Categories
Markets

The S&P 500 is on the brink of a bear market. Here’s the threshold.

The latest bull market for US stocks was on the brink of expiring Thursday afternoon, with the benchmark S&P 500 holding just shy of the threshold that marks bear territory. The S&P 500SPX, -0.91% was down 73 points, or 1.9%, at 3,860.88 in afternoon trade, after finishing Wednesday around 18% below its record close from […]

Categories
Economy

US posts record $308 billion budget surplus in April as federal tax receipts arises

The numbers: The US posted a budget surplus of $308 billion in April — the largest on record — owing to a large increase in federal taxes and lower spending after the end of government stimulus. Based on current trends, the government could register a budget deficit of under $1 trillion in fiscal 2022 for […]

Categories
Markets

Inflation data does not ‘watershed moment’ for the stock market. Here’s what’s next.

Stock and bond investors expecting a “watershed” moment in Wednesday’s inflation data were left disappointed, analysts and economists said, leaving open the debate over whether the market is close to putting in a bottom. The April consumer price index was certainly hotly anticipated, attracting the sort of pre-release scrutiny usually reserved for items like the […]

Categories
Economy

Corporate America’s debt sinks to lowest prices since 2008. Could it be a canary in the coal mine?

Stocks and crypto aren’t the only things getting walloped. Billions worth of bonds from Fortune 500 companies deemed nearly bulletproof from default also have been tagged in a yard sale for financial assets, as the Federal Reserve works to raise rates and cool inflation at the highest in four decades. The dollar price of the […]