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☆ Gold holds ground ahead of U.S. inflation test
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A technician cleans impurities from melted gold bars at Primera Gold's laboratory in Bukavu, South Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, May 12, 2023. Gold prices consolidated in a tight range on Thursday, hovering close to a near seven-month high, as investors awaited a key inflation print to gauge whether interest rate cuts in the U.S. would come sooner than expected. Spot gold was down 0.1% at $2,041.76 per ounce by 0543 GMT, after hitting its highest since May 5 on Wednesday, and was poised for its second straight monthly gain. U.S. gold futures for December delivery fell 0.2% to $2,042.40 per ounce. Spot silver fell 0.2% to $24.95 per ounce.

Persons: Bullion, Yeap Jun Rong, Jerome Powell Organizations: Primera Gold's, U.S, Federal, Traders Locations: Bukavu, South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S

☆ Goldilocks meets Santa as global stocks power to best month in three years
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Naomi Rovnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MSCI's world stock index (.MIWO00000PUS) is set to close the month up around 9%, its best performance since November 2020, when markets cheered the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. Global bond prices have soared, with an ICE BofA index of global investment-grade bonds in major markets set to return 3.4% in November, the best month on record going back to 1997. Global growth stocks in high-tech sectors are up 11% (.dMIWO0000GNUS) while value stocks, which are mainly in cyclical industries and offer high dividends, have gained 6.5% (.dMIWO0000VNUS). And a cloudier outlook for stocks suggests a divergence could open up between again between stocks and bonds. The broader global index is set to return 1.6% for the year.

Persons: Joshua Roberts, That's, bode, Altaf Kassam, Wall, We've, Guy Miller, Joost Van Leenders, Van Lanschot Kempen, Van Leenders, Kassam, Naomi Rovnick, Yoruk Bahceli, Dhara Ranasinghe, Christina Fincher Organizations: Federal Reserve, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, State Street Global Advisors, Traders, Fed, Insurance Group, Equity, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, COVID, U.S

☆ UK’s Metro Bank and Lloyds join Barclays in announcing job cuts weeks before Christmas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Staff at UK banks face layoffs in the lead-up to Christmas in what one labor union called “disgraceful” timing. Struggling Metro Bank said Thursday that it expected to slash headcount by 20% as part of efforts to save £50 million ($63 million) a year. But Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at stockbroker IG, said becoming more like the big banks Metro Bank sought to displace would “sorely diminish” the lender’s appeal. “Far from being a serious challenger to the UK’s established banks, Metro continues to flounder,” he wrote in a note. Metro Bank also said new stock issued as part of an emergency equity raise last month to shore up its finances would begin trading Thursday.

Persons: “, Daniel Frumkin, Chris Beauchamp, ”, Charles Schwab, Dominic Hook, upskilling, Andrew Coombs, Jaime Gilinski Bacal Organizations: London CNN — Staff, Metro Bank, Lloyds, Barclays, Metro, Citigroup, Vice Media, Continental, Unite, ” Citi, Bank of England Locations: United Kingdom

☆ Gold holds ground ahead of US inflation test
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Harshit Verma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An employee casts ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. Spot gold was flat at $2,044.30 per ounce by 0728 GMT, trading in a range of about $6. It hit its highest since May 5 on Wednesday, and was poised for its second straight monthly gain. U.S. gold futures for December delivery fell 0.1% to $2,045.40 per ounce. Reporting by Harshit Verma in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Mrigank Dhaniwala and Sonia CheemaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, Yeap Jun Rong, Jerome Powell, Harshit Verma, Rashmi Aich, Mrigank Dhaniwala, Sonia Cheema Organizations: REUTERS, PCE, U.S, Fed, Traders, Thomson Locations: Novosibirsk, Siberian, Russia, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ FDIC Faces More Demands for Evidence of Toxic Culture at Bank Regulator
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Rebecca Ballhaus | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Martin Gruenberg denied being subject to investigations for inappropriate workplace conduct at a House hearing, but later recanted his testimony, citing a 2008 investigation. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesPressure on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. over allegations of a toxic work environment mounted this week, as the agency’s internal watchdog launched its own inquiry and a Republican senator requested records related to settlements and nondisclosure agreements. The FDIC’s inspector general will examine the “leadership climate at the FDIC with regard to all forms of harassment and inappropriate behavior,” a spokeswoman said. The IG will also assess the agency’s sexual harassment prevention program, including looking at what steps the FDIC has taken since a 2020 IG report found that program was flawed.

