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☆ Workers are missing cog in US manufacturing gears
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Jeffrey Goldfarb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

NEW YORK, Nov 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - There’s a spanner in the freshly restarted U.S. manufacturing machine. Based in part on the planned construction spending, Goldman Sachs analysts estimate that Biden’s initiatives could lead to as many as 250,000 new manufacturing jobs over the next two years. Pay growth is also cooling faster for production and manufacturing jobs, at 4.2% year-over-year in August, down from an 11% annual peak in December 2021 and compared to the national average of 4.5%, according to jobs website Indeed. By 2030, technological and cognitive skills in the manufacturing sector will be in far higher demand as the share of physical and manual tasks drops by more than a quarter from 2016, McKinsey says. The U.S. manufacturing engine may be humming along now, but employment-related complications threaten to throw sand in the gears.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, Goldman Sachs, There’s, it’s, Sam, Francesco Guererra, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Deal, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, Intel, Bosch, Linde, Public, Ford, SK Innovation, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Department, Bureau of Labor Statistics, McKinsey, University of Massachusetts, Economy Research, of Labor Statistics, Thomson Locations: Arizona, U.S, United States, China, Europe, Asia, it’s, Germany, Amherst

I have a separate short-term savings account that I automatically put $10 in every week for gifts. While I do buy some gifts closer to the holidays (especially for kids), I buy items on sale all year. This is where I keep a gift fund. I don't have a firm budget for how much I spend each month, but I typically pull from my gift fund or my splurge fund from such purchases. Plus, I've received sundry items for gifting, such as stuffed animals, treat bags, gift boxes, baskets, and stocking stuffers.

Persons: —, pare, I've, I'm Organizations: Service, Black

☆ Gay Games: Sporting and cultural LGBTQ event faces a conservative backlash in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

I have no idea how it managed to reach Hong Kong,” he said. Gay Games organizers hit back at the opposition from Hong Kong lawmakers and have vowed the event will be a proud, non-political, celebration of inclusivity. A spokesman did not answer the first part and replied on the latter: “Any activity that takes place in Hong Kong must not contravene any laws of Hong Kong. One of Hong Kong leader John Lee’s top advisers and also a lawmaker, Ip has been one of the few Hong Kong politicians vocally supportive of the games. Meanwhile Chan Kwan-on, one of the Gay Games ambassadors in Hong Kong, urged critics not to jump to conclusions and come see for themselves.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, –, ”, Junius Ho, Peter Shiu, Lisa Lam, Alan Lang, Hong, Tyrone Siu, Xi Jinping, Hong Kong, ” Wayne Morgan, ‘, Lang, Regina Ip, John Lee’s, Ip, Chan Kwan, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Gay Games, Wednesday, firebrand, Beijing, CNN, Reuters, Gay, Valencia, Hong, Gay Sports and Movement Association, China’s Communist Party, ’ Gay Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Mexican, Guadalajara, Beijing, China, Hong, Australian, Taiwan

NEW YORK, Nov 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Elon Musk does well when his back is against the wall. His investment in X now fills the longshot role, which leaves him little to lose. Grok, as it is called, has “real-time access to info via the X platform,” Musk noted in a post, which gives it a “massive advantage” over other AI models. Although the product is still being tested, Musk says it already can out-compute OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and Meta Platforms' (META.O) Llama 2. X may be near, or already has hit, rock bottom, right where Musk often does his best work.

Persons: Elon, Tesla, Musk, ” Musk, Linda Yaccarino, X, Billionaire Elon Musk, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, New York Times, Microsoft, New, Billionaire, OpenAI, Thomson

Nov 4 (Reuters) - The Gay Games Hong Kong (GGHK) kicked off on Saturday, its first time in Asia, despite opposition from anti-LGBTQ lawmakers and human rights activists. The opening ceremony began with a march-in by the GGHK, Federation of Gay Games, and delegations from around the world, followed by performances including the Hong Kong lion dance. "The holding of the Gay Games in Hong Kong is strong testimony to the diversity, inclusion, and unity of our city," Ip said in her welcoming speech. Five Hong Kong human rights activists also called for the Games to be cancelled in June, saying organisers "have aligned themselves with pro-authoritarian figures responsible for widespread persecution against the people of Hong Kong". Taiwan is not sending athletes to Hong Kong but to Guadalajara, citing security concerns over the NSL.

