While the eurozone was tipped into recession primarily due to elevated energy and food costs triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, negative economic data stemming from Germany and Ireland also played a major role. According to Eurostat’s revised economic data released on June 8, the eurozone’s gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 0.1% month-over-month in each of the first three months of 2023. Having already declined in the last quarter of 2022, the eurozone’s economy officially slipped into recession, as this results in a Q1 GDP drop of 0.4%. Eurozone GDP Contracted By 0.4% in Q1 2023 Year-on-Year The eurozone fell into a mild recession after the latest data by Eurostat published on Thursday showed how GDP fell by 0.1% quarter-over-quarter in the first three months of 2023, after already dropping by the same margin in the prior three-month period. On an annual basis, the GDP of countries that use the euro as their official currency slipped by 0.4%, after previously declining in the final quarter of 2022. While the eurozone was tipped into recession primarily due to elevated energy and food costs triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, negative economic data stemming from Germany and Ireland also played a major role. Specifically, in its initial GDP report, Eurostat estimated that the eurozone’s economy saw slight growth in Q1, however, a recession in Germany and a steep drop in Ireland’s factory output neutralized that expansion in other economies in the area. As a result, Eurostat’s revised figures showed that the eurozone’s economy shrank for two consecutive quarters, which is in line with the formal definition of an economic recession. Meanwhile, economists believe the economy will witness growth in the quarter through June as declining energy costs relieve the pressure on local households. Still, experts expect the eurozone economy to grow just 0.9% in 2023. US and Eurozone Inflation Still Far From Desired Targets Even though energy expenses have declined considerably from their 2022 highs, inflation in the euro area is easing at a slow pace due to resilient food prices, limiting local consumers’ spending power. Since peaking at 10.6% in 2022, eurozone inflation fell to 6.1% in May 2023, though it still remains significantly higher than the European Central Bank’s (ECB) target of 3.2%, despite a series of interest rate hikes, which began in July last year. “A peak in underlying inflation wouldn’t be sufficient to declare victory: we need to see convincing evidence that inflation returns to our 2% target in a sustained and timely manner. We aren’t at that point yet.” – ECB policymaker Isabel Schnabel Elsewhere, inflation in the US fell to 4.9% in May, after reaching a 4-decade high of 9.1% last year. The report marked the 10th consecutive month the annual inflation rate in the US has declined, but prices are still advancing at a rate that is substantially higher than the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2% a year. This article originally appeared on The Tokenist Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»

Pickup trucks have ranked among the most popular vehicle segments in the United States for decades. No longer defined by barebones practicality, today’s trucks offer luxury interiors, high-tech infotainment systems, and plenty of backseat legroom. Combining the capability and versatility of a work vehicle with the comforts and conveniences of a family car or daily […] Pickup trucks have ranked among the most popular vehicle segments in the United States for decades. No longer defined by barebones practicality, today’s trucks offer luxury interiors, high-tech infotainment systems, and plenty of backseat legroom. Combining the capability and versatility of a work vehicle with the comforts and conveniences of a family car or daily driver, pickup trucks sacrifice little – with one glaring exception: fuel efficiency.  Among the more than 100 pickup truck configurations available in the 2023 model year, the median combined fuel economy is just 19 miles per gallon, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. For context, the average fuel economy of the U.S. vehicle fleets was 36 mpg in 2021, a number the Department of Transportation mandated to rise to 49 mpg by 2026.  With U.S. gas prices topping $5 a gallon last year – an all-time high – many pickup truck owners are feeling the pinch. For cost-conscious drivers in the market for a new truck, however, some options are better than others. (Here is a look at America’s favorite pickup trucks.)  Using data from the EPA, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most fuel-efficient pickup trucks. We ranked the 15 non-electric pickup trucks on the market by combined fuel economy, considering all available engine and drivetrain packages.  For any vehicle, fuel efficiency is subject to a number of factors. Some of them are contingent on driving habits, but those related directly to the vehicle itself include weight, ground clearance, aerodynamics, drivetrain, and engine size.  Several of the most fuel efficient new trucks on the market have been recently updated or are all-new nameplates. The Ford Maverick, for example, which is capable of a segment-leading combined 37 mpg, was first introduced in 2021 and is available with a hybrid engine. Meanwhile, the Toyota Tacoma, while classified as a small pickup, has not been meaningfully updated since 2016 and gets a maximum of 24 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined. (Here is a look at the cars that have been completely redesigned for 2023.) Click here to see the most fuel-efficient new trucks this year. Click here to see our detailed methodology. Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

