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ImageHERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENINGExxon Mobil strikes an agreement to win regulatory approval of its $60 billion megadeal. Elsewhere, shares in Shell were up after the producer reported $7.7 billion in adjusted quarterly earnings, beating analyst expectations. The U.S. imposes sanctions on Chinese companies over military support for Russia’s war effort. The Biden administration announced on Wednesday nearly 300 sanctions, including on more than a dozen Chinese businesses, aimed at disrupting Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The culprit: pressure on prices, amid growing competition from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, supply constraints and scrutiny from lawmakers.

Persons: Scott Sheffield, Biden, Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, James Comer, Comer Organizations: Labor Department, Exxon Mobil, Natural Resources, Wall Street, Novo Nordisk, Republican, European Commission Locations: Shell, U.S, Ukraine, Danish, Kentucky, iRobot

A flicker of hope for the weed businessFor years, the dreams of the cannabis industry looked like they might go up in smoke, with the U.S. government classifying marijuana as a drug as dangerous as heroin. But the multibillion-dollar industry now has some hope that could change. The bet is that this will give the industry a new lease on life — though it shouldn’t expect big changes immediately. Shares in Tilray, a giant in the industry, jumped 39 percent on Tuesday, while those in Canopy Growth leaped nearly 79 percent. That’s welcome news for investors in both companies: Canopy Growth’s stock is down 97 percent over the past five years, while those in Tilray are down 95 percent.

Persons: Biden Organizations: U.S, Justice Locations: Tilray

☆ We're raising our Amazon price target, betting light guidance proves conservative
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Amazon Why we own it : Amazon may be widely known for online shopping, but its cloud business is the real breadwinner. While an International e-commerce sales increase of 10% to $31.94 billion missed estimates, the segment saw $903 million in operating income. Guidance Amazon expects second-quarter net sales to be between $144 billion to $149 billion, growing 7% to 11% year over year. However, thanks to disciplined cost management, operating income guidance is expected to come in much closer to the mark at $10 billion to $14 billion versus $12.73 billion expected. The midpoint of the sales and operating income estimates point to an operating margin target of 8.2%, which compares with an 8.5% estimate for the second quarter.

Persons: it's, Andy Jassy, Jassy, we're, That's, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin Organizations: Amazon, LSEG, Walmart, Target, Microsoft, Services, Web Services, CNBC Locations: Amazon, America, North America

Paramount’s cloudy futureThe boardroom intrigue at Paramount Global — the drama that has gripped the corporate world — just got messier. Bob Bakish is out as C.E.O., replaced by three subordinates who will form an “office of the C.E.O.” His departure caps a year of rising tension between him and Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, who is pushing for a deal with David Ellison’s Skydance. Bakish’s exit removed an executive who didn’t support that transaction, but it doesn’t resolve all of the big questions hanging over the company’s future. Why Bakish was pushed out: Redstone picked the low-profile company veteran to lead Paramount after years of internal strife, but they still ended up clashing.

Persons: Bob Bakish, ”, Shari Redstone, David Ellison’s Skydance, Bakish Organizations: Paramount Global, Redstone, Paramount

Why Elon Musk went to ChinaJust days after Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Beijing and warned China about unfair trade practices, Elon Musk landed in the Chinese capital. 2 official may have paid off: Musk reportedly cleared two obstacles to introducing a fully autonomous driving system in the world’s biggest car market. Musk is betting big on self-driving, and China is key. Tesla last week reported its worst quarter in two years as a price war hurts profit. Fully autonomous driving is also crucial.

Persons: Elon Musk, Antony Blinken, Tesla, China’s, they’ve, Musk, ” Organizations: Elon Locations: China, Beijing

Many business leaders have told me they are deeply concerned about incidents of harassment against Jewish students that have taken place at and around universities like Columbia and appear to be increasing. Inside corner offices, there has been a lot of hand-wringing about the most blatant examples, like antisemitic signs and chants or the assault of an Israeli student. But there has been little action from corporations, which have a synergistic relationship with the schools where they recruit employees. Some executives are privately pondering what they can do. The most common course of action so far has been to pull back on individual donations.

