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☆ U.S.-led Iraq war ushered in years of chaos and conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] A general view of Tahrir square as demonstrators take part during the ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad, Iraq November 5, 2019. Here is a look at some of the violence, including suicide bombings and beheadings, that has plagued Iraq, a major OPEC oil producer and key U.S. ally, since the 2003 war. * March 20, 2003 - U.S.-led forces invade Iraq from Kuwait to oust Saddam Hussein. * October 2004 - Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi starts waging bloody attacks designed to turn majority Shi’ite Muslims against minority Sunnis in a civil war. * January 2007 - Bush announces a new war strategy including a “surge” of U.S. troops into Iraq to combat the insurgency.

☆ TikTok is by far the best platform for brand engagement, new data shows. Here were 3 other key takeaways from the 136-page report.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Nhari Djan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A new report from analytics firm Rival IQ breaks down social-media engagement in 2022 by industry. Here are three key takeaways for brands across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Brands are getting higher engagement on TikTok than on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, according to a new report by social-media analytics company Rival IQ. The brands studied had at least 5,000 followers apiece on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and 25,000 to 1 million followers on Facebook. Sports teams scored the second-highest engagement on Instagram and TikTok, while also having the highest engagement rates across Twitter and Facebook.

☆ CNBC Daily Open: The Nasdaq popped last week. But tech might be in trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Nasdaq outpaced other indexes last week. This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. That makes two straight months that the Nasdaq has outpaced the other indexes. Subscribe here to get this report sent directly to your inbox each morning before markets open.

☆ CNBC Daily Open: The Nasdaq soared last week. But tech might be in trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Nasdaq Composite outpaced other indexes last week. This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. That makes two straight months that the Nasdaq has outpaced the other indexes. Subscribe here to get this report sent directly to your inbox each morning before markets open.

☆ Bank of America reveals the winning market share gainers with more room to run
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Analysts at Bank of America named a slew of companies this week that they believe are winning market share in this tough economic environment and so the stocks have more room to run. They include: Analog Devices , TJX Companies, Zeta Global , Costco and Union Pacific. TJX Companies The discount retailer has room to grow, especially as shoppers look to save money by trading down, according to analyst Lorraine Hutchinson. We value ADI at the higher end of peer comps due to ADI's growth potential and free cash flow generation." as we view TJX as a market share gainer that is well positioned to benefit from trade-down and the high level of inventory availability.

The effort comes as the United States seeks to sustain its liquefied natural gas, or LNG, exports to Europe to displace Russian fuel, while also promoting efforts to fight global warming. A credible market for certified natural gas could help it tackle both goals at once. Crabtree said he hosted a workshop in October with gas industry representatives, including a new industry group called the Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council (DGCC), to discuss standards for certified gas. While gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, its main component is the powerful greenhouse gas methane, which can leak into the atmosphere from drilling, processing, shipping and distribution. Palti-Guzman said certified gas could also be key to securing a longterm role for U.S. LNG in Europe where carbon prices last month hit a record 100 euros per tonne.

☆ Bank of America loves this under-the-radar streaming stock out of China, sees 30% gain
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

There's plenty of upside for one streaming stock out of China, according to Bank of America. "IQ's strategy to focus on in-house content with higher quality control and lower production costs continues to benefit its subscription growth and ROI. IQ 1D mountain 1-day chart iQIYI shares are up more than 30% in 2023, following a 16% gain last year. What's more, the firm is expected to ramp up the level of in-house production. IQ is able to produce hit dramas across different genres and deliver increasing number of hit in-house content over the past several years," the note continued.

☆ Billionaire investor Bill Gross slams the hype around Cathie Wood, with Ark's flagship fund lagging top tech stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Billionaire 'Bond King' Bill Gross slammed the hype around Ark's top stock-picker Cathie Wood Monday. He pointed out her flagship ETF has lagged funds tracking top tech stocks over the past five years. Wood is known for her big bets on disruptive tech, including AI and blockchain stocks. "CNBC/media idolatry with Cathie Wood is absurd," the PIMCO founder said on Twitter Monday. Read more: 'Big Short' investor Michael Burry points to the steep drop in ARKK stock - and says Cathie Wood's flagship fund was always bound to collapse in value

☆ 2 former Barclays bankers just netted a 700% profit selling Bored Ape NFTs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mike Anderson and Ovie Faruq offloaded their collection of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs this week. The 72 NFTs sold for $9.25 million, according to OpenSea data cited by Bloomberg. The former Barclays junk bond traders reportedly netted a 700% profit for the deal. The two traders' 700% profit still pales in comparison to what they could have made at the height of the crypto boom, according to Bloomberg. The publication estimated that Anderson and Faruq's Bored Ape collection was worth $30 million at the start of May 2022 – which would have netted them profits of just under 3,000%.

