DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ BlackRock Profit Falls 19%
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Angel Au-Yeung | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/blackrock-blk-q1-earnings-report-2023-de1c1eba

April 13 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. The Asian/Pacific calendar is pretty light on Thursday, with Chinese trade and Australian unemployment figures for March the main events. Music to investors' - and Fed officials' - ears, but the feelgood factor was snuffed out by the Fed minutes. Fed officials are right to be worried about credit conditions. Recent public remarks from Fed officials suggest they are less worried now.

☆ ‘Beef’ Review: Ali Wong and Steven Yeun’s Road-Rage Spiral
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

With irrational anger so in vogue, the time seems ripe for “Beef”—as in gripe, or grievance, though neither does justice to the reckless ferocity of the antics in this nerve-jangling, black-edged comedy. Comedy may be overstating things, actually: The series, created by Lee Sung Jin (“Dave,” “Silicon Valley”), makes the venting of spleen look ridiculous. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. (Or, lest one forget, even get into a road-rage incident.) What’s both amusing and cautionary isn’t just the fact that two volatile people in an unhappy place happen to cross paths at precisely the wrong moment.

☆ I began selling stickers on Etsy as a fun hobby and now make 6-figures from my business. Here's how I got started.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Dorothy Cucci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Jenkinson makes hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from selling stickers and courses. Mim JenkinsonI wanted a creative hobby to keep my mind occupied, so I started to make stickers for my planner. A few months after I started, I started getting questions from customers about how I was making the stickers. I aim to find out what I can make easier for them, whether they're buying or making stickers. I would never have imagined that selling stickers would've had the impact that it's had on my life.

☆ Japan's March service-sector grows at fastest rate in over nine years - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 5 (Reuters) - Japan's services sector activity at the fastest pace in over nine years in March, a private sector survey showed on Wednesday, suggesting that the post-COVID bounce was gathering steam and providing some offset to a still-weak factory sector. The final au Jibun Bank Japan Services purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to a seasonally adjusted 55.0 last month, from February's 54.0, marking the quickest rate of expansion since October 2013. The subindexes of new orders and overseas demand grew for a seventh month, rising at the fastest pace since February 2019 and December 2022, respectively. The subindex for employment expanded for a second month and at the fastest pace in ten months, as workloads and business expansion plans increased. The composite PMI, which combines the manufacturing and services figures, grew at the fastest pace since June 2022.

☆ Asia's factory activity weakens as global demand falters
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"With global growth set to remain weak in the coming quarters, we expect manufacturing output in Asia to remain under pressure," said Shivaan Tandon, emerging Asia economist at Capital Economics. South Korea's PMI fell to 47.6 in March from 48.5 in February, contracting at the fastest pace in six months as export orders took a hit from weak global demand. Vietnam and Malaysia saw factory activity shrink in March, while that of the Philippines expanded at a slower pace than in February, surveys showed. While indications are that the U.S. Federal Reserve will pause its tightening cycle soon, the outlook remains clouded by the banking-sector troubles, still-high inflation and slowing global growth. "Given much of the drag from higher interest rates is yet to feed through to advanced economies, we expect global growth and demand for Asia's exports to remain weak in the coming quarters," Capital Economics' Tandon said.

☆ China's strong demand for commodities to overtake post-2008 crisis, mining giant says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Australian iron ore giant began business in China with a 180,000-metric ton shipment of iron ore in 2008, according to the company's website. At that time, China managed to avoid a prolonged recession with a massive stimulus program that supported infrastructure development — which drove up demand for commodities. What we're seeing now is uniform demand across China. "What we're seeing now is uniform demand across China," Forrest said, "and uniform demand but increasing, thankfully, in the supply chain, the ecosystem which will create [for the] renewable energy industry." In the six months ended Dec. 31, Fortescue said it shipped a record 96.9 million metric tons of iron ore — up 4% from a year ago.

☆ US State Department monitoring reports of kidnapped couple in Haiti
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PORT-AU-PRINCE, March 25 (Reuters) - A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Saturday the government is aware of reports of two U.S. citizens missing in Haiti, after media outlets said a Florida couple had been kidnapped. The couple was on a trip to visit family and attend a festival when they were kidnapped during a bus ride, the relative said, according to CNN. "We are aware of reports of two U.S. citizens missing in Haiti," the State Department spokesperson said. The security situation has devolved further in recent months with routine gun fights between police officers and the gangs. The group said ransom money was paid for the release of the captives, but a dozen had escaped on their own.

☆ Candida auris is just one infection fueled by rising temperatures. See how extreme climate helps spread disease, in 3 simple charts.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Climate change may be driving the rapid spread of Candida auris, a deadly fungus, across the US. Three charts show how extreme weather and environmental changes help spread disease. Nicolas Armer/picture alliance via Getty ImagesA leading theory on this fungus's sudden emergence and wide spread is that it's fueled by climate change. Whatever survives, however, is adapted to extreme heat — including the fever our bodies produce to kill off pathogens. David Ryder/Getty ImagesHumans and their infrastructure are more vulnerable to the devastating impacts of disease when they're compromised by extreme weather.

