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☆ CNBC Pro Talks: Dividends or growth stocks? Fund manager Ian Mortimer has strategies for both
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Cnbc.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Fund manager Ian Mortimer will explain how he selects high-yielding companies and identifies growth stocks while avoiding the hype. He joined Guinness Global Investors in 2006 and manages the Guinness Global Equity Income Fund and the Guinness Global Innovators Fund. Join CNBC Pro Talks on Wednesday, March 22 at 6:30 a.m. GMT / 2:30 p.m. SGT / 2:30 a.m. He joined Guinness Global Investors in 2006 and manages the Guinness Global Equity Income Fund and the Guinness Global Innovators Fund. Join CNBC Pro Talks on Wednesday, March 22 at 6:30 a.m. GMT / 2:30 p.m. SGT / 2:30 a.m.

☆ Economic asphyxiation puts Russia in China’s orbit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Pierre Briancon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Cut off from foreign markets by sanctions, Vladimir Putin’s government is at pains to finance budget deficits that would have been manageable in peacetime. The financial difficulties are pushing Russia further into the sphere of influence of China’s President Xi Jinping, who visits Moscow this week. Dipping into the fund, though, will push Moscow further into China’s financial orbit, Russian economist Alexandra Prokopenko has noted. In the short term, financial hope for Russia can only come from a significant increase in oil and gas prices. Trade between China and Russia increased by 34% last year as Chinese imports of oil and gas jumped 50%.

☆ It's wild that Western governments have decided that TikTok might spy for China. The app hasn't helped itself.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

TikTok denies it feeds user data to China, but the drip-drip of revelations hasn't helped. The suspicion is that TikTok's owner ByteDance is in cahoots with the Chinese Communist Party and shares data about Western users with China. TikTok has maintained the app doesn't spy on individuals, and has pointed to the steps it's taking to hive off user information. FCC commissioner Brendan Carr responded to Bertram asking if "any member of the CCP accessed non-public US or EU user data from inside China." US social-media services normalized the aggressive harvesting of user data, and routinely hand over information to international governments.

CNN —Nearly two-and-a-half years after the Trump administration threatened to ban TikTok in the United States if it didn’t divest from its Chinese owners, the Biden administration is now doing the same. The new directive comes from the multiagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), following years of negotiations between TikTok and the government body. “If protecting national security is the objective, divestment doesn’t solve the problem,” TikTok spokesperson Maureen Shanahan said in a statement. TikTok is really only a national security risk insofar as the Chinese government may have leverage over TikTok or its parent company. China has national security laws that require companies under its jurisdiction to cooperate with a broad range of security activities.

☆ Asian markets rebound after First Republic Bank gets rescued by US lenders
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Asian markets rebounded Friday after First Republic Bank was rescued by a group of major US lenders, which eased worries about the current banking turmoil. First Republic Bank (FRC) is set to receive a $30 billion lifeline from a group of America’s largest banks, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (CBEAX), Citigroup (C) and Truist (TFC). “Following the recent global financial instabilities, First Republic Bank was expected to be the next domino to fall,” said Yeap Jun Rong, a market analyst at IG. Worries deepened on Wednesday after shares of Credit Suisse plummeted in Europe. Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic have taken emergency measures to shore up confidence, including protecting deposits at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and giving a $54 billion lifeline to Credit Suisse.

Concerns have been heightened by the wild swings in market interest rates since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB.O) last week. Fund managers advise shunning high-yield bonds, despite their attractive yields, because of the risk these bonds could be hit by ratings downgrades, defaults and a squeeze in company earnings. Refinitiv Lipper data showed high-yield bond funds, after seeing an inflow of $7.63 billion in January, faced an outflow of $11.51 billion in February. Reuters GraphicsSo far this month, high-yield bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen a total outflow of $506 million. However, safer money market funds have attracted $28.76 billion, and government bond funds have seen an inflow of $15.52 billion since February.

