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Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in February from 0.5% in January as Americans faced persistently higher costs for rents and food. On a yearly basis, the CPI rose 6% in February, compared with 6.4% the previous month. The S&P 500 banking index (.SPXBK) rose 2.9% after recording its biggest one-day percentage drop since June 2020 in the previous session. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 6.05-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 3.52-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded two new 52-week highs and five new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 18 new highs and 79 new lows.

Data showed that U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in February versus 0.5% a month ago. Traders held on to bets of a 25-basis-point rate hike at the Fed's next meeting in March, with odds of a pause in hikes slipping a bit to 17%. The S&P 500 banking index (.SPXBK) rose 3.9% after recording its biggest one-day percentage drop since June 2020 in the previous session. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 7.92-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 4.87-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded no new 52-week highs and no new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 9 new highs and 36 new lows.

☆ Uber, Lyft Score Victory as California Court Affirms Right to Treat Drivers as Contractors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Preetika Rana | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Uber and similar companies are in a global tug of war with regulators over whether and how to grant more benefits to workers. Uber Technologies Inc., Lyft Inc. and other companies scored a victory with a California court ruling that preserves their independent-contractor model in the state and could boost their efforts to maintain that model elsewhere. A state appeals court reversed a lower-court ruling that found a California ballot measure known as Proposition 22 illegal. Proposition 22, which passed in November 2020, allowed these companies to continue to treat their drivers as independent contractors.

A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based court reversed a lower court ruling in 2021 that the ballot measure, known as Proposition 22, was unconstitutional. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and several gig drivers who challenged Prop 22 will likely appeal the decision to the California Supreme Court, the state's top court. Prop 22 was approved in November 2020 by nearly 60% of voters in California. It exempted app-based drivers from a 2019 state law known as AB5 that makes it difficult to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. "Across the state, drivers and couriers have said they are happy with Prop 22, which affords them new benefits while preserving the unique flexibility of app-based work," West said.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: BuzzFeed, First Republic, Meta and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)BuzzFeed — Share of the internet media company lost about 10% on a weak first-quarter revenue outlook. Buzzfeed expects first-quarter revenue of $61-$67 million, compared to expectations of $83.6 million, according to FactSet. Meta Platforms — Meta shares gained 6% after CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday the social media company plans to cut 10,000 employees. First Republic , PacWest Bancorp, Western Alliance Bancorp , Comerica — Regional banks rallied sharply Tuesday after being hit hard last Friday and Monday. Shares of San Francisco-based First Republic rose about 50%, while PacWest jumped more than 60% and Western Alliance Bancorp gained more than 40%.

☆ Gig workers still pose roadblock for Uber and Lyft
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, March 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Uber Technologies (UBER.N) and Lyft (LYFT.O) dodged a pothole, but bigger roadblocks may be on the horizon. Jefferies estimates Uber, Lyft and food delivery service DoorDash (DASH.N) will avoid a $20 million to $170 million knock on next year’s earnings thanks to the ruling. A group of Uber and Lyft drivers in New York City staged a strike in February over demands for higher wages. And with a tight job market, competition for workers from employers in other sectors – like retailers, which are hiking minimum wages – is stiff. The Biden administration could still step in, too, having proposed new guidelines for classifying independent workers as employees.

March 14 (Reuters) - Shares of Uber Technologies (UBER.N) and Lyft Inc (LYFT.O) rose in premarket trading on Tuesday following a California court's ruling on treating drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, removing some future regulatory risks for the rideshare companies. A three-judge panel of the state appeals court on Monday reversed a lower court ruling in 2021 that the ballot measure, known as Proposition 22, was unconstitutional. Jefferies analysts estimate Lyft, DoorDash (DASH.N) and Uber have potentially avoided a hit of between $20 million and $170 million to their 2024 core earnings. Uber has dominated the rideshare and food delivery space thanks to massive scale, flexibility and presence in multiple global markets, crushing rivals Lyft and DoorDash. Shares of Lyft, which on Monday hit a record low, were up 6% in premarket trading.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: First Republic, Western Alliance, Uber, Lyft and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:First Republic Bank — The San Francisco-based bank stock jumped 45% after closing down 61.8% on Monday. First Republic shares rose amid a broader rebound in regional bank stocks. Credit Suisse — The bank stock fell by about 1.6% after Credit Suisse said it had found "material weaknesses" in its financial reporting processes for 2022 and 2021. Honeywell International — Honeywell shares rose 0.4% after the conglomerate announced that Vimal Kapur, president and chief operating officer, will succeed Darius Adamczyk as CEO. Blackstone shares rose 1.8%.