☆ PE firm Bridgepoint takes a majority stake in Equativ, valuing the adtech firm at around $370 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Bridgepoint Development Capital has taken a majority stake in the adtech firm Equativ. It values Equativ at 350 million euros, or $371 million, according to a person familiar with the matter. Private equity firm Bridgepoint has taken a majority stake in Equativ, the French adtech company formerly known as Smart Adserver, the pair said on Thursday. A person familiar with the matter said the deal values Equativ at 350 million euros, or around $371 million. Bridgepoint raised 1.7 billion euros for its BDC IV fund, while Croissance had raised 100 million euros.

☆ Iraq to allow trade with China in yuan - state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Iraq's central bank said on Wednesday it planned to allow trade from China to be settled directly in yuan for the first time, in an attempt to improve access to foreign currency. The central bank could, as part of its plan, boost the balances of Iraqi banks that have accounts with Chinese banks in yuan, it said in a statement. Another option would be to boost local banks' balances via the central bank's accounts with JP Morgan and Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), it added. The first option would depend on the central bank's yuan reserves, while the other would use the bank's U.S. dollar reserves at JP Morgan and DBS. The two banks would convert the dollars to yuan and pay the final beneficiary in China, Salih explained.

☆ The 'profitless Nasdaq junk' stocks leading the recent rally pose the biggest risk to investors, says Josh Brown
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tech stocks are outperforming in the new year, but some of the names leading the market right now pose some of the biggest risks for investors, according to Ritholtz Wealth Management CEO Josh Brown. The comments from Brown come amid Tuesday's sharp market selloff, with the Nasdaq Composite last trading down about 2.3% on the day as concerns mounted that a Federal Reserve pivot may not come as soon as expected. The dropdown in technology stocks during Tuesday trading, Brown added, is likely an example of "machines chasing machines." "What's going on is profits are being taken because volatility has come back," Brown said. Many investors bought a slew of tech stocks believing that they looked cheap after the recent pullback in shares.

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb 16 (Reuters) - The notion that higher interest rates would slam stocks has been turned on its head by Wall Street's resilience to the most dramatic upward repricing of the U.S. rate outlook in decades. More remarkable still, it is the areas most sensitive to higher borrowing costs - tech, the Nasdaq and growth stocks - that are outperforming in the face of soaring bond yields, implied rates and Fed expectations. These sectors are more sensitive to rising yields because future cash flows and profits are discounted at higher rates. "Higher interest rates are less bad for stock prices, even though rates can continue to weigh on multiples." In a higher rate regime, profitability matters.

Before Sudani formed his government he struck a deal with the KDP, which dominates the administration in Erbil, capital of the semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq. Under the Iraqi constitution, the Kurdish region is entitled to a portion of the national budget. A spokesman for the KRG, Jotiar Adil, said the "politically motivated" court was trying to spoil the deal between Erbil and Baghdad. A source with knowledge of the meetings said Erbil and Baghdad remained far apart on the hydrocarbon law. Additional reporting by Ali sultan in Sulaimaniya; Editing by Michael Georgy and Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Here is the 14-page pitch deck a fintech helping SMBs get approved for loans via alt data used to raise $1.8 million from ATX Venture Partners, Rex Salisbury, and others
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Here is the deck Uplinq used to raise a $1.8 pre-seed extension round. One financial-technology startup trying to bring alternative data to small-business lending is catching the attention and dollars of some of the most notable fintech investors in the space. The latest round brings Uplinq's total funding to $5.6 million, with the startup raising its initial $3.5 million pre-seed round in April 2022. And is the credit score really an accurate reflection of their true credit worthiness?" Here's the 14-page pitch deck Uplinq used to raise $1.8 million.

☆ Exclusive: Alphabet spinoff Sandbox AQ raises $500 mln for cyber security, other quantum work
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Jane Lanhee Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb 14 (Reuters) - Sandbox AQ, a startup spun off from Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) last year, said on Tuesday it raised $500 million as it helps customers prepare for a quantum computing future. Quantum computers, whose processors run based on quantum physics, could one day carry out certain calculations millions of times quicker than today's fastest super computers, yet they remain years away from making a big change, such as breaking encryption. The simulation does not currently need quantum computers to work, said Hidary. When quantum computers are ready, that work would speed up even further. Sandbox AQ is also using existing types of sensors based on quantum physics.

☆ For fans Super Bowl no longer a game, it's an 'experience'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

PHOENIX, Feb 11 (Reuters) - In just a half-century of evolution the Super Bowl has gone from sports event, to America's biggest party, to a week long and very expensive immersive "experience". Next year it will almost certainly make another leap when "immersive experience" and "party" morph into one big Super Bowl supernova in Las Vegas, as Sin City hosts the game for the first time. "If you go back 10 years ago Super Bowl was only about the game and now it is much, much more," said Wilder. For John Wegman, a businessman from Rochester and a Buffalo Bills season ticket holder, seeing a Super Bowl was on his bucket list. "Super Bowl with my father, my mother, my brother was a bucket list thing and we are doing it in style."

