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☆ Stock market today: Indexes climb as producer inflation comes in cool
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Max Adams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Stocks were higher on Tuesday after PPI showed wholesale inflation was less than expected in July. Investors are now bracing for the consumer inflation reading due out on Wednesday. AdvertisementUS stocks were up on Tuesday after the producer price index for July showed wholesale inflation rose less than expected. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that producer prices increased 0.1% last month compared to estimates of 0.2%. The cooler-than-expected reading should boost optimism for consumer prices to show a decline in inflation when the consumer price index is released on Wednesday.

Persons: —, Chris Zaccarelli, Laxman Narasimhan, Brian Niccol, Elon Musk Organizations: PPI, Investors, Service, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, Fed, Depot, Bank of America, Starbucks, Trump Media, Elon

☆ Home Depot issues a warning about the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Home Depot says consumers are feeling crummy about the economy, and they’re dishing out less to remodel their homes. The home improvement giant, a bellwether of consumer spending and the housing market, lowered its sales expectations for the year. It said customers were spending less on home improvement projects, pressured by higher interest rates and concerns that the economy is getting worse. Home Depot said Tuesday it expects sales at stores open at least 12 months to fall between 3% and 4% this year compared to last year. Still, Decker remained optimistic, saying “The underlying long-term fundamentals supporting home improvement demand are strong.”Home Depot’s (HD) stock fell nearly 5% in premarket trading.

Persons: they’re, Ted Decker, That’s, Decker Organizations: New, New York CNN, Depot Locations: New York

☆ Google launches first AI-powered Android update and new Pixel 9 phones
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In this article GOOG Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTGoogle announced its first smartphone fully powered by its AI "Gemini" system. Google on Tuesday announced new artificial intelligence features that are coming to Android devices. Google doesn't make a lot of money from its hardware business but the latest Android features could help drive new revenue through the company's Gemini AI subscription program. Google previously had some AI features in Android, but this is the first year it's heavily emphasizing new capabilities powered by a large AI language model installed on devices. New Pixel 9 phones and Pixel Watch 3Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards

Persons: Sameer Samat, Samat, Gemini, Siri Organizations: Google, Gemini, Apple, YouTube, Gmail, Apple Intelligence

☆ Home Depot expects sales to weaken as consumers grow more cautious
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The home improvement retailer said it now expects full-year comparable sales to decline by 3% to 4% compared to the prior fiscal year. It had previously expected comparable sales, a metric that takes out the impact of store openings and closures and other one-time factors, to decline about 1%. Total sales are expected to increase between 2.5% and 3.5% including a 53rd week in the fiscal year and approximately $6.4 billion in sales from SRS. In an interview with CNBC, Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail said Home Depot has contended with consumers who have a "deferral mindset" since the middle of 2023. It marked the seventh consecutive quarter of negative comparable sales at Home Depot.

Persons: Richard McPhail, They've, McPhail, Jerome Powell, –, Robert Hum Organizations: CNBC, LSEG, Depot, Target, Home Depot, Consumers, Federal Reserve Locations: Florida Keys, United States, U.S

☆ 'We haven't seen the bottom in this correction': Dan Niles names 2 tech stocks to ride out a potential recession
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Hedge fund manager Dan Niles is betting on Apple and Meta Platforms as two stocks that can ride out a potential U.S. recession. Apple Niles expects strong revenue growth in the coming year as consumers upgrade to AI-enabled iPhones. "Their revenue growth has been minuscule the last three years because people already have a smartphone. "I think that revenue growth goes to double digits over 10% probably next year, as people upgrade to an AI-enabled smartphone." Meta Niles expressed particular confidence in Meta's prospects, praising the company's effective use of AI in its core business.

