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- 3 min read
Amaravati uncertainty strikes automobile showrooms hard
While the auto sector recorded 24 per cent decline in overall sales in August, sales declined by over 50 per cent in AP capital region, according to auto dealers.
Abrupt halt to construction activity in the capital region has hit the automobile sector hard.
While the auto sector recorded 24 per cent decline in overall sales in August, sales declined by over 50 per cent in AP capital region, according to auto dealers. Many auto companies, including those in luxury segment, opened showrooms in and around Vijayawada after the state government announced the location of capital city in the region.
Automobile showrooms in Amaravati witnessed a decent growth year on year even in niche class vehicles like Jaguar, Land Rover, Audi, Mercedes Benz and Volvo in the four-wheeler segment, and Triumph, Benelli, Kawasaki and UM Motors in luxury bikes.
The auto companies made a beeline to set up makeshift tents to showcase their vehicles. Every week there used to be a makeshift shop in the capital region by one or the other car company.
Now, the future looks grim with the overall slowdown in auto sector coupled with the uncertainty over Amaravati that has affected all businesses in the region, but the slump seems to have hit the auto sector particularly hard.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) set up an exclusive showroom at Atamakuru near Mangalagiri after the announcement of the capital in 2017. The sales used to be in the range of six to 10 cars per month which is considered decent for a city like Vijayawada, which is still a tier-2 city, said JLR sales head K Ramaswamy.
The sales have now come down to 2 to 3 cars in the last four months. There have even been cancellation of bookings after May 2019, he added.
Ramaswamy said a major chunk of their sales come from those having businesses in capital Amaravati, not from those living in the capital area. “Though car sales increased in the capital area in the last four years, locals mostly preferred economy class vehicles,” he said.
While noting that overall sales have come down, Ramaswamy said they are now getting business from Rayalaseema districts. “We delivered seven cars which cost more than Rs 1 crore to people from Rayalaseema districts. Three cars were sold to people from Anantapur in August alone,” he added.
Luxury bike maker Triumph also set up a store in Vijayawada in September 2016 after the city became part of the capital region. P Jayanth, sales representative of Triumph, said they sold the highest number of bikes in Guntur. “The sales have come down considerably now owing to many factors and uncertainty over Amaravati is also playing a role as the broader sentiment is negative,” he said.
Apart from the niche segment, sale of economy class vehicles has also taken a beating in the capital area.
Maruti was the first car-maker to set up a showroom in the capital area after witnessing huge demand from the local market. J Ramesh, sales head at Maruti’s Amaravati showroom, said they need to sell 25 cars per month to break even, but have been struggling to sell even seven cars a month.
The showroom, set up with a futuristic outlook, wears a deserted look now.
The situation is no different for other auto dealers, including two-wheeler showrooms, as everyone is witnessing the double impact of slowdown and uncertain future of Amaravati. A Honda two-wheeler showroom that opened recently at Tulluru after the elections is struggling to survive. A Vijay Kumar, the sales in-charge, said they did better business when they were operating from Guntur.
“We opened the showroom keeping the earlier demand from the capital area in mind, but the situation got reversed after we opened the showroom here,” he laments.


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The decision of United Technologies (UT) to move 2,100 heating equipment jobs and the related production from Indiana to Mexico is a major indictment of America’s longstanding approach to global economic challenges and opportunities on two levels – and has rightly become a presidential campaign issue.
Evidence abounds that UT and its Carrier subsidiary decided to ship this output and employment south of the border largely due to features of the post-Cold War global economy that U.S. leaders in both major parties have persistently ignored or rationalized away despite their destructive long-term effects on the domestic economy. But this latest instance of high-wage job flight also represents a failure of one of President Obama’s highest profile proposals for stemming the tide. Let’s deal with this narrower issue first.
As reported by Jillian Kay Melchior in National Review, in 2013, one of the Carrier plants heading to Mexico secured $5.1 million in federal tax credits aimed expressly at expanding production of energy efficient gas furnaces in domestic locations like Indianapolis. These tax credits came from a $2.3 billion Obama administration program designed to “create new jobs and supply more clean-energy projects in the United States and abroad with equipment made in America” in the words of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence and United Technologies blamed heavy federal regulations for the move – though the company reportedly failed when asked to identify any government mandates that tipped the balance toward offshoring. And although Indiana union officials complained about the low Mexican wages that they believe largely lured the company south, it’s not as if labor costs have been crippling United Technologies’ competitiveness in the sector.
Thanks to the two-tier wage system the company was able to impose on its Indianapolis workforce (thanks to the last recession, the slow recovery and, as will be seen, the implicit threat of offshoring), a quarter of the employees slated to lose their jobs were earning a mere $14 per hour – about $26,000 annually. That’s only about 55 percent of the current average private sector hourly wage, a slightly lower percentage of the current average manufacturing hourly wage, and just under 52 percent of the current average hourly wage in durable goods industries – the manufacturing super-sector to which the heating and cooling equipment category belongs.
The other three-fourths of the soon-to-be cashiered workers earn $26 per hour – a bit higher than the pay for the typical private sector and manufacturing worker, and a bit lower than the wage for the typical durable goods employee.
Moreover, wages in the heating and ventilation sector have been rising unusually slowly. Since the current recovery technically began, in June, 2009, they’re up in pre-inflation terms by only 10.10 percent. For the entire private sector, hourly pay has risen by 14.14 percent during this period, and in manufacturing overall, the increase has been 10.90 percent. At the same time, in durable goods – which still pays better in absolute terms than manufacturing in toto – wages are up only 9.46 percent since the last recession ended.
Of course, heating and ventilation equipment and other durable goods industries have no hope of competing with third world facilities based on wages. The key to keeping them in the United States, according to the conventional wisdom, is capitalizing on and increasing their innovation and productivity edge. But this is where one of those long-neglected aspects of the Age of Globalization comes into play.
As has been documented since the early 1990s as the debate heated up over U.S.-Mexico trade and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), countries like Mexico offered offshoring-happy American multinational companies like UT an extraordinarily attractive combination: very low wages kept down by rapid population growth, high unemployment, and repression of unions, plus surprisingly high and rising levels of productivity.
The productivity levels weren’t high because Mexican workers were naturally smarter and more skilled than their American counterparts. They were high – and boasted major potential to rise quickly – because talent is evenly distributed around the world and American multinationals are exceptionally good at maximizing the efficiency of their employees. In fact, this is a prime feature of their fundamental business model.
And more than two decades of U.S. trade policy decisions like NAFTA – which enable firms like UT to supply the lucrative American market from very low-cost Mexico (and China and elsewhere in East Asia and Central America) – have naturally encouraged these companies to pour productivity-enhancing investment into Mexico, and often at the expense of their American operations. The result has been increasing foreign efficiency further, and therefore pushing the production costs of these facilities even lower vis-a-vis the United States.
I haven’t seen any data on productivity growth in Mexico’s heating and ventilation sector factories. But the country’s high-value manufacturing – much of it export-oriented and foreign-owned – boosted productivity by 5.8 percent annually from 1999 to 2014, according to the McKinsey & Co. consulting firm. We do have productivity data on American-based heating and ventilation manufacturing, and its performance has been much weaker. The cumulative growth between 1999 and 2014 has been only 30.7 percent.
But UT is also aware that Mexico’s cost advantages over American manufacturing are growing for another reason: Mexico’s peso has weakened in value versus the U.S. dollar by more than 26 percent over the last year. That means that producing in Mexico has become much cheaper versus producing in the United States during this period.
No one has yet accused the Mexican government of manipulating its currency’s value to gain trade advantage, along the lines of Chinese policy for so many years. But an American government that keeps failing to address exchange rates in its trade policy – as in its stance in the new Pacific Rim trade deal that includes Mexico – is inevitably going to preside over even more U.S. de-industrialization than has taken place so far.
A sliding peso could also mean that Mexico will pay more and more for the parts, components, and other imported inputs that go into its manufactures. By the same token, though, a weaker currency stands to solve the problem by luring more of that intermediate goods output to Mexico, too. But Mexico’s generally impoverished consumers are sure to face even greater obstacles to bringing bilateral trade flows into even rough balance by Buying American. And overall, current U.S. trade policies will continue creating a world in which America’s comparative advantage isn’t producing anything at all, but rather consuming the output of others on borrowed money.
I’m old enough to remember that the resulting imbalances and debt buildup helped trigger the financial crisis. Are any of America’s leaders? And how long will they continue claiming that yet more NAFTA-like trade agreements and green manufacturing subsidies can prevent a rerun?

