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☆ Don't make America Florida, make it New Jersey instead, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Phil Murphy is pitching his home state of New Jersey as a model for America. He sat down with Insider in Florida, criticizing the state's policies under DeSantis. As head of the Democratic Governors Association, he wants blue states to be a contrast to red states. Ron DeSantis of Florida hasn't been subtle about selling his vision of what America should be. Phil Murphy is urging voters to look much further north on the East Coast, to New Jersey.

☆ Here's an exclusive look at the pitch deck that Anvil, which helps businesses automate paperwork, used to raise $5 million from Craft Ventures and Alphabet's Gradient Ventures
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It raised an additional $5 million for its Series A round from Craft Ventures and Gradient Ventures. Insider has an exclusive look at the pitch deck that Anvil used to raise the new funds. Three years ago, he set out to raise fresh capital for his startup, Anvil, which helps businesses create documents from data. In 2020, Craft Ventures heard Ng's pitch and passed. Here's an exclusive look at the pitch deck that Anvil used to raise an additional $5 million:

☆ Asian shares ride high in Q1 but keep vigil on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The buoyant mood is likely to run into resistance in Europe, with caution setting in ahead of the euro zone inflation data. The pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures was flat, while S&P 500 futures eked out a gain of 0.2%. It is on course for a quarterly gain of 3.6%, after surging 12% in the three months that ended in December. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) also leaped 1%，as inflation data for the capital Tokyo highlighted broadening price pressures. That compared with an overwhelming bet on a 25 basis point hike a month ago before the banking volatility started.

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☆ Australia retail sales growth slows to 0.2% in February
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SYDNEY, March 28 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales eked out a meagre gain in February after wild swings around year-end holidays, indicating shoppers are reining in spending in the face of higher costs of living and rising interest rates. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Tuesday showed retail sales rose 0.2% in February from January, when they picked up a revised 1.8%. Sales of A$35.14 billion ($23.42 billion) were 6.4% higher than a year earlier. The result was just a touch above median forecasts of a rise of 0.1%. ($1 = 1.5004 Australian dollars)Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Dollar steady after Fed's rate pause hints, yen rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The dollar was steady on Friday near seven-week lows as nervousness over the banking system kept investors skittish and traders absorbed the Federal Reserve's hints of a pause to interest rate hikes. The dollar index , which measures the currency against six major rivals, fell 0.019% at 102.56, just above the seven-week low of 101.91 it touched on Thursday. The yen strengthened 0.34% to 130.37 per dollar, having touched six-week high of 130.28 earlier in the session. The euro was down 0.03% to $1.0827, easing from a seven-week high of $1.0930 it touched on Thursday. The Australian dollar fell 0.31% to $0.666, while the kiwi fell 0.22% to $0.623.

☆ US stocks end mixed as investors brace for Powell's testimony to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Equities appeared in a holding pattern until Fed boss Jerome Powell delivers testimony about monetary policy this week. The 10-year Treasury yield edged higher after pulling back at the end of last week. "I think we'll be in a holding pattern until we get that nonfarm payrolls report," said Mayfield, referring to jobs report due out this Friday. "But I do think nonfarm payrolls could be interesting to see if there's a revision or not to the January number. The whole shift in the tone of markets started at the beginning of February when we got that January nonfarm payrolls number," Mayfield said.

☆ This India ETF is the only one among its peers that's risen this year — and pros see more upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The VanEck Digital India ETF is the only India-focused stock exchange-traded fund listed on Western exchanges to have posted gains this year. The emerging market fund tracks the MVIS Digital India Index. "We suspect this will remain the dominant theme setting the direction for Indian markets in the near term." However, the short-term turmoil in Indian markets hasn't upset long-term bulls on the Indian economy, according to Dutch bank ING. CNBC Pro did not include the Canada-listed iShares India Index ETF and BMO MSCI India ESG Leaders Index ETF and U.S.-listed VanEck India Growth Leaders ETF owing to a lack of price targets from FactSet.

☆ Inflation's direction will drive crypto's action in March now that the 2023 rally has faded
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Bitcoin and ether are starting the new trading month on a positive note – following a relatively flat month – each rising less than 1% Wednesday. In the near term, our bet is on the dollar pulling back," he said Wednesday. If we're right and more upside lies ahead in the near term, it's tough to think crypto isn't a major beneficiary." Long-term investors see regulation as a positive development ultimately, but it can put pressure on prices in the near term, Kruger said. Breaking past $25,000 Although bitcoin held up in February, investors are unsure when to expect a rocket ship rally .

