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Business

Stocks Rise on Services Data, Earnings

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U.S. stocks rose Wednesday as investors considered another wave of corporate earnings reports and after a key reading on the services sector hit a three-month high.

The S&P 500 rose 1.1%, recouping losses after it fell Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.9%. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.8%. 

Stocks had come under renewed pressure in recent days from geopolitical tensions, as U.S. House Speaker

Nancy Pelosi

met with Taiwan’s president despite warnings from China. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials said the central bank is likely to continue raising interest rates at coming meetings, dampening hopes in markets that slowing economic growth could mean a change in policy.

But some better-than-expected earnings reports amid low liquidity in August are lifting sentiment, investors say.

“Markets are taking a bit of a breather to assess what’s going on globally. There is still a lot of inflation, central banks are keeping that hawkish rhetoric and we get some geopolitics on top of that,” said Olivier Marciot, global macro portfolio manager at Unigestion. But earnings have been pretty good, in terms of beating expectations, he added.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.805% from 2.740% Tuesday. Weak economic data have weighed on yields in recent days, according to Michael Hewson, markets analyst at CMC Markets. There are “raised concerns that the U.S. economy could well be slowing sharply,” he said.

There have been concerns about the pace of the economy, and even whether a new recession is coming, but the U.S. services sector continued to expand in July, according to a report from the Institute for Supply Management. The ISM’s index of conditions for businesses like restaurants, hotels and retailers hit a three-month high in July.

The broader problem for investors is that whether or not the economy is technically in recession, inflation and the pressure it puts on the Fed to raise rates is resulting in an environment for investors that is fundamentally different from anything they have seen over the past several decades, said Eaton Vance portfolio manager Aaron Dunn. That won’t end soon, he said.

There has been a bounce back recently in some of the more beaten-up stocks, he said, but those hoping the growth trade returns may be disappointed. “Equities returns are going to be a grind.”

In corporate news,

PayPal

shares jumped 10% after hedge fund Elliott Management confirmed it has a $2 billion stake in the payments company. Starbucks rose 2.7% after it said demand is still strong and raising prices partially offset higher labor costs.

Vaccine maker

Moderna

rose 16% after it posted earnings above analysts’ estimates and said it would begin a new $3 billion share repurchase program.

Airbnb

declined 4.7% after it said it swung back to profit but its outlook disappointed investors. Online dating group

Match

tumbled 17% after posting results that missed estimates and said the CEO of Tinder is leaving the firm. 

Chip maker

Advanced Micro Devices

fell 3% after it reported a drop in profit and issued guidance for the current period that came below Wall Street’s expectations. 

Clorox,

MGM Resorts,

and insurers

MetLife

and

Allstate

are scheduled to report earnings after markets close.

Oil prices fell after an OPEC+ meeting where a committee suggested a smaller-than-expected production increase, according to delegates. U.S. crude fell 2.5% to $92.10.

Traders worked on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday.



Photo:

ANDREW KELLY/REUTERS

Overseas, the pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 ticked up 0.4%. British-listed cybersecurity firm

Avast

soared 43% after a U.K. regulator said it has provisionally cleared

NortonLifeLock’s

$7.3 billion acquisition of the company. French

bank Société Générale

rose 2.9% after reporting a narrower loss than analysts expected, despite its exit from Russia.

In Asia, major benchmarks were mixed. The Shanghai Composite Index ticked down 0.7%, extending losses after it closed down 2.3% on Tuesday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.4% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.5%.

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Technology

Parents with kids are invading bars —and brewing controversy

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On a typical Saturday or Sunday at Pig Beach, a beer garden with locations in Gowanus and Astoria, the families come early. They line up at 11:15 or 11:30, so that when the bar opens at noon, they can snag prime tables.

Thirsty moms and dads order some brewskis for themselves and hot dogs and Rice Krispie treats for their progeny. The kids mess around with the cornhole game and colorful chalk that the bar provides while their world-weary parents get a bit of a break without springing for a babysitter.

“We call [them] ‘the stroller patrol,’ ” Pig Beach’s director of operations, Shane McBride, told The Post.

Bars and breweries in the city, particularly those with outdoor space, are increasingly catering to the kiddie crowd. After the past two years, parents could use a drink — or three — and local watering holes are happy to serve them. But some say that knocking back a pint just isn’t as enjoyable in the presence of pint-sized customers.

Bars and breweries are increasingly catering to parents and kids. But some say that knocking back a pint just isn’t as enjoyable in the presence of pint-sized customers.
Stefano Giovannini
The “stroller patrol” of parents with younglings are a common sight during weekends at Pig Beach and other popular drinking destinations around NYC.
Stefano Giovannini

“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: I don’t hang out in their playgrounds, and I don’t want them in my bars,” Mike Burmil, a member of the Facebook group NYC Craft Beer Club, told The Post. “Parents, if you think you’re cool because you can bring your kids to a brewery/brewpub, you’re not. Why stop there? How about a casino? A strip club?”

But local business owners say allowing kids makes dollars and cents.

Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Williamsburg was strictly 21 and older for years, but in 2018 it started allowing children during daylight hours after customers demanded it.

“Many of our regulars started having kids around that time, and we wanted to be able to still include them,” manager Sean Snyder said.

Many younger parents bring their kids out for a few hours of drinks nowadays.
Stefano Giovannini

But younger customers do present some complications.

“We’ll get the parent who is there to have a few drinks, conversate with their friends . . . [they let their kids think] it’s a playground, and we almost become the de facto babysitters,” Pig Beach’s McBride said, admitting that the kiddie crowd can get out of control as the afternoon progresses.

And some customers without children aren’t on board with the trend.

It’s become increasingly popular for parents to bring their little kids out drinking. Some patrons are unbothered, but some hate the idea.
Stefano Giovannini

Ray Garvey, a 26-year-old golf pro from Massapequa, Long Island, said that kids in bars are a frustrating distraction when he’s “just trying to enjoy some beers with buddies.”

“They’re yelling, screaming and running around . . . it’s unbearable looking in from the outside,” he said. “I really don’t get why parents do it and expect the rest of the place to be unbothered.”

Others such as Kajsa Nilsson, a 41-year-old woman from Sweden enjoying an extended stay in NYC, are also down on the pro-kid policies because of how it makes her feel about her own life.

Many places like Pig Beach now cater to kids coming along with families.
Stefano Giovannini

“It’s frowned upon where I’m from, and I don’t like it here. It makes me feel judged by parents for not having kids,” she said.

But, some childless 20-somethings are fine with it.

“As long as they’re well behaved and watched over, it really doesn’t bother me at all,” said Chris Willis, 27, of Williamsburg.

Not all customers with kids are against seeing them while out drinking.
Stefano Giovannini

And parents are a growing army who are eager to win this battle.

James Holdsworth, a 32-year-old living in Williamsburg, recently grabbed a beer with his 18-day-old son, George, and 33-year-old buddy, Marcus Williams, at Radegast. The trio had a great time, and Holdsworth, who brought a special thermometer to make sure the beer hall’s temperature was safe for his newborn, plans to make it a regular outing.

“It can be really easy to lose your old life when you have a kid, and that’s something my wife and I don’t want to see happen to us,” Holdsworth said. “Yes, I’m a dad now, but I still like to come for a beer after work.”

James Holdsworth took his newborn George to Radegast in Brooklyn. He brought a special thermometer to make sure the temperature was alright for his son to be there.

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Technology

NYC bar that let’s patrons destroy stuff isn’t safe, suit says

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She went for a smashing good time, but instead, a Manhattan woman severed a tendon at a bar that lets patrons pay to destroy stuff in a “rage room,” according to a lawsuit.

Annaleigh Robbins-Sennewald, 25, says a visit to the Break Bar on Ninth Avenue in the Garment District left her bloodied and needing surgery, and when she asked the manager for help, all she got was a Band-Aid.

The television costume coordinator had gone with friends for a birthday celebration at the bar, which encourages customers to “smash” their glasses after knocking back a few drinks.

The Break Bar also offers 30-minute sessions in a separate room it calls the Wrecking Club, where, for $169.99, everything from plates to old televisions are available for destruction with crowbars and hammers.

The “rampage” session provides eight electronics and 30 “breakables” for smashing. The price includes “weapons & safety gear … so you can get that rage and anger out safely!” the bar notes on its web site.

“I had little heels on so they did give me protective boots and basically gardening gloves. Nothing protective,” the plaintiff claimed.

Annaleigh Robbins-Sennewald visited the Break Bar to celebrate a birthday with her friends.
Handout
Annaleigh Robbins-Sennewald recalled not feeling her severed tendon while she was drunk.
Handout
Patrons at the Break Bar in the Garment District can wreck objects with crowbars and hammers in 30-minute sessions.
Annie Wermiel

Robbins-Sennewald was also wearing a helmet as the destruction derby got underway, she said.

