonder what's the commitment to Amazon Studios," the current insider said.

☆ What is Bank of England watching as it considers peak in rates?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Andy Bruce | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

At a news conference on Thursday, BoE officials outlined the economic indicators they will be watching most closely as they weigh up whether to raise rates again, or leave them at 4%. Official wage growth data also shows record growth in private sector earnings, excluding the coronavirus pandemic period when pay was distorted by government support. Long-run inflation expectations, as measured by the Citi/YouGov survey, have returned within touching distance of their pre-pandemic norm of just above 3%. The strength of inflation in services - which largely reflects domestic price pressures, unlike goods which are typically imported - is one source of unease. Members of the Monetary Policy Committee see that data as a gauge of underlying inflation in the economy.

☆ Singapore’s 15 fastest-growing jobs for 2023, according to LinkedIn
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Jobs that help companies digitize and grow amid economic volatility are on the rise in Singapore, according to LinkedIn. Its latest Jobs on the Rise data revealed spikes in hiring for growth specialists, technical jobs and health-care professionals in Asia — among other jobs expected to expand hiring well into 2023. Researchers from LinkedIn examined jobs from January 2018 to July 2022 to calculate the growth rate for each job title in a specific country. Here's the full list of Singapore's jobs on the rise in 2023, according to LinkedIn:1. Machine learning engineerMost common skills: TensorFlow, Deep Learning, PyTorch Most common industries: Technology and media, manufacturing, financial services Median years of prior experience: 2.6 Remote job availability: 4.5%12.

☆ Jefferies says disinflation will be the big driver of 2023 — 20 stocks to play the trend
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Disinflation — not inflation — will be a key driving force in the economy this year, according to Jefferies. Therefore, investors can find winners this year by looking at the stocks with a positive correlation to inflation cooling down. Jefferies looked at changes in inflation expectations and which equities had the highest correlation to those changes. So Jefferies reasons that these stocks will have the most to gain this year as disinflation takes over. Jefferies gave clients a list of names it believes are quality stocks trading at reasonable prices.

Florida could soon become the 26th state to allow individuals to carry concealed loaded guns anywhere without permits — a growing trend that has alarmed gun safety groups. “Constitutional carry” and “permitless carry” laws eliminate the requirement. Permitless carry laws get rid of that requirement. “Permitless carry causes harm, and there is data to prove it,” said Shannon Watts, a board member at the gun violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety. She pointed to multiple studies showing that states that have implemented permitless carry have had upticks in both gun violence and police shootings.

☆ Markets rally on signs inflation is abating, as investors look to next week's consumer price data
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Later in the day, markets were also buoyed by the ISM's nonmanufacturing purchasing managers' index, which said the services industry contracted last month. The next big test will be December's consumer price index report, to be released Thursday. Meanwhile, the fourth-quarter earnings season kicks off next Friday, when the banks – including Club holding Wells Fargo (WFC) – are set to report. On Thursday, the December ADP employment report was released, showing an additional 235,000 jobs, well above the 153,000 expected by analysts. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ 6 key Disney executives working with Bob Iger to remake former CEO Bob Chapek's business structure
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Lucia Moses | Alison Brower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger has returned to a company facing significant pressures on its linear and streaming businesses. He'll also need to unwind the business structure implemented in 2020 by his short-lived predecessor, Bob Chapek — which separated budgeting and distribution decisions from creative content development. Alan Bergman, chairman, Disney Studios ContentAlan Bergman. Disney Interactive/Reuters/Jonathan AlcornPitaro is close to Iger, has a long tenure at Disney, and has a foot in both creative and business sides. Dana Walden, chairman, Disney General Entertainment ContentDana Walden.

“You have to sample them all and analyze them all to see if they belong to victims or a suspect. The Moscow killings occurred in a three-story, six-bedroom rented house, about a half-block from the University of Idaho campus. The apartment house in Moscow, Idaho, where four students were stabbed to death held an enormous amount of biological evidence, experts say. “So, who could have left that DNA evidence? Before getting answers about DNA, investigators seek clues in the location of blood.

☆ 6 Disney executives Bob Iger will trust to drive his new strategy as he radically remakes the business structure implemented by former CEO Bob Chapek
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Lucia Moses | Alison Brower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The returning CEO will have to unwind the business structure implemented by Bob Chapek while finding a successor. Disney CEO Bob Iger returns to a company facing significant pressures on its linear and streaming businesses. He'll also need to unwind the business structure implemented in 2020 by his short-lived predecessor, Bob Chapek — which separated budgeting and distribution decisions from creative content development. Alan Bergman, chairman, Disney Studios ContentAlan Bergman. Dana Walden, chairman, Disney General Entertainment ContentDana Walden.

