Daybreak Jan. 20: USDA’s Taylor sees opportunity to improve US-China relationship

Daybreak Jan. 20: USDA’s Taylor sees opportunity to improve US-China relationship

A trade war between the U.S. and China during the Trump administration added to tensions between the two countries. But China is still the largest foreign market for U.S. farmers, and USDA’s top trade official sees an opportunity to improve ties through agriculture. “We’re reinvesting in that relationship,” Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor told reporters at USDA’s Washington headquarters Thursday. “There is an opportunity coming out of the past several years. There are areas of collaboration to invest in with that Chinese relationship,” Taylor said. Taylor stressed that there will be a “whole host of challenges” in finding common ground with China, a country that often does not live up to “a rules-based system.” But she noted that both countries do have common goals in improving innovation and food security. Groups organizing to get farm bill climate focus A coalition of groups representing small-scale farmers as well as farmworkers and minority producers is organizing a gathering on Capitol Hill in March to call for the next farm bill to put a focus on addressing climate change. Organizers are likening the event to the 1979 Tractorcade, when farmers massed in D.C. to demand federal policy reforms. […]

Apple: Why Recent Underperformance Is A Buying Opportunity

Apple: Why Recent Underperformance Is A Buying Opportunity

Summary Apple’s stock has lagged the broader market in recent months. The stock is attractively valued based on historical price-EBITDA relationships and analyst estimates. A robust product release schedule for 2023 will provide a boost. Apple has best-in-class returns on capital which supports a premium valuation even in today’s market. Nikada/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images What Goes Down… Over the last few months, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) stock has done something that it doesn’t often do: underperform. Since the company’s last earnings call on October 27th, the stock has broken away from the broader market, returning -4% while the S&P 500 ( SPY ) has delivered 8.5%. AAPL vs SPY Since October 2022 (Koyfin) The reason for this short-term underperformance isn’t exactly obvious. Apple, after all, reported record revenues in its October earnings release, and Tim Cook announced that the company has yet to feel the sting of consumer softness in the economy. Investors, however, don’t seem to have believed him. From worries about production issues in China to softening demand for the iPhone that investors seem certain will materialize at some point, investors just seem plain worried that something will go awry at the world’s largest company. We […]

New Year Opens Window of Opportunity for Bond Investors

New Year Opens Window of Opportunity for Bond Investors

Investors may be able to lock in higher yield levels notes Doug Drabik, Managing Director, Fixed Income Research and Nick Goetze, Managing Director, Fixed Income Solutions. To read the full article, see the Investment Strategy Quarterly publication linked below. Key takeaways: Income and cash flow investors are presented with an opportunity to lock in higher yield levels. The inverted yield curve is thought to precede a recession but is also an indicator of lower future rates. In our view, value lies in the intermediate part of the curves. Locking in these rates may give investors strong income benefits to work alongside individual bonds’ protective asset qualities. Whether you are an investor seeking total return or just earning income, there appears to be a window of opportunity in fixed income. Persistent volatility accosted the bond market in 2022, creating prevalent investor uncertainty which could be attributed to various economic circumstances, including: inflation, geopolitical events and recessionary fears. The general trend of interest rates throughout the year moved the 10-year Treasury yield in a range from 1.52% to 4.25%. As you may already know, there is an inverse relationship between bond rates and bond prices. The longer the maturity, the greater […]

HUD Announces $5.5 Million in Funding Opportunity for Hispanic Serving Institutions

HUD Announces $5.5 Million in Funding Opportunity for Hispanic Serving Institutions

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it will make available $5.5 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to establish research Centers of Excellence (COEs) to conduct housing and community development research. This funding opportunity will help strengthen capacity and invest in innovative and actionable research to address issues regarding housing, economic development, and the built environment for underserved communities. “Hispanic institutions of higher learning often serve as leaders within their communities, driving priorities and economic development,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge , “At HUD, we are proud to partner with Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to continue to develop strong communities, build affordable housing, create job opportunities, revitalize neighborhoods, and promote homeownership. The funding availability we’ve announced today will strengthen efforts for these institutions to expand opportunities for underserved communities and promote equitable community development.” “HSIs across the country already serve as opportunity accelerators for students and anchors for their communities,” said Solomon Greene, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research . “These grants can help build their capacity to research and address some of the most pressing housing and community development issues in the communities surrounding […]

Lansing man uses TikTok to grow his business, spread positive messages

Lansing man uses TikTok to grow his business, spread positive messages

It’s not easy for small businesses to compete with larger corporations, but one man in Lansing is paving his own path to success. LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – It’s not easy for small businesses to compete with larger corporations, but one man in Lansing is paving his own path to success and he’s doing it through social media. Aondray Worthy owns WalkWorthy , a store that sells custom menswear. You might come across his store at the Lansing Mall, but you might not know how Worthy put his brand on the map. It’s not just the stylish clothes he creates, Worthy wants to spread the message of confidence – and he does that through TikTok . His social media accounts allow him to reach people he never thought he could. “I was able to grow my TikTok following, I think we’re sitting somewhere at like, 27,000?” Worthy said. “WalkWorthy is more about whats on the inside and allowing whats on the inside to reflect on the outside.” But it’s not just about promoting himself or WalkWorthy. “I try to do it in terms of promoting a positive message. For instance, right behind us? That’s my son” Worthy said. “And I […]

