What Do You See Here?

'Low Hire, Low Fire, Low Inspire': Claims Hit 57 Year Lows, Sentiment Still Sucks, And Payrolls Are Next Another week, another print showing that American employers still refuse to fire anyone in any meaningful numbers. Initial jobless claims remain parked near multi-decade lows, plunging to 189k this week (after recent weeks in the mid-to-high 190,000s), confirming that the 'low fire' half of the current labor market is intact.  Last week's print is officially the lowest since 1969...And Continuing claims are holding around 1.7 million Americans...Layoffs simply are not happening at scale.That...

Dubai's Shipping Hub Status Under Pressure As Some Industry Veterans Eye Greece Via Middle East Eye Some shipping industry workers based in Dubai are looking to relocate from the UAE as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, one ship-owner and two industry sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye. Western expats working in the maritime industry are eyeing the Greek capital, Athens , and Cyprus as potential alternatives to Dubai, given those countries' dominant positions in shipping and the favorable tax policies they offer the industry, the sources said. via AFP The search for alternatives...

Pentagon Denies Widespread Reports Of Iran's 'Dark' Tankers Breaching US Blockade Update(1510ET): The Pentagon has not been happy with today's media headlines that proclaimed Iranian 'dark' tankers (with their transponders switched off) have been able to penetrate and get past the US Navy's blockade. CENTCOM issued a late afternoon public message, stating: "Over past 24 hours, media reports have alleged that several commercial ships evaded the blockade, citing M/V Hero II, M/V Hedy, and M/V Dorena as examples. These reports are inaccurate. Hero II and Hedy did not sail past...