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Imagine zooming in so close that you're seeing individual atoms dance together to form the <keyword id="23543459" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="tiniest-water-bubble" source="Orion">tiniest water bubble</keyword> ever recorded! Researchers at Northwestern University recently did just that — they captured a video of the smallest <keyword id="23543453" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-bubble" source="keywords">water bubble</keyword> known to science, measuring only 50 nanometers (about 0.000002 inches) in diameter. This microscopic marvel might not seem like much, but its implications for technology and <keyword id="19929542" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-exploration" source="keywords">space exploration</keyword> could be massive. <h2>Science goes nano</h2>For the first time, scientists managed to film <keyword id="23543458" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hydrogen-and-oxygen" source="keywords">hydrogen and oxygen</keyword> atoms coming together to form water in a reaction triggered by <keyword id="21034648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="palladium" source="keywords">palladium</keyword>, a rare metal. This reaction was documented in such fine detail that it showed the tiniest water bubble ever seen by human eyes. <div type="Youtube" id="w4NRThvgJJo" title="Nano-sized bubble of water forms out of thin air" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w4NRThvgJJo/mqdefault.jpg"><url><![CDATA[https://youtu.be/w4NRThvgJJo]]></url></div>The process involved using an ultra-thin glassy membrane with honeycomb-shaped "nanoreactor" chambers to hold the gas molecules. This setup allowed researchers to monitor the bubble formation in real-time using advanced electron microscopes. "We think it might be the smallest bubble ever formed that has been viewed directly," notes lead author Yukun Liu. "Luckily, we were recording it, so we could prove to other people that we weren't crazy." <h2>Why is it so hard to capture things this tiny?</h2>Taking images and videos of objects on such a tiny scale is no small feat. The main challenge lies in the size of the objects themselves — they are so minuscule that regular light-based microscopes can't detect them. To observe something like a 50-nanometer water bubble, researchers need to use electron microscopes, which can visualise objects at the <keyword id="23543454" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="atomic-level" source="keywords">atomic level</keyword>. These microscopes fire a beam of electrons (instead of light) at the object to create an image. However, the sample has to be stable under this intense electron bombardment, which isn't always possible with delicate <keyword id="23543457" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nanoscale-reactions" source="keywords">nanoscale reactions</keyword>. Moreover, the imaging process must be incredibly precise to capture the exact moment when atoms combine to form molecules. Even the tiniest disturbance can blur the image or distort the video. Despite these challenges, advancements in <keyword id="20080671" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nanotechnology" source="keywords">nanotechnology</keyword> and materials science have enabled scientists to visualise reactions that were once invisible. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114190419" title="The Harvard students who added AI facial recognition to Meta glasses share some of their other big ideas" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Over the years, our ability to observe and record nanoscale reactions has improved significantly. Early attempts to capture atomic and molecular movements were limited to static images that barely scratched the surface of what was happening at the nanoscale. But thanks to innovations in <keyword id="23543456" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electron-microscopy" source="keywords">electron microscopy</keyword> and nanoreactor designs, scientists can now create real-time videos of molecular transformations, as demonstrated in this latest study. Northwestern University’s team used a newly developed technique that allows them to capture these fleeting moments in unprecedented detail. This breakthrough marks a considerable leap in our understanding of nanoscale reactions, opening doors to innovations in chemistry, materials science, and even space technology. <h2>Making water out of thin air</h2>One of the most exciting applications of this technology could be in space exploration. The researchers believe that a scaled-up version of this reaction could help astronauts generate water directly in space. The reaction they documented is somewhat reminiscent of the scene in the movie The Martian, where Matt Damon's character creates water on Mars using fire and rocket fuel. But here, there's no need for such extreme conditions — the combination of palladium and gas is enough. Palladium, the catalyst used in this reaction, is an incredibly valuable and rare metal, often costing more than Rs 26,000 per 10 grams. Part of its scarcity is due to its versatility — it plays a critical role in catalysing numerous chemical reactions used across industries. While the expense might seem prohibitive for creating water-generation devices for space missions, the researchers argue that the benefits outweigh the costs. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114013177" title="Tim Tully taught himself to code at age 6 and still codes daily. Here&amp;#39;s how computer science took him from startups to AI investing at Menlo Ventures." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>"Palladium might seem expensive, but it's recyclable," Liu points out. "Our process doesn't consume it. The only thing consumed is gas, and hydrogen is the most abundant gas in the universe." As our ability to capture and understand these tiny reactions grows, so too does the potential to manipulate them for groundbreaking applications. Whether it's making water on Mars or enhancing chemical reactions here on Earth, this nano-sized bubble could pave the way for some very big things. The findings of this research have been published in PNAS and can be accessed <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2408277121">here</a>.

