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☆ Amazon to lay off over 17,000 workers - WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) is planning to lay off more than 17,000 workers, a higher number than the e-commerce giant initially planned, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Some of the additional layoffs are from Amazon's corporate ranks, according to the WSJ report. The Seattle-based company began laying off staff in its devices division in November, with a source telling Reuters at the time that Amazon was targeting 10,000 job cuts. Amazon, America's second-largest private employer with more than 1.5 million workers including warehouse staff, has been bracing for likely slower growth as soaring inflation forces businesses and consumers to cut back spending. Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc's (AMZN.O) layoffs will now stretch to more than 18,000 roles as part of a workforce reduction it previously disclosed, Chief Executive Andy Jassy said in a public staff note on Wednesday. The layoff decisions, which Amazon will communicate starting Jan. 18, will largely impact the company's e-commerce and human-resources organizations, he said. Amazon has more than 1.5 million workers including warehouse staff, making it America's second-largest private employer after Walmart Inc (WMT.N). It began letting staff go in November from its devices division, with a source telling Reuters at the time it was targeting 10,000 job cuts. In number, its layoffs now surpass the 11,000 job cuts at Facebook-parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) as well as reductions at other tech-industry peers.

☆ Amazon secures $8 billion term loan
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 3 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) said on Tuesday it had reached an agreement with certain lenders to provide the e-commerce giant an $8 billion unsecured loan. The term loan will mature in 364 days, with an option to extend for another 364 days and the proceeds would be used for general corporate purposes. The online retailer has been bracing for likely slower growth, as soaring inflation forces businesses and consumers to cut back spending. Amazon had about $35 billion in cash and cash equivalents and long-term debt of about $59 billion at the end of the third quarter ended Sept. 30. Toronto Dominion was the administrative agent for the loan agreement in which DBS Bank and Mizuho Bank were among lenders, Amazon said.

☆ Twitter to expand permitted political advertising
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Sheila Dang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 3 (Reuters) - Twitter Inc on Tuesday said it would expand the types of political ads allowed on the social media platform, an apparent reversal of its 2019 global ban on political ads, as the Elon Musk-owned company seeks to grow revenue. The company tweeted it would also relax its advertising policy for "cause-based ads" in the United States, and moving forward would align its advertising policy "with that of TV and other media outlets." Twitter banned political ads in 2019 after it and other social media companies like Facebook faced widespread criticism for allowing election misinformation to spread across its services. "We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought," tweeted Jack Dorsey, Twitter's then-chief executive, in announcing the move. Last month, Musk defended his deep cost-cutting measures, and said Twitter had been facing "negative cash flow" of $3 billion next year.

☆ Elon Musk's Twitter lifts ban on political ads
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Sheila Dang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Twitter Inc will reverse its 2019 ban on political ads, the company's head of trust and safety confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday, as the Elon Musk-owned company seeks to grow revenue. The change brings Twitter's policies closer to Meta Platform's (META.O) Facebook and Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) YouTube, which allow political advertising. One platform that still bans political ads is Chinese video app TikTok. "We believe that cause-based advertising can facilitate public conversation around important topics," the social media company tweeted. Twitter banned political ads in 2019 after it and other social media companies faced widespread criticism for allowing election misinformation to spread.

"[But] private equity funds still have significant amounts of dry powder, and by the second half of next year, they will be looking to put some of it to work," he said. Private equity firms normally buy companies with a combination of debt and equity. "Ticket sizes across the private credit industry are likely to come down depending on the deal. Banks often highlight debt funds' - or direct lenders - higher prices and more stringent documentation requirements as competitive disadvantages to the syndicated loan and junk bond markets. But some see private credit as part of the solution at a time when money is scarce.

