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☆ Chinese stocks roar in a comeback, but here’s why big investors remain cautious
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Seema Mody | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A stunning reversal in Chinese stocks in November has investors once again reassessing whether now is the time to double down on this once-hot market. "Biden's comments that he did not see an imminent threat to Taiwan from China were also noteworthy...," said Chang to CNBC. Investors CNBC spoke to remain encouraged by the country's much-needed reopening but want more evidence to suggest Beijing is easing its zero-Covid policy. The latest third-quarter 13F filings ending Sept. 30 also show several reputable hedge funds reducing their exposure to Chinese tech stocks. These positions may have changed since the end of September, but the data does suggest buy-side investors remain cautious on owning Chinese tech.

☆ Analysis: Shocked by Ukraine war, Russian neighbour Kazakhstan looks west
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Olzhas Auyezov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Out of total exports of 68 million tonnes a year, 53 million tonnes of Kazakh oil move through it. The chief executive of Khazakhstan's state oil firm KazMunayGaz said this week that the target of 20 million tonnes was a "medium-term" aim. But getting Kazakh oil to Baku requires either tanker shipments across the sea or the construction of a trans-Caspian pipeline. Smailov said last week that Kazakhstan would start by sending an additional 1.5 million tonnes a year via BTC starting from 2023, gradually rising to 6-6.5 million tonnes. Kazakhstan's Aktau port, the only one equipped to load oil tankers, can handle up to 5.5 million tonnes.

☆ Walmart's PAC has quietly donated nearly $1 million to campaigns ahead of the midterms. While the company has a ''don't rock the boat strategy,' it contributed to 41 election deniers.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Ben Tobin | Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

WALPAC donated almost 50-50 to Democratic and Republican federal candidates for the midterms. Walmart's PAC donated to 41 candidates who denied the 2020 presidential election results, ProPublica found. Of that, about 53% went to Republican candidates, and 47% went to Democrats. Some members of Congress, particularly among Democrats, also reject any corporate PAC contribution — WALPAC or otherwise — as a matter of practice. However, the company did donate a significant amount of money to candidates who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results.

☆ PineBridge, Man Group bet on China as reopening hopes fuel markets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Joice Alves | Karin Strohecker | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON (Reuters) -Asset manager PineBridge Investments’ multi asset team has sharply raised its China equity exposure and rival Man Group expects to expand its presence in the country with expectations that strict COVID rules will be eased. “Europe is going into recession now, the U.S., maybe, sometime next year, but China’s already had a recession ... The next leg is up for Chinese equities, it’s a question of when, and the main driver would be the reopening,” Redha said. China’s economy rebounded faster than anticipated in the third quarter though the revival was challenged by COVID-19 curbs, a prolonged property slump and global recession risks. However, a foreign ministry spokesman later said he was not aware of the report, calling China’s COVID policies consistent and clear.

☆ Conscious capitalism falls behind in the polls
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

NEW YORK, Nov 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - As America heads to the polls on Tuesday, and the political climate gets more acrimonious, powerful companies have two choices. Their bid to avoid unwanted attention comes with a cost, because the alternative to conscious capitalism isn’t democracy but apathy. BlackRock affirmed its commitment on Thursday to letting individual customers vote shares in companies at annual meetings, rather than BlackRock voting on their behalf. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has taken aim at “woke” capitalism by barring state pension funds from investing based on non-pecuniary goals. From the other side, New York’s City comptroller is “reassessing” its relationship with Fink’s firm because BlackRock isn’t being progressive enough.

☆ Virgin Galactic CEO outlines remaining steps before commercial spaceflight service begins next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Virgin Galactic on Thursday reported a wider third-quarter loss from a year ago, with CEO Michael Colglazier outlining the remaining steps before the space tourism company aims to launch its long-delayed service next year. "As we approach commercial service, we recognize the significance of getting back to the business of spaceflight," Colglazier said on a conference call. Shares of Virgin Galactic are down 66% this year as of Thursday's close of $4.58. Virgin Galactic is emphasizing the potential of its "Delta-class" series of spacecraft, with work set to begin next year. "We are reassessing its schedule for entering commercial service," Colglazier said.

He said the spouses of some high-profile lawmakers may need security details in the future, in addition to using home security systems. Court documents allege the suspect had been in search of the House speaker and was on a "suicide mission" with additional targets. However, "there are not enough resources available to me to do that," she said on MSNBC following the attack on Paul Pelosi. “Bloodshed is coming," Swalwell tweeted at the time, foreshadowing the Pelosi attack. The Paul Pelosi attack was foreseeable," Schuman said.

