Summary Of the Markets Today:
- The Dow closed up 395 points or 1.05%,
- Nasdaq closed up 1.70%,
- S&P 500 closed up 1.23%,
- Gold $2,031 up $9.00,
- WTI crude oil settled at $74 down $0.18,
- 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.132% down 0.012 points,
- USD index $103.25 down $0.29,
- Bitcoin $41,620 up $693 (1.69%),
- Baker Hughes Rig Count: U.S. +1 to 620 Canada +10 to 223
*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.
Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – January 2024 Economic Forecast: Our Index Turns Slightly Negative
Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:
Total existing-home sales – completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops – decreased 6.2% year-over-year. Total housing inventory is up 4.2% from one year ago. Unsold inventory sits at a 3.2-month supply -up from 2.9 months in December 2022. The median existing-home price for all housing types in December was $382,600 – an increase of 4.4% from December 2022 ($366,500). NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun stated:
The latest month’s sales look to be the bottom before inevitably turning higher in the new year. Mortgage rates are meaningfully lower compared to just two months ago, and more inventory is expected to appear on the market in the upcoming months. Despite sluggish home sales, 85 million homeowning households enjoyed further gains in housing wealth. Obviously, the recent, rapid three-year rise in home prices is unsustainable. If price increases continue at the current pace, the country could accelerate into haves and have-nots. Creating a path towards homeownership for today’s renters is essential. It requires economic and income growth and, most importantly, a steady buildup of home construction.
According to the University of Michigan Survey of Consumer Confidence Director Joanne Hsu:
Consumer sentiment soared 13% in January to reach its highest level since July 2021, showing that the sharp increase in December was no fluke. Consumer views were supported by confidence that inflation has turned a corner and strengthening income expectations. Over the last two months, sentiment has climbed a cumulative 29%, the largest two-month increase since 1991 as a recession ended. For the second straight month, all five index components rose, with a 27% surge in the short-run outlook for business conditions and a 14% gain in current personal finances. Like December, there was a broad consensus of improved sentiment across age, income, education, and geography. Democrats and Republicans alike showed their most favorable readings since summer of 2021. Sentiment has now risen nearly 60% above the all-time low measured in June of 2022 and is likely to provide some positive momentum for the economy. Sentiment is now just 7% shy of the historical average since 1978.
Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:
- North Dakota Oil Output To Be Lower For Another Month: State Regulator
- Brent Backwardation Increases as Red Sea Hostilities Continue
- US Oil, Gas Drillers Add 1 Rig Despite Freezing Temps
- Precious Metal Prices Trade Sideways After Short-Lived Rally
- U.S. Oil Production Flatlines
- S&P 500 rallies 1% to all-time high, surpassing previous record set in 2022: Live updates
- This record-breaking market just keeps going higher and higher. Here’s why
- The S&P 500 tops a record high that ‘clears the charts’ of resistance ahead of a week of earnings, inflation data
- December home sales slump to close out worst year since 1995
- U.S. home sales see worst year since 1995
- Traders give up on a March rate cut by Fed as bond-market inflation expectations move higher
Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.
