DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Luxury group LVMH's sales defy downturn as shoppers splurge
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Marco BelloPARIS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Luxury goods group LVMH's (LVMH.PA) sales rose 9% in the fourth quarter as shoppers in Europe and the United States splurged over the crucial holiday season, helping partly to offset COVID disruptions in China. Sales at the world's biggest luxury group reached 22.7 billion euros ($24.65 billion) in the final three months of the year, with the 9% increase on an organic basis a touch above analyst expectations for 7% growth, based on a consensus cited by UBS. LVMH has gained market share every year since 2019, its boss Bernard Arnault, the world's richest man, said. The group proposed a dividend of 12 euros per share, up from 10 euros a year ago. LVMH's shares have hit new highs this month, giving the luxury goods group a market capitalisation of 400 billion euros for the first time and cementing its lead as Europe's most valuable company.

TOKYO/PARIS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - French car maker Renault (RENA.PA) and its Japanese partner Nissan Motor (7201.T) aim to formally unveil a deal to reshape their alliance in London on Feb. 6, two sources close to the matter told Reuters on Thursday. Renault has consistently declined to comment publicly about the talks with its Japanese partner, while a spokesperson for Nissan declined to comment on Thursday. French newspaper Le Figaro reported late on Wednesday that the companies would announce 4 to 5 joint projects to relaunch the alliance. The future shape of the Franco-Japanese alliance has implications for both companies as well as their junior partner, Mitsubishi Motors Corp (7211.T). Renault, for instance, has said it will partner with companies from China's Geely Automobile Holdings (0175.HK) to semiconductor giant Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O).

☆ From boom to bottom and now big change: Renault and Nissan look to reshape alliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

It gave Nissan a 15% stake in Renault, on a par with the French state, but no voting rights. The alliance was thrown into turmoil following Ghosn's arrest on financial misconduct charges in late 2018 and his subsequent ouster as alliance chairman. 2002 Nissan announces its "Nissan 180" three-year plan, targeting an increase of 1 million vehicles in global sales by 2005. 2017 Both Nissan and Renault post record operating profits, though Nissan still falls short on some targets. Alliance Chairman Senard rules out any merger of the carmaking partners, saying they don't need to combine to be efficient.

☆ BofA Promoted 93 New MDs in Global Markets — Here Are the Names
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Alex Morrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Bank of America announced 93 new managing directors in Global Markets on Thursday. The division in 2022 saw sales and trading revenues climb to its highest mark since 2010.Insider has all the names of the newly promoted MDs. On Thursday the bank announced a new class of 360 managing directors, including 93 from the firm's Global Markets division — up from 86 last year. The bank's Global Corporate and Investment Bank promoted 87 new MDs. BofA made $16.5 billion in 2022 from sales and trading — including a fourth-quarter record of $3.7 billion — the highest tally for the firm since 2010.

☆ Nissan and Renault close in on overhaul of alliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO/PARIS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Nissan and Renault are closing in on a sweeping overhaul of their globe-spanning automaking alliance as top executives meet on Thursday for talks to reset the two-decade-old partnership and chart a course for an uncertain electric future. Leaders of Nissan Motor Co Ltd (7201.T) and Renault SA (RENA.PA) are meeting via video link for an alliance board meeting, sources previously told Reuters. The future shape of the Franco-Japanese alliance has implications for both companies as well as their junior partner, Mitsubishi Motors Corp (7211.T). Renault, for instance, has said it will partner with companies from China's Geely Automobile Holdings (0175.HK) to semiconductor giant Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O). Nissan has been concerned that the technology it has developed while partnered with Renault could leak to the French automaker's partners as it restructures, Reuters has reported.

