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☆ News startup Messenger launches with Trump 'exclusive' while advertisers expressed skepticism ahead of debut: 'We can't have another Quibi'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Jimmy Finkelstein's startup The Messenger launched today with a Trump interview leading the site. Advertisers said it'll be tough to sell ads on a site without an established audience. The site led with an interview with former President Donald Trump and ads from the American Petroleum Institute. The Messenger said it'll roll out seven other verticals including business, entertainment, and sports later in the year. Image from The Messenger's launch ad campaign.

☆ The Messenger, Jimmy Finkelstein's digital news startup, meets advertiser skepticism ahead of May 15 launch: 'We can't have another Quibi'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Jimmy Finkelstein's startup The Messenger will roll out an ad campaign touting its mission to provide unbiased news. An ad campaign by Publicis unit Le Truc will kick off May 22 and is designed to provoke, with copy like "Agendas are for meetings. Image from The Messenger's launch ad campaign. The Messenger said it'll have three to four big advertisers at launch as well as a significant amount of programmatic advertising. The Messenger's ad campaign promotes its ambitions to provide unbiased news.

☆ Dollar rises slightly, sterling hovers near one-year high
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The offshore yuan last traded 0.1% lower at 6.9287 per U.S. dollar. The benchmark 10-year yield was last at 3.4995%, after rising more than five basis points in the previous session. There's still a tightening in credit conditions that is coming ... but overall, at this stage, the survey is not depicting a credit crunch ahead. The Aussie was last 0.05% lower at $0.67775, after having risen to a roughly three-week top of $0.6804 on Monday. The kiwi fell 0.2% to $0.6332, having similarly scaled a one-month high of $0.63585 the day earlier.

☆ Dollar edges up, sterling hovers near one-year high
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The euro was last 0.16% lower at $1.0987, while the Japanese yen slipped 0.1% to 135.24 per dollar. There's still a tightening in credit conditions that is coming ... but overall, at this stage, the survey is not depicting a credit crunch ahead. "The dollar didn't really get much of a kick on that," said Catril, referring to the survey. The kiwi slipped 0.11% to $0.6338, having similarly scaled a one-month high of $0.63585 the day earlier. Elsewhere, the British pound fell 0.06% to $1.26105, but was not far from the previous session's one-year peak of $1.2668, ahead of Thursday's central bank policy meeting.

May 9 (Reuters) - Pakistan's anti-graft watchdog arrested former Prime Minister Imran Khan at Islamabad High Court on Tuesday, in a dramatic move that threatens fresh turmoil in the nuclear-armed country. You won't get any other opportunity," the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party wrote on Twitter. In most of the cases, Khan faces being barred from holding public office if convicted, with a national election scheduled for November. Previous attempts to arrest Khan from his Lahore home resulted in heavy clashes between his supporters and law enforcement personnel. Political infighting is common in Pakistan, where no prime minister has yet fulfilled a full term and where the military has ruled for nearly half of the country's history.

☆ Australia business activity robust in April, cost pressures still a challenge
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, May 8 (Reuters) - Australian business conditions remained sturdy in April, supported by robust sales and labour market strength despite high inflation and rising interest rates, while cost pressures were still posing a challenge for firms. The survey from National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB) (NAB.AX) released on Monday showed its index of business conditions fell two points to +14 in April, but stayed well above its long-run average. The volatile measure of confidence edged up to 0, compared with March's -1, suggesting that an equal share of firms were optimistic as pessimistic. The still strong business activity showed why the Reserve Bank of Australia stunned markets last week by lifting rates to an 11-year high of 3.85%, when traders had looked for an extended pause, and warned that more tightening might be needed. Cost growth remained a challenge, with the measure of labour costs steadying at a quarterly rate of 1.9% and purchase costs picking up to 2.3%, compared with 1.9% in March.

May 8 (Reuters) - Australia's Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX) on Monday threw out a cost-cutting target citing inflation and flagged thinner profit margins going ahead, but investors pushed its shares higher after it handily beat expectations for first-half profit. Westpac shares closed 2% higher, ahead of a broader market advance (.AXJO) of 0.8%, as the market cheered the better-than-expected profit. Costs for Westpac came to A$5 billion for the half, down from A$5.2 billion a year earlier. Westpac declared an interim dividend of 70 Australian cents per share, up from 61 Australian cents last year. ($1 = 1.4810 Australian dollars)Reporting by Roushni Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ I tested 5 quick and easy ways to earn your first dollar online. This is my guide for how to do it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Zulie Rane | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Rane says that the first dollar is the hardest to earn online, and then tried five ways to do it. So I decided to write an actual actionable guide on how to earn your first dollar online. So let's get into five ways to earn your first dollar online — that I have testedWhat do you need to earn your first dollar online? Let's look at five uncommon ways to earn your very first dollar online. I recommend:Hopefully, you'll be able to leave user testing and playing games for pennies behind as you move forward toward more profitable ways to earn money online.

