Apr 18, 2018 - Health

White House reviewing drug-pricing plan

Rising drug prices are a top issue for voters. Photo: Education Images / UIG via Getty Images

The White House's Office of Management and Budget is officially evaluating a proposal from the Health and Human Services Department that would "lower drug prices and reduce out-of-pocket costs," ahead of President Trump's speech about drug prices next week.

The big picture: HHS and OMB did not respond when asked what was included, but the proposal likely will include ideas from Trump's budget that won't really target the pricing practices of pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Go deeper

Dion Rabouin, author of Markets
10 mins ago - Economy & Business

Wall Street still prefers bonds

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Sunset Boulevard/Getty Contributor

Investors' return on U.S. corporate bonds has been falling since its August peak, but buying has only accelerated, especially in investment grade bonds that are offering historically low yields.

The state of play: Since hitting its 2020 high on Aug. 4, the benchmark Bloomberg Barclays U.S. bond aggregate has delivered a -2.2% return. (For comparison, the S&P 500 has gained 3.9% during the same time period.)

Go deeper (3 min. read)Arrow
Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv
1 hour ago - World

U.S.-Israeli delegation secretly visits Sudan

Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A joint U.S.-Israeli delegation traveled secretly on Wednesday to Sudan for talks on a possible announcement on "ending the state of belligerence" between the countries that could be released in the next few days, sources briefed on the trip told me.

The big picture: President Trump announced earlier this week he is ready to remove Sudan from the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list once Sudan pays $335 million in compensation to American terror victims.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Felix Salmon, author of Capital
2 hours ago - Economy & Business

A white-collar crime crackdown

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

America has waited a decade for an aggressive government crackdown on white-collar crime. Now, just before the election, and in the middle of a bull market, it has arrived.

Why it matters: When times are good, investors become more trusting and more greedy. That makes them more likely to put their money into fraudulent or criminal enterprises.

  • After a decade-long bull market, there is no shortage of those frauds to prosecute.
Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow