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☆ Inside the Growing Alarm Over Blackstone's BREIT Real-Estate Fund
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Bethany Mclean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

Investors in Blackstone's real-estate fund asked for their money back in droves — more than $15 billion to date. Unless the real-estate market comes roaring back, analysts warn, BREIT could end up shrinking to a fraction of its current size, leaving the fund's investors holding the bag. Only 3% of BREIT's holdings are in office buildings, which have been ground zero for commercial real estate pain. Advertisement"Not all real estate is created equal," BREIT boasted in a recent letter to stockholders, "and where you invest matters." "Commercial real estate is a slow burn," Brian Moynihan, the CEO of Bank of America, recently observed.

Persons: Blackstone, —, BREIT, REITs, Steve Schwarzman, Jeenah, Nate Koppikar, Craig McCann, BREIT's, Chilton, McCann, McCann, Horacio Villalobos, That's, Donald Trump, Robert Chang, Schwarzman, Michael Blackshire, Phil Bak, Stephen Schwarzman, Shannon Stapleton, Brian Moynihan, it's, It's Organizations: BREIT, Orso Partners, Securities Exchange Commission, Blackstone, SEC, Chilton Capital Management, SLCG Economics Consulting, Publicly, University of California, Regents, Armada Investors, Reuters, Bank of America Locations: BREIT, Lisbon, Fideres

☆ I love Quarter Pounders. But I don’t get why people enjoy chicken
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Saira Mueller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

I’ve never really understood why people enjoy eating chicken. Like the frenzy of people crowding Chick-fil-A or Popeyes when a limited-edition chicken sandwich goes on sale, as if it were the latest iPhone release. Or the fact that there’s something called the “chicken sandwich wars,” which could return in 2024 — thanks in part to the recent limited release of two new McDonald’s crispy chicken sandwiches. Compared to the aroma of freshly baked bread or the sizzle of bacon — scents that beckon me closer — the fried chicken smell is like an unwelcome intrusion. Why exactly do you enjoy eating chicken?

Persons: CNN —, I’d, ”, Shannon Stapleton, chow, Homer Simpson, I’ve, Michael Nagle, ” I’m, I’m Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Louisiana, New York City, New York, South Africa

☆ Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: The ups and downs of a ‘bad boy’ turned businessman
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Sean “Diddy” Combs once traced his success back to a pair of shoes. With his legacy in question, this particular chapter of the story of Sean “Diddy” Combs is currently punctuated more by an ellipsis than a period. Jessie James Combs, Chance Combs, Diddy, D'Lila Combs and Justin Dior Combs attend in September of 2023. Members of law enforcement are seen outside of Sean "Diddy" Combs' home in Los Angeles on Monday. He was briefly stopped by law enforcement and subsequently releasedThe source would not reveal Combs’ vacation destination or current whereabouts.

Persons: Sean “ Diddy ” Combs, ”, Combs, he’s, Puffy, Diddy, Love, Christopher Wallace, B.I.G, Wallace, Chance ”, Sean Combs, “, Faith Evans, ” Combs, Wendy Williams, Wallace’s, Justin, Misa Hylton, Kim Porter, Christian, Twin, Jessie James, Jessie James Combs, Chance Combs, D'Lila Combs, Justin Dior Combs, Jason Kempin, Chance, Sarah Chapman, Dana Tran, Sean Jean, — Combs, wasn’t, Sean John, Sean John’s, Sean, Shannon Stapleton, “ Sean Combs, Cassie Ventura, ” Aaron Dyer, ” Dyer, Mary J, Blige, MGK, Janelle Monáe, CNN’s John Miller, Elizabeth Wolfe, Eric Levenson, Denise Royal, Elizabeth Wagmeister, Carlos Suarez Organizations: CNN, Department of Homeland Security, Bad Boy Records, Ciroc, Global Brands Group, Diageo PLC, Reuters, Diageo, Bad Boy Entertainment, Miami Locations: Manhattan, Quincy, Los Angeles, Miami

☆ Behind Trump's campaign cash crunch: Small-dollar donor fatigue, major donor hesitation
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

