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☆ Xi and Putin are seeking to expand the alliance of BRICS nations to challenge the global dominance of the US and the dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

China's Xi Jinping is in South Africa this week for the BRICS summit. Addressing the BRICS summit by video link Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin took swipes at the West, and said the summit represented the "global majority." Together, they make up around 40% of the world's population, around $27.7 trillion of the global economy, and are seen to represent the so-called "Global South" of southern hemisphere nations. Taking on the dollarThere are also proposals on the table to create a BRICS currency to challenge the global dominance of the dollar. AdvertisementAdvertisementChina and Russia may have ambitious plans for the BRICS group, but realizing them still appears some distance away.

Persons: China's, Jinping, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Graeme Thompson, China Xi, Cyril Ramaphosa, PHILL MAGAKOE, Xi Jinping, Steve Tsang, Thompson, Xi, Wang Wentao, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Organizations: Service, Eurasia Group, South, Getty Images, US, SOAS China Institute, University of London, CNN, Russia, Anadolu Agency, Getty Locations: South Africa, China, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Johannesburg, Brazil, India, AFP, Western, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Ukraine, Beijing, Pacific, United States

A currency trader counts Pakistani Rupee notes as he prepares an exchange of U.S dollars in Islamabad, Pakistan December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Caren Firouz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKARACHI, Pakistan, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Pakistan's rupee closed at a record low of 299 rupees against the dollar in the interbank market on Tuesday following an easing in import restrictions that has lifted demand for the dollar, central bank data showed. Pakistan imposed import restrictions from 2022 to stem outflows from its shrinking foreign reserves. Traders said the rupee fell 0.6% to an intraday low of 299 against the dollar. "The declining trend is mainly attributable to the ease off in the import restrictions coupled with clearance of backlog for goods and services," he said.

Persons: Caren, Imran Khan, Tahir Abbas, Arif Habib, Ariba Shahid, Edwina Gibbs, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, Traders, Thomson Locations: Islamabad, Pakistan, Rights KARACHI, Karachi

The London Metal Exchange (LME) three-month copper price has been oscillating in a $7,800-8,870 per metric ton range since May as old and new price drivers compete. The gyration in net positioning is partly a reflection of copper's own choppy range-trading with many black box funds configured to react to changes in directional momentum. Money managers have lifted outright short positions on CME copper to 69,707 contracts, the largest collective bear bet on lower prices since early 2020. The net short position of 18,127 contracts is a sign the bears are in the ascendancy. The key takeaway from speculative positioning on both U.S. and London markets is that fund players are betting bigger on copper.

Persons: Ricardo Moreno, San Pedro de Barva, Juan Carlos Ulate, Long, Copper, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, London Metal Exchange, CME, Zhongrong International, Co, Fund, Thomson, Reuters Locations: San Pedro, Costa Rica, China, Beijing, London, United States, Europe

☆ Meet Charles Haywood, a far-right extremist who got rich off shampoo and wants to be a 'warlord' in post-collapse America
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Jake Swearingen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Society for American Civic Renewal was founded by a shampoo tycoon who wants to be a "warlord." Its founder Charles Haywood says he is fated to be a "warlord" leading an "armed patronage network." According to The Guardian, SACR was founded in 2020 by Charles Haywood, a former industrialist who made a fortune selling his shampoo company. According to tax filings reviewed by The Guardian, Haywood has funded SACR through his personal foundation. "I occasionally think I should have an organization waiting so I can raise my warlord flag someday," Haywood told Boyce with a smile.

