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☆ Accident or sabotage? American and European officials disagree as key undersea cables are cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Investigators are trying to crack the mystery of how two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea were cut within hours of each other, with European officials saying they believe the disruption was an act of sabotage and US officials suggesting it was likely an accident. The two cables – the BCS East-West connecting Lithuanian and Sweden and the C-Lion1 linking Finland with Germany – were suddenly disrupted on Sunday and Monday. And the disruption to the cables came just weeks after the US warned that Moscow was likely to target critical undersea infrastructure. Instead, the two officials told CNN they believed it likely caused by an anchor drag from a passing vessel. The Chinese-flagged ship Yi Peng 3 was spotted in the area around the times the two cables were cut.

Persons: Germany –, Boris Pistorius, “, ”, Yi Peng, Lin Jian, China “ Organizations: CNN —, BCS, Germany’s, Europe, CNN, Wednesday, Swedish, Administration, Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, Danish Armed Forces Locations: Baltic, Lithuanian, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia, Moscow, particuar, Ust, Luga, Yi, China

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s consistent campaign pledge to impose sweeping tariffs on products imported into the U.S. is likely to face stiff challenges in court and potentially pushback from Congress. There are potential legal limits to Trump’s authority, even though he has said he would unilaterally impose the increases. But a broad array of tariffs on allies “could cross the line,” especially as the Supreme Court has taken a generally pro-business stance in recent years, he added. During the Biden administration, the Supreme Court embraced a theory called the “major questions doctrine.” Biden’s ambitious plan to wipe out billions of dollars in student debt was one of the proposals the Supreme Court faulted. The Supreme Court declined to take up the issue.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, he’s, Joe Biden, ”, Alan Morrison, “, ” Morrison, ‘, ” Trump, Ed Brzytwa, Brzytwa, Sen, Rand Paul, Rick Scott, ” Scott, Petros Mavroidis, ’, Jennifer Hillman, Hillman, Biden, Matt Priest, “ We’ll, ” Priest Organizations: WASHINGTON, China . Industry, George Washington University Law School, Chicago Economic Club, National Bureau of Economic Research, Federal Reserve Board, Consumer Technology Association, “ Consumers, CTA, Fox News, Sunday, Republicans, Columbia Law School, Georgetown Law Center, of International Trade, Trump, Appeals, Federal Circuit, Supreme, Federal Communications, Federal Energy Administration, Footwear Distributors, Retailers of America Locations: U.S, Congress, China, United States, Ky, Canada

☆ China retail sales beat forecasts in October while real estate slump worsens
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China's retail sales rose more than expected in October, while industrial production and investment data missed forecasts as the real estate drag worsened. Industrial production rose by 5.3% in October from a year ago, missing expectations of 5.6% growth. Investment in real estate for the January to October period fell by 10.3% from a year ago, steeper than the 10.1% drop seen in the January to September period. While infrastructure and manufacturing investments picked up slightly in the year-to-date period as of October, versus that of September. The central bank has cut interest rates and extended existing real estate support.

Organizations: Retail, National Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Finance Locations: Shanghai, BEIJING

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Powell’s comments gave investors a reality check
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Breaking from Wall Street, Asia-Pacific stocks mostly rose on Friday. On a quarterly basis, GDP rose 0.2%, in line with estimates from a Reuters poll, but that's lower than the second quarter's 0.5% increase. China retail sales pick back upChina's retail sales in October rose 4.8% year on year, reported the National Bureau of Statistics.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell Organizations: US Federal Reserve, Music, Fair, CNBC, Trump, Nikkei, CSI, U.S . Federal, National Bureau of Statistics, Nvidia, Citi Locations: Dallas , Texas, Street, Asia, Pacific, China

☆ China consumer prices rise slowest in 4 months, despite stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

People purchasing fruit at an agricultural trade market on May 11, 2024 in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province of China. China's consumer prices rose at the slowest pace in four months in October while producer price deflation deepened, data showed on Saturday, even as Beijing doubled down on stimulus to support the sputtering economy. Analysts say the package will likely do little to boost economic activity, demand and prices in the near term. However, core inflation, excluding volatile food and fuel prices, rose 0.2% in October, accelerating from 0.1% in September. China's central bank in late September unveiled the most aggressive monetary support measures since the COVID-19 pandemic to revive economic growth.

