analysis

In 2024, Americans will plant more corn than soybeans — as they have for over a century in most years — and a green diesel boom could dethrone that old adage that US farmers like to plant corn. There are already companies including Cargill Inc. and Bunge Global SA planning to expand capacity to 86.5 million acres — according to the median average of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg before the US Department of Agriculture’s projected corn acreage - reports — on Thursday.

The state will have one of the country’s most restrictive social media bans for minors in a bill signed on Monday by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The bill would also ban 14- and 15-year-olds from social media accounts if it withstands expected legal challenges. It took effect Jan. 1 as the new law was Republican speaker Paul Renner’s top legislative priority.

American stocks have “limited upside” from this point on, given the macroeconomic backdrop. While the base case is for the Fed to engineer a soft landing and for the U.S. economy to avoid a recession in 2023, James Ashley, head of international market strategy, said on Wednesday that if the Fed were to hike in 2023, it would be '24 not '23.' -

China has initiated dispute resolution proceedings against the United States at the WTO to protect its interests in the electric vehicle industry, the Chinese mission said on Tuesday and confirmed the WTO. The wide-ranging law provides billions in tax credits to help consumers buy electric vehicles and companies produce renewable energy as President Joe Biden aims to decarbonise the powerful U.S. power sector.

Chinese business leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, the latest of Beijing's efforts to boost foreign investment in China amid pending bilateral tensions with the United States. Blackstone #BX founder Stephen Schwarzman, Qualcomm #QCOM President and CEO Cristiano Amon, Bloomberg Chair Mark Carney and FedEx #FDX President Rajesh Subramaniam were among the attendees, according to state media. https://tinyurl.com/2cazdntv

Japan stepped closer to intervention with its strongest warning yet as the yen slid to the weakest level in about 34 years against the dollar in Tokyo on Wednesday, passing the 151.95 level that led Japan to intervene in October 2022. Traders later backed away when Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki ramped up his hints of possible action. The yen then strengthened later in the day after a report of a meeting between officials of the Finance Ministry, the central bank and the financial

Consumer confidence in France rose to 91 in March 2024, reaching January’s near two-year high and compared to market estimates and February’s 90. Consumers were less pessimistic about the financial situation (-34 vs - 10) and the standard of living (-41 vs -42), the unemployment outlook decreased (22 vs 26) and future inflation is low (-50 vs -48).

On Tuesday, H&M shares increased 14% in early deals after the Swedish retailer beat its financial first quarter profit expectations by 2.08 billion Swedish krona ($196 million) compared to the forecast of 1.43 billion krona by analysts in a LSEG poll. The company reiterated its target of 10% operating margin in the first quarter, which reached 53.7 billion krona from 54.9 billion krona. H&M previously announced a focus on profitability amid pressure from growing competition from Zara

** U.S. small-cap stocks ** are performing (https://www.ft.com/content/e0029cb2-df39-41bd-b17b-808503b240c3)**** the worst in more than 20 years compared with large caps, suggesting investors have chased mega-cap tech stocks while smaller groups are weighed down by high interest rates** https://tinyurl.com/2xmrptlc

Thailand's parliament approves same-sex marriage bill