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☆ The homeowner basics of financing solar power for residential real estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

There are a host of complicated issues in the solar market, including some contentious politics. Last year, the growth of residential solar in the U.S. boomed. It won't repeat that in 2023, but will remain a large part of the solar market. Ohio, for example, has a state program that offers a reduced rate on a solar loan with certain lenders. GoodLeap (26% of the residential solar market) was No.

☆ Explainer: What India's decision to scrap its 2000-rupee note means for its economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Ira Dugal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MUMBAI, May 20 (Reuters) - India will withdraw its highest denomination currency note from circulation, the central bank said on Friday. WHY DID THE GOVERNMENT WITHDRAW 2000-RUPEE NOTES? When 2000-rupee notes were introduced in 2016 they were intended to replenish the Indian economy's currency in circulation quickly after demonetisation. However, the central bank has frequently said that it wants to reduce high value notes in circulation and had stopped printing 2000-rupee notes over the past four years. The value of 2000-rupee notes in circulation is 3.62 trillion Indian rupees ($44.27 billion).

☆ Sinn Fein sweep past unionist rivals again in Northern Ireland local elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Amanda Ferguson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BELFAST, May 20 (Reuters) - Irish nationalists Sinn Fein followed up last year's historic Northern Ireland Assembly victory by overtaking their unionist rivals by a wide margin in council elections on Saturday to become the biggest party at local level for the first time. It is the latest political milestone for the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) who want to leave the United Kingdom and form a united Ireland. The left-wing party also comfortably leads opinion polls in the Republic of Ireland ahead of national elections due in 2025. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), until last year the biggest party at local and regional level, had 118. The poll also marked the first time a Black person was elected to office in Northern Ireland, with Maasai woman Lilian Seenoi-Bar winning a seat for the nationalist SDLP.

Since the value of a home isn't guaranteed to go up, it's important to build wealth in other ways. Buying a home comes with long-term costs, but it's also a chance to plan for long-term goals. Compare rates On Rocket Mortgage's website Compare rates On AmeriSave Mortgage Corporation's website Compare rates On New American Funding's website1. Property isn't guaranteed to go up in valueIn the past, buying property was viewed as a way to build wealth and a cornerstone of the American dream. This taught me that a condo isn't a guaranteed appreciating asset.

☆ Listen Early to This American Life: ‘Superpowers’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( New York Times Audio | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The New York Times Audio app includes podcasts, narrated articles from the newsroom and other publishers and exclusive new shows which we’re making available to readers for a limited time. Download the audio app here. Our new audio app is home to “This American Life,” hosted by Ira Glass. New episodes debut in our app a day earlier than the regular podcast feed, and we’ve also got an archive of the award-winning program. The app includes a “Best of This American Life” section with different acts from the show, broken down into bite-size clips, so you can enjoy the show even if you don’t have a lot of time.

☆ Wall St Week Ahead Artificial intelligence gives real boost to U.S. stock market
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) - Recent advances in artificial intelligence are fueling optimism over how businesses can operate more productively in the years ahead. They are also providing a big boost to the stock market. About 25% to 50% of those gains are owed to "the buzz around artificial intelligence," she noted. Indeed, optimism over AI is a key factor supporting a stock market facing numerous headwinds. His firm owns shares of Microsoft, Nvidia and Alphabet.

☆ Ontario to offer more money for Stellantis to resume battery plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Sam Jabri-Pickett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Ontario's Premier Doug Ford and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answer questions from the media at the Stellantis Research and Development Centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada May 2, 2022. ... Read moreTORONTO, May 19 (Reuters) - Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that his government will put more money on the table to help carmaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) resume its battery plant in Canada. Stellantis on Monday stopped construction at a C$5 billion ($3.7 billion) electric-vehicle battery plant in Canada, which is being built in partnership with South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) (373220.KS), saying Canada has not fulfilled the promises. read moreStellantis and LGES announced their battery plant investment in March last year, but tensions emerged when the United States in August passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a massive package of clean-tech incentives for companies. Canada's federal government has argued that the province of Ontario, where the battery plant is being built, should pay its share to resolve the dispute.

