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☆ Premarket stocks: Joe Biden’s top economic adviser isn’t worried about the latest inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

New York CNN —US markets broke a five-week winning streak last Friday after disappointing inflation data reignited economic and interest rate-related fears on Wall Street. Then last week, two key inflation indicators for January — the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index — rose above Wall Street expectations. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin said the new data showed that the Fed needs more confidence before cutting rates. I think in this case, the market isn’t necessarily telling you much about the economy’s fundamentals, the market is telling you what other market participants think. And I think that those economic fundamentals get you to the part that says, you know, it’s not not the economy.

Persons: Price, Thomas Barkin, Raphael Bostic, isn’t, Bell, Jared Bernstein, Joe Biden, I’m, they’re, It’s, it’s, Joe Weisenthal, Elisabeth Buchwald, Hanna Ziady, Liam Peach, ” Peach Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Richmond Fed, White House Council, Economic Advisers, CPI, Apple, Google, Nvidia, Microsoft, Capital, Discover Financial Services, Discover, Hamas, Gross, Israel’s, Bureau, Statistics, Capital Economics Locations: New York

☆ Reports of Russia building nuclear space weapons have alarmed officials, but security experts aren't panicked — yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Cryptic intelligence reports this week of Russia building an unspecified nuclear space weapon stoked fear among Americans who worried escalating nuclear threats could mean global catastrophe is near. Experts on space security and the risks posed by nuclear weapons told Business Insider that rumors of Russia creating such a weapon are likely true but that it's not time to panic just yet. NPR reported the White House confirmed that Russia is working on a weapon that could threaten satellites in space but that nothing has been deployed. However, Russia has been developing anti-satellite weapons for years, John Erath, senior policy director at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, told BI. But that's where this gets a little bit complicated because a nuclear weapon isn't really that."

Persons: US —, John Erath, They've, they've, Erath, Victoria Samson, Samson Organizations: Service, Business, CNN, NPR, White House, Soviet Union, US, Center for Arms Control, Prime, Station, Hubble, SpaceX, GPS, Starfish, Secure, Foundation Locations: Russia, Soviet, United States, Iraq

☆ Trump will quit NATO, Hillary Clinton says, as anxiety mounts over U.S. commitment to the alliance
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"He will pull us out of NATO," Clinton told attendees during a lunchtime session. watch nowU.S. Republican Senator Jim Risch, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, on Saturday dismissed talk of the U.S. quitting NATO, saying: "We have answered that question." Clinton said, however, that Trump could actually just refuse to fund the alliance. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte earlier Saturday referenced constant "moaning and whining" at the event about the future of NATO under Trump. Indeed, Germany's defense minister said that his country's commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defense should be just the start, noting that the threshold could rise to 3.5% if necessary.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Raedle, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, doesn't, Jim Risch, Trump, Europe's, Mark Rutte, Olaf Scholz, Mette Frederiksen, Frederiksen, Jens Stoltenberg, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: U.S, Getty, NATO, Saturday, White, Munich Security Conference, Trump, Congress, Republican, Foreign Relations, United States Senate, CNBC, U.S . House, Representatives, Dutch, Danish Locations: Lago, West Palm Beach , Florida, MUNICH, Germany, U.S, Russia, Munich, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, United States

☆ These are the stocks investors should bet against, Wolfe Research says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

As the market seesaws, Wolfe Research is eyeing stocks where it thinks downward pressure is building. But no matter which way the market heads from here, Wolfe thinks there are some stocks that could make for profitable short selling targets. Tesla has the second-most mentions among Wolfe's short interest screens with six, trailing Walgreens , which has seven. The stock's short interest hovers around 16% of float, and it appears on seven of Wolfe's short screens. DraftKings now appears on four of Wolfe's short screens, up from three in the month prior.

Persons: Wolfe, Tesla, DraftKings Organizations: Wolfe Research, Reserve, Dow Jones Industrial, Walgreens, LSEG, Hasbro, Moderna Locations: chug

☆ ‘Shawshank’ in China, as You’ve Never Seen It Before
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Vivian Wang | Claire Fu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When a stage production of “The Shawshank Redemption” opened recently in China, it was cast entirely with Western actors speaking fluent Mandarin Chinese. But that may have been the least surprising part of the show. Chinese audiences’ interest in Hollywood films is fading, with moviegoers turning to homegrown productions. China’s authoritarian government has stoked nationalism and cast Western influence as a political pollutant. Censorship of the arts has tightened.

