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Stocks drift higher on Wall Street as inflation report looms

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are drifting higher on Wall Street Tuesday, largely stuck in a holding pattern ahead of some potentially market-moving reports scheduled for later in the week. The S&P 500 was 0.5% higher in afternoon trading after flipping between small gains and losses through the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 96 points, or 0.3%, at 33,614, as of 2:25 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.7% higher. The stock market has had a positive start to 2023 due to hopes that cooling inflation and a slowing economy may convince the Federal Reserve to ease ...

Europe has avoided energy collapse. But is the crisis over?

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Europe has dodged an energy apocalypse this winter, economists and officials say, thanks to unusually warm weather and efforts to find other sources of natural gas after Russia cut off most of its supply to the continent. Natural gas suppliers in recent days have increased their stocks at a time when they’re usually being drawn down — an unexpected boost that has relieved fears of gas used to heat homes, generate electricity and power factories running out by winter’s end. As a result, short-term gas prices have fallen from record highs, dropping ...

How to grow investment account by trading stock options

By James Rochester Wealth of Geeks Many would be thrilled to earn a 43% return from their investment account in one year. But to achieve that sort of return in one month? It sounds borderline impossible. Yet one man accomplished precisely that in late 2022. And he did it by investing in stock options. Meet Eric Ferguson Eric Ferguson runs a stock market education business called Mindful Trader. His service allows subscribers to follow along as he makes trades in the stock market. He invests in both stocks and options. A log of his trading activity shows that his options ...

Most stocks edge higher on Wall Street, adding to gains

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are mostly ticking higher on Wall Street Monday, adding to gains built on hopes the Federal Reserve may ease up on its economy-shaking hikes to interest rates as inflation cools. The S&P 500 was 0.2% higher in its first trading since closing out its first winning week in the last five. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 79 points, or 0.2%, at 33,551, as of 3:05 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq rose 1%. The stock market’s positive start to the year has come as data offer hope the nation’s high inflation will keep easing from its summertime peak, ...

Buffett’s firm keeps selling BYD shares

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett’s company continues selling off its BYD shares despite the positive comments he has made about the Chinese electric car maker in the past, but Berkshire Hathaway remains a major shareholder. Berkshire said in a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange Monday that it had sold another 1 million shares, leaving it with 13.97% of the Hong Kong-issued shares of BYD. Berkshire is only required to disclose the sales when its ownership stake decreases into another percentage point such as when it crossed below 14% here. Buffett hasn’t explained why ...

GM offers buyouts to salaried workers

By TOM KRISHER The Associated Press DETROIT — General Motors is offering buyouts to most of its U.S. salaried workforce and some global executives in an effort to trim costs as it makes the transition to electric vehicles. The Detroit automaker wouldn’t say how many workers it is targeting, but confirmed that the move is aimed at accelerating attrition to meet a previously announced goal of $2 billion in cost cuts by the end of next year. GM has about 58,000 salaried workers in the U.S. The company says the offers also are designed to avoid any possible firings at a later ...