Persons: Dan Niles, Niles, CNBC's, AAPL, Apple Niles, Meta Niles, Meta Organizations: Apple, Niles Investment Management, Meta, Google, Microsoft

☆ Warren Buffett's company is so big it's like a mini US economy. Here's what it signals about the state of consumers.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe latest figures from Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway suggest consumers are faring better than they were just a year or two ago. Thomson ReutersHomeServicesReal estate brokerage revenues were almost flat and after-tax earnings rose 21%. New home unit sales rose 11% after dropping 20%, but pre-tax earnings fell 10%, similar to their 12% decline last year. But pre-tax earnings jumped 10% due to higher margins and lower operating expenses that offset the lower sales. AdvertisementRetailThe odd one out was the retailing subdivision, where revenues fell 4.5% and pre-tax earnings fell 23%.

Persons: —, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Here's, Thomson, Warren Buffett, Clayton, Rick Wilking, Berkshire, They've, There's Organizations: Service, Business, Thomson Reuters, Clayton Homes, Reuters McLane, Berkhire Hathaway Locations: Warren Buffett's, Berkshire, Renton , Washington, Omaha , Nebraska

☆ Millennial and Gen Z retirements might actually be OK while boomers and Gen X could struggle. It's due to how savings have changed over time.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Assuming no changes to Social Security benefits, 37% of Gen Z and 44% of millennials could experience retirement shortfalls, coming in below 47% of Gen X and 52% of boomers. One 68-year-old previously told BI that she cannot afford to retire and is living off her Social Security and salary. According to the report, only around 28% of US households would face retirement shortfalls if they retire at 70. "You can delay claiming Social Security and get a bigger benefit and inflation-adjusted benefit."

Persons: —, Gen Xers —, Zers, Gen X, X, Spencer, Morningstar, Xers, Gen Organizations: Service, Financial, Morningstar, Social Security, Business, Consumer, Alliance, Lifetime, Pensions

☆ White House aims to make it easier for consumers to get refunds, cancel subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Josephine Rozzelle | Josie Rozzelle Is A Cnbc Digital Rotational Associate Covering Politics. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

“I think we can all relate to this,” White House domestic policy advisor Neera Tanden told reporters Friday. Dubbed the “Time is Money” initiative, the actions will make it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions, get refunds, submit health care and insurance forms online, and access high-quality customer service. Another existing effort cited by the White House is a June 2023 FTC proposal to target companies that use deceptive customer feedback practices, like fake reviews. None of the actions that make up the “Time is Money” initiative will require congressional approval, a senior administration official said. The White House has pursued aggressive antitrust regulations and taken a highly skeptical approach to crypto currencies, both of which have rankled Wall Street.

Persons: Neera Tanden, ”, Biden, Kamala Harris, Broad, Harris, ” Tanden, policyholders, Xavier Becerra, Julie Su, “ Organizations: Biden, House, Democratic, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade, FTC, of Health, Human Services, of Labor, Department of Transportation, Republicans, Representatives, White House

☆ White House launches broad new regulatory effort, as Harris prepares to unveil economic plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Josephine Rozzelle | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. President Joe Biden attends a press conference during NATO's 75th anniversary summit, in Washington, U.S., July 11, 2024. "I think we can all relate to this," White House domestic policy advisor Neera Tanden told reporters Friday. Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris is preparing to unveil her presidential campaign's first economic policy plans this week. "The CFPB will identify when the use of automated chatbots or automated artificial intelligence voice recordings is unlawful, including in situations in which customers believe they are speaking with a human being," according to a White House fact sheet. The initiative also calls on health insurance companies to allow policyholders to submit claims online.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Neera Tanden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Broad, Harris, Craig Hudson, Tanden, policyholders, Xavier Becerra, Julie Su Organizations: NATO's, Biden, House, Democratic, U.S, Las Vegas Aces, White, Reuters, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade, FTC, of Health, Human Services, of Labor Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ DirecTV is pushing its pay TV bundle — without a satellite dish
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The "For the Birds" ad campaign for DirecTV emphasizes customers don't need a satellite dish anymore for service. Courtesy: DirecTVCoach Prime wants consumers to know they can watch DirecTV without a satellite dish. As pay TV distributors — both satellite and cable companies — have seen customers flee for streaming, DirecTV is trying to get the message out that a clunky satellite dish is no longer needed for its service. Satellite TV providers like DirecTV and EchoStar's Dish were once some of the biggest distributors of the TV bundle. Sticking with sportsThe "For the Birds" ad campaign for DirecTV emphasizes customers don't need a satellite dish anymore for service.