On the same day it published its earnings report, GameStop also announced it had terminated its chief executive. Shortly after releasing its Q1 earnings report on Wednesday afternoon, the shares of the video game retailer GameStop fell by nearly 20%. Not only did the report disclose a net loss of $50.5 million, but the company announced it has terminated its CEO, Matthew Furong just days earlier. GameStop Reports Net Loss of $50.5 Million in Q1 2023 The shares of GameStop entered into a sharp decline in Wednesday’s after-hours trading and were down approximately 19% at the time of writing. The decline occurred shortly after the retailer unveiled its Q1 earnings report. According to the report, the company’s revenue in the first quarter of 2023 amounted to $1.24 billion. Additionally, the firm disclosed a net loss of $50.5 million—17 cents per share. Additionally, the retailer announced it would not hold an earnings call following the report. A single quarter earlier the company’s report showcased a net profit of $48.2 million—its first such report in two years. The strong results for Q4 2022 ensured that the termination of the company’s CEO, Matthew Furlong this Wednesday raised some eyebrows. GameStop Announced it Has Named Ryan Cohen as Executive Chairman On the same day it published the earnings report, GameStop also announced it had terminated its CEO Matthew Furlong. Furlong oversaw the retailer’s first profitable quarter in two years at the tail end of 2022 and much of the company’s work on a digital presence. While GameStop has been generally known as a traditional brick-and-mortar business, it has been actively expanding its online presence since the “meme stock” craze of early 2021. The company also embraced web3 and recently unveiled a partnership with Telos in an effort to offer blockchain-based video games on its new launcher, Playr. In the same announcement, GameStop also revealed it has decided to name activist investor Ryan Cohen as Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors. According to the press release, Cohen is to oversee management and capital allocation. This article originally appeared on The Tokenist Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

Insurance rates, municipal bonds, national debt, commodities all will reflect coming disorder. (David Callaway is founder and Editor-in-Chief of Callaway Climate Insights. He is the former president of the World Editors Forum, Editor-in-Chief of USA Today and MarketWatch, and CEO of TheStreet Inc. His climate columns have appeared in USA Today, The Independent, and New Thinking magazine). SAN FRANCISCO (Callaway Climate Insights) — Jeff Gitterman calls it The Great Repricing. That’s the shift in capital markets as the cost of global warming begins to mount in specific regions, such as the Canadian wildfires, Arizona water shortages, European heatwaves, or wildfire smoke over New York City or San Francisco. Gitterman, founder of Gitterman Asset Management in New Jersey, has long been a proponent of the idea that climate change will cause a dramatic shift in markets and how investors seek opportunity and hedge risk. To date, a lot of the focus has been on opportunity. Electric vehicle makers. Battery storage startups. Surging solar and wind power. Carbon capture and removal. But lately, we’ve started to see the flip side. The decision by two of the nation’s largest insurers, State Farm and Allstate, to stop taking new homeowner business in California because of wildfire threats was a dramatic wake-up call last week that the cost of climate change will be shared by many, including businesses and investors. “There are three trends converging at once,” Gitterman told me. Adaptation, innovation and regulation, or what he calls AIR. “They will impact wide parts of the capital markets; first being real estate values, second municipal bonds and mortgages, and then ultimately businesses where adaptation is costly or undertaken too slowly to offset risks of extreme heat, droughts and larger storms and flooding.” Subscribe to Callaway Climate Insights to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives. Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»

GameStop has started to look like one of those brick-and-mortar companies that disappear from time to time. GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) has started to look like one of those brick-and-mortar companies that disappear from time to time. In its case, the process is a slow one. While its net loss fell from $159.7 million a year ago to $50.5 million, its revenue dropped from $1.38 billion to $1.24 billion. GameStop has to arrest that decline and do so soon. (These are America’s 25 dying industries.) The headline news was that GameStop fired CEO Matthew Furlong, but he had not done a good job. Among the most essential things old-line retailer management can do is keep the topline growing. There are too many examples where this has not happened. Almost none ended well. Board Chair Ryan Cohan has become executive chair. However, there is no evidence that he can solve the problem either. Most major products GameStop sells can be bought online from other vendors. Amazon, which has blitzed the retail industry for decades, is probably the best example. After a post-earnings sell-off, GameStop’s stock is off by almost 40% in the past year. There is no reason to think it will recover. Even troubled retailer Best Buy has done better. 24/7 Wall St. The Worst Business Ideas in America wallst_recirc_link_tracking_init( "1336301296481f6a83ff8a", "graphic" ); Wall Street’s assumption is that GameStop’s best days are behind it. That is probably true. Cohan has to come up with a solution and come up with it soon. Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

The Bill of Rights outlines many of the most basic freedoms Americans are entitled to – the right to free speech and religion, protection from cruel and unusual punishment, the right to an attorney, and the right to keep and bear arms are all among them. Unlike most fundamental rights, however, the right to firearm […] The Bill of Rights outlines many of the most basic freedoms Americans are entitled to – the right to free speech and religion, protection from cruel and unusual punishment, the right to an attorney, and the right to keep and bear arms are all among them. Unlike most fundamental rights, however, the right to firearm ownership is not absolute.  Under federal law, certain groups – including some convicted felons, fugitives, non-citizens, and those with certain mental illnesses – are prohibited from firearm ownership. Though possession of a firearm is a criminal offense for such individuals, there is no legal mechanism to proactively ensure compliance.  In the absence of federally backed enforcement protocols, many states have enacted their own policies that not only mandate, but also ensure that certain individuals give up their guns. Depending on the circumstances, state and local law enforcement in some parts of the country can confiscate an individual’s firearms for months or even years at a time.  Reviewing state-level laws compiled by the Giffords Law Center, a gun violence prevention group, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the government can take your gun. Without exception, the laws in the states on this list target only those deemed to pose a direct threat to themselves or others and impose no restrictions on responsible, law-abiding gun owners.  Of the 32 states on this list, the majority have enacted a set of laws known as extreme risk protection orders, or ERPOs. ERPO laws temporarily remove firearm access for persons showing clear warning signs of violence. They are often used to prevent potential suicides and mass shootings. (Here is a look at the number of American mass shootings every year.) In some states, families and household members can initiate ERPO interventions, while in others, only law enforcement officials can. The level of proof needed to execute an ERPO also varies by state. In some cases, a preponderance of evidence is justification enough, while in others, a higher level of clear and convincing evidence is required. Generally, when an ERPO is carried out, the individual in question must relinquish their firearm or firearms to the proper authorities or else have their guns confiscated by law enforcement.  Many states without ERPO laws are on this list because of laws designed to verify that individuals convicted of crimes that prohibit firearm ownership have, in fact, relinquished their guns. In other states, law enforcement officials are compelled to remove firearms at the scene of domestic violence emergency calls. (Here is a look at the states where gun related crimes are surging.) Click here to see the states where the government will take your gun by force. Click here to read our detailed methodology. Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»