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Snapchat has been in business for less than four years, and it is already one of the most valuable startups in the world.
The company, whose photo-messaging app lets users send images, videos and instant messages that disappear within seconds, is hoping to raise $500 million in venture capital in a round that would value it at up to $19 billion, according to published reports. That would be on top of the $648 million Snapchat has raised in previously raised.
At first glance, that might seem like crazy money for a company that has only been around since 2011, gives its products away for free and has yet to attract much in the way of paid advertising. Adding to Snapchat's challenges, its head of business and marketing partnerships, who left Facebook (FB) last year to join the company, resigned in January.
Such issues are fairly standard for any startup, of course, especially in the Internet arena. And major investors, including blue-chip Silicon Valley venture firms, are clearly betting that Snapchat is worth the money. Here's why those backers expect Snapchat to flourish:
- Audience -- A big draw for investors is the size and youth of Snapchat's audience. The company reportedly had 100 million users in the summer of 2014 when it was said to be in discussions over a potential funding round at a $10 billion valuation. So not only does Snapchat have a large user base, but they tend to be young, a big drawing point for investors.
- Sector -- The Internet business has been a breeding ground for richly valued startups. Facebook's market valuation was $104 billion when it went public in 2012, while Twitter's (TWTR) 2013 initial public offering valued it at nearly $25 billion. In high-tech, there is an expectation that high-profile companies will attract investors once they go public, supporting high valuations.
- Facebook's interest -- In 2013, Snapchat turned down a $3 billion acquisition offer from Facebook. It was a public sign that the world's most important social networking firm saw enormous value in Snapchat, reinforcing the view that this was one startup that is going places.
- Growing privacy concerns -- Whether because of government spying, corporate prying or high-profile security breaches at major consumer companies, many people are increasingly concerned about online privacy. Snaphat's technology, which allows people to send messages that disappear, seems to tap into that zeigeist (although recipients can capture the transmissions for greater permanence).
- Fear of missing out -- Big investors know that not every hyped company will ultimately do well -- but some will. The perpetual fear is of missing out on another Facebook or Google (GOOG). So investors roll the dice, betting that the profits from the winners in their portfolio will far outstrip the losers.
Startup valuations are predicated not directly on how the company performs, but on how the stock might do in the future. They are the result of speculation and are unavailable to all but the largest and best-connected investors. And, as has been proven time and again, the value of a company that doesn't make sales and, eventually, profit can at some point come crashing down.
But by that time, the insiders who built up the share price have usually cashed out with their capital gains secure.


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It’s early days for a specific Star Wars Battlefront 2 release date but the game wasn’t listed on EA’s announced titles for its 2017 fiscal year which ends in March 2017. This means that Battlefront 2 (name TBC) will be launched any time from April next year onwards – although we expect it will be later in the year.
“We’ll most likely have one Star Wars title a year for the next three to four years,” said Blake Jorgensen, EA’s chief financial officer.
Now, as a gamer and Star Wars fan,Monova Pc Game Torrents you’re probably interested in what some of those aforementioned games will be and look like. Here’s a brief list of new Star Wars games which are coming.
“There’s never been a better time to be a Star Wars fan,” said EA with Visceral Games, DICE, Capital Games, BioWare, Motive and more all working on Star Wars projects.


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Western Refining Eyes Bigger Stake in Northern Tier Energy
EL PASO, Texas -- Western Refining Inc. (WNR) really likes the investment it made in Northern Tier Energy LP and will "seriously consider" purchasing more of the company, WNR President and CEO Jeff Stevens said during its fiscal second-quarter earnings call Tuesday.
As CSNews Online reported in November, WNR bought 100 percent of the general partner interest and 38.7 percent of SuperAmerica parent Northern Tier Energy for a total consideration of $775 million. Stevens did not directly answer a Wall Street analyst's question Tuesday regarding whether WNR would purchase the entire remainder of Northern Tier Energy it does not already own.
"We really like [Northern Tier Energy's] assets," Stevens remarked, noting that there is also the potential for some of WNR's wholesale assets to be "dropped down" into Northern Tier. However, he said there is no timetable if such a decision is made.
"We will do what's in the best interest of our shareholders," he said. "We are looking into our options."
In addition to the possible movement of its wholesale assets, combining WNR's retail assets with Northern Tier Energy's SuperAmerica division could be another option. Stevens confirmed in February that both companies were considering such a transaction. While he did not discuss the possible retail merger Tuesday, if WNR buys more shares of Northern Tier Energy, it would increase the probability that the two retail divisions would merge in an effort to cut costs and streamline operations.
As for WNR's earnings, operating income in its retail division nearly tripled to $1.56 billion for the second quarter ended June 30, compared to $589 million in the year-ago period.
Strength was seen in the company's retail fuel segment as WNR sold 78 million gallons of fuel, a gain of about 1.5 million gallons year over year. The average fuel sale price per gallon -- net of excise taxes -- rose by a penny to $3.13, but fuel margins per gallon declined by 3 cents to 17 cents per gallon.
Merchandise sales rose nearly $2 million to $68.3 million. Merchandise margins declined a slight 0.2 percent to 28.7 percent.
WNR operated 229 convenience stores and gas stations as of June 30, an increase of seven locations compared to the prior year.
Companywide, WNR reported a net profit of $128.8 million, vs. $126.8 million in its 2013 second quarter.
"The second quarter was another very good quarter for Western," said Stevens.
El Paso-based Western Refining Inc. operates convenience stores under the GIANT, Sundial, Howdy's and Mustang brand names.


