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☆ Record international migration spurs historic rise in Canadian population
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Total population grew by a record 1.05 million people to 39.57 million in the twelve months to Jan. 1, 2023, and about 96% of the rise was due to international migration, the statistics agency said. In 2022, Canada welcomed 437,180 immigrants and the number of non-permanent residents increased by a net 607,782 people. The agency counts both permanent and non-permanent residents in addition to net new births in calculating population figures. Canada has been experiencing an upward trend in total employment since September, and the statistics agency has previously said that non-permanent residents are a notable contributor to that gain. Immigration accounts for almost 100% of Canada's labor force growth and by 2036 immigrants are projected to be about 30% of Canada's population, up from 20.7% in 2011, according to Canada's immigration ministry.

March 21 (Reuters) - Oklahoma's highest court on Tuesday ruled the state's constitution protects a right to an abortion to preserve the mother's life, and that a doctor does not need to wait until there is an immediate medical emergency to perform one. In a 5-4 ruling, the Oklahoma Supreme Court found that a law passed last year that allows life-saving abortion only when there is a "medical emergency" violates the "inherent right to life" under the state constitution. The court did not strike down a separate 1910 abortion ban with an exception for preserving the mother's life that does not require a medical emergency. It also did not address whether the state constitution includes a right to abortion under any other circumstances. Tuesday's decision comes amid widespread uncertainty in states with abortion bans about when doctors can perform the procedure if needed to preserve the mother's life or health.

☆ BMO: Buy these 20 stocks to profit from a simple 2-part investing strategy that's consistently outperformed during volatile markets — like the one we're in right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mutual fund managers are beating the market this year at the highest rate in a decade. Active fund managers are currently having their best year of relative performance in a decade, according to BMO Capital Markets. Since 1990, that strategy has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 — regardless of what's happened in the broader market, or with volatility. BMO Capital Markets20 stocks to buy nowInvestors can follow the two-part strategy BMO laid out by buying 20 outperform-rated stocks in the S&P 500 that are classified as either GARP or dividend growth stocks. Below are BMO's 20 stock picks for GARP or dividend growth, along with each company's ticker, market capitalization, and group.

☆ Goldman’s Oppenheimer says stocks will stay ‘fat and flat’ — and reveals how to trade it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

But stock markets are not out of woods yet, according to Goldman Sachs Chief Global Equity Strategist Peter Oppenheimer. He believes contagion fears around the banking sector are just one of several risk factors afflicting stocks, and predicts the market will remain "fat and flat" in the near term. He said U.S. stocks continue to look stretched and offer "very little return," while cash and short-duration debt looks "very attractive" relative to stocks. How to trade it Despite uncertainty in the European banking sector, Oppenheimer believes European stocks will continue to outperform their U.S. peers. Outside of stocks, he is also overweight cash in his global asset allocation, given greater uncertainty about the near-term path for corporate profits.

☆ Fashion retailer Scotch & Soda seeks bankruptcy for Dutch operations - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, March 20 (Reuters) - Privately held retailer Scotch & Soda, which is based in Amsterdam, has filed a bankruptcy request for its Dutch operations, newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad (FD) reported on Monday, citing a company statement. Scotch & Soda and owner Sun Capital could not immediately be reached for comment. Scotch & Soda Global BV distributes its clothes and has around 225 retail stores globally, including 70 franchise outlets, according to filings at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. The FD reported the company had sales of 342.5 million euros in the twelve months ended May 30, 2022, citing a lawyer who has been appointed curator. Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A bill pushed by Republicans in Florida would ban young girls from discussing their periods while in school
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A proposed bill in Florida limits sexual health education to grades six through twelve. The lawmaker who proposed the bill conceded it would ban younger girls from discussing periods. A Democratic lawmaker pointed out girls typically get their periods from ages 10 to 15. State Rep. Stan McClain proposed House Bill 1069, which would limit instruction on sexual and reproductive health to grades six through 12. The bill is part of a string of laws being pushed by Florida Republicans related to gender and sexuality.

