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2023: Wall Street Slumps As Higher Rates Keep Tightening Squeeze

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NEW YORK – Stocks are falling on Wall Street on Tuesday due to concerns about upcoming corporate profits and the tightening squeeze of higher interest rates.

The S&P 500 fell 1.3% on the first trading day of the week following Monday’s holiday. As of 10:15 a.m. Eastern time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 489 points, or 1.4%, to 33,337, while the Nasdaq composite was down 1.7%.

Despite reporting a higher-than-expected profit for the last three months of 2022, Home Depot suffered one of the S&P 500′s largest losses. It fell 5.6% on concerns about upcoming earnings after the company issued forecasts that fell short of Wall Street’s expectations.

The retailer said it would spend $1 billion to raise hourly wages in the United States and Canada. This fed broader market concerns that rising company costs were eating into profits, one of the main levers that set stock prices.

wall street

Stocks Are Dropping On Wall Street

The other major lever is in jeopardy as interest rates continue to rise. When safe bonds pay higher interest rates, stocks and other investments are more expensive. Rates have risen to the point where Morgan Stanley strategists believe US stocks are more expensive than ever since 2007.

The 10-year Treasury yield, which helps set mortgage and other important loan rates, increased to 3.93% from 3.82% late Friday. The two-year yield, more sensitive to Fed expectations, increased to 4.71% from 4.62%.

Yields have risen this month as Wall Street raises its expectations for how high the Federal Reserve will raise short-term interest rates to reduce high inflation. The Federal Reserve raised its key overnight rate from 4.50% to 4.75%, up from near zero a year ago.

Several economic reports have recently come in that were stronger than expected. On the plus side for markets, they helped allay fears that the economy would soon enter a slump. On the negative side, they give the Fed more reason to stick to its “higher for longer” campaign of raising interest rates to suffocate inflation.

A strong economy could keep inflation under control.

The most recent evidence came from a preliminary report released Tuesday, indicating that business activity is picking up. S&P Global said the services industry likely resumed growth last month and reached an eight-month high. Meanwhile, manufacturing is still contracting, but the reading has reached a four-month high.

wall street

Higher interest rates, in addition to dragging down investment prices

Higher interest rates, in addition to dragging down investment prices, slow the economy by making borrowing more expensive and increases the risk of a future recession. As a result, Wall Street’s more pessimistic investors have maintained their recession forecasts but shifted the timing to later in the year.

The Fed stated in December that its typical policymaker expects short-term interest rates to rise to 5.1% by the end of this year, with the first-rate cut occurring in 2024. After previously believing that the Fed would eventually ease up on interest rates, Wall Street has largely agreed with the Fed’s assessment.

The concern is that the Fed will raise its rate forecasts even higher next month when it releases its latest economic projections. Aside from showing that the job market and retail sales have been stronger than expected, recent economic reports have also indicated that inflation is not cooling as quickly and smoothly as hoped.

These concerns have stopped Wall Street’s strong start to the year. After rising as much as 8.9%, the S& P 500 is now only up 4.9% for the year.

International stock markets were mostly down after manufacturing indicators in Europe and Asia painted a mixed picture, and Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Western countries of threatening Russia.

SOURCE – (AP)

 

 

Music

Spotify CFO Is One Of Thousands To Leave The Company — After He Moves To Sell $9 Million In Shares

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NEW YORK – According to Spotify, its chief financial officer will retire next year, just days after the music streaming giant announced its third round of layoffs for 2023.

CEO Daniel Ek said in a statement announcing CFO Paul Vogel’s departure that the two had “come to the conclusion that Spotify is entering a new phase and needs a CFO with a different mix of experiences.”

Spotify said this week that it would be laying off 17% of its global personnel to cut expenses and become profitable. A representative acknowledged that approximately 1,500 individuals will lose their employment.

Their stock increased by nearly 8% after the layoffs were revealed on Monday. According to securities records, Vogel sold more than $9.3 million in shares on Tuesday.

spotify

Spotify CFO Is One Of Thousands To Leave The Company — After He Moves To Sell $9 Million In Shares

According to The Guardian, two additional top executives received over $1.6 million in stock options.

Vogel is leaving Spotify on March 31st. According to a blog post, Ben Kung, presently vice president of finance planning and analysis, will “take on expanded responsibilities” in the interim while Spotify seeks a replacement externally.

Stockholm-based For the nine months ending September, The company reported a net loss of 462 million euros (about $500 million). The corporation declared in January that it was laying off 6% of its workforce. In June, it eliminated another 2% of its workforce, or around 200 people, primarily in its podcast section.

spotify

Spotify CFO Is One Of Thousands To Leave The Company — After He Moves To Sell $9 Million In Shares

The company is a popular music streaming service that offers a vast library of songs, podcasts, and playlists for users to access on-demand. With a user-friendly interface, Spotify allows subscribers to create personalized playlists, discover new music based on their listening habits, and explore a wide range of genres.

The platform is available on various devices and offers both free and premium subscription options, allowing users to enjoy ad-supported or ad-free listening experiences.