LONDON, March 15 (Reuters) - Finance minister Jeremy Hunt presented less gloomy forecasts for Britain's economy at his Spring Budget on Wednesday. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsROSIER OUTLOOKA rout in global banking stocks on Wednesday overshadowed many UK-specific moves. Investments announced by Hunt such as a corporate spending tax break, a boost for defence and extra childcare support were not viewed as particularly inflationary. Unlike in the last budget, noise around windfall taxes on oil and gas companies was muted in the run-up to the budget since energy prices have fallen dramatically since then. "In general, the budget is not the big story for gilts right now, global drivers are in the driving seat," said James Smith, economist at ING.

☆ TikTok could be banned in the US unless the app’s Chinese owners sell their stakes. The Biden administration is demanding it, WSJ reports.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US is threatening TikTok's Chinese owners with a US ban if they don't sell their stakes, according to the WSJ. TikTok has responded saying the forced sale won't address the perceived national security risk. Still, TikTok's leadership is considering splitting from ByteDance to work around the national security concerns, Bloomberg reported. In December, the Senate voted to ban TikTok on government devices, and several states have since introduced full or partial bans of the app. Universities have also made moves to ban TikTok.

CHICAGO, March 14 (Reuters) - U.S. airlines on Tuesday tried to reassure investors about the strength of travel demand, a day after United Airlines (UAL.O) stoked worries about the industry's pricing power. Even as executives in other sectors of the economy have warned of recession risks, airline chief executives until now have remained upbeat as consumer travel demand stayed strong. Delta reaffirmed its first-quarter outlook, saying travel demand is strong and getting stronger. American Airlines (AAL.O) CEO Robert Isom said the Texas-based carrier was enjoying "tremendous" demand. Airline ticket prices have gone up due to persistent capacity constraints and an unending thirst for travel after pandemic-related restrictions ended.

☆ US futures and Asia Pacific stocks react to SVB recovery efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

On Sunday, the Biden administration promised that customers of the failed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank would have access to all their money starting Monday. In a joint statement, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg said the FDIC will make SVB and Signature Bank’s customers whole. In a related action, the government shut down Signature Bank, a regional bank that was teetering on the brink of collapse in recent days. “Cross-asset traders of all stripes are heaving a sigh of relief as bank runs have a tendency to catch on globally,” he told CNN. Bank shares in Asia were under pressure Monday, following a heavy rout for their US and European counterparts late last week.

☆ European markets head for positive open as investors keep an eye on Silicon Valley Bank fallout
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European markets are heading for a higher open Monday as global investors focus on U.S. regulators trying to limit the fallout of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse. U.S. stock futures jumped Sunday evening after regulators announced a plan to backstop all the depositors in the failed bank and make additional funding available for other banks. On Friday, Silicon Valley Bank was taken over by regulators after massive withdrawals a day earlier created a bank run. Elsewhere Sunday, U.S. regulators shut down New York-based Signature Bank, a big lender in the crypto industry, in a bid to prevent the spreading banking crisis. Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Monday as investors reacted to the latest move be U.S. regulators to stem further systemic risk.

Big investors including Kyle Bass and Bill Ackman argue the government must take quick action to avoid Silicon Valley Bank's collapse sparking more widespread withdrawals in the banking system. That could be determined by how hard the world's central banks continue to push interest rates higher. The market is signaling contagion could factor into the Fed's calculus, possibly prompting it to slow down the pace of interest rate hikes. Silicon Valley Financial Group was deeply woven into the fabric of the technology industry. Bass and Ackman separately warned that the government would have to move quickly in resolving Silicon Valley Bank to assure depositors.

☆ Turmoil in banking sector marks the end of 'contagion,' crypto boss says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTurmoil in banking sector marks the end of 'contagion,' crypto boss saysThe turmoil in banking sector shares marks the end of "contagion" that started with the fall in value of technology and crypto stocks last year, according to Frank Holmes, CEO and chief investment officer of U.S. Global Investors and executive chairman of Hive Blockchain Technologies.

