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LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - The Bank of England looks like it's being outed as the weakest link. The primary reason was that two of the nine-person MPC voted to end the Bank's rate rise campaign right away as the recession the Bank thinks is already underway will get entrenched next year. But with the median economist forecast for the Bank's terminal rate somewhere around 4.25%, markets still seem aggressively positioned for a hawkish surprise and the pound may be more vulnerable to that revision as the winter progresses. Significantly, the implied Fed terminal rate edged higher to 4.9% after its policy setpiece on Wednesday - even if is still below the 5.1% the Fed indicated. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.

☆ East Coast ports including New York are winning a domestic trade war at the expense of California
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

According to ITS Logistics which monitors rail cargo trends, the volume of freight moving out of the East Coast doubles that of the West Coast. East Coast ports making major investments East Coast ports like Georgia, Virginia and Maryland have been increasing their investment to accommodate the increase in rail capacity. "CSX continues to see the East Coast ports as a growth opportunity as volumes shift from congested West coast gateways," said Cindy Schild, CSX spokesperson. West Coast port declinewatch nowCargo volumes on the West Coast remained soft at the Port of Los Angeles in November, which saw a 21% decrease year over year in volumes. While the East Coast gains are significant, there was a "leveling" off of imports detected on the East Coast in November, according to port TEU data from the CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map.

☆ What’s gone wrong at Beyond Meat
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And fierce competition is squeezing sales, including in frozen, plant-based chicken, a category that is growing while refrigerated plant-based meat sales falter. “We believe that healthy competition within plant-based meat is a good thing as it brings investment in marketing to the category,” said Brown during the November analyst call. It’s true that the plant-based meat pie is smaller these days. Ground plant-based meat fell about 19%, and patties were down 30% in that period. It launched a retooled version, Beyond Chicken Tenders, in stores in 2021, and has built its plant-based chicken portfolio since then.

☆ IEA: The world will gain enough renewable energy in 5 years to power China
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In a report published Tuesday, the International Energy Agency forecast a sharp acceleration in installations of renewable power. Global renewable power capacity is now expected to grow by 2,400 gigawatts (GW) between 2022 and 2027, an amount equal to the entire power generating capacity of China today, according to the report. Policy and market reforms in China, the United States and India are also driving the growth in renewable power. China is expected to account for almost half of new global renewable power capacity added between 2022 and 2027, according to the IEA report. “Together, wind and solar will account for over 90% of the renewable power capacity that is added over the next five years,” the IEA said.

☆ Florida pulls $2 bln from BlackRock in largest anti-ESG divestment
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

This will allow them to hold hearings on ESG and grill the chief executives of BlackRock and other major assets managers about their ESG policies, and also pressure regulators to scrutinize them. Patronis accused BlackRock of focusing on ESG rather than higher returns for investors. U.S. Democratic officials have argued BlackRock doesn't press ESG concerns enough. read moreSo far, only Republican-controlled states have made major reallocations away from BlackRock, including $794 million pulled by Louisiana's treasurer read more and $500 million by Missouri's treasurer, both in October. Reporting by Ross Kerber in New York; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/2] Zambia's Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane attends the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, U.S., October 15, 2022. Zambia's Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane told Reuters that China had sought clarification from the Zambian government and the IMF on their debt agreement, he said. At the end of 2021, Chinese creditors accounted for almost $6 billion of Zambia's external debt, which was then $17.27 billion. The Export-Import Bank of China is representing all Chinese creditors in their restructuring negotiations with Zambia, Musokotwane said. These include commercial banks, the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (601398.SS), Jiangxi Bank (1916.HK) and China Minsheng Bank (600016.SS).

☆ The fear of loss can cost investors big-time. Here’s how
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Westend61The fear of loss is a powerful emotion for investors — and, if left unchecked, can cost them big bucks in the long term due to years of forfeiture of investment gains. watch nowFor investors, that evolutionary impulse plays out as "loss aversion bias." Investors have a bias toward avoiding financial loss. Prioritizing the avoidance of loss over earning a gain "is a major reason why so many investors underperform the market," Aguilar said. Meanwhile, 401(k) investors pulled money out of stock mutual funds during the same time period.

