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☆ Morning Bid: Bonds calm down but Chinese markets smolder
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Raindrops hang on a sign for Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., October 26, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsA look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike DolanRestive bonds showed signs of calm on Wednesday, but China's struggling economy and markets continue to unnerve world markets. A twin jolt from resurgent western debt yields and China's deepening economic funk and property sector troubles have made for a bumpy August to date. After a slew of dour retail, industrial and property investment numbers earlier this week, China reported on Wednesday that home prices fell for the first time this year. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Mike Segar, Mike Dolan Restive, swooned, Goldman Sachs, Neel Kashkari, I'm, Fitch, JPMorgan Chase, Mike Dolan, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Wall, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Minneapolis Fed, United States, AAA, JPMorgan, Bank of America, of, Cisco, Amcor, New, New York Fed, . Federal Reserve, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Wall St, China, United, New York, Canada

☆ Activists back off Salesforce after share price recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The changes in ownership came after significant overhauls at Salesforce helped push its share price higher. Inclusive Capital Management, one of four activists closely involved with Salesforce in early 2023 along with Starboard, Elliott Investment Management and ValueAct Capital, exited even earlier, according to filings. ValueAct's ownership stake remained unchanged at 3.5 million at the end of the second quarter, its filing shows. Sachem Head Capital Management cut its stake by 20% after Salesforce made up nearly 5% of its portfolio. During the second quarter the stock price moved to $211 a share from $199 a share.

Persons: Mike Segar, Salesforce, Marc Benioff, Mason Morfit, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Salesforce, U.S ., LLC, Inclusive Capital Management, Elliott Investment Management, ValueAct, Inclusive, Sachem, Capital Management, Farallon Capital Management, Light, Capital, Svea, Thomson Locations: New York, Manhattan, New York City, U.S, Salesforce, Polen

☆ Morning Bid: U.S. retail therapy as China funk deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Raindrops hang on a sign for Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., October 26, 2020. China stocks fell again (.CSI300) and 10-year government bond yields fell to three-year lows. Ten-year Treasury yields hit their highest for the year at 4.23%. Elsewhere in the so-called BRICS emerging economies - the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - the dollar was also in command. Back stateside, the retail sales report will be accompanied by an earnings update from Home Depot - the first of the big retailers to report this week.

Persons: Mike Segar, Mike Dolan, Jackson, Jack Henry *, Neel Kashkari, Susan Fenton Organizations: Wall, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Micron Technology, Bank of America's, Treasury, Agilent Technologies, Cardinal Health, NY, Minneapolis Federal, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, China, Japan, Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, Ukraine, Argentina's, Canada

☆ Fitch warns it may be forced to downgrade multiple banks, including JPMorgan - CNBC
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Empire State Building and Manhattan skyline are pictured from the Summit at One Vanderbilt observatory in Manhattan in New York City, U.S., April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoAug 15 (Reuters) - An analyst at Fitch Ratings warned that U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N), could be downgraded if the agency further cuts its assessment of the operating environment for the industry, according to a report from CNBC on Tuesday. In June, Fitch lowered the score of the U.S. banking industry's "operating environment" to AA- from AA, citing pressure on the country's credit rating, gaps in regulatory framework and uncertainty about the future trajectory of interest rate hikes. Another one-notch downgrade, to A+ from AA-, would force Fitch to reevaluate ratings on each of the more than 70 U.S. banks it covers, analyst Chris Wolfe told CNBC. Lenders were rocked earlier this month after Fitch's peer Moody's downgraded 10 mid-sized U.S. banks and warned it may cut ratings of several others.

Persons: Mike Segar, Fitch, Chris Wolfe, Moody's, Niket, Maju Samuel Organizations: Vanderbilt, REUTERS, Fitch, JPMorgan Chase, CNBC, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Investors pummeled by tech in 2022 make new bets on sector in second quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Raindrops hang on a sign for Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., October 26, 2020. The deadline for so-called 13-F filings for the second quarter is on Monday. 2023 has been a better year for investors, with the S&P 500 (.SPX) stock market index up 16% in the first half after a 20% drop in full-year 2022. IPhone maker Apple (AAPL.O), retailer Amazon, electric vehicle maker Tesla (TSLA.O), chip maker Nvidia and technology company Meta are among the group that accounted for 73% of the market's gains. Second-quarter filings suggest many hedge funds ramped up their bets on technology stocks that suffered last year.

