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☆ US new vehicle sales to rise in November on strong demand - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 22 (Reuters) - New vehicle sales in the United States are expected to rise in November, a report from industry consultants showed on Wednesday, as demand for the latest models remains strong and inventories improve. U.S. new vehicle sales, including retail and non-retail transactions, are estimated to reach 1,236,000 units in November, a 10.2% jump from a year earlier, according to the joint forecast report by J.D. "Sales growth is being enabled by improving vehicle availability," said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Inventory pile-up, however, led to a 1.9% year-on-year decline in transaction prices with an average price of new retail vehicles at $45,332. Power and GlobalData have also raised the annual forecast for global light-vehicle sales to 89.3 million units, up 10% from last year, on strength in China demand.

Persons: Carlos Barria, J.D ., Thomas King, J.D, Jeff Schuster, Ananta Agarwal, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: REUTERS, J.D, Thomson Locations: Port of Richmond, San Francisco , California, United States, ., China, Bengaluru

☆ Japan's Nikkei seen rising to 35,000 by mid-2024 on earnings boost: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man looks at an electric board displaying the Nikkei stock average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan June 14, 2023. The median forecast for the Nikkei's level in mid-2024 was 35,000, with responses ranging from 31,143 to 39,500, the Reuters poll of 10 stocks strategists taken Nov. 10-20 showed. Japan's equity benchmark started this week by pushing to its highest level since March 1990 at 33,853.46 following a three-week winning streak. That would mean some stagnation for equities in the latter half of next year, with the Nikkei still stuck at 35,000 at year-end, according to the median poll response. "35,000 looks to be about the level where Nikkei gains line up with the timing of the BOJ getting rid of negative interest rate policy," Sycamore said.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Masayuki Kichikawa, IG's, Tony Sycamore, Sycamore, Kevin Buckland, Junko Fujita, Noriyuki, Rahul Trivedi, Pranoy, Alex Richardson Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Federal, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, IG's Sydney

Hard Rock posted a gross operating profit of $44.3 million in the third quarter, up less than 1% from a year earlier. Gross operating profit reflects earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and other expenses, and is a widely accepted measure of profitability in the Atlantic City casino industry. “In keeping with the experiences of many resort communities along the New Jersey shore, Atlantic City saw a bit of a cooling off in summer 2023 compared to the pent-up post-pandemic energy seen in 2021 and 2022, said Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, which studies the Atlantic City casino industry. ”That said, it did outperform pre-pandemic 2019 for both net revenue and gross operating profit, suggesting that this could be part of a cycle of stabilization." The Tropicana had a profit of $36.7 million, down 11.5%; Harrah's had a $30 million profit, down over 13%; Caesars had a $21.1 million profit, down nearly 18%; Golden Nugget had an $11 million profit, nearly 4%; Bally's had a $7.3 million profit, down over 32%; and Resorts had a $7.2 million profit, down nearly 43%.

Persons: Gross, Jane Bokunewicz, Lloyd Levenson, James Plousis, Harrah's, Bally's, Wayne Parry Organizations: CITY, of Gaming Enforcement, Atlantic City, Stockton University, New Jersey Casino Control, Tropicana, Caesars, Golden, Resorts, Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Resorts Digital, Twitter Locations: N.J, New Jersey, Atlantic City, www.twitter.com

☆ Plane tickets are finally cheaper right now. It won't last.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The price of plane tickets fell 13% from October 2022 to October 2023. But rising labor and fuel costs could lead to higher prices over the next year. AdvertisementFlight prices are much lower than they were a year ago, but the good news for travelers won't last forever. Between October 2021 and October 2022, airline fares increased by over 42% , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. AdvertisementUnfortunately for Americans, the clock is likely ticking on lower prices.