Persons: Robert Kraft Organizations: New England Patriots, Columbia University, ” Locations: Columbia

☆ Climate change could cost Americans born in 2024 nearly $500,000 in their lifetime
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The October report found that around 13% of Americans reported economic hardship over the prior year due to climate change. Climate change could cost Americans born in 2024 nearly $500,000, due to higher taxes and pricier housing and food, among many other factors, ICF, a consulting firm, recently found in a report commissioned by Consumer Reports. Stan Honda | AFP | Getty ImagesOther health effects of climate change reflect more widespread shifts in global conditions. "There are clear interactions between heat waves and health conditions," said Charles Driscoll, a professor at Syracuse University who studies climate change. Climate change leads to droughts, which lead to crop failures, which cause food price spikes.

Persons: Chandan Khanna, Andrew Rumbach, Eva Marie Uzcategui, Wagner, Rumbach, Stan Honda, Charles Driscoll, Driscoll, Ringo H.W, Chiu, Mark Kantrowitz, Gernot Wagner Organizations: AFP, Getty, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Consumer Reports, Urban Institute, Bloomberg, U.S . Census, Insurance, Swiss Re Institute, Health, Natural Resources Defense, Syracuse University, International Labour Organization, Kaiser Family Foundation, of Labor Statistics, Columbia Business Locations: Fort Lauderdale , Florida, U.S, Fort Myers Beach , Florida, Florida , Louisiana, California, Hurricane, Queens, New York, Malibu, Malibu , Calif

An effort to give Trump more say on ratesThis week, investors had planned to examine the latest inflation data, due out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern on Friday, for clues about when the Fed would start cutting interest rates. The Wall Street Journal reports that allies of Donald Trump are devising ways of watering down the central bank’s independence if he is re-elected president. But it also raises questions about whether such a plan is possible — or whether Trump’s Wall Street supporters would back it. Among the most consequential would be asserting that Trump had the authority to oust Jay Powell as Fed chair before Powell’s term is up in 2025. While Trump gave Powell the job in 2017, he has since soured on his pick for raising rates, and has publicly said he wouldn’t give Powell a second term.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Jay Powell, Powell, wouldn’t Organizations: Trump, Street Journal, Wall

☆ Miami is 'ground zero' for climate risk. People are moving to the area and building there anyway
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +20 min

South Pointe Beach in Miami Beach, Florida. Climate risk is "always on our thoughts," said Habibian, 39, who moved to Miami-Dade County about six years ago. Despite that risk, 66% of Miami-Dade County residents said they'd never leave, according to a study published in the journal Climate Risk Management. "We try to be smart about it, try to be proactive as best we can," Arditi said of climate risk. Juxtaposed at left was one of the last remaining patches of mangroves in the urban Miami area, a living memorial to a once-thriving population.

Persons: Greg Iacurci, Daniel Habibian, Harold Wanless, Sonia Brubaker, Saul Martinez, Andrew Rumbach, Rumbach, Joe Raedle, Irma, Al Diaz, they'd, Steven Bustamante, Bustamante, Jeff Greenberg, There's, David Arditi, Arditi, Aria's, Jeff Bezos, Goldman Sachs, Douglas Sacks, Ken Griffin, Brubaker, Biscayne Bay . Miami Worldcenter, Chandan Khanna, Dion Williams, Williams, Dion, Todd Crowl, Crowl, We're, Erik Salna, Chris Baraloto, Rita Teutonico, Amy Knowles, Knowles, it's, City of Miami Beach Greg Iacurci Miami Organizations: Greg Iacurci MIAMI, University of Miami, City, CNBC, Cumming Group, Florida Department of Transportation, Bentley, Bloomberg, Getty, Urban Institute, Organisation for Economic Co, Miami, Volunteers, Florida Keys, Miami Herald, Tribune, Service, Dade, Risk, Yale University's School of, Finance, SEC, Miami Beach, Universal, Group, Aria Development, National Association of Realtors ., Miami Realtors, Amazon, Citadel, Resorts, Bloomberg News, Dade County's, Getty Images, Residences, Pointe Park, Fifth, Afp, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Management, Sunshine, Insurance, Institute, Florida International University Institute of Environment, Hurricanes, University of Pennsylvania, International Hurricane Research, of, Florida International University, City of Miami Beach Locations: Pointe Beach, Miami Beach , Florida, Miami, South Beach, Dade, City of Miami, Dade County, New York, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm, South Florida, Florida, Tampa, St . Petersburg, Miami , Florida, Southeast Florida, Miami Beach, City, Aria's Miami, U.S, California , New York, New Jersey, America, Caribbean, New York City, Biscayne Bay . Miami, Pointe, It's, Surfside, . Florida, Biscayne Bay, Miami's, Bermuda, Kampong, Coconut Grove, Brittany Bay, South Pointe, City of, Brittany Bay Park

