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☆ Olympic Ceremony Put a Changing France on Full Display
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Roger Cohen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A new France was consecrated Friday evening during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. When Aya Nakamura, a French Malian singer, came sashaying in a short fringed golden dress out of the august Académie Française, she redefined Frenchness. France’s most popular singer at home and abroad gyrated as she strode forth over the Pont des Arts in her laced golden gladiator sandals. Her confidence bordered on insolence, as if to say, “This, too, is France.”Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, had said that Ms. Nakamura sings in “who knows what” language. But her denunciation of the performance on the grounds that it would “humiliate” the French people failed to stop it.

Persons: Aya Nakamura, gyrated, strode, ”, Nakamura, “ Organizations: Olympic Games, Pont des Arts, Republican Guard Locations: France, French Malian

☆ Doused by Rain, Paris Opens Its Games With a Boat Party on the Seine
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Roger Cohen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In a blaze of French style blending history and artistic audacity, the Paris Olympic Games opened beneath plumes of blue, white and red smoke, as thousands of athletes defied a downpour to sail through the city’s heart, down the Seine toward the Eiffel Tower. Steady rain and rising security concerns could not deter the athletes from more than 200 delegations. They laughed, they danced and they waved national flags, some from the decks of converted sightseeing boats, in a ceremony dedicated to the theme of togetherness to heal a divided France and a fractured world. Lady Gaga, emerging from behind pink puffballs in a black bustier, performed in French. Cabaret artists can-canned on the riverbanks.

Persons: Lady Gaga, Aya Nakamura Organizations: Paris Olympic, Republican Guard Locations: France, French, Malian

☆ Miki Agrawal has moved on from Thinx. She hopes you have, too.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Claire Landsbaum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

Agrawal, a 45-year-old serial entrepreneur who founded the period-underwear company Thinx and the bidet startup Tushy, has always poured herself into her businesses. That July, Agrawal gave birth to her son, Hiro Happy Horn Agrawal. AdvertisementAfter leaving Thinx, Agrawal, pictured here in her Texas home, poured her energy into her bidet startup Tushy. Before Thinx, before Tushy, Agrawal was an analyst at Deutsche Bank, working in an office near the World Trade Center. In 2011, she cofounded period-underwear company Thinx with her twin sister, Radha, and a friend, Antonia Saint Dunbar.

Persons: Miki Agrawal, Agrawal, she's, We're, missteps she'd, Miki Agrawal Agrawal, Andrew Horn, Agrawal's, Horn, Instagram, she'd, Hiro Happy Horn Agrawal, Forbes, Tushy, they'd, Thinx, Ilana Panich, —, hadn't, they're, Richard Wolf, Radha, Antonia Saint Dunbar, Nicholas Hunt, undressed, wasn't, Shama Amalean Skinner, Amalean Skinner, Maria Molland Selby, welling, Miki, who's, Justin Allen, She'd, Hiro, Jason Ojalvo, Ojalvo, Horn —, Melissa Pruett, Pruett, Jessica Fern's, I've, exes, it's, wifedom, hummus —, Happie Hoffman, Austin, Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk's, Kimbal, Argawal Organizations: New York, Commission, Human Rights, Washington Post, CNBC, Business, Deutsche Bank, World Trade, New York Magic, Food Network, New York Magazine, Antonia Saint Dunbar ., Nike, Outfront Media, New, MTA, New York Times, Glamour, Amazon Locations: New, playa, Texas, Tribeca, West, Williamsburg, Park, America, Canada, Orlando, Thinx, Costa Rica, Horn, Oregon, Austin

