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☆ A top tip for central banks: talk less, smile more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Investors hang on central bankers’ every word, hoping to gain an edge for their next trade. But with consumer prices rising at the fastest pace in decades, central bankers can’t easily cut borrowing costs, either. Chatty central banks are a relatively new phenomenon. Investors are also more sensitive to central banks today than in years past. Still, being more careful about what’s said, and how it’s said, could help central banks better balance their priorities.

☆ Swiss mega-bank has scope to shrink to greatness
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In UBS (UBSG.S), which is rescuing Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) in a government-brokered deal, they almost have one. The combined Swiss mega-bank will start out with a $1.7 trillion balance sheet, making it the 10th largest Western bank, based on Refinitiv data. Credit Suisse was in the process of running down, selling or carving out trading and investment-banking businesses with risk-weighted assets (RWAs) of $68 billion. Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Körner was hamstrung by large losses, which drained capital and limited how quickly he could shrink. The emergency combination of UBS and Credit Suisse has created a banking giant.

Your credit limit is the maximum amount you're allowed to spend on a credit card. Credit card issuers extend a credit limit based on debt, income, and ability to repay the amounts you charge to your card. Your credit limit is your borrowing capacity, or the amount of money you can charge to your credit card. And if that's not possible, you can consider moving your existing balance to a balance transfer credit card before you approach your credit limit. Increase your credit limit by requesting an increase from your card issuerWhat to know about going over your credit limitGoing over your credit limit is a worst-case scenario, and most alternatives are a better choice.

☆ A stock trader who made $8 million in 2 years shares how he's betting on AI stocks and the strategy he's using to trade hot themes this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The experience is similar to trading stocks related to bitcoin during 2017 and 2018's crypto bull run. The hype brings with it a lot of trading opportunities for long and short positions because AI stocks get overbought. For AI stocks, he believes C3.ai (AI) is the head. He's expecting another rally for the sector this year or next, which could send AI stocks to new higher levels. "I'll just explain it as, my mom is not texting me asking me about AI stocks.

☆ The FAA is warning flyers of a 45% increase in flight delays this summer in NYC and DC as it deals with staff shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The FAA anticipates a 45% increase in flight delays at East Coast airports in the summer of 2023. The agency is blaming a post-pandemic shortage of air traffic controllers at key New York facilities. Airlines will be temporarily allowed to give up slots and times at airports in New York and DC. The agency expects overall delays in the New York region to increase 45% in the coming months compared to summer 2022, according to a recent press release. Last summer saw over 40,000 delays recorded at the New York area airports and the highest yearly percentage of delayed flights of the past seven years.

☆ The Earth has tilted on its axis differently over the last few decades due to melting ice caps
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Aylin Woodward | Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Earth's axis — the invisible line around which it spins — is bookended by the north and south poles. But their geographic locations aren't fixed: As the Earth's axis moves, so do the poles. If you average out thousands of years of observation the Earth's axis points in a single direction — toward the North Star, also known as Polaris. The recent change to Earth's axis won't affect our everyday lives, but it could slightly tweak the length of our days. But let's be clear that this would be a tiny, tiny, tiny effect," he said.

☆ George W. Bush misrepresented our work at CIA to sell the Iraq invasion. It's time to call him what he is: 'A liar.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Two former CIA officials spoke to Insider before the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. They gave a firsthand account of the George W. Bush administration's attempts to misrepresent intelligence and assert a connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda. The closest they came was this alleged, and apparently nonexistent, help that Iraq gave al-Qaeda [via Atta] in bringing about the attacks. Alice: Today, people say that Bush was looking to justify the invasion of Iraq. Pretty soon it became clear that the administration was focused on this alleged meeting between Atta and Iraqi intelligence in Prague.

☆ 41% of adults are preparing for a recession. It's time to stress-test your income, advisors say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Yet many Americans — 41% — have taken steps to prepare for a possible economic downturn, according to a survey by Morning Consult. Still, there are a few steps advisors say you should take now to make sure you are prepared to weather a downturn. Barry Glassman president of Glassman Wealth Services"Stress-test your income against your ongoing obligations," Glassman said. The upside for conservative investors is they are now able to get higher interest rates on their cash. Reduce your debtsHigher interest rates mean consumer debts are climbing higher.

☆ Some Republicans want Gen Z to retire later to avoid outright cuts to Social Security: 'Does it really make sense to allow someone who's in their 20s today to retire at 62?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Several Republicans have said recently that they want to raise the retirement age for younger generations. Social Security is rapidly approaching insolvency, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that the fund will become unable to make all of its payments starting in 2033. Social safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security have been a partisan battleground for Democrats and Republicans for decades now, with Republicans eyeing big cuts for both programs. There are going to be no cuts in Medicare, Social Security." The White House has continued to criticize Republicans for not being publicly consistent about their goals for Social Security and Medicare.