The drop in Trump's small-dollar contributors could be significant obstacle as the former president faces the well-funded incumbent president, Democrat Joe Biden. Falling behind BidenEvidence from earlier in the 2024 election cycle already hinted at an erosion of Trump's small-dollar donor base, or support of $200 or less. In January of this year, Trump's campaign reported raising around $3 million from small-dollar donors, according to data from OpenSecrets. Elizabeth Frantz | ReutersMeanwhile, Trump's campaign told The New York Times that February was its strongest month so far in the 2024 campaign cycle for small-dollar donations. Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, Trump's campaign raised over $264 million from small-dollar supporters.

Persons: Donald Trump, Marco Bello, Reuters Donald Trump's, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump's, Elizabeth Frantz, Trump, Shannon Stapleton, John Paulson, Howard Lutnick, Letitia James, Steve Schwarzman, Miriam Adelson, Denise Truscello, Stephen Louro, Long, Louro, Greg Abbott, Elise Stefanik, Haley, Nikki Haley, MAGA, Adrienne Arsht, Mike Segar, Paul Singer, Singer, Paul Singer David A, Singer's, Lara Trump, Jonathan Drake Organizations: Reuters, White, Republican Party, Federal, Commission, U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, New York Times, CNBC, Trump, Republican National Committee, RNC, New York, Court, Trump Organization, AFP, Getty, PAC, Democrats, Blackstone, Cleveland Clinic Lou, Brain Health, MGM, Garden, Hamptons, Republican, New York Republican, Republican Texas Gov, South Carolina Gov, Former South Carolina, NBC News, Adrienne, Adrienne Arsht Center, Performing Arts, Republicans, Haley, Grogan, American Opportunity Alliance, Politico, North, North Carolina GOP Locations: Lago, Palm Beach , Florida, U.S, Washington ,, New York City, Las Vegas , Nevada, York, Former, Miami , Florida, Houston, New York, North Carolina, Greenville , North Carolina

☆ TikTok: Is it really Chinese?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Is TikTok Chinese? In March 2023, CEO Chew was repeatedly pressed by US lawmakers on whether TikTok was Chinese. According to TikTok’s own website, its subsidiaries around the world are all structured under Bytedance Ltd.Is ByteDance Chinese? At last year’s congressional hearing, Chew didn’t directly answer any questions about whether ByteDance is a Chinese company either. That means the Chinese government now owns 1% of Beijing Douyin Information Service, which is the domestic Chinese unit of Bytedance.

Persons: TikTok, Shou Chew, Trump, Chew, Jose Luis Magana, Musical.ly, TikTok’s, ByteDance, Zhang Yiming, Liang Rubo, Zhang, Liang, Jinri, Chew didn’t, Shannon Stapleton, Zhang Fuping, Xi Jinping, Wu Shugang, Shu Yuting Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, TikTok LLC, TikTok Ltd, ByteDance Ltd, Bytedance Ltd, Tianjin’s Nankai University, ByteDance, Carlyle Group, General Atlantic, Susquehanna International Group, Reuters, Communist, Cyberspace Administration, Beijing Douyin Information Service, Chinese Communist Party, National Intelligence Law, Commerce Ministry Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, California, Los Angles, Singapore, Delaware, Culver City , California, Cayman Islands, Shanghai, Chinese, TikTok

☆ Trump-allied election groups burned through millions with no evidence of widespread fraud
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Jonathan Ernst | ReutersThe mission of the Election Integrity Alliance, likewise, was ending election fraud. "The Election Integrity Alliance will unite groups and efforts across the nation focused on combating election fraud," the group's now-defunct website trumpeted in 2021. But Trump never publicly designated the Election Integrity Alliance as the standard bearer for the MAGA universe's election integrity efforts. AFPI also launched an election integrity effort, the Center for Election Integrity, and staffed it with former Trump White House press aide Hogan Gidley and conservative author Ken Blackwell. It even launched its own color-coded election integrity scorecard map, which looks strikingly similar to the one that the Election Integrity Alliance had created for its now-deleted website.

