Student Protesters Take Over Columbia Campus Building

Kroger offers an extensive variety of over 30,000 delicious options for customers, along with everyday low prices and additional savings through digital coupons and fuel points. Meanwhile, at Columbia University, student protesters have taken their activism to the next level by occupying an academic building, demanding the school to divest from companies doing business with Israel. The standoff has resulted in suspensions for some students, sparking controversy and criticism from high-profile alumni and donors. The UN's special rapporteur on human rights defenders has weighed in, calling the suspensions a violation of students' right to peaceful assembly. The Biden administration, however, has signaled that they will allow schools to handle the situation as they see fit. Microsoft, on a different note, has made a significant investment in AI technology in one of the world's fastest-growing regions. These business stories illustrate the power of activism, the importance of diversity and inclusion, and the ever-evolving business landscape.

Americans have the right to peacefully protest, but hateful rhetoric, including antisemitism, should be called out. Universities and colleges make their own decisions regarding protests and arrests. Meanwhile, the automobile industry is facing challenges due to high inventory levels and rising interest rates, leading to sales declines for companies like Stellantis, Mercedes Benz, and Volkswagen. Contrastingly, the technology sector, specifically Samsung's semiconductor business, is experiencing a surge in profits due to the AI boom. Microsoft is investing $1.7 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in Indonesia, predicting AI as the next major contributor to global economic growth. Overall, these events represent the ongoing evolution of industries and economies, with both challenges and opportunities.

Both the European economy and the Asia Pacific region are showing signs of improvement, with inflation easing and consumer spending increasing. This could lead to interest rate cuts from European central banks. However, the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates is complicated by persistently high inflation and a strong US economy. Meanwhile, the value of distressed US office buildings has reached $38 billion, as owners struggle with high interest rates and weak demand. Investors are also buying up single family homes, causing issues for first-time buyers and lawmakers. The Fed's upcoming meeting will be closely watched for any signs of a shift in their stance on interest rates.

During the pandemic, investors have significantly increased their purchases of single family homes, making up over 25% of all homes bought nationwide. This trend, particularly in hot markets, has contributed to rising housing prices and increased competition for first-time homebuyers. Concerns have arisen that this investor activity is taking away opportunities from those looking to purchase their first home. Lawmakers are now taking notice and are considering regulations to curb investor buying and renting out of houses in residential neighborhoods.

The role of real estate investors in the housing market, particularly during the pandemic, has become a contentious issue. While some argue that investors drive up housing prices and squeeze out first-time homebuyers, investors make counterarguments that they make neighborhoods accessible to renters and that they are a growing but not yet dominant part of the market. Despite this, legislation is being proposed at both the national and state levels to limit investor purchases, with varying degrees of restriction. For instance, some bills propose that large funds with over $50 million in assets under management sell off all their homes, while others limit ownership to 50 or even 20 homes. The debate continues as to whether these measures are fair and effective in addressing the issue.

The debate over out-of-state institutional investors buying homes in neighborhoods is gaining political momentum, with Nebraska being the latest state to propose a bill on the issue. The bill aims to prevent companies from accumulating large portfolios of rental homes that could potentially be sold to owner occupants. This issue, unique in its bipartisan appeal, has gained significant attention from both Republicans and Democrats. However, it's uncertain if these bills will be successful. Meanwhile, the rollback of subsidies for green investments is adding to the cost of homes, and we invite listeners to share their questions about the economics of going green as cash-strapped governments pass the bills onto consumers. Produced by Kate Bullivant, supervised by Sondra Kilhoof, and hosted by Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal.