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☆ Elon Musk has promised self-driving Teslas for years. Experts say it's not even close.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Elon Musk has made developing autonomous driving technology one of Tesla's fundamental goals. "Today it's financially insane to buy anything other than a Tesla," Musk said at an event touting the carmaker's autonomous-vehicle development in 2019. That revolutionary software update never came, and by 2022 the goalpost for bringing self-driving cars to the masses had shifted to 2023. Full Self-Driving is far from actually being self-driving, some sayDespite its branding, Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta currently requires total driver supervision, just like cruise control or smarter features like Autopilot. Likewise, McGehee says self-driving cars need a combination of overlapping sensors — whether that's cameras, radar, lidar, or ultrasonic sensors — to move through the world safely.

☆ Warren Buffett’s must-read annual letter arrives Saturday. Here’s what to expect from the investing legend
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Andrew Harnik | APWarren Buffett's loyal following of value investors is about to hear from the legend himself, at a crucial time when interest rates have soared and recession fears are raging. He believed that when interest rates are high, it could be a major "gravitational pull" on values. "We have a roughly 15-year period of abnormally and historically low interest rates. "Interest rates are the main determinant of equity prices, to quote Buffett, so I think I'm looking for and expecting a discussion on interest rates." "Private equity and others who are thinking of making acquisitions would have to go into the market to borrow [at] higher interest rates.

☆ George Santos's elaborate lies has seen the Congressman compared with a 19th-century huckster. History bears that out.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Allegra Rosenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

My obsession is summed up pretty well by a tweet from @blagojevism: "George Santos is essentially a 19th-century character. Media depicting these characters found inspiration from real life: in a time before digital records and facial recognition, opportunity was everywhere. George Santos's brand of full-throated scammery is particularly American, something that belongs to this country as much as Abraham Lincoln and apple pie. The phrase "and if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you" comes from his legendary real-life method. But Santos, so far, has avoided jail time, giving him at least one leg up over the Yellow Kid.

☆ Rise of 'zombie' VCs haunts tech investors as plunging valuations hammer the industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Startup investors are increasingly warning of an apocalyptic scenario in the VC world — namely, the emergence of "zombie" VC firms that are struggling to raise their next fund. Life becomes harder for zombie firms in a higher interest rate environment, as it increases their borrowing costs. Investors expect this gloomy economic backdrop to create a horde of zombie funds that, no longer producing returns, instead focus on managing their existing portfolios — while preparing to eventually wind down. "There are definitely zombie VC firms out there. "We're going to see a lot more zombie venture capital firms this year," Steve Saraccino, founder of VC firm Activant Capital, told CNBC.

☆ Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway slashed 3 big stock bets last quarter - and topped up its huge Apple stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway made striking changes to its stock portfolio last quarter. The famed investor's company cut its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor — which it only established in the third quarter of last year — by 86% to 8.3 million shares. Buffett's conglomerate also pared its US Bancorp stake by 91% to fewer than 7 million shares, worth just under $300 million at the end of December. Similarly, it sliced its BNY Mellon position by about 60% to 25 million shares, worth $1.1 billion at year end. Berkshire didn't add any new names to its US stock portfolio last quarter, nor did it eliminate any holdings.

Buffett's company bought another 20.8 million Apple shares worth $3.2 billion, raising its stake to 5.8%, according to the filing. Shares in Apple have surged nearly 18% this year. Berkshire shrunk its stake in BNY Mellon by roughly 60%, to 25.1 million shares. At current prices, the divestment is worth nearly $2 billion. The number of shares Berkshire holds fell 12.3%, to 52.7 million.

☆ Soros Fund adds First Horizon, Horizon Therapeutics and bond ETF
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Soros disclosed a $325.3 million stake, or 2.9 million shares, in biotech firm Horizon Therapeutics (HZNP.O), which was bought by Amgen (AMGN.O) in December for nearly $28 billion. The firm also bought 2.8 million shares, valued at $90 million, in home health assessment firm Signify Health (SGFY.N). It added $209.1 million, or 8.5 million shares, in Memphis-based financial services company First Horizon, which was acquired by Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD.TO) roughly a year ago for $13.4 billion. Shares in Zoom Technologies Inc (ZTNO.PK) and Airbnb Inc (ABNB.O) were sold, while it reduced its holdings in Amazon.com (AMZN.O), by 54.5%, to 901 million shares. The regulatory filing also showed Soros bought $255 million in an investment grade corporate bond ETF.

☆ Here are Warren Buffett's latest moves to the Berkshire Hathaway stock portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Omaha-based conglomerate slashed its shares in Bank of New York Mellon by 60% in the fourth quarter to a bet worth $1.1 billion. Meanwhile, it also cut its US Bancorp stake by 90% to $291 million by the end of 2022. The filing reflects moves made in the fourth quarter and holdings as of the end of 2022. The chip stock gained nearly 9% in the fourth quarter, but the rebound in the new year was even more dramatic with shares up over 30% year to date. Meanwhile, Buffett's Chevron stake dipped marginally last quarter, worth $29.3 billion at the end of the fourth quarter, the filing showed.

