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☆ Strikes, Delays and Lost Luggage: How to Survive Air Travel This Summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Elaine Glusac | The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +27 min

Illustration by Yukai Du Strikes, Delays and Lost Luggage: How to Survive Air Travel This Summer With the travel season in full swing, we compiled a guide to help you navigate the year’s most hectic time in the skies. If you don’t care which beach, shop around.” If you haven’t booked summer flights, do it now. For one, avoiding the airports with the highest levels of delays and cancellations last summer may be a good idea. They’re also getting longer inside airport lounges, longtime havens from the masses clogging the terminals at peak times. Standard membership in Priority Pass, a network of 1,300 airport lounges, starts at $99 a year, with each visit costing $35 at that level.

Persons: Yukai Du, we’ve, haven’t, Hopper, What’s, ”, Laura Lindsay, Ted Rossman, Priceline, Mr, Rossman, Charlotte Douglas, Toronto Pearson, it’s, “, Carter Langston, Rhonda Lawson, C.B.P, you’ve, you’re, You’ll, Lawson, Emmanuel Macron, Tomasz Pawliszyn, Jamie Larounis, Larounis, they’re, SITA —, They’re, Eric Goldmann of Atlanta Organizations: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Google, Miami, JetBlue, Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol, Gatwick, Air Canada, Labor, Newark Liberty International, La Guardia Airport, Kennedy Airport, Reagan, Miami International, Orlando International, Boston Logan International, Charlotte Douglas International, Toronto Pearson, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington , D.C, Customs, Western, Gulf, Phoenix, Transportation Security Administration, Global, Border Protection, Clear, PreCheck, Heathrow, Air, SNCF, U.S . State Department, Smart, Union, Travelers, New Tech, Airlines, Lufthansa, Siemens, Alaska Airlines, KLM, U.S . Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Apple, The Department of Transportation, American, Venture, Dallas Fort Worth International, JPMorgan Chase, Club, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Americas Locations: Europe, United States, Asia, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Fla, Miami, London, Amsterdam, U.S, La, New York, Washington, Charlotte, N.C, Newark, Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, Jakarta, Frankfurt, Munich, Heathrow, Washington ,, States, Denver, Seattle, Reno, Nev, Gulf Coast, Atlantic, Houston , New Orleans, Atlanta, Luton, T.S.A, ’, noncitizens, France, Britain, Italy, Germany, Berlin, Dutch, Swiss, Delta, United, Hong Kong, Dallas, Boston, North, Central, South America, Dallas , Newark

Her mother Sarah — a former deli shop owner — was bored with retirement and had decided to open an ice cream shop in Bethesda, Maryland. "To be honest, at first I was like, 'ice cream shop?'" Running the ice cream shopDespite Sarah's Handmade Ice Cream successful grand opening, it took over six months for the business to become "a well-oiled machine," Park says. Instead, Park and her mother donate ice cream to local nonprofits and community organizations, which has attracted loyal customers in the Bethesda area. Within a few months of opening the first store, Park realized the business didn't have to be limited to just "a mom-and-daughter shop."

Jefferies says specialty plumbing and appliances distributor Ferguson is a high-quality business "poised to take [market] share." Its new price target of $181 implies shares rallying 28% from Monday's close. "FERG is uniquely positioned to service compared to smaller competitors due to its scale & breadth of products," analyst Philip Ng wrote in a Tuesday note. "FERG should be resilient in a downturn, driven by its pricing power, high variable cost structure and capital light model. FERG's pricing power & limited exposure to commodity products drive stable gross margins through the cycle."

☆ The top 10 buzziest companies Gen Z wants to work for—none of them are in Big Tech, says new report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The graduating class of 2023's desire for stability in an uncertain economy is dictating where they want to work most after college. It's hard to escape unrelenting news of tech layoffs in recent months, including major staff cuts from Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and many others. "They're gravitating toward companies that offer solid benefits, career pathing and a level of stability they've been looking for." Most young professionals plan to pick up new tech skills for their careersThough search interest for major tech companies dropped, Cruzvergara says today's grads are more likely than their predecessors to be interested in jobs that require tech skills. New college grads feel confident they have the skills they need to get the job they want but also plan to develop new tech skills on the job or after hours.