Data showed the U.S. trade deficit in goods increased moderately in January, with both imports and exports rising solidly. FEDWATCHBofA Global Research warned the Fed could even hike interest rates to nearly 6%. "We're talking about stickier inflation in the economy and higher interest rates for longer. ET, Dow e-minis were up 43 points, or 0.13%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 3.5 points, or 0.09%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 2.25 points, or 0.02%. The three main indexes are headed for monthly declines, with the blue-chip Dow (.DJI) in the red for the year.

☆ Asian shares edge higher, dollar rally takes a breather
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Asian shares nudged higher on Tuesday, tracking small gains on Wall Street, while the U.S. dollar paused after a sharp rally as month-end flows lift sentiment and investors adjust to expectations of more interest rate hikes. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was 0.25% higher but was set to end the month down about 6%. China shares (.SSEC) was up 0.4% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index (.HSI) was 1% higher but was on track to end its three month winning streak as the China reopening rally loses steam. China shares have also been weighed down by rising geopolitical tension, with U.S.-China relations the dominant uncertainty at the forefront of investor minds. The dollar index , which measures U.S. currency against six other peers, rose 0.048% and was set to snap a four month losing streak.

☆ Bitcoin, ether on track for a positive February despite mid-month drop and fading 2023 risk rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bitcoin and ether are on pace for a modest February win, even after suffering a big drop earlier in the month. Bitcoin had eked out a 0.2% gain for the month by 4:15 p.m. That led to a brief sell-off in crypto assets that took bitcoin and ether down about 6% and 8.5%, respectively, in the three-day period ended Feb. 10. In the U.S., however, investors are on Fed watch, said James Lavish, managing partner at the Bitcoin Opportunity Fund. "Bitcoin has been the tip of the spear for risk assets for a long time," he said.

☆ Stocks close slightly up after prior week's selloff
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

All three main stock indexes climbed more than 1% shortly after the opening bell, in part due to an easing in Treasury yields, and all three closed well off their session highs. Stocks steadily gave up gains throughout the session as U.S. Treasury yields moved off the day's lows. Traders work on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., January 27, 2023. Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.69-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.41-to-1 ratio favored advancers. The S&P 500 posted 4 new 52-week highs and 8 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 71 new highs and 102 new lows.

☆ After splitting with Kanye West, British audio startup Kano asks for funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The two would go on to discuss the beginnings of what eventually became the Stem Player. It was originally named the "Donda Stem Player," a reference to West's 10th studio album, Donda. Faced with "worse" terms and news of Ye's antisemitic comments, Kano didn't accept, Klein said. Despite recent outcry over Ye's antisemitic remarks, he has frequently raised eyebrows. The Stem Player, along with West's dedicated fanbase, drove great commercial success for the small London startup.

☆ ATP roundup: Jiri Lehecka upsets Doha top seed Andrey Rublev
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

1 seed Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Thursday in Doha. Lehecka will face Great Britain's Andy Murray in the semifinals after Murray rallied past French qualifier Alexandre Muller 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. 7 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Thursday while Medvedev battled past Christopher O'Connell of Australia 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. 1 seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland dropped his first set before rallying past Switzerland's Leandro Riedi 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in second-round action at Marseille, France. Third seed Alex de Minaur of Australia beat Swiss qualifier Alexander Ritschard 6-3, 6-3, while fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Dutch qualifier Gijs Brouwer.

☆ Nvidia cheer ripples through chips as investors assess Fed minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, January 24, 2023. The MSCI all country share index (.MIWD00000PUS) was slightly firmer, adding to the year's 4.5% advance, after falling nearly 20% in 2022. The yield on 10-year Treasury was slightly firmer at 3.9254%. The Australian and New Zealand dollar were both slightly firmer against the dollar. Fed officials Mary Daly and Raphael Bostic are also due to make appearances later on Thursday.

☆ Asia stocks see bright side after Nvidia sounds upbeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Shares in the giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (2330.TW) rose 2.2% to lift Taiwan's benchmark (.TWII) 1.3%. A 4% gain for SK Hynix (000660.KS) and a 2% gain for Samsung (005930.KS) drove South Korea's Kospi (.KS11) 1% higher. The Bank of Korea also offered some relief by ending a year-long run of uninterrupted rate hikes with a pause - as expected. Wall Street indexes fell overnight and are eyeing their worst week of the year so far as stronger-than-forecast U.S. labour, inflation, retail sales and manufacturing figures have traders pricing interest rates staying higher for longer. "Markets have been forced to reprice interest rate expectations, not just higher, but also questioning the view that once peak rates are hit, central banks will pivot quickly to cutting interest rates," said ANZ economist Finn Robinson.

/USThe dollar index fell 0.21% from one-month highs, while the Japanese yen gained 1.21% to 131.08 per dollar after unusually strong Japanese wage data. The Australian dollar bolted 1.02% higher after its central bank reiterated further increases would be needed. Asian stocks stabilized overnight after they, like most global share markets, suffered steep losses following that U.S jobs data. Oil prices climbed more than 3% after Powell eased market concerns over rate hikes, while recovering demand in China also boosted prices. Gold eked out gains, tracking a slight pullback in the dollar, as investors mulled comments by Powell and the outlook for the Fed's rate-hike policy.

