BlackRock Turns Bullish on U.S. Stocks as Strong Earnings Offset Middle East Risks
BlackRock has upgraded U.S. equities to “overweight,” joining other major Wall Street firms in arguing that strong corporate earnings can help cushion the market against the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict. The BlackRock Investment Institute raised its view on U.S. stocks from “neutral,” citing resilient profit expectations and what it sees as limited […]
NATO Allies Reject Trump’s Iran Port Blockade and Push Separate Plan to Reopen Hormuz
A new split has opened inside the Western alliance over how to respond to the Iran war and the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. NATO allies including Britain and France have refused to join President Donald Trump’s plan to blockade Iranian ports, choosing instead to back a separate multinational effort focused on […]
Earnings Season Will Test Whether Strong Profits Can Keep Wall Street Steady Despite War Risks
Wall Street is heading into a critical first-quarter earnings season that may determine whether the stock market can stay resilient despite the economic risks created by the war involving Iran. Investors are looking for proof that strong corporate profits can continue to support U.S. equities even as higher energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty threaten to […]
Trump Administration Admits Major Error in New York Medicaid Fraud Accusations
The Trump administration has acknowledged a major error in the data it used to support a high-profile fraud investigation into New York’s Medicaid program, weakening one of its most visible recent anti-fraud cases and raising broader questions about the accuracy of similar reviews in other states. Federal officials admitted a key figure cited by Centers […]
U.S. Mortgage Rates Climb as Iran War Drives Inflation Fears Into Housing Market
The average rate on the standard 30-year fixed mortgage in the United States rose to 6.46% in the latest week, reaching its highest level since early September as the war involving Iran continued to shake global energy markets and lift inflation fears. The increase reflects the close connection between mortgage rates and U.S. Treasury yields, […]
Amnesty Warns 2026 World Cup Faces Major Human Rights Risks Across U.S., Mexico and Canada
Amnesty International says the 2026 FIFA World Cup is approaching under conditions that could expose millions of fans and local communities to serious human rights risks across all three host countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada. They warned that the tournament is drifting far from the “safe, free and inclusive” event that FIFA promised […]
U.S. Trade Deficit Widens as February Import Rebound Outpaces Record Exports
The U.S. trade deficit widened in February as a rebound in imports more than offset a surge in exports that reached record highs, adding to concerns that trade could weigh on economic growth in the first quarter of 2026. The overall trade gap increased 4.9% to $57.3 billion, compared with a revised $54.7 billion in […]
Trump Draws Cheers and Boos at Kennedy Center as His Overhaul of the Venue Deepens
President Donald Trump attended the opening night of the musical Chicago at the Kennedy Center on March 31, in a visit that highlighted both his growing control over the institution and the deep controversy surrounding its future. Trump drew applause as he arrived, though some members of the audience also booed. The mixed reaction reflected […]
In Unprecedented Move, Trump Attends High-Stakes Supreme Court Hearing on Immigration Policy
President Donald Trump made history on April 1, by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court. His visit centered on one of the most controversial policies of his current term: an executive order signed on his first day back in office that seeks to limit birthright citizenship for […]
New White House Plan Would Deeply Shrink Consumer Watchdog Instead of Dismantling It Entirely
The Trump administration has unveiled a revised plan to dramatically reduce the size of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, stepping back from an earlier effort to nearly wipe out the agency but still seeking to cut about two-thirds of its workforce. The new proposal was disclosed in a court filing to the U.S. Court […]