Persons: ”, Stephen King, — Locations: China

☆ Asia markets set to rebound as Wall Street recovers ground; Japan and Singapore GDP on tap
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A woman rides her bicycle with the Marina Bay Sands hotel and high-rise buildings in the background in Singapore on Sept. 4, 2023. Roslan Rahman | AFP | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets were set to rebound after mostly falling on Wednesday after hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data stoked concerns the Federal Reserve might keep interest rates higher for longer. On Thursday, investors will also assess gross domestic product reading from Japan and Singapore, as well as trade numbers from South Korea. Should the index match the futures level, it would be less than 1,000 points from its all-time high of 38,915.87 hit on Dec. 29, 1989. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 15,931, pointing to a stronger open compared with the HSI's close of 15,879.38.

Persons: Roslan Rahman Organizations: AFP, Getty, Reserve, Japan's Nikkei Locations: Sands, Singapore, Asia, Pacific, Japan, South Korea, Chicago, Osaka, Australia

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose this week to its highest level in 10 weeks, a setback for prospective homebuyers ahead of the spring homebuying season. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 6.77% from 6.64% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week, pushing the average rate to 6.12% from 5.90% last week. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains sharply higher than just two years ago, when it was 3.92%. The cost of financing a home has come down from its most recent peak in late October, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage hit 7.79%, the highest level since late 2000.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Organizations: ANGELES, Treasury, Federal Reserve, U.S Locations: U.S

☆ Democrats see New York special election win as a blueprint for defeating Trump in November
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Stephanie Keith | Getty ImagesDemocrats aren't just breathing a sigh of relief after flipping a red seat blue in New York's special election — they're taking notes. On the same day as the special election in New York, House Republicans voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Republicans backing Pilip, who was born in Ethiopia and served in the Israel Defense Forces, worked hard to make the special election a referendum on immigration. Special election, special circumstancesDespite Murphy's warning, many political watchers are quick to note that the New York special election is far from a perfect bellwether for the general election. New York Republican Chair Ed Cox in a statement Tuesday night blamed "the specific circumstances that brought about this special election" for Pilip's loss.

Persons: Tom Suozzi, George Santos, Stephanie Keith, they're, Mazi Pilip, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, Pilip, Suozzi, Trump, Sen, Chris Murphy, Conn, Tom Suozzi's, Murphy, Santos, Ed Cox, Biden Organizations: Democratic U.S ., Republican, Getty, Rep, Democratic, GOP, Republicans, Biden, Homeland, Israel Defense Forces, NBC News, New, Congressional, Congress, Democrats Locations: Woodbury , New York, U.S, Mexico, New York, Ethiopia

☆ Wall Street learns an important lesson. Don’t fight the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

That sudden volatility highlights something that we often write about in Before the Bell: the major mismatch between policymaker and investor expectations for interest rate cuts this year. Federal Reserve officials, including Chair Jerome Powell, have repeatedly said they envision at most three rate cuts in 2024. Wall Street, meanwhile, has ignored those warnings and has opted to practice unflinching optimism instead. It’s not the first time they’ve had to learn an important lesson: Don’t fight the Fed. Bad for the markets, good for the Fed: Markets clearly don’t often take kindly to higher-for-longer interest rates, which can negatively impact earnings and stock prices.

Persons: New York CNN —, Jerome Powell, Dow, It’s, they’ve, Don’t, –, ”, Quincy Krosby, Arnim Holzer, José Torres, Chris Zaccarelli, doesn’t, ” Carl Icahn, Carl Icahn, Icahn, Chris Isidore, JetBlue’s, Samantha Delouya, Lyft, Erin Brewer Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, of Labor Statistics, BLS, Treasury, LPL, Fed, Interactive Brokers, CPI, Independent, Alliance, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Analysts Locations: New York, December’s, “, ”