WATCH: Researchers capture world’s first video of atoms combining to form the tiniest water bubble ever recorded!

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US stocks were mostly lower on Monday, pulling back from last week's record highs.</li><li>Investors are turning their attention to third-quarter earnings season, with 21% of S&amp;P 500 companies set to report this week.</li></ul>US stocks traded mostly lower on Monday, retreating from last week's record highs.While the Nasdaq 100 rose slightly, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by nearly 350 points. The decline on Monday comes as third-quarter earnings season nears its peak, with more than 100 S&amp;P 500 companies set to report results this week, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/ko-stock">Coca-Cola</a>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/TSLA-stock">Tesla</a>, Boeing, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/ups-stock">UPS</a>.So far, investors should be feeling good about third-quarter results.Of the 21% of S&amp;P 500 companies that have reported so far, about 80% beat profit estimates by 5%, while 60% beat revenue estimates, according to data from Bank of America.Bank of America strategist Savita Subramanian said that company executives are striking an optimistic tone on earnings calls."Processing the natural language of corporate management yields a record level of optimism, and a pick up after four quarters of deceleration," Subramanian said in a note on Monday.She added: "Mentions of weak demand fell, tracking the lowest levels in two years where less / more mentions have been correlated to a rising / falling ISM Manufacturing PMI."Nvidia jumped to record levels during the session to help lift the Nasdaq slightly higher. The stock rose more than 4% to close at $143.71. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/nvidia-stock-price-prediction-nvda-blackwell-demand-outlook-chips-ai-2024-10">Analysts have been feeling bullish</a> on the stock's prospects for further gains amid big demand for its new Blackwell chips. Bank of America was the latest firm to up its price target for the stock, calling out a "generational opportunity" for the company in a note at the end of last week. It's a quiet week for economic data, though Fedspeak is set to ramp up with speeches from six central bank officials scheduled throughout the week.Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Monday:<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">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,853.98, down 0.18% </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">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 42,931.60, down 0.80% (-344.31 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">Nasdaq composite</a>: 18,540.01, down 0.27% </li></ul>Here's what else happened today:<ul><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-bob-iger-ceo-successor-early-2026-james-gorman-chairman-2024-10">Disney said it will appoint Bob Iger's successor as CEO by early 2026.</a></li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-sp500-future-returns-decade-forecast-goldman-sachs-2024-10">Goldman Sachs said investors should prepare for a decade of muted returns in the stock market.</a></li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/bitcoin-bull-lost-tokens-cold-wallets-estate-planning-satoshi-nakamoto-2024-10">An under-the-radar bull case for bitcoin has nothing to do with the election or interest rates.</a></li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stocks-to-buy-safe-investments-market-bubble-correction-outlook-2024-10">Here's where investors worried about a stock market bubble should invest their money.</a></li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price">West Texas Intermediate</a> crude oil was up 1.88% to $69.98 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, was higher by 1.56% to $74.20 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price">Gold</a> was higher by 0.16% to $2,734.50 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury yield jumped 11 basis points to 4.188%.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">Bitcoin</a> was lower by 1.78% to $67,790.</li></ul>

Stock market today: US stocks pull back from record levels as traders ready for big week of earnings