Persons: Bruce Pang Organizations: National Bureau, Statistics, JLL Locations: Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, Beijing, China's

To lower housing costs, Trump has said he would allow homes to be built on federally protected land, something that could help increase the supply of homes in places like Nevada and Arizona. TaxesTrump has proposed a number of tax cuts, including a complete elimination of the federal income tax. Those cuts lowered the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%, reduced individual income tax rates, and increased the standard deduction. That could create havoc for workers and consumers and reduce the amount of income taxes the federal government brings in. About 40% of Social Security recipients pay federal income taxes, typically because they have other sources of income that raise them above a certain threshold where they are required to pay income tax, according to the Social Security Administration.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, ” Trump, “, Decker, Matt Priest, ”, Priest, It’s, He’s, hasn’t, Immigration Trump, Jim Tobin, Trump’s Organizations: Trump, Chicago Economic, Companies, National Bureau of Economic Research, Footwear Distributors, Retailers, U.S, Federal Reserve, Immigration, Business, Pew Research Center, NBC News, National Association of Home Builders, NBC, University of New, University of Pennsylvania, Social Security, Social, Social Security Administration Locations: U.S, China, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, Saudi Arabia, Russia, University of New Hampshire

☆ Russia's defense sector is running on overdrive — but firms are warning of bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Defense firms are busy — but high inflation and interest rates past 20% have left them struggling. AdvertisementIn Russia's defense sector, demand is surging — but its companies are struggling all the same. Rising interest rates and export bans were eroding Russian defense companies' profits across the board, they said, making the Russian state the only guarantor of revenues. Sheremeta described the situation as a "death spiral," where war spending begets more inflation, which requires more war spending. "If some defense companies cannot fulfill their obligations, the Kremlin can simply nationalize them," Sheremeta said.

Persons: —, Sergei Chemezov, Roman Sheremeta, Sheremeta, Daniel Treisman, Korhonen, Julian Cooper, Konstantin Sonin, Sonin Organizations: Service, Rostec, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Bloomberg, University of California, National Bureau of Economic Research, Central Bank, Bank of Finland Institute, Emerging, Centre for Russian, East European Studies, University of Birmingham, University of Chicago Harris School of Public, Project Syndicate Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Los Angeles

☆ Asia markets set for mixed open ahead of Bank of Japan decision, China factory activity figures
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Kazuo Ueda, governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ), speaks during a news conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo, JapanAsia-Pacific markets are set for a mixed open on Thursday as investors look to the Bank of Japan's rate decision, as well as key business activity figures from China. Economists polled by Reuters expect the BOJ will hold rates at 0.25%, although the statement will be parsed for any clues on the timing of its next rate hike. In China, the National Bureau of Statistics is set to release the country's official purchasing managers index numbers for September, with the manufacturing PMI forecast to come in at 49.9, a softer contraction than the 49.8 the month before. Still, that would be the sixth straight month of contraction for the country's manufacturing sector.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Bank of Japan, Bank of, Reuters, National Bureau, Statistics Locations: Tokyo, Japan Asia, Pacific, China

☆ China's factory activity expands for the first time since April, official survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China's official purchasing managers' index for October came in at 50.1, in expansionary territory for the first time since April, according to National Bureau of Statistics data released Thursday. The last time the PMI was above the 50-point line that determines contraction from activity was in April, with a reading of 50.4. Raw materials inventory ticked up to 48.2, still in contraction territory, along with employment at 48.4, which was mildly better than the prior month. The statistics bureau's PMI for non-manufacturing activity rose to 50.2 in October. The employment portion of the non-manufacturing PMI climbed by 1.1 percentage points to 45.8.

Organizations: BEIJING, National Bureau, Statistics, PMI

After months of incremental measures, Chinese President Xi Jinping in late September led a top-level meeting that vowed to "halt the real estate market decline." Earlier this month, the Finance Ministry introduced more measures aimed at stabilizing the real estate sector. Property sales and new home construction are unlikely to stabilize until 2027, Goldman forecast. watch nowS&P Global Ratings and Morgan Stanley this month also published reports forecasting China's real estate market will bottom in the second half of 2025. China's latest efforts to bolster confidence have given the real estate market a lift.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Morgan Stanley, Edward Chan, Nomura Organizations: China Vanke Co, Bloomberg, Getty, Finance Ministry, Goldman, China Index Academy, P Global, National Bureau of Statistics Locations: China, Hefei, Beijing

