DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Housing inflation will need to come down before the Fed can think about cutting rates, BofA says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

With shelter inflation "sticky" at a 5.4% year over level, Gapen said it could be months before "greater confidence" is achieved. "We think the Fed is unlikely to achieve the confidence it needs to begin rate cuts until shelter inflation takes a step lower," he said. Monthly housing inflation readings in the PCE measure have been running at either 0.5% or 0.4% since March 2023. We don't target housing prices, for example," Powell said. Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, a nonvoter on the FOMC this year, on Tuesday singled out the "long-term stubbornness of shelter inflation."

Persons: Michael Gapen, Gapen, Jerome Powell, Powell, Patrick Harker Organizations: Federal Reserve, Bank of America, Commerce, Philadelphia Fed

A.I., the Apple wayAfter months of anticipation, Apple finally introduced its plan to infuse its products with artificial intelligence: Meet Apple Intelligence, which weaves the technology into core features of iPhones, iPads and Macs. But while the tech giant announced a slew of new features, the announcement reflected a very Apple-like cautious approach to A.I. Yes, the company will add OpenAI’s ChatGPT to Siri — but it’s leaving the door open for adding other chatbots. It all suggests that Apple is hedging its bets (or is simply behind its rivals), while slowly ramping up what A.I. iPhone users will be able to direct queries to the latest version of ChatGPT if Siri can’t handle them on its own.

Persons: Siri —, OpenAI, Siri can’t Organizations: Apple, Apple Intelligence, Worldwide

☆ Dollar finds footing as traders turn to U.S. services data
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Dollar notes and euro coins are arranged for a photograph on Sept. 11, 2017. The dollar steadied on Wednesday as traders pared back on riskier bets in emerging markets while waiting on an interest rate decision in Canada and on U.S. services data. Japanese real wages fell for a 25th straight month in April, data on Wednesday showed, as inflation outpaces nominal pay rises. The Swiss franc rose for a fourth straight session on the dollar overnight and at 0.8902 per dollar is close to breaking through its 200-day moving average. The New Zealand dollar was steady at $0.6173, while the Canadian dollar held the middle of a months-long range at C$1.3678 per dollar.

Persons: Jane Foley, Ryozo Himino, Narendra Modi, Chris Weston Organizations: Swiss, Bloomberg News, Bank of, Rabobank, BOJ, Westpac, New Zealand, African National Congress, Morena Locations: Canada, U.S, Bank of Japan, Asia, Japan, Morena

☆ Gold rangebound as traders seek more U.S. data for Fed cues
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Gold bars arranged at the Korea Gold Exchange store in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Gold prices rose slightly on Wednesday helped by lower Treasury yields, but were stuck in a tight range as investors waited for more U.S. data to gauge the Federal Reserve's next step on monetary policy. U.S. gold futures rose 0.3% to $2,354.50. Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields lingered near their lowest level in almost three weeks hit on Tuesday, making bullion more attractive to investors. The U.S. services data is due at 1400 GMT.

Persons: Matt Simpson Organizations: Korea Gold Exchange, Federal, Index, Gold Locations: Seoul, South Korea, U.S

☆ Best Buy surges on signs that the expected AI-driven PC and smartphone refresh is starting
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Bottom Line This was a better-than-feared quarter from Best Buy. Services are an area that Best Buy can lean into and leverage to differentiate from online retailers like Amazon . Importantly, she noted that not only will Best Buy have the largest assortment of AI-enabled PCs but over 40% of that assortment will be exclusive to Best Buy. Going back to how Best Buy can compete with the likes of Amazon, Best Buy is working closely with vendors on marketing strategies and demonstrations to offer a "unique educational and interconnected digital shopping journey." Bimal Tandel photographs Bhavin Tandel and Dinesh Tandel, crew members on the Klara Oldendorff, in front of a Best Buy in Timonium, Maryland, U.S., March 29, 2024.

