The daily business briefing: March 17, 2023
Big banks agree to $30 billion deal to prop up First Republic, Sanofi joins 2 other drugmakers with insulin price cuts, and more
1. 11 big banks prop up First Republic in $30 billion deal
A group of 11 banks on Thursday agreed to deposit $30 billion in First Republic Bank to signal confidence in its finances following the sudden failure of three other midsize lenders. The deal includes $5 billion infusions from four of the biggest U.S. banks — JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are kicking in $2.5 billion each. BNY Mellon, PNC Bank, State Street, Truist, and US Bank are contributing $1 billion apiece. The deal came as top financial officials scrambled to reassure the public their deposits were safe. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell called it "most welcome."
2. Sanofi becomes 3rd drugmaker to slash insulin costs
French drugmaker Sanofi announced Thursday that it would slash prices of its insulin by up to 78 percent, and cap out-of-pocket costs on its most popular version of the life-saving diabetes medicine, Lantus, at $35 per month for patients with private insurance. Sanofi is the third major insulin producer to make drastic price cuts urged by politicians and patient advocates. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly recently cut U.S. insulin prices up to 75 percent and 70 percent, respectively. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act capped Medicare beneficiaries' insulin costs at $35 a month. A 2020 survey by advocacy group T1International found one in four Type 1 diabetes patients rationed insulin due to the drug's cost.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
3. ECB makes big rate hike despite bank turmoil
The European Central Bank on Thursday raised interest rates by a half-percentage point, showing it remained committed to aggressive action to fight high inflation despite concerns about the financial health of banks. The ECB said it would provide emergency support to banks if necessary. The ECB made similar rate hikes in February and December. Analysts had been expecting a smaller, quarter-point increase given market tensions that have spread since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. ECB President Christine Lagarde said policy makers would be careful not to add too much strain on the financial system with further rate hikes. "It's not business as usual," Lagarde said. "It is not possible at this point in time ... to determine what the path will be going forward."
4. Stock futures little changed as banks get some help
U.S. stock futures struggled early Friday as concerns about the banking system continued despite a deal by major banks to support First Republic, and a lifeline from Switzerland's central bank to Credit Suisse. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were down 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively, at 7 a.m. ET. Nasdaq futures were up 0.1 percent. The Dow and the S&P 500 rose 1.2 percent and 1.8 percent on Thursday, leaving them poised to end a bumpy week with gains. The Nasdaq surged by 2.5 percent on Thursday and was up 5.2 percent on the week, headed for what could be its best week since November.
5. 'Biggest-ever' U.S. business mission heading to Vietnam
SpaceX, Netflix, and Boeing are among more than 50 companies traveling to Vietnam next week for the "biggest-ever" U.S. business mission to the Southeast Asian nation, Reuters reported Friday, citing the organizer, the US-ASEAN Business Council. The participants include defense, pharmaceutical, and tech companies. Vietnam, a nation of 100 million people, has become a booming manufacturing hub. It is now benefiting from a shift away from China prompted by U.S.-China trade friction, and a desire to diversify supply chains after recent bottlenecks hurt U.S. businesses. Vietnam needs new suppliers of helicopters and drones for its military as the Ukraine war saps the capabilities of Russia, long its main military partner.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?
The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Women are getting their own baseball league again
In the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Giant TVs are becoming the next big retail commodity
Under the Radar Some manufacturers are introducing TVs over 8 feet long
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The daily business briefing: January 24, 2024
Business Briefing The S&P 500 sets a third straight record, Netflix adds more subscribers than expected, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The daily business briefing: January 23, 2024
Business Briefing The Dow and S&P 500 set fresh records, Bitcoin falls as ETF enthusiasm fades, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The daily business briefing: January 22, 2024
Business Briefing FAA recommends inspections of a second Boeing 737 model, Macy's rejects Arkhouse bid, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The daily business briefing: January 19, 2024
Business Briefing Macy's to cut 2,350 jobs, Congress averts a government shutdown, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The daily business briefing: January 18, 2024
Business Briefing Shell suspends shipments in the Red Sea, December retail sales beat expectations, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The daily business briefing: January 17, 2024
Business Briefing Judge blocks JetBlue-Spirit merger plan, Goldman Sachs beats expectations with wealth-management boost, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The daily business briefing: January 16, 2024
Business Briefing Boeing steps up inspections on 737 Max 9 jets, Zelenskyy fights for world leaders' attention at Davos, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The daily business briefing: January 12, 2024
Business Briefing Inflation was slightly hotter than expected in December, Hertz is selling a third of its EVs to buy more gas cars, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published