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☆ I've worked remotely from 15 different countries. Here's what I've learned and what I'd never do again.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In addition to Italy, over the last five years, Cook has worked in Kenya, Thailand, and 12 other countries. At the time, startups were the only type of company I found that were open to fully remote work. When I started doing this in 2018, remote working like this wasn't as common as it is now. Now, since more people have access to this life because of remote work, a number of companies have cropped up for this exact kind of thing. Cook serving another participant in the Italy program during dinner.

☆ Bank earnings scorecard: All the numbers are in. Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley still our favorites
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Investment banking Morgan Stanley has certainly been the place to be among investment banks, not Goldman Sachs (GS). Second place was a tossup between Wells Fargo and Bank of America (BAC). In the case of Wells Fargo, we are seeing real improvements in the business and notable catalysts that we don't see in the others. Bank of America comes in second, while Wells Fargo is cheaper than both. People walk past a Wells Fargo bank on 14th Street on December 20, 2022 in New York City.

☆ Bankrupt Brazilian retailer Americanas owes about $8 bln, court finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) owes a variety of creditors around $8 billion, a Rio de Janeiro court said on Wednesday, providing the most detailed picture yet of the banks and other groups exposed to the company's bankruptcy. The list provided on Wednesday includes roughly 41.2 billion reais ($8.1 billion) in debt, according to the court, which initially did not disclose the names of the creditors. Brazilian banks BTG Pactual (BPAC3.SA), Bradesco (BBDC4.SA) and Santander Brasil (SANB3.SA) - which analysts previously said were among the most exposed - were also listed, with debts of more than 3.5 billion reais each. Earlier this week, Capital International Investors also announced it had reduced its position in Americanas to 4.07% from 7.04%. Shares in Americanas were up 20% to 0.96 real on Wednesday, but still down roughly 90% year-to-date.

☆ Brazilian retailer Americanas reports 7,720 creditors, $8 bln in debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) reported 7,720 creditors and debt totaling nearly $8 billion within its restructuring process, a Rio de Janeiro court said on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) topped the list of creditors initially revealed by Americanas, but the German lender later said it had no lending relationship or credit exposure to the Brazilian company. The list provided on Wednesday included roughly 41.2 billion reais ($8.1 billion) in debt, according to the court, which initially did not disclose the names of the creditors. Later, however, Americanas revealed the full list in a securities filing, ranging from small debts with individuals and cities to multibillion-reais debts with banks. Deutsche Bank appeared with a $1 billion debt, but said in an emailed statement that it had no direct exposure to the Brazilian firm.

☆ Taylor Swift ticket sales debacle manages to unite bitter rivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Some people may even find a kind of beauty in the way the system was designed to keep special interests in check. “To have a strong capitalist system, you have to have competition,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar, who called the hearing. “You can’t have too much consolidation — something that, unfortunately for this country, as an ode to Taylor Swift, I will say, we know all too well.”(Nice one, Ames.) ICYMI, tickets for Swift’s Eras Tour, which begins in March, went up for pre-sale on Ticketmaster in mid-November. But the bigger question of whether Live Nation is a monopoly is up to the Department of Justice.

☆ Thrive Capital kicks off bestie race
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Josh Kushner is getting some help from friends. Thrive sold that same small stake to Goldman Sachs (GS.N) in mid-2021, then bought it back last December. If Kushner has trouble raising capital down the road, it’ll help having wealthy friends with an established rolodex. As the venture market faces a downturn the likes of Kushner haven’t seen, a seasoned set of confidants will be needed. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Americanas' billionaire shareholders say they were unaware of accounting problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) three largest shareholders, the billionaire founders of 3G Capital, said on Sunday they had not known of $4 billion in accounting 'inconsistencies' at the Brazilian retailer. "We didn't know of and would never allow any accounting manipulation in the company", the statement said. It said Americanas had been audited by PwC and that the retailer's "banks and auditors never reported any problems". Securities industry regulator CVM has also launched probes into Americanas, which has seen its stock lose more than 90% of its value since the news of the accounting problems emerged. 3G Capital itself has no stake in Americanas.

☆ South32 sees shipping delays tying up cash in inventory
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Australian diversified miner South32 Ltd (S32.AX) on Monday reported production of key commodities that largely met expectations but noted that shipping snarls had led to an inventory buildup, impacting working capital. In its quarterly report, South32 met coal, aluminium and copper forecasts and slightly exceeded analyst estimates for manganese ore production, for which it is the world's biggest producer. "While production was inline, sales were impacted, leading to weaker-than-expected cash generation," said analyst Glyn Lawcock of Barrenjoey in Sydney. "This impact is most acute in our aluminium value chain in Southern Africa due to ongoing shipping delays." In manganese ore, South32 reported 1,477 kilotonnes (kt) of production, ahead of an RBC estimate by 7%.