Persons: Charles Haywood, Haywood, SACR, Laura Field, Benjamin Boyce's, Boyce Organizations: Society, American Civic, Service, Guardian, Capitol, Claremont Institute, U.S . Capitol, The Guardian Locations: Wall, Silicon

The International Labour Organization (ILO), of which Cambodia is a member, permits prison labour provided it is not forced. The companies, which Sopheak confirmed were W Dexing Garment (Cambodia), IGTM (Cambodia) and Chia Ho (Cambodia) Garment Industrial, did not respond to requests for comment. It said it learned in February that Cambodia was investigating and that the prison workshops had been suspended. Centric told Reuters in an email in June that it had "placed on hold" imports from a factory in Cambodia and would "immediately terminate" any supplier found to be using prison labour. CAMBODIA INVESTIGATESPrison labour at CC2 potentially puts Cambodia at odds with the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, which grants duty-free benefits to eligible developing nations.

Persons: Keo Chhea, Sopheak, Chia Ho, AAFA's, Ken Loo, Aun, Loo, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, amfori, Klot Dara, Stephen Lamar, Nate Herman, Clare Baldwin, Katherine Masters, Siddharth Cavale, John Shiffman, Kristina Cooke, David Crawshaw, Kay Johnson Organizations: Correctional, Google, REUTERS Acquire, Walmart, Centric Brands, Reuters, American Apparel and Footwear Association, International Labour Organization, ILO, Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, State, European Union, Japan, Garment, Human Rights, Textile, Apparel, Footwear, Travel Goods Association, IZOD, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, U.S, Travelway, Centric, Better Factories, BFC, amfori's Business, Authentic Brands, U.S . Trade, CC2, Cambodia's Ministry of Interior, General Department of Prisons, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, PHNOM PENH, U.S, Washington, AAFA, IGTM, Canada, Better Factories Cambodia, CC2, CAMBODIA, Cambodia's U.S, New York, Los Angeles

☆ BRICS summit: China's Xi visits South Africa in second trip abroad this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For Xi, the first in-person summit of the BRICS grouping since the pandemic presents another opportunity to advance that vision. The bloc’s members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – account for more than 40 percent of the global population. “Xi is going to be the center of the BRICS summit, given that Vladimir Putin is not attending in person,” he said. His last journey to the continent – also for the BRICS summit in South Africa – in 2018 includes a whirlwind of visits to Senegal, Rwanda and Mauritius, spanning almost every corner of Sub-Saharan Africa. Instead, the Chinese leader will co-chair the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, China’s Foreign Ministry said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, ” Vladimir Putin, strongmen, –, “ Xi Jinping, ”, Steve Tsang, Tsang, South Africa Chen Xiaodong, BRICS, ” Chen, Joe Biden, Camp Davis, China’s, Paul Nantulya, Xi, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Nantulya, CNN Yun Sun, ” Nantulya, Cyril Ramaphosa Organizations: CNN, South Africa, US, SOAS China Institute, University of London, Africa Center, Strategic Studies, ”, Stimson, Initiative, Institutes, South Africa –, ’ Locations: South, United States, Moscow, – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, Camp, Asia, South China, Beijing, Ukraine, Washington, Africa, Senegal, Rwanda, Mauritius, Saharan Africa

☆ What I learned about getting older: The scarlet letter ‘A’ is for aging
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Dr. Sanjay Gupta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

But I don’t think we’re all aware of the age beliefs. To do that, researchers like him are targeting the essential biology of aging – the underlying reasons why we get old. When those biological processes fail or break down, we get sick – and aging is the biggest risk factor for that deterioration. In the meantime, though, remember this: Aging is probably not nearly as bad as you might imagine. And as my mom told me, we should all truly embrace getting older, because it sure as heck beats the alternative.

