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☆ Brooklyn's Kyrie Irving is going to the Dallas Mavericks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets agreed Sunday on a blockbuster trade: Irving — the super-talented and often-enigmatic eight-time All-Star point guard — heads to Dallas, ending the pairing with Kevin Durant that never really had a chance to click. It was not immediately clear when Irving would make his debut with Dallas. And I think for Dallas, they got a big-time star to go with the one they've got." The trade does again pair Irving with Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, who was a Nike executive before taking over the Mavericks in 2021. After the Nets lost to Dallas at home in overtime in October, Irving said he saw traits of the Mavericks being "a great team."

☆ NBA roundup: Giannis' triple-double sparks Bucks to 7th straight win
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Khris Middleton scored 24 points off the bench for the Bucks, who won their seventh straight game. Tyler Herro added 24 points despite shooting just 2 of 8 from 3-point range, and Bam Adebayo recorded a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jalen Brunson scored 41 points, three shy of his career high, while Julius Randle posted 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks. De'Andre Hunter scored 20 points and Clint Capela had 12 points and 11 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan collected 27 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, and Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 11 rebounds.

☆ A flurry of earnings reports, Fed rate hike, signs of a bull market
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Earnings season continues next week, with Club holdings Linde (LIN), Emerson Electric (EMR) and Walt Disney (DIS) all set to report. Similarly, shares of Meta Platforms (META) have surged over 20% since CEO Mark Zuckerberg reassured investors Wednesday evening that 2023 would be the technology giant's "year of efficiency." The bull case is further supported by continued signs inflation is easing, a still-robust job market and the breadth of market-buying activity since the start of the year. Lastly on Wednesday, the Fed's Federal Open Market Committee raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points, in line with expectations. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ For one energy company, digital transformation was the catalyst for positive social impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Lenovo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Gas distributor SGN uses Lenovo's suite of products to help vulnerable customers out in the field. This human-centered approach honors Lenovo's commitment to innovation, while ensuring that SGN makes a positive social impact. The gas distributor uses Lenovo's whole ecosystem of products, including its moto g31 smartphones and ThinkPad X13 devices, to access digital resources to help vulnerable customers in the field. In turn, using Lenovo's products helps SGN to have a positive impact. Using a variety of Lenovo equipment plus Microsoft Teams software has enabled the company to achieve excellence when it comes to digital transformation.

☆ Meta shares rocket 25%, on pace for the best day in a decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Meta shares jumped 25% Thursday morning, on pace for the best day in nearly a decade, with a slew of analyst upgrades coming off the back of a fourth-quarter revenue beat and optimistic prognostications from CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Meta shares sit at their highest point since September 2022, weeks before a disastrous third-quarter earnings report that prompted analysts across Wall Street to openly question Zuckerberg's leadership. posited Evercore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney. He cited "materially reduced expense projections" and a larger-than-anticipated share buyback, upping his price target to $275 and reiterating an outperform rating. At Guggenheim, Michael Morris revised his price target to $210, maintaining a buy rating, citing in part lowered costs and a belief in management messaging on "momentum."

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond just missed another debt payment. See the full list of stores it will close, including Harmon and Buybuy Baby locations.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

In addition to 87 more Bed Bath & Beyond stores, the company now says it will close all of its remaining Harmon health and beauty stores, and five Buybuy Baby stores. San Leandro: 15555 East 14th St., Suite 24015555 East 14th St., Suite 240 Burbank: 201 East Magnolia Blvd. Marina: 117 General Stilwell Drive117 General Stilwell Drive Vallejo: 105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107 * Palm Desert: 72459 Highway 11172459 Highway 111 * Visalia: 3125 South Mooney Blvd. Arterial * Coralville: 2515 Corridor Way Suite 5Kansas:Lawrence: 3106 S. Iowa St., Suite 2153106 S. Iowa St., Suite 215 Manhattan: 425 3rd Place425 3rd Place * Olathe: 15335 W. 119th St.Kentucky:Elizabethtown: 1998 N. Dixie Ave.1998 N. Dixie Ave. New Hartford: 4805 Commercial Drive4805 Commercial Drive Kingston: 1187 Ulster Ave.1187 Ulster Ave. Plattsburgh: 73 Centre Drive, Suite 10073 Centre Drive, Suite 100 Farmingdale: 251 Airport Plaza Blvd.

