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☆ China's industrial profits post faster gains in June despite faltering economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China's industrial profits grew at a faster clip in June, official data showed on Saturday, even as businesses were grappling with a downshift in consumers' sentiment amid a shaky economic recovery. A 3.6% year-on-year rise in profits last month followed a 0.7% gain in May, while first-half earnings were up 3.5%, accelerating from a 3.4% increase in the January-May period, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showed. Roughly half of more than 10 mainland-listed alcoholic beverage firms that had released forecasts for H1 earnings expected a loss-making first half. State-owned firms reported profits up 0.3% in the first half, foreign firms recorded an 11% gain, while private-sector companies booked a 6.8% rise, according to a breakdown of the NBS data. Industrial profit numbers cover firms with annual revenues of at least 20 million yuan ($2.75 million) from their main operations.

Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Nvidia Locations: Lujiazui, Shanghai, China, Suzhou

☆ Here's how much it can cost a family of four to live across 10 major Asian cities
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Ernestine Siu | In Ernestinesiu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Living in a major city can come with a hefty price tag, so it's best to be informed before you make that big move. In Asia, Hong Kong and Singapore top the list for cost of living. A family of four can expect to spend an estimated $9,000 a month to live in one of these cities, according to Numbeo, an online database of user-contributed information. Singapore also saw a "rocketing increase" in its housing rentals from 2022, however, prices have begun to stabilize in recent months, said Ma. Here's a broader look at how much it costs for a family of four to live across 10 major cities in Asia, according to data by Numbeo:

Persons: Tracey Ma, APAC, Hong Kong, Ma Organizations: Mercer, CNBC, Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mercer, Hong, Ma, Singapore's

☆ Singapore is considered one of the best-designed cities in the world. The man who masterminded it has 2 regrets.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Read previewTowering skyscrapers, candy-colored public housing apartment blocks, and lush green spaces — Singapore has long been recognized for its meticulous urban planning. AdvertisementCreating bicycle paths for the city"When I was in the HDB, I raised the issue of planning bicycle paths for citizens," Liu told Business Insider. Liu says he wishes he had developed bike sections for roads and incorporated bicycle paths into streets. Related storiesAdditionally, bicycle paths can boost local economies, as cyclists are more likely to stop at local businesses, he said. fiftymm99Indeed, Singapore's public housing apartments are home to about 80% of the country's resident population today.

Persons: —, Liu Thai Ker, who's, Liu, Thomas Schroepfer, Schroepfer, John Pratt, Rita Padawangi, Taro Hama Organizations: Service, Business, Morrow Architects, Planners, Housing Development Board, Urban Redevelopment Authority, The Straits Times, Singapore University of Technology, Design, Ministry of National Development, Keystone, Singapore University of Social Sciences Locations: Singapore, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Singapore's, Sands, Ubin, Pulau Ubin, kamakura

☆ Florida's housing market is seeing 'nightmare scenarios' as buyers back out due to affordability concerns, Redfin says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Florida's housing market is seeing a wave of buyers get cold feet. In June, 21% of home purchase agreements fell through in Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa, Redfin found. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementFlorida's housing market is facing a wave of "nightmare scenarios," with a growing number of home deals falling through as buyers get cold feet. In key metros like Orlando, Florida, and Tampa, around 21% of home-purchase agreements were cancelled in June, according to data from Redfin.

Persons: Redfin, — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Orlando , Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando , Florida, Redfin

☆ At the first Olympic Village 100 years ago, athletes slept in wooden huts and drank wine twice a day. See what it was like to stay there.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Lydia Warren | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

When Paris hosted the Olympics in 1924, it was the first time athletes stayed together in a village. The Olympic Village made its debut at the 1924 Paris Olympics. Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesBefore 1924, delegations stayed in hotels, military buildings, or with local families in host cities, according to the Olympics Studies Centre. "A contract has to be formed and charges have to be fixed each time," the IOC said. The organizers of the 1924 Paris Olympics also believed housing athletes together had benefits beyond logistics and cost.