☆ Colombia Turns Drug-Fumigation Planes Into Fire Fighters
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia on Wednesday added eight aircraft, some previously used to fumigate drug crops, to its fire-fighting fleet as it braces for more dry El Nino weather that has stoked major wildfires. President Gustavo Petro declared a natural disaster in January as fires ravaged areas of the world's second-most bio-diverse country. Petro attended an event in Tolima province displaying the four AT-802 Air Tractor planes and four Black Hawk UH-60 helicopters, originally donated by top ally the United States, that were refitted to drop water and chemicals to quell flames. The planes were used to spray the herbicide glyphosate on illegal plantations of coca, the chief ingredient in cocaine, until 2015 when the flights were stopped due to health concerns related to the chemical. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Persons: Gustavo Petro, Petro, Luis Jaime Acosta, Julia Symmes Cobb, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Tractor Locations: BOGOTA, Colombia, Nino, Tolima, United States

☆ Takeaways from New York’s high-stakes special election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Democrat Tom Suozzi is heading back to Congress after defeating Republican Mazi Pilip in the special election to replace serial fabulist and expelled former GOP Rep. George Santos. The result will further narrow the GOP’s already thin House majority and hand President Joe Biden’s party a boost as the general election campaign comes into focus. If not redemption, the New York Democratic Party in this special election earned a reprieve. As the storm swept through Queens and Long Island on Tuesday, Republican groups and the Pilip campaign scrambled to drive – literally in some cases – their voters to the polls. (Democratic Rep. Grace Meng from the neighboring 6th congressional district, and the area’s Asian American voters, delivered above and beyond for Suozzi.)

Persons: Tom Suozzi, Republican Mazi Pilip, George Santos, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Biden, he’s, –, Santos, Trump, Pilip, Suozzi, ”, George Santos’s, Rick Lazio, didn’t, Hakeem Jeffries, Kathy Hochul, Jay Jacobs, thrall, Israel –, Grace Meng Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP Rep, Biden, Democrats, New York’s, ’, GOP, Trump, Santos, George Santos’s volleyball, New, Democratic, New York Democrats Suozzi’s, New York Democratic Party, – Gov, GOP House, Israel Defense Forces, Republicans, Democrat, Queens Locations: Long, dissing, Israel, New York City, New York, Queens, Gaza, Nassau County, Queens –, Suozzi

☆ AI is shaking up online dating with chatbots that are 'flirty but not too flirty'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

YourMove.AI, an AI dating tool that offers a range of services such as drafting messages, analyzing conversations and evaluating users' dating app profiles, has about 250,000 users, founder Dmitri Mirakyan estimates. Rizz, an AI dating assistant, debuted in 2022 after ChatGPT took off. Like in other areas, relying too much on AI in dating can cross the line into unethical behavior. Although the use of AI for dating purposes isn't necessarily all bad, he added, dating apps will still need to "tread with caution." WATCH: How I built my $400 million-a-year dating app

Persons: Stan Marsh, Clyde Donovan, Clyde, Stan, OpenAI, it's, Dmitri Mirakyan, YourMove, Mirakyan, ChatGPT, he'd, Roman Khaves, Josh Miller, Khaves, It's, Jonathan Raa, Alex Weitzman, Weitzman, They've, Gary Kremen, Kremen, Lisa Marie Bobby, Bobby, Renate Nyborg, Nyborg, Meeno Organizations: Nvidia, CNBC, Nurphoto, OpenAI's Locations: U.S, New York, chihuahua, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands

The vast majority — nearly $40 million — went to law firms working on his personal legal problems. But significant portions of their donations went to law firms defending Trump in civil cases involving his real-estate empire and its top executives, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump. Only about $861,000 was spent on law firms working exclusively on political issues. Where there were gaps, we contacted law firms and individual lawyers who received money from the PACs. In 2021 and 2022 combined, Trump spent $16 million on legal fees through the Save America PAC.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, MAGA, Trump's, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Stormy Daniels, Jean Carroll, Robert, Clifford S, Michael Cohen, — Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel, Frederick —, Madaio, Alina Habba, Michael Madaio, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Mary Trump, general's, Carroll, Trump —, Joe Tacopina, Chad Seigel, Christopher Kise, Jesus M, Suarez, Eli Bartov, Bryan Woolston, Silverman Thompson Slutkin, White, Evan Corcoran, Todd Blanche, Cadwalader, Taft, Blanche, Attorney Alvin Bragg's, Daniels, Susan Necheles, John Lauro, who's, Steven H, Drew Findling, Jennifer Little, Jesse R, it's, Jim, John Rowley, Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, perjured, ArentFox Schiff, Jeff McConney, Stanley Woodward, Stanley Brand, Carlos de Oliveira, John S, Irving of, Boris Epshteyn, Kenneth Chesebro, Troutman Pepper, Ivanka, Newsmax, Harmeet, Dhillon, Bradley T, Morvillo Abramowitz, David Pecker, Elkan Abramowitz, Greenberg Traurig, Ballard Spahr, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Corey Lewandowski, Robert Mueller's, Jones, Andrew Kelly, It's, Forbes, defaming Carroll, he's Organizations: Service, Trump, Save America PAC, Make, Trump Organization, Politico, Reuters, New, Associates, Democratic National Committee, The New York Times, Times, Continental LLP, Inc, AP, Attorney, Capitol, Law, Taft, Brand Woodward Law, Irving of Earth & Water Law, Ivanka Trump, Republican National Committee, Save, MAGA, Curve Solutions, National Enquirer, Republican, MAGA PAC, Bloomberg Locations: New York, Georgia, Carroll, Manhattan, Florida, York, Washington, DC, Wickersham, Attorney Alvin Bragg's Manhattan, Fulton County , Georgia, codefendants, MAGAworld, Robert Mueller's Russia

