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Bank of America (BAC.N) and UBS (UBS.N) now see the Fed funds rate target peaking at 5-5.25% in May compared to earlier forecasts of 5.25-5.5%. Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) rose 1.9% after Needham raised its price target on the chipmaker on likely benefit from near-term data center strength. ET is expected to show a rise in jobless claims last week, hinting at some cooling in labor demand. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN.O) jumped 8.6% on promising results on its blockbuster asthma drug Dupixent from a lung disease trial. Reporting by Amruta Khandekar and Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Futures climb as hopes of a Fed pause gain steam
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Reserve raised rates by 25 basis points, as expected, on Wednesday but its policy statement no longer said "ongoing increases" would likely be appropriate. ET, Dow e-minis were up 158 points, or 0.49%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 27.5 points, or 0.69%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 123.25 points, or 0.97%. Those pre-market gains helped boost futures for the tech-heavy Nasdaq. ET is expected to show a rise in jobless claims last week, hinting at some cooling in labor demand. Reporting by Amruta Khandekar; Editing by Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ US consumer sentiment deteriorates in March, inflation expectations retreat
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

SummarySummary Companies Consumer sentiment slips in MarchInflation expectations easeManufacturing production edges up 0.1% in FebruaryWASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment fell for the first time in four months in March, but households expected inflation to subside over the next year and beyond, which could offer some relief to the Federal Reserve as it confronts financial market instability. The University of Michigan's preliminary March reading on the overall index of consumer sentiment came in at 63.4, down from 67 in the prior month. While the correlation between consumer sentiment and spending is weak, economists expect tighter financial conditions will undercut consumption and push the economy into recession. A separate report from the Conference Board showed its Leading Economic Index, a gauge of future economic activity, dropped for an 11th straight month in February. Durable manufacturing production nudged up 0.1%, while nondurable manufacturing output climbed 0.2%.

☆ U.S. consumer sentiment ebbs in March; inflation expectations ease
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

SummarySummary Companies Consumer sentiment slips in MarchInflation expectations easeManufacturing production edges up 0.1% in FebruaryWASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment fell for the first time in four months in March, but households expected inflation to subside over the next year and beyond, which could offer some relief to the Federal Reserve as it confronts financial market instability. The University of Michigan's preliminary March reading on the overall index of consumer sentiment came in at 63.4, down from 67 in the prior month. Durable manufacturing production nudged up 0.1%, while nondurable manufacturing output climbed 0.2%. Mining output fell 0.6%, with oil and gas well drilling dropping 3.1%. Industrial productionCapacity utilization for the manufacturing sector, a measure of how fully firms are using their resources, dipped 0.1 percentage point to 77.6% in February.

☆ History of financial shocks shows this banking tumult could be a buying opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

If history is any guide, financial events like the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank could present an attractive buying opportunity for investors in the months ahead. Data compiled by Deutsche Bank macro strategist Alan Ruskin tracking several major financial events in recent history shows that the S & P 500 has gained a median of 19% a year after those incidents. While the fallout from SVB's failure could present more problems than many recent financial events, the aftershocks should fall short of the havoc wreaked in the wake of 2008's financial crisis, he wrote in a Tuesday note. Despite the wreckage the failures brought to financial markets — and regional banking stocks — history shows that these incidents could present a good buying opportunity for investors, with interest rates typically declining in their wake. Aside from the 1987 stock market crash and 1994 Orange County bankruptcy, history also shows that these incidents can also result in good news for rates.

☆ US reports strong job growth in February; wage gains slow
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

They say the economy needs to create 100,000 jobs per month to keep up with growth in the working-age population. The labor market has remained tight, with first-time applications for unemployment benefits staying extremely low despite high-profile layoffs in the technology industry. Households' perceptions of the labor market were also quite upbeat last month. The unemployment rate rose to 3.6% in February from 3.4% in January, which was the lowest since May 1969. This broader measure of unemployment rose to 6.8% in February.

Like Willis, private economists and analysts at payroll firms and staffing companies also see a labor market that is stressed but adjusting. A recent Goldman Sachs study concluded wage growth should continue slowing even with the current low unemployment rate of 3.4%. But even that came with slowing wage growth, and the gain was amplified by seasonal adjustments used to factor out expected swings in hiring during holidays and summer. Nela Richardson, chief economist at payroll processor ADP, said even as economy-wide hiring remains strong, the tech layoffs may be helping mute overall wage growth. "If that is a trend...we would expect there would be less drive for wage growth," she said.

The richest Black mothers and their babies are twice as likely to die as the richest white mothers and their babies. Yet there is one group that doesn’t gain the same protection from being rich, the study finds: Black mothers and babies. The researchers found that maternal mortality rates were just as high among the highest-income Black women as among low-income white women. The richest Black women have infant mortality rates at about the same level as the poorest white women. Generally, rates for Hispanic mothers and Asian mothers track more closely with those of white mothers than Black mothers.

