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☆ Everything you need to know about UBS's historic $3 billion deal to rescue rival bank Credit Suisse
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

UBS agreed to buy its longtime rival Credit Suisse for $3 billion on Sunday. There's one big winner — and lots of losers — from the Credit Suisse rescue deal. The deal announced Sunday afternoon valued Credit Suisse shares at just 0.76 Swiss francs, one-fifth of the price the Saudi National Bank paid. Lastly, the merger between UBS and Credit Suisse could be bad news for the Fed. Here's how the Credit Suisse rescue deal impacts the central bank.

[1/2] Logos of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse are seen in Zurich, Switzerland March 19, 2023. UBS will buy rival Swiss bank Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.23 billion) and agreed to assume up to $5.4 billion in losses as it winds down the smaller peer's investment bank after a shotgun merger engineered by Swiss authorities. The U.S., UK and Swiss central banks are all scheduled to meet in the week ahead. Even after Sunday's news on Credit Suisse, optimism from analysts was laced with caution and some scepticism. Others drew attention to the losses likely to be suffered by Credit Suisse junior bondholders.

☆ Imperious Ireland beat England to clinch Six Nations Grand Slam
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

DUBLIN, March 18 (Reuters) - Ireland completed their fourth Six Nations Grand Slam with a 29-16 victory over England at a pulsating Aviva Stadium on Saturday, emphatically underlining their status as the world's top-ranked team heading into September's World Cup. What a group of coaches," Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, playing in his final Six Nations game, said in a pitchside interview. If it looked like Ireland would cruise towards a Grand Slam in Dublin, following success in Twickenham (2018), Cardiff (2009) and Belfast (1948), England had other ideas and another Owen Farrell penalty after the break made it 10-9. "We've built some foundations over the course of the Six Nations but clearly we want to be a better team." The defeat consigned England to fourth place in the table and a third successive Six Nations with more defeats than victories after winning the championship in 2020.

☆ The last chance for some retirees to avoid a 25% tax penalty is April 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In 2022, Secure 2.0 raised the age to 73, which starts in 2023. RMDs apply to both pre-tax and Roth 401(k)s and other workplace plans, along with most individual retirement accounts. Secure 2.0 reduced the RMD penaltyIf you skip your RMD or don't take out enough, there's a 25% penalty, levied on the amount you should have withdrawn. Secure 2.0 dropped the penalty to 25% from 50% starting in 2023, with the possibility of reducing it further to 10% if you take your missed RMD during the "correction window." "In the past, the IRS was lenient about missed RMDs, but with the new reduced penalties, they may get more aggressive," he said.

☆ Bank troubles roil markets and make Fed's decision next week more fraught
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Patti Domm | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Even with Friday's sell-off, the S & P 500 and Nasdaq scored gains for the week. The S & P 500 rose 1.4%, compared to a tiny loss of 0.2% in the Dow . "If the U.S. economy is going into a recession, they're going to be buying less cloud service. On Friday, durable goods for February is reported, and there are releases of flash S & P Global PMI data for services and manufacturing. Durable goods 9:30 a.m. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard 9:45 a.m. S & P Global Manufacturing PMI 9:45 a.m. S & P Global Services PMI

☆ Victims of the Fed: How a year of rate hikes cratered stocks - and fueled the demise of FTX and Silicon Valley Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US central bank has lifted borrowing costs from near-zero to just under 5%, starting with its initial raise on March 16, 2022. Lender Silicon Valley Bank failed and FTX imploded after borrowing costs rose. "Stocks had become reliant on low interest rates as a crutch," Dan Kemp, CIO at Morningstar Investment Management, told Insider. "If valuations had been lower, then the reaction to the Fed's rate hikes would've been far less severe." Rising interest rates in a particular country tend to strengthen its currency, because they attract foreign investors seeking higher yields.

