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☆ Mediobanca dips toe into tech M&A shark tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mediobanca (MDBI.MI), the 8.5-billion-euro financial group run by veteran CEO Alberto Nagel, said on Thursday it had agreed to buy London-based Arma Partners, an advisory boutique that specializes in technology deals. With revenue in excess of $100 million, or about 90 million euros, Arma should add more than 10% to Mediobanca’s annual net fees and commission of 850 million euros. The French boutique’s contribution, although a record, stood at 63 million euros in the financial year that ended in June 2022. Buying Arma allows Mediobanca to gain expertise in growing areas like cloud services, software and cybersecurity, which are outside the Italian bank’s core strengths. Star banker Erik Maris left Mediobanca a year after Nagel clinched the purchase of a 66% stake in the boutique.

[1/3] Packaged food for sale is seen on shelves at a Dollar Tree in Islandia, New York, U.S., May 12, 2023. Razor manufacturer Edgewell Personal Care Co (EPC.N) and Kraft Heinz Co (KHC.O) have overhauled or built new teams dedicated to working with the biggest U.S. dollar stores like Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR.O) and Dollar General Corp (DG.N) in the last year. Makers of food and household staples are pushing deeper into dollar stores because the low-cost retailers are opening thousands of locations each year. Griffin added that dollar stores are also introducing more "premium" private label brands, like Dollar General's Nature's Menu for pets. Kraft-Heinz also created a new team of five people late last year to identify and develop products for dollar stores, a spokesman said.

☆ Shopify offloads logistics business to Flexport
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Shopify is selling its logistics unit to supply chain technology company Flexport, the companies announced Thursday. The sale marks a reversal for Shopify, which had spent years building out its own logistics and order-fulfillment operations. Shopify and Flexport are deepening their alliance as Shopify seeks to compete with e-commerce rivals such as Amazon and Walmart . Clark said in an interview that the acquisition will allow Flexport to scale the shipping capabilities it can offer for Shopify merchants, and other online businesses. Shopify will also retain its Shopify Fulfillment Network app where merchants manage their logistics process.

☆ First Republic’s rescue cements ‘too big to fail’: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, May 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - JPMorgan rode to the rescue of the mid-sized lender, which recently became the latest US bank to keel over. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the impact of lending giants bulking up further, and whether that itself stores up future risks. Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Oliver TaslicOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Microsoft opens up Bing access and adds chat history and export features
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Microsoft said Thursday that it's dispensing with the waiting list it has had in place for the past three months for its revamped Bing search engine, allowing anyone with a Microsoft account to use it. Kumar said the company will provide more details on how developers can build for the Bing chatbot at its Microsoft Build developer conference, which starts on May 23. That means Google has yet to allow people to use the Bing chatbot from Google's dominant Chrome browser. Microsoft includes Edge in its Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems, and the default search engine in Edge is Bing. may ruin Alphabet's only real business: Google Search, says CIC Wealth's Malcolm Ethridge

☆ LVMH to buy French jewellery producer Platinum Invest to ramp up Tiffany production
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, April 14 (Reuters) - LVMH (LVMH.PA), the world's largest luxury goods group, has agreed to buy a majority stake in Platinum Invest Group, the owner of French jewellery producers Orest and Abysse, with an eye to bulking up production for its U.S. jeweller Tiffany. With the purchase of the company, which runs five workshops in eastern France and employs 800 people, Tiffany will accelerate production of fine and high end jewellery, the companies said in a statement. Platinum Invest will also continue to produce jewellery for existing clients outside of LVMH as well as other labels in the luxury group, which also owns high end jewellery brands Bulgari and Chaumet. Riding a wave of post-pandemic demand for high end goods, European luxury groups have been tightening their hold on supply chains. Financial terms of the deal to purchase Platinum Invest from private equity firm Andera Partners and French public investment bank BPIfrance were not provided.

☆ U.S. and China wage war beneath the waves – over internet cables
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +28 min

Three of China’s state-owned carriers – China Telecommunications Corporation (China Telecom), China Mobile Limited and China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd (China Unicom) – had committed funding as members of the consortium, which also included U.S.-based Microsoft Corp and French telecom firm Orange SA, according to six people involved in the deal. China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom and Orange did not respond to requests for comment. China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom were resolutely behind HMN Tech, which had come in with a bid of around $500 million. China Telecom and China Mobile threatened to walk off the project, taking tens of millions of dollars of investment with them. Among them is China Telecom, which had previously won authorization to provide services in the United States.

We're buying 50 shares of Emerson Electric (EMR) at roughly $80.54 and 130 shares of Halliburton (HAL) at roughly $30.20. In essence, the Oscillator measures the buying or selling pressure in the market at the current point in time. EMR YTD mountain Emerson Electric (EMR) YTD performance Emerson's stock decline has made its valuation favorable too. HAL YTD mountain Halliburton (HAL) YTD performance We understand the narrative, but the industry is still catching up from years of underinvestment and if producers want to be capital efficient, then they need to use Halliburton's technology. With HAL shares down about 28% since we sold 375 shares in mid-January, we are upgrading our rating back to a 1.