The uneven nature of economic activity in turn makes it a challenge to assess the likely toll on emissions in the world's largest polluter. RIPPLE EFFECTIn addition to retail sales and factory output data, statistics on China's air travel volumes also offer a gauge on broader economic activity and emissions potential. In turn, greater emissions from both the airlines themselves as well as from China's world-leading refining sector can also be expected. China’s exports of an array of goods – from toys to diesel – are risingThe pace of some of those exports may slow over the near term if China's domestic demand improves and helps tighten producer inventories. But if greater output in China helps to depress goods prices, then international consumer demand can be expected to recover, which may further boost China's economic recovery, as well as the emissions that go with it.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Gavin Maguire, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, National Energy Administration, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wu'an, Hebei province, China, LITTLETON , Colorado, Beijing

☆ Investors flock to defensive stocks and safe havens on worries about Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Israel-Hamas war is sending investors in search of defensive assets. Israel declared war on Hamas Sunday after the Palestinian militant group launched a brutal attack that killed at least 1,300 people. But investors have since bought up shares of virtually risk-free government bonds, indicating that Wall Street remains worried. Utilities, energy and real estate stocks have also outperformed the broader S&P 500 index’s roughly 1% gain this week. In August, a recently passed EU law known as the Digital Services Act went into effect for large online platforms, including the companies Breton addressed this week.

Persons: ”, George Smith, Bryan Hinmon, Hinmon, hasn’t, TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, Thierry Breton, Brian Fung, Breton, ” Breton, TikTok didn’t, Anna Cooban, ” Russia’s, Andrei Belousov, Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, CNN, Stock, Treasury, LPL, Twitter, Meta, Digital Services Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine, Chew, Moscow

REUTERS/Beawiharta Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - London Metal Exchange (LME) stocks of tin have grown steadily over the summer months and have reached levels last seen in April 2020. Around half of the tin produced every year is used as a soldering material on circuit boards, linking usage to the fortunes of the consumer electronics sector. Global semiconductor sales from SIABOOM AND BUSTTin's fortunes are closely tied to the consumer electronics sector, which has experienced a remarkable boom-and-bust cycle over the last three years. That translated into a boom year for tin demand, usage growing by 7.6%, led by a 12.2% rise in the soldering sector, according to the International Tin Association. However, global semiconductor sales have registered small month-on-month increases since April and the year-on-year gap narrowed to 11.8% in July, according to the SIA.

Persons: Lockdowns, Boom, Barbara Lewis Organizations: PT Timah, REUTERS, London Metal Exchange, Shanghai Futures Exchange, SIA, Semiconductor, Semiconductor Industry Association, International Tin Association, World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, Wa State, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Mentok, Indonesian, Bangka, Myanmar, London, Shanghai, Wa, China

☆ IMF's Argentina predicament: Seek reforms and tango on or kill the music
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Jorgelina Do Rosario | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But that programme failed to put South America's second-largest economy back on its feet. Even if he wins the Oct. 22 election and takes power in December, Milei would need alliances in Congress to push through reforms and a new IMF programme - Argentina's 23rd. That effort paved the way for the $57 billion programme, which ultimately failed and was replaced by the current one. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsPREFERENTIAL TREATMENTThe current programme could end before its expiration in September 2024, but Argentina will still require funds. Without mentioning Argentina, the U.S. - holding the largest voting power in the Fund - recently raised its concerns.

Persons: Javier Milei, Agustin Marcarian, Mauricio Macri's, Mark Sobel, Milei, Sobel, Sergio Massa, Martin Muehleisen, Muehleisen, Nestor Kirchner, Stephen Nelson, Nelson, Walter Stoeppelwerth, Simon Quijano, Evans, Gemcorp Capital, Jay Shambaugh, Jorgelina, Karin Strohecker, Paul Simao Organizations: Argentine, La Libertad Avanza, REUTERS, IMF, International Monetary Fund, South, Peronist, Analysts, Graphics, Review Department, U.S ., Northwestern University, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Gletir SA, Gemcorp, Thomson Locations: La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Washington, U.S, Chicago, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Egypt, Burundi, Saharan Africa, Rosario

The hope can be seen in the domestic iron ore price, with contracts on the Dalian Commodity Exchange outperforming Singapore futures. There are also some fundamental supports for the iron ore price, most noticeably declining inventories at China's ports. In the same week last year, inventories were at 128.3 million metric tonnes, or 1.6% above the current level. China iron ore imports vs SGX price:SOFT ECONOMIC DATACountering the positive indicators for iron ore demand is a raft of underwhelming economic data that shows China's rebound after ending its strict zero-COVID policy in December has been uneven. The weak data may actually boost iron ore sentiment, as investors will expect further stimulus measures from Beijing.

