Euro-area inflation is likely to slow less significantly below the ECB’s 2% target in 2026 than feared, supporting the case for a steady hand on interest rates, Primoz Dolenc says https://t.co/wuXHfeNe8F ...

Australian unemployment jumped more than expected, and the economy added fewer jobs, signaling the labor market is loosening and adding to the case for the Reserve Bank to resume lowering interest rates as soon as next month https://t.co/ltcJDV0JB1 ...

Uh, Victoria, we we got the S&P 500. It's up modestly. We're still about a percent and a half below last week's record high after that wobble we had on Friday.Has anything in terms of the underpinnings of this rally. You know, a steady economy, Fed going to cut rates, the AI excitement. Is anything changed or have there been reasons you see to question those premises.>> Yeah, Mike, I don't think there's been a huge change in what we've seen. Now, we have had some of the momentum, that underlying momentum in ...

Group 1: Stellantis and Canadian Backlash - Stellantis N.V. is facing significant opposition from Canada due to its decision to shift Jeep Compass production from Brampton, Ontario, to Illinois, threatening approximately 3,000 jobs [2][6] - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the production move is a "direct consequence" of existing U.S. tariffs, impacting the auto sector until a new North American trade agreement is reached [2][6] - Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed disappointment and confirmed that no provincial funding would be allocated to Stellantis until assurances regarding the Brampton plant's future operations are provided [2] Group 2: Federal Reserve Insights - Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran projects a "material decline" in services inflation in the coming quarters, primarily driven by easing housing costs [3][6] - Miran believes that two more interest rate cuts this year are "realistic" and emphasized the urgency of reaching a neutral interest rate quickly, estimating it at approximately 0.5% [3][6] - Miran dissented at the recent FOMC meeting, advocating for a larger 50 basis point rate cut instead of the adopted 25 basis point reduction [3] Group 3: Oracle and TikTok - A ByteDance executive acknowledged Oracle's "vital role" in TikTok's expansion, with Oracle leading a proposed deal to control approximately 80% of TikTok's U.S. business [4][6] - The arrangement aims to address U.S. national security concerns regarding potential Chinese government access to user data [4][6] - Under the proposed deal, Oracle would manage and safeguard U.S. user data under its existing "Project Texas" initiative [4] Group 4: Prologis Market Activity - Prologis Inc. CEO Hamid R. Moghadam announced discussions for nearly 30 million square feet of new deals, following a strong third quarter with record lease signings totaling 62 million square feet [5][6] - The company reported a period-end occupancy rate of 95.3% and is expanding its strategic focus into data centers [5] Group 5: Turkey's Rare Earth Element Development - Turkey is in advanced talks with the United States to jointly develop its substantial rare earth reserves in Beylikova, Eskişehir province, which are considered the world's second-largest after China's [8] - This strategic pivot towards the U.S. follows stalled negotiations with China and Russia over technology transfer demands [8] - Ankara is prioritizing local refining capacity and technology transfer in any new agreement [8] Group 6: Ukraine's Energy Needs - Ukraine is seeking U.S. gas supplies via Greece, with discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis [9] - Ukraine's state-owned Naftogaz reported recent Russian attacks on its gas production infrastructure, necessitating a need for at least 13.2 billion cubic meters in gas storage for the upcoming winter [9] - Greece aims to replace Russian gas imports with American LNG and facilitate its onward transmission to Ukraine through the North-South corridor [9]

Market Overview - Stocks opened higher on Wednesday due to positive corporate earnings and expectations of lower interest rates [1] - The rally showed signs of fading in the late morning [1] Company Performance - Morgan Stanley shares increased nearly 7% following a strong earnings report that outperformed Goldman Sachs [1] - Wells Fargo also reported bullish results and reached a new high [1] - Tech giant Oracle's stock rose nearly 3% to $353.30 [1] Sector Performance - The utilities sector was the strongest performer at the start of the day, influenced by bond market conditions [2] Treasury Yields and Mortgage Rates - The 10-year Treasury yield was just above 4%, marking the lowest level of the year, briefly dropping to 3.998% [3] - Mortgage rates have been gradually decreasing, currently around 6.3% [3] Index Performance - The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 0.5% to 6,674 [4] - The Nasdaq Composite, which had earlier increased by over 200 points, was up 149 points to 22,670 [4] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 91 points, or 0.2%, at 46,356 [4] 52-Week Highs and Lows - Stocks reaching 52-week highs included Wal-Mart, Wells Fargo, Caterpillar, and Southern Co., with Southern shares peaking at $100.24 before falling back to $99.25, down 0.43% [4] - Progressive Corp. was notable for hitting a 52-week low, with shares down 7.9% at $221.36 due to quarterly earnings missing estimates related to issues in Florida [5]

The Argentine peso dropped and short-term local interest rates soared as the latest pledge of support by the US generated confusion among investors https://t.co/UkBohOuEAG ...