☆ Lunchables are going to be rolled out directly to students. Here’s what’s in them
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New CNN —Kraft Heinz has succeeded in getting its ready-to-eat packaged Lunchables into school lunch programs starting this fall, in a major new initiative. The USDA referred CNNBusiness to Kraft Heinz for further details about the cost and nutritional content of its Lunchables for schools. Kraft Heinz declined to provide additional details about the cost and other nutritional content, including sodium and saturated fat content. School food nutrition guidelines getting stricterKraft-Heinz says that Lunchables will minimize school "labor needs and costs" in its promotional materials. “As school nutrition guidelines get increasingly complex, we’ve seen companies leaving the K-12 segment, said Pratt-Heavner.

☆ Haiti activists urge U.S. to stop arms trafficking to gangs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 8 (Reuters) - Haitian rights activists on Wednesday called for a stop to the trafficking of weapons into Haiti, as the Caribbean state faces a humanitarian crisis driven by gangs who rights groups say now control most of the country. Haiti does not produce weapons but boys are often seen carrying assault rifles, understood to be from the United States, said Guerline Jozef of migrant-focused non-profit the Haitian Bridge Alliance. "When we are receiving heavy weaponry from the United States and other international culprits, people can kill with impunity and we will not see accountability," she said at an event in Los Angeles. "If we can stop the flow of heavy weaponry into Haiti, then we can start to see relief in sight." Both Ducena and Solages rejected government assertions it had been helping thousands of women who survived sexual abuse.

☆ A rare bronze chandelier bought for $300 in lucky find sold for $3.5 million at auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A chandelier purchased at an antique store for just $300 has sold at auction for $3.5 million. Artist John Craxton stumbled across the Alberto Giacometti chandelier in a London shop in the 1960s. Artist John Craxton stumbled across the Alberto Giacometti chandelier in a London antique store in the 1960s, Christie's auction house explained. In an auction of Craxton's art collection held on February 28, the bronze chandelier, made in 1946, outsold its top estimate of £2.5 million ($3 million). It is unknown how it ended up in the antique shop in London, said Christie's.

☆ A crew member on a cruise ship was fired after a passenger alleged he'd filmed her in a bathroom, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An MSC Cruises crew member was fired for filming a passenger from a toilet stall on a ship. The passenger shared a TikTok video of her confronting the man, who admitted he was in the wrong. The employee was fired after the clip was shared on Monday, an MSC representative told news.com.au. A representative for MSC Cruises told news.com.au that the employee had since been fired. MSC Cruises didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Asia-Pacific markets are set to rise on Friday after Wall Street's rally overnight as investor concerns over higher U.S. interest rates continued to linger. Japanese markets are set to open higher, with the Nikkei futures contract in Chicago at 27,710, and its counterpart in Osaka at 27,700 against the Nikkei 225's last close at 27,498.87. Key economic data is set to come out across the region, with Japan seeing its unemployment rate for January come in at 2.4%, the lowest level since February 2020. The country will also see the release of its services purchasing managers index for February by au Jibun Bank. China will release its services PMI data for February from Caixin, while a private survey on factory activity for February will be out in India on Friday.

☆ Japan factory activity shrinks the most in 2-1/2 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, March 1 (Reuters) - Japan's factory activity shrank in February at the fastest pace in over two years, a private survey showed, highlighting companies' struggles amid a global economic slowdown, raw material inflation and policymakers' calls for higher wages. The final au Jibun Bank Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index released on Wednesday fell to 47.7 in February from January's 48.9. Manufacturing output and new orders contracted for an eighth consecutive month and at the fastest rates in 31 months, the survey showed. On the brighter side, supplier delivery delays were the least prevalent in two years, the survey showed. The Bank of Japan remains an outlier in the current global monetary tightening phase, committing to maintaining ultra-low rates to shore up its COVID-ravaged economy.

☆ Asia's factory activity stalls, but China a bright spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

China's manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in more than a decade in February, according to an official index, while a private sector survey also showed activity rising for the first time in seven months. India and Australia saw economic growth slow in the quarter to December, and South Korea's exports fell in February for a fifth straight month, highlighting the pain slowing global demand was inflicting on the region's manufacturers. The region's weaker data underscores the challenge Asian policymakers face in reining in inflation with higher interest rates, without choking off their economic recoveries already facing pressure from the global economic slowdown, analysts say. Factory activity continued to shrink in Taiwan and Malaysia in February, and expanded at a slower pace than in January in the Philippines, surveys showed. Policymakers hope China's re-opening from COVID-19 curbs, and resilience seen so far in U.S. and European economies, will underpin global growth this year.

