Jumat, 02 Agustus 2019

Economy adds 164000 jobs in July, unemployment rate steady at 3.7% - AOL

The U.S. economy added slightly fewer jobs than expected in July, while the unemployment rate held a hair above a 50-year low.

Here were the main figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s July employment report, versus consensus expectations based on Bloomberg-compiled data:

  • Change in non-farm payrolls: +164,000 vs. +165,000 exp. and +193,000 in June

  • Unemployment rate: 3.7% vs. 3.6% exp. and 3.7% in June

  • Average hourly earnings MoM: 0.3% vs. 0.2% exp. and 0.3% in June

  • Average hourly earnings YoY: 3.2 vs. 3.1% exp. and 3.1% in June

  • Labor force participation rate: 63% vs. 62.9% expected and 62.9% in June

Friday’s “official” BLS jobs report comes as other releases on the domestic labor market have signaled ongoing strength in this area in the economy.

RELATED: 25 best jobs of 2019, according to U.S. News

25 PHOTOS

25 best jobs of 2019, according to U.S. News

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25. Financial Manager

Industry: Business 
Median Salary: $125,080
Unemployment Rate: 2.2 percent

Maximizing profits, reducing costs and producing financial reports are the key duties of financial managers. They play increasingly important roles in companies as the economy grows and interest in managing monetary risk rises. Their job titles may include controller, treasurer, finance officer, risk manager or cash manager.

Becoming a financial manager requires at least a bachelor's degree, and many employers seek candidates with master's degrees, too. Employment is expected to increase 18.7 percent by 2026, adding 108,600 jobs.

Learn more about financial managers.

24. Accountant

Industry: Business 
Median Salary: $69,350
Unemployment Rate: 2.3 percent

For companies, governments or clients, accountants prepare and evaluate financial records for accuracy and to make sure taxes are promptly paid. Their responsibilities may entail making presentations or writing reports. These professionals may work as public accountants, who produce reports required by law, or management accountants, who work with internal budgets.

Accountants need at least a bachelor's degree, and many have roles that require them to earn certified public accountant licenses. Demand for accountants is predicted to increase 10 percent by 2026, adding 139,900 jobs.

Learn more about accountants.

23. Speech-Language Pathologist

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $76,610
Unemployment Rate: 0.8 percent

Also called speech therapists, these health care workers help prevent and treat disorders related to talking and swallowing, which may be caused by stroke, hearing loss, developmental problems or Parkinson's disease. They perform their jobs in schools, doctor's offices, hospitals and nursing homes.

Speech-language pathologists need master's degrees and sometimes licenses to work. Demand is expected to increase 17.8 percent by 2026, adding 25,900 jobs.

Learn more about speech-language pathologists.

22. Podiatrist

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $127,740
Unemployment Rate: 1.2 percent

People with calluses, arthritis, arch problems, diabetes and other ailments that affect their feet and ankles seek treatment from podiatrists. These lower-extremity experts may perform surgery, prescribe shoe inserts and give advice about how to keep feet healthy.

These professionals need to earn a four-year Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from one of nine accredited institutions. Then, they complete three years of residency. Demand is expected to increase 10.3 percent by 2026, adding 1,100 jobs.

Learn more about podiatrists.

21. Clinical Laboratory Technician

Industry: Health care support
Median Salary: $51,770
Unemployment Rate: 0.7 percent

After doctors and nurses order medical tests, patients head to clinical laboratory technicians, who perform the requested services. These health care support workers then analyze body fluids and tissue samples to look for possible abnormalities. They may specialize in studying blood, cells or microbes.

This is one of the few jobs on this list that requires only an associate degree or postsecondary certificate. Demand is predicted to increase 14 percent by 2026, adding 22,900 jobs.

Learn more about clinical laboratory technicians.

20. Physical Therapist

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $86,850
Unemployment Rate: 1.2 percent

The victories physical therapists help achieve can be grand, like treating an injured Olympic athlete who goes on to win gold, or modest, like helping a patient regain the ability to tie his shoes.

These health care workers seek to decrease people's physical pain, improve their mobility and regain strength. During the rehabilitation process, physical therapists assess patient needs and teach patients to perform stretches and exercises that will ameliorate their conditions.

After finishing college, these professionals must earn Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees, which typically require three years. Demand for the job is predicted to increase by 28 percent by 2026, adding 67,100 jobs.

Learn more about physical therapists.

19. Registered Nurse

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $70,000
Unemployment Rate: 1.4 percent

In medical settings, nurses are the health care professionals who work most closely with patients. They communicate with people about their needs and concerns, administer tests and monitor vital signs, keep records and pass information to doctors. And they teach patients and their families how to continue proper medical care at home.