If you woke up in <keyword id="19900881" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi" source="keywords">Delhi</keyword> recently, you might have noticed more than just the nip in the air – a thick, toxic smog has blanketed the city, turning the air almost unbreathable. On Monday, Delhi’s <keyword id="19920379" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-quality-index" source="keywords">Air Quality Index</keyword> (<keyword id="19916482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aqi" source="keywords">AQI</keyword>) hit 481, placing it in the "severe plus" category. For context, the “severe” category begins at an AQI of 401, and anything above 450 poses serious health risks even for healthy individuals. According to Swiss group IQAir’s live rankings, Delhi is currently the most polluted city in the world, with an air quality score of 1,081 – a “hazardous” level that is 130.9 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit for PM2.5. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Major contributors to Delhi’s smog</h3>The root causes of Delhi’s pollution are manifold: <ul><li>Stubble Burning: On Saturday, crop residue burning contributed 25% of Delhi’s air pollution. By Sunday, this figure had climbed to 40%, according to SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research). Satellites recorded 1,334 stubble-burning incidents in six northern states on Sunday alone, the highest number in four days.</li><li>Vehicles: On Sunday, vehicular emissions accounted for 15.8% of the city’s pollution, according to the Centre’s Decision Support System for Air Quality Management.</li><li>Construction Dust and Industrial Emissions: PM2.5, a deadly pollutant, remains the most prominent factor, capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and leading to severe respiratory and cardiac diseases.</li></ul><h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;"><keyword id="24020184" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GRAP-Stage-4" source="keywords">GRAP Stage 4</keyword></h3>To combat the rising pollution levels, authorities have enforced Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Here’s a breakdown of the restrictions: <ul><li>Vehicle Restrictions:</li><ul><li>Diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles (BS-IV and below) registered in Delhi are banned unless carrying essential goods.</li><li>Non-essential light commercial vehicles from outside Delhi can only enter if they use CNG, BS-VI diesel, or are electric.</li><li>Trucks carrying non-essential items are barred unless they use cleaner fuels like LNG, CNG, or BS-VI diesel. </li></ul><li>Workplace and School Adjustments:</li><ul><li>Classes for students in grades 6 to 9 and class 11 have moved online.</li><li>Offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) are advised to work at 50% capacity, with the rest operating remotely. </li></ul><li>Construction Ban: </li><ul><li>Construction and demolition (C&amp;D) activities have been halted, including large projects like highways, flyovers, and pipelines. </li></ul></ul>Out of Delhi’s 40 monitoring stations, 32 reported AQI levels above 400 on Monday. Visibility in parts of the city dropped to just 100 metres due to the thick smog. The health implications of these numbers are alarming. <keyword id="20118319" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM2-5-levels" source="keywords">PM2.5 levels</keyword> in Delhi were recorded at 130.9 times the safe limit set by the WHO. According to experts, long-term exposure to such air quality could lead to an 11% increase in premature mortality rates due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that Delhi residents may lose an average of 10 years of life expectancy if pollution levels persist. Despite the restrictions, life in Delhi continues under a cloud of smog. Iconic landmarks like India Gate have become barely visible through the haze. While flights and trains are operational, some delays have been reported.

GRAP Stage 4 restrictions take effect as air quality in Delhi deteriorates; PM2.5 levels 130 times higher than WHO limits

After a steep nosedive in demand for office space rentals during 2020 and 2021, a new <keyword id="19955574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Colliers-report" source="keywords">Colliers report</keyword> has now noted that office rentals across six major <keyword id="20026638" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-cities" source="keywords">Indian cities</keyword> have finally rebounded to their <keyword id="20789690" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pre-pandemic-levels" source="keywords">pre-pandemic levels</keyword> and even inched around 2-8% higher. While some cities like <keyword id="19900176" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyderabad" source="keywords">Hyderabad</keyword> and Pune had already gone beyond their pre-pandemic rental levels as early as 2022, <keyword id="19895037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru" source="keywords">Bengaluru</keyword> and Chennai had followed suit a year later in 2023. The last to join the bandwagon were <keyword id="19906633" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-NCR" source="keywords">Delhi NCR</keyword> and Mumbai, which finally managed to breach their pre-pandemic levels in 2024. However, both Delhi and Mumbai recorded the highest jump in average rentals at 8% each, followed by Mumbai and Chennai, which saw hikes of about 5-6% during this period. The recovery in demand for office spaces, which kicked off in 2022, has stayed steady since. Arpit Mehrotra, Managing Director, Office Services, India, Colliers notes that going ahead, the annual increase in average quoted rentals at the end of 2024 is likely to be higher for certain cities like Delhi NCR and Pune, as compared to other markets. "Moreover, as demand scale-up in Indian <keyword id="20107243" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="commercial-real-estate" source="keywords">commercial real estate</keyword> solidifies, notwithstanding unforeseen events, annual space take up to the tune of 60 million sq ft is likely to be the new norm in the medium-term," he added. <h2>Prime location takes the cake</h2>Even within these cities, the growth of rental demand in certain micro-markets, which are located at prime locations, saw greater than the 2-8% average growth. For instance, in Delhi NCR, Gold Course Extension Road, Noida Expressway, and Cyber City saw up to a 25% rise in rentals. In Bengaluru, which saw around 2% <keyword id="22329786" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rental-growth" source="keywords">rental growth</keyword> overall, Whitefield and ORR (Outer Ring Road) commanded a rental premium, with rents here surging by as much as 5-10% between 2019 and 2024. IOMR Zone 1 in Chennai and Bandra-Kurla Complex, Goregaon, and JVLR in Mumbai saw rents surge by around 10-20% from pre-pandemic levels between 2019 and 2024. In contrast, rental rates in Chennai and Mumbai grew at around 5% and 6%, respectively. In Hyderabad, SBD, or the Secondary Business District, which comprises of Gachibowli, Hitec City, and more, saw rentals surge between 5-10% between 2019 and 2024, as opposed to the 5% cumulative rental growth experienced by Hyderabad. In Pune, CBD and Kharadi saw rentals inch up by 5-10%, whereas the whole of Pune only saw their rentals grow by around 5% during the past 6 years. Mumbai and Delhi have also seen a dip in <keyword id="23656583" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vacancy-levels" source="keywords">vacancy levels</keyword> since 2019. While this has dropped to 20% in Delhi at present, Mumbai ranks the lowest in terms of empty office spaces at 10.7%. In both these cities, demand for office spaces has consistently outpaced supply, which explains the low vacancies. In contrast, in Hyderabad, where supply continues to trump demand, current vacancy levels have gone as high as 25%. Going ahead, the Colliers report also estimates that average office rentals can witness up to 10% annual growth across key Indian cities by the end of this year.