"This is an encouraging set of data, but still is only one month, and challenges remain." Global oil prices went higher, underlining how a strong Chinese recovery could fuel global inflation through increased energy demand. STUBBORN INFLATIONIn Europe, German data showed the fight against inflation still has some way to go. Factory activity continued to shrink in Taiwan and Malaysia in February, and expanded at a slower pace in the Philippines, surveys showed. Separate data showed South Korea's exports fell 7.5% in February from a year earlier, marking the fifth straight month of declines, partly due to a plunge in semiconductor exports.

☆ Conservatives Have a New Rallying Cry: Down With ESG
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Julie Bykowicz | Angel Au-Yeung | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—Conservative activists are coordinating a multimillion-dollar national campaign to make ESG the next CRT. Their goal: Transform the acronym for environmental, social and corporate-governance investing into a rallying cry against “woke capitalism,” much the way critical race theory became shorthand for broader criticisms about how race is taught in schools. The same conservative money is behind both efforts, documents and interviews show.

☆ African Union criticises Tunisia over 'racialised hate speech' against migrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, Feb 25 - The African Union (AU) has criticised Tunisia and urged it to avoid "racialised hate speech" after President Kais Saied ordered the expulsion of undocumented migrants and said immigration was a plot aimed at changing his country's demographic make-up . Tunisia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it was surprised by the AU statement issued late on Friday, and rejected what it called "baseless accusations" that it said misunderstood the government's position. Saied this week ordered security forces to stop all illegal migration and expel all undocumented migrants, prompting a campaign of arrests that caused widespread fear among sub-Saharan Africans as well as Black Tunisians. In response to criticism from rights groups that his remarks were racist, Saied said he was not racist and that migrants living in Tunisia legally had nothing to fear. Rights groups are holding a demonstration on Saturday to protest against Saied's comments and the clampdown on migrants.

☆ Japan's factory activity shrinks at fastest pace in 2-1/2 years-PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to a seasonally adjusted 47.4 in February, from a final 48.9 in the previous month. Factory output and new orders decreased for an eighth straight month and at faster rates than January, the sub-index data showed. By contrast, service-sector activity grew for a six month with further relaxation of domestic COVID-19 countermeasures. The au Jibun Bank flash services PMI rose to an eight-month-high of 53.6 seasonally adjusted in February from the previous month's 52.3 final. Overall, the au Jibun Bank Flash Japan composite PMI was at 50.7 in February, in line with last month's final figure, as the gloomy manufacturing index was offset by a rosy service PMI.

View of the Yarra River flowing through Melbourne city centre in Australia. Asia-Pacific markets are set to fall on Tuesday as investors await regional private surveys for factory activity. The PMI index encompasses services and manufacturing, and is seen as a reliable gauge of economic health. Reserve Bank of Australia will release minutes from its February policy meeting, when it hiked interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.35%. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.16% and the Topix was marginally lower ahead of the au Jibun Bank Flash Japan Manufacturing PMI.

☆ An OnlyFans creator and stay-at-home mom explains how much she's made in 9 months on the platform and how she uses Reddit to promote her pages
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Nhari Djan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

An OnlyFans creator known online as Anne earned $22,000 in nine months on the platform. When Anne started creating content for OnlyFans in August 2021, she made just $82 in her first month on the platform. She's earned $33,000 overall on the platform since 2021. Insider verified Anne's OnlyFans earnings through documentation she provided. "I don't go out there and say 'subscribe to my OnlyFans,'" Anne said. Anne has found her flow on OnlyFans by leaning into what's resonated with fans on Reddit and other platforms.

☆ A 'Mean Girls' star described the career setback that made him feel like "someone had died," and the au pair job he took after playing Kevin G
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rajiv Surendra played hilariously memorable character Kevin G in "Mean Girls." He said that after 'Mean Girls,' he had a career rejection that altered the course of his life. "I worked really really hard to try to get this part. The "Mean Girls" star recognized how strange the choice seemed from the outside, looking in. "Even when we were filming 'Mean Girls,'" he said, "they called me Martha Stewart because they knew I did pottery and knitted and everything."

☆ Top Israeli diplomat ejected from African Union summit as row escalates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Dawit Endeshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - A senior Israeli diplomat was on Saturday removed from the African Union's annual summit in Ethiopia, as a dispute over Israel's accreditation to the bloc escalated. Images posted online showed AU security personnel confronting the diplomat during the opening ceremony of the summit, before she left the auditorium. But Israel blamed the incident on South Africa and Algeria, two key nations in the 55-nation bloc, saying they were holding the AU hostage, and were driven by "hate". South Africa rejected the claim, saying Israel's application for observer status at the AU has not been decided upon by the bloc. "So, it's not about South Africa or Algeria, it's an issue of principle."

Search resuls for: "Âu"

25 mentions found