☆ Florida Seeks $250,000 in Fines From Orlando FreeFall Ride Operator After Teen’s Death
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Talal Ansari | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Orlando FreeFall ride at Florida’s Icon Park has been closed since the incident and the operator said in October it would permanently close the ride. Florida officials are seeking more than $250,000 in fines against the operator of a 430-foot-tall ride at Icon Park in Orlando after a 14-year-old boy fell to his death earlier this year. Nikki Fried , commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said an investigation found that Tyre Sampson fell from the Orlando FreeFall drop tower because of changes made on the ride by the operators.

☆ Goldman Sachs says the S&P 500 will remain flat through 2023. Here's their 5-step playbook for finding returns — and avoiding crippling losses — next year.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Third, long-duration stocks that are unprofitable — typically these are growth stocks found in the tech sector — should be avoided, Kostin said. Fourth, Kostin likes stocks that have growing profit margins despite the tightening economic conditions. He shared a list of stocks with the most resilient profit margins over the last few year, and which are expected to grow margins next year. And finally, Kostin recommended avoiding stocks whose profit margin growth in recent years may have been due to a decrease in expenses as opposed to an increase in sales. Rising or normalizing expenses for these companies could chip away at profit margins.

☆ 3 key takeaways on how Bob Iger's surprise return to Disney could shape its sports strategy, from 'deep cost-cutting at ESPN' to 'quick wins' in sports betting
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Colin Salao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Analysts expect Iger to make major changes to ESPN's broadcasting strategy for live sports. Bob Iger has been reinstated as the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, replacing Bob Chapek after less than three years at the helm. Iger's return has boosted Disney's stock price by 6% in the past day with experts predicting major strategic changes within the company. The cost of these rights deals have also continued to shoot up amid the transition from linear TV to direct-to-consumer services. It actually strengthens the brand of ESPN when you have a betting component, and it has no impact on the Disney brand."

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Mothers and children who receive benefits from a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition program would be able to spend more money on a wider range of groceries under proposed changes to the program introduced by USDA on Thursday. The agency had committed to updating the foods offered to WIC participants in the White House national hunger strategy released in September. The boost has increased child intake of produce, according to a report by the National WIC Association, a nonprofit. WIC serves low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to age five. The agency will be collecting comments on the proposed changes until Feb. 21, it said in the release.

☆ These stocks could rally if the Fed indicates it will slow the pace of rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Based on a hint we got earlier this year, there are certain names that could rally if the Federal Reserve indicates Wednesday it may slow the pace of tightening. It's what Chair Jerome Powell indicates about future rate hikes that the market will be watching. Investors have been hoping for a pivot by the Fed and will be looking to see if Powell indicates a step down in the pace of rate increases going forward. It turned out the Fed didn't slow the pace of increases and instead hiked rates another 75 basis points in September. To see what names may rally on Wednesday if the Fed indicates a potential step down, CNBC Pro looked at the biggest gainers that July day.

☆ A multimillion-dollar war against mosquitoes is underway in Florida after Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

"The mosquitoes are out there, and they’re biting," said Eric Jackson, the deputy director of the Lee County Mosquito Control Division. The Lee County Mosquito Control District, a special district in one of the communities hit hardest by Ian, employs about 100 workers, Jackson said. Anne Askew, a biologist in the Lee County Mosquito Control District's Larviciding Department, uses a microscope to identify mosquito species. Lee County Mosquito Control DistrictIn Lee County, where Fort Myers is located, mosquito counts in the traps began to spike about a week after Ian. Florida officials don’t think federal help will be necessary, though Hurricane Ian’s damage has created challenges for mosquito control workers.

☆ These profitable growth stocks are trading at 'bargain valuations,' Goldman Sachs says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Still, there are a few places that the firm recommends investors look for value and snap up stocks trading cheaply. "While Growth appears expensive at the factor level, at a stock level the sharp sell-off has created opportunities in select profitable growth stocks," Kostin wrote in an Oct. 14 note. Overall, Goldman expects that growth stocks will continue to struggle, as unprofitable grown stocks have faced continued downside risk when they need to raise capital. "While higher rates and the risk of recession pose headwinds to growth stocks in the near term, the low valuations of some growth stocks could represent an opportunity for stock pickers with sufficiently long investment horizons," he added. Discounted growth stocks The stocks that Goldman found include big technology companies such as Meta Platforms and Alphabet, which have been hit hard this year but could surge going forward.

☆ These beaten-up stocks show signs of bottoming as rest of market falls to new lows
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-30 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Of those, CNBC Pro selected stocks that have rallied back and beaten the broader market by more than 10% during the third quarter and still have solid upside based on Wall Street's consensus price target. The consensus price target from analysts covering the company bets that it can surge another 34%. In September, Raymond James upgraded PayPal to outperform from market perform and boosted its price target, seeing a nearly 30% upside to shares of the company. The consensus analyst price target sees a nearly 4% upside from where shares currently trade. The consensus analyst target price estimates shares can surge another 14% from current levels.

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