Stocks mostly retreat, bitcoin close to record high
Stock markets largely fell Wednesday as investors digested a mixed bag of economic data and corporate reports, while bitcoin traded close to its record high ahead of the US presidential election.The three main US stock indices lost ground while major European markets closed sharply lower as well.Google-parent Alphabet was up almost three percent in New York after reporting positive results Tuesday, but that was outweighed by disappointing results and guidance from tech company AMD, down more than 10 percent, and drugmaker Eli Lilly, down more than six percent.  Microsoft shares gained 0.4 percent and Facebook-parent Meta lost 1.2 percent in after-hours trading, following earnings report after the closing bell.On the economic front, the US economy grew at a healthy 2.8 percent annual rate in the third quarter, even if it undershot analyst expectations and slowed slightly from the previous three months.”While the initial Q3 GDP report missed economists’ expectations, the miss was minor and reaffirms that the US economy remains on solid footing,” according to eToro analyst Bret Kenwell. On Thursday, the Federal Reserve’s favored inflation measure will be released, while the monthly labor market report comes Friday.In the eurozone, Paris and Frankfurt closed down more than one percent. “Investors are in no mood to increase their exposure to equity markets, given the lack of a clear lead from the US where consolidation seems to be the order of the day,” said David Morrison, analyst at Trade Nation.The eurozone economy grew a better-than-expected 0.4 percent in the third quarter, the bloc reported Wednesday. But the spurt was largely due to one-off factors such as the Olympics, and next quarter’s report may not be so rosy, said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at City Index. “Recent forward-looking surveys have been far from great, suggesting that the eurozone economy remained sluggish at the start of Q4,” he said. Outside the eurozone, London’s stock market dropped, though less than Paris and Frankfurt, as the UK’s new Labour government said it would raise taxes by 40 billion pounds and that the deficit will shrink next year.UBS shares slumped more than four percent after the Swiss bank highlighted a gloomy economic outlook despite making healthy profits in the third quarter.Asia’s top indices closed mostly down, while in foreign exchange the dollar was mixed against main rivals.Bitcoin steadied, a day after striking just shy of its all-time peak of $73,797.98 achieved in March.A recent surge in the price of bitcoin is seen as a bet on a Republican victory in next week’s US vote, as Donald Trump has emerged as the pro-crypto candidate.The outcome at the polls remains uncertain for many analysts, however, helping haven investment gold to a fresh record high of $2,789.86 an ounce Wednesday. The economic programmes of both candidates are expected to add greatly to the US debt load.Oil prices rebounded after a surprise decline in US petroleum reserves, even though concerns persist about whether there will be enough takers for an expected increase in global crude production next year.”It seems as if oil prices are ignoring improving economic data in the US and stimulus efforts from China to revive its struggling economy,” said Daniela Sabin Hathorn, senior market analyst at Capital.com.- Key figures around  2035 GMT -New York – Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 42,141.54 points (close)New York – S&P 500: DOWN 0.3 percent at 5,813.67 (close) New York – Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 18,607.93 (close) London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.7 percent at 8,159.63 (close)Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 1.1 percent at 7,428.36 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: DOWN 1.1 at 19,257.34 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.0 percent at 39,277.39 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.6 percent at 20,380.64 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 3,266.24 (close)Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0861 from $1.0816 on TuesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.0861 from $1.3010Dollar/yen: DOWN at 153.35 yen from 153.57 yenEuro/pound: UP at 83.75 pence from 83.13 penceBrent North Sea Crude: UP 2.0 percent at $72.55 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 2.1 percent at $68.61 per barrel
France court jails ex-doctor in latest Rwandan genocide trialWed, 30 Oct 2024 20:19:05 GMT
A French court on Wednesday jailed a former doctor to 27 years for his role in the Rwanda genocide, in the latest trial in France over the African country’s massacre three decades ago.Eugene Rwamucyo, 65, was accused of aiding his country’s then authorities to disseminate anti-Tutsi propaganda and of participating in mass murder by attempting …
