Banking, Economy

“Japan Funds Ramp Up Treasury Purchases Amid US Banking Turmoil”

“Japanese investors bought a record amount of Treasuries in the first three months of the year as concern over the US banking sector damped bets on Federal Reserve rate hikes… Net purchases totaled ¥9.12 trillion ($68 billion) in the January-March… Continue Reading…

Economy

“China’s Debt-to-GDP Ratio Rises to Record 279.7% on Credit Boom”

“…The macro leverage ratio — or total debt as a percentage of gross domestic product — soared to 279.7% in the first quarter, according to central bank and statistics bureau data compiled by Bloomberg. That was an increase of 7.7… Continue Reading…

Banking, Economy

“Federal Reserve expected to raise interest rates 0.25%, investors debate next steps”

“The Federal Reserve will kick off its latest two-day policy meeting on Tuesday with officials expected to announce a 0.25% increase in its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday, a move many believe could be the final rate hike of the… Continue Reading…

Economy

“U.S. GDP rose at a 1.1% pace in the first quarter as signs build that the economy is slowing”

“Growth in the U.S. slowed considerably during the first three months of the year as interest rate increases and inflation took hold of an economy largely expected to decelerate even further ahead. Gross domestic product, a measure of all goods… Continue Reading…

Economy

“Private payrolls rose by 145,000 in March, well below expectations, ADP says”

“Private sector hiring decelerated in March, flashing another potential sign that U.S. economic growth is heading for a sharp slowdown or recession, payroll processing firm ADP reported Wednesday. Company payrolls rose by just 145,000 for the month, down from an… Continue Reading…

Economy, Personal Finance

“Credit card debt is at an all-time high, putting households near ‘breaking point,’ study shows”

“More consumers are leaning on credit cards to afford increasingly expensive necessities such as food and rent. That helped propel total credit card debt to a record $930.6 billion at the end of 2022, an 18.5% spike from a year… Continue Reading…

Economy

“How manufacturing chips in the US could make smartphones more expensive”

“But analysts say one catch is that shifting manufacturing to the U.S. will raise the price of chipmaking — and, perhaps, the prices of popular devices that use chips, like smartphones and game consoles…. “The major reason for the cost… Continue Reading…

Economy

“U.S. will create at least two semiconductor manufacturing clusters by 2030, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says”

“The U.S. will use funds from the $52 billion CHIPS and Science Act to create at least two large-scale logic fabs for the manufacture of semiconductors, along with multiple high-volume advanced packaging facilities, by 2030, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced… Continue Reading…

Economy

“Huge chunk of plants, animals in U.S. at risk of extinction -report”

“A leading conservation research group found that 40% of animals and 34% of plants in the United States are at risk of extinction, while 41% of ecosystems are facing collapse. Everything from crayfish and cacti to freshwater mussels and iconic… Continue Reading…

Economy

“Annuity [Insurance] sales hit record last year, eclipsing sales during 2008 financial crisis amid fear, higher rates”

“Amid stock market gyrations, recession fears and loftier payouts, consumers last year pumped a record sum of money into annuities, a type of insurance that offers a guaranteed income stream. Buyers funneled $310.6 billion into annuities in 2022, according to estimates published… Continue Reading…