🚨 CRYPTO: SEC CHAIR PAUL ATKINS UNVEILS "A-C-T" POLICY AGENDA AT ANNUAL SEC SPEAKS EVENTThree pillars. One message: the old rulebook is getting gutted.Advance: update rules to match how markets actually operate today, not decades ago. Clarify: streamline oversight and unlock innovation. Transform: eliminate the burdensome and impractical.Atkins called it the "minimum effective dose of regulation." Rules crafted for one era shouldn't be forced onto another.This comes days after the SEC classified crypto toke ...

🇺🇸 LATEST: Senate Republicans are considering adding bank deregulatory provisions to the crypto market structure bill to help advance a stalled housing package, per Politico. https://t.co/ABGki6pWI8 ...

All ri >> ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK EVERYBODY. HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING BACK AFTER THE SENATE PASSED A HOUSING BILL WITH A STRONG BIPARTISAN MAJORITY.JOINING US RIGHT NOW IS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN FRENCH HILL OF ARKANSAS. HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, WHICH, BY THE WAY, CAME UP WITH ITS OWN BILL THAT ALSO PASSED WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. CONGRESSMAN HILL, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING.IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> YOU BET. BECKY, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.>> TALK ME ...

Group 1 - The outlook among CEOs of large U.S. corporations is optimistic, with expectations for higher sales and increased capital expenditures over the next six months [4][7] - CEO optimism index rose nine points to 89, surpassing the historical average of 83, indicating a notable improvement in sentiment [7] - Despite the positive outlook, concerns remain regarding employment, with an equal number of CEOs planning to reduce and increase employment [7] Group 2 - Small business sentiment has declined, with fewer owners expecting higher sales in the upcoming quarter, contrasting with the optimism of larger corporations [3] - Actual sales for small businesses reached the highest level since May 2022, and earnings trends have improved [4] - The impact of last year's tax reforms and deregulation is noted as a contributing factor to the resilience of the U.S. economy [5] Group 3 - The Atlanta Fed forecasts a 2.1% annual growth rate for GDP this quarter, despite global uncertainties [5] - Oil prices have surged due to geopolitical tensions, with Brent crude reaching nearly $120 per barrel before falling to $92, representing a 13% increase since late February [6] - The average price for a gallon of regular gas has increased by 12% in the past week, rising from $3.20 to $3.58 [6]

Chevron says President Javier Milei must take more steps to deregulate Argentina’s economy and free up investors from capital controls to make the most out of its burgeoning shale boom https://t.co/PBjmANU3F0 ...

Nexstar Media Group (NasdaqGS:NXST) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Nexstar Media Group - **Date of Conference**: March 09, 2026 - **Key Speakers**: Perry Sook (Chairman and CEO), Leeann Gliha (CFO) Key Highlights from 2025 - **Record Revenue**: Achieved record odd year revenue in 2025, with a positive 4.5% growth in non-political advertising revenue in Q4, indicating a recovery in the advertising market [3][4] - **Cost Reduction**: Successfully reduced overall operating expenses, benefiting the bottom line [3] - **TEGNA Acquisition**: Excited about the strategic acquisition of TEGNA, which is expected to enhance geographic and national reach, and is projected to be 40% accretive to shareholders [4][11] 2026 Priorities - **Election Cycle Revenue**: Anticipates generating approximately $500 million in incremental revenue during the election cycle, leveraging past performance [4] - **Digital Advertising Growth**: Focused on growing digital advertising revenue, expecting it to surpass national advertising revenue in 2026 [5][31] Regulatory Environment - **Deregulation Efforts**: The administration is committed to deregulation, with potential changes to national and local ownership rules expected within the year [6][7][9] - **TEGNA Acquisition Approval**: Engaged in discussions with DOJ and FCC for regulatory approval, expecting to close the TEGNA deal by the end of Q2 2026 [13][16] Financial Performance and Projections - **EBITDA Guidance**: Projected around $2 billion in EBITDA for the year [35] - **Distribution Revenue Growth**: Guided to low single-digit growth in distribution revenue and mid-single-digit growth in net retrans revenue [22][25] Advertising Trends - **Non-Political Advertising**: Experienced healthy growth in Q4, with expectations for flattish growth in Q1 2026 [27][29] - **Political Advertising**: Anticipates capturing a low double-digit percentage of overall broadcast television spending during the upcoming election cycle [30] Digital Strategy - **Digital Revenue Components**: Revenue derived from owned and operated inventory and third-party services, with local digital sales growing at a high single-digit rate [31][33] - **Integration with TEGNA**: Potential to enhance digital offerings through TEGNA's Premion platform, which could provide competitive advantages [33] Cost Management Initiatives - **Expense Reduction**: Implementing a zero-based budgeting approach to streamline operations and reduce costs, with expectations for low single-digit expense reduction in 2026 [36][37] The CW Network - **Programming Strategy**: Revamped programming with a focus on live sports, which now accounts for nearly 50% of the slate, leading to reduced operating losses [38][39] - **Audience Growth**: Significant improvements in viewership metrics, with a goal to consistently outperform legacy networks [42][44] NewsNation Performance - **Viewership Growth**: Expanded live programming to 18 hours a day, achieving a 40% increase in total viewership year-over-year [45][46] Future Opportunities - **ATSC 3.0**: Progressing towards commercializing spectrum for high-speed data transmission, with potential applications in various sectors [55][56] - **NFL Negotiations**: Anticipates that upcoming NFL negotiations may create opportunities for local stations, including The CW [52][54] Conclusion - Nexstar Media Group is positioned for growth through strategic acquisitions, a focus on digital advertising, and a commitment to improving operational efficiencies while navigating a changing regulatory landscape.