The Market in Perspective
Here are the headlines moving the markets. | |
Tadawul Group’s Move Ignites Competition in Commodity Trading via DME InvestmentThe global commodity markets are undergoing a significant restructuring, driven by factors such as the energy transition, evolving geopolitical alliances, financial constraints, and heightened concerns about supply chains. Arab financial markets are now stepping into the forefront after years of gradual growth by leading national oil companies (NOCs) in commodity trading, exemplified by Aramco Trading and ADNOC Global Trading/Trading. Arab financial institutions are increasingly exploring the potential role of the region in the energy-transition-related… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Tadawul-Groups-Move-Ignites-Competition-in-Commodity-Trading-via-DME-Investment.html |
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Green Steelmaking Transition Triggers Job Cuts at Tata SteelTata Steel has confirmed its intention to cut up to 2,800 job at the Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales, with nearly 90 per cent of redundancies falling in the next 18 months. The slashes, first reported late yesterday, come as part of a transition to make the steel-making site greener by decommissioning its blast furnaces and replacing them with electric arc furnaces The Indian steel giant plans to “maximise” voluntary redundancy before seeking any compulsory reductions in workforce and plans to support those laid off with a £130m… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Green-Steelmaking-Transition-Triggers-Job-Cuts-at-Tata-Steel.html |
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North Dakota Oil Output To Be Lower For Another Month: State RegulatorIt might be another month before crude oil production in North Dakota returns to normal, the state regulator said on Friday. Extreme weather has eaten into crude oil production in North Dakota to the tune of hundreds of thousands of barrels so far—with the cold weather creating power outages and shutting down oil refineries. It has essentially cut crude oil production in North Dakota by half, cutting out 650,000 bpd from its typical 1.24 million bpd of oil production. The North Dakota Pipeline Authority said on Friday that production was… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/North-Dakota-Oil-Output-To-Be-Lower-For-Another-Month-State-Regulator.html |
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Brent Backwardation Increases as Red Sea Hostilities ContinueThe crude oil markets—including some physical markets—are showing signs of tightening as concerns about crude oil transit times due to bypassing the volatile Red Sea continue to drag on, traders, analysts, and LSEG data now show. Historically, turmoil in the Middle East have caused crude oil prices to spike—sometimes in a big way, even if only temporarily. This time around, oil prices have become more resilient and haven’t moved much over the past month, despite the significant conflict in the Red Sea that has caused many… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Brent-Backwardation-Increases-as-Red-Sea-Hostilities-Continue.html |
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US Oil, Gas Drillers Add 1 Rig Despite Freezing TempsThe total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States rose this week, according to new data that Baker Hughes published on Friday. The total rig count rose by 1 to 620 this week, compared to 771 rigs this same time last year. The number of oil rigs fell by 2 this week, settling at 497–down by 116 compared to this time last year. The number of gas rigs rose by 3 this week to 120, a loss of 36 active gas rigs from this time last year. Miscellaneous rigs stayed at 3. Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil production rose to an average… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/US-Oil-Gas-Drillers-Add-1-Rig-Despite-Freezing-Temps.html |
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EU Authority Drafts Guidelines for Banks to Manage ESG RisksEuropean banks should integrate environmental, social, and governance risks in their regular risk management framework, the European Banking Authority (EBA) said this week in draft guidelines on the management of ESG risks. The European authority published a consultation paper on its draft proposals for banks as it launched a public consultation that will run until April 18, 2024. According to the EBA, climate change, environmental degradation, social issues, and other ESG factors pose “considerable challenges for the… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/EU-Authority-Drafts-Guidelines-for-Banks-to-Manage-ESG-Risks.html |
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California Solar Industry Faces Cash Crunch Amid Policy ChangeThe solar industry in California is facing significant headwinds following the implementation of a new policy in April, which reduced incentives that had encouraged homeowners to install solar systems. Bloomberg reports the California Solar & Storage Association has found about 63% of its 400 solar installer members have reported cash flow issues because the new policy crushed consumer demand. Since last April, sales of rooftop solar systems across the state have crashed 85% in the most recent months of 2023 compared to similar… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Solar-Energy/California-Solar-Industry-Faces-Cash-Crunch-Amid-Policy-Change.html |
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SLB Lifts Dividend as Strong International Drilling Boosts EarningsOilfield services giant SLB (NYSE: SLB) raised its quarterly cash dividend after reporting on Friday higher-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter, driven by what it described as “substantial international growth” in drilling activity. SLB said its fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS), excluding charges and credits, stood at $0.86, up by 10% sequentially and 21% year-on-year. This beat the analyst consensus of $0.84 compiled by The Wall Street Journal. SLB reported fourth-quarter revenue of… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/SLB-Lifts-Dividend-as-Strong-International-Drilling-Boosts-Earnings.html |
