- A + A NEW YORK/BENGALURU (June 28): Bank shares boosted the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 indexes on Tuesday, as the big four lenders raised dividends following a stress test, but a sharp drop in consumer confidence brought to fore the risks from rising inflation. Wall Street's main indexes started the week on soft footing on worries of rising prices and an aggressive Federal Reserve dominated sentiment. Economic data remains at the forefront of investors' focus amid few market moving catalysts till the start of earnings season in two weeks. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index dropped 4.5 points to a reading of 98.7 this month, as worries about high inflation left consumers anticipating that economic growth would weaken significantly in the second half of the year. Investors are now looking at data to determine whether the economy can withstand large interest rate hikes by the US central bank to stamp out inflation. "People are coming into … [Read more...] about Dow, S&P boosted by banks; cautious on consumer confidence data
Left bank bordeaux
Russia’s foreign bond investors left caught in sanctions web
- A + A (June 28):Investors caught in the web of international sanctions that pushed Russia into default on bond payments are faced with the choice of seeking recompense now, or biding their time. Sanctions aimed at punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine shut it out of the world’s financial system, blocking its ability to transfer funds to creditors. It missed payments in late May, and a final deadline to remedy the situation expired on Sunday, creating what the bond documents call an “event of default”. Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding notes can come together to declare the debt fully and immediately repayable, “without any further formality” — a process known as accelerating the debt — according to the documents governing the relevant bond contracts. They may be in no rush. Claims only become void three years on from the payment date, the bonds’ terms show. There’s the chance that if international penalties against President Vladimir Putin’s … [Read more...] about Russia’s foreign bond investors left caught in sanctions web
Between redevelopment and renewal (KOR)
JANG JOO-YOUNG The author is a national team reporter of the JoongAng Ilbo. The world renowned art museum Tate Modern is located in Bankside, on the southern bank of the river Thames in London. The museum opened in May 2000 in a renovated power plant building. It was a poor and underdeveloped neighborhood, but after the museum opened, it became a major attraction. Works by famous artists such as Andy Warhol and Paik Nam-june are on display, attracting many visitors. It is considered a successful case of urban renewal, preserving the historic significance while also vitalizing the area. The success of the Tate Modern cannot be explained by the preservation of the old building alone. What made it special was combining new facilities with the structure. A footbridge and the Millennium Bridge over the Thames in front of the museum enhanced access to the site. Visitors to London can cross the bridge and tour both St. Paul’s Cathedral on the northern side and the Tate Modern. An … [Read more...] about Between redevelopment and renewal (KOR)
Inflation saps US consumer confidence; house prices remain elevated
- A + A WASHINGTON (June 28): US consumer confidence dropped to a 16-month low in June, as worries about high inflation left consumers to anticipate that the economy would slow significantly or even slide into recession in the second half of the year. Despite the gloomy outlook, consumers showed little sign of cutting back on spending, with buying plans for motor vehicles and other big ticket items like refrigerators and washing machines increasing, the survey from the Conference Board on Tuesday showed. But fewer consumers compared to April intended to go away on vacation at home or abroad, reflecting record high gasoline prices and expensive airfares. The economy is on recession watch as the Federal Reserve aggressively tightens monetary policy to tackle inflation. For now, it continues to grow, with other data on Tuesday showing the goods trade deficit again narrowing significantly in May as exports hit a record high. "Right now we are at an inflection point in … [Read more...] about Inflation saps US consumer confidence; house prices remain elevated