Persons: Martin Gruenberg, Alex Wong, ” Organizations: Deposit Insurance Corp, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Republican

☆ Tesla scores court win in Sweden in month-long battle with unions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Elon Musk has notched a victory against Swedish workers as a court ruled that Tesla can collect license plates for its cars from the country’s transport authority after postal workers refused to deliver them. Postal workers stopped delivering them to the company last week in sympathy with Tesla’s mechanics who began an ongoing strike in late October. Musk called the postal workers’ actions “insane” in a post on X last week. “Swedish wages and working conditions should apply to all workers in Sweden,” the body said in a statement on its website earlier this month. A company that comes to Sweden must adapt to what applies here.”Musk, the world’s richest man, has been vocal about his opposition to unions.

Persons: London CNN — Elon, Tesla, Musk, ” Tesla, dockworkers, ” Musk, — Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: London CNN, CNN, Sweden’s Transport Agency, Reuters, Transport Agency, Tesla, IF Metall, Swedish Trade Union Confederation, National Labor Relations Board, IG Metall Locations: Norrköping, Sweden’s, Sweden, Swedish, “, Tesla, Berlin, Germany

☆ The 'Korea discount': Value stock or value trap?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A cameraman takes video footage of a stock index board showing South Korea's benchmark stock index (L) after a ceremony celebrating the New Year's opening of the South Korea stock market at the Korea Exchange in Seoul on January 2, 2023. Chaebol challengeIn South Korea, most market heavyweights are corporations called "chaebols," large family-owned global conglomerates that are usually controlled by the founder's family. However, IHS Markit highlighted in June last year that in South Korea, the ex-dividend date comes before the companies' dividend announcement dates. With such challenges, should investors be putting their money into South Korea stocks — or should they stay away? "If authorities continue to improve the investment environment further, the chances for the South Korean stock index to be included in the [MSCI World Index] will grow," he said.

Persons: Jung Yeon, JUNG YEON, Vikas Pershad, Jiang Zhang, Jeremy Tan, Zhang, Hebe Chen, Chen, Ryota Abe Organizations: South, Korea Exchange, Getty, Management, North, CNBC, Samsung Electronics, LG, SK, Hyundai, Samsung, Tiger Fund Management, IHS, South Korea's Financial Services Commission, IG International, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Locations: South Korea, Korea, Seoul, North Korea, Korea's, Southeast Asia

☆ Dollar hangs at three-month low as traders eye PCE data
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

United States one dollar bills are curled and inspected during production at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington. The dollar index , a measure of the greenback against a basket of currencies, was last at 103.11, its lowest since Aug. 31. The dollar was track for a loss of more than 3% in November, its worst performance in a year. Market expectation that the Fed's rate increase cycle has finally come to an end has also put downward pressure on the greenback. PCE tops off a slew of other key economic events this week, including Chinese purchasing managers' index data and OPEC+ decision.

Persons: Kyle Rodda, Tony Sycamore Organizations: Engraving, The U.S, Federal Reserve, Reuters, greenback . U.S, Fed, Traders, Australian, Reserve Bank of New, Bank of Japan, IG Locations: United, Washington, The, U.S, OPEC, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