☆ Meta's short video Reels may finally be ready to challenge TikTok, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Improving Reels engagement is boosting analysts' confidence in the short-form video platform's ability to compete with TikTok. META 1D mountain Meta Platforms shares surged more than 28% Thursday, on pace for their best day since 2013. Looking ahead, some analysts believe that Reels plays a dominant role in improving Facebook's efficiency. Easing TikTok tensions As for TikTok, some analysts say Reels is in position to overtake the short-form video leader that finds itself under increasing pressure as calls for a nationwide bans grow. JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth views improving Reels engagement trends and artificial intelligence investments as a way to temper threats from TikTok.

☆ TikTok's opposite approach to Instagram is winning the social media race.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This is pretty bleak for tech workers who were living large this time last year. TikTok's algorithm takes an opposite approach with spontaneous discovery, keeping users engaged for longer — and less likely to check Instagram. This creates a Catch-22 for the company, Chris adds. Its original model successfully captured a loyal and engaged audience, but is now an outdated approach for a social media platform. The chicken spot's snaking drive-thru made it a hazard to pedestrians, so a local North Carolina city ordered its demolition.

☆ Analysts laud Meta Platforms' focus on efficiency, say the stock is transitioning from 'doghouse to pedestal'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Meta Platforms is turning its focus toward efficiency, and analysts seem to like the narrative shift from the battered technology giant. "Our management theme for 2023 is the 'Year of Efficiency' and we're focused on becoming a stronger and more nimble organization." META YTD mountain Meta Platforms shares have already surged 27% this year Analysts also seemed to praise the company's move to lower its outlook for capital expenditures and operating expenses. The word "efficiency" came up over 25 times on the company's earnings call, according to Morgan Stanley's Brian Nowak. The analyst has an outperform rating on Meta and hiked his price target to $275, which implies upside of nearly 80%.

☆ ExxonMobil, Chevron's big cash shows cheap gas isn’t coming back
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Big oil sees political pushback on buybacksFuel prices at a Chevron gas station in Menlo Park, California, on Thursday, June 9, 2022. In the market, and at the oil companies headquarters, it seems the opinions issued from the White House aren't much of a factor in setting financial priorities. The benchmark now is to spend roughly a third of operating cash flow on capital investment, a third on dividends and a third on stock buybacks. Exxon made $76.8 billion in operating cash flow, invested $18 billion back into the business, spent $14.9 billion on dividends and $15.2 billion in stock purchases, according to its cash flow statement. Oil production is increasing

☆ We are reassured by AMD CEO's confidence in the chipmaker's data-center business
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In general, investors are relieved that AMD still expects data-center growth in 2023 despite mounting economic pressures. AMD's data-center outlook isn't perfect. For the first quarter, in particular, AMD expects data-center sales to be lower than the $1.7 billion it recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022. The unpleasant PC experience caused AMD's warning about data-center inventory hurdles to raise the Club's eyebrows. AMD expects that continue to again in 2023.

Small businesses like his in Britain are being hammered by rising costs which they would struggle to pass onto cash-strapped consumers. It has left many small businesses fighting for survival. Over the course of last year citrus ingredients shot up by between 25% and 35% in price, he said. They now cost nearer to 15 pounds because of a 50% jump in the price of tinned tomatoes. He said: "We're just looking into every single aspect of the expenses that we incur to try and make a living."