☆ Shell to 'evaluate' 25 bln pound British investments after windfall tax
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Ron Bousso | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Shell PLC FollowLONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) said on Monday it will evaluate plans to spend up to 25 billion pounds in Britain over the next decade following the government's decision to increase a windfall tax on oil and gas producers. "We're going to have to evaluate each project on a case by case basis," said Shell's UK country chair David Bunch told the Confederation of British Industry's annual conference in Birmingham. "When you tax more you're going to have less disposable income in your pocket, less to invest." The government forecasts that the tax, which was also extended from the end of 2025 to 2028, will raise 40 billion pounds. It nevertheless allows to deduct most investments in new oil and gas projects from the tax.

☆ How a naval cryptologist cracked the code of life lessons
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | 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 EmailHow a naval cryptologist cracked the code of life lessonsPutnam Investments CISO Gregory Wilson sits down with his friend FDA CISO Craig Taylor, to talk about the lessons Craig learned on his way from an impoverished neighborhood in South Carolina to working with the nation's top spies.

☆ Alphabet, income plays and more: CNBC's 'Halftime Report' traders answer your stock questions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Christina Falso | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

On Thursday's "Ask Halftime," our traders answered questions from CNBC Pro subscribers about stocks and ETFs during this market volatility, including whether to buy, sell or hold specific names. Bryn Talkington of Requisite Capital Management highlighted reasons why JPMorgan's Equity Premium Income ETF will continue to be a strong defensive strategy in this rising rate environment. Cerity Partners' Jim Lebenthal explained why he likes the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ETF as a way to play the oil sector broadly, rather than investing in individual stocks. Finally, Michael Farr of Farr, Miller & Washington talked about why you can hold Microsoft , Apple , Amazon and Alphabet as long term investments.

☆ The four-day workweek is new standard for 40% of companies, EY survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A third of surveyed executives plan to implement or extend their childcare options for employees. The EY survey found that surveyed companies have begun to invest in in-office amenities to boost return-to-office rates and employee retention. According to the EY survey, however, only a third of surveyed executives plan to reduce investment in commercial real estate. Over half of those surveyed plan to improve or expand their existing portfolios. Elon Musk, on the other hand, shows no sign of following the executives EY surveyed.

☆ How private-equity firms, rich with investors' cash, plan to capitalize on a souring economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Casey Sullivan | Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The ultimate winners from the economic downturn may turn out to be private-equity firms. At the same time, private-equity firms are seeing fewer exits and fundraising is slowing. That's the private-equity industry, according to interviews with corporate advisors and a review of earnings transcripts. Regardless of the challenges, however, one positive note for the largest private-equity firms is that they are more diversified today. These relationships are better insulating private-equity firms from economic cycles, she added.

☆ Mexico to urge U.S., Canada firms to participate in lithium market
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday his administration will issue a call for U.S. and Canadian companies to participate in the country's incipient lithium market. Mexico does not yet have commercial lithium production, though close to a dozen foreign companies hold contracts to explore potential deposits. The role of foreign companies will be centered in building infrastructure and state entities will hold the majority stakes in the projects, he added. Lopez Obrador nationalized Mexico's lithium deposits in April, hoping to cash in on surging demand for the metal. Though Mexico does not currently produce lithium, the finance ministry estimated the value of Sonora lithium reserves at $600 billion.

☆ Another single-Treasury bond ETF hits the market this week after hot start
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The burgeoning single-bond ETF space is set to grow this week as investors continue to look for ways to navigate the Federal Reserve's rate hikes. F/m Investments is launching the U.S. Treasury 12-month Bill ETF on Tuesday, president and CIO Alexander Morris told CNBC. The F/m single Treasury funds all have an expense ratio of 0.15%. These funds let investors target narrow parts of the yield curve. With the Fed hiking rates rapidly in 2022, the curve has become inverted, making short-term yields more attractive for many investors.