Persons: —, Hayley Berg, Hopper, Mike Arnot, Arnot, they're Organizations: Airlines, Service, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Travelers, Times Locations: Israel

☆ Homebuilder stocks could get another boost from rate hikes ending
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —For over a year, the red-hot housing market has been at the mercy of the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes, which have driven mortgage rates to sky-high levels. Mortgage rates have hovered above 7% since August, according to Freddie Mac data. Both those factors have helped create a scorching-hot housing market and a boom in homebuilder stocks, as Americans turned to building as a buying alternative. Moderating bond yields could change the narrative for the housing market. Tight supply and elevated mortgage rates this year made home purchases the least affordable they’ve been since 1984.

Persons: Bell, Freddie Mac, Toll, DR Horton, Lennar, Price, Steve Sosnick, ”, John Petrofsky, Chris Isidore, Danielle Wiener, Bronner, haven’t, Clare Duffy, Donie, Meta Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New, New York CNN, Homeowners, DR, Federal, Treasury, Interactive, National Association of Home Builders, FBB Capital Partners, Starbucks, United Auto Workers, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Starbucks Workers United, Facebook, Street, Washington Post Locations: New York, Wells Fargo, Buffalo , New York, United States, Brazil, Israel, Italy

☆ New home construction increased in October for second straight month
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington, DC CNN —The annual pace of new home construction increased again last month amid a historic shortage of housing inventory and crushing mortgage rates. Housing starts, a measure of new home construction, jumped by 1.9% in October, compared to the previous month. Starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.372 million last month, rising above expectations of 1.35 million, according to data released Wednesday by the Census Bureau. Building permits also ticked up in October, climbing 1.1% from August’s revised number to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.487 million. “The new construction housing market is poised to ensure that inventory is available to meet pent-up demand of households who have been waiting for a reprieve in rates before purchasing.”

Persons: ”, Kelly Mangold, Mangold Organizations: DC CNN, Housing, Census, Real Estate Consulting Locations: Washington

☆ An appeals court lifted Trump's gag order, clearing the way for him to insult the judge's staff again
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Laura Italiano | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An appellate judge in New York temporarily lifted Trump's limited gag order in his NY fraud trial. The gag had barred Trump and his lawyers from spoken or written attacks on the judge's law staff. AdvertisementOn November 3, Engoron extended the gag order to include Trump's lawyers after Trump's lawyers made what the judge called "on the record, repeated, inappropriate remarks" about the same clerk. Trump and his lawyers are now free to make written and spoken criticisms of the judge's staff members pending the full appellate decision. Trump's lawyers must respond by November 27, after which a full panel of the New York Appellate Division's First Department will decide if the gag stays or goes permanently.

Persons: Trump, —, Donald Trump, Arthur Engoron, Alina Habba, overreach, Habba, Chuck Schumer, Engoron, Christopher Kise, David Friedman, Friedman, Lisa Evans Organizations: Service, Trump, New, Appellate, Department Locations: New York

Thursday's early calls featured a retail upgrade and an EV charging stock downgrade. The analyst reiterated his buy rating and $450 price target on the stock. Microsoft's AI cybersecurity solution Security Copilot, which was only recently expanded through an early access program on Oct. 19, already has tons of pent-up interest, Thill said. The firm downgraded shares from neutral to underperform and lowered its price target on the stock by $17 to $43. He gave the stock a $50 price target — $13 higher from the previous one — which implies 23.1% upside for shares since Wednesday's close.

Persons: Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Kash Rangan, Rangan, Maia, Brent Thill, Thill, Vivek Arya, Arya, Raimo, Microsoft's, — Pia Singh, Elizabeth Suzuki, Vijay Rakesh, Rakesh, Vikram Bagri, Bagri, Fred Imbert, Edward Kelly, Kelly Organizations: CNBC, Citi, Microsoft's Ignite, Jefferies, Microsoft, Bank of America, Nvidia, Devices, Barclays, Advance, AAP, Mizuho, Intel, Mizuho Securities, Foundry, Foundry Services, Sapphire, Sierra, AMD, Wells Locations: Seattle, U.S, Wells Fargo, Wednesday's

☆ Airfare to leisure destinations to cost less this winter, WestJet CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MONTREAL, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Airfare to popular international leisure destinations should cost less this winter and next summer than a year ago as carriers add capacity, the CEO of Canada's WestJet Airlines told Reuters on Wednesday. I think this winter we'll have a better supply-to-demand balance, which will give more affordability to Canadians," von Hoensbroech added. WestJet expects to fly almost half of the seats to sun destinations after acquiring leisure carrier Sunwing this year. "We see strong bookings, slightly softer than what we saw last winter," von Hoensbroech added. "I would expect next summer there would be a different demand-to-supply equation on transatlantic," von Hoensbroech said.

