Economy
How Russian banks got cut out of global finance: A ‘SWIFT’ system explainer
Several Russian banks were banned from the SWIFT financial-messaging system following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. So, what does it mean to lose access to this important part of the international economy, and are there any viable alternatives? Effective communication systems are the backbone of how the world stays connected, from mobile phones, email networks, […]
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Stock futures are flat after S&P 500 notches third straight week of gains
Traders on the floor of the NYSE, March 25, 2022. Source: NYSE U.S. stock index futures were flat during overnight trading Sunday, after the S&P 500 posted a third straight week of gains. Futures contracts tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 14 points. S&P 500 futures were flat, while Nasdaq 100 futures declined […]
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How the hotel industry is fighting its human trafficking problem
Human trafficking generates about $150 billion a year globally in illegal profits, according to the International Labour Organization, and poses a complicated challenge for major hotel chains. In 2020 there were more than 10,000 reported cases of human trafficking in the U.S., with 72% of those related to sex trafficking, according to the National Human […]
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As Wall Street banks embrace crypto, high-flying start-ups look to lure top finance talent
Wall Street has been beefing up hiring for digital asset teams. But some employees are walking away from name-brand institutions in search of more risk, and potentially, more reward. JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are among the firms with dedicated groups for cryptocurrency and its underlying blockchain technology. JPMorgan has one of the […]
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Markets will be looking for clues from the Fed ahead, as historically strong month gets underway
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 29, 2022. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters The stock market is heading into what promises to be a volatile second quarter, but April is traditionally the best month of the year for stocks. The major indices were higher […]
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Long-term unemployment tumbles in March as job market stays hot
A job seeker receives information from a recruiter during a job fair in Miami on Dec. 16, 2021. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images The ranks of the long-term unemployed fell again in March, edging closer to prepandemic levels as the job market offers ample opportunity for workers. Long-term unemployment is a period of joblessness […]
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Why Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could spark a NATO defense spending spree
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is unleashing a new era of military spending across Europe. Member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, such as Germany, have done an about-face on its defense budget in recent weeks. “The Russian invasion of Ukraine was a wake-up call for a lot of Germans, for politicians and for […]
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Euro zone inflation hits another record high of 7.5% as Russia-Ukraine war pushes up energy prices
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank. Daniel Roland | Afp | Getty Images The cost of living hit another record high in the euro zone last month, raising further questions about how the European Central Bank can stabilize such rapidly rising consumer prices. Headline inflation came in at 7.5% for March on an […]
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Economy added 431,000 jobs in March despite worries over slowing growth
Amid soaring inflation and worries about a looming recession, the U.S. economy added slightly fewer jobs than expected in March as the labor market grew increasingly tighter. Nonfarm payrolls expanded by 431,000 for the month, while the unemployment rate was 3.6%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been […]
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5 things to know before the stock market opens Friday
Here are the most important news, trends and analysis that investors need to start their trading day: 1. Futures rise after jobs report and worst quarter in 2 years Traders on the floor of the NYSE, March 31, 2022. Source: NYSE U.S. stock futures started the second quarter higher Friday after lower-than-expected but still robust […]
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