Progress since has been patchy, with only a few countries instituting more aggressive policies on deforestation and financing. Among the new sources of financing, Germany said it would double its financing for forests to 2 billion euros ($1.97 billion) through 2025. PRIVATE CASH PILES UPPrivate companies announced $3.6 billion in extra money. Other initiatives towards meeting the 2030 forest pledge also announced incremental progress at the opening of COP27. In September, the initiative announced standards that companies should follow to trace commodities and disclose links to deforestation.

☆ Buffett's Berkshire loses money as stocks, Hurricane Ian offset rising demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Nov 5 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Saturday posted a $2.69 billion third-quarter loss as rising inflation, falling stock investments and a big loss from Hurricane Ian offset improvement in many of the conglomerate's businesses. Berkshire also bought back more of its own stock but was cautious, repurchasing $1.05 billion, similar to the second quarter. Berkshire also said rising costs from fuel and accidents hurt respective results at two of its best-known businesses, the BNSF railroad and Geico auto insurer. Results included $10.45 billion of losses from investments and derivatives, as the stock prices of many large Berkshire investments other than Apple Inc (AAPL.O) fell. Results improved despite a $2.7 billion after-tax loss from Ian, a strong Category 4 hurricane that slammed into Florida on Sept. 28.

☆ Buffett's Berkshire loses money as stocks, Hurricane Ian offset higher demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Nov 5 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Saturday posted a $2.69 billion third-quarter loss as rising inflation, falling stock investments and a big loss from Hurricane Ian offset improvement in many of the conglomerate's businesses. It also bought back more of its own stock but was cautious, repurchasing $1.05 billion, similar to the second quarter. It also said rising costs hurt results at two of its best-known businesses, the BNSF railroad and Geico auto insurer. That helped offset a $2.7 billion after-tax loss from Ian, a strong Category 4 hurricane that slammed into Florida on Sept. 28. Net results included $10.45 billion of losses from investments and derivatives, as the stock prices of many large Berkshire investments other than Apple Inc (AAPL.O) fell.

☆ Berkshire Hathaway posts quarterly loss as stocks, Hurricane Ian weigh
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 5 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Saturday posted a third-quarter loss, as falling stock investments and a big loss from Hurricane Ian offset improvement in many of its industrial businesses. Berkshire posted a quarterly net loss of $2.69 billion, or $1,832 per Class A share, compared with a profit of $10.34 billion, or $6,882 per share, a year earlier. Geico, meanwhile, suffered its fifth straight quarterly underwriting loss, reflecting "significant cost inflation" from damages claims, used car prices and shortages of car parts. Net results included $10.45 billion of losses from investments and derivatives, as the stock prices of many large Berkshire investments fell. This causes large quarterly swings in results that Buffett says are usually meaningless.

Those returns would come from "great trading opportunities", including placing long and short bets on Chinese equities, said Man Group CEO Luke Ellis, without giving any details. "I think the alpha opportunities in China are very attractive," Ellis told Reuters on Thursday, referring to the potential to generate returns that are higher than market benchmark gains. "We've been able to generate good alpha in the Chinese market. With China gradually opening up its markets to foreign investors, Ellis sees the potential for Man Group to expand its operations in that country when it relaxes its stringent COVID-induced border controls. Man Group launched a Chinese domestic private fund unit in 2017 that currently runs one fund with a macro strategy.

☆ Bond ETFs are hitting the market at a historic pace in 2022 as investors hunt for income
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The spate of new launches comes as cash floods into fixed income products. "On one hand, it helps explain the dual-edged pain for 60/40 portfolios this year, but the -17% decline now has bond ETFs offering realistic yields as an equity alternative. This helps explain the continued surge to Treasury ETFs, which again led our category workbook with +$12 Bn [last week] and over +$110 Bn YTD," Sohn added. Holly Framsted, the director of ETFs at Capital Group, said the firm is not trying to time the market with its launches but does believe there is an underserved demand for actively managed bond ETFs. Capital Group launched three more fixed income ETFs, including funds focused on municipal bonds and short duration bonds, last week.