Persons: Canada's, Alexis von Hoensbroech, von Hoensbroech, WestJet, Von Hoensbroech, Allison Lampert, Valerie Insinna, Will Dunham Organizations: MONTREAL, WestJet Airlines, Reuters, Onex, Air Transport Association of Canada, Air Canada, Boeing, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, Thomson Locations: Europe, Asia Pacific, Montreal, Washington

☆ Cramer says these 4 stocks will benefit from the end of Fed's rate-hiking cycle
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. "We've been big fans of what [Fed Chair] Jay Powell is doing and staying the course and our portfolio reflects that," Jim Cramer said Tuesday. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

Persons: Jim Cramer, Stocks, We've, Jay Powell, Stanley Black, Decker, Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, they've, They're, Jim, We're, Jim Cramer's Organizations: CNBC, Federal, Treasury, Procter, Gamble, Nvidia, TJX Companies Locations: Homegoods

A rebound in Asia is especially important for airlines where long-haul travel makes up a bigger mix of revenue. Travel spending in Asia Pacific is set to grow 41% this year to $567 billion, and rise to $800 billion by 2027, according to data from the Global Business Travel Association. The planned capacity, which has not been previously reported, is a strong rebound from 2022, when the carrier's Asia-Pacific traffic was 33% of 2019 levels. Travel to Asia is also a source of high-margin revenue at a time when soaring labor and fuel costs are pressuring profit and domestic fares are declining. Across the border, Air Canada said the increase in Asia Pacific capacity would more than double its overall system growth.

Persons: Toby Melville, Andrew Nocella, Mark Galardo, Galardo, Raymond James, Savanthi Syth, Allison Lampert, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Ben Klayman, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Heathrow Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Carriers, Business, Global Business Travel Association, Air, Reuters, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Asia Pacific, United, Delta, Tourism Economics, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Rights MONTREAL, CHICAGO, Asia, Pacific, Europe, Asia Pacific, U.S, United States, Atlanta, Manila, Philippines, San Francisco, New Zealand, Chicago, Air Canada, Air Canada's Vancouver, Canada, North America, Ukraine, Hong Kong, East Coast, Newark , New Jersey, Toronto, China, Montreal

☆ Five Economic Signs You’re Smart to Procrastinate on Holiday Shopping This Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Suzanne Kapner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

It is a giant question looming over the entire U.S. economy: How much will shoppers spend during the make-or-break holiday season? Early signs—from the number of boxes loaded on railway cars to rising consumer debt—signal a weaker holiday season than the past three, when pent-up demand coming out of the worst of the pandemic sparked shoppers’ spending.

☆ LSEG chief Schwimmer: IPOs to return 'when the environment stabilises'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Vidya Ranganathan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) CEO David Schwimmer speaks during the Reuters NEXT Newsmaker event in New York City, New York, U.S., December 1, 2022. "IPOs will come back, when the environment stabilises and improves," Schwimmer told Reuters in an interview in Singapore. "The reforms that the FCA is putting through, they're moving relatively quickly, but the markets move quickly too. LSEG bought Refinitiv for $27 billion in early 2021, turning the exchange into a major market data company overnight to challenge rival Bloomberg. Schwimmer said the roll0out of the new partnership product in 2024 will make it easy for customers to use LSEG data in a cloud environment.

