DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Oil prices ease, U.S. crude stock build fuels demand fears
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices eased early on Thursday after a larger-than-expected build in U.S. crude stockpiles stoked worries about slow demand, while signs that U.S. interest rates could remain elevated for longer also added to pressure. Oil prices eased early on Thursday after a larger-than-expected build in U.S. crude stockpiles stoked worries about slow demand, while signs that U.S. interest rates could remain elevated for longer also added to pressure. "The anticipation of delayed U.S. rate cuts also weighed on the market sentiment as it could undermine oil demand," he said. Traders have already dialed back expectations for U.S. interest rate cuts after a slew of strong data, including hot consumer price index and producer price index readings. Still, the conflict in the Middle East is expected to keep a floor under oil prices, Rakuten's Yoshida said.

Persons: refiners, Satoru Yoshida, Rakuten's Yoshida, Jerusalem's Al, Joe Biden Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Energy Information Administration, EIA, Rakuten Securities, Traders, U.S, Hamas Locations: U.S, Aqsa, Gaza, Israel

☆ For Super Bowl advertisers, $7 million for a 30-second spot is just the beginning of an even bigger investment
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Ryan Joe | Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

TurboTax is set to run a 45-second ad during the Super Bowl, plus 30-second spots both before and after the game. Investment needs to continue even after the initial airing for the Super Bowl ad to maximize its potential. The company's Super Bowl strategy greatly evolved between those two years. After its 2023 Super Bowl spot that paid homage to the '90s hit movie "Clueless," Rakuten continued to position itself as a fashion marketplace by partnering with New York Fashion Week. Regardless of the risks, Super Bowl advertisers have the opportunity to jolt their business to new heights.

Persons: There's, Todd Allen, Bud Light's, Bud Light, Nick Soukas, TurboTax, Melissa Tifrere, there's, Joe Staples, Ana Dominguez, Grey, Rakuten, Vicki McRae, Rakuten's, McRae, Sofia Colucci, Molson Coors Organizations: Nielsen, Business, Anheuser, Busch InBev, Havas, Lindt, BI, Investment, Super, New York, Super Bowl, EDO, NFL Locations: York, Lindt USA

☆ Rakuten Group's losses, debt burden and financing efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Here are some details about its deeply troubled mobile business, the group's operating losses, debt burden and its efforts to shore up its finances. It had 351 billion yen ($2.4 billion) in annual sales last year and accounts for 18% of Rakuten's overall revenue. Rakuten Group currently has total debt of more than 1.5 trillion yen, of which 800 billion yen is due to be redeemed by the end of 2025. Nov 2022 - sells 19.99% of Rakuten Securities to Mizuho Securities for 80 billion yen. Nov 2023 - sells a further 29% of Rakuten Securities to Mizuho Securities for 87 billion yen.

Persons: Miho Uranaka, Rakuten, Hiroshi, Mickey, Mikitani, Anton Bridge, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Rakuten, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Japan Post Holdings, HK, Walmart, Rakuten Securities, Mizuho Securities, Rakuten Bank, Thomson Locations: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, Japanese

☆ Rakuten's mobile misadventure: from ambitious plan to millstone
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

By any measure, cash-bleeding Rakuten Mobile is deeply troubled. Rakuten is set for another tough year in 2024 with investors keen to see if it can achieve its goal of having the mobile unit break even. Those steps have raised some 800 billion yen ($5.4 billion). Then in October, SoftBank Corp (9434.T), Japan's No.3 mobile network provider, began offering a generous reward campaign for most mobile users using SoftBank Group's (9984.T) PayPay online payment system. Without profits, the mobile unit is not likely to entice would-be suitors and competition laws would probably prevent the likes of SoftBank and Docomo from bidding.

