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508yck
15 hours ago
Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday. Bond investors tightened the screws anyway.
The 30-year Treasury yield climbed another 6 basis points Friday to 5.27%, its highest since 2007. Two days earlier, Warsh had sounded almost pleased that markets were doing some of the work.
"At some level, we haven't done much in 42 days," he said on Wednesday. "The markets have done quite a bit."
Warsh is betting markets can do part of the Fed's job. The central bank controls the overnight interest rate — the shortest end of the yield curve. Investors set longer-term Treasury yields, which help determine the rates households pay for mortgages and companies pay to borrow.
The Fed has held its overnight rate target at 3.5% to 3.75% throughout 2026. But since Warsh's first meeting in June, the 30-year yield has risen about 34 basis points — or 0.34 percentage points. The 10-year has gained about 24 basis points, while the 2-year is up about 10.

#warsh #year #markets #interest
dashna
15 hours ago
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
U.S. mortgage rates climbed to their highest level in a year, with the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rising to 6.66% for the week ending July 30, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey released Thursday.
The rate marked the highest reading since July 2025 as inflation concerns, Federal Reserve policy expectations and geopolitical tensions continued pushing long-term borrowing costs higher.
Mortgage rates generally track movements in the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rather than the Federal Reserve's benchmark interest rate. Treasury yields rose after the Fed left its policy rate unchanged on Wednesday, while three members of the Federal Open Market Committee voted for a rate hike, fueling expectations that borrowing costs could increase later this year.
Don't Miss:

#year #policy
Ld3eMOMLqV1D
20 hours ago
July 31 (Reuters) - A selloff in U.S. Treasuries this week signaled the need for the Federal Reserve ‌to earn its inflation-fighting "credibility" with interest rate increases, ‌St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem told the Financial Times.
"At this juncture, earlier, incremental, gradual interest-rate action is preferable, less costly and less disruptive than potentially later, larger and abrupt actions," Musalem, who is not a voting member of the Federal ‌Open Market Committee ⁠this year, told the FT.
Musalem, who sits on the rate-setting body, told the newspaper he ⁠had "expressed a preference" towards a quarter-percentage-point interest rate increase at this week's policy meeting, where the Fed left rates unchanged.
The interest rate decision and a hint from Fed chief Kevin Warsh ‌that the central bank may look to change its inflation goal posts helped send 30-year Treasury yields above 5.2%, a 19-year high.
The widely expected decision to leave policy on hold drew dissents from three of the 12 ‌FOMC members who wanted a quarter-percentage-point hike instead.

#interest #musalem #year #less
vag7elydelta3533
2 days ago
Reddit reported a strong second quarter but spooked investors by mentioning in an investor letter that traffic from search engines had grown "choppy."
The company's total revenue of $805 million jumped 61% compared to the year-ago quarter while net income was $253 million, up 183%. These beat Wall Street's expectations. Plus, the company said it expects to hit revenue of $860 million to $870 million with healthy earnings before taxes next quarter as well, which beat expected guidance.
Normally, telling investors that they can expect even better results to come would cause a stock to rise. But the stock slid over 10% in after-hours trading.
The culprit was likely CEO Steve Huffman's warning in that separate letter to shareholders. "Search referrals were choppy in the quarter, and traffic was more volatile later in the quarter, but the bigger picture is unchanged: the commercial business is strong," he wrote.
AI is clearly changing the search engine landscape — and investors seem to fear that Reddit's traffic may suffer.

#choppy #revenue
fiNchCool202
2 days ago
The dollar index (DXY00) dropped to a 6-week low today and is down by -0.91%. The dollar is moving lower today on today's US economic news that showed Q2 GDP growing less than expected and the Jun core PCE prices index easing as expected, dovish factors for Fed policy. The dollar is also under pressure on negative carryover from Wednesday when the FOMC kept interest rates unchanged. Losses in the dollar accelerated today after the ****** anese yen surged on signs of suspected intervention in the forex market by ****** anese authorities to prop up the yen.
US weekly initial unemployment claims rose +9,000 to 197,000, showing a stronger labor market than expectations of 200,000.
Dollar Falls as FOMC Keeps Interest Rates Unchanged
Dollar Little Changed Ahead of FOMC Meeting Results
Dollar Sinks as the Yen Soars on Suspected ****** anese Intervention