Persons: Corie Barry, we're, Barry, FactSet, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Bimal, Bhavin Tandel, Dinesh Tandel, Klara Oldendorff, Julia Nikhinson Organizations: LSEG, Services, Amazon, Computer, Target, Walmart, Costco, Barry, Apple, CNBC Locations: Timonium , Maryland, U.S

☆ Wells Fargo goes on quiet hiring spree to expand from lending. What it means for the stock
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

He added, "Wells Fargo could fetch a higher multiple in the market as a result." A Wells Fargo spokesperson declined to comment on the total number of CIB-related hires across all levels in the division. Wells Fargo and other banks have benefited in recent years as the Federal Reserve began hiking interest rates in March 2022. More recent data indicates that Wells Fargo's investment banking revenue share globally has jumped to No. A woman walks past Wells Fargo bank in New York City, U.S., March 17, 2020.

Persons: Wells, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Jeff Marks, Charlie Scharf, Scharf, Doug Braunstein, Braunstein, Fernando Rivas, Rivas, Jonathan Weiss, Weiss, Piper Sandler, Wells Fargo's Scharf, NII, Kroger, Scharf's, Scott Siefers, Siefers, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Wall, CNBC, JPMorgan, CIB, Wells, North American Investment Banking, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Suisse —, Management, Federal Reserve, Fed, Albertson's, Federal Trade Commission, Currency Locations: Wells Fargo, Americas, U.S, IPOs, Wells, New York City

The 30-stock Dow slid 605.78 points, or 1.53%, and closed at 39,065.26 for its worst session of the year. The S&P 500 dropped 0.74%, closing at 5,267.84, and the Nasdaq Composite tumbled 0.39% to end at 16,736.03. Stocks fell Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average registering its worst day of 2024, as a post-earnings rally in Nvidia failed to lift the broader market. With its market cap of more than $2.5 trillion, Nvidia also has considerable sway over the broad S&P 500 . More than 400 names in the S&P 500 were lower, and information technology was the only positive sector for the day.

Persons: Stocks, Dow Jones, it's, Piper Sandler, Craig Johnson Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Dow, Boeing, Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial, Nvidia, . Services, Global, Federal Reserve, Traders Locations: New York City

Binance is finding 300,000 fake addresses every week, mainly on Ethereum and Bitcoin networks. AdvertisementAs crypto thieves find more creative ways to trick people, so do those trying to crack down on them. Binance, a major crypto exchange, told Business Insider that it has developed an algorithm to spot fake crypto addresses — used in so-called "address poisoning" scams. According to Binance, the company's algorithm is detecting some 300,000 fake addresses every week, mostly on Ethereum and Bitcoin networks. The FBI warns that services offering to return money to the victims of crypto scams might actually also be scams themselves.

Persons: —, it's, Binance Organizations: Service, Services, FBI

☆ Jim Cramer says Alphabet is a buy and the most undervalued large tech stock
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. Jim Cramer suggested some of Apple's AI commentary Thursday night could be a factor in the Google parent's stock move. We continue to believe the market is underappreciating Coterra's ability to pullback production in natural gas in favor of oil. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER .

Persons: Jim Cramer, That's, Jim, Tom Jorden, Jorden, Nelson Peltz, Peltz, Jim Cramer's Organizations: CNBC, Apple, Conference, Nasdaq, Google, Federal Reserve, Institute for Supply, Coterra Energy, Diamondback Energy, Cinco, Cinco de Mayo, Constellation Brands, Corona, Modelo, Disney, Jim Cramer's Charitable Locations: U.S, Cinco de

☆ We're raising our price target on Apple after its big earnings beat and raise
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Earnings per share rose 1% to $1.53, a March quarter record, and exceeded the LSEG consensus estimate of $1.50. This resulted in stronger-than-expected free cash flow, which is more important than operating cash flow because it is cash Apple can ultimately return to shareholders via buybacks and dividends. During the reported quarter, Apple paid over $27 billion to shareholders, including $3.7 billion in dividends and equivalents and another $23.5 billion via the repurchase of 130 million shares. Quarterly results Apple's services sales notched another record, which offset a slight miss in product sales and led to beats on gross and operating income. iPad sales are expected to gain double digits year over year, much better than the 5.9% expected on Wall Street.