☆ China's industrial profits plunge at fastest pace since the pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Anniek Bao | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China's industrial profits in September dropped at its fastest pace since the pandemic, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed, as the country tussles with an economy plagued by slow growth, lack of demand and a property crisis. After a 17.8% fall in August, industrial profits declined 27.1% in September from a year ago, marking the steepest plunge since March 2020, when it dropped by 34.9%, according to data kept by Wind Information. In the first nine months, industrial profits fell by 3.5% from a year ago. NBS statistician Yu Weining said "insufficient demand and a sharp decline in producer prices" weighed down the profitability of industrial firms. Gary Ng, senior economist at Natixis, said in an email to CNBC that "the weakness of industrial profits indicates China's greater need for demand-side policies."

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Hui Shan, Yu Weining, Gary Ng Organizations: National Bureau, Statistics, Information, People's, CNBC, Reuters, PMI Locations: Jiangxi Province, Shanghai, China, Beijing

☆ How America's Economy Managed to Avoid Recession, Job Market Disaster
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Neil Dutta | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

AdvertisementWe're not in a recessionTo determine whether the economy is in recession, it helps to first define the term. Sure, the yearlong payrolls were adjusted down, but the story has largely been the same: This is a cooling but not collapsing labor market. Despite the 50-basis-point interest-rate cut by Chairman Jerome Powell and the rest of the Fed, there's evidence of additional slowing in the labor market. Since the rate cut, I've grown more confident that it will act in the face of weaker employment data. If the labor market deteriorates and the unemployment rate increases, we ought not to rule out another 50-basis-point move.

Persons: We're, —, Jerome Powell, there's, Powell, Stocks Organizations: Federal, National Bureau of Economic Research, Social Security, Conference Locations: America

☆ Why Everyone Is Still Mad About Inflation, High Prices: Salary Fights
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Aki Ito | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ever since 2022, when inflation hit a 40-year high of 9%, Americans have been pissed off about the economy. Traditionally, economists (being economists) have focused on the economic costs of inflation — i.e., are price increases wiping out everyone's annual raise? In a normal economy, the small raises companies give are enough to offset the minimal inflation we typically see. In a survey of 3,000 workers, researchers found that most — a whopping 79% — just accepted the salary they were offered. AdvertisementBut now, poring over the new study, I realize I overlooked the role inflation has played in reshaping the pandemic-era workplace.

Persons: Donald Trump, didn't, —, I've, Will, we're, Aki Ito Organizations: Pew Research Center, National Bureau of Economic Research, Business Locations: American

☆ China's youth unemployment rate falls after climbing for two straight months
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A person rides a bicycle with a child sitting in the basket in Beijing, China July 14, 2024. The jobless rate for 16-to-24-year olds in China, excluding students, fell to 17.6% in September from 18.8% a month prior, official data showed on Tuesday, offering officials relief after youth unemployment hit fresh highs for two straight months. Youth unemployment hit a record high of 21.3% in June last year, prompting China to halt publication of the closely watched benchmark until that change was made. But a separate official survey on factory owners' confidence for September showed that firms continued to hold off on hiring last month. The rate last month for 25-to-29-year olds was 6.7%, and also excluded college students, and 3.9% for people between 30 and 59 years of age.

Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Producers Locations: Beijing, China

☆ Analysts pick winners from China stimulus measures
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Now that China's key ministers have spoken on stimulus, analysts have narrowed down the stocks likely to benefit. Chinese stocks have tempered their recent rally as investors await more policy details. Beyond interest rate cuts, the most tangible Chinese stimulus policies include subsidies to boost consumption with a trade-in program, along with incremental property market support. They screened for mainland-traded Chinese stocks with relatively high dividend yields and strong cash flow. While Chinese property developers may not bounce back right away, HSBC analysts expect construction software company Glodon, listed in Shenzhen, can benefit from property market stabilization.