#fomc #japanese #unchanged #suspected
fL5xPull
2 days ago
Prince Harry's recent reunion with King Charles III appears to have eased one strained royal relationship, but reports indicate that his rift with Prince William remains unchanged.
People reported that the brothers are still not communicating, despite Harry spending several days in the United Kingdom with Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet earlier in July.
A separate report now claims that direct contact is so difficult that Harry has asked relatives, palace aides and mutual friends to convey his willingness to meet privately.
Neither brother has publicly confirmed that intermediaries are carrying messages between them.
Harry traveled to Britain for several charitable engagements, including events connected to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. On July 10, King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Harry, Meghan and their children at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.

#harry #prince #william #people
cafes_dot_ni_gi351
3 days ago
After having made four important signings a few days after the end of the last season, Real Madrid experienced a brief pause in their transfer activity in the last few weeks. However, things seem to be heating up once again with the Merengue club.
On Thursday, they completed their fifth signing of the summer as they paid his release clause to land the Levante forward Carlos Espi. Meanwhile, they are also linked with some more blockbuster signings going forward.
One player whose links with Los Blancos have strengthened significantly in the last few days is the Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez. Recent reports suggested that Real Madrid are now actively working on the operation to land him.
However, according to Diario AS, the operation for his signing has been put on hold by the Merengue club. Their ultimate plan about his signing remains unchanged, but for now, they are looking to get done with some other transfer operations they are engaged in.
The most notable of these operations is that of Yan Diomande's signing. The Ivorian winger has already signed a five-year contract with Los Blancos, but the Spanish club is yet to iron out a few remaining discrepancies before they can reach an agreement with the Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

#last #signings
807packet
3 days ago
SoFi (SOFI) stock fell 9% on Wednesday morning after it reported second quarter earnings. Despite posting its eighth consecutive quarter of record revenue and raising full-year sales guidance, concerns swirled around its costs and soaring consumer lending.
The fintech bank reported $1.2 billion in net revenue. Net income beat ****** yst estimates, rising 61% from the year-ago period to $157 million, or $0.12 adjusted earnings per share (EPS). ****** ysts were expecting $0.11 per share.
"We had nothing short of an exceptional quarter," CEO Anthony Noto said during the Wednesday morning earnings call.
SoFi also raised its adjusted revenue guidance for the full year to between $4.75 billion and $4.85 billion. But it left its adjusted EPS forecast unchanged at $0.60, raising questions about its added spending.

#quarter #earnings #year #billion
7mlxx0kxz339ej8h
3 days ago
The dollar index (DXY00) is down by -0.02% today. The dollar recovered from overnight losses and is little changed after crude oil prices surged more than +6% when President Trump said the US will "hit Iran hard" after a recent attack from Iran that targeted a US base in Jordan. The jump in crude prices raises inflation expectations and could prompt the Fed to tighten monetary policy, a supportive factor for the dollar. Movement in the dollar is limited ahead of the conclusion of the 2-day FOMC meeting later today when policymakers are expected to keep interest rates unchanged.
Crude oil prices jumped today after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US airbase and command center in Jordan with ballistic missiles. The IRGC also claimed to have hit and halted three tankers attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the US and Saudi Arabia launched a joint attack on "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq after the IRGC directed them to target US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
Dollar Slips as Crude Oil Prices and T-Note Yields Fall
Dollar Turns Lower After US Consumer Confidence Unexpectedly Declines
Dollar Falls as FOMC Keeps Interest Rates Unchanged