Persons: Donald Trump, Shannon Stapleton, Joe Biden, Trump's, Brad Parscale, Parscale, Trump, Jonathan Ernst, Katrina Pierson, Pierson, Drew Angerer, Tim Dunn, Dunn, Jim Renacci, PCG, Jenna Ellis, Ken Paxton, Bernard Kerik, MAGA, Linda McMahon, Larry Kudlow, Brooke Rollins, AFPI, Hogan Gidley, Ken Blackwell, Cleta Mitchell Organizations: Winthrop Coliseum, South Carolina Republican, Reuters, Trump, Republican Party, CNBC, PAC, U.S, Alliance, Jefferson Rising Fund, Republican, Tower, Getty, hasn't, Partners, American, New York Police, Mar, Policy, Small Business, White, West Wing, Center, Trump White House, Heritage Foundation Locations: Rock Hill , South Carolina, U.S, United States, Manchester , New Hampshire, Texas, New York City, American, Ohio, Israel, New York, Trump, Florida, America, Palm Beach

☆ How America’s once great department stores became a dying breed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

But department stores, focused on America’s middle class, are fading. The victims of shifting consumer tastes were not the department stores that anchored the local mall, it was the small, locally owned stores along downtown shopping districts that were closing their doors. And possibly even more than the big box competitors, department stores have suffered from consumers shifting to buying items online rather than in person. The steady closing of the department stores that once served as “anchors” of malls across suburban America has been another nail in the coffin of many malls, hurting the department stores that remained in hollowed-out malls with a fraction of their earlier traffic. Saunders said one of the primary problem for Macy’s is that its holding company, formerly known as Federated Department Stores, spent much of its resources on buying other department store brands, such May’s Department Stores, and Filene’s, rather than investing in the stores its held.

Persons: New York CNN —, Neil Sauders, ”, JC Penney, It’s, “, Neil Saunders, Shannon Stapleton, Saunders, ” Saunders, Al Bello, Sunny Zheng, Macy’s, Tony Spring, Taylor, Brian Snyder, Eddie Lambert, Michael Brown, Kearney, ” Brown, Mike Segar, Richard W, Sears, Alvah Roebuck, Sears Roebuck, Bettmann, PhotoQuest, Jack Manning, Frank Scherschel, Owen, Lucille Jagusch, Arlene Hardt, Martin Luther King Jr, Michael Ochs, Ron Frehm, Ralf, Finn Hestoft, Mark Peterson, Seth Meyers, Hugh Jackman, NBCUniversal, Kaylin Wilson, Jim Cole, Rene Johnston, Maria Alejandra Cardona, Scott Olson, Cesar Villasenor, Mel Melcon, Sarah Blesener, Paul Hennessy, Patti Naleck, Naleck, Stacey Wescott, Brown Organizations: New, New York CNN, American, Walmart, Company, Department, Sears, Target, GlobalData, JCPenney, Research, RadioShack, Reuters Sears, Federated Department Stores, May’s, Reuters, Chicago History, Sears Roebuck, Roebuck, Hulton, AP, AP Soldiers, Michael Ochs Archives, Getty, Bettmann, Kmart, Bloomberg, Toronto Star, Reuters Residents, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Tribune, Service Locations: New York, GlobalData, America, Nanuet , New York, North Redwood , Minnesota, Chicago, El Paso , Texas, Jackson , Mississippi, Tucson , Arizona, Caracas, Venezuela, Niles , Illinois, Morton Grove , Illinois, Baltimore, White Plains , New York, Woodfield , Illinois, Hicksville , New York, Nashua , New Hampshire, Mentor , Ohio, Mississauga , Ontario, Hialeah , Florida, Janesville , Wisconsin, Santa Monica , California, Rockaway , New Jersey, Leesburg , Florida, Schaumburg , Illinois

☆ Trump appeals New York civil fraud loss as $454 million judgment grows with each day he doesn't pay up
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Michael R. Sisak | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewNEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has appealed his $454 million New York civil fraud judgment, challenging a judge's finding that Trump lied about his wealth as he grew the real estate empire that launched him to stardom and the presidency. Trump's lawyers wrote in court papers that they're asking the appeals court to decide whether Engoron "committed errors of law and/or fact" and whether he abused his discretion and/or his jurisdiction. Among other penalties, the judge put strict limitations on the ability of Trump's company, the Trump Organization, to do business. Engoron ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties, but with interest the total has grown to nearly $454 million. If Trump is unsuccessful at the Appellate Division, he can ask the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals, to consider taking his case.

