BlackRock says AI ‘mega-force’ to buck tough macro trend

(Reuters) – Shares of AI-focused companies will be a major driver of returns for developed markets in a tough economic environment, BlackRock Investment Institute said, citing an unusually concentrated rally in a handful of technology stocks. It said the extent of the concentration of gains on the S&P 500 surpassed levels seen in the 2000s…

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European shares up as robust U.S. data soothes recession jitters, chip stocks rally

By Amruta Khandekar, Matteo Allievi and Bansari Mayur Kamdar (Reuters) – European shares climbed on Wednesday after robust U.S. data overnight soothed concerns about a steep economic slowdown, even as ECB President Christine Lagarde warned that the central bank was still not seeing enough evidence of an inflation cool-down. The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed…

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US advances New York City vehicle congestion pricing plan

By David Shepardson (Reuters) -A New York City plan to charge a daily toll on vehicles entering or remaining in the central business district got a boost on Monday from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which said the city had adequately assessed how the congestion charge would help the environment. The department’s Federal Highway Administration…

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China’s EV maker Zeekr opens orders for two luxury cars in Sweden, Netherlands

By Johan Ahlander and Sameer Manekar LONDON (Reuters) -Zeekr, Geely Automobile’s electric brand, said on Wednesday that two of its all-electric luxury cars are available for pre-order in the Netherlands and Sweden, joining a growing number of Chinese EV makers launching vehicles in Europe. Deliveries for the Zeekr 001 estate and the Zeekr X SUV…

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US asks what’s next for Russia’s Wagner in Middle East, Africa

By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States is examining how the Wagner Group’s short-lived mutiny against Russia’s military establishment might affect the mercenaries’ operations in the Middle East and Africa, officials said. Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin startled the world by leading an armed revolt on Saturday that brought his fighters from the…

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Judge dismisses lawsuit claiming Amazon sold ‘suicide kits’ to teenagers

By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) – A U.S. judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Amazon.com Inc brought by the parents of two teenagers who committed suicide by consuming sodium nitrite they bought on the online retailer’s platform. U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle on Tuesday rejected claims by the parents of Ethan McCarthy and Kristine…

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