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U.S. Treasury yields experienced minor fluctuations on Wednesday as the market awaited the Federal Reserve's first interest rate decision of 2025. The 10-year Treasury yield saw a slight decrease to 4.543%, while the 2-year yield edged up to 4.211%. Investors are not anticipating an immediate rate cut, with expectations leaning towards the Fed maintaining the current target range of 4.25% to 4.5%. The decision, to be announced at 2 p.m. ET, will be followed by a press conference from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, where investors will look for indications of future monetary policy directions. Amidst this, President Donald Trump has publicly demanded lower interest rates, highlighting the ongoing tension between him and the Fed. However, former Kansas City Fed President Esther George emphasized the importance of the Fed adhering to its legislative mandate rather than succumbing to political pressures.
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An American Airlines regional jet, carrying 64 passengers and crew, collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night. The crash, which occurred around 9 p.m. ET, involved American Eagle Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700, as it was approaching for landing. The incident has been described as the worst air disaster in the U.S. in over 15 years, with officials initially withholding information on survivors. Rescue efforts were complicated by high winds and cold water conditions in the Potomac River, where more than 30 bodies were recovered. The flight was coming from Wichita, Kansas, and was operated by PSA Airlines, an American Airlines subsidiary. The airport was closed until at least 11 a.m. the following day, and both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom announced his intention to travel to the site with a response team, and President Trump was briefed on the situation, expressing gratitude towards the first responders.
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DeepSeek's announcement of a cost-effective method for AI model creation initially led to a sharp decline in stocks associated with AI infrastructure, with semiconductor companies like Nvidia experiencing significant losses. However, this downturn quickly turned into a buying opportunity for software stocks. Companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Oracle have seen their stocks outperform their semiconductor counterparts by a significant margin over the past few trading sessions. Financial analysts from major institutions such as Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and Citigroup have expressed optimism about software companies benefiting from these AI innovations, suggesting that cheaper AI models could accelerate product development and productivity gains. This shift in market dynamics comes at a pivotal time as investors analyze big tech earnings, with software companies expected to show a modest earnings growth compared to the robust growth anticipated in the semiconductor sector.
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H&M, the world's second-largest fashion retailer, experienced a significant drop in its share price after failing to meet sales forecasts for the fourth quarter of 2024. Despite a 3% increase in sales in local currencies, the company's revenue of 62.19 billion Swedish krona fell short of the expected 63.48 billion. The shortfall was partly attributed to the later timing of Black Friday, although sales did improve in December and January. For the full year, H&M's sales grew by 1% to 234.58 billion Swedish krona, driven by strong performances in womenswear, sportswear, and online sales. Operating profit for the year was slightly better than anticipated at 17.3 billion Swedish krona. CEO Daniel Ervér highlighted the company's focus on core business and cost control, expressing optimism about future growth despite ongoing challenges like competition from Zara and Shein, and macroeconomic uncertainties. H&M is targeting a long-term sales growth of at least 10% annually and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
