On Friday, the predominant gauge of the U.S. stock market achieved a historic milestone by closing above 5,000 for the first time. This significant psychological benchmark has been a focal point for investors amidst a flurry of fourth-quarter earnings reports. The latest record closing high, approximately at 5,026, reflects the conclusion of a Q4 reporting season characterized by mixed but generally positive results. This achievement … Continue reading S&P closes at record high

A multitude of Americans are confronted with agonizing choices as a record number grapple with soaring, unaffordable rent hikes. This crisis is driven by escalating inflation, a scarcity of affordable housing, and the conclusion of pandemic relief measures. According to the latest data from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies released in January, an unprecedented 22.4 million renter households, constituting half of renters nationwide, … Continue reading A record number of Americans can’t afford their rent

The Congressional Budget Office stated on Wednesday that the U.S. deficit is anticipated to increase over the next decade, with a notable portion of government spending allocated to higher interest payments, marking a historic trend. According to the latest projections from the nonpartisan agency, the deficits are projected to rise from $1.6 trillion in the current year to $2.6 trillion in 2034. This represents a … Continue reading U.S. deficit will soar in the next decade, CBO says

After reporting fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded analysts’ revenue expectations, Palantir shares saw a remarkable surge of over 19% in after-hours trading on Monday. The full-year guidance for 2024 closely aligned with Wall Street’s estimates. Notably, fourth-quarter revenue experienced a 20% increase, reaching $608.4 million compared to $508.6 million the previous year. Palantir reported a net income of $93.4 million, or 4 cents per share, contrasting … Continue reading Palantir stock jumps 19% as AI demand drives revenue beat

On Monday, stocks experienced a decline following indications of continued economic strength, potentially postponing the interest rate cuts desired by Wall Street. The S&P 500 retreated by 15.80 points, equivalent to 0.3%, from its record high achieved on Friday, settling at 4,942.81. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also dipped by 274.30 points, or 0.7%, closing at 38,380.12, while the Nasdaq composite saw a marginal decrease … Continue reading Wall Street slips from all-time high as cuts to rates look further off

Despite the overall health of the U.S. economy, certain segments of the population are facing financial challenges. Many Americans, particularly those in lower- and middle-income brackets who are often renters, have depleted their savings and accumulated high credit card balances while grappling with inflation for over two years. Concerns among experts are rising as these individuals may be falling behind on their debts, with the … Continue reading Americans have become saddled with credit card debt as rent and everyday prices remain high

Last week, US oil production reached a new historic high, hitting 13.3 million barrels per day. This surpasses the previous record set in November at 13.2 million barrels per day and exceeds the pre-pandemic peak of 13.1 million barrels in February 2020. The consistent growth in US oil production has played a significant role in keeping prices in check. Despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle … Continue reading US crude oil production jumps to record high of 13.3 million barrels per day

In a survey released on Tuesday by The Conference Board, it was found that U.S. consumers are more optimistic about the state of the economy than they have been in over two years. The nonprofit business research group’s consumer confidence index increased for the third consecutive month in January, rising from 108 in December to 114.8. This boost in consumer confidence is likely to be … Continue reading Consumer confidence hits highest in years

On Monday, a Hong Kong court issued an order for the liquidation of the prominent property giant China Evergrande Group, a move that is likely to create ripples in China’s faltering financial markets as policymakers work to contain an escalating crisis. Justice Linda Chan’s decision to liquidate the world’s most indebted developer, burdened with over $300 billion in total liabilities, comes after Evergrande failed to … Continue reading HK court orders China Evergrande to liquidate with debts of $300 bln

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a metric encompassing the total value of goods and services produced, exhibited a growth of 3.3% at an annualized rate during the fourth quarter of 2023, surpassing Wall Street’s anticipated 2% increase. The overall U.S. economy in 2023 experienced a notable acceleration with a 2.5% annualized pace, surpassing initial Wall Street expectations, which foresaw minimal gains, and outperforming the 1.9% … Continue reading The U.S. economy grew at blistering 3.3% pace in Q4

On Tuesday, Bitcoin experienced a continued decline, dropping further below $40,000 and reaching its lowest level since the beginning of December. The cryptocurrency’s price was down nearly 2%, settling at $39,362.00. Although it slightly recovered from earlier losses, it still added to the 4% decline observed the previous day. Bitcoin has seen a notable decrease of about 19% from its post-ETF approval peak of $49,048, … Continue reading Bitcoin breaks below $39,000 to lowest level in 7 weeks

Following a series of economic data releases, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a brief decline of 100 points, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq showed strength on Thursday, buoyed by positive developments for two major chip manufacturers. Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM), a leading chip giant, saw a surge in morning trading driven by favorable earnings news, while Nvidia stock reached new record highs. Shortly after the opening … Continue reading Dow Jones Falls 100 Points After Economic Data

Following a challenging period for the Chinese economy, the nation’s stock market is currently experiencing a significant downturn. Authorities are urging institutional investors not to sell stocks in an effort to stabilize share prices, especially as foreign investors are withdrawing. On Monday, Chinese equities declined after the central bank chose to maintain its medium-term policy rate at 2.5 percent, contrary to the widespread expectation of … Continue reading China’s Stock Market in Free Fall

Citigroup is set to undergo a significant workforce reduction, with CFO Mark Mason announcing on Friday that 20,000 employees will be laid off over the next two years. This decision follows the company’s report of a $1.8 billion net loss for the fourth quarter of 2023, marking its worst quarter in 15 years. The bank anticipates that the reduction in headcount will result in long-term … Continue reading Citigroup to cut 20,000 employees

Facing challenges such as high interest rates, persistent inflation, declining trade, and a weakened China, the global economy is projected to decelerate for the third consecutive year in 2024, according to the World Bank. The forecast indicates a modest 2.4% expansion this year, a decline from 2.6% in 2023, 3% in 2022, and the robust 6.2% growth experienced in 2021 during the post-pandemic recovery from … Continue reading Global economy will slow for a third straight year in 2024, World Bank predicts

A recent report reveals that private U.S. companies are experiencing a significant decline in earnings and profit margins following the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes, leading to escalated financing costs and an increasing number of business failures. While larger corporations have, to a large extent, remained shielded from this economic strain, they often rely on mid-sized private firms as suppliers. The potential collapse of these … Continue reading Private Companies Increasingly Going Bust as Profit Shrinks

Carrefour, a major French supermarket chain, is discontinuing the sale of PepsiCo items in its stores due to escalating prices. This decision extends to popular brands such as Pepsi, Lay’s, Gatorade, Quaker, Cheetos, and others owned by the parent company, with notices placed by the products stating, “We are no longer selling this brand due to unacceptable price increases. We apologize for any inconvenience caused,” … Continue reading PEPSI, LAY’S dropped by one of world’s biggest grocers over price hikes

The beginning of 2024 has witnessed a rocky start for the stock market. Advocates of the January Barometer are anticipating a reversal, as they believe that the market’s performance in the initial month sets the tone for the remainder of the year. In the first two sessions, major indexes have experienced a pullback following a strong conclusion to 2023. The S&P 500 has declined by … Continue reading Stocks’ Bad Start to ’24 Has Forecasters on Edge

General Motors’ U.S. vehicle sales experienced a notable 14.1% increase last year, marking the automaker’s most successful year since 2019, predating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the protracted challenges in the supply chain. On Wednesday, the Detroit-based automaker disclosed the sale of approximately 2.6 million vehicles in 2023, encompassing 625,176 cars and trucks sold during the fourth quarter, showing relative stability compared to … Continue reading GM’s 2023 U.S. vehicle sales were its best since 2019

The imminent maturity of billions of dollars in loans tied to office buildings poses a significant threat to the US economy amid a surge in interest rates. Approximately $117 billion of such loans are slated to come due this year, requiring repayment or refinancing, as reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association. A substantial portion of these loans is at risk of default, potentially leading to … Continue reading Office buildings face $117B debt in US

Oil prices experienced a 3% decline on Thursday, prompted by an increasing number of shipping companies expressing readiness to navigate the Red Sea route. This development alleviated concerns about potential disruptions in the supply chain, even as tensions in the Middle East remained elevated. The more actively traded Brent crude futures for March delivery dropped by $2.24, equivalent to 2.82%, settling at $77.30. Meanwhile, Brent … Continue reading Oil prices fall 3% as Red Sea shipping disruptions ease