“Within the first 10 minutes, one of my friends threw up a glass and another hit it with a crowbar, and the shard kind of flew at me,” she recalled. “I put my hand up to protect myself, and it went through my protective glove and severed my tendon.”

Drunk, Robbins-Sennewald said the impact of the injury wasn’t immediately clear to her, so she stood back during the rest of the session.

The Break Bar encourages its patrons to “smash” glasses after drinking.
Annie Wermiel

“It didn’t look right. I couldn’t move my finger,” she said, noting the glove was filling with blood.

When it was time to leave, Robbins-Sennewald says she asked an employee for a first aid kit but, “he brought me back burn cream and a mosquito bite wipe. … The manager brought me a band aid.”

She’s seeking unspecified damages and accuses the Break Bar of negligence in Manhattan Supreme Court papers.

Annaleigh Robbins-Sennewald claims the Break Bar only offered “protective boots and basically gardening gloves” as protection while destroying objects.
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

“They were not prepared for someone to come out of there with any amount of injury,” she said, adding “they gave me safety gear and that safety gear did not do it’s job.”

She eventually had surgery to repair the severed tendon, which had impacted her right ring finger, and underwent six months of physical therapy.

“I definitely had a rough go of it the first couple months,” she said.

Annaleigh Robbins-Sennewald claims a worker gave her “back burn cream and a mosquito bite wipe” to treat her bleeding wound.
Handout
Annaleigh Robbins-Sennewald attended physical therapy for sixth months after surgery on her severed tendon.
Handout

In response to a request for comment, an insurance adjuster for the Break Bar accused The Post of harassment and demanded the newspaper “cease and desist” from reporting on the lawsuit.

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Sports

International Rugby League bars transwomen from women’s international matches until policy is developed

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Transgender women will be barred from sanctioned women’s international rugby league matches “until further research is completed to enable the IRL to implement a formal transgender inclusion policy,” the International Rugby League (IRL) said in a statement.

The IRL’s statement on transgender participation came after FINA, the international governing body on elite swimming, said it will only permit swimmers who transitioned before the age of 12 to compete in women’s events. FINA members voted 71.5% in favor of the new policies.

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A general view of Twickenham, home of England Rugby during the International match between England and Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium on June 19, 2022 in London, England.
(CameraSport via Getty Images)

The IRL cited the International Olympic Committee’s 2021 publication “Framework on Fairness, Non-Discrimination and Inclusion on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations” in its decision-making.

“The IOC concluded that it is the remit of each sport and its governing body to determine how an athlete may be at a disproportionate advantage compared with their peers — taking into consideration the differing nature of each sport,” the league said.

“In the interests of avoiding unnecessary welfare, legal and reputational risk to International Rugby League competitions, and those competing therein, the IRL believes there is a requirement and responsibility to further consult and complete additional research before finalizing its policy.”

The IRL said it would continue to work on developing a policy that will be fair to everybody.

Lewis Ludlam of England warms up ahead of the International match between England and Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium on June 19, 2022 in London, England.
(RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

“To help achieve this, the IRL will seek to work with the eight Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2021 finalists to obtain data to inform a future transwomen inclusion policy in 2023, which takes into consideration the unique characteristics of rugby league,” the IRL said.

FINA FACES BACKLASH OVER NEW ‘GENDER INCLUSION POLICY’ FOR TRANSGENDER SWIMMERS

FINA’s announcement came Sunday.

There was also a proposal for a new “open competition policy.” The organization said it was setting up “a new working group that will spend the next six months looking at the most effective ways to set up this new category.”

In the 24-page policy released Sunday, FINA said transgender women and athletes whose legal gender and/or gender identity is female can compete in FINA-sanctioned events if “they can establish to FINA’s comfortable satisfaction that they have not experienced any part of male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 or before age 12, whichever is later.”

A logo of the is the international governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming, FINA is displayed during the FINA World Championships in Rome on July 25, 2009. 
(MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images)

The athlete must produce evidence they have “complete androgen insensitivity and therefore could not experience male puberty” or “they are androgen sensitive but had male puberty suppressed beginning at Tanner Stage 2 or before age 12, whichever is later, and they have since continuously maintained their testosterone levels in serum (or plasma) below 2.5 nmol/L,” or “an unintentional deviation from the below 2.5 nmol/L requirement may result in retrospective disqualification of results and/or a prospective period of ineligibility, or “an intentional deviation from the below 2.5 nmol/L requirement may result in retrospective disqualification of results and a prospective period of ineligibility equal or commensurate in length to periods imposed under the FINA DRC for intentional anti-doping rule violations involving anabolic steroids.”

