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US coach Emma Hayes admits to anthem uncertainty ahead of England stalemateNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes fell Thursday following some potentially discouraging data on the economy . The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% for its fourth loss in the last six days. It’s a pause for the index, which has been rallying toward one of its best years of the millennium . The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 234 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.7% from its record set the day before. A report early in the morning said more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week than expected. A separate update, meanwhile, showed that inflation at the wholesale level, before it reaches U.S. consumers, was hotter last month than economists expected. Neither report points to imminent disaster, but they dilute one of the hopes that’s driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year : Inflation is slowing enough to convince the Federal Reserve to keep cutting interest rates, while the economy is remaining solid enough to stay out of a recession. Of the two reports, the weaker update on the job market may be the bigger deal for the market, according to Chris Larkin, managing director, trading and investing, at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley. A surge in egg prices may have been behind the worse-than-expected inflation numbers. “One week doesn’t negate what has been a relatively steady stream of solid labor market data, but the Fed is primed to be sensitive to any signs of a softening jobs picture,” he said. Traders are widely expecting the Fed will ease its main interest rate at its meeting next week. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. A cut next week would have the Fed following other central banks, which lowered rates on Thursday. The European Central Bank cut rates by a quarter of a percentage point, as many investors expected, and the Swiss National Bank cut its policy rate by a steeper half of a percentage point. Following its decision, Switzerland’s central bank pointed to uncertainty about how U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s victory will affect economic policies, as well as about where politics in Europe is heading. Trump has talked up tariffs and other policies that could upend global trade. He rang the bell marking the start of trading at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday to chants of “USA.” On Wall Street, Adobe fell 13.7% and was one of the heaviest weights on the market despite reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company gave forecasts for profit and revenue in its upcoming fiscal year that fell a bit shy of analysts’. Warner Bros. Discovery soared 15.4% after unveiling a new corporate structure that separates its streaming business and film studios from its traditional television business. CEO David Zaslav said the move “enhances our flexibility with potential future strategic opportunities,” raising speculation about a spinoff or sale. Kroger rose 3.2% after saying it would get back to buying back its own stock now that its attempt to merge with Albertsons is off . Kroger’s board approved a program to repurchase up to $7.5 billion of its stock, replacing an existing $1 billion authorization. All told, the S&P 500 fell 32.94 points to 6,051.25. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 234.55 to 43,914.12, and the Nasdaq composite sank 132.05 to 19,902.84. In stock markets abroad, European indexes held relatively steady following the European Central Bank’s cut to rates. Asian markets were stronger. Indexes rose 1.2% in Hong Kong and 0.8% in Shanghai as leaders met in Beijing to set economic plans and targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.6% for its third straight gain of at least 1%, as it pulls back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. In the bond market, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose to 4.33% from 4.27% late Wednesday. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
Canadiens in action against the Rangers following overtime victoryA stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her moveThe Chicago Blackhawks are going to be without Laurent Brossoit for even more time then initially expected. On Friday, Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson updated that Brossoit had underwent a second surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss at least six more weeks. The Blackhawks signed Brossoit this past offseason , one of their major acquisitions to help boost the team. Unfortunately fans have not had an opportunity to see Brossoit in a Blackhawks uniform as a summer injury turned into Brossoit missing the preseason, but expected to come back within a few weeks. Then, after hearing very little and seeing Brossoit on the ice practicing just a few times, the Hawks have now updated that Brossoit would be out for even more time. Brossoit missing at least six more weeks puts his return to play now in the middle of January. That could have a major impact on the Hawks roster, especially in the crease. How Laurent Brossoit’s injury impacts the Blackhawks With Brossoit out for six more weeks, the Blackhawks will need to lean on Arvid Soderblom and Petr Mrazek in the meantime. Entering the season, Mrazek and Brossoit looked to be a great tandem and a major improvement over last season’s pairing of Mrazek and Soderblom. In Brossoit’s absence, Soderblom has stepped up to the challenge, posting a .926 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.36. That is a major improvement from last season where in 32 games Soderblom registerd a 3.92 goals against average and s ave percentage of just .880. Across 29 starts last season, Soderblom played in just five wins, with a record of 5-22-2. Soderblom being with the Hawks into January will impact his waiver status as he is four games away from 60 career games played and will then no longer be waiver exempt. So, once Brossoit does return, it is likely Chicago will have to carry three goaltenders as Soderblom would not clear waivers if he was sent down, especially with so many teams struggling with injuries in the crease. The Hawks carrying three netminders would take up an additional roster spot that could go to a seventh defenseman or 13th forward, which would complicate things for Chicago. Kyle Davidson signed Brossoit to a two year contract carrying a $3.3 million cap hit this summer. Brossoit, 31, missing so much time definitely is a loss for the franchise. Last season, Brossoit played in 23 games with the Winnipeg Jets and registered a career best .927 save percentage. It looked like Brossoit and Mrazek would form a really strong duo, both capable of potentially working as a true 1A 1B tandem, not a traditional starter backup. With Brossoit out for another month plus, expect Soderblom to get a bigger opportunity to play. So far he has started in just six games, and now the Hawks might as well use this time to see if he can be a potential starter long term. This article first appeared on Chicago Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.