Persons: Frantz Reichel Organizations: Paris, Hulton, Olympics Studies, International Olympic Committee, Asian Social, Canadian Center of Science, IOC, Paris Games

☆ A Test for Harris: How to Talk About the Green New Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Lisa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But one past action stands out as something that could be both an asset to Ms. Harris as well as an albatross. As a senator in 2019, Ms. Harris cosponsored the Green New Deal, a nonbinding resolution that was centered around the idea that addressing climate change required significant changes in the economy. It called for converting the electric grid to 100 percent clean energy this decade, declared clean air, clean water and healthy food to be basic human rights. Ms. Harris joined them. “I am supporting the Green New Deal,” she said to thunderous applause.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Edward J, Markey, Alexandria Ocasio, Ms, “, ” Organizations: White, Green, Green New Deal, Democratic Locations: Europe, United States, Massachusetts, Cortez, New York, New Hampshire

☆ A $1 million starter home is now the norm in more than 200 US cities
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A Thursday report from Zillow indicates that a typical starter home is now worth $1 million or more in 237 cities, up from 84 cities in 2019, underscoring America’s ongoing home affordability crisis. “We see the largest number of million-dollar starter homes in expensive coastal markets. To further complicate things for first-time buyers, the value of starter homes has grown at a faster pace than the average home. According to Zillow, starter home values have grown 54.1% over the past five years, while the average US home has increased by 49.1%. The nationwide average price tag for a starter home is $196,611, according to Zillow.

Persons: underscoring, ” Orphe, “, It’s, homebuyer, Zillow, Jeffrey Jenkins, Divounguy, “ That’s, ”, Lawrence Yun Organizations: CNN, Gallup, National Association of Realtors, University of Southern Locations: Zillow, California , New York, New Jersey, University of Southern California, United States

☆ Fed’s key inflation gauge rose 2.5% in June from a year ago, in line with expectations
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Fed officials use the PCE measure as their main baseline to gauge inflation, which continues to run above the central bank's 2% long-range target. An important gauge for the Federal Reserve showed inflation eased slightly from a year ago in June, helping to open the way for a widely anticipated September interest rate cut. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, showed a monthly increase of 0.2% and 2.6% on the year, both also in line with expectations. Goods prices fell 0.2% on the month, while services increased 0.2%. The report also indicated that personal income rose just 0.2%, below the 0.4% estimate.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: Commerce Department, Federal Reserve, Fed

The summer is usually a peak time for the housing market, but rising prices and still-high mortgage rates have kept demand relatively low. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage Refinance Rates TodayMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's interest rates will affect your monthly payments. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesLast week's average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.78%, according to Freddie Mac. Mortgage rates increased dramatically over the last two years, but they're expected to go down at some point this year.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's, you'll, it's Organizations: Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors, Zillow Locations: Chevron

☆ The stock market is gearing up for its rate cut era
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Data Thursday showed the economy expanded at a robust 2.8% annualized rate during the second quarter, blowing past economists’ expectations. While the Fed has penciled in just one rate cut for this year, traders are betting on up to three, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. While the market was broadly higher on Friday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq on Wednesday logged their worst daily performances since 2022. Shares of smaller companies tend to perform poorly when rates are high, since they have more floating rate debt than their larger counterparts. Investors are also picking at other areas of the market poised to gain when rates come down.

Persons: —, Dow, Russell, Stephen Lee Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Big Tech, Nasdaq, MRB Partners, YouTube, Logan Capital Locations: New York

☆ 7 in-demand jobs companies are hiring for—some are remote and pay over $100,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Fewer people are quitting their jobs, and recent college graduates are having a hard time breaking into the market. Hiring might have fallen beneath its pre-pandemic levels, but there are still dozens of jobs companies are desperate to fill, according to new research from Indeed. "With that said, I'd say these jobs are the most 'slept' on or overlooked." For job seekers looking for flexibility, all of the roles offer hybrid or remote opportunities. "While the labor market can seem daunting right now, there are still numerous opportunities for job seekers and the outlook is still positive," Davis adds.

