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☆ US weekly jobless claims post largest rise in 5 months; labor market still tight
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"Even after factoring in the latest increase, jobless claims are exceptionally low by historical standards, underscoring just how tight labor market conditions still are," said Michael Pearce, lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics in New York. The four-week moving average for new claims, a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out weekly fluctuations, climbed 4,000 to 197,000 last week. Claims had stayed below 200,000 for seven straight weeks, indicating that high-profile job cuts in the technology sector had not had a material impact on the labor market. Goldman Sachs believed residual seasonality accounted for about half of last week's rise in claims. The labor market is, however, cooling on the margins.

☆ U.S. trade deficit widens moderately in January
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit widened moderately in January as both imports and exports increased strongly. The trade deficit increased 1.6% to $68.3 billion, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade deficit rising to $68.9 billion. Adjusting for inflation, the goods trade deficit increased 3.6% to $101.8 billion in January. A smaller trade deficit was one of the contributors to the economy's 2.7% annualized growth rate in the fourth quarter.

☆ U.S. private payrolls increase in February -ADP
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 8 (Reuters) - U.S. private payrolls increased more than expected in February, pointing to continued labor market strength. Private employment increased by 242,000 jobs last month, the ADP National Employment report showed on Wednesday. It has not been a reliable gauge in forecasting private payrolls in the BLS employment report. The ADP initially reported 106,000 private jobs were created in January, a fraction of the 443,000 surge in private payrolls estimated by the BLS. According to a Reuters survey of economists, private payrolls likely increased by 213,000 jobs in February.

☆ These 8 startups are bringing AI technology to Netflix, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, and more — and attracting millions in VC funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

VCs and private equity have poured millions into AI startups seeking to disrupt film and TV production. Startups making waves in Hollywood AI include MARZ and Deep Voodoo, founded by the creators of "South Park." Generative AI has spawned a raft of tools with real-life applications to Hollywood — and VCs are getting in on the action. There are already AI tools that can write full scripts. Vendors and investors told Insider that over time, AI tools will change jobs, not replace them.

☆ US factory orders fall as civilian aircraft demand dives
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The report from the Commerce Department on Monday also showed shipments of manufactured goods rebounding after two-straight monthly declines, while inventories were unchanged. The drop in factory orders in January mostly reflected a 13.3% decline in transportation equipment, which followed a 15.8% jump in December. Transportation equipment orders were weighed down by a 54.5% tumble in orders for civilian aircraft. Motor vehicle orders increased 1.3%. Shipments of manufactured goods increased 0.7%, the biggest gain since August, after falling 0.6% in December.

☆ US factory orders fall in January on civilian aircraft demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Commerce Department said on Monday that factory orders dropped 1.6% after increasing 1.7% in December. Orders increased 4.3% on a year-on-year basis in January. The drop in factory orders in January mostly reflected a 13.3% decline in transportation equipment, which followed a 15.8% jump in December. Transportation equipment orders were weighed down by a 54.5% tumble in orders for civilian aircraft. Motor vehicle orders increased 1.3%.

☆ US services sector grows steadily; prices stubbornly high
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Thirteen services industries, including construction, retail trade, accommodation and food services as well as professional, scientific and technical services, reported growth last month. Overall, the services sector is benefiting from a switch in consumer spending from goods, which are typically bought on credit. ISM services PMISUPPLY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVEDThe services sector is now at the center of the fight against inflation as services prices tend to be stickier and less responsive to interest rate increases. A measure of prices paid by services industries for inputs fell to 65.6, the lowest in January 2021, from 67.8 in January. Some economists view the ISM services prices paid gauge as a good predictor of personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation.

☆ Big media is gearing up for battle with Google and Microsoft over AI chatbots using their articles for training: 'We are actively considering our options'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Publishers want Google and Microsoft to pay them for the use of media content to train their AI. Media companies are also studying how to change their business models to protect themselves from the bots' threat. Within media companies, the topic is being discussed at the highest levels, from the C-suite to the boardroom. Executives are also strategizing with peers and competitors about the possibility of forging a united position against the tech companies, according to multiple publishing sources. The same year, an Australia law forced tech companies to pay news outlets for linking to their articles.

