Page 678 - World News

Exxon reports mixed Q4 results with strong production, weak refining profit

Lower corporate costs also enabled the company to beat profit estimates, said RBC Capital Markets analyst Biraj Borkhataria. Earnings from producing gasoline and diesel were $323 million

Euro area 2-year yields set for largest weekly drop since September

Germany's rate-sensitive two-year bond yield, was down 81 basis points (bps) at 2.18% on Friday. It was set to end the week 16 bps lower in its biggest fall since the week of Sept. 23

Key US inflation gauge posts largest monthly rise since last April

The increase was in line with economists' expectations. In the 12 months through December, the PCE price index advanced 2.6%. That was the biggest gain in seven months

Trump's offensive against diversity, equity puts Powell's Fed on defensive

After Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 20 ending DEI programs across the federal government, the Fed took down pages on its website dedicated to diversity and inclusion

Chevron posts weak profit as refining biz suffers first loss in four years

Chevron's downstream business lost $248 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with a profit of $1.15 billion in the same period a year ago

American Airlines plane crash renews concerns about air safety lapses

An FAA spokesman said the agency could not comment on the ongoing investigation, which is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board

From avocados to autos, US tariffs on Canada, Mexico could drive inflation

Trump's tariffs threaten to blow up the trade agreement he himself negotiated with America's neighbours in his first term

Whatsapp alleges Israel's spyware firm Paragon of targeting dozens of users

The official declined to say who, specifically, was targeted or where they were geographically, saying only that targets included an unspecified number of civil society and media figures

Colgate-Palmolive sees weaker annual sales growth on demand slowdown

The company's net sales in Latin America, a major revenue contributing region, fell 7.2 per cent and dropped 1 per cent in North America. On an adjusted basis, its profit of 91 cents per share

Phillips 66 Q4 loss softened by renewable fuels as refining margins fall

On an adjusted basis, the company reported a loss of 15 cents per share in the quarter, compared with the analysts' average estimate of 23 cents loss per share, according to data compiled by LSEG

US prices increases in December amid accelerating consumer spending

The accompanying policy statement did not include the reference to inflation having made progress toward the Fed's 2% target. No rate cut is expected before June

President Putin allows Goldman Sachs to sell its business in Russia

Putin permitted Balchug Capital to buy the division, according to a decree he signed

Global defence plan triggered as 100-metre asteroid may hit earth in 2032

Asteroid 2024 YR4: A hundred-metre-wide asteroid has been placed at the top of impact risk lists after being spotted in December last year

Sunita Williams sets record for total spacewalking time by woman astronaut

She surpassed Whitson's record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut. Williams now has 62 hours and 6 minutes of total spacewalk time, fourth on NASA's all-time list, according to NASA

Gold prices hit record high as Trump tariff concerns drive demand

Gold is considered a safe investment during geopolitical turmoil and thrives in a low interest rate environment

US Senators push to reverse auto-renewal of work permits back to 180 days

The automatic extension of the Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) from 180 days to 540 days was of great help to the spouses of H-1B visa holders

Mark Zuckerberg frustrated over internal leaks, Meta warns employees

To counter leaks, Meta has modified its internal Q&A format. Instead of taking direct questions, employees now submit questions in advance, and the most popular ones are addressed

Trump is getting the demanded lower interest rates from everyone but Fed

Inflation is nearly contained, but the Fed sees enough uncertainty and risk on the horizon that it has moved to the sidelines, at least for now

Israeli startups eye global markets after playing important role in war

Israel already had a thriving startup scene, meaning its companies may be better placed to capitalise on the wartime boom, with some already winning orders from abroad with aims to shape future battle

5 years after Britain left EU, full impact of Brexit still emerging

The UK left without agreement on its future economic relationship with the EU, which accounted for half the country's trade