Latest from Katie Barnfield

• Feb 2, 2023

  Why are investors bullish on Meta again?

  

  Meta released its quarterly earnings yesterday, posting dismal results that showed the company took in only half the profits earned last year. But investors are bullish for a number of reasons, including cost-cutting measures and good signs that Facebook is doing well. A new report shows that undergraduate college enrollment is stabilizing after prolonged declines, but not for majors that lead to careers in health care. And, a new agreement between the U.S., Netherlands, and Japan will further restrict the flow of advanced microchips to China. 

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• Feb 2, 2023

  Looking to learn about economics? Start with inequality

  

  Any student studying introductory economics could tell you about traditional concepts like efficiency, production functions, and others. But there’s one essential concept that’s often glossed over: economic inequality. As part of our Marketplace Crash Course series, we spoke with Homa Zarghamee, professor of economics at Barnard College, about inequality and why it’s important to learn about. And, a look into why the Fed chose to raise rates by a quarter-point yesterday.

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• Feb 2, 2023

  Shell’s profits soar, but is it spending enough on green energy?

  From the BBC World Service: The war in Ukraine and responses to it pushed oil and gas prices to record highs in 2022. It’s meant bumper profits for the world’s oil majors, and today was Shell’s turn with profits of $40bn. But what is it doing with the windfall? Plus, the Indian conglomerate Adani group continues to see its share price collapse after a highly critical report by the U.S. short seller Hindenburg Research. The company’s boss Gautam Adani has lost the title of Asia’s richest man, but he’s fighting back insisting the business is “robust”.

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• Feb 1, 2023

  The Fed is about to make a lot less money for the government

  

  The Federal Reserve has been one of the largest single sources of revenue in recent years for the federal government. But now, thanks to low returns on assets and high borrowing costs, the central bank is set to be much less profitable. We check in on markets ahead of today’s Fed rate decision with Susan Schmidt, Head of Public Equities at the State of Wisconsin Investment Fund. And, Western states sharing water resources from the Colorado River have again blown past a federal deadline to cut water usage after California held out on a deal.

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• Feb 1, 2023

  Chip shortage no longer — there’s now a glut

  

  No longer facing the blistering demand for microchips seeing during the peak of the pandemic, chip-making giants like AMD and Intel are seeing their profits decrease. We look into what that says about the wider malaise seen in the tech sector. The BBC reports on one 22-year-old Princeton student’s tool to detect AI-generated text. And, an early farewell to the iconic Boeing 747, which formally stopped being produced this week. 

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• Feb 1, 2023

  India bets on a budget boost

  

  From the BBC World Service: We look at India’s finances as it tries to supercharge its manufacturing sector in a final budget before key elections. Plus, with the value of gold heading to new highs we hear from a mine in Scotland. And, why spending on players in England’s top soccer league continues to break records.

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• Jan 31, 2023

  Why Gen-Z is bringing back their parents’ digital cameras

  

  Young people have done it again — “it” being reviving an old piece of technology from the dead. This time, it’s old digital cameras that their parents likely used. We talked to David Little, head of the International Center of Photography, about the latest trend. Johnson & Johnson is seemingly deeper in legal trouble after a court rejected its bankruptcy filing amid lawsuits over its baby powder. And, on the third anniversary of Brexit, the BBC reports on the increasing pressure over the UK’s land border with Ireland, an EU member.

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• Jan 31, 2023

  Global growth outlook more optimistic for 2023, says IMF

  

  The global economy is projected to be low in the coming year but beat previous expectations, a fresh report from the International Monetary Fund says. Optimism about inflation, loosening supply chain backlogs, and the re-opening of China are all contributing to rosier predictions. A check-in with the so-called “resolution economy,” which revolves primarily around people wanting to improve themselves in the new year. And, the French tech company Thales has launched a credit card that talks as an aid for people with visual impairments. 

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• Jan 31, 2023

  Is there a Brexit dividend three years on?

  

  From the BBC World Service: Three years on what has Brexit meant for businesses in the U.K. and the European Union? Britain’s official exit from the E.U. and its single market on January the 31st, 2019 marked the biggest shake-up of the economy for decades. How have businesses responded and what impact has it had? Plus, negotiations continue over the U.K.’s one land border with the E.U., between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We hear about the complexities involved and the dual status enjoyed by businesses in Northern Ireland that can still operate within the E.U. single market.

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• Jan 30, 2023

  Nissan and Renault seemingly kiss and make up

  

  Nissan and Renault, two of the world’s largest automakers, announced that they are renewing their alliance after months of talks. The relationship previously deteriorated after a financial scandal involving past CEO-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn. The Federal Reserve faces a tough decision on how much it should raise interest rates at the bank’s next meeting. And, Ukraine has arguably been fighting two wars simultaneously — one against Russian invaders, and another against corruption at home. 

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