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☆ Exclusive: Exxon to exit Equatorial Guinea amid wider Africa crude phaseout
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Sabrina Valle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The company last year pumped about 45,000 bpd in Equatorial Guinea, out of the country's total production of 93,000 bpd. For Middle East and African oil producers, cash has dwindled to 30% of global flows in the last two years, from 50% between 2010 and 2020. Much of the increase comes from the United States, Canada, Guyana and Brazil, some of the places where Exxon has increased spending on oil output. NAMIBIA AND NATURAL GASWhile crude oil production wanes in West Africa, the continent's liquefied natural gas (LNG) future is on the rise and fossil fuel output could grow elsewhere in Africa. Rising demand globally could result in a 30% rise in gas production in Africa by the end of the decade, Deloitte said.

☆ Not All Retailers Are Overstocked for the Holidays. They’re Discounting Anyway.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Katie Deighton | Kate Ridley | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Many big retailers are discounting heavily and earlier this holiday season to clear excess stock from their shelves and warehouses. But others, with no substantive overhang of inventory, are also offering bigger sales than usual to satisfy shoppers who have come to expect them. “This is more of a reaction to what’s happening in this peak holiday-sales period.”Not all companies are being pulled into the discounting vortex. “We think that’s a good consumer experience.”Catbird, a Brooklyn-based jewelry company, is offering customers up to 20% off during the holidays, the biggest discount of its 18-year history. “No business owner who’s being honest is going to tell you they’re happy to have sales,” she said.

☆ The Saudi Arabian government would 'definitely support' private bids for UK soccer clubs Manchester United or Liverpool, sports minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's sports minister told BBC it will support private bids for Manchester United and Liverpool FCs. A consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund already owns Newcastle United FC. A consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund purchased Newcastle United FC in October 2021 for $409 million. Manchester United and Liverpool are among the world's most valuable sports teams. Forbes estimates Manchester United is worth around $4.6 billion, while Liverpool is worth about $4.45 billion.

☆ The dream of plant-based meat in fast food may already be dead
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Fast food chains have experimented with plant-based proteins for years with limited success. Plant-based meat is too expensive and adds too much complexity for widespread fast food adoption, an analyst said. Despite some exceptions like Burger King's Impossible Whopper, plant-based fast food menu items have largely been featured as limited-time offerings. It's "very hard" to convert meat eaters to plant-based meat, he said. Plant-based meat isn't likely to disappear from fast food menus, but it's also not going to replace beef.

☆ Duke Energy Enters Into Amazon Cloud Deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Duke Energy Corp. said it has signed a three-year deal with Amazon. com Inc.’s cloud-computing unit as the electric power and natural gas holding company aims to advance its power grid improvements and clean energy goals. Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke will use Amazon Web Services to run applications that predict electricity needs on its power grid, and where and how the grid should be updated to meet those needs. Ms. Titone oversees an information-technology department of more than 2,000 people, with about 400 focused on accelerating Duke’s cloud transition. There are certainly things that we need to house and maintain in our own data center,” Ms. Titone said.

☆ There's resentment over choice of Qatar as World Cup host, says Deloitte
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | 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 resentment over choice of Qatar as World Cup host, says DeloitteJames Walton of Deloitte Southeast Asia discusses the controversy surrounding the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and says the resentment can partly be attributed to the fact that it's a "non-footballing nation."

Airlines’ service cuts that ramped up this summer show no sign of relenting this holiday season, leaving more travelers likely to pay higher fares for fuller planes at crowded airports. And while dozens of small cities receive federal subsidies to support air travel through the long-running Essential Air Service program, Malarkey Black said even 29 of those communities are facing potential cutbacks due to pilot shortages. For the regional flights that do remain, “fares are up markedly as a result of service cuts,” said Scott Keyes, the founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights. Major U.S. carriers have cited pilot shortages for their cuts at regional airports, with some of them saying the labor crunch would take years to resolve. “Commercial air service is an expected amenity to both businesses and residents alike,” Grover said, promising to work “relentlessly, tenaciously” to restore it.

