Author: Pritam Barman

The U.S. dollar hovered near unchanged levels on Friday as traders weighed the Federal Reserve’s firmer tone against softer U.S. indicators and a sharper-than-expected drop in China’s exports. With risk appetite fragile and key economic releases delayed, the currency market stayed range-bound into the weekend. The U.S. dollar had started a five-day advance after the Fed signaled caution around further easing, only to give back ground on Thursday when labor readings came in soft. That swing left the greenback on course for a roughly flat week, even as equity markets—especially tech-heavy benchmarks—headed for their biggest weekly declines in months. In…

DoorDash stock tumbled Thursday after the delivery giant missed third‑quarter profit estimates and issued a softer‑than‑expected outlook, even as orders and revenue surged. The slide—about 17.5% to near $197—made it the S&P 500’s worst performer on the day, though shares remain up roughly a fifth in 2025. Investors weighed robust top‑line momentum against swelling costs and plans to step up spending in 2026, including on new products and initiatives such as delivery robots. That trade‑off rattled sentiment and put DoorDash stock under heavy pressure despite healthy demand across the platform. Why the selloff hit DoorDash stock Earnings per share came…

Chile inflation slowed sharply in October, landing at 3.4% year over year—the lowest reading since April 2021 and well under analysts’ expectations. The monthly change was flat at 0.0%, while a core measure that strips out food and energy dipped 0.1% from September, according to the national statistics institute. The softer print arrived days after policymakers signaled they needed more evidence before cutting borrowing costs again from 4.75%. With inflation easing faster than expected, the debate over a December move just intensified. This was a clear miss versus the Bloomberg survey median of 3.7% and, by some estimates, below every…

The Fed December rate decision is shaping up to be one of the year’s toughest calls. A prolonged U.S. government shutdown has starved policymakers of the timely, high-quality data they rely on to gauge jobs and prices. Even if agencies reopen soon, delayed and retroactive surveys could blur the picture just when clarity matters most. For investors, businesses, and households, the stakes are high. The Fed December rate decision will land amid conflicting signals—some pointing to a cooling labor market, others showing resilience—plus the possibility that October inflation data never arrives. What’s at Stake in the Fed December rate decision…

US investment-grade bond issuance is poised to accelerate in 2026, with Wells Fargo projecting as much as $1.85 trillion in new supply as blue-chip issuers—especially Big Tech funding massive AI buildouts—tap a still-favorable financing window. The call, delivered by Maureen O’Connor, global head of high-grade debt syndicate at Wells Fargo, points to a market where robust demand from pensions and insurers, tight spreads over Treasuries, and strong liquidity are aligning to support record-caliber supply. It would rival the pandemic-era boom of 2020, and marks a notable step-up from an estimated as much as $1.7 trillion this year. Even with rates…

Redwood Materials’ critical minerals production is officially underway in South Carolina, as JB Straubel’s battery‑recycling startup brings a core system online at its $3.5 billion campus to recover up to 20,000 metric tons a year. The milestone marks a strategic pivot for one of the most closely watched U.S. clean‑tech companies. Founded to close gaping holes in the electric‑vehicle battery supply chain, Redwood Materials is repositioning for a world where EV demand cools, incentives change, and U.S. policy prioritizes onshoring strategic resources. Straubel says the company’s output will increasingly serve customers beyond automakers. “The nickel and cobalt markets are largely…

Bank of England rate cut expectations rose after a knife‑edge 5–4 vote kept Bank Rate at 4%, as policymakers shifted guidance toward a “gradual downward path” and Governor Andrew Bailey emphasized that inflation risks have become more balanced. The decision—anticipated by markets—paused a run of quarterly reductions and set the stage for December. Minutes showed Bailey swung the outcome by opting to hold while leaning dovish, citing improving confidence that inflation is on track toward the 2% target. Four members preferred an immediate quarter‑point cut to 3.75%, reflecting growing concern about cooling demand. Investors and businesses now face a familiar…

Rate cut bets fueled a rebound in Treasuries even as stocks churned, with investors weighing softening labor signals against lofty tech valuations and a cooling risk appetite. Futures on the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow hovered near flat, while a slump in the dollar and firmer bonds set the tone for a cautious session. Buy-the-dip enthusiasm showed signs of fatigue despite another strong earnings season. The market’s leadership remains concentrated in AI beneficiaries and mega-cap tech, but stretched multiples are encouraging select profit-taking. Semiconductor sentiment cooled after an upbeat forecast from Qualcomm failed to spark follow-through, and early gains…

H-1B visa sponsorship is drying up across U.S. recruiting, and a growing number of recent foreign graduates say one checkbox—“Will you need sponsorship?”—is ending conversations before they start. Employers that once considered global talent pipelines are now posting “No international candidates,” a phrase graduates say they encounter repeatedly. For students like Ishaan Chauhan, set to finish a computer and data-science degree at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, getting past the résumé screen has become the biggest hurdle once hiring teams learn he’ll need H-1B visa sponsorship. The shift accelerated after the Trump administration unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the program in…

Spurs arena subsidy moves forward after Bexar County voters approved a measure to help finance a new downtown arena, authorizing up to $311 million backed by a hotel-occupancy tax. The vote clears a pivotal hurdle for the San Antonio Spurs’ long-discussed plan to relocate from the East Side’s Frost Bank Center to a venue in the city’s core—paired with promises of private investment and community benefits. With Proposition B approved according to unofficial county results, the county can raise the hotel-occupancy tax by up to 2% to fund the project. The Spurs have committed to covering any cost overruns, and…