☆ What happened at Credit Suisse and how did it reach crisis point?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

In December, Credit Suisse had tapped investors for 4 billion Swiss francs. Credit Suisse shares have lost more than 75% of their value over the past twelve months. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsWHAT STEPS CAN CREDIT SUISSE TAKE TO CALM INVESTORS? HOW IMPORTANT IS CREDIT SUISSE? Credit Suisse has a local Swiss bank, wealth management, investment banking and asset management operations.

March 16 (Reuters) - North Dakota's Supreme Court on Thursday refused to revive a strict abortion ban previously blocked by a lower court, finding that the ban runs afoul of a right under the state constitution to abortion if it is needed to preserve the mother's life or health. North Dakota's near-total abortion ban would allow a doctor to be prosecuted for performing an abortion even in order to save the mother's life. A state court blocked the law last year, finding the providers were likely to succeed. The state Supreme Court agreed, rebuffing Wrigley's petition to revive the law, while the case proceeds on the merits in the lower court. Twelve states are currently enforcing abortion bans adopted since last year's Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

March 15 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge in Texas is set to hear arguments on Wednesday in a bid by anti-abortion groups to ban sales of the abortion pill mifepristone across the country, even in states where abortion is legal, as they challenge regulatory approval granted more than two decades ago. Twelve of the 50 states now ban abortion outright while some others prohibit it after a certain length of pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. The judge cited death threats and harassment directed at the court during the case and a wish to avoid disruption. After appealing to the 5th Circuit, the losing side could seek to take the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Will Dunham and Alexia GaramfalviOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Sustainable Aviation Fuel No Quick Fix to Greening Air Travel
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Oscar the Grouch is United Airlines’ pitchman for a new advertising campaign touting the environmental benefits of jet fuel made from waste. It can cut emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional jet fuel, depending on the feedstock used. First, the sustainably derived fuel is typically two to four times as expensive as conventional jet fuel. Globally, jet fuel cost can be volatile but was around $2.76 a gallon as of March 3, according to the International Air Transport Association. Hydrogen’s energy density makes it more promising as a jet fuel.

☆ The mystery of MH370 remains 9 years later — here are all the theories, dead ends, and unanswered questions from the most bizarre airline disaster of the century
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The theories so farA new Netflix documentary about the plane, "MH370: The Plane That Disappeared," was released in March 2023. The show's director called the plane's disappearance "the greatest aviation mystery of all time." But the July 2018 report had offered evidence against the idea that it was a deliberate act by the crew. But Australia's former prime minister, Tony Abbott, said in 2020 that the plane's disappearance was "almost certainly murder-suicide by the pilot." But the 2018 report said there was no technology on the plane that would allow control to be taken from the pilots remotely.

☆ Senate Democrats urge Walmart, Costco, Albertsons and Kroger to sell abortion pill mifepristone
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Erin Hooley | Tribune News Service | Getty ImagesSenate Democrats called on Walmart , Costco , Albertsons and Kroger to sell the prescription abortion pill mifepristone and clearly let customers know how to get it at their pharmacies. The companies have not publicly stated yet whether they plan to sell mifepristone at their pharmacies. The 17 senators told Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, Costco CEO Craig Jelinek, Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran and Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen that they are frustrated the companies have not yet publicly indicated whether they will sell mifepristone. Major retailers in the U.S. have been thrust in the middle of the nation's deep divisions over abortion as they weigh whether to sell mifepristone. Walgreens has come under fire after it told the GOP attorneys general that it would not sell mifepristone in their states.

☆ Relax, SVB's implosion is nothing like the 2008 financial crisis, and the economy will be fine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But it's not a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis, when the government stepped in to support the US banking system. In recent days, many have drawn comparisons to the 2008 financial crisis, when the federal government doled out roughly $200 billion to hundreds of banks to support the US banking system. The size of SVB's bank failure has only been surpassed once in American history — by Washington Mutual when it collapsed in 2008. While the economy and markets aren't the same thing, a struggling market can be a negative leading indicator for a weakening economy. If the US economy does enter a recession as some experts expect, SVB's failure is unlikely to be the reason why.