☆ Uber and Lyft shares rise after California court victory lets them classify drivers as contractors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In Nov. 2020, California voters approved Proposition 22, which allowed ride-sharing and delivery app makers to classify their drivers as independent contractors. Ride-sharing apps, including Uber and Lyft, can continue to treat their drivers as independent contractors, a California appeals court ruled on Monday, overturning a lower-court decision that barred them from doing so. It was the most expensive ballot issue in California's history, with ride-share companies contributing over $181 million to the "Yes" campaign. A group of ride-share drivers sought to strike down Proposition 22, and won a lower court decision. "Proposition 22 does not intrude on the Legislature's workers' compensation authority or violate the single-subject rule," the opinion read.

Circuit Court of Appeals that said because her overtime pay lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania, only workers from that state could join. The Supreme Court last year declined to take up appeals of those cases. Under the FLSA, workers can file "collective actions" that are similar to class action lawsuits but have some key procedural differences, including that other workers must opt in to be included. The 3rd Circuit upheld that ruling last year, prompting Fischer's Supreme Court petition. The case is Fischer v. Federal Express Corp, U.S. Supreme Court, No.

☆ Gas surcharges have ended. But not everyone is happy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Amazon, Uber and Lyft recently ended extra fuel surcharges as gas prices dropped late last year. These companies added gas surcharges in response to skyrocketing energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. Gas prices swung wildly in 2022: At one point the national average for a gallon of gas was above $5 for the first time ever, according to AAA. Fuel surcharges went directly to ride-share drivers and were meant to help them soften the blow of high gas prices. It’s unlikely that gas prices will spike this year.

☆ Here are answers to 5 key questions about the labor board’s severance agreement rule change
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Can my employer no longer ever require that I stay quiet in exchange for severance? Normally there is a six-month window akin to a statute of limitations to bring an alleged violation to the board’s attention. So can employers now never require me to stay mum about the company as a condition of receiving severance? It’s easy to forget, but there is no legal requirement for employers to offer laid off workers severance. “There’s a real risk to employees that the case will have a negative impact on the size of severance packages going forward,” he said.

Even if you're not planning on lying on your taxes, make sure you're not accidentally doing anything wrong. You run the risk of being audited and facing harsh penalties when you exaggerate deductions or leave income out. While most people don't intentionally lie on their taxes, you should make sure you're not accidentally misrepresenting the facts. Editor's Rating 4.6/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 3.7/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.5/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Learn more On Tax Slayer's website Learn more On Liberty Tax's website Learn more On H&R Block's website1. If a taxpayer is caught doing this, it can result in fines, penalties, and interest charges on the amount of taxes owed.

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East Palestine, Ohio CNN —Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw defended his company’s actions since the disaster caused by the derailment of one of its trains in East Palestine, Ohio, and promised the railroad will pay for the cleanup. “Norfolk Southern is committed to the community and citizens of East Palestine,” Shaw told CNN Tuesday. “From day one I’ve made the commitment that Norfolk Southern is going to remediate the site,” Shaw said. Norfolk Southern “started as soon as the derailment occurred,” he said. If folks in this community want bottled water, they’re going to get it.”

☆ What Is an SBA Loan?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +13 min

By Tanza LoudenbackEntrepreneurs without a ton of cash or access to affordable financing may want to consider an SBA loan. Types of SBA loansThe most common type of SBA loan is a 7(a) loan. SBA loan rates and repayment termsInterest rates on SBA loans are negotiated between the lender and the borrower, within the SBA’s minimums and maximums. “The big difference is SBA loans tend to have much more favorable terms,” says Chris Hurn, the founder and CEO of Fountainhead, an SBA lender. How to apply for an SBA loanHere are the steps to apply for an SBA loan.

In a survey done by US Foods, delivery drivers and customers agree that $4 is a reasonable tip for those delivering food. Tips are more essential than they've ever been, as rideshare delivery drivers get fewer protections and perks than delivery drivers traditionally employed by restaurants. US Foods' data shows that customers, on average, are willing to pay $8.50 total for extra delivery charges, including tips, delivery fees, and service fees. The gig economy made tipping crucialRideshare delivery drivers aren't employees of the company they're driving for. While delivery drivers employed by a specific restaurant may have access to benefits, health insurance, and even help with costs like gas, rideshare delivery drivers don't have access to these things.

