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New Diplomacy on the Horizon: U.S. and Russia Push Ahead Without Ukraine

  In a bold shift from previous diplomatic efforts, top U.S. and Russian officials have agreed to advance negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine—even as Ukrainian representatives remain notably absent. High-level talks held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussing the framework for future peace negotiations and steps toward restoring bilateral relations. The Trump administration’s approach, which prioritizes direct engagement with Moscow, marks a departure from longstanding principles that insisted on “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” Critics in Kyiv have voiced strong opposition. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that any agreement reached without Ukraine’s participation would be unacceptable and would undermine the nation’s sovereignty. European leaders echoed these concerns, with several officials labeling the move as a dangerous precedent that could lead to a “dirty deal...

Dow Jones Industrial Average Closes Above 40,000 for the First Time

 


In a historic milestone, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) achieved a significant feat by closing above 40,000 points for the first time ever. This remarkable achievement capped off a winning week for stocks, as major indices notched weekly gains.

Record Highs and Weekly Wins

  • The Dow rose 0.3% on Friday, reaching a record high of 40,003.59 points.
  • The broader market also performed well:
    • The S&P 500 ticked up 0.1%.
    • The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1% but still secured a weekly win.

Fed Officials and Inflation Concerns

The stock market rally faced a minor setback due to comments from Federal Reserve officials. They warned that interest rates are likely to remain at historic highs for some time. Encouraging inflation data earlier in the week had raised hopes of a September rate cut, but these remarks tempered expectations.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Pre-Recorded Remarks

  • Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, delivered his remarks through a pre-recorded video. He emphasized the central bank’s commitment to monitoring inflation and adjusting rates as needed.
  • US Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman reiterated her view that the central bank has not made sufficient progress in curbing inflation this year. She expressed readiness to raise rates if incoming data indicates further inflationary pressures.

Individual Movers

  • Reddit (RDDT) shares surged 10% after the social media platform announced a partnership with OpenAI. This collaboration will integrate content from Reddit forums into ChatGPT.
  • GameStop (GME) shares, on the other hand, declined over 19%. The games retailer expects first-quarter sales to drop as shoppers shift to online outlets. Despite an initial rally reminiscent of the 2021 frenzy, the stock has faced recent downward pressure.

Looking Ahead

As corporate earnings season winds down, several key players are set to report next week. Notable names include Zoom, Lowe’s, Target, and Nvidia—the latter capitalizing on the growing demand for AI technology.

In summary, the Dow’s breakthrough above 40,000 points reflects both market optimism and cautious attention to inflation dynamics. Investors will closely monitor future developments as the economy continues to recover and adapt to changing circumstances.

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