US Earnings Season Faces Its Real Test as Big Tech Takes Centre Stage
Early US earnings have been strong, but reports from Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Amazon will test the quality, breadth and sustainability of corporate profit growth.
Commentary
A Big U.S. Data Week Is Ahead: How GDP, Inflation and the Fed Fit Together
Durable-goods orders, a Federal Reserve decision, GDP and PCE inflation all arrive within days. Here is what each report can—and cannot—tell you.
Inside Verisign: The Highly Profitable Business Behind Every .com Address
Every time someone visits a `.com` website, a largely invisible piece of infrastructure helps point the request in the right direction.
Rising Equity Leverage Is Making Calm Markets More Fragile
Investors are borrowing more heavily against shares and using increasingly leveraged strategies. That does not guarantee a market correction, but it could make the next bout of volatility faster and more disruptive.
The ECB Has Paused Rate Cuts—But Europe’s Borrowing Squeeze Is Not Over
The European Central Bank kept rates unchanged as it weighs slowing inflation against persistent energy risks. The more important signal may be the continued tightening of bank credit.
U.S. Stocks Are Moving Toward 24-Hour Trading—What Investors Should Know
The SEC is preparing for a future of nearly round-the-clock U.S. stock trading. Longer hours may improve access, but overnight liquidity, pricing and order execution require care.
Producer Prices Fell, but Business Costs Are Telling a More Complicated Story
U.S. producer prices fell in June, but the decline was concentrated in goods while services prices continued to rise. The split matters for company margins, policy and investors.
Why a Bank’s Extra Liquidity Matters When Companies Need Cash Fast
New Federal Reserve research suggests that liquidity held above regulatory minimums helped banks support corporate borrowers during the acute stress of March 2020. The lesson is not that every buffer must always be larger, but that usable headroom can matter when credit lines are suddenly drawn.
The Debt You Cannot See: Why Corporate Leverage Can Be Higher Than It Looks
A new Federal Reserve paper shows how leases and borrowing between reporting dates can make corporate leverage look lower than it really is. Here is what investors should check.
Wages Beat Inflation, but the Pay Gains Are Far From Equal
Median weekly pay rose faster than consumer prices in the second quarter, offering modest real wage growth—but large gaps by occupation, education and demographics remain.