Powell Suggests Fed Will Cut Rates Before Inflation Hits 2%
Business

Powell Suggests Fed Will Cut Rates Before Inflation Hits 2%

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced Monday that the central bank does not plan to wait for inflation to hit 2% before cutting interest rates. In a speech at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., Powell noted that central bank policies have “long and variable lags,” justifying why the Fed will not delay action until it reaches its target. “If you’re waiting for inflation to hit 2%, you’ve probably waited too long, as the current tightening could push inflation below that threshold,” Powell said. Instead, the Fed is aiming for “greater confidence” that inflation will return to 2%, he added. “The improved inflation data we’ve seen recently reinforces that confidence,” Powell said. He also said a “hard landing” for the U.S. economy is unlikely. Monday marked Powell’s first publi...
Global IT Outage Grounds Flights, Causes Major Delays
News

Global IT Outage Grounds Flights, Causes Major Delays

A large crowd is seen at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 19, 2024, due to a global cyber outage triggered by issues with Microsoft and CrowdStrike. Airlines around the world faced significant disruption on Friday, as a major cyber outage caused widespread flight delays and cancellations. The outage was caused by a major technology upgrade from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which led to a cascade of issues affecting Microsoft systems, leaving numerous organizations scrambling to restore critical applications and services. Airports around the world have been displaying the infamous “blue screen of death” on flight update and check-in screens, indicating serious system errors. Social media has been flooded with images of disrupted services, including handwritten boarding...
Pre-market moves: CrowdStrike, American Express, SLB, Travelers and more
Business

Pre-market moves: CrowdStrike, American Express, SLB, Travelers and more

This morning, several stocks are showing considerable movement in pre-market trading. These early changes can set the tone for the rest of the trading day, offering insights into investor sentiment and potential market trends. Crowd Strike (CRWD) CrowdStrike shares rose in pre-market trading after the release of its latest quarterly earnings report. The cybersecurity company beat Wall Street expectations for both earnings and revenue, citing strong demand for its cloud-native endpoint protection platform. Analysts are bullish on CrowdStrike’s future growth, especially as cybersecurity threats continue to grow globally. American Express (AXP) American Express also saw significant premarket activity, with shares rising after the company reported better-than-expected earnings. The f...
Other Sports Cash In on the Big Stage in Las Vegas
Sports

Other Sports Cash In on the Big Stage in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has transformed into a sports mecca, and the Super Bowl is just the jewel in the crown. While the NFL’s ultimate spectacle takes center stage, other sports are smartly capitalizing on the city’s newfound importance as a global entertainment hub. Boxing, golf, and even the unusual Power Slap have all taken the opportunity to showcase their events alongside the Super Bowl. The influx of sports fans, media, and industry insiders creates a perfect storm to generate buzz and attract new audiences. Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum has long recognized the value of aligning his events with the massive draw of the Super Bowl. By hosting a world title fight in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week, Arum taps into a large, attentive, and entertainment-hungry audience. LIV Golf has also joined ...
Tech rout eases as investors eye rate cuts, policy change
News

Tech rout eases as investors eye rate cuts, policy change

U.S. stock futures edged higher Sunday night, offering a reprieve from last week’s tech-led selloff. The S&P 500 suffered its steepest weekly decline since April as investors shifted from mega-cap growth stocks to more rate-sensitive sectors. Futures tied to the broader market index rose 0.2%, while those tracking the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq 100 added 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively. Market attention remains divided between economic indicators and political developments. Traders are increasingly confident in the Federal Reserve’s path to interest rate cuts, with a 93% chance of a reduction in September. This outlook has fueled a shift away from tech giants toward sectors such as small caps and industrials, which should benefit from lower borrowing costs. Meanwhile, President J...
Elliott Management Acquires Major Stake in Starbucks, Engages with Management
Business

Elliott Management Acquires Major Stake in Starbucks, Engages with Management

Elliott Management recently acquired a significant stake in Starbucks and is working with the company’s management to improve its stock, according to a report published Friday by the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. Elliott representatives declined to comment. As of its last statement on March 31, the hedge fund did not hold any Starbucks shares. A Starbucks spokesperson said the company does not respond to rumors or speculation. Despite that, Starbucks shares rose more than 6% on Friday. Elliott Management, known for its influential role in activist investing, is one of the world’s largest hedge funds. The firm has made several substantial investments in recent months, including positions in Southwest Airlines, SoftBank, Johnson Controls and Musical Instrument...
Capgemini Predicts AI-Driven Self-Employed Workers to Debut in 2025
News

Capgemini Predicts AI-Driven Self-Employed Workers to Debut in 2025

Capgemini, a leader in technology services, predicts that by 2025, AI-powered agents will collaborate to perform tasks within a multi-agent AI framework. Pascal Brier, Capgemini's chief innovation officer, revealed in an interview with CNBC that the company is already working with companies that are exploring these agent-based technologies. He noted that applications involving more autonomous agents are expected to emerge in the coming year. Capgemini describes AI agents as systems designed to operate independently, plan strategically, pursue high-level goals, and manage complex workflows with minimal human intervention. Essentially, these agents perform tasks on behalf of users. Brier stressed that the United States is at the forefront of developing this technology, while Europe is behin...
Delta Faces Major Disruption From Microsoft Outage
Business

Delta Faces Major Disruption From Microsoft Outage

Travelers wait in line at a Delta Airlines counter at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 19, 2024. Airlines around the world have been severely disrupted by a major global computer outage, which has caused chaos at airports. Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian has issued an apology and offered frequent flyer miles to affected travelers after thousands of flights were canceled due to a global computer outage Friday. The disruptions have drawn criticism from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. According to aviation data firm OAG, Delta canceled more than 4,600 flights from Friday through Sunday, more than any other airline. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled another 700 flights, representing 19% of its core flights and more than half of all cancellations in the...
Caitlin Clark Star Takes Over The Brickyard
Sports

Caitlin Clark Star Takes Over The Brickyard

The worlds of NASCAR and WNBA collided this weekend when Caitlin Clark's image graced the hood of Josh Berry's car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The unexpected partnership between the rising basketball star and the rookie driver generated considerable excitement and attention. While the Indianapolis 500 was unable to host Clark due to the Indiana Fever road course schedule, NASCAR and Panini capitalized on the opportunity to feature her in Berry’s car. The move proved to be a strategic success, generating significant social media engagement and increasing visibility for both athletes. Clark's immense popularity, fueled by his stellar performances in college basketball, has translated into a broader appeal that extends beyond sports. His image on a NASCAR car represents a unique crossove...
CrowdStrike Outage Highlights Risks of Rapid Software Updates
News

CrowdStrike Outage Highlights Risks of Rapid Software Updates

A widespread outage caused by a faulty CrowdStrike software update has raised concerns about the potential consequences of rapidly deploying the software. The incident, which disrupted operations at numerous companies and government agencies around the world, underscores the critical importance of rigorous testing and quality assurance processes. Experts believe the problematic code likely slipped past the company’s quality assurance checks, highlighting a gap in its update procedures. The frequency of software updates, driven by the constant threat landscape, may have contributed to the oversight. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with implementing software updates without adequate testing. While regular updates are essential to maintaining system ...