☆ Analysts see short-term strength, long-term 'generational shift' in copper prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Sheets of copper cathode are pictured at BHP Billiton's Escondida, the world's biggest copper mine, in Antofagasta, northern Chile March 31, 2008. Ivan Alvarado | ReutersAlong with experiencing a short-term supply shortage, copper is set to undergo a "generational shift" in demand as decarbonization ramps up, according to BNY Mellon Lead Portfolio Manager Al Chu. Short-term supply issues have also emerged alongside a rebound in demand, such as an eruption of protests in Peru, which accounts for 10% of the world's copper supply. Every renewable energy pretty much needs copper, because if you're talking about electrifying something and transmitting electricity, you need copper." "When you look at the long-term secular story, you can just see strong demand.

☆ How to delete yourself from the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

With so much personal data floating publicly on the internet, consumers have a legitimate interest in controlling the information flow. Self-help tools to remove personal informationFor those who are so inclined, there are ways to limit the amount of personal information available on the internet. If that fails, Google says it may remove personal information "that creates significant risks of identity theft, financial fraud, or other specific harms." It can be hard to gauge the effectiveness of these services, partly because there's so much personal information in the public domain. DeleteMe's website says that 2,389 pieces of personal information, on average, are found over a two-year subscription.

☆ BNY Mellon says investors 'absolutely interested' in digital assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Samuel Indyk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Bank of New York Mellon's head of digital assets Michael Demissie said on Wednesday that digital assets were "here to stay", citing a 2022 study of the custodian bank's clients. "What we see is clients are absolutely interested in digital assets, broadly," BNY Mellon's Demissie said, speaking on a panel on cryptocurrency at Afore Consulting's 7th Annual FinTech and Regulation Conference. Demissie cited a survey of BNY Mellon clients conducted in October 2022 that found that more than 90% of them expected to invest in tokenised assets in the near future. Cryptocurrency markets plunged in 2022, as rising interest rates and a series of high-profile collapses at crypto firms made investors cautious. We need responsible actors who can offer reliable services that live up to investors trust."

☆ Mobility study cites roadblocks for U.S. electric vehicles, sustainable aviation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Paul Lienert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Among those roadblocks, a looming shortage of battery raw materials could put government mandates “in conflict with manufacturing reality” — one of the macro trends charted in the 2023 Moving World Report, published by investment firm UP.Partners. Obstacles to the acceleration of EV production and demand in the United States include ongoing turmoil in global supply chains, insufficient vehicle charging infrastructure and an overloaded electrical grid, the 120-page report said. The study is based on dozens of interviews and cites technical and financial data from research studies by the International Energy Agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, McKinsey, Silicon Valley Bank, Carnegie Mellon University and others. While aviation companies continue to pursue alternative technologies from batteries to hydrogen, Managing Partner Cyrus Sigari said that sustainable aviation fuel is “the only rational pathway” to reducing aviation carbon emissions over the next 20 years. Editing by Jane MerrimanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

AI may be beneficial for paralegals and other white-collar jobs, but it may affect the demand for these workers. Here are four kinds of white-collar jobs that could be replaced by AI. ChatGPT and other kinds of AI can save workers, job seekers, and others some time on tasks. It could take over some jobs, including those considered white-collar work. Below are four different kinds of white-collar jobs that may be less in demand or be at risk due to AI in the future.

☆ Stock futures inch higher as investors await Fed Chair Powell's speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stock futures rose slightly in overnight trading as investors braced for the latest commentary due Tuesday from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Futures tied to the S&P 500 added 0.13%, while futures connected to the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched 20 points, or 0.07% higher. Nasdaq-100 futures rose 0.13%. The S&P 500 slid 0.61%, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1%. So far this season, a little over half of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with about 69% surpassing expectations, according to FactSet data.

☆ Mercedes-Benz's new self-driving tech is turning up the heat on Tesla at the worst possible time
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Its Drive Pilot feature allows drivers to not pay attention to the road in certain situations. Drive Pilot is a "really big deal," Bryant Walker-Smith, a law professor at the University of South Carolina who specializes in autonomous vehicles, told Insider. But at one level higher, Mercedes' Drive Pilot allows a driver's attention to wander to other tasks in certain situations. There are some caveats: When Drive Pilot hits roads later in 2023, it will only work on certain freeways in Nevada and only at speeds under 40 mph. Still, Drive Pilot isn't sparking a revolution in the way people drive — or don't — just yet.

"It's going to take some time" for disinflation to spread through the economy, Powell said in a news conference following the Fed's latest quarter-point interest rate increase. He said he expects a couple more rate hikes still to go, and, "given our outlook, I just I don't see us cutting rates this year." Rate cuts, they expect, will start in September - a view Powell said Wednesday is driven by the expectation of fast-receding inflation. Since the 1990s, the interlude between rate hikes and rate cuts has varied from as long as 18 months in 1997-1998 to as short as five months in 1995. The Fed, Powell said Wednesday, cannot risk doing too little.

