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Corn planting pace in ParanaParana’s 2021 safrinha crop was its latest planted since at least 2009, so it was especially subject to frost and freeze toward the end of the season. 2 producer of first crop corn, but it does not plant a second crop. Corn planting pace in Mato GrossoAlthough Mato Grosso’s planting pace is not necessarily alarming, it may reduce the corn’s resilience to any potentially tough weather conditions later, and last year provides a great example. May followed the exact same pattern, though Mato Grosso’s corn yields were very respectable last year. Mato Grosso’s biggest risk of late corn planting is the onset of dry season, as early as April.

☆ Returns from top venture firms NEA, DCM, and Khosla have been dismal over the past 2 decades, according to filings from California's largest pension fund, CalPERS
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

CalPERS is the US's largest public pension plan, managing the retirement accounts of 1.5 million California employees and retirees. Unlike many other financial institutions, VC funds are not required to show their return on investment in startups. The CalPERS fund's $75 million bet in 2001 on a venture fund managed by the Carlyle Group lost money. A $25 million investment in DCM's 2000 fund had a 1.9% IRR. Its $260 million investment in two Khosla Ventures funds in 2009 yielded an IRR of 11.8% for the early-to-midstage fund and 6.9% for the seed-stage fund.

☆ Americans' breakfast takes a hit as egg prices surpass beef and the cost of orange juice soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Orange juice prices, meanwhile, are notching record highs, and have spiked 30% year-to-date. Egg prices jumped 70% in a year, with high production costs nudging 12 eggs to a record price of $4.82 last month. Wholesale eggs price are lowering on a weekly basis, however, but this hasn't hit grocery stores quite yet. On the contrary, ground beef prices have fallen from record levels, resulting in a dozen eggs costing more than a pound of ground chuck. Elsewhere, orange juice prices notched record highs, surging 30% year-to-date as recent hurricanes, frost, and a plant disease hit production levels.

☆ NHL roundup: Lightning win Cup Final rematch vs. Avs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

In the first meeting between the clubs since last June's Stanley Cup Final, Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots to extend his franchise-record shutout total to 29. Hagel had two goals and an assist to lead the Lightning offensive output as they broke a two-game skid (0-1-1). Boeser, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Nils Aman added goals for the Canucks. Nicolas Roy, Alex Pietrangelo and Paul Cotter also scored for the Golden Knights while Jonathan Marchessault added two assists. Red Wings 2, Flames 1Filip Zadina scored his first goal of the season after missing over three months as host Detroit edged Calgary.

☆ Orange juice prices soar to record highs as recent hurricanes plunge Florida's expected production haul to lowest since the 1930s
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Orange juice prices have soared 30% year-to-date to record highs after recent hurricanes hampered production. And over the past year, futures contracts that are tied to orange juice concentrate have nearly doubled. The US Department of Agriculture expects this year's orange production to fall to its lowest haul since the 1930s. Orange juice futures are up 87% from a year ago, when they traded at about $1.40 per pound. Florida orange production has plummeted more than 90% from the peak seen in the late 1990s.

☆ 1870 pin meaning: What the buttons and crayon lapel pins Congress wore to the State of the Union stand for
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden gave his second State of the Union address on Tuesday. Two pins — one that reads '1870' in white text atop a round black pin and various colored crayon-shaped pins with the Crayola logo — have garnered attention. 1870 PinRep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., conducts a television interview before President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. "153 years after the murder of Henry Truman, the Black community is still waiting for justice," Rep. Watson Coleman said. Crayola Crayon PinA lawmaker wears a pin of a white Crayola crayon during the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 7, 2023.

Following are some of the guests expected to attend:* Brandon Tsay: Tsay was called a hero by authorities for disarming a gunman who shot dead 11 people during a celebration of the Lunar New Year in Monterey Park, California. The White House called it a "recognition of sustained U.S. support for Ukraine nearly a year after Russia launched its unprovoked attack." * The White House has also invited Paul Pelosi, husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "The attack reportedly was politically motivated, with the intruder's alleged intent to harm and kidnap the former Speaker," the White House said. The United States completed the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 after a 20-year war.

☆ Nissan shouldn't hold back on investing in electric vehicles, says consulting firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNissan shouldn't hold back on investing in electric vehicles, says consulting firmVivek Vaidya of Frost & Sullivan discusses the new Nissan-Renault alliance plan and explains why Nissan "can't really hedge [its] bets when it comes to getting into EVs."

☆ Extreme Cold Hits Northeast U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An arctic mix of cold air and whipping winds created teeth-chattering conditions across the Northeast on Saturday, with wind chills pushing temperatures into the double-digits below zero and causing “frost quakes” in some places. Northern New England experienced the worst of the wind chills and severe cold, but the frigid temperatures extended to New York and other parts of the region as well. Temperatures were expected to warm up on Sunday.