Meta’s A.I. But for investors, that’s not enough — and that’s a warning to other tech giants set to announce their own financial results in the coming days. That makes clear that while Wall Street loves the opportunities that A.I. The company plans to spend $35 billion to $40 billion this year — much of that on the technology — up from a forecast of $30 billion to $37 billion. It also expects second-quarter revenue to come in at $36.5 billion to $39 billion, below analyst estimates.

Persons: Meta’s, Meta, that’s, Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: Facebook, Wall, Meta

☆ How Dan Doctoroff transformed New York City
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Dan Doctoroff transformed New York CityCNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin sits down with Wall Street veteran Dan Doctoroff to discuss his time working for Michael Bloomberg, how he transformed New York City, his fight against ALS, how the diagnosis changed his view on life, and more.

Persons: Dan Doctoroff, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Michael Bloomberg Organizations: Wall Street, ALS Locations: New York City

The winners from the TikTok battleThe countdown to TikTok disappearing from the United States is about to start. The Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation to force the divestment of the video app by its Chinese owner, ByteDance, within a year or be banned. Barring the app from U.S. shores could take months, or even years — if it actually happens. The road ahead is complicated, and any disruptions to the app could bolster its American rivals. Analysts at Bernstein have estimated that, should TikTok be banned, Meta could draw up to 60 percent of TikTok’s American ad revenue, while YouTube could take another 25 percent or so.

Persons: Biden, Bernstein Organizations: Google, Meta, YouTube Locations: United States

Campus unrest spreadsTop American colleges are in turmoil, with dozens of pro-Palestinian student protesters having been arrested at N.Y.U. and Yale amid new worries about antisemitism on campus. The latest: Police were called in to break up pro-Palestinian protests at N.Y.U. Harvard shut Harvard Yard and Columbia will make classes at its main campus hybrid until next week. Encampments were growing at other schools, including M.I.T., the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley.

Organizations: Palestinian, Yale, University, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Police, Columbia, University of Michigan, University of California Locations: N.Y.U, Columbia, Berkeley

Tesla investors’ nerve-racking rideTesla has hardly been keeping quiet as it prepares to announce earnings on Tuesday. These developments are the latest signs that Tesla is confronting its toughest stretch in years — and many shareholders aren’t convinced that the company and its C.E.O., Elon Musk, are taking the right steps to address it. The latest: During the weekend, Tesla cut prices of several models in China, the U.S. and Europe. Those moves came a day after Tesla voluntarily recalled nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks over a faulty accelerator pedal that could get stuck. It’s all apparently keeping Musk so busy that he canceled a trip to India, during which he was expected to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce plans to build a factory there.

Persons: Tesla, aren’t, Elon Musk, Narendra Modi Locations: China, U.S, Europe, India

☆ Scottie Scheffler weathers storm to claim fourth win in five starts. Is he the most dominant golfer since Tiger Woods in his prime?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

1 mastered the elements once more at a stormy RBC Heritage to reel in his fourth win in his last five starts. “I didn’t show up here just to have some sort of ceremony and have people tell me congratulations,” Scheffler told reporters Monday. Only two players had ever previously won or finished runner-up in five consecutive PGA Tour starts; Vijay Singh in 2004, and Woods on three separate occasions between 1999 and 2008. 1 prepares to chase a historic sixth this week, Scheffler is throwing in the towel – but not before one last jab. The Tour moves on to Los Angeles on Thursday for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana.

Persons: Scottie Scheffler, Scheffler, Sahith Theegala, Woods, Bernhard Langer, ” Scheffler, “, Jared C, Tilton, ’, Meredith, Scott, Diane, I’m, ”, it’s, ’ I’ll, “ They’re, they’ll, Andrew Redington, Scheffler hasn’t, Germany’s Stephan Jaeger, Rory McIlroy, Vijay Singh, Aaron Doster, Nelly Korda, Nelly, she’s, Byron Nelson Organizations: CNN, RBC, Harbor, Augusta National, Getty, Texas Children’s Houston, USA, Sports, Chevron, PGA, Zurich, TPC Louisiana Locations: South Carolina, Harbor Town, Los Angeles, New Orleans

Labor painsAfter a “summer of strikes” last year that stretched from Detroit to Hollywood, unions are on a roll, flexing their growing might. Friday will bring a new test of that power as workers at a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee vote on whether to join the United Automobile Workers. Victory there would mark perhaps the first time a foreign carmaker’s U.S. plant became unionized and form a beachhead for organized labor in the anti-union South. But it could also resonate well beyond the car industry as President Biden cultivates labor in battleground states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. A yes vote would be a big win for the U.A.W.