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Transgender athletes who do not meet the eligibility standards may compete in “any open events” the organization could develop in the future.

Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to Ryan.Gaydos@fox.com.

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World

Business Losses From Russia Top $59 Billion as Sanctions Hit

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Global companies have racked up more than $59 billion in losses from their Russian operations, with more financial pain to come as sanctions hit the economy and sales and shutdowns continue, according to a review of public statements and securities filings.

Almost 1,000 Western businesses have pledged to exit or cut back operations in Russia, following its invasion of Ukraine, according to Yale researchers.

Many are reassessing the reported value of those Russian businesses, as a weakening local economy and a lack of willing buyers render once-valuable assets worthless. Companies under U.S. and international reporting standards have to take impairment charges, or write-downs, when the value of an asset declines.

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The write-downs to date span a range of industries, from banks and brewers to manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and shipping companies—even a wind-turbine maker and a forestry firm. The fast-food giant

McDonald’s Corp.

expects to record an accounting charge of $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion after agreeing to sell its Russian restaurants to a local licensee;

Exxon Mobil Corp.

took a $3.4 billion charge after halting operations at an oil and gas project in Russia’s Far East; Budweiser brewer

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA

took a $1.1 billion charge after deciding to sell its stake in a Russian joint venture.

“This round of impairments is not the end of it,” said Carla Nunes, a managing director at the risk-consulting firm Kroll LLC. “As the crisis continues, we could see more financial fallout, including indirect impact from the conflict.”

The financial fallout of the conflict isn’t significant for most multinationals, in part because of the relatively small size of the Russian economy. Fewer than 50 companies account for most of the $59 billion tally. Even for those, the Russian losses are typically a relatively small part of their overall finances. McDonald’s, for example, said its Russia and Ukraine businesses represented less than 3% of its operating income last year.

Some companies are writing off assets stranded in Russia. The Irish aircraft leasing company

AerCap Holdings

NV last month took an accounting charge of $2.7 billion, which included writing off the value of more than 100 of its planes that are stuck in the country. The aircraft were leased to Russian airlines. Other leasing companies are taking similar hits.

Other businesses are assuming that they will realize no money from their Russian operations, even before they have finalized exit plans. The British oil major

BP

PLC’s $25.5 billion accounting charge on its Russian holdings last month included writing off $13.5 billion of shares in the oil producer

Rosneft.

The company hasn’t said how or when it plans to divest its Russian assets.

BP’s $25.5 billion accounting charge on its Russian holdings include writing off $13.5 billion of shares in oil producer Rosneft.



Photo:

Yuri Kochetkov/EPA/Shutterstock

Even some companies that are retaining a presence in Russia are writing down assets. The French energy giant

TotalEnergies

SE took a $4.1 billion charge in April on the value of its natural-gas reserves, citing the impact of Western sanctions targeting Russia.

The Securities and Exchange Commission last month told companies that they have to disclose Russian-related losses clearly, and that they shouldn’t adjust revenue to add back the estimated income that has been lost because of Russia.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

, which in March said it had stopped new banking business in Russia, appeared to breach this guidance when it reported its results for the first three months of this year. The New York custody bank in April reported $4 billion in revenue under one measure that included $88 million added to reflect income lost because of Russia.

A BNY Mellon spokesman declined to comment.

Investors appear to have mixed reactions to the write-downs, partly because most multinationals have relatively small Russian exposure, academic research suggests.

Financial markets are “rewarding companies for leaving Russia,” a recent study by Yale School of Management found. The share-price gains for companies pulling out have “far surpassed the cost of one-time impairments for companies that have written down the value of their Russian assets,” the researchers concluded.

Bank of New York Mellon said earlier this year that it had stopped new banking business in Russia.



Photo:

Gabriela Bhaskar/Bloomberg News

Research using a different methodology found a more subtle investor reaction. Analysis by Indiana University professor Vivek Astvansh and his co-authors of the short-term market impact of more than 200 corporate announcements revealed a marked trans-Atlantic divide. Investors punished U.S. companies for pulling out of Russia, and non-American companies for not withdrawing, the analysis found.

More write-downs and other Russia-related accounting charges are expected in the coming months, as companies complete their planned departures from the country.