Persons: ”, “, Diana Nyad, ‘, Diana, I’m, Don’t, she’s, Dan Buettner, Dan, –, Becca Levy, Levy, It’s, Ellsworth, Wareham, Nir Barzilai, Barzilai, ” Barzilai, ’ ”, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Andrea Kane Organizations: CNN, Yale, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Einstein Institute for Aging Research, FDA, CNN Health Locations: Cuba, Florida, United States, Japan, Ellsworth Wareham, Loma Linda , California

☆ The resilience of Russia's stock market and its economy is a complete mirage masking deeper pain, Yale researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The functioning of Russia's stock market is an illusion, two Yale researchers told Insider. That apparently stellar performance of the Russian stock market this year is ultimately an illusion meant to mask deepening pain in the country's economy. It's a move that was intended to prop up Russia's stock market, the researchers said. "The Russian stock market performance is very misleading, It is a Roach Motel of assets," Sonnenfeld told Insider. Other experts have warned of more pain for Russia's economy as its costly war in Ukraine drags on.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Steven Tian, Ukraine haven't, that's, Tian, Sonnenfeld, Putin Organizations: Yale, Investments, Service, Yale School of Management, Putin, Levada Locations: Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Baltic, Russian, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi gestures as he speaks during an interview with Reuters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) office in Islamabad, Pakistan June 25, 2020. REUTERS/Salahuddin/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsKARACHI, Pakistan, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Pakistani opposition leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi was detained on Saturday, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said, just hours after he said it would challenge any delay to the country's election in the courts. Party spokesman Zulfi Bukhari told Reuters the specific reason for the detention of Qureshi, twice Pakistan's foreign minister, was not immediately clear. The outgoing government approved a new census in its final days, meaning new electoral boundaries must be drawn up by the Election Commission. IMF BAILOUTThe election commission said on Thursday that new constituencies would be finalised by Dec. 14, state television reported.

Persons: Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Salahuddin, Zulfi Bukhari, Qureshi, Bukhari, Imran Khan, Khan, Haq Kakar, Ariba Shahid, Toby Chopra, Alison Williams Organizations: Pakistan's, Reuters, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, REUTERS, Rights, PTI, IMF, Supreme, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Islamabad, Pakistan, Rights KARACHI, Karachi

The list of the best Fitbit devices is headed up by two distinct flagship wearables: the Versa 4 and the Sense 2. Fitbit Versa 4 The Fitbit Versa 4 disappoints as a fourth-generation smartwatch as it lacks third-party app support, has issues with fitness tracking, and doesn’t allow for music storage. Fitbit Sense 2 vs. Fitbit Versa 4: Smartwatch performanceOne of the main nitpicks I have with these watches is their disappointing lack of smartwatch capability. Fitbit Sense 2 vs. Fitbit Versa 4: Health and fitness trackingFitness tracking features are available on both devices, but the Sense 2 seems to be more reliable. Fitbit Sense 2 vs. Fitbit Versa 4: Battery lifePerhaps the best feature native to both the Sense 2 and the Versa 4 is their battery life, which lasts roughly six days depending on how it's used.

Persons: Rick Stella, they're, There's, Grey, That's Organizations: iOS Battery, Alexa, Google, Apple Watch, Versa

Nomura analysts were equally downbeat on China's economic outlook. Most economists see downside risk to Chinese growth but they don't expect a recession. It was the slowest growth since December 2022, and shows just how much of a challenge authorities face as they try to make consumption the key driver of future economic growth. MORE STIMULUSAsian stocks stalled at one-month lows, the yuan hit a 9-month nadir while the dollar held broadly firm after the weak Chinese data and latest policy easing measures. But we do need to lower our expectations for China's growth."

Persons: Julian Evans, Pritchard, Nomura, Nie Wen, Robert Carnell, Liangping Gao, Albee Zhang, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Capital Economics, Retail, Hwabao Trust, Investment, Reuters, ING, NBS, Nomura, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Asia, Pacific

That's down from 13% of Nike's women's team products which sold out during the same tournament in 2019, the data shows. For that reason, marketers must bear in mind the risk that the growing fanbase could see their support for women's soccer as disingenuous. To recognize the impact grassroots teams have in creating excitement about women's soccer, Adobe's ad also featured London-based community women's soccer clubs Peaches FC and Baesianz FC, said Sabina Strasser, Senior Director, Brand Experience EMEA at Adobe. Sporting goods retailer Fanatics has more than 475 U.S. women's team products for sale this year, up from about 175 in 2019, the company told Reuters. As of Monday, the generic Adidas Women's World Cup soccer ball was among its top sellers in FIFA World Cup Gear.