☆ Analysis: India's post-COVID spending boom drives two-speed economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Ira Dugal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The world's fifth-largest economy is expected grow 6% in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, according to a survey by the Indian central bank this month. Importantly, conditions are better than not just the crippling slump during India's devastating COVID surge last year but also the anemic growth of the debt-saddled last decade. "If India does everything right, we could see significant foreign inflows in the next one to two years," said Sridhar Sivaram, investment director at Enam Holdings, a privately managed investment group. India's weight in the MSCI emerging market index has already risen from 8% in 2019 to 16% as of October 2022, said Sivaram. There is also hope that global corporations will diversify supply chains away from China, which would benefit India.

The four gay couples want a Supreme Court ruling that modifies or interprets laws in a way that allows same-gender marriages, the court filings show. The United States this month approved legislation that provides federal recognition to same-sex marriages in a bid to further safeguard gay rights. The law ministry has opposed same-sex marriages in the past and said courts should stay away from the law-making process that falls under parliament's purview. The Supreme Court has given the government until Jan. 6 to submit its responses. "A decision on same-sex marriage in the near future is inevitable.

☆ India bank sale sharpens valuation rivalry
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (8316.T), Carlyle (CG.O) and Fairfax Financial (FFH.TO) may each be eyeing some of the 61% stake on offer in $7 billion IDBI Bank (IDBI.NS), per reports by The Economic Times and Mint. These latecomers’ share of outstanding loans fell to 55% in March 2022 from 70% in 2016, per Reserve Bank of India data. CONTEXT NEWSIndia on Dec. 14 extended the deadline to submit preliminary bids for the sale of a controlling stake in IDBI Bank to Jan. 7 from Dec. 16. New Delhi intends to sell 30.48%; Life Insurance Corporation of India, which is almost entirely government-owned, will sell a 30.24% stake. Carlyle, Fairfax Financial and DBS Bank are considering bidding for at least 10% each in IDBI Bank, Mint reported on Nov. 7, citing unnamed sources.

MUMBAI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - India's biggest companies should be investing much more than they are currently, Uday Kotak, chief executive of Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS) said in an interview at the Reuters NEXT conference on Wednesday. Across India's banking sector, lending has been rising steadily - a sign of a new private investment cycle in the world's fifth largest economy. Kotak said he believes the gap between credit and deposit growth will narrow in the next three to six months, but did not elaborate. He also said it was critical for the government to follow through on plans to privatise most state-run companies. To view the Reuters NEXT conference live on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, please click here.

Nov 29 (Reuters) - Deal-hungry Americans snapped up everything from toys to electronics during the five-day long Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday shopping bonanza lured by steep discounts, sales data showed. Online toy sales on Cyber Monday jumped nearly eight-fold compared to an average day in October 2022, according to Adobe. Electronics sales rose about five-fold, while sporting goods, appliances and books also saw increases over 400%. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsCyber Monday sales rose 5.8%, said Adobe, which analyzes purchases at 85% of the top 100 internet retailers in the United States. Overall global online sales for the cyber week hit an all-time high of $281 billion, according to data from Salesforce (CRM.N), while U.S. online sales gained 9% to $68 billion.

U.S. shoppers spent $35.27 billion online overall during Cyber Week, the period from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. But the modest pickup trounced the paltry 2.9% increase in sales during China's Singles Day, an 11-day shopping festival ending November 11, hosted by Alibaba and other Chinese e-commerce firms. Originally, Singles Day was an unofficial Chinese holiday on Nov. 11 (11/11) to celebrate people who were not in relationships. These days, brands use Singles Day to clear inventory and experiment with new products. With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging in China, "it wont be fair to can compare" Singles Day with Cyber Week, Chernev said, as Americans are shopping with fewer restrictions.

☆ Cyber Monday sets sales record as shoppers splurge on toys, electronics- report
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Toys were the hottest products on Cyber Monday, their online sales jumped nearly eight-fold compared to an average day in October 2022, according to the Adobe Analytics report. Electronics sales rose about five-fold, while sporting goods, appliances and books also saw increases over 400%. About 196.7 million shoppers made purchases during the five-day holiday period from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, the National Retail Federation said on Tuesday. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsCanada's Shopify Inc (SHOP.TO) said its merchants recorded $7.5 billion in sales globally from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Still, some experts were not convinced that a bright Cyber Monday was a sign of inflation easing its burden on consumer sentiment.