☆ Wall St futures edge lower as investor await data, policy cues
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., October 27, 2023. Wall Street ended the Thanksgiving week on a positive note, with the major indexes notching up their fourth consecutive week of gains on growing optimism that the Federal Reserve was likely done hiking interest rates. ET, Dow e-minis were down 48 points, or 0.14%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 7 points, or 0.15%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 23.75 points, or 0.15%. The personal consumption expenditure index data for October - the Fed's preferred inflation gauge - is slated to be released on Thursday. Reporting by Shristi Achar A and Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb ChakrabartyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Axel Rudolph, Shristi Achar, Shashwat Chauhan, Saumyadeb Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Dow, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Dow e, IG Group, Walmart, Crown, Elliott Investment Management, Reuters, GE HealthCare, UBS, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ A default cycle has started amid the Fed's high interest rates, economists say. These 4 charts explain how severe it is.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A default cycle has started, spurred by high rates and debt costs, economists at Apollo Management said. Data on default rates and bankruptcy filings show just how severe the situation is. Advertisement"A default cycle has started with bankruptcy filings rising, and default rates will continue to rise over the coming quarters, impacting in particular middle market companies," they added. US Speculative grade default rates Apollo Management"The ongoing rise in default rates is not just a 'normalization.' AdvertisementUS bankruptcy filings Apollo ManagementWeekly bankruptcy filings for companies with at least $50 million in liabilities Apollo ManagementSløk has previously said that the Fed's rate hikes were to blame for higher bankruptcies.

Persons: —, Torsten Sløk, Sløk, Apollo Management Sløk, Nicholas Colas, Moody's Organizations: Apollo Management, Service, HY, Apollo, DataTrek, Management Locations: Moody's, Europe

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares retreated Monday as investors awaited updates on consumer spending and inflation in the U.S. and other nations. While analysts expect them to stand pat on policy, attention remains relatively high, given concerns about inflation. Wall Street ended last week mixed with a half-day trading session that capped a fourth straight winning week. The holiday shopping season kicked off with Black Friday amid concerns that spending may slow under pressure from dwindling savings, rising credit card debt and inflation. The major stock indexes’ latest weekly gains reflect a turnaround in the market’s sentiment in November following a three-month slide.

Persons: ” Yeap Jun Rong, Hong, Hang Seng, Brent, Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Nikkei, IG, Shanghai, Reserve Bank of New, Bank of Korea, Bank of, Black, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Nvidia, Google, CF Industries, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Benchmark, New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S Locations: U.S, China, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Bank of Thailand

☆ Meta collected children’s data from Instagram accounts, unsealed court document alleges
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The federal complaint calls for court orders prohibiting Meta from the practices the attorneys general allege violate the law. Civil penalties could add up to hundreds of millions of dollars, as Meta allegedly hosts millions of users who are teens and children. However, despite the company’s internal research confirming concerns with social comparison on its platforms, the lawsuit alleges Meta refused to change its algorithm. Eight additional attorneys general sued Meta last month in various state courts, making similar claims to the massive multistate federal lawsuit. Florida sued Meta in its own separate federal lawsuit, alleging the company misled users about potential health risks of its products.

Persons: Meta, “ Meta’s, ” Meta, Antigone Davis, “ We’ve, ”, Instagram, Adam Mosseri, “ Meta, Letitia James, ” James, Frances Haugen, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN, Meta, COPPA, Facebook, “, “ Social Locations: New York, Florida

[1/2] An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. Both contracts had their first weekly gain in five weeks as OPEC+ prepares for a meeting that will have output cuts high on the agenda after recent oil price declines on demand concerns and burgeoning supply, particularly from non-OPEC producers. OPEC+ has moved closer to a compromise with African oil producers on 2024 output levels, three OPEC+ sources have told Reuters. "Fundamentals developments have been bearish with rising U.S. oil inventories," ANZ analysts said in a note. Analysts say oil demand growth could weaken to about 4% in the first half of 2024 as the property sector crunch weighs on diesel use.

