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Futures subdued in cautious trading ahead of inflation data

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Futures subdued in cautious trading ahead of inflation data

 U.S. stock index futures were subdued on Friday as investors awaited a fresh inflation reading next week after recent economic data stoked worries interest rates could remain higher for longer.

Stronger-than-expected services activity data and a fall in weekly jobless claims have dented investor sentiment, dragging the S&P 500 (.SPX) and Nasdaq (.IXIC) 1.4% and 2% lower so far this week, respectively.

The Consumer Price Index reading for August is due on Sept. 13, while the Federal Reserve’s policy decision is scheduled for Sept. 20.

“While our base case is for no further hikes in this cycle, we expect economic uncertainty to keep equity markets volatile and range-bound in the coming months,” said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management.

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Traders see a 93% chance of interest rates staying at current levels in September, while pricing in a 55.4% chance for a pause in rate hikes in the November meeting, according to CME FedWatch Tool.

Shares of Apple (AAPL.O) were flat in premarket trading after a two-day selloff following news that Beijing had ordered central government employees in recent weeks to stop using iPhones at workplaces.

Another report on Friday said China was expanding iPhone restrictions to local governments and state-owned companies.

Wall Street analysts see a small hit to Apple’s revenue this year from the curbs, with Morgan Stanley saying the worst case scenario was a 4% drop.

At 7:07 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were down 30 points, or 0.09%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 4.25 points, or 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 22 points, or 0.14%.

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Investors also digested mixed commentary from several Fed speakers on Thursday.

New York Fed President John Williams kept his options open over future interest rate policy and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said while it “could be appropriate” to skip a rate hike in the upcoming meeting, more policy tightening might be needed.

San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Mary Daly is due to speak later in the day.

Among individual stocks, Faraday Future Intelligent Electric (FFIE.O) jumped 9.0% before the bell. The electric-vehicle maker said there were efforts to spread misinformation about the company and manipulate market sentiment.

Adobe (ADBE.O) rose 1.8% after Mizuho upgraded the software firm to “buy” from “neutral”.

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DocuSign (DOCU.O) added 3.1% as the e-Signature product provider beat second-quarter results estimates and raised its annual revenue forecast.

GameStop (GME.N) fell 2.3% on a report that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was investigating the videogame retailer’s chairman, Ryan Cohen. 

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Star Entertainment says Hard Rock-led group weighs bid, shares surge

Star Entertainment says Hard Rock-led group weighs bid, shares surge

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Star Entertainment says Hard Rock-led group weighs bid, shares surge

Star Entertainment (SGR.AX), opens new tab said on Monday a consortium led by Florida-based Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos is considering a bid for the cash-strapped Australian firm, sending its shares 20% higher.

A potential takeover by entertainment giant Hard Rock would provide a much-needed financial lifeline to Star, which has been plagued by a regulatory inquiry into its flagship Sydney casino operation and an executive exodus.

Star, which had a market value of A$1.29 billion ($863.66 million) as of Monday’s close, said it has been approached by a consortium of investors which includes Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts (Pacific).

The company said it understands Hard Rock Hotels is a local partner of Hard Rock.

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Earlier in the day, Star said it had received “inbound interest from a number of external parties” but flagged none of them had yet resulted in “substantive discussions”.

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Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with $100 mln in financing commitments

Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with $100 mln in financing commitments

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Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with $100 mln in financing commitments

U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.

The company listed its assets and liabilities to be between $1 billion and $10 billion, according to a court filing.

Red Lobster said its restaurants will be open and operate as usual during the bankruptcy proceedings, and plans to reduce its locations as well as pursue a sale of substantially all its assets.

The restaurant chain also said it has entered into a “stalking horse” purchase agreement to sell its business to an entity formed and controlled by its existing term lenders.

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“This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth,” said Jonathan Tibus, CEO of Red Lobster.

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BMW imported 8,000 vehicles into US with parts from banned Chinese supplier, Senate report says

BMW imported 8,000 vehicles into US with parts from banned Chinese supplier, Senate report says

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BMW imported 8,000 vehicles into US with parts from banned Chinese supplier, Senate report says

German automaker BMW (BMWG.DE), opens new tab imported at least 8,000 Mini Cooper vehicles into the United States with electronic components from a banned Chinese supplier, a U.S. Senate report released on Monday said.

A report by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden’s staff said BMW imported 8,000 Mini Coopers with parts from a Chinese supplier banned under a 2021 law and that BMW continued to import products with the banned parts until at least April.

BMW Group said in an email it had “taken steps to halt the importation of affected products.”

The company will be conducting a service action to replace the specific parts, adding it “has strict standards and policies regarding employment practices, human rights, and working conditions, which all our direct suppliers must follow.”

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Congress in 2021 passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) law to strengthen enforcement of laws to prevent the import of goods from China’s Xinjiang region believed to have been produced with forced labor by members of the country’s Uyghur minority group. China denies the allegations.

“Automakers’ self-policing is clearly not doing the job,” Wyden said, urging the Customs and Border Protection agency to “take a number of specific steps to supercharge enforcement and crack down on companies that fuel the shameful use of forced labor in China.” Customs and Border Protection did not immediately comment.

The report found that Bourns Inc, a California-based auto supplier, had sourced components from Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD). That Chinese company was added to the UFLPA Entity List in December, which means its products are presumed to be made with forced labor. 

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