Persons: —, — Donald Trump, Trump, Arthur Engoron's, Letitia James, Engoron, Eric, Donald Trump Jr, schemed, Engoron's, Trump's, Christopher Kise, untethered, Alina Habba, Habba, Arthur Engoron, Shannon Stapleton, James, Democrat Joe Biden, Stormy Daniels, E, Jean Carroll, defaming, Carroll Organizations: Service, Business, Trump Organization, Trump, ABC, . New, Reuters, Division, D.C, Democrat Locations: York, New York, Engoron's, Georgia, Washington, Florida, Manhattan

☆ Jimmy Kimmel mocks ‘preposterous’ lawsuit brought by former Rep. George Santos
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday night responded to a lawsuit filed by former Rep. George Santos, mocking the disgraced politician’s legal action as “preposterous.”“Did anyone else get sued by George Santos this weekend? I am currently embroiled in what may be the most preposterous lawsuit of all time,” Kimmel told his audience. Shannon Stapleton/ReutersIn his lawsuit, Santos alleged Kimmel was guilty of “deceiving” him into making the videos. “He says we deceived him under the guise of fandom soliciting personalized videos, only to then broadcast these on national television,” Kimmel joked. “And if there’s one thing George Santos will not stand for,” Kimmel added, “it’s using a fake name under false pretenses.”

Persons: Jimmy Kimmel, George Santos, ” Kimmel, Santos, Kimmel, “ Will Santos, Representative George Santos, Shannon Stapleton, ”, “ Defendants Organizations: New, New York CNN, Rep, ABC, Disney, of, Former U.S, Representative, U.S . House, Central, Central Islip Federal, Reuters Locations: New York, Southern, of New York, Former, Central Islip, Central Islip , New York, U.S

☆ Opinion: What Iran wants — and fears
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Opinion Hussein Ibish | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Iran has backed Hezbollah’s efforts to avoid an all-out war with Israel despite consistent Israeli escalation and threats. Hezbollah doesn’t want a war with Israel and Iran agrees. The potential for such US or Israeli airstrikes is among the most significant reasons Iran wants to avoid a broader conflict. Tehran has already restrained its Iraqi proxies, is working to help Hezbollah climb down and avoid a devastating Israeli attack. And Iran is probably urging the Houthis to take great care not to kill Americans or otherwise go too far.

Persons: Hussein Ibish, Read, Hussein Ibish It’s, Biden, Israel, Kataib, Saleh Al, Wissam, Amos Hochstein, Ebrahim Raisi, Shannon Stapleton, It’s Organizations: Gulf States Institute, Israel, CNN, Washington, Radwan Force, Iranian Locations: Washington, Iranian, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Saudi, That’s, Israel, Jordan, Hezbollah’s, Beirut, Tehran, Yemeni, Suez, Strait, Hormuz, Bab, Mandab

☆ Coco Gauff eyes ‘double digits’ grand slam career goal ahead of Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Coco Gauff may have won her maiden grand slam title at last year’s US Open, but the American youngster already has that particular success in her rear-view mirror. Right now, I would say double digits would be pretty awesome,” Gauff told reporters ahead of this year’s Australian Open. Sarah Stier/Getty Images Gauff celebrates her win after the final set. Sarah Stier/Getty Images Sabalenka and Gauff pose for a photo with former player Billie Jean King before the match. Sarah Stier/Getty Images Gauff is introduced ahead of the match.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Gauff, Aryna, Serena Williams, Arthur, Mike Segar, Reuters Gauff, Mike Stobe, Sarah Stier, Shannon Stapleton, Frank Franklin II, Darren Carroll, AP Sabalenka, Danielle Parhizkaran, Al Bello, Charles Krupa, Clive Brunskill, Sabalenka, Billie Jean King, Timothy A, Clary, Elina Svitolina, Anna Karolína Schmiedlová, Brad Gilbert, ” Gilbert, CNN Sport’s Don Riddell, “ Organizations: CNN, Wimbledon, Reuters, USTA, AP, USA, Network, Sabalenka, Gauff, Getty, Auckland Locations: American, Flushing Meadows, Queens, Belarus, AFP, Melbourne