☆ Inside THL's investing playbook for how the PE firm uses the public cloud to be aggressive in the bidding process
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The cloud has become a key piece of private-equity firm THL's investment playbook. But for THL, the cloud has become an important part of the investing giant's playbook for winning over acquisition targets. He likened the due diligence and courtship process for founders and CEOs to speed dating with a bunch of investment firms. But the cloud, with its promise of cost savings and easy innovation, is helping THL stand out in the bidding process, Benaquista said. Eventually, as part of the move to the cloud, THL was able to split up Ten-X's commercial and residential businesses with the aim of selling the former.

☆ Cowen upgrades Skechers, says footwear stock could rally nearly 40% as brand gains momentum
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Skechers has upside potential that Wall Street could be missing, Cowen said. Analyst John Kernan upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform. Kernan said Skechers remains the second most-liked casual sneaker brand in the U.S. with about 19% preference share, behind leader Nike at around 25%. Specifically, he's expecting 12% sales growth in 2023, above the Wall Street consensus of 9%. Kernan noted the Street may not have fully accounted for potential tailwinds coming from a supply chain recovery.

Here's how the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card stacks up against the Capital One Venture X. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Learn More Information about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Learn More Information about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication. Annual feeThe Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a $95 annual fee while the Capital One Venture X comes in at $395. Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X Benefits Capital One Venture Rewards Capital One Venture X Annual Fee $95 $395 Rewards 2X miles on every purchase, 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 5X miles on Turo bookings through May 16, 2023.

It's been nearly three years since the protests and racial unrest following the murder of George Floyd. As of Oct. 2022, the amount companies have pledged to support racial justice has grown to nearly $340 billion, according to McKinsey & Company senior partner Shelley Stewart. Second, they pledged the use of both capital and assets to help address "broader systemic inequality" outside their organizations. Still, it has been a challenge to meet such ambitious goals when it comes to deploying capital, Stewart acknowledged. Watch the video (will link when the video is live) to learn more about how companies have begun to invest in anti-bias structures both internally and in their communities.

☆ Exclusive: India regulator probes investments between Nippon Mutual Fund, Yes Bank, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Jayshree Pyasi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MUMBAI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - An Indian regulator is investigating investments between Nippon India Mutual Fund, the largest foreign-owned fund in the country, and Yes Bank between 2016 and 2019 for suspected misuse of investors' money, sources said. SEBI's regulations say that the parent of a mutual fund cannot access investors' money either directly or indirectly. The current owner of the fund, Nippon India, as well as the previous owner could be liable, the sources said. As of December 2022, Nippon India was the fourth-largest mutual fund in India with assets under management of 2.9 trillion rupees ($35.46 billion) as well as the biggest foreign-owned mutual fund. On Friday, SEBI proposed further tightening of mutual fund regulations asking mutual fund owners to reduce their stake gradually as a measure to check their influence on investment decisions.

☆ Lawmakers call on 8 states to pass wealth taxes to help pay for childcare, affordable housing, and ending homelessness
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Lawmakers and advocates are pushing to pass wealth taxes in eight states, after a federal plan failed to pass. The taxes would target both realized and unrealized capital gains, assets like stocks and bonds. "Funding our future means using the revenue generated from the Washington state wealth tax to expand access to affordable homes for working Washingtonians," Frame said. In California, a wealth tax on the unrealized capital gains of the top 0.1% would yield nearly $22 billion, according to California assembly member Alex Lee. Targeting capital gains and unrealized gains are not a new idea, but haven't been able to pick up the federal traction they need to be implemented across the country.

☆ Here are Cramer's pros and cons on the state of the market in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Here's what I come up with when I do that for the stock market and broader economy in 2023. There are a lot more pros than cons. That's a cushy seat on the sidelines and it's hard to get those people back into the equities market. But we have so many strong companies that the layoffs simply haven't been significant. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Brazil's Americanas mulls filing for bankruptcy, shares tank as markets see move as imminent
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Americanas said its current cash position stands at 800 million reais ($154.25 million). "The bankruptcy protection is unavoidable and might be one of the largest ever in Brazil, as complex as Oi's one." Oi SA (OIBR4.SA), a telecom firm, filed in June 2016 for Brazil's then-biggest ever bankruptcy protection and only exited it in December 2022. Last week, chief executive Sergio Rial resigned less than two weeks after taking the job citing the discovery of "accounting inconsistencies" totaling 20 billion reais. "Filing for bankruptcy protection is imminent and necessary," said Fernando Ferrer, an analyst at Empiricus Research, noting there could be a "cascade effect" of banks requesting to withhold money from the firm.

☆ Billionaire-backed Americanas files for bankruptcy protection, shares tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) on Thursday filed for bankruptcy protection, days after uncovering nearly $4 billion in accounting inconsistencies and amid a legal feud with creditors. In the filing, Americanas asks to exclude fintech Ame from the bankruptcy protection, as it is regulated by the central bank, and for authorization to increase its capital. Chief Executive Sergio Rial resigned last week, less than two weeks after taking the job, citing the discovery of "accounting inconsistencies" totaling 20 billion reais. Andre Luzbel, head of variable income at SVN Investimentos, said the bankruptcy protection was unavoidable, noting it would be one of the largest ever in Brazil, "as complex as Oi's one." Oi SA (OIBR4.SA), a telecom firm, filed in June 2016 for Brazil's then-biggest ever bankruptcy protection and only exited it in December 2022.