Persons: David Chao, Morgan Stanley, Morgan, Ni Hong, Edward Chan Organizations: Asia Pacific, Aluminum Corp, Cement, HSBC, National Bureau of Statistics Locations: Japan, Invesco, Hong Kong, Anhui, Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai

☆ China launches survey to understand ‘fear of having children’
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-19 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

China’s National Health Commission (NHC) is surveying 30,000 people to understand factors influencing their attitudes towards childbearing and the “fear surrounding having children”, as authorities struggle to boost a flagging birthrate. The survey will include people from 150 counties in China and 1,500 different communities, the state-backed Global Times said late on Thursday, citing the China Population and Development Research Center, which falls under the NHC. Beijing is trying to encourage young couples to have children after China posted a second consecutive year of population decline in 2023. The survey aims to analyze “reluctance and fear surrounding having children” and ultimately provide fertility support and incentive measures, the newspaper said. It comes after China’s National Bureau of Statistics said it will conduct a nationwide sample survey from Oct. 10-Nov. 30 to monitor population changes.

Persons: ” Organizations: Health Commission, Global Times, Development Research Center, NHC, National Bureau of Statistics Locations: China, Beijing

China’s National Bureau of Statistics on Friday reported third-quarter GDP growth of 4.6% year on year, slightly exceeding the 4.5% expected by economists polled by Reuters. “The national economy showed positive signs of growth in September,” Sheng Laiyun, the bureau’s deputy commissioner, said at the news conference, according to CNBC’s translation of the Chinese. Other data also released on Friday, such as retail sales and industrial production, also beat expectations, a hopeful sign for the world’s second-largest economy. “Despite the multitude of challenges, China’s economy is not incurable as some would suggest,” Xu added. Authorities continued to dip feed more stimulus measures throughout this month amid low consumer sentiment and a flagging property sector.

Persons: ” Sheng Laiyun, ”, Tianchen Xu, ” Xu, Finance Lan Organizations: China’s National Bureau, Statistics, Reuters, Economist Intelligence Unit, China’s, Finance, Ministry Locations: China’s, Beijing

☆ CNBC Daily Open: China posts better-than-expected economic data
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Better-than-expected growth for ChinaChina's third-quarter gross domestic product expanded by 4.6% year on year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Chinese and U.S. retail sales going strongChina's retail sales for September grew 3.2% from a year ago, said the National Bureau of Statistics. Across the Pacific Ocean, retail sales in the U.S. rose a seasonally adjusted 0.4% for September.

Persons: Dow Jones, Pat Gelsinger, Altera Organizations: CNBC, China, National Bureau of Statistics, Dow, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Intel, U.S . Federal Reserve Locations: U.S, Asia, Pacific, Shanghai

China's National Bureau of Statistics on Friday reported third-quarter GDP growth of 4.6% year on year, slightly exceeding the 4.5% expected by economists polled by Reuters. "The national economy showed positive signs of growth in September," Sheng Laiyun, the bureau's deputy commissioner, said at the press conference, according to CNBC's translation of the Chinese. Other data also released on Friday, such as retail sales and industrial production, had also beat expectations, a hopeful sign for the world's second largest economy. Beijing has faced growing public scrutiny over its ability to meet its own annual growth target of "around 5%." Amid low consumer sentiment and a flagging property sector, the Chinese government has intensified stimulus measures in recent weeks in an effort to boost its lackluster economy.

Persons: Sheng Laiyun, Tianchen Xu Organizations: National Bureau, Statistics, Reuters, Economist Intelligence Unit Locations: China, Beijing

☆ China reports better-than-expected retail sales and industrial production data
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Christine Wang | In Christinejwang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China on Friday reported better-than-expected retail sales and industrial production for September. Retail sales grew 3.2% from a year ago, better than the 2.5% growth estimated by analysts in an LSEG poll, the National Bureau of Statistics said. Meanwhile, industrial production expanded 5.4% in September from a year ago, more than the 4.5% expected by analysts. He noted that year-to-date retail sales data showed "cautious sentiment among consumers." From January to September, retail sales grew 3.35%, nearly same as the growth reported for January through August at 3.36%.

Persons: Gary Ng, Ng, —, Bao Organizations: Costco, National Bureau of Statistics, Natixis, Investors Locations: Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China . China, China, Beijing, Covid

☆ Why some families will pay $500,000 for Ivy League admissions consulting: 'It’s worth the investment'
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Loop Images | Getty ImagesAt the nation's top schools, including many in the Ivy League, acceptance rates hover near all-time lows. For those willing to pay for a four-year, private college, it should be worthwhile, the sentiment often goes. To get into this elite group of schools, many families look for outside help to get a leg up. The vast majority of students come from New York City private schools with household incomes over $1,500,000 according to Howell's account. However, the wealthiest students hailing form the country's top private schools are primarily competing amongst themselves as schools look to build a diversified class.