Persons: SteelHome, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Dalian, Exchange, China Iron and Steel Association, National Bureau of Statistics, Retail, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Beijing, Singapore, Dalian, April's

☆ First quarter 'dash for cash' largest since early 2020 -BofA
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Flows into cash of $60.1 billion in the week to Wednesday were down from $142.9 billion the previous week, but the quarterly dash for cash was the biggest since the first quarter of 2020, BofA said on Friday, citing data from EPFR. Markets have gyrated wildly this month following the collapse of U.S. regional lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and Europe's Credit Suisse (CSGN.S). "Panic, flush, unwind, then Fed blinked and off we rally into April," BofA said in the report. If year-to-date inflows of $37.4 billion continue at the same pace through 2023, it would be the largest annual inflow on record. For the week to Wednesday, gold funds attracted a net $500 million, and bond funds a net $2.3 billion.

☆ Wall St ends sharply lower as Powell warns inflation fight continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The three major U.S. stock indexes, which were mostly directionless prior to the Fed announcement, jumped higher then deflated as investors digested the accompanying statement and Chair Jerome Powell's subsequent Q&A session. Worries persist that the Fed's aggressive battle against inflation could tip the economy into recession, and recent turmoil in the banking sector, sparked by failures of SVB Financial Group (SIVB.O) and Signature Bank (SBNY.O), have exacerbated those fears. All 11 major sectors of the S&P 500 ended the session deep in negative territory, with real estate (.SPLRCR) suffering the steepest percentage drop, its largest one-day plunge since Sept. 13. The S&P 500 posted six new 52-week highs and 13 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 44 new highs and 179 new lows. Volume on U.S. exchanges was 11.84 billion shares, compared with the 12.70 billion average over the last 20 trading days.

☆ How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Changed Financial Markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Anna Hirtenstein | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Russian ruble has gyrated but is roughly back to where it was preinvasion. A year after Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, markets have absorbed many of the short-term impacts, but investors say the conflict could have longer-lasting financial consequences. The Russian ruble has gyrated, first tumbling against the dollar, then rebounding due to capital controls and an influx of petrodollars, then selling off again as energy sanctions started to bite. It is now roughly back to where it was preinvasion.

☆ Electric vehicles confront the leap to the mass market
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Joseph White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Industry executives and forecasters do not agree on how rapidly electric vehicles could take over half the global vehicle market, let alone all of it. In China, the world's largest single automotive market, battery electric vehicles have captured about 21% of the market. By 2029, electric vehicles could account for a third of the North American market, and about 26% of vehicles produced worldwide, according to AutoForecast Solutions, a consultancy. Electric vehicle sales likely will not increase in a smooth, ever-ascending curve, said AFS President Joe McCabe. The next few years will determine whether the 21st Century's crop of electric vehicle brands will follow a similar path.

Money manager positioning on the CME's copper contract shifted back to a net long at the start of November for the first time since early May. Bulls remain conspicuous by their absence, waiting to see how Doctor Copper prices the confusing combination of Western recession and tentative recovery in China. The bounce has forced an unwind of fund short positions, which have more than halved to 31,177 contracts as of last Tuesday. Bears have retracted their claws on both exchanges but there's been no corresponding surge in bullish exuberance among fund managers. Investment fund and other financial net positioning on LME copperRECOVERY AND RECESSIONFunds' reticence to commit to copper is understandable given the market is trying to price two conflicting trends.

