U.S. planned layoffs fell to 32,004 in December and total layoffs for 2010 dropped to a four-year low, outplacement consultants Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Wednesday. The December tally is the lowest monthly level since June 2000, when 17,241 layoffs were announced.
It's difficult to tell whether the markets were more affected by spiking oil prices, eroding peace talks between the United States and Iran, or Kevin Warsh's hawkish comments during his confirmation hearing to chair the Federal Reserve, said James Pruskowski, managing director at Hennion & Walsh.
The Texas city's latest projection for the onset of a Level 1 emergency comes as water woes spurred rating downgrades and negative outlooks since last fall.
The $14.6 billion budget calls for hiring police and Olympic-focused infrastructure spending after last year's spending plan proposed layoffs.
Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve, denied that he would act as Trump's "sock puppet" if he's confirmed and said the president has directed him to lower interest rates.
MBIA says it isn't responsible for what its subsidiaries did.
The risk of contagion to the rest of the high-yield market is limited, investors said.