☆ Trump has laid the groundwork for a US Supreme Court challenge in his NY civil fraud case: experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

On their way to the US Supreme Court, Trump's lawyers would first need to exhaust their New York state appellate options. AdvertisementNew York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron presided over closing arguments in the Trump civil fraud trial. Shannon Stapleton/ReutersThrowing the case to the US Supreme Court could, at the least, delay the imposition of penalties, Scholl said. It's unlikely the US Supreme Court would throw out New York's executive law in its entirety, he predicted. But the court could quite possibly pare back, at least in Trump's case, its most severe penalties.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Letitia James's, Trump, Shannon Stapleton, SCOTUS, Marc Frazier Scholl, Trump's, Scholl, Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss, Jane Rosenberg, it's, James, Arthur Engoron, pare, Letitia James, Christopher Kise, Donald Trump's, Kise, Alina Habba, Clifford Robert . Pool, Adam S, Kaufmann, There's, President Trump Organizations: Service, York, New York, Trump, Business, Court, Reuters, Manhattan, Attorney's, New, Appeals, Trump Organization, US, Fifth Locations: Manhattan, New York, York, Florida

☆ Three reasons a strong Black Friday weekend may not mean a blowout holiday season for retailers
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

And Ulta Beauty and Foot Locker 's shares rose this week, after the companies reported better-than-expected earnings and a strong start to holiday spending on sneakers, makeup and more. Adobe predicts that full holiday season online spending from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 will hit $221.8 billion, which would be a nearly 5% year-over-year jump. If the estimate ends up being correct, that means shoppers still have a little more than half of their online holiday spending to go. The NRF said this week that its survey found about half of consumers' online and in-store holiday shopping remains. "People are just about tapped out, but [with] the holiday season, people are willing to even further extend themselves," he said.

Persons: Emily Elconin, That's, Dave Kimbell, Ulta, Matt Shay, Anastasiia, It's, Vivek Pandya, Pandya, Kena Betancur, Scott Wren, Wells, Shannon Stapleton Organizations: Getty, Adobe Analytics, National Retail Federation, Consumers, Walmart, Target, Adobe Digital, Adobe, Macy's, U.S . Federal, Shoppers, Reuters Locations: Oaks, Novi , Michigan, New York , New York, Wells Fargo, Macy's, Roosevelt, Garden City , New York, U.S

☆ Former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor dead at 93
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

[1/5] U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor speaks during an interview with Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler at the 92nd Street Y in New York March 15, 2012. Chief Justice John Roberts recalled O'Connor as having "blazed an historic trail as our nation’s first female justice." "We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education." Her 1981 appointment by Republican President Ronald Reagan made her the Supreme Court's first woman justice nearly two centuries after the Supreme Court was established in 1789 but her place in history went beyond breaking men-only barriers. The Supreme Court, which has had a 6-3 conservative majority since 2020, overturned the landmark Roe ruling in 2022.

Persons: Sandra Day O'Connor, Stephen Adler, Shannon Stapleton, Sandra Day O’Connor, O'Connor, John Roberts, Roberts, George W, Bush, Samuel Alito, Ronald Reagan, you’ve, Roe, Wade, Republican George W, Democrat Al Gore, O’Connor, Harry, Ada Mae, Rehnquist, John, Warren Burger, Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Justice Potter Stewart, “, Barack Obama, Bill Trott, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Democrat, Chicago Tribune, Stanford University, Arizona, Democratic, Senate, Ladies, White, Thomson Locations: New York, Phoenix, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Florida, El Paso , Texas, Los Angeles, San Mateo County , California, United States, West, Reuters Washington

