Bloomberg Top News

Hamas militants freed an American woman and her daughter almost two weeks after they were taken captive during the group’s deadly raid on southern Israel, the Israeli government said.

Hamas released two US citizens who had been held captive in Gaza. US and European officials have been pressing Israel to delay a ground invasion of the territory and allow time for talks aimed at freeing hostages. President Joe Biden later spoke to the two freed Americans, the White House said on Friday evening.

A Federal Reserve report flagged concerns about the risks of persistent inflation, the potential for large losses in the US office market and funding pressures on some banks.

Republicans abandoned Trump loyalist Jim Jordan on Friday as their nominee for House speaker, infuriating conservative hardliners and deepening turmoil among lawmakers as they confront emergency aid requests for Israel and Ukraine.

Stocks fell around the world, while bonds climbed with gold on concern the Israel-Hamas war will escalate into a wider conflict in the Middle East. Oil pulled back after hitting $90 a barrel.

Donald Trump was fined $5,000 for failing to fully remove a social media post that criticized a law clerk in the trial of a civil fraud lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general.

Even as conflict in the Middle East roils equity markets, the S&P 500 Index has held above a crucial level monitored by traders — evidence of a resilience that signals a big rally is imminent for US stocks.

Moody’s Investors Service removed its negative credit outlook on the UK, while Standard & Poor’s maintained a stable outlook, in a much-needed boost for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.