Nurses can specialize in areas such as cancer, substance addiction, heart disease and birth and delivery. Some work in public health, offering screenings for diseases or vaccines for the flu.

Registered nurses typically have either bachelor’s or associate degrees in the field, plus licenses. Demand for registered nurses is expected to increase 14.8 percent by 2026, adding 438,100 jobs.

Learn more about registered nurses.
Learn more about nursing programs.

18. Cartographer

Industry: Engineering 
Median Salary: $63,990
Unemployment Rate: 0.7 percent

As modern mapmakers, cartographers use surveys and images to collect and study geographic data, then turn it into useful visual representations. They're employed by the government and firms that specialize in architecture, engineering and science.

Cartographers typically have bachelor's degrees in cartography, geography, surveying or geomatics. Demand is expected to rise 19.4 percent by 2026, adding 2,400 jobs.

Learn more about cartographers.

17. Mathematician

Industry: Business
Median Salary: $103,010
Unemployment Rate: 0.9 percent

Many mathematicians analyze data and use statistical theories to help make decisions for businesses and government offices. Others work in academic settings, teaching and conducting research about how the universe works.

There are lots of job titles in this field, including programmer, systems or quantitative analyst or data scientist. The career usually requires a master’s or doctoral degree. Demand for mathematicians is expected to grow 29.7 percent by 2026, adding 900 jobs.

Learn more about mathematicians.

16. Nurse Midwife

Industry: Health care 
Median Salary: $100,590
Unemployment Rate: 1.2 percent

Nurse midwives care for women and babies and advise on all aspects of reproductive health. In addition to delivering newborns, they perform gynecological exams. They may work irregular hours if they're on call to aid with deliveries.

These advanced practice registered nurses need master's degrees. Demand for their services is expected to increase 20.7 percent by 2026, adding 1,300 jobs.

Learn more about nurse midwives.

14. Surgeon (tie)

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: >$208,000
Unemployment Rate: 0.5 percent

Pay is high for this job – but so is stress. Surgeons work under extremely high pressure, spending days and nights hovering over the operating table while treating diseases and illnesses through surgery. They need steady hands, sharp reflexes and solid problem-solving skills.

These doctors may specialize in orthopedics, neurology, cardiovascular health or even plastic surgery, providing cosmetic or reconstructive services to patients. Surgeons must earn undergraduate and medical school degrees, then complete years of residency training. Demand for these doctors is expected to increase 14.4 percent by 2026, adding 6,500 jobs.

Learn more about surgeons
Learn more about medical schools.

14. Anesthesiologist (tie)

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: >$208,000
Unemployment Rate: 0.5 percent

Important members of surgical teams, anesthesiologists work as human painkillers. They administer the drugs that reduce patient discomfort or put them temporarily to sleep during operations such as tooth extraction and heart surgery, as well as procedures related to giving birth. Precision is important to their work, because they’ve got to get the medication dose exactly right while monitoring vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and body temperature.

Anesthesiologists need undergraduate and medical school degrees, plus years of residency experience and licenses to operate. Demand for these professionals is expected to increase 15.4 percent by 2026, adding 5,100 jobs.

Learn more about anesthesiologists
Learn more about medical schools.

13. Occupational Therapist

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $83,200
Unemployment Rate: 0.5 percent

If an injury or disability makes it difficult for you to get around, fulfill job duties, keep clean or interact with family and friends, you may benefit from the expertise of an occupational therapist. These health care professionals help people with physical limitations develop and maintain the skills they need for daily life.

Occupational therapists evaluate patients and help them successfully complete specific activities, sometimes with the use of special equipment like wheelchairs and braces. They develop treatment plans that focus both on adapting the environment to better accommodate patients’ needs and helping patients adapt to their environments.

Occupational therapists need master’s degrees and licenses. Employment is expected to increase by 23.8 percent by 2026, adding 31,000 jobs.

Learn more about occupational therapists.

9. Physician (tie)

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $192,930
Unemployment Rate: 0.5 percent

This is a catch-all term for doctors of all varieties. Some physicians are internists whose work focuses on specific organ systems, including the liver, digestive tract or kidneys. For example, cardiologists are experts in heart health, while dermatologists focus on the skin. Other physicians work in family medicine, advising on common conditions such as minor injuries and infections and providing annual checkups. No matter their specialty, physicians may prescribe medicine, order and interpret tests and provide advice.

This career requires college and medical school degrees, plus completion of a residency program. Demand for physicians is expected to climb 14.6 percent by 2026, adding 7,300 jobs.