Persons: David Schwimmer, Brendan McDermid, Schwimmer, LSEG, Vidya Ranganathan, Lawrence White, Sharon Singleton, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Amsterdam, London, EU, Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Reuters News, Investors, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Rights SINGAPORE, London, New York, Singapore, Ukraine, Gaza, LSEG

☆ 20 US cities where home prices are expected to take off due to affordability and tax advantages — plus where mortgage rates could be by the end of 2024, according to a property-data firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Contagion from spiking yields quickly trickled into real estate, lifting the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate above 8%. "Even before mortgage rates went up to 8%, we saw significant slowing in home sales activity, and some recent reports pointed to a 12-to-13-year low." But where mortgage rates will be depends on the fed funds rate. Following this trend, CoreLogic indicators forecast that mortgage rates could be at about 6.3% by year-end. Forecasts are based on multiple metrics including home prices, the unemployment rate, real disposable income per capita, and population growth.

Persons: Selma Hepp, Hepp Organizations: Reserve Locations: California

☆ AMC beats quarterly revenue estimates on 'Barbenheimer' boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 8 (Reuters) - AMC Entertainment (AMC.N) beat third-quarter revenue estimates on Wednesday, riding on the success of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" movies as volumes of theatrical releases also improved at the box office. Attendance in AMC theaters increased 38.4% to 73,576 in the third quarter. The movie theater chain posted revenue of $1.41 billion for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with estimates of $1.26 billion, according to LSEG data. "For both revenue and adjusted EBITDA, these were AMC's most successful third-quarter results in our company's entire 103-year history," Aron added. AMC's profit per share stood at 8 cents, compared with estimates of a loss of 19 cents per share.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Oppenheimer, Alicia Reese, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Adam Aron, Aron, Jaspreet Singh, Krishna Chandra Eluri, Shounak Organizations: AMC, REUTERS, AMC Entertainment, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Bengaluru

[1/5] Stephan Feldgoise, co-head of global M&A for of Goldman Sachs, speaks at the ReutersNEXT Newsmaker event in New York City, New York, U.S., November 8, 2023. This has fueled soul-searching among investment bankers about the prospects for their business. "I'm reasonably bullish that this will return, but obviously it will be in fits and starts." "Our (deal pipelines) are at one of the largest levels that you've seen in five-six years. Reporting by Anirban Sen in New York; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephan Feldgoise, Goldman Sachs, Brendan McDermid, Goldman, Steven Baronoff, Anu Aiyengar, Aiyengar, Anthony Kim, Kim, Michal Katz, Katz, Anirban Sen, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Reuters NEXT, Federal Reserve, Bank of America, Chevron Corp, Hess Corp, Exxon Mobil Corp, Natural Resources, JPMorgan Chase &, Microsoft Corp, Illumina Inc, Centerview Partners, Greenhill, Co Inc, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, East, Ukraine, Americas, United States, New York

☆ Taylor Swift and Beyoncé won't prop up the US economy much longer, with Americans' COVID-era savings running dry
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But economists are warning the bump in growth won’t last forever, with Americans’ COVID-era savings running dry. AdvertisementAdvertisementTaylor Swift, Beyoncé, and the "Barbenheimer" box-office craze all gave the American economy a much-needed boost this summer. AdvertisementAdvertisementFunflation won't lastAmericans' summer spending splurge on concert and film tickets didn't come out of nowhere. "You've run down the savings rate so a lot of people have basically been spending well beyond what they've been earning. That's why the Taylor Swift economy isn't likely to last.

Persons: Taylor Swift, ’, —, Marc Ostwald, Anna Wong, Eliza Winger, they've, You've, that's, Freddie Mac, Beyonce Organizations: Service, ADM, Services International's, Bloomberg, ADM ISI's, Federal Reserve Locations: American

☆ Stocks week ahead: Here’s how America’s economy could begin to weaken
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The job market or spending? The spending argument: But there have been instances in which spending weakened before the job market. “I think it starts with the perception of the labor market,” Drew Matus, chief market strategist at MetLife Investment Management, told CNN. The ticket-industry giant said it has sold a record 140 million tickets so far this year, up 17% year-over-year and has already surpassed the 121 million tickets sold in all of 2022. In the third quarter, Ticketmaster sales surged 57% to $833 million and 90 million fee-bearing tickets were sold in the period.

