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☆ Consumers are feeling slightly better about the direction of the economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Consumers are becoming more confident about the state of the economy, despite recession fears, soaring interest rates and continued high prices, according to the latest consumer survey from the University of Michigan. The survey’s consumer sentiment index measured 59.1 in December, up from the final reading of 56.8 in November. The November report had shown a 3.1 point decline in consumer sentiment from the previous month. Still, the reading continues to show a much gloomier outlook than a year ago, when the survey stood at 70.6. Gas prices typically have an outsized influence on consumers’ thinking about inflation since the prices are so readily apparent at every gas station.

☆ Of course audiobooks count as reading
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Judi Ketteler | Judi Ketteler Frequently Writes About Self-Awareness. She Is The Author Of | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

This year, I joined nearly 6.5 million other people and set a reading challenge via Goodreads. I love to read, but these days by evening — the time of day I’ve always allotted for reading — I’m falling asleep. Not only is this argument insufferable, made — and I’m just guessing — by insufferable people, it’s also the worst kind of ableism. Either way, listening and reading both engage audiences in the same act of absorbing a story. This idea that listening to books is cheating still circulates, especially when people share their reading lists and brag about their reading challenges — which is when “counting” takes on an even more literal meaning.

☆ Morning Bid: Hangover
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Vivek Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell more than five basis points to an eight-week low of 3.65%. COVID and inflation kept a cap on things elsewhere - with core consumer prices rising at their fastest clip in 40 years in Tokyo truly a sign that inflation is everywhere. China on Friday reported another record high of daily COVID-19 infections and the Hang Seng (.HSI) slipped 0.7%. Consumer confidence surveys in France and Germany, and final German GDP data headline an otherwise quiet calendar in Europe, while holidays will likely thin U.S. trade into the weekend. Key developments that could influence markets on Friday:German GDP, French and German consumer surveys, speeches by ECB policymakers Kerstin and de GuindosReporting by Tom Westbrook Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. shoppers to spend less this holiday season, but Amazon still stands to gain, Goldman Sachs says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Amid mounting economic uncertainty this holiday season, nearly three-quarters of U.S. shoppers plan to spend less than or the same as last year, according to a new Goldman Sachs consumer survey. And Club holding Amazon (AMZN), a leading retailer for holiday sales and promotions, should be a top destination for American bargain-hunters. Goldman Sachs polled 1,000 U.S. consumers to gauge spending trends for holiday shopping this year. Nonetheless, Amazon maintains "the largest share of implied holiday purchasing with 33% of consumers planning to spend the most at Amazon," followed by Walmart. Bottom line We agree with Goldman's analysis that Amazon is one of the best-positioned players in the discount retail space to benefit from this year's holiday shopping.

☆ Stubborn inflation puts Fed on deadline
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Inflation is coming down in the United States, but is still too high for comfort. The year-over-year inflation rate eased more than expected – economists polled by Refinitiv had expected 8% - but the cost of food, energy, and housing still increased dramatically. Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned on Nov. 2 that there’s a risk that expectations of higher inflation become entrenched. When Americans expect higher inflation, businesses are inclined to raise prices and workers are liable to ask for higher wages, which amplifies the increase still further. If Powell really wants to tackle the fear of inflation as well as inflation itself, something bolder might be in order.

☆ Leaked email shows Amazon is cooperating with the FTC's investigation by urging employees to preserve evidence
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon emailed a group of employees on Friday, ordering them to preserve all files that may be relevant to FTC's investigation into its Prime membership program. It shows Amazon is taking FTC's investigation seriously and wants to ensure there's no evidence tampering. Amazon ordered employees to save all documents and data related to the Federal Trade Commission's ongoing investigation into the Prime sign-up and cancellation process. They are "required to preserve relevant documents and data" stored in their work and home computers, as well as personal devices and even CDs and DVDs, the email said. The company's cooperation shows it is taking the FTC's investigation seriously and aims to avoid evidence tampering by its employees.

☆ From Chipotle to Wendy’s, here are 7 places to score Halloween freebies and discounts
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Americans are expected to spend a record $10.6 billion on Halloween this year, surpassing last year's record of $10.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation's annual Halloween Consumer survey. On average, people are expected to spend about $100.45 each on Halloween staples, such as candy, costumes and decorations, the agency found. Halloween celebration rates are predicted to return to pre-pandemic levels also, according to the agency. And as holiday revelers seek out treats, many stores and restaurants are offering freebies and discounts through Oct. 31. Here are seven places to check out:

☆ A beauty-tech founder raised a $25 million Series B without a formal pitch deck. Here's what she brings to meetings instead.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The business closed a $25 million Series B round in September without using a pitch deck. What's more, GlossGenius closed a $25 million Series B round in September and the company's software is used by more than 40,000 salons, Cohen-Shohet said. Being able to prove that market fit and proof of concept is vital to fundraising success, Cohen-Shohet said. Instead, she brings materials that show her business success more clearly. Another helpful material Cohen-Shohet brings to prove business success is screenshots of customer reviews or comments on social media.

☆ Even as inflation bites, consumers are still turning to Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A spate of fresh data this week showed consumers are feeling the sting from high inflation. But those figures were not adjusted for inflation, indicating that consumer spending on retail actually fell last month. But while consumers are tempering their discretionary budgets this holiday season, Amazon remains their shopping platform of choice, according to Baird. In a separate note Thursday, Cowen said its shopping survey of Gen Z and Millennials showed Amazon to be their "most preferred" shopping website. An Amazon Prime truck is pictured as it crosses the George Washington Bridge on Interstate Route 95 during Amazon's two-day "Prime Early Access Sale" shopping event for Amazon members in New York, October 11, 2022.