#Iran #jordan
Gr7Ndbl8NtLy727
3 days ago
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.18%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.85%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.23%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) are down -0.25%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) are down -0.30%.
Stock indexes turned lower today as crude prices surged, and bond yields jumped after President Trump said the US will "hit Iran hard" after a recent attack from Iran that targeted a US base in Jordan. The markets are awaiting the results of the 2-day FOMC meeting that ends early this afternoon, with policymakers expected to keep interest rates unchanged. Also, earnings results from Microsoft and Meta Platforms after today's close will be looked at to see whether the vast spending behind the buildout of artificial intelligence can deliver adequate returns. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3 bp to 4.63%.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 5
Nasdaq Futures Plunge as Chip Selloff Rages On, FOMC Meeting and Earnings on Tap
Ahead of Microsoft Earnings, Here's What Barchart Data Says Comes Next for MSFT Stock

#Stock #futures #Iran #Microsoft
gnuwyorudimifa9251
3 days ago
Oil prices surged more than 7% on Wednesday as renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities and fresh threats to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb pushed WTI above $84 and Brent toward $90, confronting the Federal Reserve with another inflation shock just hours before one of its most uncertain interest-rate decisions in years.
The rally accelerated after President Donald Trump vaguely told Fox News that the United States would "hit Iran hard" following an attack on a U.S. base in Jordan, while Iran-backed Houthis weighed imposing fees on commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and U.S.-Saudi forces launched fresh strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
Brent crude was up 7.06% at 9:29a.m. ET Wednesday, reaching $90.03, while WTI was trading up 6.95%, at $84.77.
The renewed geopolitical premium comes just hours before the Federal Reserve announces its latest interest-rate decision, with markets divided over whether policymakers will leave rates unchanged or deliver the first rate increase since 2023. Investors are also looking for clues from Chairman Kevin Warsh after the Fed abandoned the forward guidance that had shaped market expectations for more than two decades.
June's inflation report eased pressure on the Federal Reserve after lower oil prices helped cool headline inflation during the brief lull in the Iran war, but that relief appears to have been short-lived. With crude prices once again flirting with $90 as fighting resumes, investors are divided over whether policymakers will leave interest rates unchanged or respond to renewed inflation risks.

#Iran #reserve #prices
1714hb05ji
3 days ago
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a largely unchanged open on Wednesday as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy announcement.
Market participants are widely expecting the central bank to leave interest rates unchanged, although some uncertainty remains over the possibility of an unexpected quarter-point increase.
According to CME Group's FedWatch Tool, markets are pricing in a 64.2% probability that the Federal Reserve keeps rates unchanged, while ******* igning a 35.8% chance to a 25-basis-point hike.
Investors will also be watching closely for any guidance accompanying the policy decision, although the shorter statements introduced under Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh may provide fewer indications about the future direction of interest rates.
Traders are also remaining cautious ahead of quarterly earnings reports from Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), which are due after Wednesday's closing bell.

#meta #investors #ahead
sST7ruZcpN7tGn7A
3 days ago
Boston Scientific posted second-quarter net sales of $5.44 billion and adjusted earnings of $0.86 per share on Wednesday, beating its own guidance, but the company trimmed its full-year profit outlook as demand for its Watchman heart implant fell short of expectations.
The company now expects full-year 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $3.28 to $3.32, the company said. That compares to a prior forecast of $3.34 to $3.41 per share. ***** ysts had expected full-year adjusted profit of $3.36 per share, according to Reuters.
Boston Scientific also cut its full-year organic sales growth outlook to a range of 5% to 6%, down from a prior range of 6.5% to 8%, the company said.
The Watchman is a device implanted in the heart to block blood clots that can cause strokes in patients who have atrial fibrillation. The drag on that business stems from changing clinical practice — doctors are more often pairing the Watchman with other heart procedures in one visit, which has eaten into the volume of dedicated Watchman-only cases, according to Reuters. Boston Scientific indicated that Watchman revenue is on track to be roughly unchanged in the second quarter and probably the third as well, even as combined-procedure volumes keep climbing.
The quarterly results themselves topped expectations. Second-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.86 came in above the company's guidance range of $0.82 to $0.84. Revenue of $5.44 billion exceeded the high end of the company's guided range of 5.5% to 7.5% reported growth. ***** ysts had expected quarterly revenue of $5.36 billion and adjusted profit of $0.83 per share.

