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March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities are set to explore ways to bolster financial stability, along with steps to tackle the problems facing First Republic Bank, as central banks assess whether turmoil in banking makes interest rate rises less pressing. SVB's collapse kicked off a tumultuous 10 days for banks which led to the 3 billion Swiss franc ($3.2 billion) Swiss engineered takeover of Credit Suisse by rival UBS (UBSG.S). While that deal brought some respite to battered banking stocks, U.S. lender First Republic (FRC.N) remains firmly in the spotlight. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics'HEAD IN SAND'The wipeout of Credit Suisse's Additional Tier-1 (AT1) bondholders has sent shockwaves through bank debt markets. For now, the Swiss bank rescue appears to have assuaged the worst fears of systemic contagion, boosting shares of European banks (.SX7P) and U.S. lenders (.SPXBK).

But an unexpected jump in UK inflation last month led investors to bet heavily that the Bank of England will raise interest rates by at least another 25 bps on Thursday. SVB's collapse kicked off a tumultuous 10 days for banks which led to the 3 billion Swiss franc ($3.2 billion) Swiss regulator-engineered takeover of Credit Suisse by rival UBS. While that deal brought some respite to battered banking stocks, U.S. lender First Republic remains firmly in the spotlight. First Republic (FRC.N) shares fell 9% in extended trade on Tuesday, having surged as much as 60% at one stage. For now, the Swiss bank rescue appears to have assuaged the worst fears of systemic contagion, boosting shares of European banks (.SX7P) and U.S. lenders (.SPXBK).

The Fed's relentless rate hikes to rein in inflation have been partly blamed for sparking the biggest meltdown in the banking sector since the 2008 financial crisis. For now, Credit Suisse's rescue appears to have assuaged the worst fears of systemic contagion, boosting shares of European banks (.SX7P) and U.S. regional lenders. The S&P 500 banks index (.SPXBK) rallied 3.6%, its largest one-day gain since November. Still, Australia's prudential regulator has started asking the country's banks to declare their exposure to startups and crypto-focused ventures following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, according to the Australian Financial Review. Market cap of US regional banks included in the S&P 500 regional bank indexDeputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said a review of the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and rival Signature Bank was in order.

☆ Wall Street ends green on bank bounce as Fed takes focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Still, despite its recent resurgence, the S&P Banks index has lost more than 18% of its value just this month. "The Fed will raise interest rates by 25 basis points and the market won't care," Pursche added. Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 20, 2023. The S&P 500 posted 5 new 52-week highs and 2 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 48 new highs and 114 new lows. Volume on U.S. exchanges was 11.75 billion shares, compared with the 12.63 billion average over the last 20 trading days.

March 20 (Reuters) - Shares of First Republic Bank (FRC.N) closed 47% lower on Monday, adding to recent losses as concerns about its liquidity continued to worry investors despite a $30 billion influx of deposits last week. The bank's stock fell as much as 50% and closed at $12.18 after the New York Stock Exchange halted it several times due to volatility. S&P Global downgraded First Republic deeper into junk status on Sunday and said the recent cash infusion from 11 large U.S. banks last week may not solve its liquidity problems. A First Republic Bank branch is pictured in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., March 13, 2023. First Republic Bank's stock market collapseFirst Republic's stock market value has collapsed by over 80% in the past 10 trading sessions due to fears of a bank run as a large proportion of the lender's deposits are uninsured.

March 20 (Reuters) - Shares of U.S. lender First Republic tumbled nearly 50% on Monday on fears it will need a second rescue to stay afloat, bucking a broader rally in bank shares driven by UBS Group's state-backed takeover of Credit Suisse. "First and foremost, the Credit Suisse, UBS merger certainly takes a lot of stress out of the global banking system." The 3 billion Swiss franc ($3.2 billion) deal for the troubled Swiss bank - which was once worth more than $90 billion - was engineered by Swiss regulators and announced on Sunday. European bank shares (.SX7P) rebounded from recent losses, while on Wall Street the S&P 500 banks (.SPXBK) index recovered 0.6%. [1/2] Buildings of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse are seen on the Paradeplatz in Zurich, Switzerland March 20, 2023.