Persons: Tim Cook, Cook, we're, Apple, Luca Maestri, Maestri, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Apple, Management, MacBook, MacBook Air, Apple Watch, Fortune, Apple Vision, KLM Airlines, CNBC, Apple Inc, Visual China, Getty Locations: China, Greater China, America, East, Canada, India, Spain, Turkey, Indonesia, WWDC, U.S, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Shanghai

☆ Microsoft Reports Rising Revenues as A.I. Investments Bear Fruit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Karen Weise | More About Karen Weise | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Profit hit $21.9 billion, up from $18.3 billion. A year after Microsoft began its push to put A.I. into everything it does, the company said sales of its flagship cloud computing product, Azure, had grown 31 percent. push has helped it gain market share from Amazon, the leading cloud services provider. In January, the company said 53,000 customers were using its cloud A.I.

Persons: Microsoft’s Organizations: Microsoft, Revenue, Amazon

☆ GDP growth slowed to a 1.6% rate in the first quarter, well below expectations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Consumer spending increased 2.5% in the period, down from a 3.3% gain in the fourth quarter and below the 3% Wall Street estimate. Net exports subtracted 0.86 percentage point from the growth rate while consumer spending contributed 1.68 percentage points. Excluding food and energy, core PCE prices rose at a 3.7% rate, both well above the Fed's 2% target. Income adjusted for taxes and inflation rose 1.1% for the period, down from 2%. Services spending increased 4%, its highest quarterly level since Q3 of 2021.

Persons: Dow Jones, Jeffrey Roach Organizations: Gross, department's, Analysis, Commerce Department, Federal, Dow Jones, Treasury, Federal Reserve, LPL, Labor Department

☆ Oil prices aren't the Fed's biggest problem right now — American demand is, says an economist
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Israel's strike on Iran caused oil prices to spike, sparking fears of rising inflation. But US inflation is more impacted by strong domestic demand than by oil prices, an economist told Bloomberg TV. Oil prices gained as much as 4% following reports of the attack before later subsiding. Services is demand, and that demand needs to come from somewhere — and that's a robust economy," Chaar told Bloomberg. "I would say the biggest challenge here for the Fed is to manage the demand of the US economy," Chaar said.

Persons: —, Samy Chaar, Lombard Odier, Jerome Powell, Chaar Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Fed, Bloomberg TV, Federal, Services, Institute for Supply Management Locations: Iran, Israel, —, Swiss, America

☆ UK inflation eases less than expected to 3.2% in March, sparking concerns of U.S.-style stickiness
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Food prices provided the biggest downward drag on the headline rate, the ONS said, while motor fuels pushed it higher. The core figure, excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, came in at 4.2%, compared with a projection of 4.1%. Services inflation, a key watcher for U.K. monetary policymakers, declined from 6.1% to 6% — again above the expectations of both economists and the BOE. This week, investors have been monitoring signs of a cooling U.K. labor market, with unemployment unexpectedly rising to 4.2% in the period between December and February. The central bank's own forecast is for inflation to "briefly drop" to its 2% target in the spring before increasing slightly.

Persons: BOE, BOE Governor Andrew Bailey Organizations: National Statistics, Bank of England, Reuters, Federal Reserve Locations: U.S

☆ Hot inflation data pushes market’s rate cut expectations to September
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Three months of inflation data have brought those expectations back down to earth. "Not that you've put a pin in inflation getting to the Fed's target, but it's not happening imminently." The 2-year Treasury note , which is especially sensitive to Fed rate moves, jumped to 4.93%, an increase of nearly 0.2 percentage point. The pricing in of seven rate cuts earlier this year was completely at odds with indications from Fed officials. However, when policymakers in December raised their "dot plot" indicator to three rate cuts from two projected in September, it set off a Wall Street frenzy.

