tyb/s
Mixed data offer glimmers of hope for slowing U.S. economy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in February, but a rebound in factory activity in March and strong increase in construction spending offered hope the economy was not slowing as sharply as previously feared.
The mixed reports on Monday prompted economists to raise their growth projections for the first quarter. Still, the economy’s improving prospects were not expected to have any impact on the Federal Reserve’s decision last month to abruptly end its three-year campaign to tighten monetary policy.
The U.S. central bank abandoned projections for any interest rate hikes this year after increasing borrowing costs four times in 2018, acknowledging rising headwinds, including a fading stimulus from $1.5 trillion in tax cuts, trade wars, slowing global growth and uncertainty over Britain’s exit from the European Union.
“The economic downslide may be over but there are no clear indications that an acceleration in growth is at hand,” said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania. “The Fed has reason to watch and wait.”
(Let's not take any action for the mess we have caused so we will just "wait and see".)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy/mixed-data-offer-glimmers-of-hope-for-slowing-u-s-economy-idUSKCN1RD2CK
Oil rises to 2019 highs as demand outlook improves
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil climbed about 2 percent to new 2019 highs on Monday, with Brent crude touching $69 a barrel, after positive signs for the global economy and tighter supplies drove both benchmarks’ largest first-quarter gains in nearly a decade.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil/oil-rises-to-2019-highs-as-demand-outlook-improves-idUSKCN1RD118
https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/future/crude%20oil%20-%20electronic
can confirm although +15% still sounds high but only if it is at a local coin shop. They have the keys so to speak and a captured audience-can charge what they want. Can get better prices at places such as the bigger dealers online. JMB has silvertown rounds at .69 cents over spot. Free shipping too. Insured and requires signature to receive.
Stay away from eBay and Amzn sellers as there is no recourse if the product is not what it was represented as-not to say that all are bad just do some due diligence.
US Halts F-35 Shipment To Turkey In Rift Over Russian S-400 Missile System
Last Friday we reported that Turkey slammed the door on Washington's demands that it cancel its S-400 contract with Moscow in the wake of continued US threats that it will deny transfer of F-35s to Turkey over the Erdogan government's plans to move forward with taking delivery of the advanced Russian anti-air defense system in July.
This took place one day after four US senators introduced a bipartisan bill last Thursday to prohibit the transfer of the F-35 until the US can certify that Ankara will reject the S-400 deal. But Turkish officials reiterated their prior stance that it's a "done deal" and that Turkey won't back down.
"We have signed a deal with Russia, and this deal is valid. Now we are discussing the delivery process," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday during a press conference while standing beside his Russian counterpart. He added that "We have an agreement with Russia and we are bound by it." Confirming Turkey is set to take delivery from the Russians in July of this year, Cavusoglu added that every aspect of Turkish defense purchases were legitimate and in accord with international law.
The foreign minister also noted that Ankara has met its obligations to Lockheed Martin, producer of the F-35 stealth fighter. "Turkey is also a partner in the F-35 project. Some parts are being made in here in Turkey. Turkey has fulfilled its responsibilities in this regard," the minister said.
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Fast forward to today when, with Erdogan still smarting from one of his biggest electoral losses in decades in local elections which saw the ruling AKP lose control over the capital Ankara and, most likely, Istanbul as well, Reuters reports that the US has followed through with its threat, and halted delivery of equipment related to the stealthy F-35 fighter aircraft to the Nato ally, "marking the first concrete U.S. step to block delivery of the jet to the NATO ally in light of Ankara's planned purchase of a Russian missile defense system."
According to the Reuters sources, U.S. officials told their Turkish counterparts they will not receive further shipments of F-35 related equipment needed to prepare for the arrival of the stealthy jet. The sources also said the next shipment of training equipment, and all subsequent shipments of F-35 related material, have been canceled.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-04-01/us-halts-f-35-shipment-turkey-rift-over-russian-s-400-missile-system
not a military guy so it would seem that system cannot stop it?. Plane has issues(tech) from what I know.
kek