☆ Bud Light sales are falling, but distributors say they’re sticking by the brand
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Beer distributors are largely sticking by Bud Light and its parent company, Anheuser-Busch, as controversy continues to embroil the brand. Bud Light pours at bars and restaurants declined in early April, according BeerBoard, which tracks sales data at thousands of bars and restaurants. BeerBoard told CNN that the 3,000 locations tracked by the firm poured 6% less Bud Light than rivals, including Miller Lite and Coors Light, from April 2 to April 15. Bud Light had been much more popular than rivals in the weeks before: From March 18 through April 1, customers ordered Bud Light 15% more than rival light beers. Heinerscheid said in a recent podcast interview that Bud Light needs to attract young drinkers to ensure the company’s future by promoting inclusivity.

☆ A 13-year-old boy was groomed publicly on Twitter and kidnapped, despite numerous chances to stop it
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Ben Goggin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

On the Hunter Fox Twitter account, the adult interacted directly with the boy's account, where he posted selfies of himself on a school bus and in other locations. Their teen son had plenty of friends, his parents said, and liked to play golf and build Legos. Heather McConney's teen son communicated with the man accused of grooming him through an Apple iPhone. The suspect's primary Twitter account appears to have been @HunterFloofyFox. After the worst day of their lives, the McConneys' son was recovered early on the morning of Dec. 28 in Nebraska.

☆ BofA's Hartnett sees commercial real estate as the 'next shoe to drop'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Commercial real estate could be the next danger spot in the wobbly U.S. financial sector, according to Bank of America. One warning sign: Spreads for commercial mortgage-backed securities are at their widest compared with Treasurys since May 2020, said investment strategist Michael Hartnett. "CRE widely seen as next shoe to drop as lending standards for CRE loans to tighten further," Hartnett wrote in his weekly "Flow Show" report of where market money is gravitating. The last Federal Reserve Senior Loan Office Opinion Survey , in January, noted "significant net shares of banks" that reported tightening lending standards for commercial loans. The Bank Term Funding Program reported $53.7 billion in loans over the past month , while the discount window saw $110.2 billion.

☆ Tech stocks emerge as haven in sell-off fueled by bank worries
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Among the big tech stocks, Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has fallen 1.5% over that time, while Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) climbed 3.4% and Intel Corp (INTC.O) rose over 7%. Large tech stocks generally screen well on "quality" metrics, such as balance sheet strength and profit margins, heightening their allure when economic uncertainty arises, said Matthew Miskin, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management. Reuters GraphicsA swift tumble in Treasury yields is also helping boost tech stocks. Tech shares were pummeled in 2022 as the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes drove up Treasury yields, hurting "long duration" assets such as tech stocks. The utilities sector (.SPLRCU) has climbed 1% since last Wednesday, consumer staples (.SPLRCS) has slipped 0.5%, while healthcare (.SPXHC) has dipped 1%.

☆ McCormick's red-cap bottles are getting a makeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —McCormick, the top-selling maker of seasonings and spices, is giving its iconic red-cap bottles their first makeover in more than 40 years. Shoppers will soon see newly designed bottles that feature updated labeling and a new “snap” cap that the company says keeps spices and seasonings fresher compared to its previous design. McCormick’s new sleeker bottles, which have already begun rolling out in the United States, will first contain its most popular herbs and spices, including cinnamon, garlic powder and crushed red pepper. The inside is getting a makeover, too. “This is a winning proposition from top to bottom and we have tons of consumer research to validate that,” she said.

☆ The head of investment strategy at BlackRock's $2.2 trillion iShares Americas unit explains why the stock market has already hit its low — and lays out the 5 ways to invest now
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But Chaudhuri believes that stocks won't hit their 2022 lows, and that any slowdown will be mild. On the other hand, the US economy has shown signs of strength so far this year, and Chaudhuri believes that when a slowdown finally comes, it'll be both relatively mild and predictable. Within the bond market, Chaudhuri specifically recommends investors use a barbell strategy to gain exposure to both ends of the yield curve. As for the equity market, Chaudhuri said that from a historical perspective, value stocks generally outperform in a macroeconomic regime characterized by higher inflation and rates. Another benefit of value stocks is that they are currently trading more cheaply than their growth counterparts.

☆ High Noon, the top-selling canned cocktail, is expanding beyond vodka
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —As sales of canned cocktails and of tequila soar, High Noon is looking to capitalize on that combo. High Noon Tequila Seltzer hits shelves Wednesday in the United States and will be sold in an 8-pack containing four flavors (lime, grapefruit, passionfruit and strawberry) for a suggested retail price of $21.99. High Noon Tequila Seltzer hits shelves on Wednesday. Or course, High Noon Tequila Seltzer isn’t the first tequila-based premixed cocktail. Gallo jumped on the canned cocktail craze in 2019 with High Noon, a vodka base mixed with several types juice including lime, lemon and mango.