☆ Financial markets will get better ahead of the economy, says Ken Moelis
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | 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 EmailFinancial markets will get better ahead of the economy, says Ken MoelisKen Moelis, Moelis and Co. Founder and CEO, joins 'Closing Bell' to offer his impressions from Davos, discussing capital misallocation, geopolitical tensions and energy markets.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Ken Moelis, Moelis and Co. Founder and CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | 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 EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Ken Moelis, Moelis and Co. Founder and CEOKen Moelis, Moelis and Co. founder and CEO, joins 'Closing Bell' to offer his impressions from Davos, discussing capital misallocation, geopolitical tensions and energy markets.

☆ 'Victory for press freedom in the Philippines': Nobel winner Maria Ressa and her news company cleared of tax evasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa gives a speech during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony on Dec. 10, 2021 in Oslo, Norway. Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa and her online news company were cleared Wednesday of tax evasion charges she said were among a slew of legal cases used by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to try to muzzle critical reporting. Rappler welcomed the court decision as "the triumph of facts over politics." Human Rights Watch said the tax charges under Duterte's rule were "bogus and politically motivated" and the acquittal of Ressa and Rappler "is a victory for press freedom in the Philippines." The tax court ruled that the Philippine Depositary Receipts issued by Rappler were non-taxable, removing the basis of the tax evasion charges filed by Justice Department prosecutors under Duterte.

Americanas on Tuesday disclosed that it did not pay interest due on Monday of more than 2 billion reais ($392 million) in local bonds. It made the disclosure in a filing responding to a question by securities regulator CVM, saying that it was allowed not to pay under the injunction. Fitch said that if Americanas formally announces a debt restructuring plan, its ratings will be downgraded to RD or D reflecting a default. Fitch said the retailer, backed by the billionaire founders of 3G Capital, has an unsustainable capital structure with the addition of an estimated 20 billion reais in previously undisclosed liabilities. The company last year paid 516.6 million reais in dividends related to the results in 2021, according to securities filings.

☆ Morgan Stanley's Q4 results show the Club holding is firing on all cylinders, as the stock soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Those deals — valued at roughly $13 billion and $7 billion, respectively — pushed Morgan Stanley further into the money management world. Expense efficiency ratio is a measure of efficiency that is calculated as total non-interest expenses divided by net revenue. Segment results Institutional securities net revenue of $4.8 billion for the fourth quarter missed analysts' forecasts of nearly $5.09 billion. Wealth management net revenue of $6.63 billion for the quarter exceeded Wall Street's expectations of $6.29 billion. Investment management net revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter outpaced the $1.29 billion consensus estimate.

☆ Mexican mayor doubles down on accusation of alleged femicide cover-up
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Sarah Morland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

She also called for the prosecutor's office to be sanctioned, without elaborating further. The case highlights Mexico's longstanding problem with deadly violence against women, including femicide, or the murder of women or girls on basis of their gender. Federal prosecutors on Monday issued an expert opinion concluding Lopez died from a blow to the head, saying they could not support the assessment of the Morelos prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office in Morelos told Reuters on Tuesday denied cover-up allegations, adding it was up to the judicial system to decide which autopsy should prevail. The federal prosecutors advised that a criminal investigation should continue under Mexico City authorities.

SAO PAULO, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Brazilian lenders BTG Pactual, Bradesco and Santander Brasil are among those most exposed to debt of Americanas SA (AMER3.SA), analysts' estimates showed on Monday, after the retailer obtained an injunction protecting it from creditors. Analysts at JPMorgan and Citi said in research notes that Banco Bradesco SA (BBDC4.SA) had the largest nominal exposure to the firm, while Banco BTG Pactual SA topped exposure as a proportion of loans. Considering JPMorgan's and Citi's estimates, BTG had a 1.9 billion-real exposure to Americanas, which was seen accounting for roughly 1.5% of its loans, while Bradesco had exposure of 4.7 billion reais, or 0.5% of loans. Banco Santander Brasil SA , the local unit of Spain's Banco Santander (SAN.MC), had 3.7 billion reais in exposure, or about 0.6% of loans. Sergio Rial, the outgoing Americanas chief executive who uncovered the accounting inconsistencies, is a former head of Santander Brasil, where he still serves as chairman of the board.

☆ Minority shareholders denounce Brazil's Americanas for 'multi-billion fraud'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Rodrigo Viga Gaier | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A group representing minority shareholders on Friday filed a complaint with Brazil's securities regulator against Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) after the retailer uncovered "accounting inconsistencies" totaling 20 billion reais ($3.89 billion). The Abradin association said it was denouncing Americanas for what it called a "multi-billion fraud," while also asking regulator CVM to investigate the retailer's auditor, PwC. Shares in Americanas plummeted more than 75% on Thursday, wiping out 8.4 billion reais in market value, after the company's chief executive Sergio Rial resigned, citing the discovery of inconsistencies. It's not easy to hide 20 billion reais," said Eric Barreto, a professor at Sao Paulo's Insper. Americanas has long been controlled by three Brazilian billionaires who founded 3G Capital.

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