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The Design Dispatch offers expertly written and essential news from the design world crafted by our dedicated team. Think of it as your cheat sheet for the day in design delivered to your inbox before you’ve had your coffee. Subscribe now.
Norma Kamali debuts NORMALIFE HOME, a bold collection of design objects for the home.
At long last, Norma Kamali is branching out into home design and interiors. Debuting on June 15, the fashion designer’s first-ever home collection, called NORMALIFE HOME, will officially roll out at the end of the year, with equal parts functional furnishings and sleek accessories: a pillow, a rug, a chair, a cube, and more that will be available in five patterns.
Adjaye Associates designs a London memorial dedicated to Black women shot by police.
The British-Ghanian architect David Adjaye has designed a memorial in London for Cherry Groce, a Black woman shot by the city’s public police in her home in 1985. Construction will soon begin on Memorial Day in Windrush Square in South London. Including a planted roof, the triangular-shaped plinth will have seating at different heights carved into all three sides.
Facing mounting financial losses, Lyft sells its autonomous vehicles division to Toyota.
Lyft has sold its autonomous vehicle division to Toyota for $550 million. The company expects to stop bleeding nearly $100 million annually as a result of the divestiture. This is all a result of self-driving technology’s staid reputation: it’s extremely expensive to develop. Revealed last year, rival Uber tried its own autonomous vehicle division, selling it to startup Aurora.
Bjarke Ingels Group unveils an ultra-sustainable technology building in Hangzhou.
Bjarke Ingels Group has designed the new headquarters for the consumer electronics company, Oppo, also known as China’s largest smartphone manufacturer. Situated in the center of the Yuhang district in Hangzhou, the structure combines user-centric design with technology that will be environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. The hub for innovation, entitled “O-Tower,” is located between an urban center, a lake, and a 108,000-square-foot park, serving as the new gateway to a future sci-tech city.
Snøhetta reveals renderings of Ford Motor Company’s new innovation hub in Michigan.
Snøhetta has revealed new renderings of the Ford Motor Company’s 700-acre Research & Engineering campus in Dearborn, Michigan. The Commons, comprising a two-million-square-foot building, will house 6,400 Ford employees from across a range of disciplines (primarily designers and product development teams). The campus will be one of numerous publicly accessible landscapes surrounding the new central building at the auto giant’s transformed facilities.
Today’s attractive distractions:
A robot’s own self-portrait painting sells for nearly $700,000 as an NFT.


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Amazon (AMZN 0.73 percent) shareholders will vote on a 20-for-1 stock split at its annual meeting this month. It’s very probable that the proposal will be approved, allowing for the split to occur in June.
A split could make investing in the firm more appealing to a larger number of investors and increase trading volume by separating the stock into smaller, more readily available pieces. These variables have previously aided other firms’ growth and it’s not implausible that they might generate bullish signals for Amazon. However, there are at least two additional compelling reasons to purchase Amazon’s stock ahead of the split.
1. Amazon is cheaper than it has been in years
Following Amazon’s recent first-quarter earnings report, the company has been battered on Wall Street. Last quarter, owing to Amazon’s significant financial investment in automobile maker Rivian, the company recorded a loss of $7.56 per share. Q1 revenue fell short of the average analyst forecast, and even if it wasn’t for the impact of Rivian’s tumbling stock price, earnings per share would have fallen short of market expectations.
Despite the fact that Amazon’s performance disappointed the market in Q1, investors should be relieved that this stock hasn’t looked this inexpensive in years. Recent top- and bottom-line results, challenging contexts for certain areas, and corporate investment projects have all contributed to a perfect storm of investor anxiety.
In conclusion, Amazon is spending a lot of money to help fuel its long-term growth at a time when sales are growing at a slower rate as a result of weariness pandemic-induced tailwinds. That’s also causing earnings to fall in the wrong direction.
With investors fleeing stocks due to high inflation and interest rate hikes, it’s easy to understand why the market despised Amazon’s Q1 results and the stock is now down roughly 33% from its high last year. On the other hand, this is a firm that still appears to be in an excellent position to dominate the future, and big sell-offs have created a great buying opportunity.
2. The cloud business looks incredibly strong
While Amazon’s e-commerce operation is still its most lucrative source of income, the company’s cloud services sector plays a much bigger role in profitability. In the first quarter, Amazon Web Services (AWS) increased revenues 36.5% year over year and posted a gross margin of 35.3% – which was an improvement from about 30% gross margin for all of last year.
E-commerce is a low-margin business due to the high infrastructure and operational expenses. Meanwhile, as AWS shows, cloud-infrastructure services can be extremely lucrative at scale. AWS provides the underpinning for a wide range of modern internet. Amazon should keep benefiting from new sites, services, and apps being added.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) accounted for just 10% of overall revenue last quarter and generated roughly $6.2 billion in operating income, pushing the business to an operational profit of around $3.67 billion despite significant losses from other areas. Despite short-term disturbances for other sectors, Amazon’s main earnings generator is in excellent condition, and it would be a blunder to ignore the broad picture because of current sector difficulties


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During the campaign, President Trump promised to renegotiate trade deals, and during 2018, he’s made good on some of those promises by imposing tariffs on multiple items, but what are tariffs and how will they affect the economy and consumers? To begin, it’s helpful to understand what tariffs really are.
Tariffs are a form of excise tax imposed by the federal government. Tariffs are added to the price of an imported good, and the tariff or tax collected goes to the federal government. They are often controversial.
In fact, tariffs even contributed to the beginning of the civil war. In 1828, the federal government implemented a 38% tax on 92% of all imported goods. The tariff was designed to help manufacturers that were losing money due to the cheaper products being imported from Britain. The problem with this plan was that factories in America were mostly located in the north, whereas southern states were predominantly agricultural.
The help for the northern manufacturers came at a huge cost to southern states that relied on British purchases of their agricultural exports. In addition, the south had to pay much higher prices for goods that it didn’t produce, either paying the tariff on imported goods or paying additional shipping costs to get goods from northern manufacturers. These hardships for southern consumers led to the tariff of 1828 being called the “Tariff of Abomination.” Eventually, President Andrew Jackson signed into law the Tariff of 1832 which made some reductions to the tariffs, but for the south, it was too little, too late.
The past repeats itself
Just as tariffs increased the cost of goods for Americans in the 1800s, they will also increase costs for Americans today. The tariff on steel and aluminum imports will help the American steel industry. With the tariffs in place, US Manufacturers will be able to charge higher prices in the market, while remaining competitive. What’s more, they’ll see higher profits that will allow them to hire more workers, increase pay rates, and improve the economic outlook for the areas where those manufacturers are located.
What happens in these situations, is that the country or countries who have exports subject to tariffs often levy tariffs in retaliation. That’s what China is threatening to do at the moment. What’s more, the Chinese government has announced plans to raise tariffs on soybeans, and other commodities that just like in the 1800s will hit agricultural producers the hardest. President Trump has made clear that the current situation might indeed hurt agricultural producers, but also said that he has other plans to help farmers. It’s not clear exactly what those other plans are.
For the average consumer, purchasing raw steel isn’t probably an issue, but that doesn’t mean that the increasing steel prices won’t affect consumers at the register. When tariffs are raised for raw materials such as steel, it affects a large swath of the market. Automobiles, canned goods, even things like flatware will see an increase in production cost. An increase that manufacturers will surely pass along to consumers.
Consumers hit the hardest
What does this all mean? It means that the average American consumer will be bearing the cost of the tariff. That’s great for steel manufacturers, and at the same time not so great for agricultural producers who will not only see losses in their profits but will also have to pay a higher price for goods they need.
The bottom line is tariffs, just like other economic policy, are both good and bad. There will be winners and losers. Even if the tariffs do help American producers, in the short run, consumers will be hit by the increased prices long before any benefit from increased production of steel and aluminum is seen.