An analyst who covers Amazon says the company has moved in so many directions that it is out of control. And that analyst is right. An analyst who covers Amazon wrote a letter to management. In essence, it said the company has moved in so many directions that it is out of control. “But what we’ve seen recently is a company simply pursuing too many ideas, with weaker ideas taking away the oxygen, capital, and most importantly focus from the truly disruptive initiatives that ‘only Amazon can do,’” Mark Shmulik, an analyst at the investment bank Bernstein, wrote. And he is right. (These companies have the best reputations.) Amazon’s only real success is in two areas and has been for years. The first is its huge e-commerce business, the largest in America and one of the largest in the world. The other is its highly profitable cloud business, Amazon Web Services, also the largest in the world. Jassy added too many costs to Amazon, particularly in distribution infrastructure, but that is a problem he can fix. Amazon is in businesses that range from grocery stores (Whole Foods) to doorbells (Blink). Each has to be managed and is too small to be worth the effort. Jassy has been criticized as a poor replacement for founder Jeff Bezos. Bezos is to blame to the extent that he put Jassy in charge. Today, Amazon has started to look like Alphabet, with its search, YouTube, email, maps and dozens of other businesses. Alphabet suffers from the Amazon problem, and Amazon suffers from the Alphabet problem. ALSO READ: These Companies Control Over Half of Their Industry wallst_recirc_link_tracking_init( "2047689536481f6a83e395", "text" ); There is an old saying in business management. One version comes from the management consulting firm McKinsey: “Stick to your knitting, then make the knitting stick.” Amazon knits much more than it did a decade ago, and it shows. Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

Thursday's top analyst upgrades and downgrades included Amazon.com, DoorDash, Lyft, Macy's, Meta Platforms, Pinterest, Snap, T-Mobile, Uber, Wynn Resorts and more. The futures dipped lower early on Thursday. The summer doldrums are in full swing, with markets seemingly in a holding pattern in this slow part of the year. It appears many investors and brokers are adhering to the market adage of “sell in May and go away.” However, there is still some ongoing action in play in the markets. Many expect the Federal Reserve to hold steady on rates next week, or at the most to raise by 25 basis points, but with inflation remaining stubbornly high it is still uncertain what is to come. Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude gained slightly, as the latter pushed higher by just less than 1% putting it just barely above $73 a barrel. Separately, gold edged higher but is still holding just below the $2,000 level at $1,961. Some feel that gold can take a run at new all-time highs, should there be any disruptions in the equity markets, as many bears are calling for. Bitcoin traded lower again in Thursday’s premarket, down just over 1.5% at $26,393. 24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports each day of the week with a goal of finding fresh ideas for investors and traders alike. Some of these daily analyst calls cover stocks to buy. Other calls cover stocks to sell or avoid. Remember that no single analyst call should ever be used as a basis to buy or sell a stock. Consensus analyst target data is from Refinitiv. These are the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen on Thursday, June 8, 2023. Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB): Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Underweight rating and a $99 price target. The consensus target is $130.06. The stock closed on Wednesday at $116.55. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN): Wells Fargo started coverage with an Overweight rating and a $159 price target. That is well above the $134.65 consensus target and Wednesday’s closing print of $121.23. American Electric Power Co. Inc. (NASDAQ: AEP): Goldman Sachs started coverage with a Buy rating and a $98 price target. The consensus target is $100.81. The stock closed up just over 1% on Wednesday at $84.58. Carrier Global Corp. (NYSE: CARR): Morgan Stanley downgraded it to Equal Weight from Overweight and cut the price target to $47 from $49. The consensus target is $48.37. Wednesday’s final trade was for $45.60 a share. DoorDash Inc. (NYSE: DASH): Wells Fargo started coverage with an Equal Weight rating and a $70 price target. The price target is below the $77.94 consensus target. Wednesday’s closing share price was $70.15. Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK): Goldman Sachs initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and a $99 price target. The consensus price target is $109.08. The shares closed on Wednesday at $91.57. Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR): Wolfe Research’s downgrade was from Peer Perform to Underperform with a $6 price target. The consensus target is $10.00. The shares closed on Wednesday at $6.18. ALSO READ: Mega-Cap Defense Stocks Cheap as Russia-Ukraine War Demand Skyrockets: 5 ‘Strong Buy’ Dividend Picks to Buy Now wallst_recirc_link_tracking_init( "4545334536481f6a83d83e", "text" ); Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS): Jefferies cut its Buy rating to Hold and cut its price target to $65 from $69. The consensus target is $70.64. Wednesday’s close was at $58.49. Lyft Inc. (NASDAQ: LYFT): Wells Fargo started coverage with an Equal Weight rating and a $9 price target. The consensus target is $12.80. Wednesday’s close was at $10.30. Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M): Zacks named this stock as its Bear of the Day. The analyst suggests that investors should look to take their lumps in this struggling retail name. Its shares have traded as high as $25.12 in the past year but closed most recently at $16.21. Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