Persons: Mike Segar, Meta's, Philippe Laffont, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Wall, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Amazon.com, Meta, Coatue Management, Microsoft, Tiger Global Management, Nvidia, Investment, Securities and Exchange, Apple, Svea, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, New York

☆ Niger junta: ousted president could be prosecuted for high treason
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum addresses the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoNIAMEY, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The junta that seized power in Niger in a July 26 coup said late on Sunday that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum could be prosecuted for high treason. Colonel Amadou Abdramane, a spokesperson for the junta, said on state TV that it had "assembled the necessary elements to prosecute the ousted president ... for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger." The bloc's parliament on Saturday said it wanted to send a committee to meet the junta in Niamey. Writing by Anait Miridzhanian and Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Alexander Winning and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Mike Segar, Bazoum, Amadou Abdramane, Anait Miridzhanian, Alessandra Prentice, Alexander Winning Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Sunday, ECOWAS, Security, Central, Thomson Locations: U.N, New York City, U.S, NIAMEY, Niger, West, Niamey, Union

☆ Prominent investors rekindle affection for Amazon in Q2 as stock price jumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Soros Fund Management owned 769,061 Amazon shares at the end of the second quarter, representing an increase of more than 8% in its holdings. Amazon’s stock price boomed during the pandemic when homebound shoppers relied on the retailer for toilet paper, groceries and much more. What investors who bought Amazon during the second quarter did not know yet was how well the company fared during those three months. It reported an 11% gain in second quarter revenue and topped analysts’ expectations when it reported earnings earlier this month. Management also pointed to a strong third quarter and the stock price rose on the earnings report.

Persons: Washington, Mike Segar Organizations: Amazon, REUTERS, Fidelity, Amazon.com, Baupost, Soros Fund Management, Investment Group, Mutual, Investor GQG Partners, Securities and Exchange Commission, Management Locations: New York City , New York, U.S

☆ Fox's legal head to step down in another major exit after Dominion settlement
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoAug 11 (Reuters) - Fox Corp (FOXA.O) said on Friday that Chief Legal Officer Viet Dinh was stepping down, a high-profile exit that follows its $787.5 million settlement in April of a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems over its 2020 U.S. election coverage. Top-rated host Tucker Carlson agreed to part ways with Fox in April, just days after the legal resolution. As part of a separation agreement, Dinh will get a lump-sum cash payment of $23 million, Fox said. He will become a special adviser to the company after leaving the role of legal head. In June, Fox Corp also settled a lawsuit by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg, who claimed gender discrimination and accused the network's lawyers of pressuring her to make misleading statements in the Dominion Voting Systems case.

Persons: Mike Segar, Dinh, Tucker Carlson, Fox, George W Bush, Bancroft PLLC, Kirkland & Ellis, Ng, Abby Grossberg, Chavi Mehta, David Thomas, Anil D'Silva, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Fox, News Corporation, Fox News, REUTERS, Fox Corp, Dominion Voting Systems, Dominion, Patriot, U.S, D.C, Kirkland &, Voting, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Washington, Bengaluru, Chicago

☆ Wall St Week Ahead Sluggish US earnings may need pick-me-up to support 2023 stock rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Raindrops hang on a sign for Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., October 26, 2020. The S&P 500 (.SPX) has edged higher since earnings season began in July, with the benchmark index up 16% in 2023. Third-quarter S&P 500 earnings are seen rising 1.3% on a year-over-year basis, according to Refinitiv, before a 9.7% fourth-quarter earnings rise and a 11.9% full-year increase in 2024. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsMeanwhile, the S&P 500 has become more richly valued. Q2 RESULTSWith 91% of S&P 500 companies having reported second-quarter results, 78.7% posted earnings above analysts' expectations, according to Refinitiv IBES.