☆ Wall St ends higher as bank contagion fears ease, Fed eyed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

UBS late on Sunday agreed to buy rival Credit Suisse (CSGN.S), for $3.23 billion, in a merger engineered by Swiss authorities to avoid more turmoil in the banking group. The S&P Banking index (.SPXBK) and the KBW Regional Banking index (.KRX) were higher following sharp losses last week. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank (SBNY.O) shook markets earlier this month. "Where it is another bank coming in, that is the kind of headline that helps underpin confidence in the banking system," Krosby said. The Credit Suisse takeover helped the market, but U.S.-listed shares of Credit Suisse were down sharply on Monday, while UBS Group shares were up.

March 20 (Reuters) - Shares of First Republic Bank (FRC.N) extended a recent slump on Monday with a 15% drop, after a report the regional bank could raise more money fanned worries about its liquidity despite a $30 billion rescue last week. On Sunday, Reuters reported that the lender was still trying to put together a capital raise but that no deal was imminent. Short sellers in First Republic made about $560 million profit on paper since last Monday, analytics firm Ortex said. The S&P 1500 regional banks index (.SPCOMBNKS) added nearly 3.4%, while S&P 500 banks (.SPXBK) gained 2.3%. A U.S. official told Reuters on Sunday that the deposit outflows that left many regional banks reeling in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's failure had slowed and in some cases reversed.

Traders have raised bets of the Fed likely hitting a pause on rate hikes on Wednesday to ensure financial stability as bank sector troubles triggered by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank (SBNY.O) threaten to snowball. Over the weekend, UBS (UBS.N) agreed to buy rival Credit Suisse for $3.23 billion, in a merger engineered by Swiss authorities to avoid more market-shaking turmoil in global banking. U.S.-listed shares of Credit Suisse plummeted 48.5% to hit a fresh record low, while UBS reversed premarket declines to rise 7.8%. PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O) jumped 21% after the bank said deposit outflows had stabilized, while New York Community Bancorp (NYCB.N) also gained 33% after the bank's unit agreed to buy deposits and loans from Signature Bank. The S&P Banking index (.SPXBK) and the KBW Regional Banking index (.KRX), which on Friday had logged their largest two-week drop since March 2020, rose 1.4% and 3.2%, respectively, in early trade.

☆ First Republic shares fall on fresh liquidity fears as peers rebound
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Medha Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

March 20 (Reuters) - Shares of First Republic Bank (FRC.N) slumped 13.1% on Monday, after a report the regional bank could raise more money fanned worries about its liquidity despite a $30 billion rescue last week. Shares of some of the big banks involved in the unprecedented support rose, reversing premarket losses. "Even though First Republic Bank says that they have the financial backing to survive, investors are concerned that they too will have to be taken over," said Jason Pride, chief investment officer of private wealth at Glenmede. The S&P 1500 regional banks index (.SPCOMBNKS) added nearly 4%, outperforming S&P 500 banks' (.SPXBK) 2.6% rise. A U.S. official told Reuters on Sunday that the deposit outflows that left many regional banks reeling in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's failure had slowed and in some cases reversed.

Over the weekend, UBS (UBS.N) agreed to buy rival Credit Suisse for $3.23 billion, in a shotgun merger engineered by Swiss authorities to avoid more market-shaking turmoil in global banking. U.S.-listed shares of Credit Suisse were down 58.4% in premarket trading and set to open at a fresh record low, while those of UBS were down 3.6%, as focus shifted to the hit to some Credit Suisse bondholders from the acquisition. "Investors are still worried about the banking industry, even though UBS has agreed to take over Credit Suisse. Regional bank First Republic Bank (FRC.N) was down 19.1% after paring some declines, while peer Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) edged 0.7% lower. The S&P Banking index (.SPXBK) and the KBW Regional Banking index (.KRX) on Friday logged their largest two-week drop since March 2020.

Markets have scaled back expectations for an aggressive 50-basis-point interest rate hike from the Fed at its March 22 meeting, following the turmoil in the banking sector triggered by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank (SBNY.O) earlier this month. Over the weekend, UBS (UBS.N) agreed to buy rival Credit Suisse for $3.23 billion, in a merger engineered by Swiss authorities to avoid more market-shaking turmoil in global banking. While the deal helped calm jitters about the banking sector, U.S.-listed shares of Credit Suisse plummeted 54.9% to hit a fresh record low. PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O) jumped 11.5% after the bank said deposit outflows had stabilized, while New York Community Bancorp (NYCB.N) gained 32.1% after the bank's unit agreed to buy deposits and loans from Signature Bank. The S&P Banking index (.SPXBK) and the KBW Regional Banking index (.KRX), which on Friday had logged their sharpest two-week drop since March 2020, rose 1.4% and 2.6%, respectively.

