More good economic news in the U.S. this week, with first-time jobless claims falling to 613k, a decrease of more than 150,000 from a week earlier and the lowest level of the pandemic. ...more
Seismic news out of Seattle yesterday, with Amazon founder and CEO informing employees that he’s stepping out of the top spot at the e-commerce giant this summer after a nearly 30-year run and transitioning “into the role of...more
Never one to let a competitor’s misfortune pass by without looking for an opportunity, Facebook’s Instagram is hoping to capitalize on TikTok’s questionable U.S. status by launching Reels, a new feature that allows users to...more
The SEC has served Wells notices to Under Armour, warnings that the company and its execs could “face civil-enforcement action related to the sportswear maker’s past accounting practices,” including “the company’s disclosures...more
Bayer, the German parent company of Monsanto, will pay more than $10 billion to resolve “tens of thousands of claims in the United States that its popular weedkiller Roundup causes cancer.” The settlement covers an estimated...more
The U.S. market is improving, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs. For some perspective, “[t]he economy shed 22.1 million jobs combined in March and April.” So, we have a ways to go before we’ve fully recovered. ...more
It’s been a week or so, and we’re running out of ways to say that this is bad. But it certainly is. Your bear market stats for the day: the biggest daily drop by percentage for both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial...more
Apple announced that the coronavirus outbreak that’s brought Chinese manufacturing to a near-standstill and continues to spread around the world will affect its quarterly sales expectations. The news makes Apple “one of the...more
UK regulators are probing ties between disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and Barclays CEO Jes Staley. The bank’s board is so far standing 100% with Staley, who has expressed “regret” over his relationship with Epstein....more
A mounting death toll (over 106 and counting) and fears of a coronavirus pandemic sent markets tumbling early on Monday and kicked off a selloff that continued all day....more
As it kicked off its 50th annual gathering today, the World Economic Forum in Davos is facing some hard questions—both about the state of the ideals it has long espoused (“open borders, liberal democracy and free borders,” to...more
Well, Phase One is official, thanks to a White House signing yesterday that included Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. With that act comes our first substantive look at the deal that’s been thus-far shrouded in secrecy. Some...more
The White House will again slap tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Argentina and Brazil in an apparent reaction to “massive devaluation” of currencies in both South American nations....more
Fintech firm Stripe Inc., which “allows internet companies and online marketplaces to accept credit cards for their goods and services and pay out money to the people and firms that sell on their platforms,” just wrapped a...more
The DOJ is considering joining its European counterparts in targeting Google for potential antitrust violations focused on Google’s “advertising practices and influence in the online advertising industry,” possibly including...more
Jobs report Friday again. Which, after February’s dismal numbers, is carrying extra importance today. We’ll be keeping an eye on US manufacturing, among other things. Here’s what to watch....more
After weeks of regular negotiations (and months of back-and-forth before that), the rough outlines of a broad US/China trade deal are starting to take shape. Early reports look like the end of US tariffs in exchange for...more
Federal prosecutors are reportedly weighing the allegations that Amazon chief Jeff Bezos has levied against Enquirer-parent American Media Inc., which, if found to have broken any law, “would be in violation of a deal with...more
US trade negotiations with China have stalled such that the anticipated meeting between the countries’ leaders is, according the White House, “highly unlikely” to occur before the March 1 deadline marking the end of a 90-day...more
The financial world has been busy—and generally not in a great way—since we’ve been gone. Luckily, we’re returning on something of a rare high note after a stronger-than-expected December jobs report and some reassurance...more
The White House’s protectionist plan to impose roughly $60 billion in annual tariffs on Chinese imports went over like a lead balloon on Wall Street, sparking fears of a trade war, increased volatility, and unintended ripple...more
With all of Europe closely eyeing the ECB for hints about its move away from aggressive bond buying, some cities that have benefited disproportionately from the QE are being forced to consider what life on the other side will...more
We’ve mentioned Uber’s Greyball issues before in passing. But since the authorities are literally making a Federal case out of it, you should probably know more about the details if the software tool that has the...more