Core Viewpoint - Major tech companies are committing to cover rising electricity costs associated with the AI boom, preventing everyday Americans from bearing these expenses [1][6]. Group 1: Investment and Cost Management - Private companies are making significant investments to meet their power needs and are willing to internalize these costs, potentially selling excess power back to local communities [2][6]. - This initiative is seen as a strategic move to ensure that the costs of energy development do not fall on American consumers, particularly in light of previous energy policies [5][10]. Group 2: Economic and Regulatory Impact - The Trump administration's approach aims to balance energy needs with economic growth, emphasizing the importance of the U.S. becoming the AI capital of the world for competitive and national security reasons [4][9]. - The rollback of certain regulations, such as the endangerment finding, is projected to save the economy approximately $1.3 trillion in regulatory costs, allowing funds to be redirected into communities and businesses [14][15]. - This regulatory change could lead to savings of up to $2,400 for the average American on new car purchases, enhancing affordability [16].

Federal Reserve Insights - The Federal Reserve shows little inclination towards rate cuts, with discussions leaning towards raising the target rate instead [1][2] - New regional Fed presidents believe tariffs are inflationary and oppose rate cuts, which has led to a contrary effect on inflation [2][3] Economic Growth and Deregulation - Anticipation exists that the Fed will not cut rates until a new chairman is appointed, with potential cuts expected in the second half of the year [3][5] - Significant fiscal policy changes, including 100% expensing for companies, are expected to drive investment and consumer aid, with tax refunds increasing over 20% year-over-year [4][5] Fed Models and Predictions - Current Fed economic models predict a growth rate of only 1.7%, which is viewed as unrealistic given the actual growth rate of around 4% [5][6] - The Fed's models do not account for the impact of deregulation and supply-side tax cuts, which are believed to lower inflation and stimulate economic growth [11][12] Future Economic Outlook - There is a belief that the economy could grow by 5% with a CPI inflation rate of less than 1% by 2026, especially if geopolitical tensions are resolved [15][17] - The combination of deregulation, tax reform, and energy dominance is seen as essential for enhancing productivity and achieving growth without inflation [17][18]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 decreased by 1.4% and the DOW by 1.1%, marking the worst week of 2026, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ down 2.3% due to policy chaos from the administration [1] - The market is experiencing volatility as the administration's tariff policies shift, impacting investor sentiment and market stability [1][11] Tariff Policy Changes - The Trump administration is considering rolling back steel and aluminum tariffs due to inflation concerns, which have moderated to 2.4% in January after a year of price fluctuations caused by these tariffs [2][3] - Shares of United States Steel Corp (X) fell by 3.4% and Alcoa (AA) by 2.8% in pre-market trading as renewed foreign competition becomes a possibility [2] Deregulation Efforts - The administration repealed the EPA's "Endangerment Finding," which was crucial for regulating greenhouse gases, benefiting the traditional energy sector but creating confusion for the auto industry [6][7] - Ford (F) and General Motors (GM) saw modest gains of 0.5% and 0.2% respectively, but the long-term implications of this deregulation remain uncertain as global markets move towards electric vehicles [6][8] Trade Deals and Global Relations - Recent trade announcements include a new framework with India, tariff reductions with Taiwan, and a deal with the U.K., but market reactions have been muted due to skepticism about the effectiveness of these frameworks [9][10] - The iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF saw a small increase of 0.9%, but concerns about a potential visit to China by the President may limit market optimism [10] Conclusion on Market Sentiment - The major indices are down, with the S&P 500 experiencing a 2.1% decline for the week, reflecting market uncertainty regarding the administration's policy changes [11] - Investors are left questioning the logic behind rolling back tariffs to combat inflation that the tariffs themselves helped create, highlighting the unpredictable nature of current market conditions [12]

Economic Performance - Strong job growth reported, particularly in the private sector, with production workers seeing pay increases and more hours worked [1][3] - Wage income proxy, calculated as hourly earnings times hours worked, increased to 5.6% at an annual rate over the past three months [3][4] - Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rose by 2.4% over the same period, resulting in a real wage increase of 3.2% [3][4] Productivity and Business Environment - Productivity is booming, contributing to profitability for businesses, with only a 1.1% increase in unit labor costs [4] - Factory construction is experiencing significant growth, linked to tariff-driven trade policies and immediate depreciation write-offs, leading to increased business capital investment [6] Energy Sector Developments - Demand for power is increasing, with deregulation in the oil, gas, and coal sectors potentially lowering average auto costs by approximately $2,400 [5] Economic Confidence - A Gallup poll indicates a rebound in economic confidence, with a 49-36% positive outlook [1]