Persons: can’t, ” Shannon Seery, “ It’s, ” Seery, Luke Tilley, ” Tilley, Jerome Powell, ” Drew Matus, ”, Taylor Swift, Parija Kavilanz, Swifties, Taylor, Michael Rapino, Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Bunny, Jonas Brothers, Bruce Springsteen, Lisa Cook, Michael Barr, Jeffrey Schmid, Christopher Waller, John Williams, Lorie Logan, Ralph Lauren, Steve Madden, Phillip Jefferson, Raphael Bostic, Tom Barkin, Christine Lagarde Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, DC CNN, CNN, Employers, Investment Advisors, Companies, National Bureau of Economic Research, CNN Wednesday, Federal, MetLife Investment Management, Ticketmaster, Ryanair, Goodyear, Fed, Reserve Bank of Australia, Uber, Occidental Petroleum, KKR, The Carlyle Group, US Commerce Department, Biogen, Warner Bros, Teva Pharma, The New York Times Company, Armour, SeaWorld, MGM Resorts, China’s National Bureau of Statistics, Sony Group, Astrazeneca, Tapestry, News Corp, US Labor Department, Soho House, National Statistics, European Central Bank, University of Michigan Locations: Washington, Wells, Wilmington, Lyft, Brookfield, Soho

☆ Layoffs at Maersk hit 10,000 as pandemic shipping boom turns to bust
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

London CNN —Shipping giant Maersk is laying off thousands more workers as weak demand and lower freight prices pummel its revenues — a sign the pandemic-driven boom in shipping is turning to bust. “Our industry is facing a new normal with subdued demand, prices back in line with historical levels and inflationary pressures on our cost base,” Maersk Chief Executive Vincent Clerc said in a statement. The composite cost of shipping a 40-foot container on eight major global routes stood at $1,406 this week, according to London-based Drewry Shipping. Maersk also said it expected its full-year profit to come in at the lower end of its previously stated range of $9.5 billion to $11 billion. The company’s shares sank as much as 12.5% in early trade Friday, extending those losses later to trade down 17.2% by 7.41 a.m.

Persons: ”, Vincent Clerc, Maersk Organizations: London CNN — Shipping, ” Maersk, Drewry Shipping Locations: Danish, London

☆ Ticketmaster parent Live Nation posts blowout earnings as Taylor Swift, Beyonce dominate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(L) Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour " at Paycor Stadium on June 30, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ticketmaster parent company Live Nation Entertainment delivered its strong quarter ever, on pace for a record 2023 on the backs of concert darlings Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Live Nation said per-fan profitability jumped double-digits, outpacing cost inflation. Live Nation expects 55 million fans will have ventured to its venues by the end of 2023, up double-digits from 49 million fans in 2022. While Beyoncé has wrapped up her Renaissance world tour, Swift is set to begin the international leg of her Eras Tour in late November.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Johan Cruyff, darlings Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Billy Joel, Stevie Nicks, Bruce Springsteen, Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Peppers, Reba McEntire, Lizzo, Swift, Pink, Bruno Mars, Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran Organizations: Johan Cruyff Arena, Ticketmaster, Nation Entertainment, LSEG Revenue, Coldplay, Foo Locations: Cincinnati , Ohio, Amsterdam , Netherlands, Swift, SZA

☆ The planet is heating up faster than predicted, says scientist who sounded climate alarm in the 1980s
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Some other scientists, however, have cast doubt on the paper’s conclusions that climate change is accelerating faster than models predict. Hansen, a director at the Earth Institute at Columbia University, is a renowned climate scientist whose 1988 testimony to the US Senate first brought global attention to climate change. US scientist James Hansen, pictured in 2013, is credited as the first to publicly raise the alarm about climate change in the 1980s. But while science is clear that the rate of global warming is increasing, the idea that it is accelerating beyond what models predict is controversial. The findings “are very much out of the mainstream,” said Michael Mann, a leading climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania.

