Author: Jack Mulligan

Emerging-market stocks and currencies surged Tuesday as fears of a full-blown trade war eased. President Donald Trump agreed to postpone 25% trade levies on Canada and Mexico in exchange for tighter border security, while China delivered a measured response to newly imposed U.S. tariffs. The news fueled a strong rebound in riskier assets, with developing-world stocks posting their biggest gain since September. Emerging-Market Currencies Surge, Except the Mexican Peso The rally was most evident in emerging-market currencies, which climbed as the U.S. dollar weakened. However, the Mexican peso, despite an initial outsize rally following the tariff pause, lagged behind its…

UPS (UPS) announced on Thursday that it will slash its Amazon (AMZN) delivery volume by more than 50% by the second half of 2026, a move that sent its stock plummeting as much as 15%. However, the company emphasized that the strategy is aimed at improving long-term profitability. “The portion of the business that we’re transitioning out of just doesn’t make sense for us to do,” said UPS CFO Brian Dykes in an interview with Yahoo Finance. “We want to manage our assets and resources in areas of the market where we can drive higher yields and returns.” Lower Volumes,…

Fox Corp. has hit the jackpot with Super Bowl 59, selling out all ad spots well ahead of the big game on February 9. According to a source familiar with the matter, more than 10 commercials were sold for a staggering $8 million each, a significant jump from previous years. Fox originally announced during its November 2024 earnings call that Super Bowl ad slots had already sold out in the fall, with average prices exceeding $7 million per spot. CEO Lachlan Murdoch confirmed that the network had achieved record pricing for the event. Demand Drives Super Bowl Ad Prices Higher…

UK shop price deflation slowed to 0.7% in January 2025, improving from the 1% deflation recorded in December 2024, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) – NielsenIQ Shop Price Index. The figure is also slightly better than the three-month average deflation rate of -0.8%. Non-Food Deflation Improves Deflation in the non-food sector stood at -1.8% in January, improving from -2.4% in December and slightly better than the three-month average of -2%. The change suggests that January sales and post-holiday discounts helped retailers move excess inventory. Food Inflation Slows Down Food prices remained inflationary but showed signs of slowing:…

Apple has rolled out a new software update that automatically enables Apple Intelligence for users with supported devices. The updates—iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3—mark a major step in Apple’s AI integration across its product ecosystem. Apple Intelligence Now On by Default Previously, users with supported iPhones had to manually activate Apple Intelligence during setup, a process that involved downloading AI models. With this update, the feature will be turned on by default upon installing the latest software. “For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding,” Apple stated in…

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 0.5% on Friday, marking the highest level since 2008. The long-awaited move signals the central bank’s intent to normalize monetary policy amid rising inflation and wage growth. A Divided Decision The decision was approved by an 8-1 vote, with board member Toyoaki Nakamura dissenting. Nakamura argued that the BOJ should wait for corporate earnings data before adjusting its policy. Following the announcement, the Japanese yen strengthened 0.6% to 155.12 per dollar, while Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index saw a modest gain. Meanwhile, yields on 10-year…

Robust Revenue and Profit Growth GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) shares jumped in premarket trading on Thursday after the company reported a 16% year-over-year adjusted revenue increase in the fourth quarter, reaching $9.879 billion. GAAP revenue came in at $10.812 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $9.604 billion. GE shares climbed 8.04% to $203.51 in premarket trading on Thursday. Strong Performance Across Business Segments Commercial Engines & Services revenue rose 19% Y/Y to $7.650 billion, while Defense & Propulsion Technologies revenue increased 4% Y/Y to $2.523 billion. Total orders soared 46% Y/Y to $15.5 billion, with Commercial Engines & Services up 50% and…

What Happened South Africa’s inflation rate rose by 3% in December, slightly up from 2.9% in November but below the 3.2% forecast by economists. The lower-than-expected increase supports expectations that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) may cut interest rates at its upcoming policy meeting. Why It’s Important Key Details Outlook and Market Reaction Bloomberg Economics predicts that inflation will remain near the lower end of the target range until mid-2025 before ticking up to the midpoint by year-end. However, growing global economic uncertainty could shorten the rate-cutting cycle. The upcoming inflation report will also reflect methodological revisions, including updates…

What Happened Shares of Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) surged on Tuesday, gaining 5.75% to $36.02 with a session volume of 8.0 million, according to Benzinga Pro. The rally follows the company’s announcement of continued support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to accelerate the development of mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccines. Why It’s Important The funding, provided through the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV) Consortium and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), will support Moderna’s late-stage development and licensure of pre-pandemic mRNA-based vaccines. Additionally, the agreement includes expanded clinical studies for up to five additional subtypes…

What Happened As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to begin his second term in office, investors are closely analyzing how his proposed economic and trade policies will impact the stock market. While uncertainties remain, one thing is clear—the market is in a remarkable position as Trump takes office. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) has recorded back-to-back annual gains of over 20%, a feat last achieved in 1997-1998. Several factors contributed to this historic rally, including the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts, accelerated corporate earnings growth, and investor enthusiasm over artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. Why It Matters Several trends have fueled the market’s…