Since 2010, the odds of dying young in the United States have risen at an alarming pace. According to figures from the U.S. Social Security Administration’s actuarial life tables, the odds of succumbing between the ages of 15 and 24 in America rose from 0.067% in 2010 to 0.083% in 2020. While those numbers may […] Since 2010, the odds of dying young in the United States have risen at an alarming pace. According to figures from the U.S. Social Security Administration’s actuarial life tables, the odds of succumbing between the ages of 15 and 24 in America rose from 0.067% in 2010 to 0.083% in 2020. While those numbers may seem small, the difference amounts to an additional thousands of young Americans dying every year, giving the U.S. a youth mortality rate twice as high as that in France, Germany, Japan, and many other wealthy nations. (These are 24 states where deaths are outpacing births.) The rise in youth mortality is highly concentrated in the South and Midwest, and affects impoverished communities with limited economic opportunity the most.  To determine the places where young Americans are dying at an alarming rate, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on mortality rate by age from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Counties and county equivalents were ranked based on the raw change in the crude death rate among residents aged15 to 24 from 2010 to 2020. All mortality data is from the CDC and is three-year data. Data on population came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey and is five-year data. While COVID-19 is responsible for a bulk of the recent decline in U.S. life expectancy at birth for all ages – from 78.8 years in 2019 to 76.1 years in 2021 – the primary causes of rising mortality among young Americans are external. The drug overdose death rate, for example, rose by 4.7 deaths per 100,000 Americans aged 15 to 24 from 2010 to 2020, while the suicide rate rose by 4.1 deaths per 100,000 and the homicide rate rose by 1.0 deaths per 100,000.  Death rates among young Americans are rising the fastest in the South and Midwest, where poverty and violent crime are more prevalent. Of the 40 counties or county equivalents where youth mortality is rising the fastest, 26 are in the South, and eight are in the Midwest. While most are rural areas, a few counties that are home to major cities – Indianapolis, St. Louis, Louisville, and Memphis – make the list. In urban counties like these, the primary driver of rising youth mortality rates is an increase in homicide. (Considering young and old together, these are the 15 leading causes of death in America.) Click here to see the places where young Americans are dying at an alarming rate Research into rising youth mortality rates has identified a link between parental education, poverty, and early mortality. In 32 of the 40 counties where youth mortality is rising the fastest, the poverty rate is higher than the 12.6% national rate, while in 36 of them, the college attainment rate for adults 25 and over is lower than the 33.7% national figure. Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

It is hard to quarrel with the fact that wildfire smoke released into the air costs U.S. workers something. But how much? Every time there is a major catastrophe, experts opine about what it will cost. Wildfires in eastern Canada are the most recent example. CBS pounced on the news and put the national wildfire cost to workers at $100 billion annually. The figure is an amalgamation of data from several sources, so maybe it is accurate. There is no way to tell. (These are the 13 worst wildfires in American history.) The CBS number is based on at least two figures. The Natural Resources Defense Council puts the annual cost of “smoke, factory output and car exhaust” at $800 billion a year. But that universe is much larger than wildfires. So, the figure is not of much use. Paul Billings, national vice president for public policy at the American Lung Association, commented on the effects of the fires and the smoke they produce, “These particles actually get into your blood and create a wide range of poor health outcomes, including stroke, heart attacks and different kinds of cancer.” Another figure is from the National Bureau of Economic Research. That organization put the cost of wildfires on American workers at $125 billion in earnings. The research paper behind this figure is 56 pages long. The word “estimate” shows up 108 times. ALSO READ: 9 Crises That Will Threaten the Global Economy in 2023 wallst_recirc_link_tracking_init( "4514337156481f6a83bc49", "text" ); It is hard to quarrel with the fact that smoke released into the air costs U.S. workers something. But the cost of that something varies widely, based on the source. Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

There’s nothing quite like stepping into an old bar. You can just feel the history around you – the walls may be browned from years of tobacco smoke, the initials of past patrons may be carved into the tables, ancient posters and advertisements may be affixed to the wall – and you might feel as […] There’s nothing quite like stepping into an old bar. You can just feel the history around you – the walls may be browned from years of tobacco smoke, the initials of past patrons may be carved into the tables, ancient posters and advertisements may be affixed to the wall – and you might feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.  Bars have been a part of American society since before it was a country. In colonial times, taverns served as meeting places, banquet halls, inns where weary travelers could have a warm meal and maybe spend the night, and simply places to simply stop in for a flagon of ale or a tot of rum. Amazingly, some of these colonial-era taverns are still around, and still serving the same purpose.   Swanky modern cocktail bars and Irish-accented pubs have their place, but old bars are something else. The idea of having a drink in the exact same spot – bellying up to the same old bar – as many thousands of others have, over many generations, connects us to the past in a way that few other experiences can.  To determine some of the oldest bars in America, 24/7 Tempo consulted lists of longstanding watering holes on websites including Insider, USA Today, Thrillist, Wine Enthusiast, Oldest.org, Beer Info, and The Coolist.  To be considered for inclusion here, a bar or tavern has to have been in the same location from the time it first served alcohol, although continuous operation is not required. Determining a founding date for these places is rarely easy and often depends on the claims of the establishments themselves. Whenever possible, in addition to the sources named above, we consulted state historical societies in attempting to verify those claims. In each bar’s description, the date listed is when we believe the establishment first served liquor on its premises. Click here to learn about the oldest bars in America For obvious reasons, America’s oldest bars are taverns constructed in the eastern reaches of the country, where tavern-loving colonists and other early settlers, often from England, first set up shop. For venerable drinking establishments in other parts of the country, see our listing of the oldest bar in every state. Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»

