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☆ Ford’s boss evokes empty threats in union battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Phil Noble Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Ford Motor (F.N) boss Jim Farley is breaking out the "B" word. In a Thursday interview with CNBC, Farley said that pay-rise demands from the United Auto Workers would have driven Ford “bankrupt” if implemented back during 2019 contract negotiations. For now, using “bankrupt” and “Ford” in the same sentence seems like an empty threat. Even in the event of a prolonged strike, Ford has a buffer. The company is sitting on $10 billion of cash net of debt and $47 billion in total liquidity.

Persons: Phil Noble, Jim Farley, Farley, “ Ford ”, Ford, wishlist, Jonathan Guilford, Lauren Silva Laughlin Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Ford, REUTERS, Reuters, CNBC, United Auto Workers, General Motors, X, Thomson Locations: Liverpool, Britain, North America

☆ Deaths haunt Corporate America via labor strikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

United Auto Workers union President Shawn Fain joins UAW members who are on a strike, on the picket line at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, U.S., September 15, 2023. Manufacturing plants in Wentzville, Missouri, Wayne, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio will be empty as Ford Motor (F.N), General Motors (GM.N), and Stellantis (STLAM.MI) try to reach an agreement with the United Auto Workers collective bargaining committee. Deaths among the demographic that make up the workforce in the transportation sector are partly putting pressure on the problem. Follow @BenWinck on XCONTEXT NEWSThe United Auto Workers union started simultaneous strikes at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis on Sept. 15 after last-minute labor negotiations failed to result in a deal. Pilots organized with the Air Line Pilots Association rejected a tentative labor deal with Fedex on July 24.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Rebecca Cook, they’re, Alan Krueger, walkouts, it’s, “, Darren Hawkins, Sean O’Brien, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: United Auto Workers, Ford Michigan Assembly Plant, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Ford, General Motors, Bureau of Labor Statistics, White, Richmond Federal Reserve, Reuters Graphics Reuters, United Airlines, Sensible, Pilots, Air Line Pilots Association, Fedex, Delta Air Lines, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, of Labor Statistics, Thomson Locations: Wayne , Michigan, U.S, Wentzville , Missouri, Toledo , Ohio

The Google sign is reflected in a rain puddle outside their offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., June 27, 2017. Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Want to know how to remove Google as the iPhone’s default search tool? According to him, the search engine operated by Alphabet (GOOGL.O) enlists Apple (AAPL.O) to answer the query by directing users to its website. Using Google as the default search engine wasn’t Apple’s “choice,” Dintzer said. Follow @BenWinck on XFollow @thereallsl on XCONTEXT NEWSThe U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Alphabet’s Google started on Sept. 12.

Persons: John Schmidtlein, Kenneth Dintzer, Google, ” Schmidtlein, Schmidtlein, ” Dintzer, It’s, Tim Cook, Alphabet’s Google, Ben Winck, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: Google, Rights, Reuters, Apple, U.S . Department of, Yahoo, Verizon Communications, Microsoft, Netscape, U.S, U.S . Department, Alphabet’s, Thomson Locations: Cambridge , Massachusetts, U.S, Safari, Japan, Washington, New York

☆ DOJ fights uphill battle; Google a losing one
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The government, in its opening statements, argued that the $1.7 trillion company’s search engine partnerships illegally protected its monopoly, harming consumers. The problem for the DOJ is that consumers readily dole out their data, and not just to Google. Device manufacturers and browser creators choose Google because it’s the highest quality option, and users can easily pick another default search engine, John Schmidtlein, Google’s lead lawyer, argued. The government’s lawyers have their work cut out for them, but a DOJ loss won’t mean a Google victory. The company’s partnerships may set Google as the default search engine on devices and browsers, but users can usually change their default option with a few clicks.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Jonathan Kanter, Kenneth Dintzer, Dintzer, Amit Mehta, John Schmidtlein, Google’s, DOJ doesn’t, Google's, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: U.S . Justice, Alphabet's Google, Justice Department, Reuters, U.S . Department of Justice, Alphabet’s, Google, DOJ, Microsoft, Court, Big Tech, Alphabet’s Google, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON

☆ Flood insurance swamps US government
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The U.S. government’s flood coverage could soon find itself financially underwater. The National Flood Insurance Program, which covers nearly 5 million properties, needs to be reauthorized by Congress by the end of the month to avoid a housing crunch. A FEMA report seen by the Associated Press estimated another 1 million fewer Americans will buy flood insurance by the end of the decade, further starving the program of much-needed funds. The program’s flood fund lost nearly $1.9 billion in fiscal 2022, up from a $236 million loss the year prior. Follow @BenWinck on XCONTEXT NEWSCongressional authorization for the U.S. National Flood Insurance Program is set to lapse on Sept. 30 if lawmakers don’t approve a new extension.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Hurricane Lee, Lee, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Flood Insurance, National Association of Realtors, FEMA, Associated Press, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Association, U.S, National Flood Insurance, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Hurricane Center, Thomson Locations: Oak, Florida, U.S, United States, Singapore, East Coast

☆ GameStop’s success doesn’t belong in a meme
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Meme-stock success might look more whimper than bang. GameStop (GME.N), the poster-child for pandemic-era retail-trader enthusiasm, reported second-quarter results on Wednesday that showed losses narrowing and positive, if miniscule, adjusted EBITDA. It’s an improvement on the path to sustainability, especially compared to other retail darlings like bankrupt Bed Bath & Beyond. Hardware sales fell 18% from the prior quarter, as the after-effects of supply shortages fade. GameStop’s share price may still be well above 2019 levels, but its ambitions are as low as ever.

Persons: hasn’t, Ryan Cohen, Jonathan Guilford, Hong Kong, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, GameStop, X, Hong, Thomson Locations: Grapevine , Texas

☆ Warner Bros Discovery re-bundles the bundle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) is taking bundling to the max. The $27 billion entertainment company wants to add live sports from the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball to its streaming service, free for a limited time, according to Bloomberg. Boss David Zaslav said on Wednesday at a Goldman Sachs conference that CNN will be available too. Warner Bros unveiled its new streaming service Max, which includes HBO, in April. The industry is packed with competitors, and at $16 a month, Max is already one of the most expensive.

Persons: Boss David Zaslav, Goldman Sachs, Max, Walt Disney, Jennifer Saba, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Warner Bros Discovery, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Bloomberg, Goldman, CNN, Warner Bros, HBO, Cable, Charter Communications, ESPN, X, Thomson

China accounts for 19% of Apple’s revenue, and less than 1% of the population works in the government. At 28 times forward earnings, Apple's current multiple, about $8 billion of value goes away. That’s 0.2% of Apple’s market capitalization. On Apple’s multiple, that’s $188 billion, or 7% of the company’s current market capitalization. The biggest problem, however, is Apple’s current valuation.

Persons: Aly, iPhones, Xi Jinping, Robert Cyran, Yawen Chen, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Reuters, China Mobile, HK, U.S, Congress, Huawei, China, Wall Street, Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Republic, New York, London

☆ Barbie’s a boss but not a business model
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Sept 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) boss David Zaslav is playing too much with Barbie. Mattel (MAT.O), the $8 billion company behind the brand, has increased its market value 20% since late May, growing three times as fast as the S&P 500 Index (.SPX). Lego partnered with Warner Bros in 2014 to produce a movie featuring its renowned plastic bricks. Unlike Disney and its superheroes, Warner Bros doesn’t own the blonde bombshell. Barbie may be this year’s boss, but she and her nostalgic ilk are unlikely to become business models.

Persons: David Zaslav, Barbie, Margot Robbie, Harry Potter, Polly, Cuties, Walt Disney’s, Bob Iger, Warner, oligopolistic, Davidson, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Warner Bros Discovery, Mattel, Warner Bros, Marvel, Disney, McKinsey, Harley, Thomson

☆ Intel’s Tower deal sidesteps competition snafu
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On Tuesday, $155 billion chip giant Intel (INTC.O) inked a new partnership with Tower Semiconductor (TSEM.TA), which Intel boss Pat Gelsinger recently gave up on acquiring for $5 billion. The deal will see Tower spend $300 million on equipment at Intel’s New Mexico campus, bolstering Gelsinger’s nascent chip-manufacturing-for-hire services. Intel ended its year-and-a-half-long quest to acquire Tower in August, after failing to win sign-off from Chinese antitrust enforcers. Signed in February 2022, the deal was aimed at strengthening Intel’s pivot into manufacturing chips designed by others by bringing in Tower’s know-how. By signing up Tower as a partner, Gelsinger wins a chunk of its business without the trouble of competition roadblocks.

