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Ukraine Marks Somber Anniversary as Zelenskyy Vows Resolve Amid Fractured Allied Support

Ukrainians pay tribute to victims of the Russian invasion, on the day marking the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion. As Ukraine enters another year of full‑scale war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used the anniversary to deliver a message of defiance and endurance. Speaking to the nation, he emphasized that Ukraine’s determination to resist Russia has not weakened, even as the conflict grinds on with no clear end in sight. Zelenskyy highlighted the sacrifices made by civilians and soldiers alike, framing Ukraine’s struggle as a fight for national survival and democratic values. His remarks came at a moment when international unity — once a defining feature of the early months of the invasion — shows signs of strain. Several of Ukraine’s key partners remain committed to providing military and financial support, but political divisions, shifting priorities, and domestic pressures in some allied countries have complicated efforts to maintain a cohesive front. Debates...

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Wall Street Rallies Despite Fed's Tapering Plans

 


Stocks rose on Friday, extending their gains for the week, as investors shrugged off the hawkish tone of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's testimony to Congress. Powell signaled that the Fed is ready to start tapering its bond purchases as soon as November, and that interest rate hikes could follow sooner than expected. However, he also acknowledged that the economic recovery is still facing headwinds from the delta variant of the coronavirus and supply chain disruptions.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.7%, or 238 points, to close at 35,677. The S&P 500 gained 0.8%, or 34 points, to end at 4,544. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.9%, or 139 points, to finish at 15,212. All three major indexes posted weekly gains of more than 1%.

The dollar weakened against a basket of major currencies, as traders reduced their bets on a faster pace of monetary tightening. The dollar index fell 0.3% to 93.38. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged lower to 1.45%, after hitting a three-month high of 1.54% on Thursday.

Wall Street analysts said that Powell's comments were largely priced in by the market, and that investors are focusing on the strong earnings outlook and the prospects of more fiscal stimulus from Washington. They also noted that the Fed's tapering plans are contingent on the economic data, which could change depending on the evolution of the pandemic and inflation.

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