☆ U.S. consumer prices revised higher in December, November
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - U.S. monthly consumer prices rose in December instead of falling as previously estimated and data for the prior two months was also revised up, which some economists said raised the risk of higher inflation readings in the months ahead. The consumer price index edged up 0.1% in December rather than dipping 0.1% as reported last month, the Labor Department's annual revisions of CPI data showed on Friday. Data for November was also revised higher to show the CPI increasing 0.2% instead of 0.1% as previously estimated. In October, the CPI rose 0.5%, revised up from the previously reported 0.4% increase. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the CPI rose 0.4% in December, instead of 0.3% as previously reported.

☆ Heavyweight tech battle: How Microsoft and Alphabet stack up against each other in the A.I. war
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

"It's a new day in search," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Tuesday during an AI event held at the company's headquarters, saying that the "race starts today." So far, Microsoft is making significant headway within AI and rising in popularity in the tech world. Alphabet, he added, "got beaten to market by Microsoft" despite its investments in the space. Alphabet Microsoft may be taking the lead on AI in the near term, but investors shouldn't sleep on Alphabet just yet. "We believe GOOGL has the AI tech and scale to maintain/grow its leading user base," said Morgan Stanley's Brian Nowak in a Thursday note.

☆ The current job market is a ‘juggernaut,’ economist says. Here are 6 things to know as a jobseeker
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Unemployment is at historic lowsThe unemployment rate fell to 3.4% in January — the lowest since May 1969. In fact, you'd have to go back to October 1953 to find a lower unemployment rate (3.1%). "The job market is still strong, and workers have opportunities to go out and find a job that's a better fit for them," Zhao said. "The thing that strikes me the most about the labor market is there aren't layoffs," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. That's not necessarily a bad sign — the job market was also strong in the run-up to the pandemic.

☆ A 'pause and pop' rally will push stocks higher throughout 2023 as the Fed backs off aggressive policy, CFRA says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Stocks look ready for a 'pause and pop' between when the Fed pauses rate hikes and starts cutting, CFRA said. CFRA said the Fed may make its final rate hike of this cycle at the upcoming February 1 meeting. "Historically, the FOMC has started a new rate-easing cycle an average of nine months after the last rate hike. The nine-month gap between a Fed pause in rate hikes and the first interest rate cut usually results in a gain for the S&P 1500 index, he said. Stovall said CFRA apparently not alone in thinking the Fed is on the verge of pausing rate hikes, outpointing the S&P 500's nearly 5% rise since the start of 2023.

☆ Asian stocks make 7-month highs, Australian dollar gains on hot inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Asian equities scaled their highest levels in seven months on Wednesday after some regional markets reopened after holidays, and the Australian dollar hit multi-month highs as surging inflation made higher interest rates more likely. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.2% to a seven-month high but traded below the day's peak. Globally, stocks have posted strong gains this year after a torrid 2022, based on expectations that inflation is close to peaking and the rise in U.S. interest rates will taper off. Stronger-than-expected economic data in Europe eased market worries of a sharp recession there, but interest rates are still seen creeping higher despite declining energy prices reducing inflationary pressure. The New Zealand dollar slid after New Zealand reported annual inflation of 7.2% in the fourth quarter, below a central bank forecast of 7.5%.

☆ Asian shares cautious, BOJ faces crunch policy decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Earnings season gathers steam this week with Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and the first big tech name, Netflix, among those reporting. However, it did try to get ahead of speculative sellers by announcing it would do another emergency round today, suggesting it was determined to defend its yield policy at least for now. THE YEN UN-ANCHOREDThe BOJ's uber-easy policy has acted as a sort of anchor for yields globally, while dragging down on the yen. Were it to abandon the policy, it would put upward pressure on yields across developed markets and likely see the yen surge. "A soft-landing also reduces the tail risk of much higher U.S. rates, and this reduced risk premia helps global risk appetite."

☆ This week's top performing stocks include one in media that could rally more than 80%
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As the first week of 2023 comes to a close, some stocks are already outperforming. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S & P 500 are on pace to add 0.8% and 0.5% this week. Discovery, about two out of every five analysts rate WDC a buy, with an average upside of 20.4%. Just about every other analyst rates the stock a buy, and the average analyst expects a 4.3% upside for the stock. More than 50% of analysts rate GE a buy, but the average price target shows it losing about 1% in the next 12 months.

☆ It's been a bleak year for stocks. This is what investors can expect in 2023 — according to history
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A confluence of global factors has meant the MSCI World index of large and mid-cap stocks finished the year down by nearly 20 % . In January alone, after a year of negative returns, the index rose 60% of the time by an average of 4.6%. The S & P 500 since 1929 CNBC also analyzed the S & P 500 since 1929, which showed a similar picture. That will bring the S & P 500 down to 3,600 from its current level of around 3,800 points. As for the month of January, after a year of negative returns, the U.S. index performed very similarly to the MSCI World index.

