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☆ Inside Andy Jassy's plan for Amazon in the generative AI era
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. By the way, we're wrapping up voting for the championship matchup in our business, tech, and innovation bracket. In today's big story, we're looking at Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's letter to shareholders, which details the tech giant's plan in the age of generative AI . What's on deck:AdvertisementBut first, Amazon, AI, and a letter. The big storyAmazon in the AI ageMichael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BIThe generative AI revolution is coming, and Amazon wants in on the ground floor.

Persons: —, We've, Andy Jassy's, Michael M, Chelsea Jia Feng, Andy Jassy, Ana Altchek, Jassy, that's, Andy Jassy Mike Blake, Eugene Kim, Jassy's, Phillip Faraone, Gregor Fischer, Noam Galai, Here's, it's, Morgan Stanley, Ben Bergman, Rebecca Zisser, Adam Neumann, Neumann, Samantha Lee, Bon Appétit, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover Organizations: Business, Service, Amazon, Getty, AWS, Bridgewater Associates, Pfizer, Reuters, Prime, TechCrunch, Games, New York Times, Visual China, BI, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Coachella Locations: Wells Fargo, New York, London

☆ This move could help protect your portfolio from volatility as stocks trade near their highs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

There's a party happening in stocks in 2024, and though investors may be reluctant, it could be time to think of taking a few chips off the table. My portfolio has recovered [from 2022],'" said Marguerita Cheng, certified financial planner and CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth in Gaithersburg, Maryland. "I tell people we're not selling everything, but we need to give the portfolio the TLC it deserves – this is the fine-tuning of your portfolio," she added. Be tax aware: Investors may be wary of selling highly appreciated holdings within their taxable accounts, which can incur levies on capital gains. Cheng of Blue Ocean has been turning toward dividend payers, as well as small and midcap stocks.

Persons: There's, they're, Marguerita Cheng, it's, Morningstar, Carla Adams, –, Sean Lovison, Cheng, Russell, Matson, – that's, It's, Jon Ulin Organizations: Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Netflix, Blue, Global Wealth, CNBC's, CFP, Ametrine, Investors, redeploy, Pfizer, Micron Technology, Holdings, Federal Reserve, Ulin, Wealth Management Locations: Gaithersburg , Maryland, Lake Orion , Michigan, Moorestown , New Jersey, SDVY, Boise, Boca Raton , Florida

☆ An interior designer critiqued my neutral living room. Her tips showed me easy tricks to make a space cozy and stylish.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Cheyenne Lentz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

One that's been especially difficult to design is the living room. Our new home's living room has a built-in wood-burning stove and a shiplap ceiling. AdvertisementAfter sharing photos and a video tour of my space, Turner shared advice on how to make my living room feel more stylish and cozy. Cheyenne LentzThe biggest issue I've faced in decorating our living room is figuring out how to incorporate the fireplace into our design. Hiding wires and clutter can easily upgrade the roomThe designer suggested we minimize the items on our TV shelf.

Persons: —, it's, there's, Kim Turner, Turner, Cheyenne Lentz, I've, Lentz, You'll, Cheyenne Lentz Turner, that'd Organizations: Service, Business, Kim Turner Design

Trump told a crowd in Conway, South Carolina, as he and Haley held events across the state ahead of its Feb. 24 Republican primary. Michael Haley began a yearlong stint in June with the South Carolina Army National Guard. Haley is being deployed as a staff officer with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, which the National Guard says is providing support in the Horn of Africa. “Donald, if you have something to say, don’t say it behind my back. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Persons: GILBERT, S.C, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley’s, wasn't, Trump, Haley, He’s, ”, Michael, Sen, John McCain, weren’t, Michael Haley, Trump's, Nikki Haley's, Melania Trump, “ Donald, Haley’s surrogates, Chris Wooten, —, Pollard Organizations: National Guard, Republican, South Carolina Army National Guard, 218th, Enhancement Brigade, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Conway , South Carolina, Vietnam, Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, America

☆ 4 of the biggest stereotypes about Americans, debunked by a British woman living in Ohio
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewA British woman who moved to the US says she had many misconceptions about the country until she lived there. Stereotype 1: Americans are lazyIn one video, Hart said there was a misconception that Americans are "lazy people" which she'd found to be "so not true." AdvertisementHart said that contrary to the stereotype that Americans are lazy, she thinks Americans are extremely committed to work. In a January TikTok , Hart also brought up the fact that many Americans don't have passports and are not required to have them to travel between states. AdvertisementIn a post from July 2023, she expanded on the topic of American friendliness while challenging another stereotype that Americans don't like British people.