☆ 41% of adults are preparing for a recession. It's time to stress-test your income, advisors say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Yet many Americans — 41% — have taken steps to prepare for a possible economic downturn, according to a survey by Morning Consult. Still, there are a few steps advisors say you should take now to make sure you are prepared to weather a downturn. Barry Glassman president of Glassman Wealth Services"Stress-test your income against your ongoing obligations," Glassman said. The upside for conservative investors is they are now able to get higher interest rates on their cash. Reduce your debtsHigher interest rates mean consumer debts are climbing higher.

☆ Retailers see a tough year ahead, so they're rolling out the recession playbook
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Melissa Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Now, major retailers are dusting off their playbook for a recession — or at least for a period of slower sales. Target shoppers can soon get a Starbucks coffee, make a return and retrieve an online purchases without leaving their cars. Some retailers are rethinking their approach to discounts while questioning other costs, such as giving away free shipping or deliveries without strings attached. Some retailers have also turned free shipping into a perk for only engaged or higher spending customers. Nike , for instance, offers free shipping for shoppers – if they share their personal data by joining its membership program.

☆ What to expect from the February jobs report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Minneapolis CNN —January’s jobs report delivered a heck of a surprise when it showed the US economy had added more than half a million jobs and unemployment had dipped to a level not seen in more than five decades. But economists say they are not bracing for another blindside when the February jobs report comes out on Friday morning. “If we get a second strong jobs report [on Friday], it’s no longer an anomaly,” Terrazas added. Seasonality, benchmarking and the interplay of pandemic-era data don’t completely explain away January’s blockbuster jobs report, economists say, noting there are likely influences from the currently tight labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ February jobs report is set to be released at 8:30 a.m.

☆ February jobs preview: What to expect after January’s blowout report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Minneapolis CNN —January’s jobs report delivered a heck of a surprise when it showed the US economy had added more than half a million jobs and unemployment had dipped to a level not seen in more than five decades. But economists say they are not bracing for another blindside when the February jobs report comes out on Friday. “I think most economists were comfortable dismissing the January jobs data as an anomaly,” Aaron Terrazas, Glassdoor’s chief economist, told CNN. “If we get a second strong jobs report [on Friday], it’s no longer an anomaly,” Terrazas added. Seasonality, benchmarking and the interplay of pandemic-era data don’t completely explain away January’s blockbuster jobs report, economists say, noting there are likely influences from the currently tight labor market.

☆ China is scrambling to find pilots to fly from its growing aircraft carrier fleet
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

China's fleet of aircraft carriers has grown quickly, expanding from one to three in a decade. To use that fleet effectively, China's navy also has to train pilots to operate carrier aircraft. "Starting in 2023, the Navy will select carrier-based aircraft pilots from fresh graduates from local ordinary colleges and universities," according to a Chinese navy brochure. Yet it takes more than ships to build an effective carrier fleet. In fact, the Chinese navy ended up copying a Russian carrier jet without permission to give its carrier program a boost.

☆ JetBlue combining with Spirit would make airfare more expensive, US says in lawsuit filed to block a merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Taylor Rains | Dennis Green | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against JetBlue Airways on Tuesday. The lawsuit seeks to block JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit Airlines. "JetBlue has recognized that its own fares and revenues on a route drop significantly when Spirit enters," the DOJ says. "The Big Four airlines have a lock on about 80% of the market," JetBlue says. The Tuesday lawsuit said that the agreement with American constitutes a "de facto merger" with the world's largest airline, citing language used by Spirit before the merger.

☆ 12 top investors, from Blackstone to TPG, pouring billions into production studios in a long-term bet on Hollywood's content boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Institutional investors continue to see gold in Hollywood studios, despite a slowdown in content spending. Just as investors are pouring money into film and TV production companies, they're also doubling down on studio space, betting that the content boom is here to stay. The production real estate arena has attracted giants like Blackstone, which in 2020 acquired 49% of real estate investment trust Hudson Pacific Properties' three Los Angeles-based studios. Also bulking up in Hollywood is Bain Capital Real Estate, which in 2019 created a joint venture with Bardas Investment Group, a West Hollywood real estate development and investment firm. And investors insisted to Insider that their long-term view on the space hasn't darkened, even if high interest rates and a slowdown in new content spending temper activity in the short term.

☆ Boost your portfolio income with this hybrid asset. Just be aware of the recession risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

For yield-hungry investors, preferred stocks offer a way to boost portfolio income. Preferred stocks are a hybrid asset. They have yields, which move inversely to the value of the preferred stock – the same way bonds do. "However, with bond yields rising, the place for preferred stock in a portfolio should be used sparingly." For those who want to stretch for yield and take on a little more risk, preferred stocks are another attractive possibility.

