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Regulators shuttered Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, the second and third largest closures in the nation's history. Authorities then took unprecedented action to backstop the collapsed companies' deposits and introduced new measures to shore up confidence. The ups and downs may have helped banks' trading desks as choppy markets fueled client activity. While billions of dollars of those deposits landed at the biggest banks, some analysts said the influx was unlikely to provide a major boost to their earnings. Investors are becoming increasingly focused on the rising cost of funding for banks, which could weigh on earnings, analysts at Piper Sandler wrote in a note last week.

☆ The CD Market Is Doing Something Strange—and It Could Have a Big Impact on Your Money
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

CD rates have been rising rapidly over the past year, thanks to the Federal Reserve’s efforts to fight inflation. And there’s potentially a bigger issue at play: Regardless of where you stick your cash, interest rates’ odd behavior suggests the economy may be out of whack. CD rates have climbed dramatically since the Federal Reserve embarked on its campaign to fight inflation, which peaked at nearly 10% late last year. But the Fed faces a conundrum: Hiking interest rates to fight inflation also slows economic growth. Short term rates remain high, while longer term rates—reflecting grim economic prospects in years to come—fall off.

REUTERS/Brendan McDermidORLANDO, Fla., March 5 (Reuters) - Hedge funds entered February holding their biggest ever short position in two-year U.S. Treasuries futures. As of Feb. 7, funds' net short position in two-year Treasury futures stood at a record 658,802 contracts, up by more than 80,000 contracts from the week before. chartA short position is essentially a wager that an asset's price will fall, and a long position is a bet it will rise. FLIP-FLOP ON FEDThe two-year yield last week reached 4.95%, the highest since July 2007. They see the two-year yield falling to 3.55% in the third quarter and 3.15% by the end of this year.

☆ Asian markets breathe sigh of relief amid Ueda hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The Japanese government's nominee for the Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda attends a hearing session at the lower house of the parliament in Tokyo, Japan, February 24, 2023. Ueda's confirmation hearing in the lower house comes as markets renew their attack on YCC, taking bets on a near-term interest rate rise. Japan's five-year government bond yield fell a little to 0.235%, from the previous close of 0.240%. The yield on the benchmark 10-year government bonds eased as far as 3.8590%, compared with the previous close of 3.8810%. The two-year bond yield was hovering at 4.6810%, compared with the previous close of 4.6930%.

☆ You're a sucker if you trust ChatGPT
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Matt Turner | Dave Smith | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But first: Adam Rogers, a senior tech correspondent at Insider, breaks down why ChatGPT is for suckers. Well, social scientists don't really know why anyone believes anything, from kooky stuff they read on Twitter to closely held ideals. Faced with those conditions, Gen Z has adapted to a new normal: When in doubt, find a new job. It has rankled some of the academics and advocates whose work helped kick off the psychedelics renaissance in the first place. Insider spoke to more than a dozen industry participants to chart its rise and its role in the psychedelics boom.

☆ ‘Emily’ Review: Imagining the Origin of ‘Wuthering Heights’
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Kyle Smith | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The biographical drama “Emily” contains a wonderful moment—spooky, disturbing, as chilling as a November wind sweeping across the Yorkshire hills—when the young Emily Brontë is playing a silly party game with her sisters and summons the Gothic spirit before their panicked and needy eyes. The game involves putting on a mask and inviting others to guess which prominent figure one is pretending to be. Charlotte and Anne are both horrified and ensorcelled, begging for any kind of contact with the departed and overcome with emotion at how Emily channels their mother’s kind thoughts. So movies about writers tend to fall into the trap of depicting them as glorified transcribers of things they happened to see. Gilbert getting the idea for “The Mikado” from an exhibition on Japan, a legend that has been discredited.

☆ CNBC Daily Open: U.S. stocks don't seem bothered by inflation, ignore jump in retail sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. It's as if investors aren't concerned about inflation and higher interest rates anymore. It appears that the prospect of sustained economic growth is injecting optimism into stocks too. Recent economic activity and market movement are forcing economists and investors to reconsider the effect of interest rates. The higher cost of borrowing typically slows economic growth by curtailing spending and increasing unemployment which, in turn, depress stocks.

☆ CNBC Daily Open: U.S. stocks don't seem concerned about inflation, disregard jumping retail sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

☆ Make these 4 undervalued investments now while the stock market rally unwinds after a red-hot jobs report, according to the investment chief at Cambria Funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The economist continued: "And it's not the level of the unemployment rate that matters as far as the economic cycle is concerned — it's the change in the unemployment rate. He told Insider in a recent interview that investors should target value stocks and foreign equities, specifically Chinese stocks and those in emerging markets. For most of the past decade, value stocks were unloved while growth names went on an explosive rally. But now value stocks have made a major comeback, while growth picks have melted down. When picking stocks, Faber said he's especially interested in two qualities: a stock's valuation and momentum.