Amid widespread optimism among investors about Japan and Japanese stocks, sentiment toward the iShares MSCI Japan ETF is quite positive. Amid widespread optimism among investors about Japan and Japanese stocks, sentiment toward the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (US:EWJ) is quite positive, according to readings on Fintel’s quant dashboards. The exchange-traded fund, which has assets under management of nearly $11 billion and is operated by the large U.S. investment manager BlackRock, is one of Wall Street’s most widely owned ETFs specializing in Japanese stocks. Fund Sentiment on EWJ stock is 80.93 on Fintel’s proprietary model, which measures the extent to which major funds are accumulating the shares. For comparison, the $2 billion AUM WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (US:DXJ) scores 36.35. For investors, EWJ has an expense ratio of 0.50%, while DXJ charges 0.48%. The exchange-traded fund also shows up on Fintel’s Dividend Yield Screen, which finds all securities with a dividend yield greater than 4%. Bullish Options Bets As far as options are concerned, the overall put/call ratios on June 5, June 2, June 1, and May 31 were all either 0.30 or 0.31. That means that roughly 70% of the options on EWJ that have been bought are bullish call options, while only 30% are bearish put options. Moreover, as of June 6, the put/call ratios for options that expire on June 16 and July 21 are 0.07 and 0.04. That means that over 90% of the options that expire on those days are bullish call options. Investors Optimistic on Japan Japan’s key stock gauge, the Nikkei 225 index, in May reached its highest level since 1990, when the Japanese economy was roaring. As of June 6, the index had jumped nearly 25% in 2023. Meanwhile, the EWJ soared 29% between last Sept. 30 and June 6. The celebrated American investor, Warren Buffett, in April reported that “he owned more stocks in Japan than in any other country besides the U.S.,” Investor’s Business Daily noted. In 2020, Buffett bought shares in Japan’s five biggest investment banks, and he recently boosted his stakes in those names to 7.4%, from his original stakes of just over 5%. Among the positive catalysts for Japanese stocks has been an increase in inflation in the country, which had for decades been plagued by extremely low and, at times, negative inflation. That has changed in recent years, and inflation in the country is now trending around 3%-4%. Meanwhile, the weakening of Japan’s currency is helping the country’s large export sector, and its interest rates are staying low. Moreover, Buffett’s statement has drawn investors’ attention to the country’s stocks. Familiar Names EWJ holds 238 companies in its portfolio. The two top components are very well-known companies — Toyota (US:TM) [4.34% of assets] and Sony (US:SNE) [3.56%]. Ranking third [3.83%] is a less-familar name, Keyence (JP:6861), which manufactures and markets automatic controlling equipment, measuring instruments and other electronic application equipment. Global bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (JP:8306) is the fourth-biggest holding [2.32%], while Tokyo Electron (JP:8035) ranks fifth [1.86%]. This article originally appeared on Fintel Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