Learn more about physicians.
Learn more about medical school programs in internal medicine
Learn more about medical school programs in primary care.

9. Prosthodontist (tie)

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $185,150
Unemployment Rate: 0.9 percent

If you're missing a pearly white or several, a prosthodontist can help. These doctors of dentistry specialize in replacing missing teeth. To fill the gaps, they may turn to surgical techniques, like implanting a screw into the jawbone and adding a replacement tooth on top, or they may use products like caps, dentures, bridges or crowns.

These professionals attend college and dental school, then receive additional training. Demand for prosthodontists is expected to rise 19.1 percent by 2026, adding 200 jobs.

Learn more about prosthodontists.

9. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (tie)

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: >$208,000
Unemployment Rate: 0.5 percent

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons tackle medical situations more complicated and intense than what orthodontists and dentists handle. They extract wisdom teeth and others from the gums, excise oral cancers, correct jaw defects and perform surgeries on people with cleft lips or palates. They may also do cosmetic procedures related to the mouth.

These mouth doctors need college and dental school degrees. They must also complete surgical residency programs. Demand for oral and maxillofacial surgeons is expected to increase 19.1 percent by 2026, adding 1,300 jobs.

Learn more about oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

9. Obstetrician and Gynecologist (tie)

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: >$208,000
Unemployment Rate: 0.5 percent

Storks get all the credit for the hard work obstetricians and gynecologists do bringing new life into the world. These doctors jump into action when pregnant women go into labor, preparing for and aiding with delivery. But that's not all they do. Obstetricians and gynecologists provide medical care to women throughout their lives, usually related to the reproductive system. Many women visit their OB-GYN doctors annually for regular physical checkups, birth control, cancer screenings and tests related to sexually transmitted diseases.

After earning undergraduate and medical school degrees, obstetricians and gynecologists need several years of residency training. The field is expected to add 3,400 more jobs by 2026, a 15.5 percent increase.

Learn more about obstetricians and gynecologists
Learn more about medical school programs in women’s health.

8. Pediatrician

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $172,650
Unemployment Rate: 0.5 percent

As the guardians of children's health, these doctors need extra patience to serve their young patients, who include infants, toddlers, children and teenagers. Pediatricians handle common health concerns such as ear infections, minor injuries, strep throat and puberty challenges. They also administer the many vaccines kids require.

Pediatricians complete college, then graduate from medical school and finish a residency program. By 2026, pediatrician employment is expected to increase 15.4 percent, creating 4,600 new jobs for these doctors.

Learn more about pediatricians
Learn more about medical school programs in pediatrics.

7. Nurse Practitioner

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $103,880
Unemployment Rate: 1.1 percent

In most states, these advanced nurses can perform many duties associated with doctors, including diagnosing disease, prescribing medicine, requesting medical tests and referring patients to specialists. Nurse practitioners may work with specific sets of patients, such as people with mental illness, children or older adults.

After completing college, nurse practitioners must earn master’s degrees and licenses. They work in hospitals, outpatient centers and doctors’ offices. There is high demand for this role, and it’s expected to increase by 36.1 percent – or 56,100 jobs – by 2026.

Learn more about nurse practitioners
Learn more about nursing programs.

5. Nurse Anesthetist (tie)

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $165,120
Unemployment Rate: 0.4 percent

Patients undergoing surgery benefit from the pain-killing prowess of nurse anesthetists. During procedures, they administer anesthesia while monitoring vital signs, like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, to ensure that patients remain safe.

Before applying to graduate programs, these health care professionals must have a year of clinical experience, typically working as registered nurses in critical care environments. Demand for nurse anesthetists is expected to grow 16.2 percent by 2026, adding 6,800 jobs.

Learn more about nurse anesthetists.
Learn more about nursing programs.

5. Orthodontist (tie)

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: >$208,000
Unemployment Rate: 0.9 percent

Orthodontists specialize in shifting crooked teeth and correcting misaligned bites. Tools of their trade include braces, retainers and spacers.

The path to the orthodontist chair passes through many educational institutions. After graduating from college, these professionals must complete dental school (another four years) and then a specialized orthodontist program (another three years). Then they need to earn state licenses. The payoff for all that work? High salaries and above-average work-life balance. By 2026, experts predict a 19.3 percent increase in demand for orthodontists, or 1,300 new jobs.

Learn more about orthodontists.

4. Dentist

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $151,440
Unemployment Rate: 0.9 percent

Treating medical problems that arise in the mouth is the specialty of dental doctors. They use X-rays, exams and tools like drills to diagnose and care for issues such as cavities and gum disease.