☆ 3 takeaways from our daily meeting: New market leaders, banks report, Club stocks next week
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. Healthcare and banks The Club's bank stocks JNJ, PG, DHR report next week 1. 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.

☆ Cloud stocks just wrapped up their worst week since January, led by plunge in Five9 and SentinelOne
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Ari Levy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Cloud stocks plummeted 11% this week, the steepest drop since January, as executive departures at Five9 and Zscaler and investors' continued rotation out of risk combined to send the group to its lowest level since March 2020. The WisdomTree Cloud Computing Fund, a basket of 75 cloud software stocks, has lost 53% of its value for the year, more than double the drop in the S&P 500. Five9 shares suffered the biggest decline in the index, falling 29% for the week, after CEO Rowan Trollope said he was leaving to run a pre-IPO company. Security software vendor Zscaler announced the resignation of its president, Amit Sinha, who is also taking a CEO position at a pre-IPO company. The WisdomTree index fell all five days this week, and had its worst day on Friday, dropping 3.6%.

☆ Holiday bargains will dent retail profits. How investors can avoid taking a beating
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Stifel's research found that consumers plan to spend 9% more this holiday season over 2021. Roughly three-quarters of respondents to a PwC holiday poll indicated they plan to spend the same or more this holiday season. Rather than marking down inventory, companies should hold on to it for the next year if their balance sheets can withstand it, said Siegel. Across the board, many flagship retail stores heavily focused on apparel and footwear like Kohl's and Macy's may struggle to lure customers intent on saving money on discretionary purchases. He points to names heavily focused on electronics and home goods purchased by consumers during the pandemic as one of the weaker areas this holiday season.

☆ Inflation expectations ease, while spending outlook tumbles, Fed consumer survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

That's the lowest level since January and the biggest one-month decline ever in a data series going back to June 2013. Respondents did put a slightly higher number on their outlook for three-year inflation, moving that forecast to 2.9%, up 0.1 percentage point from August. Median five-year expectations moved up to 2.2%, an increase of 0.2 percentage point but much closer to the Fed's goal. Consumers see gas prices increasing by half a percentage point, and food to surge by 6.9%, a full percentage point increase from August's survey. Unprecedented levels of fiscal and monetary stimulus also coincided with the inflation surge.

"The exchange rate has been the biggest topic of conversation since we got here," said Jeff Skipper, 50, an electrician. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"Everything is pretty expensive for us," said Valerie, a 47-year old university administrator. read moreSterling hit a record low of $1.0327 on Monday, having plummeted 20% against the dollar this year. "Now it's one dollar to the pound…It's really hit us," said Colin Taylor, a retired telecoms engineer from the United Kingdom who was also visiting San Francisco with his wife. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a currency basket, hit a fresh 20-year high of 114.78 on Wednesday.

☆ Oppenheimer upgrades Netflix, says new ad tier can boost growth
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Netflix 's new ad-supported subscriber can give the stock a much-needed boost, according to Oppenheimer. "Ad-tier launch should accelerate subscriber growth, drive ARPU, and slow churn," Helfstein wrote in a Monday note. Netflix shares tumbled this year after slowing subscriber numbers pointed to trouble ahead for the streaming company. Still, the analyst said that Netflix has the "highest viewership in the industry," and that Wall Street is not properly accounting for the ad opportunity. On top of that, about seven out of 10 current basic subscribers would downgrade to the ad tier, the analyst found.

☆ How TikTok is changing the music industry and the way we discover new, popular songs
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-10 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

In July, it rolled out a dedicated music-streaming service called TikTok Music in five countries. Read about why TikTok music marketers are turning to general-interest accounts to promote songsCreating TikTok music challenges to spark user-generated videosAnd some marketers are opening the door for social-media users who wouldn't traditionally be considered influencers to get paid to promote music. Read more about TikTok's private listening sessionsA dedicated TikTok Music streaming app is bornIn July, TikTok stepped deeper into the music business by launching its own dedicated music-streaming app, TikTok Music, in Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, and Singapore. Insider tested TikTok Music in Singapore, where it launched in a closed beta, to learn more about how it works. Like TikTok, TikTok Music includes a "For You" feed of recommended content and a variety of social features that set it apart from incumbents like Spotify and Apple Music.

Persons: TikTok, Here's, they've, influencers, TikTok influencers, Read, Jonny Kaps, Halsey, Charli XCX, Taylor Upsahl, Upsahl, Steve Jennings, Kristen Bender, Lyor Cohen, Ted Suh, Elissa Ayadi, Sydney Bradley, Getty, Jesse Callahan, It's, Zach Friedman, Dan Asip, Pearpop, Cole Mason, There's, Johnny Cloherty, Andy McGrath, Tarek Al, Hamdouni, Tiagz, John Arano, Tiago Garcia, you'd, Nima Nasseri, Ole Obermann, Rita Franca, NurPhoto, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rudensky, Cyrus, Hailey Bieber, Guillermo Legaria, Khalid, Demi Lovato, Marshmellow, ByteDance, Tatiana Cirisano, Jeffrey Ramsay, Steve Blatter Organizations: Getty, TikTok, MRC Data, Universal Music Group, YouTube, GQ, Snap Inc, Agency, 10K, Records, Sony Music, RCA Records, Warner Music, Getty Images, Movistar Arena, Spotify, Apple, MIDiA Research, MTV, SiriusXM's TikTok Locations: Tempe , Arizona, TikTok, Bogota, Colombia, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Singapore, India, Denver , Colorado

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