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☆ Hong Kong unveils budget, promising 'abundant opportunities' as city recovers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Pedestrians pas stores in Hong Kong, China, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Hong Kong wants to become an international center for virtual assets as the city seeks to bolster its status as a global financial hub following the disruptions caused by the pandemic. "I believe that Hong Kong's economy will visibly recover this year, and I remain positive," Chan said during his budget speech. Hong Kong's economy is expected to see a rebound of 3.5% to 5.5% in 2023, after shrinking 3.5% in 2022, Chan said. Hong Kong closely followed China's strict zero-Covid policy until the middle of 2022 when the city began to ease some of the restrictions.

☆ Robinhood’s stock awards tell a cautionary fable
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The now-abandoned payouts to Tenev and Bhatt were a slab of “market-based restricted stock units” distributed ahead of Robinhood’s initial public offering in July 2021. The system works in reverse, too, however: When executives give back stock awards, the company gains nothing in cash terms. U.S. accounting rules treat stock awards geared to a company’s stock price as a gift that cannot be returned. In short, by handing back their awards, Robinhood’s founders have neither robbed from themselves, nor given to anyone else. Even without this unhappy effect on earnings, shareholders should be wary of the kinds of awards Robinhood doled out at its public company debut.

☆ TikTok stirs up Starbucks workforce solutions
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Feb 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Starbucks (SBUX.O) is embracing the buzz. The coffee chain filed a new patent for a machine to help customize complicated beverages, according to a Business Insider report on Monday. Incoming Chief Executive Laxman Narasimhan faces staffers increasingly eager to unionize just as U.S. labor shortages hover at highs. It is therefore hardly surprising that $123 billion Starbucks wants to streamline drink-making processes. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Returning pharma CEO has one prescription: M&A
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Feb 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Brent Saunders is back in charge of a pharmaceutical company, which usually means one thing: M&A. The buyer, Actavis, appointed Saunders CEO of the combined company. Bausch + Lomb remains a subsidiary of Bausch Health, which owns nearly 90% of the shares. Considering Bausch Health’s stake in Bausch + Lomb is worth more than $5 billion, the implication is that bondholders are in charge. Saunders was CEO of Bausch + Lomb from 2010 until 2013, when it was acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals.

☆ U.S. Republicans ask Biden to boost Taiwan in his budget request
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Stephen LamWASHINGTON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The top Republicans on U.S. congressional foreign affairs and armed services committees pressed Democratic President Joe Biden on Thursday to include $2 billion in military assistance grants for Taiwan in his upcoming budget request. Congressional aides said they expect Biden to release the budget on March 9. They stressed the need to support Taiwan, an independently ruled island that China views as a breakaway province. Congress late last year overwhelmingly approved legislation authorizing $10 billion - or $2 billion per year for five years - of annual FMF grants for Taiwan. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.

☆ Disney clash with activist Peltz will have sequel
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

NEW YORK, Feb 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Activist investor Nelson Peltz often plays a long game. Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger unveiled $5.5 billion of cost cuts last week when the $200 billion theme-parks-to-streaming company released fourth-quarter earnings. "The proxy fight is over,” a spokesperson for his outfit Trian Fund Management told Reuters. Could Peltz still end up on the Disney board? "The proxy fight is over.

I didn't think much about opening a separate business checking account so my income from freelancing didn't mix with my personal account. When tax season rolled around, I spent hours separating out my business expenses from my personal expenses. A few years later, I opened another personal credit card. Not only was it easier to categorize my business expenses, but I also snagged a robust introductory bonus. Because no taxes are withheld from my income from clients, I'm responsible for paying self-employment tax.

☆ Silly Meta, Roblox isn’t just for kids
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Feb 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Video-game and social-media hub Roblox (RBLX.N) isn’t playing around when it comes to expanding its audience. The company behind MeepCity and Royale High has been racing alongside Meta Platforms (META.O) to turn the metaverse into more than just a vague buzzword. Despite being unprofitable and considerably smaller than Facebook’s owner, it is putting up a solid fight. Meta is mulling ways to attract younger users, including maybe opening the game up to minors older than 13. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ A license plate that only has the letter 'R' on it just sold for $3.2 million in Hong Kong — and it's not even a record in the city
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Felise Seah | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Hong Kong license plate that only has the letter 'R' was sold for $3.2 million on Sunday. But over in Hong Kong, a license plate that only has the letter "R" was sold for about 25.5 million Hong Kong dollars, or $3.2 million, at a Lunar New Year auction organized by the Hong Kong Transport Department on Sunday, according to an announcement by the agency. The news outlet further reported that the license plate "R" was expected to net at least HK$10 million, citing registration plate dealers who spoke to the media before the auction. The quest for a novelty car plate is not just limited to Hong Kong. A rare California license plate with the letters "MM" was sold at $24.3 million in 2021, taking the top spot for the most expensive license plate sold in the world, according to Luxe Digital.