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Precious Metal Prices Trade Sideways After Short-Lived RallyVia Metal Miner The Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) ended 2023 by breaking out of its sideways trend and rising 3.64%. However, most precious metals still lack strong bullish action. All precious metals retracted in January after experiencing rallies throughout December. Currently, precious metals prices, for the most part, lack the strength needed to break out their long-term sideways or downward trends. Precious Metals Prices: Palladium While palladium prices jumped in late Q4, the overall long-term downtrend quickly rejected… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Metals/Gold/Precious-Metal-Prices-Trade-Sideways-After-Short-Lived-Rally.html |
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Qatar to Offer Cheaper LNG to India in New Long-Term Supply DealQatarEnergy and India are expected to sign soon a new long-term LNG supply deal under which Qatar is set to offer cheaper and more flexible supply to the Asian customer, Reuters reported on Friday, citing trade sources. Qatar, one of the world’s top LNG exporters, prefers to sign long-term agreements with its buyers and has given its Indian customers until the end of 2023 to negotiate possible extension and/or renewal of the current agreements beyond 2028. India, for its part, plans to significantly increase its… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Qatar-to-Offer-Cheaper-LNG-to-India-in-New-Long-Term-Supply-Deal.html |
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Red Tape Is Undermining European Clean Energy ProjectsClean energy projects across the EU are failing to reach completion due to red tape, Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, the chief executive of Portugal’s biggest utility, Energias de Portugal (EDP), told Reuters at the Davos economic forum. While the European Commission has laid the project execution and subsidy criteria at the EU level with “great vision”, “The crux is the national governments transposing them,” d’Andrade told Reuters on the sidelines of the forum in Davos. Red tape regarding clean energy projects,… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Red-Tape-Is-Undermining-European-Clean-Energy-Projects.html |
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Geopolitical Risk Keeps Oil Markets on EdgeMarch West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures have been oscillating within a narrow $8.00 range, displaying resilience in the face of various market forces. Despite this confinement, the market has managed to register a small gain for the week. In the short term, traders will keep a close watch on the array of elements shaping the oil market, such as evolving tensions in the Middle East, fluctuations in U.S. production, and shifts in global demand. These factors are crucial for understanding both the present situation and future trends… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Geopolitical-Risk-Keeps-Oil-Markets-on-Edge.html |
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U.S. Oil Production Flatlines1. US Oil Production Flatlines as Shale Drilling Falters- US unconventional crude supply is expected to remain flat in February for the third straight month, declining by a mere 2,000 b/d to 9.68 million b/d as the country’s rig count is still yet to see a rebound. – The EIA expected bigger month-on-month declines in 2024, but productivity gains in the Permian, Appalachia, and Haynesville have surprised to the upside. – The Permian Basin remains the only major play to see its production increase, improving marginally to 5.974 million b/d… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/US-Oil-Production-Flatlines.html |
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Media Reports Exaggerate the Risk of a Major WarPolitics, Geopolitics & Conflict In northern Iraq, an Iranian missile this week targeted what Tehran claimed to be an Israeli spy center in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. More than half a dozen explosions resulted in the death of at least four people in residential areas. The nature of the attack sparked condemnation from Baghdad, which recalled its ambassador to Tehran. We won’t spend too much time on the German tabloid report on the imminent war between NATO and Russia. Bild, the German tabloid, has (as intended) started a viral… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Media-Reports-Exaggerate-the-Risk-of-a-Major-War.html |
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Tesla Is Approaching a Tipping PointNext week, on Wednesday, January 24th to be exact, Tesla will report their calendar Q4 2023 earnings. For many traders and investors, Tesla’s earnings are big news every quarter but to be honest, I have never really paid them much attention. I have maintained a long position in TSLA for many years, off of which I have traded. I have trimmed it periodically when I thought the stock was overbought and added to it when it looked oversold. That has worked quite well, in part because Tesla is so divisive that it has regularly swung from one of… Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Tesla-Is-Approaching-a-Tipping-Point.html |
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S&P 500 rallies 1% to all-time high, surpassing previous record set in 2022: Live updatesThe major averages rose Friday, as the S&P 500 traded around the 4,800 level to break its previous record intraday high. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/18/stock-market-today-live-updates.html |