Persons: Michael M, Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab, you've, There's, Today's, Phillip Neuhart, Joseph LaVorgna, Schwab's Sonders, Sonders Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Santiago, Getty, Federal, Labor, CPI, Fed, Traders, First, Bank Wealth, Dow Jones, Treasury, Nikko Securities, Atlanta Fed Locations: New York City

☆ Dollar steady ahead of jobs data; yen hits two-week high
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The yen, while still close to the 152 range, hit a two-week high against the greenback as safe-haven bids and fresh warnings from Japanese authorities buoyed the currency. The dollar has had a turbulent week, falling from a five-month high to a two-week low after an unexpected slowdown in U.S. services growth supported expectations of bringing interest rates down. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, was last largely unchanged at 104.18. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki on Friday reiterated the government's resolve to take appropriate action against sharp yen falls. The yen strengthened 0.29% versus the greenback to a two-week high of 150.92.

Persons: payrolls, Neel Kashkari, Jerome Powell, Charu Chanana, Joe Biden, Matt Simpson, Shunichi Suzuki, Kazuo Ueda, bitcoin Organizations: U.S, The U.S, greenback, Minneapolis Federal, Saxo, Biden, Finance, Bank of Japan, Asahi Locations: The, Minneapolis, Gaza, Iran

☆ Dollar takes a breather ahead of U.S. jobs data
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

European inflation came in softer-than-expected on Wednesday, reinforcing expectations for a European rate cut in June. "The speech broadly affirmed the Fed is on track to cut rates this year, with data determining the timing. The Australian dollar broke above its 200-day moving average as the U.S. dollar dipped overnight and was steady at $0.6568 on Thursday. The Aussie is at a five-month high on the New Zealand dollar with traders expecting New Zealand rate cuts beginning in August but Australian rates on hold until November. The New Zealand dollar rose 0.7% on the greenback overnight to regain a foothold above $0.60.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Sterling Organizations: Federal, Traders, ANZ, Australian, U.S, New Zealand, . U.S, Treasury, PMI, Central Bank Locations: Zealand, ., Europe

☆ Gold continues record rally after Fed comments; U.S. data in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Gold prices rallied to a record high on Thursday as Federal Reserve officials reiterated expectations of interest rate cuts in 2024, even if their timing was unclear, while traders await key U.S. jobs data. Spot gold was steady at $2,299.28 per ounce, as of 0343 GMT, and hit a record high of $2,304.09 earlier in the session. Bullion has hit record highs in each session since last week's Thursday. The U.S. jobs report for March is due to be released on Friday, with new inflation data coming next week. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding bullion.

Persons: Bullion, Michael Langford, Jerome Powell, Langford Organizations: Federal, U.S, Scorpion Minerals Locations: U.S

☆ Traveling with my dad helped me see him as an individual, not just my parent, and improved our relationship dynamic
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Adam England | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

First, it was just me and my parents, and then my sister was born shortly before my ninth birthday. Over the next six years, I went on a few trips with friends, my girlfriend, and my university. And my parents and sister had all traveled at least once separately too, whether for work, school, or leisure. And, I learned more about the sort of things my parents are planning for when both of their children are adults. While my parents work on computers and are by no means technophobes, I was able to make the trip with my dad easier by having an app for everything.

Persons: I've, they've, Jude Bellingham, Adam England, I'm, they're Organizations: Birmingham City, Birmingham, Apple Locations: California, Lanzarote, Madrid, Birmingham, Real Madrid, Spain, —

☆ Recession-hit Britain swings to economic growth in January, helped by construction bounce
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

People walk along Waterloo Bridge past the City of London skyline, the capital's financial district, on a sunny and mild day. LONDON — U.K. gross domestic product grew 0.2% in January, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday, as construction output jumped unexpectedly. It follows a 0.1% contraction in December, while the U.K. economy entered a shallow recession in the second half of last year. Construction output was 1.1% higher in January, the ONS said, but fell 0.9% over a three-month period. Services recorded 0.2% growth in January, providing the biggest contribution to growth, as production output fell 0.2%.