☆ Swatch positive on recovery in luxury demand from China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( John Revill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies Says January sales have exceeded January 2022Company now expects record sales for 2023Stock hits highest level since July 2021ZURICH, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Swatch Group (UHR.S) shares hit their highest level in nearly two-and-a-half years on Tuesday after the world's biggest watchmaker said it expected a recovery in luxury demand from China. The sales growth in January in China reinforces the Group's expectation to aim for a record year in 2023." The outlook sent Swatch's shares to their highest level since July 2021, and was the latest positive signal for the luxury sector at the start of the Chinese Year of the Rabbit. "To reach the record sales number of 2014 Swatch Group would need to have growth of 16% in 2023," said Patrik Schwendimann of Zuercher Kantonalbank. Europe's luxury sector($1 = 0.9192 Swiss francs)Reporting by John Revill; editing by Kirsten Donovan and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wall Street is excited about Chinese tech — and loves one mega-cap stock in particular
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A growing number of positive analyst calls has reinforced optimism in the sector, with recent share price gains reflecting renewed interest. How is Wall Street playing the resurgence in Chinese tech? Morgan Stanley too, has named Alibaba its "top pick" in the Chinese tech sector — for the first time in three years. Cohen is reported to have told Alibaba executives that he thought the company could reach double-digit sales growth and nearly 20% free cashflow growth over the coming five years. He said he would "not be surprised" to see Alibaba's share price rise to $140 to $150 — a "significant amount of upside" from current levels.

☆ This 'floating city' concept could house up to 50,000 people and be powered by 100% renewable energy. Take a look inside at its vertical gardens, hospitals, and more than 25 acres of interconnected so
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Robert Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Italian firm Luca Curci Architects and Canadian designer Tim Fu have come up with a 'floating city' concept that they say could be the answer to climate change. The living spaces in the 'floating city' are all connected by walkways, airways, and waterways. Courtesy of Luca Curci Architects + Tim Fu Design

☆ Italy's Juventus docked 15 points for transfer deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Giulio Piovaccari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With 20 games left to play this season, Juve were third in Serie A with 37 points, 10 behind leaders Napoli. In a late night statement, the court also imposed bans from holding office in Italian soccer on 11 past and present Juventus directors. Juventus said it would appeal to the country's Sport Guarantee Board once the reasons for the ruling were published. CASE REOPENEDThe ruling reversed a previous decision in April to clear Juventus, 10 other clubs and their executives of wrongdoing. Public prosecutors in Turin have requested Andrea Agnelli, 11 other people and the club itself to stand trial over allegations of false accounting.

☆ Juventus handed 15-point deduction for transfer deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

With 20 games left to play in this season, Juve were third in Serie A, 10 points adrift of leaders Napoli. The points deduction would push them down into mid-table, outside the spots for European competition. The ruling is tougher than a nine-point deduction a soccer prosecutor had requested earlier on Friday during a hearing looking at the way Juventus, Italy's most successful club, and a number of other teams dealt with player exchange deals. The soccer court also ruled that former Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli be banned from holding office in Italian soccer for 24 months. It also decided on a 30-month ban for Juve's former sports director, Fabio Paratici, now managing director of football at England's Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

☆ Nissan-Renault deal on alliance could come as early as Feb. 1 - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A deal between French carmaker Renault (RENA.PA) and Japanese partner Nissan (7201.T) could be announced as early as Feb. 1 as months of negotiations on how to reshape their alliance progress, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The deal would see Renault cut its stake in Nissan to 15%, equalising the carmakers' holdings in each other, sources previously told Reuters. Renault has consistently declined to comment publicly about the timing of a possible deal announcement. The potential deal will be examined again by an alliance board meeting on Jan. 26 in Japan, which could be attended by de Meo and Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, the source said. The timetable could change, but both companies would prefer to make a formal announcement before the release of their annual results, scheduled for Feb. 9 for Nissan and Feb. 16 for Renault, the source said.

☆ Italy’s Friuli region is one of Europe’s best kept secrets
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Silvia Marchetti | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

With 13 natural reserves and the pristine park of the Friuli Dolomite Mountains, the region lures tourists seeking to connect with nature or explore the outdoors. There’s also the spellbinding Grotta Gigante, or Giant Cave, one of the world’s largest tourist caverns. Golden beachesThe Grotta Gigante is one of the world's largest tourist caverns. Trieste boasts an unusual segregated beach, with origins dating back several centuries. “Residents are very fond and proud of this place,” says Trieste local Maria Bonacci.

