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☆ Beware, Options Investors: You Pay a High Trading Price Compared With Stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Derek Horstmeyer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When financial markets are volatile, many investors head to the options market, either for downside protection or to make a bet on which way things could be heading. With this in mind, we decided to test just how costly it is to trade options, which give the holder either the right to buy or the right to sell an asset at a set price within a given amount of time.

BENGALURU, April 6(Reuters) - The Bank of Canada will keep its key interest rate steady at 4.50% through 2023, according to most economists polled by Reuters, with an even smaller minority now expecting an interest rate cut by year-end than a poll taken a month ago. In March, the BoC was the first major central bank to stop its aggressive hiking cycle and is on what it calls a conditional pause. So all 33 economists polled March 31-April 6 said it will hold its overnight rate at 4.50% on April 12. A majority of forecasters, 23 of 31, said the rate would remain unchanged for the rest of 2023. Only seven expected at least one 25-basis-point rate cut by end-year, down from 13 in a survey taken about a month ago.

☆ UK inflation sucker-punches the BoE, while sterling bulls cheer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

British consumer price inflation (CPI) rose to 10.4% in February from January's 10.1%, above all economists' forecasts in a Reuters poll and almost back to where it was in December. "Core CPI missed by 0.5% - that's one of the biggest, if not the biggest misses on CPI in the recent series of inflation data. "The market is going to be second-guessing (the BoE) right now - it's difficult to assume there's just one more rate hike left in the tank," she said. RLAM's Nicholl noted recent data, such as employment, business activity and manufacturing, had shown strength, and consumer spending has held up. Derek Halpenny, EMEA head of research for global markets at Nomura said January and February's combined annual inflation rate of 9.67% makes for a "mildly supportive" outlook for the pound.

☆ Spring training roundup: Pirates, O’s play unneeded bottom of 9th
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Orioles catcher Maverick Handley called balls and strikes thrown by teammate right-hander Ofreidy Gomez during the half inning. The Pirates opened a 5-0 lead before the Orioles put up four runs across the fifth and sixth innings, thanks in part to Franchy Cordero's two-run home run. Kevin Pillar had a two-run homer and an RBI single to power the Braves' offense. Phillies 7, Blue Jays 2Trea Turner hit a two-run single and finished 2-for-3 with a run as host Philadelphia took care of Toronto in Clearwater, Fla. Jace Peterson cracked a three-run homer for the Athletics.

☆ VIEW Canada's economy unexpectedly stalled in Q4; January rebound likely
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TORONTO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The Canadian economy recorded no growth in the final three months of 2022, massively underperforming expectations, though economic activity likely rebounded with a 0.3% increase in January, Statistics Canada data showed on Tuesday. "Even with the January rebound, however, Q4 and Q1 combined seem likely to average slightly below the Bank of Canada's prior forecasts which supports the current pause in terms of interest rates." It'll be a short and sweet statement saying that they're still on a conditional hold and evaluating the lagging effects. They'll want to see a whole lot more data before they're convinced that they're either done and/or that they're going to act again." ROBERT BOTH, MACRO STRATEGIST, TD SECURITIES"It is a pretty large miss on Q4.

The jobless rate held steady at 5%, which is just a decimal point higher than the record low, Statistics Canada (Statscan) said. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast a net gain of 15,000 jobs and for the unemployment rate to edge up to 5.1% in January. "However, that won't stop markets reacting to today's strong data by pricing in a greater probability of further hikes, and pricing out rate cuts," he said. Before the jobs numbers, markets had been betting that the Bank of Canada's next move would be to cut rates. When he announced a pause on rates, Governor Tiff Macklem said it was "conditional" and did not rule out further increases.

That prompted the central bank to pause its most aggressive tightening cycle for now, becoming the first major central bank to do so. Traders have already bid up Canadian stocks and the Canadian dollar , dubbed a 'commodity currency', since the news of China reopening surfaced in December. Doug Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, said that for Canada, China's reopening is more a "clear-cut positive" than it would be for other countries with fewer commodities exports. The U.S. Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England have since laid the groundwork for a pause as well. Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay said China's reopening will help put a floor under global price levels, potentially offsetting demand destruction as economies slow.

☆ How Much More Tax-Wise Are ETFs vs. Mutual Funds?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Derek Horstmeyer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

ETFs offer a slightly better posttax return on average—but it can add up over time. Investors often hear that because of tax-efficient structural features, exchange-traded funds generally offer better after-tax returns than mutual funds. But many don’t know the exact magnitude of those tax savings. It is not insignificant.

☆ Tyler Posey is going to keep playing Scott McCall as long as 'Teen Wolf' fans will let him
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Tyler Posey as Scott McCall on season one of "Teen Wolf." Tyler Posey as Scott, Vince Mattis as Eli, and Crystal Reed as Allison in "Teen Wolf: The Movie." "I hope there's more 'Teen Wolf,'" Posey reiterates. Tyler Posey as Scott McCall in "Teen Wolf: The Movie." "But also, 'Teen Wolf' has been known to bring every single person back from the dead, so it's never finite."