☆ Trump’s NATO comments stir up a political storm as Russia keeps quiet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Sam Meredith | Www.Linkedin.Com In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Former U.S. president Donald Trump pictured during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at Winfield House, London on Dec. 3, 2019. She added that the NATO alliance "allows us to prevent war." The defense spending target is not a requirement and many countries have sought to ramp up their military spending since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. NATO's so-called Article 5 mutual defense clause means that an attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all allies. "NATO cannot be an 'a la carte' military alliance ... depending on the humor of the president of the U.S.," Borrell said when asked to respond to Trump's comments, Reuters reported.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, NICHOLAS KAMM, Trump, …, Vladimir, Dmitry Peskov, Trump's, Joe Biden, Biden, Nikki Haley, Haley, Chris Christie, I've, Jake Sullivan, Dursun, Stoltenberg, NATO Ally, Josep Borrell, Borrell Organizations: U.S, NATO, Winfield House, AFP, Getty, Former, Statista, Russia, Reuters, Top, Democratic, Republican, South Carolina Gov, CBS, NBC News, US National Security, North Atlantic Council, Anadolu Locations: London, Former U.S, South Carolina, Russia, U.S, United States, Brussels, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Turkey, Ukraine, NATO's

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — A man whose family's gender reveal ceremony sparked a Southern California wildfire that killed a firefighter in 2020 has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors said Friday. A smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass on a scorching day. On Friday, the San Bernardino County district attorney announced that Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. had pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesAngelina Jimenez pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of recklessly causing fire to property of another. Flames blackened nearly 36 square miles (92 square kilometers) of land in San Bernardino and Riverside counties before the blaze was contained on Nov. 16, 2020.

Persons: Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr, Angelina Jimenez, Charles Morton, Morton, Jason Anderson, “ Organizations: BERNARDINO, Calif, El, Big Bear Interagency, U.S . Forest Service, San, San Bernardino National Locations: Southern California, El Dorado, El, Ranch, Yucaipa, San Bernardino Mountains, Los Angeles, San Bernardino County, San Bernardino, Riverside, California

☆ My First Cigarette Was My Last
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Karen Kicak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Our elementary school was set deep in the rural Ontario countryside, nestled in the forest beside the local dump. At recess, a year later, I didn’t make the choice to get into trouble that day, either. She had been invited to smoke cigarettes in the trees on the far side of the running track. The invitation came from Kyle, a charming ringleader who looked like Justin Timberlake and dressed like Kurt Cobain. I would have certainly wussed out if she had told me we were going to smoke (!)

Persons: Ashley, Kyle, Justin Timberlake, Kurt Cobain, — Locations: Ontario

☆ Israel’s credit rating downgraded because of war with Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Israel’s prolonged war with Hamas is going to become a significant economic and political burden for the country over the long haul, Moody’s said Friday. So the agency downgraded Israel’s credit rating. Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Israel’s debt rating from A1 to A2 on Friday, underscoring the economic damage of the country’s war with Hamas, which has resulted in thousands of human casualties and stoked geopolitical tensions around the world. In mid-October, less than two weeks after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7, Moody’s warned that Israel’s credit rating was in danger of a downgrade. “Conflict with Hezbollah would pose a much bigger risk to Israel’s territory,” Moody’s said.

