NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT for October 30, 2015, PBS

• Published in: Your World with Neil Cavuto (Select Interviews)
• Main Authors: Mathisen, Tyler, Herera, Sue, Chu, Dominic, Tirrell, Meg, Olick, Diana, Chemi, Eric, Wells, Jane
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York CQ Roll Call 30.10.2015
• Subjects: Dow Jones averages; Drug stores; Generic drugs; Interest rates; Madoff, Bernard L; Social networks; Trends; China

[...]stocks just logged their best month. Investors attributed the big run-up to mostly solid earnings reports and easy monetary policy from central banks around the world. According to market data firm Kensho, before this year, there's only been four times since 1980 when the month of October has gained more than 8 percent. [...]in September when everybody was expecting the Fed to potentially raise rates, they not only didn't raise rates but they doubled down on the China syndrome, mentioning that as a potential drag on the economy as well, and part of the reason they didn't raise rates. The discrimination in the market really is looking for companies that are able to improve profit margins, sustain growth rate and sales above expectations and support earnings. The drug maker saying allegations about Philidor's activities raise additional questions about the company's business practices. A four-hour long presentation by hedge fund titan Bill Ackman, one of Valeant's largest shareholders, failed to stop the stock slide. Ackman compared the situation with the that of American express in the 1960s when a young investor named Warren Buffett bought the stock at a discount after a scandal drove its shares down. The drugmaker, however, still has several things on its plate -- multiple government inquiries into its drug pricing and patient assistance programs, plus the threat of another report from short seller Citron Research. Richmond Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Lacquer was the lone dissenter in Wednesday's decision by the central bank not to raise interest rates. If you have interest rates that go up, that generally means that the economic conditions are improving, borrowers feel more confident about their lot in life and their economic prospects through job growth and things like that, so they're more compelled to purchase. [...]in 2015, it all came together led by up and coming pitching stars who make just above the league's minimum salary. [...]this Halloween, it's offering to deliver bags of candy to Bay Area residents in 15 minutes if they run out, helping them avoid turning out the porch light early and incurring the wrath of egg-throwing teenage ghouls.