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☆ How Larry Page's flying-car company of the future turned into a stunning failure
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Although I'm currently pretty homesick and jet lagged, I'm blessed with "the life-changing magic of working from home." One worker told my colleague Rebecca Knight how remote work transformed her life and how returning to the office has killed company morale. The stunning failure of Google founder Larry Page's flying-car company. In April 2022, company morale plummeted when it axed one of its most promising projects, those former insiders say. The company put together a thorough document to help managers navigate pay-related conversations with employees, and Insider got a look.

☆ I'm a former Microsoft VP of HR. Here are the real reasons why layoffs are happening and how much longer they'll last.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Chris Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some of the layoffs we've seen have included long-time employees years from their most meaningful contributions. The opticsSome of the layoffs we've seen in tech are ones that the companies have probably wished they could do for years. The future is brightWe are in a season of layoffs, and it's not clear we've seen the last or worst of it. That said, there is no reason to see the layoffs as a harbinger of doom and gloom for the tech world. Chris Williams is the former VP of HR at Microsoft and a leadership advisor, podcaster, TikTok creator, and author.

☆ Leaked Amazon memo shows plans to reduce employee stock awards in 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Asia Martin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Leaked Amazon memo shows plans to reduce employee stock awards in 2025. The company is considering increasing the cash portion of compensation to help cushion employees against its stock price going down in the future. In other news:The late Cash App founder Bob Lee. Cash App creator Bob Lee died after a reported stabbing in San Francisco Tuesday. Silicon Valley is grieving the loss of the founder of Cash App and the former chief technology officer at Square.

☆ Euro zone factory downturn deepened in March, PMI shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 3 (Reuters) - Activity at struggling factories across the euro zone fell further last month as consumers feeling the pinch from rising living costs cut back, according to a survey which did show the cost of manufacturing fell for the first time since mid-2020. S&P Global's final manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 47.3 in March from February's 48.5, just ahead of a preliminary reading of 47.1 but below the 50 mark separating growth from contraction for a ninth month. Lower energy costs and healing supply chains did however mean input prices fell for the first time since July 2020 - just when the coronavirus pandemic was cementing its grip on the world. Despite having embarked on the most aggressive tightening of monetary policy in the central bank's history, prices rose 6.9% last month, official data showed on Friday. Reporting by Jonathan Cable; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Euro zone services sector resurging as economic fears ease: economist
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEuro zone services sector resurging as economic concerns ease and travel picks up: economistChris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, says the latest flash euro zone PMI figures show resurgent growth in the services sector, but "manufacturing is a stagnant picture."

☆ Euro zone recovery gathers pace, allays fears of recession-PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, March 3 (Reuters) - The recovery in euro zone business activity gathered pace last month as growth accelerated in the bloc's dominant services industry, a survey showed, providing the latest piece of evidence suggesting the currency union will avoid a recession. "A resounding expansion of business activity in February helps allay worries of a euro zone recession, for now," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global. Demand picked up and firms were able to build up a backlog of work for the first time since October. The new business index bounced to 52.2 from 50.1. With demand strong business across the region raised prices again, albeit at the slowest pace in over a year.

☆ Euro zone factory output returned to growth in February -PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

S&P Global's final manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dipped to 48.5 in February from January's 48.8, in line with a preliminary reading but still below the 50 mark separating growth from contraction. That healing of supply chain strains led to another sharp diminishing of the cost burden faced by factories. The input prices index slumped to 50.9 from 56.3 in January, its lowest reading since September 2020. However, the output prices index remained high. "Although factory selling prices continued to rise sharply, albeit with the rate of increase easing to a two-year low, this in part reflects the usual lagged effect of changes in costs feeding through to output prices," Williamson said.

"This is an encouraging set of data, but still is only one month, and challenges remain." Global oil prices went higher, underlining how a strong Chinese recovery could fuel global inflation through increased energy demand. STUBBORN INFLATIONIn Europe, German data showed the fight against inflation still has some way to go. Factory activity continued to shrink in Taiwan and Malaysia in February, and expanded at a slower pace in the Philippines, surveys showed. Separate data showed South Korea's exports fell 7.5% in February from a year earlier, marking the fifth straight month of declines, partly due to a plunge in semiconductor exports.

☆ Tesla is losing its most loyal customers — and that’s bad news for Elon Musk.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Plus, it's even more gross, since this generation obsession appears to be a capitalism-fueled strategy to get our money. They stuck with Elon Musk along a bumpy ride: "production hell," multiple federal investigations, and other catastrophes. Meanwhile, the company keeps losing its edge elsewhere. Nora breaks down how Musk keeps Elon-ing, while Tesla keeps getting beat down. It's part of the multi-day Mobile World Congress — the largest mobile telecommunications event in the world — in Barcelona, Spain.

