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☆ Amazon is bragging about the popularity of Netflix's 'Wednesday' and its star Jenna Ortega — even though the streamers are rivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon touted the success of Netflix's "Wednesday" in its Q4 2022 earnings report on Thursday. The series, which stars Jenna Ortega, is one of Netflix's most-watched shows of all time. It was viewed for 1.237 billion hours globally in its first 28 days of release, according to Netflix's own figures. It bought the film and TV studio, which is also behind the James Bond films, last year for $8.5 billion, and recently launched the MGM+ streaming platform. Soon after, though, Netflix announced it had renewed the series for season two, exclusively for Netflix.

☆ Fanatics to start livestreamed shopping of trading cards, collectibles
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The Washington Post | Getty ImagesFanatics is moving into livestreamed shopping around collectibles and trading cards, hiring a former Snap and Alphabet executive to launch its new business later this year. Fanatics Live, which will have a standalone app and a coinciding website, plans to launch in the second half of 2023. Only 31% of U.S. adults have even heard of live shopping, with just 22% saying they've participated in a live shopping event, according to a December poll by Morning Consult. Ebay, which said it saw trading card sales increase 142% in 2020, acquired trading card marketplace TCGPlayer for $295 million in August. While Fanatics Live could move into other forms of entertainment and collectibles over time, it will solely focus on trading cards initially.

☆ Macau casino revenues surge in Jan after COVID rules lifted
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Farah Master | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Still investors took cheer, sending shares in Macau casinos up between 3% to 5%, while executives and analysts said it was an encouraging sign of a solid recovery to come. A special administrative region of China, Macau has seen a resurgence of tourists from the mainland since Jan. 8 after the territory dropped all COVID-19 testing requirements for inbound travellers from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan. January's revenues were the first for Sands China (1928.HK), Wynn Macau (1128.HK), MGM China (2282.HK), Galaxy Entertainment (0027.HK), MGM China (2282.HK) and SJM Holdings (0880.HK) under new 10-year contracts. Visitors pose for photos outside the Grand Lisboa casino operated by SJM Holdings during Lunar New Year in Macau, China, January 24, 2023. REUTERS/Lam Yik/File PhotoThe new contracts, with more government oversight and control, were struck after COVID-19 restrictions decimated Macau's gambling revenues and sent net debt soaring.

☆ These stocks have been hit the hardest by Fed rate hikes — now they could rally if there's a pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

To find such names, CNBC Pro looked back at the stocks that were hit the hardest in the five trading days after each of last year's Fed rate hikes, starting with the first quarter point increase last March. Of those, we took the worst median performance within that five-day period for each of 2022's seven rate hikes. Warner Bros Discovery tops the list, losing a median 10.7% after the Fed rate hikes (bearing in mind the present company was put together in early April last year.) Chipotle Mexican Grill was also hit in the wake the Fed's rate increases, losing a median 6.9% overall. Overall, the electrical vehicle leader lost a median 6.8% in the week following last year's Fed rate hikes.

☆ Premarket stocks: Is this the beginning of the end for Big Oil's windfall?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Brutally high oil and gas prices were the talk of the town and one of the largest contributing factors to sky-high inflation. That was bad news for drivers, but ended up being great for the energy industry as oil prices and energy stocks are closely interlinked. As markets fell under the pressures of economic uncertainty, geopolitical chaos, elevated inflation and a hawkish Fed, the energy sector thrived. The S&P ended 2022 down nearly 20%, while the energy sector grew by about 60%. But analysts say US oil companies can’t keep winning for much longer.

☆ 2022's stock losers are this year's winners so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Paul R. La Monica | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But it’s still been a solid start to the year for the market — and many of last year’s losers have led the way on Wall Street so far in January. Discovery, which plunged nearly 60% last year, has surged 55% so far in 2023 and is the best performer in the S&P 500. Rising market tide lifting questionable boatsStill, some investors are worried this year’s market rally is eerily reminiscent of prior market bubbles. GameStop (GME) is up nearly 25%. “Most investors don’t realize the Fed has to fight the inflation in the stock market, too,” Trainer added.