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This record-breaking market just keeps going higher and higher. Here’s whyProspects for a slowing economy, geopolitical unrest and turmoil in Washington aren’t scaring market participants. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/this-record-breaking-market-just-keeps-going-higher-and-higher-heres-why.html |
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A stealth inflationary cost is hitting corporate profits and consumer walletsWhile some companies are now seeing lower input and freight costs, one expense that is not falling is insurance costs. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/insurance-costs-hit-corporate-earnings-at-travelers-and-jb-hunt.html |
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Stellantis CEO says automaker won’t sell EVs at a loss like other carmakersStellantis currently has 25 EVs available globally and expects to launch another 23 by the end of this year. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/stellantis-ceo-says-automaker-wont-sell-evs-at-a-loss.html |
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The S&P 500 tops a record high that ‘clears the charts’ of resistance ahead of a week of earnings, inflation dataTechnical analysts take the milestone as a bullish development for equities even amid lingering concerns of slowing economic growth. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/the-sp-500-tops-a-record-high-that-clears-the-charts-of-resistance.html |
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JetBlue to cut some routes as it pushes for profitabilityJetBlue is focusing on leisure routes and will add service in the Caribbean and to Paris, after a judge rejected its purchase of Spirit Airlines. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/jetblue-to-cut-some-routes-after-judge-bars-spirit-purchase.html |
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Super Micro shares soar more than 30% to record on uplifting preliminary resultsSuper Micro shares surged to an all-time high on Friday after the company, which manufactures servers, provided optimistic preliminary results. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/super-micro-smci-jumps-on-q2-preliminary-earnings.html |
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Air freight volumes soar as Red Sea delays, risks make more big retailers, auto companies nervousCompanies including retailers and carmakers are shifting cargo away from the Red Sea as Houthi attacks persist, leading to a big spike in air freight volumes. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/air-freight-soars-as-red-sea-vessel-risks-make-more-shippers-nervous.html |
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Alec Baldwin faces renewed manslaughter charges over 2021 ‘Rust’ movie set shootingNew Mexico prosecutors have recharged Alec Baldwin with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of “Rust.” Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/alec-baldwin-faces-renewed-manslaughter-charges-over-2021-rust-movie-set-shooting.html |
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Yoga wars heat up as Levi’s Beyond Yoga taps former Athleta CEO, Gap veteran as next chief executiveLevi Strauss’ Beyond Yoga has tapped former Athleta CEO and Gap veteran Nancy Green to be its next chief executive as the company looks to scale. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/beyond-yoga-names-athleta-gap-veteran-nancy-green-ceo.html |
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Apple $3,499 Vision Pro headset now available to order ahead of Feb. 2 releasePreorders for Apple’s Vision Pro headset become available Thursday, ahead of its U.S. release on Feb. 2. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/apples-vision-pro-preorders-live-price-specs-release-date.html |
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For 2024, the quiet luxury trend is out and ‘loud budgeting’ is in — here’s how to make the most of itTikTok’s loud budgeting trend encourages consumers to take control of their finances and be vocal about making money-conscious decisions. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/quiet-luxury-is-out-loud-budgeting-is-in-how-to-make-the-most-of-it.html |
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December home sales slump to close out worst year since 1995December home sales were 6.2% lower than in the same month a year earlier. Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/december-home-sales-slump-to-close-out-worst-year-since-1995.html |
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S&P 500 Surges To New All-Time High Despite Wrecked Rate-Cut HopesGood news’ was initially ‘bad news’ for stocks to start the week, but as ‘hard’ data surged, ‘soft’ data slumped… Source: Bloomberg …but the strong ‘hard’ data prompted a biig (hawkish) repricing of rate-cut expectations (initial timing and velocity)… Source: Bloomberg …and stocks didn’t care either way – we were getting to record highs on this large OpEx (Gamma unclench) no … Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/sp-500-surges-new-all-time-high-despite-wrecked-rate-cut-hopes |
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$2 Billion In Subsidies, Only 2 EV Stations Opened, The Holdup Is ‘Social Justice’Authored by Mike Shedlock via MishTalk.com, In yet another example of Biden incompetence, the administration is setting up rules making it harder to deliver EV charging stations… Politicizing EV Charging StationsThe Wall Street Journal comments on The Politicized EV Charger ‘Revolution’
