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<ul class="summary-list"><li>US stocks reached new records on Tuesday, led by gains in Nvidia.</li><li>A weak consumer confidence reading caused indexes to briefly drop early morning.</li></ul>US stocks kept up their winning streak on Tuesday, with indexes pushing higher to new records. The gains weren't locked in from the start, however, as early-morning economic data briefly drove the <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_100">Nasdaq</a> index into the red.Investors reacted with dismay after the latest consumer sentiment reading, with confidence among US consumers logging its largest one-month drop in more than three years.The Conference Board's consumer confidence index came in at 98.7 for September, well below consensus estimates of a 104 reading."It's never good to see consumer confidence fall this much. Consumers are clearly concerned about the implications of the upcoming election, the increasing conflict around the world, and the stubbornly high cost of food and credit," said Jamie Cox, managing partner for Harris Financial Group."The Federal Reserve seldom reads the tea leaves correctly on when and how much to cut rates, but 50 seems more correct in light of these data."Markets appear to be in agreement, and the odds of a half-point cut in November climbed to 60.7%, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html?redirect=/trading/interest-rates/countdown-to-fomc.html">CME FedWatch Tool</a>.However, after the dip, the market bounced back later in the day with a nearly 5% rally in <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/nvda-stock">Nvidia</a> helping investors push past the discouraging consumer update. The chipmaker ended the day up by about 4%, jumping on news that its CEO Jensen Huang was done selling stock for now. Under a predetermined trading plan, the executive was authorized to sell 6 million Nvidia shares through early next year — but he just met that threshold, Barron's first reported.Outside of the US, emerging equity markets logged big gains. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-stimulus-boosts-emerging-markets-stocks-2024-9">stocks hit their highest level since 2022</a> as China announced its biggest stimulus package to revive its ailing economy.Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Tuesday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,732.93, up 0.25% </li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 42,208.22, up 0.2% (+83.57 points)</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 18,074.52, up 0.56% </li></ul>Here's what else is going on:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/diddy-sbf-dorm-style-room-brooklyn-jail-crypto-ftx-2024-9">Diddy and crypto fraudster SBF are sharing a dorm-like jail cell</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-labor-employment-data-record-high-recession-forecast-2024-9?_gl=1*49z9pe*_ga*MTMxNDIwNDI1Ni4xNjc1Njg3OTU4*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyNzIwNTc4OC42NDkuMS4xNzI3MjA3ODI4LjYwLjAuMA..">Stocks could surge 10% by year-end as long as a recession doesn't materialize</a>, Citi said.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-prediction-dot-com-bubble-economy-inflation-outlook-yardeni-2024-9?_gl=1*18z25uq*_ga*MTMxNDIwNDI1Ni4xNjc1Njg3OTU4*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyNzIwNTc4OC42NDkuMS4xNzI3MjA3ODY1LjIzLjAuMA..">Steep rate cuts could overheat the US economy and create an unsustainable 'melt-up,' </a>Ed Yardeni says.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-nightmare-scenario-is-no-landing-in-the-economy-2024-9">A 'no landing' economic scenario would be bad news for investors</a>, economist says.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li>Oil futures were up.<a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets"> West Texas Intermediate</a> crude oil jumped 1.71% to $71.56 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, increased 1.72% to $75.17 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> rose 1.29% to $2,687.8 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury yield was flat at 3.734%.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Bitcoin</a> gained 1.55% to $64,305.</li></ul>

Stock market today: New record highs as Nvidia surge offsets weak consumer sentiment     