☆ India to withdraw 2,000-rupee notes from circulation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MUMBAI, May 19 (Reuters) - India will start withdrawing 2,000-rupee ($24.5) notes from circulation, its central bank said on Friday, adding that evidence showed the denomination was not being commonly used for transactions. The 2,000 rupee note was introduced in 2016 after the Narendra Modi-led government abruptly withdrew 500 and 1000 rupee notes to clamp down on forgeries. The government began issuing new 500 rupee notes days later, and added the 2,000 to replenish currency in circulation at a faster pace. However, since then, the central bank has focused on printing notes of 500 rupees and below and has printed no new 2,000-rupee notes in the last four years. "Withdrawal of a currency note is demonetisation and this is a sensible form of demonetisation," said Pronab Sen, economist and former chief statistician of India.

☆ Analysis: US debt ceiling deal could stall safety flight fueling megacap rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( David Randall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Their rally has been responsible for all of the 8.3% year-to-date gain in the S&P 500 (.SPX) through Wednesday's close, a Deutsche Bank report showed. A recent survey of global fund managers from BofA Global Research showed that 71% believe a deal to raise the debt ceiling will be reached before the X-date. Excitement over artificial intelligence, which has boosted some megacap names this year, is another factor that could support the category. At the same time, the debt ceiling has been only one of of several worries weighing on the market. Paul Christopher, head of global market strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, expects lawmakers will reach an agreement to extend the debt ceiling through September.

Here's the latest:ELECTRIC VEHICLE FRICTIONBiden's domestic policy is embodied in working to electrify roadways across the United States. Getting more electric vehicles on the roads is central to his climate change agenda, ensuring the vehicles are "Made in America" is part of his commitment to restore manufacturing jobs. But the IRA's consumer tax credits are tightly linked to the cars' and batteries being made in the U.S., roiling allies in Europe and Asia whose companies sell into U.S. markets. Instead, Japanese and U.S. officials struck a trade deal on electric vehicle battery minerals that expands eligibility for the $7,500 per vehicle EV tax credits in the IRA. NEW RACE FOR SUBSIDIESThe promise of corporate tax credits has renewed interest in investing in the U.S., and Europe has responded with subsidies of their own.

☆ Canada has increased planned Stellantis battery factory support -minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

OTTAWA, May 16 (Reuters) - Canada has increased its planned support to carmaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) to build a battery plant in Windsor, Ontario, the industry minister said on Tuesday, but it wants the Ontario provincial government to help pay for it. To break the "stalemate," it is important that Ontario "pay its fair share," Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters at a news conference in Seoul. Stellantis on Monday stopped construction at a C$5 billion ($3.7 billion) electric-vehicle battery plant in Canada, which is being built in partnership with South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) (373220.KS). Canada has not delivered what it already promised and there are no new talks under way, Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also making an official visit to South Korea this week before heading to the G7 in Japan.

☆ The one crucial industry where China is crushing America in the Tech Cold War
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

As of now, CATL has 13 factories worldwide that supply batteries for Tesla, Toyota, and Daimler. And thanks to its ownership of its battery supply chain, it's able to make cars cheaply. Stevenson-Yang sees parts of China's battery supply chain as the next glut it will need to dump. But the potential of a battery supply glut tomorrow doesn't help carmakers meet their needs today. "But if we're looking at evolutionary improvements, China Battery Inc. will still dominate.

The S&P Regional Banking Index fell approximately 25% during the quarter as a run on deposits sank Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in March, both of which were at the time the largest banking failures since the Great Financial Crisis. The S&P Regional Banking index is now down 36% for the year to date. Famed "Big Short" investor Michael Burry's Scion Asset Management, meanwhile, added a number of new positions in regional banks, including stakes in First Republic, PacWest (PACW.O) and Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N). Shares of regional banks have remained volatile in recent weeks, with some investors wary of more tumult to come in the sector. London-based Marshall Wace sold 51,300 shares of First Republic in the first quarter, closing its position in the bank.