Persons: Lisa Lam, Lam, GGHK, Regina Ip, Ip, Junius Ho, John Lee, ”, Gerrit Schulz, Jessie Pang, Dorothy Kam, Giles Elgood Organizations: Gay Games, Gay Games Hong Kong, of Gay Games, National Security Law, Beijing, NSL, Games, Thomson Locations: Gay Games Hong, Asia, Hong Kong, Mexican, Guadalajara, Beijing, Taiwan, China, Berlin

About a year ago, I wanted to talk to my mom about her estate planning and financial needs. Get your estate planning in order firstBefore you even broach the topic of estate planning with your parents, get your own estate-planning ducks in a row. Approach estate planning with sensitivityRemember that estate planning is a delicate topic. In talking to your parents, Rivera suggests framing estate planning as the ultimate form of control and selflessness. Create an Estate Plan Online Trust & Will can help create an estate plan for you or your loved ones.

Persons: —, Valerie Rivera, Rivera, they're, You'll, you've Organizations: Service, FirstGen, Will Locations: America

☆ This city never slept. Now with China tightening its grip, is the party over?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

China’s message at the time was that even if change was coming to Hong Kong, its spirit of “anything goes” would be staying put. People gather outside a restaurant on a near-empty street in the Soho area of Hong Kong. Officials say they were “fluorescent.”A Hong Kong government spokesman told CNN this week that the activities were “well-received by local residents and tourists”. Under Hong Kong’s pandemic restrictions, live music was all but banned in small venues for more than 650 days. Months before the virus emerged, China had been tightening its grip on Hong Kong in response to pro-democracy protests that had spread throughout the city.

Persons: Hong Kong, Boy George, Grace Jones, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold, China’s, Deng Xiaoping, China –, Deng, Deng’s, –, Noemi Cassanelli, Hong, John Lee, “, ”, Gary Ng, Covid, Benson Wong, Wong, Lan Kwai Fong, Cassanelli, Hong Kongers, Kongers, Ng, Yan Wai, ” Yan, hasn’t, Billy H.C, Kwok, Richard Feldman, Feldman, Becky Lam, ” Lam, “ They’ll, ” Feldman, Kwai Fong, Marco Chan, Chan, ” Allan Zeman, Allan Zeman, Lan, CNN “ They’ll, they’ll, Lam, Hong Kong’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, East, West, Britain, Occupy Central, National Security, Michelin, CNN, Hong, Tai Hang, National, Hong Kong Wine, HKSAR, Immigration Department, Chinese University of Hong, Soho Association, Netflix, “, Lan Kwai Fong Group, Hong Kong, Shady Locations: China, Hong Kong, Asia, Hong, Soho, Japan, Singapore, Tai, Thailand, Lan Kwai, expats, Britain, Canada, Australia, Natixis, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lan, revelers, California, Central, Shenzhen, Hong Kong’s Central, Bangkok, Shanghai, Taipei, Petticoat

☆ Bezos makes third losing bet on real estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

It’s not the only questionable real estate decision Bezos has made in the past several years. He announced in a Thursday Instagram post that he will move to Miami, leaving the Washington city where he founded Amazon in 1994. Bezos grew up in the south-Florida city in the early 1980s, and he will return to a two-mansion compound worth some $147 million, according to Bloomberg. Miami-based real estate had a renaissance during the pandemic as people sought warmer climates where they could be outside. Still, the founder is no stranger to real estate bets that don’t always make financial sense.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, It’s, Bezos, Ken Griffin, David Tepper, lockdowns, That’ll, don’t, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Amazon, Bloomberg, U.S . Federal Housing Finance Agency, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Dade, University of Miami, Homes, Climate, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, Shepard, Thomson Locations: Miami, Seattle, Florida, Washington, Bezos, Indian, Arlington , Virginia, Arlington, Cape Canaveral