☆ I'm the former VP of HR at Microsoft. Here are 4 red flags to watch out for when applying for a job.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Chris Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Williams also says you should notice if the recruiting process is complex or cumbersome. A parallel red flag is the complexity of the recruiting process. Being cautious about discussing pay is not necessarily a red flag, that's just part of hiring. A related red flag is the responses you get from the people you interview with. And that should be a huge red flag about the company overall.

☆ UK business activity unexpectedly rebounds in February -flash PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Andy Bruce | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Much better than anticipated PMI data for February indicate encouraging resilience of the economy," said S&P Global Chief Business Economist Chris Williamson. "While many companies continue to report tough operating conditions, especially in the manufacturing sector, the broader business mood has been buoyed by signs of inflation peaking, supply chains improving and recession risks easing." Williamson added that the survey data boosted the likelihood of a BoE rate hike next month, something which most economists polled by Reuters already expect. The PMI for the services sector rose to 53.3 in February from January's 48.7, the highest reading since June last year. Factory activity continued to contract but at a much reduced pace, with the manufacturing PMI increasing to 49.2 from 47.0, close to 50, the no-change mark.

☆ U.S. business activity rebounds to eight-month high in February- S&P Global survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - U.S. business activity unexpectedly rebounded in February, reaching its highest level in eight months, according to a survey on Tuesday, which also showed inflation subsiding. S&P Global said its flash U.S. Composite PMI Output Index, which tracks the manufacturing and services sectors, increased to 50.2 this month from a final reading of 46.8 in January. The services sector accounted for the rise in business activity, while manufacturing remained weak. The survey's flash manufacturing PMI rose to 47.8 from 46.9 in January. The survey's flash services sector PMI increased to 50.5 from 46.8 in January.

☆ Euro zone business growth at 9-month high
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Buoyant services growth meant the recovery in euro zone business activity gathered steam this month, expanding much faster than thought, according to a survey providing the latest evidence the currency union could escape a recession. S&P Global's flash Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), seen as a good gauge of overall economic health, climbed to 52.3 in February from January's 50.3, data showed on Tuesday. "Business activity across the euro zone grew much faster than expected in February, with growth hitting a nine-month high thanks to resurgent service sector activity," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global. The new business index rose to 50.6 from 48.9. The business expectations index rose to a nine-month high of 61.5, from 61.2 in January.

☆ Euro zone factories are likely over the worst - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The downturn in euro zone manufacturing activity eased again last month suggesting the worst may be over, according to a survey which showed price pressures slackened and the fall in demand moderated, driving a surge in optimism. An index measuring new orders moved up closer to the breakeven mark and factories increased headcount at a faster pace. This was reflected in the future output index which jumped to 58.2 in January from 53.8, an 11-month high. That outperformance was despite sky-high energy costs and rising interest rates taking a heavy toll on the economy. Although the PMI's input prices index fell last month the index reflecting output prices rose slightly - but still remained firmly below levels seen over much of the past two years.

☆ I'm the former VP of HR at Microsoft. It's super common to not like your manager — here's what to do about it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Chris Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chris Williams is a former VP of HR at Microsoft and a podcaster, consultant, and TikTok creator. He says it's very common to not like your manager and that he's been on both sides of the situation. I'm a former VP of HR for Microsoft and I can assure you that if you're feeling this way, you're not alone. Because you don't have to like your manager to work well with them — you just have to share common ground. Chris Williams is the former VP of HR at Microsoft and a leadership advisor, podcaster, TikTok creator, and author.

☆ Euro zone January business activity returns to growth - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

S&P Global's flash Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), seen as a good gauge of overall economic health, climbed to 50.2 this month from 49.3 in December. The PMI covering the bloc's dominant services index also surprised to the upside, coming in at a six-month high of 50.7. The manufacturing PMI rose to 48.8 this month from 47.8, ahead of the 48.5 Reuters poll forecast. An index measuring output which feeds into the composite PMI bounced to a seven-month high of 49.0 from 47.8. Like in the services PMI, the input prices index fell but firms raised their charges at a faster rate.

☆ Europe could dodge a recession. But the UK economy is in a mess
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Business activity across the 20 countries that use the euro expanded in January for the first time in six months, according to data published Tuesday, providing fresh evidence that Europe’s economy could confound expectations and dodge a recession this year. The UK survey is conducted in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. “Weaker-than-expected PMI numbers in January underscore the risk of the UK slipping into recession,” Williamson said. The UK economy lost more working days to strikes between June and November 2022 than in any six-month period over the previous 30 years, according to data published last week by Britain’s Office for National Statistics. Separate data published by the ONS on Tuesday showed that UK government borrowing hit £27.4 billion ($33.7 billion) in December, the highest figure for that month since records began in 1993.