Persons: Gabrielle Davis, Davis Organizations: CNBC

☆ Inflation is inching closer toward the Fed’s 2% target
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Yet another favorable piece of economic data shows that price hikes are slowing and that long-unruly inflation appears to be tamed. On a monthly basis, the price index increased by 0.1%, also landing in line with expectations. Falling energy prices, which dropped 2.1% from May, continued to help put a damper on overall inflation in June, as did goods prices, which dropped 0.2%. Food and services inflation increased just 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively, for the month. Taking inflation out of the equation, real spending was still up for the month, rising 0.2%.

Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, Commerce Department, Commerce

☆ Stock market today: Indexes rebound as inflation data reinforces Fed rate-cut bets
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementUS stocks rose Friday morning, regaining momentum after three days of losses. Instead, investors indicated 87.7% odds of a 25-basis point cut, and 11.9% odds of a 50-basis point cut. This week, creeping doubt in large-cap tech stocks rally spurred investors to rotate out of the sector, pulling both indexes down 3.67% and 2.6% through the past week, respectively.

Persons: —, Fitch, Olu Sonola Organizations: Nasdaq, Service, PCE, Federal, Treasury Locations: Here's

☆ LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault says Olympics sponsorship honors the spirit of France
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Jacqueline Corba | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

For the first time a luxury brand is an Olympic sponsor. And it's not just one brand, it's the empire of LVMH . LVMH's sponsorship deal took a year of negotiations and ultimately landed at about $160 million of investment from the parent company of brands like Celine, Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Tiffany, TAG Heuer and Dom Perignon. Housing the medals are trunks made by LVMH brand Louis Vuitton. It's to show the spirit, the spirit of our group and the spirit of the country," said Arnault.

Persons: Bernard Arnault, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Celine, Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Tiffany, Dom Perignon, LVMH, Hennessy, LVMH's Berluti, It's Organizations: Olympic, Dior's, TAG Heuer, Olympic Games, Louis Locations: Paris

“This will be the first Olympics, since Sydney, where the total costs are coming in under $10 billion,” said Victor Matheson, a College of the Holy Cross professor of economics who has researched the financial costs of the Olympics. Workmen adjust banners on the 3x3 basketball venue located at La Concorde, in Paris, ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. Additionally, the Paris Olympic Village will be converted into offices and housing in a historically impoverished neighborhood. Still, economists say, it may take more drastic moves in the future for the Olympics to be truly sustainable and economically sound. “I love the Olympics, and I love sporting events, but I just really do not think that the way the Olympics works now is a viable business model,” Phalin said.

Persons: ”, Victor Matheson, “, “ It’s, David Gray, Andrew Zimbalist, ” Zimbalist, Michael Kappeler, it’ll, Fabrice Coffrini, Zimbalist, ‘, Amanda Phalin, Christian Petersen, I’m, ” Phalin, you’ve, it’s, Andrew Medichini, shuttlecocks, Matheson, Phalin Organizations: CNN, Olympic, Paralympic Games, Paris Games, of, IOC, La Concorde, Getty, Mexico City Games, Montreal Games, Smith College, Olympics, Oxford University, Audit Board, Tokyo, Eiffel, Paris, University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, Games, of Investment, Development Authority, French, ” Workers, Palais, AP Paris Locations: Paris, Sydney, La, AFP, Mexico, Munich, ” Los Angeles, Tehran, Beijing, Sochi, France, “, Lake Placid , New York, Lake Placid, ”, Los Angeles, Oklahoma

☆ Sales of $100 million homes set to double this year as trophy properties recover
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sales of $100 million homes are on track to double this year, as surging financial markets and hopes for rate cuts fuel a recovery in the ultra-luxury real estate market, according to new reports. As of July 15, six homes in the U.S. have sold for more than $100 million, according to data from Miller Samuel and Douglas Elliman. If the sales pace continues, it would more than double last year's total and likely eclipse the record of nine homes sold for over $100 million in 2021. But sales of homes priced at $50 million, $20 million and even $10 million are all signaling a strong rebound for the ultra-luxury real estate market after its decline in 2023. A penthouse at Central Park Tower — the tallest residential building in the world — closed for $115 million to an unknown buyer.