These oral health care experts earn college degrees, then attend specialized graduate programs. They may work with other dentists or run their own practices while collaborating with dental hygienists. By 2026, demand for dentists is expected to increase 19.4 percent, creating 25,700 new jobs.

Learn more about dentists.

3. Physician Assistant

Industry: Health care
Median Salary: $104,860
Unemployment Rate: 0.8 percent

Physician assistants work closely with patients, performing duties that may include reviewing medical histories, conducting exams, diagnosing injury and disease, ordering tests, making prescriptions and administering treatment. As key players on a health care team, they collaborate with doctors and nurses in family and emergency medicine, plus surgery and psychiatry.

After college, these professionals typically earn master's degrees before finding work in hospitals and doctors’ offices. Demand for physician assistants is expected to increase dramatically by 37.3 percent by 2026, creating 39,600 new jobs.

Learn more about physician assistants.
Learn more about physician assistant programs.

2. Statistician

Industry: Business
Median Salary: $84,060
Unemployment Rate: 0.9 percent

When businesses and government agencies need help making sophisticated decisions and solving complicated problems, they turn to statisticians. These math whizzes gather data, then use theories, models and specialized software to predict outcomes.

College degrees and master's degrees are typical for statisticians, often in subjects such as mathematics, economics or computer science. They may specialize in fields like engineering or physics. Demand for statisticians is expected to increase by 33.8 percent by 2026, adding 12,600 jobs.

Learn more about statisticians.

1. Software Developer

Industry: Technology 
Median Salary: $101,790
Unemployment Rate: 1.9 percent

For the second year in a row, software developer tops this list. That's thanks to how integral digital technology has become to our personal and professional lives. Software developers pay attention to both aesthetics and function as they create and fix applications and programs for computers and smartphones.

Software developers typically have college degrees in computer science or a related discipline. Employment opportunities in the field are soaring; they’re expected to increase by more than 30 percent by 2026. That means the creation of 255,400 jobs.

Learn more about software developers.

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ADP/Moody’s reported Wednesday that the economy added a better-than-expected 156,000 private payrolls in July, rising 44,000 from June’s upwardly revised level. And increases in jobless claims have been sanguine: The four-week moving average for weekly unemployment claims declined following the Department of Labor’s most recent release Thursday.

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https://www.aol.com/article/finance/2019/08/02/economy-adds-164000-jobs-in-july-unemployment-rate-37/23785189/

2019-08-02 12:39:50Z
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US Employers Added 164,000 Jobs In July; Unemployment Holds At 3.7% - NPR

A construction worker lays down shingles on the roof of a new house in Brandon, Miss., on June 19. Rogelio V. Solis/AP hide caption

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Rogelio V. Solis/AP

The economy is slowing down but it keeps creating jobs at a healthy pace. Employers added 164,000 jobs last month, as the unemployment rate held steady at 3.7%, the Labor Department said Friday.

Analysts had expected about 165,000 jobs to be added in July and the unemployment rate to be 3.6%.

In June, employers added a revised 193,000 jobs and the unemployment rate was 3.7%.

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Wages have been growing slowly, which has kept a lid on inflation. Average hourly earnings rose to $27.98 last month — up 3.2% from a year ago — a slight acceleration from the previous month.

This week, the Federal Reserve announced its first interest-rate cut since 2008. Policymakers at the central bank said the job market remains strong, but that they're worried about the U.S. and global economies slowing down and the uncertainty caused by the U.S.-China trade war.

The U.S. economy grew at a 2.1% rate in the second quarter, slowing from the 3.1% pace of the first three months of 2019 — and the 3% target set by President Trump.

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https://www.npr.org/2019/08/02/747370063/with-jobs-numbers-like-these-its-hard-to-see-why-the-economy-is-slowing

2019-08-02 12:34:00Z
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Magid: There are good reasons expensive phones aren’t selling - The Mercury News

I wasn’t surprised by the CNBC.com headline, “Apple and Samsung earnings show most people don’t want $1,000 phones.”

Larry Magid (Gary Reyes / Mercury News)

As nice as the iPhone 10x and Samsung Galaxy S10 phones are, most people don’t need to spend $1,000 or more on a smartphone. In fact, most people don’t need to spend anything on a new phone because their old one probably works just fine.

Today’s smartphone market reminds me of the auto-industry of the ’50s and ’60s when people were encouraged to buy a new car every year or two. My frugal parents didn’t fall for that, but a lot of their friends did.

Apple and Samsung, of course, want you to buy the latest and greatest offering every year and even have financing programs to encourage that by having you, essentially, lease your phone with the payments added to your cell phone bill. It may be painless, easy and seemingly affordable, but if you add up the numbers, you’ll find you’re spending a lot more than you need to, even if they aren’t charging you interest.

