1. The United States stock market ended the day with gains, closing higher on the back of the release of Federal Reserve meeting minutes showing a "substantial majority" supported a half-point rate cut. This news alleviated investor concerns.

2. Tech stocks experienced mixed movements. Google's parent company, Alphabet, declined by 1.5% amid antitrust concerns.

3. In economic data, U.S. wholesale inventories in August rose by 0.1% month-over-month to $904.8 billion, below the preliminary estimate and the revised 0.2% increase from the previous month.

4. Asian markets ended mostly higher, with the Nikkei 225 of Japan closing 0.29% higher and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 finishing 0.43% higher. India's Nifty 50 ended up 0.08%, and China's Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen CSI 300 ended up 1.32% and 1.06% respectively. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 2.98%.

5. Crude oil prices rose, driven by concerns about Hurricane Milton's impact in Florida and fears over Middle East supply risks. Tensions between Israel and Iran contributed to this rise despite demand concerns and higher U.S. crude inventories.

6. In commodities trading, gold was up 0.30% and silver was up 0.54%. Copper rose 0.09%.

7. U.S. futures were mixed, with Dow futures down 0.10%, S&P 500 futures down 0.14%, and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.17%.

8. The U.S. dollar held near a seven-week high amid anticipation for key U.S. inflation data. The yen declined as market sentiment remained skeptical about further rate hikes from the Bank of Japan.

9. The European STOXX 50 index ended the day lower by 0.24%. Germany's DAX fell 0.19%, France's CAC dropped 0.23%, and the UK's FTSE 100 index declined by 0.08%.

10. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed higher by 0.29%, with gains led by the Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, Marine Transport, and Precision Instruments sectors.

11. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Read from source...

Insider

### Stripe doubles Q1 revenues to $9.2 billion, but profits remain elusive - Insider

- Stripe doubled its revenues to $9.2 billion in Q1.
- The company has yet to achieve profitability.
- Stripe is planning to raise more capital.

Payment processor Stripe reported that its revenues more than doubled in the first quarter to $9.2 billion. However, the company has not yet achieved profitability. Stripe's losses for the first quarter increased to $261 million, up from $193 million in the same period last year.

Despite the growth in revenues, Stripe is struggling to make a profit. The company has been investing heavily in infrastructure and acquisitions, which has contributed to its losses.

According to people familiar with the matter, Stripe is currently planning to raise more capital. The company is also exploring the possibility of going public through a direct listing, although it has not yet made a decision.

While Stripe's revenues are growing rapidly, it is unclear when the company will become profitable. In the meantime, it is likely to continue burning cash as it seeks to expand its business.

Stripe's struggle to achieve profitability is not unique among tech startups. Many other companies, such as Uber and Lyft, have also failed to turn a profit despite significant growth in revenues.

### Insider Says Stripe Doubled Q1 Revenue to $9.2 Billion but Profits Elude the Company

Stripe, a payment processing company, reported that its revenue doubled to $9.2 billion in the first quarter of 2024. However, the company has not yet achieved profitability. Stripe's losses for the first quarter increased to $261 million, up from $193 million in the same period last year.

Despite the growth in revenues, Stripe is struggling to make a profit. The company has been investing heavily in infrastructure and acquisitions, which has contributed to its losses.

According to people familiar with the matter, Stripe is currently planning to raise more capital. The company is also exploring the possibility of going public through a direct listing, although it has not yet made a decision.

While Stripe's revenues are growing rapidly, it is unclear when the company will become profitable. In the meantime, it is likely to continue burning cash as it seeks to expand its business.

Stripe's struggle to achieve profitability is not unique among tech startups. Many other companies, such as Uber and Lyft, have also failed to turn a profit despite significant growth in revenues.

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The content is neutral with a tone of neutrality. The sentence structure is normal, and the article is easy to read. The average sentence length is 20.8 words.

The article's sentiment is neutral, as it provides information about market movements without taking a clear stance on the direction of the market. The tone of the article is neutral, as it presents the information without any emotional language or bias. The sentence structure is normal, meaning that the sentences are written in a way that is easy to understand and follow. The readability of the article is easy, meaning that it can be understood by people with a basic level of English proficiency. The average sentence length is 20.8 words, which is considered normal for written English.

Tax Treatment for Real Estate Investment Trusts

Tax Treatment for Real Estate Investment Trusts

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have become increasingly popular as a way to invest in real estate without having to actually buy, manage and sell physical properties. One important aspect of investing in REITs is understanding their tax treatment.

In this article, we will explore the tax treatment for REITs, including how dividends are taxed and the benefits of investing in REITs through a tax-advantaged account.

1. Taxable Dividends

One of the main advantages of investing in REITs is the potential for regular dividend payments. However, these dividends are generally taxable as ordinary income, which can be taxed at a higher rate than qualified dividends (usually from stocks held for at least 60 days within a 121-day period that includes the ex-dividend date).

The tax rate on dividends from REITs depends on an individual's tax bracket. For those in the highest tax bracket, the tax rate on REIT dividends can be as high as 37%.

2. Capital Gains Tax

When you sell your shares of a REIT, you may incur a capital gain or loss, which is subject to capital gains tax. The tax rate on long-term capital gains (held for more than one year) is generally lower than the tax rate on short-term capital gains (held for one year or less).

For those in the highest tax bracket, the long-term capital gains tax rate can be as low as 20%. However, it's important to note that this rate only applies to gains from selling shares of a REIT, not the dividends received from the REIT.

3. Tax-Advantaged Accounts

One way to potentially reduce the tax burden associated with investing in REITs is to hold them in a tax-advantaged account, such as an individual retirement account (IRA) or a 401(k) plan.

In these types of accounts, any dividends or capital gains generated by the REIT are not subject to current-year taxation. Instead, taxes are deferred until the account holder withdraws funds during retirement. At that time, the withdrawals may be taxed at a lower rate, depending on the account holder's tax bracket at the time of withdrawal.

4. Foreign Tax Credits

Some REITs invest in real estate located outside of the United States. In these cases, the REIT may be subject to foreign withholding taxes. However, as a US citizen or resident, you may be able to claim a foreign tax credit on your US tax return for these withhold