British American Tobacco

PLC, whose brands include Rothmans and Lucky Strike, said on March 11 it had “initiated the process to rapidly transfer our Russian business.” That transfer is still ongoing, according to a BAT spokeswoman. BAT hasn’t taken an impairment in relation to the business.

Accounting specialist

Jack Ciesielski

said companies might hold off announcing a write-down until they have a good handle on how big the loss will be.

“You don’t want to put a number out there until you’re confident that it’s not likely to change,” said Mr. Ciesielski, owner of investment research firm R.G. Associates Inc.

The ruble’s recovery is helping Russia prop up its economy and continue its Ukraine war effort. WSJ’s Dion Rabouin explains how Russia boosted its ailing currency and how it is affecting the global economy. Illustration: Ryan Trefes

Many companies are giving investors rough estimates about what to expect on Russia-related losses.

The manufacturer

ITT Inc.,

which has suspended its operations in Russia, said last month it expects a $60 million to $85 million hit to revenue this year because of a “significant reduction in sales” in the country. That is a small slice of the $2.8 billion in total revenue for the maker of specialty components for the auto, aerospace and energy industries.

As sanctions weaken the Russian economy, businesses still operating there are reassessing their future earnings and booking losses. Ride-sharing giant

Uber Technologies Inc.

in May took a $182 million impairment on the value of its stake in a Russian taxi joint-venture because of forecasts of a protracted recession in the Russian economy. Uber said in February it was looking for opportunities to accelerate its planned sale of the stake.

—Thomas Gryta and Nick Kostov contributed to this article.

Write to Jean Eaglesham at jean.eaglesham@wsj.com

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World

Algeria suspends Spain treaty, bars imports over Western Sahara

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Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, speaks during the start of a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured), at El Mouradia Palace, the President’s official residence in Algiers, Algeria March 30, 2022. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS

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ALGIERS/MADRID, June 8 (Reuters) – Algeria suspended a 20-year-old friendship treaty with Spain that committed the two sides to cooperation in controlling migration flows, and also banned imports from Spain, escalating a row over Madrid’s stance on Western Sahara.

Algerian state media reported the suspension of the treaty without citing any reason, though Algeria had in March withdrawn its ambassador to Spain for consultations because of the Western Sahara dispute. read more

Spanish diplomatic sources said Spain regretted the decision but remained committed to the content and principle of the treaty.

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Separately, Algeria’s banking association issued a statement telling banks that imports of goods and services from Spain were stopping because the treaty was suspended.

The 2002 treaty called on both sides to “deepen their cooperation in the control of migratory flows and the fight against trafficking against human beings” according to the text recorded in Spain’s official journal.

On Wednesday, 113 undocumented migrants arrived in Spain’s Balearic islands, a route that Spanish authorities said tended to be used by boats coming from Algeria.

Migrant flows have sharply increased across the Mediterranean this year as the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has hit the global economy.

Algeria was angered when Spain said in March it supported a Moroccan plan to offer autonomy to Western Sahara. Algeria backs the Polisario Front movement seeking full independence for the territory, which Morocco regards as its own and mostly controls. read more

A former Algerian official told Reuters that Algiers believed the Spanish government had decided not to preserve good ties with Algeria.

Algeria is a key gas supplier to Spain, but Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has previously said he would not break the supply contract over the row.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said there was no indication that had changed and Spanish Energy Minister Teresa Ribera said Algeria’s gas supply conduct had been exemplary.

Algeria is expected to review prices for any new gas contract with Spanish firms, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The current contract is long-term with prices well under the current market level, the same source, who asked not to be identified, said.

Since the Western Sahara conflict flared again in 2020, nearly three decades after a ceasefire, relations between Algeria and Morocco have sharply deteriorated. read more

Spain’s shift towards Morocco’s stance on Western Sahara ended a dispute between Madrid and Rabat last year involving both the disputed territory and migration. read more

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Reporting by Enas Alashray and Lamine Chikhi; editing by Angus McDowall and Richard Pullin

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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World

China bars Russian airlines with foreign planes

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BEIJING (AP) — China has barred Russia’s airlines from flying foreign-owned jetliners into its airspace, the Russian news outlet RBK reported, after President Vladimir Putin threw the aircrafts’ ownership into doubt by allowing them to be re-registered in Russia to avoid seizure under sanctions over Moscow’s attack on Ukraine.

The European Union, home to major aircraft leasing companies, banned the sale or lease of aircraft to Russian carriers in February. Putin responded by approving the re-registration measure in March, which prompted suggestions foreign owners may never recover planes worth billions of dollars.

China’s air regulator asked all foreign carriers last month to update ownership information and other details, RBK said, citing two unidentified sources. It said Russian airlines that couldn’t provide documents showing their aircraft were “de-registered abroad” were barred from Chinese airspace.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China didn’t immediately respond to a request for confirmation and details of the decision.

President Xi Jinping’s government said in February it has a “no limits” friendship with Moscow but has tried to distance itself from Putin’s war. Beijing has criticized Western sanctions but appears to be avoiding steps that might be seen as helping Moscow for fear of possible penalties against Chinese companies.

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Health

Are protein bars good for you?

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Are protein bars good for you? They’ve certainly become popular as an easy, go-to snack on the way to or from the gym, and for those days when you don’t have time for a meal. They can even be used as an aid to help weight loss. But are protein bars a healthy snack? Does it depend on the brand or flavor you buy? And, are some protein bars an unhealthier choice than a bag of chips or a chocolate bar?

Sometimes called energy bars, protein bars can contain a range of ingredients, from the healthy to the surprisingly unhealthy. While many of the best protein bars are packed with seeds, nuts and whole grains, some can also come loaded with added sugar and sweeteners – often to mask the bitter taste of some of their more healthy ingredients. 

When it comes to choosing a healthy protein bar, knowing what ingredients to look for on the packaging, and understanding basic nutritional information, can help you make an informed choice.

This article takes a closer look at protein bars, their nutritional makeup, and what health benefits they provide. It also considers whether protein bars are the healthiest way to get the protein you need.

Are protein bars good for you: Nutrition

When it comes to how ‘good’ protein bars are for you, it depends on the brand of protein bar and what ingredients go into the bar. Most protein bars contain a good mix of ingredients that provide flavor and texture, such as nuts, seeds and dried fruit. They may also contain whole grains, such as oats. To bind these ingredients together, and improve the overall flavor, they may also contain sugar syrups, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, milk, eggs, or yogurt powder. Vegan brands may choose to use plant-based agents, such as soy or rice. 

Given the variety of ingredients, it’s impossible to say whether every protein bar is good for you. But knowing standard nutritional information can help. According to the US Department of Agriculture, an average 63g protein bar will contain the following nutrition:

Amount % Daily value
Energy 250 kcal
Protein 20 g 40%
Total lipid (fat) 9 g 14%
Carbohydrate 26 g 9%
Fiber 10 g 40%
Sugars 8 g
Calcium 150 mg 15%
Iron 1.08 mg 6%
Potassium 120 mg 3%
Sodium 170 mg 7%
Fatty acids 3.5 g 18%
Cholesterol 5.04 mg 1%

Using this as a guide, we can see that our average protein bar is a great source of protein, fiber, and calcium. It’s also a good source of carbohydrate and iron. 

It’s important to note that not all protein bar manufacturers show their ingredients on the packaging. Some use a blend of ingredients that are kept secret from their competitors, so it can be difficult to know exactly what you’re taking into your body. Opting for protein bars that have a full list of ingredients will help you make a more informed choice.

Many protein bars use highly processed forms of protein to load their bars, instead of using less-processed foods. So you may notice ingredients such as whey protein isolates or soy protein isolates. If you want to avoid more refined and processed foods in your diet, you may want to give these a swerve and opt for bars that pack more protein from less-processed sources, such as nuts, grains, and seeds. 

(Image credit: Future)

What are the potential benefits of protein bars?

You may be wondering if there are any potential benefits to eating a protein bar, and the good news is, there definitely can be. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common.

Weight loss

Many people use protein bars as an aid to achieving weight loss. Protein can help to have a “filling effect” on the body, curbing the urge to snack between meals or eat more than you need to at mealtimes. 

A 2019 study into 62 overweight women in Korea looked at how having a daily protein bar reduced calorie consumption. Researchers found that, on average, the women reduced their daily calorie intake by up to 39%. They also achieved weight loss and improved their blood cholesterol level. 

Weight gain

Protein bars can also be helpful if you need to pack on weight, for example, if you have a thyroid imbalance or find it difficult to make time to have regular meals. 

If you need to increase your daily calorie count, a protein bar can give you around 250kcal extra a day – with some providing more. Although eating a protein bar is better than relying on fatty foods and sweet snacks, you should try to aim for regular meals and healthy snacks to pack on the pounds instead. But having a protein bar in your pocket can help it along. Just look for bars that have fewer refined and processed ingredients, artificial sweeteners and additives. 