#range
vag7elydelta3533
3 days ago
July 29 (Reuters) - Humana on Wednesday beat Wall Street estimates for second-quarter earnings as the ‌health insurer's spend on medical services was in ‌line with expectations, but it left its annual adjusted profit forecast unchanged.
Shares of the company were down about 9% in premarket trading.
Humana is one of the largest providers of Medicare Advantage plans serving people aged 65 and ‌older as well ⁠as people with disabilities.
Investors have been raising their expectations for insurers, after others ⁠including larger peer UnitedHealth raised its outlook and have done a better job at controlling costs.
Once a key source of profit growth for insurers, these privately managed Medicare ‌Advantage plans have come under pressure from rising medical costs for three years as well as tighter reimbursement rates, leading some insurers to scale back or exit underperforming markets.

#humana
prism
3 days ago
By Karen Brettell
July 30 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks gained on Thursday as Microsoft's forecast-beating results eased investor worries about massive AI spending by companies, while 30-year Treasury yields scaled a 19-year peak after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, stoking concerns about longer-term inflation.
The ***** anese yen also gained sharply, prompting speculation that ***** anese officials intervened ‌to shore up the beleaguered currency.
Microsoft rose 17% after the company forecast current-quarter sales and cloud growth that beat expectations, issued a capital expenditure outlook below Wall Street estimates, and ‌said it expects to keep generating cash through the just-started fiscal 2027.
Investors have been rattled by rising AI costs at big technology firms even as they report strong earnings. Negative cash-flow reports from Alphabet and Tesla last week sparked a bout of selling in AI-linked stocks, with chip stocks also under pressure as investors questioned high valuations.

#japanese #forecast #karen
xyhdiggadgetdrift
3 days ago
July 30 (Reuters) - OpenAI slashed prices of its low- and mid-tier AI models on Thursday, a move that may intensify competition in the industry as U.S. companies ‌battle cheaper Chinese rivals for customers increasingly wary of the technology's ballooning costs.
The ChatGPT ‌maker lowered the cost of its smaller GPT-5.6 Luna model by 80% and its mid-tier Terra by 20%, while leaving the price of its biggest and flagship Sol model unchanged.
The cuts show that rising cost scrutiny by businesses facing hefty AI bills is forcing American labs to rethink pricing. Many tech CEOs have also said in recent months that cheaper AI options are key to the technology's widespread adoption.
OpenAI's new ‌pricing also turns up the heat ⁠on Anthropic, whose Claude models dominate enterprise and developer use but sit at the costlier end of the market. Both companies have been under pressure ⁠from open-source Chinese rivals such as Z.ai's GLM-5.2 that nearly match their performance at a lower cost.
Analysts have said that cutting prices could boost usage of OpenAI's and Anthropic's technology, but strain their finances ahead of highly anticipated initial public offerings.

#prices #models
ZA_9h8BT8
3 days ago
July 30 (Reuters) - OpenAI slashed prices of its low- and mid-tier AI models on Thursday, a move that may intensify competition in the industry as U.S. companies ‌battle cheaper Chinese rivals for customers increasingly wary of the technology's ballooning costs.
The ChatGPT ‌maker lowered the cost of its smaller GPT-5.6 Luna model by 80% and its mid-tier Terra by 20%, while leaving the price of its biggest and flagship Sol model unchanged.
The cuts show that rising cost scrutiny by businesses facing hefty AI bills is forcing American labs to rethink pricing. Many tech CEOs have also said in recent months that cheaper AI options are key to the technology's widespread adoption.
OpenAI's new ‌pricing also turns up the heat ⁠on Anthropic, whose Claude models dominate enterprise and developer use but sit at the costlier end of the market. Both companies have been under pressure ⁠from open-source Chinese rivals such as Z.ai's GLM-5.2 that nearly match their performance at a lower cost.
Analysts have said that cutting prices could boost usage of OpenAI's and Anthropic's technology, but strain their finances ahead of highly anticipated initial public offerings.