<ul><li>The <keyword id="8194701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refurbished-smartphone" source="Orion">refurbished smartphone</keyword> market has recorded rapid growth in India.</li><li>While the unorganised sellers dominate the market, the organised sellers are also growing.</li><li>Affordability and shorter upgrade cycles are among the factors fueling the refurbished smartphone market.</li></ul> India's refurbished smartphone market is experiencing significant growth, outpacing the new smartphone sector. This reflects a maturing market which is increasingly catering to consumers looking for affordable yet reliable options. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, unorganised sellers dominate the refurbished smartphone market, accounting for 77% of transactions. The Indian refurbished smartphone sector has traditionally been dominated by unorganised players, offering devices at a fraction of the cost of the new models. However, the introduction of value-added services like warranties, quality assurance, and after-sales support by emerging e-commerce platforms is beginning to formalise this market, enhancing consumer trust and driving further growth. <h2>What’s fueling the refurbished smartphone market</h2><h3>Affordability</h3><keyword id="2698558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refurbished-smartphones" source="Orion">Refurbished smartphones</keyword> offer consumers access to higher-end hardware at lower costs, making premium technology more accessible to a broader audience. This aspect is particularly appealing in a price-sensitive market like India. <h3>Shorter upgrade cycles</h3>With technology evolving rapidly, many users prefer to upgrade their phones more frequently. Refurbished devices provide an avenue for this without the high cost associated with new purchases. <h3>Environmental impact</h3>There's a growing awareness of the environmental benefits of using refurbished products, which reduces electronic waste and the demand for new manufacturing, which is resource-intensive. <h3>Consumer confidence</h3>The entry of organised players who provide guarantees and quality checks on refurbished devices has significantly boosted consumer confidence. These services add a layer of reliability to what was once a market fraught with uncertainty about product condition and longevity. Despite the growth in the unorganised sector, there's a noticeable trend towards formalisation. E-commerce platforms specialising in refurbished goods are expanding, providing consumers with the convenience of online shopping backed by credible service commitments. The report also notes that this growth is not just contained within India. Globally, the refurbished smartphone market is on an upward trajectory, with similar trends observed in markets like Latin America, suggesting a broader international shift towards sustainable consumption in electronics. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/moto-g35-5g-with-120hz-5000mah-battery-launched-at-9999/articleshow/116172283.cms">Moto G35 5G with 120Hz display, 5,000mAh battery launched at ₹9,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/redmi-note-14-pro-and-redmi-note-14-pro-launched-in-india-starting-at-24999/articleshow/116134415.cms">Redmi Note 14 Pro and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ launched in India starting at ₹24,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/vivo-x200-and-x200-pro-camera-centric-to-launch-in-india-on-december-12/articleshow/115930004.cms">Vivo X200 and X200 Pro camera-centric smartphones to launch in India on December 12</a>

India's refurbished smartphone market witnesses accelerated growth

In a major step toward protecting students and their families, the Indian government has issued new guidelines aimed at curbing misleading advertisements by coaching centres. The Centre's crackdown addresses exaggerated claims like “100% selection” or “guaranteed job security” — promises that often lead to disappointment among students who invest time and money expecting a near-certain outcome. <h2>Protecting consumers, not shutting down coaching</h2>On Wednesday, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) rolled out these guidelines in response to numerous complaints from the National Consumer Helpline. According to <keyword id="20003684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-affairs" source="keywords">Consumer Affairs</keyword> Secretary Nidhi Khare, the government’s goal is not to shut down coaching centres but to ensure their ads don’t “undermine consumer rights.” “We have seen coaching centres deliberately concealing information from prospective students,” Khare said. “Therefore, we have come out with the guidelines to provide guidance to people involved in the coaching industry.” So far, the CCPA has issued 54 notices to violators and imposed penalties of around Rs 54.60 lakh. <h2>What’s prohibited?</h2>The guidelines lay out strict boundaries on what coaching centres can — and cannot — say in their ads. Here’s what the guidelines address: <ul><li>False Claims: Ads should not make unsubstantiated promises about “100% selection” or “100% job security.”</li><li>Course Details: No exaggerating or omitting information about courses, their duration, or outcomes.</li><li>Faculty Credentials: Qualifications of teachers must be presented accurately, with no fake credentials.</li><li>Fees and Refunds: All fees and refund policies must be transparent.</li><li>Selection Rates and Ranks: Coaching centres cannot claim high selection rates or exam rankings without proof.</li></ul>Additionally, they are not allowed to use successful candidates’ names, photos, or testimonials in ads without written consent from these individuals. Khare advised students to double-check the information provided by coaching centres. “Many UPSC students clear prelims and mains on their own and take only interview guidance from coaching centres,” she explained, encouraging students to verify the course details actually taken by successful candidates. The guidelines go beyond the broad term “coaching.” They define coaching as academic support, education, guidance, study programs, and tuition — but they exclude counselling, sports, and creative activities. The purpose of this definition is to keep the focus on academic and career-oriented programs, which are most prone to misleading ads. <h2>Full disclosure and consequences for violators</h2>Transparency is now mandatory, as coaching centres must display disclaimers and reveal essential course details. Facilities, infrastructure, and resources must be represented accurately, along with any required approvals or recognitions from authorities like AICTE or UGC. Khare, who also serves as the CCPA chief, stressed that coaching centres should accurately present the service, resources, and infrastructure provided. For instance, if they advertise “fully-equipped classrooms,” the guidelines require this to be an honest description. These guidelines come as a supplement to existing laws and are enforceable under the Consumer Protection Act. This means violators will face penalties, potentially similar to the Rs 54.60 lakh already imposed by the CCPA. The government hopes these new standards will push coaching centres to keep their ads honest, helping students and families make better-informed decisions. (With inputs from agencies)