☆ 'P.R. job' or antidote to 'groupthink'? Bank of Canada to offer policy-meeting minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Annual inflation shot to 8.1% in June, the highest in 39 years and four times the Bank of Canada's 2% target. On the recommendation of the International Monetary Fund, the BoC in September said it would release minutes to improve transparency,Other central banks including the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank already provide some form of record of their meetings. "The big enemy for policymakers and investors is groupthink," said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex LLC. JOB'Other market-watchers say releasing minutes is more an exercise in public relations than an effort to boost transparency. Reuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReporting by Steve Scherer, additional reporting by Fergal Smith, editing by Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Which Mutual Funds Are Good for Your Taxes?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Derek Horstmeyer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

How tax-efficient is your mutual fund? That is a question many investors wonder about, and they often assume that the easiest way to answer it is to look at the fund’s turnover. Investors often figure that high turnover means less tax efficiency, because more trading means more taxable capital gains. A study of returns for dollar-denominated funds that I conducted with my research assistants found that turnover isn’t a reliable predictor of tax inefficiency for all funds. Indeed, we found that in the fixed-income sector, high-turnover funds are the most tax-efficient.

The BOJ decided to change its "yield curve control" policy on Tuesday even as it kept broad policy settings unchanged. The surge was a sign that traders expect the BOJ to further tighten monetary policy in coming meetings, said Derek Halpenny, head of research at Japanese bank MUFG. The BOJ's move marked a small step away from the central bank's ultra-loose monetary policy. Traders are still digesting the BOJ's policy tweak, said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "The market has interpreted the decision as step towards an eventual pivot from the current ultra-dovish monetary policy," she said.

OTTAWA, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Canada's annual inflation rate eased to 6.8% in November as gasoline price rose more slowly, data showed on Wednesday, leaving the door open for another interest rate increase in January. Consumer prices rose 0.1% from October, Statistics Canada said, above analysts' expectations they would be flat. Excluding food and energy, prices rose 5.4% versus a 5.3% gain in October. "Today's data will leave the door open to a 25 basis point rate hike in November," said Royce Mendes, head of macro strategy at Desjardins Group. Gasoline prices rose 13.7% after gaining 17.8% in October, largely driven by price declines in Western Canada, Statscan said.

☆ Trump asks for — and receives — a 45-day extension for disclosing his personal finances
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump delayed the release of a personal financial disclosure required by law for presidential candidates. A letter from Donald Trump's lawyer to the Federal Election Commission. Federal Election CommissionA letter from the Federal Election Commission to an attorney for Donald Trump. Federal Election CommissionPresidential personal financial disclosures include information about a candidate's income, assets, debt, and royalties. Personal financial disclosures of this sort are different from personal tax returns and, generally, contain fewer details.

The central bank sets short-term interest rates but longer-term borrowing costs, such as for businesses and some mortgage rates, are determined by the bond market. Canadian bond yields, like U.S. bond yields, have tumbled since October as investors anticipate that the tightening cycle is nearing an end and the central bank is poised to shift to cutting rates next year. Bond yields, along with other measures, such as the strength of the stock market and the currency, help determine financial conditions, or the availability of funding in the economy. Since October, Canada's 5-year yield has tumbled nearly 100 basis points and the Toronto stock market (.GSPTSE) has rallied 11%. "Otherwise, we could be on an inflation and rates roller-coaster for years to come that is biased toward higher average inflation."

☆ Len Goodman announces his ballroom departure from 'Dancing With the Stars'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Megan Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —“Dancing With the Stars” head judge Len Goodman announced he’ll be retiring from the show. “This will be my last season judging ‘Dancing With the Stars,’” Goodman said during Monday’s episode of the ballroom dance competition. “It’s been such a wonderful experience for me and I look forward so much to next week’s finale. I’m sure it’s going to be absolutely brilliant,” he said. The Season 31 finale of “Dancing With the Stars” will air Monday, November 21 on Disney+.

☆ ‘Dancing with the Stars’ has a double elimination night
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Two pairs of partners were sent home Monday night on “Dancing with the Stars.”The theme of the episode was ’90s night. Vinny Guadagnino and Trevor Donovan performed a samba, judged by Carrie Ann Inaba, who gave the five points to Donovan. Bruno Tonioli judged Heidi D’Amelio and Brady’s performances, with Tonioli choosing Brady. Charli D’Amelio and Windey danced a salsa judged by Hough, who gave the five points to D’Amelio. Donovan and partner Emma Slater ended up in the bottom two with Guadagnino and partner Koko Iwasaki.