#cheaper
3eql8pawlhdb
4 days ago
When the Twins selected him with the 16th overall pick last July, Marek Houston was seen by most scouts as a lock to stick shortstop with elite defensive talent, but a fringy bat that projects for below average production in the major leagues. Just 27 games into his Double-A tenure, Houston is already producing offense at a high level, boasting a .325 batting average with a 135 wRC+. As he begins to pop up on top 100 prospect lists, there is a growing belief that his bat has a chance to provide some real impact for the Twins.
Standing at 6'3", Marek is a twitchy and fluid athlete. He is a plus runner, nabbing 38 bags so far this season while being caught just 4 times. He has an excellent approach at the plate. Very patient hitter who is running a chase rate around 17% this season with above-average walk rates. His swing mechanics have remained largely unchanged from his time at Wake Forest. The pre-swing hand load and leg kick is a little loud, but he breaks it down with 2 strikes, which has helped him limit strikeouts and put together mature at-bats despite posting average zone contact rates. His raw power is below average, but Houston has continued to tap into more and more juice as the season has gone on. There is quality gap power if he can consistently elevate the ball.
While the offensive ceiling is still limited, any doubt that Marek Houston may not have a major league caliber bat is effectively gone. If he doesn't tap into any more power, his profile is similar to that of Austin Martin or Luke Keaschall, a patient hitter who makes a lot of contact and provides value on the bases. While these guys don't hit for much power and have middling offensive numbers, they do more for the offense than the stats show. Combining that with plus defense at the shortstop position makes for an extremely valuable player and a guy who will find a way to make a positive impact on every game.
Marek Houston is squarely on track for a 2027 debut with an outside chance of making his way onto the opening day roster. He looks like a perfect fit for the Twins as a long-term solution at the shortstop position, where the team's -15 FRV since the start of 2025 ranks 28th in MLB. While he doesn't have a dynamite bat like Walker Jenkins or Emmanuel Rodriguez, Houston is worth getting excited about as one of the system's top prospects and arguably the prospect with the highest chance to be a productive big leaguer. He has been a Minnesota Twin for just over 12 months, but fans won't have to wait much longer to see him suited up at Target Field.

#chance
crashin
4 days ago
The Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting concludes on Wednesday with an interest rate decision at 2:00 p.m. ET. The Fed's next move — to hold or hike — remains a close call.
Markets expect the central bank to keep interest rates unchanged, but inflationary pressures arising from the war in Iran and AI bottlenecks could prompt officials to opt for a surprise hike. Bond traders placed 64.2% odds that the Fed will hold rates steady and 35.8% odds that it will hike, according to the CME Group's FedWatch on Tuesday morning.
The Fed's decision is opaque not only due to the balance of economic forces; it's also by design. As new Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh reforms the institution, he's looking to bring the Fed back to an era of less communication with markets on the path of policy.
Warsh has repeatedly said he wants a "good family fight" at Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. He's likely to get that, as officials remain divided on whether to hike interest rates this year.
If the Fed opts to raise interest rates today, it will likely be for two reasons: energy inflation stemming from the war in Iran coupled with the fact that inflation has remained stubbornly above the Fed's 2% goal for over five years.

#warsh
comet
5 days ago
Manuel Neuer has denied reports suggesting Bayern Munich have reached an agreement to give Jonas Urbig more appearances during the upcoming season.
Asked whether such an arrangement exists, the Bayern captain made it clear that he expects the situation to remain unchanged from last year.
"No, I think it will be similar to last season. We'll support one another; we've got a strong goalkeeping squad, including Ulle and the young goalkeepers."
Neuer stressed that the focus is on healthy competition rather than guarantees over playing time.
"The important thing is that we help one another, that we push each other, and that we can always give our best for the team in goal."