☆ Carmakers face a crossroads as they work to fit auto dealers into their EV plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"I think we're all building this airplane as we fly," Michael Alford, president of the National Auto Dealers Association, a trade association that represents more than 16,000 U.S. new franchised dealers, told CNBC. Automakers and franchised dealers have a complex relationship that is backed, in many states, by laws that make it difficult, if not illegal, to bypass franchised dealers and sell new vehicles directly to consumers. Both automakers and franchised dealers want to maximize profits, but they're separate businesses that heavily rely on one another to succeed. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesHonda Motor has said it plans to move more sales online, including 100% online sales for its luxury Acura brand for EVs. Jay Vijayan, who assisted in building out Tesla's digital and IT systems, doesn't believe selling EVs exclusively online will pan out.

☆ Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft lay off thousands — but tech jobs are still hot in 2023, Indeed finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Google announced plans on Friday to lay off 12,000 people, the biggest reduction in the company's 25-year history. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy alluded to this overextension when explaining the rationale for their respective layoff plans. Tech skills are in 'high demand'Tech skills are in "high demand across the economy," Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, wrote in November. "Had tech companies continued growing at the breakneck 2020-2021 pace, they would have monopolized U.S. tech talent and made it impossible for employers in non-tech industries to hire tech talent," she said. Aside from good news for existing tech workers, high demand for technical skills is also a "big sign" of where opportunities exist for those starting or switching careers, Indeed said.

☆ Jeff Bezos' girlfriend said he gave her a 'master class' in management and running meetings: 'You're the boss. You talk last.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lauren Sánchez says Jeff Bezos gives her a "master class" in management and meetings every day. Sánchez told The Wall Street Journal his best advice was to let others speak first. Sánchez said that the best business advice Bezos has given her was to avoid talking too soon in meetings. You let everyone else talk so that they don't get swayed by your opinion,'" Sánchez told the publication. Bezos' business advice echoes the sentiments of experts.

☆ Facing growing calls for reform, Salesforce could use some fresh faces on its board
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The enterprise software giant is considering at least three potential board appointees, Bloomberg News reported Thursday , citing people with knowledge of the matter. Among those reportedly in conversation to join Salesforce's board are former Carnival Cruise CEO Arnold Donald, Mastercard CFO Sachin Mehra and Mason Morfit, the chief executive of ValueAct Capital. And the firm is now planning to nominate candidates for Salesforce's board, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday . Bottom line We're encouraged by the Bloomberg report because Salesforce's board could undoubtedly use a refresh, with multiple directors having served for 10 years or more, according to FactSet. New board members, coupled with growing activist pressure, could could be just the boost Salesforce needs and that the market wants to see.

☆ Jeff Bezos' partner Lauren Sánchez talked about being rejected as flight attendant because of her weight and becoming a pilot instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Media personality Lauren Sánchez has been publically dating billionaire CEO Jeff Bezos since 2019. Sánchez was also married to her former spouse, Patrick Whitesell, the executive chairman at William Morris Endeavor, at the time. "This is one of the only places I feel entirely in control," Sánchez told the outlet. "I don't know why more women don't do it," she told The Journal. "It's going to be women who are making a difference in the world and who are impactful and have a message to send,'" Sánchez told The Journal.

☆ Juul in deal talks with three tobacco giants - WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 25 (Reuters) - E-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc is in early talks with three tobacco giants for a potential sale, strategic investment, licensing or distribution deal, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company, which was reportedly looking to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, have had separate discussions with Philip Morris International Inc (PM.N), Japan Tobacco Group (2914.T) and Altria Group Inc (MO.N), the report said. Juul, partly owned by Marlboro maker Altria, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. A deal is not imminent and the discussions may not result in a sale or partnership, the people told the Journal on Wednesday. Last week, Juul secured preliminary court approval of a $255 million settlement resolving claims by consumers that it deceptively marketed e-cigarettes.

