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August 23 (Tasnim News Agency) – Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Mohbi stated that Iran has developed countermeasures against various hostile actions by the United States, including measures to address economic pressure. Speaking at a press conference in Karaj, a city in northern Iran, Mohbi said that the USs recent announcement of launching its "most severe economic war" against Iran actually indicates that the US has failed to achieve its military objectives. He added that the US has imposed economic sanctions on Iran for 47 years, and the current statements regarding "economic war" are intended to exert psychological influence on the Iranian people.August 23 – According to the official WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia, several Chinese citizens have recently been detained by Saudi authorities for failing to declare large sums of cash they were carrying upon entry and exit from Saudi Arabia, as required by the newly revised Anti-Money Laundering Law Enforcement Regulations. Furthermore, cases of telecommunications fraud, currency exchange scams, and robberies targeting Chinese citizens are frequent. The Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia solemnly reminds Chinese citizens in Saudi Arabia to abide by local laws and regulations and to be vigilant against all types of fraud.August 23 - According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Urakawa, Japan, at approximately 22:00 local time on August 23. The maximum intensity of the tremor was 4, and the focal depth was 40 kilometers.August 23 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a meeting with media representatives on the 23rd that Ukraine is not yet in a position to hold elections during wartime, and that holding elections under the current circumstances would pose a significant danger of national disintegration. According to media reports, former Defense Minister Andriy Fedorov, who was dismissed by Zelenskyy, recently released a video calling for wartime elections in Ukraine, stating that the country is facing a governance crisis. Zelenskyy responded that day, saying that during the ongoing conflict, various parties have been pressuring Ukraine to hold wartime elections, but the prerequisite for such elections is that partner countries can provide Ukraine with specific conditions to ensure their safe and legal conduct. This would allow frontline Ukrainian soldiers and millions of Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war to participate in the elections safely, without the threat of attack.August 23 - The bond market has recently sent a clear signal to Treasury Secretary Bessant: dont try to sweep $40 trillion in U.S. Treasury bonds under the rug and pretend everything is fine. Bessant announced plans to increase long-term Treasury repurchases this fall, pledged to use the Treasurys vast "toolbox" to support the market, and discussed upcoming measures to curb the ever-expanding U.S. debt burden. John Arnold, a former Enron energy trader, billionaire, and founder of the philanthropic venture capital firm Arnold, said the summers bond market turmoil may ultimately be just "another quickly subsided episode," but the bigger concern is that the lack of change in the U.S. fiscal situation will persist until it finally triggers a crisis. Tracy Chan, a global portfolio manager at Brandiwin, said she is very nervous because Bessant has failed to curb long-term Treasury yields. The bond markets performance suggests that bond vigilantes still dont trust him. Bessant needs to do more to convince investors that the Trump administration is serious about U.S. fiscal issues, but talking about increasing revenue through tax increases or austerity measures before the November midterm elections will be unpopular.

Costco Margins Are Impacted by Growing Freight And Labor Expenses, And The Stock Price Falls

Charlie Brooks

May 27, 2022 09:50

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Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ:COST) announced a decline in gross margins on Thursday, impacted by rising freight and labor expenses across the United States. The news sent shares of the membership-only retailer down 2% and overshadowed an otherwise positive quarterly report.


Fresh COVID-19 lockdowns in China and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have compounded the problem for U.S. businesses.


Costco announced that it would increase prices in certain food categories in order to battle inflation.


Retailers such as Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Inc and Target Corp (NYSE:TGT) have warned that decades-high inflation will have a negative impact on their earnings, as shoppers hesitate from purchasing non-essential and high-margin goods.


The average Costco buyer earns more than the average Walmart and Target shopper, allowing Costco to generate quarterly earnings and revenue that easily exceeds expectations.


Memberships and sales have been boosted by the company's efforts to keep gas prices several cents below the national average.


Costco, in contrast to Walmart, reported that there has not been a significant shift from branded products to its private label product, Kirkland Signature.


"We aren't really observing a decline in commerce. This year, more money is being spent on tickets, dining out, travel, tires, and gasoline "In a post-earnings conference call, Robert Nelson, senior vice president of finance and investor relations, said.


Costco's gross margins decreased by 99 basis points in the third quarter.


According to data from Refinitiv IBES, Costco's total sales for the quarter ending May 8 increased by 16 percent to $52.60 billion, surpassing analysts' projections of $51.71 billion.


Excluding adjustments, Costco's earnings per share were $3.17, exceeding analysts' expectations of $3.03.