Persons: ”, Biden, Shawn Fain, they’ve Organizations: Volkswagen, United Automobile Workers, Big, Detroit carmakers, Toyota, Tesla, Automotive News Locations: Detroit, Hollywood, Tennessee, U.S, Michigan, Pennsylvania

The clock ticks for TikTokThe push to either split TikTok from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or ban it in the U.S. is gaining momentum thanks to a legislative maneuver by the House Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill’s progress comes as The Times reveals more details about the video platform’s origin story — and the central role played by the Chinese subsidiary of the trading firm of a Republican donor, Jeff Yass. Johnson has bundled the TikTok bill into a foreign aid package. The speaker said on Wednesday that he would put up for a vote this weekend a spending measure for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan that includes a modified version of the TikTok divestment legislation. The move may force the Senate’s hand: The House overwhelmingly passed the bill last month, but the Senate hasn’t been in a rush to take it up.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Jeff Yass, Johnson, hasn’t Organizations: Times Locations: U.S, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

Tesla tries again on Musk’s record pay packageNearly three months ago, a Delaware court voided Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package that Tesla’s board — and most shareholders — had given him in 2018, contending that the process to decide it was “deeply flawed” and that the company didn’t properly disclose it to investors. On Wednesday, Tesla said that it would ask shareholders to vote again on that same pay package, now valued at about $47 billion, at its annual meeting on June 13. The company’s board is effectively asking shareholders, now armed with all of the information that was revealed about the negotiations in court, to make the court’s ruling moot. The vote is likely to set off a bitter battle among investors and governance experts over whether shareholders should provide Musk with the richest pay package in U.S. corporate history. It comes as Tesla faces new challenges, especially slumping sales that have erased billions off its market value in recent months.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk’s, — Locations: Delaware

deal as a diplomatic weaponA relatively small deal — by Microsoft’s standards, anyway — is leading to big geopolitical ripples on Tuesday. The tech giant is investing $1.5 billion in G42, an Emirati artificial intelligence company. On its face, that may appear to be just another effort by the tech giant to claim a foothold in a fast-growing A.I. The terms of the deal: G42 will be able to sell Microsoft services that use powerful A.I. chips; in return, it will use Microsoft’s Azure cloud services for its A.I.

Persons: OpenAI, Biden Organizations: Microsoft Locations: Beijing, China

But the calm could be short lived, as world leaders and markets focus on Israel’s response. Military clashes don’t always sink the markets, as was the case when Hamas attacked Israel in October and Israel retaliated. “We may be entering one of the most treacherous geopolitical eras since World War II,” Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s C.E.O., warned last week. “Take the win,” President Biden reportedly told Israel’s embattled prime minister after the attack was rebuffed with American help. Iran has signaled that the attack was a one-and-done, but Israel’s war cabinet hasn’t indicated its next move.

Persons: Israel, ” Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, hasn’t, Helima Croft Organizations: JPMorgan, ”, RBC Capital Markets Locations: Israel, Ukraine, United States, Iran

☆ Unflappable Scottie Scheffler clinches second Masters title with virtuoso display
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Scottie Scheffler clinched his second Masters title in style on Sunday, cementing the American’s status as the preeminent force in men’s golf. I love you,” Scheffler replied when asked by Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley if he had a message for his wife. The ball was still amongst the shrubbery when Scheffler rolled in for par on the same green shortly after, extending his lead to three. His first Masters triumph had ended in a shaky – albeit inconsequential – four-putt, but there were no such blips this time round. After a standing ovation on his walk to the 18th green, Scheffler signed off with a simple putt for par.