This year, 59% retailers offer so-called "returnless" or "keep it" policies for unwanted products whose returns costs exceed their value, according to returns services firm goTRG, which surveyed 500 executives at 21 major retailers, including Walmart (WMT.N) and Amazon.com (AMZN.O). That information is "not something that retailers want out there" due to worries the policies could be abused by shoppers, he said. The firm helps retailers manage returns, which typically rise after pre-Christmas sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday and continue beyond Christmas. The typical return costs retailers about $30. "You just can't afford to ignore it," she said of returns costs.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Sender Shamiss, Shamiss, Amena Ali, Ali, Gabrielle Richards, Pamela Peters, Peters, Lisa Baertlein, Arriana McLymore, Siddharth Cavale, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, ANGELES, Black, Walmart, Super Bowl, Reuters, eBay, Appriss Retail, National Retail Federation, Amazon.com, Thomson Locations: Macy’s, Roosevelt, Garden City , New York, U.S, Los Angeles, New York

☆ Current policy rate lets Fed be 'nimble' with incoming data, Mester says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Michael S. Derby | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Loretta Mester, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, speaks during an interview in Manhattan, New York, U.S., August 15, 2017. The central bank's rate policy will need to be "nimble" and "I believe the current level of the (federal) funds rate positions us well to do that." Mester, who will retire from the regional Fed bank next June, spoke two weeks ahead of the Fed's Dec. 12-13 policy meeting. That gathering is widely expected to result in no change in the current 5.25%-5.50% policy rate range. She noted that Fed rate hikes have tightened financial conditions and moderated demand at a time when supply chains have been healing.

Persons: Loretta Mester, Shannon Stapleton, Mester, Mester's, Michael S, Paul Simao Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, REUTERS, Cleveland Federal, Fed, Financial, FOMC, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York, U.S, Chicago

☆ Google, Symphony unveil AI JV to help banks manage voice calls compliance risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in New York City, U.S., January 20, 2023. Symphony, which counts banks like Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and JPMorgan (JPM.N) among its 1,000-strong client base, will use Google Cloud's generative artificial intelligence platform, Vertex AI, to enhance its Cloud9 voice product with more sophisticated speech-to-text and natural language processing (NLP) capabilities. Phil Moyer, VP of Google Cloud's Global AI Business, said the platform would make compliance more "ambient". So there's 180 zettabytes of data on the planet Earth right now, 90% of which has been created in the last two years." And so tools like these transformers and generative AI are really helping to manage that massive data that's being created," Moyer said.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Goldman Sachs, Zac Maufe, Brad Levy, Phil Moyer, Moyer, Sinead Cruise, David Evans Organizations: Google, Chelsea, REUTERS, Reuters, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, JPMorgan, Communications, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S

Brokerage TD Cowen lowered its U.S. holiday spending estimate to 2% to 3% growth, from 4% to 5%, as it forecast flat Black Friday traffic. With many consumers squeezed by persistent inflation and high interest rates, U.S. holiday spending is expected to rise at the slowest pace in five years. A record 130.7 million people are expected to shop in stores and online in the U.S. on Black Friday this year, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates. In France, Italy, and Spain, most shoppers planned to buy clothing on Black Friday, with electronic goods coming second, according to a PwC survey. Thanksgiving Day discounts online peaked at about 28% for toys, while electronics had discounts as steep as 27%, Adobe said.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Cowen, Theresa Forsberg, “ It’s, ”, Jill Lizzo, she’s, “, I’m, Lizzo, PwC, hasn’t, Naomi Ojomo, Jeff Gennette, Barbie, John Roberts, Apple AirPods, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Oscar de, Katherine Masters, Arriana McLymore, Helen Reid, Mimosa Spencer, Corina Pons, James Davey, Siddharth Cavale, Arriana, Deboarh Sophia, David Gaffen, Miral Fahmy, Nick Zieminski, Frances Kerry Organizations: Black, REUTERS, Shoppers, National Retail Federation, Insider Intelligence, Barclays, Macy's, Adobe Analytics, Adobe, Walmart, Argos, PlayStation, Apple, Thomson Locations: Westbury , New York, U.S, RALEIGH, N.C, New Milford , Connecticut, . U.S, Harlem, Manhattan, France, Italy, Spain, Zara, Canary Wharf, London, British, Paris, Madrid, New York, Raleigh , North Carolina, Bengaluru