Market Overview - The stock market experienced volatility in 2025, reacting to President Trump's tariffs in April but later rebounding and showing growth [1] - Investors are apprehensive about the stock market outlook for 2026, with experts identifying a mix of opportunities and risks [2] Interest Rates and Economic Indicators - Interest rates have been a focal point, with reductions occurring in September, and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) predicting two additional cuts this year, potentially influencing market activity into 2026 [3] - Rising unemployment may prompt the Federal Reserve to adjust monetary policy and further cut interest rates, which could support stock prices but also introduce risks of a market correction if growth is not stimulated [4] Inflation Concerns - Inflation has posed significant challenges for consumers, with the FOMC's rate cuts aimed at alleviating these pressures, though inflation may persist [5] - Predictions indicate that the inflation rate in 2026 will exceed that of the current year, potentially diminishing consumer purchasing power and impacting spending [6] Sector-Specific Insights - The ongoing high inflation, coupled with elevated tariff rates, could adversely affect consumer-driven sectors and hinder stock prices [6] - The artificial intelligence (AI) sector faces potential challenges, with concerns about a possible tech bubble and the sustainability of earnings in this space [7][8] - General caution is advised regarding equities due to stretched valuations in several sectors and the inconsistent earnings power of the AI narrative [8]

Core Viewpoint - Q.E.P. Co., Inc. reported a decline in net sales and gross profit for the first six months and second quarter of fiscal year 2026, primarily due to elevated interest rates and consumer caution affecting home improvement spending [2][3]. Financial Performance - Net sales for the first six months of fiscal 2026 were $119.2 million, a decrease of $6.9 million or 5.5% from $126.1 million in the same period of fiscal 2025 [2]. - Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 were $57.7 million, down $4.9 million or 7.8% from $62.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 [2]. - Gross profit for the first six months of fiscal 2026 was $43.3 million, down $1.5 million or 3.4% from $44.8 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2025 [3]. - Gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 was $20.6 million, a decrease of $1.7 million or 7.6% from $22.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 [3]. - The gross margin for the first six months and second quarter of fiscal 2026 was 36.3% and 35.7%, respectively, showing an increase from 35.5% and 35.6% in the same periods of the prior fiscal year [3]. Operating Expenses and Income - Operating expenses totaled $32.9 million for the first six months of fiscal 2026, representing 27.6% of net sales, compared to $34.5 million or 27.3% of net sales in the comparable fiscal 2025 period [4]. - Operating expenses for the second quarter were $16.0 million, or 27.8% of net sales, compared to $17.2 million or 27.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 [4]. - Net income from continuing operations for the first six months of fiscal 2026 was $8.0 million, or $2.45 per diluted share, compared to $7.7 million or $2.34 per diluted share in the same period of fiscal 2025 [6]. - Net income for the second quarter was $3.5 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, compared to $3.8 million or $1.17 per diluted share in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 [6]. Cash Flow and Dividends - Cash provided by operations during the first six months of fiscal 2026 was $8.8 million, down from $11.2 million in the first six months of fiscal 2025 [9]. - The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on November 26, 2025, reflecting the company's commitment to returning value to stockholders [11]. Balance Sheet - As of August 31, 2025, working capital totaled $72.3 million, an increase from $67.4 million at the end of fiscal 2025 [10]. - Aggregate available cash, net of outstanding debt, was $34.3 million, up from $28.4 million at the end of fiscal 2025 [10].

Gold edged higher toward a record, boosted by an escalation in US-China frictions and bets the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates twice more this year https://t.co/U76YJNuMyR ...

Housing Market Trends - Homebuyer cancellation rates have risen to a record high for this time of year due to disagreements between buyers facing high interest rates and sellers with low pandemic-era mortgage rates [2] - The sale-to-list ratio is falling, indicating that more homes are selling below their asking price, giving buyers more negotiating power [4] - The housing market typically cools down in the fall as people become busy with school and holidays [6] Pricing and Affordability - Home prices are increasing at a slower rate than inflation, suggesting a real erosion of value [8] - Falling mortgage rates may not lead to a significant acceleration in prices due to an increase in both buyers and sellers [9] Regional Variations - The Midwest is experiencing increasing home values, driven by growing economies and relatively affordable homes compared to the national average [10] - Texas and Florida are becoming more affordable due to increased housing construction, particularly in the condo market [12] Negotiation Dynamics - Buyers are using inspections as negotiation points, but sellers are often unwilling to concede, leading to deal cancellations [3] - Sellers without competing offers are more likely to lower their prices to secure a sale [5] Supply and Demand - Increased demand in the Midwest is meeting limited supply, driving up prices [10] - An increase in home sellers relative to buyers could lead to price moderation [7]