☆ Ye mural in Chicago, where he grew up, covered after antisemitic comments
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A Chicago mural celebrating Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and his roots in the city has been painted over as the artist continues to face backlash over his recent antisemitic comments. Video shared on social media appeared to show the West Loop mural being painted over with black paint. "Very crazy I’m witnessing this right now.. they’re painting over the Kanye mural in Chicago," the Twitter user who posted the video wrote. Later footage captured by NBC Chicago showed the final product, with Ye's image transformed into a silhouette. In addition to the Chicago mural being covered, the Wieners Circle, a local eatery famed for its mean customer service, made clear Ye was not welcome at the establishment.

☆ This analyst says Amazon’s dismal forecast signals a recession is already underway
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Amazon 's dismal fourth-quarter forecast means consumer spending is slowing and the long-feared recession that has been weighing on investor sentiment is underway, according to Bank of America. "Outlook for less q/q revenue growth than 2021 suggests consumer recession is already here," wrote analyst Justin Post in a note to clients Friday. The company said Thursday it anticipates fourth-quarter revenue will be between $140 billion and $148 billion, while analysts surveyed by Refinitiv had expected sales of $155.15 billion. That forecast also signals the company's lowest quarter-over-quarter revenue growth on record, according to Post. Even during the 2008 recession, the technology behemoth saw fourth-quarter sales grow 57% sequentially, he said.

☆ Kanye West was kicked out of Skechers' offices after he showed up 'uninvited,' the company said
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was booted from Skechers’ corporate offices in Los Angeles on Wednesday after he showed up uninvited and unannounced, the company said. In a statement, the shoemaker said two executives escorted Ye and others from the company’s offices following a brief conversation and after he “engaged in unauthorized filming.”“Skechers is not considering and has no intention of working with West,” the company said, adding that it condemned recent antisemitic comments that prompted a backlash among companies that had business deals with the artist. Kanye West in Los Angeles, on Friday. Rachpoot / Bauer-Griffin/GC ImagesRepresentatives for Ye, who has spoken publicly about his mental health issues and has a history of posting erratically online, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. These actions in LA are disgusting and should be condemned."

☆ People are urging Adidas to cut ties with Kanye West after his antisemitic comments
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Morgan Sung | Morgan Sung Is A Trends Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Adidas is facing increased pressure from people online to cut ties with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, after he made a string of antisemitic comments. Ye announced last month that he had terminated his collaboration with Gap over disagreements over the distribution of Yeezy Gap. But several people online pointed out that Gap appears to continue to market the Yeezy Gap collection. Gap told CNN last month that it will continue to sell its existing merchandise from Yeezy Gap in its stores and on its website. It said it will also continue to sell forthcoming collections from Yeezy Gap in the fall and into the first half of 2023.

☆ Half of Virginia high school out sick due to flu-like, gastrointestinal symptoms in mystery outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Nearly half the student population of a Virginia high school was out of school Friday suffering flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms, with an investigation into the source of the mystery outbreak underway, officials said. Approximately 1,000 students were absent Friday from Stafford High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with many reporting flu-like and gastrointestinal symptoms, Sandra Osborn, Chief communications officer for Stafford County Public Schools said. That's nearly half of the school's population of 2,100 students. Stafford High school is open Monday and “we are reassessing conditions this morning," Osborn said. Stafford High School canceled all school related activities and athletics over the weekend, “due to the high number of student and staff illnesses reported this week,” according to their Facebook page.

☆ How one pioneering platform is working to detoxify social media
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But some platforms are trying to detoxify social media. Twitter; Mastodon; Vicky Leta/Insider1. One pioneering platform is working to detoxify social media. Once championed as heralds of a more interconnected world, social media has instead contributed to loneliness, low self-esteem, and the proliferation of harmful disinformation, Evan Malmgren writes. With 4.4 million users, Mastodon looks like Twitter, but rather than a single website, it's an open-source software platform that allows users to run self-hosted, "federated" social networks.

☆ Twitter is reviewing its rules around permanent bans amid Elon Musk's takeover attempt — but Trump is unlikely to get his account back, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter is reviewing its rules around permanent bans on users, sources told the FT.Donald Trump would probably not be allowed back on Twitter if any changes were made, per the sources. Musk, who is attempting to buy Twitter, has said he would reverse Trump's ban if he owned the platform. The billionaire also described Twitter's decision to ban Trump "a morally bad decision" and "foolish," saying he would restore the former president's account. A company spokesman told Insider is "always examining the rules that govern our service and the tools and features that can encourage healthy conversation." Most recently, American rapper Kanye West was locked out of his account after he wrote antisemitic comments in a tweet that was removed by Twitter for violating its guidelines.

