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Tehran Signals Defiance as Supreme Leader Vows Retaliation and Strait Closure

  A man holds a picture of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, while people attend a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in strikes, in Tehran Iran’s Supreme Leader issued his first public remarks following the deaths of senior Iranian commanders, vowing that the country will “avenge the martyrs” and maintain the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz until what he described as “justice” is served. His comments, delivered during a nationally broadcast address, underscore a sharp escalation in rhetoric at a moment of heightened regional tension. The Supreme Leader framed the recent losses as sacrifices in the defense of Iran’s sovereignty, promising that those responsible “will face consequences.” He also reaffirmed Iran’s decision to keep the Strait closed, a move that has already disrupted global shipping routes and rattled energy markets. The strait, one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for oil transport, has long been a flas...

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Fed’s stance on interest rates rattles Wall Street


Wall Street recovered some of its losses on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve signaled that it is not planning to cut interest rates anytime soon.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1%, following the worst single-day downturn since September on Wednesday.

The Fed left its main interest rate unchanged and said it does not expect to lower it “until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward” its 2% target.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank needs more data to confirm that inflation is easing, despite recent signs of slowing wage growth and consumer spending.

“We’re not declaring victory at all,” Powell said. "We have confidence. It has been increasing, but we want to get greater confidence."

Investors were hoping for a more dovish tone from the Fed, as they worry about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, trade tensions, and geopolitical risks on the global economy.

Some sectors, such as technology and health care, bounced back on Thursday, while others, such as energy and financials, remained under pressure.

Shares of Align Technology, the maker of Invisalign teeth straighteners, surged more than 12% after beating analysts’ expectations for sales and profit.

More economic data is expected on Friday, with the release of the monthly jobs report for January.

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