Persons: Mike Segar, Eric Freedman, Refinitiv, Anthony Saglimbene, Julian Emanuel, Evercore, Emanuel, John Lynch, Ned Davis, Comerica's Lynch, Lewis Krauskopf, Ira Iosebashvili, Richard Chang Organizations: Wall, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Stock, U.S, Bank Asset Management, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Credit Suisse, Ameriprise Financial, Comerica Wealth Management, Apple, Walmart, Ned Davis Research, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S

☆ Stifel's Bannister expects little change for S&P 500 through year end
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The New York Stock Exchange building is seen from Broad Street in Lower Manhattan in New York, January 20, 2016. The S&P 500 has rebounded 16.4% so far this year after plunging in 2022, as the economy has so far defied fears of a downturn. Bannister projected the S&P 500 would "trade sideways" in the second half of 2023 and end the year at around 4,400. While inflation has been moderating, Bannister said he expected the consumer price index to end 2023 at around 3.5%, versus a 2.3% average in the 30 years before the COVID-19 pandemic. The inflation rates would result in "keeping Fed tight and S&P 500 flat" in the second half, Bannister said.

Persons: Mike Segar, Barry Bannister, Bannister, Lewis Krauskopf, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Lower Manhattan, New York

Delta Airlines passenger jets are pictured outside the newly completed 1.3 million-square foot $4 billion Delta Airlines Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York City, New York, U.S., June 1, 2022. REUTERS/Mike SegarAug 9 (Reuters) - Wheels Up Experience (UP.N) said on Wednesday there was "substantial doubt" about its ability to continue operations, even as it disclosed short-term funding from Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), sending its shares plunging 42%. North American business flights were down 3.6% compared with July 2022, according to data from Argus International. Delta said in a statement that it was providing a short-term capital infusion in the form of a secured promissory note to Wheels Up, which is pursuing strategic partnerships. Wheels Up, which canceled an earnings call scheduled for Wednesday, said U.S. private jet operator Airshare had entered into a non-binding agreement with the company to acquire its non-core aircraft management business.

Persons: Mike Segar, Delta, Ed Bastian, Airshare, Shivansh, Allison Lampert, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Vinay Dwivedi, Mark Potter Organizations: Delta Airlines, LaGuardia Airport, REUTERS, Delta Air Lines, Argus International, Delta, Airshare, Thomson Locations: Queens, New York City , New York, U.S, American, Bengaluru, Montreal

☆ Factbox: Major US banks downgraded by Moody's on worsening outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A Moody's sign on the 7 World Trade Center tower is photographed in New York August 2, 2011. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoAug 8 (Reuters) - Ratings agency Moody's on Monday downgraded several mid-sized U.S. banks, warning that the credit strength of lenders will likely be tested by funding risks and weaker profits. Moody's also said it may downgrade some of the largest U.S. lenders, in a blow to the industry that regained stability after several bank failures earlier this year. Here's the list of banks and action taken by Moody's:Below are the U.S. banking giants that Moody's have put under review for potential downgrades. Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Segar, Moody's, Jaiveer Singh, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Trade, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ US bank stocks drop as Moody's downgrade sours sentiment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Raindrops hang on a sign for Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., October 26, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoAug 8 (Reuters) - Shares of U.S. banks fell in premarket trading on Tuesday after ratings agency Moody's downgraded 10 mid-sized lenders, reigniting investor concerns about the challenges facing the industry. Moody's also warned it may cut ratings of some of the biggest U.S. lenders, and placed six of them under review for a potential downgrade. "It is significant for U.S. growth too, as U.S. regional banks are the financing lifeblood for small and mid-size enterprises." Shares of Bank of America (BAC.N), Citigroup (C.N) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) fell more than 1%.

