At the end of each week, I recap the week’s “news you can use” – a few quotes from major (and often expensive) financial news sources – so you can stay up to date on the news that impacts your money without spending a dime and in less than a minute.
Here’s an overview of what happened this week.
Why does Morgan Stanley see little chance of a stock market decline? (April 27, MarketWatch)
The drivers Mike Wilson identified in his weekly warm-up research note published on Monday are the S&P 500’s strong earnings growth so far this reporting season, an extended capital spending cycle, the adoption of AI and the fact that, while undisturbed by geopolitical constraints, passive investors are essentially less risk averse.
Moody’s upgrades China’s outlook, citing resilience in the face of challenges (April 27, Wall Street Journal)
Despite the property-sector slowdown and an expected slowdown in export growth, Moody’s expects exports to continue to support the relatively strong pace of economic expansion.
It projects real GDP growth at 4.5% in 2026 and 4.2% in 2027, giving policymakers ample room to address structural challenges.
Goldman Sachs says oil could hit $100 by year-end if flows don’t normalize soon (April 27, MarketWatch)
In a scenario where exports return to normal by mid-June, there is no capacity shortage and the US and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries provide a strong supply response, oil could fall below $80 a barrel.
Corporate America is making money—not just in tech and finance (April 27, Wall Street Journal)
Consumers – who have long been the engine of the US economy – are feeling the pinch. High oil prices act like a tax, reducing domestic consumption and increasing inflation.
Yet the largest US public companies are seeing profit and revenue growth. Year-over-year growth in sixth-quarter earnings per share is expected to exceed 13%, according to estimates from financial-data firm LSEG.
OpenAI misses key revenue, high-stakes users aim towards IPO (April 28, Wall Street Journal)
Chief Financial Officer Sarah Fryer has told other company leaders that she is concerned the company may not be able to pay for future computing contracts if revenue doesn’t grow fast enough, according to people familiar with the matter.
JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon says credit-driven recession will be ‘worse than people think’ (April 29, MarketWatch)
The boss of the world’s largest bank said some of the thousands of private-credit firms are “brilliant,” “but I guarantee you not all of them are,” he said.
Concerns over a potential private-credit crisis are intensifying as Wall Street’s biggest banks have increasingly come under criticism for their significant risk exposure.
Brent oil rises above $118 after Trump says he will hold Iran back unless it agrees to nuclear deal (April 29, CNBC)
“A blockade is somewhat more effective than a bombing,” Trump told Axios on Wednesday. “They’re suffocating like stuffed pigs, and it’s going to get worse for them. They can’t have nuclear weapons.”
Divided Fed officials keep rates on hold; Powell will remain governor (April 29, Bloomberg)
Federal Reserve officials kept interest rates unchanged but revealed a deepening divide over the policy outlook amid increased uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
Four officials voted against the decision, including three who objected to language in its statement after the meeting that suggested the central bank would eventually resume cutting rates.
The inflation rate reached its highest level in almost 3 years after the Iran War. The Fed’s hands are now tied. (April 30, MarketWatch)
The personal-consumption price index jumped 0.7% in March, marking the biggest increase since mid-2022. High gas prices associated with the Iran war were mostly to blame.
The annual rate of inflation increased from 2.8% to 3.5%. This is the highest level since spring 2023.
US economy set to grow 2 percent in early 2026, even as war in Iran begins to impact energy prices (April 30, New York Times)
“On net, it’s a solid number. Consumer spending has held up,” said Jason Draho, head of Americas asset allocation at UBS. However, he also said the strength “could be completely eroded” if high energy prices persist for the next six months.
Trump Family Crypto Project Quietly Sold As Holders Trapped (May 1, Bloomberg)
The family made its fortune on licensing the Trump name — real estate, Bibles, sneakers — but digital assets have opened up a new source of revenue.
For World Liberty investors, things are working out differently than they expected. Early buyers are left with 80% of their token holdings, unable to sell in a market that has already moved sharply against them.
Elon Musk’s Tesla compensation exceeded $158 billion last year (May 1, Wall Street Journal)
The salary package was part of the stratospheric compensation plan approved by shareholders last year as a way to motivate Tesla’s chief executive to spend more time at the electric-vehicle maker.