Office rents across all major Indian cities surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024, notes a new report

Delhi continued to battle with air pollution for the 10th consecutive day post-Diwali as a dense layer of smog blanketed parts of the national capital on Sunday. Several parts of the national capital recorded very poor air quality levels on Sunday morning as per the data issued by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India). Today morning, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 351, Bawana 383, CRRI Mathura Road 323, Dwarka Sector 8 at 341, IGI Airport at 326, ITO 328, Lodhi Road 319, Mundka at 358, Najafgarh at 341, New Moti Bagh at 394, Okhla phase-2 at 339, RK Puram at 368, and Wazirpur at 366, as per SAFAR-India data. As of 5 pm on November 10, Delhi's AQI stood at 334, with Anand Vihar at 353, Dilshad Garden at 262, and Jahangirpuri at 377. For tomorrow, AQI in adjoining cities of Noida and Gurugram is forecasted to be at 208.92 and 77.51, respectively. Multiple visuals from Delhi's Kartavya Path showed the area surrounding India Gate engulfed by a layer of smog. The AQI in the area was recorded at 357 as of 7 am. High-rise buildings were also covered in smog in the Kalindi Kunj and surrounding locality, as the AQI was recorded as 323 in the area. An AQI is considered "poor" between '200 and 300', "very poor" at '301 and 400', "severe" at '401-450," and 450 and above is "severe plus." As the air pollution levels in the national capital reach "very poor," doctors say that even people with no history of respiratory diseases are suffering from breathing issues. Dr. Nikhil Modi, Senior Consultant for Respiratory Critical Care at Apollo Hospital, told ANI that apart from the regular patients, those who haven't had any respiratory issues in the past are showing up with symptoms such as runny noses, sneezing, coughing, and having increasing difficulties breathing. As it is, respiratory illnesses in the national capital are estimated to have shot up by around 15-20%. The Apollo doctor further suggested that the government close the schools for children as they remain vulnerable. Whenever the pollution levels have gone beyond a certain limit, the government has opted to close the schools, Dr. Modi said. "For the last few years, we have been seeing that the government has taken action. Whenever this pollution level has gone beyond a certain limit, they have opted to close the schools. This is important because children are from a vulnerable group. As adults, we are masked and can protect ourselves better, but children usually are not that effectively taking these measures. Secondly, their lungs are still in developing stages, so they are bound to have more harm due to this pollution," the doctor told ANI. Siddharth Singhal, Head of Health Insurance, Policybazaar.com, notes that while most standard health plans in India cover pollution-related ailments, it is always advised to also go for an OPD plan along with a health insurance plan to cover consultations, medications, and diagnostic tests that may be required frequently due to pollution. "Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR and some other parts of India have shot up post Diwali. Effects of this are very evident in the form of sore throats and breathing problems, among others. This can also result in respiratory ailments and chronic conditions like asthma, bronchitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia, and severe cases of respiratory or bronchial obstruction. Health insurance becomes critical to cover such expenses. Most policies typically cover emergency hospitalization for respiratory issues like asthma or COPD exacerbations requiring ICU or critical care," he adds.