No More False Promises: Government sets rules to prevent misleading and exaggerated coaching centre ads

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Indexes rose Thursday as investors cheered in a surprise increase in retail sales and lower jobless claims. </li><li>Retail sales jumped 1% in July, surpassing analyst expectations of 0.3%.</li></ul>Indexes rose Thursday as investors priced in an influx of new data on retail sales and jobless claims following the week's encouraging data on inflation. Retail sales were up 1% in July, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That increase, led by spending in the auto and electronics sectors, surpassed expectations of 0.3% from analysts surveyed by Dow Jones."Today's retail sales numbers were a blowout versus consensus, but more importantly it should lay to rest (at least for the moment) all of the doom and gloom that was expressed at the beginning of this month," Chris Zaccarelli, head of investments at Independent Advisor Alliance, said in a Thursday note.Meanwhile, jobless claims last week came in below estimates at 227,000, a 7,000 fall from the week prior. The reading should continue to soothe fears of a coming wave of unemployment after July's jobs data was weaker than expected. Treasury yields rose on the new data, with the 10-year bond yield up 12 basis points to 3.947% as investors dialed back expectations for a jumbo 50 basis point rate cut from the Fed next month. The rebound in retail and upbeat labor data follows a day after consumer inflation figures released Wednesday showed inflation cooled to 2.9% in July, its lowest level in over three years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-costs-inflation-cpi-consumer-price-index-shelter-real-estate-2024-8#:~:text=Housing%20costs%20are%20the%20big,its%20lowest%20level%20since%202021.">sticky housing inflation accounted for 90% of the rise in core CPI</a>, making it the biggest factor keeping inflation high.The inflation numbers are still above the Fed's 2% target, but steady progress is being made as it looks to cool the economy without causing a dramatic spike in the unemployment rate. Investors see a 100% chance that the Fed cuts rates in September, with a 65% chance of 25 basis points and a 36% chance of 50 basis, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">CME FedWatch tool</a>.Here's where US indexes stood shortly after the 9:30 a.m. opening bell on Thursday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,512.09, up 1.04%</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 40,476.15, up 1.17% (+468 points)</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 17,415.29, up 1.3%</li></ul>Here's what else is going on today:<ul><li>After selling half its stake in Apple, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-ulta-beauty-heico-apple-stock-portfolio-2024-8">betting on a glow-up for Ulta Beauty</a> with a $266 million stake.</li><li>China's population decline is having a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-population-falling-aging-demographic-economy-slowdown-marriage-birth-rates">widespread impact on the world's second largest economy</a> as marriages, diamond sales, and retail spending drop.</li><li>Borrowers are rushing to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mortgage-rates-30-year-refinance-applications-real-estate-housing-market-2024-8">refinance their mortgages</a> as rates tumble to their lowest level in over a year.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li>Oil futures rose. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?type=wti">WTI crude</a> increased 1.6% to $78.17 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, rose 1.5% to $80.95 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> rose 0.32% to $2,487.50 per ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury yield rose 12 basis points to 3.947%.</li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">Bitcoin</a> rose 0.37% to $57,592.39.</li></ul>

Stock market today: Indexes rise after retail sales boosts confidence on the consumer and the economy