Persons: Sam Kerr, Carl Recine, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Grace Geyoro, Martine Rose, Nike's, Jan Runau, Yvonne Henderson, Bob Dorfman, England's Lionesses, Mary Earps, Bjorn Gulden, Sabina Strasser, Amy Tennery, Sheila Dang, Kate Masters, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Soccer, Nike FC, REUTERS, Adidas, misstep, U.S, Nike, FIFA, Sporting Goods, Women's, Asisat, United States Women’s, Pricing, In, Pinnacle Advertising, Germany's Bayern Munich women's, Peaches FC, Baesianz FC, Brand, EMEA, Adobe, Sporting, Reuters, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, AUCKLAND, New Zealand, DICK's, U.S, French, Barcelona, England, Sweden, Spain, Tuesday's, Germany, London, Auckland, Dallas , Texas, New York

☆ A business owner ditching the office explains how he came to trust his employees to work remotely so he could save money on rent
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The remote work debate is still raging, as firms try to get their workers back into the office. But one business owner says trusting workers to create their own best work arrangement is the best option. "There's the whole saying about working from home, 'shirking from home,' or working remotely, 'remotely working,'" Bloom said. That's why Eitzen is making remote work permanent. Are you a boss or worker trying to figure out how to keep remote work functional?

Persons: Sam Eitzen, Eitzen, I'm, you've, There's, they'd, Simon Fraser, Lucy Gilson, Nicholas Bloom, haven't, Bloom, that's, Chris Bailey, who's, Bailey, he's, It's Organizations: Service, Employers, Deloitte, Pepperdine University , University of New, Simon, Simon Fraser University, University of Calgary, Paul College of Business, University of New, Stanford University, Workers, jkaplan Locations: Wall, Silicon, Seattle, Pepperdine University , University of New Hampshire, University of New Hampshire, Spain, Italy

☆ Ron DeSantis can reboot his campaign all he wants but he'll never escape his 'pudding fingers' reputation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Taylor Berman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

People yelling "pudding fingers!" But even with all of his campaign's recent high-profile mishaps, the pudding rumor remains fresh in the mind of DeSantis' critics. "Pudding fingers!" DeSantis said in an interview at the time that he doesn't remember eating pudding with his fingers, but he welcomes it as an insult. DeSantis' campaign didn't immediately respond to our request for comment about Friday's heckling.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Jake Lahut, DeSantis, He's, Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy nipping, Piers Morgan, didn't Organizations: Service, Twitter, GOP, Politico, Daily Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida, Nazi, Menlo , Iowa

☆ 13 Hollywood production companies making brand films that streamers like Netflix and Apple want to buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

said Marc Gilbar, who runs the brand division at Imagine Entertainment. Some are also looking to brand films to offset some of the revenue they're losing in the dual Hollywood strikes. (Brand films are often unscripted and thus aren't governed by the Hollywood unions.) They also see brand work being a positive for below-the-line workers who are idled by the work stoppage. Led by EVP Kate Oppenheim, Tribeca Studios' projects have included "We Could be King" (ESPN2) for Dick's Sporting Goods and P&G's Queen Collective series (BET).