Persons: Japan's Rakuten, Hiroshi, Mickey, Rakuten, Mitsunobu Tsuruo, Rakuten's, NTT Docomo, Mikitani, Amir Anvarzadeh, Anton Bridge, David Dolan, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Citi, Amazon Japan, Rakuten Securities, Rakuten Bank, SBI Securities, GUNNING, Rakuten Mobile, Reuters, NTT, SoftBank Corp, Asymmetric Advisors, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, ARPU

☆ Rakuten shares jump as mobile losses narrow
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Miho UranakaTOKYO, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Rakuten Group (4755.T) shares surged on Monday morning after the e-commerce giant reported narrowing losses at its cash bleeding mobile unit last week alongside assurances that it can cover its debt burden for the next financial year. Rakuten has taken to publicly listing its more successful units to generate cash, listing its internet banking business - Rakuten Bank (5838.T) - in April and applying to list its securities business in July. Last week, Rakuten also announced plans to consolidate its payments and points businesses and fold them into Rakuten Card, its credit card and loans unit. Rakuten also committed to taking on no additional gross debt, instead using equity-related financing to reduce its debt burden. The group has a total of 1.9 trillion yen ($13.11 billion) in debt, with 406 billion yen due in 2024 and a further 430 billion yen in 2025, according to Refinitiv data.

Persons: Miho Uranaka, Jefferies, Rakuten, Anton Bridge, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rakuten, Rakuten Bank, Thomson Locations: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, Miho Uranaka TOKYO

☆ Japan's struggling Rakuten to combine credit card and mobile payments business
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Sam NusseyTOKYO, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Japan's Rakuten Group (4755.T) will fold its payments and points businesses into its credit card unit, it said on Thursday, a move that could set the struggling e-commerce company up to eventually list the card business. It has turned to listing some of its units - including its popular internet banking business, Rakuten Bank (5838.T) - to generate cash. The company said on Thursday it plans to consolidate its payments and points businesses and fold them into Rakuten Card, its credit card and loans unit. Rakuten Card will become the "driving force" behind its integrated payments business and may form strategic partnerships with other companies as well as "raising its own capital as necessary", Rakuten said in a statement. Users accumulate points by using Rakuten credit cards, shopping and insurance services.

Persons: Sam Nussey TOKYO, Rakuten, Tareq Amin, Anton Bridge, Jamie Freed, David Dolan, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rakuten Bank, Rakuten, Public, NHK, Refinitiv, Thomson Locations: Rakuten, Tokyo, Japan

☆ Rakuten shares slump 6% on expected $2.2 bln new share issuance
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Japanese e-commerce and fintech company's board could meet as early as this week to decide on the capital raising, which is expected to raise roughly 300 billion yen ($2.2 billion), sources told Reuters on Monday. Prospects of a share dilution led on Monday to the biggest one-day drop in three years. "Whenever there is a large sale of new equity, that is dilutive but it also forces decisions about whether to hold. Some will be upset and will sell," said analyst Travis Lundy of Quiddity Advisors, who publishes on Smartkarma. Rakuten said in a statement it was not true that any such decision had been made.

☆ Exclusive: Japan's Rakuten plans new share issue to raise around $2.2 bln -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Miho Uranaka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The public offering is expected to raise roughly 300 billion yen ($2.2 billion) but the amount could change depending on Rakuten's share price, which will influence the pricing of its new equity issuance. Additionally, Rakuten plans to issue shares to founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani and a fund controlled by the entrepreneur, the person said. A Rakuten spokesperson said it was not something it could comment on. Rakuten shares erased gains and tumbled, closing down 9% after the Reuters report. The group has some 400 billion yen in bonds due by 2024 and a further 430 billion yen in 2025, Refinitiv data showed.

Rakuten Kobo Clara 2E The Kobo Clara 2E offers a variety of features that avid readers will love, like a waterproof design and a comfortable power button. At this price point, the Kobo Clara 2E is rivaled only by the 8GB Kindle Paperwhite. Sarah Saril/InsiderThe Kobo Clara 2E makes a great companion for reading in different environments with its adjustable brightness and color temperature. On the plus side, the Kobo Clara 2E boasts great battery life, and it lives up to the manufacturer's promise. Listen to Kobo Audiobooks with a Bluetooth speaker or headphonesListening to audiobooks on the Kobo Clara 2E is as simple as connecting via Bluetooth.

Search resuls for: "Rakuten's"

9 mentions found