Logo of the London Stock Exchange. Wall Street was mixed in late morning trading, with the blue-chip Dow and broader S&P 500 both modestly higher, but the Nasdaq fell 1.0 per cent. In Europe, London's FTSE 100 ended the day with a small gain, while in Paris the CAC 40 was flat and the Frankfurt DAX 30 dipped 0.2 per cent. Milan shed nearly 0.6 per cent on ongoing worries over Italy's national accounts. Global oil prices meanwhile came off lows after the US reimposed sanctions on Iran, which is the OPEC cartel's second-biggest player after Saudi Arabia. Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson said traders are focused "on US midterms on Tuesday, whilst questions over the Italian budget continue to impact risk sentiment." Eurozone finance ministers urged Italy on Monday to reverse course on its rule-breaking budget amid fears of market turmoil and a return of the debt crisis. 'WORST CASE SCENARIO' FOR MARKETS Traders are now eyeing Tuesday's US midterm elections, which are seen as a vote … [Read more...] about European stock markets steady on eve of US midterm vote
Midterm elections usa
Trump makes final push in US midterm elections
US President Donald Trump arrives for a 'Make America Great Again' campaign rally at McKenzie Arena, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP) Cleveland, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Indiana; then Cape Girardeau, Missouri: it will be well after midnight before the real estate billionaire and populist showman gets back to the White House - and only a few hours more before polls open on Tuesday across the world's largest economy. "Don't fall for the Suppression Game. Go out & VOTE. Remember, we now have perhaps the greatest Economy (JOBS) in the history of our Country!" he tweeted on Monday before setting off for the furious final round of campaigning. "With turnout predicted to spike compared to previous cycles, and US networks rolling out wall-to-wall coverage, Trump told a cheering crowd in Cleveland the media were "making a fortune" thanks to him and his supporters. "The midterm elections used to be, like, boring," he quipped. "Now it's like the hottest thing." Trump is not on the … [Read more...] about Trump makes final push in US midterm elections
US networks drop ‘racist’ Trump ad as critical elections near
Tuesday’s elections, widely seen as a referendum on Trump, have been portrayed by both Republicans and Democrats as critical for the direction of the country. At stake is control of both chambers of Congress, and with it the ability to block or promote Trump’s agenda, as well as 36 governor’s offices. A surge in early voting, fueled by a focus on Trump’s pugilistic, norms-breaking presidency by supporters of both parties, could signal the highest turnout in 50 years for a midterm U.S. election, when the White House is not on the line. The 30-second ad, which was sponsored by Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign and which debuted online last week, featured courtroom video of an illegal immigrant from Mexico convicted in the 2014 killings of two police officers, juxtaposed with scenes of migrants headed through Mexico. Critics, including members of Trump’s own party, had condemned the spot as racially divisive. CNN had refused to run the ad, saying it was … [Read more...] about US networks drop ‘racist’ Trump ad as critical elections near
Trump, Obama tout clashing visions of U.S. as elections near
Trump, Obama tout clashing visions of U.S. as elections near U.S. President Donald Trump attends a campaign rally, ahead of midterm elections, at Pensacola International Airport in Florida, U.S., November 3, 2018 – PHOTO: REUTERS WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Barack Obama made duelling election appearances on Sunday, offering sharply different views on the country’s problems but agreeing on the high stakes for voters in the final 48 hours of a tight campaign. With opinion polls showing dozens of tight U.S. congressional and gubernatorial races in Tuesday’s election, the current and former presidents said the results would determine what kind of country Americans live in for the next two years. “This election will decide whether we build on this extraordinary prosperity we have created,” Trump told a cheering crowd in Macon, Georgia, warning that Democrats would “take a giant wrecking ball to our economy.” … [Read more...] about Trump, Obama tout clashing visions of U.S. as elections near
Trump pushes economic hope, immigrant fear in election final run
US President Donald Trump - seen here at a rally in Missouri on Nov 1, 2018 - will keep up a frantic pace of campaigning around the country until the eve of the midterm elections. (Photo: AFP/Saul Loeb) Trump flew to West Virginia to host a campaign rally to ahead of another one in Indiana, then more on the weekend and Monday. Less than 24 hours earlier, he was in Missouri. "It will be a very exciting five days," Trump said at the White House before departing on the Marine One helicopter. Trump said his Republicans are in a good position ahead of Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, particularly with new employment figures out showing the economy booming. But polls point to the Democrats capturing at least the House of Representatives, threatening Trump with the spectre of an opposition finally able to block policies and dig into his highly opaque personal finances. US midterm elections. (Graphic: AFP/Gillian Handyside) The campaign trail on Friday also saw arguably … [Read more...] about Trump pushes economic hope, immigrant fear in election final run