☆ Economists, activists warn lawmakers of looming debt default if Congress cannot agree to raise the debt ceiling
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's, said an impending default would "be a catastrophic blow to the already fragile economy." "Given the dramatic reduction in government spending in this scenario and the already fragile economy, the economy suffers a recession in 2024. "Bond investors, unsure of how this legal uncertainty would be resolved would demand a much higher interest rate in compensation. In his opening remarks, Holtz-Eakin also said that skirting default would have "serious and adverse economic effects." "House Republicans don't seem concerned about the upcoming debt limit deadline," Warren said in her opening remarks.

China has lifted Covid-19 restrictions and pivoted back to focusing on the country’s growth. China’s outsize position in emerging markets has created a dilemma for many investors. For years, as companies from the world’s second-largest economy grew rapidly and became more valuable, China came to make up more than 40% of some major international benchmarks for stocks and corporate bonds. Investment funds with similarly large allocations to Chinese assets did well in 2019 and 2020, when the country’s rise drove gains in emerging markets.

☆ Take Five: A manic March
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Another dose of hot job growth after January's payrolls increase of 517,000 trounced estimates could stoke fears of more hawkish Fed action. Powell has said the January jobs report showed why the battle against inflation will "take quite a bit of time". Powell's comments and the jobs data could help settle what the Fed does later this month. The RBA hinted at further tightening at its meeting last month, but data since then has pointed the other way. After a red-hot January rally, bonds and equities retreated in February as strong data sparked concerns about more rate hikes.

☆ Adani shares soar as US investor steps in
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Shares in some of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s companies soared Friday after a US private equity firm agreed to invest nearly $1.9 billion in his embattled conglomerate. The Adani Group said Thursday that GQG Partners had bought $1.87 billion of stock in secondary market trades across four of its companies. Shares of the group’s flagship company, Adani Enterprises, soared nearly 17% following the announcement. Shares of Adani Ports rose almost 10%, while Adani Green Energy and Adani Transmission both gained 5%. And Australia-listed GQG Partners, which manages more than $92 billion in assets, doesn’t appear to share the concerns of other investors.

☆ Adani contrarian is a win for Hindenburg, too
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

GQG Partners is snapping up shares in four of the Indian tycoon’s nine core companies, including the flagship Adani Enterprises (ADEL.NS), along with Adani Green Energy (ADNA.NS), Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSE.NS) and Adani Transmission (ADAI.NS). The mogul was trying to do just that last month with a $2.5 billion Adani Enterprise share sale before it was scuppered by Hindenburg’s sortie. Barring something truly exceptional, the scars of Hindenburg’s successful attack on Adani will linger for a while. GQG bought shares in Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Adani Green Energy, Adani Transmission and Adani Enterprises from entities owned by the Adani family. Adani has dismissed the allegations outlined in U.S. fund Hindenburg Research’s Jan. 24 report.

BENGALURU, March 2 (Reuters) - U.S. boutique investment firm GQG Partners has bought shares worth $1.87 billion in four Adani group companies, marking the first major investment in the Indian conglomerate since a short-seller's critical report sparked a stock rout. U.S-based, Australia-listed GQG has, through block deals, bought shares worth 154.46 billion rupees in four Adani group companies, including the conglomerate's flagship firm Adani Enterprises (ADEL.NS), a regulatory filing showed. GQG took a 3.4% stake in Adani Enterprises for about $662 million, 4.1% in Adani Ports for $640 million, 2.5% in Adani Transmission for $230 million, and a 3.5% stake in Adani Green Energy for $340 million. "This transaction marks the continued confidence of global investors in the governance, management practices and the growth of Adani Portfolio of companies," said Adani Group CFO Jugeshinder Singh. In the run-up to the announcement, Adani group shares rallied, with Adani Enterprises climbing nearly 35% over the last three sessions, Adani Ports 11% and Adani Green Energy 16%.

