Checkers

How to play Checkers

The US Federal Reserve raised the effective federal funds rate by 0.25% to a range of 3.75%-4% on Wednesday, representing its first rate hike in three years as the economy grapples with sticky inflation, record-high energy prices and rising bond rates with no end in sight to the ongoing war with Iran that kicked off in February.

Investors began 2026 expecting multiple rate cuts, which tend to juice capital markets and spur dealmaking activity. But on 28 February things changed quickly after joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran largely curtailed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital Middle East waterway where some 20% of the world’s oil transited before the conflict began.

Several factors weighed heavily on the decision to raise rates. The average nationwide gas price now is $4.36 compared to $3.18 a year ago, per AAA, and the average diesel price of $6.31 is a record. Brent crude oil has crested over $100 per barrel compared to about $68 a year ago. Inflation was 3.4% in August, compared to 2.9% last year. And US 10-, 20- and 30-year Treasuries have reached their highest rates in decades.

How to play Checkers

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About Checkers

The appeals court did not rule that Baldwin or Bridge Capital owes Laos the money. Instead, it said the lower court must hear Laos’ argument that they should be responsible for awards made against the companies they allegedly controlled.

That sends the sprawling Savan Vegas dispute back to court once again, 14 years after it began.

Laos attorney David Branson told Law360 the government has been trying to collect the awards for more than seven years and said the latest ruling had cleared a “path to recovery.”