Persons: Mike Segar, Moody's, Stuart Cole, JPMorgan Chase, Georgios Leontaris, Niket Nishant, Mayur, Shashwat Chauhan, Shounak Dasgupta, Saumyadeb Organizations: Wall, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Bank of New York Mellon, U.S . Bancorp, Truist, Equiti, Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan, Bank, EMEA, HSBC Global Private Banking, Wealth, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Silicon, Switzerland, Bengaluru

An Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical manufacturing plant is pictured at 50 ImClone Drive in Branchburg, New Jersey, March 5, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoAug 8 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly (LLY.N) on Tuesday raised its annual forecasts after beating estimates for quarterly results, driven by strong demand for its new diabetes drug Mounjaro, ahead of a decision on its use as a weight-loss treatment. The company is leaning on Mounjaro, approved last May in the U.S. for diabetes, to soften the hit from insulin price cuts and competition for cancer therapy Alimta. A decision on Mounjaro to treat obesity, expected later this year, could help the drugmaker tap a multi-billion dollar market. Lilly now expects annual revenue in range of $33.4 billion to $33.9 billion, compared with its prior range of $31.2 billion to $31.7 billion.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Mike Segar, Mounjaro, Wells, Mohit Bansal, Lilly, Bhanvi Satija, Mariam Sunny, Sriraj Organizations: Company, REUTERS, Novo Nordisk, Thomson Locations: Branchburg , New Jersey, U.S, Bengaluru

A view of the exterior of the JP Morgan Chase & Co. corporate headquarters in New York City May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoNEW YORK, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Financial firms that enforce strict return-to-office mandates could drive employees to leave, according to a study published Tuesday by accounting firm Deloitte. Companies that insist on five days of in-office work are likely to see those policies backfire, the study showed. The Deloitte survey showed caregivers with remote or hybrid arrangements were 1.3 times more likely to leave their jobs if that flexibility was taken away. Poll results showed almost half of women in senior leadership roles were likely to leave their current employer over the next 12 months.

Persons: Morgan Chase, Mike Segar, Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Lananh Nguyen, Conor Humphries Organizations: Co, New York City, REUTERS, Financial, Deloitte, Companies, JPMorgan, Citigroup, UBS, Bank of New York Mellon, Thomson Locations: New York, America

By increasing the degree of risk attributed to certain assets, the proposed rules would require banks to hold proportionately more capital, potentially eating into returns on equity and profits. Making such lending more expensive will shrink credit available to historically under-served borrowers, something the industry is likely to fight, he said. Chen Xu, an attorney in the financial institutions group at Debevoise & Plimpton, said the new rules viewed high-revenue business lines as higher risk. Morgan Stanley (MS.N) analysts say the largest banks may take up to four years to set aside profits to comply with the new capital rules. Dennis Kelleher, head of the financial reform advocacy group Better Markets, said the banking industry had made similar complaints in the past which he believed had proven unfounded.

Persons: Mike Segar, Joe Saas, Chen Xu, Plimpton, Michael Barr, JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, Wells Fargo, Kevin Stein, Morgan Stanley, Richard Ramsden, Goldman Sachs, Ramsden, Dennis Kelleher, Douglas Gillison, Tatiana Bautzer, Nupur Anand, Saeed Azhar, Megan Davies, Anna Driver Organizations: Wall, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Industry, Financial Services, Bank Policy Institute, Securities Industry, Financial Markets Association, Debevoise, JPMorgan, CNBC, Citigroup, Bank of America, Klaros Group, Banking Supervision, Better, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Washington, Wells, Basel

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoLONDON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Crude oil prices continued to climb as Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend its unilateral production cuts and signs of decelerating inflation and a soft landing in the United States improved sentiment among investors. The total position climbed to 563 million barrels (46th percentile for all weeks since 2013) on Aug. 1, up from just 282 million barrels (5th percentile) on June 27. The most recent week saw a significant number of new bullish long positions initiated (+37 million barrels) as well as former bearish shorts closed out (-14 million). If implemented in full, extra cuts announced by Saudi Arabia and Russia would remove a further 115 million barrels from the market between July and September. In the most recent week, funds were buyers of European gas oil (+20 million barrels), Brent (+19 million), U.S. gasoline (+6 million), U.S. diesel (+4 million) and NYMEX and ICE WTI (+3 million).