Persons: Deion Sanders, Steve Buscemi, Henry Winkler, Vince Torres, it's, Torres, Shedeur Sanders, —, Winkler's Frank, Bobby, Buscemi, There's, Sanders, Tinker Bell, Cord, Pavlo Gonchar, Craig Moffett, what's, Moffett, DirecTV's Organizations: DirecTV, NFL, Colorado, Colorado Buffaloes, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Folsom, NBA, NHL, NCAA's Colorado Buffaloes, Lightrocket, Satellite, TPG, AT, Hulu, Sling, YouTube, Netflix, Comcast, Charter Communications Locations: Colorado, Boulder ,, New York City

☆ Gen Z Women Are Getting Into Personal Finance Tips to Invest and Save
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Emilie Friedlander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

These women talk openly about being rich and wanting to help other women become rich too. She also launched a platform called Treasury, which says it has helped women invest over $80 million in the stock market. "I couldn't really find anyone who was teaching money the way that I wanted to learn it," Sacks said. And it's probably getting really smart about how you save money, taking the money that you are saving and investing it and building wealth." Young women, on the other hand, are turning to more tried-and-true tactics.

Persons: Dave Ramsey, Tori Dunlap, It's, Dunlap, Dow Jones, Simran Kaur, Rachel Rodgers, Z, Kaur, Zers, Haley Sacks, Sacks, Cartier, Kylie Jenner, Suze Orman, it's, they're, Rita Soledad Fernández Paulino, Leah Sheppard, Gen Zers, —, Rita Soledad Fernández Paulino Sacks, Kyla Scanlon, Scanlon, aren't, Fernández Paulino, weren't Organizations: Economic, Institute, Washington State, Carson College of Business, GameStop, Fidelity Investments, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances Locations: Tacoma , Washington, Dunlap, Instagram, Zealand, York, California

☆ AI's big marketing problem: People don't want to hear about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Lucia Moses | Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Advertisers love talking about AI, but they face a big problem: consumers are suspicious of the tech and don't want to be bombarded with messaging about it. This issue was on full display at the Olympics, where Google face-planted with an ad for its Gemini AI tool. To date, 575 companies have bought ads to market AI products in 2024, up from 186 in all of 2023. "In the same way, I wouldn't trumpet that my new product was designed in Photoshop, so why would I talk about how my product was designed using AI? One of the top-performing US ads of 2023 came from Adobe, which ran a spot featuring a girl using AI to create a birthday card.

Persons: Iain Thomas, Sora, Josh Campo, Razorfish, Matt Rebeiro, Iris, Rebeiro, System1, Dove, Microsoft's, chatbot —, Thomas, JLo Organizations: Service, Olympics, Google, Business, Sounds, Washington State University, of Hospitality Marketing, Management, Yahoo, Publicis Media, YouTube, Enterprises, Adobe, Cadbury Locations: MediaRadar

☆ Marketers are living in an AI advertising minefield
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Lucia Moses | Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This issue was on full display at the Olympics, where Google face-planted with an ad for its Gemini AI tool. "There seems to be this fundamental misunderstanding of what we should be using AI for," said Iain Thomas, who cowrote a book on AI, "What Makes Us Human?," and is a founder of Sounds Fun, an agency that helps marketers harness AI. To date, 575 companies have bought ads to market AI products in 2024, up from 186 in all of 2023. "In the same way, I wouldn't trumpet that my new product was designed in Photoshop, so why would I talk about how my product was designed using AI? One of the top-performing US ads of 2023 came from Adobe, which ran a spot featuring a girl using AI to create a birthday card.