☆ The tug-of-war is on between deal-hungry shoppers and retailers wary of giving them throw-away prices on Black Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

So are the start-of-the-season deals enticing enough for shoppers or are they holding out in a cat-and-mouse game with retailers? Michael Brown, retail industry leader and partner with management consulting firm Kearney, said the much earlier-than-usual jumpstart to holiday sales this year could be to blame. Shoppers will be holding out for better deals,” he said. Kena Betancur/Getty ImagesTotal holiday sales this year are expected to come in softer compared to last year. He said there were plenty of 25% off Black Friday deals mall-wide and some deeper 40% off promotions for early-bird shoppers.

Persons: New York CNN —, Michael Brown, Kearney, ”, Brown, Emily Elconin, Marshal Cohen, ” Cohen, Barbie, Willing, they’ve, Kena Betancur, Brian Schroeder, Kendra Scott, “, Aeropostale, Aritzia, Shannon Stapleton, Marc Rosen, Rosen, ” Rosen, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, “, Shoppers, Black, National Retail Federation, Adobe Analytics, Disney Little, Marvel, Macy's, Brookfield Properties, Brookfield Asset Management, Nike, Apple, Simon Property Group, JCPenney Locations: New York, Oaks, Michigan, New York , New York, La Cantera, San Antonio , Texas, Brookfield, Roosevelt, Garden City , New York, Penney

☆ Retailers hope to draw picky Black Friday shoppers to stores
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Katherine Masters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Originally known for crowds lining up at big-box stores in the U.S., Black Friday has moved online and gone global. In France, Italy, and Spain, most shoppers planned to buy clothing on Black Friday, with electronic goods coming second, according to a PwC survey. On average, shoppers in France expected to spend 295 euros ($322) on Black Friday, the survey found. Most U.S. stores were closed on Thanksgiving but opened to shoppers at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. on Friday. In post-earnings calls this week, retailers from Kohl's (KSS.N) to Nordstrom (JWN.N) told investors they had invested in jackets, cashmere sweaters and Ugg boots to lure Christmas shoppers after an unseasonably warm October.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Jessica Ramirez, Jane Hali, Jeff Gennette, Mari Shor, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Oscar de, ” Nordstrom, Pete Nordstrom, Katie Wyle, Katherine Masters, Mimosa Spencer, Helen Reid, James Davey, Josie Kao, Miral Fahmy, Frances Kerry Organizations: Black, REUTERS, Retailers, Associates, National Retail Federation, Insider Intelligence, Barclays, Macy's, The New York Police, Nordstrom, Walmart, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Westfield, Thomson Locations: Westbury , New York, U.S, Europe, France, Italy, Spain, Amazon, Israel, New York City, Kohl's, Mall, Britain, Westfield, Paris, London

☆ Bankrupt WeWork enters financing agreements with certain lenders
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A WeWork logo is seen outside its offices in the Queens borough of New York City, U.S., November 7, 2023. WeWork, once the most valuable U.S. startup, struggled to achieve profitability as a rise in work-from-home trends following the pandemic soured demand for its shared office spaces. The financing could be as much as $682.5 million but it could also be smaller than that depending on other conditions, WeWork said, adding that the parties have agreed to provide the financing individually and not jointly. The company also said the financing agreement was dependent on fulfilling certain conditions, including the approval of the Bankruptcy Court. WeWork entered bankruptcy with about $164 million of cash on hand, according to court filings.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, WeWork, Bhanvi, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Goldman Sachs International Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, SoftBank, Thomson Locations: Queens, New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ US demand for new credit down in 2023, New York Fed survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Michael S. Derby | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People walk by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the financial district of New York City, U.S., June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Demand for new credit in the U.S. over the last year has declined and will likely stay soft in the future, according to a survey released on Monday by the New York Federal Reserve. But even as the overall application rate for new credit declined among those surveyed, interest in applying for more credit card debt rose. The survey said that reading had hit 29% as of October and was 26% for 2023, compared to a 27.2% credit card application rate in 2019. The report noted that expected decline in applications for credit extended to new credit cards, auto loans, mortgages and home refinancing.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Michael S, Paul Simao Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of New, REUTERS, New York Federal Reserve, Fed, Consumer, New York Fed, Thomson Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York City, U.S