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B&Q to open new store in Penrith
Published at 08:44, Friday, 11 January 2013
DIY giant B&Q is to open a new store in Penrith.
The company has signed a pre-let agreement to take space at Castle Retail Park in Ullswater Road.
The pet-supplies retailer Pets at Home will also open a store there. B&Q already has a Penrith outlet, in Bridge Lane, which has traded for more than 20 years.
The staff there will transfer to the new branch.
A company spokeswoman said: “We are looking to upgrade our current store, to give our customers a better shopping experience in a new and bigger store on Castle Retail Park.
“Our colleagues are aware of this and there will be no impact on jobs roles within the store.”
Work to expand Castle Retail Park, near the railway station, is underway.
Existing tenants include Aldi and Halfords.
Construction firm CPUK is building a 61,000 sq ft extension, which will provide high quality retail warehousing and 214 additional parking spaces. The scheme is due for completion in June.
B&Q will occupy 35,000sq ft of the extra space with a garden centre/builders yard of 18,000sq ft. Pets at Home is to take another 6,000sq ft in the unit next door.
Letting agent Edwin Thompson is looking for tenants for three further units, each with between 6,000sq ft and 14,000sq ft of space. All have planning permission for A1 ‘bulky goods’ retailing.
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk
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Apple iOS 12 tools put power in adults' hands
Updated: June 5, 2018 16:40 pm
Apple new iOS 12 tools lets parents take control of the time children spend on iPhones, iPads


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BOZEMAN, Mont. - Shopping safe and shopping local during the COVID-19 pandemic doesn't stop with the holidays passing and Valentine's Day rolling around.
A recent survey by Finder.com on Valentine's Day spending in 2021 found that Amazon is beating out brick and mortar stores on gift shopping for Americans for Valentine's Day.
According to the survey online shopping accounts for nearly half of all Valentine's Day gifts during the COVD-19 pandemic.
Wlady Grochowski, a co-owner of La Châtelaine Chocolat Co. in Bozeman said they are seeing most all of their sales from online ordering.
"We’ve had tremendous amount of pre-sales with online, pick-up and shipping all over the country for the past two weeks," Grochowski said. "Now it’s just the local rush that’s happening and it’s been busy the past few days, nonstop, and it will be busy through the weekend.”
Grochowski stressed that if you are a last-minute gift getter, you will be joined by a lot of people as they have been a part of 15 Bozeman Valentine's Days since 2006.
More information on La Châtelaine Chocolat Co. can be found here.


