What is New York in for. We talk about Trump proofing New York City. Do you think he sends troops in.Does he cut funding. What's the next lever he pulls. No, I don't think I think that's more Mamdani playing to space. I don't think there needs to be Trump riff.I think Trump is invested in New York because he has so much personal investments here and personal properties that he wanted. You know, that's why he was weighing in for Cuomo. But, you know, I think that there is a danger for Republicans to kind of ...

Carol, there there's been a lot going on the past few weeks. A lot of talk of a market bubble, whether we've hit the peak in the bull market. How concerned should investors be with this latest off.Because a lot of strategists have also been telling us that a pullback was coming sooner than later, >> right. Well, a pullback would be normal, especially when you look at the energy that's been deployed coming off of those April lows. So, some sort of a pullback in here would be natural.It's important though and ...

Market Overview - There is ongoing discussion about a potential market bubble and whether the peak of the bull market has been reached, with strategists suggesting a pullback is imminent [1][2] - A pullback is considered normal and could be constructive, allowing markets to reset after significant gains [3][4] Earnings and Fundamentals - Despite market fluctuations, underlying fundamentals remain strong, with two-thirds of S&P companies reporting double-digit earnings growth [2][5] - The concentration of gains among a few stocks raises concerns, as six stocks have driven half of the S&P's record highs [4][5] Debt and Funding - Companies are increasingly funding their growth through debt markets rather than cash flow, which is a point of concern [6][8] - There is a need to monitor the intertwining of companies and their funders to avoid creating a "too big to fail" scenario [9] Investment Strategy - Investors are advised to consider portfolio hygiene and global diversification, as U.S. markets have underperformed compared to global markets [11][12] - A pullback may present opportunities for clients to deploy cash or rebalance portfolios, especially for those with significant year-to-date gains [12][13] Economic Disparities - The stock market and economy are exhibiting a K-shaped recovery, with higher-income consumers driving resilience, while lower-income consumers face challenges [13][15] - The disparity in consumer spending patterns is notable, with higher-income consumers more tied to asset values, while lower-income consumers remain value-conscious [17] Federal Reserve Outlook - The Federal Reserve's medium-term outlook includes a target for interest rates around 3%, with expectations for rate cuts being moderated [18][20] - The credibility of the Fed is under scrutiny, as inflation expectations have shifted, indicating a potential long-term impact on its policies [26][27]

Gold rebounded as investors weighed the outlook for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path following data that showed some stabilization in the job market. Private-sector payrolls in the US increased by 42,000 after two straight months of declines, according to ADP Research. The report is one of the few monthly snapshots of the labor market as the longest government shutdown in US history delays the releases of official economic data. While helping to temper concerns of a faster deterioration in the job ...

Core Insights - Colgate-Palmolive Company is a leading player in oral care, personal care, home cleaning, and pet nutrition, with a market cap of approximately $61.7 billion [1] Stock Performance - The company's shares have underperformed the broader market, declining 18.2% over the past year and 15.8% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 18.5% and 15.1% respectively [2] - Colgate's stock has also lagged behind the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund, which saw a 5.5% dip over the past 52 weeks and a 3.3% decline year-to-date [3] Operational Challenges - The company is facing a challenging operating environment characterized by weak consumer demand, particularly in urban areas where households are financially strained [4] - Colgate is also dealing with inflation in raw materials and packaging, as well as adverse currency and tariff effects that impact flexibility and margins [5] Financial Outlook - For fiscal year 2025, analysts project a 1.7% year-over-year increase in EPS to $3.66, with a history of surpassing earnings estimates in the past four quarters [6] - The stock currently holds a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating, with 10 "Strong Buys," 2 "Moderate Buys," 8 "Holds," and 2 "Strong Sells" among 22 analysts [6] Price Target Insights - JPMorgan recently lowered its price target for Colgate to $88 from $95, maintaining an "Overweight" rating due to weaker category performance and soft organic sales [7] - The mean price target of $88.09 suggests a potential upside of 15.1%, while the highest price target of $100 indicates a possible upside of 30.6% from the current price [7]

Core Viewpoint - McDonald's Corp. is experiencing a decline in U.S. consumer spending, particularly among lower-income customers, due to rising costs of necessities, which has led to a decrease in restaurant traffic from this demographic [1][2][5]. Group 1: Consumer Spending Trends - CEO Chris Kempczinski indicated that restaurant traffic from low-income diners has been declining at a nearly double-digit rate for almost two years [2][3]. - The decline in spending highlights the impact of inflation and high living costs on households with limited disposable income, forcing them to cut back on even affordable fast-food options [4][5]. Group 2: Company Strategies - To counteract the slowdown in consumer spending, McDonald's has implemented menu promotions and value offerings, such as the return of Snack Wraps and Extra Value Meals, aimed at attracting budget-conscious diners [4][5]. - The company believes that value is important across all income levels, not just for low-income consumers, as everyone seeks good value for their money [5]. Group 3: Economic Outlook - McDonald's anticipates that the challenging consumer environment and financial pressures on consumers will persist well into 2026, citing high costs of housing, childcare, and food as significant factors [5][6]. - The company is balancing the need for affordability with profitability as it navigates the broader consumer weakness and spending power divide across the U.S. [6].

