2025-06-09 19:06

BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street push to dismiss the case Say states have shown no evidence of conspiracy States contend even non-voting actions could have market impact June 9 (Reuters) - A lawyer for BlackRock said on Monday that Republican states' claim that asset managers violated antitrust law through their work with industry climate groups was not "plausible," as several firms pressed to have the case dismissed. But a lawyer for the states, which include Texas and 12 others, told the U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle that even calling attention to environmental matters, such as by signing on to industry agreements, could have an impact. Sign up here. BlackRock (BLK.N) , opens new tab, the world's largest asset manager, Vanguard and State Street (STT.N) , opens new tab are seeking to dismiss the claims in the closely watched antitrust case. The case, filed last November, claims the firms violated antitrust law through climate activism that reduced coal production and boosted energy prices. In pressing for dismissal, Gregg Costa, an attorney for BlackRock, said on Monday that, among other things, the fund firms never voted against the same coal company directors during the years in question, weakening the case. Nor did the plaintiffs bring forward any material such as from a whistleblower showing direct talks among the companies to coordinate their activities. "It's hard to see how this alleged conspiracy is even possible, let alone plausible," Costa said. Robert Wick, an attorney for Vanguard, said while the firm held discussions with coal companies, that was only in line with its role as an asset manager. There were no allegations "that Vanguard ever used its shares to coerce or pressure a coal company to cut its production," Wick said. Speaking for the states, Cooper & Kirk attorney Brian Barnes said the firms' actions could still have a market impact. "Jawboning by these defendants as to decisions about market strategy just very clearly has the potential to influence output decisions at the coal company," Barnes said. The outcome of the lawsuit could have major implications for how the companies, which together manage some $27 trillion, manage their holdings and passive funds. One possible remedy sought by the plaintiffs would be for the fund firms to divest holdings in coal companies, which BlackRock has said would harm the companies' access to capital and likely raise energy prices. Kernodle, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, said he would take the matter under advisement. He also said that like many Americans he owns shares in various index funds from the firms, including the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO.P) , opens new tab and the BlackRock iShares Core S&P Small Cap fund.(IJR.P) , opens new tab. While the ownership would not seem to require his recusal, Kernodle said parties who disagree should file their objections within two weeks. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/blackrock-calls-antitrust-claims-unprecedented-unsound-unsupported-2025-06-09/

2025-06-09 18:48

NAPERVILLE, Illinois, June 9 (Reuters) - Health conditions across the U.S. Crop Watch corn and soybean fields began this season at multi-year lows. Recent weather has lent a bump to the corn ratings, though soybean scores remain just so-so overall. However, one of the Illinois Crop Watch soybean fields might qualify as the ugliest the producer has ever seen, placing extra emphasis on the near-term weather outlook. Sign up here. The week ahead could feature an opportunity for improvement to both corn and soybeans, though the temperature outlook may present some limitations. Temperatures across the U.S. Corn Belt last week were mostly below-average and all locations except the Dakotas received at least 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) of rain. The 11-field, average Crop Watch corn condition rose to 3.8 from 3.68 in the prior week. That is above the same week a year ago but below the comparable weeks in the previous three years. However, the 0.23-point increase over the last two weeks is well above a normal two-week delta for Crop Watch corn ratings. Improvement in the latest week was driven by Kansas and the Dakotas. The 11 Crop Watch producers assign weekly condition scores to their corn and soybean fields using a scale of 1 to 5. The ratings are similar to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s system where 1 is very poor, 3 is average and 5 is excellent. Only eight soybean fields were available for conditions last week, averaging 3.56. This week’s average of the same eight fields drops to 3.5 on a reduction in southeastern Illinois, which is one of the nation’s top soybean-producing regions. That field received over 3 inches of rain last week, piling on to the ample totals from previous weeks. The field conditions stand at 1.5 and the producer describes the situation as follows: “Cannot stress enough how wet it is, the ground looks slimed.” Excess moisture is also plaguing crops in Ohio. The Crop Watch beans there were planted last Wednesday, though the field has taken 6 inches of rain since, and the plants have not yet emerged. This week, the 10-field average soybean condition score, sans Ohio, stands at 3.4. Aside from troubles in southeastern Illinois and Ohio, Crop Watch beans are looking super-strong in Indiana and western Iowa, and solid in both Kansas and eastern Iowa. Nearly all the Crop Watch producers expressed a desire for some drier conditions in the days ahead, though the forecast as of Monday was mixed on those prospects. They also noted the need for some warmth and sunshine, which is in the forecast for most areas for at least a couple of days this week. Crop Watch producers assessed that the week-ahead weather outlook was more positive than negative. But for some areas, particularly in the northwest Corn Belt, upcoming temperatures may still be a bit too cool. Producers will be watching for how the ongoing Canadian wildfire smoke might impact crop growth, as the particles can block much-needed solar radiation and potentially lead to cooler-than-expected temperatures. Karen Braun is a market analyst for Reuters. Views expressed above are her own. Enjoying this column? Check out Reuters Open Interest (ROI) , opens new tab, your essential new source for global financial commentary. ROI delivers thought-provoking, data-driven analysis of everything from swap rates to soybeans. Markets are moving faster than ever. ROI , opens new tab can help you keep up. Follow ROI on LinkedIn , opens new tab and X. , opens new tab https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/crop-watch-corn-improves-again-soybeans-still-iffy-braun-2025-06-09/