Persons: —, Millie Hart, Hart, she's, she'd, it's, Ralph Buehler, I've, Hart's Organizations: Service, Business, Fox News, Pew Research Center, Virginia Tech, Forbes, RAC, Walmart, NBC Locations: West Midlands, England, Ohio, America, Britain's

The better your credit score, the better your interest rate on a car loan is likely to be. You should look at the monthly cost of the loan, but also the total cost long-term. Before applying for a car loan, it's crucial to check your credit score and take steps to improve it if necessary. It's important to leave room in your budget for unexpected expenses and to avoid becoming financially strained due to excessive car loan payments. A substantial down payment can work wonders in reducing the total cost of your car loan.

Persons: doesn't, — Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Quicken Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Bank of America says be wary of a soft holiday shopping season, gives its top picks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Holiday spending will be sluggish as consumers grapple with inflation, but Bank of America thinks a handful of value retailers and specialty stores could see a boost. Bank of America projects holiday sales-weighted average same-store sales will rise 0.6% year over year for its retail universe. Here are the buy-rated retailers that could stand out amid broader retail softness, according to Bank of America. Sporting goods chain Academy Sports and Outdoors was also highlighted as a Bank of America favorite. "Consumers are looking for deals and will choose retailers offering the best value," Hutchinson said.

Persons: Lorraine Hutchinson, Hutchinson, Ralph Lauren, Tuesday's, Michael Bloom Organizations: Bank of America, Bank of America ., Walmart, Target, Sporting, Academy Sports Locations: Tuesday's

Although longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields eased from 16-year highs on Wednesday, investors remain concerned that the elevated levels may pressure equities. Worries about U.S. government spending and its ballooning budget deficit have added to uncertainty around the interest rates trajectory, contributing to a steep selloff that have caused a rout in Treasury prices and a spike in yields. The S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost around 5% and 6% last month as yields spiked. Traders put the chance of interest rates remaining unchanged in November and December at 80% and 63%, respectively, according to CME's FedWatch tool. ET, Dow e-minis were down 92 points, or 0.28%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 10.5 points, or 0.24%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 27.75 points, or 0.19%.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Janet Mui, Loretta Mester, Neel Kashkari, Richmond's Thomas Barkin, Mary Daly, Michael Barr, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Joe Biden, VinFast, Ankika Biswas, Shashwat Chauhan, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Dow, Nasdaq, Treasury, RBC Brewin, Apple, Traders, Dow e, Federal, Democratic, Rivian, EV, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Occidental Petroleum, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Minneapolis, Bengaluru

☆ NASA’s next stop: An asteroid named for the Egyptian god of chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —After a nearly 4 billion-mile round trip, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully delivered NASA’s first asteroid sample to Earth. Across the universeAn artist's rendering shows OSIRIS-APEX kicking up dust so it can study Apophis. The space rock — named for the Egyptian god of chaos and darkness — was once considered to be one of the most potentially hazardous asteroid threats to Earth. Courtesy Narin ChomphuphuangA newly described tarantula species looks like it would be right at home slinging webs alongside Spider-Man. The electric blue tarantula, named Taksinus bambus, was found living in tree hollows in southern Thailand last year.

Persons: REx, NASA’s, Brian May, OSIRIS, —, Thomas Dressler, Frank Rubio, Rubio, Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin, readjusting, “, ”, José Hernández, Taksinus bambus, Narin Chomphuphuang, James Webb, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Space Center, APEX, University of Arizona, Western, Soyuz, Space Station, NASA, Kaen University, CNN Space, Science Locations: Utah, Houston, Israel, Greece, Namibia, Southern, Spain, Thailand

☆ Pending home sales plunged in August as 2-decade high mortgage rates continue to squeeze both buyers and sellers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Pending home sales slipped 7.1% in August in another sign of the housing market's slump. Multi-decades high mortgage rates are keeping homebuyers out of the market. AdvertisementAdvertisementPending home sales slipped 7.1% in August compared to July, according to the National Association of Realtors. "Mortgage rates have been rising above 7% since August, which has diminished the pool of home buyers," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, in the release. Home sales dipped from August across all regions of the country, falling the most in the South, where pending sales recorded a drop of 9%.

Persons: —, Lawrence Yun, Glenn Kelman, NAR's Yun Organizations: Service, National Association of Realtors, NAR

☆ U.S. pending home sales fall more than expected in August
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Amina Niasse | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index fell 7.1% to 71.8 from July's revised 77.3. The decrease, the largest since September 2022, exceeded the median economist forecast for a 0.8% fall, according to a Reuters poll. On a year-over-year basis, pending sales were down 18.7%. "It's clear that increased housing inventory and better interest rates are essential to revive the housing market." Pending sales of existing homes slid by the most in the South and West regions.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, Lawrence Yun, Amina Niasse, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, National Association of Realtors, Mortgage, Association, Federal, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, South, West

☆ Pending home sales plunged last month as mortgage rates hit 20-year highs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Pending sales had been on the rise the two months prior, despite elevated prices and higher mortgage rates, according to a report released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors. Pending transactions were down 18.7% from August 2022, when average weekly mortgage rates ranged between 4.99% and 5.5%. August may have been the beginning of the end of this resilient housing market — at least for a while, she added. “For others, the higher mortgage rates and general economic uncertainty are simply making them more cautious. Either way, expect the number of home sales transactions this fall to be at a decade low.”

Persons: ”, Lawrence Yun, “, Lisa Sturtevant, Sturtevant Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors Locations: Washington

☆ 'Big Short' investor Greg Lippmann eyes resilient assets for tough environment: 'buy the bad at the horrible pricing'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Greg Lippmann of "The Big Short" fame sees a soft landing as unlikely, he told Bloomberg TV. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementGreg Lippmann, founding partner at LibreMax Capital, is focused on resilient assets as the chances of a soft landing are slim. That comes as high interest rates, weakened credit availability, and an office vacancy uptrend have all become mounting pressures on commercial real estate. But other ones are going to turn out to be medium to bad," he told Bloomberg TV, adding that, "And you just buy the bad at the horrible pricing.

Persons: Greg Lippmann, —, Lippmann, Ryan Gosling, It's, Rob Arnott Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, LibreMax

☆ India is a rising force in Southeast Asia as region seeks to counter China's dominance
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

(Photo credit RAVEENDRAN/AFP via Getty Images) Raveendran | Afp | Getty ImagesIndia is taking major strides to expand its influence in Southeast Asia, a move that will allow countries to counter China's dominance in the region. "India certainly is becoming more ambitious in Southeast Asia. "This is particularly salient to the maritime sphere, namely the South China Sea, where overlapping sovereignty disputes threaten regional stability and openness," he added. "It continues to maintain a very independent streak in its foreign policy, which suits a large number of Southeast Asian countries." While China remained the most influential and strategic power in Southeast Asia, its standing has diminished, the Southeast Asia survey from February showed.

Persons: Pant, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Narendra Modi's, Satoru Nagao, Nagao, Derek Grossman, Modi, Xi Jinping, Ted Aljibe, Enrique Manalo, Rand's Grossman, Joanne Lin, Lin, ISEAS's Lin Organizations: Indian, Getty, Afp, Observer Research Foundation, CNBC, Southeast, Hudson Institute, Vietnam Air Force, Rand Corporation, TED ALJIBE, Initiative, ASEAN Studies, Yusof Ishak Institute, Observers, Pant Observer Research, China -, Wilson Center, ASEAN Wonk, U.S, ASEAN Studies Centre, Yusof, Ukraine, U.S ., New Delhi's Observer Research Foundation Locations: New Delhi, AFP, Southeast Asia, India, China, Beijing, Vietnam, Tokyo, China —, Manila, Philippine, Delhi, The Hague, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, ISEAS, Singapore, Asia, Europe, China - U.S, U.S, New

☆ AI is already linked to layoffs in the industry that created it
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Some 212,294 workers in the tech industry have been laid off in 2023 alone, according to data tracked by Layoffs.fyi, already surpassing the 164,709 recorded in 2022. But in the shadow of those mass layoffs, the tech industry has also been gripped by an AI fervor and invested heavily in AI talent and tech. Roger Lee, a startup founder who has been tracking tech industry layoffs via his website Layoffs.fyi, also runs Comprehensive.io, which examines job listings and compensation data across some 3,000 tech companies. Those looking to thrive in the tech industry and beyond may need to brush up on their AI skills. It’s not that everyone needs to become AI specialists, Wang added, but rather that workers should know how to use AI tools to become more efficient at whatever they’re doing.

Persons: Arvind Krishna, Barrons, Krishna, Dropbox, ”, Drew Houston, “, Dan Wang, ” Wang, Mark Zuckerberg, Roger Lee, Lee, Wang, It’s, That’s Organizations: CNN, Bloomberg, Columbia Business School, Layoffs.fyi, Microsoft, Machine Locations: OpenAI, Silicon Valley

☆ It’s Not Just the Debt Ceiling
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Jeff Sommer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

These include:The potential for economic drag from the more restrictive fiscal policy that House Republicans are demanding from President Biden as a prerequisite for an increase in the debt ceiling. Oddly, the debt ceiling crisis provided temporary relief for many of the nation’s banks, economists for Moody’s Investor Service found in a recent study. “The debt ceiling impasse has been a tailwind for the banks,” Jill Cetina, associate managing director for Moody’s, said in an interview. But once the debt ceiling is lifted and the Treasury begins to raise money by selling large quantities of bonds, those purchases by investors in the open market will drain money from banks. “This may not be what you would expect, but the resolution of the debt ceiling crisis will be a headwind for banks,” she said.