☆ Buffett sheds stake in TSMC, while Macquarie, Fidelity buy shares -filings
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Macquarie added roughly 78 million new American Depositary Shares (ADRs) of TSMC to an existing position, and ended March with $7.3 billion in the company. Fidelity bought 14.1 million new shares, increasing its bet on the company to nearly $4 billion. Coatue Management, founded by Philippe Laffont, built a new position in the chipmaker as it bought 5.9 million shares, worth $548.9 million. U.S.-listed shares of TSMC have gained nearly 14.5% this year. Reporting by Carolina Mandl, in Sao Paulo; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Anna DriverOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'Big Short' investor Burry bet on regional banks in first quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( David Randall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A branch of First Republic Bank is seen. First Republic collapsed May 1, making it the largest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis. The filings did not show whether Scion had sold its positions before then. The positions were revealed in quarterly securities fillings known as 13-fs. Burry was featured in the 2010 nonfiction book "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis which was made into a popular movie five years later.

NEW YORK, May 15 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Jim Simons' Renaissance Technologies LLC was among the prominent funds that took positions in embattled regional bank First Republic Bank (FRCB.PK) during the first quarter ahead of the firm's May 1 collapse, according to securities filings released on Monday. Renaissance Technologies LLC, which has more than $100 billion in assets under management, bought approximately 7.1 million shares of First Republic during the first quarter and held them as of March 31, when they closed at $13.99 per share. Boston-based Adage Capital Partners, meanwhile, added a new position of approximately 185,000 shares of First Republic during the quarter, while New York-based Alpine Global Management LP added a new position of approximately 1.7 million shares in the company, filings showed. Renaissance Technologies, Adage Capital and Alpine Global did not respond to requests to comment for this story. Reporting by David Randall; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/4] Twitter, X Corp., and Tesla CEO Elon Musk poses with French President Emmanuel Macron prior to their talks, Monday, May 15, 2023 at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France. Some 200 business leaders attending the event in Versailles close to Paris have so far made commitments to invest a combined 13 billion euros ($14 billion), the most since Macron first held the summit in 2018, his office said. Musk, who also lunched with Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, said he was confident Tesla would make "significant investments" in France in the future, without giving a timetable. "No announcement today but I am very impressed with President Macron and the French government and how welcoming they are," he told reporters. Morgan Stanley plans to increase headcount in France by 200 by 2025, bringing total staff in the country to 500.

PARIS, May 14 (Reuters) - France is poised to win record foreign investment pledges when President Emmanuel Macron receives global business leaders, including Tesla's Elon Musk, on Monday at the annual Choose France summit in Versailles. Executives attending the event in Versailles close to Paris have so far made commitments to invest a combined 13 billion euros ($14 billion), the most since Macron first held the summit in 2018. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla (TSLA.O), met Macron at his official residence the Elysee Palace. France previously tried to convince Musk to build a European gigafactory in the country, but he chose Germany, his only European gigafactory so far. PALATIAL BACKDROPOver the last five years, Macron has invited top CEOs to the opulent Versailles Palace to try to secure billions in foreign investments.

There's a big buying opportunity in lithium company Albemarle , according to Baird. Baird upgraded the company to outperform and raised its price target to $288 from $222, which implies a gain of 47% from Friday's close. The reduced guidance for 2023 is "an attractive entry point for the stock," Kallo said. We see upside to estimates from any increase in lithium pricing, potential tailwinds from the IRA, and the growing demand for lithium." Baird also said the oligopolistic structure in the bromine market, in which Albemarle is a top-three producer, gives the company relative pricing power.