2 lender, fell short of analyst forecasts in half-year profit released on Thursday and took a hit to its share price after warning that the windfall from rising interest rates had peaked. The update signals a tough new phase for Australia's lenders which have benefited from a year of rising interest rates by charging more to borrowers while limiting the amount they pay deposit-holders. "What the market's concerned about is the exit NIM (net interest margin)," said Hugh Dive, chief investment officer at Atlas Funds Management which holds bank stocks. In personal banking, which includes mortgages, profit shrank slightly due to a A$393 million impairment charge. The bank had telephoned 7,000 borrowers deemed to be most vulnerable to rising interest rates and just 13 had requested assistance.

☆ ANZ's half-year profit tops estimates but outlook downbeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Competition in retail banking is as intense as it has ever been, both in Australia and New Zealand," Chief Executive Officer Shayne Elliott said. 2 lender National Australia bank (NAB.AX) said its margins had peaked during the last half and warned of uncertainties amid a tougher credit environment ahead. ANZ's net interest margin, a key gauge of profitability, was at 1.75% at the end of March, compared with 1.58% last year. Margins at the Australian lender have swelled from a series of interest rate hikes by the central bank since May last year, but analysts have warned margins could plateau going forward. ($1 = 1.4945 Australian dollars)Reporting by Navya Mittal and Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Oil drops as US rate hike concern, weak China data offset OPEC+ cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Fed, which meets on May 2-3, is expected to increase interest rates by another 25 basis points. The U.S. dollar rose against a basket of currencies on Monday, making oil more expensive for other currency holders. Weak economic data from China also weighed. "We believe the oil market will be in deficit through the remainder of the second quarter" following the OPEC+ cuts, said NAB's Moore, who added that the bank expected the curbs plus higher demand to drive prices higher. Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Oil prices drop as US rate hike fears, weak China data offset supply cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Katya Golubkova | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Fed is expected to increase interest rates by another 25 basis points this week. The U.S. central bank has raised its policy rate by 475 basis points since March of last year from the near-zero level to the current 4.75%-5.00% range. In the week ahead, the Reserve Bank of Australia is widely expected to extend a rate hike pause on Tuesday and the European Central Bank could surprise with an outsized half-point increase on Thursday. Brent crude has been tracking broader markets in recent sessions, with a slew of economic data creating more uncertainty about the outlook," ANZ Research said in a client note. Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ GM’s Chevy Bolt Heads to Scrapyard With Mixed Legacy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Mike Colias | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

General Motors Co. rolled out its Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle in 2016 to nab a foothold in the nascent EV market and give consumers an affordable plug-in option. Now, the diminutive snub-nosed SUV is headed to the scrap heap.

☆ Asia stocks off to slow start in earnings-rich week
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) eased 0.1%, while Japan's Nikkei (.N225) nudged up 0.2%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures both eased 0.2% ahead of a busy week of earnings. The U.S. House of Representatives could this week vote on a Republican plan to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for spending cuts. Figures on U.S. wages and economic growth due this week will likely reinforce the case for further tightening. Oil prices also lost ground last week, though planned production cuts from OPEC offer some support.

☆ This startup founded by ex-Tesla, Google, and SolarCity staffers uses the ocean for carbon removal. Check out the 13-slide pitch deck Ebb Carbon used to raise $20 million.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ebb Carbon has found a way to remove carbon from the atmosphere while making the ocean less acidic. Check out the 13-slide pitch deck Ebb Carbon used to nab $20 million in Series A funding. California-based Ebb Carbon, founded in 2021, aims to capture and store carbon dioxide in the ocean while simultaneously tackling ocean acidification. Ebb Carbon has developed an electrochemical process that removes acidity from seawater while enhancing its ability to store carbon dioxide. Ebb CarbonThe alkaline release then helps to balance the pH of seawater locally, Ebb Carbon claims.

☆ The talent whisperer for Citadel, Blackstone, other firms breaks down the 4 biggest hiring mistakes and how to avoid them
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

About 40% of Smart's clients are in the financial services industry, which is keenly aware of the importance of attracting and maintaining talent. But not all financial services companies are getting it right, Smart said. While he directed his advice to financial services companies, his tips are broad-based and could be used by hiring managers in many different industries. Smart said most leaders recognize the importance of hiring and talent decisions but aren't dedicating enough time to it. "Five percent of your time as a senior leader in financial services is not enough," he said.

☆ Apple continues to quietly build on its fintech ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In payments, specifically, its made progress via Apple Pay, the Apple Wallet, and the Apple Card. On Monday, Apple took another step deeper into financial services, announcing the launch of a high-yield savings account (4.15%) via its Apple Card. And now, as Goldman tries to salvage what's left of its consumer dreams, Apple continues to roll on. What's not clear, though, is what type of terms Goldman gets for serving as the back-end partner partner. Click here to read more about the top eight executives shaking up payments, including a key leader at Apple Pay.