☆ 9 iconic moments in Jennifer Coolidge's career, from 'Legally Blonde' to her eccentric Emmys speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Coolidge is best known for her role as Paulette in "Legally Blonde." MGMJennifer Coolidge's most popular role is Paulette Bonafonté, a manicurist who befriends the lead character Elle (Reese Witherspoon) in "Legally Blonde." Her performance in the movie and its sequel features several iconic moments that are still quoted today, including "I'm taking the dog, dumbass!" The most popular Paulette quote, and one of the most memorable quotes from the franchise, is in the sequel "Legally Blonde: Red, White and Blonde." After seeing Elle in her all-American outfit, Paulette says: "You look like the Fourth of July!

☆ Chevron’s mammoth buyback plan – Here’s why Wall Street loves share repurchases
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

With a market cap of $346 billion, a $75 billion buyback is about 20% of the shares outstanding. Exxon Mobil also has a $50 billion buyback plan, for example. Wall Street loves buybacks Buybacks have become an important part of returning shareholder profits. "Wall Street loves buybacks for two reasons," Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst, product management for S & P Dow Jones Indices, told me. Here's a list of larger companies that had significant share count reduction in Q3, the last quarter with complete data.

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☆ Read the 15-page pitch deck that raised $6 million for StoryCo, a blockchain-based platform that links Hollywood creatives directly with fans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

StoryCo founders Justin and J.P. Alanis are part of a wave of entrepreneurs building blockchain-based storytelling platforms. StoryCo raised a $6 million seed round from Web3-focused VC firms and Hollywood insiders. In other words, Hollywood studios have been gatekeepers to content — and profits — for far too long. StoryCo is one of several startups that see blockchain and Web3 technology creating big new opportunities for TV and film creatives. Passholders will have access to a project's treasury, which will include NFT sales, IP licensing revenue, and royalties.

Fanatics is in discussions to acquire the BetParx sportsbook, as the sports merchandising company looks to take a bigger position in sports betting, according to people familiar with the matter. Representatives for Fanatics and BetParx declined to comment. Fanatics has been seeking a deal in the sports betting space for some time. The company is opening Fanatics Sportsbook at FedExField, the stadium of the NFL's Washington Commanders. Last year, Fanatics' billionaire executive chairman Michael Rubin sold his 10% stake in Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment, the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, allowing Fanatics to enter the gambling space.

HONG KONG, Jan 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Macau is bounding into the Year of the Rabbit. Meanwhile arrivals from China and Hong Kong reached roughly 40% of 2019 traffic as of Jan. 13, per Morgan Stanley. That is remarkable given the mainland and Macau only relaxed restrictions less than two weeks ago. Melco Resorts & Entertainment , MGM China (2282.HK), Sands China (1928.HK) and Wynn Macau (1128.HK) have seen their leverage ratios swell. Ultimately to rebalance borrowings, Macau needs returning visitors to spend as much – or more – as they did in the past.

☆ FuboTV insiders describe how its 'doomed' sportsbook collapsed in a year — and what it means for the future of the streaming company
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Colin Salao | Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

But despite the MetLife lounge remaining open throughout the 2021-22 NFL season, the Fubo Sportsbook wouldn't launch in New Jersey until the following one, in September 2022. "It was doomed from the start," one former Fubo Gaming staffer told Insider. Meanwhile, Rattner — whom the first former Fubo gaming staffer described as a "good talker" — sustained the startup's more youthful culture. The Fubo Sportsbook launched in New Jersey on September 7, days before the first Jets home game. A promotional image from when the Fubo Sportsbook went live in New Jersey in September 2022.