☆ Mark Cuban and Amazon Are Shaking Up Generic Drugs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( David Wainer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Americans tremble at the idea of losing their health coverage, but bypassing giant insurers saves some people serious money on prescriptions in a topsy-turvy system. Consider the story of Ohio pharmacist Nate Hux. Since 2016, his Pickerington Pharmacy has accepted many types of insurance. But, due to his frustration with the way middlemen, known as pharmacy-benefit managers, pocket large profits through opaque pricing methods, he decided to open another pharmacy right next door that takes no insurance. It sells generic drugs for their cost plus a markup, sometimes saving customers hundreds of dollars.

☆ Why Friday's market moves are an 'amazing feat' — listen to the 'Homestretch'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

HERE IS WHAT I'M GOING TO TALKABOUT TOMORROW, YOU SHOULD SELL. I'M TIRED OF THEM. I'M TIRED OF THE WAY THEY'REHIGH-HANDED WAY OF TELLING YOUEVERYTHING IS GOING WELL. TWO COMPANIES THAT DO WELL WITHA STRONG ECONOMY WE PROBABLYWILL NOT HAVE AS MANY BAD LOANSAS THE BEARS THINK, WELLS FARGOAND MORGAN STANLEY. WE HAD AMAZON THAT WAS BAD, ANDI DON'T KNOW, I'M STILL WORKINGON AMAZON TO TELL YOU THE TRUTHABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond just missed another debt payment. See the full list of stores it will close, including Harmon and Buybuy Baby locations.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

In addition to 87 more Bed Bath & Beyond stores, the company now says it will close all of its remaining Harmon health and beauty stores, and five Buybuy Baby stores. San Leandro: 15555 East 14th St., Suite 24015555 East 14th St., Suite 240 Burbank: 201 East Magnolia Blvd. Marina: 117 General Stilwell Drive117 General Stilwell Drive Vallejo: 105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107 * Palm Desert: 72459 Highway 11172459 Highway 111 * Visalia: 3125 South Mooney Blvd. Arterial * Coralville: 2515 Corridor Way Suite 5Kansas:Lawrence: 3106 S. Iowa St., Suite 2153106 S. Iowa St., Suite 215 Manhattan: 425 3rd Place425 3rd Place * Olathe: 15335 W. 119th St.Kentucky:Elizabethtown: 1998 N. Dixie Ave.1998 N. Dixie Ave. New Hartford: 4805 Commercial Drive4805 Commercial Drive Kingston: 1187 Ulster Ave.1187 Ulster Ave. Plattsburgh: 73 Centre Drive, Suite 10073 Centre Drive, Suite 100 Farmingdale: 251 Airport Plaza Blvd.

☆ U.S. unemployment system still plagued by delays 3 years after pandemic-era downturn
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty ImagesThese days the U.S. unemployment system is somewhat of an anomaly. At the pandemic-era nadir, just 52% got a "timely" first payment of unemployment insurance, for example. Unemployment claims spiked as businesses closed amid stay-at-home orders to contain the virus' spread. States get funding based on their administrative workload, like the volume of claims states are paying. That's especially true for one CARES Act program, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

☆ Mike Pompeo is using his memoir to try to demolish the Trump adviser-turned-critic John Bolton
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Pompeo compares Bolton writing a memoir to Edward Snowden, who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency to reporters in 2013. "At least Snowden had the decency not to lie about his motive," Pompeo writes. Former President Donald Trump listens to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the White House, on October 21, 2019. "Memo to John Bolton: I'm talking about you," Pompeo writes. Pompeo writes that he was having lunch with reporters the day of the firing and got a note saying that the president needed to speak with him.

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond is closing dozens of stores in 2023 — see the full list
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Bed Bath & Beyond released an updated list of store closures set to take place by March. San Leandro: 15555 East 14th St., Suite 24015555 East 14th St., Suite 240 Burbank: 201 East Magnolia Blvd. ArterialKansas:Lawrence: 3106 S. Iowa St., Suite 2153106 S. Iowa St., Suite 215 Manhattan: 425 3rd PlaceKentucky:Elizabethtown: 1998 N. Dixie Ave.1998 N. Dixie Ave. New Hartford: 4805 Commercial Drive4805 Commercial Drive Kingston: 1187 Ulster Ave.1187 Ulster Ave. Plattsburgh: 73 Centre Drive, Suite 10073 Centre Drive, Suite 100 Farmingdale: 251 Airport Plaza Blvd. Wisconsin:Mequon: 11110 N. Port Washington RoadPuerto Rico:Bayamon: Plaza Del Sol, 725 West Main Ave.Do you work for Bed Bath & Beyond?

☆ Chinese Factories, Restaurants Adjust to Life Without Zero-Covid
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Dan Strumpf | Liza Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Some restaurants in China reported a decrease in customers after Covid-19 restrictions were eased. After three years of “zero-Covid” economic disruption, many Chinese businesses awoke to a happy new reality in December: No more restrictions. But before they can take advantage, business owners in the world’s second-largest economy say, they have to get their supply chains in order after a topsy-turvy time capped by this abrupt reversal—and withstand a wave of Covid-19 cases sweeping through employee ranks.

