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☆ Stock futures are flat as investors digest Fed minutes, look ahead to labor data
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stock futures are flat Wednesday night as investors looked beyond the hawkishness of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes released in the afternoon toward labor data coming later this week. Markets had been down early in the day on the back of a mixed bag of economic data, but stock rose into the closing bell. Investors have "wounds that are still fresh" following 2022, which brought the worst year for the stock market since 2008, said Keith Buchanan, a portfolio manager at GLOBALT Investments. He said investors are attempting to balance what each new piece of economic data or Fed commentary can indicate with broader concerns about the future. Since the report could have a big impact on the Fed's next moves, it has the potential to impact the market.

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty in the US government's criminal case over FTX crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Bankman-Fried entered a plea of not guilty to the fraud and conspiracy charges against him, according to reports. If Bankman-Fried doesn't reach a deal with the government, the case would head to a trial. "Just because he enters a plea of not guilty, it doesn't mean he's not working with prosecutors." How those cases proceed would also depend on the course of the criminal case. A criminal trial, for instance, could help him put civil suits against him on hold.

☆ Wall St ends firmer, growth stocks lead in thin trading
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Echo Wang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

All 11 S&P 500 sector indexes rose, with communication service (.SPLRCL) and technology (.SPLRCT) as the biggest winner with gains of nearly 3%. The Fed's aggressive interest rate hikes have hammered equities this year, with the benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX) shedding 19.3% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq tumbling nearly 33%. Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) shares rose after Chief Executive Elon Musk told staff they should not be "bothered by stock market craziness." For 2022, Tesla's 66% slump and Amazon.com's 50% drop played a big part in the S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector's 38% loss. The S&P 500 posted one new 52-week high and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 75 new highs and 160 new lows.

Neither could a fourth-grade teacher — or Judy Blume. It’s hard to fully grasp the enormous potential of ChatGPT, a new artificial intelligence chatbot released last month. We asked some experts on children’s writing to take our variation on the Turing test, live on a call with us. They were a fourth-grade teacher; a professional writing tutor; a Stanford education professor; and Judy Blume, the beloved children’s author. None of them could tell every time whether a child or a bot wrote the essay.

☆ Why Liverpool and Manchester United, two giants of soccer, are up for sale at the same time
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In November, the owners of first Liverpool and then Manchester United confirmed they were open to new investment offers, with the potential for full sales of the top flight English clubs. Meanwhile New York-listed shares in Manchester United popped 18% on the news on Nov. 23 that its owners were similarly opening themselves up to investment opportunities. Big money competition One recurring complaint Manchester United fans have had of the Glazers is a lack of investment in the club, across both facilities and players. Old Trafford Stadium, the home of Manchester United Football Club. "In the cases of Liverpool and Manchester United, both owners have held the clubs for a long time, and both assets have appreciated a lot as their leagues and brands and global fan bases have developed.

Some top equity strategists predict no profit growth or even a decline in earnings. For the U.S. benchmark S&P 500, analysts project full-year 2023 profit growth of 4.7% following estimated growth of 5.7% for all of 2022, based on Refinitiv data. Jonathan Golub, chief U.S. equity strategist at Credit Suisse Securities in New York, recently lowered his profit forecast and expects a decline in year-over-year S&P 500 earnings in 2023. "Our analysis shows that both earnings and margins typically contract when global GDP (gross domestic product) growth ran below trend". Earnings breakdown by regionEarnings growth by global sectorBlackRock in its 2023 global outlook said earnings expectations are not yet pricing in a recession.

☆ Ryan Seacrest's marketing agency has hired a top NBC News journalist to lead its push into brand storytelling
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ryan Seacrest's marketing agency, Civic, has made a big hire to expand its brand storytelling work. The 23-year-old Civic, whose clients include Amazon and Ford, is focused on making journalistic-style content for brands. Ryan Seacrest's marketing agency, Civic, has made a big hire to expand its brand storytelling work. "No one wants branded content," Civic cofounder and co-CEO Stuart Ruderfer told Insider. Fully 86% of companies use digital content marketing, according to an Insider Intelligence estimate.

“I’ll get 218,” McCarthy told CNN, referring to the votes he’d need to become House speaker. Video Ad Feedback Bash asks Pelosi if McCarthy has what it takes to be House Speaker. “I’m not going to talk about hypotheticals,” said Biggs, who lost his conference’s nomination to become speaker last month after securing 31 votes. But McCarthy’s detractors said it’s an issue very much still on the table and think he may end up needing to embrace it if he still doesn’t have the speaker votes by January 3. But he refused to rule out a scenario where his caucus would help elect the next speaker if McCarthy couldn’t get the votes.

☆ E-commerce tech startup Rokt valued at $2.4 bln in latest funding amid plans for IPO
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Tech startup Rokt said on Monday it raised its valuation to $2.4 billion in a secondary funding round led by investment firm Square Peg and asset manager Wellington Management, and is planning for an initial public offering encouraged by the e-commerce boom. Growth in e-commerce since the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a demand for marketing software companies such as Rokt. The company uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze online shoppers and their engagement with products and services. "This has further propelled Rokt's growth and we're pleased to see this expression of support from existing investors as Rokt looks towards an IPO," Buchanan added. New York-based Rokt was valued at $1.95 billion in December last year after it raised capital in a Series E funding round led by Tiger Global that also saw participation from Wellington Management, Whale Rock Capital Management, Pavilion Capital and Square Peg.