Persons: Thomas Howell, Howell, Ivy League — Brown, Hafeez Lakhani, Lakhani, they've, Christopher Rim, Covid, — Organizations: Ivy League, Princeton University, Forum Education, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Yale, University of Chicago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford, Finance, Navy, Command, Rim, Command Education, Test, Christopher, Education, National Association for College, Counseling, National Bureau of Economic Research Locations: York, Columbia, Princeton, Duke, New York, New York City

☆ China pledges more financial support for 'whitelist' real estate projects
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Anniek Bao | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

China vowed more financial support for real estate projects that fall under its so-called whitelist and to speed up banks lending of 4 trillion yuan ($561.8 billion) for such projects, according to the nation's housing ministry. A total of 2.23 trillion yuan has been approved in loans to whitelisted developers, and that figure is expected to exceed 4 trillion yuan by the end of this year, according to a senior official from the financial regulator. Real estate was also the leading gainer in Mainland China's CSI 300, advancing by nearly 5%. Days later, officials in a top-level meeting, chaired by Chinese president Xi Jinping, pledged to "halt the real estate market decline and spur a stable recovery." More than 50 cities across China had introduced policies to boost the real estate market, according to Chinese state media citing the housing ministry.

Persons: Ni, HSMPI, Pan Gongsheng, Xi Jinping, Goldman Sachs, —, — CNBC's Evelyn Cheng Organizations: National Financial Regulatory Administration, Investors, China's Ministry of Finance, Mainland, China's CSI, People Bank of China, National Bureau, Statistics Locations: China, Beijing, China's, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Oil prices fall by more than $1 on deflation worries in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices fell by more than $1 a barrel, losing over 1.5% in early trading on Monday, after disappointing Chinese inflation data and a lack of clarity on Beijing's economic stimulus plans stoked fears about demand. In the U.S. market, energy firms last week added oil and natural gas rigs for the first time in four weeks, according to a closely followed report by energy services firm Baker Hughes. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by one to 586 in the week to Oct. 11. The impact of Hurricane Milton boosted short-term demand in the U.S. as evacuations supported gasoline consumption, but weak demand dominated the fundamentals outlook. Oil major BP posted a $600 million drop in its third-quarter profit on Friday because of weak refining margins amid a slowdown in global oil use.

Persons: Tony Sycamore, Baker Hughes, Hurricane Milton Organizations: Brent, U.S . West Texas, National Bureau of Statistics, China Ministry of Finance Locations: U.S, China, Beijing, East, Florida, The U.S, Iran, Israel, Hurricane

☆ China's consumer inflation cools in September, PPI deflation deepens
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

China's consumer inflation rate fell in September, while producer price deflation deepened, even as Beijing rolls out more stimulus measures in a bid to revive flagging demand and shaky economic activity. The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.4% from a year earlier last month, against a 0.6% rise in August, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Sunday, missing a 0.6% increase forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. CPI was unchanged month-on-month, versus a 0.4% gain in August and below an estimated 0.4% increase. The producer price index (PPI) fell 2.8% year-on-year in September, versus a 1.8% decline the previous month and below an expected 2.5% decline.

Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, CPI Locations: Beijing

☆ Chinese finance minister hints at increasing the deficit at highly anticipated briefing
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-12 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING — China's Minister of Finance Lan Fo'an told reporters Saturday during a press briefing that the central government has room to increase debt and the deficit. Economists have said China needs additional fiscal support, but Beijing has yet to announce any. He did not name specific figures and noted supporting real estate required multiple policies. In a meeting in late September, led by Chinese President Xi Jinping, authorities had called for strengthening monetary and fiscal policy support. China's retail sales grew only modestly over the last few months, and the country's real estate slump has shown few signs of turning around.

Persons: Lan Fo'an, Zheng Shanjie, Pan Gongsheng, Finance Lan Fo'an, Lan, Finance Liao Min, Xi Jinping, Ting Lu Organizations: National Development, Reform Commission, People's Bank of China, National People's Congress, BEIJING —, Finance, Nomura, National Bureau, Statistics Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING

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