U.S. recession ended in April 2020, making it shortest on record
The U.S. recession touched off by the coronavirus lasted only two months, ending with a low point reached in April 2020 after thestart of a sharp drop in economic activity in March of that year, the U.S. Business Cycle Dating Committee announced Monday.
Tokyo bourse overhaul spurs prime market push for Japanese firms
Tighter requirements to stay on the Tokyo bourse’s prestigious main board are forcing Japanese companies to cease long criticised practices such as cash-hoarding and cross shareholdings, even as some investors call for tougher reform.
Wall Street ends sharply lower as Delta variant sparks new lockdown fears
A surge in Delta variant infections sparked a broad sell-off on Wall Street on Monday as investors feared renewed COVID-19 shutdowns and a protracted economic recovery.
S&P 500 ends higher after Fed Chair Powell lulls market
The S&P 500 ended with a gain after briefly hitting an intra-day record in a choppy session on Wednesday, as investors balanced worries about inflation with reassuring comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
U.S. CEO-to-worker pay ratio rose to 299:1 last year -union
The average S&P 500 .SPX chief executive made $15.5 million last year, 299 times the pay of the median worker and a higher ratio than in 2019, the top American labor union said on Wednesday, as the COVID-19 pandemic drove layoffs while executive compensation grew.
Asian shares lower on U.S. inflation jitters
Asian shares fell on Wednesday after data showing the biggest jump in U.S. inflation in 13 years fuelled some market expectations that the Federal Reserve could exit pandemic-era stimulus earlier than previously thought.
S&P 500, Nasdaq post record closing highs after Fed minutes
U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq notched record closing highs after minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting indicated officials may not be ready yet to move on tightening policy.
S&P 500 flirts with record high as month, quarter draw to a close
Wall Street was muted on Wednesday and the S&P teased its fifth straight record closing high as investors ended the month and the quarter by largely shrugging off positive economic data and looking toward Friday’s highly anticipated employment report.
Five market trends investors are eyeing halfway through 2021
Investors have enjoyed a rewarding ride in the first half of 2021, as unprecedented economic stimulus, stellar earnings growth and a reopening U.S. economy powered the S&P 500 to record highs and a 14% year-to-date gain, putting the index on track for a first-half performance rivaled only once in over two decades.
U.S. consumer confidence at 16-month high; house price inflation heating up
U.S. consumer confidence jumped to its highest level in nearly 1-1/2 years in June as growing labor market optimism amid a reopening economy offset concerns about higher inflation.