☆ Macau court sentences junket mogul to 18 years in jail
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Alvin Chau was chairman of Macau's Suncity junket operator - which brokered the gambling activity of Chinese high rollers - until December 2021, a month after his arrest. Macau is the only city in China where citizens are permitted to gamble in casinos. Junket operators help facilitate gambling for wealthy Chinese in Macau, extending them credit and collecting on their debt on behalf of casino operators. That year, Macau casinos generated $36 billion in revenue. The junket industry has collapsed in the former Portuguese colony since Chau's arrest, with all of Suncity's VIP rooms shuttered.

☆ 8 stocks that have reclaimed their long-term bullish trend
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The 200-day moving average calculates the average price of the index over the last roughly 40 weeks. The S & P 500 ended Friday at 3,999.09 points, above the 200-day average of 3,981.22. On Monday, the S & P 500 broke a four-day winning streak , slipping 0.2% to 3,990.97, but it remained above that key point. About two out of every three S & P 500 stocks are individually above their respective 200-day moving averages, according O'Hara. All numbers are current through Friday's close: Airlines Alaska and Delta are both trading around 10% above their 200-day moving average.

☆ Law & Order SVU's Maurice Compte: Boundaries between good and bad can be 'blurry'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Arturo Conde | Arturo Conde Is An Editor | A Bilingual Freelance Journalist. He Writes For La Opinión A Coruña | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Police dramas often define a clear line between good and bad. But Cuban American actor Maurice Compte, who plays Captain Mike Duarte on the 24th season of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” says the policemen and gang members he grew up with make that line more blurry in real life. The actor told NBC News that he knew both policemen and gang members — some of whom he said were in the Latin Kings. Beyond the imaginary TV line that divides characters into good and bad, there's a more complicated reality that drives both sides to belong to a community, he said. “At its best, I understood why they were doing it,” Compte said, referring to the gang members that he knew from his neighborhood.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: World Wrestling Entertainment, Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

World Wrestling Entertainment — The wrestling entertainment stock surged 21% after WWE announced that founder Vince McMahon is returning to its board of directors and that the company is exploring strategic moves. R1 RCM — Shares of the healthcare technology firm soared more than 11% after the company raised its revenue outlook for 2023. Costco Wholesale — Shares of the big-box retailer jumped more than 6% after it reported solid sales numbers for December. First Solar — Shares of First Solar rose more than 4% after Wells Fargo upgraded it to overweight, saying Europe's energy crisis and the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S. will boost demand for solar energy. Bed Bath & Beyond — Shares plunged 20% after the retailer warned it was running out of cash and was considering bankruptcy.

☆ Jim Cramer's top 10 things to watch in the market Friday: Goldilocks jobs, mega-caps, Costco
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Mega cap stock abandonment: Lots of hedge funds surprised Club holding Apple (AAPL) didn't go higher after it didn't preannounce. Club holding Costco (COST) says net sales of $23.8 billion for December rose 7% year over year. Guggenheim raises price target on Club holding Starbucks (SBUX) to $103 per share from $92; keeps hold-equivalent rating. Wells Fargo says the negativity is too great when it comes to PVH Corp (PVH) but raises price target and stock rating to a buy-equivalent. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls of the day: Apple, Amazon, Uber, Nike, Boeing, Netflix & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Baird names Boeing a top 2023 pick Baird named Boeing as a top idea this year and says it sees a recovery in aerospace. UBS names Target a top pick in 2023 UBS says it sees Target as a market share gainer in 2023. Wells Fargo initiates Snowflake as overweight Wells said in its initiation of the stock that it's built to "weather the storm." Piper Sandler names Amazon a top 2023 pick Piper Sandler says it sees share gains and easing comps for the e-commerce giant. " Bank of America names Domino's a top 2023 pick The firm says Domino's is well positioned in a declining macroeconomic environment.

