Citigroup economic surprise index data download

Wall Street's main indexes rose over 1% on Friday as signs of slowing economic growth and falling commodity prices tempered expectations over how high the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates to rein in inflation. Global financial markets have been roiled this month on worries that rapid rate hikes by major central banks could cause a recession, with the benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX) confirming a bear market last week as it recorded a 20% drop from its January closing peak. The three main indexes on Friday looked set to notch their first weekly gain in four, boosted by megacap growth stocks and defensive sectors such as healthcare and utilities seen as safer bets during times of economic uncertainty. "Conversations about the U.S. economy likely slowing which could lessen the hawkishness of the Fed, combined with lower commodity prices and bond yields - these are reasons investors are mentioning to justify why we could experience a near-term bounce," said Sam Stovall, … [Read more...] about Wall Street rallies as traders dial back rate-hike bets

Wall Street, New York City (File image: Reuters) Global dealmaking is entering an arid season as raging inflation and a stock market rout curb the appetite of many corporate boards to expand through acquisitions. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February and fears that an economic recession is looming dealt a blow to merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the second quarter. The value of announced deals dropped 25.5% year-on-year to $1 trillion, according to Dealogic data. "Companies are standing back from M&A in the short term as they are more focused on the impact of a recession on their business. The timing for dealmaking will come but I don't think it's quite there yet," said Alison Harding-Jones, Citigroup Inc's EMEA M&A head. M&A activity in the United States plunged 40% to $456 billion in the second quarter, while Asia Pacific was down 10%, Dealogic data showed. Close Europe was the only region where dealmaking didn't crash. Activity … [Read more...] about Global M&A deals brace for dry spell as boardrooms put expansion on backburner

Wall Street, New York City (File image: Reuters) Wall Street's main indices soared on Friday in a broad rally as signs of slowing economic growth and a recent pullback in commodity prices tempered expectations for the Federal Reserve's rate-hike plans. The S&P 500 rose over 3% for its biggest one-day percentage rise since May 2020. All 11 of the benchmark index's sectors ended at least 1.5% higher. Stocks rebounded this week as financial markets have been roiled over worries that rapid rate hikes by the Fed to rein in 40-year-high inflation could cause a recession. Still, investors have been gauging when the market might hit its bottom after the benchmark S&P 500 earlier this month recorded a 20% drop from its January closing peak, confirming the common definition of a bear market. "Some of the moves, the sellers just get exhausted so you don’t have as much capital moving out," said Shawn Cruz, head trading strategist at TD Ameritrade. "This might be a … [Read more...] about Wall Street mints big gains to end a strong week

The Philippines’ summer capital, known for its cool air and pine trees, has been the favorite refuge of Filipinos wanting to escape the scorching heat in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. But while Baguio City remains the coolest place in the country, it has been feeling the heat of climate change, registering an unusually higher heat index of 27 degrees Celsius last month, exacerbated by the steady loss of its tree cover. Just as well that its city council has recently proposed a five-year moratorium on tree-cutting activities to protect its trees. The battle to preserve the beloved city’s trees has been ongoing for at least two decades now as locals saw more of these trees being felled to give way to progress and development—malls, subdivisions, and other infrastructure projects. In 2019, the Supreme Court stopped a mall giant from cutting more than a hundred trees for an expansion plan, but the temporary restraining order came only after about 60 trees have already been … [Read more...] about Stop cutting trees