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US stocks rallied on cooling inflation data from the producer price index report.</li><li>Investors are hoping for evidence of further cooling in Wednesday's consumer price index.</li></ul>US stocks jumped on Tuesday as investor confidence was boosted by evidence of softer inflation.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the producer price index rose 0.1% in July, underwhelming estimates of a 0.2% increase. Compared to a year ago, prices were up 2.3%, a cooldown from June.That brought renewed momentum to equity indexes, with the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq rising 1.7% and 2.4%, respectively. The Dow climbed close to 400 points.Investors will now watch for further disinflationary signals in Wednesday's consumer price index report. According to data from the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html?redirect=/trading/interest-rates/countdown-to-fomc.html">CME Fedwatch Too</a>l, a majority of traders now expect the Federal Reserve to pursue a 50 basis point interest rate cut next month."The runway is clear for the Fed to cut rates in September," Jamie Cox, Harris Financial Group managing partner, said. "If data like this persists, the Fed will have plenty of room to cut rates further this year."As to worries over US economic growth, markets will get a clearer picture from Thursday's retail sales data. Bank of America expects data to highlight healthy spending, that will help the country dodge a recession.On Tuesday, <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/sbux-stock">Starbucks</a> led the way among major stock gainers, rising 23% on news that Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol would take over the coffee chain's leadership. Shares of <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/cmg-stock">Chipotle</a> fell as low as 14% before recovering slightly.Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Tuesday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,434.43, up 1.68%</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 39,765.64, up 1.04% (+408.63 points)</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 17,187.61, up 2.43%</li></ul>Here's what else is happening:<ul><li>Booming construction is helping the US score lower rent - but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rent-price-drop-apartment-housing-market-construction-concessions-redfin-zillow-2024-8">the trend won't last forever</a>, Redfin reported.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/russia-banks-china-yuan-liquidity-payment-problems-us-sanctions-ukraine-2024-8">Yuan liquidity is shriveling up in Russia, as US sanctions take a toll on Chinese banks,</a> Bloomberg says.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-media-x-twitter-interview-elon-musk-truth-social-djt2024-8">Shares of Trump Media extended their decline </a>after the former president sat for an interview with Elon Musk on X.</li><li>Investors should <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-oulook-bear-market-economy-fed-rate-cuts-inflation-2024-8">reconsider a dive back into stocks if the economy keeps cooling</a>, Stifel said.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li>Oil futures were slightly lower. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">West Texas Intermediate</a> crude oil dropped 2.24% to $78.27 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, fell 2.04% to $80.62 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> inched down 0.3% to $2,465 per ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury yield dropped six basis points to 3.848%.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Bitcoin</a> rose 2.37 % to $60,746.</li></ul>

Stock market today: Stocks soar as investors cheer soft PPI and brace for consumer inflation data

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Walmart's stock soared as much as 8.4% to all-time highs Thursday after reporting strong sales last quarter.</li><li>Walmart is likely an outlier as consumers pull back on spending in general, analysts say.</li></ul>US consumers, weary from high prices and inflation, are pulling back on spending — but they're still flocking to Walmart, where sales reached new highs in the most recent quarter, pushing its stock price to fresh records on Thursday. The stock soared as much as 8.4% to an all-time high of $74.44. Walmart's shares have climbed over 39% this year alone.The big gain in Thursday's session comes as the company reported strong sales growth in the most recent quarter, even as US consumers broadly turn cautious. Walmart said US sales rose 4.2% year-over-year in the most recent quarter, the company said, versus estimates of 3.5%. The company also boosted its forecast for full-year sales growth to 3.75%-4.75%, up from 3%-4%. The strong sales and numbers and upbeat guidance follow almost a decade of straight sales gains for the country's largest retailer.Walmart is "on its own path," UBS retail analyst Michael Lasser said in a Thursday interview with CNBC. "This is less about what is happening with the overall consumer environment, because it has been challenging, and more about Walmart."Lasser pointed to Walmart's convenience, compelling prices and growing online business. The fact that so many US consumers regularly shop at Walmart also gives the store more access points to engage its customers, he said.US retail sales data for July posted a surprise increase, rising 1% last month. Throughout this summer's earnings season, companies like McDonalds, Home Depot and Disney have reported weaker-than-expected spending, pointing to consumer fatigue from high prices after two years of high inflation. Home Depot's CFO Richard McPhail said he's seeing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/home-depot-earnings-americans-in-deferral-mindset-consumer-spending-2024-8">a "deferral mindset"</a> as consumers put off spending until they see lower prices and interest rates.Consumer inflation is cooling, though, reaching its lowest level in over three years. The consumer price index rose 2.9% in July, according to data released Wednesday. The softer inflation data this week has markets believing that a September rate cut is certain.

Walmart stock surges to all-time highs as sales jump even as other companies see consumers turn cautious