The remarks followed recent data showing an unexpected inflation increase in January and an unusually large jobs gain for the month. Traders dramatically raised their bets for a 50-basis-point rate hike in March after Powell's comments, with money market futures last pricing in a more than 70% chance of such a move, up from around 31% on Monday, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. Data influencing the Fed's rate hiking path will include Friday's closely watched nonfarm payroll additions for February. Meanwhile, the yield on two-year Treasury notes , which best reflects short-term rate expectations, hit 5% for the first time since July 2007. Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS.N) rallied 11% after the retailer forecast annual earnings above Wall Street estimates and more than doubled its quarterly dividend.

Equities lost ground right after Powell's prepared remarks were released ahead of his testimony and sank further as the session wore on. Powell told U.S. lawmakers the Fed is prepared to move in larger steps if economic data suggests tougher measures are needed to control rising prices. Data the Fed will use to influence its rate hiking path will include Friday's non-farm payroll numbers. Meanwhile, the yield on two-year Treasury notes , which best reflects short-term rate expectations, hit 5% for the first time since July 2007. Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS.N) was up 9.6% after the retailer forecast annual earnings above Wall Street estimates and more than doubled its quarterly dividend.

Meanwhile, Fed fund rates were seen peaking at 5.6% in September compared to 5.47% earlier. Investors are awaiting data later this week that is expected to show nonfarm payrolls increased by 200,000 in February, compared with the much stronger-than-expected 517,000 jobs reported in January. All the 11 major S&P sectors fell, with cyclical sectors such as financials (.SPSY) and materials (.SPLRCM) leading declines. Meanwhile, the yield on two-year Treasury notes , which best reflects short-term rate expectations, rebounded to its highest since 2007 at 4.96%. The S&P 500 recorded 10 new 52-week highs and six new lows, while the Nasdaq posted 40 new highs and 112 new lows.

Traders drastically increased their bets of a 50-basis-point rate hike in March after Powell's comments, with money market futures pricing a more than 40% chance of such a move, from 23% before the remarks. Meanwhile, Fed fund rates were seen peaking at 5.56% in September compared to 5.47% earlier. Investors are awaiting data later this week that is expected to show nonfarm payrolls increased by 200,000 in February, compared with the much stronger-than-expected 517,000 jobs reported in January. Among individual stocks, Rivian Automotive (RIVN.O) tumbled 10.5% after the electric automaker unveiled plans to sell bonds worth $1.3 billion. The S&P index recorded 10 new 52-week highs and four new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 30 new highs and 77 new lows.

☆ 0DTE options could turn 5% intraday market decline into 25% rout -JPMorgan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 6 (Reuters) - Trading in new near-dated U.S. options contracts can supercharge volatility in U.S. stocks, potentially leading to tremendous intraday declines, analysts at JPMorgan said. The U.S. equity options market has seen a rise in the trading of options contracts set to expire at the end of the trading day - dubbed 0DTE (zero day to expiry) options - with their daily notional value rising to about $1 trillion, according to JPMorgan data. Their recent growth has been eyed as one cause of intraday volatility, with JPMorgan's Marko Kolanovic last month warning they could spark a massive volatility event under certain circumstances. Such a scenario could occur if the S&P 500 fell 5% in five minutes, triggering $30.5 billion in 0DTE option-related trading that would tack another 20 percentage points onto the index's decline, the bank’s analysts said. Furthermore, JPM noted that retail traders were not the main driver of volume growth in 0DTE options, with individual investors accounting for about 20% of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY.P) options volume and only around 5% of the S&P 500 same-day options.

☆ AI stocks surge as investors bet on growth prospects
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

C3.a1 forecast better-than-expected revenue and profit for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023, after its third-quarter results topped Wall Street estimates. Shares of the AI software provider were up 16% at $24.80, and were one of the top five trending stocks on StockTwits. Microsoft's investment in OpenAI's ChatGPT boosted AI firms' popularity further. Other major AI stocks also surged on Friday with BigBear.ai (BBAI.N), conversation intelligence firm SoundHound AI (SOUN.O), and Thailand's security firm Guardforce AI (GFAI.O) jumping between 5% and 20%. "AI could become the new gold rush on Wall Street," said Adam Sarhan, chief executive officer of 50 Park Investments in Florida.