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Donald Trump upped his Fox Sports Super Bowl buy from a 30-second to a 60-second spot just hours after opponent, Michael Bloomberg, booked a 60-second commercial. Before he announced his candidacy, Bloomberg pledged to spend US$100 million on ads in his quest to remove the current president. Both will spend approximately US$10m at the Super Bowl. Fox will run both ads in breaks separate from brand ads.
No other advertiser is likely to attract as much media attention but a group of brands is hoping to win the hearts and minds of Super Bowl audiences.
Facebook, which had something like an annus horribilis in 2019, is making its first appearance:
AB InBev is running four 60-second spots, one for Bud Light and Bud Light Seltzer (Wieden + Kennedy), one for Budweiser (FCB), one for Michelob Pure Gold and one with a health & wellbeing slant for Michelob Ultra (David Miami).
The Budweiser teaser gives an idea of who might star in its commercial:
Budweiser’s #SuperBowlLIV commercial is almost here.
Watch what happened when we debuted it to a special group of people…
LIKE this tweet to be the first to see the full commercial on 1/23. pic.twitter.com/J43SrLkXGg
— Budweiser (@budweiserusa) January 21, 2020
There won’t be any Dilly Dilly but Wieden + Kennedy has created a new quirky community (set in the real town of Seltzer, Pennsylvania) for its new product, Bud Light Seltzer.
Stella Artois invested everything into the power of Carrie Bradshaw and The Big Lebowski’s Dude last year in its Super Bowl commercial. This year, it is investing everything into its “taste of the Life Artois” event series, Port de Stella, “where the vibrancy of Europe’s most popular port cities is brought to life through music, style and internationally-inspired cuisine.” The event will travel across the US in 2020, making its debut in Miami during Super Bowl weekend.
Audi: 72andSunny will use Audi’s 11th Super Bowl appearance to launch a new global campaign to redefine Audi’s Vorsprung durch Technik slogan, after winning the global creative pitch in November 2019.
Hyundai will make its 12th Super Bowl appearance in the past 13 years. Its 60-second ad by Innocean USA, will run in the second quarter of the game. A teaser spot features former Red Sox star, David Ortiz, being coached by comedian, Rachel Dratch, on how to speak with a Bostonian accent. Boston-celebrities, Chris Evans and John Krasinski, will join in the fun for the Super Bowl spot.
Kia will make its 11th consecutive Super Bowl appearance with a spot by David & Goliath. Last year, Kia deviated from its tradition of using humour and celebrities with a profile of its factory in Georgia. It looks as though this year’s ad will be serious too. The commercial will highlight the problem of youth homelessness and Kia will donate also $1,000 for every yard gained during the game to three charities dedicated to the cause: Covenant House, Positive Tomorrows and StandUp For Kids.
Porsche returns to the Super Bowl for its first appearance since 1997. Its ad by Cramer-Krasselt will promote the brand’s first electric car, the Taycan.
Toyota will make its third consecutive appearance with a 60-second spot by Saatchi & Saatchi US, that launches a new campaign for the Highlander SUV.
General Motors (GMC) will promote its reimagined Hummer, now an electric pickup truck. LeBron James will feature in the commercial.
Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts will make its debut appearance with a 30-second spot near the end of the first half by agency, MRY, and featuring Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness.
Kellogg’s Pringles returns for the third time with an ad by channel, Adult Swim, and agency, Grey US, which created Pringles’ first two Super Bowl ads). Adult Swim’s cult favourite sci-fi duo, Rick and Morty, will promote the brand with a “humorous, mind-bending animated spot”. Pringles is launching a special edition Pickle Rick flavour, inspired from the hugely popular Pickle Rick episode of their show in which Rick turns himself into a pickle to avoid family therapy sessions.
— Rick and Morty (@RickandMorty) January 21, 2020
Doritos. Frito-Lay will run a 30-second spot in the Super Bowl by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, which is also working on Doritos’ sibling brand, Cheetos, for the Super Bowl. The brand has released two teasers spots. The first features Sam Elliott, dressed up as a cowboy and speaking the lyrics of Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ Ol’ Town Road, until…
In the second, Lil Nas X rides into town on a horse fitted out with speakers. You can guess which song they’re playing:
In 2019, Doritos ran the spot, Now It’s Hot, featuring Chance the Rapper and the Backstreet Boys for its Hot Nacho-flavoured Doritos.
Cheetos, also by Frito-Lay, is returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2009 with a 30-second spot. Its ad may promote new flavours, Cheetos Popcorn in Cheddar and Flamin’ Hot.
Frito-Lay has already launched a campaign across its brand called, Ready for Crunchtime, to remind people about the snacking essentials of game-time prep. The campaign includes a commercial with NFL legends, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Terry Bradshaw and Tony Gonzalez.
The brand’s Super Bowl teaser, however, suggests a very different commercial, starring MC Hammer, will go to the game:
Hummus brand, Sabra, is making its Super Bowl debut with a 30-second spot by VaynerMedia. Sabra’s first ever entry into the Super Bowl ad competition aim to move hummus into the mainstream. Its choice of teaser stars covers the ground – rapper, T-Pain; drag queens, Miz Cracker and Kim Chi, and Caroline Manzo and Teresa Giudice reunited for the first time since their falling out on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Super Bowl stalwart, Avocados From Mexico is making its sixth Super Bowl appearance in a row. The commercial by Energy BBDO will be humorous like its predecessors, will appear in the second quarter and will “celebrate America’s avocado obsession”. According to its teaser, it will also feature Molly Ringwald:
Planters. VaynerMedia is bringing Mr. Peanut back to the Super Bowl, apparently to kill him.
The video was leaked in a tweet and Mr Peanut’s handle has been changed to the Estate of Mr. Peanut. And then there’s this:
“It’s with heavy hearts that we confirm Mr. Peanut has passed away at 104 years old,” Samantha Hess, Planters brand manager at Kraft Heinz, said in a statement. “He will be remembered as the legume who always brought people together for nutty adventures and a good time. We encourage fans to tune in to Mr. Peanut’s funeral during the third quarter of the Super Bowl to celebrate his life.”
Snickers has been absent from the last two Super Bowls but this year joins the ad line-up for the 10th anniversary of BBDO New York’s You’re Not You When You’re Hungry campaign and the 90th anniversary of the brand. The 30-second commercial will air in the third commercial break of the game’s first quarter.
The Super Bowl spot will come from BBDO NY and AMVBBDO. And the theme? Well, the world is out of sorts and Snickers has decided to fix it. The brand has hinted as much in its 15-second Super Bowl teasers.
“We’ll fix it Super Bowl Sunday,” Snickers stated in its teasers. Things that need to be fixed apparently include children aged 30+ living at home, robocalls and social media trolls. The long-form version of its Super Bowl ad will appear on YouTube before the game.
Heinz is returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2016. It will run a 30-second spot in the second quarter. The spot, which is expected to feature the Heinz range while highlighting new sauce, HoneyRacha, was created by Wieden + Kennedy and directed by Roman Coppola. This will be W+K’s first work since being reappointed by Kraft Heinz. Wieden + Kennedy was dumped by Heinz in 2015.
Coca-Cola has been a regular Super Bowl advertiser since 2006, but ran its ad in the pre-game show last year, right before the National Anthem. The creative is likely to promote the brand’s new energy drink, but nothing has been revealed as yet.
Pepsi’s Halftime Show stars Jennifer Lopez and Shakira this year. Pepsi will also run a spot for its new brand campaign. The brand will host a give-away, its newly-designed matte black Pepsi Zero Sugar can with a distinctive black tab, if the game ends in zero. The brand is also awarding the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year winner and the trophy is getting a black matte makeover.
The brand’s Super Bowl commercial will star Missy Elliot and Grammy winner, H.E.R., and will promote Pepsi Zero Sugar, featuring the can.
PepsiCo-owned SodaStream returns to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2014. Its 30-second spot by Goodby Silverstein & Partners will run immediately before the halftime show. The commercial will be directed by Bryan Buckley, who directed SodaStream’s 2014 commercial. SodaStream has a history of having its original creative rejected by the networks because it openly attacked competitors, Coke and Pepsi (Pepsi now belongs in the same stable).
Olay’s Super Bowl ad is using last year’s hot ad theme, outer space. The commercial by Badger & Winters and inspired by the first all-female space walk last year, stars Lilly Singh and Busy Philipps, who take a trip into space with retired astronaut, Nicole Stott, on the quest to #MakeSpaceForWomen, donating to a worthy cause of getting more girls into STEM programs through Girls Who Code. Find out more here. Olay.com/SuperBowl.
The P&G brand released a teaser on January 15:
Old Spice – and of course, Wieden & Kennedy Portland – are bringing women’s favourite Man Your Man Could Smell Like to the Super Bowl celebrate his campaign’s 10th anniversary. Isaiah Mustafa will star alongside his “son”, played by Keith Powers from Straight Outta Compton. The campaign will promote Old Spice’s new Ultra Smooth range.
The new campaign has launched already:
Squarespace skipped the Super Bowl last year but is making its 6th Super Bowl appearance this year with a 30-second ad made in-house, that will air between the first and second quarters.
Insurance company, New York Life, is returning to the Super Bowl for the first time in 30 years. It was a regular in the Super Bowl line-up in the 1970s and 1980s. The company running a 60-second spot by Anomaly between the first and second quarters. New York Life. The commercial is part of New York Life’s larger campaign celebrating the company’s 175th anniversary.
TurboTax is the NFL’s official sponsor for financial and accounting software as well as tax preparation services. Its 2020 campaign, All People Are Tax People, by Wieden + Kennedy has already launched and the brand will run a 45-second spot in the Super Bowl.
WeatherTech, which makes auto interior products including car floor mats, is making its 7th consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Its commercial by Pinnacle Advertising, will be 30-seconds long and deviate from the Made in America message it usually delivers at the Super Bowl. Last year’s was a heart tugger that promoted a different product range and featured a “sure thing” YouTube lure:
Turkish Airlines is making its fifth Super Bowl with a 30-second spot by David Miami that will air in the third quarter. Last year’s Super Bowl spot was a 30-second cutdown of a six-minute spot directed by Ridley Scott.
The NFL has aired its Super Bowl by 72andSunny ad during Sunday’s conference championship games. It’s a film about police shootings – the personal story of an actual police shooting, in fact, told by retired player, Anquan Boldin. “The best way to inspire change is to be it,” he concludes. It relates how his cousin, Corey Jones, was shot and killed by a Florida police officer dressed in plain clothes in 2015, while Jones was waiting for roadside assistance. The ad fits into an NFL program called Inspire Change that launched in 2019 and includes awareness campaigns and grants that foster education and economic advancement, police and community relations and criminal justice reform.
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2020
Verizon is returning to the Super Bowl for the third time with a 60-second spot by McCann NY running during the first half of the game that highlights the life-saving efforts of first responders while also promoting the power of 5G to save lives. The brand is preparing for its not, not with teasers, but a series of three commercials. The first two will appear during NFL Championship Sunday, the third will air during the NFL Pro Bowl on January 26.
Mtn Dew’s Super Bowl spot by TBWA\Chiat\Day New York will feature Black-ish star, Tracee Ellis Ross, parodying a classic scene from The Shining. it will promote the brand’s new zero sugar version.
Vayner Media’s first work for Hard Rock International, will be a Super Bowl directed by Michael Bay. It will be Hard Rock’s first time at the Super Bowl.
Little Caesar’s will be another first-timer at the Super Bowl. Its spot will feature The Office star, Rainn Wilson, and will run in the second break during the game’s third quarter – long after people have planned their game watching feast, but probably at a time when the un-planners are getting hungry.


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In an expansion of its global SKYCAPACITY air freight programme, CEVA Logistics recently entered into a strategic co-operation agreement with Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport Group and its affiliate logistics company to serve the North Asia market.
As a result, the new Incheon-Wuxi -Chicago route will be operated with a Boeing 747 full freighter.
A contract signing ceremony was recently held in Wuxi to celebrate the newly launched intercontinental air freight route. Starting from Seoul, the weekly lane brings more freight shipment support for customers in these and connected markets.
The CEVA SKYCAPACITY programme currently offers a variety of destinations to and from North and South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. The owned, controlled network spans multiple carriers and includes freighter, passenger freighter and passenger capacity, which are all available with leading management, tracking and customs services. Current and new customers are able to benefit from CEVA’s owned, controlled capacity of dozens of flights every week, offering consistent pricing and guaranteed capacity, despite market peaks and lows. The network is also available as a spot cargo solution for customers.