☆ Aurora says it has enough cash to sustain through mid-2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 2 (Reuters) - Aurora Innovation Inc (AUR.O) has enough cash to sustain its operations through mid-2024, the company said on Wednesday, even as it grapples with an uncertain market for autonomous driving. Shares of the company jumped 8% to $2.03 in extended trading after Aurora said it had over $1.2 billion in cash and short-term investments, which would also be used to develop its self-driving technology. Aurora said that it had over $1.2 billion in cash and short-term investments, which it expects to fund operations through mid-2024 and enable development of the Aurora Driver technology. The company expects to launch Aurora Driver platform at the end of 2024. The company has seen its market value plunge to $2.5 billion from $12.5 billion last November, when it went public.

Companies European Bank for Reconstruction and Development FollowLONDON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) does not plan to sell off existing upstream oil and gas loans as part of plans to align its activities with the Paris Agreement on climate change, an executive said on Monday. Last year the bank said it would stop investing in upstream oil and gas projects, namely exploration and production, by the end of 2022 but did not specify whether this applied to new or existing investments. Harry Boyd-Carpenter, EBRD managing director, told an online briefing of journalists that the bank was not planning to divest existing upstream oil and gas loans. It is preferable to keep such loans overseen by the bank to ensure more rigorous oversight rather than sell to other entities, he said. "Some of the countries we operate in see gas as part of their energy security.

☆ Mark Zuckerberg says he's 'pretty confident' Meta is heading in a 'good direction' as stock crashes 20% after huge earnings miss
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday he was "pretty confident" Meta is heading "in a good direction." He spoke after Meta's third-quarter earnings missed Wall Street's forecasts and its stock crashed 20%. Meta's third-quarter net income crashed 52% year-on-year, to $4.4 billion, as R&D costs jumped 45% largely because of the company's investments in the metaverse. The scale of Meta's metaverse investments are being closely scrutinized by investors who are concerned they're detracting from the company's core social-media businesses, such as Facebook and Instagram. Reality Labs, which handles Oculus and everything metaverse-related, reported third-quarter revenue of just $285 million – a drop of almost half compared with the same period in 2021.

☆ U.S. oil companies' cash flow to rise by 68% per barrel in 2022 - Deloitte
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Sabrina Valle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HOUSTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - U.S. upstream oil companies are expected to bank 68% higher free cash flows per barrel produced in 2022 as surging prices fuel profits, while output growth lingers at 4.5% year to date, Deloitte consultancy said on Monday. The study illustrates the clash between the White House and oil companies over how skyrocketing profits from high energy prices should be allocated. Unlike in the past, when higher energy prices and profits would lead to increased investment rates, companies have been cutting down on costs and exercising cash discipline, Deloitte said. "We are really seeing caution in terms of where the capex is going," Deloitte Energy Executive Kate Hardin said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Sabrina Valle; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Single-bond ETFs may be the key to revolutionize trading Treasurys
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In August, F/m Investments, a $4 billion multi-boutique investment advisor, launched three single-bond ETFs: the US Treasury 10 Year ETF (UTEN) , US Treasury 2 Year ETF (UTWO) , and US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF (TBIL) . However, Jared Dillian, senior editor at Mauldin Economics, argued in an August Bloomberg op-ed that single-bond ETFs "will be one of the more successful product launches of the year." A solution to investing problemsBuying specific Treasury bonds or notes entails opening an account on TreasuryDirect and buying bonds from the federal Treasury Department at auction. With these ETFs, "you're getting access to the U.S. Treasury on-the-run 2 Year. F/m Investments charges 15 basis points for its single-bond ETFs, and the funds distribute dividends monthly.

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