Layer of smog covers Delhi as air quality remains 'very poor'. Here's why you need an insurance cover for this

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Chinese cars are selling at record levels in Russia.</li><li>Competition from European, Korean, and Japanese carmakers has vanished since Western sanctions were imposed on Russia.</li></ul>Chinese cars are selling at record levels in Russia, according to data from Russian analytics agency Autostat, reported by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ft.com/content/d228a85c-248a-430d-afe5-2b93bbc9ba06">The Financial Times</a>.The country has turned to Chinese autos from brands such as Chery, Geely, and Great Wall Motor after sanctions forced Western brands to stop doing business with Moscow.European, Korean, and Japanese carmakers had dominated the Russian market with a 69% share, per Autostat. However, since <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-ukraine-war-moscow-west-sanctions-inflation-gdp-2024-10">Western sanctions</a> were imposed against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Autostat's data showed a steep decline in sales.The three regions now hold just 8.5% of the market, while Chinese carmakers such as have jumped from 9% to 57% over the same period.Ilya Frolov, a car blogger based in Moscow, told the FT that Russian drivers had been left with little choice: "If you're buying a car, your choice is either a [Russian-made] Lada or an extremely expensive European car brought in as a grey import, or a very well-equipped and relatively cheap Chinese one."In the first nine months of 2024, Russia imported 849,951 vehicles from China, the FT reported, citing China Passenger Car Association data. China sold less than half that number to its second-largest market, Mexico.The CPCA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment form Business Insider.The sales boom in Russia comes as Chinese automakers face rising obstacles in other regions.In October, the EU voted to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-electric-vehicles-european-tariffs-retaliation-vw-bmw-mercedes-tesla-2024-10">impose sweeping tariffs</a> on Chinese EVs. BYD will face a levy of 17%, with other automakers facing tariffs as high as 35% on top of an existing 10% tax.The US introduced trade restrictions against Chinese EVs earlier this year.China's cheaper high-tech premium vehicles, particularly its EVs, have been expanding rapidly in developing markets like Brazil, Mexico, and Southeast Asia, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toyota-nissan-honda-japanese-iconic-carmakers-struggle-china-ev-rivals-2024-11">disrupting legacy automakers</a> in countries like Japan and Germany.

China is selling record numbers of cars in Russia

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The job market is flashing signs the US is still headed for a hard-landing, Danielle DiMartino Booth says.</li><li>The forecaster pointed to workers rolling off unemployment benefits, while part-time jobs have soared.</li></ul>Developments in the labor market show that the US economy isn't on solid footing, according to Danielle DiMartino Booth.The veteran forecaster and QI Research founder pointed to continued signs of weakness in the US job market, zooming in on a few key areas that are flashing signs of trouble. Booth said that more workers who once qualified for unemployment insurance are now rolling off of their benefits. Workers in most states have 26 weeks of paid unemployment benefits, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21% of workers are now taking more than 27 weeks to find a new job, up 3% from last year.The average unemployment duration in the US climbed to 21 weeks in September, government data shows.The second factor is the number of part-time workers in the US, which has climbed to an all-time high and suggests that the hiring picture isn't as strong as may appear. The number of employees that <a target="_blank" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNS12600000">usually work part-time climbed to 28.2 million</a> in August, the highest number since the government began recording the data in the 1960s, BLS data shows."We're not seeing these people pour into the unemployment claims pool," Booth said in a recent interview with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/09/23/the-market-is-in-for-a-rude-awakening-about-the-u-s-gdp-print-danielle-dimartino-booth.html">CNBC</a>, attributing many of the part-time jobs to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-make-money-gig-worker-uber-lyft-doordash-delivery-driver-2023-12">gig economy</a>, as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gig-economy-overemployment-quit-job-increase-income-earnings-side-hustle-2024-3">out-of-work Americans</a> may turn to platforms like Uber or other services in order to keep money coming in. "Much different economy than we saw in 2007, 2008, because the gig economy has exploded in that period," she added.Weakness in the job market could later translate into consumer weakness, one of the economy's chief concerns, Booth predicted. Fed economists already have their eye on weaker consumer spending, with consumption falling or remaining flat in most Fed Districts, according to the central bank's latest <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/BeigeBook_20240904.pdf">Beige Book</a>.Lower consumption already appears to be having an effect on key industries. The manufacturing sector contracted for 21 out of the last 22 months, according to the Institute of Supply Management, while inventory grew. The housing market, where activity has been suppressed over the last two years, also saw existing home sales drop another 2.5% in August, per the National Association of Realtors.Investors could see more signs of economic weakening with next quarter's GDP figures, Booth said, which are set to roll out at the end of the week.The economy is expected to have grown nearly 3% last quarter, matching the pace in the second quarter of 2024, according to the latest <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.atlantafed.org/cqer/research/gdpnow">Atlanta Fed GDPNow</a> reading. But GDP figures could be later revised down, Booth noted, pointing to a recent revision that showed the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/economy-added-818000-fewer-jobs-ed-yardeni-says-dont-worry-2024-8">economy added nearly a million fewer jobs</a> than expected in the year leading up to March 2024.Booth has been warning of a recession for months despite most of Wall Street warming up to the prospect of a soft landing. Previously, she made the case that the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-recession-outlook-job-market-cuts-labor-unemployment-hard-landing-2024-5">US economy was already in a recession</a> despite continuing to grow in 2023 and 2024, pointing to continued weakness in the job market.