Muscle gain

Adding protein to your diet can help you to gain muscle. This is because healthy, high-protein foods can aid muscles in repairing themselves after exercise, stimulating more muscle growth. 

The International Society of Sports Nutrition advises eating up to 3g of protein per kilogram of body weight every day, to optimize muscle growth during high-intensity resistance training. Although it recommends opting for protein-rich whole foods, it also says that the best protein powder and supplements are a convenient and easy way to get more protein into the diet. 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Meal replacement

Some days you just don’t have time to sit down and eat breakfast. So, grabbing a protein bar before you head out the door can give you the energy you need to start the day. Just be sure not to do it every day. 

Convenient and quick energy boost

If you’re flagging after a gym workout or just need a mid-afternoon pick up, a protein bar can help to give you extra energy, quickly. Although you can get the same effect from a healthy snack, it may not be as portable and easy to eat on the go as a protein bar. 

Protein bars: Drawbacks and considerations

Although protein bars can be a quick and effective snack to boost your energy levels and protein intake, it’s always better to meet your nutritional needs through a healthy balanced diet, using unprocessed, unrefined ingredients. It’s worth bearing in mind the following points, if you’re thinking of adding protein bars to your diet or increasing what you already eat.

  • You can eat too much protein. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein is 0.8g per kilogram of body weight. That means the average 200lb man needs around 72g of protein a day. While that seems like a lot of protein bars, consider the other protein within your diet, from sources such as meat, fish, eggs and milk. In fact, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans say that men between the ages of 19 and 59 are already eating too much protein.
  • Protein bars can be expensive. If you have a habit of using a protein bar as your go-to gym prep or afternoon snack, the costs will mount up. With the average protein bar being between $1 and $4, you could end up spending more than $100 dollars a month. That’s probably more than your gym membership. Swapping your protein bar for a homemade, high-protein snack a few days a week can save you cash and make sure you’re eating a varied, healthy diet.
  • Some protein bars contain so much sugar and refined ingredients, they’re not far off candy bars. Looking at the nutritional information on the back of your preferred bar can help you decide whether it’s right for you, or whether you need to swap brands. Better still, you can make your own protein bars at home, so you know exactly what ingredients have gone into them.

Bibliography

Jäger, R., Kerksick, C. M., Campbell, B. I., Cribb, P. J., Wells, S. D., Skwiat, T. M., Purpura, M., Ziegenfuss, T. N., Ferrando, A. A., Arent, S. M., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Stout, J. R., Arciero, P. J., Ormsbee, M. J., Taylor, L. W., Wilborn, C. D., Kalman, D. S., Kreider, R. B., Willoughby, D. S., Hoffman, J. R., … Antonio, J. (2017). International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14, 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8

Park, D., Lee, H. J., & Son, S. M. (2019). Effects of Low-Calorie Diet Including High Protein-Low Carbohydrate Protein Bar on Weight Loss and Serum Lipid Indicators in Overweight Women according to Dietary Compliance. Korean Journal of Community Nutrition. The Korean Society of Community Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2019.24.6.485

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Sports

Report: PGA Tour Bars Players from Competing in Saudi-Backed London Event | Bleacher Report

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Oisin Keniry/Getty Images

The PGA Tour refused to grant permission to players seeking to play in the upcoming LIV Golf Invitational event in England in a memo sent out Tuesday.

Eamon Lynch of Golfweek reported the tour declined the waivers despite there being “a precedent allowing players limited releases for overseas events.”

The Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf league is launching with a June 11 tournament near London and is seeking to become a PGA Tour competitor. Several golfers, including Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson, have been linked to the new league, which has a $255 million total prize fund for its eight tournaments.

Controversy has surrounded LIV Golf in large part because of its relationship with the Saudi government. Mickelson took widespread criticism for his comments on the Saudi government’s human rights violations in a conversation with Alan Shipnuck.

“They’re scary motherf–kers to get involved with,” he said. “We know they killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”

Mickelson has since apologized. However, the comments did massive damage to his reputation and also led to some players backing out of the venture.

“There’s no question [Mickelson’s comments] hurt,” legendary golfer Greg Norman, who serves as the president of LIV Golf, told ESPN’s Mark Schlabach. “It hurt a lot of aspects. It hurt the PGA Tour. It hurt us. It hurt the game of golf. It hurt Phil. So yeah, across all fronts. It wasn’t just specifically to us. But it definitely created negative momentum against us.”