☆ Want a fixer-upper in Japan? You could nab one of millions of country houses for sale for just $25,000.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Japan has a glut of abandoned homes in rural areas and small towns. Japan has a glut of older, abandoned homes in rural areas, as Insider has previously reported. The country has at least 8.5 million such "akiya," the Japanese word for unoccupied home, according to government data from 2018. They're increasingly buying up these houses and restoring them, the New York Times reported. In 2020, he co-founded a real estate consultancy, called Akiya & Inaka, that markets and sells akiya and other traditional homes, the Times reported.

☆ Dollar set for longest stretch of weekly losses since 2020
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The dollar index , which measures the performance of the U.S. currency against six others, slid to a roughly one-year low of 100.78. This would mark a fifth straight weekly loss, the longest such stretch since July 2020. Out of the G10 currencies, investors hold the largest bearish position in the dollar against the euro. The New Zealand dollar rose 0.1% to $0.63035, after jumping 1.3% on Thursday. The Japanese yen rose marginally, leaving the dollar 0.2% down on the day at 132.27, while the offshore yuan rose 0.4% to 6.8463 per dollar.

Splash Financial Student Loan Refinancing Apply now Compare loan options and get your rates today. Types of Student Loans Offered by Splash FinancialSplash Financial only offers student loans refinancing in two forms, including:Student loan refinancingMedical student loan refinancingSplash Financial Student Loan Refinancing DetailsTo get a loan, you must meet the following qualifications:A low debt-to-income ratio (no more than 30%)A history of on-time paymentsGood to excellent credit (preferably 700 or higher)You should consider your federal student loan options before refinancing into any private student loan, including one with Splash Financial, as you can often get better terms and protections through the government. Splash Financial Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat credit score is needed for Splash Financial? Splash Financial CompetitorsSide-by-side snapshot Splash Financial Student Loan RefinancingLaurel Road Student Loan RefinancingEarnest Student Loan Refinancing Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Methodology: How We rated Splash Financial Student Loan RefinancingWe rate all student loan products in our reviews and guides on a 1-5 scale.

☆ Read 14 pitch decks that helped media and tech startups nab millions in funding to disrupt entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tech is disrupting all parts of media and entertainment, and investors are rushing to cash in. These pitch decks show how their founders sold their vision to raise outside capital from VCs. Technology is upending all facets of media and entertainment. Insider talked with founders about the pitches they used to raise millions and innovate in content creation and distribution. Check out the examples below to learn more about how these and other founders have sold their vision.

☆ Wall Street could stand to benefit from recruiting beyond just the Ivies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Insider's Emmalyse Brownstein has one about an investor's unique path to Wall Street. I hope Alfieri's story isn't just valuable to students trying to break into Wall Street. Wall Street could also benefit from casting a wider net among universities to get some diversity of thought. Click here to read some tips for how to nab a job on Wall Street despite not coming from an elite school. This fintech helps Wall Street keep tabs on employees' messengers.

☆ RBA to hike rates 25 bps on April 4 but decision on a knife edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Shaloo Shrivastava | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BENGALURU, March 31 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank is expected to go for a final 25 basis point interest rate hike to 3.85% on Tuesday, although forecasts from economists polled by Reuters suggest the decision on whether to hike or hold rates is on a knife edge. However, eight of the 13 economists expecting a pause pencilled in a rate hike sometime in the second quarter. Although CBA and Westpac forecast a pause in April, they expect one more rate hike in the second quarter. Minutes from the March meeting showed RBA board members reconsidered the case for a pause at the following meeting, noting monetary policy was already in restrictive territory and the economic outlook was uncertain. Although the median forecast showed the cash rate would remain at 3.85% until the end of 2023, five economists predicted it to peak at 4.10%.

☆ National Australia Bank lowers peak rate call for Australia to 3.85%, from 4.1%
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SYDNEY, March 30 (Reuters) - National Australia Bank said on Thursday it expects Australian interest rates to peak at 3.85%, down from a previous estimate of 4.1%. NAB added it still expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise its official cash rate by 25 basis points in April for a final time, beginning rate cuts in the first half of 2024. "We continue to see rate cuts in H1 2024 bringing the cash rate back to 3.1% as the economy slows and unemployment rises," the bank's chief economist Alan Oster said in a statement. Fellow Australian bank Westpac also cut its peak rate forecast to 3.85% earlier this month. Reporting by Stella Qiu in Sydney Editing by Alasdair PalOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. banks fallout will intensify margin headwinds for Aussie lenders, UBS says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Australian banks are "well regulated" and carry strong liquidity coverage ratios, UBS said. Regulators and bankers insist the country's banks, bolstered by post-global financial crisis reforms, are well placed to handle the solvency and liquidity shocks that rocked lenders overseas like Silicon Valley Bank in the United States. Competition for mortgages, accounting for anywhere between 45% and 65% of net interest income of banks, "has never been fiercer," with some banks "sub-economically" pricing new business, UBS said. Still, the brokerage expects the bank to report strong first half earnings on sustained operational momentum. Three of the "Big Four" banks barring CBA lost between 1% and 5% from March 10 when the first signs of trouble surfaced at the tech-focused lender Silicon Valley Bank.

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