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong leader John Lee will not attend an upcoming economic conference in the U.S. due to “scheduling issues” despite an earlier appeal to be invited as per convention, following reports that he would be barred from the gathering due to U.S. sanctions. Instead, Hong Kong’s financial minister Paul Chan will attend as a representative of Hong Kong on Lee's behalf. Lee himself had appealed to the U.S. to act in accordance with convention and send invitations to all member economies, including Hong Kong. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesHe was sanctioned in 2020 together with 10 other Hong Kong officials, including previous chief executive Carrie Lam, for undermining the city's autonomy. Lee was previously Hong Kong’s security minister and oversaw the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in the city following the 2019 anti-government protests.

Persons: Hong, John Lee, Lee, Paul Chan, Carrie Lam, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan Organizations: Hong, Economic, APEC, The Washington Post, British, U.S, White Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, U.S, Asia, San Francisco, China, United States, The, Beijing, “ Hong Kong

☆ Uncle Sam provides shaky base for Caterpillar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The $500 billion U.S. infrastructure spending bill, passed in late 2021, helped lift the firm’s third-quarter profit 41% from a year ago. As with other sharp pullbacks after government-supported pandemic spending, Caterpillar will prove that counting on federal aid isn’t a viable business model. And the construction firms that order from Caterpillar appeared to step back, with the company's backlog of deliveries falling $2.6 billion in the third quarter. The U.S. CHIPS Act set aside $39 billion to help build semiconductor factories, leaving more money for construction firms and, in turn, Caterpillar. Umpleby may be benefitting from Uncle Sam now, but before long Caterpillar will have to fend for itself.

Persons: Michaela Rehle, James Umpleby, Joe Biden’s, EBITDA, Uncle Sam, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Construction Machinery, Machines, Mining Machines, Construction Vehicles, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Caterpillar, U.S . General Services Administration, Siemens, Cummins, LSEG, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, Texas, China, U.S

☆ McDonald’s menu stocks up on global variations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TORONTO, Oct 30 (Reuters Breakingviews) - McDonald’s (MCD.N) status as the world’s go-to meal means it’s competing with an uneven global economy as much as any rivals. The ubiquitous $190 billion fast-food purveyor on Monday touted a 9% year-over-year increase in worldwide same-store sales for the third quarter. In places like the U.S., that was helped by menu price increases. But the Big Mac seller also talked up the release of smaller, more affordable meals in markets facing worse economic fortunes, like China and Germany. In the latter, its McSmart menu of smaller meals helped drive the 10th quarter of double-digit sales growth.

Persons: Christopher Kempczinski, outpacing, Kempczinski, Sharon Lam, Jonathan Guilford, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: TORONTO, Reuters, Bureau of Labor Statistics, X, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Germany, Europe, Spain

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's commitment to seizing the opportunities and managing the risks of Artificial Intelligence, in San Francisco, California, U.S., June 20, 2023. On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order establishing regulatory guardrails for the technology that looks set to upend humanity. The announcement closes some of the rulemaking gap between the United States and its international counterparts. But now, because of the lack of clarity, some firms are considering ditching the United States. If important technologies do move outside of the United States, the country effectively loses its chance to steer development.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Sam Altman, Andreessen Horowitz, Forrester, Ben Winck, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Reuters, European Union, Cyberspace Administration, OpenAI, Securities, Exchange Commission, Venture, country’s, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California, U.S, United States, London

☆ Intel’s reverse bullwhip is strong
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The $150 billion chip giant has weathered a post-Covid maelstrom as an initial work-from-home-driven boost to PC sales slammed into reverse, denting sales and the company’s chunky gross profit margin. Growth isn’t back, but results released on Thursday show the decline is slowing and a new division has promise. At least one pandemic bullwhip might be close to having run its course. Reuters GraphicsBetter yet, Intel’s foundry business - Gelsinger’s push to start making chips designed by others - is narrowing its losses while growing revenue and scaling up. Though many customers are signing up on the condition that Intel’s manufacturing tech reaches certain milestones, that unit is its future.