The estimate from Adobe Analytics predicts an increase of up to 8.5% from a year earlier. Adobe Analytics measures e-commerce performance by analyzing purchases at 85% of the top 100 internet retailers in the United States. Both Adobe and MasterCard Spending Pulse are expected to release their updated Cyber Monday spending estimates on Tuesday. Americans have put off holiday shopping for weeks in the hopes of finding deeper post-Thanksgiving markdowns. Last year, Cyber Monday sales fell 1.4%, according to Adobe Analytics, as retailers kicked off holiday promotions early to avoid product shortages amid a global shipping crisis.

☆ Cyber Monday sales to touch up to $11.6 bln as shoppers go discount hunting
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Uday Sampath Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Adobe Analytics, which measures e-commerce by analyzing transactions at websites, has access to data covering purchases at 85% of the top 100 internet retailers in the United States. Cyber Monday sales fell 1.4% last year as retailers spread out promotional deals across weeks from as early as October to better manage inventories amid widespread product shortages. Walmart (WMT.N) and Best Buy websites also showed discounts worth hundreds of dollars on high-end laptops and televisions. Shoppers will find record discounts today for computers, peaking at 27% off listed price, while nearly all other categories, including apparel, toys and furniture, also have double-digit discounts, Adobe said. U.S. shoppers spent a record $9.12 billion online on Black Friday, according to Adobe Analytics.

☆ Cyber Monday set for record sales of $11.2 bln as shoppers wait for discounts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Uday Sampath Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Adobe Analytics report predicts spending on Cyber Monday to rise 5.2% as inflation-weary consumers have been putting off holiday shopping for weeks in the hopes of deep post-Thanksgiving markdowns. Cyber Monday sales fell 1.4% last year as retailers spread out promotional deals across weeks from as early as October to better manage inventories amid widespread product shortages. "With holiday promotions kicking off long before the Thanksgiving weekend, consumers have been shopping strategically for the season's best deals," said Mastercard Chief U.S. U.S. shoppers also spent a record $9.12 billion online on Black Friday, according to Adobe Analytics. However, with sporadic rain in some parts of the country, brick-and-mortar stores and malls saw thinner crowds than usual.

After weeks of passing up early Black Friday deals from Walmart, Target and Amazon, Uribe is on the hunt for a Nintendo Switch and video games for her daughter, Tupperware for her kitchen and a vacuum cleaner. Checking off items from the holiday list is "just cheaper" on Black Friday, plus, "it's our favorite day of the year, so we just wait," Uribe said. Uribe joins millions of shoppers who waited for what they hope might be the deepest discounts of the holiday season on Black Friday, despite an industry-wide push by retailers to get shoppers to buy holiday items starting in October. The waiting game by shoppers has forced retailers to offer steep discounts on items, which may pinch profit margins in the fourth quarter. Americans, especially from low-income households, are expected to pull back on their holiday shopping this year as inflation and higher energy prices pinch their spending power.

☆ Best Buy forecasts smaller drop in sales ahead of holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Uday Sampath Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 22 (Reuters) - Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) on Tuesday forecast a smaller drop in annual sales than it had previously estimated, saying it was confident that a ramp up in deals and discounts will bring in more inflation-weary customers during the holiday season. Best Buy expects full-year comparable sales to fall about 10%, compared with a previous forecast of a decrease of about 11%. "Best Buy may be better positioned for the holiday season than other retailers," said Jason Benowitz, senior portfolio manager at Roosevelt Investment Group. "We expect modest growth in consumer holiday spend this year and believe many companies hold too much inventory relative to demand, while Best Buy appears to have rightsized its holdings ahead of the season," Benowitz added. However, heavier discounts will take a toll on holiday-quarter profit margins, Best Buy warned.