☆ Fintech giant’s bad wedding leads to happy divorce
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Feb 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Many mergers fail, but executives are rarely humble enough to admit it. They have a point – FIS paid $3 billion more for Worldpay than the combined companies’ market value today. These are worlds apart from the staid financial institutions which patronize FIS’s core software business. As a stand-alone company the payments firm could also borrow more to fuel future purchases without imperiling its former parent’s credit rating. FIS also announced a $17.6 billion writedown on the value of the business and lowered its profit guidance for 2023.

☆ Chevron’s CEO short-termism has benefits
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

That helps explain why the $330 billion oil giant is considering extending his contract beyond mandatory retirement age, according to the Wall Street Journal. Wirth faces mandatory retirement in 2025 when he turns 65, a stipulation that was in place when the company appointed him to be CEO in 2018. Chevron's operating margin last year was 18%, the highest in four decades, and the firm earned a record $35 billion. A year later, after oil prices had fallen by a third, Wirth launched a deal to buy Noble Energy on the cheap. If so, oil companies will be well served by executives who can squeeze additional pennies out of existing production, while buying potentially available rivals when they are cheap.

☆ I quit my job at JPMorgan after entering a state of 'mental chaos.' Here's how I found a new career I'm passionate about.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Doris Lam | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He quit finance after his dad passed away to try and recover from his state of "mental chaos." I really didn't have a burning passion for anything growing up. My family and I brainstormed for a different career path and ended up with economics because I was good at math. People always said that economics would lead to a good career in finance or consulting, so I was happy to give it a try. I shut myself away and didn't spend much time with my friends because I was in such a state of mental chaos.

☆ Lyft is second horse in a one-horse town
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Jennifer Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Lyft (LYFT.O) shares skidded 35% on Friday morning after the company reported dismal quarterly results. Lyft’s net loss of nearly $600 million in the fourth quarter was twice what it lost a year earlier. Uber dominates ride-sharing because it has five times as many monthly active drivers and couriers as Lyft. The ride-sharing firm recorded a quarterly net loss of $588 million compared to a net loss of $283 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Lyft rival Uber Technologies reported on Feb. 8 that fourth-quarter revenue increased 49% to $8.6 billion.

☆ The AI craze has sent some stocks soaring up to 300%. This list of over 74 stocks across 5 categories features the top picks from the sector's leading fund managers.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

These 74 stocks are picked by AI ETF managers. What she believes is unique about her fund is its heavy focus on quantum computing technology, making up 41.22% of the fund. While big data is used for different technologies, it enables AI to work with massive data sets in its machine-learning process. TipRanks, a financial technology website that uses AI to analyze financial data, created a stock list for what they deem are the best AI stocks based on popularity. TipRanks' list of nine of the best AI stocks have large market caps and are likely to remain relevant for a long time.

☆ Discovery flips script on Warner Bros deal logic
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) is rewriting the rationale for its value-destructive $43 billion acquisition of AT&T’s (T.N) media assets. The company led by David Zaslav plans to keep the Discovery+ streaming service, home to “Shark Week,” separate from the newly added HBO Max, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. HBO Max is one of the most expensive options, at $16 per month with no advertising. If Warner Bros Discovery can’t even work out an internal merger, it suggests the industry’s reckoning may be further off. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Chegg gets schooled in AI downside
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Its stock slumped nearly one-fifth on Tuesday, after it forecast shrinking revenue in 2023. The chief problem for companies like Chegg is that tumbling undergraduate enrollment already means fewer future customers. To grow, Chegg must win an ever-bigger share of a shrinking market. Rosensweig argues that Chegg can use the technology to its own advantage, matching students with the right content and constructing personalized study plans. By contrast, other companies that have started putting AI to work, like online publisher BuzzFeed (BZFD.O), have seen their stock soar.

