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As US Looks to Seize Russia’s Assets China Dumps US Treasury Bonds

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Russia's Assets

The US Senate approved a package of proposals on Tuesday that would send military help to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, collect Russia’s frozen assets and transfer them to Kiev, and impose new sanctions on China.

When Moscow invaded Ukraine, the United States and its allies swiftly froze $300 billion in Russian foreign interests. As the battle continues, that money, the majority of which is in European Union countries, remains untapped. However, around $5 billion of it is located in the United States.

Moscow cannot access the frozen assets, but they remain Russian property. While governments can often freeze property without issue, converting that property into forfeited assets that can be auctioned for the benefit of Ukraine necessitates an additional layer of judicial procedure, including a legal foundation and court judgment.

For more than a year, officials from many nations have discussed the legality of seizing the money from 카지노총판 and transferring it to Ukraine.

The new US law compels the president and Treasury Department to begin finding Russian assets in the US within 90 days and report back to Congress within 180 days.

A month after that, the president will be able to “seize, confiscate, transfer, or vest” any Russian state sovereign assets, including any stake, in US jurisdictions.

US, Europe plan to seize Russia's $300 billion in assets

G-7 Eye Russian Assets: Photo Reuters

US to Consult G7 Nations

Biden is granted discretion over how the money is used for the benefit of Ukraine, but he must consult with other G7 members before acting.

According to the legislation, “any effort by the United States to confiscate and repurpose Russian sovereign assets” must be carried out in collaboration with international allies such as the G7, the 27-member European Union, and other nations.

Policymakers, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, have stated that the United States is unlikely to move without the support of its G7 allies.

Following the bill’s passing, Yellen stated, “Congress took an important step in that effort with the passage of the REPO Act, and I will continue intensive discussions with our G7 partners in the weeks ahead on a collective path forward,”

The European Union has already started to set away windfall income from frozen Russian central bank assets. The bloc calculates that the interest on the money may generate almost 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) every year.

“The Russians won’t be happy. “The amount of money, 3 billion per year, is not extraordinary, but it is not insignificant,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in March.

US, Europe plan to seize Russia's $300 billion in assets

US, Europe plan to seize Russia’s $300 billion in assets: Image Reuters

Concern Over Stealing Russia’s assets

However, some European leaders have expressed reservations about proceeding with a proposal to formally take Russia’s assets in Europe.

At a Council on Foreign Relations event earlier this month, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated that freezing Russian assets “is something that needs to be looked at very carefully” and may “start breaking the international legal order.”

Critics of the REPO Act argue that weaponizing global finance against Russia risks undermining the US dollar’s position as the world’s dominant currency.

To seize Russia’s assets may cause nations like as China, the largest holder of US Treasuries, to conclude that it is not safe to preserve their reserves in US dollars.

The conservative Heritage Foundation has condemned Russia’s asset seizure for damaging the dollar-denominated global finance system, claiming that “it would expose an already fragile economy to unintended consequences and risks for which the United States is unprepared.”

Russian authorities have expressed concern that the new law may destabilize the global banking system.

China Dumping US Treasury Bonds for Gold

China remained the second largest holder of US government debt: CTN Image

China Dumping US Treasury Bonds for Gold

Meanwhile, as the Chinese collect more gold, they are selling off US Treasury bonds. This raises a crucial question: who will continue to fund the Biden administration’s enormous borrowing spree?

According to the most recent Federal Reserve figures, China sold an additional $22.7 billion in US Treasuries during February. That reduced its total holdings to $775 billion. China remains the second-largest foreign holder of US debt, but if current trends continue, the United Kingdom could soon overtake China and move into second place.

Japan is the largest foreign creditor to the United States, holding $1.17 trillion in Treasuries. The United Kingdom ranks third, with $700.8 billion in US Treasuries.

China has been divesting from US debt for several years. The country’s Treasury holdings have dropped to their current level, from over $1.1 trillion in 2021. Chinese investment in US debt fell to a 14-year low in October.

Finance professor Zhao Xijun of China’s Renmin University told the South China Morning Post that the selloff of US Treasury bonds would continue. China is deliberately reducing its exposure to the currency. Chinese leaders have witnessed how the United States utilizes the dollar as a foreign policy tool.

The professor stated that the Chinese are not unintelligent. Beijing understands that the US might apply the same pressure on them in terms of US assets.

China Is Dumping U.S. Treasuries and Buying Gold

China Is Dumping U.S. Treasuries and Buying Gold: CTN Image

China Building Up Gold Reserves

So, what should you do if you recognize that something leaves you vulnerable? You reduce the vulnerability. In other words, if you are concerned that the US would take the “dollar rug” out from under you, why not exit the dollar system first? This appears to be Beijing’s strategy, he explained.

China is accumulating gold, a reserve asset with no counter risk. The People’s Bank of China has added gold to its holdings for 16 consecutive months, totaling more than 300 tons since it commenced reporting gold acquisitions in October 2022.

And China’s gold reserves may be substantially more than its public reports. Many observers believe China stores several thousand tons of gold “off the books” in a separate agency known as the State Administration for Foreign Exchange (SAFE).

China’s Treasury dump highlights a major dilemma for the US Treasury.

Professor Zhao claims that the Biden administration is running large deficits month after month. If China and other countries reject US debt, who will support this borrowing spree?

Foreign investors account for roughly one-third of the market for US Treasuries. One may argue that there is still a lot of capacity in the domestic market. The difficulty is that the largest domestic bondholder in the United States has also left the market.

US Central banks face credibility crisis

Central banks face credibility crisis: Getty Image

Central Bank Creating Artificial Demand

In reality, no institution owns more US bonds than the US Fed. As of the end of 2022, the Fed possessed 35% of all domestically held Treasuries. Fed Treasury holdings reached more than $6 trillion.

In general, the Fed maintains a strong grip on the bond market. By purchasing and holding US bonds, the central bank creates artificial demand, driving prices higher than they would otherwise be and maintaining yields low.

This enables the US government to borrow more at lower interest rates than it could otherwise.

The difficulty is that the Fed is currently out of the market. The central bank is allowing Treasuries to roll off its balance sheet as part of a quantitative tightening program aimed at lowering inflation.

So, if the largest participant in the domestic Treasury market and the second-largest player in the foreign Treasury market are selling bonds, who will absorb them all, along with the additional debt issued by the US Treasury each month?

This is one of the reasons why Treasury yields continue to rise, despite expectations of a Federal Reserve rate drop. And that’s a major concern, given that the US government has already spent $522.02 billion on interest payments halfway through fiscal 2024.

That is a 35.9 percent increase from the same period in fiscal 2023. The only group with more spending was Social Security.

It appears that the Fed will have to return to the Treasury market with another round of quantitative easing to monetize some of the federal government’s debt. The difficulty is that this is inflationary.

This means that the US taxpayer will eventually have to pay for it all through an ever-increasing inflation tax.

 

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PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

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(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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Infosys

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children

Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

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water

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.

water

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

SOURCE | AP

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