Persons: Pat Gelsinger, Jonathan Guilford, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, X, Thomson

☆ Oil giants’ wavering discipline
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oil, miniatures of oil barrels and U.S. dollar banknote are seen in this illustration taken, June 6, 2023. The two companies reported somewhat similar results on Friday, with the $420 billion Exxon earning $9.1 billion, and the $279 billion Chevron making $6.5 billion. With more than $110 billion in acquisitions between the two of them, investors might wonder where they will slot in. Exxon returned over $8 billion to investors and Chevron $6 billion, and right now that’s not at the expense of their balance sheets. Over the past decade both stocks have sharply underperformed the S&P 500 Index (.SPX) as they’ve grown their positions dramatically.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Hess, Robert Cyran, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Exxon, Pioneer Natural Resources, X, Investors, Unilever, Thomson

☆ Influencer model infects US political fundraising
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

In turn, leaders like former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Republican Speaker Paul Ryan collected tens of millions of dollars to divert to politically valuable campaigns elsewhere in the party. Florida Republican Matt Gaetz has raised nearly $2 million this year, helped by fundraising emails sent in the lead-up to his successful effort to remove Republican Representative Kevin McCarthy as House speaker. Vocal conservatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert have raised $2.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively, for their 2024 House campaigns. McCarthy raised 2.9% of House Republicans’ cash in the 2022 elections. Republican Representative Garret Graves criticized Representative Matt Gaetz on Oct. 3 for using his vote to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as a fundraising opportunity.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Nathan Howard, –, Nancy Pelosi, Paul Ryan, Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, McCarthy, John Boehner, Taylor, Garret Graves, Matt Gaetz, Graves gestured, Gaetz, ” Gaetz, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Republican, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Representatives, Democratic, Florida Republican, Republicans, U.S . House, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Florida, U.S

☆ US growth boom tees up year-end bust
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The latest report on the country's growth is worth celebrating, but not for too long. Household incomes after inflation and taxes fell by $71 billion in the third quarter, according to Pantheon Macroeconomics. That shrank in the third quarter, with managers flagging peak interest rates as a larger concern, leaving less in the pipeline. Yet stores spent $81 billion in excess inventory last quarter and are likely to wait to restock shelves. Last quarter’s boom should give way to a bust.

Persons: Lee Jae, LSEG, Ben Winck, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Rights, Reuters, Macroeconomics, Savings, Companies, X, Unilever, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ Amazon's grey cloud is the new blue sky
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Blake Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Amazon.com’s (AMZN.O) cloud business is offering a small sliver of light. The performance matches last quarter’s growth and is in-line with what analysts were expecting, according to LSEG. Alphabet, in its earnings on Tuesday, said its similar unit’s growth rate slowed. Shares in the company led by Sundar Pichai declined by a tenth in two days. It’s not exactly a cloudless sky - AWS growth is slowing relative to last year, and its growth rate is still 10 percentage points below Alphabet’s.

Persons: Andy Jassy, Mike Blake, Sundar Pichai, It’s, Jennifer Saba, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Amazon Web Services, REUTERS, Reuters, North, X, Unilever, Thomson Locations: Laguna Beach , California, U.S, It’s

☆ GM earnings give its restive workers an inch
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

On Tuesday, GM reported strong earnings that will embolden staff who have walked out at all three of the big Detroit firms. GM beat analysts’ expectations for third-quarter profit despite a $200 million hit from the strikes that started in September. That said, the firm run by Mary Barra also ditched its official forecast as it wrestles with the $200 million weekly costs from labor disruptions. Fortunately for GM, talks with its union seem to have narrowed in from earlier demands that would have vaporized the industry’s operating profit. Ongoing strikes by the United Auto Workers union, which represents GM employees, cost the company $200 million in the third quarter.