Persons: John Kilduff, Tony Sycamore, Brent, Craig Erlam, Tina Teng, Paul Carsten, Natalie Grover, Colleen Howe, David Goodman, Louise Heavens, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Brent, West Texas, Organization of, Petroleum, Reuters, OANDA, ANZ, Petrobras, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Gaza, OPEC, Wednesday's, WTI, Israel, New York, Russia, U.S, London, Beijing

☆ Brent climbs ahead of OPEC+ oil production decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Colleen Howe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. Brent crude futures gained 29 cents, or 0.4%, to $81.71 at 0213 GMT, after settling down 0.7% in the previous session. Trading remained subdued because of the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.On the demand side, poor refining margins have led to weaker crude demand from refineries in the U.S., analysts said. "Fundamentals developments have been bearish with rising U.S. oil inventories," ANZ analysts said in a note. In China, analysts say oil demand growth could weaken to around 4% in the first half of 2024 from strong post-COVID growth levels in 2023, as the country's property sector crunch weighs on diesel use.

Persons: Tony Sycamore, Brent, Colleen Howe, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Brent, . West Texas, of Petroleum, IG, ANZ, Petrobras, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Rights BEIJING, WTI, U.S, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Sydney

☆ Oil declines as traders speculate on OPEC agreement on output
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil rig and pump of H&P Rig 488 in Stanton, Texas, on June 8, 2023. Oil prices fell slightly Friday as traders speculated on whether OPEC+ would come to an agreement on further production cuts. Trading remained subdued because of the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.On the demand side, poor refining margins have led to weaker crude demand from refineries in the U.S., analysts said. "Fundamentals developments have been bearish with rising U.S. oil inventories," ANZ analysts said in a note. In China, analysts say oil demand growth could weaken to around 4% in the first half of 2024 from strong post-COVID growth levels in 2023, as the country's property sector crunch weighs on diesel use.

Persons: Tony Sycamore, Brent Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, of Petroleum, IG, ANZ, Petrobras Locations: Stanton , Texas, OPEC, Sydney, U.S, China

☆ Tesla strikes in Sweden are getting under Elon Musk’s skin
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —It has taken nearly a month, but workers striking against Tesla in Sweden have finally drawn a response from the company’s famously anti-union boss. “This is insane,” CEO Elon Musk said Thursday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter that he owns. Musk was responding to news that Swedish postal workers are refusing to deliver Tesla license plates, joining a wave of action in sympathy with mechanics who stopped servicing Tesla cars late last month. About 130 mechanics began their ongoing strike in October after their employer, a Tesla subsidiary in Sweden, announced that it would not recognize their labor union, according to Expressen, a CNN affiliate. Still, the strikes by Swedish workers may embolden Tesla’s employees in Germany, where it has a large plant manufacturing electric vehicles and battery cells.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, dockworkers, Tesla Organizations: London CNN, Tesla, CNN, IF Metall, National Labor Relations Board, Reuters, IG Metall Locations: Sweden, Swedish, United States, Buffalo , New York, Germany, Berlin, German Union, —, German, Wolfsburg

The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S., November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies OPEC+ meeting delayed to Nov. 30Brent falls below $80Eyes on whether OPEC+ cuts will be rolled over or deepenedLONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Oil prices tanked 4% on Wednesday as OPEC+ producers unexpectedly delayed a meeting on output planned for Sunday, raising questions about the future course of crude production cuts. OPEC+ delayed its ministerial meeting to Nov. 30 from Nov. 26 as previously scheduled, OPEC said in a statement, a surprise development that gave no reason for the postponement. Earlier on Wednesday, Bloomberg News reported that the OPEC+ meeting could be delayed for an unspecified period of time after Saudi Arabia expressed its dissatisfaction with other members about their output numbers. Analysts had predicted before the delay that OPEC+ was likely to extend or even deepen oil supply cuts into next year.

Persons: Angus Mordant, Brent, Rong Yeap, John Evans, Paul Carsten, Ahmad Ghaddar, Laura Sanicola, Colleen Howe, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, . West Texas, OPEC, Wednesday, Bloomberg News, Reuters, Organization of, Petroleum, IG, International Energy, Thomson Locations: Loving County , Texas, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, London

☆ Dollar hovers near 2-1/2-month lows, easing pressure on yen
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Japanese yen and U.S. dollar on display in Yichang, Hubei province, Nov 13, 2023. The dollar index held around 2-1/2-month lows after minutes of the Federal Reserve's last meeting did little to dislodge market expectations that its monetary tightening cycle was over. Treasury yields slipped again overnight to hover around 4.40%, easing further pressure on the yen. The Japanese yen advanced around 0.1% versus the greenback to 148.28, clinging to recent gains after ticking up slightly from as low as 147.155 overnight. While speculation that the Bank of Japan could exit from negative interest rates early next year should help stabilize the yen, the Japanese currency still faces strong headwinds.

