Worker pay rose more than expected in Q1 in another sign of persistent inflation

Employee compensation costs jumped more than expected to start the year, providing another danger sign about persistent inflation, while consumer confidence hit its lowest level in nearly two years. The employment cost index, which measures worker salaries and benefits, gained 1.2% in the first quarter, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. That was higher than 0.9% … Read more

29% of U.S. households have jobs but struggle to cover basic needs

Over time, higher costs and sluggish wage growth have left more Americans financially vulnerable, with many known as “ALICEs.” Nearly 40 million families, or 29% of the population, fall in the category of ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — according to United Way’s United for ALICE program, which first coined the term to refer … Read more

Jerome Powell: Powell poised to keep Fed on higher-for-longer path

Jerome Powell’s remarks in the coming week will be closely parsed by investors for any clues on just how long the Fed is willing to wait before cutting interest rates. The last time the US central bank chair spoke, he signaled that policymakers were likely to keep borrowing costs high for longer than previously anticipated, … Read more

Here’s why new home sales inch higher despite 7% mortgage rates

While the spring housing market has been plagued with low supply, high prices and spiking interest rates, would-be homebuyers are focusing on new construction.  The reason? New homes have more incentives and availability than previously owned ones. “There’s more opportunity in new construction,” said Nicole Bachaud, a senior economist at Zillow Group. About 693,000 new … Read more

FPI’s net sellers of Indian equities at Rs 6,304 crore in April so far

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FIIs) could end-up as net sellers of Indian equities in April breaking their two months of buying activity. In April so far, thay have sold local stocks worth Rs 6,304 crore. In March and February, FPIs were net buyers at Rs 35,098 crore and Rs 1,539 crore after selling shares worth Rs … Read more

All data shows inflation isn’t going away, making things tough on Fed

A customer shops for food at a grocery store on March 12, 2024 in San Rafael, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images The last batch of inflation news that Federal Reserve officials will see before their policy meeting next week is in, and none of it is very good. In the … Read more

Stripe co-founder says high interest rates wiped out ‘wackiest’ ideas

John Collison, president and co-founder of Stripe. Christophe Morin | IP3 | Getty Images Rising interest rates crushed technology valuations and had a chilling effect on Silicon Valley. Stripe’s co-founder says it was needed. “Broadly speaking, the effects of higher rates have been quite good,” John Collison, president of the online payments company, told CNBC … Read more

Barclays first quarter earnings, swings back to profit amid overhaul

Signage shines through a window reflecting Barclays head office in Canary Wharf, London, U.K. Bloomberg | Getty Images LONDON — Barclays on Thursday reported first-quarter net income attributable to shareholders of £1.55 billion ($1.93 billion), beating expectations and returning the British lender to profit amid a major strategic overhaul. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected net profit … Read more

Why the Fed keeping rates higher for longer may not be such a bad thing

US Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell arrives to testify at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on the “Federal Reserve’s Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report,” on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 6, 2024.  Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images With the economy humming along and the stock market, despite some recent twists and … Read more

CEO of Norway’s wealth fund issues warning over hot commodity markets

Nicolai Tangen, chief executive officer of Norges Bank Investment Management, during a news conference in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The chief executive of the world’s largest wealth fund says there are many wild cards in financial markets right now, but the “big worry” for investors is … Read more