Stay healthy with these detox drinks during the festive season

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Large companies like Disney and Uber have arbitration clauses in their Terms of Use.</li><li>Arbitration is when a neutral third party settles a dispute instead of a jury trial.</li></ul>Companies are using a simple strategy to avoid courtroom litigation when disaster strikes: the fine print.Terms and conditions have become a ubiquitous part of life for many people, from purchasing concert tickets to applying for a credit card. The legal agreement between businesses and their customers spells out both parties' responsibilities under a contractual relationship.That legal agreement can include an <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-plaintiffs-law-firms-bring-mass-arbitration-cases-class-actions-2021-11">arbitration clause</a> that removes a customer's right to sue a company when things go wrong — whether the customer knows it or not. Instead, they can be forced to use a neutral third party to settle a dispute instead of a jury at trial.In some cases, companies are using infinite arbitration clauses, which can extend to individuals beyond the original contractual parties, requiring all disputes to be settled out of the courtroom, and can be enforceable even after terminating a service."Infinite clauses stretch to the horizon and last forever. They are less a contractual provision and more a kind of arbitration servitude," David Horton, a professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Law, wrote in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.It's a near-century-old practice that some legal experts say should be modernized for the digital age.<h2 id="27cb7a2c-c011-4afd-9917-00dc1588da6c">The Disney case</h2>In the case of large companies, arbitration clauses included in one service can often apply to any service the company offers.This scenario gained attention earlier this year after a New York State man filed a <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-wrongful-death-lawsuit-theme-park-2024-8">wrongful-death lawsuit against Disney</a> and a restaurant operator who runs a pub at Disney Springs. Disney does not own the restaurant.Jeffrey Piccolo's lawsuit said his wife, Kanokporn Tangsuan, died in October 2023 from a "severe acute allergic reaction" after dining at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant, where they asked a staff member on "numerous occasions" if allergen-free options were available. The staff member assured them the restaurant did, but Tangsuan collapsed inside Planet Hollywood later that night and was transported to a local hospital, according to the complaint.A medical examiner's investigation determined she died due to "anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nut in her system."<div type="image" title="A photo of a sign on a water tower with the Disney Springs logo" height="1704" width="2560" msid="115384767" hostid="261" sizebytes="276990"></div>In response, Disney filed a motion to compel arbitration, arguing that Piccolo could not sue the company because he had agreed to its Terms of Use when signing up for a free Disney+ trial years earlier and again when purchasing tickets to its theme park. Disney quickly found itself in a <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-wrongful-death-lawsuit-legal-argument-pr-nightmare-2024-8">PR nightmare</a> as people online called the move "very dystopian" and urged users to cancel their Disney+ subscriptions in retaliation.After the criticism, Disney reversed course and dropped its motion to compel arbitration. The case is pending in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Orange County, Florida."At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations. With such unique circumstances as the ones in this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss," Josh D'Amaro, the chairman of Disney Experiences, said in a statement.Although Disney relented, Piccolo isn't the only one to get caught up in the fine print, and he likely won't be the last.Lawyers and legal experts who spoke to Business Insider said there is little consumers can do to avoid arbitration clauses in an era when signing contracts often happens with the tap of a finger."I think the only thing we can do is opt out of the internet," Joseph Cammarata, a partner at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata &amp; Siegel, P.C. in Washington DC, told Business Insider.<h2 id="7db68ead-3086-4a47-adf0-1c0cf75edcf6">Large companies use arbitration to avoid damaging their reputations in a public trial</h2><div type="image" title="Preview of John and Georgia McGinty alongside the crashed Uber vehicle." height="3264" width="2962" msid="115384769" hostid="261" sizebytes="435138"></div>Like Disney, Uber made headlines this year for a 2023 lawsuit filed by Georgia and John McGinty in the Superior Court of New Jersey.In a September court filing, the couple said they were riding in an Uber in March 2022 when the driver ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle. The court filing said Georgia sustained multiple injuries, including rib, cervical, and lumbar spine fractures. She also experienced damage to her abdominal wall, pelvic floor, and a protruding hernia.John sustained "severe" fractures to his left arm and wrist and a fractured sternum, according to the lawsuit.Uber responded by filing a motion to compel arbitration, which that court denied. However, Uber appealed, and New Jersey's appellate division sided with the company, which said the McGinty's could not have a courtroom trial because Georgia agreed to its Terms of Use in 2022 for an unrelated Uber Eats order. The couple pushed back, saying their underage daughter made that order and have filed an appeal."While the plaintiffs continue to tell the press that it was their daughter who ordered Uber Eats and accepted the Terms of Use, it's worth noting that in court they could only 'surmise' that that was the case but could not recall whether their daughter ordered food independently or if Georgia assisted," an Uber spokesperson said in a statement.<div type="image" title="Georgia McGinty, who was involved in an Uber car crash." height="3024" width="4032" msid="115384772" hostid="261" sizebytes="674730"></div>Stacey Lee, a professor of law and ethics at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, told BI that consumers are increasingly running into arbitration clauses, but how businesses use them isn't necessarily new."It has always been the default for businesses to want to go to arbitration for a number of reasons," Lee said."You're not going to have a class action lawsuit, you're not going to have it plastered on top of the front page, there's limited discovery, and businesses have a little more control over who the arbitrators are," she said.Arbitration usually has three arbitrators selected from the Arbitration Association of America. They're often business professionals with experience in a specific field."Their knowledge of the customs and norms of the industry is very different than a judge's, and because they're on the business side, they have a tendency to agree more with the business interpretations of how things work," Lee said.Cammarata said companies know juries might be less sympathetic to their arguments."They want to limit public accountability and responsibility," he said. "A jury may listen and say, 'Uber, are you kidding me?'"However, arbitration isn't inherently anti-consumer or unfair to the average person. Compared to courtroom litigation, arbitration can cost less money and be a quicker process. People also can request an appeal in arbitration, but it's not the same as a courtroom trial, where they would have the right to do so.This private form of settling legal disputes arose with the Federal Arbitration Act in 1925, making it nearly 100 years old. John Carpenter, a partner at the California-based law firm Carpenter &amp; Zuckerman, said the arbitration clause is due for an update."The problem is we're applying a statute that goes back to 1925 to 2024," Carpenter said, "It's an entirely different world. The world we live in now wasn't even conceivable in 1925."Carpenter said that arbitration was generally used to determine one-on-one agreements, but now "it's being used digitally in terms of use agreements and essentially contracting away an entire branch of government with a click."<h2 id="dcbb6564-3ff6-4ae5-98ab-600c97fc4c6e">How consumers protect themselves from arbitration clauses</h2>Cammarata said one way consumers can navigate arbitration is to check if a company's terms of use has an opt-out clause. That, however, relies on consumers reading through the businesses' Terms of Use, which are often lengthy and written in legal jargon."First of all, they haven't read it, so they don't even know that they agreed to arbitration, let alone to opt out," he said.Lee said that while courts tend to be critical of arbitration clauses in employment agreements, they're less so regarding things like streaming services or rideshare apps."Increasingly, courts are like, 'You can read. You scroll through and click yes. It is now your responsibility," Lee said. "You can walk away from the service, and it doesn't affect your life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness."John said he believes courts need to reexamine the Federal Arbitration Act."It's going to require legislative action to take a look at this," he said.

