New miscellaneous

Russia’s discontent with Paris 2024 Olympics amid international tensions

Russia’s discontent with Paris 2024 Olympics amid international tensions

In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, amid the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a distinct absence is felt. Russia, barred from participating as a nation due to its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, has adopted a decidedly antagonistic stance toward the event. Since the conflict in Ukraine began in early 2022, Russian competitors have faced restrictions, being able to participate only as neutral athletes without national symbols. This year, only 15 athletes represent Russia under these strict conditions. State-affiliated Russian media began highlighting every possible flaw in the games, from minor complaints about meals in the Olympic Village to major…
Read More
10-Year Treasury Yield Rebounds From Yearly Low

10-Year Treasury Yield Rebounds From Yearly Low

Treasury yields rebounded on Tuesday as investors reacted to Monday's sell-off in global markets. As of 5:12 a.m. ET, the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield had risen more than 5 basis points to 3.8371%. That rise followed Monday’s decline, which marked the lowest level for the 10-year yield since June 2023. Meanwhile, the 2-year Treasury yield rose more than 7 basis points to 3.9627%. It’s important to note that yields and prices move inversely, with one basis point equaling 0.01%. Global markets looked poised to recover from Monday's sharp decline. U.S. stocks began the new month lower, weighed down by fresh…
Read More
Tech stocks see sharpest three-week decline in two years, led by Amazon and Intel

Tech stocks see sharpest three-week decline in two years, led by Amazon and Intel

Now that the latest quarterly earnings reports from major technology companies are mostly behind us, one thing is clear: Wall Street is restless. The Nasdaq Composite fell 3.4% this week, extending a three-week slide to 8.8%. That marks the steepest decline for the tech-focused index in such a period since September 2022, when the market collapsed on skyrocketing inflation and rising interest rates, according to FactSet. Since late 2022, the technology sector has seen a general boom, buoyed by the U.S. economy’s recovery from the pandemic and growing enthusiasm for the potential of artificial intelligence. The Nasdaq is up 43%…
Read More
The Future of Flight: How Hydrogen-Powered Planes Could Transform Aviation

The Future of Flight: How Hydrogen-Powered Planes Could Transform Aviation

As the aviation industry ramps up efforts to reduce carbon emissions, hydrogen has emerged as a promising solution. But how exactly would hydrogen-powered planes work? According to the International Energy Agency, aviation contributed 2% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022. In response to the urgent need for greener alternatives, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This ambitious goal involves the collaboration of IATA’s 330 member airlines, which will use sustainable aviation fuel, carbon offsets and capture, and innovative technologies. Hydrogen and electric technologies are expected to play a crucial role,…
Read More
Shell Beats Second-Quarter Profit Projections, Launches .5 Billion Share Buyback Plan

Shell Beats Second-Quarter Profit Projections, Launches $3.5 Billion Share Buyback Plan

ALBA, FLORIDA — British oil giant Shell on Thursday reported second-quarter earnings that beat expectations, despite challenges such as lower refining margins and a weak performance in its liquefied natural gas business. Key financial data Shell reported adjusted earnings of $6.3 billion for the quarter ended June, beating analysts’ projections of $5.9 billion, according to LSEG estimates. However, that represents a 19% decline from the $7.7 billion it reported in the first quarter of 2024. Share buybacks and dividends The company also revealed a $3.5 billion share repurchase program that will run over the next three months, maintaining the same…
Read More
Amazon’s Q2 Revenue Misses, Forecasts Disappoint Investors

Amazon’s Q2 Revenue Misses, Forecasts Disappoint Investors

Amazon reported its second-quarter earnings on Thursday, reporting lower-than-expected revenue and a less optimistic outlook for the next quarter, sending the company’s shares lower in after-hours trading. Here are the key data: Earning per share: $1.26, versus $1.03 expected by LSEG Income: $147.98 billion, below LSEG's projection of $148.56 billion Additional metrics of interest to Wall Street include: Amazon Web Services (AWS): It generated $26 billion in revenue, according to StreetAccount Advertising: It brought in $13 billion in revenue, according to StreetAccount
Read More
Qualcomm Beats Expectations With 12% Increase in Phone Chip Sales

Qualcomm Beats Expectations With 12% Increase in Phone Chip Sales

Las Vegas — Qualcomm’s fiscal third-quarter earnings beat Wall Street forecasts, delivering solid results and an upbeat outlook for the next quarter. In a press conference during CES 2022, Qualcomm Chairman and CEO Cristiano Amon discussed the company's performance. Following the earnings report, Qualcomm shares jumped more than 6% in after-hours trading. For the quarter ended June 23, Qualcomm's results were as follows versus LSEG consensus estimates: Earning per share: $2.33 (adjusted) vs. $2.25 expected Income: $9.39 billion (adjusted) vs. $9.22 billion expected Net income for the quarter reached $2.13 billion, or $1.88 a share, up from $1.8 billion, or…
Read More
Diageo sales plunge on market challenges, but Guinness shines

Diageo sales plunge on market challenges, but Guinness shines

Shares of Diageo, the renowned spirits maker behind Johnnie Walker, fell more than 10% on Tuesday after it reported its first annual sales decline since the pandemic began. By the end of the trading day, the shares had recovered some losses but still closed down 5.08%. The London-based company reported a 0.6% decline in organic net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, attributed primarily to underperformance in Latin America and the Caribbean markets. Reported net sales fell 1.4%. Despite the overall downturn, Guinness emerged as a bright spot for Diageo. The iconic Irish stout, which has seen a…
Read More
Eurozone economy beats expectations with 0.3% growth in second quarter despite German crisis

Eurozone economy beats expectations with 0.3% growth in second quarter despite German crisis

The eurozone economy posted a stronger-than-expected growth rate of 0.3% in the second quarter of 2024, overcoming fears of a broader slowdown despite Germany’s unexpected contraction. Economic performance overview According to preliminary data released by the European Union's statistical office, eurozone gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.3% from April to June, beating the 0.2% growth forecast by economists polled by Reuters. That follows a confirmed 0.3% increase in the first quarter of the year. Context and analysis The revised figures suggest that the eurozone experienced a technical recession in the latter part of 2023, with GDP declining in both the…
Read More
Record heat: World experiences hottest day on record with forecasted highs

Record heat: World experiences hottest day on record with forecasted highs

Global average temperatures hit an unprecedented high on Sunday, marking the hottest day on record, according to the European Union's climate monitoring system. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that the global average surface temperature reached 17.09 degrees Celsius (62.76 degrees Fahrenheit) on 21 July. This slightly surpassed the previous record of 17.08 degrees Celsius set on 6 July the previous year. “July 21 marked a new record for global daily average temperature,” C3S Director Carlo Buontempo said Tuesday. Buontempo highlighted the notable disparity between temperatures over the past 13 months and previous records. "We are in uncharted territory.…
Read More