Raphael Stevens

People wearing two protective masks walk on The Embarcadero in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021.David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesDr. Scott Gottlieb said Wednesday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs to more nimbly update its coronavirus guidelines as the pandemic situation improves.A day earlier, the U.S. public-health agency issued new, relaxed guidance on the need for fully vaccinated people to wear masks outdoors.”The guidance that CDC put out, I think, is a step in the right direction, but it’s relatively confusing,” Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “It’s not very clear in terms of what they’re prescribing. I think we need simpler rules if we’re going to be prescribing something over society.”People who have been fully vaccinated — considered two weeks after their final dose — can safely exercise and go to small gatherings outdoors without wearing a face mask, according to the new CDC guidance. However, the CDC recommends fully vaccinated people keep wearing masks if they attend an outdoor event that’s crowded, such as a parade, a sports game or concert.The CDC also said it’s safe for unvaccinated Americans to forgo wearing a mask while attending a small outdoor gathering with friends and family if those other attendees are fully vaccinated.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsSource: CDCThe CDC needs to better define what it hopes to achieve at this stage in the pandemic, when national infection levels are dropping and more than 54% of U.S. adults have received at least one vaccine dose, said Gottlieb, who sits on the board of Covid vaccine maker Pfizer.”I think the public-health goal should be to try to protect vulnerable populations in congregate settings, so continue to focus on nursing homes, day care settings where small children are, and try to prevent large outbreaks, try to prevent superspreading events,” he said.Roughly 68% of U.S. residents age 65 and up have been fully vaccinated, according to CDC data, while about 82% of that most-vulnerable population has received at least one dose.”We’re not going to be able to prevent a single introduction, where a single person transfers a virus to a single individual. But in a backdrop of declining [coronavirus] prevalence, rising vaccination rates and more of the vulnerable Americans protected through vaccination, we need to lean forward,” said Gottlieb, who led the FDA from 2017 to 2019 in the Trump administration.The seven-day average of new coronavirus cases per day in the U.S. is roughly 53,800, according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. That’s down 17% from one week ago.The U.S. is seeing an average of 676 new Covid deaths per day, based on a seven-day moving average, according to CNBC’s analysis of Hopkins data. That represents a 6% decline from one week ago.CNBC Health & Science Read CNBC’s latest coverage of the Covid pandemic:Fauci says U.S. should see a turning point in the pandemic ‘within a few weeks’U.S. to share 60 million doses of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine with other countriesBiden administration set to relax outdoor mask guidancePhotos show the deadly toll of Covid in India as coronavirus cases top 17 millionGottlieb, who earlier this week called for the end to outdoor mask requirements, said he was concerned about the implications of the CDC continuing to be overly cautious with its guidance.”I think the risk to CDC as an institution — it’s an extremely important institution — is that they lose relevancy, that people stop listening to them,” he said, while issuing a broader warning to those in the U.S. who are setting coronavirus policies.”The challenge is, if we don’t lift these restrictions with the same speed and the same efficiency that we imposed them, we lose credibility as public-health officials to reimpose them in the future because more of the population will be worried that these are a one-way street,” he said.The CDC did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.Disclosure: Scott Gottlieb is a CNBC contributor and is a member of the boards of Pfizer, genetic testing start-up Tempus, health-care tech company Aetion Inc. and biotech company Illumina. He also serves as co-chair of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ and Royal Caribbean’s “Healthy Sail Panel.” More