Persons: Matt Simpson, CME's, Sterling, Simpson, Tony Sycamore Organizations: U.S, Index, Treasury, Bank of Japan, IG Locations: Yichang, Hubei province, U.S

☆ Japan's Nikkei seen rising to 35,000 by mid-2024 on earnings boost: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man looks at an electric board displaying the Nikkei stock average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan June 14, 2023. The median forecast for the Nikkei's level in mid-2024 was 35,000, with responses ranging from 31,143 to 39,500, the Reuters poll of 10 stocks strategists taken Nov. 10-20 showed. Japan's equity benchmark started this week by pushing to its highest level since March 1990 at 33,853.46 following a three-week winning streak. That would mean some stagnation for equities in the latter half of next year, with the Nikkei still stuck at 35,000 at year-end, according to the median poll response. "35,000 looks to be about the level where Nikkei gains line up with the timing of the BOJ getting rid of negative interest rate policy," Sycamore said.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Masayuki Kichikawa, IG's, Tony Sycamore, Sycamore, Kevin Buckland, Junko Fujita, Noriyuki, Rahul Trivedi, Pranoy, Alex Richardson Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Federal, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, IG's Sydney

Money market traders are betting September's hike was the last, with almost 90 basis points of rate cuts priced by the end of 2024. European shares underperforming their U.S. counterparts was a common expectation amongst the survey's European respondents as the robust American economy looks more likely to achieve a 'soft landing' than Europe. European shares are much cheaper than those in the U.S., possibly reflecting the worse economic outlook. The STOXX Europe 600 trades at over 12 times 12-month forward earnings, a 35.6% discount to the S&P 500 (.SPX). "Still, as the broader economic slowdown takes hold of the continent's markets, we expect to see a rather challenging second half of 2024."

Persons: Chris Beauchamp, Thomas Monteiro, Germany's DAX, Fiona Cincotta, Cincotta, Investing.com's Monteiro, Monteiro, Samuel Indyk, Danilo Masoni, Pranoy Krishna, Rahul Trivedi, Sarupya Ganguly, Jason Neely Organizations: IG, European Central Bank, ECB, Investing.com, FTSE, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Europe, Germany, riskier, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Oil extends gains on expectations of further OPEC+ supply cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Emily Chow | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummaryCompanies Brent, WTI prices rise nearly 1%OPEC+ set to consider whether to make more supply cuts -sourcesUS adds oil, gas rigs, first time in three weeks -Baker HughesSINGAPORE, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Oil futures edged higher on Monday, extending gains on expectations of OPEC+ deepening supply cuts to shore up prices, which have fallen for four weeks on easing concern of Middle East supply disruption amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Both contracts settled 4% higher on Friday after three OPEC+ sources told Reuters that the producer group, made up of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies including Russia, is set to consider whether to make additional oil supply cuts when it meets on Nov. 26. Oil prices have dropped by almost 20% since late September while prompt inter-month spreads for Brent and WTI slipped into contango last week. In a contango market, prompt prices are lower than those in future months, signalling sufficient supply. Investors are also eyeing disruption in Russian crude oil trade after Washington imposed sanctions on three ships that have sent Sokol crude to India.