To combat high inflation, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates this year at the fastest clip in 40 years. But analysts warn that high interest rates and potentially unfavorable terms can trip up shoppers, eroding the hoped-for savings. That’s the highest interest rate since the credit card marketplace began tracking it for store cards in 2018. Using credit cards can help build credit. And with fees and rates for new store cards even higher than the current record levels for traditional credit cards, “many people’s financial margin for error is basically zero,” Schulz says.

☆ How private-equity firms, rich with investors' cash, plan to capitalize on a souring economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Casey Sullivan | Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The ultimate winners from the economic downturn may turn out to be private-equity firms. At the same time, private-equity firms are seeing fewer exits and fundraising is slowing. That's the private-equity industry, according to interviews with corporate advisors and a review of earnings transcripts. Regardless of the challenges, however, one positive note for the largest private-equity firms is that they are more diversified today. These relationships are better insulating private-equity firms from economic cycles, she added.

☆ IPO funds raised by Southeast Asian companies fall amid economic headwinds
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Photographer: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesThe funds raised by public listings in Southeast Asia fell by 52% this year compared to a year ago, data from Deloitte showed. Initial public offering (IPO) funds raised by companies in the region reached $6.3 billion from the January to Nov. 11 period, the management consulting company said. The findings also revealed that only eight large and medium-sized companies listed in 2022, less than half of the 19 large- and medium-sized companies that were listed in 2021. IPO activity in Southeast Asia was lower this year, with only two blockbuster IPOs — Indonesia's GoTo which raised $1.1 billion and Thai Life Insurance with $1 billion raised. This could mean that the bigger companies are holding out and postponing their listings in anticipation of better market conditions, Deloitte said.

☆ U.S. SEC stepped up enforcement activity in fy2022, assessed record penalties
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( John Mccrank | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The total assessed included a record $4.2 billion in civil penalties, up from a total amount of $3.6 billion in 2021, as it filed 760 total enforcement actions, including 462 new or stand-alone ones. The SEC chair previously announced the amount of fines and fees assessed, but the annual report published on Wednesday provided more details in its roundup of activity in the year ended Sept. 30. SEC actions against JP Morgan Securities LLC, 15 other broker dealers, and one investment adviser for widespread and long-standing failures to maintain and preserve work-related text messages conducted on employees' personal devices made up over $1.2 billion of SEC penalties in 2022. The SEC also filed charges against Deloitte's China-based affiliate of failing to comply with U.S. auditing requirements and secured a record penalty against crypto firm BlockFi for selling unregistered securities. Reporting by John McCrank in New York; Additional reporting by Chris Prentice; Editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wall Street has made serious strides to embrace crypto this year. But after FTX's implosion, a regulatory crackdown is imminent.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Morgan Chittum | Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In a stunning downfall, crypto platform FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Nov. 11. Crypto sentiment from Wall Street giants has come a long way over the past few years. After FTX's disaster, a crackdown on digital assets is imminent. Prominent government officials quickly spoke out against the crypto platform last week. Gensler says that the agency's aggressive stance on digital assets is an effort to protect investors and may encourage further crypto adoption.

More than a dozen Chinese companies have unveiled plans to follow suit, according to exchange filings. The China-Switzerland Connect allows Chinese companies to raise capital by issuing and listing GDRs on Swiss bourse SIX. Swiss firms can issue Chinese Depository Receipts on the Chinese exchanges. She said UBS is also discussing with Chinese firms about listing in Frankfurt once rules are in place, so "our GDR mandates will keep coming". Despite the brighter prospects, deal sizes have been comparatively small, with Gotion's $685 million Swiss listing the biggest so far under the Swiss connect scheme.