☆ Best Buy forecasts smaller-than-expected drop in annual sales ahead of holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 22 (Reuters) - Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) said on Tuesday it forecast a smaller-than-expected drop in annual sales ahead of the holiday season, as steep discounts help soften the blow to electronics demand. Surging prices have driven down demand for non-essential products this year, forcing Best Buy and other retailers to opt for discounts and promotions to clear excess stock of products such as televisions, laptops and other electronics. Best Buy said it expects full-year comparable sales to fall about 10%, compared with a previous forecast of a decrease of about 11%. The company's comparable sales decreased 10.4% in the third quarter ended Oct. 29, compared with analysts' estimates of a 12.9% fall, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Apple's Pro iPhones will be harder to find in stores this holiday -Best Buy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 22 (Reuters) - Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) high-end iPhones will be in short supply at stores this holiday season, Best Buy Co Inc's (BBY.N) chief executive said on Tuesday, as the tech giant grapples with production issues at a virus-blighted plant in China. read moreThe supply issues are expected to most significantly impact Apple's premium iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models, which start at nearly $1,000. Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said the electronics retail giant was seeing a shortage in stocks of the premium iPhones and had factored the expected loss in sales into its holiday quarter forecast. Apple's iPhones and other products draw a lot of customers to Best Buy stores and often trigger impulse buying of other gadgets as well. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives estimates 8 million iPhone 14 units will be sold over the Black Friday weekend, about 2 million fewer than a year ago.

☆ Hasbro looks to sell part of eOne TV production business
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Joyce Lee | Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Hasbro Inc (HAS.O) said on Thursday it is looking to sell part of its eOne production unit, which makes TV shows including "Yellowjackets" and "The Rookie", as the toymaker looks to streamline its business and focus on core brands. The company bought eOne, maker the popular children's TV show "Peppa Pig", for about $4 billion in 2019. Hasbro said Peppa Pig is not a part of the business that it is putting up for sale. Hasbro shares rose marginally in premarket trading. Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hasbro looks to sell part of eOne TV business
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Joyce Lee | Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Toymaker Hasbro Inc (HAS.O) said on Thursday it is looking to sell part of its eOne TV and film production business. Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Macy's raises annual profit forecast on firm luxury demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Upscale department store chain Macy's Inc (M.N) raised its annual profit forecast on Thursday on resilient demand for high-end suits, gowns and beauty products as wealthier shoppers were undeterred by inflation. Like other retailers, Macy's has introduced more discounts to clear excess stock of casual and athleisure apparel, while luxury goods sales has held up relatively well. The department store chain said it expects fiscal 2022 adjusted profit of $4.07 to $4.27 per share compared with its previous forecast of $4 to $4.20. Net sales at the department store chain fell to $5.23 billion in the third quarter ended Oct, 29 compared with $5.44 billion a year earlier. Reporting by Deborah Sophia and Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Target warns of dour holiday sales, shares plunge 15%
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Uday Sampath Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of the big-box retailer fell more than 15% in premarket trading after it also said that its third-quarter profit had halved. In contrast, Walmart, which dedicates most of its shelf space to groceries and other daily essentials, raised its full-year sales and profit forecast on Tuesday. However, the top U.S. retailer warned that its customers could slow spending, especially in general merchandise categories, in the holiday quarter. FedEx (FDX.N) and Amazon (AMZN.O) have also warned of a slump in holiday season demand in recent weeks, while overall U.S. holiday sales are expected to rise at a slower pace this year, according to an industry trade group. On an adjusted basis, Target's profit was $1.54 per share for the quarter ended Oct. 29, missing analysts' expectations of $2.13.

Amid persistent inflation, investors have been nervously eyeing how consumer spending pans out during the crucial holiday season, when retailers make more than a third of their annual profits. The world's largest retailer by sales forecast holiday quarter U.S. same-store sales, excluding fuel, to increase about 3%, below estimates of a 3.4% increase. The company's comments follow those of FedEx and Amazon, which have also warned of muted holiday season demand in recent weeks. Home improvement chain Home Depot (HD.N) on Tuesday left its annual forecasts unchanged, adding to holiday season concerns amid a slowing housing market. read moreFor the full-year, Walmart forecast net sales to rise 5.5%, above its previous forecast of a 4.5% increase.

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