Americans running out of unemployment benefits and part-time jobs at record levels point to a recession coming, economist says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Gold prices hit a fresh record high — above $2,500 an ounce — on Friday.</li><li>Gold prices have risen about 20% this year thanks to central bank buying and geopolitical and economic uncertainties.</li></ul>Gold prices have been on a tear, hitting a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/spot-gold-record-price-fed-interest-rate-cuts-safe-haven-2024-8">record high on Friday</a> — and they could gain further.The yellow metal has been boosted by a combination of factors, including active <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dedollarization-usd-strong-china-pboc-central-banks-buy-gold-inflation-2024-5">central bank buying,</a> and has surged about 20% this year.Prices have, in fact, been in an "uninterrupted rally" from a low of $1,810 an ounce in October, wrote Ole Hansen, the head of commodity strategy at Denmark's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.home.saxo/content/articles/commodities/resilient-gold-bulls-drive-price-to-fresh-record-above-usd-2500-19082024">Saxo Bank,</a> in a Monday note.This means that a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.lbma.org.uk/publications/good-delivery-rules/technical-specificationshttps://www.lbma.org.uk/publications/the-otc-guide/london-good-delivery-gold-and-silver">standard-size gold bar</a> of about 400 troy ounces — like those featured in gold heist movies — now cost over $1 million each.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price">spot gold price</a> is just shy of $2,500 an ounce now, up about 21% so far this year.One big factor driving the market's expectation for higher gold prices is a potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut, following slower-than-expected <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-consumer-price-index-in-july-fed-interest-rates-2024-8">July inflation </a>data and higher <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unemployment-rate-job-growth-july-labor-market-economic-data-2024-7">unemployment</a> figures.Investors will be scrutinizing Fed Chair Jerome Powell's keynote at the central bank's annual symposium at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cute-powell-jackson-hole-signal-us-economy-2024-8">Jackson Hole, Wyoming,</a> on Friday, for cues on what the central bank might do next.Now, "the question now is how big will the rate cut be?" wrote Daniela Sabin Hathorn, a senior market analyst at Capital.com, in a Monday note.If Powell does signal a larger rate cut — for example, a 50 basis point, or 0.5% percentage point, cut — it could feed into higher gold prices.A fall in US interest rates typically depresses bond yields and the greenback, in turn driving investment into gold, which is internationally denominated in the dollar.Furthermore, a larger rate cut would "allude to greater concerns about economic recession by the central bank," wrote Hathorn.A key reason central banks cut rates is because they want to stimulate lending and in turn, economic activity.As a time-tested store of value, gold prices would likely rise on fears of recession.<h2 id="c66e64bc-e8b0-4be2-8a1c-f43d2f29c7e7">Geopolitical risks boost appetite for gold</h2>Other than monetary policy, heightened geopolitical risks are also boosting the appeal of gold, a traditional safe haven.Risks include the wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the November US presidential election, wrote Saxo Bank's Hansen.The US presidential election is a cause for concern because both candidates are "prepared to spend money they haven't got, thereby lifting the US debt levels further," Hansen added.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gold-price-china-consumers-central-bank-pboc-economy-concerns-dedollarization-2024-4">In China,</a> consumers are also snapping up gold to preserve value amid a depressed economic environment, an epic property crisis, and a weak currency."Continued central bank demand amid geopolitical uncertainty and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dedollarization-usd-strong-china-pboc-central-banks-buy-gold-inflation-2024-5">de-dollarization,</a> and not least gold's ability to offer a level of security and stability that other assets may not provide" would give support to the yellow metal, wrote Hansen.

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