☆ John Fetterman's picture-taking, buddy-making, convention-breaking first month on Capitol Hill
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Delegation-mate Sen. Bob Casey told Insider that Fetterman is “off to a great start.”Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Insider spoke to Fetterman's colleagues, his staff, and congressional reporters about the newcomer's first month in Washington, and what to expect from him as Congress gets rolling. "I know Sen. Fetterman is interested in nutrition, and I share his concerns there, so I look forward to collaborating to get things done for folks in Pennsylvania and Vermont," Welch said. Food issues definitely fall under their purview as newly minted members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. 'Off to a great start'Sen. Casey told Insider that Fetterman has already hit the ground running.

☆ Why You Should Travel Abroad With Interior Designers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Antonia Van Der Meer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

WHEN MELANIE BURNS of Oklahoma City first entered the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, she was stunned by its sheer size and the pathways winding through its tented structures like a tangle of yarn. Though well-traveled and an old hand at hunting one-of-a-kind objets, she’d never experienced such an onslaught of potential riches. The duo led Ms. Burns to a shop layered deep behind other shops. “It was no more than about 14 feet square, and stacked high with the most beautiful hand-woven vintage tapestries I’ve ever seen,” Ms. Burns recalled. They are walking encyclopedias, they speak the language and when you shop with them, you don’t overpay.”

☆ C-SPAN gave us ‘America’s Hottest TV Drama’ as McCarthy struggled to become House speaker. Lawmakers aren’t so sure that’s a good thing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But she's also wary of the cost that could come with giving C-SPAN cameras free reign to film lawmakers on the House floor, particularly given the lightning-rod role she's come to occupy within American politics. GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz talks to Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar in the House Chamber on January 5, 2023. Rep. Nancy Pelosi reading a New Yorker article about Kevin McCarthy on the House floor on January 4, 2023. "The original argument was, if you insert cameras, the behavior of the members changed," said Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California. But Lofgren said she was supportive of permanently allowing C-SPAN cameras into the chamber, arguing in essence that the cat's already out of the bag.

WASHINGTON — A top Republican who negotiated the bipartisan gun law that passed last year said he doesn't expect to see new legislative action on gun violence despite the recent mass shootings in California. Asked whether the House intends to take up legislation to combat mass shootings, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., gave no indication that it would. Biden negotiated the assault weapons ban of 1994, which expired in 2004. “It’s time we pass an assault weapons ban in this country. I’m the author of the assault weapons ban in 1994.

☆ Why companies are eager to strike massive music catalog deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In the last few years, generational stars have inked nine-figure deals to hand over the rights to their catalogs. And, younger artists have taken part in the action too, with singers such as John Legend and Iggy Azalea striking deals. Now, services like Spotify and Apple Music have revolutionized the music industry. Unlike legacy companies, these new businesses don’t have a long track record managing music. The labels, he said, often have a disparate set of goals, including creating new hits, which could distract them from the singular mission of managing older music.

☆ Brits are being paid to cut power use, as cold snap threatens supply
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Cold weather has returned in January, causing the U.K. power supplier to offer financial incentives for households to cut use at peak times. On Monday, three out of five back-up coal power stations were told to fire up to provide back-up supply, although the measure was reversed early Tuesday. National Grid ESO, which has overall responsibility for managing Britain's electricity supply, said the public should not worry about blackouts. The cold weather has combined with a drop in wind power — a key energy source for Britain — which frequently generates more than half of the country's electricity. Over the weekend and into this week, the wind power share has dropped below a quarter, with gas taking over as the primary source.

☆ NHL roundup: Connor McDavid lifts Oilers over Lightning
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

The Lightning received a goal and an assist from Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel and Steven Stamkos scored. Victor Hedman posted two assists while Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots but lost for the first time in five games. Kyle Connor scored for the Jets, who lost for the third time in their past 11 games. Matthew Tkachuk, who leads Florida with 24 goals, scored twice with the man advantage. Colton Sissons and Mattias Ekholm scored for the Predators, whose two-game win streak came to an end.

☆ Florida schools will not offer AP African American Studies course
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Sharon Bernstein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Jan 19 (Reuters) - Florida will not allow high school students to take a new Advanced Placement (AP) class in African American Studies, saying in a letter to College Board, the nonprofit that develops the courses, that the pilot version "lacks educational value." The College Board administers the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and Advanced Placement tests that help students gain college credit while in high school. It is developing its first African American Studies course through a pilot program at 60 high schools. loading"The State of Florida will allow AP European and American studies — but AP African-American studies is 'contrary to Florida law'?" The College Board said in a statement to Reuters that the course aims to "explore the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans."