☆ Silicon Valley Bank's collapse has made the Fed's job way harder, top economist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Federal Reserve will struggle to achieve a "no landing" scenario now that Silicon Valley Bank has collapsed, according to Apollo Global Management's chief economist. Torsten Sløk said he's expecting the regional banking crisis to lead to a fall in lending levels. "The slowdown that was already underway because of the Fed raising rates might come faster," he told Bloomberg. Its stock then cratered 87% in two days before it was taken over by regulators – and the share prices of other regional banks like First Republic and Western Alliance have also plunged since its collapse. The banking crisis has led to some of Wall Street's top names raising alarm bells about the Fed – which is still upping borrowing costs in a bid to tame inflation.

☆ 'Big Short' investor Steve Eisman says it'll be bad news for stocks if the banking crisis causes the Fed to pause: 'You should be scared'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Investors should be worried if the Federal Reserve doesn't raise interest rates next week, according to Steve Eisman. "If the Fed is scared, you should be scared," the "Big Short" investor told CNBC. Traders upped their bets on a Fed pause after the US's regional banking crisis rocked markets. "If the Fed doesn't raise rates … maybe it'll be positive for a couple hours or a couple of weeks," he added. The central bank is in a difficult position because inflation could flare up again if it does stop tightening, according to Eisman.

☆ Inflation tops 100% in Argentina as the price of beef spikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Inflation topped 100% in Argentina last month, according to official data published Tuesday. The country logged a three-digit inflation rate for the first time in over 30 years in February. Food prices jumped 10% month-on-month, with beef costs up over 30% in one region. It's the first time since 1991 that Argentina has logged inflation of over 100%, according to Bloomberg data. That surge came despite Argentina's economy ministry's introduction last month of a price control program aimed at slashing the price of popular beef cuts.

☆ Dow dives over 600 points as Credit Suisse selloff injects fresh unease into markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US stock futures sank Wednesday as worries about Credit Suisse's financial health revived fears over banks. Dow futures fell as much as 600 points premarket as the worries dented US investor sentiment. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures shed as much as 600 points in premarket trading and were down 530 points at last check. The drop came after a huge selloff in Credit Suisse shares undermined investor sentiment, with fears growing that the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank will spiral into a full-blown banking crisis. The extended tumble in Credit Suisse's share price has fueled unease about the global banking sector after SVB, Signature Bank, and Silvergate Capital all imploded over recent days.

☆ SVB-rattled banks First Republic and Western Alliance go on downgrade watch at Moody's
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ratings agency Moody's has put First Republic and Western Alliance under review for possible downgrade. Shares in the regional banks cratered Monday as Silicon Valley Bank's collapse rattled markets. The agency's downgrade warning came after First Republic shares plunged 75% Monday, while Western Alliance plummeted 80%. The New York Stock Exchange repeatedly halted trading of both regional banks' shares on volatility concerns in the session, as worries around SVB's implosion rocked markets. Small-to-midsize banks like San Francisco's First Republic and Arizona-based Western Alliance have borne the brunt of the fallout from the SVB crisis so far.

☆ Silicon Valley Bank crisis: Everything you need to know about SVB Financial as its share collapse rattles major stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

SVB Financial's share plunge is dragging on major bank stocks like JPMorgan and Bank of America. Here's everything you need to know about Silicon Valley Bank and its parent company SVB Financial. SVB is a Santa Clara-based bank that lends money to and takes deposits from Silicon Valley tech startups. Why has SVB's stock price crashed? "The failure of SVB Financial could destroy an important long-term driver of the economy as VC-backed companies rely on SVB for loans and holding their operating cash," he said on Twitter Thursday evening.