☆ Help us map New York City’s neighborhoods.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Eve Washington | Larry Buchanan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Help us map New York City’s neighborhoods. of hundreds of New York City neighborhoods are as old as the city itself. We’re trying to create a reader-sourced map of where these boundaries are now. Please help us in our quest. If you do not accept these terms, do not submit any content.

☆ House Democrats reviewing Trump's tax returns split into publish-everything and there-are-rules camps with GOP takeover looming
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

After finally scoring Trump's tax records, House Democrats have to figure out what to do with them. "I want them all released," Ways and Means Committee member Bill Pascrell told MSNBC ahead of Neal's group-wide meeting. José Luis Villegas/AP"Democrats' relentless pursuit of President Trump's tax returns is nothing more than a partisan attack against a political opponent that serves no legitimate or legislative purpose," Buchanan wrote in an email to Insider. Ways and Means Committee member Dan Kildee said he was backing Neal's call in this case. And while he acknowledged they were racing against the clock, Kildee said Ways and Means Democrats would rise to the challenge.

But it is spreading across finance, energy, retail and aviation, threatening to push up labour costs in industries facing supply-chain bottlenecks and worker shortages. The turmoil is especially pronounced because union power was curtailed in Australia under laws in place since the 1990s. In the year to June, the average Australian wage rose 2.6%, compared with inflation of 6.1%, according to official data. Despite seven interest-rate hikes since May, inflation is set to climb further before subsiding in 2023, the government says. But in the current climate in Australia, workers are in no mood to back down.

☆ Croatia's Vlasic replaced by Livaja against Canada
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DOHA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Croatia's Nikola Vlasic was left out of their starting side to face Canada in their second World Cup Group F game at Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday. Vlasic, who was substituted at halftime in their opening 0-0 draw with Morocco after suffering a calf injury, was replaced in the starting line-up by Marko Livaja in the only change to the side. Canada's Atiba Hutchinson will become the first man to win 100 caps for the country after he was named in their staring line-up. Cyle Larin came in for Junior Hoilett in the only change to the Canada side that were beaten 1-0 by Belgium in their opener. Teams:Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, Ivan Perisic, Dejan Lovren, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Marko Livaja, Borna Sosa, Josko Gvardiol, Josip Juranovic.

Todd and Julie Chrisley’s attorney says the couple will appeal following their sentencing Monday for bank fraud and tax evasion. An attorney for the Chrisleys, known for their USA Network series “Chrisley Knows Best,” said in a statement that the couple is planning to appeal. But Todd and Julie are people of faith, and that faith gives them strength as they appeal their convictions,” family attorney Alex Little said Tuesday. Todd Chrisley was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison, and Julie Chrisley to seven years. Additionally, as part of sentencing, both Todd and Julie Chrisley will have to pay an undetermined amount in restitution that will be determined at a later date.

CNN —Reality TV Stars Julie and Todd Chrisley were sentenced to prison in federal court Monday. In addition, they were found guilty of several tax crimes, including attempting to defraud the Internal Revenue Service. Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Todd Chrisley to 12 years in prison with three years of supervised release. His wife Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in prison and three years of supervised release. In a short statement to CNN in June, one of Todd Chrisley’s attorneys, Bruce Morris, said they were, “disappointed in the verdict” and planned to appeal.

☆ Trump tax return fight would get dropped by Republicans vying for key U.S. House committee chair
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Christina Wilkie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Protestors take part in the 'Tax March' calling on President Donald Trump to release his tax records on April 15, 2017 in New York. The fight began in 2019, when the Democratic-controlled Ways and Means committee asked the IRS for Trump's returns. When Biden took office and the Treasury Department moved to hand over the returns, Trump countersued to stop the release. If the hold is lifted, Treasury would deliver the returns to the Ways and Means Committee, likely within days. Missouri GOP Rep. Jason Smith, who is not related to Nebraska's Adrian Smith, said he too would halt the years long effort to get Trump's tax returns.

☆ Amid court challenges to its student debt forgiveness, Biden administration could extend payment pause yet again
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

With the legal blows to President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan mounting, it's possible that the administration could extend the payment pause on the monthly bills yet again, experts say. "I'm sure they have to be considering it as an option," said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. If the president's policy remains blocked in the courts by the end of the year, higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz said, "the Biden Administration is likely to further extend the payment pause." Federal student loan payments have been on pause since March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S. and crippled the economy. The U.S. Department of Education closed its student loan forgiveness portal last week after a federal judge in Texas called Biden's plan "unconstitutional" and struck it down.