Persons: Robert Frank, Miller Samuel, Douglas Elliman, Jonathan Miller, Aman, Vladislav Doronin, Oakley, James Jannard Locations: U.S, Manhattan, York, Russian, Palm, Tarpon Island, California

☆ Defining a buyer's market 'is always a bit tricky,' real estate expert says: 4 signs to monitor
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Despite those headwinds, some indicators show the housing market is shifting away from a seller's market. That doesn't mean it's a buyer's market — yet: "The term buyer's market is always a bit tricky to work with," said Chen Zhao, the economic research lead at Redfin, an online real estate brokerage firm. There are "rules of thumb" to define a buyer's market, like having more than four months of supply, she said. "We're still nationwide somewhat in a seller's market, not a buyer's market yet," he said. Here are four signs that can help you recognize if the housing market in your area is more in buyers' favor: 1.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Chen Zhao, Zhao, they're, We're, Daryl Fairweather, Redfin, Julie Zubiate, Selma Hepp, Sellers Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, Federal, Zillow, CNBC, Finance, Sdi, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: U.S, Redfin, San Francisco Bay

☆ ‘A victory for generations to come:’ Puerto Rico bans hair discrimination
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

San Juan (AP) — Puerto Rico’s governor signed a law on Wednesday that prohibits discrimination against people wearing Afros, curls, locs, twists, braids and other hairstyles in the racially diverse U.S. territory. The move was celebrated by those who had long demanded explicit protection related to work, housing, education and public services. “It’s a victory for generations to come,” Welmo Romero Joseph, a community facilitator with the nonprofit Taller Salud, said in an interview. A bronze statue of San Juan Bautista stands in front the Capitol building flanked by U.S. and Puerto Rican flags, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where a ruling was made on Wednesday to ban hair discrimination. “Unfortunately, people identified as Black or Afro descendant in Puerto Rico still face derogatory treatment, deprivation of opportunities, marginalization, exclusion and all kinds of discrimination,” the law signed Wednesday states.

Persons: ” Welmo Romero Joseph, Romero, San Juan Bautista, Ricardo Arduengo, ”, ” Westend61 Organizations: Puerto Rico’s, Salud, Civil, U.S, Puerto, Census, Economic Policy Institute, U.S . House, Democratic Locations: Juan, Puerto, Alabama, San Juan, Puerto Rican, San Juan , Puerto Rico, U.S, Puerto Ricans, Puerto Rico, Texas

☆ Newsom Orders California Officials to Remove Homeless Encampments
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Shawn Hubler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Gavin Newsom ordered California state officials on Thursday to begin dismantling thousands of homeless encampments, the nation’s most sweeping response to a recent Supreme Court ruling that gave governments greater authority to remove homeless people from their streets. Homeless encampments have vexed California, where housing costs are among the nation’s highest, more than any other state. An estimated 180,000 people were homeless last year in California, and most of them were unsheltered. Unlike New York City, most jurisdictions in California do not guarantee a right to housing. Mr. Newsom, a Democrat, called on state and local leaders to “humanely remove encampments from public spaces” in an urgent manner, prioritizing those that most threaten health and safety.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom Organizations: New, Democrat, Democratic Locations: California, New York City

☆ Kamala Harris has supported affordable housing in the past. This refloated policy might benefit renters
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, July 22, 2024. The California Homeowner Bill of Rights became law on January 1, 2013. 'There's potential for a lot of good'The latest housing policies the Biden Administration has rolled out generally aim at increasing the supply of affordable housing and lowering costs for buyers and renters. Harris has been involved in Biden's housing policy-making, and it's likely that her campaign will carry on similar blueprints for housing, experts say. "Generally speaking, it does seem like affordable housing, zoning has been something that has been a talking point of hers for a while now," said Jacob Channel, a senior economist at LendingTree.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Ting Shen, Harris, Biden, Jacob Channel Organizations: White, Bloomberg, Getty, Treasury, PRO, U.S . Department of Housing, Urban, HUD, Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies, Biden Administration Locations: Washington , DC, California, U.S, America

☆ It may already be too late for the Fed to stop a recession, former central bank president says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"Although it might already be too late to fend off a recession by cutting rates, dawdling now unnecessarily increases the risk," the former New York Federal Reserve President said. But to Dudley, even this is too late, and central bankers would do better to pivot rates at next week's policy meeting. AdvertisementAccording to Dudley, this slowdown points to fewer jobs down the road, and an uptick in unemployment could set off a near-certain recession indicator: the Sahm Rule. Despite this, Dudley suggested that the Fed might not be as concerned about breaching the Sahm Rule as it should be. According to Dudley, there are two other reasons the Fed may be waiting for September to cut rates.