SOURCE – (AP)

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McDonalds Burger Empire Set For Unprecedented Growth Over The Next 4 Years With 10,000 New Stores

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McDonald’s aims to open roughly 10,000 outlets over the next four years, an unprecedented expansion rate even for the world’s largest burger business.

In an investor report on Wednesday, the Chicago burger behemoth expects to have 50,000 outlets open globally by the end of 2027. McDonalds had 40,275 locations at the beginning of this year.

It intends to open 900 new stores in the United States and 1,900 in some of its more important international markets, including Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The company intends to have an additional 7,000 outlets in other international markets, with more than half of those in China.

Manu Steijaert, McDonald’s chief customer officer, stated that it took the corporation 33 years to open its first 10,000 outlets and 18 years to develop from 30,000 to 40,000. However, the corporation feels its footprint needs to be improved to meet demand, particularly in faster-growing parts of the United States.

mcdonalds

McDonald’s Burger Empire Set For Unprecedented Growth Over The Next 4 Years With 10,000 New Stores

The company also stated that the increasing development of delivery demand necessitates bringing restaurant locations closer to clients to provide speedier delivery times. In 2017, McDonald’s delivery generated $1 billion in global sales, which has since increased to more than $16 billion.

“No matter how the customer chooses to order, out ability to serve them relies on our locations,” he stated.

McDonald’s stock was unchanged on Wednesday.

The company also announced a relationship with Google Cloud on Wednesday, claiming that it will help expedite automated services and minimize complexity for its staff.

mcdonalds

McDonald’s Burger Empire Set For Unprecedented Growth Over The Next 4 Years With 10,000 New Stores

McDonald’s same-store sales increased over 9% globally in the third quarter despite a modest drop in traffic in the United States.

The corporation is focused on basic menu items such as Quarter Pounders and fries, which account for 65% of systemwide sales, according to McDonalds.

Burgers with softer, freshly toasted buns, meltier cheese, and more Big Mac sauce will be available in the United States by the end of 2024 and in most other markets by the end of 2025. McDonald’s claims that chicken sales are now on a level with beef and that the McCrispy sandwich will be available in nearly all worldwide markets by 2025.

mcdonalds

McDonalds Burger Empire Set For Unprecedented Growth Over The Next 4 Years With 10,000 New Stores

McDonalds is a global fast food restaurant chain known for its hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and french fries. The company was founded in 1940 and has since grown to become one of the largest and most recognizable fast food brands in the world.

With a widespread presence in over 100 countries, McDonalds offers a diverse menu that includes items such as chicken sandwiches, salads, and breakfast options.

he company is also known for its iconic golden arches logo and its commitment to providing quick and convenient service to its customers.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Woman Who Assaulted Chipotle Worker Sentenced To Fast Food Job For Two Months

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An Ohio woman who was convicted of assault after tossing a burrito bowl at a Chipotle employee was offered an unusual method to shorten her sentence.

Rosemary Hayne, 39, has been ordered by a judge to work in a fast-food restaurant for two months.

In a viral video, Hayne can be seen yelling at a Chipotle employee before throwing her meal in his face.

She was first sentenced to pay a fine and serve 180 days in jail, with 90 days suspended.

But then the judge had another thought.

“You didn’t get your burrito bowl the way you like it, and this is how you respond?” Judge Timothy Gilligan in Parma, Ohio sentenced Hayne.

chipotle

Woman Who Assaulted Chipotle Worker Sentenced To Fast Food Job For Two Months

“This isn’t the ‘Real Housewives of Parma.'” “This is not acceptable behavior,” he declared, according to local Fox affiliate WJW.

Mr Gilligan told Hayne she could avoid 60 days in jail if she agreed to work at least 20 hours per week for two months at a fast-food business.

Hayne agreed.

On September 5, a bystander recorded the incident and posted it to Reddit, where it quickly went viral.

In court, Hayne apologized and attempted to explain why she screamed at the Chipotle employee, Emily Russell, 26.

“If I showed you how my food looked and how my food looked a week later from that same restaurant, it’s disgusting looking,” Hayne said in an interview with WJW.

“I bet you won’t be happy with the food you’ll get in jail,” Mr Gilligan said.

Emily Russell said in court that the incident had traumatized her and that she had since quit her work at Chipotle.

chipotle

Woman Who Assaulted Chipotle Worker Sentenced To Fast Food Job For Two Months

She told the Washington Post that she was intervening to defend a 17-year-old employee being shouted at by Hayne. She complained that the dish was too hot and burned her face.

“I was so embarrassed and in shock,” she admitted to the publication. “I couldn’t believe my customers had to witness that.”

As of Tuesday morning, a GoFundMe effort for Ms Russell had raised $7,200 (£5,700).

Chipotle is a popular fast-casual restaurant chain known for its Mexican-inspired menu and customizable options.

chipotle

Woman Who Assaulted Chipotle Worker Sentenced To Fast Food Job For Two Months

The restaurant offers a variety of burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads, allowing customers to choose from different proteins, toppings, and salsas.

Chipotle is also recognized for its commitment to using high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients. With over 2,800 locations across the United States, Canada, and Europe, Chipotle has established a strong presence in the fast-food industry.

SOURCE – (BBC)

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