Persons: James Hansen —, Hansen, James Hansen, CARL DE SOUZA, geoengineering, ”, Michael Mann, ” Mann Organizations: CNN, Earth Institute, Columbia University, Senate, Getty, University of Pennsylvania Locations: China

☆ Li Keqiang: Death of China’s former premier offers glimpse into discontent with Xi Jinping
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —The sudden death of China’s former Premier Li Keqiang has spurred an outpouring of grief and mourning across the country. But for many, it also appears to offer a rare opening to air pent-up discontent with top leader Xi Jinping and the direction he has taken the country. His death, just months after his retirement, shocked the Chinese public. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang review a guard of honor prior to a meeting at the Chancellery on July 9, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits a hospital in Wuhan on January 27, 2020, days after the city was placed under a complete lockdown to curb the raging Covid-19 outbreak.

Persons: Li Keqiang, Xi Jinping, Li, Xi –, ”, Alfred Wu, Lee, “, Xi, Angela Merkel, Sean Gallup, Zhang Lun, Mao Zedong, Zhang, “ I’ve, Wu, Li Tao, Zhou Enlai, Mao, Hu Yaobang, Fish Leong, ” Zhang Organizations: CNN, Communist, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public Policy, Getty, Studies, University of Cergy, Peking University, Li, AP Party, Communist Party, Xinhua, CPC, Party Locations: Shanghai, China, Singapore, German, Berlin, Germany, Pontoise, France, Communist China, Wuhan, AFP, Yunnan province, Weibo, Malaysian, Hefei, Anhui, Zhengzhou, Henan, Beijing

But there were also walking memes, rare public expressions of queer life, wry commentary on the state of China and at least one bipedal cucumber — a colorful burst of pent-up energy and emotion in Shanghai’s first big Halloween celebration in years. In Shanghai, revelers have embraced Halloween, turning what started as a Western tradition into something distinctly Chinese. Over four days, they celebrated many of the things that Chinese censors normally suppress: elements of L.G.B.T. life, political and social criticism, or simply appearances that mainstream Chinese society might consider too flamboyant or strange. “It was a sea of joy from Huaihai Road all the way to Nanjing Road,” said Eric Ding, a 23-year-old tech worker.

Persons: ”, Eric Ding Locations: China, Shanghai, Nanjing

☆ China PMI: Factory activity unexpectedly contracts in October as demand drops
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s massive manufacturing sector has contracted once again amid weak demand, fueling calls for stronger policy support to boost growth. Fewer working days in October due to the Golden Week holiday, which spanned September 29 to October 6, affected the manufacturing PMI, according to the NBS. “The unexpected decline of manufacturing PMI shows the recovery in China is a bumpy road as domestic demand is still quite weak,” said Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist for Pinpoint Asset Management. The NBS survey showed that new factory orders declined in October from the previous month, pointing to a drop in demand. Overall, “the weak PMI reinforces the case for stronger fiscal policy support,” Zhang said.

Persons: ”, Zhiwei Zhang, ” Zhang, Xi Jinping, “, Zhaopeng Xing Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Bureau of Statistics, PMI, Nomura, Authorities, ANZ Research, Bank of Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Hangzhou, Liuzhou, Bank of China

Customers might assume that nonunion automakers, like Toyota, Tesla or Hyundai-Kia, will now be able to price their vehicles well below what the Detroit automakers can. “When the dust settles from this UAW debacle, the Detroit auto stalwarts find themselves with a bigger cost profile with competition increasing," said Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush. That means that competition for buyers is intensifying as pent-up demand from the pandemic wanes, making it difficult for any automaker to raise prices. But if the Detroit companies report lower income, Wall Street will register its disappointment, and stock prices could fall. “You either raise your labor costs to meet what the UAW is getting or you risk the unionization drive.”

Persons: Stellantis, ”, Jonathan Smoke, pare, Dan Ives, Natalie Knight, Ram, Knight, Smoke, Shawn Fain, Fain, Art Wheaton, wouldn’t, Wheaton, Tesla, ” Wheaton Organizations: DETROIT, United Auto Workers, Detroit’s, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Detroit, GM, Cox Automotive, UAW, Chrysler, Jeep, Cox, automakers, Detroit automakers, Cornell University, U.S Locations: United States, U.S, Stellantis, Detroit

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