Botswana votes as president’s party seeks to extend six-decade ruleWed, 30 Oct 2024 19:18:06 GMT
Diamond-rich Botswana voted in general elections Wednesday with the ruling party vying to extend its 58 years in power and hand President Mokgweetsi Masisi a second term amid concerns about rising unemployment and an economic slump.Many of the more than one million registered voters queued for several hours to cast their ballots in the sparsely …
Cancer du sein: le Sénat unanime pour améliorer la prise en charge des soins
En clôture de l’opération “Octobre rose”, le Sénat a soutenu mercredi à l’unanimité une proposition de loi communiste visant à améliorer la prise en charge des soins liés au cancer du sein, afin d’atténuer le reste à charge des patientes, vécu comme une “double peine”.Activité physique adaptée, consultations de diététique, prothèses capillaires et mammaires… Alors que plus de 60.000 nouveaux cas sont diagnostiqués chaque année, le cancer du sein place de nombreuses femmes dans une situation financière fragile, entre un reste à charge souvent élevé et de nombreuses dépenses relatives à des soins annexes – et non-remboursés – ou à l’achat d’accessoires (sous-vêtements adaptés, crèmes, vernis contre la chute des ongles…).Face à cette situation, les parlementaires communistes ont proposé ces derniers mois d’instituer une prise en charge “intégrale” de tous les soins liés à cette maladie, responsable de 12.000 décès par an dans le pays, et dont la charge financière pour les patients serait comprise entre 1.300 et 2.500 euros selon la Ligue contre le cancer.Adoptée à l’unanimité par l’Assemblée nationale fin mai, la proposition de loi de Fabien Roussel a connu le même sort à la chambre haute, dominée par une alliance de la droite et du centre qui a elle aussi soutenu le texte, tout en le recentrant sur des traitements plus spécifiques à cette pathologie. “Une injustice de moins pour les femmes confrontées au cancer du sein”, a salué sur X le patron du PCF après le vote.”Nous irons jusqu’au bout pour que justice soit rendue à ces femmes pour qu’elles n’aient pas la double peine de la maladie et d’un reste à charge trop important”, avait insisté peu avant la sénatrice Cathy Apourceau-Poly, qui porte ce texte à la chambre haute.- Compromis -En pleine période de sensibilisation via l’opération “Octobre rose”, le gouvernement a donné un “avis de sagesse très positif” devant ce texte, appelant néanmoins à des “adaptations de rédaction” durant la suite de la navette parlementaire.La ministre déléguée à la Famille, Agnès Canayer, a notamment craint la “remise en cause d’un principe fondamental, celui de l’équité de notre système de santé”. Le président LR de la commission des Affaires sociales du Sénat, Philippe Mouiller, a porté les mêmes observations.Mais un compromis, approuvé par tous les groupes de la Haute assemblée, s’est dégagé à la chambre haute pour recentrer le texte sur la prise en charge des “frais jugés spécifiques au cancer du sein”, comme le renouvellement des prothèses mammaires, l’achat de sous-vêtements adaptés ou les soins dits de “support” comme l’activité physique adaptée.En revanche, l’exemption pour les malades du paiement des “participations forfaitaires” et des “franchises médicales”, dues aux consultations et autres actes paramédicaux, a finalement disparu du texte via l’adoption d’un amendement de la droite. – Emotion dans l’hémicycle -“Nous avons désormais un texte juridiquement resserré, qui correspond à un vrai besoin, et avec des vecteurs juridiques applicables dans les meilleurs délais. Ce sont les meilleures conditions pour qu’un texte de loi puisse perdurer” lors d’une seconde lecture à l’Assemblée nationale, a apprécié M. Mouiller.Le Sénat a par ailleurs proposé une solution de financement via la création d’un “forfait spécifique” dédié aux accessoires et autres cosmétiques actuellement non-remboursés par la Sécurité sociale, et un plafonnement des dépassements d’honoraires pour toutes les consultations ou interventions présentes dans le parcours des patients.”J’aurais aimé qu’on aille plus loin (…) mais je pense qu’il y a dans ce texte des avancées certaines”, a reconnu Mme Apourceau-Poly.Les débats ont suscité dans l’après-midi une vive émotion lors de certaines prises de parole, comme celle de la sénatrice socialiste Corinne Féret, qui a dû réprimer quelques sanglots au moment d’évoquer “les inégalités injustes” subies par les femmes atteintes de cancers du sein.La sénatrice de l’Oise Sylvie Valente Le Hir (apparentée LR) a également bouleversé ses collègues en confiant avoir elle-même “traversé cette épreuve” du cancer du sein. “Si nous pouvons soulager les contraintes matérielles des personnes atteintes d’un cancer, nous aurons déjà fait un grand pas pour les aider à guérir”, a-t-elle lancé.
