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October 3, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Can Regions Financial Sustain Its Organic Growth Momentum?

Regions Financial Corporation RF has been witnessing steady organic growth over the past few years. The company’s total revenues saw a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9% (2019-2024), with the rising trend continuing in the first half of 2025. This was driven by a rise in net interest income (NII) and non-interest income.RF’s NII witnessed a CAGR of 6% over the past five years ending in 2024. In the first half of 2025, NII continued to rise, driven by lower deposit costs and higher returns from fixed-rate assets. Looking ahead, the Federal Reserve’s recent 25-basis-point rate cut, alo…

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October 3, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Exxon CEO Warns EU’s CSDDD Would Cripple Business

ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods has called the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) “the worst piece of legislation I’ve seen since I’ve been in this job,” warning that its extraterritorial requirements and steep penalties could force global companies to reconsider doing business in Europe.The proposed directive would obligate multinational firms to align supply chains with the Paris Agreement, enforce legally binding climate transition plans, and expose violators to penalties of at least 5% of global revenue. Woods described the potential fines as “bone-crushi…

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October 3, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Russia's economic growth may be too weak to sustain defense and social spending, a top business leader warns

Russia's economy is slowing, raising concerns about funding defense and social spending.Western sanctions and soaring military outlays are straining its growth and stability.Moscow is planning tax hikes to help bankroll the Ukraine war effort.Russia's economy has slowed to a pace that could jeopardize its ability to cover surging defense, security, and social costs, warned a top business leader."It seems to me that indeed, this cooling or 'managed soft landing' is not very soft and not very managed," Alexander Shokhin, the head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, told Ros…

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October 3, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Gold Set for Seventh Weekly Gain as US Shutdown Clouds Rate Path

(Bloomberg) — Gold ( GC=F ) headed for a seventh weekly advance, as the US government shutdown added another layer of uncertainty for investors seeking signals on the Federal Reserve’s monetary-easing path.Bullion held near $3,860 an ounce, after ending Thursday slightly lower as traders booked profits following a five-day rally that pushed prices to a record earlier in the session. The torrid pace of the advance has left gold vulnerable to pullbacks, with technical indicators showing it’s been trading in overbought territory for the past month.Most Read from BloombergCalifornia-to-Vegas High-…

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October 3, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

BOJ's Ueda warns of global uncertainty, keeps markets guessing on next hike

By Leika KiharaOSAKA (Reuters) -Bank of Japan ( 8301.T ) Governor Kazuo Ueda said inflation was on track to durably hit the bank's target but warned of global uncertainties that could discourage firms from raising wages, leaving himself a free hand on whether to raise interest rates in October.Ueda reiterated the central bank's resolve to continue raising still low interest rates if the economy and prices move in line with its forecasts.But he said there were various uncertainties surrounding Japan's economic outlook, such as growing signs of labour market weakness in the United States and the…

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October 2, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Altria (MO) Partners with KT&G on Oral Nicotine and Wellness Products

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO ) ranks among the top picks for a retirement portfolio . Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) and KT&G Corporation, a South Korean tobacco company, signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding on September 23 to work together on novel oral nicotine products, non-nicotine products, and conventional tobacco operating efficiency.The agreement includes plans to grow nicotine pouch products across the globe, including the possible extension of Altria’s on! and on! PLUS brands into select nations. In the non-nicotine segment, an Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) subsidiary and Ko…

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