☆ US appeals court ruling strikes at core of landmark voting rights law
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Joseph Ax | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The ruling, which will likely be appealed, could set up the next voting rights battle at the U.S. Supreme Court. The vast majority of Voting Rights Act cases are filed by private parties. For instance, the case that prompted the Supreme Court earlier this year to strike down Alabama's congressional map was originally filed by a coalition of civil rights groups. In a dissent, Chief Judge Lavenski Smith, also a Bush appointee, said he would have followed existing precedent unless Congress or the Supreme Court said otherwise. Sophia Lin Lakin, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's voting rights project and a lawyer for the plaintiffs, in a statement called the ruling a "travesty for democracy."

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, District Judge Lee Rudofsky, Donald Trump, David Stras, Raymond Gruender, George W, Bush, Judge Lavenski Smith, Sophia Lin Lakin, Joseph Ax, David Gregorio, Mark Porter Organizations: REUTERS, Firms American Civil Liberties, ., U.S, Supreme, District, Appeals, Trump, Circuit, Republican, American Civil Liberties, Thomson Locations: Queens, New York City, U.S, Arkansas

☆ 'Dupes' clothing, perfume craze lures holiday shoppers as major brands fret
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Katherine Masters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Hashtag searches for dupes of major brands - including Skims underwear and Deckers' (DECK.N) Ugg boots - have been viewed millions of times on TikTok. Graphic shows pictures of four original products and their original prices under named brands compared with the prices of their 'dupe' counterparts. Newer technologies like the Google Lens app allow people to take photos of items they like and find similar products for sale. In other cases, dupe sellers opt to replicate the look of higher-priced originals with cheaper materials to maximize profit. However, experts say dupe sellers have grown increasingly skilled at avoiding brand logos and other design features that could infringe existing patents or copyrights.

Persons: Lauren Maginness, Shannon Stapleton, Maginness, Estee, Tom Ford, Dupes, “, ”, Penny Pincher, Leslie Ghize, Doneger Tobe, Calvin McDonald, Ian Taplin, Juozas Kaziukenas, Kaziukenas, Maria Boschetti, Mike Scheschuk, Birkenstock, Katherine Masters, Dorothy Kam, Vanessa O'Connell, Rod Nickel, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Abercrombie, Fitch, Scout, Walmart, Department, Nordstrom, Circana Inc, COMMERCE, Wake Forest University, eBay, Google, HK, Amazon, New, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Hong Kong, TikTok, Los Angeles, Zara, Italy, New York

☆ Trump vows to kill Asia trade deal being pursued by Biden if elected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Speaking to supporters in Iowa, Trump said he was against the regional trade deal being negotiated by the Biden administration with 13 other countries, arguing that it would hollow out U.S. manufacturing and trigger job losses. Trump, who withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal that had been forged with many of the same countries after taking office in January 2017, said he would "knock out" what he referred to as "TPP Two" immediately upon taking office. The Biden administration had hoped to finish key chapters of its IPEF trade initiative in time for this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. It has vowed to continue negotiating the ambitious deal, but election-year pressures and resistance to tough commitments from some countries make a deal unlikely, trade experts and business groups say. Reporting by Nathan Layne in Fort Dodge, Iowa; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Donald Trump, Shannon Stapleton, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, Nathan Layne, Chizu Organizations: U.S, Trump Organization, Court, REUTERS, Republican, Economic, Pacific, Economic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: New York, Manhattan, New York City, U.S, DODGE , Iowa, Pacific, Iowa, Vietnam, Indonesia, Fort Dodge, Des Moines, Asia, Fort Dodge , Iowa

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