Balance of Power: Early Edition 7/22/2025
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Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show receives record audience spike thanks to Fox News guest
The Tonight Show landed its biggest audience in years as Jimmy Fallon hosted Fox News personality Greg Gutfeld last Thursday. The episode drew in 1.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen live-plus-same day figures. It was the program's most-watched 'regular' broadcast — meaning not airing directly after a major sporting event — since December 19, 2023, when a post-The Voice finale episode attracted 1.74 million viewers. Some of Thursday's viewers may be attributed to the night's lead guest, the Jonas Brothers; however, it's Gutfeld's segment that boasts by far the most viewers on the show's YouTube channel (990,000 at the time of writing). During the highly anticipated interview, Fallon and Gutfeld steered clear of politics, instead bantering about their first drunken meeting at a bar in New York City. 'This is hilarious — we've met before,' Fallon opened with. 'Yes, you have no memory of it. Which is understandable, because we were wasted,' Gutfeld responded before launching into a long-winded anecdote about their meeting. The host of Fox's politically charged comedy panel show, Gutfeld!, alluded to his then-upcoming appearance with Fallon last week, saying it would be the 'biggest crossover since the Harlem Globetrotters visited the Golden Girls.' 'Unlike the other guys, Jimmy sitting with me proves he's not afraid of upsetting his peers or afraid of my mesmerizing charm,' he added. Fallon has shown his willingness to be pragmatic about humoring the right in the past, infamously hosting Donald Trump in September 2016, two months before his victory over Hillary Clinton, and ruffling the New York property tycoon's blonde hair to check whether it was real. The gesture alienated some of The Tonight Show's audience, and Fallon later expressed regret over it, telling The New York Times in 2017: 'I didn't do it to humanize him. I almost did it to minimize him. I didn't think that would be a compliment: 'He did the thing that we all wanted to do.'' Trump himself was angered over Fallon's 'whimpering' attempts to distance himself from the interview, rebuking him on Twitter: 'Be a man Jimmy!' By contrast, Trump has long been a champion of Gutfeld, posting a Fox press release celebrating his high ratings on Truth Social last September and writing in all-caps: 'GUTFELD! NOTCHES LARGEST AUDIENCE IN PROGRAM HISTORY WITH NEARLY FIVE MILLION VIEWERS DURING INTERVIEW WITH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.' When fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert's show was axed last month, the president wrote: 'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.' Gutfeld likewise gloated over The Late Show's demise, commenting on Fox: 'This was an 'institution,' and rather than put someone in his place they just said, 'We're closing up.' Imagine being a chef. You're such a bad chef that they cancel food… It's so obvious. You can't do a comedy show and a sermon at the same time.'
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Asian shares are mixed after days of gains driven by hopes for US rate cuts
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Asian shares were mixed on Thursday after days of gains driven by hopes for lower U.S. interest rates, while U.S. futures slipped. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.4% to 42,657.94 as investors sold to lock in recent gains that have taken the benchmark to all-time records. The Japanese yen rose against the dollar after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg that Japan was 'behind the curve' in monetary tightening. He was referring to the slow pace if increases in Japan's near-zero interest rates. Low interest rates tend to make the yen weaker against the dollar, giving Japanese exporters a cost advantage in overseas sales. The dollar fell to 146.55 Japanese yen early Thursday, down from 147.39 yen. The euro fell to $1.1703 from $1.1705. In Chinese markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed less than 0.1% to 25,597.85, while the Shanghai composite index gained 0.2% to 3,690.88. South Korea's Kospi slid 0.3% to 3,215.61, while Australia's S&P ASX 200 index added 0.5% to 8,871.80. Taiwan's TAIEX fell 0.4%, while India's Sensex edged 0.1% higher. 'Asian markets opened today like a party that ran out of champagne before midnight — the music still playing, but the dance floor thinning out,' Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down less than 0.1%. On Wednesday, U.S. stocks ticked higher, extending a global rally fueled by hopes the Federal Reserve will cut U.S. interest rates. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% to 6,466.58, coming off its latest all-time high. The Dow climbed 1% to 44,922.27, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.1% to its own record set the day before, closing at 21,713.14. Treasury yields eased in the bond market in anticipation that the Fed will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its next meeting in September. Lower rates can boost investment prices and the economy by making it cheaper for U.S. households and businesses to borrow to buy houses, cars or equipment, though they risk worsening inflation. Stocks of companies on Wall Street that could benefit most from lower interest rates helped lead the way. PulteGroup climbed 5.4%, and Lennar rose 5.2% as part of a broad rally for homebuilders and others in the housing industry. Lower rates could make mortgages cheaper to get, which could spur more buying. The cryptocurrency exchange company Bullish ended its debut day of trading after an initial public offering of more than $10 billion with a gain of nearly 84% to $68 a share. The hopes for lower interest rates are helping to drown out criticism that the U.S. stock market has broadly grown too expensive after its big leap since hitting a low in April. President Donald Trump has angrily been calling for cuts to help the economy, often insulting the Fed Chair Jerome Powell while doing so. But the Fed has hesitated of the possibility that Trump's sweeping higher tariffs could make inflation much worse. Fed officials have said they want to see more fresh data about inflation before moving. On Thursday, a report will show how bad inflation was at the wholesale level across the United States. Economists expect it to show inflation accelerated a touch to 2.4% in July from 2.3% in June. In other dealings early Thursday, U.S. benchmark crude rose 24 cents to $62.89 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added 27 cents to $65.90 per barrel. ___ AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed. Teresa Cerojano, The Associated Press
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
SM Investments H1 net income rises 6% to PHP42.6 billion
PASAY CITY, Philippines, Aug. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments) posted a consolidated net income of PHP42.6 billion in the first half of 2025, a 6% increase from PHP40.2 billion in the same period last year. Consolidated revenues for the January to June period rose 6% to PHP319.2 billion, up from PHP301.4 billion in the first half of 2024. "We continue to see steady growth across our core businesses, supported by favorable macroeconomic conditions in the Philippines," said Frederic C. DyBuncio, President and Chief Executive Officer of SM Investments Corporation. "Bank lending remains strong, and consumer spending in our malls and retail stores continues to rise. "The Philippine economy was steady at 5.4% growth in the first quarter, while inflation has eased to its lowest level since 2019, creating a more supportive environment for both corporates and consumers. Despite global trade uncertainties, overall sentiment remains positive, and we share that optimism for the remainder of the year." Banking accounted for 50% of reported net earnings, followed by property at 28%, retail at 15% and portfolio investments at 7%. Retail SM Retail net income grew 10% to PHP8.4 billion from PHP7.6 billion in the same period last year. Revenues were up 8% to PHP211.8 billion from PHP196.3 billion. In non-food retail, revenues of the department store grew by 11%, marked by a shift in the school opening to the second quarter. Revenues for specialty retail grew 5%, fueled by spending on stationery or back-to-school items, fashion as well as health and beauty categories. Food retail revenues increased 8% to PHP127.1 billion due to store expansion and volume growth. Banking BDO Unibank, Inc. reported net income increased to PHP40.6 billion, up 3% from PHP39.4 billion in the same period last year supported by strong performance from its core businesses. China Banking Corporation posted PHP13.0 billion in net income, up 14% on the back of strong core business growth. Net interest income increased by 15% to PHP34.9 billion on higher asset yields and loan volume. Property SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) reported first-half net income rose 11% growth to an all-time high of PHP24.5 billion, driven by higher rental income, real estate sales and ancillary revenues. Portfolio Investments In the first half, the portfolio investments' performance was driven by Philippine Geothermal Production Company which contributed 35% of total portfolio income, followed by NEO with 30% and 2GO with 16%. Balance Sheet Total assets of SM Investments stood at PHP1.7 trillion, up 2%. Gearing ratio remained conservative at 32% net debt to 68% equity. About SM Investments Corporation SM Investments Corporation is one of the leading Philippine companies that is invested in market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property. It also invests in ventures that capture high growth opportunities in the emerging Philippine economy. SM's retail operations are the country's largest and most diversified, consisting of grocery stores, department stores and specialty retail stores. SM's property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest integrated property developer in the Philippines with interests in malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers as well as tourism-related property developments. SM's interests in banking are in BDO Unibank, Inc., the country's largest bank, and China Banking Corporation, the fourth largest private domestic bank. For more information, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE SM Investments Corporation Sign in to access your portfolio
