COST Financial News

Former McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner analyzes the state of the fast-food industry as the U.S. economy slows on 'The Claman Countdown.'

Commonwealth Financial Network Chief Investment Officer Brad McMillan discusses the impact of the UAW strike on the economy, the Federal Reserve's anticipated rate decision and his outlook on the markets.

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has sold over 90% of its TV and digital ad inventory for the Asian Games 2023, with the network targeting a reach of over 100 million for the event, a senior company executive said. «We are almost sold out, whether it is linear or digital, and the list of advertisers is growing. We sold the TV and digital ad inventory separately,» said SPNI business head, sports Rajesh Kaul. The TV broadcast sponsors include Hyundai, JSW Group, Limca Sportz, Paisabazaar, LIC of India, UltraTech Cement, Amul, State Bank of India, Panasonic and Parle Products, while the digital sponsors are EatFit, JSW, Maruti Suzuki India, ACKO and Limca Sportz, among others. The media company was seeking investments of ₹3.5 crore from co-presenting sponsors and an outlay of ₹2.4 crore from associate sponsors. Media buyers say properties like the Asian Games draw niche audiences that are relevant to certain sets of advertisers.

Bank of England's decision to halt interest rate increases for the first time in almost two years. S&P Global's composite Purchasing Managers' Index slipped to 46.8 in September from 48.6 the month before, the sharpest decline in output since January 2021 when the UK was in lockdown. The reading was worse than economists expected and plunged the private sector deeper into contraction territory. The survey was cited in the BOE's decision to hold interest rates at 5.25% as evidence that Britain's already sputtering economy was weakening. The central bank had an early look at the indicator before its decision, which economist said may indicate that borrowing costs have peaked for now. The PMI adds to a growing list of indicators that point to a lackluster second half of the year for the economy. Retail sales data also out Friday showing a smaller-than-expected bounce back in August. That suggests retail may be a drag on gross domestic product figures for the third quarter unless September delivers a big bounce higher. S&P also said there had been an “abrupt turnaround” in the jobs market, with staff cuts the fastest since October 2009, excluding lockdowns during the pandemic.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has asked for industry opinion on ways to encourage and better the research and development ecosystem for telecom, broadcasting and information and communication technology (ICT) in the country in a new discussion paper released Friday. Issues like the role of telecom operators in facilitating R&D in the country, steps to improve government-industry-academia dynamics, simplifying patent application and encouraging private sector R&D through incentives are among those raised in the paper titled 'Encouraging R&D in Telecom, Broadcasting and IT (ICT) Sectors'. «The consultation paper is aimed at understanding the present ecosystem of R&D in India, identify and learn from practices adopted by R&D leaders across the globe and account for issues to be consulted with the stakeholders for enhancing the R&D scenario in India,» Trai said in the paper. Trai also asked for industry opinion on why multinational companies focus on software rather than hardware in India, and the measures that could be taken to promote basic/applied research by MNCs strengthening the current R&D efforts in software and improving R&D efforts in hardware. «How can awareness about IPR be increased among the researchers and industry in ICT sector? Is there a need to reduce the cost of filing patents in India? If yes, how can it be done?» the sector regulator asked.

The hit TV series “That 70s Show” aired from 1998 to 2006 and focused on six teenage friends living in Wisconsin in the late 70s. The irony was that the actors playing the teenagers were not born in the late 70s and had never experienced life during that period. Many alive today cannot fathom a lifestyle devoid of the internet, cable television, mobile phones, and social media. Oh…the horrors.

Amazon will start featuring advertisements on content streamed on Prime Video, the company said on Friday, making it the latest streaming service to turn to commercials to raise revenue. The changes, which will go into effect early next year, will apply in the United States, Canada, Britain and Germany, unless subscribers pay more to opt out. Amazon said that U.S. subscribers will have to pay an additional $2.99 per month for an ad-free service, and that it would disclose pricing for users in other countries at a later date.

Former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh provides insight on economic policies on 'Kudlow.'

Former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh provides insight on economic policies on 'Kudlow.'