☆ Karl Rove says Texas' abortion law is 'too extremist' and will be 'a real problem for Republicans in the legislature'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

GOP strategist Karl Rove said the Texas abortion law that bans the procedure after 6 weeks is "extremist." He said the ban will "create a real problem for Republicans" during the state's legislative session beginning in January. Some state lawmakers have said they would vote to add a rape exception, the Texas Tribune reported. "Do you think Texas is too extremist?" According to the Tribune, Rove said that he supports the Supreme Court's ruling and that abortion regulations should be a state's rights issue.

☆ The mRNA vaccine transformed Pfizer. Here's how the biopharma giant plans to retain its new 'light-speed mentality' and create drugs faster.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The biopharmaceutical giant, along with its partner BioNTech, was one of the first to develop a marketable vaccine for COVID-19 using nascent mRNA technology. mRNA technology has tremendous potential for other disease areas such as oncology and rare diseases. We've just started our phase-three study of a quadrant flu vaccine made out of mRNA. We see it has several advantages over current flu vaccines, including higher efficacy. A Pfizer senior vice president said mRNA technology could transform vaccines for the flu and lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment.

As Russia bombs its neighbor, what has become the biggest European war since 1945 has had an outsized impact far south, in the Middle East. Here are four ways the Ukraine war has affected the Middle East over the last six months:Energy exporters are cashing inThe war has seen oil prices rise to as much as a 14-year high. Despite vowing to turn Saudi Arabia into a pariah, US President Joe Biden visited Saudi Arabia in a landmark trip last month. Saudi Arabia: #How_many_wives_would_you_takeSaudi men took to Twitter to ask each other how many wives they’d like to take. According to the 2019 report by the Doha International Forum called State of Marriage in the Arab World, information on polygamy in Saudi Arabia is not readily available.

☆ Leaders from Walmart, AB InBev, Honeywell, Carlyle, and more share advice for getting started — and sticking to — sustainability goals
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-22 | by ( Julia Hood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

Sustainability leaders from Walmart, JUST Capital, Dow, Honeywell, Cognizant, Deloitte, Bank of America, AB InBev, and Carlyle participated. If you're just looking for a science partner, you're going to go and get the science. So then we started building debriefs for our portfolio companies, actually making them sit down and have a conversation with us. Because as long as you do it with integrity, you're going to probably get to the right place. I remember him saying when we talked about the idea, "what you're trying to achieve with that, is somewhere between really, really, really, really hard and impossible."

☆ Why lab-grown diamond sales are surging
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-27 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

He said March data showed the number of engagement rings sold that featured a manufactured diamond jumped 63% compared to last year, while the number of engagement rings sold with a natural diamond declined 25% in the same period. “The big fear in the natural diamonds industry is that consumers will start accepting lab-grown diamonds in engagement rings,” he said. “This is substantially less – as much as 73% cheaper – than a natural diamond of the same size, cut and clarity as the man-made diamond, which would cost $8,740,” he said. “A lab diamond is a real diamond, but maybe it took a few weeks to make it,” said Golan. There is, however, one important consideration for anyone buying lab-created diamonds: Man-made diamonds have little resale value.

We generate a present value for companies by estimating these outyear numbers and then discounting them to the present day using a discounted cash flow (DCF) model. That increased denominator means that present value of future earnings and cash flows declines. However, the present value of Company B's $10 in earnings is worth increasingly more relative to Company A's as rates rise. When rates go up — or are expected to go up — investors value companies using a lower valuation multiple. These so-called value stocks typically already have low multiples, making the risk of contraction less of an issue.

☆ The US is in the middle of the biggest labor shortage since WW2, Goldman Sachs says
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-24 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The labor shortage has reached "the most overheated level in postwar US history," Goldman Sachs says. The US had a labor force of almost 164 million in January 2022, per seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). There were close to 11 million job openings in the US in December, per seasonally-adjusted BLS data. Restaurants, hotels, and retail had the highest turnover rates in December, BLS data shows. But in constant 1982-1984 dollars, workers' pay actually fell by almost $0.20 during that time period because of inflation, BLS data shows.

Here are five ways small business owners can prepare for the first quarter. Right now, it's imperative for business owners to be prepared as they grapple with the post-pandemic "new-normal", including a recession, increased inflation, and a competitive small business landscape prompted by the "Great Resignation." Setting clear strategies for the year ahead can help entrepreneurs prepare, even if they're thrown another crisis-inspired curveball. Here are five ways small business owners can prepare for the first quarter. "Don't criticize yourself or blame yourself," Freeman, who also works as a psychiatrist and executive coach for business owners, said.

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