United States

Wednesday, February 28th 2018 - 09:53 UTC
Fed chairman Powell anticipates gradual interest rate increases despite larger government spending

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, pledging to “strike a balance” between the risk of an overheating economy and the need to keep growth on track, told U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday that the central bank would stick with gradual interest rate increases despite the added stimulus of tax cuts and government spending.
Wednesday, February 28th 2018 - 09:14 UTC
Mark Twain revival: American Cruise pledges five new Mississippi river boats

American Cruise Lines has announced that construction has begun on the second modern riverboat in the series of five. The second riverboat is the sister-ship to state-of-the-art American Song, the first modern riverboat available in the U.S., which will make its inaugural cruise on the Mississippi River this October.
Monday, February 26th 2018 - 09:40 UTC
Warren Buffet receives a profit boost of US$ 29bn from Trump's tax reforms

US billionaire Warren Buffet says his conglomerate has received a profit boost of US$ 29 billion as a result of President Donald Trump's tax reforms, he says. Berkshire Hathaway reported a record quarterly and annual profit on Saturday.
Friday, February 23rd 2018 - 21:36 UTC
OAS urges Venezuela to reconsider its electoral process

The Organization of American States (OAS) was meeting in Washington on Tuesday from 10:00 AM local time on the subject of Venezuela and “the latest events” that have occurred in the Caribbean country. 19 of the 24 members voted in favor of a resolution calling on Venezuela to postpone the elections scheduled for April.
Friday, February 23rd 2018 - 09:21 UTC
Mexico buying more Brazilian corn over concern with NAFTA negotiations

Mexican buyers imported ten times more corn from Brazil last year amid concern that NAFTA renegotiations could disrupt their U.S. supplies, according to government data and top grains merchants. Mexico is on track to buy more Brazilian corn in 2018, which would hurt a U.S. agricultural sector already struggling with low grains prices and the rising competitive threat from South America.
Friday, February 23rd 2018 - 09:05 UTC
US adds more import duties on biodiesel from Argentina

The U.S. Commerce Department piled on more import duties on biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia, adding anti-dumping duties of 60.44% to 276.65% to already steep anti-subsidy duties on the fuels.
Friday, February 23rd 2018 - 09:00 UTC
Takata faulty airbag manufacturer reaches settlement in US

The US arm of Japanese manufacturer Takata has reached a settlement with 44 US state attorneys-general into claims it concealed dangerous defects in its exploding airbags. The faulty airbags have been linked to at least a dozen deaths and more than 100 injuries worldwide. The settlement includes a civil penalty of about US$650m.
Friday, February 23rd 2018 - 08:45 UTC
Trump promises background checks on gun owners and floats idea of armed teachers

President Donald Trump floated the idea of arming teachers and promised more stringent background checks on gun owners as he hosted an emotional meeting on Wednesday with students who survived last week’s mass shooting at a Florida school.
Thursday, February 22nd 2018 - 09:20 UTC
US share of global sales of soybean and grains to shrink as South American competition grows

The U.S. Department of Agriculture sees U.S. corn and soybean exports generally increasing over the coming decade but the U.S. share of global sales will shrink as competition from South American producers heats up, the government said in its annual report.
Thursday, February 22nd 2018 - 09:07 UTC
Fed more positive on economic outlook ...and more rate hikes expected in 2018

United States Federal Reserve officials grew more positive on the economic outlook, citing “substantial underlying economic momentum,” and were increasingly optimistic about achieving their inflation target, according to minutes of last month’s policy meeting.