Persons: Brent, Baker Hughes, WTI, OPEC's, Jorge Leon, Leon, Tony Sycamore, Biden, Sycamore, Sokol, Florence Tan, Emily Chow, Christopher Cushing Organizations: West Texas, Reuters, Organization of, Petroleum, Rystad Energy, Monetary, . Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Thomson Locations: Baker Hughes SINGAPORE, East, Israel, Russia, Brent, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, OPEC, Washington, India, Moscow, U.S, Gaza

☆ Oil extends gains as OPEC+ to mull deeper cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An oil pump jack is seen in the Loco Hills region, New Mexico, U.S., April 6, 2023. Oil futures nudged higher on Monday, extending gains on expectations of OPEC+ deepening supply cuts to shore up prices, which have fallen for four weeks on easing concern of Mid-East supply disruption brought about by the Israel-Hamas conflict. Brent crude futures climbed 11 cents, or 0.1%, to $80.72 a barrel by 0012 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $75.97 a barrel, up 8 cents. Oil prices have dropped by almost 20% since late September while prompt inter-month spreads for Brent and WTI slipped into contango last week. Investors are also eyeing disruption in Russian crude oil trade after Washington imposed sanctions on three ships that have sent Sokol crude to India.

Persons: Brent, WTI, Goldman Sachs, Tony Sycamore, Biden, Sokol Organizations: West Texas, Reuters, Organization of, Petroleum, . Strategic Petroleum Reserve Locations: New Mexico, U.S, Israel, Russia, Brent, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Washington, India, Moscow, East, Gaza

☆ Morgan Stanley urges higher quality corporate bonds as 2024 maturities approach
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Matt Tracy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 20 (Reuters) - Investment bank Morgan Stanley (MS.N) is recommending that corporate bond investors focus on higher quality investment-grade and high-yield bonds headed into next year, as a wave of maturities poses risk to more junk-rated companies. Morgan Stanley said it suspects the Federal Reserve has neared the end of its rate-hiking cycle, with a soft landing for the economy in the cards next year. As maturities hit next year, 15-20% of this ratings class is likely to see downgrades to CCC, according to Morgan Stanley. Downgrades will not be limited to junk issuers, Morgan Stanley added. On the leveraged loan front, Morgan Stanley said it expects a return in loan issuance next year for M&A and leveraged buyouts, buoyed in part by anticipated Fed rate cuts.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Morgan Stanley, maturities, Downgrades, Matt Tracy, Stephen Coates Organizations: Wall, REUTERS, Investment, Federal Reserve, BBB, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S

The Shanghai Composite index edged 0.1% higher to 3,054.37. Taiwan’s Taiex gained 0.2% and the Sensex in Mumbai fell 0.1%. Wall Street’s stocks drifted to a mixed finish Thursday as market momentum slowed following the sizzling rally of the first half of November. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1% to 34,945.47, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.1% to 14,113.67. Stocks in the oil-and-gas industry swooned after the price of crude tumbled sharply to its lowest level since July.

Persons: Seng, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, Australia’s, Taiwan’s Taiex, ” Yeap Jun Rong, IG, Macy’s, Sonos, Stocks, Halliburton, Brent Organizations: Nikkei, Bank of Japan Gov, U.S, U.S ., Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Walmart, Cisco Systems, Marathon Petroleum Locations: HONG KONG, U.S, New York, Shanghai, South Korea, Mumbai

☆ Tesla's problems in Sweden are getting worse as dockworkers refuse to unload its EVs from ships
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The mechanics' trade union is ramping up efforts after talks stalled again this week. AdvertisementThe labor dispute over Tesla's refusal to sign a collective wage agreement in Sweden has escalated into a dramatic labor battle. Unions representing multiple industries announced this week that they would join the strike in solidarity with IF Metall, the Tesla mechanics' trade union. The cleaners were joining the labor action "simply because the [IF] Metall Workers Trade Union asked us to," ombudsman Torbjörn Jonsson told Wired. In Germany, the largest labor union secured a 4% pay rise for 11,000 staff at Teslas Berlin Gigafactory.

Persons: Tesla, —, it's, who've, JOHAN NILSSON, Getty, Torbjörn Jonsson, IG Metall Organizations: Service, IF Metall, Metall, Workers, Union, Tesla, Wired, Metall Workers Trade Union, Teslas Berlin Locations: Sweden, Swedish, Malmo, Germany, Grünheide

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