Persons: walkouts, Mary Barra, Shawn Fain, Tesla, Elon, Fain, John Foley, Sharon Lam Organizations: General Motors Company, Reuters, United Auto Workers, General Motors, Ford Motor, GM, Cox Automotive, UAW, Elon Musk’s, United Auto Workers union, Detroit, Thomson Locations: Queens , New York, U.S, Detroit, Wells, GM’s Arlington

☆ Hong Kong's leader will deliver his policy address this week. Here's what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Vivian Kam | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

An aerial view of a residential district in Hong Kong. He expects domestic demand will continue to be the key driver to Hong Kong's expansion. A nurse examines new born chinese childs with their mums at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 30 April 2012 in Hong Kong. That's compared to 1.1 in Singapore and 1.7 in the U.S. To tackle the problem, local media reported the Hong Kong leader may consider giving 20,000 Hong Kong dollars ($2,556) to the family of every newborn baby in the territory, if at least one of the parents is a permanent resident. By offering attractive incentives ... Hong Kong can re-establish itself as an attractive destination for both local and international talent.

Persons: Chunyip Wong, John Lee, Hong, Eddie Kwok, Kwok, Thomas Shik, Shik, childs, Victor Fraile Rodriguez, Wise Lam Organizations: Hong, Hang Seng Bank, CNBC, Gross, Labor, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Corbis, Bank Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Singapore, Hong, PwC, U.S

Single women face unique challenges when planning for retirement, so I asked an expert for help. Plus, women are often put in a caregiving role, which means time off from work — and not contributing regularly to retirement funds. So how can single women like me juggle with inflation, a higher cost of living, dwindling income, and the gender wage gap to be on track for retirement? I asked Marie Thomasson, a certified financial planner and founder of Modern Assets, an LA-based financial advisory firm for independent, progressive women, for tips on how single women can steer the course and make sure they're on track with their goals for retirement planning. Reassess your retirement accountsOnce you have your financial bases covered, you can venture into investing and retirement planning, says Thomasson.

Persons: Marie Thomasson, —, I've, Thomasson, hadn't, doesn't, aren't, Amanda Holden's, Simran Kaur's, Erin Lowry's, Tonya Rapley's, Tiffany, We're Organizations: Service, Modern Assets, Research, Pew Locations: LA, YOLO

☆ Analysts' comments on China's export permits for some graphite products
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Here is what analysts are saying about the measure:IVAN LAM, SENIOR ANALYST, COUNTERPOINT RESEARCH:"In addition to China, other countries and regions also implement graphite export controls. Graphite has a wide range of applications in industry, and the demand for its use is growing. KANG DONG-JIN, ANALYST AT HYUNDAI SECURITIES IN SEOUL:"It's not that China would suddenly stop export graphite, but it would be more intensely regulated and reviewed. It is still unclear how far China would take this graphite export curb, which would determine the supply chains. "With this new graphite export curb, South Korean firms - or South Korea in general, which heavily rely on China for graphite imports, would need to seek alternatives, such as mines from the United States or Australia, but it would likely increase cost burden for many."

Persons: Aly, IVAN LAM, CHRISTOPHER RICHTER, you've, KANG DONG, JIN, Brenda Goh, Daniel Leussink, Heekyong Yang, Miyoung Kim, Nivedita Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EU, Thomson Locations: Port, Shanghai, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Russia, Ukraine, TOKYO, SEOUL, South Korea, United States, Australia, Tokyo, Seoul

☆ The culinary delights hidden inside Hong Kong’s markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Maggie Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Hong Kong CNN —Offering everything from Michelin-endorsed dim sum to juicy smoked goose served in a world-renowned restaurant, Hong Kong is home to some of the finest culinary experiences on the planet. But don’t fret – we have put together a list of eight top-quality Hong Kong markets along with some of the best dishes to try. Queen Street Cooked Food MarketQueen Street Market serves some of the most authentic Chiuchow -- a regional Cantonese cuisine -- dishes. Maggie Wong/CNNA foodie haven in the north of Hong Kong, Yuen Long is a hub for both modern and traditional eateries. The relatively run-down look of the Fa Yuen Street Cooked Food Market inside only adds to the charm.

