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Eurozone bond yields rose 3-4 basis points after a European Central Bank survey showed that consumers significantly raised their inflation expectations in March.On April 28, the State Council Information Office held a regular policy briefing to introduce the "Opinions on Promoting the Expansion and Quality Improvement of the Service Industry." Shen Zhulin, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, stated that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, local governments will be guided to promote the construction of urban parking facilities in a categorized manner, with a focus on older residential areas. This will involve revitalizing existing resources and exploring idle and marginal land resources to support the construction or renovation of parking facilities, thereby helping to address the parking difficulties.On Tuesday, April 28, the Hang Seng Index closed down 245.87 points, or 0.95%, at 25,679.78; the Hang Seng Tech Index closed down 112.65 points, or 2.28%, at 4,827.19; the H-share Index closed down 111.51 points, or 1.27%, at 8,644.81; and the Red Chip Index closed down 1.85 points, or 0.04%, at 4,336.7.Arm (ARM.O) shares fell 6.1% in pre-market trading.April 28 – A survey released by the European Central Bank (ECB) on Tuesday showed that eurozone banks tightened credit access in the three months to March and expect it to continue tightening this quarter, driven by the Iranian conflict pushing up energy prices and financing costs. The ECBs quarterly bank credit survey of 21 eurozone countries showed that financing conditions began to deteriorate after the outbreak of the conflict in Iran in late February. Banks tightened their lending standards more than expected, particularly for businesses, the most significant tightening since the third quarter of 2023. The ECB stated, "A rise in risk perceptions of the economic outlook and a decline in banks risk tolerance were the main reasons, with banks noting in an open-ended question that geopolitical and energy developments put pressure on credit tightening." The bank added, "Some banks also reported additional tightening pressure related to exposure to energy-intensive businesses and the Middle East." The ECB said that banks expect credit standards to tighten "generally and more significantly" further in the three months to June.

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.