Imagine if that were the case with other things you own. When’s the last time you replaced your refrigerator, stove, microwave oven or coffee maker? If you’re like me, only after the old-one stopped working or got too expensive to repair. Sure, there are breakthrough moments like the time I replaced a greasy old electric stove with a shiny new induction cooktop but, other than that, I don’t think about my appliances until they stop working – and even then I usually just get them fixed.

And unlike the difference between my old stove and my newer one, this year’s smartphones aren’t all that much better than last year’s. Every year when Tim Cook introduces a new iPhone, he says something to the effect of “it’s the best iPhone ever.” He’s right of course – why would they introduce a flagship phone that isn’t better than last year’s. But the difference is often trivial. Yes, they improve the camera every year, but cell phone cameras have been good for several years now. Yes, they’re faster, but last year’s phone is fast enough and, besides, the reasons phones slow down isn’t because of big differences in hardware but because of the apps you use.

If your phone is slow or a bit buggy, you can return its performance to the way it was the day you bought it by making sure your data is backed up (it probably already is to iCloud or Google’s backup servers but check first) and then restore it to factory defaults. That will erase everything and clean up all the digital cobwebs. Restore your apps and I bet it will be a lot faster. It might even be more energy efficient if you only replace the apps you actually need vs. the many you’ve probably installed but rarely use.

Of course, some people do need to buy a new phone. Their old one might break, get lost or perhaps the screen is cracked, or the battery isn’t lasting as long. You can have the screen or batteries replaced but it might not be worth it. But if you are in the market for a new phone, you don’t need to spend $1,000 or more for a decent one just as you don’t need to spend $50,000 or more for a reliable new car.
I recently reviewed Google’s Pixel 3a which sells for $399 or $16.63 a month for 24 months, which adds up to $399.12 – an interest free loan.

For most practical purposes it’s as good as Google’s flagship Pixel 3, that starts at $799. It’s not 100% as good, but it’s 50% the price and has a longer battery life. You give up water resistance and inductive charging and, in theory, the screen isn’t as nice, but the difference is negligible. The processor is a bit slower than the flagship model but – again – the difference is essentially irrelevant. Very few people would even notice.

There are plenty of other budget-priced Android phones on the market from LG, Motorola, Nokia and other companies. Even Samsung has affordable phones, including slightly older models like the Galaxy S8, which Best Buy sells unlocked starting at $349. You can buy a reconditioned one for less.

If you simply must have an iPhone, you can get a perfectly good older model such as the iPhone 8, for a lot less than the latest model. Apple sells brand new ones for $599. Gazelle.com sells reconditioned ones for just over $400. iPhone 7s, which were state of the art in 2017 are $449 from Apple and start at $239 from Gazelle. You can probably find lower prices on eBay.

If you want – literally – the latest iPhone, you can save about 25% by selecting an iPhone XR instead of the iPhone XS. I’ve reviewed by the XS and XR and find them to be comparable in most important aspects.  As I said when I first reviewed them, The XS has a higher-resolution OLED display compared with the LCD screen on the XR, but holding them side-by-side, the difference, to my eyes, is negligible.

Despite what I just wrote, I know some people will want the latest and greatest and some of you who own the latest iPhone or Samsung, or Pixel are anxiously awaiting the new high-end models that will be announced this fall. I don’t blame you – I get excited about new phones too and enjoy getting to review them as soon as they’re released. If you really want a new phone and can swing it without having to forgo rent, skimp on medicine or eat beans for dinner, than I’m certainly not going to tell you not to indulge yourself.  But if you need to save some money or have other things you’d rather spend your dollars on, then heed my advice and either keep your old phone or get a really good one that serves your needs but doesn’t break the bank.

Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist.

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https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/02/magid-there-are-good-reasons-that-apple-and-samsung-are-having-trouble-selling-their-most-expensive-phones/

2019-08-02 10:00:00Z
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Kamis, 01 Agustus 2019

Bond market fights Fed, interest rates drop sharply in blowout move - CNBC

The bond market is bent on having its way and is now pricing in a Fed mistake.

In a swift reversal, the bond market began to assume more easing is coming, a day after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell surprised markets with a low commitment to future interest rate cuts and a less dovish view than expected.

Additionally, the idea that low inflation will now force the Fed to ease more than Powell signaled after the Fed cut rates Wednesday has now filtered into the markets and is driving bond yields sharply lower and stock prices higher. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield, which influences mortgages and other loans, fell to a stunning 1.95%, nearing a three-year low, while the Dow surged more than 300 points.