How century-old arbitration laws are failing consumers in the digital age

Indian companies across multiple sectors have reported disappointing results in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, notes a new JM Financials report. Consequently, their poor performance has triggered stock price corrections for affected companies. The brunt of this weaker than expected earnings was largely borne by consumer centric sectors like FMCG (fast moving consumer goods), retail, and auto, which slacked largely due to dampened urban demand. For instance, India's largest automaker, Maruti Suzuki, reported a 5% YoY decline in its total domestic passenger vehicle wholesales, largely on the back of pent-up inventory. Similarly, Honda reported a staggering 23% YoY dip in its total sales during October 2024. A recent report by Bernstein noted that around 48% of the companies listed on the NSE100 index missed their earnings estimate for Q2FY25, the highest since March 2020. Most companies have mentioned deteriorated domestic demand, urban slowing, macroeconomic risk, and margin pressures as the main reasons behind the dip. "The quarter's earnings have made investors nervous," noted the JM Financials report. The challenging environment stems from multiple factors: softening consumer demand, rising input costs, and companies' limited ability to increase prices. Moreover, this is not limited to just one quarter. Companies have been reporting weak, single-digit earnings growth for the last six consecutive quarters. Data from India Data Hub also suggests that corporate profits of listed companies plunged by as much as 3.4% during the quarter ended September 30, 2024. This is in stark contrast to the year-ago period, where they had shot up by over 40% The oil and gas sector had a difficult quarter, with refiners hit by weak margins and city gas distributors struggling with higher input costs. Financial institutions showed mixed results. While government-owned banks reported strong numbers, microfinance institutions and some private lenders faced massive difficulties with their unsecured loans. Most notable amongst this was the case of IndusInd Bank, which saw its net profits dip by 40% amidst burgeoning provisions, which climbed 87% to Rs 1,820 crore in Q2, as against Rs 974 crore reported in the year-ago period. <h2>Markets head southwards</h2>The selling trend by FPIs has dragged down the major Indian indices, the Nifty 50 and Sensex, both of which have dropped by around 8% since the beginning of this selling spree in October. According to National Securities Depository Ltd. (NSDL) data, FPIs offloaded equities worth a significant Rs 19,994 crore in just the first five trading sessions of November last week. The impact is clearly visible on Indian stock markets. Data suggests that while every sector in October closed the month in red, auto, oil and gas, and consumer durables were the most badly hit, each declining by as much as 10% during the month. Another indicator underlining the inherent weakness of the market was that the month saw only 242 stocks hit their 52-week high, significantly below the usual monthly average of 310.