☆ 'No longer science fiction'? Metaverse could pump $1.4 trillion a year into Asia's GDP, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The impact of the metaverse to GDP in Asia could be between $0.8 and 1.4 trillion per year by 2035, said a new Deloitte report. The impact of the metaverse to GDP in Asia could be between $0.8 and 1.4 trillion per year by 2035, said a new Deloitte report. watch nowDeloitte's new report, titled "The Metaverse in Asia: Strategies for Accelerating Economic Impact," examined the potential influence of the metaverse on 12 Asian economies. Developing the technology stacks, human capital and regulatory frameworks to realize Asia's trillion-dollar metaverse potential will benefit a wide range of industries and economic activities," said Kulasooriya. ObstaclesThough Deloitte's report suggests China could the biggest beneficiary in terms of GDP, the country still faces heavy regulatory challenges in developing the metaverse.

☆ Macau Under Spotlight Amid U.S. Inspections of China-Based Audits
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Mark Maurer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

The PCAOB, which began inspections of China-based audits in September, will decide by year-end whether China is complying with the agreement. “We do not know if these firms, especially in the U.S., have been adequately supervising the Macau firms,” she said. The Macau firms’ work isn’t immune from PCAOB inspection. PwC Macau is a separate legal entity, but it is run as part of the firm’s China operations, a spokesman said. “The China firm is taking responsibility, treating it as a branch office,” Ms. McKenna said.

☆ How to transform your business's payables and receivables to keep up with customer demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Citizens With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

By Matt Richardson, head of treasury product solutions, CitizensFueled by greater connectivity and faster transactions, the digital transformation of the payables and receivables landscape continues to reshape the outlook for treasury management. We've seen many companies embrace faster and easier payments systems. This is set to launch by 2023 and will extend access to real-time payments to more financial institutions and customers nationwide. The dominant force in this area will be cloud-based, intelligent payables and receivables platforms like Citizens' integrated payables solution powered by Paymode-X. Relatedly, payment messaging will be an essential area to keep track of as new digital payment options are becoming increasingly sophisticated and data-intensive.

☆ Wall Street pushed into digital assets. Now investors are paying the price as FTX's crisis raises questions of a ripple effect in cryptoworld.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | Danielle Walker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

FTX, the crypto exchange in crisis, found backers in BlackRock, VanEck, and Ontario Teachers. The solvency crisis facing the exchange and its famous CEO raises questions of a ripple effect. Now, in the middle of crypto winter, FTX is in the middle of a solvency crisis. Binance, a rival crypto exchange that was initially going to buy FTX, backed out. "What we like about it is that we're not really speculating on whether prices of crypto assets, bitcoin or otherwise, are going up or down.

☆ War in Ukraine and weather-related disasters have disrupted climate action. Here are 6 ways the private sector can mobilize sustainable transformation.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Bernhard Lorentz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

War in Ukraine and a slew of weather-related disasters have slowed government progress towards climate action. Here are six ways the private sector can mobilize sustainable transformation. The Ukraine conflict in particular has significantly disrupted decarbonization plans and brought into focus concerns around resilience and sovereignty when it comes to ongoing energy transition efforts. Innovate in line with the energy transition to build resilienceInnovation is at the heart of maintaining competitive edge as it replaces costly and inefficient processes with more effective ones. Bernhard Lorentz is the global consulting sustainability & climate strategy leader at Deloitte and the founding chair of the Deloitte Center for Sustainable Progress.

☆ Vanguard launches Australian pension fund in bid for $2 trillion savings pool
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 11 (Reuters) - The world's second-largest fund manager Vanguard launched a pension fund in Australia on Friday, the first new fund licence approved in six years as it bets a reputation for low fees will help break into the country's trillions of retirement savings. Twenty-four years after the launch of Vanguard's first Australian fund, Vanguard Super opens with 12 products, including a default "Lifecycle" fund that gradually shifts a member's holdings into more conservative investments as they age. Fees for the default option will be the lowest in the Australian pension market for younger members and those with balances under A$50,000 ($33,080), according to analysis from accounting firm Deloitte commissioned by Vanguard. "We want to deliver members a low-cost, high-quality super fund that includes a default offer designed to move with them right through life," said Vanguard Australia Managing Director Daniel Shrimski in a statement. ($1 = 1.5115 Australian dollars)Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Vatican hit with $9.25 million claim by ousted auditor and deputy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said on Thursday he had no comment on the lawsuit, which was filed last week with the Vatican prosecutor's office by lawyers for Libero Milone and Ferruccio Panicco. Becciu told Reuters in 2017 that Milone "went against all the rules and was spying on the private lives of his superiors and staff, including me". Milone denies this, saying he just was seeking information he had a right to see as auditor general. The Vatican's prosecutor's office said it had recently re-opened an investigation about events at the time of the sacking in 2017. Becciu's lawyers said Milone had given a "a completely unfounded reconstruction" of events in the legal filing.