The tour declining to allow players an exemption for the upcoming LIV event draws a clear line in the sand. It’s possible, if not likely, some players ignore the ruling of the tour and choose to play anyway.

It will be interesting to see what repercussions come from those players.



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Business

Stocks Open Mixed Ahead of Fed Meeting

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U.S. stock indexes were mixed at the opening Tuesday as investors geared up for the Federal Reserve’s policy decision this week and evaluated a batch of earnings.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3% in early trading. The benchmark stocks gauge rose 0.6% Monday, its third gain in four trading days. The technology-focused Nasdaq Composite added 0.4% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was about flat.

Those moves belied a tense mood among investors expecting the central bank to accelerate its tightening of monetary policy this week, the latest step in inflation-fighting efforts that have already raised borrowing costs throughout the economy this year, scrambling stock and bond markets.

Traders are reacting to a slew of big companies’ latest reports and financial forecasts. Pfizer fell 0.7% after forecasting lower revenue than predicted by analysts. Investment firm KKR rose about 2% after swinging to a loss.

Estee Lauder

lost 4.4% after the company lowered its revenue and earnings outlook.

Elliott Investment Management disclosed a roughly 6% stake in Western Digital, pushing shares of the data-storage company up 12%.

Rockwell Automation

said quarterly earnings tumbled, sending shares down 14%.

The yield on 10-year Treasury notes topped 3% for a second straight day before slipping back to 2.928%, compared with 2.995% Monday. Yields, which move inversely to bond prices and are a reference for borrowing costs throughout the economy, have shot to their highest levels since 2018 in anticipation of higher interest rates.

They have also dragged up government borrowing costs globally. The yield on 10-year German government bonds, the benchmark in Europe, surpassed 1% Tuesday for the first time since 2015, before slipping back to 0.935%.

Overseas stock markets wavered. The Stoxx Europe 600 gained about 0.3%, led by shares of banks and oil-and-gas companies on a busy day for earnings in the region.

BP shares rose 3.1% after the oil producer reported underlying profit of $6.2 billion, when stripping out a pretax accounting charge related to its decision to exit its Russia holdings.

BNP Paribas

posted a jump in earnings, sending shares of the French lender 4.3% higher.

Sweden’s OMX Stockholm All-Share steadied, edging up 0.1%. On Monday, the market was among the worst affected by a flash crash in European shares sparked by an erroneous sale by

Citigroup.

Mainland Chinese markets were closed for a public holiday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged up 0.1%.

All eyes are on the Federal Reserve’s next steps.



Photo:

BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS

All eyes are on the Fed’s next steps as the central bank tries to tap the brakes on the fastest pace of inflation in decades. Rising rates have combined with coronavirus shutdowns in China and the war in Ukraine to send jitters through stock markets this year.

Rate-setting officials will gather Tuesday for a two-day policy meeting. At its conclusion Wednesday, the Fed is expected to raise interest rates by a half percentage point, the first such increase in 22 years and following on from a quarter-point rise in March.

Investors will also seek details from Chairman

Jerome Powell

on the central bank’s plans to reduce its bondholdings. Officials have recently indicated that they will allow $95 billion in securities to mature every month, unwinding another form of stimulus lavished on markets during the pandemic.

“It appears that the war in Ukraine hasn’t derailed the Fed in the slightest,” said

Gregory Perdon,

co-chief investment officer at

Arbuthnot Latham.

Financial conditions have already tightened significantly, Mr. Perdon added, pointing to a strengthening dollar, the increase in Treasury yields and rising mortgage rates.

Earnings season continues apace.

Airbnb,

ABNB -4.98%

Starbucks,

Lyft

and

American International Group

are on the block after markets close.

Broadly positive corporate reports have failed to steady the market in recent weeks. Earnings growth is in line with historical norms at about 11% annually, according to Deutsche Bank analysts, while margins have remained near record levels despite rising input prices.

In commodities, Brent-crude futures prices slipped 1% to $106.55 a barrel. Traders are awaiting a meeting of ministers from OPEC members and their allies including Russia on Thursday, and monitoring shutdowns in China that are curbing fuel demand.

A European Union proposal to ban Russian crude oil by the end of the year is due to be circulated to member states Tuesday.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has indicated that the central bank is likely to raise interest rates by a half percentage point at its meeting. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Write to Joe Wallace at joe.wallace@wsj.com and Matt Grossman at matt.grossman@wsj.com.

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