Persons: Ben Silverman, Issa Rae's Hoorae, Kevin Hart's Hartbeat, Julian Jacobs, we've, Marc Gilbar, Samuel L, Jackson, Emma Stone, Zac Ryder, Olivia Wilde, Laurene Powell Jobs, Caitlin McGinty, It's, James Gay, Rees, Paul Martin, Kevin Hart's, Hart, Hartbeat, Brian Price, Chase Sapphire, Procter, Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Fairbourn, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Ron Howard's, Bryce Dallas Howard, Gilbar, Rocco DiSpirito, General Mills, Rupert Maconik's Saville, Werner Herzog, Barry Levinson, Sugar23, Oscar, Michael Sugar, Trevor Noah's, he's, Kennedy, Matt Rotondo helms, Sugar, Mike Beck, Alexa Conway, Trevor Noah, Kate Oppenheim, HBO Max, Paul McCartney, Mary McCartney Ventureland, Kerstin Emhoff, Paul Hunter, John Battsek, Stacy's Pita Chips, Will, Jada Pinkett, REI, Gargi Organizations: Hollywood, Brands, Mattel, Netflix, Apple, UTA, Imagine Entertainment, Producers, Adobe, IBM, Anonymous, HP, Afghan Girls National Soccer Team, Showtime, Pepsi Boardwalk Pictures, Relativity Media, Super, Pepsi, REI, Unilever, Marriott, Surf League, Major League Soccer, Sam's, Gamble, Weinstein Co, Hulu, Imagine, Paramount, Saville Productions, Disney, Time Studios, Procter & Gamble, Anheuser, Busch, InBev, CAA, Studios, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, Tribeca Studios, Dick's Sporting Goods, HBO, CNN, Mobile, Stacy's, Everest, Vice Studios, Westbrook Media, Meta, Logitech, Samsung Locations: Hollywood, Subway, Magnolia

Da Ponte denied a Bloomberg report that the payments processor paused development of its stablecoin in February. But da Ponte argues this troubled backdrop is exactly why PayPal is poised to succeed. Then there's the hypothetical digital dollar that would be the Fed's take on a central bank digital currency, or CBDC. "We have a large base of consumers; we have a large base of merchants," da Ponte said of PayPal's "two-sided network." Da Ponte sees PayPal's more than 20-year tenure in the payments space as one of the company's chief advantages in the stablecoin market.

Persons: Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal's, Da Ponte, Paxos, it's, Ponte, stablecoins, Nic Carter, Stablecoins, Carter, Andy Bromberg, Andreessen Horowitz, Bromberg, PYUSD, Jeremy Allaire, Allaire, Patrick McHenry, McHenry Organizations: PayPal, CNBC, Bloomberg, SEC, New, Regulators, Valley Bank, U.S ., U.S, Castle, Ventures, Companies, Eco, Coinbase Ventures, Paypal, Facebook, Financial Services, America Locations: U.S, New York, Bromberg, web3, United States, R, DexTools

☆ Inside Prague's Institute of Crypto Anarchy — where they're plotting to bring down the dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Today, that union of minds finds refuge in Prague in a retrofitted factory building called Paralelní Polis, or "parallel world." The dark stucco of Polis' Prague headquarters is an outlier among the ornate, brightly-colored buildings that tower over it. ETHPrague 2023 was held at Paralelní Polis in the Czech Republic Pavel SinaglThe 'parallel world' concept is sticky. The Vienna branch goes so far as to self-describe as a living example of how "the Paralelní Polis cryptoliberation virus is spreading." The most popular Czech bitcoin YouTuber boasts 90k subscribers, while the annual Czech-only bitcoin conference called Chaincamp attracts around 2000 visitors, even during the bear market."

Persons: Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl, Ztohoven —, Ztohoven, provocateurs, Václav Benda, Dan Ligocký, Ligocký, William Lobkowicz, ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum, Pavel Sinagl, Prague MacKenzie Sigalos, Holy, William, Ileana Lobkowicz, Josef Tětek, Tětek, isn't, biohacking, —, Carl Menger, Friedrich Hayek, BTCPrague, Michael Saylor, Satoshi cryptographer, Adam Back, Saifedean Ammous, bitcoin, Gary Gensler, bitcoin maximalist, Vaclav, — Matěj Žák, Jan Čapek, Christoph Kassas, YouTuber Jakub Vejmola, Jameson Lopp, Stephan Livera, Robert Breedlove, Stani Kulechov, Ondrej Polak, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl Ligocky Organizations: Paralelní, CNBC, European Union, Polis, of Cryptoanarchy, Austrian, Securities, Exchange, Czech Craft, U.S, Treasury, Casa, Ethereum Foundation, Czech Blockchain Association, optimist Locations: Paralelní Polis, Czech Republic, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl PRAGUE, Czech, Bohemian, Prague, It's, Polis, Polis —, Lobkowicz, Nazi, Vienna, Barcelona, Bratislava, Slovakia, Košice, Austrian, ., Alza, Bohemia, Europe, Old Town, Holešovice