☆ Nvidia swings again — plus, an industrial name tied to the data center boom gets an heir-apparent
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street.

Persons: Jim Cramer, It's, Blackwell, Nvidia's, Eaton, Paulo Ruiz, Ruiz, Craig Arnold, Arnold, We're, Stanley Black, Decker, Jim Cramer's, Jim Organizations: CNBC, Treasury, Nvidia, UBS, Club, Fed, PPI, Jim Cramer's Charitable Locations: York

☆ Here are Monday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Apple, Qualcomm, Robinhood, Starbucks, Disney & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Here are Monday's biggest calls on Wall Street: UBS reiterates Nvidia as buy UBS said it's sticking with Nvidia shares heading into earnings later this month. Wolfe downgrades Qualcomm to peer perform from outperform Wolfe said Apple's internal modem use is finally having an effect on Qualcomm. Jefferies upgrades Par Technology to buy from hold Jefferies said it's bullish on shares of the "pure-play" restaurant tech platform. " Deutsche Bank upgrades Eli Lilly to buy from hold Deutsche upgraded the stock following earnings last week. Bank of America upgrades Churchill Downs to buy from neutral Bank of America said it likes the racing company's growth pipeline.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Disney, it's, Wolfe, Qualcomm, Wedbush, it's bullish, Jefferies, Walmart Evercore, Piper Sandler, Piper, HOOD, Goldman Sachs, Mills, Goldman, Canaccord, Mizuho, Cummins, Wells, PRU, Eli Lilly, Churchill, Jim Anderson Organizations: UBS, Nvidia, RBC, Ardent Health, Ardent Health Partners, Inc, Qualcomm, Jefferies, Technology, Walmart, HSBC, GE Vernova, GE, Micron, MU, Elliott, Bank of America, Liberty Global, underperform Bank of America, Liberty, Prudential, Allstate, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche, of America, " Bank of America Locations: Asia, Cupertino, Wells, Churchill

☆ Three-year inflation outlook hits record low in New York Fed consumer survey
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The latest views from the monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations indicate that respondents see inflation staying elevated over the next year but then receding in the next couple of years after that. In fact, the three-year portion of the survey showed consumers expecting inflation at just 2.3%, down 0.6 percentage point from June and the lowest in the history of the survey, going back to June 2013. That's still a full percentage point away from the Fed's 2% goal but about one-third of where it was two years ago. While the medium-term outlook improved, inflation expectations on the one- and five-year horizons stood unchanged at 3% and 2.8% respectively. Respondents expect the price of gas to increase by 3.5% over the next year, 0.8 percentage point less than in June, and food to see a rise of 4.7%, which is 0.1 percentage point lower than a month ago.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: New York Federal, Federal Reserve, Labor Department, Fed Locations: New

☆ Insurers deemed mold too risky decades ago. That coverage gap still surprises homeowners
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Genna Contino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Schmitt's example may be extreme, but mold damage is not unusual. In 2022, water damage, including mold, represented 27.6% of homeowners insurance losses, according to data from Insurance Services Office, an industry group. Despite the award for the owner of the mold-damaged home later being reduced to $4 million, companies still pulled back on mold coverage. "Mold claims won't be covered if it's a result of neglect, such as pipe leaking for months resulting in water damage and mold." "You should always read your insurance policy and understand what you have, but no one's going to do that," Kochenburger said.