☆ Key inflation data in the week ahead will offer clues to future Fed rate moves and the market's path
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Looking forward The January consumer price index (CPI) , which calculates the average change over time in prices that shoppers pay for goods and services, is slated for Tuesday. Economists and investors will use the number to gauge the odds of a soft landing or hard landing for the economy. The producer price index (PPI) for January, which calculates the change in selling prices received by producers of goods and services, is out on Thursday. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

Brent crude settled up $1.40, or 1.7%, to $85.09 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up $1.33, or 1.7%, to $78.47. Investors hope less aggressive U.S. interest rate increases will help the world's biggest economy dodge a sharp economic slowdown or recession that would hit oil demand. "A looming oil demand surge together with lacklustre global supply growth will ensure that the oil balance tightens over the coming months," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday stopped crude oil flows from Iraq and Azerbaijan out of the Turkish port of Ceyhan. U.S. Energy Information Administration data showing U.S. oil production rose last week to the highest level since April 2020, however, limited oil's gains.

☆ Azeri BTC crude loadings suspended at a major oil export hub in Turkey after earthquakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Crude oil loadings from Turkey's Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan terminal in the Mediterranean have been suspended following a twin set of earthquakes that devastated Turkey and Syria on Monday, leaving over 9,000 dead. The BTC terminal loads Azeri BTC Blend crude, which is transported to the Ceyhan port through the BTC pipeline. A force majeure notice seen by CNBC — which removes contractual liability from exporters or producers for circumstances outside of their control — was issued on Tuesday evening. The BTC pipeline was not impacted by the earthquakes, the Botas International Company that operates its Turkish section said on Monday. The BTC crude oil loadings schedule that is typically published on the 8th of every month will be delayed, two trade sources said.

Brent crude futures were up $2.70, or 3.3%, to $83.69 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose $3.03, or 4.1%, to $77.14 per barrel. The U.S. dollar index fell after the data, raising oil prices. The BTC terminal, which exports Azeri crude oil to international markets, will be closed through Wednesday. Iraqi crude oil loadings from storage in Ceyhan were ready for resumption on Tuesday, but bad weather was preventing vessels from berthing, a trade source said. Iraq's crude oil pipeline to Turkey's Ceyhan port was still halted, the Kurdistan Regional Government's energy ministry said.

The U.S. dollar index fell after the data, raising oil prices. Forecasted stronger demand in China also lifted crude prices on Tuesday. The BTC terminal, which exports Azeri crude oil to international markets, will be closed on Feb. 6-8. Iraqi crude oil loadings from storage in Ceyhan were ready for resumption on Tuesday, but bad weather was preventing vessels from berthing, a trade source with direct knowledge said. Iraq's crude oil pipeline to Turkey's Ceyhan port was still halted, the Kurdistan Regional Government's energy ministry said.

☆ Yorkshire admit four charges after investigation into racism claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Yorkshire County Cricket Club has admitted liability to four amended charges including a failure to address and take adequate action against racist and discriminatory language, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday. Yorkshire and a number of individuals were charged by the ECB in June after an investigation into racism claims made by former player Azeem Rafiq, who alleged in 2021 that he had been a victim of institutional racism at the club. Ballance has previously apologised to Rafiq in person for using racist language. Both Yorkshire and Ballance will not be required to attend a hearing in London following the acceptance of the charges. "Today's announcement is an important step forward for Yorkshire County Cricket Club as part of its journey to learn from the past," Yorkshire chairman Kamlesh Patel said in a statement.

☆ Iraq to discuss with U.S. how to pay Russian energy firms, Iraqi foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BAGHDAD, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Iraq will discuss with Washington this week how to pay dues owed to Russian oil companies despite sanctions, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said on Monday. There are sanctions in place that should not be imposed on the Iraqi side because the cooperation with Russian companies is ongoing and there are active Russian companies in Iraq," Hussein said during a news conference with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Baghdad. Russian investments in Iraq are believed to be worth more than $10 billion, mostly in the oil industry. Huessin said that one of the main issues he and Lavrov talked about was how to pay bills owed to Russian energy companies such as Lukoil and Gazprom that do business in Iraq even though Russia is under international sanctions. Hussein stated during a joint press conference with Lavrov that Iraq is calling for peaceful solutions and encouraging dialogue between Russia and Ukraine to end the war.

☆ Stock futures slide to start week with more earnings and a Powell speech ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( John Melloy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. stock futures were lower to start trading for the new week as investors awaited more earnings and an important speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The S&P 500 is up more than 7% for 2023. S&P 500 futures were lower by 0.3% and Nasdaq-100 futures fell by 0.4%. We are about halfway through fourth-quarter earnings season for the S&P 500 and the results have not been great. The S&P 500 just formed a bullish "Golden Cross" pattern and touched a 5-month high last week above the 4,100 level.

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