2025-06-09 17:54

ASUNCION, June 9 (Reuters) - Paraguay's government on Monday said that President Santiago Pena's X account had likely been hacked after the leader appeared to promote trading of cryptocurrency Bitcoin. "The president's official X account has presented irregular activity which suggests possible unauthorized entry," the government said in a statement. Sign up here. A post on Pena's account in English, with a Spanish-language statement purporting to be from the government, had declared that the Latin American country had made Bitcoin legal tender and that it would roll out a $5 million Bitcoin-backed reserve fund. The government asked citizens to ignore posts from the account until official confirmation was made available. Paraguay's national cybersecurity team was working with X to investigate the situation, the government added. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/paraguay-presidents-x-account-likely-hacked-bitcoin-scheme-2025-06-09/

2025-06-09 15:17

June 9 (Reuters) - Amazon.com (AMZN.O) , opens new tab said on Monday it plans to invest at least $20 billion in Pennsylvania to expand data center infrastructure, adding on to the billions of dollars the technology giant has committed to the expansion of artificial intelligence. This underscores Big Tech's commitment to making hefty investments to support booming generative AI technology, as the world's biggest companies race each other to deliver the most sophisticated AI models and cloud services. Sign up here. The investment in Pennsylvania comes less than a week after Amazon said it will invest $10 billion in North Carolina and announced plans to invest more than $5 billion in its new cloud infrastructure in Taiwan. The investment will create 1,250 high-skilled jobs and support thousands more in the Amazon Web Services data center supply chain, the company said. Salem Township and Falls Township are the first communities identified as sites for future campuses, according to the company. Amazon's capital expenditures totaled about $25 billion in the first quarter, and the company has said it expects to maintain that level of spending for the rest of the year. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for additional details on whether the $20 billion investment was part of the previously announced capital expenditure plans. The company also did not specify a timeframe for its investment. https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amazon-invest-20-billion-pennsylvania-expand-cloud-infrastructure-2025-06-09/

2025-06-09 14:35

MEXICO CITY, June 9 (Reuters) - Mexico's annual inflation rate accelerated in May and exceeded the upper-end of the central bank's target range, official data showed on Monday, creating an uncertain landscape for borrowing costs in Latin America's second-largest economy. Consumer prices in Mexico rose 4.42% in the year through May, according to national statistics agency INEGI, above the 4.38% expected by economists in a Reuters poll and up from 3.93% the previous month. Sign up here. Mexico's central bank, also known as Banxico, has an inflation target of 3% plus or minus one percentage point, and analysts now diverge on what its next monetary policy moves will be. Banxico last month cut its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points for the third consecutive time to 8.5%, the lowest level since 2022. Its next monetary policy decision is scheduled for June 26, and the bank had said it expected the inflation environment would allow it to continue its easing cycle. "The Bank of Mexico should pause the cycle of interest rate cuts, given the inflation rebound," Banco Base's economic analysis director Gabriela Siller said. Capital Economics economists, meanwhile, wrote in a note to clients that the inflation rate rise "was mainly driven by stronger non-core prices and so is unlikely to trouble officials at the central bank". Goldman Sachs analysts said that while a 50-basis-point cut may still be in play in June, the committee would likely have to slow its easing pace to 25 basis points in August "if we do not see more favorable inflation prints in the coming months." In May alone, headline consumer prices were up 0.28%, according to INEGI, while the closely watched core index, which strips out some volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.30%. Both came in slightly above market forecasts. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexicos-annual-inflation-speeds-up-may-exceeds-target-2025-06-09/

2025-06-09 12:22

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - The three top U.S. trade negotiators are seeking a handshake with China in London talks to seal the agreement on rare earths reached by Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Monday. "The purpose of the meeting today is to make sure that they're serious, but to literally get handshakes," Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, told CNBC in an interview. Sign up here. "I expect it to be a short meeting with a big, strong handshake," Hassett added. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were set to meet with Chinese counterparts in London on Monday to defuse the trade dispute between the two superpowers that has widened in recent weeks to include export controls over goods critical to global supply chains. Chinese export controls on rare earths was a very significant sticking point, Hassett said. With China controlling most of the global rare earth and magnet supply, its restrictions on sending those to the U.S. could disrupt production for American companies, including automakers, that rely on those materials, he said. Asked about the Chinese objection to U.S. curbs on semiconductor exports, Hassett said: "Our expectation is that after the handshake, then immediately after the handshake, any export controls from the U.S. will be eased, and the rare earths will be released in volume, and then we can go back to negotiating smaller matters." https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-seeking-handshake-rare-earths-china-white-house-aide-says-2025-06-09/