India Inc. stares at an earnings dearth in Q2, FMCG, auto, and consumer durables falter

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-behind-china-luxury-goods-slowdown-economy-changing-consumer-tastes-2024-10">China's luxury slump</a> is spreading to more consumer brands.</li><li>Companies like Starbucks, Estée Lauder, and Nike have reported falling sales in the region.</li></ul>For the better part of this year, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-luxury-retail-sales-slowdown-brands-fashion-2024-7">China has experienced a slump</a> in the most opulent of sectors. Sales for luxury powerhouses like LVMH, Richemont, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-burberry-became-fashions-biggest-fail-stock-drop-ceo-ousting-2024-8">Burberry</a> have fallen in the region that once seemed to represent limitless growth for high-end goods.Now, that downturn is coming for a wider set of consumer industries. Chinese people aren't just saving on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gucci-sales-profit-reputation-falling-luxury-kering-michele-china-2024-5">Gucci</a> and cognac but also cutting back on spending on cheaper products like beer and lipstick. It's hitting Western brands particularly hard, as reflected by companies across the consumer sector reporting muted sales in China in the most recent quarter.Consumer spending in China never fully recovered after the government started lifting COVID-19 curbs in late 2022. Since then, the country has struggled with weak consumer sentiment and multiple economic challenges, including a property crisis, deflation, and high youth unemployment. China's<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-3q-gdp-growth-stock-market-stimulus-2024-10"> third-quarter GDP</a> grew 4.6% year-on-year — the slowest pace in over a year and below Beijing's growth target of around 5%.In late September, Beijing announced <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-aggressive-monetary-stimulus-interest-rate-rrr-2024-9">aggressive stimulus</a> measures to boost the economy, but analysts say much more is needed to spur and drive consumer confidence.Meanwhile, China's once-free-spending consumers are holding back and prefer to save — in cash or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-gold-rush-consumer-spending-money-savings-starbucks-gucci-2024-5">gold.</a> Cautious spenders are also trading down to knockoffs and lower-priced or local alternatives across a range of products from beauty and fashion to travel.The prevailing zeitgeist in China is about "aiming to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-economy-young-shoppers-looking-dupes-substitutes-pingti-fashion-travel-2024-9#">live well while spending less,</a>" MingYii Lai, a strategy consultant at Beijing-based market research firm Daxue Consulting, told Business Insider in September.Last week, AB InBev, the world's largest beer producer, announced declining revenue in the region, joining rival Carlsberg in reporting disappointing results. AB InBev, which makes Budweiser, has struggled in China all year and reported a 16% sales drop in the country for the third quarter.People in China are skimping on on-trade alcohol purchases, meaning they are spending less at bars and restaurants, Spiros Malandrakis, Euromonitor's head of research in the alcohol sector, told Business Insider."There is some flexibility, but it is not entirely recession-resistant," he added.It looks like they aren't going out for coffee or burgers, either. Negative sales in China brought down McDonald's results for the third quarter. And <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-starbucks-is-struggling-in-china-sales-prices-competition-coffee-2024-8">Starbucks</a>, which announced its fourth-quarter earnings last week, saw comparable store sales fall 14% in China."All indications show me the competitive environment is extreme, the macro environment is tough," <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-ceo-to-lay-out-strategy-to-fix-coffee-chain-2024-10">Brian Niccol, the coffee giant's new CEO</a>, said about China during the company's earnings call.A similar phenomenon has arisen in fashion and beauty, where nonluxury brands are seeing consumer confidence, leading to an overall tightening of belts.Beauty brands like Estée Lauder and L'Oréal have reported worse-than-expected results in the region. Sales for the former decreased 11% in the most recent quarter, driven by mainland China, where the company noted a declining appetite for skincare. It doesn't expect recent government stimulus to help sales in the current quarter.Those results came on the heels of Nike's, which had lowered its full-year guidance over the summer, blaming China's unstable economy. The sneaker giant cited "softness" in the country, its third-largest market by revenue.Even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-stock-earnings-report-call-live-updates-2024-10">Apple</a>, once bulletproof in the region, missed revenue estimates in the Greater China division.Despite the headwinds, there have been bright spots.Adidas managed to buck the trend, reporting sales up 9% in Greater China in the third quarter. Heineken, too, saw growth in the region last quarter.Sectors offering discretionary <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-lopsided-recovery-consumer-retail-spending-industrial-output-property-2024-5">"eat, drink, and play"</a> experiences outperformed the wider consumer sector in China earlier this year, though their momentum has slowed in the past few months, wrote Lynn Song, the chief economist for Greater China at ING, in an October 28 note."More consumers appear to be gravitating toward higher value-for-money options," Song wrote.

