National

In a Nutshell: Rapid Economic Rebound In 2021 – Fasten Your Seatbelts?

As with any economic recovery interest rates and bond yields rise. Historically it’s been a bullish development for stocks because the earnings rebound (fueling the “risk on” appetite) typically far exceeds that of the “risk off” fear of rising rates.… more

U.S. jobless claims fall to lowest count since onset of COVID-19

First-time claims for unemployment insurance unexpectedly fell sharply last week amid signs that hiring has picked up in the U.S. economy, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Claims totaled 684,000 for the week ended March 20, the first time the number… more

KC company buys Canadian electric truck maker

A business combination deal months in the making is approaching final approval after review from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this week. Kansas City-based special-purpose acquisition company, Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp., first revealed its intent to combine with Canadian… more

U.S. nursing homes release reform agenda due to COVID

A new reform agenda from the American Health Care Association has been released called the Care For Our Seniors Act. The agenda sets out to address systemic issues facing long term care sector and to learn from ongoing an COVID-19.… more

Overland Park-based Compass Minerals to sell plant nutrition business for $418M

In a deal valued around $418 million, Overland Park headquartered mineral producer, Compass Minerals International Inc., announced it will its South America specialty plant nutrition business to ICL Group subsidiary, ICL Brasil Ltda. ICL Brasil Ltda. has signed a definitive… more

Coping with COVID: Weekly death toll recedes

Data from Worldometer notes that this week on Tuesday, March 23 was the first time since Nov. 5, 2020 that the nation’s seven-day rolling average for new daily deaths fell below 1,000. According to data tracked since mid-March of 2020,… more

February new home sales drop 18 percent from month prior

In the month of February, a report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that new home sales fell 18.2 percent from January. However, sales were up 8.2 percent from a year prior, in February 2020. The median sales price of… more

U.S. small business revenue up

Responses pooled from small businesses nationwide by the U.S. Census Bureau show that in the second week of March, most businesses saw a healthy increase in revenue and sales. Data was collected March 8 through March 14 for the Census… more

Hallmark Cards to end eCard business in April

The nation's largest greeting card retailer, Hallmark Cards Inc., has announced it will be ending its eCards business effective April 30, 2021. According to Hallmark, interest in the eCard business is strong. A 2019 report however shows strengthening competition in… more

Leawood-based AMC opens 98 percent of U.S. locations

About a year ago, COVID-19 forced Leawood-based AMC Theaters to close all its locations nationwide. As COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available, operations began to kick up again and patrons return. On Friday, March 19, 98 percent of AMC locations… more