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Congressional Tax Deal Will Boost Deficit By $140 Billion: Here’s What’s In ItA bipartisan group of top Republicans and Democrats from the tax-writing committees in Congress reached agreement this week on a $78 billion package that would expand a tax benefit that provides money to parents and restore three popular expired business tax breaks. That combination offers both parties an opportunity to claim wins as voters begin to head to the polls ahead of the election in November. Specifically, on Tuesday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden (D-Or.) and House Ways and Means Chairman Smith (R-Mo.) announced an agreement to expand the child tax credit (CTC) and reinstate corporate tax provisions that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made less generous. Limits on further claims of the COVID-related employee retention tax credit (ERTC) would provide savings to reduce the budgetary impact of the changes. According to an analysis by Goldman, the deal, which expands the child tax credit (CTC) and restores business tax incentives, reduces revenues by $78bn ( … Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/congressional-tax-deal-will-boost-deficit-140-billion-heres-whats-it |
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Trust Us, We’re The Media: Hunter’s Laptop Confirmed Authentic As Past-Deniers Double-Down On CensorshipAuthored by Jonathan Turley, After years of suppressing the story and casting doubts over its authenticity, many in the media in the last year have belatedly and reluctantly acknowledged that the Hunter Biden laptop is real. Some of us reached that conclusion years ago due to the self-authenticating emails confirmed by third parties. However, the denials and doubts have continued, including most recently by Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.) in hearings. The Justice Department has now again confirmed the authenticity and added details on why these denials are unsupported. This week, the Justice Department confirmed that the laptop was authenticated through forensic examination and a search warrant on Hunter’s Apple iCloud. Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trust-us-were-media-hunters-laptop-confirmed-authentic-past-deniers-double-down |
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Fujitsu boss: We let society down over Post Office rolePaul Patterson told the Post Office inquiry Fujitsu wants to “get to the truth wherever it lays”. Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68032435?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA |
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Port Talbot: Tata’s Steel 2,800 job cuts are ‘devastating’A union says plans to replace Port Talbot blast furnaces will devastate local communities. Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68034598?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA |
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US home sales see worst year since 1995The number of homes sold dropped to the lowest in nearly three decades, as prices continued to climb. Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68035274?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA |
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RIL Q3 Scorecard: 7 key takeaways for D-St from conglomerate’s December quarter numbersRIL reported a 9.3% YoY growth in consolidated net profit to Rs 17,265 crore, beating the estimate of Rs 16,944 crore. Consolidated revenue from operations grew 3.6% YoY to Rs 2.28 lakh crore, but was a tad lower than the estimated Rs 2.36 lakh crore. Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/ril-q3-result-takeaways-7-key-things-to-know-for-dalal-street-investors-from-the-fineprint/articleshow/106996027.cms |
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8 stocks from BNP Paribas’ top picks that have over 20% upside scopeBNP Paribas continues to prefer financial services, information technology and telecom, while having added logistics in its outperformance space. It expects consumer staples, pharma and autos to underperform given their rich valuations. Here are a few stocks from its top India picks that can rise over 20%. Take a look: Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/8-stocks-from-bnp-paribas-top-picks-that-have-over-20-upside-scope/stock-ideas/slideshow/106986692.cms |
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Kotak Bank Q3 result preview: PAT may grow 15% YoY on strong interest income, lower credit costsKotak Bank Q3 result preview: The private sector lender’s net profit for the quarter is seen rising 15.3% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 3,219 crore, and net interest income is likely to grow by nearly 14% YoY to Rs 6,416 crore, the average of estimates given by 12 brokerage firms showed. Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/earnings/kotak-bank-q3-result-preview-pat-may-grow-15-yoy-on-strong-interest-income-lower-credit-costs/articleshow/106978996.cms |
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S&P 500 closes at first record high in two years as tech fuels U.S. stocksU.S. stocks finished higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 closing at a new record high for the first time in more than two years. Read more at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-stock-futures-higher-with-s-p-500-eyeing-fresh-record-and-tech-set-to-lead-gains-f283f9b2?mod=mw_rss_topstories |
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Traders give up on a March rate cut by Fed as bond-market inflation expectations move higherTraders are starting to throw in the towel on hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in March, just as one of the bond market’s most closely followed measures of long-term inflation expectations is edging higher. Read more at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/traders-give-up-on-a-march-rate-cut-by-fed-as-bond-market-inflation-expectations-move-higher-aa3ddd1c?mod=mw_rss_topstories |
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I want my son to inherit my $1.2 million house. Should I leave it to my second husband in my will? He promised to pass it on.“Can my husband leave my house to his stepson with a step-up in basis?” Read more at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/i-want-my-son-to-inherit-my-1-2-million-house-should-i-leave-it-to-my-second-husband-in-my-will-he-promised-to-pass-it-on-94e4c79b?mod=mw_rss_topstories |