☆ US labor market stays resilient; Q4 labor costs revised higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Those worries were further heightened by another report from the Labor Department on Thursday showing labor costs grew much faster than previously estimated in the fourth quarter. The labor market remains tight despite rising risks of a recession, contributing to keeping inflation elevated via solid wage gains. But even using alternative seasonal adjustments, economists say the labor market still is exhibiting tightness. A second report from the Labor Department showed unit labor costs - the price of labor per single unit of output - grew at a 3.2% annualized rate last quarter. Labor costs accelerated at a 6.9% rate in the third quarter, and notched hefty gains in the prior two quarters.

☆ US labor market remains tight; Q4 labor costs revised higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Those worries were further heightened by another report from the Labor Department on Thursday showing labor costs grew much faster than previously estimated in the fourth quarter. The labor market remains tight despite rising risks of a recession, contributing to keeping inflation elevated via solid wage gains. A second report from the Labor Department showed unit labor costs - the price of labor per single unit of output - increased at a 3.2% annualized rate last quarter. Labor costs rose at a 6.9% rate in the third quarter, and notched hefty gains in the prior two quarters. The unemployment rate at 3.4% in January was the lowest in more than 53 years.

☆ US weekly jobless claims decline further
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 190,000 for the week ended Feb. 25, the Labor Department said on Thursday. It was the seventh straight week that claims remained below 200,000. Economists also speculate that severance packages were keeping some laid off workers from filing claims. Labor market resilience and stubbornly high inflation have increased the odds of the Fed raising interest rates at least three more times this year instead of twice. The so-called continuing claims, a proxy for hiring, covered the period during which the government surveyed households for February's unemployment rate.

☆ 9 deals that could shape US sports betting this year, as pent-up demand for M&A could bring operators like Fanatics back to the negotiating table
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sports-betting insiders say there's pent-up demand for M&A in the industry after dealmaking slowed to crawl last year. That may mean fewer media and other deals that don't offer a clear return on investment or cost efficiencies.. That may mean fewer media and other deals that don't offer a clear return on investment or cost efficiencies. One thing we may see less of this year is operators looking to bring their entire tech stacks in-house, like when Bally's acquired Bet.Works and PointsBet bought Banach Technologies. Here are nine potential deals industry insiders are watching in 2023, and how they could shake up the industry:

☆ How HBO's content chief plans to grow the audience for Warner Bros. Discovery's new mega-streamer with DC and Warner Bros. shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

HBO's Casey Bloys revealed his content strategy on "The Watch" podcast and in a talk with Parrot Analytics. Bloys also shared what's ahead for HBO Max once it combines with Warner Bros. Despite economic pressures on streaming, he's not worried that HBO content will suffer. "Euphoria" is second only to "Game of Thrones" in most-viewed HBO shows, but Bloys was hesitant at first to develop its hit 2022 prequel "House of the Dragon," he told "The Watch." And he pointed to more Batman spinoffs like "The Penguin" that's coming to HBO Max and will star Colin Farrell.

☆ U.S. construction spending falls in January
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Commerce Department said on Wednesday that construction spending dipped 0.1% in January after dropping 0.7% in December. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast construction spending rising 0.2%. Construction spending increased 5.7% on a year-on-year basis in January. Investment in residential construction fell 0.6%, with spending on single-family housing projects dropping 1.7%. Investment in state and local government construction projects tumbled 1.4%, while federal government construction spending surged 8.6%.

☆ US manufacturing sector still shrinking; raw material prices rebound
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Nevertheless, the rebound in prices at the factory gate suggests inflation could remain elevated for a while after monthly consumer and producer prices surged in January. The ISM's manufacturing PMI edged up to 47.7 last month from 47.4 in January. Paper products, textile mills, furniture and related products as well as nonmetallic mineral products, computer and electronic products were among the 14 reporting contraction. Comments from some manufacturers in the ISM survey were supportive of this thesis. Timothy Fiore, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, said "new order rates remain sluggish due to buyer and supplier disagreements regarding price levels and delivery lead times."

☆ U.S. goods trade deficit widens moderately in January
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit in goods increased moderately in January, with both imports and exports rising solidly, government data showed on Tuesday. The goods trade deficit widened 2.0% to $91.5 billion, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. Goods imports increased $8.8 billion to $265.3 billion. Exports of goods shot up $7.0 billion to $173.8 billion. A smaller trade deficit was one of the contributors to the economy's 2.7% annualized growth pace in the fourth quarter.