#bayern #give #munich
table83
5 days ago
As of 11:38 AM ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES:^DJI) is up 0.13% to 52,017.19, while the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) is down 0.33% to 7,387.76, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) has slipped 0.44% to 24,840.43 as tech pressure offsets optimism from cooling geopolitical tensions.
Gold is up 0.45% to $4,074.30, and the 10-Year Treasury yield is down 0.03% to 4.65%. Communications and consumer defensive stocks are this morning's top-performing sectors while technology and energy sectors are in the red.
RTX Corp climbed 2.61% to $218.28 on strong Q2 earnings. SAP surged 7.4% to $171.79, extending last week's gains after the software company beat earnings expectations. Conversely, Nvidia is trading lower amid concerns about Chinese competition. Reddit is up 6.7% to 171.79 on optimism about its upcoming earnings.
Oil prices fell this morning on news of a pause in strikes between the U.S. and Iran. WTI crude oil fell almost 7% to $83.15 a barrel, boosting market sentiment and lifting the Dow slightly. However, investors are braced for further volatility and will be watching the Federal Reserve meeting this week. The Fed is widely expected to leave rates unchanged in July, but inflationary pressures caused by ongoing tensions in the Middle East and high spending by tech companies could prompt it to raise rates before the end of the year.
On the other side, renewed artificial intelligence (AI) valuation concerns weighed on markets. This week will bring earnings from Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Apple, and Amazon, and investors will be paying close attention to capital expenditure plans. The high concentration in the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 means any drop in their share prices will have an outsized impact on these major indexes.

#earnings
1compass
5 days ago
The Seattle Seahawks have a lot going for them as the 2026 NFL season creeps closer.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox labeled the Seahawks' defensive line as the team's biggest strength prior to the start of this year's preseason.
"The Seahawks were regularly able to pressure opposing quarterbacks despite blitzing just 19.3 percent of the time, the seventh-lowest rate in the NFL," Knox said. "Seattle's defensive line will enter 2026 largely unchanged. While edge-defender Boye Mafe was replaced by Dante Fowler Jr., key standouts Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed, and DeMarcus Lawrence are all back for another run."
The Seahawks also have a strong wide receiver room consisting of AP Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp, as well as a top-tier secondary including second-team All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori, and Josh Jobe. Nevertheless, the defensive line brings frightening pressure to opposing quarterbacks and has nearly all of its players from last year returning for another run in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: ***** sing the Seahawks' biggest strength prior to the preseason

#defensive #line #knox #year
eZrUBeEiHkIPlhVK
5 days ago
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) beat quarterly expectations, secured $20 billion in net awards, reported record backlog, and raised its 2026 sales and MTM-adjusted earnings forecasts. Yet the shares closed 2.23% lower at $512.29 on July 21.
The contradiction becomes clearer when the quality of the earnings beat is separated from the size of the order book. ***** ysts said a substantially lower tax rate drove much of the upside, while operating income declined in two of Northrop's four segments. The company also left its segment operating-income and adjusted free-cash-flow forecasts unchanged.
JPMorgan ***** yst Seth Seifman pointed to the market's "tendency to punish execution challenges." That appears to capture the reaction. Investors did not question whether Northrop can win more work. They questioned how much profit it can retain while delivering that work and expanding production.
Are the latest program charges temporary costs of meeting surging defense demand, or evidence that Northrop's backlog is growing faster than its ability to execute profitably?
The bull case is that Northrop's execution problems remain concentrated in a few programs, while the broader demand environment is becoming stronger.

#adjusted #forecasts #much
64dash
5 days ago
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) reported its second-quarter financial results on July 23, delivering a modest upside on earnings per share despite ongoing top-line volume pressures. The company reported GAAP diluted EPS of $4.96, topping Wall Street consensus estimates of $4.83, while non-GAAP diluted EPS came in at $3.65. The EPS beat was primarily driven by gross margin expansion, reaching 50.4%, up 60 basis points year-over-year, and a $1.31 per-share after-tax benefit from a favorable adjustment in supplier litigation.
The company's net revenue for the quarter was roughly in line with expectations at $568.3 million, down 3.3% year-over-year. Depletions fell 6%, which, while negative, came in better than the Street's fear of a 9% decline. Shipment volume was approximately 2.0 million barrels, down 4.5%. Crucially, management maintained its full-year non-GAAP EPS guidance of $8.50 to $10.50.
Following the report, Wall Street ******* ysts adjusted their outlooks. On July 24, Roth Capital lowered its price target on Boston Beer to $295 from $315 while keeping a Buy rating on the shares. The firm noted that while major components of guidance were unchanged, commentary on the earnings call suggested that if current trends persist, full-year results would land toward the lower end of the guided range. On the same day, Deutsche Bank lowered its price target to $176 from $187 and maintained a Hold rating on the shares.
This mix of resilient operational execution and volume headwinds brings up a key question: Is The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM)'s margin recovery and balance sheet strength enough to navigate persistent category challenges?
Optimistic investors emphasize Boston Beer's low leverage and durable financial flexibility as foundational strengths. With minimal debt, $265.5 million in cash, and a sizable equity base, the company maintains the financial headroom to fund working capital, capital expenditures, and share repurchases. This strong balance sheet allows Boston Beer to absorb macroeconomic shocks, tariffs, or litigation without forced deleveraging, preserving strategic optionality over both short- and long-term horizons.