Core Insights - The article discusses the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on U.S. retailers, highlighting that Amazon has increased prices more significantly than competitors like Walmart and Target during a period of persistent inflation [1][2][3]. Price Increases - Amazon's prices have risen by an average of 12.8% as of the end of September 2023, compared to a 5.5% increase at Target and a 5.3% increase at Walmart [3]. - The sharpest price increase for Amazon occurred between January and February, with a rise of 3.7%, which was ahead of the majority of the tariffs announced in April [5][6]. Category-Specific Price Changes - Across various categories, Amazon's price increases were notably higher than those of Target and Walmart. For instance, apparel prices at Amazon rose by 14.2%, while indoor and outdoor home goods prices increased by 15.3% [9]. - Overall, apparel prices increased by 11.5% on average across the three retailers, with Amazon leading in price hikes for specific categories [8][9]. Third-Party Seller Impact - Third-party sellers on Amazon are more exposed to tariff-driven cost increases, lacking the scale and inventory flexibility that larger retailers possess, leading them to pass higher costs onto consumers [11][12]. Economic Implications - The pricing trends observed at Amazon are expected to significantly impact the holiday season and the broader economy in Q4 2023, as Amazon is viewed as a bellwether for U.S. commodity goods pricing [13]. - Amazon's online store sales grew by 10% in Q3 2023, indicating that consumers are not deterred by the price increases [14]. Retailer Responses - Amazon's leadership emphasizes their commitment to competitive pricing, with CEO Andy Jassy stating the company aims to meet or beat prices of major competitors [15]. - Target has indicated that it would raise prices only as a last resort, while Walmart has permanently lowered prices on 2,000 items since February [16][17]. Inflation Context - The Federal Reserve estimates that tariffs contribute significantly to inflation, with core personal consumption expenditures price index being affected by these tariffs [19]. - The consumer price index showed a 3% year-over-year increase for September, with specific categories experiencing varying price changes [20].

Market Performance - Stocks rose on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 increasing by 0.5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 62 points (0.1%), and the Nasdaq composite up by 0.8% [1] - The gains were driven by big technology stocks, with Nvidia rising by 1.6% and Alphabet increasing by 2.4% [2] Company Earnings - McDonald's shares rose by 2% following the return of its popular Snack Wraps, contributing positively to sales in Q3 [3] - International Flavors & Fragrances saw a 4.7% increase in stock price after exceeding quarterly profit forecasts [3] - Axon Enterprise's stock fell by 11.9% due to weaker profit forecasts than expected [3] - Live Nation Entertainment's shares dropped by 7.8% after its results did not meet analysts' expectations [3] Economic Indicators - A monthly ADP report indicated that private payrolls rose more than expected in October, providing insight into the job market [5] - The services sector expanded more than anticipated in October, although employment within that sector was still contracting [5] - The economic growth in October persisted despite the government shutdown, as noted by Comerica Bank's chief economist [6] Federal Reserve Outlook - The Federal Reserve is concerned about the weaker job market, which has influenced its decision to cut benchmark rates twice this year [7] - There is a mixed outlook regarding future rate cuts, with a 65% chance of a December rate cut now forecasted, down from 90% prior to the last cut [8] Bond Market - Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year Treasury yield increasing to 4.15% from 4.09% and the two-year Treasury yield rising to 3.62% from 3.58% [9]

Democratic Republic of Congo’s year-on-year inflation rate eased to 2.5% amid a rapid strengthening of the country’s currency, the International Monetary Fund said after reviewing its loan programs with the central African nation https://t.co/a9PQHDnLqw ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Overall net sales for Q3 2025 were $73.1 million, down 2% from $74.3 million in Q3 2024 [4] - Consolidated gross earnings were 40.7% of net sales compared to 44.3% in the previous year [4] - Earnings from operations were $8.1 million, down 21% from $10.2 million in Q3 2024 [4] - Net earnings totaled $6.6 million, down 18% from $8.1 million last year [4] - Diluted earnings per share were $0.69, compared to $0.84 in Q3 2024 [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North American wholesale segment net sales were $60.2 million, down 2% from $61.1 million last year [5] - Sales volumes in the wholesale segment were down 7%, but a price increase of 10% helped mitigate the impact [5] - Retail segment net sales were $7 million, down 4% from $7.2 million in 2024, primarily due to softer demand [8] - Florsheim Australia net sales remained flat at $6 million, but were up 2% in local currency [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall inventory as of September 30, 2025, was $67.2 million, down from $74 million at December 31, 2024 [17] - The incremental tariff on goods sourced from China remained at 30% throughout Q3 2025, impacting gross margins [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is diversifying its factory base to reduce manufacturing concentration in China while maintaining quality [11] - A strategic decision was made to wind down operations of the Forsake brand due to lack of growth and profitability [16] - The company is focused on expanding casual offerings for the Stacy Adams brand to regain growth [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the unsettled tariff environment and weak consumer sentiment continue to create midterm challenges [11] - The company remains confident in the strength of its brands and the resilience of its business model despite current challenges [12] - Future strategies include shifting supply chains and assessing the need for additional price increases based on tariff developments [18] Other Important Information - The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share and a special cash dividend of $2 per share [10] - The company generated $13.2 million in cash from operations during the first nine months of 2025 [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Margin deterioration attributable to tariffs - Management indicated that the margin erosion is primarily due to tariffs, with a 10% price increase not fully covering the 30% incremental duties from China [24] Question: Consumer behavior across demographics - Management observed that higher-income customers are performing well, while lower middle-income customers are facing challenges [26]