Charity MSF suspends work in central Mali town after violenceWed, 30 Oct 2024 17:29:05 GMT
Medical charity MSF on Wednesday said it had suspended its activities in the central Malian town of Nampala following an attack on its staff and health workers in the area plagued by violence.Mali has for more than a decade been ravaged by jihadists and other armed groups, with the centre of the west African country …
Stocks diverge, bitcoin close to record high
Stock markets diverged Wednesday as they digested a mixed bag of economic data and corporate reports, while bitcoin traded close to its record high with eyes on the upcoming US presidential election.The three main US stock indexes vacillated throughout the morning, but were all slightly higher in midday trading. Major European markets all closed sharply lower. Google-parent Alphabet was up almost six percent in New York after reporting positive results after Tuesday’s close, but that was outweighed by disappointing results and guidance from tech company AMD, down more than nine percent, and drugmaker Eli Lilly, down more than seven percent.  Microsoft and Facebook-parent Meta report later Wednesday. On the economic front, the US economy grew at a healthy 2.8 percent annual rate in the third quarter, even if it undershot analyst expectations and slowed slightly from the previous quarter.  “While the initial Q3 GDP report missed economists’ expectations, the miss was minor and reaffirms that the US economy remains on solid footing,” according to eToro analyst Bret Kenwell. On Thursday, the Federal Reserve’s favourite inflation measure will be released, while the monthly labour jobs report comes Friday.In the eurozone, Paris and Frankfurt closed down more than one percent. “Investors are in no mood to increase their exposure to equity markets, given the lack of a clear lead from the US where consolidation seems to be the order of the day,” said David Morrison, analyst at Trade Nation.The eurozone economy grew a better-than-expected 0.4 percent in the third quarter, the bloc reported Wednesday. But the spurt was largely due to one-off factors such as the Olympics, and next quarter’s report may not be so rosy, said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at City Index. “Recent forward-looking surveys have been far from great, suggesting that the eurozone economy remained sluggish at the start of Q4,” he said. Outside the eurozone, London’s stock market dropped, though less than Paris and Frankfurt, as the UK’s new Labour government said it would raise taxes by 40 billion pounds and that the deficit will shrink next year.UBS shares slumped more than 4 percent after the Swiss bank highlighted a gloomy economic outlook despite making healthy profits in the third quarter.Asia’s top indices closed mostly down, while in foreign exchange the dollar was mixed against main rivals.Bitcoin steadied, a day after striking just shy of its all-time peak of $73,797.98 achieved in March.A recent surge in the price of bitcoin is seen as a bet on a Republican victory in next week’s US vote, as Donald Trump has emerged as the pro-crypto candidate.The outcome at the polls remains uncertain for many analysts, however, helping haven investment gold to a fresh record high of $2,789.86 an ounce Wednesday. The economic programmes of both candidates are expected to add greatly to the US debt load.Oil prices rebounded after a surprise decline in US petroleum reserves, even though concerns persist about whether there will be enough takers for an expected increase in global crude production next year.”It seems as if oil prices are ignoring improving economic data in the US and stimulus efforts from China to revive its struggling economy,” said Daniela Sabin Hathorn, senior market analyst at Capital.com.- Key figures around  1640 GMT -New York – Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 42,387.77 pointsNew York – S&P 500: UP 0.2 percent at 5,842.54 New York – Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 18,734.64 London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.7 percent at 8,159.63 (close)Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 1.1 percent at 7,428.36 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: DOWN 1.1 at 19,257.34 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.0 percent at 39,277.39 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.6 percent at 20,380.64 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 3,266.24 (close)Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0863 from $1.0816 on TuesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3006 from $1.3010Dollar/yen: DOWN at 153.08 yen from 153.57 yenEuro/pound: UP at 83.53 pence from 83.13 penceBrent North Sea Crude: UP 2.3 percent at $72.77 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 2.5 percent at $68.90 per barrel