"The World Cup is an immense joy that revives us after suffering economic crisis for so long," Victorica said. "But soon we will have to fall back into reality and face the situations that weigh us down every day." "The World Cup gives us hope and the desire to believe," said Osvaldo Hassan, a 62-year-old merchant in Buenos Aires. World Cup wins can give a small boost to a country's economy in the months following, an academic paper from Britain's University of Surrey found, helping raise exports. Reporting by Rodrigo Campos in New York and Belen Liotti in Buenos Aires; Writing by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ From Disney to Target to Boeing, retirement is a thing of the past for CEOs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

SUN VALLEY, ID - JULY 13: (L-R) Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, Dick Costolo, former chief executive officer of Twitter, Lachlan Murdoch, co-chairman of Twenty-First Century Fox, Sundar Pichai, chief executive officer of Google, and Randall Stephenson, chief executive officer of AT&T, mingle during the annual Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, July 13, 2018 in Sun Valley, Idaho. The average tenure for departing CEOs during that same time period was about 11 years, up from nine years in 2020. That's not surprising, because of the impact of the pandemic and [other] crises, where boards put CEO succession on hold," Anterasian said. "In our research, boards put CEO succession on hold during crises," Anterasian said. At Disney, Iger has said he will only stay on for two years before a successor takes over.

☆ S&P 500 sees 5th straight decline as recession fears weigh on US stocks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The S&P 500 notched its fifth consecutive losing session, and the Nasdaq Composite marked a fourth straight loss. Major banks are sounding the alarm on recession worries and potentially sharp losses in 2023. A slump in Chinese trade in November underscored global recession fears. Sign up for our newsletter to get the inside scoop on what traders are talking about — delivered daily to your inbox. The S&P 500 notched its fifth consecutive losing session with eight of its 11 sectors moving lower, led by the communications services group.

☆ These defensive stocks are looking more attractive in this topsy-turvy market
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

We are talking about stocks that offer defensive growth and do even better if the economy slows down. (DHR) Even Linde (LIN) has some defensive growth attributes, but the stock just had a huge move and we are looking for a little more of a pullback. Our preference is still with stocks that offer defensive growth. We understand buying defensive growth today means you aren't catching the bottom, but bottom fishing is often called an expensive hobby for a reason. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER .

☆ Advertisers crack jokes about the end times and turnip lattes as inflation bites
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

London CNN Business —A woman maneuvers her car onto a street called “Wits’ End.” The sky is an ominous red, and strange things are happening. “Every advertiser is aware the customers they’re talking to are feeling cost of living pressures,” said Matt Bourn, director of communications for the Advertising Association, a UK industry group. In a recent Dunelm ad, a woman aims to cozy up her home after navigating a topsy-turvy drive up a street called Wits' End. “We are seeing brands who want to make sure they’re keeping consumers during this time,” said Jeanine Poggi, editor of Ad Age. Jason Alden/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesBut companies will be expected to display an awareness about the pervading economic anxiety that’s affecting their customers.

Democrat Pat Ryan is running against Republican state Rep. Colin Schmitt in New York's 18th Congressional District. Democrat Rep. Pat Ryan faces off against Republican state Rep. Colin Schmitt in New York's 18th Congressional District. New York's 18th Congressional District candidatesRyan is the former county executive of Ulster County in New York. In addition to winning the special election in the 19th, Ryan handily defeated his Democratic primary opponents in New York's 18th Congressional District, bringing in over 80% of the vote. Voting history for New York's 18th Congressional DistrictNew York's 18th Congressional District is located in the Hudson Valley and encompasses the cities of Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Kingston.

☆ Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan faces off against Republican Colin Schmitt in New York's 18th Congressional District election
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Democrat Pat Ryan is running against Republican state Rep. Colin Schmitt in New York's 18th Congressional District. Incumbent Rep. Sean Maloney is running for reelection in New York's 17th Congressional District. New York's 18th Congressional District candidatesRyan is the former county executive of Ulster County in New York. In addition to winning the special election in the 19th, Ryan handily defeated his Democratic primary opponents in New York's 18th Congressional District, bringing in over 80% of the vote. Voting history for New York's 18th Congressional DistrictNew York's 18th Congressional District is located in the Hudson Valley and encompasses the cities of Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Kingston.

☆ Markets Are Topsy-Turvy, and There’s Worse: It’s Hard to Cushion Your Portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( James Mackintosh | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Good news is bad news, and on Friday it was very good, and very bad. The monthly payrolls report showed a superstrong labor market, with more jobs created than expected and unemployment matching a 53-year low. Stocks dropped, as did bond prices, with bond yields up. Such is the world of high inflation—and it is creating serious problems for those trying to cushion their portfolios against severe loss. For 20 years there was a strong tendency for stocks to rise on days when bond yields rose, and vice versa.

☆ Premarket stocks: The bond market is crumbling
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN Business —The global bond market is having a historically awful year. Vanguard’s $514.5 billion Total Bond Market Index, the largest US bond fund, is down more than 15% so far this year. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury bond fund (TLT) (TLT) is down nearly 30% for the year. What’s next: The bond market may face fresh volatility on Friday with the release of the Federal Reserve’s favored inflation measure, the Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index for August. If the report comes in above expectations, expect bond yields to move even higher.

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