Persons: ”, Lui Ka Chun, Kongers, Lui, “, Wai Kee, Maggie Wong, Kau Kee, ngau, jyu beng, Kan, Hong Kong’s, Lok Yuen, yuen yeung, Tsang Kee, Chan Chun Kee, suckling, Tai Po Hui, Lam Kee, Tung Kee, Ping Kee, Ng Zai Kee, Bon, Tsun, CNN Kwun, Long, Tim Kee, Yuen Long, it’s, Kee’s, Fa, Mui Kee Congee, Shau Kee Wan Organizations: CNN, Hong Kong CNN, Michelin, Lok, Market, Queen, Thai &, Thai & Vietnam Cuisine, ABC, Tai Po Hui, Food, hawker, Hong Kong’s, Fa Yuen, Kitchen Locations: Hong Kong, Hong, hawker, Kong’s, Kan Kee, Kowloon City, Kowloon Walled City, Lok, Beijing, Thai, Thai & Vietnam, Tai Po, New Territories, Shanghai, Kwun Tong, CNN Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Sichuan, Yuen, Mong Kok, Aldrich, Aldrich Bay, Shau

☆ China restricts exports of graphite as it escalates a global tech war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“At the moment both China and Western countries are engaged in a tit for tat, highlighting how protectionist measures often spread. China, which dominates the world’s production and processing of graphite, says export permits will be needed, starting in December, for synthetic graphite material — including high-purity, high-strength and high-density versions — as well as for natural flake graphite. China was the world’s leading graphite producer last year, accounting for an estimated 65% of global production, it said. Gallium, germanium restrictionsThe export curbs were announced as China faces pressure from multiple governments over its commercial and trade practices. In July, Beijing imposed export restrictions on gallium and germanium, two minerals essential for making semiconductors.

Persons: ”, Stefan Legge, carmakers, Ivan Lam Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Ministry of Commerce, Administration, Customs, “, University of St, Institute for Energy Research, EV, International Energy Agency, Geological Survey, Counterpoint Research, US Department of Energy Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, University of St Gallen, Switzerland, Washington, DC, Europe, Asia, Beijing, Russia, Ukraine

Powell, however, added the economy's strength and continued tight labor markets could warrant further Federal Reserve interest rate increases. Third-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies are now estimated to grow at 1.6% compared with expectations of a 2.2% increase last week, LSEG data showed. Yields on the 2-year note, which best reflects short-term interest rate expectations, fell , while that on the 10-year note edged higher to 4.9215%, near the 5% level last seen in 2007. Communications services (.SPLRCL) and information technology (.SPLRCT) led gains amongst the major S&P 500 sectors. On the earnings front, Blackstone (BX.N) slipped 6.0% as the world's largest private equity firm's third-quarter distributable earnings fell more than expected due to a decline in asset sales in its real estate business.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Jerome Powell, Powell's, CME's, Powell, Chris Zaccarelli, Russell Hackmann, Austan Goolsbee, Atlanta's Raphael Bostic, Philadelphia's Patrick Harker, Shubham Batra, Shashwat Chauhan, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Netflix, Dow, Nasdaq, Economic, of New, Traders, Independent, Alliance ., Hackmann Wealth Partners, Investors, Chicago Fed, Dow Jones, Communications, Blackstone, Lam Research, NYSE, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, of New York, United States, Britain, France, Bengaluru

☆ China's Huawei sells 1.6 mln Mate 60 Pro handsets in six weeks - research firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An advertisement for Huawei's Mate 60 series smartphones is seen outside a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHENZHEN, China, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) has sold 1.6 million of its Mate 60 Pro handsets in six weeks, a research firm said, as the Chinese technology giant defies a smartphone slowdown to enjoy strong demand in its high-end smartphone renaissance. In its first 17 days, iPhone 15 sales were down 4.5% compared to the iPhone 14, Counterpoint said, without providing specific figures. Huawei made a surprise launch of its premium Mate 60 Pro phone in late August, which many analysts say uses a domestically made chip and marks a breakthrough in the face of years of U.S. technology sanctions against the company. In China August smartphone shipments remained largely flat, rising 0.03% year on year to 18.99 million handsets, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications (CAICT).

Persons: Aly, Ivan Lam, David Kirton, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei Technologies, Apple, Counterpoint Research, Transsion, China Academy of Information, Communications, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights SHENZHEN

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