Investments and Business

For decades, María Amparo Carvajal in Bolivia and Juana Ruiz in Colombia have dedicated their lives to defending human rights and supporting survivors of violence and oppression. Their tireless efforts were recognized this week when the US State Department awarded them the prestigious Human Rights Defender Award. Carvajal, originally from Spain, has been a central figure in Bolivia's human rights movement since 1971, the year Hugo Banzer took power in a coup. Banzer's regime, which lasted until 1978, was characterized by widespread human rights violations, motivating Carvajal to take action. In 1976 he founded the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights…

Hershey shares surged as much as 15% in Monday trading following a Bloomberg report suggesting Mondelez may attempt another takeover of the iconic chocolate company. This marks a notable development in ongoing speculation about Hershey's future as an independent entity, with its shares now on track for their best day since mid-2016. Prior to this rally, Hershey's stock had faced a turbulent year, with its value falling about 6% on concerns over rising cocoa prices and the growing use of GLP-1 drugs, which according to some analysts they could suppress the demand for confectionery products. With Monday's boost, Hershey's shares…

President-elect Donald Trump prepares to ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), marking the ceremonial start of the trading day. This symbolic event comes at a crucial time as markets weigh the implications of his 2024 election victory, according to people familiar with the matter. The event is expected to be a significant moment for Trump, a native New Yorker who spent much of his life in Manhattan before moving to Florida. His return to the city for this occasion underlines his connection to the financial world and his enduring association with Wall Street. Historically, the…

In an effort to address expected challenges to U.S.-China relations under President-elect Donald Trump, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng recently met with several top U.S. financial executives. These meetings come as Beijing prepares for the possible imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods, a key part of Trump's campaign rhetoric. He Lifeng, one of China's four vice premiers and a leading figure in the country's economic and financial policy, has actively sought to establish connections with influential players in American financial circles. In the past month, he had talks with Larry Fink, chief executive of BlackRock, on December 5, and John…

Alaska Airlines is targeting significant growth, with a goal of increasing profits by $1 billion by 2027. The airline is banking on growing demand for premium travel and its recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines to achieve this ambitious goal. The $1.9 billion purchase of Hawaiian Airlines, finalized in September, opened up new opportunities for Alaska Airlines, granting it access to cross-Pacific routes and wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A330. Although both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines continue to operate as separate brands, the acquisition positioned Alaska for a major expansion of its international network. Starting in…

Just a week after Donald Trump secured victory in the US presidential election, Elon Musk hinted at his increasingly important role in shaping the political landscape. The billionaire businessman made headlines by suggesting that his political involvement would serve as “a significant obstacle in the primaries,” signaling his willingness to challenge Republican lawmakers who deviate from Trump's agenda. Musk's intentions became clearer shortly thereafter, when he took to X (formerly known as Twitter), the social media platform he owns, to respond to a suggestion that he might financially support challengers to Republican members of the Congress who opposed Trump's policies.…

China's leadership surprised markets this week by signaling a change in its monetary policy stance for the first time in 14 years. The announcement highlights the depth of the country's economic challenges, even as experts warn that a large stimulus package remains unlikely. The change involves moving from a “moderately expansionary” monetary policy to a more “cautious” approach in 2024, a phrase not used since the 2008 global financial crisis. At the time, China adopted an aggressively accommodative stance to combat the global recession . This policy adjustment marks the first recognition by the current leadership that more flexible monetary…

Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, faces a crucial moment as the central bank prepares for its next policy meeting. The latest jobs report all but solidified expectations of an interest rate cut later this month, with market indicators assigning a nearly 90% chance to such a move. However, whether the Fed should proceed with the cut and how it will manage monetary policy afterward remain open questions, sparking heated debate among economists and politicians. November's jobs data presented a balanced picture, neither overly strong nor overly weak, giving the Fed the flexibility to justify a rate cut. Nonfarm…

Franz Wagner has been a cornerstone for the Orlando Magic this season, stepping up at critical moments to keep the team competitive, especially after All-Star forward Paolo Banchero suffered a torn oblique early in the season. season. Now, in a twist of fate, Wagner finds himself sidelined by the same injury, dealing a significant setback to a team that has relied heavily on his contributions to stay afloat. The Magic announced Saturday that Wagner suffered a torn right oblique during Friday's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The team said Wagner will be out indefinitely, with his recovery time depending on…

China's recent push to spur economic growth has shown modest progress, but the broader impact remains limited. Earnings and corporate data suggest that a solid recovery in the world's second-largest economy may still be a long way off. Since September, Beijing has introduced a series of stimulus measures aimed at boosting key sectors such as real estate and manufacturing. While there have been signs of improvement, many companies have maintained a cautious outlook. This sentiment was evident during Meituan's earnings call last week, when executives noted only a slight improvement in their hotel booking business. “We are confident that these…