☆ Why US sporting stars like Tom Brady, LeBron James, and JJ Watt are piling into English soccer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Joseph Wilkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Brady joins the likes of Jordan Spieth, JJ Watt, and LeBron James by buying into English football. Former NFL star Watt bought a minority stake in Burnley FC, in May. Now, legendary quarterback Brady has unveiled a minority stake in Birmingham City. The rise of across-the-pond partnerships raises a question: what is it about British clubs that has suddenly captured celebrities' imagination? The rewards for success in the English Premier League can be astronomical.

Persons: Tom Brady, Brady, Jordan Spieth, JJ Watt, LeBron James, Watt, Spieth, Michael B Jordan, Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney's, Simon Chadwick, Reynolds, Ralph Lauren –, Christina Philippou, we've, Philippou, it's, Chadwick, That's, We've, they're, there's Organizations: Service, NFL, Burnley FC, Leeds United, Liverpool FC, Fenway Sports Group, AFC Bournemouth, Disney, Birmingham, Knighthead Capital Management, Wrexham, L'Oreal, English Premier League, Sky, BT, Amazon Prime, Premier League, Manchester City, Portsmouth University, Wrexham AFC, Premier League –, European Locations: Birmingham City, Wall, Silicon, British, Wrexham, Birmingham, United States

☆ Movies to Sell Us on the American Dream - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Pamela Paul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If there’s anything more American than apple pie, it’s Coca-Cola, Levi’s and Harley-Davidson. No wonder so many of the latest movies tell the stories behind these beloved brands. The 1980s and ’90s, for one thing, which in these movies looks like a relative golden era. And in these movies, it was a time when the right nerd/ne’er-do-well/eccentric with the right combination of charm, chutzpah and ingenuity could make his or her dream come true. All you needed — or so we’d like to think — was the right story to sell.

Persons: Davidson, —, there’s “ Barbie Organizations: Mattel, Apple, Facebook Locations: Cheetos

☆ Here are the 9 smartest ways to invest in artificial intelligence right now, according to Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and UBS
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Here's how Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and UBS recommend investing in AI. Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and UBS are more optimistic about AI stocks after each expressed hesitations earlier this year as shares of companies tied to the technology exploded higher. In contrast, Morgan Stanley has dismissed concerns that AI stocks are in a bubble. "Inevitably, the market will compare AI to the dot-com boom," wrote Morgan Stanley analyst Shawn Kim in a July report. As for chipmakers, Morgan Stanley agreed with Bank of America that the path forward is bifurcated.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Marcelli, Art Cashin, Michael Hartnett, Shawn Kim, Mike Wilson, Morgan, Vivek Arya, Wilson Organizations: Wall, Bank of America, UBS, Americas, Nvidia, Marvell Technology, Broadcom, Cadence Design Systems, Bank of, Accenture, Microsoft, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Consumer Locations: California, Snowflake, OpenAI

☆ Banks kicked off the last two weeks of July with higher rates on CDs. Where to find solid yields
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Good news for income-centric investors: Higher yields in the certificate of deposit market will continue through the remainder of 2023. Banks hiked rates on CDs through the last two weeks of July, with the average one-to-12-month rate rising by 11 basis points to 4.6%, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck. See below for some of the institutions in Morgan Stanley's coverage that are also offering attractive rates. Graseck noted that over the past two weeks, rates on CDs in the 13-to-36-month range have fallen by 4 basis points. "We also expect banks to continue shortening the duration of their highest CD offers to position for a potential Fed rate cut in 1H24," she wrote.

