Stocks Fall Amid Rate-Rise Worries

The Dow industrials dropped in volatile trading as investors assessed the potential impact on inflation and growth from policy shifts by the world's largest central banks. 


 
Economy Week Ahead: Housing, Consumers, Inflation

Data due this week will likely show that core inflation rose at the fastest annual pace in almost four decades in November. 


 
Central Banks Worry Omicron Could Sustain Inflation

Instead of loosening monetary policy to prop up their economies as they did at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, central banks are moving to unwind stimulus and raise interest rates. 


 
Manchin Says He Won't Support 'Build Back Better' Plan

The West Virginia Democrat said he wouldn't back the roughly $2 trillion plan, a decision that could doom President Biden's top domestic-policy priority. 


 
China Job Cuts Mount in Sectors Hit by Tighter Rules

Technology, education and property companies are shedding employees, dimming the job prospects for college graduates. 


 
Businesses Seek to Delay Tax Rise That Funds Biden Spending Plan

Honeywell, GE, Boeing and other large companies are launching a late lobbying blitz to persuade centrist Democratic senators that implementing a global minimum tax too soon would hurt U.S.-based multinationals. 


 
Sky-High Lumber Prices Are Back

Lumber prices have shot up in a rise reminiscent of a year ago, when high wood prices warned of supply problems and broad inflation to come. 


 
Fed Officials Offer Clues on Rate Outlook in First Appearances Since Policy Meeting

In their first public comments since the Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting this week, some central bank officials on Friday talked up the prospect of raising their now near-zero short-term rate target over the course of the new year. 


 
Democrats Brace for Rewrite of Biden Spending Plan to Woo Joe Manchin

Satisfying pivotal senator could force substantial changes in what President Biden described in October as Democrats' consensus healthcare, education and climate bill. 


 
Inflation Adds to Cost of Clean Energy Transition

Energy companies have to spend more to build solar and wind farms for the first time in years because of cost inflation and supply-chain problems, adding a financial speed bump to the switch from fossil fuels.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

12-19-21 2115ET