☆ Luxury eyes focused on China after Richemont's Q3 sales miss
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( John Revill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies Q3 sales rise by 8% but miss market forecastsMainland China sales drop 24%Company says customer demand in China now picking upAll eyes on China for luxury sector, say analystsZURICH, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Cartier jewellery maker Richemont (CFR.S) missed market forecasts during its latest quarter as the resurgence of COVID-19 in China hit sales there, highlighting the country's importance for the luxury sector. Richemont, whose other brands include Swiss watchmakers IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre, has been seeing strong sales growth in Europe, the Middle East and Japan, particularly for jewellery. But the mainland Chinese market - which accounts for about a fifth of the group's sales, according to Zuercher Kantonalbank estimates - struggled with sales down 24% in constant currency terms. The prospect of a pickup in Chinese sales meant analysts were not too worried by Richemont's quarterly miss. "The catch-up from Chinese consumers will come as strong as sales decelerated in 3Q, as they were able to save money during the lockdowns."

LONDON/ZURICH, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Luxury retailers Richemont (CFR.S) and Burberry (BRBY.L) said they were optimistic that consumers in China would start spending again, helping offset three years of upheaval from the government's strict COVID-19 lockdowns and soaring infections. Richemont (CFR.S), whose brands include Cartier jewellery and Swiss watches IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre, also said it expected a strong rebound in China. The European luxury sector is among the largest expected winners as China loosens COVID-19 restrictions that kept shoppers out of stores for months. Richemont missed market estimates after sales in China plunged by a quarter, as customer traffic dwindled and staff were not available, leading to a reduction of boutique hours, or temporary closures of sales points, the company said. Mainland China is currently 25% of Burberry sales, down from about 40% pre-pandemic.

☆ Apple announces new Macs with its most powerful chips yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Todd Haselton | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Apple announced new Macs on Tuesday that can be purchased with either M2 Pro or M2 Max chips, the most powerful Apple processors yet. The company unveiled refreshes to its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops, both of which can now be configured with the latest processors. Apple also announced an update to its Mac mini computer with support for the M2 Pro or M2 Max. In January 2022, it reported December quarter Mac revenue of $10.85 billion, up 25% year-over-year. The Mac mini starts at $599, $100 less than the prior version, while the new 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999.

☆ Nissan directors endorse steps to reach deal with Renault-sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Maki Shiraki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Nissan board-level review also marked progress after three months of working-level negotiations aimed at restructuring a partnership that dates back to 1999, when Renault bailed out Nissan. The Nissan outside directors, meeting in committee, endorsed steps to try to reach an agreement between the two sides, they said. The two companies are discussing reducing Renault's stake in Nissan from the current 43% to 15%, equal to Nissan’s stake in Renault. The 28% stake in Nissan that Renault would sell would be transferred to a trust, people involved have said. At the same time, Nissan is considering investing in a new electric vehicle company that Renault aims to establish code-named Ampere.

☆ Apple announces new Mac mini, MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Todd Haselton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Apple also announced an update to its Mac mini computer with support for the M2 or M2 Pro chips. Apple no longer sells an Intel version of the Mac mini, which means the Mac Pro is the last computer that can be configured with an Intel processor. Apple on Tuesday announced new Macs that can be purchased with either M2 Pro or M2 Max chips , the most powerful Apple processors for MacBooks and the Mac mini to date. The Mac mini starts at $599 with an M2 chip, $100 less than the prior version, or $1,299 with the M2 Pro. The new 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999.

Discovery CEO David Zaslav has assembled a Discovery-heavy leadership team to transform the company. Here are the 20 corporate, creative, and business execs charged with helping him pull it off. Discovery merger, CEO David Zaslav faces massive challenges as he tries to pump out cash to pay down debt while slashing billions in costs. Many of the corporate and business leaders Zaslav has assembled are Discovery execs he's worked with closely for years and who were given bigger roles after the merger. These 20 execs, listed alphabetically, are the power players Zaslav has put in place to help him get there.

