Shares set fresh records, lifted by U.S. housing data
Key world equity indexes scaled new highs on Friday, boosted by a surge in U.S. housing starts to levels last seen in 2006, while the greenback rose to a one-week high against the euro on expectations of solid economic growth.
Oil steadies as Chinese economy offsets trade optimism
Oil prices steadied on Friday as sluggish economic growth in China, the world’s biggest crude importer, raised concerns over fuel demand and countered optimism from the signing of a China-U.S. trade deal.
Fed’s Bullard: “Material reassessment” is “big tent language”
St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard expounded on what might comprise a “material reassessment” of the economic outlook, the Treasury yield curve, the central bank’s framework review and more in a Reuters interview.
Bayer could be close to Roundup settlement, mediator says
Bayer could be close to settling more than 75,000 cancer claims related to its Roundup herbicide, with mediator Ken Feinberg on Friday saying he was “cautiously optimistic that a settlement will ultimately be reached.”
Netflix opens new Paris office, plans 20 French-language series
U.S. television streaming company Netflix has opened a new Paris office and plans to develop more than 20 original French-language productions in 2020, it said on Friday.
U.S. job openings post biggest drop in more than four years
U.S. job openings recorded their biggest drop in more than four years in November, while hiring increased moderately, suggesting a loss of momentum in the labor market at the tail end of 2019.
Mexican autoparts firms eye fast lane after U.S. backs trade deal
Mexican auto parts manufacturers with clients across North America expect a record year after U.S. approval of a trade deal mandating higher regional inputs, but the new rules pose a bigger challenge to carmakers.
Strong data, earnings drive Wall Street to new highs
U.S. stock indexes edged higher to hit fresh record highs on Friday on optimism over corporate earnings, economic data and indications of resilience in a Chinese economy battered by a prolonged trade war with the United States.
U.S. will look at sudden acceleration complaints involving 500,000 Tesla vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Friday it will review a petition asking the agency to formally investigate and recall 500,000 Tesla Inc vehicles over sudden unintended acceleration reports.
Take Five: A week in central banking
Geopolitics overshadowed monetary policy for the first time in many months in early January. But such distractions tend to be short-lived nowadays, with investors getting back to central bank-watching swiftly.