Powell upended a big chunk of market positioning when he said Wednesday the Fed was in "midcycle adjustment," not a longer-running rate-cutting cycle. The market had been poised for three cuts this year, and in a convulsive move, it gave back one of those cuts. But by Thursday, the odds for a September rate cut in the futures were back above 64% and traders say it's the Fed — or at least Powell— that's getting it wrong.

"The market was already starting to say 'we don't believe everything is going to be perfectly fine and this is only going to be a 25 basis point cut,'" said John Briggs, head of strategy at NatWest Markets. "Follow that up with weaker than expected ISM, and it's only gaining momentum on the idea that Powell will have to ease anyway."

The ISM manufacturing index came in Thursday at 51.2, less than the 52 expected. It still shows expansion, but the market is sensitive to an overall trend of weakening at factories. Plus, the report came after weak manufacturing data in Europe earlier in the day. The ISM is also the last big piece of data before Friday's July jobs report.

"If we get a weak payroll number the market might just run him [Powell] off," said Briggs. Economists expect 164,000 nonfarm payrolls in the July report, and they expect to see wages rise by 0.2%, according to Refinitiv.

Simply put, the bond market is implying that the Fed is taking the wrong tact, and its failure to promise more easing will force it in the end to ease anyway. Traders have also taken issue with Powell's comments from Wednesday when he said the Fed helped the economy by just transitioning from its hawkish rate-hiking cycle in December to pausing through the spring and now to easing.

Several said actions have to follow those words to prevent further market upheaval, and the comments from Powell on Wednesday fell short of the commitment the market expected.

"What's additionally worrisome is the market is pricing in an element of a policy error trade," said Jon Hill, rate strategist at BMO.

Traders on Thursday were betting against the Fed's hawkishness, driving interest rates lower along the Treasury curve to one month lows for longer-dated securities, like 10-year notes and 30-year bonds. The 2-year note yield has lost 15 basis points to 1.81%, since its high of 1.96%, hit right after Powell's comments Wednesday. The 10-year fell to 1.95% — below 2% for the first time since July 5 — after hitting a high of 2.15% on July 15. The 10-year yield, which moves opposite price, is edging close to a 2016 low, which could trigger more buying.

Traders said bond market expectations for inflation fell Thursday, with the widely watched spread between 5-year Treasury yields and the yield on 5-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities at about 1.5%. That is a measure of inflation compensation in the Treasury market over the next five years, including expected inflation and a risk premium.

"The 5-year breakeven is at 1.51%. What that means is if the Fed cemented expectations at 2% that would be at 2% or even a little higher. What this indicates is the Treasury market reflecting skepticism that the Fed will be able to achieve a 2% inflation rate over the next five years," said Hill. "In Q4, it was at 2% when the Fed was hiking. Now it's at 1.5, and yesterday it was 1.6 [prior to Fed announcement]."

The Fed's target for inflation is 2%, and the Fed has conceded it is concerned inflation is missing the mark. The Fed's preferred inflation measure, the core PCE deflator, is showing annualized inflation at about 1.6%.

"[Inflation expectations are] getting drilled because if the Fed is obstinate in easing and if it's going to take longer than the market thinks it should take to generate inflation, they'll underperform. Additionally, you have a stronger dollar in the wheel house so they're getting a double whammy today," said Briggs. "The front end of the curve, we're going to be lower here on the week. We're pricing rate cuts back in. It's helping stocks and TIPS." .

Mark Cabana, head of U.S. short rate strategy at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said the market's bet against inflation longer term is also a bet that the Fed will not be there to provide support.

"Breakevens got crushed and they're getting crushed again today. You thought at least you had some support from the Fed to help you provide some upside inflation pressure and it turns out you may not, and in that context you saw breakevens fall from the time the statement occurred," said Cabana. "You've seen them fall 8 basis points in the 10-year part of the curve. I don't think that's what the Fed was intending to do."

Cabana expects the Fed to cut rates by a quarter point in September, regardless of Powell's comments, which he described as confused and muddled.

"In the statement, the Fed said they were cutting because they were worried about global uncertainty and muted inflation. And they would continue to do that as long as those uncertainties exist because they want to sustain the expansion, " said Cabana. "In my mind, that means the Fed is willing to do more."

He said the Fed is focused on trade, global growth and inflation. "I don't think any of these things are going to magically solve themselves before September," he said.