Persons: —, Bill Dudley, dawdling, Dudley, Jerome Powell, Claudia Sahm, I'm Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, New York Federal, Business, Fed Locations: Dudley

☆ The tough US housing market is hurting sales of big-ticket home appliances, Whirlpool says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Kelly Cloonan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A tough US housing market is weighing on sales of pricey home appliances. Appliance maker Whirlpool slashed guidance in its recent earnings release, citing weak housing market activity. AdvertisementThe US housing market is tough for buyers, and the slowdown in sales activity means Americans are spending a lot less on big, pricey appliances these days. In its latest earnings, Whirlpool cut its full-year outlook, adjusting annual earnings guidance to $12 a share, down from a range of $13-$15 as sales of big-ticket items slow. Whirlpool's North American major appliance sales fell 5.7% year-over-year, hurting earnings even as the segment's sales in Latin America and Asia grew by 11.3% and 19.7%, respectively.

Persons: — Organizations: Whirlpool, Service, Business Locations: American, America, Asia

☆ Parisian Airbnb hosts are raking it in this summer as hotels suffer
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Many will stay in the French capital's tens of thousands of hotel rooms, but many others are opting for short-term rentals, including Airbnbs. There are 44% more short-term rentals listed in Paris than there were last summer, according to AirDNA, a collector of industry data. The French capital had the fastest-growing short-term rental market in the EU over the last year, according to Lighthouse, a firm that analyzes the hotel market. National lawmakers are also poised to raise taxes on income from short-term rentals as a way to encourage homeowners to rent out their properties long-term. Airbnb, which dominates the short-term rental market in France, has leveraged the Olympics to expand its roster of hosts and guests in France.

Persons: —, Airbnb, Dave Stephenson, it's, AirDNA, RICCARDO MILANI, Blake Reiter, Reiter, they're, John van Hasselt, Anne Hidalgo, Hidalgo, wouldn't, " Reiter Organizations: Service, Olympic, Business, Games, City of, Getty, Time, Olympic Games Locations: Paris, That's, EU, France, City, Weeks

☆ A boomer living on $1,680 Social Security and SNAP struggles to afford food: 'It has kept me very isolated.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

What's more, her $23 in SNAP doesn't go very far at the grocery store — maybe it covers a few packages of frozen vegetables, a carton of milk, and some chicken. AdvertisementShe relies on her Social Security for income — an amount that comes out to $1,680 a month, according to documents viewed by BI. AdvertisementOn her limited income, Rita said she can feel lonely. Are you living paycheck to paycheck on Social Security? Have you chosen to take Social Security early or delay benefits?

Persons: —, Rita hasn't, Rita, She's, it's, wouldn't, hadn't, she's Organizations: Service, SNAP, Business, Social, BI, Income, Northwestern Mutual, Social Security, Security Locations: Pekin , Illinois, Chicago, Pekin

☆ U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% pace in the second quarter, much more than expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Real gross domestic product , a measure of all the goods and services produced during the April-through-June period, increased at a 2.8% annualized pace adjusted for seasonality and inflation. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for growth of 2.1% following a 1.4% increase in the first quarter. Economic activity in the U.S. was considerably stronger than expected during the second quarter, according to an initial estimate Thursday from the Commerce Department. The so-called chain-weighted price index, which takes into account changes in consumer behavior, increased 2.3% for the quarter, below the 2.6% estimate. There also is pressure in the housing market: Sales are declining while home prices continue to climb, putting pressure on first-time homebuyers.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: Commerce Department, Stock, Federal Reserve, Fed, Philadelphia Federal Locations: U.S

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