Persons: Pat Gelsinger, Gelsinger, Jonathan Guilford, Hong Kong, Lauern Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Intel, Reuters, Tower Semiconductor, Intel’s, X, Hong, Thomson Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, U.S, Mexico, Tower’s

☆ Twinkies maker will give food brands a sugar high
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Hostess Brands "Twinkies" are displayed in a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S. July 5, 2016. Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 1 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Urban legend says Hostess Brands’ (TWNK.O) infamous Twinkie is so highly processed it could survive a nuclear war. Executives at both Hostess and Mondelez have noted that snacking is getting more popular, even as people are indulging in smaller portions. Add a 30% premium to its undisturbed stock price, and its enterprise value is 15 times forward EBITDA, according to Refinitiv data. A deal is possible, but it has a good chance of leaving a short-lived sugar high.

Persons: Mills, Metropoulos, Andy Callahan, Mondelez, Callahan, isn’t, Morgan Stanley, General Mills, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Mondelez, Apollo Global Management, New York Times, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Planters, Hostess Brands, Hershey, PepsiCo, General, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S

☆ With housing, Buffett chooses a great location
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Mortgages are pricey, but Warren Buffett seems to think that’s a good thing for homebuilders. Horton (DHI.N), Lennar (LEN.N) and NVR (NVR.N), just as mortgage rates hit the highest level in nearly 23 years. That’s 3% less than last year, and 7% less than the average used-home price today. Horton, NVR and Lennar on Aug. 14. The conglomerate, run by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, purchased $726 million, $71 million and $17 million of DR Horton, NVR and Lennar shares, respectively, throughout the second quarter, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, D.R . Horton, Horton, NVR, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Buffett, Berkshire, Securities and Exchange Commission, Mortgage Bankers Association, Census, Thomson Locations: . Berkshire, D.R ., Horton, U.S, New York, Los Angeles, Berkshire, that’s, homebuilders D.R, DR

☆ 3M’s $6 bln earplugs settlement is a little sticky
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A variety of 3M products are pictured at an Orchard Supply Hardware store in Pasadena, California U.S., January 24, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - 3M’s (MMM.N) latest legal settlement includes some curious wrinkles. Moreover, the earplugs agreement is conditioned on 98% participation from what is now roughly 250,000 claimants. The $60 billion company is trying to project the idea it’s getting past its legal entanglements, but the reality is a little stickier. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Scotchgard, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Mukesh Ambani’s, Didi, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Supply, Pasadena , California U.S, REUTERS, Reuters, Aearo Technologies, X, Thomson Locations: Pasadena , California

☆ White House inflicts Big Pharma ills
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

If just one or two big medications were going to be renegotiated, the industry could shoulder the change. The IRA, signed into law last year, allows Medicare to negotiate prices for some of its most costly drugs. Though specificities are unclear, a quick look at one of the biggest sellers under the program, blood thinner Eliquis, suggests Big Pharma could shoulder a discount. At 11 times earnings over the next 12 months, that’s less than 10% of the firm’s $205 billion market capitalization. Put this on the same multiple of 11 times, and it would be a $275 billion hit to the industry.

Persons: George Frey, Biden, Robert Cyran, Xpeng’s Didi, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, REUTERS, Reuters, Big, Medicare, Pfizer, Bristol, Myers Squibb, Congressional, Office, X, Thomson Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S

☆ Instacart’s mixed bag has valuation opportunities
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

If it doesn’t push valuation too hard, a public listing could be seamless. Instacart booked net income in 2022, a rarity for a growth company hitting the public market. That brings Instacart’s enterprise value to roughly $17 billion, less than half of what it was worth in 2021 but still higher than the internal valuation it inked last year. Follow @AnitaRamaswamy on XCONTEXT NEWSGrocery-delivery business Instacart filed paperwork to go public on Aug. 25 under the formal name Maplebear. The company, which did not share its target price range in the filing, grew revenue by 39% in 2022 to $2.6 billion.