S.Africa to strip pilloried beauty queen of ID documentsWed, 30 Oct 2024 16:23:47 GMT
South Africa is stripping a would-be Miss South Africa contestant, who was at the centre of a row over her nationality, of her national identity papers, the government said.Chidimma Adetshina, 23, withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant in August amid a torrent of abuse over allegations she was not South African which prompted an …
S.Africa to strip pilloried beauty queen of ID documentsWed, 30 Oct 2024 16:23:47 GMT Read More »
Stocks falter, bitcoin close to record high
Major stock markets mostly dropped Wednesday after a mixed bag of economic data and corporate reports, while bitcoin traded close to its record high with eyes on the upcoming US presidential election.The three main US stock indexes were slightly lower after opening, while key European markets were down more sharply in mid-afternoon trading.”Investors are in no mood to increase their exposure to equity markets, given the lack of a clear lead from the US where consolidation seems to be the order of the day,” said David Morrison, analyst at Trade Nation.Google-parent Alphabet was up almost six after reporting positive results after Tuesday’s close, but that was outweighed by negative results from tech company AMD, down almost nine percent, and drugmaker Eli Lilly, down more than 13 percent.  Microsoft and Facebook-parent Meta report later Wednesday. On the economic front, the US economy grew at a healthy 2.8 percent annual rate in the third quarter, even if it undershot analyst expectations and was a slight slowdown from the previous quarter.  On Thursday, the Federal Reserve’s favourite inflation measure will be released, while the monthly labour jobs report comes Friday.The eurozone economy grew a better-than-expected 0.4 percent in the third quarter, the bloc reported Wednesday. But the growth spurt may have been the result of one-off factors such as the Olympics, and next quarter’s report may not be so rosy, said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at City Index. “Recent forward-looking surveys have been far from great, suggesting that the eurozone economy remained sluggish at the start of Q4,” he said. Outside the eurozone, London’s stock market dropped, though less than Paris and Frankfurt, as the UK’s new Labour government said it would raise taxes by 40 billion pounds and that the deficit will shrink next year.Asia’s top indices closed mostly down, while in foreign exchange the dollar was mixed against main rivals.Bitcoin steadied, a day after striking just shy of its all-time peak of $73,797.98 achieved in March.A recent surge in the price of bitcoin is seen as a bet on a Republican victory in next week’s US vote, as Donald Trump has emerged as the pro-crypto candidate.The outcome at the polls remains uncertain for many analysts, however, helping haven investment gold to a fresh record high of $2,789.86 an ounce Wednesday.Oil prices rebounded as volatility dominates crude trading amid twists and turns in the Middle East crisis, and concerns about whether there will be takers for an expected increase in production next year.”It seems as if oil prices are ignoring improving economic data in the US and stimulus efforts from China to revive its struggling economy,” said Daniela Sabin Hathorn, senior market analyst at Capital.com.- Key figures around  1345 GMT -New York – Dow: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 42,219.45 pointsNew York – S&P 500: DOWN 0.2 percent at 5,823.89 New York – Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 18,871.59 London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 8,186.78 Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 1.4 percent at 7,404.89Frankfurt – DAX: DOWN 1.2 at 19,254.09Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.0 percent at 39,277.39 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.6 percent at 20,380.64 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 3,266.24 (close)Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0830 from $1.0816 on TuesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2971 from $1.3010Dollar/yen: DOWN at 153.10 yen from 153.57 yenEuro/pound: UP at 83.51 pence from 83.13 penceBrent North Sea Crude: UP 1.5 percent at $72.15 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 1.4 percent at $68.15 per barrelburs-gv/rl