☆ U.K. Tax Change to Yield Higher Costs, but Much-Needed Certainty for Companies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Jennifer Williams-Alvarez | Nina Trentmann | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Now, under a new prime minister, the government is pledging fiscal austerity, accompanied by an increase in the corporate tax rate to 25%. Photo: Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesWith the latest change, the corporate tax rate has flip-flopped four times in less than a year. The tax increase, from the current rate of 19%, will apply to companies with annual profit of more than £250,000, equivalent to more than $307,000. We know it is increasing to 25%.”The U.K. government’s change brings the corporate tax rate in line with those of other large economies. Photo: Jason Alden/Bloomberg NewsU.K. companies’ costs are rising on multiple fronts.

☆ U.K. Tax Change to Yield Higher Costs, But Much-Needed Certainty For Companies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Jennifer Williams-Alvarez | Nina Trentmann | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

But there was also a wider question for the officials: could the energy companies' use of such complex instruments threaten financial stability? So the ECB has widened its scrutiny to examine potential domino effects, including on the banks which it supervises. read moreWhile ECB President Christine Lagarde said the ECB stood ready to provide liquidity to banks, she said it would not do the same for energy firms. "Energy companies pose specific risks not only to financial stability. Reuters GraphicsRating agency Moody's, meanwhile, said that energy companies did not provide enough information about their derivatives.

☆ Oil prices slide $2 on China demand worries, U.S. midterm elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Arathy Somasekhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Companies Diamondback Energy Inc FollowNov 8 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell more than $2 on Tuesday in choppy trading on growing worries about fuel demand as COVID-19 outbreaks worsened in top crude importer China, and jitters about the outcome of U.S. midterm elections. U.S. crude fell $2.88, or 3.14%, to $88.91 per barrel. It's a wait to see what the result is type of a situation here," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York. U.S. stocks also gyrated as market participants bided their time waiting to see whether Capitol Hill is in for a power shift, with Republican gains expected in the midterm elections. The ICE exchange, home to the Brent benchmark, has increased the initial margin rates for front-month Brent crude futures by 4.92%, making maintaining a futures position more expensive from the close of business on Tuesday.

☆ The Federal Reserve just upped the ante in its inflation fight (again). A central bank expert explains what it means and what happens next.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In case you missed it, you should know the Federal Reserve yesterday raised interest rates by 75 basis points. In this March 20, 2019, file photo, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference in Washington. In his Wednesday press conference, Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated the central bank's commitment to bringing down inflation, made evident by the three-quarter point move. The pound is also down, as traders brace for the Bank of England's interest rate decision later today. The chief market strategist of a $1.1 trillion firm explained why markets could rally for the rest of the year but ultimately crater 10% next year.

☆ Investors who stuck it out for Musk's Twitter deal set to reap rewards
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] The Twitter logo is seen on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, November 7, 2013. If the deal had collapsed, the price floor for Twitter stock would have been "unknown", White said, adding that investors waged their risk on Delaware Chancery court, where corporate disputes are resolved. Investors sold 107,626 million Twitter shares in the second quarter, regulatory filings and Symmetric.io data show, with activist investors and tech oriented funds leading the sales. As the stock price dropped early in the third quarter, some investors saw a chance to buy in for cheap. that Twitter investors were not trapped.

☆ As Bond Investors’ Bets Blow Up, They Might Usher In Era of Higher Rates
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Greg Ip | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In 2018, the Bank of England investigated whether a big rise in interest rates would trigger a cascade of forced selling by bond investors, destabilizing the financial system. The answer was no, even if long-term rates rose a full percentage point in a week, which had never happened in records going back to 1990. In the days surrounding the British government’s tax-cut announcement on Sept. 23, yields on British government bonds, called gilts, gyrated as much as 1.27 points in a single day as pension funds dumped bonds and closed out bond-linked derivatives positions to meet margin calls. The Bank of England was forced to step in and buy bonds to stem the selloff.

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