Ethereum scaling solution Optimism has deployed its long-awaited Bedrock upgrade, providing several improvements across the network. Ethereum scaling solution Optimism has deployed its long-awaited Bedrock upgrade, providing several improvements across the network. The upgrade is expected to significantly reduce transaction fees, provide greater network security, and enhance compatibility with Ethereum—pushing Optimism closer to its vision of becoming a “superchain.” What is the Bedrock Upgrade? The Optimism team has recently released the first official version of OP Stack, called Bedrock. Bedrock is a set of modular components that work together to power Optimism, further helping the network address the scaling issues that have long plagued Ethereum. The Bedrock upgrade comes with numerous benefits. In the first place, it implements an optimized data compression strategy to minimize data costs. “We are currently benchmarking the impact of this change, but we expect it to reduce fees significantly,” the Optimism team said in an explainer. Bedrock also removes all L1 execution gas, reducing L1 data fees to the theoretical minimum. This is expected to reduce fees by an additional 10% over the previous version of the protocol. Moreover, Bedrock introduces support for L1 re-orgs in the node software, significantly reducing users’ time to wait for deposits. With earlier protocol versions, confirming deposits could take up to 10 minutes. However, the team now expects deposits to be confirmed within 3 minutes, thanks to Bedrock. Another benefit of Bedrock is that it improves proof modularity, abstracting the proof system from the OP Stack so that a rollup may use either a fault-proof or validity proof to prove the correct execution of inputs on the rollup. This abstraction enables systems like Cannon to be used to prove faults in the system. Likewise, the update would enhance node performance by enabling the execution of several transactions in a single rollup “block” instead of the previous version’s “one transaction per block” model. This allows the cost of Merkle trie updates to be amortized across multiple transactions. At the current transaction volume, this reduces state growth by approximately 15GB/year, the team projected. “Node performance is further improved by removing technical debt from the previous version of the protocol.” Finally, Bedrock was designed from the ground up to be as close to Ethereum as possible. To achieve this, multiple deviations from Ethereum in the previous version of the protocol were removed. The upgrade also supports main Ethereum features on the mainnet, including EIP-1559 and chain re-orgs. Optimism’s Superchain Vision The completion of Bedrock marks a crucial step for Optimism towards realizing its Superchain vision, which would constitute a network of chains all built with Optimism’s OP Stack. The Superchain will combine these mini-chains so that they can communicate with each other in one environment. A common infrastructure will make transferring assets between participating networks easier and provide seamless user experiences. Users can make transactions without manually selecting the most affordable and secure network. Eventually, the Superchain will integrate Optimism into this chain network. It is worth noting that OP Stack has successfully attracted some renowned brands and firms to explore the blockchain. For one, Coinbase, the largest US-based crypto exchange, aims to build its Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution Base using the technology. Similarly, Worldcoin, an AI-resistant identity protocol founded by Sam Altman, has announced that it plans to migrate its newly launched World App from Polygon to Optimism’s ecosystem. The company also announced its commitment to support the Optimism Collective in realizing the Superchain vision. Optimism’s Aim of Solving Ethereum’s Scalability Issues Optimism is a Layer 2 scaling solution for the Ethereum blockchain. It is designed to help Ethereum increase its transaction per second (TPS) capacity while reducing gas fees. The Optimism network uses Optimistic Rollups technology, where a layer of smart contracts runs on top of Ethereum, enabling faster and cheaper transactions. Optimism aims to solve the scalability issues present on Ethereum by allowing off-chain transactions on a secondary network built on top of Ethereum. This approach reduces congestion on Ethereum and makes transactions faster and cheaper for users. The main advantage of Optimism is its compatibility with existing Ethereum contracts, which reduces the need for developers to migrate their applications to a new blockchain. Additionally, it provides a seamless experience for users, who can interact with the same Ethereum addresses and wallets they are already using. The Optimism network saw massive growth last year, increasing its daily active users (DAU) to around 350,000 in September from a low of around 55,000 transactions per day in early July. As of late, the L2 has been recording over 300,000 daily transactions. This article originally appeared on The Tokenist Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»

After launching a commercial version of its Azure OpenAI offering, Microsoft will now add the powerful artificial intelligence language models behind ChatGPT to its Azure Government cloud computing service. After launching a commercial version of its Azure OpenAI offering, Microsoft will now add the powerful artificial intelligence (AI) language models behind ChatGPT to its Azure Government cloud computing service, Bloomberg reported. As a result, major US government agencies such as the Defense Department and NASA will gain access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 models. Microsoft to Implement ChatGPT Technology into Azure Government Microsoft Corp. is set to announce on Wednesday that customers of its Azure Government cloud computing service will now be able to access AI models developed by OpenAI – the prominent AI research lab behind ChatGPT. Although the release will likely not mention specific US government agencies expected to use the technology at its launch, it could include the US Defense Department, the Energy Department, and NASA, as these are federal government customers that use Microsoft’s Azure Government solution, according to Bloomberg. The move will offer government agencies access to two of OpenAI’s large language models (LLMs), including the latest and most powerful GPT-4, and its predecessor, GPT-3, through Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI service. It is confirmed that the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) – a Defense Department’s branch focusing on collecting and sharing military findings – will run experiments using the GPT models via Microsoft’s new product. Microsoft’s government customers can use OpenAI’s LLMs for a broad range of tasks, including getting answers to important research questions, generating computer code, and summarizing field reports, said Azure Global CTO William Chappell in the blog post reviewed by Bloomberg. However, while these agencies can use OpenAI’s models through a chat-like interface, they will not gain access to ChatGPT specifically, said the company’s spokesperson. Microsoft’s Commercial Azure OpenAI Service Seeing Strong Growth Before focusing on its government clients, Microsoft already launched ChatGPT’s underlying AI models to its commercial customers, with its Azure OpenAI service already seeing robust growth in recent months. According to the tech giant, the service was used by 4,500 customers in May, up from 2,500 in the previous quarter. Clients also included big companies such as Mercedes-Benz Group, Volvo, Ikea, and Shell. The Redmond, Washington-based company is the largest investor in OpenAI, which became the most popular AI developer months after its chatbot ChatGPT witnessed unprecedented success and growth. This prompted Microsoft to shift its focus from other areas, such as metaverse to AI, and invest billions of dollars in OpenAI. The tech leader also implemented OpenAI’s language models into its search engine, Bing, which Google overshadowed for decades. The ongoing AI frenzy left many other tech companies racing to launch generative AI services, including Alphabet, China’s Baidu, and Adobe. This article originally appeared on The Tokenist Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»