☆ New spy series 'Citadel' is Amazon Studios' most ambitious — and riskiest — bet ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Citadel," Amazon Studios' ambitious spy series, is on track to be one of the costliest series ever made. Amazon Studios early on was known for prestige shows like "Transparent" and "Maisel" as well as action hits like "Jack Ryan." Amazon Studios' Head of Global Television, Vernon Sanders, told Insider that "Citadel" is new territory for the company. Inside and outside of Amazon Studios, there are concerns about a lack of clear creative direction as well as the division's future role in the larger Amazon ecosystem. Insider spoke to 21 current and recently departed Amazon Studios executives, Hollywood agents, and other industry insiders about the opportunities and challenges.

☆ U.S. house price inflation cools further in December
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The S&P CoreLogic Case Shiller national home price index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, increased 5.8% year-on-year in December. Prices increased 5.8% in 2022, pulling back from 2021's record-setting 18.9% gain. The housing market has been hammered by the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary policy stance, with residential investment contracting for seven straight quarters, the longest such stretch since 2009. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased to an average of 6.50% last week from 6.32% in the prior week, according to data from mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac. While higher mortgage are hurting demand and cooling house price inflation, the FHFA noted that "these negative pressures were partially offset by historically low inventory."

☆ U.S. consumer confidence ebbs; house price inflation slows further
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But the correlation between confidence and consumer spending has been weak. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index dropped to 102.9 this month from 106.0 in January. Consumer spending increased by the most in nearly two years in January, driven by a surge in wage gains. The S&P CoreLogic Case Shiller national home price index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, increased 5.8% year-on-year in December, a second report showed on Tuesday. Price growth remained strong in the South, with double-digit gains in Miami, Tampa and Atlanta.

☆ U.S. core capital goods orders post largest gain in five months; shipments surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Dan KoeckSummarySummary Companies Core capital goods orders increase 0.8% in JanuaryCore capital goods shipments surge 1.1%Durable goods orders drop 4.5% on aircraftPending home sales increase 8.1% in JanuaryWASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - New orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods increased by the most in five months in January while shipments of those so-called core goods rebounded, suggesting that business spending on equipment picked up at the start of the first quarter. These core capital goods orders dropped 0.3% in December. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast core capital goods orders edging up 0.1%. Core capital goods orders increased 5.3% on a year-on-year basis in January. Shipments of core capital goods bounced back 1.1% after declining 0.6% in December.

☆ U.S. core capital goods orders, shipments rebound in January
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

These core capital goods orders dropped 0.3% in December. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast core capital goods orders edging up 0.1%. Core capital goods orders increased 5.3% on a year-on-year basis in January. Shipments of core capital goods bounced back 1.1% after declining 0.6% in December. Core capital goods shipments are used to calculate equipment spending in the gross domestic product measurement.

☆ How a new $300 million private equity fund plans to invest and compete in sports media, 'the most valuable last commodity standing'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NBA vet Bobby Sharma and partner Kyle Charters just raised $300 million for sports-related investments. It's led by NBA and IMG vet Bobby Sharma and investment banking vet Kyle Charters, and it just announced it closed a $300 million fund to invest in sports-related media and entertainment. "And there are some sports media, entertainment, business executives who are learning private equities through their fundraising. Sports is "essentially the most valuable last commodity standing in the media landscape," Sharma said. You've got the incumbent media companies that are ensuring their survival by heavily investing as well.

☆ U.S. pending home sales post largest gain in 2-1/2 years in January
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Contracts to buy U.S. previously owned homes rose by the most in more than 2-1/2 years in January, but a resurgence in mortgage rates could delay a much-awaited housing market turnaround. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on Monday its Pending Home Sales Index, based on signed contracts, jumped 8.1% last month, the biggest increase since June 2020. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast contracts, which become sales after a month or two, rising 1.0%. The second straight monthly increase in contracts could see existing home sales rebounding or posting another small decline after logging their 12th straight monthly decrease in January. Despite signs the worst is over, it could take a while for the housing market to turn around.

☆ U.S. consumer spending surges in January; inflation accelerates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, jumped 1.8% last month, the Commerce Department said on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending rebounding 1.3%. Consumer spending slowed in the fourth quarter, with most of the loss in momentum happening in the last two months of 2022. The strength in consumer spending, combined with a resilient labor market, suggests the economy is far from recession. The so-called core PCE price index increased 4.7% on a year-on-year basis in January after advancing 4.6% in December.

☆ New 'Lord of the Rings' movies are coming after Warner Bros. Discovery secured the rights to J.R.R. Tolkien's books
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Samantha Delouya | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Warner Bros. The plan comes after Warner Bros. struck a deal with the video game company that owns the rights to Tolkien's books. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. On the direct-to-consumer front, Warner Bros.

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