☆ A busier movie calendar will lead to a 15% jump in box office sales, JPMorgan predicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Slow and steady will win the race at the box office this year, according to JPMorgan analyst David Karnovsky. The first is tied to the depressed state of the box office last year . However, if additional movies are released, here's where there could be upside to his box office forecast. DIS 3M mountain Disney shares have gotten a boost from a proxy battle, but box office gains could be ahead. Paramount's "Top Gun: Maverick" topped the box office charts last year, while NBC Universal had new films in the Jurassic Park and Minions franchises.

☆ Let the consolidation begin: With venture markets frozen and profitability tenuous, proptechs turn to one another
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The co-living operators Common and Habyt merged; Pagaya brought the property manager Darwin Homes. The proptech companies that sprang up by the dozens in the past few years are now looking to one another for help. A massive consolidation among companies that seek to make real-estate transactions and services more efficient and profitable is underway. Cushman & Wakefield reported 90% occupancy rates for co-living companies at the end of the third quarter of 2022, and traditional real-estate firms like Cushman and Greystar are now offering their own co-living brands. In property management, the consolidation phase is already well underway, said Paul Stanton, the other founding partner at Proptech Bankers.

Renault and Nissan declined to comment. The two sides have been in intensive negotiations since October when Renault CEO Luca De Meo went to Japan to meet Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida. Renault is looking for Nissan to invest in an electric-vehicle business it will carve out of its operations, while Nissan wants Renault to sell most its roughly 43% stake in Nissan to put the 23-year alliance on a more equal footing, Reuters has previously reported. The details of Renault's proposed protections for Nissan technology were not immediately known. Nissan holds 15% of Renault and does not hold voting rights.

PARIS/MILAN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Gucci kicked off Milan fashion week on Friday with a lineup of slouchy, androgynous menswear styles, forging ahead with its latest collection while the industry waits for owner Kering (PRTP.PA) to name a new designer for the label. The question of who will steer Gucci's creative direction loomed over the megabrand's first men's show in the Italian fashion capital in three years. Events run through Jan. 17, drawing an audience that includes major retail buyers sizing up which styles might be future top sellers. Gucci held back on marketing investments during the pandemic, while larger rival LVMH's two biggest labels Louis Vuitton and Dior pushed ahead, a move that analysts say helped them gain ground on rivals. Despite the current turbulence at Kering, however, expectations are high given the group's strong track record nurturing brands, analysts say.

☆ Merger in Shared-Apartment Business Creates Industry Leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Konrad Putzier | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Common manages more than 4,000 apartments in the U.S. New York-based Common manages more than 4,000 apartments in the U.S., while Berlin-based Habyt operates around 7,000 apartments in Europe and Asia. The combined company will be based in the German capital under the name Habyt Group. Habyt co-founder Luca Bovone will serve as chief executive, the companies said. Financial terms of the merger weren’t disclosed.

☆ Renault considers making mass-market EVs in India, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It also points to the shifting perception of the auto market in India, which posted the fastest growth of any major market in 2022. Renault is studying launching a made-in-India electric version of its Kwid hatchback, the people told Reuters. Renault India declined to comment on product plans but said the company has a "strong focus on electrification globally" as part of the strategy outlined by CEO Luca de Meo and that "India is one of the key markets" for the group. India is set to become the world's third-largest market for passenger and other light vehicles, displacing Japan, according to a forecast by S&P Global Mobility. Industry-wide sales grew an estimated 23% to 4.4 million vehicles in 2022.

[1/2] The rear light of a Dacia Spring electric car is pictured during the Brand Manifesto Dacia event at Le Bourget near Paris, France, September 13, 2022. It also points to the shifting perception of the auto market in India, which posted the fastest growth of any major market in 2022. Renault is studying launching a made-in-India electric version of its Kwid hatchback, the people told Reuters. To qualify for incentives in India, Renault would have to build the car at its alliance plant in southern India and source components locally, the first person said. As a part of the India reboot, Renault also plans to invest in refurbishing and upgrading some of its major dealerships in big cities, the person said.

Search resuls for: "Lucà"

25 mentions found