Economic survey

The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Staff/File photo European shares rose on Wednesday, echoing an upbeat mood in Asian markets following Chinese tech giant Alibaba’s break-up plans, while strong outlook from chipmaker Infineon and a CEO change at Swiss bank UBS further aided the mood. The benchmark STOXX 600 index rose 0.7 percent, largely in line with gains in Asian equities. UBS Group AG gained 1.7 percent after the lender announced that Sergio Ermotti will take the helm to steer its takeover of smaller peer Credit Suisse. Credit Suisse climbed 1.4 percent, while financial services and banking indexes rose between 0.8 percent and 1 percent. “I can see why the market has stabilized and it’s true that there are some slightly comforting factors. The Fed (bets) have been repriced down quite aggressively in the past few weeks and investor positioning is very defensive,” said Vincent Chaigneau, … [Read more...] about European stocks get tech lift, UBS climbs on naming Ermotti as CEO

Inflation concerns among small business owners remained at record highs this quarter, according to a quarterly poll conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife released on Wednesday. The first quarter of 2023 was the fifth in a row where inflation was considered the biggest challenge for small business owners, according to the Small Business Index. A record high of 54% reported that, which is a 31-point increase from Q4 2021. “This quarter, small businesses’ concerns over inflation are soaring and their view of the broader economy is darkening, though they still report that their own businesses are in good health,” said Tom Sullivan, Vice President of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In San Francisco, minimum wage increases are based on the yearly rise in the Consumer Price Index every July 1. “That means my rate jumps from $16.99 to $18.07 or 6.36%,” said Hrag Kalebijan, owner of Henry’s House of Coffee, according to the Index. “The … [Read more...] about Inflation Continues To Plague Small Businesses For Fifth Consecutive Quarter: REPORT

(CTN NEWS) – Apple is entering the buy now pay later market with a few tweaks to the current model, including no credit card payment option. The product will be available to some customers this spring, and the loans will be reported to credit bureaus in the fall. Here’s what you should know. Since the outbreak, the option to “ buy now pay later ” has gained popularity, particularly among young and low-income consumers who may not have easy access to conventional credit. If you buy online for clothes, furniture, sneakers, or concert tickets, you have probably noticed the option to pay in smaller payments over time. Companies such as Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna, and Paypal already provide the service, usually with late fees for missed payments and the option to make installment payments with a credit card or bank account. Apple’s version, integrated with Apple Pay and facilitated by MasterCard, will require consumers to use a debit card and a bank account to … [Read more...] about Apple’s “Buy Now Pay Later”Service: Everything You Need To Know