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https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/01/bond-market-fights-fed-interest-rates-drop-sharply-in-blowout-move.html

2019-08-01 16:46:54Z
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Amazon chief Bezos cashes in $1.8 billion of share pile - Yahoo Finance

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Amazon chief Bezos cashes in $1.8 billion of share pile

FILE PHOTO: Founder of Amazon and Blue Origin Bezos speaks at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston

(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O> founder Jeff Bezos sold shares worth $1.8 billion in the last three days of July, reducing the value of his stake in the world's third most valuable company to about $110 billion.

The move by Bezos was part of a previously adopted trading plan and was revealed in regulatory filings that also showed that his former wife Mackenzie Bezos is now the online retailer's second largest individual shareholder.

Her stake, stemming from a divorce settlement of the pair's previous joint holdings, is currently worth more than $37 billion.

The numbers mean Bezos retains his pole position among the world's billionaires, while his former wife now ranks 23rd, according to Forbes data.

The couple announced their plan to divorce in a joint Twitter statement in January, and Amazon disclosed in April that 4% of its outstanding stock or 19.7 million shares would be registered in MacKenzie Bezos' name after court approval of the divorce.

The billionaire chief executive has said previously that he would sell stock worth about $1 billion each year to fund his rocket company, Blue Origin.

Blue Origin aims eventually to cut the cost of space flight to levels that would allow millions of people to live and work off Earth, Bezos has said.


(Reporting by Munsif Vengattil and Neha Malara in Bengaluru; editing by Patrick Graham)

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https://news.yahoo.com/amazon-chief-bezos-cashes-1-150027835.html

2019-08-01 15:08:23Z
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Burger King takes the Impossible Whopper nationwide August 8th - Engadget

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Burger King announced today that it is adding the Impossible Whopper -- the chain's famous Whopper burger made with a plant-based patty from Impossible Foods -- to its menu nationwide. Starting on August 8th, you'll be able to go to any Burger King location in the United States and get your hands on the alternative meat burger.

The nationwide expansion comes after several successful tests in smaller markets. Burger King initially introduced the Impossible Whopper in April of this year as part of a trial run in St. Louis. The company then added the burger to the menu of its locations in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, Baltimore, Columbus, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama. According to a report from inMarket, Burger King locations with the Impossible Whopper saw significantly more traffic than the company's national average after introducing the plant-based burger.

In addition to taking the Impossible Whopper nationwide, Burger King is partnering with DoorDash to deliver the burger directly to people's homes. From August 8th to September 1st, DoorDash will deliver the Impossible Whopper with a $0 delivery fee. Users can also order the Impossible Taste Test -- an Impossible Whopper and original meat-based Whopper -- for $7 with no additional delivery fee. To enjoy the fee-free delivery, users can use the promotional code IMPOSSIBLE at checkout on DoorDash.

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https://www.engadget.com/2019/08/01/impossible-burger-whopper-burger-king-nationwide-august-8/

2019-08-01 15:06:24Z
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Economists who predicted the rate cut are now utterly confused about what the Fed does next - CNBC

Major Wall Street economists were largely in agreement that the Federal Reserve would cut rates by a quarter point heading into the second day of its two-day meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

But after a confusing news conference by the Fed chief, their forecasts for future rate policy are now all over the place.

The Fed cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point for the first time since 2008. But then Powell said after that this was just a "midcycle adjustment," causing the stock market to drop and rates to firm.

"If the Chair could not pull the Committee to 50bp (basis points) today or even a strongly dovish tilt, we see it as unlikely that he can pull them to cuts in subsequent meetings," UBS economist Seth Carpenter said. "Further cuts possible but not likely."

Still yet other economists varied between one or two more rate cuts going forward this year.

"Given today's Fed decision and guidance, we remain comfortable with our view that the Fed will provide two more 25bp cuts this year (September and October)," Bank of America said.

"[Wednesday's] policy action should be viewed as an 'insurance' rate cut," Wells Fargo economist Jay Bryson said.

"We continue to look for one additional 25 bps rate cut, probably at the October 30 policy meeting," he said.

Looking ahead, it will really be all about the "data" according to J.P. Morgan economists.

"We still look for one more easing in September, and continue to believe that, unlike today's meeting, the call on September depends on all of the data. While today's move was motivated by global growth, trade policy and inflation developments, we expect September's decision will also depend on domestic growth developments," they said.

Here's what the major Wall Street economists said about the Fed's latest move:

Bank of America

"Today's guidance suggests Fed will likely provide additional accommodation in coming meetings to support inflation and offset the downside risks in the outlook. They will likely put more emphasis on global economic conditions as they appear to be worried about the potential spillover effects from weakening global growth through weaker US manufacturing activity. Given today's Fed decision and guidance, we remain comfortable with our view that the Fed will provide two more 25bp cuts this year (September and October)."