☆ TSMC added by Macquarie, Fidelity and Coatue after Buffett cut stake -filings
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Their moves come roughly three months after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) unveiled it cut its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd last year. Macquarie added roughly 78 million new American Depositary Shares (ADRs) of TSMC to an existing position, and ended March with $7.3 billion in the company. Fidelity bought 14.1 million new shares, increasing its bet on the company to nearly $4 billion. Coatue, founded by Philippe Laffont, built a new position in the chipmaker as it bought 5.9 million shares, worth $548.9 million. Reporting by Carolina Mandl, in Sao Paulo; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Anna DriverOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Arrowstreet, Coatue Management among big hedge funds buying Meta in first quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( David Randall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, May 15 (Reuters) - Prominent hedge funds including Arrowstreet Capital LLC, D1 Capital Partners and Coatue Management LLC were among the investors that bought shares of Meta Platforms Inc in the first quarter of the year, amid an eye-popping rebound in the Facebook-parent’s stock. Arrowstreet Capital added about 5 million shares during the quarter, brining its total position to slightly more than 7 million shares, while Coatue more than doubled its position in the company by buying 4.2 million shares. Winslow Capital Management, meanwhile, initiated a new position in the firm by buying about 927,000 shares, and D1 Capital Partners bought slightly more than 1 million shares. Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway, was the largest seller among all firms, unloading more than 35 million shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Investments sold its entire stake of about 569,000 shares, while Glenview Capital Management, run by billionaire Larry Robbins, sold its entire stake of about 526,000 shares, according to filings.

☆ Wall St Week Ahead Amid banking woes, faltering US small-caps offer ominous economic sign
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

NEW YORK, May 12 (Reuters) - A U.S. stocks rally is leaving behind smaller companies, a sign that investors may be bracing for economic turmoil ahead. "Typically in a recession, small caps underperform." Last month it downgraded its view on U.S. small caps from "unfavorable" to "most unfavorable." Some investors are more upbeat about the outlook for small caps, particularly when looking beyond the next several months. One reason is that small caps, being sensitive to economic fluctuations, tend to shine early in a market recovery.

☆ Recycling 'end-of-life' solar panels, wind turbines, is about to be climate tech's big waste business
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

watch nowIndeed, the market for recycled solar panel materials is expected to grow exponentially over the next several years. One recipient of this federal funding is First Solar, the largest solar panel manufacturer in the U.S. Massive wind turbines, blades are almost all recyclableRetired wind turbines present another recycling challenge, as well as business opportunities. How the circular renewable energy economy worksPlayers in the circular economy are determined not to let all that waste go to waste. Vestas Wind Systems has committed to producing zero-waste wind turbines by 2040, though it has not yet introduced such a version.

☆ Automakers find a tax credit loophole to increase EV leasing and boost sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Buying a used Ioniq, which is produced in South Korea and Indonesia, wouldn't earn him $7,500 off through a federal tax credit. "I ran the numbers — what it would be without the leasing credit and with the leasing credit — and that kind of put me over the top and that was the main thing of why I went in that direction," he said. For a $50,000 EV and a 36-month lease, Chesbrough estimates the full $7,500 tax credit equates to $222 in monthly savings for a consumer. "It also allows them to level the playing field against competitors who get the full tax credit when purchasing." I wouldn't call it leveling the playing field," Watson said of leasing qualifying for the $7,500 tax credit.

The law is viewed as a watershed for domestic solar manufacturing, which has struggled for years to compete with a flood of cheap imports from China. Since passage of the IRA, companies have announced more than $13 billion in U.S. factory investments, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). According to Treasury's proposed guidelines, the manufactured products in a typical solar energy facility would include modules, trackers and inverters. But solar cells account for about 30% of the costs of the products that make up a solar facility, making them a large piece of the puzzle. The top solar trade group, Solar Energy Industries Association, had proposed that panels assembled in the United States should qualify for the credit regardless of where the cells inside them are produced.

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