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☆ Dollar hangs near 5-week high as inflation data looms; yen slips
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The yen slipped with the government set to nominate a candidate who backs the current policy settings as the new Bank of Japan governor on Tuesday. The risk-sensitive Australian and New Zealand dollars eased with Asian equities on worries that higher U.S. rates will choke growth. Ahead of Tuesday's CPI report, revisions to the previous data set showed consumer prices rose in December instead of falling as previously estimated. Separately, the University of Michigan surveys showed a one-year inflation outlook of 4.2%, higher than the final number in January. The U.S. currency gained 0.18% to 131.63 yen , although well within the range of the past week of 129.80 to 132.90.

The stores that Kroger and Albertsons may sell could be worth more than $1 billion, the sources said. Kroger and Albertsons will choose to proceed with the spin-off if they are unable to strike a deal with a potential buyer. Kroger, Albertsons and the FTC declined to comment. Haggen filed for bankruptcy months later and blamed the deal with Albertsons for its demise. Albertsons then agreed to buy many of the Haggen stores back for $300 million.

☆ Japan needs stable, sustained inflation, government executive says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara on Sunday stressed the need to achieve an economy where inflation rises stably and sustainably, when asked whether the next central bank governor should maintain ultra-easy monetary policy. "What's important is to create economic conditions where prices rise stably and sustainably," Kihara told a television programme. "As for the next BOJ governor, the prime minister will choose who he thinks is the most appropriate person," he said. "It's important for monetary, and the broader macro-economic policy, to be stable." Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Lincoln Feast.

☆ More Companies Are Hiring CMOs With Performance-Marketing Backgrounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Patrick Coffee | Destination Xl Ceo Harvey Kanter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Companies looking to hire CMOs and other top-level marketing executives amid an economic downturn are increasingly favoring candidates with deep experience in so-called performance-marketing. Performance-marketing campaigns push consumers to take a specific action, such as clicking a link or providing an email address, while brand marketing aims to increase awareness of a company and shape perceptions of that business. The trend will create a challenging job market for senior executives whose careers have centered on more traditional, brand-based marketing. “If we are awesome at performance marketing and don’t understand what it means to engage a consumer—in reality that means brand-level marketing as well—we will lose,” Mr. Kanter said. PREVIEWIndustry leaders frequently debate whether brand and performance marketing should be separate disciplines run by different people.

☆ Biden: Americans should ‘pay attention’ to MLK’s legacy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

But with the election behind him and a full six-year term ahead, Warnock fully embraced Biden at the service. “That, my friends, is God’s work,” said Warnock, adding that Biden “had a little something to do with it.”As Biden begins to turn his attention toward an expected 2024 reelection effort, Georgia is going to get plenty of his attention. “But at this inflection point, we know a lot of work that has to continue on economic justice civil rights, voting rights, protecting our democracy. … Are we a people who will choose democracy over autocracy? "I’ve spoken before parliaments, kings, queens, leaders of the world ... but this is intimidating,” Biden said in opening his sermon.

☆ In tribute to rights leader King, Biden invokes 'battle for the soul of this nation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Marking Monday's national holiday celebrating King, Biden delivered a sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church at the invitation of its pastor, Democratic U.S. King worked for voting rights, Biden said, but "we do well to remember that his mission was even deeper. King was pastor of Ebenezer church from 1960 until his death. "The battle for the soul of this nation is perennial," Biden said in his tribute to King. Many presidents, including Biden, have visited Ebenezer to honor King, usually during events around the time of his birthday.

☆ Prince Harry's William resentment makes 'Spare' a royal tragedy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Vicky Ward | Vicky Ward Is The Author Of | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“I was twenty the first time I heard the story of what Pa allegedly said to Mummy the day of my birth,” Harry writes. So, too, despite all Harry’s resentment, seems to be his brother. William stays by Harry’s side the night before Harry’s wedding, only leaving to stay the night with Kate and his kids. But on this topic, Harry’ resentment gets the better of him. They’ll read “Spare” and see that, personalities aside, the chief culprit for Harry’s lifelong resentment is the unfortunate law of primogeniture.

☆ Coinbase will chop 20% of its staff in a 2nd round of big job cuts, as its boss blames 'unscrupulous actors' for putting pressure on crypto
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Coinbase will cut 20% of its workforce amid a crypto selloff, its CEO Brian Armstrong said Tuesday. It's the 2nd round of big job cuts after the crypto exchange chopped 18% of staff in June. The crypto exchange plans to slash 950 jobs in a bid to reduce its operating expenses by 25%, he said in a blog post. "In 2022, the crypto market trended downwards along with the broader macroeconomy," he said. The job cuts are part of a restructuring plan that Coinbase expects to complete by the end of June 2023.

☆ Citi has six reasons to buy Apple into the new year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Apple has lost more than 20% this year, but Citi has six reasons to think the tech giant's stock will rise in 2023. Such headlines could provide a near-term stock pullback which we would view as a buying opportunity for Apple shares." The popular tech stock, which outperformed the S & P 500 from 2019-2021, has been pressure by this year's challenging macro environment. The note also highlighted regulatory risk, specifically recent reports that Europe may soon require Apple to allow alternative app stores on its iPhones and iPads. "Bears believe this would dramatically reduce app store revenues in Europe (~25% of total revenues) as customers will choose cheaper versions of the same app," Suva said.