There are 10 earnings reports scheduled for Thursday, 6 before markets open and 4 after markets close for the day. One report is due out before markets open Friday morning. The following table is based on data from Briefing.com and includes a consensus forecast in dollars for quarterly earnings per share and EPS reported last […] There are 10 earnings reports scheduled for Thursday, 6 before markets open and 4 after markets close for the day. One report is due out before markets open Friday morning. The following table is based on data from Briefing.com and includes a consensus forecast in dollars for quarterly earnings per share and EPS reported last year, and the consensus forecast for quarterly revenue in thousands of dollars. Companies marked with an asterisk have not confirmed the date. We’ve previewed FuelCell Energy and Signet Jewelers earnings, due out Thursday morning, and DocuSign and Vail Resorts, both reporting after markets close Thursday. Company Ticker Consensus EPS Year-ago EPS Consensus Rev (000s) Before markets open Thursday Designer Brands DBI 0.23 0.48 752.09 FuelCell Energy FCEL -0.08 -0.08 25.49 Manchester United * MANU -0.06 -0.13 152.00 REV Group REVG 0.20 0.17 580.47 Signet Jewelers SIG 1.49 2.86 1649.58 Toro TTC 1.52 1.25 1437.77 After markets close Thursday Braze BRZE -0.18 n/a 98.77 DocuSign DOCU 0.56 0.38 641.69 Mission Produce AVO -0.01 0.04 218.11 Vail Resorts MTN 8.81 9.16 1270.34 Before markets open Friday NIO NIO -2.80 -0.79 11786.65 Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

Using data compiled by education research platform Niche, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 best public high schools in the United States. Niche ranked schools based on a weighted index of seven measures, including self-reported standardized test scores, parent and student surveys, extracurricular activities, and indicators of teacher quality. A full description of each measure […] Using data compiled by education research platform Niche, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 best public high schools in the United States. Niche ranked schools based on a weighted index of seven measures, including self-reported standardized test scores, parent and student surveys, extracurricular activities, and indicators of teacher quality. A full description of each measure and its weighting is available here. Charter and magnet schools were excluded from analysis.  American public schools are funded largely at the state and local levels, and some states are investing more in their schools than others. While greater funding does not always translate to better outcomes, many of the high schools on this list are in states that spend far more than average on education. New York, for example, spends an average of over $23,000 per pupil annually on public education, the most of any state. New York is also home to 11 high schools on this list, also the most of any state. (These are the best private schools in America.) Additionally, many of these high schools are located in wealthy areas with a strong tax base for local schools to draw from. These areas include Palo Alto, California, and Lake Forest, Illinois, where most households earn over $170,000 a year. (Here is a look at the richest school district in every state.)  It is important to note that some high schools on this list, though still taxpayer funded, are specialized schools that students often have to apply for or test to get accepted. These schools include South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics and Stuyvesant High School in New York City. Click here to see the best public high schools in America. Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»

In dozens of countries around the world, journalists and media outlets serve as little more than government mouthpieces – and often not by choice. In these places, dissent in the press is often met with intimidation and violence.  Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia has jailed multiple journalists who are openly critical of the […] In dozens of countries around the world, journalists and media outlets serve as little more than government mouthpieces – and often not by choice. In these places, dissent in the press is often met with intimidation and violence.  Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia has jailed multiple journalists who are openly critical of the invasion. Earlier, in 2020, Iran executed a journalist who ran a popular anti-government website. These punitive actions impact more than just the journalists involved and have a chilling effect on all media outlets. (Here is a look at the most corrupt countries in the world.) Using the 2022 World Press Freedom Index from the independent journalism advocacy group Reporters Without Borders, or RSF, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 26 countries with the least press freedom. We ranked countries by their index score, which RSF calculated using press survey data, reviewing 180 countries. We added GDP per capita and population data from the World Bank.  The index is broken down into five distinct subcategories: political context, which measures independence from political pressure; legal framework, a measure of journalistic censorship, discrimination, and legal protections; economic context, which accounts for the overall media business environment; sociocultural context, which includes the press’ ability to cover certain issues that may run counter to the prevailing culture; and finally, safety, a measure of the press’ ability to report without fear of mental, physical, or personal harm.  The countries with the least press freedom span the world from North America to Southeast Asia, and include both Russia and Iran. They are almost exclusively authoritarian and are generally poor. Though the countries on this list span the globe, the vast majority are located in Asia. (Here is a look at the countries the U.S. government doesn’t want you to go to.) Click here to see the worst countries for press freedom, according to reporters without borders. Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»

Attack helicopters have played a huge role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia boasts one of the largest attack helicopter fleets in the world, but despite this size advantage, it has been dealt setbacks, losing an eighth of its helicopters and being forced to change tactics. Even though attack helicopters have changed the face of […] Attack helicopters have played a huge role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia boasts one of the largest attack helicopter fleets in the world, but despite this size advantage, it has been dealt setbacks, losing an eighth of its helicopters and being forced to change tactics. Even though attack helicopters have changed the face of modern war, there is still more to war than air superiority. (Here is every plane in Russia’s air force.) Among military assets, combat helicopters play a pivotal role in modern warfare. They combine reconnaissance, logistics, and combat capabilities, aiding in various operational roles on the battlefield.  To determine the 22 countries with the largest attack helicopter fleets, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed GlobalFirepower, an annually-updated website tracking defense-related statistics of 145 nations. Countries were ranked by the number of attack helicopters in active service. Supplemental data regarding total aircraft fleet size and the most common combat helicopters came from FlightGlobal. Military expenditure data for 2022 came from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Military Expenditure Database. The United States of America indisputably leads the charge with the most extensive attack helicopter fleet globally with over 980 helicopters. With a focus on power projection and force mobility, the U.S. military operates an impressive number of helicopters such as the Apache, Black Hawk, and Chinook CH-47. The Apache is particularly noteworthy for its lethal firepower and sophisticated technology. (Here is every helicopter used by the U.S. armed forces.) Though much smaller than the U.S. fleet, Russia follows the United States, owning the second-largest fleet of attack helicopters at over 530. Russia’s combat fleet is chiefly composed of helicopters such as the Mil Mi-24 (Hind) and Kamov Ka-52 (Alligator). These helicopters are known for their versatility, durability, and aggressive combat features, making them indispensable to the Russian military. China claims the third spot on the list with 281 attack helicopters. Its military mainly employs the Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters and recently introduced the Z-20 medium-lift utility helicopter. While the largest combat helicopter fleets are found in the U.S., Russia, and China, countries across the globe hold sizable combat helicopter fleets. Multiple countries’ fleets have some overlap in the types of helicopters they use, and the countries on the list have at least 33 active combat helicopters. Click here to see countries with the biggest attack helicopter fleets.  Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»

