EUR/USD Mid-Session Technical Analysis for October 21, 2019

The Euro is trading lower on Monday after posting a two-sided trade earlier in the session. The lack of clarity over Brexit is creating uncertainty, which is making it difficult for the bulls and the bears to establish a position. This uncertainty is likely to continue until European Union officials make a decision over an extension of the Brexit deadline, which could be as early as today, or UK parliament members vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's exit deal later this week.

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  Boris Johnson faces frenzied week as Brexit deadline nears

  Associated Press
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  U.K.'s Bercow Blocks Vote on Johnson's Brexit Deal Today

  Bloomberg

Netflix aims to raise another $2 billion in debt as content budget reaches $15 billion

Netflix Inc. announced on Tuesday its intentions to raise another $2 billion in debt financing. The Los Gatos, California-based streaming giant said that it will offer senior unsecured notes in two series through an offering to qualified institutional buyers. Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) said that it will use the funds for "general corporate purposes" including content, which the company confirmed in its Q3 shareholder letter last week will total $15 billion in 2019 — its biggest annual content budget yet — as it braces for the launch of two new rival streaming services next month from Disney and Apple.

• [video]Netflix Shares Slip After Company Announces $2 Billion Bond Offering

  TheStreet.com
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  Netflix Borrowing $2 Billion as War for Content Heats Up

  Bloomberg

Bernstein’s Lim Sees Investors Staying on the Sidelines in China

Joanne Lim, algorithmic and portfolio trader at Bernstein, discusses China's Loan Prime Rate, markets and her outlook for the property sector. She speaks on “Bloomberg Markets: China Open.

3 ‘Strong Buy’ Energy Stocks with Over 9% Dividend Yield

The low prices have pushed down stock prices in the energy sector, which has paradoxically opened an opportunity for income investors. The energy sector's production companies benefit from dealing in commodities – oil and gas – that are always in demand. Low share prices are attractive to investors, and the companies have been following two strategies to boost their shares.

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  Is It Worth Buying FS Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSBW) For Its 1.5% Dividend Yield?

  Simply Wall St.
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  It Might Not Be A Great Idea To Buy Premier Investments Limited (ASX:PMV) For Its Next Dividend

  Simply Wall St.

Southwest buying another airline? Carrier downgraded on M&A speculation

Southwest Airlines was downgraded from "buy" to "hold" by an investment bank based on speculation that it might look to solve its 737 Max issue through an acquisition. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has hundreds of 737 Max planes on order through Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA). "An acquisition by Southwest motivated by a desire to diversify away from the Max creates significant risks in the near term for LUV," Stifel analysts said in a Monday research note speculating whether low-cost carriers Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) and JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) could be M&A targets.

China seeks $2.4 billion in sanctions against U.S. in Obama-era case - WTO

China is seeking $2.4 billion (£1.9 billion) in retaliatory sanctions against the United States for non-compliance with a WTO ruling in a tariffs case dating to the Obama era, a document published on Monday showed. WTO appeals judges said in July that the United States did not fully comply with a WTO ruling and could face Chinese sanctions if it does not remove certain tariffs that break the watchdog's rules. The WTO's Dispute Settlement Body effectively gave Beijing a green light to seek compensatory sanctions in mid-August.

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  China seeks $2.4 billion in sanctions against U.S. in Obama-era case: WTO

  Reuters
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  U.S.-China trade tensions still simmer after deal

  Reuters Videos

Ford Botches Explorer Launch, Putting CEO Back on the Hot Seat

The company is shipping the new Explorer -- the all-time best-selling SUV nameplate in the U.S. -- to dealers now and performing additional quality inspections as needed, she said. Big Negative' Ford probably will report on Wednesday that third-quarter profit slipped to 26 cents a share, according to analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg, down from 29 cents a year ago. Automotive revenue is expected to dip to $34.3 billion, from $34.7 billion.

The 401(k) retirement is coming — are you prepared?

Most retirees rely on retirement income they didn't personally put away for their futures, although they did work for it. Young adults won't have that luxury, and they know it, a recent survey found. All but 5% of current retirees consider Social Security and a pension plan as their primary sources of retirement income, according to a Wells Fargo (WFC) survey released Friday.

This couple fought $25,000 in fraudulent credit-card charges after falling prey to identity theft — then things got worse

Amy Wang and her husband spent hundreds of hours trying to straighten out their financial futures after falling prey to identity theft. Amy, a 50-year-old occupational therapist in Miami, says she and her husband, Michael Wang, started receiving credit-card denials and store credit cards in the mail in December of 2015. The shoppers had expensive taste, Amy said, opting for luxuries like diamond earrings, Gucci and Armani.

Economists and policy makers are ‘sleepwalking’ toward next financial crisis, Mervyn King says

A sense of gloom about the global economy permeated the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings over the past week in Washington. The international organizations officially slashed their global growth forecasts and warned of dire consequences if the standoff between the U.S. and China over the future of the global trading system is not ended. If there was a prize for the gloomiest speaker at the gathering, it might have gone to former Bank of England governor Mervyn King, who used his experience as a policy maker to try to shake current officials into action.

Baker Brothers Makes $730 Million in One Day on Its Biotech Bet

The investment firm founded by Felix and Julian Baker made a big bet in the company, their biggest in fact, with a 29% stake, as of June 30, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Baker Bros. has been invested in the company for over 15 years, and Felix Baker is a lead director for the biotech. Today Seattle Genetics makes up over 28% of Baker Bros.'s $15.5 billion in assets.