#boston #capital #volume #million
rfhqhqlmjwh
5 days ago
The Federal Reserve kicks off its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, culminating with an interest rate decision at 2:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The Fed's next move — to hold or hike — remains a close call.
Markets expect the central bank to keep interest rates unchanged, but inflationary pressures arising from the war in Iran and AI bottlenecks could prompt officials to opt for a surprise hike. Bond traders placed 68.5% odds that the Fed will hold rates steady and 31.5% odds that it will hike, according to the CME Group's FedWatch on Tuesday morning.
The Fed's decision is opaque not only due to the balance of economic forces; it's also by design. As new Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh reforms the institution, he's looking to bring the Fed back to an era of less communication with markets on the path of policy.
Warsh has repeatedly said he wants a "good family fight" at Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. He's likely to get that, as officials remain divided on whether to hike interest rates this year.
Bloomberg report:

#interest #federal #markets #hold
slowly_txrk
6 days ago
Former Edmonton Oilers forward and NHL enforcer Georges Laraque believes the team's biggest issue remains unchanged despite another offseason overhaul.
Speaking on the Bleed Oil Blue Podcast, Laraque argued that Edmonton's goaltending continues to hold the team back during Connor McDavid's Stanley Cup window.
"The biggest problem we've had for years, which I don't understand, is the goalie," Laraque said. "Every year we go get a goalie. I never agree with it. I know it's not going to work."
MORE: Connor McDavid calls Mike Babcock hire 'great opportunity' for Oilers
Laraque questioned Edmonton's repeated strategy of acquiring reclamation projects instead of proven starters.

#connor #former #georges
6Ei_Se
6 days ago
The debate surrounding Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's ODI future refuses to die down despite both continuing to deliver for India. While neither head coach Gautam Gambhir nor chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar has publicly committed to their participation in the 2027 World Cup, keeping the speculation around their future alive.

India's recent 1-2 ODI series defeat against England only added fuel to the conversation. Rohit silenced critics with a match-winning century in the series finale, registering his 34th ODI hundred amid speculation that the Lord's fixture could be his final international appearance. Kohli, meanwhile, chipped in with two half-centuries during the series after both senior batters struggled in the opening match.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes there is no need to question Rohit and Kohli's places in the side, but stressed that both must make an immediate impact whenever a series begins instead of taking time to settle.

"That has to be a conversation with everyone, not just them (Kohli and Rohit), that they have to start the series well and hit the ground running. That is a challenge. You can't take one or two games to get into the groove. But that's where the support staff comes in and has conversations with the players by creating an environment to get the best out of everyone," Deep Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.

Dasgupta insisted that the standards applied to the two stalwarts should remain unchanged despite the increasing scrutiny around their careers.

"There is no conversation needed with them about their places in the team. Four years back, it wasn't like they had to be reminded before every series that they would be in the team. They knew they would be in the team based on their performances. So how does that change now? It does not and should not change," he added.
Questions over the future of Rohit and Kohli have surfaced repeatedly since both retired from Test cricket last year, leaving ODIs as their only international format. Before the Lord's ODI against England, reports suggested that the selection committee was considering moving on from Rohit ahead of the 2027 World Cup to create an opening for Yashasvi Jaiswal.

However, the BCCI leadership dismissed reports that the Lord's encounter would be Rohit's final international appearance.