☆ U.S. business activity still soft in early 2023, but outlook perks up
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

S&P Global's Flash U.S. Composite Output Index rose to 46.6 in January - with readings below 50 indicating contraction in activity - from a final reading of 45.0 in December. While that was the highest in three months, companies still reported demand was soft and high inflation was a headwind to customer spending. Another quarter-percentage point increase is expected enroute to a policy rate officials see rising above 5% this year. The S&P Global survey's forward-looking indexes did show improved confidence in the outlook, indicating businesses expect the situation to improve later in the year. "The pick-up in positive sentiment was broad-based, with companies hopeful of a resurgence in customer demand as 2023 progresses," it said.

REUTERS/Kamil KrzaczynskiSummary U.S. business activity better than expected, but remains softEuro zone posts surprise return to modest growthBritain PMI falls at fastest rate in two years, surveys showNEW YORK/LONDON Jan 24 (Reuters) - The downturn in U.S. business activity eased slightly in January even as it contracted for the seventh straight month while euro zone business activity made a surprise return to modest growth, as two of the world's major economies hope to avert recession this year, surveys showed on Wednesday. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsEURO ZONE BOUNCES BACKThe Euro zone is showing more resilience. Business activity there made a surprise return to modest growth in January, adding to signs the downturn in the bloc may not be as deep as feared and that the currency union may escape recession. In France, the bloc's second-biggest economy, output fell slightly overall again in January, its PMI showed, but manufacturing activity improved for the first time since August. In the Euro zone, there was mixed news on inflation pressures, according to the PMI survey.

☆ Drop in business activity flags UK recession risk - flash PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( David Milliken | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The fall contrasted with a slight rise in business activity in the euro zone. "Weaker-than-expected PMI numbers in January underscore the risk of the UK slipping into recession," S&P Global's Chief Business Economist, Chris Williamson, said. However, a widely expected fall in output this year will weigh on the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) as it considers how much further to raise interest rates on Feb. 2. Tuesday's PMI data showed that prices charged by businesses rose at the slowest rate since August 2021, although the increase was still steep by historic standards. Businesses cut a small number of jobs, in contrast to the rapid hiring through much of 2021 and 2022.

☆ S&P Global Market Intelligence: Fears of soaring inflation and energy crunch alleviating
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailS&P Global Market Intelligence: Fears of soaring inflation and energy crunch alleviatingChris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, discusses the latest euro zone PMI data, consumer demand, and business sentiment in the face of loosening Covid restrictions in China.

☆ Darkest days likely over for euro zone factories, December PMIs show
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - The downturn in euro zone manufacturing activity has likely passed its trough as supply chains begin to recover and inflationary pressures ease, a survey showed on Monday, leading to a rebound in optimism among factory managers. S&P Global's final manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) bounced to 47.8 in December from November's 47.1, matching a preliminary reading but still below the 50 mark separating growth from contraction. "Prospects have brightened amid signs of healing supply chains and a marked softening of inflationary pressures, as well as a calming of concerns over the region's energy crisis, thanks in part to government assistance." With inflationary pressures easing, supply chains healing and an energy crisis likely averted purchasing managers turned optimistic and the future output index jumped to 53.8 from 48.8. Reporting by Jonathan Cable; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UK downturn moderates in December but recession begins - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Andy Bruce | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The UK S&P Global Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose unexpectedly to 49.0 from 48.2 in November, although it remained below the 50 threshold for growth. Separate data on Friday showed a surprise fall in retail sales in November, while consumer confidence remained close to all-time lows this month. "The releases still point to the UK being in a shallow, but protracted, recession at the end of 2022 and into 2023," said Daniel Mahoney, UK economist at Handelsbanken. S&P Global said the PMI was consistent with a roughly 0.3% drop in economic output in the fourth quarter. The manufacturing PMI slid to 44.7 from 46.5, marking its lowest level since May 2020 - during the depths of the first COVID-19 lockdown.

☆ Euro zone likely heading into mild recession - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Euro zone business activity declined for a fifth month in November, suggesting the economy was sliding into a mild recession as consumers cut spending amid surging inflation, a survey showed. S&P Global's final composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the euro zone, seen as a good guide to economic health, nudged up to 47.8 in November from October's 23-month low of 47.3, matching a preliminary estimate. "A fifth consecutive monthly falling output signalled by the PMI adds to the likelihood that the euro zone is sliding into recession," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Still, the input and output prices index both fell suggesting inflationary pressures may have already peaked, likely welcome news to policymakers at the European Central Bank. The output prices index was a 3-month low of 62.3.

☆ I oversaw hiring at Microsoft. Here's the one interview question that makes or breaks job candidates — and what I looked for in an answer.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Chris Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He always asks job candidates to tell him something they've learned recently. A person who will promptly learn what they need to and help others by sharing what they've learned. A great candidate will have a ready answerMaybe they've learned how to format pivot tables in Excel. They will make it easy to share what they've learned. It doesn't happen often; most people have something they've learned, something they can share.

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