Persons: CNN —, Moody’s, ” Moody’s, Matt Egan Organizations: CNN, Moody’s, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, “

☆ The Bucket List Family: How to travel the world with three kids
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“I never had the thought in my brain that ‘I want to travel around the world,’” Gee, from Denver, Colorado, tells CNN Travel. They soon began planning an extended trip to Southeast Asia and decided to launch an Instagram page, The Bucket List Family, to collate their adventures. “The little bit of traveling turned into three years full-time,” adds Gee, who has just released a travel guidebook, The Bucket List Family Travel, in partnership with National Geographic. The family went on to visit dozens of countries across the world, including Germany, Morocco, Japan, Brazil, Guatemala and Dominica. Family favoritesThe family of five have traveled to more than 90 countries.

Persons: Jessica Gee, Walt, ”, Garrett, Dorothy, Manilla, “, ” Gee, Gee, Jessica, Garrett Gee, who’ve, Callihan, Calihan, Geographic Gee, you’re, Gee’s, – that’s, it’s, They’ve, don’t Organizations: CNN, Walt Disney, CNN Travel, National Geographic, Gee, Central, East, Rwanda, Geographic, Disney Locations: Europe, Florida, Denver , Colorado, Vladivostok, Russia, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Singapore , New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, Germany, Morocco, Japan, Brazil, Guatemala, Dominica, Belize, Central American, Alaska, East African, Rwanda, Hawaii, Africa, Antarctica, China, Borneo

Mr. Trump needled Ms. Haley for her performance on social media, calling the result a “bad night” for her. In a Trump campaign email, Steven Cheung, a spokesman, called it “brutal” and contended that the Haley campaign acknowledged it had “intentionally disrespected the people of Nevada” by refusing to campaign there. Ms. Haley cast her party as mired in the same disorder that surrounds the man who has remade it in his image. It does not help that Mr. Trump’s allies have worked behind the scenes to skew primary and delegate rules to his advantage. Nevertheless, onstage in Los Angeles, Ms. Haley told the audience she wasn’t going anywhere.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald J, Trump, “, — he’s, ” Ms, Haley, ”, Ms, —, you’re, “ we’ve, Haley’s, Steven Cheung, Ronna McDaniel, Mr, Trump’s, “ Donald Trump Organizations: United Nations, Republican, Hollywood Post, American Legion, ”, Trump, Republican National Committee, Mr Locations: Los Angeles, Nevada’s, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, California

☆ Treasury yields hold steady as investors weigh comments from Fed officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

ET, the 10-year Treasury yield was up by just over one basis point to 4.1095%. The 2-year Treasury yield was last down by less than one basis point at 4.4185%. U.S. Treasury yields were little changed on Thursday as investors considered remarks from Federal Reserve officials about the path ahead for interest rate cuts. On Wednesday, Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari told CNBC's "Squawk Box" that he believes two or three rate cuts would take place in 2024. The comments echoed those made by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell last week and stoked concerns among investors that fewer rate cuts than they have been expecting could be implemented.

Persons: Neel Kashkari, CNBC's, Jerome Powell, Adriana Kugler, Powell Organizations: U.S, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Minneapolis Federal, Fed

☆ Xi just fired China's top markets regulator. It shows his focus is still on control above all else.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewChina's extended stock market rout was so bad that leader Xi Jinping was set to personally pay attention to it — and it looks like his solution was to fire the country's top markets regulatory late on Wednesday. After all, there were suggestions earlier that authorities are considering a stabilization fund to rescue the flailing stock market. Stock markets in China and Hong Kong have accelerated losses into 2024. The analysts at the Eurasia Group aren't the only ones who say China needs to double down on economic reforms to shore up its economy.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, Wu Qing, Xi, Eswar Prasad, China's Organizations: Service, China Securities Regulatory, Bloomberg, Business, Eurasia Group, Eurasia Group aren't, Cornell University, International Monetary Fund, Nikkei, Index, Hong Kong Stock Exchange Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing

☆ After Vice Media's fall, 4 of its top marketers are starting their own agency focused on AI. Here's how they're pitching clients.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The result is Sounds Fun, which they call an AI and innovation studio and announced this month. He also said Sounds Fun would treat artists with respect, using their creative work with their consent and ensuring they're credited and compensated. One of their highest-profile projects at Virtue, and the kind of work Sounds Fun hopes to build on, was Coke's Y3000 project . For Microsoft's developer conference, Ignite, Sounds Fun worked with artists on a variety of AI experiences, including an AI vending machine that made individualized pieces of art and haikus based on people's utterances. Check out slides from the deck Sounds Fun is using to pitch marketers its work with AI and other technologies.

Persons: It's, Iain S, Thomas, Isabel Muñoz Cadilla, Alex Gangi, Martin Magner, they're Organizations: Virtue, Business, Media, Companies

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Las Vegas will be flooded with so many pre- Super Bowl events that Shaquille O'Neal lowered the prices to his popular carnival-themed “ Shaq's Fun House. “Las Vegas isn't ready for the show we're about to bring,” Big Boi said. The stars of the CBS show “The Neighborhood” will host the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration at the Palms Casino Resort on Wednesday night. MALUMA & SIRIUSXMColombian superstar Maluma will take his vibrant Latin music vibes into Las Vegas with the help of SiriusXM. ___More on the Super Bowl: https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl

Persons: Shaquille O'Neal, O'Neal, We're, ”, He'll, Lil Wayne, Diplo, DJ Diesel, Rob Gronkowski, Michael Rubin, Beyoncé, Jay, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Kendall Jenner, Rubin, Travis Scott, Meek, Lil Baby, Fabolous, Ludacris, Laroi, Mike, OutKast, Big Boi, Kevin Hart, Deon Cole, D.L, Desi Banks, Aida Rodriguez, Cedric, Tichina Arnold, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Robin Thicke, Tully Banta, Cain, Bryan Scott, Arnold, “, Nate Burleson, —, DJ Afrojack, Gronkowski, BILLY IDOL, Billy Idol, Idol, he's stoked, Maluma, He's, Don Juan ”, “ COCO LOCO ”, David Guetta, Jack Harlow, Wynn, Zach Bryan, Tiësto, LIV, Savage, Guy Fieri, Leigh Steinberg Organizations: ANGELES, NBA, Fun, Wynn, Sports Illustrated's, Hamptons, Cosmopolitan, MADDEN, EA Sports, Madden, of, Madden NFL, Theatre, CBS, NFL, Super, Sunday, Location's, Touchdown Club, SIRIUSXM, Virgin Hotels, Pandora, Las, GQ, Nomad Library Locations: Las Vegas, Sin City, Encore, Atlanta, Hughley, Palms, British, Allegiant, Vegas, Fontainebleau

☆ NYCB's slide sparks fears of more banking and commercial real estate turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The regional bank reported disappointing earnings, stoking fears of commercial real estate trouble. AdvertisementA smaller lender is facing a firesale of its stock fueled by concerns about its stability, echoing the regional-banking problems last year that stoked fears of a full-blown financial crisis and commercial real estate meltdown. AdvertisementThe increases hit the value of their fixed-income and commercial real estate portfolios. In particular, commercial real estate is under pressure from ongoing remote working, tighter credit availability as lenders have pulled back, and higher debt costs, all of which have weighed on asset values. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told lawmakers this week she expects the commercial real estate pressures to "put a loss of stress" on property owners, although she expected it to be manageable, Bloomberg reported.

Persons: stoking, —, stoked, NYCB, Banks, Moody's, Wall, Thomas Cangemi, pare, Janet Yellen Organizations: Community Bancorp, Service, New York Community Bancorp, Flagstar Bank, Signature Bank, Valley Bank, Silvergate, Bloomberg, Federal

Camila Lange, who is 7-months-pregnant, on Monday sat with her husband and dog in what used to be their home in Vina del Mar, Chile. Hundreds of homes in the central coastal area of the South American nation have been destroyed in fires that have killed at least 112 people. Weather and climate extremes — wildfire, drought and flooding — are taking a toll around the world. — In Chile, firefighters are battling huge forest fires stoked by hot and dry conditions. Up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain had already fallen by Monday, with more expected, according to the National Weather Service.

Persons: Camila Lange, ___, ”, Pere Aragonès Organizations: Vina del Mar, National Weather Service, San Francisco Bay Area, AP Locations: Vina del Mar, Chile, —, Vina del, California, Southern California, Los Angeles, Northern California, San Francisco Bay, Spain, Catalonia, Barcelona

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