☆ NHL roundup: Connor McDavid leads streaking Oilers past Kraken
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/4] Jan 17, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) carries the puck up ice during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY SportsJanuary 18 - Connor McDavid scored his NHL-leading 38th goal of the season as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the visiting Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Tuesday night. Derek Ryan, Warren Foegele, Ryan McLeod and Zach Hyman also tallied for the Oilers, who extended their winning streak to four games. Kyle Connor scored for the Jets, who had a three-game win streak come to an end. Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell and Josh Mahura also scored goals for Florida.

☆ Startups Want to Help Airlines Prevent Tech Meltdowns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Airlines should take advantage of new cloud-based tools, industry consultants said, to help prevent the recent snafus brought on by the use of antiquated and siloed technology at Southwest Airlines Co. and the Federal Aviation Administration. Photo: JIM VONDRUSKA/REUTERSSanta Clara, Calif.-based Couchbase Inc., founded in 2011, said it helped United Airlines Holdings Inc. modernize its operations by providing a cloud-based database for its crew-scheduling software. United declined to comment on its operations technology. Airlines generate a massive amount of data every year from their aircraft, passengers, suppliers and internal operations. Gurobi Optimization LLC, a company that develops mathematical-optimization software for industries including aviation, said it provides optimization technology for airlines such as Air France-KLM.

☆ Video shows George Santos calling himself Anthony Devolder at a 2019 event, raising questions about his name
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. George Santos introduced himself as Anthony Devolder in a recently surfaced video from 2019. Videos and social media posts reveal Santos previously used the names George Devolder and Anthony Devolder. The New York congressman has admitted to lying about his college and work history and has previously listed his full name as George Anthony Devolder Santos. Other resurfaced clips and social media posts reveal that Santos had gone by the names Anthony Devolder and George Devolder until as recently as 2020. CNN also uncovered social media posts from 2020 in which Santos goes by the name George Devolder.

☆ Companies, Lenders Clash Over Loan Spreads in Switch From Libor
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Mark Maurer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

As part of the shift, companies typically propose changes to their loan agreements with lenders, adjusting for the price difference between SOFR and Libor. The adjustment of the credit spread adds basis points to the interest rate on a loan to make up for the fact that SOFR has traded lower than Libor. The difference between SOFR and Libor can be as much as 25 basis points for loans with maturities of five to seven years. There will likely be more disagreements over credit spread adjustments as companies stop using Libor prior to its end. “There’s no reason to burn bridges over a few basis points,” Mr. Kerschner said.

☆ UK paper group bids to throw out Prince Harry and others' privacy lawsuits
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Prince Harry's autobiography Reserven, also called Spare in english, is ready for sale at the Boghallen bookshop in Copenhagen, January 10, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERSLONDON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The publisher of Britain's Daily Mail newspaper is applying to dismiss lawsuits brought by Prince Harry, singer Elton John and other individuals alleging phone-tapping and other breaches of privacy. A spokesperson for the publisher did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The law firm representing the people bringing the case also did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The action is one of an number of legal cases that Prince Harry is currently bringing against British newspapers.

☆ There's no place for politics in public employee pensions, says CalPERS CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThere's no place for politics in public employee pensions, says CalPERS CEOMarcie Frost, CEO of CalPERS, the nation's largest pension fund, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss her response to the lawmakers who sent a letter to the firm warning of antitrust concerns, the battle over ESG investing, and more.

☆ NHL roundup: Connor McDavid hits milestone in Oilers' win
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Barzal is on a career-best, five-game goal streak, and he has six goals and two assists during that span. Vancouver goaltender Collin Delia made 30 saves, while Elias Pettersson, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Ilya Mikheyev each collected two assists. Ty Smith also scored for Pittsburgh, which lost its sixth straight game, just one off matching its longest losing streak of the season. Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Martin Fehervary and Garnet Hathaway also scored, Dylan Strome had three assists, and Darcy Kuemper made 25 saves. Washington has won a franchise-record seven straight road games and is 7-0-2 in its past nine games overall and 12-2-3 in its past 17.

☆ Bank of America upgrades little-known bank stock it calls the best 'pure play' on Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Texas-based Cullen/Frost Bankers is one of the best "pure-play" stocks for investors looking to bet on growth in the Lonestar state, according to Bank of America. Analyst Ebrahim Poonawala upgraded the under-the-radar bank stock to buy from neutral, saying in a note to clients Thursday that the recent pullback in the stock creates an attractive opportunity for investors to gain exposure to a company dominating deposit market share in Texas. "We view CFR as ap high-quality bank with a proven history of conservative balance sheet management, high quality franchise, and attractive Texas footprint," he wrote. Poonawala also cited the company's deposit franchise, along with its underwriting standards and below average credit losses as reasons for liking the stock. The bank's $155 price target suggests shares stand to gain 18% from Wednesday's close price.

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