After announcing he would not return to Congress, Matt Gaetz appears to be trying out a new career option: creating personalized videos for his fans on Cameo. Gaetz, a former Florida representative, joined the platform Friday, a day after he withdrew his name from consideration to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations. Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 There, he’s been doling out paid holiday wishes, marriage congratulations and career pep talks. As of Sunday night, Gaetz is charging a minimum of $550 per video, which so far have averaged about a minute and a half in length. “I served in Congress,” his Cameo page reads, alluding to his recent resignation and subsequent announcement that he does not plan to retake his House seat. “Trump nominated me to be US Attorney General (that didn’t work out). Once I fired the House Speaker.” The speaker he "fired" hints at his feud with Kevin McCarthy, whom he played a pivotal role in ousting last year when Gaetz forced a House vote that led to McCarthy's removal from office. A representative for Gaetz did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gaetz announced Thursday his decision to take himself out of the running for attorney general, writing on X , “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.” His potential appointment was overshadowed by several allegations of sexual misconduct, including allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old at a party in 2017 . He was also investigated by the Justice Department — which he would have led had he been confirmed — related to allegations of sex trafficking and sex with a minor. Gaetz has vehemently denied allegations of sexual misconduct, and the investigation ended with no charges against him. Gaetz’s resignation last week also effectively ended a House Ethics Committee investigation into the allegations against him, which had been ongoing intermittently since 2021. From Capitol Hill to Cameo Cameo, the celebrity video message app, which launched in 2017, allows users to purchase custom shoutouts from famous figures who join the app. Fans on Cameo commonly request these videos, priced by the celebrities themselves, for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and graduations. Despite facing some financial trouble in recent years, Cameo has remained a fixture for some public figures seeking an extra source of income. It’s become a notorious marketplace for fan-requested videos from pop culture’s most dramatic and villainized personalities, which often go viral when posted to social media platforms like TikTok and X. In one video, Gaetz, a Republican, filmed himself congratulating a recipient for making partner at their law firm while acknowledging their political differences. “Look, I know your politics and mine may not align specifically, but you know, our career trajectories might not be either. I mean, here you are making partner, and my legal career took a little bit of a different turn this last week,” Gaetz said. “But you know what? Work hard, get paid a lot of money, do a lot of great things as a practitioner and counselor at law, and you know, you never know. You could be an attorney general nominee, too.” Other videos feature Gaetz thanking his recipients for “backing President Trump and all of our efforts to save the country” and being “there for MAGA.” He also roasted one recipient for “betting on things like... Kamala Harris to be the President of the United States. You got to get better habits for that — bet on Trump.” Gaetz is following in the footsteps of other embattled politicians such as former Rep. George Santos , who turned to the platform after he was ousted from the House late last year amid allegations of wire fraud and identity theft. Earlier this year, Santos made his drag queen persona available on the app as well. He has since pleaded guilty to a pair of felony fraud charges. Also on Cameo are Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor who was removed from office and incarcerated on charges of public corruption, and Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who was indicted on charges related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to the charges in the Georgia election interference case. He was also found liable for defaming two Georgia election workers . Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney who pleaded guilty to and served time in prison for federal crimes, is also active on the app. Other political figures on Cameo include former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren. This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here:
