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☆ Marketers Brace to Defend Their Ad Budgets in an Unsteady Economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Megan Graham | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

ORLANDO, Fla.—An opening session of a major marketing conference this week included a quick mention of a conversation many industry executives expect to be having soon. As the ad industry braces for whatever broader macroeconomic troubles come its way, its executives expect history to repeat itself: When the economy sputters, companies frequently reduce their ad and marketing budgets. Bob Liodice, chief executive of the Association of National Advertisers, at its conference this week in Orlando. The 4A’s has put together a paper on “recession-profing,” which argues that defending marketing budgets is synonymous with maintaining brand health long-term and keeping customer advocates. The consulting firm Analytic Partners promised during a virtual-only workshop to help marketers defend their spending to the C-suite.

☆ A court just ruled that CFPB's funding is unconstitutional, and that could be 'catastrophic' for mortgage markets
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Stephanie Dhue | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Mortgage rules at riskIf the agency's legal authority is undermined, it could have a profound affect on home lending markets — an industry that's prone to disruption when laws are murky, especially as interest rates rise. That extended the potential damages to the Wall Street banks as well as mortgage investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Appeal likelyIf the Fifth Circuit decision is upheld, it could call into question those long-standing mortgage rules. "The loss of the CFPB mortgage regulations and the effect on the market would catastrophic," said Andreano. "Potential changes in how the CFPB are funded aren't likely to have an immediate effect on the mortgage market."

☆ UK economy: Rishi Sunak only has unpleasant choices as prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

There’s little appetite for government spending cuts after years of austerity in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. Plus, failing to help households deal with surging living costs could prove politically devastating and further weigh on the economy. Finance minister Jeremy Hunt got the ball rolling last week when he reversed £32 billion ($37 billion) in tax cuts that formed the bedrock of Truss’ plan to boost growth. Risk of a ‘doom loop’Investors and economists expect that the government will announce a mixture of tax increases and spending cuts shortly. No one wants to repeat the errors of the brief Truss era, when her gamble that unfunded tax cuts would jumpstart growth backfired spectacularly.

☆ The US never banned asbestos. These workers are paying the price.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Kathleen Mcgrory | Neil Bedi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +39 min

But protocols failed to match reality at the Niagara Falls plant, according to more than a dozen workers. In addition to those signature diseases, which are rare even among asbestos workers, the tiny strands can harm the body in other ways. In the 15 years that followed, congressional attempts to ban asbestos would continue to fall short. OSHA declined to make an official available for an on-the-record interview or comment on ProPublica's findings at the Niagara Falls plant. At the OxyChem plant in Wichita, union president Keith Peacock said he was comfortable with the way asbestos was handled.

☆ Investors file lawsuit against VW over climate-change related lobbying disclosures
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Six Volkswagen investors filed a case against the carmaker this week for refusing to discuss at its annual general meeting (AGM) whether its lobbying activities could threaten their investments, the investors said. This exposes the company, and their investments - representing around 0.1% of Volkswagen shares - to operational and reputational damage, they argued in a statement. "We share the view that aspects relevant to climate protection deserve even higher priority in reporting and are currently considering various approaches," the spokesperson added. "It is worrying that our shareholder right to contribute to the annual meeting agenda has been refused. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ TransUnion, Equifax, Experian may have violated credit reporting rules, Rep. Jim Clyburn says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A key Democrat wants credit reporting agencies Equifax , Experian and TransUnion investigated for allegedly failing to respond to consumer complaints during the pandemic. Clyburn asked the chief executive officers of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion in May for the companies' responses to consumer complaints in the early days of the pandemic. The subcommittee partly credited the pause on student loan payments and an increase in pandemic-related identity theft to credit reporting errors. The bureau also cited the credit reporting companies for accepting these findings without an independent investigation. "Errors in credit reports can reduce consumers' credit scores, potentially blocking access to loans, housing, and employment, among other serious consequences."

☆ Alaska cancels snow crab fishing for a year after the population mysteriously collapsed
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Alaska canceled the Bering Sea snow crab fishing season for the first time ever on Monday. The snow crab stock looked promising in recent years, sparking hope amid the steep decade-long decline of Alaskan king crab. Yereth Rosen/ReutersScientists need to conduct further research to determine what exactly caused this year's snow crab population crash. Snow crabs had a baby boom, then disappearedA fisherman holds a snow crab in Kjoellefjord, Norway, on November 1, 2017. "Management of Bering Sea snow crab must now focus on conservation and rebuilding given the condition of thestock.

☆ EXCLUSIVE Schlumberger faces employee backlash in Russia over cooperation on draft
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Liz Hampton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Human rights groups are watching how the company responds to the concerns. Schlumberger suspended new investments and technology deployment in Russia, but unlike some of its peers and customers, decided to remain. Schlumberger leaves decision-making on Russia employment policies to local managers, the U.S.-based spokesperson said. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre requested information from Schlumberger and other non-Russian companies with operations in the country on their handling of the mobilization. Schlumberger rivals Baker Hughes (BKR.O) and Halliburton (HAL.N) are selling or have sold their oilfield services units in Russia.

☆ Air fryers, blankets and warm clothes: Brits stock up ahead of tough winter
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesLONDON — U.K. retail sales rose in September, data published Tuesday showed — but the details highlighted the multitude of challenges facing the public heading into the winter months. And consumers eschewed big purchases like computers, TVs and furniture, instead boosting sales of items like blankets, warm clothing and energy-efficient household appliances, such as air fryers. watch nowDickinson said the retail sales data showed households were preparing themselves for the higher energy prices. A survey by consultancy GFK showed U.K. consumer confidence dropped to the lowest level since it began readings in 1974 for the fourth time in a row in September. Figures also published Tuesday showed U.K. unemployment fell to 3.5% in the period from June to August, and the number of unemployed people per job vacancy was at a record low of 0.9.

☆ What to Know About (Legally) Marketing Crypto Assets
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-06 | by ( Megan Graham | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CMO Today CMO Today delivers the most important news of the day for media and marketing professionals. The cryptocurrency boom has attracted many investors, including less experienced ones, raising questions about what is appropriate when marketing these types of assets. “Over time, especially in the crypto space, we’ve seen [people] try to call it different things to avoid the securities laws,” Mr. Gerold said. What is something else?” Mr. Gerold said. Mr. Gerold said it can depend on what the stars are saying in these ads.

☆ German inflation at highest level in over 25 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Full shelves with groceries are pictured in a supermarket during the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Berlin, Germany, March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschSummary EU-harmonized inflation at 10.9%Energy costs up 43.9% year-on-yearAnalyst: ECB must act quickly, vigorouslyBERLIN, Sept 29 (Reuters) - German inflation was at its highest in more than a quarter of a century in September, driven by high energy prices, data showed, as analysts warned that the energy crisis has yet to make itself fully felt. Consumer prices, harmonised to make them comparable with inflation data from other European Union countries (HICP), increased by 10.9% on the year, the federal statistics office said. That was the highest reading since comparable data going back to 1996. Dwindling gas supplies from Russia have pushed energy prices, and correspondingly inflation, to highs not seen in decades, with the massive loss in consumer purchasing power adding to the likelihood that a recession is on the way.

People wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) walk past the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2022. The so-called Kigali amendment calls for the phase-down of HFCs, gases used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) that are significantly more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming. Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development that has worked on phasing out HFCs, said the amendment can provide an example for other more contentious global climate negotiations. The world's leading producers of substitutes for HFCs are in Louisiana, New Jersey, Texas, and elsewhere in the United States. The world's fastest growing markets for refrigerators and air conditioners are overseas.

But that doesn’t mean that the freight railroads are providing good service to their customers. Many of the problems tangling up the supply chain, driving up prices and slowing the economy can be traced to the steady decline in freight rail service in recent years. “Railroads understand that service is not at the level customers expect or deserve. “”I’m told by a lot of our members that this has been the worst rail service year in their careers. For rail customers there is basically no alternative for the products they ship.

☆ FedEx warns of a global recession, cutting sales forecast by half a billion dollars
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —FedEx warned that a global recession could be coming, as demand for packages around the world tumbles. What’s more, FedEx said it expects business conditions to further weaken in the current second quarter, which runs through November. While global revenue this quarter is likely to be flat compared to a year earlier, FedEx’s earnings are expected to plunge more than 40%. Additionally, the Dow Transportation Index fell 5%, while shares of FedEx rival UPS (UPS) closed about 5% lower. While it gave the sharply lowered guidance for the current quarter, FedEx said it was withdrawing its full-year guidance issued in June due to the “continued volatile operating environment.

☆ California signed off a landmark new law that could pave the way for a $22 minimum wage for fast-food workers. Here's how the state's fast food council will work.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-06 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

California has passed legislation to create a Fast Food Council that could pave the way for a $22 minimum wage. The council would create minimum standards for areas like health and safety, wages, and conditions. "Fast food workers are the largest and fastest growing group of low-wage workers in the state and lack sector-specific protections," it continues. Californian counties and cities with more than 200,000 residents would also be able to establish a Local Fast Food Council. The council's purposes would be to "establish sectorwide minimum standards on wages, working hours, and other working conditions," including training and health and safety standards.

Mulți oameni cred că țigările electronice ar fi fost inventate de marile companii de tutun, însă nu este așa. În 2010, Hon Lik a fost nominalizat pentru premiul Kcancer Hero datorită invenției sale și a declarat că și-ar dori ca sistemele electronice de livrare a nicotinei să fie fabricate de marile grupuri farmaceutice internaționale. Astăzi, pe piață există mai multe produse alternative ale fumatului, precum țigările electronice și dispozitivele de încălzire a tutunului. O altă controversă ține de componența țigărilor electronice. Țigările electronice sunt probabil una dintre cele mai cercetate inovații ale timpului nostru”, declară doctorul Sharon Cox, cercetătoare în cadrul University College London.

Persons: Hon Lik, Lik, Liam Humberstone, Sharon Cox, Britanie, Martin Dockrell Organizations: Trade Association, University College London, Public Locations: University, Regatul Unit, England

☆ Sen. David Perdue is raising big campaign money with DC lobbyists. He also traded stock shares of several of the companies the lobbyists represent.
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-09 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The senator this year has bought or sold these companies' stock shares, according to an Insider analysis of federal records. The senator's stock trades have become a highly politicized issue, with Ossoff and Democratic allies spending millions of dollars on ads highlighting the controversy. Perdue sold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of these companies' stock shares during 2020, an Insider analysis of Senate stock trade disclosure records indicates. The Perdue campaign and the fundraiser coordinator, Alice Perry of The Elevated Group, did not return several requests for comment. The Ossoff campaign declined to comment.

With the term “personal taxes,” however, Mr. Garten appears to be conflating income taxes with other federal taxes Mr. Trump has paid — Social Security, Medicare and taxes for his household employees. Fragments of Mr. Trump’s tax returns have leaked out before. Mr. Agalarov’s father, Aras, a billionaire who boasts of close ties to Mr. Putin, was Mr. Trump’s partner in the event. Mr. Trump’s avoidance of income taxes is one of the most striking discoveries in his tax returns, especially given the vast wash of income itemized elsewhere in those filings. When they got to line 56, the one for income taxes due, the amount was the same each year: $750.

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