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Dove Spray antiperspirant allegedly causes cysts in the armpits of several women, including her own, according to a woman on TikTok.
Trisha Patel (@trish_patel) shared on TikTok that she saw something viral Twitter thread of women reported getting cysts in their armpits after using Dove’s spray deodorant. She says the exact same thing happened to her.
In the video, Patel says she started noticing an unusual lump under her arm in 2016 or 2017. She went to the doctor immediately because the lump “literally looked like a tumor” and she was worried. At the time, doctors told her the lump was benign and just fatty tissue, and that removing it would be considered a cosmetic — not medical — procedure. So Patel says she didn’t.
Years later, the lump began to grow and look “strange,” Patel says. In 2021, the TikToker decided to see a dermatologist and have the lump removed. She says the removal procedure was “quite intense” and made her faint.
After the lump was removed and tested, the dermatologist told Patel it was made of breast tissue, she says. The TikToker adds that the dermatologist called the situation “strange” and said she probably should have gone to a breast surgeon.
@trish_patel saying all of this.. Please triple check ingredients in products you use frequently
Seeing the Twitter thread recently, Patel revealed that her breast tissue lump was “probably” caused by the Dove deodorant she was using.
“Now so many people are coming forward and saying they’ve had similar growths in their armpits from using this deodorant – please stop using it,” Patel says in the video. “Also, I still have a scar on my forearm from that procedure that I will probably have for the rest of my life. Not that it’s a big deal, but still.”
Patel’s video seemed to set off alarms from some viewers, who said they are currently using Dove’s antiperspirant spray.
“I literally have a cyst in my forearm right now and I’m using pigeon deodorant,” commented one viewer.
“Wait a damn minute I’ve always used Dove, noticed I have a small lump in both armpits but thought cuz I was fat,” said another viewer.
Some said users of Dove deodorant spray should take legal action against the company.
“UMMMM LET A CLASS ACTION START LIKE NOW,” one user wrote in all caps.
Another user tagged the company, saying, “@dove please reply to this! It’s unacceptable how many people complain about the same thing!!”
However, some viewers were skeptical that the deodorant spray caused armpit lumps.
“I also had respiratory tissue mass in my armpit. I don’t use pigeon deodorant, never have. it’s apparently pretty common,” one viewer wrote.
“When I started using deodorant in the late ’80s, my mom warned me about spray deodorant for that reason. I don’t think it’s just Dove, it’s all sprays,” said another.
The Daily Dot reached out to the creator via a TikTok comment and to Dove via email.
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*Initial publication: December 3, 2022 at 11:17 am CST
Cecilia Lenzen is a freelance writer for the Daily Dot.
https://www.dailydot.com/irl/dove-spray-deodorant-causing-cysts/ Dove Spray deodorant has been accused by many women of causing cysts


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The low point has been overcome
The worst slump in the Corona crisis seems to be over, data on traffic and electricity show more stability again. But they also show that the German economy is still a long way off the hook.
Dhe provisional low point in the Corona crisis seems to have been overcome in Germany. After several business climate surveys recently signaled positive sales expectations for companies, the Munich-based Ifo Institute followed up on Tuesday with improved export prospects. The barometer, which is based on around 2,300 information from industrial companies, rose significantly in May from minus 50.2 to minus 26.9 points. There has not yet been such an increase within a month. The greatest optimism was found in the auto industry.
Nonetheless, the unchanged negative indicator value indicates that the industry is initially still anticipating a decline in exports – just less than in April. So there can be no question of a return to normal values. The same applies to the Ifo business climate index: coming from a historically low level, it rose solely because of improved future prospects. The assessment of the situation, on the other hand, deteriorated even further.
Caution should also be exercised with other sentiment indicators. At first glance, the barometer published by the Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung on Tuesday suggests a somewhat lively consumer mood. Despite a plus of 4.2 points, the index value remains deep red with minus 18.9 points.
However, other, “harder” indicators such as traffic data and electricity consumption are also signaling a bottoming out with a slightly upward trend. Recently, economic researchers have been looking more and more, because the “hard” main indicators such as incoming orders and production in the industry as well as the first estimate of the gross domestic product with all its components (consumption, investment, foreign trade) are only available with a delay of a few weeks – and traffic data and electricity consumption at the same time are closely related to the main indicators.
The economic low point can therefore be located in the first half of April. Up to this point, a steady decline in economic activity can be observed. Around the easing measures decided after Easter, including the first store openings on April 20, things then picked up again.
The mileage index published by the Federal Statistical Office, which measures the kilometers driven by trucks on toll roads, is now again at around 107 points (moving weekly average, adjusted for calendar and seasonal special effects). This means that the return to the pre-crisis level of around 115 points is halfway through after the mileage index fell to 95 points at the beginning of April.
Things haven’t really improved since then
Data from local public transport, which analysts at Commerzbank have evaluated, confirm this trend. The same applies to the number of customers in retail and catering. “Restaurant visits half as often as a year ago,” write the economists, referring to the reservation figures on online platforms. Accordingly, there has been “a dynamic upward movement” since mid-May.
To attest a dynamic upward trend in the economy as a whole is definitely premature in terms of electricity consumption (see graphic). Some energy suppliers such as EWR from Rheinhessen report a significant increase in electricity demand and attribute this to the restart or intensification of industrial production in their region – since May 11, the consumption level of the previous year in Rheinhessen has even been exceeded, according to EWR.
Nationwide, electricity consumption has so far not returned to the normal level, even though it had reached its temporary low in the first half of April in the moving, holiday-adjusted weekly average of the energy association BDEW. But things have not really improved since then: for around six weeks, electricity consumption in Germany has stagnated at around minus 10 percent below the average of previous years. This shows how deeply the economy is still in crisis.
According to experts, the fact that more electricity has been consumed privately since mid-March, for example because people spend more time at home and work from there, at most dampens the general slump in demand. Because the manufacturing industry, which is far below normal capacity utilization, is by far the largest electricity consumer in this country with just under 46 percent. The rest of the economy accounts for 27 percent and private households only a quarter.


