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Syria's Deadliest Days: Over 1,000 Killed in Clashes and Revenge Killings

In a tragic escalation of violence, over 1,000 people have lost their lives in Syria during two days of intense clashes and revenge killings. The conflict erupted between Syrian security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, with sectarian violence targeting the Alawite community, a key support base of the former regime. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the death toll includes 745 civilians, 125 government security personnel, and 148 militants. The violence has left areas like Latakia without electricity and water, further deepening the humanitarian crisis. The revenge killings, primarily carried out by Sunni Muslim gunmen, have devastated Alawite villages, with reports of targeted shootings, looting, and arson. Thousands have fled to the mountains seeking safety, while bodies remain unburied in the streets of towns like Baniyas. This marks one of the deadliest episodes in Syria's 14-year conflict, raising fears of further inst...

Wall Street Edges Up as Investors Await Inflation Report

Wall Street remained cautiously optimistic today as investors eagerly awaited the release of a crucial U.S. inflation report. Here’s a snapshot of today’s market activity:

  1. S&P 500 and Nasdaq: The S&P 500 held steady, with gains and losses evenly distributed among its constituent stocks. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq inched up, hovering just below its all-time high.

  2. Winners and Losers:

    • Walgreens Boosts Alliance: The pharmacy giant saw a staggering 24.7% drop in its stock price after reporting results that fell short of expectations and lowering its outlook. The possibility of hundreds of store closures in the next three years added to investor concerns.
    • Levi Strauss: The jeans maker’s stock plummeted 16.6% due to disappointing quarterly revenue results and a less-than-rosy earnings forecast for the year.
    • McCormick: On the flip side, spice maker McCormick surged 5.8%, outperforming analysts’ earnings forecasts.
  3. Inflation and Consumer Spending:

    • The U.S. economy expanded at a 1.4% annual pace from January through March, a slight revision from the previous estimate of 1.3%. This growth rate is the slowest since spring 2022.
    • Consumer spending, a key driver of economic growth, grew at a modest 1.5% rate, down from the initial estimate of 2%. Persistent inflation and high interest rates continue to squeeze consumers.
    • The Federal Reserve faces the delicate task of taming inflation without pushing the economy into a recession.
  4. What’s Next?

    • The eagerly anticipated personal consumption expenditures index (PCE), the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, is due for release. Economists expect a modest easing of inflation to 2.6% in May, down from April’s 2.7% reading.
    • Nike, however, faced a different fate. The athletic wear company’s shares plummeted 15% after missing Wall Street’s revenue targets and revising its full-year sales guidance downward.

Investors remain cautiously optimistic, balancing economic data and corporate performance. All eyes are on the inflation report, which could shape the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates. Stay tuned for further developments! 

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