Dasgupta believes the constant speculation is largely because the pair now feature in only one international format, making every ODI performance subject to greater scrutiny.
132677492
"This discussion about their future is getting exaggerated because they play only one format. When you play multiple formats, if you fail in one but score in the other, the failure is forgotten. So that's a challenge for these two that can't be denied. People will remember what they last did in this format because they play only one format. But the conversation with them should be the same as it was three years ago," he added.

#dasgupta #intern
bouNc8FrOst
9 days ago
Markets were recalibrating after the European Central Bank kept its benchmark rates unchanged. It maintained the deposit rate at 2.25%, the main refinancing rate at 2.40%, and the marginal lending facility rate at 2.65%. "Decisions next time will be meeting by meeting and data dependent," Christine Lagarde said. "As regards the inflationary effects of higher energy prices in view of the Middle East escalation, this adds to the uncertainty of the path of inflation over time."
The dollar continued to be supported by strong fundamentals, and Treasury bonds were also higher. Attention turned to today's S&P Global flash PMI surveys with US manufacturing seen at 54.5, services at 51.5, and the composite above the 50 threshold for expansion. A good set of numbers will provide more evidence of the US economy's resilience ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting next week. Investors will also hope the Fed keeps rates on hold with officials signaling their cautious approach.
The euro was less focused on the outcome than on the ECB's communication. Policymakers noted that inflation was easing in the euro area. But they said inflation might not return sustainably to the 2% target for some time due to fluctuating energy prices and noted that there is still room for more hikes.
Sterling focused on June retail sales and the flash PMI data for July this afternoon. The manufacturing PMI is projected at 52.0 and services PMI at 50.0. Stronger sales figures will provide more proof of the resilience of the domestic economy, supporting the Bank of England's approach as the focus turns to fighting inflation.
The USD Index remains positive after bouncing off the 100.50-100.60 support area and recapturing the 101.20 level. Current quotes around 101.33 sit above the 50-EMA (at 101.06) and the 100-EMA (at 100.97), which indicates buyers have been taking charge. The DXY's rising trend line is continuing to act as support, and the current reading at RSI 60 suggests there is room for further upside, with no imminent signs of overbought conditions.

#inflation #rate #higher
ocoeqxvyef
9 days ago
This story was originally published on CRE Daily. Join 70,000+ commercial real estate professionals getting daily news, market insights, and industry **** ysis delivered straight to their inbox with the free CRE Daily newsletter.
Lenders have tightened credit spreads on 60–65% LTV retail CRE loans by 16 basis points over the past year, per Trepp.
The cost of incremental debt in the 50–59% LTV tier is nearly unchanged in the same period, underscoring a shift in lender competition.
Lenders prioritizing pricing competitiveness in the middle of the capital stack could alter borrower decisions and reshape risk distribution in retail loan origination.
Retail commercial real estate lenders are shifting their focus toward moderate leverage. Trepp data shows the most aggressive pricing now sits in the middle of the debt stack.

#estate #debt #middle
have1fly
9 days ago
IBM lowered its full-year revenue forecast on Wednesday after posting second-quarter results that fell short of **** yst expectations, capping a difficult stretch for the technology company following a profit warning issued the week before.
The company said it has revised its 2026 constant-currency revenue growth target to a range of 4% to 5%, retreating from the more than 5% it had previously projected. IBM maintained its forecast for free cash flow to increase by about $1 billion year over year.
Second-quarter revenue came in at $17.16 billion, up 1% from a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share were $2.93. **** ysts had expected revenue of $17.58 billion and adjusted earnings of $2.97 per share, according to CNBC.
IBM's software segment brought in $7.76 billion for the quarter, a 5% year-over-year gain. Consulting posted $5.33 billion, essentially unchanged from a year ago. Infrastructure slid 7% to $3.84 billion, with IBM Z mainframe revenue accounting for much of the damage by dropping 42%.
IBM said it is targeting a roughly 1-percentage-point expansion in its full-year pre-tax margin, driven by productivity gains that include deploying AI to accelerate software development and streamline its supply chain.

#earnings

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