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It’s said that nothing is for certain except for death and taxes. Unfortunately, you can also bet there will inevitably be some folks who take advantage of others during difficult times.
Whenever the state of the world is in chaos and disarray, scammers and fraudsters see an opportunity to profit at the expense of the vulnerable.
It should, therefore, come as no surprise that during the waning days of the pandemic, scam artists are taking advantage of seniors in the form of robocalls, text messages, and spam emails promoting phony COVID-19 cures and fake stimulus payments, attempting to steal your money as well as your personal information. The good news is you do not have to become one of their victims.
Below, we have highlighted some of the major COVID-related scams targeting older Americans so you can be aware of them and protect yourself and your family.
Phony Vaccines and Fake Cures
Since the pandemic began, scammers have been promoting fake cures and phony remedies, something that isn’t likely to stop. Unfortunately, some consumers still have reservations about the vaccines, which make them a target for phony products, which claim to prevent or cure Coronavirus. If you have any questions about the actual vaccines, click here for more information.
Scammers are trafficking products unapproved by the US Food and Drug Administration, which claim to cure Coronavirus, such as teas, essential oils, cannabinol, intravenous therapies, and other remedies which will not cure the virus, and in some cases might be harmful to your health.
According to the FBI, some scammers are advertising fake antibody tests in the hopes of collecting your personal information.
Unfortunately, scammers are also duping unsuspecting victims with fake stimulus checks. Look out for calls, texts or emails, which claim to be from government agencies instructing you to click on a link, pay a fee, or “confirm” personal information like your Social Security number to secure your stimulus check. Ignore any ads on Facebook or other platforms promising you Covid relief with the click of a button. Scammers use such convincing methods as a ploy to steal your personal information and your money.
Criminals are also impersonating banks and lenders, offering various forms of debt relief, including promises to get you out of credit card debt or or student loan forgiveness.
Phishing and Malware
Unfortunately, the Coronavirus is not the only virus we need to worry about. Since the pandemic began, there has been a sharp increase in phishing scams, according to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Unsavory individuals trick their unsuspecting victims into clicking a link or providing information, which enables the scammer to infect the user’s computer with a virus or malware. The scammer can then take control of the user’s computer or laptop and access the user’s personal information.
The bottom line is: Do not click any link that looks unusual.
Some scammers are even impersonating contact tracers, warning you that you’ve been exposed to the virus. These scam texts and emails usually feature a link that downloads malware to your device after you click it. Note, that messages from actual contact tracers working for public health agencies will never include a link or ask you for money or personal data.
We are hopefully in the final stages of this awful pandemic. Nonetheless, we must remain vigilant and be wary of scammers and fraudsters taking advantage of the fear, instability, and economic woes, brought about by the Coronavirus.
Sadly, the elderly are often prime targets of these scams, but you can keep your loved one’s safe by sharing this information with them.


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News reports have talked about thieves running away wearing shoes that have lights on them that show wear they run, and one story told of a cup that covered a robbers' nose and mouth so he fainted from lack of oxygen and the emergency and police came right away! There is justice!
Well this link is to a story where some thieves smiled for the camera and the camera phoned home! Check it out at http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN0643208620080606 . I found this story link at "Say What?" on the K-Love news page - http://klove.org/ .


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U.S. consumers making purchases via mobile devices accounted for 17% of total U.S. online sales on Cyber Monday, a figure that's up 55% from last year's post-Thanksgiving shopping milestone, says IBM (IBM).
And mobile accounted for 21% of all U.S. online sales on Black Friday.
Overall, Cyber Monday online sales rose 20.6% from 2012, says IBM's digital analytics unit. But the average order value was $128.77, down 1%, says IBM.
For November and December, Forrester Research and ComScore separately forecast 15% and 14% growth vs. the year-earlier period, as IBD has reported.
E-commerce firms such as Amazon.com (AMZN) and eBay (EBAY) continue to take share from brick-and-mortar retailers. Online sales, however, are growing at traditional retailers such as Wal-Mart (WMT), Best Buy (BBY) and Target (TGT).
IBM says mobile traffic rose to 31.7% of all online traffic on Cyber Monday, up 45% from a year earlier.
Smartphones drove more online traffic than tablets, but tablets drove 11.7% of all online sales, more than double that of smartphones, says IBM. On average, tablet users spent $126.30 per order vs. $106.49 for smartphone users.
Also, IBM says Apple (AAPL) iOS users spent $120.29 per order compared with $106.70 for Android devices. IOS traffic accounted 22.4% of all online traffic compared with 9.1% for Android, it says.
RELATED: Best Buy Vows To Win Q4 Battle.
Amazon.com Offering Some Sunday Deliveries.


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Provoking trade disputes is “naked economic terrorism,” a senior Chinese diplomat said Thursday, ramping up the rhetoric against the United States amid a bitter trade war that is showing no signs of ending soon.
Trade tensions between Washington and Beijing escalated sharply earlier this month after the Trump administration accused China of having “reneged” on its previous promises to make structural changes to its economic practices.
Washington later slapped additional tariffs of up to 25% on $200 billion of Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate.
Opposed to big sticks
Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Hanhui said China opposed the use of “big sticks” like trade sanctions, tariffs and protectionism.
“We oppose a trade war but are not afraid of a trade war. This kind of deliberately provoking trade disputes is naked economic terrorism, economic homicide, economic bullying,” Zhang said, when asked about the trade war with the United States.
Everyone loses in a trade war, he added, addressing a briefing on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia next week, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and speak at a major investor forum in St Petersburg.
“This trade clash will have a serious negative effect on global economic development and recovery,” Zhang added.
“We will definitely properly deal with all external challenges, do our own thing well, develop our economy, and continue to raise the living standards of our two peoples,” he said, referring to China and Russia.
“At the same time, we have the confidence, resolve and ability to safeguard our country’s sovereignty, security, respect and security and development interests,” he added.
From combative missives in state media and patriotic fervor on social media, to a mobilization of ambassadors around the world to get its message out, China has intensified its criticism of Washington since the United States this month moved to increase tariffs on Chinese imports and blacklisted tech giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.
On Thursday, a broadcaster from Chinese state television and a Fox Business host staged an unprecedented live debate about the China-U.S. frictions on the U.S. cable network.
Over the past two weeks, China has hinted that it may use its dominant position as an exporter of rare earths to the United States as leverage in the trade war. Rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements used in everything from high-tech consumer electronics to military equipment.
On Thursday, the state-run China Daily newspaper said “it would be naive to think that China does not have other countermeasures apart from rare earths to hand.”
“As Chinese officials have reiterated, they have a ‘tool box’ large enough to fix any problem that may arise as trade tensions escalate, and they are ready to fight back ‘at any cost,’” it said in an editorial.
China has consistently rebuffed U.S. complaints about lack of access to its economy for foreign companies, forced technology transfers and intellectual property protection, and repeatedly promised further economic reforms.
Speaking at a separate forum in Beijing, Wang Zhaoxing, a vice chairman of China’s banking and insurance regulator, said the last four decades of the country’s economic reforms have shown that “openness brings progress, shutting off brings backwardness.”
“It is undeniable that the current economic globalization has indeed encountered some new problems and new challenges,” Wang said. “However, the solution is not to return to protectionism and unilateralism.”