☆ Fact Check-Deaths among COVID-vaccinated not a reflection of vaccine effectiveness
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Social media users continue to share the misleading suggestion that numbers of COVID-19 deaths among vaccinated people reflect the ineffectiveness of vaccines. In fact, experts say that one reason the majority of deaths from COVID-19 in the United States is among vaccinated adults is that most adults are vaccinated. Data show that the rate of deaths and severe COVID illness is lower among vaccinated adults than those who are unvaccinated. A graphic in the video is labeled “vaccine effectiveness” and the post contains the text, “A present from me to you. Data collected by the CDC showing that a majority of people dying from COVID-19 in the U.S. had been vaccinated does not reflect vaccine effectiveness.

But when she finally spoke to Omogun-Broadnax a couple days later about being the face of her sports agency centered on Black female college athletes, McLean said she felt an immediate connection. “It’s really important for Black athletes to have that kind of representation because it provides another sense of protection. The pair of 33-year-old attorneys, who served as clerks in the same circuit court in Maryland, talked for years about creating an agency that could advance the careers of Black female athletes. “Black female athletes are some of the most talented human beings on this planet,” Omogun-Broadnax said. Solace’s focus on Black female athletes gives the agency a rare niche.

☆ U.S. private payrolls growth slows in November-ADP
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - U.S. private payrolls increased far less than expected in November, suggesting demand for labor was cooling amid high interest rates, a survey showed on Wednesday. Private employment increased by 127,000 jobs in November, the ADP National Employment report showed. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast private jobs increasing 200,000. The jury is still out on the ADP's reliability in predicting the private payrolls component in the BLS employment report. According to a Reuters survey of economists, private payrolls likely increased by 200,000 jobs in November after rising by 233,000 in October.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Hormel, Petco, CrowdStrike and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Peter Schacknow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Earnings beat estimates, but sales came up short of Wall Street forecasts. Petco (WOOF) – Petco's adjusted quarterly earnings of 16 cents per share matched Street forecasts, but revenue was slightly above estimates. CrowdStrike (CRWD) – CrowdStrike plunged 17.6% in the premarket after the cybersecurity company's subscription numbers came in below analyst forecasts. NetApp (NTAP) – NetApp tumbled 10.9% in the premarket on a weaker than expected forecast from the cloud computing company, which reported better than expected quarterly earnings. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) – Hewlett Packard Enterprise added 1.9% in the premarket after the enterprise computing company reported record quarterly sales and issued strong revenue guidance.

☆ 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.

☆ Overboard cruise passenger spent hours in Gulf of Mexico before he was rescued
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dennis-Romero-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Dennis Romero | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A man who went overboard during a holiday cruise in the Gulf of Mexico was rescued after several hours in the water off New Orleans, authorities said Friday. He was rescued about 20 miles south of Louisiana's Southwest Pass, where the Mississippi River meets the coast, U.S. Coast Guard officials said. "It makes it more miraculous that we were able to find him conscious and treading water," Graves said. Coast Guard rescue crews pulled the man to safety six hours after receiving a 2:30 p.m. Thursday report of a passenger overboard, Graves said. The water was warm, he said, but the the trio was beset by signs of hypothermia when they were rescued by Coast Guard crews Oct. 9.

☆ Activision Blizzard to End Most Game Services in China, NetEase Partnership
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Raffaele Huang | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SINGAPORE— Activision Blizzard Inc. is halting most online game services in China in January, including “World of Warcraft,” “StarCraft” and “Diablo III,” as it and China’s NetEase Inc. end a 14-year licensing partnership. Blizzard Entertainment Inc., an Activision Blizzard subsidiary, and NetEase failed to reach a deal to renew their licensing agreements, the two companies said Thursday China time. One obstacle to renewing the deal was a disagreement between the two parties over how data of Chinese players are controlled, people familiar with the negotiations said. Data collected by powerful internet companies and how those are handled has become a point of friction between the U.S. and China in recent years.

☆ Great American Land Rush: US Needs Lots of Land for Green Energy, Housing
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Matthew Kahn | Robert Huang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Will we cover 75% of California with green energy tech? Given these existing technological limitations and regulations, the aggregate demand for land to power our future green economy is huge. We would need 120,000 square miles, or 77 million acres, of land to install the wind and solar facilities for the energy transition. As cities expand, rising land prices in these areas would further constrain the location options for green energy generators. The political backlash in rural America could be alleviated if the economic gains from green power are large enough.

☆ Some of NY Gov. Kathy Hochul's top donors privately sound alarm over GOP candidate Lee Zeldin surge
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Kathy Hochul's top donors are privately panicking about Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin's recent surge in the polls ahead of Tuesday's midterms, according to people familiar with the matter. One Democratic advisor, who counts numerous Hochul donors as clients, said he's having "PTSD" as he sees Zeldin closing in on Hochul in the polls. Bragg has been criticized, often by GOP officials, for the uptick in crime in New York City. Zeldin said at the debate that his first initiative if he becomes governor is to remove Bragg from office. Hochul told Zeldin at the time "you can't throw out someone who is duly elected."

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