Persons: Eric Cohn, Cheney Orr, Fidji Simo, Instacart, Simo, Apoorva Mehta, Domino's, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Safeway, REUTERS, Reuters, Nasdaq, Kroger, Aldi, Costco Wholesale, Companies, Thomson Locations: Tucson , Arizona, U.S, Cava

☆ Tupperware preserves lessons for Mark Zuckerberg
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS) Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Tupperware Brands (TUP.N) is struggling to stop the rot. As much as technology has remade business strategies over the past 77 years, Facebook owner Meta Platforms (META.O) leans on a comparable one. Enter Brownie Wise, the saleswoman credited with pioneering the “Tupperware effect” of teaching women how to flog to their friends by hosting themed gatherings in their living rooms. Ironically enough, in the interim Tupperware also become the product of another modern network effect, a meme stock, or a highly speculative online investment. Tupperware has about a quarter of the active salesforce it did at the end of 2012, the same year Facebook bought Instagram.

Persons: Mike Blake, UNITED, –, Earl Tupper, Tupperware, Brownie Wise, Tammy Hembrow, June Cleaver, influencers, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Safeway Inc, Reuters, Tupperware, Meta, Pew Research, Facebook, Brands, Thomson Locations: Encinitas , California, Vons, Australian, Tupperware’s

☆ SPACs can't be killed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chamath Palihapitiya, Founder and CEO of Social Capital, presents during the 2018 Sohn Investment Conference in New York City, U.S., April 23, 2018. Although SPACs raised just $13 billion last year, this week produced a deal that looks like it could have happened during the heyday. From U.S. presidential hopefuls’ forays to a continued SPAC king’s virality, SPACs’ reach is a reminder that they are hard to kill. This week, one of those SPACs bought Better.com, a mortgage lender led by Vishal Garg and backed by SoftBank Group (9984.T). They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Chamath Palihapitiya, Brendan McDermid, SPACs, Vishal Garg, Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, lister Chamath Palihapitiya, Anita Ramaswamy, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Social Capital, Investment, REUTERS, Reuters, SoftBank Group, Securities and Exchange Commission, X, KKR, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S

☆ Republican hopefuls’ deficit goals are all talk
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Participants in the party’s first debate for the 2024 election on Wednesday night promised to shrink the government’s budget shortfall. Yet Republicans have a bad track record for cutting federal debt, and some candidates are already touting pricey projects and tax cuts. The last Republican president to run a budget surplus was George W. Bush in 2001, but even that year was partly influenced by the cost-cutting measures put in place by his Democratic predecessor. With Congress balking at such a combinations, Republican candidates’ plans are all talk, little hope of action. That budget deficit is 122% larger than the shortfall seen in the same period last year.

Persons: Asa Hutchinson, Chris Christie, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Doug Burgum, jockeying, “, Donald Trump, George W, Bush, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Arkansas, New, U.S, South Carolina, North Dakota, Republican, Reuters, Republicans, South, Democratic, U.S . Office, Management, Former New, Congressional, Cato Institute, Fitch, Treasury Department, Thomson Locations: New Jersey, Florida, U.S, WASHINGTON, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, South Carolina, Former New Jersey, Arkansas, Ukraine, China, The U.S

☆ Shein deal kills several birds with one stone
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Shein logo is pictured at the company’s office in the central business district of Singapore, October 18, 2022. REUTERS/Chen Lin Acquire Licensing RightsTORONTO, Aug 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Shein isn’t wasting any time in the U.S. battle for buyers of ultra-fast fashion. In exchange, Sparc will become a minority shareholder in Shein. The clever relationship kills a few birds with one stone. Shein is highly skilled at manufacturing TikTok-friendly wares, but has come under attack for its ESG credentials.

Persons: Chen Lin, Simon Property, Simon, Brooks, Sharon Lam, Coinbase’s, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Forever, Sparc, Authentic Brands, Authentic, X, Thomson Locations: Singapore, U.S, Shein, American

☆ DeSantis chose wrong Disney battle, right war
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Jennifer Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, Aug 22 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis may have been politically foolish for picking a battle with Walt Disney (DIS.N), but economically speaking, he was on to something. Disney received special status in 1967 after it agreed to help drain the Florida swamp, literally, and build an entertainment park in exchange for special designation. DeSantis seized on the remarks, and with Florida lawmakers earlier this year, took control of the special board. Last week Disney filed a counterclaim to regain control. DeSantis chose the wrong battle but the right war.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Walt Disney, Disney, Bob Chapek, DeSantis, Donald Trump, didn’t, —, Timothy Bartik, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Reuters, Disney, Republican, New York Times, Comcast, Apple, Walt Disney, Florida, DeSantis, Thomson Locations: Florida, Siena, North Carolina, Virginia, State, . North Carolina, Reedy