☆ If you're a gig worker, your boss might be using a technicality to underpay you
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Many workers are classified by employers as independent contractors, rather than employees. The Biden administration has proposed a rule making it easier for gig workers to be counted as employees. NELP finds that 10% to 30% of employers — and potentially more — misclassify workers as independent contractors, "which indicates that several million workers nationally may be misclassified." Truck drivers misclassified as independent contractors may lose between $11,076 and $18,053, according to EPI's estimates. The Biden administration is taking aim at misclassification, hoping to crack down on it and offer an easier pathway for independent contractors to be considered employees.

The investigation focuses in part on a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021. Trump asked Raffensperger to "find" enough votes needed to overturn Trump's election loss in Georgia. Legal experts said Trump may have violated at least three Georgia criminal election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and intentional interference with performance of election duties. Both investigations involving Trump are being overseen by Jack Smith, a war crimes prosecutor and political independent. NEW YORK CRIMINAL PROBEAlthough Trump was not charged with wrongdoing, his real estate company was found guilty on Dec. 6 of tax fraud in New York state.

☆ Chipotle, Starbucks and top chains spend millions to stop landmark state worker law
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The council could raise the fast-food industry minimum wage as high as $22 an hour, versus a $15.50 minimum for the rest of the state. California’s fast-food industry has more than 550,000 workers. Less than 4% of restaurant workers nationwide are unionized. This makes it nearly impossible to organize workers at fast-food and retail chains with thousands of stores. If restaurant worker compensation increased by 60%, limited-service restaurant prices would jump by up to 22%, the study also found.

☆ You need more than a remote job to become a 'digital nomad.' From taxes to visas, here's what you should know before working internationally
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

From visa issues to taxes, becoming a "digital nomad" can be a logistical nightmare. Some digital nomads fed-up with the complicated rulebook for remote work are going incognito. "From a regulatory standpoint, even domestically hopping from state to state is just a massive cluster," Nubern told Insider. More recently, countries have attempted to set up clearer tax rules, travel guidelines, and minimum income requirements through "digital nomad visas." Even if you're a digital nomad and making $100k, the math doesn't really add up," Nubern said.

Trump Corp. and Trump Payroll Corp. — both subsidiaries of the Trump Organization — were convicted last month on 17 counts, including conspiracy, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records. “This case was all about Allen Weisselberg committing tax fraud on his personal tax returns. Every witness repeatedly testified that President Trump and the Trump family knew nothing about Allen Weisselberg’s actions,” Trump attorney Susan Necheles maintained after the verdict. The $1.6 million in penalties the district attorney sought is the maximum allowed under applicable statutes in the case. Trump has complained that the actions of the district attorney and the attorney general are part of the "witch hunt" against him.

☆ Walmart provides its GoLocal services to Salesforce clients
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Siddharth Cavale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationNEW YORK, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Walmart Inc (WMT.N) on Thursday said it has entered into a partnership with software giant Salesforce (CRM.N) to provide its retail customers with store pickup and delivery services using Walmart's vast transportation network. Retailers have been adding such delivery services for customers since the pandemic drove many people to shop online. Since its launch GoLocal has completed more than 3 million deliveries so far, Harsit Patel, vice president at Walmart GoLocal said on a media call. More clients mean higher order volumes, pickup locations and increased route density that lowers costs per order. The services will be offered through Salesforce's AppExchange, its app store for businesses, starting this spring.

Allen Weisselberg, former chief financial officer for the Trump Organization, is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday for his role in the company's sweeping 15-year tax fraud scheme. As part of his deal with prosecutors, Weisselberg could have faced added time behind bars if he did not testify truthfully at trial, which ended with the Trump Organization being convicted of all counts. Lawyers for the two Trump Organization subsidiaries charged in the case maintained during the trial that Weisselberg was the lone bad actor and the companies shouldn't be held responsible. Had Weisselberg been convicted at trial, he could have faced up to 15 years in prison. At Tuesday's sentencing hearing, the judge will decide whether Weisselberg must go to jail that day or at a later date.

☆ Federal Trade Commission proposes banning noncompetes for workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday said it is proposing a rule to ban employers from imposing noncompete agreements on workers and to rescind all existing noncompete agreements. “Research shows that employers’ use of noncompetes to restrict workers’ mobility significantly suppresses workers’ wages — even for those not subject to noncompetes, or subject to noncompetes that are unenforceable under state law,” said Elizabeth Wilkins, Director of the Office of Policy Planning. “The proposed rule would ensure that employers can’t exploit their outsized bargaining power to limit workers’ opportunities and stifle competition.”The proposed rule was cheered by the liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute. The only source of power nonunionized workers have vis-à-vis their employers is their ability to quit and take a job elsewhere. The proposed rule will be open for public comment for 60 days after which the FTC will review the comments and possibly amend the rule before issuing a final version.

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