☆ Impossible Foods Hires a Marketing Chief as It Seeks to Win Over Meat Eaters
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Megan Graham | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Alternative-meat maker Impossible Foods Inc. has hired Leslie Sims to fill the newly created post of chief marketing and creative officer ahead of a planned expansion in marketing, the company said. Ms. Sims, currently U.S. chief creative officer at Deloitte Digital, will assume her new role on Jan. 1. Founded in 2011, Impossible Foods sells products including plant-based alternatives to beef burger patties, chicken nuggets and pork. Leslie Sims will become chief marketing and creative officer at Impossible Foods in January. “We’re really going for not being the best plant-based meat—we’re going for being the best meat,” Ms. Sims said.

☆ Six in ten Britons will spend less at Christmas -Deloitte survey
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Six in ten Britons believe they will have less money to spend over the Christmas period than last year, according to a survey published on Monday, adding to evidence that a thrifty festive season beckons. The survey from Deloitte found 38% plan to switch to cheaper brands or stores to seek out gifts, and for Christmas Day dinner 35% plan to do at least part of their shop at a discount supermarket. "Consumers are entering the festive season with budgets under more pressure this year, and it is not surprising that almost all are considering affordability and adapting their typical Christmas spending habits in one way or another," Oliver Vernon-Harcourt, head of retail at Deloitte, said. With inflation at a 40-year high of 10.1%, interest rates rising and consumer confidence close to the gloomiest on record, Britons have cut their spending. Deloitte's findings chimed with surveys last month from Kantar and Accenture, which both showed Britons planning to cut festive spending this year.

That has given some consumers an opening to spend liberally this holiday shopping season. "Despite the pandemic, holiday sales have grown at a historic pace for the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons," the economists wrote. "This year, with pandemic fears now largely in the rearview mirror, consumers are looking forward to a more typical holiday shopping season." But simple math dictates that consumers are eventually going to run out of ways to spend, they write. Holiday plansBut consumers should hold up well this holiday season, experts say.

☆ NRF: Holiday sales to increase between 6% to 8% in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Holiday online are forecast to increase between 10% and 12% to between $262.8 billion and $267.6 billion, up from $238.9 billion in 2021, the group said. This has helped jump start holiday sales ahead of schedule and could support more sales increases in coming weeks.. But other forecasts for holiday sales suggest there may be a big pullback on gift shopping in the weeks ahead. Consulting firm Deloitte expects retail sales in November, December and January – when Christmas gift cards are redeemed – to increase only 4% to 6%. That compares unfavorably with last year’s robust 15.1% increase, but this year’s expected slower growth is in line with where holiday retail sales were trending pre-pandemic.

☆ Americans are spending record amounts at casinos and airlines — but recent warnings from Amazon and Apple suggest the party may soon be over
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Despite inflation, Americans are still shelling out at casinos, airlines, and restaurants. In October, both American and Southwest Airlines reported record operating revenues for their respective companies in the third quarter. Following "record summer leisure travel demand," consumers continued to hit the skies in September, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said. A Deloitte survey of nearly 5,000 Americans found that Americans plan to buy 44% fewer gifts — an average of nine versus 16 last year. "Spending should slow down significantly with the holiday hangover and as savings continue to dwindle," RSM economist Tuan Nguyen told USA Today.

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