☆ Union fights grow US workers’ slice of profit pie
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Strong demand for workers has given organized workers a stronger hand at the bargaining table. The United Steel Workers union has asserted itself aggressively in a bidding battle for U.S. Steel (X.N). Corporate profit is 30% above its pre-crisis high, at $2.7 trillion, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. With organized workers showing clout, they’ll be able to pull some more profit their way. Trucking company Yellow filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Aug. 7 after halting operations the week prior.

Persons: Darren Hawkins, they’ll, . Steel, “, Carole Tome, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Workers, Economic, United Parcel Service, United Steel Workers, U.S . Steel, UPS, Teamsters, U.S . Bureau, Reuters Graphics Reuters, ., Trucking, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Thomson Locations: Cleveland, U.S

☆ PayPal would slot well in a different wallet
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The $70 billion company’s struggles, and the incoming chief’s credentials, set the stage for a transaction of some sort. He also spearheaded its $12 billion purchase of marketing service Mailchimp in 2021, which could augur a deal. And an operation like PayPal’s could help CEO Mark Zuckerberg challenge potential cage-match opponent Elon Musk and his super-app ambitions at X, formerly known as Twitter. Given PayPal’s massive slump, Chriss will be under pressure to restore the luster, or to slot it into another company’s wallet. In 2021, he led the company’s $12 billion acquisition of Mailchimp.

Persons: Alex Chriss, Dan Schulman, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Lina Khan, Fiserv, Frank Bisignano, Peter Thiel, Sexier, Chriss, Schulman, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Reuters, PayPal, Intuit, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Facebook, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal Mafia, Mailchimp, Thomson

☆ Consumers will win in cannabis-credit card clash
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The $376 billion payments network wants its financial partners in transactions for cannabis to crack down on using its debit cards, Bloomberg reported on July 26. The budding industry is running out of convenient options for customers to pay for its products. By definition, payments networks such as Mastercard and Visa (V.N) are middlemen, facilitating the movement of money between parties. In the weed business, that means they take the money from the buyer’s bank account and ship it into the dispensary’s. In Washington, D.C., some cannabis shops peddle quasi-worthless knickknacks such as stickers to customers while “gifting” small amounts of pot.

Persons: workarounds, Mastercard’s, Anita Ramaswamy, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Mastercard, Bloomberg, Visa, D.C, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Washington

☆ AMC can build Dreamhouse on Barbenheimer buzz
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

AMC Entertainment (AMC.N), the struggling movie theater chain wrestling with a meme-stock hangover, saw its busiest day since 2019 this past Saturday. The company needs cash to survive, and this weekend might add enough fantasy to help it. AMC has refiled to try again, and in some ways, Barbenheimer helps. The biggest risk to the movie theater business was that it would never return to pre-pandemic levels. AMC Entertainment, one of the U.S.’s largest theater chains, recorded over 7 million moviegoers in attendance over that weekend.

Persons: Barbie, “ Oppenheimer ”, Adam Aron, Aron, –, “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, ”, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Warner Bros, Comcast, Universal Pictures, AMC Entertainment, Monday, AMC, Malibu, Thomson Locations: Barbenheimer, Delaware

☆ Office landlord offers glimpse of what’s to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Piedmont Office Realty Trust (PDM.N) is sifting through the rubble. The $910 million owner of high-quality office buildings in Boston, Dallas and beyond just borrowed at 9.25%, more than twice the interest rate it’s replacing. It’s an ominous sign for U.S. office landlords facing $60 billion of debt maturing at the end of 2023 and 2024, per data miner RCA. Office prices have fallen so much that cap rates are approaching 10%, according to Jonathan Litt, founder of activist hedge fund Land and Buildings Investment Management. Pricier debt means less income, but if rents have stabilized and interest rates keep rising, Piedmont was wise to start reconstructing its balance sheet sooner rather than later.

Persons: Brent Smith, Jonathan Litt, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Realty Trust, Refinitiv, RCA, Buildings Investment Management, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Boston, Dallas, Piedmont, Spain

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