A medical worker administer the Jansen (Johnson and Johnson) Covid-19 vaccine to the public at a FEMA run mobile Covid-19 Vaccination clinic at Biddeford High School in Bidderford, Maine on April 26, 2021.Joseph Prezioso | AFP | Getty ImagesThe United States is reporting an average of 2.7 million daily Covid-19 vaccinations over the past week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about equivalent to levels one month ago. Daily reported vaccinations peaked at 3.4 million on April 13.More than 40% of Americans have received at least one shot, and that figure is roughly 54% for those aged 18 and older. Half of the adults are at least partially vaccinated in a majority of states.U.S. vaccine shots administeredThe country reported 1.6 million shots were given Tuesday, which is typically the lowest day of the week for data reporting as it includes figures from the weekend. The seven-day average of daily reported vaccinations, which is used to smooth day-of-week reporting fluctuations, is 2.7 million.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsU.S. health regulators on Friday lifted a pause on the use of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine, following an April 13 request from the Food and Drug Administration and CDC to halt using it “out of an abundance of caution” following reports of rare blood clots.A third option, alongside Pfizer and Moderna, may help boost the pace of the rollout. Though the J&J shot makes up a small share of the total doses administered to date, it has proven useful for certain communities that have difficulty accessing vaccination sites multiple times and it is easier to transport and store.U.S. share of the population vaccinatedAbout 43% of the U.S. population has received at least one shot, and 29% is fully vaccinated.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsAmong those aged 18 and older, 54% are at least partially vaccinated. More than half of adults have gotten a shot in 34 states and Washington, D.C., led by New Hampshire, where that figure is 73%, and Massachusetts and Connecticut, each at 66%.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsIn ten states, more than 60% of adults have received one jab or more.U.S. Covid casesThe U.S. is reporting nearly 54,000 new infections per day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.The latest nationwide trend is being obscured by the removal of more than 10,000 cases from totals in New Jersey after state officials announced they had removed duplicate case counts, according to Johns Hopkins and local media reports. Though these duplicate cases may have been counted toward the state’s total of nearly one million at various points over the course of the pandemic, the removal of cases is all currently being reported for April 26. That may be adjusted in the future.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsCase counts had already been trending downward prior to this reporting blip. On Monday, White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said that Americans should begin to see a turning point in the pandemic “within a few weeks.”U.S. Covid deathsThe seven-day average of U.S. Covid deaths is 676, Johns Hopkins data shows, down 6% from a week ago.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards More

In this articleBABoeing on Wednesday posted its sixth consecutive quarterly loss as the pandemic continues to weigh on jetliner demand but said it expects 2021 to be a turning point as more people are vaccinated.Here are the numbers:Loss per share: $1.53 adjusted. Analysts had expected a per-share loss of $1.16, according to Refinitiv, but it’s unclear if the numbers are comparable.Revenue: $15.22 billion vs. $15.02 billion expected by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.The plane manufacturer had a net loss of $561 million for the first three months of 2021 on revenue of $15.2 billion, 10% lower than last year but ahead of analysts’ estimates.On an adjusted per-share basis, Boeing lost $1.53, a narrower loss than the adjusted $1.70 per share loss it reported a year ago. The company reported a $318 million pretax charge related to issues with a supplier in its modified 747 plane used as Air Force One.Boeing shares were down more than 1% in premarket trading after it reported results.Boeing has been struggling from the pandemic’s impact on travel and aircraft sales as well as the extended grounding of its best-selling 737 Max aircraft after two fatal crashes killed 346 people. Regulators started lifting the grounding in November 2020.Revenue in its commercial airplane unit fell 31% from a year ago to $4.27 billion though deliveries for new planes rose to 77 from 50. Boeing also logged new sales from customers like United and Southwest Airlines to return to plans to update their fleets and prepare for growth. In March, Boeing’s new aircraft orders outpaced cancellations for the first time since 2019.Boeing reiterated its forecast to increase production of the 737 Max to 31 a month in early 2022 and its estimate to deliver its first 777X wide-body jet in late 2023.Boeing last month resumed deliveries of its wide body 787 planes after reporting production problems last year but sales have been slow with long-haul international travel still down sharply in the pandemic.In a presentation, the company cited the pace of vaccinations and infection rates, U.S.-China relations and remaining 737 Max regulatory approvals, such as in China, among the the risks to demand for aircraft.”While the global pandemic continues to challenge the overall market environment, we view 2021 as a key inflection point for our industry as vaccine distribution accelerates and we work together across government and industry to help enable a robust recovery,” CEO Dave Calhoun said in the earnings release.Boeing last week raised Calhoun’s retirement age by five years to 70 and announced its CFO and longtime executive Greg Smith, who was seen as a successor, will retire this summer.Boeing shares are up about 13% this year as of Tuesday’s close, compared with an 11.5% gain in the S&P 500.Boeing executives are set to discuss results on a 10:30 a.m. ET call.Investors will be looking for Boeing’s outlook on the pace of aircraft deliveries, which are key because airlines and other customers pay the bulk of a plane’s price when manufacturers hand them over.The Chicago-based company is also likely to provide an update on the grounding of some 737 Max jetliners due to electrical issues. More

