Economy

In a recent press conference following a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell answered a series of questions from reporters asking for his views on newly elected President Donald Trump. While Powell has refrained from engaging in political discussions, it is clear that the economic implications of Trump's presidency are set to have a significant impact on Federal Reserve policies. Powell, appointed by Trump in 2017, has already faced criticism from the former president, who labeled Fed officials “boneheads” and made disparaging comparisons of their performance. During the news conference, Powell sidestepped questions regarding…

A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse graces the front yard of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park, setting the stage for a pivotal moment as Disney prepares to release its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday. Wall Street's attention will be sharply focused on the performance of Disney's streaming and theme park divisions, as well as updates on the search for CEO Bob Iger's successor. Analysts surveyed by LSEG expect the following key numbers for Disney's next earnings report: Earnings per share: Expected at $1.10 Income: Expected to reach $22.45 billion The profitability of Disney's streaming services has become…

Rocket Lab recently made headlines with the announcement of significant third-quarter results, which led to a surge in its shares in after-hours trading. The space infrastructure company reported a notable increase in revenue, reaching $104.8 million, a 55% increase from $67.6 million in the same period last year. This figure exceeded Wall Street expectations, which expected revenue of approximately $102 million. Despite the impressive revenue growth, Rocket Lab reported a widening net loss, which grew to $51.9 million from $40.6 million a year earlier. However, the company's loss was 10 cents per share, slightly better than analysts' forecasts of a…

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in January, he is expected to reinstate key elements of his previous economic platform, including tariffs, tax cuts and sanctions. Steven Mnuchin, who served as Treasury Secretary during Trump's first term, discussed these priorities in a recent interview with CNBC. Key components of Trump's economic strategy Tax cutsMnuchin stressed that tax cuts will remain a “distinctive part” of Trump's agenda. He expressed confidence that passing tax reforms in Congress should be easy, especially if Republicans maintain control of the House. RatesThe former Treasury secretary reiterated Trump's commitment to using tariffs as a…

Rivian's latest quarterly results reveal performance that fell short of market expectations, as the company reported an adjusted loss per share of 99 cents, compared to the expected loss of 92 cents. Revenue for the quarter came in at $874 million, lower than the expected $990 million. In light of these results, Rivian adjusted its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) forecast, now forecasting a loss of between $2.83 billion and $2.88 billion. This marks a revision from a previous estimate that called for a loss of about $2.7 billion. Despite these challenges, the company remains optimistic about…

An aerial perspective of existing homes alongside new construction in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles on September 8, 2023, highlights a significant moment in the real estate market. Recent data indicates that U.S. homeowners have a significant amount of home equity, but soaring interest rates over the past two years have made many reluctant to tap into that value. This trend, however, appears to be changing. In the third quarter of this year, homeowners accessed $48 billion in home equity, marking the highest volume of withdrawals in two years, following the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes. While mortgage rates…

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will address the nation following the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, where another interest rate cut is expected. Scheduled for Thursday, this meeting comes at a time when the economic landscape has become increasingly complex. Financial markets are all but certain that the central bank will reduce its benchmark borrowing rate by 0.25%, aiming to recalibrate its policies in light of moderate inflation and a weakening labor market. However, the real focus will be on the Fed's prospects as it adapts to the evolving economy and the political ramifications of Donald…

The recent election of Donald Trump as president has set the stage for significant implications regarding China's economic policies, particularly regarding the fiscal stimulus measures expected to be announced soon. As Trump prepares to take office, he has signaled intent to impose substantial tariffs – potentially exceeding 60% – on Chinese imports into the United States. This development is significant given that the previous round of tariff increases during his first term did not prevent the United States from maintaining its position as China's largest trading partner. Such a drastic increase in tariffs could come at a tumultuous time for…

At a recent economic conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, top Wall Street CEOs expressed concern about ongoing inflation in the U.S. economy and questioned whether the Federal Reserve will continue its trajectory of interest rate cuts . After a 50 basis point cut in September, which signaled a fundamental shift in the Fed's economic strategy, these top executives are unconvinced about the likelihood of two more cuts this year. Analysts at major firms such as JPMorgan and Fitch Ratings have predicted further rate cuts through the end of 2024, with expectations that this trend could extend into 2025. CME Group's…

In October, the unemployment rate for white Americans saw a slight increase, rising to 3.8% from 3.6% the previous month, according to the latest data from the Department of Labor. This increase contrasts with the overall national unemployment rate, which remained stable at 4.1%, unchanged from September, and reflects a varied picture across different demographic groups. For Black and Hispanic workers, unemployment rates remained stable at 5.7% and 5.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, Asian Americans saw a decrease in their unemployment rate, falling from 4.1% to 3.9%. Both white men and women reported rising unemployment rates in October. For men the rate…