☆ Bayer picks outsider Anderson as CEO after investor pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

News of the CEO change sent the German drugs-to-pesticides giant's shares to their highest level in nearly eight months. Shares in Bayer closed up 6% on the news of the new CEO, reaching the top of Frankfurt's blue-chip index and hitting their highest level since June last year. "Bill Anderson's mission is clear: enable Bayer to realize its full potential and create sustainable value for our shareholders, farmers, patients, consumers, employees, and all stakeholders of the company," Winkeljohann added. Sources told Reuters earlier this week that activist investor Jeff Ubben had contacted fellow investors to drum up support for big changes at Bayer, including the swift replacement of Baumann. Reporting by Patricia Weiss, Kirsti Knolle and Christoph Steitz; Editing by Tom Sims and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Forty-seven pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong have been accused of a conspiracy to commit subversion in a landmark political case. Benny Tai, 58, was a professor of law at the University of Hong Kong. Pro-democracy primary Pro-democracy candidates held a primary vote ahead of the upcoming Legislative Council election. The 47 defendants helped organize or participated in this event. New election rules announced China announced new rules for Hong Kong elections, limiting candidates to only those deemed loyal to Beijing.

☆ EV makers fill up on cash before looming pileup
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Feb 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Battery-powered-car makers are pulling off at the cash station. A recent stock rally provides an extra charge before the inevitable pileup. Despite having no revenue, Faraday’s market value has quadrupled since the start of the year after a roughly 90% fall. Likewise, $388 million Canoo, whose top line is nonexistent, is selling 50 million shares and 50 million warrants to raise just $52 million. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Real and fake meat share problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TORONTO, Feb 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Pain in the fake meat market is starting to spread to the real one. That’s still much better than Beyond Meat (BYND.O), which isn’t even booking an operating profit at this point. But the two companies share a few of the same problems that aren’t going away. With prices along the supply chain going up, including for transportation, consumers are making other choices. Forgoing meat – no matter the consistency – is a real problem.

My interest rates will grow over time if I don't touch the money in my CDs. And as we're in an environment with rising interest rates, I've also decided to open several certificates of deposit. I was learning about different ways to make the most of my savings, and interest rates were hovering around 5%. I'm enjoying some flexibility by laddering my CDsAnother tactic that I employed nearly two decades ago that I'm bringing back is CD laddering. And as there's a chance that interest rates might increase again, I can potentially enjoy a higher interest rate on the same term down the line.

HONG KONG, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Sixteen Hong Kong pro-democracy figures face trial on Monday, more than two years after their arrest, in what some observers say is a landmark case for the city's judicial independence under a national security law imposed by Beijing. Thirteen of those arrested were granted bail in 2021, while the other 34 - including 10 who pleaded not guilty - have been in pre-trial custody on national security grounds. Western governments have criticised the 2020 national security law as a tool to crush dissent in the former British colony. The 31 who pleaded guilty, including former law professor Benny Tai and activist Joshua Wong, will be sentenced after the trial. The case will be heard by three High Court judges designated under the national security law: Andrew Chan, Alex Lee and Johnny Chan.

☆ Hong Kong is giving away 500,000 flights this year—here’s what to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you're looking for a fun trip and a free flight, it might be time to turn your eye to Hong Kong. On Thursday, the city's leader John Lee announced Hong Kong is giving away 500,000 plane tickets this year to encourage tourism. In 2020, the Airport Authority spent $2 billion to buy tickets from airlines, including HK Express, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Hong Kong Airlines. Hong Kong will also give away 80,000 flights to city residents this summer, and another to 80,000 residents of the Greater Bay Area in the U.S., Lam said. The city's "Hello Hong Kong" campaign will include events like the Rugby Sevens tournament and a city marathon.

Hong Kong's new global promotional campaign will "kickstart" the city's reopening to international travelers, the Hong Kong Tourism Board told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Friday. As part of the "Hello Hong Kong" campaign, which was launched on Thursday, 500,000 air tickets will be given away over the next six months, starting in March. The tickets will be given out through three Hong Kong's carriers — Cathay Pacific, HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines. "[But] you want to kickstart and … tell the world in a clear message that Hong Kong and then mainland — we have finally reopened." Some 80,000 tickets have also been reserved for Hong Kong residents which authorities aim to give out in the summer.

☆ Apple tries to be both desirable and predictable
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In 2018, the company’s enterprise value was equivalent to 3 times estimated revenue for the year ahead, according to Refinitiv. One way to make sense of that is to break Apple’s valuation into parts. Deduct that from Apple’s enterprise value, and investors are pricing the services business at $1 trillion, around 10 times forecast revenue. Whether it’s justified, though, depends on what services Apple is peddling, and how steady and subscription-like they are. If 20% of Apple’s services are cyclical, for example, and investors put the same multiple of sales as those peers, the company's fair share price drops 5%.

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