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Jerry Greenfield Quits Ben & Jerry’s After 47 Years, Citing Unilever “Silencing” Over Gaza

  Unilever and Ben & Jerry's have clashed since 2021, when the ice cream maker said it would stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has resigned after nearly five decades at the iconic ice cream brand, deepening a long-running feud with parent company Unilever over its stance on the Gaza conflict. In an open letter shared by partner Ben Cohen, Greenfield said the company’s independence — enshrined in its 2000 merger agreement with Unilever — had eroded, leaving its social mission “silenced.” The rift traces back to 2021, when Ben & Jerry’s halted sales in Israeli-occupied West Bank settlements, a move Unilever opposed. The dispute escalated as the brand’s social mission board described Israel’s war on Gaza as “genocide,” a rare position for a major U.S. company. Unilever’s ice cream division, Magnum, thanked Greenfield for his contributions but rejected his claims, saying it sought constructive dialogue to preserve the...

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Stock Market Today: Rising Treasury Yields Unsettle Investors


In today’s stock market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) took the lead in a slide prompted by rising Treasury yields. Investors are grappling with the impact of recent data on interest rates, and the benchmark S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also dipped into the red.

Here are the key points:

  1. Treasury Yields Surge: The yield on 5-year Treasurys rose to near four-week highs, while the 10-year yield topped the critical 4.5% level. On Wednesday, the benchmark yield inched up further to trade around 4.57%. These rising yields have raised concerns that the Federal Reserve may keep rates higher for longer.

  2. AI Growth vs. Yield Worries: Despite hopes for AI growth, concerns about bond yields appear to be overshadowing the market. The Nasdaq recently hit a record high following Nvidia’s post-earnings rally, but the surge in yields is causing uncertainty.

  3. Consumer Confidence and Fed Policymaking: Investors are trying to decipher the impact of stronger-than-expected consumer confidence data on Fed policymaking. However, they are bracing for a prolonged wait for any pivot to rate cuts, given the litany of warnings from Fed officials.

  4. Wall Street Strategists’ Views: Wall Street strategists have been closely monitoring rising yields. Michael Kantrowitz, chief investment strategist at Piper Sandler, highlighted that higher rates are now a systemic problem for equities. If the 10-year Treasury yield surpasses 5%, it could spell trouble for most stocks.

  5. Beige Book and Inflation Gauge: The release of the Fed’s Beige Book later today could shed more light on economic conditions. Investors are also awaiting Friday’s reading on PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures), the central bank’s preferred inflation gauge.

In summary, rising Treasury yields are causing jitters in the stock market, and investors are closely watching Fed signals and economic data. The delicate balance between growth prospects and interest rate concerns remains a focal point for traders.


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