Fed’s Barkin sees likely soft landing ahead but notes rate hikes still a possibility

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin poses during a break at a Dallas Fed conference on technology in Dallas, Texas, May 23, 2019. Ann Saphir | Reuters Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin on Wednesday expressed confidence that the economy is on its way to a soft landing, but obstacles remain that will … Read more

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund overtakes Singapore’s GIC

Skyline of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) was the top spender among global sovereign wealth funds last year, accounting for about a quarter of the $124 billion splashed by state-owned investors, according to a preliminary report by research consultancy Global SWF. The Saudi … Read more

Big Short’s Steve Eisman worries investors are too bullish in 2024

Investor Steve Eisman of “The Big Short” fame is questioning the level of bullishness on Wall Street — even with the market’s tepid start to the year. From enthusiasm surrounding the “Magnificent Seven” technology stocks to expectations for multiple interest rate cuts this year, Eisman believes there’s little tolerance for things going wrong. “Long term, … Read more

Maersk Red Sea pause shows Operation Prosperity Guardian limits

A cargo ship crosses the Suez Canal, one of the most critical human-made waterways, in Ismailia, Egypt on December 29, 2023. (Photo by Fareed Kotb/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu | Getty Images The threat to global trade in the Red Sea remains high, even with efforts to protect commercial vessels from attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi … Read more

Markets will see a ‘year for non-consensus’ in 2024, strategist says

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. NYSE Stocks could be in for a rough year while the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield is set to jump back above 5% in what may become a “year for non-consensus,” according to one technical strategist. The S&P 500 finished 2023 up 24.23% after a … Read more

Companies losing pricing power after years of unbridled spending

Pedestrians carrying Nike and Allbirds shopping bags in the SoHo neighborhood of New York on Oct. 24, 2021. Nina Westervelt | Bloomberg | Getty Images After years of unbridled consumer spending on everything from home improvement to dream vacations, some companies are now finding the limits of their pricing power. Shipping giant FedEx last week … Read more

Startup bubble fueled by Fed cheap money policy finally burst in 2023

Scooters take over SXSW in Austin, TX As the last decade came to an end, it was easy for a young engineer to hop on a Bird scooter and ride it to a nearby WeWork office, home to the hottest new crypto startup. Then came Covid. Electric scooters and coworking spaces were no longer important, … Read more

With all eyes on Gaza and Ukraine, analysts fear these conflicts could erupt

Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, sit atop a tank in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, on April 20, 2023. – | Afp | Getty Images With the eyes of the world on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, an unprecedented number of potentially “catastrophic” conflicts are going … Read more

Inflation has created a dark cloud over how everyday Americans view the economy

Grocery items are offered for sale at a supermarket on August 09, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson | Getty Images When Kyle Connolly looks back at 2023, she sees it as a year defined by changes and challenges. The newly single parent reentered the workforce, only to be laid off from her job at … Read more

How Rio Tinto is poised to benefit from the EV boom

Copper mines like Rio Tinto’s Bingham Canyon mine on the outskirts of Salt Lake City are on the frontline of America’s transition to clean energy. Global demand for copper, a major component of electric vehicles, is expected to grow from 25 million metric tons to nearly 49 million metric tons by 2035, according to S&P … Read more