☆ Edgy Campaigns Are Out, TikTok Won’t Stop and Other 2023 Predictions for Marketers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Patrick Coffee | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +11 min

Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CMO Today CMO Today delivers the most important news of the day for media and marketing professionals. Most campaigns will focus on discounts to customers or showcase the usefulness of a company’s products, he said. Under this form of marketing, ad firms generally get paid upon completion of a desired end, such as a sale or download. In short, consumers should expect less “vacuous virtue-signaling” from marketers in the coming months, according to Mr. Proulx. But these platforms’ very struggles could result in ad bargains for marketers, said Mr. Solomon of Therabody.

☆ 12 media executives anonymously predict 2023's biggest deals, trends and changes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Candle Media has acquired intellectual property assets including Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine production company and Moonbug, which owns the animated kids series "CoComelon." Executive 3: Iger extends his contract There's been lots of speculation over who Iger will choose as his successor. History suggests he has a hard time leaving the role of Disney CEO. Christine M. McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer The Walt Disney Company. "I love Shari [Redstone], but ViacomCBS is not long for this world as it stands today," said a media executive last year.

☆ After this week’s Fed rate hike, where are mortgage rates headed?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Mortgage rates have run up so far and so fast this year that many would-be homebuyers can no longer afford to buy a home. By fall, mortgage rates had more than doubled, eventually topping 7% in October. When Treasury yields go up, so do mortgage rates; when they go down, mortgage rates tend to follow. “We have to remember mortgage rates come down much slower than they go up,” said Cohn. “Volatility increases the level of mortgage rates, compared to Treasury rates, because of the prepayment option,” said Chester Spatt, professor of finance at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business.

☆ Petrobras CEO prospect pitches an expansive vision for oil giant
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Sabrina Valle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Magda Chambriard, a former Brazil oil regulator, also said she does not support taking back divested oil refineries and other assets or using Petrobras' profits to subsidize consumer fuel prices. Lula, who spent time in jail over a Petrobras corruption scandal, campaigned on abandoning further privatization of Petrobras, and on investing in diversification. Petrobras has sold oil refineries, retail gas stations, power plants and gas pipelines to pay debt and boost its shareholder payouts. Like Lula, she believes the way to guarantee Petrobras' future in a world determined to cut planet-warming emissions should include developing less carbon-intensive fuels, such as natural gas. Some of the dividends Petrobras distributed this year should be redirected to energy production, including exploration of new oil and gas fields, she said.

According to a complaint, Wu allegedly sent threatening messages to a person who posted a flier on or near the college campus supporting Chinese democracy. Charging documents allege Wu reported the person to the Chinese government and told them its representatives would “greet” their family members. A photo of Xiaolei Wu posted to his Instagram. @aldimeowu/InstagramWu has been suspended from Berklee College of Music, according to a statement from the school Wednesday night. However, the rising nationalist sentiment is by no means representative of all Chinese students overseas.

☆ Justice Department charges Washington state man who allegedly threatened members of Congress
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —The Justice Department has brought federal charges against a Washington state man who allegedly made multiple threats against members of Congress, using antisemitic slurs and saying he would “murder” lawmakers. In announcing the charges, the department said Mark Leonetti, 48, left “more than 400 voicemails for members of Congress, several of which used slurs and were threatening” over the past two years despite warnings from law enforcement. Leonetti faces seven charges for interstate threats he allegedly made against multiple senators and representatives over the past several months. On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced charges against an Ohio man who allegedly threatened to kill an Arizona state election official during the 2022 midterm election season. Long and rambling voicemail transcripts, filled with violent and racist imagery, are included in the complaint filed this week.

☆ Making these 5 money moves now can set you up for financial success in the new year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Sharon Epperson | In Sharoneppersoncnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Increase your 401(k) plan contributionsA 401(k) retirement savings plan is one of the most highly sought-after workplace benefits. You can contribute up to $20,500 to a 401(k) plan in 2022 — or up to $27,000 if you're 50 or older. Boosting contributions to a traditional 401(k) plan can lower your adjusted gross income while padding your retirement savings. By paying cash, you could in some cases, wind up paying 3% less than the purchase price. You can no longer automatically tax an above-the-line deduction for cash donations; you must itemize deductions on your 2022 tax return.

London CNN —The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new six-part docu-series is set to drop on Netflix on Thursday. Netflix has strategically released its promotional material for the Liz Garbus-helmed show this past week, promising a no-holds-barred deep dive into royal life, complete with explosive details. Courtesy of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex“No one sees what’s happening behind closed doors,” Harry says. In their two-hour primetime Oprah special last year, the Sussexes accused the royal family of racism and gaslighting. Harry and Meghan remained tight-lipped on the Netflix series on Tuesday evening, as they made an appearance in New York to accept an award for their work on racial justice and mental health.