Persons: Mike Segar, Brent, John Kemp, Mark Potter Organizations: Bayway, REUTERS, ICE Futures, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Petroleum, Traders, U.S ., ICE, U.S . diesel, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Phillips, Linden , New Jersey, U.S, Saudi, United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine

[1/3] Raindrops hang on a sign for Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., October 26, 2020. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 187,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said in its closely watched employment report on Friday, slightly below expectations of 200,000 jobs. U.S. Treasury yields dropped after jobs data on Friday showed the U.S. economy added fewer jobs than expected in July, but investors hesitated to rule out further monetary tightening. Oil prices headed for a sixth straight weekly gain, driven by the prospect of reduced supply from Saudi Arabia and Russia. U.S. crude rose 1.4% to $82.69 per barrel and Brent was at $86.10, up 1.13% on the day.

Persons: Mike Segar, Rick Rieder, Randy Frederick, Charles Schwab, Frederick, Sterling, Fitch, Brent, Lawrence Delevingne, Amanda Cooper, Elizabeth Howcroft, Ankur Banerjee, Sruthi Shankar, Sharon Singleton, Nick Macfie, Diane Craft Organizations: Wall, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Apple, Treasury, U.S ., Labor Department, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, FTSE, U.S . Federal, Bank of England, U.S . Treasury, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Austin , Texas, United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Boston, London

☆ State court tells New York City to spell out needs in migrant crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Rachel Nostrant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Recently arrived migrants to New York City wait on the sidewalk outside the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown, Manhattan, where a temporary reception center has been established in New York City, New York, U.S., August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoNEW YORK, Aug 4 (Reuters) - A New York State Supreme Court judge on Friday ordered the city of New York to spell out what it needs from the state to solve its migrant housing crisis, ratcheting up pressure on authorities struggling to respond as thousands of migrants seek refuge in the city. The order by New York State Supreme Court Judge Erika Edwards came after a hearing the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless had asked the court to hold Friday, citing a 1981 consent decree under which the city and the state must shelter those in need. Edwards gave the city until Wednesday to identify state facilities and resources it needs to provide appropriate shelter. Following the court order, the New York City mayor's office said the city needed state and federal support to address a crisis, without offering specifics.

Persons: Mike Segar, Erika Edwards, Edwards, Kathy, Hochul, Dave Giffin, Eric Adams, Rachel Nostrant, Donna Bryson, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, New York, Aid Society, Coalition, Homeless, Reuters, New, Thomson Locations: New York, midtown , Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, New, York City, New York City

☆ Permanent Mission of North Korea to U.N. defends Pyongyang's nuclear weapons as sovereign right
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoSEOUL, Aug 5 (Reuters) - The Permanent Mission of North Korea to the United Nations has criticized the U.S. for having nuclear weapons and urged it to stop "sharing nuclear" or "beefing up extended deterrence," state media KCNA reported on Saturday. While criticizing the U.S. over the AUKUS alliance and the Nuclear Consultative Group with South Korea, Pyongyang defended its nuclear weapons as an "exercise of sovereignty." DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "Its nuclear force will never be a threat to those countries respecting its sovereignty and security interests," the permanent mission said. Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: United Nations Kim Song, Mike Segar, Hyunsu Yim, Leslie Adler, Sandra Maler Organizations: United Nations, General Assembly, . Security, REUTERS, Nuclear, South, NPT, DPRK, UN Office, Democratic People's, Thomson Locations: China, Russia, North Korea, U.N, New York City , New York, U.S, SEOUL, South Korea, Pyongyang, DPRK, Vienna, Democratic People's Republic of Korea

☆ Kellogg raises annual profit outlook on higher prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Kellogg's cold cereal products are pictured in a market in New York, U.S., June 21, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoAug 3 (Reuters) - Kellogg Co (K.N) on Thursday forecast a smaller drop in annual profit than it had previously expected, as multiple price hikes for its breakfast snacks and cereals helped strengthen its margins. The Corn Flakes maker said it expected 2023 adjusted profit per share to decline between 1% and 2%, compared with the prior forecast for a decline of 1% to 3%. However, the company posted a 4.6% rise in net sales to $4.04 billion in the second quarter, missing analysts' expectations of $4.07 billion, according to Refinitiv data. Reporting by Mehr Bedi and Aatrayee Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Milla NissiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Segar, Mehr Bedi, Aatrayee Chatterjee, Milla Nissi Organizations: REUTERS, Kellogg, PepsiCo, Conagra Brands Inc, Hershey, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru

A bottle of Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder is seen in a photo illustration taken in New York, February 24, 2016. LTL's bankruptcy proceedings have largely paused the 38,000 lawsuits against J&J, although one case was allowed to proceed to a $18.8 million verdict in July. But David Molton, an attorney for the official committee representing cancer claimants in LTL's bankruptcy, said that a temporary prohibition on new bankruptcy filings was appropriate, given LTL's repeated bankruptcy filings. Kaplan, who dismissed LTL's second bankruptcy, said he was not inclined to block future bankruptcy filings because circumstances could change in the next six months. But the judge said he was open to further written arguments on that point before issuing a formal decision closing LTL's second bankruptcy case next week.

Persons: Johnson, Mike Segar, J, Michael Kaplan, Greg Gordon, David Molton, Kaplan, LTL's, J's, Dietrich Knauth, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Johnson, LTL Management, U.S . Department of, J, Thomson Locations: New York, Trenton , New Jersey, LTL's, Texas

☆ Etsy forecasts downbeat third quarter as demand softens
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A sign advertising the online seller Etsy Inc. is seen outside the Nasdaq market site in Times Square following Etsy's initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq in New York April 16, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoAug 2 (Reuters) - Etsy Inc (ETSY.O) on Wednesday forecast third-quarter revenue below market expectations, signalling softening in demand for handcrafted goods at its online market place, sending its shares down 6% after the bell. This has taken the sheen off of Etsy's COVID-era gains when consumers with disposable income splurged on decor and other discretionary products. The company's consolidated gross merchandise sales (GMS) fell 0.6% to $3.01 billion in the second quarter ended June 30. The company expects revenue for the third quarter at between $610 million and $645 million, while analysts were expecting $632.4 million, as per Refinitiv data.

Persons: Mike Segar, Etsy's, Juveria, Maju Samuel Organizations: Etsy, Nasdaq, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: New York, Bengaluru

☆ Phillips 66 joins rival refiners with sharp profit drop on lower margins
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

General view of oil tanks and the Bayway Refinery of Phillips 66 in Linden, New Jersey, U.S., March 30, 2020. Phillips said realized margins fell to $15.32 per barrel in the second quarter, from $28.62 a year earlier. Despite the fall in margins, fuel demand remains resilient. Phillips 66's crude utilization rate was 93% in the second quarter, higher than 90% a year earlier, while total processed input was unchanged year-over-year at 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd). Phillips 66's second-quarter net income fell to $1.7 billion, or $3.72 per share, from $3.2 billion, or $6.53 per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Persons: Mike Segar, Phillips, Arunima Kumar, Sriraj Organizations: Bayway, REUTERS, Rivals Valero Energy Corp, Marathon Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Phillips, Linden , New Jersey, U.S, Ukraine, Houston, Bengaluru

☆ Apple, Microsoft remain world's top 2 companies by market cap
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoAug 1 (Reuters) - Tech giants Apple (AAPL.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) remained the top two global companies by market capitalisation at the end of July after riding this year's rally in technology shares. Strong quarterly earnings from companies such as Alphabet (GOOGL.O), Meta Platforms (META.O), chipmaker Intel (INTC.O) and chip equipment maker Lam Research (LRCX.O) lifted overall market sentiment last month. Facebook-owner Meta's market cap jumped more than 10% in July, thanks to the company's rosy revenue forecast and robust ad revenue growth in the second quarter. Its market cap stood at $2.49 trillion at the end of July. Refinitiv data shows 69% of large- and mid-cap U.S. companies have surpassed analysts' Q2 earnings estimates so far, with the tech sector accounting for 82% of these positive surprises.

Persons: Mike Segar, Rush, Dan Ives, JP Morgan Chase's, Patturaja Murugaboopathy, Gaurav Dogra, Susan Fenton Organizations: Apple, Grand Central, REUTERS, Tech, Microsoft, Intel, Lam Research, Facebook, Reuters Graphics Microsoft, Wall, First Republic Bank, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

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