☆ 'Big Short' investor Michael Burry issues a grave warning after Silicon Valley Bank's stock rout: 'It is possible today we found our Enron'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

'Big Short' legend Michael Burry just compared Silicon Valley Bank to Enron. The bank's stock plunged 60% Thursday as its parent company offloaded shares after massive bond losses. "It is possible today we found our Enron," the 'Big Short' investor said Thursday in a now-deleted Tweet, referencing the scandal-hit energy firm that collapsed during the early 2000s. Enron collapsed as the dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index plunging 78% in just over two years. The bank's updated investor deck, which was filed Wednesday, showed that the company's $21 billion bond portfolio had a yield of 1.8% and an average duration of just over three years.

☆ Credit Suisse delays filing its annual report, reviving fears about the Swiss bank's finances
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Credit Suisse has delayed filing its annual report after a call from the US financial watchdog. "Management believes it is prudent to briefly delay the publication of its accounts in order to understand more thoroughly the comments received," Credit Suisse said. Credit Suisse ADRs have plunged 61% over the past year, with a restructuring plan announced on October 27 also failing to reassure markets of the bank's resilience. The SEC's late call isn't Credit Suisse's only regulatory worry. Read more: Credit Suisse is fending off concerns about its financial health, fanning fears of another Lehman Brothers moment that could roil the global financial system.

☆ Crypto bank Silvergate says it'll shut down as the market meltdown claims its 1st mainstream casualty
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"In light of recent industry and regulatory developments, Silvergate believes that an orderly wind down of bank operations and a voluntary liquidation of the bank is the best path forward," Silvergate Capital, the holding company for Silvergate Bank, said Wednesday. But the combination of the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest-rate hikes and FTX's collapse in November cast a shadow over its future. Last week, Exness strategist Wael Makarem warned of the potential fallout for the crypto market and industry. "As a result, the market could be exposed to new price corrections while investors could be concerned about a potential impact on other market players," he said. Read more: Troubled crypto bank Silvergate sees regulators swoop in to try to help it stay afloat

☆ Tesla has declared a price war on electric-vehicle and traditional automakers alike. There are signs Elon Musk's company is making early gains.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( George Glover | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The automaker has slashed Model 3, Model Y, Model X, and Model S prices in 2023. While it's too soon to call a winner in the price war, there are signs Tesla is making early gains. Tesla also lowered prices for its Model S sedan and Model X SUV in January, then reduced them again in early March. The basic Model S now retails at $89,990, down 14% from the start of the year, while the entry-level Model X costs $99,990, down 17%. "Price cuts also annoy customers," Caspar Rawles, the chief data officer at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a price-reporting agency, told Insider.

☆ The risk of a stock-market crash just shot up after Fed boss Powell signaled bigger rate hikes, Mohamed El-Erian says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Fed boss Jerome Powell's latest comments boost the risk of a crash in stocks, Mohamed El-Erian has warned. The comments "could risk both economic well-being and financial stability," top economist El-Erian said. "Yet once again, remarks by Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell fueled considerable volatility in markets that could risk both economic well-being and financial stability." But Powell's comments suggest a 50-point rise is back on the table for next month. Read more: Brace for US stocks to crash again – their extreme valuations echo the 2022 bear market, Morgan Stanley strategists warn

☆ Tesla a 'screaming buy' or bellwether for zombie stocks? The bulls and bears state their case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla's stock closed at $193.81 on Monday — 49.2% off its 52-week high, compared to an average drop of 18% among its peers, according to FactSet. Over the year so far, Tesla shares are up around 57%, but looking ahead, analysts are divided on the company's prospects. The bears: 'Bellwether' for zombie stocks Apart from the recent price cuts, Tesla has hinted at a cheap, next-generation model that would cost $25,000. David Trainer, CEO of investment research firm New Constructs, said that it's "nosebleed high because the cash flow expectations baked into the stock price are unreasonably optimistic." And you look at the relative growth to large cap tech companies and it's a screaming buy," he said.