☆ Juul is worth at least one more puff
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Philip Morris International (PM.N), Japan Tobacco (2914.T) and Altria (MO.N) may want to buy Juul, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. There’s a big regulatory cloud hanging over the smokeless trailblazer, but there are reasons to spark up a deal. Juul stands accused by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of marketing its product to underage users, prompting the agency to seek removal of its products from shelves. Juul would need to hawk some $250 million of e-cigs annually to justify today’s imputed $1 billion valuation, based on the multiple of sales the Altria enterprise fetches. At a big discount, it makes the business worth one more puff.

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Tesla, Amazon, Robinhood, Microsoft, Sunrun, Block & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: BMO downgrades Microsoft to market perform from outperform BMO downgraded the stock after Microsoft's earnings report, noting it has concerns about Azure growth. Bank of America initiates Papa John's as buy Bank of America said the pizza chain stock is attractive and that it sees a return to growth. " Bank of America downgrades Booking Holdings to neutral from buy Bank of America said it sees "less valuation upside" for the online travel booking company. Bank of America downgrades Union Pacific to neutral from buy Bank of America it's concerned about "service and cost pressures" for Union Pacific. Bank of America reiterates Amazon as buy Bank of America said it's standing by its buy rating heading into Amazon earnings, but it's concerned about Amazon Web Services following Microsoft's disappointing quarterly results.

☆ Microsoft's post-earnings stock moves reinforce a key Club investing rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Microsoft stock climbed between 3% and 4% in afterhours trading Tuesday right after the software giant delivered a slightly better fiscal second quarter than Wall Street anticipated. Some will give directional targets for revenue in the earnings release, then provide a little more detail on the call. Another approach is to focus strictly on full-year forecasts and include any updates in each quarterly earnings release, as Procter & Gamble (PG) does. 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 .

☆ Goldman Sachs upgrades Philip Morris, cites expansion in U.S. with smoke-free alternatives
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An expansion into the U.S. makes tobacco company Philip Morris International a buying opportunity for investors, according to Goldman Sachs. Analyst Bonnie Herzog upgraded shares to buy from neutral, saying the launch of a line of smoke-free electronic cigarette products in the U.S. will drive growth for the company. The analyst pointed out the tobacco company's deal with Swedish Match, which "unlocks access to the world's largest and most lucrative nicotine market for PM." Shares of Philip Morris are little changed this year, after rising more than 12% in 2022. The tobacco stock was up more than 1% in Wednesday premarket trading.

☆ E-cig startup Juul is talking to Philip Morris, Altria, and Japan Tobacco about its future, WSJ reports. Here's a rundown of the startup's rise and fall.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Travis Clark | Erin Brodwin | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The e-cigarette company Juul reportedly is in talks with three big tobacco companies about its future. The talks with giants like Philip Morris are aimed at securing a possible sale, strategic investment, or other deal, the Wall Street Journal reported. Here's a rundown of the company's history, from its $38 billion valuation to legal settlements. The e-cigarette maker is talking to some of the biggest names in the tobacco industry, including Altria, Philip Morris, and Japan Tobacco, about options for its future, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. It also fell from a valuation of $38 billion in 2018 to just $1 billion last October, according to the Journal.

☆ Fact Check-No evidence COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are significant contributing factor to UK’s 30,000 excess cardiovascular deaths
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Millions of people have viewed a BBC News interview with a British cardiologist who used the broadcast to spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. Malhotra cites the British Heart Foundation (BHF) for reporting 30,000 excess cardiovascular deaths “during the pandemic or since the pandemic”. A BHF spokesperson told Reuters that there were indeed 30,000 excess deaths involving ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in England between March 2020 and August 2022. Reuters has addressed similar claims linking COVID-19 vaccines with excess mortality (here, here and here), cardiac arrests (here, here and here), and other heart issues. Experts say the 30,000 excess cardiovascular deaths reported since the beginning of the pandemic are due to COVID-19 infection and issues with healthcare services.

☆ This is going to be the 'return of the bond market,' strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | 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 EmailThis is going to be the 'return of the bond market,' strategist saysBond markets could be an attractive investment this year, while equity markets could see further declines, Daniel Morris, chief market strategist at BNP Paribas, says.

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