Persons: Brandi Schmitt, Schmitt, Brandi Schmitt's, adjuster, USAA, Read, Kamala Harris, Harris, Joseph, Ms, Ballard, Amy Bach, United, Bach, Scott Shapiro, Will Melofchik, haven't, Melofchik, Scott Holeman, Holeman, Peter Kochenburger, Kochenburger, it's, Mold, Shapiro, Mark Friedlander Organizations: Maryland, CNBC, Finance, Here’s, Democratic, Insurance Services Office, . Farmers Insurance Group, KPMG, National Council of Insurance, Insurance Information Institute, Southern University Law Center, University of Connecticut's Insurance Law Center, Insurance, South Carolina Independent Agents, Nationwide, Allstate, Federal Trade Commission, Act, State Farm Locations: Lothian , Maryland, U.S, Maryland, Texas, San Francisco, South Carolina, Lindsey , Ohio

☆ The Big Number: $8.4 Billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Santul Nerkar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Disney reported revenue of $8.4 billion for its theme park unit for the three months that ended in June. While that was a 2 percent increase from the previous year, it was lower than expected, in a sign that stubborn inflation and high interest rates were weighing on Americans’ ability to sail on Disney cruise ships and visit parks like Disney World. Disney, in its earnings report on Wednesday, blamed a “moderation of consumer demand.”Robert Iger, Disney’s chief executive, has called its theme parks “a key growth engine.” And for the past decade, the company has relied on the parks to help offset losses in other divisions, as it has spent billions on its streaming services while revenue in its cable television business has declined. Disney’s streaming service turned a profit in the quarter for the first time, but since April 1, the company’s stock has fallen around 29 percent. “The lower-income consumer is feeling a bit of stress, and the higher-income consumer is traveling internationally a bit more,” Hugh F. Johnston, Disney’s chief financial officer, said Wednesday on a conference call with analysts.

Persons: Robert Iger, Hugh F, Johnston Organizations: Disney

☆ Customers didn’t stop spending. Companies stopped serving
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It’s called a sector rotation, and it happens all the time as part of the natural course of a business cycle. The US economy is still pretty strong, growing at an annualized rate close to 3% in the most recent quarter. But it’s not as if Americans have stopped going to restaurants — they’re just being a bit more discerning when they do. Instead, they’re going to Texas Roadhouse, where they can sit down and have some service with their meal. Or they’re swinging through Chipotle, which saw sales shoot up 11% last quarter at stores open at least a year.

Persons: CNN Business ’, they’ve, that’s, it’s, they’re, ”, Mark Hoplamazian, Marriott’s, Disney, Hugh Johnston, — they’ve, Pete Werner, wouldn’t Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Wall, Texas, Disney, CNN, Bloomberg Locations: New York, —, Texas

☆ Markets saw a massive shift this week. Here’s what happened
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —After a prolonged period of calm, financial markets went into a tailspin this week. One trigger for the selloff was the unraveling of the Japanese yen carry trade. Some investors say there could be more volatility to come, particularly since it’s unclear how much more the yen carry trade could unwind. The carry trade is “enormous. The unwinding of the carry trade and weak labor data came at a delicate time rife with uncertainty for Wall Street.

Persons: Wharton, Jeremy Siegel, Siegel, ”, Steve Sosnick, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Dow, Liz Young Thomas Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nikkei, Dow, Nasdaq, Bank of Japan, Companies, Federal Reserve, Investors, CNBC, Interactive Brokers, Markets, Republican, Home Depot, Walmart Locations: New York, Israel, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Consumer giants from Starbucks to General Mills have one big sales problem: China
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-07 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesBEIJING — A theme emerging in the latest slew of U.S. companies' earnings reports is a drag from the China market. "Consumer sentiment in China is quite weak," McDonald's chairman, CEO and director Christopher Kempczinski, said of the quarter ended June 30. Apple said Greater China sales fell by 6.5% year-on-year in the quarter ended June 29. Procter and Gamble said China sales for the quarter ending late June fell by 9%. The only public disclosures regarding Peet's China business described it as "strong double-digit organic sales growth" in the first half of the year.