☆ Brace for US stocks to crash again – their extreme valuations echo the 2022 bear market, Morgan Stanley strategists warn
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US stocks look as overvalued as when the 2022 bear market kicked off, Morgan Stanley warned. "The stock market and the credit market are fighting the Federal Reserve's likely path of rising interest rates. But the Morgan Stanley Wealth Management team said that rally has dragged valuations — an assessment of a stock's fundamental worth — to extreme levels. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's gloomy outlook echoes the bearish view held by the bank's top strategist. Read more: The bear market rally isn't over yet as stocks just survived a crucial test, Morgan Stanley CIO says

☆ Billionaire investor Bill Gross slams the hype around Cathie Wood, with Ark's flagship fund lagging top tech stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Billionaire 'Bond King' Bill Gross slammed the hype around Ark's top stock-picker Cathie Wood Monday. He pointed out her flagship ETF has lagged funds tracking top tech stocks over the past five years. Wood is known for her big bets on disruptive tech, including AI and blockchain stocks. "CNBC/media idolatry with Cathie Wood is absurd," the PIMCO founder said on Twitter Monday. Read more: 'Big Short' investor Michael Burry points to the steep drop in ARKK stock - and says Cathie Wood's flagship fund was always bound to collapse in value

☆ Oil prices head for a 4th monthly loss in a row, as traders keep worrying about the Fed's war on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Crude oil prices are on track to end February lower, for their fourth monthly loss in a row. But many analysts expect prices to rise again in March as Russia slashes its oil output. Higher interest rates in the US weigh on oil prices because they curb consumer demand and drag on economic activity. But many analysts expect oil prices to rally again once Russia starts cutting its production levels. Moscow said earlier in February that it plans to cut its oil output by 500,000 barrels a day in March, as Ukraine sanctions hit its ability to find willing buyers.

☆ Analysis: Netanyahu's balancing act got harder after post-summit violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

On Monday, another suspected Palestinian shooting attack in the West Bank critically wounded one person, emergency services said. "It's now in his interest to show that he is clamping down on this kind of settler violence." "The U.S administration, which fosters this government, must end all these crimes," said the spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "One can see the Aqaba summit as a parable: the Americans announce that Israel has promised to freeze settlement construction, which Netanyahu then denies. "On the eve of the election Netanyahu was pondering the legacy he will have when he is reelected prime minister.

☆ Putin's war in Ukraine brought chaos and change to the global energy market. These 4 charts show how the conflict transformed the oil and gas landscape.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( George Glover | Zinya Salfiti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

These four charts show how the war has changed global energy markets over the past year. Here are four charts that capture the most striking changes that took hold in oil and gas markets over the past year. Russia has found other oil buyersBut Russia has still managed to find other buyers for its oil. India too has aggressively ramped up its purchases of Russian oil and now imports 1.2 million barrels each day, according to Vortexa. "The natural gas market has become even more global as demand for liquefied natural gas continues to rise," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

☆ 2 former Barclays bankers just netted a 700% profit selling Bored Ape NFTs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mike Anderson and Ovie Faruq offloaded their collection of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs this week. The 72 NFTs sold for $9.25 million, according to OpenSea data cited by Bloomberg. The former Barclays junk bond traders reportedly netted a 700% profit for the deal. The two traders' 700% profit still pales in comparison to what they could have made at the height of the crypto boom, according to Bloomberg. The publication estimated that Anderson and Faruq's Bored Ape collection was worth $30 million at the start of May 2022 – which would have netted them profits of just under 3,000%.

☆ Tesla rival Lucid's stock slides 10% after it says it'll make fewer electric cars than expected this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lucid Group shares fell as much as 10% in Thursday's premarket after a disappointing earnings update. The EV maker missed on revenue and said it will make fewer cars this year than Wall Street expected. Demand for its luxury electric cars has taken a hit as rival Tesla's grows thanks to aggressive price cuts. The EV maker reported a loss of 28 cents per share, narrower than the loss of 40 cents a share forecast. Read more: Tesla's stock is getting trounced by EV challenger Lucid, which is leading techs' 2023 rally thanks to Saudi takeover rumors

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