President Biden delivers remarks on the COVID-19 response and the state of vaccinations at the South Court Auditorium of Eisenhower Executive Office Building on April 21, 2021 in Washington.Alex Wong | Getty ImagesAs home prices soar, some sellers in red-hot markets may face a costly surprise come tax time.President Joe Biden will propose in a nationwide address Wednesday a capital gains tax increase for the top 0.3% of households — those making more than $1 million per year.   But the proposal may also deliver a tax bill to those selling a home with significant gains.More from Your Money, Your Future:Here’s a look at more on how to manage, grow and protect your money.Social Security beneficiaries got bulk of latest stimulus checksBiden energy, infrastructure plans may be windfall for investorsHow to handle that big tax bill from Uncle SamWealthy Americans now paying the top capital gains rate could see a hike to 43.4%, from 23.8%. Both rates include a 3.8% levy on net investment income, created by the Affordable Care Act.  The tax increases may impact more than stocks, bonds and cryptocurrency, however. Homeowners looking to cash in on sizzling home prices could also receive a bill.”The proposed increase in federal as well as state capital gains tax rates could sting [home sellers] on the margins,” said Sharif Muhammad, founder and CEO of Unlimited Financial Services in Somerset, New Jersey.Tax exclusionEven with median home prices reaching all-time highs, Muhammad said, many sellers avoid paying capital gains on home profits because of a special tax break.Single taxpayers can subtract up to $250,000 from their profits, and married filers may qualify to exclude up to $500,000. Anything more is subject to capital gains taxes. There’s a strict IRS rule, though: It must be the seller’s primary home for two out of five years before closing on the sale, with a few exceptions, like a job- or health-related move.While many can save on capital gains taxes, home sales in high-dollar markets could bump some sellers over the $1 million income threshold in the year of the sale, especially without the exclusions.    “I don’t expect the law to impact a lot of people, but selling in some markets could put someone over $1 million in income for the year,” said Leona Edwards, a Nashville, Tennessee-based certified financial planner and wealth advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors.The Los Angeles area, for example, has seen a year-over-year increase of 24.8%, with the median list price at $1,199,000, according to data from realtor.com.Make sure you’re planning things out with enough lead time to help offset the windfall and potential tax ramifications.Sharif MuhammadUnlimited Financial ServicesThose who bought during dips over the past 20 years, like after the Great Recession, may be caught up in the tax hike. For example, let’s say a single home seller earns $200,000 per year. If they bought a home for $250,000 and sold for $1.5 million, they could have annual income above the $1 million threshold, even with the $250,000 exclusion. Combined with state taxes, the total capital gains rate could be more than 50% in California, a Tax Foundation report estimates.  Proactive tax planning Although some sellers may receive a bill, there are ways to reduce the burden.Before making a move, Edwards said, follow the exclusion rules when timing the sale. “You may get burned when you keep a home as a rental property and sell later on,” she said. Muhammad said sellers might slash their bill with so-called tax-loss harvesting, which uses some investment losses to offset gains.  Sellers may also consider home improvements they have made, like renovations, that can reduce profits by increasing the home’s original purchase price, known as the “cost basis.” Tax planning shouldn’t happen in a silo, however.”Make sure you’re planning things out with enough lead time to help offset the windfall and potential tax ramifications,” he said. More

A woman walks past an Allbirds store in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021.Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe trendy shoe brand Allbirds is in the process of interviewing banks in preparation for an initial public offering, according to a report in the New York Times DealBook.The direct-to-consumer company was last valued at roughly $1.7 billion.A representative from Allbirds did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.It isn’t clear when Allbirds plans to go public, but an IPO would launch it into an already hot market, fueled by a recent slew of tech IPOs. Consumer-facing brands such as Jessica Alba’s Honest Company are now readying a debut. The eyeglass retailer Warby Parker and Panera’s parent company JAB Holdings are also reportedly looking to go public amid mounting investor enthusiasm post-pandemic for retail and restaurant brands.During the health crisis, Allbirds has seen momentum for its products — including its iconic slip-on sneaker made out of wool and other sustainable materials — keep growing. The brand started with a cult-like following in Silicon Valley, which quickly spread to global recognition.It has 23 stores today, according to its website, including locations in London, Berlin, Shanghai and Tokyo.Last year, Allbirds launched its first running shoe, putting it up against bigger rivals including Nike and Adidas. It also has started selling various clothing, including socks, sweaters and jackets.”A big focus for us is to try and make better products with less environmental impact,” Allbirds co-founder Tim Brown told CNBC in a recent interview. “The business has been extraordinarily resilient through a difficult period of time.”Allbirds has raised more than $200 million to date, according to Crunchbase. More