David R. Sands

Federal Reserve Board will be ‘patient’ about possible rate hike in 2015

Sending a subtle but clear signal of a change to come, the Federal Reserve Board ended a two-day meeting by holding U.S. interest rates steady and saying it will be "patient" about ending the easy-money stance it has adopted since the onset of the Great Recession.

December 17, 2014

Russian government strike fails to halt ruble’s slide

A sharp overnight hike in interest rates by Russia's central bank has failed to halt a record slide in the value of the ruble, which after a brief rally has fallen more than 11 percent against the dollar Tuesday in the face of intense selling by speculators.

December 16, 2014

Russia central bank hikes interest rates to save ruble

Acting at an unannounced meeting after the markets had closed, Russia's central bank Monday sharply raised a key interest rate to fight currency speculators and prevent a further collapse in the value of the ruble.

December 15, 2014

Minimum wage hike killed jobs, hurt low-skilled workers: study

In one of the most rigorous studies of its kind, two economists have concluded that an increase in the federal minimum wage in the mid-2000s resulted in substantial job losses and lower net income for the low-skilled workers the hike was supposed to benefit.

December 12, 2014

Oil prices plummet worldwide as OPEC infighting intensifies

As the infighting among the world's oil producers heats up, the global price of oil is heading down.

December 10, 2014

DAVID R. SANDS: Problematic chess results when a composer and a champion collide

They were champions in two very different realms of the game, so it was perhaps no great surprise that Wilhelm Steinitz and Sam Loyd enjoyed a not-so-friendly rivalry at times.

December 10, 2014

China: Torture report undercuts U.S. on rights

There were no immediate reports of violence, but America's image took a hit overseas nonetheless Tuesday with the release of the Senate Intelligence Committee's findings on torture and the treatment of detainees by the CIA in the post-9/11 global war on terror.

December 9, 2014

U.N. revives suspended food aid for Syrian refugees

Just over a week after cutting off critical food aid to some 1.7 million refugees of the Syrian civil war because of a lack of international contributions, the U.N.'s World Food Program announced Tuesday morning it had found the money to resume the program.

December 9, 2014

U.S. economy set for growth, hiring in 2015, financial executives predict

The nation's financial executives are the latest group to predict even better times to come for the U.S. economy. In a new membership poll being released Tuesday, the industry's trade group says it sees growing payrolls, solid growth and continued low inflation in 2015.

December 9, 2014

Benefit corporations raise legal, regulatory questions

The sharp rise in the number of benefit corporations has also led to some sharp questions about whether the socially-conscious but for-profit companies are delivering on their promises.

December 7, 2014

Hiring surges as U.S. unemployment stays steady at 5.8 percent

The U.S. economy added a whopping 321,000 jobs in November -- far more than analysts had expected -- although the national jobless rate remained stuck at 5.8 percent, the Labor Department reported Friday.

December 5, 2014

DAVID R. SANDS: Rating the field for the chess champ’s next challenger

Just as in politics, the pundits can barely wait until the votes are counted in one election before they start speculating on who might be the front-runners for the next cycle.

December 2, 2014

DAVID R. SANDS: A tougher fight, but Magnus Carlsen prevails to retain world chess crown

It proved harder to retain the crown than it was to win it, but Norwegian world champ Magnus Carlsen managed the feat with a tough 6-4 title defense over Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand Sunday in Sochi, Russia.

November 25, 2014

Carlsen retains world chess title with Game 11 victory over challenger Anand

With a dramatic win in Sunday's Game 11, Norwegian chess world champion Magnus Carlsen has successfully defended his crown against challenger Viswanathan Anand of India in their title match in Sochi, Russia.

November 23, 2014

Did champ fall asleep during chess title match game?

It may have been the oddest time for a quick power nap ever. Social media in the chess world is still buzzing over pictures that appear to show world chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway actually falling asleep at the board during this week's Game 8 of his world championship match with Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand of India in Sochi, Russia.

November 20, 2014

Pressure grows on challenger Anand after draw in chess title match

Time may be running out for Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand after he and defending champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway agreed to a draw after just 20 moves in Game 9 of their scheduled 12-game title match in Sochi, Russia Thursday.

November 20, 2014

DAVID R. SANDS: Magnus Carlsen clings to lead in world title chess match after epic draw

It took 122 moves of grinding defense, but Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand may have claimed a little momentum Monday in drawing Game 7 with world champion Magnus Carlsen in their scheduled 12-game title match in Sochi, Russia. With the draw, Carlsen now enjoys a 4-3 edge, with two wins, four draws and a loss in the match's first seven games.

November 19, 2014