Overall, the budget would increase federal spending in the twelve months starting in October to $6.8 trillion from the $6.2 trillion expected to be spent in the current fiscal year. Biden's budget proposal faces stiff opposition from Republican lawmakers emboldened by winning control of the House of Representatives in November's midterm elections. Biden, asked for areas of possible compromise with Republicans, told reporters at the White House: "We'll see what their budget is." Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget advocacy group, said the budget did not go nearly far enough to rein in dangerous debt levels. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a non-partisan Washington think tank, said Biden deserved credit for for putting forward $3 trillion in deficit reduction.

☆ ECB deposit rate to peak at 3.75% or higher as inflation stays sticky: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Jonathan Cable | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Signage is seen outside the European Central Bank (ECB) building, in Frankfurt, Germany, July 21, 2022. All 60 economists polled by Reuters March 7-9 believed her and said the bank's deposit rate would rise 50 basis points to 3.00% on Thursday. Medians in the poll showed the euro zone's central bank adding 25 basis points at the following three meetings in May, June and July to give a terminal deposit rate of 3.75%, higher than the 3.25% peak expected in a February poll. While the median showed the deposit rate peaking at 3.75% it was a view held by only 19 of 60 economists surveyed. There is now only a 34% chance of a recession within the coming year, the poll found, down from 50% in a January poll.

☆ Roku discloses it has $487 million in deposits at failed Silicon Valley Bank. That’s 26% of its cash.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Roku said in an SEC filing Friday that it held $487 million of cash at Silicon Valley Bank. That's 26% of the company's cash, which Roku disclosed was largely uninsured. The disclosure only adds to the alarm surrounding tech companies that do business with SVB after regulators shut down Silicon Valley Bank on Friday, marking it as the largest bank failure in the US since the 2008 recession. Roku said in its disclosure to the SEC that approximately 26% of the $1.9 billion in total cash and cash equivalents it has as of Friday were held at SVB. Roku's remaining $1.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents have been distributed across "multiple large financial institutions" the company said in the filing.

☆ Roku held nearly $500 million at Silicon Valley Bank and does not know if it will recover the funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Roku held approximately $487 million of its $1.9 billion in cash at Silicon Valley Bank, which collapsed Friday and was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the streaming technology company disclosed in an SEC filing. That’s approximately 26% of the company’s cash and cash equivalents, Roku (ROKU) said, adding that most of its deposits with the bank are uninsured. “The company’s deposits with SVB are largely uninsured,” Roku said. California regulators closed down the tech lender and put it under the control of the FDIC. Other companies face falloutRoblox also said in a filing that 5% of its $3 billion in cash was held at SVB.

☆ Roku says 26% of its cash reserves are stuck in Silicon Valley Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A video sign displays the logo for Roku Inc, a Fox-backed video streaming firm, in Times Square after the company's IPO at the Nasdaq Market in New York, September 28, 2017. Roku has $487 million of cash and cash equivalents in uninsured deposits at failed Silicon Valley Bank , the streaming media company said in an SEC filing Friday. About 26% of Roku's $1.9 billion in cash was deposited with SVB, which was placed into receivership by the FDIC midday Friday. "At this time, the Company does not know to what extent the Company will be able to recover its cash on deposit at SVB," Roku said in a press release. FDIC insurance only covers the first $250,000 in deposit accounts, a fraction of the cash that Roku and many other companies had vaulted with SVB.

In the past twelve months, the oil market has absorbed the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed in response by the United States, the European Union and their allies in Asia. As a result, benchmark oil prices have retreated by nearly 40% from their post-invasion high on March 8, 2022, after adjusting them for core inflation. Like all equilibria in the oil market, this one is likely to prove temporary and fragile - lasting until one or more of the risks around recession, inflation and China's post-pandemic rebound materialise or fade away. Conversely, if the global economy slides into a full-blown recession, inventories will rise and prices and spreads are likely to soften further. For the moment, however, the oil market has returned to balance less than twelve months after one of the largest shocks since the World War Two.

NEW YORK, March 8 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried's lawyers said on Wednesday it may be necessary to delay the FTX cryptocurrency exchange founder's scheduled Oct. 2 criminal trial, arguing it may take more time than expected to review the evidence and prepare a defense. Both have since pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. "While we are not making such an application at this time, we wanted to note this issue for the Court now," Christian Everdell, one of Bankman-Fried's lawyers, wrote in the letter. Bankman-Fried was released on $250 million bond and has been under house arrest at his parents' Palo Alto, California home. The trial schedule and Bankman-Fried's bail conditions are expected to be discussed at a court hearing on Friday.

☆ Pakistan police and ex-PM Khan's supporters clash, injuring several
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Mubasher Bukhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The clashes erupted in the eastern city of Lahore ahead of a Khan's planned rally to kick-start his election campaign, but which the government then banned. The former premier has been demanding snap polls since he was ousted in a parliament vote of confidence last year. Twelve workers of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were arrested, he added. Khan's aide Shafqat Mahmood said several of the workers were injured in the clashes, which, he termed, "fascist tactics." Live TV footage showed the police using extensive teargas shelling on several spots around Khan's Lahore home, with a couple of the workers seen bleeding.

☆ Indian open lower on rate fears after Powell's testimony
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Bharath Rajeswaran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Nifty 50 index (.NSEI) fell 0.49% to 17,625.95, while the S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) lost 0.48% to 59,931.07 as of 9:31 a.m. IST. The slide comes after Powell's testimony before the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, in which he said strong economic data in the United States raised the possibility of prolonged and higher-than-expected interest rate hikes. Global markets fell after Powell's testimony, with the MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) losing 1.82%. Thirty-seven of the Nifty 50 constituents logged losses with Hindalco (HALC.NS) and IT stocks falling the most. The group's flagship firm Adani Enterprises (ADEL.NS) rose over 1% and was the top Nifty 50 gainer.

☆ Jim Cramer says these 12 stocks aren't 'your father's cyclicals'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

CNBC's Jim Cramer said Wednesday he thinks many investors are wrong about twelve companies that were historically considered cyclical stocks. "These are not your father's cyclicals," Cramer said. Historically, Cramer said, these stocks tended to be swayed by the broader macroeconomic picture, and by prognostications from Federal Reserve officials. But Cramer says this "dirty dozen" isn't so dirty anymore. Here are the twelve stocks that Cramer thinks aren't as cyclical, and have made major strides toward repositioning themselves.

☆ Twelve U.S. senators back giving Commerce Secretary new powers to ban TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] FILE PHOTO:. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo speaks during the High-Level Economic Dialogue Second Annual Meeting in Mexico City, Mexico September 12, 2022. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha/PoolWASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of 12 U.S. senators will introduce legislation Tuesday that would give Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo new powers to ban Chinese-owned video app TikTok and other foreign-based technologies if they pose national security threats, Senator Mark Warner said. "I think it is a national security threat," Warner said on CNBC, adding the bill would give Raimondo "the ability to do a series of mitigation up to and including banning" TikTok. Reporting by David ShepardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ International drug bust nets $677 mln of cocaine bound for Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, March 4 (Reuters) - A joint U.S. and Australian law enforcement operation busted an international drug ring after intercepting 2.4 tonnes of cocaine aboard a vessel off the coast of South America that had been bound for Australia. Western Australian police substituted the cargo with identically packed fake cocaine and dropped it roughly 40 nautical miles west of state capital Perth on Dec. 28. Three suspected members of the "Australian arm of a drug syndicate" with 1.2 tonnes of fake cocaine were arrested on Dec. 30, after allegedly making three trips out through rough seas to collect the packages. Hailing the success of "Operation Beech" Western Australia police commissioner Col Blanch in a statement: "The operation sends a message to international drug traffickers – your deadly drugs are not welcome here." ($1 = 1.4775 Australian dollars)Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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