☆ AI stocks surge after C3.ai's strong forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationMarch 3 (Reuters) - Shares of artificial intelligence-based (AI) product makers zoomed in premarket trade, as a strong forecast by retail investor darling C3.ai Inc (AI.N) amplified an ongoing euphoria driven by the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT. C3.a1 forecast a better-than-expected revenue and profit for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023, after the AI software company posted third-quarter results that topped Wall Street estimates. Shares of C3.ai climbed 16.14% to $24.73 before the bell, and were among the top five stocks trending on StockTwits. Other major AI stocks with strong premarket moves included business support supplier Steelcase Inc (SCS.N), BigBear.ai (BBAI.N), conversation intelligence firm SoundHound AI (SOUN.O) and Thailand's security firm Guardforce AI (GFAI.O), jumping between 5.4% and 12%. AI firms have been at the forefront of retail buying ever since Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) investment in OpenAI's ChatGPT.

☆ Salesforce shares climb as growth forecast, buyback plan appease investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 2 (Reuters) - Shares of Salesforce Inc (CRM.N) jumped 15% in premarket trade on Thursday after the cloud-based software provider's revenue forecast eased concerns about slowing growth and its move to double its share repurchase to $20 billion appeased investors. Still, Salesforce's first-quarter revenue forecast implied growth of 10%, higher than analysts' estimates of 9%. Other activist investors with a stake in Salesforce include Starboard Value, Inclusive Capital Partners and ValueAct Capital. They have pushed for higher growth and margins, more share buybacks and raised concerns about recent acquisitions. Shares of Salesforce have advanced 26% this year through Wednesday's close, compared with a near 3% gain in the benchmark S&P 500 index (.SPX).

☆ Wall St dips as Treasury yields rise after auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"With Treasury yields higher, it becomes a legitimate alternative to equities," said Michael Rosen, chief investment officer at Angeles Investments. Weighing on the S&P 500 (.SPX) and Nasdaq (.IXIC) indexes, Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) extended losses from the previous session to fall 4.7%. All 11 S&P 500 sectors posted losses. More than half of the S&P 500 companies have reported quarterly earnings so far, and 69% of them have beaten estimates, according to Refinitiv data. The S&P 500 posted 15 new 52-week highs and one new low; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 75 new highs and 57 new lows.

☆ Wall St dips as Treasury yields rise; Disney hits 5-month high
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. 30-year Treasury yield rose after an auction in the early afternoon, while the yield curve between two-year and 10-year notes widened earlier. Weighing on the S&P 500 (.SPX) and Nasdaq (.IXIC) indexes, Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) extended losses from the previous session to fall 5.2179%. The S&P 500 communication services sector (.SPLRCL) sank 2.86%. More than half of the S&P 500 companies have reported quarterly earnings so far, and 69% of them have beaten estimates, according to Refinitiv data. The S&P 500 posted 15 new 52-week highs and one new low; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 69 new highs and 41 new lows.

The data tentatively eased concerns about the Federal Reserve's rate-hike path after a strong January employment report rattled markets last week. Weighing on the S&P 500 (.SPX) and Nasdaq (.IXIC) indexes, Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) extended losses from the previous session to fall 5.6%. The S&P 500 communication services sector (.SPLRCL) sank 2.6%, while Alphabet shares eyed their worst weekly performance since November. Ralph Lauren Corp (RL.N) gained 1.2% after beating quarterly sales expectations, while peer Tapestry Inc (TPR.N) soared 5.4% on a strong annual profit forecast. More than half of the S&P 500 companies have reported quarterly earnings so far, and 69% of them have beaten estimates, according to Refinitiv data.

Futures got a lift after data showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 196,000 for the week ended Feb. 4. The data comes on the heels of a strong January employment report that rattled markets last week. "There are so many companies that are laying off people and that eventually is going to weaken the job market. ET, Dow e-minis were up 213 points, or 0.63%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 33 points, or 0.8%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 160.5 points, or 1.28%. Ralph Lauren Corp (RL.N) gained 2.4% after beating quarterly revenue expectations on resilient demand for its high-end clothing and accessories.

Investor sentiment was further boosted after data showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 196,000 last week, above a forecast of 190,000 claims. The data comes on the heels of a strong January employment report that rattled markets last week. Of more than half of the S&P 500 companies that have reported fourth-quarter earnings so far, 69% have topped estimates, as per Refinitiv data. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 3.03-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 2.17-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded 14 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 49 new highs and 20 new lows.

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