U.S. Sees Uptick In Covid Cases As Deaths Continue To Fall

As covid deaths continue to fall, the United Sates seems to be returning to an uptick in new infection cases.

While there was a 27 percent decrease in Covid casualties in the last fortnight, a 22 percent increase has been recorded in the number of cases in the same period, according to the latest New York Times tally.

The United States on Wednesday recorded 43,034 new cases of coronavirus infection.

With this, the total number of people that have been infected with coronavirus in the country has risen to 80,514,666.

With 1,720 deaths reported on the same day, total Covid casualties reached 987,560, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.

Only 14,887 patients are remaining in the country’s hospitals for treatment for the viral disease. Hospital admissions have declined by 13 percent in two weeks.

There is also a concurrent reduction in the number of patients admitted in intensive care units – 22 percent within a fortnight. I.C.U. admissions dropped to 2,090.

80,052,061 people have so far recovered from the disease, the Worldometer tally shows.

As per the latest data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 218,622,907 Americans, or 65.8 percent of the eligible population, have been administered both doses of Covid vaccine so far. This includes 89.6 percent of people above 65.

45.3 percent of the eligible population, or 99,035,505 people, have already received a booster dose that is recommended to provide additional protection from the killer virus.

CSX Corp Rises 3% On Improved Q1 Results

Shares of freight transportation company CSX Corp. (CSX) are up 3 percent on Thursday’s trading after the company declared first-quarter earnings, which increased from last year and beat the Street estimates.

The company’s bottom line totaled $859 million, or $0.39 per share. This compares with $706 million, or $0.31 per share, in last year’s first quarter. Analysts on average had expected the company to earn $0.37 per share, according to figures compiled by Thomson Reuters.

The company’s revenue for the quarter rose 21.4 percent to $3.41 billion from $2.81 billion last year.

Currently at $36.70, the stock has traded between $29.49 and $38.63 during the past 52 weeks.

Snak King Recalls Certain O Organics Sea Salt Organic Popcorn Over Milk Allergen Concerns

Snak King has recalled certain “O Organics Sea Salt Organic Popcorn” due to undeclared milk allergen.

The FDA announced that Snak King has issued a voluntarily recall of 5-ounce packages of “O Organics Sea Salt Organic Popcorn” with “best if used by” dates of 9/24/2022 and 9/25/2022 due to the potential presence of an undeclared milk allergen.

The product is being recalled due to cross contamination with a milk allergen. People who have an allergy or sensitivity to milk may risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

The recalled products were sold in ACME, Safeway, King’s, Balducci’s, Jewel-Osco, Andronico’s Community Markets, Vons, Pak ‘N Save, Albertsons, Eagle, Carrs-Safeway, Haggen, and Pavilions locations in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Idaho.

Consumers who have purchased 5-ounce packages of O Organics Sea Salt Organic Popcorn with the “best if used by” dates in question are urged to not eat the product and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Genuine Parts Boosts FY22 Outlook – Update

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, Genuine Parts Co. (GPC) raised its earnings, adjusted earnings and total net sales growth guidance for the full-year 2022.

For fiscal 2022, the company now projects earnings in a range of $7.56 to $7.71 per share and adjusted earnings in a range of $7.70 to $7.85 per share on total sales growth of 10 to 12 percent.

Previously, the company expected earnings and adjusted earnings in the range of $7.45 to $7.60 per share on total sales growth of 9 to 11 percent.

On average, analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $7.59 per share on revenue growth of 10.2 percent to $20.88 billion for the year. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

U.S. Business Inventories Jump More Than Expected In February

A report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday showed a continued surge in U.S. business inventories in the month of February.

The Commerce Department said business inventories shot up by 1.5 percent in February following an upwardly revised 1.3 percent jump in January.

Economists had expected business inventories to increase by 1.3 percent compared to the 1.1 percent advance originally reported for the previous month.

Wholesale inventories led the way higher, spiking by 2.5 percent, while retail inventories jumped by 1.2 percent and manufacturing inventories rose by 0.6 percent.

The report showed business sales also increased by 1.0 percent in February after soaring by 4.1 percent in January.

Wholesale sales shot up by 1.7 percent, while manufacturing and retail sales climbed by 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.

With inventories increasing by more than sales, the total business inventories/sales ratio ticked up to 1.26 in February from 1.25 in January.

Treasury Reveals Details Of Two-Year, Five-Year & Seven-Year Note Auctions

The Treasury Department on Thursday announced the details of this month’s auctions of two-year, five-year and seven-year notes.

The Treasury revealed it plans to sell $48 billion worth of two-year notes, $49 billion worth of five-year notes and $44 billion worth of seven-year notes.

The results of the two-year note auction will be announced next Tuesday, the results of the five-year note auction will be announced next Wednesday and the results of the seven-year note auction will be announced next Thursday.

Last month, the Treasury sold $50 billion worth of two-year notes, $51 billion worth of five-year notes and $47 billion worth of seven-year notes.

The two-year and five-year note auctions attracted below average demand, while the seven-year note auction attracted above average demand.