Credit Suisse

"One modest dovish surprise is the early end to balance sheet run-off. The FOMC kept the door open for future cuts, but Chair Powell downplayed the likelihood of a prolonged easing cycle. We continue to expect that this will be the only rate cut and policy will be on hold for the rest of 2019."

Nomura

"While the FOMC's decisions and its statement were largely in line with what was expected, Chair Powell's press conference generated a notable repricing of many financial markets. Chair Powell said that today's action was a "mid-cycle adjustment" to policy and not the beginning of a "lengthy cutting cycle."

Morgan Stanley

"While this may not be the start of a full easing cycle as Chair Powell underscored, we expect the FOMC will deliver one additional 25bp rate cut before year end, and our base case is that the next rate cut will come at the October 29-30 FOMC meeting. Thereafter, we expect policy will remain on hold."

Goldman Sachs

"The FOMC statement introduced a bit more ambiguity about a possible second cut in September by slightly watering down its "act as appropriate" policy guidance. In the press conference, Powell said that the FOMC intends its
"mid-cycle adjustment" to "adjust policy to a somewhat more accommodative stance over time," language we see as consistent with our expectation that easing will end with a second 25bp cut. We continue to see a 55% chance of a 25bp cut in September, a 5% chance of a 50bp cut, and a 40% chance of no cut. We see an 80% cumulative probability of another cut at some point this year."

Read more about this call here.

Bernstein

"The FOMC's first rate cut in over a decade – fully expected and priced in – completes the Fed's abandonment of the "star" framework and highlights its lack of a new policy narrative. We continue to view monetary policy through the lens of the "whimsy" Fed, i.e. a lack of independence from markets: intimidated by tighter financial conditions if it pushed back against market expectations (a small version of which was seen during the press conference yesterday), the Fed is forced to follow them instead. In this sense, more cuts are in the cards unless the Fed is bailed out by very strong fundamental data."

J.P. Morgan

"Fed events may have given risk markets a little indigestion, but they also bought the Fed a little more flexibility going into the next FOMC meeting. We still look for one more easing in September, and continue to believe that, unlike today's meeting, the call on September depends on all of the data. While today's move was motivated by global growth, trade policy and inflation developments, we expect September's decision will also depend on domestic growth developments."

Wells Fargo

"We continue to look for one additional 25 bps rate cut, probably at the October 30 policy meeting. Today's policy action should be viewed as an "insurance" rate cut. In the context of uncertainties about the economic outlook and below-target inflation, easier policy seems to be warranted. In our view, another 25 bps rate cut would constitute additional "insurance" against a more pronounced slowdown."

UBS

"The FOMC cut 25bp; further cuts possible but not likely. The statement clearly leaves open the door for future rate cuts if the domestic data were to deteriorate, but there was precious little indication of a strong desire for more immediate action. The two dissents were expected and do not give much signal on future action....If the Chair could not pull the Committee to 50bp today or even a strongly dovish tilt, we see it as unlikely that he can pull them to cuts in subsequent meetings. That said, data are volatile; a few bad prints between now and September could intensify extant fears and lead to another 25bp cut in September."

Citi

"The developments of the July FOMC were hawkish relative to very dovish market expectations – but consistent with our base case for just a 50bp total downward adjustment in policy rates. We continue to think that strong domestic data will mean that the FOMC does not embark on a full cut cycle and expect just one further 25bp cut in 2019, most likely in September."

Deutsche Bank

"While policy outcomes going forward will be driven by data and events, we think the bar for the Committee to remain on hold in September is relatively high. In particular, to not cut the Committee will likely need to see notable improvements on the various headwinds they have emphasized – slowing global growth and trade uncertainties – and evidence that inflation pressures are building more rapidly than anticipated. These pre-conditions are unlikely to be in place by the next FOMC meeting. Further, global headwinds are likely to persist in the months beyond, with increasing evidence of spillovers to the domestic economy. As such, we maintain our expectation for two more cuts this year in September and December."

Barclays

"In our view, the Fed signaled a willingness to enact further policy rate cuts to support the outlook. The Fed faced two communication challenges today. First, it had to signal that it had not lost confidence in the outlook, but saw a reason to adjust the policy stance in light of downside risks. We felt this was accomplished. Second, it had to signal to markets that further rate reductions are likely to be appropriate while also retaining some optionality and an adherence to a data-dependent mantra. Communicating forward guidance was clearly more challenging, as markets appeared to struggle with Powell's characterization of a "mid-cycle" adjustment in the policy stance and prolonged rate cut cycle driven by recession risk."

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https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/01/wall-street-economists-react-to-the-feds-latest-move.html

2019-08-01 12:57:33Z
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