☆ This Isn't What Millennial Middle Age Was Supposed to Look Like - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Jessica Grose | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +25 min

Things have been difficult for her family, she says, but one thing she isn’t worried about: a midlife crisis, looming just over the horizon. One of our questions was about whether they had experienced a midlife crisis and how they would define the term. Many people said they felt they couldn’t be having a midlife crisis, because there was no bourgeois numbness to rebel against. “Who has midlife crisis money?”The traditional midlife crisis, as presented in popular culture, at least, unfolds amid suburban ennui. We just increase our Lexapro.”Was the midlife crisis ever even real?

☆ UK's Hunt to keep tight budget with eye on 2024 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

He and Hunt told investors that Britain was not ripping up the economic orthodoxy after all. It's the election timetable," Resolution Foundation chief executive Torsten Bell said in a panel discussion about the budget this week. Until now, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has been less pessimistic about growth than the Bank of England (BoE). Last month, the BoE said GDP would show no growth at all over 2024 and 2025 after a 0.5% fall in 2023. Hunt has said he will lay out economic growth measures in the budget, including ways to address the fall in the size of Britain's workforce.

☆ What to do if Supreme Court strikes down Biden's student loan forgiveness plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Demonstrators in favor of canceling student debt gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesKeep your payments on holdThe Covid pandemic-era policy suspending federal student loan payments and the accrual of interest is still active. Those are the ideal ways to postpone your federal student loan payments, because interest doesn't accrue. For example, full-time teachers who work for five consecutive years in a low-income school may be eligible for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. And lawyers in Texas who work for specific legal aid programs may be eligible for the Texas Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program.

☆ A flight attendant’s secrets to surviving long-haul flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

CNN —Any air travel can be stressful, but facing down a long-haul flight can be especially intimidating. Flight attendants on long-haul flights are provided with spaces to rest. Flight attendants need to be alert throughout the journey, so they will take it in turns to refuel via mid-flight power naps. Flight attendants will greet a returning colleague with a cup of tea or coffee. For flight attendants, Major says, that will involve working over periods in excess of 24 hours.

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☆ Car buyers rejoice: Discounts are making a comeback — but you might have to ask for them
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Car buyers didn't see the end-of-year blowout sales in November and December that they had been used to in holiday seasons' past. Instead, shoppers had to settle for new and used vehicles with markups above sticker price and no wiggle room. That puts discounts now at around $1,297, about 1% higher than the same time in 2022, Deutsche Bank analysts estimated this week. Where buyers might find the best incentivesLuxury vehicles saw the highest incentives at 6.2% in January, KBB said. "There's also some loyalty cash, and there's a pretty decent amount of rebates on some of the higher end vehicles.

☆ Credit Suisse finds new genre of loose crisis talk
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters reported on Monday that financial regulator Finma is reviewing remarks the Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) chair made in a punishing period late last year. He said in early December that outflows during October, mainly in wealth management, had “completely flattened out”, “partially reversed” and “basically stopped”. He could argue that the outflows had indeed stabilised when he spoke, but then deteriorated again afterwards. Either way, the usual argument for speaking up is to counteract negative rumours, which in Credit Suisse’s case swirled on social media. Credit Suisse’s 6% share fall after the Reuters report suggests that silence might have been a better guard against both risks.

☆ UK government runs unexpected budget surplus in January - ONS
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Britain's government ran an unexpected budget surplus in January, reflecting strong income tax receipts that could give finance minister Jeremy Hunt a little more leeway than he thought as he prepares his annual budget. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday reported a seasonal budget surplus of 5.42 billion pounds ($6.51 billion) in January, a month in which millions of Britons pay their income tax receipts. A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to public sector net borrowing, excluding state-owned banks, of 7.85 billion pounds for January. The ONS reported self-assessment income tax receipts of 21.9 billion pounds, the highest January figure since monthly records began and 5.5 billion pounds more than last year. The government spent more than 10 billion pounds on its energy support for households in January, while it also paid 2.3 billion pounds to the European Union to settle a dispute over customs duties.

☆ UK government runs unexpected budget surplus in January: ONS
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Britain's government ran an unexpected budget surplus in January, reflecting strong income tax receipts that could give finance minister Jeremy Hunt a little more leeway than he thought as he prepares his annual budget. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday reported a seasonal budget surplus of £5.42 billion ($6.51 billion) in January, a month in which millions of Britons pay their income tax receipts. The ONS reported self-assessment income tax receipts of £21.9 billion, the highest January figure since monthly records began and £5.5 billion more than last year. "This suggests that the Chancellor will have some wiggle-room in the budget to fund near-term tax cuts and/or spending rises," said Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at consultancy Capital Economics, of the January surplus. The figures, which are not adjusted for inflation, showed the tax receipts were offset by £6.7 billion of interest payable on index-linked government bonds, the highest January total on record.