These Central Florida counties see rise in new business applications

These Central Florida counties see rise in new business applications

Florida’s Orange County ranked high among U.S. counties seeing a rise in new business applications. The county ranked No. 12 nationally with 51,354 new business applications in 2021, according to data pulled by Forbes Advisor . Data for the new business applications came from the U.S. Census Bureau, and Forbes highlighted data going back to 2006. Why this matters: New business formations often can highlight places with population growth, as well as locations where businesses are looking to cluster together. Orange County was ranked No. 3 in Florida, behind Miami-Dade County (135,710) and Broward County (84,045). Miami-Dade was the second-highest nationally, behind Los Angeles County in California (178,467), but ahead of Cook County in Illinois (118,325). Seminole County was the only other Central Florida county to rank in the top 100 nationally, at No. 96. Here’s how many new business applications each county had during 2021, as well as how they ranked in Florida: Orange: 51,354, No. 3 Osceola: 12,108, No. 10 Seminole: 11,400, No. 11 Brevard: 10,655, No. 12 Volusia: 10,492, No. 13 Lake: 7,377, No. 19 In total, there were more than 5.4 million business applications in the U.S. in 2021, up from 4.4 million in 2020. […]

Tuck Makes GMAT/GRE Waiver Available for Those Disrupted by Layoffs

Tuck Makes GMAT/GRE Waiver Available for Those Disrupted by Layoffs

Tuck seeks to reach high-performing talent recently laid off. “We invite them to explore Tuck’s distinctly personal, connected, and transformative MBA experience,” says Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Lawrence Mur’ray. by Tuck Communications Since August 1, there have been thousands of employees in highly skilled jobs who have unexpectedly received a pink slip. Technology has been the industry predominantly in the headlines regarding layoffs, but no sector has gone unaffected. In response to this rapid shift in the market, the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth is announcing a special admissions initiative to meet the needs and potential of high-performing talent recently laid off. From now through March 1, 2023, those impacted will have the ability to request a GMAT/GRE test waiver when applying to Tuck’s full-time MBA program. There’s an influx of exceptionally talented individuals in the labor market right now who may have been considering business school someday down the road and the road just took an unexpected sharp turn on them, says Lawrence Mur’ray, executive director of Admissions and Financial Aid. We are talking about smart, accomplished, ambitious people who have been laid off, are trying to figure out next steps, and now have […]

Legal Requirements For Starting A New Business: What Entrepreneurs Should Know

Legal Requirements For Starting A New Business: What Entrepreneurs Should Know

By YEC When starting your business, it’s important to get all legal matters in order as soon as possible. getty If you’re a new entrepreneur, an important task is ensuring that your business is compliant with all local, state and federal regulations. Some legal matters require immediate consideration, and you will want to address those issues as soon as possible. To help, Young Entrepreneur Council members share 10 essential tasks to handle right away when starting a business. When first starting your business, it’s important to get all the legal matters in order as soon as possible. In your experience, what’s one legal consideration new entrepreneurs should be sure to handle right away and why? 1. Set up a company mailing address It’s important to set up a company mailing address, especially if you are a remote business and don’t have a physical location. This address will be used in all of your email correspondence, legal documents, and more. You can set this up through a registered agent or through a company that handles mailboxes for businesses. Be aware you can’t use a P.O. Box to receive certain government forms and you may need a physical mailing address. —Nathalie […]

Do I Need A CPA For My Small Business?

Do I Need A CPA For My Small Business?

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations. Table of Contents Every small business owner gets to the point where they worry about the tax implications of their business, as well as having to handle accounting and other obligations. Trying to single-handedly juggle these tasks can lead to a lot of inefficiency and chaos. For this reason, many opt to hire a certified public accountant (CPA) who can handle these tasks on the behalf of your business. What Is a CPA? A CPA, or certified public accountant, is a highly skilled financial specialist who has been licensed to provide accounting services to the public. Licensure requirements include passing the rigorous Uniform CPA Exam, complying with additional state requirements and possessing a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 150 credits alongside one to two-plus years of public accounting work experience. CPAs help business owners keep track of their finances including taxes and government filings, and also provide sound financial advice. CPA vs. Accountant vs. Bookkeeper [Compared] Bookkeeper Accountant CPA Specialist for Keeping and maintaining accounting records Analyzing financial records to get projections and budgets Financial advising, auditing […]

UPDATE 1-U.S. Fed probes Goldman Sachs consumer business - WSJ

UPDATE 1-U.S. Fed probes Goldman Sachs consumer business – WSJ

(Adds shares, details from WSJ report, Goldman response, background) Jan 20 (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Reserve is probing the consumer business of Goldman Sachs Group Inc to determine whether the bank had appropriate safeguards in place as it ramped up lending, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Shares of the investment bank were down nearly 3%. The central bank is concerned the Wall Street giant did not have proper monitoring and control systems inside Marcus, its consumer unit, as it grew larger, the report said. The probe, which grew out of a standard Fed review of the business in 2021 and intensified into an investigation last year, is also examining instances of customer harm and whether they were properly resolved, the report added. "The Federal Reserve is our primary federal bank regulator and we do not comment on the accuracy or inaccuracy of matters relating to discussions with them," a Goldman spokesperson told Reuters. Bloomberg News reported in September that the bank’s Marcus unit was facing a Fed review. The probe would add to troubles for Goldman, which is executing a strategic pivot that includes refocusing on its core trading and […]