Trump hits election trail threatening troop surge on Mexico border
Viet Nam News FORT MYERS, United States — President Donald Trump further hardened his pre-election anti-immigration rhetoric in a Florida campaign stop on Wednesday, after threatening to deploy as many as 15,000 soldiers on the Mexican border -- equal to the size of the US contingent in Afghanistan. "They got a lot of rough people in these caravans. They are not angels," he said in Fort Myers, referring to migrants from poor Central American countries moving towards the United States in hopes of a better life or to escape violence. "We’re gettin’ prepared for the caravan, folks," he said. Brushing aside accusations that his divisive rhetoric on immigration is stoking extremism, Trump made the troop announcement before flying to Florida for the last stage of campaigning ahead of next Tuesday’s midterm elections. He will host 11 rallies across eight states in the next six days. Trump hopes to fire up core Republican voters and spur the party to retain … [Read more...] about Trump hits election trail threatening troop surge on Mexico border
Trump says next summit with North Korea’s Kim to come after November U.S. elections
Trump says next summit with North Korea's Kim to come after November U.S. electionsThe Saigon Times Daily U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un meet at the start of their summit at the Capella Hotel on the resort island of Sentosa, Singapore June 12, 2018 – PHOTO: REUTERS WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be held after U.S. congressional elections on Nov. 6. Speaking to reporters as he flew to Iowa for a political rally, Trump said: “It’ll be after the midterms. I just can’t leave now.” Earlier on Tuesday, Trump told reporters that plans were being made for his second summit with Kim and that he thought “incredible” progress had been made in U.S. talks with the long-isolated North Asian country. He said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had very good talks with Kim over the weekend and that three or four locations were … [Read more...] about Trump says next summit with North Korea’s Kim to come after November U.S. elections
Trump backs Putin on election meddling at summit, stirs fierce criticism
Trump casted doubt on the findings of his own intelligence agencies and sparked a storm of criticism at home. Although he faced pressure from critics, allied countries and even his own staff to take a tough line, Trump spoke not a single disparaging word in public about Moscow on any of the issues that have brought relations between the two powers to the lowest ebb since the Cold War. Instead, he denounced the “stupidity” of his own country’s policies, especially the decision to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election. Just three days ago, the U.S. Justice Department announced an indictment of 12 Russian spies for hacking into Democratic Party computer networks. Trump’s performance at a joint news conference with Putin in Helsinki stirred a wave of condemnation in the United States, including criticism from within his own Republican Party. The White House has struggled for months to dispel suggestions that Trump was unwilling to stand up to Russia. … [Read more...] about Trump backs Putin on election meddling at summit, stirs fierce criticism
Trump says infrastructure plan may wait until after elections
US President Donald Trump said Thursday his major infrastructure plan may not make it through Congress until after key midterm elections in November. Trump says infrastructure plan may wait until after elections, JEFF SWENSEN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP "I don't think you're going to get Democrat support very much. And you'll probably have to wait until after the election, which isn't so long down the road," he said in a speech in the Midwestern state of Ohio. "We probably have to wait until after the election because the Democrats say, 'don't give him anymore wins.'" Trump was in the state in the industrial heartland to tout his proposal to dedicate $200 billion in federal money as a way to attract private investment of "at least" $1.5 trillion, the White House said. "We are going to rebuild America's crumbling infrastructure," including roads, bridges, airports, and waterworks, he said. The plan "will completely transform the horrible, costly and broken permitting … [Read more...] about Trump says infrastructure plan may wait until after elections
NAFTA future iffy going into new round of negotiations
Negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the United States on Tuesday will kick off the sixth round of talks aimed at revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in Montreal. The six days of talks come amid high trade tensions between Ottawa and Washington and as U.S. President Donald Trump insists Mexico will pay for the construction of a controversial wall along the U.S.'s southern border. Trump continues to blow hot and cold on the continental trade pact that he has threatened to repeal, and recently said in a Twitter message that "NAFTA is a bad joke." Outraged by huge anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed on Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier as well as its primary softwood lumber and newsprint exporters, Ottawa recently filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization alleging widespread trade violations by its neighbor. The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is aiming for a repeat of past adjudications that went Canada's way to turn the … [Read more...] about NAFTA future iffy going into new round of negotiations