Persons: Scottie Scheffler, Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, Scheffler, Meredith, “ I’m, I’ll, ” Scheffler, Fred Ridley, “, can’t, ”, Brooks Koepka, Scheffler toasts, Warren Little, Woods, Åberg, –, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, ” Woods, ” Åberg, Fuzzy Zoeller, Europe’s, Andrew Redington, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, England’s Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy’s, Spain’s Jon Rahm, Ominously, Morikawa, Homa, Mike Segar, Rahm, Jamie Squire, Aberg, Ted Scott Organizations: CNN, Augusta National, Augusta, Golf, PGA Championship, RSM, Getty Locations: Butler, Augusta, Rome, Homa

Iran has warned that it will respond with “stronger and more resolute” actions if Israel retaliates over this weekend’s strikes, according to Tehran’s ambassador to the United Nations. Biden will also meet with G7 leaders on Sunday “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” according to a statement released by the White House. US defensive assets moved to the region earlier this week and “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” according to the statement. US forces intercepted more than 70 one-way attack drones and at least 3 ballistic missiles Iran fired toward Israel, according to two US official familiar with the situation. US fighter jets were also part of the US’ response to Iran’s attack on Saturday and shot down drones launched towards Israel, another US official told CNN.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Iran –, “, ”, Biden, Netanyahu, Jordan, ” CNN’s Nic Robertson, –, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Donald Trump, IRGC, Qassem Soleimani, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, IRNA, ” Israel, General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Iran’s, António Guterres, Josep Borrell, Rishi Sunak, Javier Milei, Manuel Adorni, CNN’s Paul Murphy Organizations: CNN, Israel, United Nations, Iran, White House, US Navy, US, Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s Defense, Foreign Ministry, UN, British Locations: Iran, Syria, Israel, Republic, Haifa, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Damascus, Baghdad, Lebanese, Quds, East, Europe, America, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, China, Beijing, Chile, Mexico, Denmark

Housing gloomThe higher-for-longer inflation predicament has hit the U.S. housing market like a thunderbolt. More economists are paring their bets that the Fed will cut rates after the latest Consumer Price Index report. They all argue that sticky inflation will force the Fed to keep borrowing costs higher for longer. The country is growing faster than many peers, but voters are zeroing in on inflation to explain their disapproval of President Biden’s handling of the economy. (Some DealBook readers in recent days have emailed to say that they’re strongly feeling the pain of housing inflation.)

Persons: Goldman Sachs, ” Lawrence Yun, Biden’s Organizations: Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, National Association of Realtors

☆ Bryson DeChambeau owns infamous ‘par 67’ comments to race ahead in Masters first round
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —It was the comment that landed him in hot water with Masters fans and aged terribly, but – 13 rounds later – Bryson DeChambeau finally shot below his interpretation of par at Augusta National. Now, the golfer once dubbed “the Scientist” for his willingness to test new technologies is owning up to old errors. “Clearly today was a great test of golf, and I was able to conquer a very difficult golf course today. I shot 65 today, and that was one of the best rounds of golf I’ve played in a long time. “That’s the secret to winning major championships and winning big-time golf tournaments: more limiting the mistakes rather than making a ton of birdies.

Persons: – Bryson DeChambeau, ”, LIV, Storms, DeChambeau, Andrew Redington, I’m, ” DeChambeau, Rob Schumacher, pigeonhole, I’ve, Nick Faldo, Jon Rahm’s, LIV Golf, Faldo, “, DeChambeau –, –, Bryson, Scottie Scheffler, Arnold Palmer, Warren Little, Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard, Tiger Woods, ” Woods, Rahm, McIlroy, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Woods, Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Scottie, ” McIlroy Organizations: CNN, Masters, Augusta National, Augusta, USA, Sports, Reuters, PGA, Sky, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Tiger Locations: Saudi, Augusta, scintillating

The dollar spiked overnight and traders slashed their bets on when — or whether — the Fed would cut interest rates this year. Such uncertainty could last for months and complicate President Biden’s bid for a second term. Traders this morning were pricing in less than two rate cuts for 2024 — down from more than six at the start of the year — possibly starting in July. The growing view on Wall Street is that inflation will need to get closer to the Fed’s 2 percent target before the central bank makes a move. Some are going even further: Larry Summers, the former Treasury secretary and a critic of the Fed’s handling of inflation, told Bloomberg that a rate increase can’t be ruled out.

Persons: Biden’s, Larry Summers Organizations: Fed, Biden U.S, Treasury, Bloomberg

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