☆ Meta follows Chevron with a huge buyback that likely signals more are to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Investors also like returning capital, and that $40 billion share buyback announcement certainly fit into that category. With a market cap of $407 billion, that $40 billion is about 10% of the market value. And that is on top of the $10.97 billion buyback that Meta has left from a prior authorization. That $40 billion is not as big as Chevron's $75 billion buyback , but it is enough to start the first quarter of 2023 with a bang. Oddly, we have had heard nothing from politicians in Washington about the Meta buyback .

☆ 5 easy side hustles to start with little to no money
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A low-cost side hustle is a great way to generate extra income ahead of an economic downturn. Alistair Berg/Getty ImagesWith the possibility of a recession on the horizon, experts say it's time to start saving. Starting a side hustle can be a great way to earn that extra cash, founders told Insider. "At the early stage, the capital needs are at their lowest ever," Dave Mawhinney, an entrepreneurship professor and executive director at Carnegie Mellon University, previously told Insider. From blogging to selling vintage clothes, here are five side hustles to start with little or no money, as well as advice from founders who've done it.

☆ Microsoft warns employees not to share 'sensitive data' with ChatGPT
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Microsoft's CTO office told staff they can use ChatGPT at work as long as they don't share "sensitive data." In response, a senior engineer from Microsoft's CTO office wrote that they were allowed, as long as employees don't share confidential information with the AI tool. "Human beings sign NDAs and consequently have incentives to be careful in how they share information. While employees are on the hook for protecting confidential data, it's not clear what exactly Microsoft or OpenAI are doing to address the issue. Is the responsibility on employees to not share sensitive information, or is the responsibility on OpenAI to use information carefully, or some combination?"

Some hedge funds, wealth managers, and asset managers are still hiring. Recruiters told us what roles are in demand and what skills can help you land them. Big-name hedge funds like Citadel, D. E. Shaw, and Millennium Management posted double digits in a year that many other investment managers would rather soon forget. Alternative asset managers, meanwhile, are hiring in the private-wealth-management businesses they've spent recent years building out. … if you're in or interested in wealth managementDespite the market downturn, wealth managers are in high demand.

☆ There's a middle ground between burning yourself out and quiet quitting: 'enoughness'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

There's a middle ground between quiet quitting and burning yourself out: it's called "enoughness." But not so much that it controls your life and you don't have energy for yourself. According to Robert Kelley, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business, there's a word for what many of us are seeking: "enoughness." We don't want to slack off, or even quiet quit, but we're less willing to make our jobs our top concern. "Very few people get recharged from their work," Kelley said.

☆ Favorite income ideas of top performing funds cluster around similar stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

CNBC Pro found four income funds that have performed well over the past three years, which could be opportunities for investors searching for reliable income as the year progresses: The BNY Mellon Income Stock Fund , Neuberger Berman Dividend Growth Fund , Invesco Value Opportunities Fund and Invesco Comstock Fund . Here are the funds: Three stocks stand out as being among the most heavily weighted across three of the funds: JPMorgan , Goldman Sachs and Caterpillar . Financial services names make up a large part of both the BNY Mellon and Invesco Comstock funds, with roughly 30% and 22% of the funds' investments in the sector. Both of them, as well as the Neuberger fund, include JPMorgan, which is the single biggest weighting in the BNY Mellon fund. Goldman Sachs is another favorite financial stocks, being heavily weighted in the BNY Mellon and both Invesco funds.

Some hedge funds, wealth managers, and asset managers are still hiring. Layoffs across industries have been dominating headlines in January, and Wall Street has been no exception. Big-name hedge funds like Citadel, D. E. Shaw, and Millennium Management posted double digits in a year that many other investment managers would rather soon forget. Alternative asset managers, meanwhile, are hiring in the private-wealth-management businesses they've spent recent years building out. Emily Landon, the CEO of the Chicago-based headhunting firm The Crypto Recruiter, pointed to the job board Crypto Careers, which has over 2,400 openings.

Haley also tapped Betsy Ankney, a former political director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, to run the PAC, according to Axios. Longtime Haley advisor Jon Lerner, will likely have leadership roles within a Haley presidential campaign, two of the people said. Haley has publicly hinted in two recent interviews with Fox News that she could be ready to run for president. Kevin Lemarque | ReutersTrump, who lost his reelection bid to Biden in 2020, is the only candidate so far to jump into the 2024 presidential race. She even said in 2021 that she wouldn't run for president in 2024 if Trump was on the ballot.

☆ The stock market is in the green so far this year, but don't buy into the bullish hype just yet. A UBS investing chief explains why the rally could be a 'head fake' — and why it's still critical for i
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

UBS's Mark Haefele says there's a strong possibility the January market rally is a "head fake." But the rally has sputtered to a halt after US stocks sold off this week to erase half the gains they've made in 2023. "But it remains possible that the rally is a 'head fake,' and that economic data will ultimately disappoint." This may be due in part to a strong labor market keeping wage growth robust. And despite energy's astonishing rally last year, Haefele still believes that there's still room to go for the sector.

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