Organizations: LONDON, National Statistics, Reuters, Services Locations: London, U.K

☆ CNBC Daily Open: U.S. services activity moderates
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) 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. Overnight, U.S. markets were dragged lower by sharp declines in major tech stocks. China growth pushChina may need to resort to an old tactic to hit its ambitious growth target this year. AI adoption rateA global survey found AI adoption rate for businesses is yet to match the hype around the technology.

Persons: Hong, Dow, Bitcoin, Wang Dan, Jeremy Hunt, Paul Meeks Organizations: CNBC, CSI, Nikkei, Nasdaq, Apple, Hang Seng Bank, Finance, Conservative Party, Nvidia, Veteran, CNBC Pro Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, China, Beijing

☆ CNBC Daily Open: U.S. services pace slows slightly
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) 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. Dow's steep declineWall Street ended lower Tuesday as the broader market was dragged by sharp declines in major tech stocks. China growth pushChina may need to resort to an old tactic to hit its ambitious growth target this year. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump hold commanding leads in the polls of their respective parties.

Persons: Dow, Bitcoin, Wang Dan, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Jerome Powell, Powell, Paul Meeks Organizations: CNBC, Nasdaq, Apple, Hang Seng Bank, Capitol, Nvidia, Veteran, CNBC Pro Locations: China, Beijing

☆ Dollar steady ahead of Powell testimony, bitcoin takes breather
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. dollar was largely steady on Wednesday, as traders avoided making large bets ahead of congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, as well as the European Central Bank's, or ECB, rate decision and U.S. jobs data later this week. In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin was slightly up but stayed below a record high reached in a volatile overnight session. Powell is expected to reinforce that the Fed will wait for more data before making any rate cuts. Elsewhere, the ECB is widely expected to leave interest rates at a record 4% at its policy meeting on Thursday. Markets are also keeping a close eye on the world's largest cryptocurrency, bitcoin , after it surged to a record high overnight before retreating sharply.

Persons: Jerome Powell, bitcoin, Powell's, Powell, Carol Kong, Sterling Organizations: U.S, Federal, European Central Bank, Institute for Supply Management, Traders, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ECB Locations: U.S

☆ Gold holds above $2,100 near record high, focus on Powell testimony
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices held above the $2,100 level on Wednesday, near a record peak hit in the previous session as hopes for U.S. rates easing by mid-year mount, while traders awaited remarks on the economy's health from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Gold prices held above the $2,100 level on Wednesday, near a record peak hit in the previous session as hopes for U.S. rates easing by mid-year mount, while traders awaited remarks on the economy's health from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Spot gold edged down 0.1% at $2,126.13 per ounce, as of 0458 GMT. Spot prices hit a record peak of $2141.59 per ounce overnight on Tuesday, rallying for a fifth straight session. Spot platinum rose 0.4% to $884.16 per ounce, and palladium rose over 1% to $958.20, while silver dropped 0.3% to $23.63.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Ajay Kedia, Kunal Shah Organizations: Federal, Kedia Commodities, Traders, U.S, Nirmal, Commodities Locations: Mumbai, U.S

☆ Nvidia Says Growth Will Continue as A.I. Hits ‘Tipping Point’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Don Clark | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nvidia, the kingpin of chips powering artificial intelligence, on Wednesday released quarterly financial results that reinforced how the company has become one of the biggest winners of the artificial intelligence boom, and it said demand for its products would fuel continued sales growth. Nvidia has become known as one of the “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks, which along with others like Amazon, Apple and Microsoft have helped power the stock market. Last week, the company briefly eclipsed the market values of Amazon and Alphabet before receding to the fifth-most-valuable tech company. Its stock market gains are largely a result of repeatedly exceeding analysts’ expectations for growth, a feat that is becoming more difficult as they keep raising their predictions. Revenue was well above the $20 billion the company predicted in November and above Wall Street estimates of $20.4 billion.

Organizations: Nvidia, Wednesday, Apple, Microsoft, Revenue

Search resuls for: ". Services"

25 mentions found