MonetaryMacro.com CIO Joseph Wang argues while headline inflation has cooled, core inflation remains stuck above the Fed's target on 'Making Money.'

Rep. Richard McCormick, R-Ga., a member of the GOP doctors caucus, discusses White House COVID protocols and questions surrounding Sen. Mitch McConnell's health.

Americans have been crunched by inflation and interest rates.

Former Federal Reserve Governor Robert Heller provides insight on the Federal Reserve's moves on 'Kudlow.'

The Energy Department announced Friday a $325 million investment in new battery types that can help turn solar and wind energy into 24-hour power

United Auto Workers said on Friday the union will expand its strike against major automakers by walking out of 38 General Motors and Stellantis plants in 20 states.Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union's demands during negotiations over the past week, said UAW President Shawn Fain. The union is pointing to the companies' huge recent profits as it seeks wage increases of 36 per cent over four years. The companies have offered a little over half that amount. The UAW has other demands, including a 32-hour work week for 40 hours of pay and a restoration of traditional pension plans for newer workers. The companies say they can't afford to meet the union's demands because they need to invest profits in a costly transition from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles. The UAW's contract with the automakers expired at midnight on September 14, and workers walked out of a Ford assembly plant near Detroit, a GM factory in Wentzville, Missouri, and a Jeep plant run by Stellantis in Toledo, Ohio.

National Bank of Canada is better positioned than many of its larger rivals to navigate a downturn that’s poised to hit banks’ balance sheets and customers, according to chief executive Laurent Ferreira.

government securities in the JP Morgan emerging market debt index has the potential of making the rupee stronger and reduce the government's borrowing costs, chief economic advisor in the finance ministry V Anantha Nageswaran told reporters on Friday. JP Morgan on Friday said it plans to include Indian government bonds, or government securities, in its benchmark emerging market index from June next year. The inclusion of government securities will be staggered over a 10-month period from 28 June 2024 to 31 March 2025, indicating one per cent increment on its index weight.

In December 2005, five groups of Wall Street investors flew in private jets to Portland, Maine, where they took waiting limousines to a warren of metal buildings that resembled a midsize lumberyard. They had come to Bushmaster Firearms in pursuit of a highly profitable product whose market was growing faster than any other in America’s stagnant gun industry. The product was the AR-15, and red-hot Bushmaster, the nation’s leading manufacturer of the rifle, had decided to auction itself to the highest bidder.

Some investors are dialing up their bets on large European telecommunications companies, but shares struggle to recover previous highs amid a challenging near-term industry outlook due to muted top-line growth, stiff competition and heavy investments, analysts say. The sector is in the middle of a costly transition to upgrade its infrastructure to 5G technology and to replace copper with more modern fiber-optic cables that transmit data faster. This, together with a combination of challenges that include weak revenue trends due to competition and high debts as a result of past mergers and acquisitions, have weighed on European telecom stocks.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said one lakh people have been recruited for different government jobs and as many posts will be filled next year in the state. Assembly polls will be held in the state at the end of the year. «One lakh persons have been recruited for government posts.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has asked for industry opinion on ways to encourage and better the research and development ecosystem for telecom, broadcasting and information and communication technology (ICT) in the country in a new discussion paper released Friday. Issues like the role of telecom operators in facilitating R&D in the country, steps to improve government-industry-academia dynamics, simplifying patent application and encouraging private sector R&D through incentives are among those raised in the paper titled «Encouraging R&D in Telecom, Broadcasting, and IT (ICT) Sectors». “The consultation paper is aimed at understanding the present ecosystem of R&D in India, identify and learn from practices adopted by R&D leaders across the globe and account for issues to be consulted with the stakeholders for enhancing the R&D scenario in India,” Trai said in the paper. Trai also asked for industry opinion on why multinational companies (MNCs) focus on software rather than hardware in India and the measures that could be taken to promote basic/applied research by MNCs strengthening the current R&D efforts in software and improving R&D efforts in hardware. “How can awareness about IPR be increased among the researchers and industry in ICT sector?.. Is there a need to reduce the cost of filing patents in India? If yes, how can it be done?” the sector regulator asked.