Instead, "the onus is still squarely, fully, 100% on the Bank of Canada to tighten," he said. The BoC's policy rate is seen peaking at 4.5% in early 2023. "I think they're going to struggle to see any improvement in the coming fiscal year," said Doug Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, adding that the fiscal measures were working at a slight crosscurrent to monetary policy. The fact that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government depends on the left-leaning New Democrats to pass legislation like the fiscal update helps explain the new spending, said Jimmy Jean, chief economist at Desjardins. ($1 = 1.3499 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Canada posts blowout job gain in October, unemployment rate unchanged
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Julie Gordon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A help wanted sign at a store along Queen Street West in Toronto Ontario, Canada June 10, 2022. The economy added a net 108,300 jobs last month, easily beating forecasts for 10,000 new jobs, while the jobless rate was unchanged at 5.2%. The blowout gain was entirely in full-time work, spread across both the goods and services sectors. The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate by 50 basis points to 3.75% last week and said while more increases would still be needed, it was nearing the end of its tightening campaign. The core-age unemployment rate stands at 4.2%, slightly above July's record low, but in a historically tight range last seen in the 1970s.

☆ Vince Dooley, longtime Georgia football coach, dies at 90
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

ATLANTA — Vince Dooley, the football coach who carried himself like a professor and guided Georgia for a quarter-century of success that included the 1980 national championship, died Friday. “Our family is heartbroken by the death of Coach Dooley. He was one of a kind with an unmatched love for UGA!” current Georgia coach Kirby Smart wrote on Twitter. The field at Sanford Stadium was dedicated in his honor during the 2019 football season. At Georgia, Dooley coached a plethora of standout players — from Bill Stanfill to Scott Woerner to Rodney Hampton.

The European common currency rose as high as$1.0048, the highest since Sept. 20, and was last up 0.5% at $1.0019. At 10:35 a.m. EDT (1435 GMT), the dollar was down 0.595% at 110.28 against a basket of six peer currencies. Fed officials have begun sounding out their desire to slow the pace of increases soon, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Friday that caused markets to reprice. The aggressive pace of Fed tightening this year, aimed at taming stubbornly high inflation, has turbo-charged the dollar. The dollar slumped more than 1.3% against China's offshore yuan , while the onshore yuan finished the domestic trading session at 7.1825 per dollar, the strongest close since Oct. 12.

☆ Dollar shakes off suspected Japan intervention; stocks brace for earnings
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON (Reuters) -The dollar weathered another suspected blast of Japanese intervention to rise against the yen on Monday, while European markets got a lift from hopes that U.S. interest rates could rise more slowly than previously thought. Japan likely spent a record 5.4 trillion-5.5 trillion yen ($36.16 billion-$36.83 billion) in its yen-buying intervention last Friday, according to estimates by Tokyo money market brokerage firms. Sterling, meanwhile, see-sawed in volatile trade on news Boris Johnson had dropped out of the running for British prime minister. Chinese blue chips slid almost 3%, while Hong Kong shares fell 6.4%, their biggest one-day drop since the financial crisis. Sentiment will also be tested by some major earnings with Apple, Microsoft, Google-parent Alphabet and Amazon all reporting.

☆ U.S., European shares rise on hopes Fed will slow rate hike pace
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Chris Prentice | Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) -U.S. and European shares rose on Monday as signs of a cooling U.S. economy raised hopes that the Federal Reserve will slow its pace of rate hikes. “Investors are getting more confident that inflation is going to come down and that the Fed might be quick to pause. European shares rose on Monday, driven by hopes that the Federal Reserve could slow its pace of interest rate hikes, while investors braced for a busy week of earnings and key interest rate decision from the European Central Bank. Markets are still priced for a rate rise of 75 basis points next month, but have scaled back bets on a matching move in December. Chinese blue chips slid almost 3%, while Hong Kong shares fell 6.4%, their biggest one-day drop since the financial crisis.

☆ Traders on intervention watch as yen hits 150, pound gains as Truss resigns
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Karen Brettell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The fragile yen briefly weakened past 150 per dollar for the first time since August 1990. It was last trading at 149.76 yen per dollar. This has sent U.S. yields and the dollar higher, particularly against the yen as the Bank of Japan is committed to keeping interest rates near zero. The pound rallied ahead of the announcement, before paring gains and then again moving higher. The dollar index dipped 0.50% against a basket of major currencies to 112.40, which analysts said was likely due to consolidation.

☆ Yen softens past 150 per dollar for first time since 1990
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Alun John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - The dollar hit the symbolic level of 150 yen for the first time since 1990 on Thursday as the greenback was supported by Treasury yields trading at multi-year highs, keeping markets on high alert for intervention from Japanese authorities. The fragile yen briefly weakened past 150 per dollar in early European trading for the first time since August 1990. It was last trading a touch below that level, at 149.7 yen per dollar. This has sent U.S. yields and the dollar higher, particularly against the yen as the Bank of Japan is committed to keeping interest rates near zero. The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.18% on Thursday, its highest level since mid-2008, while the two-year Treasury yields touched a 15-year high of 4.614%.

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