☆ 'Ant-Man and the Wasp in Quantumania' eyes $100 million open after $17.5 million Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Disney's "Ant-Man and the Wasp in Quantumania" collected $17.5 million in Thursday night previews on its way towards a $100 million opening weekend. Previously, 2015's "Ant-Man" snared $6 million on Thursday before tallying $57 million over the three-day spready. 2018's "Ant-Man and the Wasp" secured $12 million on its Thursday debut and $76 million across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. "'Quantumania' is tracking to become the best February box office opener in five years," said Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com. Lackluster critical reviews of the film likely won't deter moviegoers.

☆ More than half of all 'Avatar: The Way of Water' tickets have been for 3D showings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For comparison, all other movies released in 2022 — not including "The Way of Water" — saw less than 14% of ticket sales from premium showings, averaging $15.76 a ticket. Bolstering box office numbers for the film is the push from Disney and Cameron for 3D showings. Since its release, the "Avatar" sequel has seen more than 56% of its tickets sold for 3D showings. The original 2009 "Avatar," which is the top grossing film of all time, also did well with 3D and premium tickets. To be sure, "The Way of Water" has not reached its historic box office just because of surcharges for 3D and premium format screenings.

☆ Want Big-Skirt Energy? How to Master the Statement Look
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Fiorella Valdesolo | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

A drenching is always amusing, but it’s her tutu that makes that scene indelible. The show’s costume designer, Patricia Field, was insistent on the garment, saying in an interview, “Whatever she’s wearing has to be completely original to last in time.”That iconic look embodies “big-skirt energy,” a mood dominating the resort and spring 2023 collections. A skirt needn’t literally be big to possess BSE. But whether maxi or midi, spangled or satin, printed or plain, it must project outsize attitude. And women are gravitating to that, reports Marc Rofsky, a buying director at e-commerce site Moda Operandi, who’s seen year-over-year, double-digit growth in skirts between October and January 2023.

☆ Punk icon Tom Verlaine, founder of the band Television, dies at 73
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Tom Verlaine, who redefined rock guitar in the punk era of the 1970s with his band Television, died Saturday in Manhattan. Tom Verlaine’s soloing (and Richard Lloyd‘s as well, of course) showed me you could be a virtuoso and dangerous at the same time, more Coltrane or Ornette than the arena rockers of the day. In 2007, Lloyd was replaced in the touring unit by Jimmy Ripp, who had for many years supported Verlaine on his solo albums and tours. Only after his twin brother John played the Rolling Stones’ “19th Nervous Breakdown” and other contemporary rock records for him did Miller rethink his preferred instrument. Though he always boasted a devoted cult fan base, Verlaine never succeeded in attaining a commercial foothold on the charts; his 1981 sophomore solo album “Dreamtime,” his lone entry, peaked at No.

☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Disney, Target, AMD, Tesla, Coinbase, Amazon & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Morgan Stanley reiterates Apple as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by it's overweight rating on Apple shares heading into earnings on Feb. 2. Bernstein reiterates Apple as market perform Bernstein said it's "ambivalent" about Apple shares heading into earnings next month. Bernstein downgrades Advanced Micro to market perform from outperform Bernstein said it's concerned about a deteriorating PC market. Morgan Stanley upgrades Marathon Oil to overweight from neutral Morgan Stanley said Marathon Oil has "peer-leading FCF and shareholder returns." Morgan Stanley reiterates Ford as overweight Morgan Stanley said it sees opportunity for Ford to "to exercise its self-help muscle."

☆ Netflix is set to report fourth-quarter earnings after the bell. Here's what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shareholders are hoping the streamer sheds light on the new plan during its fourth-quarter earnings report, which is due after the bell Thursday. Here's what Wall Street expects:EPS: 45 cents per share, according to Refinitiv. 45 cents per share, according to Refinitiv. Expected global paid net subscribers: Addition of 4.57 million subscribers, according to StreetAccount estimates. Going forward, Netflix will no longer give subscriber guidance, although it will still report those numbers in future earnings reports.

☆ Resale value of Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton handbags is falling
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“Demand for higher-priced luxury brands at resale is down, which is pushing prices for brands like Chanel, Gucci and Louis Vuitton down.”At the same time, she said, demand for previously owned lower-priced luxury brands — such as Miu Miu and Bottega Veneta — is up. They are no longer willing to pay the same price at resale that were willing to pay last year for brands like Hermes, Gucci and Louis Vuitton,” Skoda added. According to The RealReal’s Annual Luxury Consignment Report 2023, which was released Thursday, handbag resale prices fell 20% for Louis Vuitton, 17% for Gucci, 10% for Hermès and 9% for Chanel over the past 90 days. Resale prices are cooling somewhat for luxury handbag brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, according to The RealReal. As they embrace lower prices, resale shoppers have become less picky about the condition of the items they buy.