☆ Flyers are 'skiplagging' to try and save money on flight tickets. Airlines hate it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This means booking a flight with a layover at the intended destination and skipping the second leg. The practice is sometimes cheaper than booking a regular nonstop flight, but airlines hate it. For example, Google Flights said a roundtrip flight from New York to Amsterdam in late June on the Dutch flag carrier KLM cost from $2,850. A price comparison of a flight from New York to Amsterdam and a multi-city trip from New York to London with a layover in Amsterdam. United Airlines and the travel website Orbitz sued Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman in 2014.

☆ Here's the 'most likely scenario' for when student loan payments could restart — and how to prepare
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Borrowers may be down to their last few months without a student loan payment. "The most likely scenario is repayment restarts in September," said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers, also said lenders are actively preparing for the bills to restart in September. Readjusting your budget to include a student loan payment again may not be easy. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to be more prepared.

Persons: Mark Kantrowitz, Scott Buchanan, servicers, Biden Organizations: Biden, U.S . Department of Education, Student Loan, Alliance, Finance, House Democrats, Social

☆ 'Quiet rooms' are being built by companies to help employees relax and decompress on the clock
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Offices are increasingly adding designated "quiet rooms" for employees to recharge, WSJ reported. Companies like Adobe now have a craft room and private music rooms for staffers. The spaces are the next evolution of the nap and meditation rooms made popular by tech companies like Google. Now, workplaces are installing "quiet rooms" designed to help staffers cope with over-stimulation from open offices in today's post-pandemic workplaces. In an effort to better prioritize the mental health of employees, a growing number of companies are creating places for employees to relax and recharge, the Wall Street Journal reported.

☆ Sarah Paulson financially helped Pedro Pascal early in his career
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Pedro Pascal and Sarah Paulson are two of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors, often pictured at red carpet events together, but that hasn’t always been the case during their three decades-long friendship. As young actors struggling to navigate the industry, Paulson would help her friend make ends meet. “We would go to see movies all the time in those years, and we would get so lost in them,” Paulson told Esquire. Pedro Pascal hosted SNL in February. “He’s a part of some spectacularly successful things,” Paulson added.

☆ A top-100 Amazon seller with over $200 million in sales shares the top 6 things that set apart a successful seller from a failed one
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

He has since learned the key things that set apart those who succeed and fail on Amazon FBA. But by 2013, he had taken interest in Fulfillment by Amazon after his brother, a toy seller on the platform, surpassed $1 million in sales. One thing Needham has learned from being an Amazon seller for over a decade is that the business is far from passive. Below are six key things he says could set apart the successful Amazon seller from the ones who fail. Another successful seller Needham knows will launch a slightly different product at all three price points.

☆ Wells Fargo's Chris Harvey thinks the bear market is over
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWells Fargo's Chris Harvey thinks the bear market is overWells Fargo Head of Equity Strategy Chris Harvey joins 'Closing Bell' to discuss the changing cost of capital, risk reward opportunities in mid cap growth and readjusting market targets.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Wells Fargo Securities' Chris Harvey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Wells Fargo Securities' Chris HarveyWells Fargo Head of Equity Strategy Chris Harvey joins 'Closing Bell' to discuss the changing cost of capital, risk reward opportunities in mid cap growth and readjusting market targets.

☆ More US firms in Taiwan say they’re seeing ‘significant disruption’ due to rising tension with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Eric Cheung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Taipei CNN —The number of companies in Taiwan saying they’re experiencing business disruptions due to rising tensions between Taipei and Beijing has almost doubled, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. An annual survey, which polled 214 member firms in Taiwan, showed that the number of companies reporting “significant disruption” rose from 17% to 33% between August and December 2022, the chamber said Tuesday. China’s ruling Communist Party has increasingly exerted its territorial claims over democratic Taiwan, a self-governing island, despite having never controlled it. Almost half of the companies that the chamber surveyed said they’re developing contingency plans in response to the heightened tension. “For companies in Taiwan, cross-strait relations are very important,” Kristie Hsu, a director at Taiwan’s Chung-Hua Institution of Economic Research, told CNN.

☆ A company-wide Zoom meeting versus individual calls: Insiders reveal how multi-billion-dollar startups Clari and Workato slashed jobs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( April Joyner | Stephanie Palazzolo | Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Unicorns Clari and Workato are among the latest startups to cut jobs. Workato laid off 10 percent of its workforce, and Clari had its second round of cuts in a year. Clari's layoffs caught the startup's staffers off guard, according to one employee Insider spoke to. Though the layoffs were unexpected, the former Workato employee said, they appreciated the way the company delivered the news. The former Clari employee Insider spoke with said that the spate of layoffs had prompted them to reconsider their dedication to the tech industry.

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