☆ I tried 25 of Trader Joe's award-winning foods, and would buy at least 21 of them again
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Savanna Swain-Wilson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +42 min

I hit up my local Trader Joe's and bought as many award-winning foods as I could to see which ones deserved their hype. In other words, I agree with the many customers who have dubbed this their favorite Trader Joe's snack. As long as I live within reasonable driving distance of a Trader Joe's, I will continue to buy this loaf. Trader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice is a satisfyingly spicy comfort meal for oneTrader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice had a delicious sauce. Trader Joe's cheddar with caramelized onions offers a memorable balance of savory, salty, and sweetThe cheddar smelled like caramelized onions.

Persons: —, Monterey Jack, burrito, Savanna, Wilson, didn't, I've, It's, Joe's, I'm, they're, chorizo, I'd, Butter, they'd, Joe's cashiers, who's, fryer, Swain Wilson Organizations: Service, of Fame, Business, I'd, Wilson, panini Locations: Monterey, Monterey Jack, skillet, Savanna, Peru, treacly, San Francisco

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.

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.

☆ Bed Bath beefs up legal team ahead of possible bankruptcy filing in New Jersey
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A "Store Closing" banner on a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Farmingdale, New York, on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Bed Bath has been in discussions to nail down financing that would keep it afloat if it were to file for bankruptcy, CNBC previously reported. Bed Bath also recently hired consulting firm AlixPartners as one of its advisors, replacing Berkeley Research Group, CNBC previously reported. Despite efforts to stave off landing in bankruptcy protection, a filing will likely occur in the weeks ahead, the people said. Earlier this month, Bed Bath warned of a looming bankruptcy as its turnaround plans failed to improve the business and its balance sheet deteriorated.

☆ CBS-owned stations added to free, rapidly growing local news streaming service VUit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

He added: "It's a double-edged sword when making the transition to the [streaming] TV world." TV and streaming services are crawling all over each other for more content that retains viewers. Some companies like Sinclair have created their own free streaming services, and many affiliates use their websites and build their own apps to offer newscasts. VUit aims to work with CBS's local stations to boost their hyperlocal events on the platform and attract more eyeballs. A recent Iceman Challenge mountain bike race in Traverse City, Michigan, available only from local station WWTV on VUit's platform, garnered thousands of viewers.

☆ GameStop reports decline in revenue and sharp decrease in cash
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A screen displays the logo and trading information for GameStop on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) March 29, 2022. GameStop said Wednesday its fiscal third quarter sales declined and its cash pile sharply dwindled, as the brick-and-mortar retailer has been working to expand its digital presence. The company's cash and cash equivalents fell to nearly $804 million from approximately $1.4 billion a year earlier. GameStop has been working to become profitable and revamp its brick-and-mortar retail business, after what executives have said were years of underinvestment. GameStop said last month that it had ended its partnership with FTX, after the crypto exchange filed for bankruptcy.

I'm already living like we're in a recession to prepare myself for what could happen next year. I'm also looking into developing an online course to bring in more passive income. Even though I stick to a pretty tight budget throughout the other months of the year, starting in October, I find that I'm spending way more than I planned to. Finding new sources of passive incomeOver the years, I've been eager to incorporate additional passive income streams into my financial portfolio. That way, if my income changes as an entrepreneur and freelancer, I can count on steady cash coming in through other passive income streams.

☆ My partner and I earned over 14,000 points from our first credit card — here's how we're using rewards to save big at Amazon this holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Tessa Campbell | Personal Finance Reviews Fellow | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The author, Tessa Campbell, is using rewards from her Amazon credit card to save money on holiday shopping. Tessa Campbell/Tessa Campbell's phoneOpening the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card helped my partner and me earn over 14,000 points in the first four months of opening the card. My partner was already a Prime member, and since we both frequently shop at Amazon.com, it was a no-brainer to get the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card. Here's how we earn points fast, and how we plan to use the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card to save money this holiday season. How I plan to use my Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card to save on holiday shopping in 2022The more my partner and I spend on the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, the more bonus points we'll earn.

☆ Kering shares up on report company seeks to buy Tom Ford
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Shares in Gucci-owner Kering (PRTP.PA) rose in early Friday trading following a report the French luxury goods company is in advanced talks to buy U.S.-based fashion label Tom Ford. Shares were up 2.4% in morning trade, after the Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported the company was the front runner for a deal, with rivals including Estee Lauder (EL.N). "The logic is compelling," said Piral Dadhania of RBC, of such a deal, citing Tom Ford's past as creative director of Kering labels Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent in the nineties and into the early 2000s, as well as the label's high positioning. Kering, which has been bulking up its eyewear division, recently purchasing U.S. label Maui Jim, has also signalled interest in expanding into beauty. With few financial details available on Tom Ford's label, some analysts were cautious.

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