Business

Fox News Channel parent News Corporation may be wrapped up in the sexual harassment accusations surrounding host Bill O’Reilly, but, as International Business Times' Lydia O'Neal reports, the company is facing another long-running scandal involving what appear to be exuberant payments to a Democrat - payments that occurred even as News Corp. was lobbying the New York State executive branch, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo oversees.

Wall Street still exudes widespread optimism that 2017 will provide another year of solid gains for stocks amid stable albeit unspectacular economic growth and only gentle interest rate rises. However, as The FT details, all is not well in reality, and the following seven charts will hearten investors of a more bearish persuasion...

With Euro strength dominating FX markets, the Dollar Index has tumbled below 99.00 to the lowest level since Nov 11th.  

For the first time since Oct 4th, the dollar index is trading below its 200-day moving-average...

The most volatile pair is EURJPY as risk-on drives drag fx carry higher...

The American economy and the industries that power it have experienced fascinating change over the last half century. An interesting way to track that change is by following the largest, most powerful companies in the United States has they make their way up and down the annual Fortune 500 list.

Slant Marketing has done just that and compiled their findings into a super interesting interactive that can be seen here.

(click image for interactive version)

With president Trump optimistic, but already laying plans for a possible government shutdown - which incidentally would take place on the symbolic 100th day of Trump's administration, incentivizing Democrats to be especially confrontational - White House budget director Mick Mulvaney tried to talk down concerns of an imminent government closure, and said talks between Republicans and Democrats in Congress could reach an agreement to avoid a government shutdown as early as Sunday.