Author: News Room

LONDON — The U.K. economy flatlined in February as widespread industrial action and persistently high inflation stymied activity.Data on Thursday showed a steady GDP in February, missing consensus expectations of 0.1% growth. Both the services and production sectors contracted, partly offset by a record 2.4% expansion in construction. This followed an upwardly revised 0.4% expansion in GDP in January, which means output grew by 0.1% in the three months to the end of February.Large-scale strike action has been carried out in recent months by teachers, doctors, civil servants and rail workers, among others — members of the sectors that were the…

While retirement may not be something that you’re thinking about in your 40s, it’s the right time to plan ahead and that includes planning for your healthcare costs in retirement. While you may already be contributing to a 401(k), it’s important to also take into account the potential healthcare costs that you may need to pay throughout your retirement years. If you have an HSA, take advantage of it by contributing to it. You can take advantage of the tax advantages of these accounts, and you can utilize the funds for your healthcare both before you retire and during your…

Topline Shares of Chinese internet giant Alibaba plummeted on Thursday following a report Japanese tech investor SoftBank has sold almost all of its remaining stake, further paring a formerly lucrative and expansive partnership as the Chinese group explores a radical shakeup amid increasing government scrutiny. Key Facts SoftBank has sold around $7.2 billion worth of Alibaba shares this year via prepaid forward contracts, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The sales, uncovered through an analysis of the Japanese tech investor’s regulatory filings, will reduce SoftBank’s stake in Alibaba from almost 15% to just 3.8%, the FT reported. SoftBank declined to…

By Dawn Chmielewski BURBANK, Calif. -Warner Bros Discovery (NASDAQ:) Inc on Wednesday said it will launch on May 23 its long-awaited new streaming service, christened “Max”, combining HBO Max’s scripted entertainment with Discovery’s reality shows. The service will seek to expand its reach beyond devotees of HBO’s acclaimed and edgy shows by incorporating unscripted fare and children’s programming. It also will mine the studio’s rich content library to produce high-profile programming, including a new series based on the Harry Potter books by author J.K. Rowling, and another prequel to popular fantasy series “Game of Thrones.” Warner Bros, Walt Disney (NYSE:)…

By Ambar Warrick Investing.com — The U.S. dollar traded near two-month lows on Thursday as softer-than-expected inflation data and fears of a recession saw markets pricing in a greater chance that the Federal Reserve will pause its rate hike cycle. But Asian currencies saw limited gains on Thursday, as fears of slowing economic growth kept markets wary of most risk-driven currencies. The and moved little in Asian trade, after tumbling to near a two-month low in overnight trade. Data showed that U.S. (CPI) inflation eased more than expected in March, although inflation still remained stubbornly high. The data triggered increased…

© Reuters. Lockheed Martin (LMT) cut at Baird on growth concerns By Sam Boughedda Baird analysts downgraded Lockheed Martin (NYSE:) to Neutral from Outperform in a note to clients Wednesday, maintaining a $513 price target on the stock. They told investors in a note that the firm expects some mixed first-quarter reports reflecting noise in defense outlooks on supply chain, margin pressure, and R&D amortization. They revealed that while LMT’s 2023 guide is intact, they are downgrading the stock as it is within 3% of their price target, and they remain concerned about growth and margins going forward. “Following strong…

California Rep. Ro Khanna on Wednesday became the first Democratic lawmaker to openly call on Sen. Dianne Feinstein to step down amid concerns about her health, saying the longtime senator can no longer fulfill her duties. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., later seconded Khanna’s call, and Feinstein issued a statement saying she has asked for another Democrat to temporarily replace her on the critical Senate Judiciary Committee. Feinstein,… Read the full article here

ProsConsWhat’s new? Already the automaker’s best-selling vehicle, the popular Subaru Crosstrek has been completely redesigned for 2024. Pricing starts at $24,995. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Once considered a sidekick to the Outback, Crosstrek now leads the lineup in sales. While the successful Subaru FUJHY Crosstrek enters a completely new generation for 2024, the changes are decidedly evolutionary. That’s OK in our book because we were already… Read the full article here

By Kyle Morris LBG Media PLC said Wednesday that earnings fell in 2022 as the tough economic environment hit advertising spending, and that Chief Financial Officer Tim Croston has decided to retire. The London-listed digital media publisher said adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization–which strips out exceptional… Read the full article here

Shares of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Cl B BRK.B inched 0.27% higher to $314.55 Wednesday, on what proved to be an all-around rough trading session for the stock market, with the S&P 500 Index SPX falling 0.41% to 4,091.95 and Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA falling 0.11% to 33,646.50. This was the stock’s fifth consecutive day of gains. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Cl B closed $36.31 short of its 52-week high ($350.86), which the company reached on April 21st. The stock demonstrated a mixed performance when compared to some of… Read the full article here