China's luxury slump is trickling down to other consumer companies

India's retail inflation is projected to surge to 6.15% in October, exceeding the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) tolerance threshold of 6%, according to a new report by Union Bank of India. The spike is attributed to persistent <keyword id="21013592" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-price-pressures" source="keywords">food price pressures</keyword> and the waning of favorable base effects from the previous year. Earlier this month, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das also echoed similar sentiments and noted that the inflation print for October 2024 could stay well above 5.5%. This is why, as Das highlighted, cutting interest rates as early as December would be very early and premature The <keyword id="19999655" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Consumer-Price-Index" source="keywords">Consumer Price Index</keyword> (CPI) data for October, which will be released at 4 pm on Tuesday, as opposed to the previous practice of releasing this data at 5:30 pm on the 12th of every month, follows September's inflation reading of 5.49%, up from 3.65% in August 2024. The last time inflation breached the RBI's upper limit was in August 2023. Despite the RBI's anticipation of an October inflation "hump," the Union Bank report suggests that the magnitude of the increase might raise concerns, particularly as November's figures are also tracking at elevated levels. The bank maintains its forecast of unchanged interest rates in December's monetary policy meeting, with a modest 50 basis points rate cut cycle predicted to begin in February 2025. Food inflation remains a key driver of price pressures, with vegetables and edible oils leading the recent surge. In September 2024, India's YoY food inflation rate hit 9.24%, up from 5.66% in the month prior. However, the report projects some easing of food inflation in the January-March quarter, citing typical winter price moderation and improving prospects for rabi crops. Despite this, potential risks from food supply disruptions, imported edible oil prices, and the impact of potential trade tariff hikes will exist. The RBI, which aims to maintain retail inflation at 4%, has held the repo rate steady at 6.5% for the tenth consecutive time in its last meeting as part of its inflation containment strategy. A recent SBI report also noted that expecting rate cuts in this quarter would be immature, and easing was possible only during the first half of 2025. "Given the current estimates of FY25 real GDP growth at 7.2% and CPI at 4.50%, the RBI would quite possibly keep policy rates stable over the coming quarter at least. Emerging trends in the growth outlook would possibly determine the timing and extent of any policy easing. With near-term CPI numbers likely to stay elevated, it’s premature to consider expectations of any easing in the December review. "However, high-frequency data do validate a softness in growth data on an incremental basis. Given the anticipated aligning of CPI closer to the target over H2, a shallow easing, if any can be a reasonable possibility over H1 of CY 25", it added.

Retail inflation expected to breach 6% mark in October, says UBI Report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Morgan Stanley's Mike Wilson is now bullish on the stock market, setting a 2025 S&amp;P 500 target of 6,500.</li><li>He cites Fed rate cuts and potential deregulation, and says high-quality cyclical stocks will outperform.</li></ul>Closely watched Wall Street strategist Mike Wilson of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/ms-stock">Morgan Stanley</a> is turning more bullish on the stock market.In a Monday note, the CIO and chief US equity strategist set a 2025 year-end <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500">S&amp;P 500</a> price target of 6,500, representing potential upside of 11% from current levels.The call is notable considering that Wilson has been largely bearish on stocks over the past few years, correctly calling the 2022 bear market but <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-earnings-recession-morgan-stanley-bear-mike-wilson-2023-12">remaining bearish</a> throughout much of the stock market's advance that began in October 2022.Wilson previously had a mid-year 2025 S&amp;P 500 price target of 5,400. The S&amp;P 500 traded at around 5,900 on Monday.According to Wilson, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cuts-outlook-2025-trump-tariff-inflation-growth-2024-11">interest-rate cuts</a> from the Federal Reserve, combined with improving economic growth and the potential for a wave of deregulation under the incoming Trump administration, means investors should lean bullish on stocks."A potential rise in corporate animal spirits post the election (as we saw following the 2016 election) could catalyze a more balanced earnings profile across the market in 2025," Wilson said.Wilson had previously been skeptical of stock market upside due to elevated valuations. While he admits they're still "rich," they could be justified as long as the economy holds up.And looking under the surface, valuations aren't hitting extremes, according to the note."The S&amp;P 500 median stock multiple is less extended at 19.0x and should stay supported if the earnings recovery broadens out in 2025 as we expect," Wilson said.Wilson recommended investors own high-quality cyclical stocks, with a particular focus on stocks found in the financials sector.On the flipside, Wilson recommended investors take an underweight position on consumer discretionary and consumer staple stocks due to limited pricing power and the potential risk of tariffs.While Wilson shifted to a more bullish tone on stocks, he said investors should "stay nimble" amid changing market leadership and uncertainty around President-elect Donald Trump's policies related to immigration, global trade, and government spending."We are potentially going through another sea change in policy outcomes that could have both short and longer term implications for markets," Wilson said.

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