Persons: Banks, Morgan Stanley, Betsy Graseck, AXP, Graseck, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: DFS, Morgan Locations: 1H24

☆ Jefferies downgrades Ford, cites concern around weak Model E guidance
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jefferies is stepping back on Ford just two months after turning bullish on the legacy automaker. The firm downgraded Ford to hold from buy on Monday, lowering its price target to $15 per share from $17. Analyst Philippe Houchois says the company's recent move to lower guidance for its Model E electric vehicle is a concerning development. The analyst had upgraded Ford to buy late May. Ford's losses in its EV segment widened to $4.5 billion in the second quarter from $3 billion just a year earlier, while Chief Executive John Lawler told investors that EV vehicle adoption is taking longer than expected.

Persons: Jefferies, Philippe Houchois, Houchois, John Lawler, Michael Bloom Organizations: Ford, EV

Pakistan paid for its first Russian crude cargo in Chinese yuan. "How will it pay other lenders and how will it finance trade with China if it uses the low yuan reserves to pay for Russian oil?" However, Urals quality is a deterrent, as Pakistan's refineries cannot get as much gasoline and diesel out of Urals crude as they produce from Saudi and UAE crudes. Kpler's Katona expects Pakistan's liquidity issues and technical challenges to weigh on its appetite for Russian crude. "Russian imports into Pakistan will not grow into anything bigger than one cargo per month," he said.

Persons: Shahbaz Ashraf, Aadil Nakhoda, Nakhoda, Viktor Katona, Zahid Mir, Mir, PRL, Kpler's Katona, Ariba Shahid, Charlotte Greenfield, Florence Tan, Sonali Paul Organizations: Pakistan, United, FRIM Ventures, Karachi's Institute of Business Administration, Saudi, Pakistan Refinery Ltd, Reuters, Thomson Locations: KARACHI, Pakistan, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Islamabad, Moscow, China, PORT, Oman, Saudi Arab, Saudi, UAE, Karachi, Sudarshan, Singapore

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery is making a big shake-up to its ad sales org. Read how its sales chief explained the changes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Discovery is shaking up its ad sales organization. It's also expected to make further staff reductions in ad sales as part of the restructure. Discovery is shaking up its ad sales organization and structure. EVP Jim Keller, who was key to bringing a digital approach to the merged company's newly combined sales team, left, along with Scott Kohn, EVP of national ad sales, and John Dailey, SVP of ad sales. Based on the learnings and successes we've experienced in the past year, this morning we are announcing a new sales structure and strategy.

Persons: It's, Marybeth Strobel, Greg Regis, Regis, Strobel, Ryan Gould, Jon Diament, Sheereen Russell, WBD, Jon Steinlauf, Jim Keller, Scott Kohn, John Dailey, David Zaslav, we've, AE's, Lucia Moses, lmoses Organizations: Warner Bros, WBD, Max, CNN, NBA, NCAA, MLB, NHL

☆ Buy stocks like Amazon, which are undervalued and underappreciated ahead of earnings, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Investors combing for value ahead of another big week of earnings should look no further, according to analysts. CNBC Pro looked through top Wall Street research to find stocks that are underappreciated as earnings season continues. Meanwhile chatter around the stock remains mostly balanced and positive, according to UBS. "We model an ~8% 5-yr. EPS CAGR and rate the stock buy as we believe this growth potential remains underappreciated," Serna said. ... We model an ~8% 5-yr. EPS CAGR and rate the stock buy as we believe this growth potential remains underappreciated."

Persons: Mauricio Serna, Lee, Wrangler, Serna, Jason Kupferberg, it's, Kupferberg, Matt Niknam, DigitalBridge, Niknam, Baird, Jassy, DBRG, Morgan Stanley Organizations: CNBC Pro, Kontoor Brands, International, Kontoor Brands UBS, UBS, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, TAM

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