☆ Australia records first current account deficit in three years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Wayne Cole | Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday showed the current account had slid to a deficit of A$2.3 billion ($1.54 billion) in the July-September quarter. That was down from a surplus of A$14.7 billion in the previous quarter and far from forecasts for a A$6.2 billion surplus. "The deficit reflected a narrowing but robust trade surplus, which was offset by a record high income deficit in the September quarter," said Grace Kim, acting head of international statistics at the ABS. However, net exports still subtracted only 0.2 percentage points from growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter, whereas analysts had looked for a drag of 0.6 percentage points. On the other hand, separate data out on Tuesday showed government spending had subtracted 0.2 percentage points from growth in the quarter.

Many investors say that stocks of drugmakers and medical equipment companies, however, will likely get a more lasting lift from China's bumpy journey towards an eventual economic opening. Investors have snapped up Chinese tourism (.CSI930633), leisure (.CSI930654), retailing (.CSI930674) and food and beverage stocks (.CSI930653) over the past week. "After curbs are relaxed, China could experience the impact from surging virus cases, along with rising deaths, potentially hitting the economy," the brokerage said. "I think it's reasonable to think that as infections rise, they're going to have shortages in some areas of workers," he said. Grow Investment Group chief economist Hong Hao, warning of confusion and chaotic expectations ahead, recommended internet platform companies and food delivery firms in the short term.

Trump’s post came after Twitter CEO Elon Musk promoted a series of tweets Friday revealing internal documents about how the company handled a New York Post article about Hunter Biden in 2020. While he said he “vehemently disagrees” with the former president’s statement, Turner did not directly answer the question, even after host Margaret Brennan pressed repeatedly. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., a vocal opponent of Trump who serves on the House Jan. 6 committee, called Trump's statement “insane." Meanwhile, Democrats swiftly rebuked Trump’s statement shortly after it was posted. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he “vociferously” condemns Trump’s remarks and urged his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.

☆ Deshaun Watson returned in Cleveland Browns game against Houston. 10 of the women who accused him of sexual misconduct were expected to attend, lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Alaa Elassar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Around 10 of the more than two dozen women who accused Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct were expected to attend his game in Houston on Sunday, according to their attorney. I was proud of them for that,” Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing the accusers attending the game, told CNN in a statement. Makes me proud they want to stand up and be counted rather than quietly go away.”The NFL and the Cleveland Browns did not respond to CNN’s request for comment regarding the accusers’ attendance. We’re a huge football town, folks here have been lifelong fans of the Cleveland Browns,” Greene said. We believe that Deshaun Watson deserves a second chance.”The team’s “refusal to prioritize protecting women sends a disgusting message” to survivors of sexual assault, Nunes said.

☆ Malaysia votes in general election, Anwar seen leading tight race
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Malaysian Caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob stands in a line to vote during Malaysia's 15th general election in Bera, Pahang, Malaysia November 19, 2022. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s ruling Barisan coalition and another bloc led by former premier Muhyiddin Yassin are other leading contenders. Muhyiddin’s alliance was a junior partner in Ismail’s coalition government, and the two could come together again to block Anwar. That was on par with turnout at the same time in the previous election in 2018, reflecting the increase in voters, political analyst Bridget Welsh told Reuters. Anwar was the top choice for prime minister at 33%, followed by Muhyiddin at 26% and Ismail at 17% in the Merdeka survey.

☆ Malaysia votes in general election, Anwar expected to lead tight race
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Malaysians queue to cast their vote for the country's general election at Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia November 19, 2022. Without a clear winner, political uncertainty could persist as Malaysia faces slowing economic growth and rising inflation. “I don’t think it is possible for any coalition to win on their own,” said Sivamurugan Pandian, political analyst at Malaysia Science University. Anwar was the top choice for prime minister at 33%, followed by Muhyiddin at 26% and Ismail at 17%. Sheila Supramaniam, 30, said she will vote for Anwar as his coalition stood firmly against corruption and discrimination.

☆ Billionaires like Elon Musk want to save civilization by having tons of genetically superior kids. Inside the movement to take 'control of human evolution.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Julia Black | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +40 min

"We are the Underground Railroad of 'Gattaca' babies and people who want to do genetic stuff with their kids," Malcolm told me. Ellison, meanwhile, who has two children in their 30s, has reportedly resumed having kids — with his 31-year-old girlfriend. "The person of this subculture really sees the pathway to immortality as being through having children," Simone said. The person of this subculture really sees the pathway to immortality as being through having children. Before she met Malcolm, Simone was convinced she wanted to live her life single and child-free.

☆ Kevin McCarthy Faces First Test in Speakership Bid
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Natalie Andrews | Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—House Republicans will choose their leaders for the new Congress on Tuesday, in a vote that could reveal how much resistance Kevin McCarthy faces within his own conference. Mr. McCarthy, the current House Minority Leader, is running to lead his party again in what analysts believe will be the narrowest GOP majority in recent history, and much slimmer than Republican leaders had initially hoped for. Republicans moved forward with selecting a speaker candidate despite the House majority not yet being called by the Associated Press.

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