Infosys U.S. listed shares plunge after whistleblower complaints

U.S.-listed shares of Infosys Ltd fell nearly 16% in premarket trading on Monday after the Indian software services exporter said it had received whistleblower complaints alleging "unethical practices" by the company's executives. The company issued a statement after The Economic Times reported https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/whistleblower-complaint-placed-before-audit-committee-infosys/articleshow/71686001.cms that an anonymous group sent letters to Infosys' board and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleging that the company was taking "unethical" steps to boost short-term revenue and profit. The complaints follow a strong quarterly show by Infosys, which raised the lower end of its annual revenue forecast on upbeat demand for its digital services from Western clients.

• Infosys stock slammed after it says it has received whistleblower complaints alleging unethical practices

  MarketWatch
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  Infosys Whistleblowers Allege ‘Unethical Practices’, Shares Fall

  Bloomberg

Probability of a ‘No-Deal’ Brexit Very Low, Says Eastspring’s Graham

Colin Graham, chief investment officer of multi-asset solutions at Eastspring Investments, discusses the Brexit vote, its impact on the pound and his outlook for markets. He speaks on “Bloomberg Markets: Asia.

What the IRS doesn’t tell you about self-employment taxes

Do you owe the dreaded 15.3% self-employment (SE) tax on random non-employee income that you only collect occasionally or in a one-off circumstance? This column explains why you probably don't owe SE tax, after first covering some necessary background information. The SE tax is the way the Feds collect Social Security and Medicare taxes on non-salary income from work-related activities.

Apple Stock Spikes To Record High On Bullish Pre-Earnings Report

Apple stock surged to an all-time high on Monday after getting a positive analyst report ahead of its September-quarter earnings release. Apple plans to report its fiscal fourth-quarter results on Oct. 30. In morning trading on the stock market today, Apple stock rose 1.8%, near 240.70.

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  SAP Q3 Earnings Rise Y/Y, Cloud Strength Aids Top-Line Growth

  Zacks
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  Analysts Estimate Everest Re (RE) to Report a Decline in Earnings: What to Look Out for

  Zacks

Why the bull market won’t end with a typical crash, says hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio

The U.S. and China may be nearing a tentative, partial trade agreement but the IMF's new leader has warned the trade truce won't be enough to boost global growth. Another ongoing dispute may also be nearing a resolution, with the U.K. and EU agreeing a Brexit deal, though British MPs still have to approve it. But the U.S. has confirmed tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of European goods will take effect on Friday, proving that geopolitical tensions are here to stay.

Four major players in the US opioid crisis reached a tentative deal in Ohio

Four major drug companies reached a settlement in Ohio today, narrowly avoiding a trial that was expected to set the tone for opioid lawsuits across the US. Attorneys for the plaintiffs announced the settlement just hours before a trial pitting opioid distributors and manufacturers against the Ohio counties of Cuyahoga and Summit was set to begin in a US District Court. While the exact terms of the settlement are not available, Teva, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson agreed to pay $260 million to compensate communities hit by the opioid epidemic, according to the Wall Street Journal (paywall).

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  $260 million deal averts 1st federal trial on opioid crisis

  Associated Press
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  Drug Firms Ink Last-Minute $215 Million Deal Ahead Of Opioid Trial

  Investor's Business Daily

This woman went from deep debt to retirement riches in a few years by teaching herself financial literacy

Yanely Espinal knows what the power of a financial education — she came from a low-income home with two parents and nine children, and ended up with credit card and student loan debt even after receiving a full scholarship to college. The Brooklyn native said she often saw a difference between herself and some of the wealthier students around her. She attended high school near Lincoln Center in Manhattan, where many students wore brand-name clothes and returned from holiday break with the latest gadgets.

Want to Live in Hawaii? Good News: Home Values Have Cooled

Thanks to ultra-low mortgage rates, it's an excellent time to buy or sell a home across the U.S. But what about in Hawaii? Home values have been flat throughout Hawaii and are up 0.05% from a year ago. Statewide, the median value for a single-family home — meaning half are worth more, half are worth less — is currently $616,600 , Zillow says.

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  Home Values Go Higher in Washington

  MoneyWise
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  Home Values Are Rising in Nevada

  MoneyWise

Analysts Are Taking a Knife to Their 2020 Profit Estimates

Despite a week of decent results, analysts last week chopped estimates for combined S&P 500 earnings in 2020 by almost $1, to $178.40 a share. Down 0.5%, the decline was the biggest for any week since January, data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence showed. To be sure, analysts almost always over-estimate future earnings and lower their forecasts as a period draws near.

Blackstone’s billionaire co-founder says investors should worry about these 5 market dilemmas

For Blackstone co-founder and chief executive Stephen Schwarzman, worrying is fun. In his new memoir What it Takes, the private-equity titan advises readers that worrying “is playful, engaging work that requires you never switch it off.” This approach helped him to protect Blackstone Group Inc. (BX) investors from the worst of the subprime real estate crisis, he told MarketWatch in an interview Monday afternoon. The deep-pocketed investor, who has accumulated a net worth of $17.3 billion, according to Forbes, said “there are a lot of things going on” today that should have investors' antennae finely tuned.

3 tax-planning hacks you should make before the end of the year

Set up loved ones for 0% tax rate on investment income After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains (LTCGs) and qualified dividends from securities held in taxable brokerage firm accounts can still 0%, even for those with relatively healthy incomes. Yes, it's true. While your income may be too high to benefit from the 0% rate, you may have children, grandchildren, or other loved ones who will be in the 0% bracket.