☆ Major fears are sweeping into Israel's economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Jason Gewirtz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesNew concerns about Israel's economy are leading global investors to question the money they have in the country. The law would alter Israel's judicial system by giving sitting governments full control of judicial appointments. A drop in Israel's credit rating would increase the cost of borrowing and hurt fundraising. A major part of the Israeli economy is tied to the value of the Israel shekel against the U.S. dollar. That in turn hurt critical parts of Israel's economy including real estate, as companies and individual citizens moved their money into U.S. dollars or other currencies.

☆ Analysis: European stocks lure global investors as rate hikes hurt U.S. more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Banks (.SX7P) accounted for nearly 16% of the STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) and have benefited from the high-rate environment, gaining nearly 20% to hit their highest in almost five years. In contrast, 35% of the S&P 500 (.SPX), the world's largest index by market value, are technology companies. Tech stocks (.SPLRCT) on the index have gained just 9% this year as rising rates make future profits for tech companies less valuable. CHEAPER IN EUROPEOn the valuation front too, the European stock market is much cheaper than the U.S. The STOXX 600 trades at about 13 times its 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio, while the S&P 500 trades at some 18 times.

☆ 'The market has gone too far:' Chief global strategist predicts when the Fed will cut rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Investors should not expect a cut in interest rates until 2024 thanks to a strong U.S. economy and the potential for a delayed recession, according to the chief global strategist at Principal Global Investors. In fact, the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates higher for longer is the "scenario that we're looking at now," Shah told CNBC's Julianna Tatelbaum. The employment picture started 2023 on a stunningly strong note , with nonfarm payrolls posting their biggest gain since July 2022 despite a rapid increase in interest rates last year. 'Absolutely no cuts this year' When asked when investors should expect a cut in interest rates, Shah responded that it wouldn't be until 2024. Goldman Sachs expects interest rates to hit 5.38% by the second quarter, with the first cut to 5.13% expected in the first three months of next year.

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File PhotoHONG KONG, Feb 27 (Reuters) - JPMorgan (JPM.N) is proposing a new Asia credit index with slashed China weighting in parallel to its existing $85 billion Asia credit index, two sources said, amid growing geopolitical tensions and dimming appetite for Chinese property bonds. For the new index, JPMorgan has suggested the weighting of China be cut to close to 30% compared with a level of about 43% in its existing JPMorgan Asia credit index (.JPMACI) (JACI) in which China is the largest component, according to one person with direct knowledge of the matter. JACI is a premier Asia credit index, tracked by fund managers controlling more than $85 billion worth of assets, according to the January proposal. INDEX RESHUFFLEThe proposal to reduce China weighting came after some fund managers pushed JPMorgan to cut JACI's China debt exposure, two sources said, as its poor performance dragged down popularity of the passive products that track the index. Jane Cai, a fixed income portfolio manager at China Asset Management (Hong Kong), said at a media briefing this month that JPMorgan was also internally discussing an ex-China Asia credit index.

☆ A veteran investment chief and former Moscow reporter says markets are pricing in at least another year of Russia's war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rhys Williams, who's also a former Moscow-based journalist, explained how the market is viewing the war one year on"This is an existential war for Putin. It may not be in Russia's interests to continue, but Putin is all in." "It may not be in Russia's interests to continue, but Putin is all in." In his view, investors are behaving as if the war will continue well into 2024. Markets brace for grueling stalemateTide of the war swinging in favor of either Moscow or Kyiv will likely spark a reaction among global investors, the veteran exec said.

☆ Chief global strategist at Principal Global Investors predicts when the Fed will cut rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChief global strategist at Principal Global Investors predicts when the Fed will cut ratesInvestors should not expect a cut in interest rates until 2024 because of a strong U.S. economy and the potential for a delayed recession, according to Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Global Investors.

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