☆ No, Netflix isn't losing its mega-hit 'Wednesday' to Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Speculation swirled online this week that the show could leave Netflix for Amazon. It garnered 1.2 billion hours — behind just "Squid Game" and "Stranger Things" season four. One of the people said deals with MGM for "Wednesday" were made long before Amazon bought MGM in May for $8.5 billion. But Netflix licenses other original shows that are produced by other parties; based on everything we know, it would be surprising to see Netflix let "Wednesday" slip through its fingers. All of this is not even mentioning the fact that Netflix has never played by conventional TV standards and isn't always quick to renew a series just because it's popular.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Tesla, Coty, PayPal and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Tesla vehicle is displayed in a Manhattan dealership on January 30, 2020 in New York City. Check out the companies making the biggest moves in the premarket:Tesla — Shares fell 5% after reporting a record 40% growth in deliveries. JPMorgan analyst Ryan Brinkman cut his price target on the stock Tuesday, saying he sees more downside ahead. Coty is increasing exposure to China and travel retail, which should allow for recovery tailwinds, analyst Korinne Wolfmeyer said. PayPal — Shares gained nearly 3% premarket following an upgrade to a buy from a hold rating by Truist.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Tesla, Wynn, Traeger, Amazon and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Tesla – Shares of Tesla shed 13% after the company announced fourth-quarter vehicle deliveries that fell short of Wall Street's expectations. Wynn Resorts – Shares of Wynn Resorts added more than 2% after Wells Fargo upgraded the hotel and casino operator, saying it sees a significant reopening opportunity and citing China's moves toward a full reopening. MGM Resorts added 1%. Molina Healthcare — The health care company slid nearly 5% despite the company saying it expects revenue from California Medicaid to double under revised contracts. PayPal – Shares added 4.1% after Truist upgraded PayPal to buy from hold, saying that estimates now look reasonable.

☆ Analysis: Macau casinos deal themselves a tough hand with big non-gaming investment pledges
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Farah Master | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But their 10-year, shortened contracts come at a time when COVID-19 restrictions have decimated Macau’s gambling revenues, with 2022 the worst annual performance on record. Non-gaming revenues, which averaged around 5% of overall gaming revenues pre-COVID, must grow to more than 30% in the next decade, said Ben Lee, founder of Macau gaming consultancy IGamiX. Macau, a densely packed territory located on China’s southern coast, is the only place in the country where gambling in casinos is legal. Increased regulatory oversight comes as Macau casinos face much higher debt levels versus 2019. Macau has few direct flights from potential markets outside China, while transport within the city is limited to move large groups of people around, said David Green, head of Macau gaming consultancy Newpage.

☆ How tech groundbreaker Greg Smithies went from Elon Musk's inner circle to tackling real estate's $18 trillion carbon-emissions problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Greg Smithies leads the biggest fund focused on the decarbonization of real estate. Smithies has worked on sustainability issues and with Elon Musk's The Boring Company. But Smithies is no stranger to investment-led decarbonization efforts, having tackled the problem for much of his career. "At the end of the day, software isn't going to solve the climate crisis," Smithies said. But above all, he's focused on the money and the potential savings that low-carbon technology can have on real estate.

☆ MGM Resorts sells land on Las Vegas Strip that was site of 2017 massacre
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

LAS VEGAS — MGM Resorts International has closed on the sale of land on the Las Vegas Strip that was the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, the company announced Friday. The 15-acre Village property was purchased by the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation based in central North Dakota. Concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest Festival gathered there on Oct. 1, 2017, when a gunman opened fire from his hotel room above. Planning for the memorial has been underway since late 2019, but it could be years before the final tribute is unveiled. But the Tribes “have demonstrated that they care about our community, its future and, of course, its past,” he wrote.

☆ Land & Buildings spots a chance to build value in a real estate play with Six Flags
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

It invests in deeply discounted real estate in the public markets and select corporate engagements. Land & Buildings ("L&B") is a real estate focused investor, and this is primarily a real estate play. In its analysis, L&B assumes a 7.25% cap rate and a $2.8 billion value for the real estate. Without stabilizing operations, the real estate strategy can only create so much shareholder value. However, optimizing attendance and stabilizing operations will magnify any value created by the real estate strategy.

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