☆ Champions League: Glasgow Rangers suffers worst group stage campaign in tournament history
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The good news for Glasgow Rangers is the Scottish club has pocketed over $15 million for competing in the Champions League. The bad news is, after waiting 12 years to get back into the competition’s group stages, the club’s return has been nothing short of a nightmare. ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/AFP via Getty ImagesAfter its long awaited return to the group stages, Rangers was immediately up against it after being handed a very difficult draw. We were all happy we came into the Champions League because we weren’t competing at this level in 12 years so that’s very positive,” he told reporters on Tuesday. Despite its disappointment on the pitch in Europe, Rangers will benefit financially from its Champions League campaign.

☆ Meet a 30-year-old with $110,000 in student debt who chose her job in hopes of public-service loan forgiveness — but her balance just keeps growing
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Kjerstin Laine, 30, owes over $110,000 in student debt from undergraduate and graduate programs. But interest means she's barely paid it off, and Biden's forgiveness is just a drop in the bucket. For Laine, a 30-year-old who has over $110,000 in student debt, the $20,000 in forgiveness she's set to get from President Joe Biden's plan is just a drop in the bucket. Her situation points to the larger structural issues underpinning the student debt crisis, where first-generation and lower-income students take on huge debt burdens to get ahead and up their earnings but still find themselves buried under ever-growing balances. The company that manages the entire Public Service Loan Forgiveness portfolio — MOHELA — isn't making matters any easier.

☆ What do Indians think about Rishi Sunak’s rise? Like UK-India relations, it’s complicated
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Now, an Indian-origin man has become the Prime Minister of England,” a Zee News anchor said. Leon Neal/Getty Images Sunak and Boris Johnson watch as a sheep is sheared during a visit to a farm in North Yorkshire, England, in July 2019. Danny Lawson/PA Images/Getty Images Sunak speaks during a general election debate in Cardiff, Wales, in November 2019. Hollie Adams/Bloomberg/Getty Images Sunak and Murty are seen with their daughters, Krishna and Anoushka, while campaigning in Grantham, England, in July 2022. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested as much in a tweet welcoming Sunak’s appointment.

Like Truss, Sunak promised a tough approach to illegal immigration and vowed to expand the government’s controversial Rwanda immigration policy. At the time Johnson was running to lead Britain's Conservative Party and Sunak was a member of Parliament. Danny Lawson/PA Images/Getty Images Sunak speaks during a general election debate in Cardiff, Wales, in November 2019. Danny Lawson/PA/Getty Images Sunak delivers a speech during the annual Conservative Party Conference in Manchester in October 2021. Hollie Adams/Bloomberg/Getty Images Sunak and Murty are seen with their daughters, Krishna and Anoushka, while campaigning in Grantham, England, in July 2022.

☆ Hours-long hold times with their student-loan company are keeping public servants in a 'limbo period' wondering if they'll get the debt relief they qualify for
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Student-loan borrowers in public service have reported issues reaching their loan company, MOHELA. Regardless of who is to blame for the long hold times, it's leaving Nathan in a financially precarious situation. "I'm not even trying to call and ask about the student loan forgiveness. 'Restarting payments is a massive concern'Neither Kate nor Nathan know how much they will have to pay monthly once student-loan payments resume in January. While Nathan and Kate are grateful for the broad debt relief, their primary concern is ensuring their time spent working in public service is accounted for.

☆ Education Department could flag up to 5 million student loan relief applications for review — what to do if yours is among them
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. Department of Education's application for student loan forgiveness, which officially went live earlier this week, is surprisingly easy to fill out. Borrowers just need to provide some basic contact information and their Social Security number. "There isn't any ID authentication process and no process to verify income, so the potential for fraud or benefit eligibility mistakes in this online form is massive," said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. As a result, Buchanan said, "I understand why the Education Department has to audit many applications." Here's what to know about the extra step some borrowers will need to take.

☆ An early rise in respiratory viruses in children is overwhelming some hospitals
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Chris Boyette | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A surge in respiratory illnesses among children is beginning to put a strain on hospitals. In addition, hospitals are seeing a rise in cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, a common cold virus that can be associated with severe disease in young children and older adults. Connecticut Children’s Hospital in Hartford is over capacity due to children admitted for RSV, WTNH reports. We’ve never seen this before, and it’s creating challenges,” Dr. Juan Salazar, executive vice president and physician-in-chief at Connecticut Children’s Hospital told WVIT. The rise in cases is also coming earlier in the year than doctors would usually expect.

☆ How much small business owners should pay themselves
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Many small business owners have trouble figuring out an appropriate take-home pay as the company expands, and some don’t pay themselves at all. Understanding how to pay yourself appropriately — even if it’s only a small amount that grows over time — is important for the long-term health of a business, according to professionals that advise small businesses. “It doesn’t reflect the true health of your business if you aren’t taking something,” said Zahir Khoja, chief executive at Wave Financial, a provider of money management tools for small businessesThe mechanics are especially important given that 26% of small business owners don’t pay themselves a salary, according to a 2022 small business survey from Wave. Here are four tips small business owners should consider when setting their take-home pay. Business owners may think the money could be better spent on hiring marketing help, redoing the website or some other expense that can help the company expand.

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