☆ Scoring the best deals on Presidents' Day holiday sales: 3 smart money moves to make as you shop
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Sharon Epperson | In Sharoneppersoncnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"For two reasons – the impact of inflation during a pandemic era and interest rates – what appears to be a deal may not be." Before you charge the purchase to a credit card, remember this is one of the most expensive ways to borrow money. The annual percentage rate on a credit card is at an all-time high of nearly 20%. Credit experts say that a cash-back rewards credit card with a 0% interest introductory offer may be an even better deal. Look for lower loan rates at a credit union: Many car brands offer Presidents' Day deals that lower the purchase price or interest rates or make lease deals more attractive.

☆ DeSantis' plans for Florida this year include tax cuts for gas stoves and more elections police. The proposals are widely viewed as targeting GOP voters nationally.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Banning vaccine and mask mandatesDeSantis wants the Florida legislature to permanently ban COVID vaccine and mask mandates. It's not clear how much of a difference a new, permanent Florida law would make. DeSantis will ask the Florida legislature to permanently lift the state's 6% sales tax on baby necessities including on cribs, strollers, clothing, shoes, wipes, and diapers. But some analysts, such as Howard Gleckman at the Tax Policy Center, have warned that tax breaks could actually worsen inflation because people will spend and consume more at a time when supplies are limited. Currently, state law requires a vote be unanimous.

☆ Explainer: The Fed says disinflation is welcome. What is that, exactly?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Ann Saphir | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But what, exactly, is disinflation, and why is it welcome? Central banks globally tend to target 2% annual inflation (the Fed formally adopted a 2% target in 2012). DISINFLATION = SLOWING INFLATIONCurrently inflation by the Fed's preferred measure - the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index - is running at about 5%. Economists expect those softer new leases to start showing up in official measures in coming months - another part of the "good story" of disinflation, Powell said. Former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan famously warned in 2003 that with inflation low, at 1.8%, "substantial further disinflation would be an unwelcome development."

☆ What Elon Musk has said publicly — and in private texts — on his ideas for Twitter and X, an 'everything app'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Elon Musk has discussed his plans for X, an "everything app," on Twitter and in private texts. AP Photo/Jacquelyn MartinPrivate texts about a blockchain-based platformMusk has also discussed creating a social media platform built on a blockchain. In April, the billionaire privately outlined his idea for a "Doge" social media platform in texts to his younger brother, Kimbal Musk. "I have an idea for a blockchain social media system that does both payments and short text messages/links like Twitter," Musk texted. Shortly after buying Twitter, Musk began charging Twitter users for the app's blue check mark.

☆ Electronic tracking has been required on semi-trucks for 5 years. Fatalities haven't decreased.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The devices help ensure truckers don't drive longer than they should, a maximum of 11 hours per day, to avoid fatigue and keep roads safe. Another driver, Brian Stauffer, pointed out that ELDs don't allow for adjustment, and that a driver that has reached the 11-hour limit shouldn't be forced to stop in a high-crime area, for example. "They used to say, 'I'll get there in about 11 hours'. Now they really only have 11 hours. Before ELDs, hours of service were noted down on paper logbooks, which were easy to falsify.

☆ Unemployment is lasting longer for more Americans—here are 3 ways to boost your savings
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Layoffs and extended periods of unemployment are a few of the many reasons you might have to use your emergency fund. Use these tips to beef up your emergency fund, whether you're just getting started or looking to add extra cushioning. Ideally, you'll be able to routinely put money toward both your emergency fund and retirement savings, but if you have to pick one, prioritize emergency savings first. Your emergency savings, on the other hand, should be readily available, such as in a high-yield savings account. Plus, when you're young, you have time to catch up on your retirement savings.

As of Jan. 19, U.S. soybean sales for 2022-23 totaled 46.5 million tonnes, up 5% from a year earlier. Robust sales are not necessarily needed from here as only 7.6 million tonnes stand between Jan. 19 sales and USDA’s full-year forecast. Net U.S. soybean sales to unknown destinations in 2022-23 are record-large for the date at 4.6 million tonnes. Sales to China of 28.2 million tonnes as of Jan. 19 are up 11% from last year. Some 129,000 tonnes had been sold to China in the week ended Jan. 19, revealed in Thursday’s weekly export sales.

☆ The purple Wiggle responds to his TikTok heartthrob status: 'It's opened up a new world of followers'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kahlan-Rosenblatt.Jpg | Kalhan Rosenblatt | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

On TikTok, parents and nonparents alike have been thirsting after a member of one of the biggest children's acts in the world — the new purple Wiggle from The Wiggles. — likely stems from a video Pearce posted this week in which he participated in a trend that stems from the movie "Zoolander." Originally, Pearce wanted to film the clip with the original purple Wiggle, Jeff Fatt, while the two were on a recent tour together. In the clip, Pearce's purple Wiggle persona bumps into his everyday self dressed in a cutoff T-shirt, revealing his toned and tattooed arms. He added that he's looking forward to meeting his newest slew of fans when The Wiggles tour later this year.

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