☆ Who on Wall Street is making cuts, who's promoting, and who's hiring
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Michelle Abrego | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

One thing that's apparent on Wall Street is that many people are worried about their jobs and compensation. We've already seen layoffs at Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and BNY Mellon materialize, and there's likely more bad news to come. Wall Street bonuses are being handed out—but they're not going to be pretty. Here's when banks like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley are expected to tell employees how much they made. College students still eyeing a job on Wall Street should look no further than our guide to landing a summer job at a top investment bank or asset manager.

☆ Nearly half of all Gen Z and millennial workers did freelance work this year as the Great Resignation continued, inflation remained sky high, and people wanted work flexibility
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Madison Hoff | Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Young Americans led the way — over 40% of Gen Z workers and almost 50% of millennial workers freelanced. The record share this year signals more Americans are turning to freelance work amid continued employer struggles to find workers. According to the survey, 43% of Gen Z workers and 46% of millennial workers performed freelance work in 2022, compared to 35% of Gen X workers who said the same. Thirty-seven percent said they provide "unskilled" services, while 31% said they sell goods as part of their freelance work. Per the report, 17% of US freelancers generate "income from a mix of traditional employment and freelance work."

☆ Forget smartwatches, consumers are buying up these quirky, alternative wearable devices
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

People turned to activity trackers, smartwatches and other devices to keep tabs on their steps, vital statistics and more. Rather than sitting inside or on top of the ear canal, bone conduction headphones rest in front of the ear, leaving it uncovered. Bone conduction headphones by Shokz. Shokz ($125) pioneered bone conduction headphones, but the market has since expanded with other brands offering similar designs. But some audiophiles say the sound quality on bone conduction headphones and open earbuds is less than stellar.

☆ Sweetgreen is among the 12 chains Taco Bell owner, Yum Brands, could buy as the company's CFO tells investors it's hunting for an acquisition
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

A Yum Brands exec said the company was "scanning categories" that don't compete with its brands. Analyst Mark Kalinowski identified 12 chains Yum Brands could target, including Sweetgreen. Habit was Yum Brands' latest acquisition — it purchased the fast-casual chain in March 2020 in a deal valued at $375 million. Zoe's Kitchen could be a buy target for Yum Brands, a veteran analyst wrote in a research note last week. "It has a market cap bigger than I would have expected, so it'd be an expensive purchase for Yum Brands."

☆ Impactive Capital takes an unprecedented step to seek change at Envestnet. This is what could happen next
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Activist Commentary: Impactive Capital is an activist hedge fund founded in 2018 by Lauren Taylor Wolfe and Christian Alejandro Asmar. Impactive wants board representation to get Envestnet to better align pay for performance, refocus on capital allocation and bolster long-term shareholder value. Anyone with any understanding of Impactive, Envestnet's performance and the incumbent board would know that Impactive is sure to get at least one board seat in a proxy fight. Impactive offered one of eight with no incumbent losing a board seat. Squire is also the creator of the AESG™ investment category, an activist investment style focused on improving ESG practices of portfolio companies.

☆ BMO downgrades Target, citing persistent inventory challenges ahead
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

BMO Capital Markets is losing faith in Target 's growth story given the challenges it faces ahead. Bania also lowered BMO's price target on the stock to $165 from $190 a share, suggesting a slight 6% advance from Wednesday's close. Bania views dwindling market share as one of the biggest risks for Target ahead, estimating that the company is on pace to lose more than $3 billion in market share this year and headed for more potential losses long term. Katai slashed the bank's price target to $144 a share from $183, suggesting a 7% downside from Wednesday's close. Year to date, the stock has lost nearly 33%, sitting nearly 40% off its 52-week high.

☆ Analysts see one retailer winning this holiday and taking share as Target struggles
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In contrast, Target reported an earnings miss Wednesday, with profit that fell by about 50% in its fiscal third quarter. "General merchandise softness continues to be linked to Covid-winner categories (CE, home, and apparel basics), although the category's performance also improved sequentially." Walmart's general merchandise sales fell at a low-single digit pace, its chief financial officer, John Rainey, said on the earnings conference call Tuesday. For Target, the softness in general merchandise is taking its toll. The retailer has made some progress clearing through its excess inventory, but the fiscal thir quarter brought higher-than-expected markdowns, Target said.

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