Laws imposing minimum age requirements for the possession and purchase of firearms are intended to reduce access to firearms by young people. These laws are also on the books to lower the number of suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings among America’s youth.  Young people are at serious risk of becoming involved in violent acts against […] Laws imposing minimum age requirements for the possession and purchase of firearms are intended to reduce access to firearms by young people. These laws are also on the books to lower the number of suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings among America’s youth.  Young people are at serious risk of becoming involved in violent acts against themselves or others. According to data from Giffords Law Centers, gun suicides among minors have soared 81% between 2012 and 2021. Data also suggests that young people disproportionately commit gun homicides. According to Giffords, which extrapolated statistics from FBI reports and U.S. Census, 18-to-20-year-olds, who represent just 4% of the U.S. population, account for 17% of known homicide offenders. (These are the 24 states where gun-related crimes are surging.)   To find out the ages at which you can buy and own a gun in every state (plus D.C.), 24/7 Tempo consulted data compiled by the Giffords Law Centers, the National Rifle Association, TheHill, and the gun enthusiast website Pew Pew Tactical. State minimum age laws distinguish between purchasing a handgun or a long gun and possessing one. In many cases, there are no age requirements for the possession of a long gun (rifle, shotgun).  Although federal law prohibits licensed dealers from selling long guns (shotguns, rifles) to those under 18 years old, there is no federal regulation of the sale of long guns by unlicensed dealers or individuals to minors. Similarly, while federal law prohibits handgun sales by licensed dealers to people under 21, unlicensed dealers or individuals are prohibited only from selling handguns to people under 18. Federal law aside, however, many states have imposed a minimum age for the purchase of all firearms, including both handguns and long guns, regardless of where they are purchased. Exceptions are granted in many places for those under the minimum age who are police officers, members of the National Guard or active military, and holders of concealed-carry permits. Click here to see the age at which you can buy or own a gun in every state (plus D.C.) Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Washington, and the District of Columbia all have minimum-age requirements for the possession of handguns that are stricter than the federal minimum age limit of 18. (These are the states with the strictest gun control laws.) Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now......»»

Earnings reports due out Thursday afternoon include those from DocuSign and Vail Resorts. Wednesday morning, markets were somewhat mixed, with the Nasdaq taking a dive, down over 0.6%. The Dow Jones industrials saw a slight gain while the S&P 500 had a slight loss. Despite the broad markets moving in different directions, there was even more action in other areas. West Texas Intermediate crude bounced back from Tuesday by more than 1%, and Bitcoin recovered almost 2% as well. While in a broad sense, investors and brokers alike may be abiding by the old market adage of “sell in May and go away,” there is still action happening around the market in the coming days and weeks. The Federal Reserve has a policy meeting next week in which interest rates are expected to remain flat. Withstanding moves like we may be seeing at the Fed, on the micro level, companies are reporting quarterly results this week, and these could have sizable ramifications for each individual stock. Here is a look at two companies reporting quarterly results late Thursday and what to expect from each report. DocuSign DocuSign Inc. (NASDAQ: DOCU) is scheduled to report its fiscal first-quarter financial results. Analysts expect to see $0.55 in earnings per share (EPS) on $641.8 million in revenue. The same period of last year had $0.38 in EPS on $588.69 million in revenue. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock is down roughly 29%. However, year to date, it is up closer to 7%. Wednesday morning, shares of DocuSign were under 1% higher to near $59, in a 52-week range of $39.57 to $92.04. The consensus price target is $67.46, which implies upside of 14% from the most recent closing price of $59.15. Vail Resorts For Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE: MTN), the fiscal third-quarter consensus estimates project $8.83 in EPS on $1.26 billion in revenue. The same period of last year had $9.16 in EPS and $1.18 billion in revenue. 24/7 Wall St. Mega-Cap Defense Stocks Cheap as Russia-Ukraine War Demand Skyrockets: 5 ‘Strong Buy’ Dividend Picks to Buy Now wallst_recirc_link_tracking_init( "5848798996480c035061af", "graphic" ); This stock has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the past year, with shares actually relatively flat in the past 52 weeks. However, shares are up roughly 7% year to date. Vail Resorts stock was last seen trading down less than 1% to just under $253. The 52-week range is $201.91 to $269.50. The consensus price target of $259.56 implies upside of 1.8% from the most recent closing price of $255.08. Sponsored: Tips for Investing A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit......»»