Persons: —, Christopher Kempczinski, McDonald's, Lei Meng, Apple, Johnson, that's, General Mills, Kofi Bruce, Mills, Andre Schulten, Procter, Gamble, Schulten, Marriott's, Domino's, DPC Dash, There's, James Quincey, Quincey, We've, Laxman Narasimhan, Luckin Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, BEIJING, U.S, Nationwide, UBS Securities, General, Procter, Marriott, Asia Pacific, Starbucks Locations: Yichang, Hubei province, China, U.S, Canada, Greater China, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, Asia, Peet's

☆ Disney falls on concerns about its theme park business. Here's why we'd buy the stock
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-07 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Shares of Disney fell Wednesday as concerns about attendance at its theme parks overshadowed streaming profits and better-than-expected headline results. The combined streaming business — encompassing Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ — turned in its first-ever quarterly profit slightly ahead of schedule. Then, about two weeks ago, CNBC parent Comcast issued weak April-to-June results for its Universal theme parks business, which weighed on Disney's stock in that session . And, at this point, getting to profitability in the combined streaming business, which adds ESPN+ into the mix, was the biggest focus. "So, I do believe the parks business is in fundamentally good shape.

Persons: LSEG, —, Jim Cramer, Jim, we're, Hugh Johnston, Johnston, Disney, Bob Iger, Jim Cramer's, Walt, Gary Hershorn Organizations: Disney, Revenue, ESPN, Comcast, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Global, Hulu, CNBC, PepsiCo, Wall Street, ABC Network, Geographic, Management, Magic, Walt Disney World, Corbis, Getty Locations: U.S, India, Orlando , Florida

☆ In a reversal, Disney's media assets are starting to generate more excitement than its parks
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-07 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Here's a surprise: Disney 's media business isn't weighing down the company anymore. Disney's combined streaming businesses — Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ — turned a quarterly profit for the first time ever, making $47 million. Meanwhile, Disney saw a "moderation of consumer demand towards the end of [fiscal] Q3 that exceeded our previous expectations" for its theme parks division. The company said last year it plans to invest $60 billion in its theme parks and cruise lines in the next decade. Disney shares dropped Wednesday, likely because investors were focused on the parks.

Persons: Here's, —, Disney, Bob Iger, Iger, Captain America, we're, Hugh Johnson Organizations: Hulu, ESPN, Disney, Netflix

Expensive Big Mac meals and fears of surge pricing at grocery stores have put food chains and consumer product companies in politicians' crosshairs. Walmart , McDonald's and Kroger are just a few of the companies that have found themselves in the debate over high inflation in the 2024 election. Democrats — particularly those like Casey who are trying to win races in competitive swing states — are trying to capitalize on frustration against companies over inflation. (The source of the data is unclear, and McDonald's has denied that its average prices have risen that much.) The criticism could also add to the pressure companies face to show they can lower prices or offer value.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Bob Casey, Kroger, Rodney McMullen, —, Casey, Joe Biden, McDonald's, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Harris, Trump, Biden, Cait Lamberton, That's Organizations: Walmart, McDonald's, Kroger, Albertsons, House Republican, Taco Bell, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Locations: Sens, McDonald's

☆ OpenAI just lost 3 key leaders, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThree leaders at OpenAI have just left the company, according to a report by The Information, which cited a person familiar with the matter. Another cofounder, John Schulman, has left OpenAI to join rival AI firm Anthropic. "I've made the difficult decision to leave OpenAI. On X, OpenAI CEO and serial entrepreneur Sam Altman responded to Schulman's departure. Business Insider reported in May that two employees who worked on safety and governance had resigned in recent months.

Persons: —, Greg Brockman, Peter Deng, John Schulman, OpenAI, Brockman, Schulman, I've, Sam Altman, Deng, Jan Leike, OpenAI's, Leike, Ilya Sutskever, Daniel Kokotajlo, William Saunders Organizations: Service, Business, TechCrunch, Anthropic Locations: OpenAI, Anthropic

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