This would take the rate the ECB pays on bank deposits to the highest level since November 2008, after a steady climb from a record low of -0.5% in July. Reuters GraphicsThe ECB said in December that rates would be increased "at a steady pace" until it is happy inflation is heading back down to its 2% target. BNP Paribas also thought the ECB might take out the reference to a "steady pace" of rate hikes or offset it so that a 50-basis-point increase would be "not predetermined (but) still a possible outcome". And an ECB survey showed banks were tightening access to credit by the most since the 2011 debt crisis - usually the harbinger of lower growth and slowing inflation. To some observers, this meant the ECB would be wise not to commit to any future policy move.

In France, the bloc's second-biggest economy, factory activity returned to growth albeit not as strongly as initially forecast. In Asia, factory activity contracted in January as the boost from China's COVID reopening had yet to take full effect. China's factory activity shrank more slowly in January after Beijing lifted tough COVID curbs late last year, a private sector survey showed. China's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing (PMI) nudged up to 49.2 in January from 49.0 in December, staying below the 50 mark for a sixth straight month. Factory activity expanded in January in Indonesia and the Philippines but shrank in Malaysia and Taiwan, PMI surveys showed.

☆ Nasdaq 100 futures rise, propelled by Meta shares
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

S&P 500 futures advanced Wednesday night as investors looked beyond the latest interest rate hike and commentary from the Federal Reserve. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 1%, helped by Meta shares. The S&P 500 reversed losses to end the regular session with a jump of 1.05%, while the Nasdaq Composite closed 2% higher. Meanwhile, the Dow eked out a narrow 0.02% gain after dropping more than 500 points earlier in the day. Investors closely watched the Fed meeting Wednesday, where a 0.25 percentage point interest rate hike was announced.

☆ Sick Britain no longer needs Dr Bailey’s medicine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Francesco Guerrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

However, such monetary tightening increasingly looks at odds with Britain’s dire economic conditions. Bank of England hawks can point to key indicators that are still running hot, such as inflation, economic output and wages. Yet those gauges are backward-looking and will cool down this year as a recession and past rate hikes hit consumers and firms. The effects of rate hikes take time to show up in the numbers. The rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee of the BoE split three ways in December when the central bank sanctioned a 50-basis-point increase.

☆ Euro zone factories are likely over the worst - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The downturn in euro zone manufacturing activity eased again last month suggesting the worst may be over, according to a survey which showed price pressures slackened and the fall in demand moderated, driving a surge in optimism. An index measuring new orders moved up closer to the breakeven mark and factories increased headcount at a faster pace. This was reflected in the future output index which jumped to 58.2 in January from 53.8, an 11-month high. That outperformance was despite sky-high energy costs and rising interest rates taking a heavy toll on the economy. Although the PMI's input prices index fell last month the index reflecting output prices rose slightly - but still remained firmly below levels seen over much of the past two years.

☆ Euro zone economy unexpectedly expands in Q4, avoids recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The euro zone eked out growth in the final three months of 2022, avoiding a recession even as sky-high energy costs, waning confidence and rising interest rates took a toll on the currency bloc's economy, data from Eurostat showed on Tuesday. Gross domestic product in the euro zone expanded by 0.1% in the fourth quarter, outperforming expectations in a Reuters poll for a 0.1% drop. Among the bloc's biggest countries, Germany and Italy recorded negative growth rates for the quarter but France and Spain expanded, Eurostat added, based on a flash estimate that is subject to revisions. Russia's nearly year-old war in Ukraine has proved costly for the euro zone, which now spans 350 million people in 20 countries, given some members' heavy reliance on cheap energy. But the economy has displayed some unexpected resilience, too, much like during the COVID-19 pandemic, when growth outperformed expectations as businesses adjusted faster to changed circumstances than policymakers had predicted.

☆ France eked out 0.1% growth in Q4 as energy crisis eased
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The French fourth quarter GDP figures also provided a positive contrast to Germany after data on Monday showed that the euro zone's biggest economy had unexpectedly shrunk in the fourth quarter. "However, the weakness of domestic demand at the end of last year suggests that a recession is likely, albeit not certain," he added. INSEE said that foreign trade added 0.5 percentage points to GDP in the final quarter of 2022 as exports fell only 0.3 percentage points against 1.9% for imports on lower energy prices. That helped make up for weak domestic demand and companies destocking inventories, which both subtracted 0.2 percentage points from GDP. As record inflation eroded households purchasing power, consumer spending weighed on overall domestic demand, falling 0.9% from the previous three months.

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