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Recently, Microsoft took a significant step in extending its influence in the gaming industry with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, home to several mega-popular gaming franchises. Now, it appears that the Xbox leadership team, fronted by Phil Spencer, is wasting no time getting personally involved in their new territory, paying a visit to King Games, the developer behind the widely successful mobile game, Candy Crush.
King Games shared a fond memory of this historic meetup on social media, displaying photos of their 'Kingdom' where they rolled out the proverbial red carpet, extending "a sweet welcome" to the Xbox quarters. These pictures offer a glimpse into the upbeat atmosphere at the King Games offices in London and Stockholm, set aglow by the momentous visit.
The meeting of these gaming giants signifies a significant milestone following a significant, industry-defining deal. Interestingly, amongst Xbox enthusiasts, the acquisition of King Games is not in the limelight as much as it ought to be. The developer's mammoth status in the mobile gaming world makes it a strategic catch for Microsoft, especially considering Microsoft's business objectives to expand its presence in the mobile gaming segment.
As far as Phil Spencer and his team are concerned, their recent visit to King Games seems to have been an enjoyable affair. There's speculation that the meeting may have culminated in fruitful discussions regarding the future of Xbox and the Activision Blizzard King union, although the specifics of these conversations remain undisclosed.
Moving forward, the gaming community preserves a watchful eye on the eve of what is probably one of the most promising chapters in the domain of interactive entertainment: the union of Xbox and Activision Blizzard. Key developments such as the recent visit by Xbox's leadership team to King Games are a testament to the ongoing integration and consolidation of some of the most valuable assets in the gaming world.
Following the completion of the acquisition, fans are eagerly awaiting exciting developments in the gaming space. Creators, developers, and stakeholders alike anticipate the potential that this acquisition brings to the gaming landscape. With increased resources and intellectual assets, gaming enthusiasts worldwide stand to gain unprecedented experiences from this amalgamation.
While it remains to be seen what precise form these developments will take, the visit by the Xbox team to King Games offers an exemplary and optimistic start to this new era for gaming. The bridge between these gaming powerhouses holds promise for an evolved, inclusive and dynamic gaming future that'll continue to open new avenues of interactive entertainment.
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The marijuana industry as an emerging global movement is now becoming a major interest in the world of business. In fact, Cannabis related businesses are booming in nations where it is legal.
The swift legalization of marijuana in different areas of the world has sparked the interest of investors and businessmen to capitalize in this plant.
The potential of marijuana as a multi million dollar cash crop seems to be the next frontier for countries who have legalized the plant for medical and recreational use.
Cannabiz Trends 101
Cannabis business or ‘Cannabiz’, is becoming a sought after venture in many parts of the world.
Stock prices of medical marijuana companies are rising and everything seems to be lining up for the rush of capital at the end of prohibition.
This is only the top of the iceberg though…
What we see in the US is massive, however some countries are specifically positioning themselves to become leaders in this new industry.
The Israeli government for example have been developing a good understanding of the economic benefits of cannabis. Today Israel is on the forefront of the global medical cannabis industry.
It has been made easier to conduct medical trials and studies in Israel compared to any other country in the world. This literally opens up a lot of opportunities to work with the rest of the world, who are not quite as aware of the economic benefits and advantages.
The Hebrew University is building up its IP bank of cannabis patents, increasing the likelihood of a thriving local industry in the future.
No other government has such a good sense for the economic prospects of this crop.
In most countries it is still a ‘developing industry’ with grey areas. There are roadblocks, challenges and regulations that make it very challenging to navigate for entrepreneurs. Despite these challenges, marijuana companies are actually doing pretty well in its financial sector.
What businesses could you invest in?
According to the 2016 marijuana fact book, 90% of all dispensaries, recreational stores, infused products producing companies and wholesale cultivators are generating a profit or at least breaking even in their Cannabiz venture from 2014 to 2015.
Leading the pack has been the infused product companies that gives out a 91% profitability rate. If infused products cannot make a profit, they at least break even.
Infused products are Cannabis- infused products like edibles, oils, ointments and more.
Many ‘edible’ companies are popping up across Colorado, California and beyond.
Also edibles are the fastest growing product lines in dispensaries in Colorado driving up the demand significantly with no signs of slowing down.
Chocolate and cookies are among some of the favourites in the edibles.
Start up costs for cannabis business entrepreneurs are potentially low, making it an attractive step into the industry.
If you consider exploring this option, exercise caution to ensure you are aware of legal liabilities and responsibilities.
It may look simple to run a business producing infused cannabis products, however it is quite involved. Legal advice and assistance is required and it’s best to do things correctly to stay on top of the ever changing rules and regulations.
Cultivating plants could be very profitable for those that are prepared and know what they are doing.
Growing cannabis is federally illegal and even though the States allow cultivation under their regulatory framework, the federal prohibition makes things difficult.
This difficulty surfaces on many levels, and growers have been subject to crop seizure by federal agents making huge dents to the finances of the cannabis business.
Even though these raids are likely to become less moving forward, many challenges remain for the growers in terms of:
- Finance and Banking
- Cost of lighting and energy
- Finding capable master growers that understand the crop
- Market becoming saturated with competitors
Pete Williams, the owner of Medicine Man in Denver says you have to be prepared to work hard to make it successful.
You can watch a 20 minutes tour of their massive growing facility in Denver, Colorado:
Dispensaries & Recreational Stores
Dispensaries in some states and countries have a significant start up cost. Costs could be as high as 5 to 10 million dollars for example in New York. However, in California you can open about 20 dispensaries for that much.
Dispensaries also run on higher operational costs, producing the highest median operational cost in the industry at 600,000 dollars.
Ancillary companies also produce big profits in the Marijuana Industry. With 40% of companies that provide service to Marijuana customer have said to have reported high profitability. These companies usually sell,
- Accessories & marijuana paraphernalia
- Growth products
- Vaporizers and bongs
Although a lot of ancillary companies have been successful in their Cannabis business venture, it is reported that 26 percent of these companies are losing some or a lot of money.
Those companies that are struggling are usually startup companies that have not gained their footing yet. Companies that have already stamped their name in the Cannabiz industry are doing pretty well and is estimated to do much more in the future.
Companies that have been with the industry for a few years now and have already penetrated the market will most likely succeed and yield the most profits in 2016.
The Power of Branding
Branding is also becoming a major part of the Marijuana industry and an area where new and old companies are investing in.
Up until a year ago, marijuana related companies have not put too much thought into branding their products because of its exclusive, almost under the radar appeal.
However, as more companies enter the industry (on mass) the need to set themselves apart has become an essential marketing strategy.
New Marketing companies are popping up specialising in Branding Marijuana products and building websites. So we are seeing not only a need for it but a new Niche for marketing companies to get involved in.
Online Demand & New Media
The Cannabiz industry has also found more revenue in its online exchange via New Media. The demand for cannabis exceeds its supply in most online cases. Distribution of products are also limited in countries that have marijuana laws set up.
Countries that don’t have legal marijuana laws in place will not have the convenience to order huge amounts of cannabis online from suppliers.
In the United States, it is estimated that in 2020 the cannabis industry could grow and release a profit margin of 44 billion dollars if legalization and trends regarding recreational and medical marijuana continue.
Retail marijuana sales are said to hit 3.5 to 4.5 billion in 2016 which is a huge increase compared to the 3 to 3.3 billion dollars it generated in 2015.
Sales could climb to 8 billion dollars in 2018 if marijuana trends continue and could eventually hit 5 folds in 2020.
Recreational marijuana use has had a huge impact in the growth of the industry and recreational marijuana sales could already surpass those of medical marijuana sales in 2018.
Do you think the legalization of marijuana and the potential business which will grow from it will benefit the economy?
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US: Costco to introduce own craft beer label - report
Costco has announced plans to sell it own brand of craft beers across the US, according to reports.
Seattle Times said yesterday (4 February) that the Issaquah company has received federal permission to begin selling beers bearing the Kirkland Signature logo. The paper added that The Treasury Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has approved label applications for amber ale, pale ale and hefeweizen made in partnership with Gordon Biersch Brewing.
CostCo chief executive Jim Sinegal was cited as saying that Costco was "months away" from introducing the new brews.
Sinegal added: "To begin the process, we have to seek permission to sell the product. We've done that, and now we need to develop it."
Costco is reportedly still negotiating with Gordon Biersch, and prices have not yet been defined.
No one was available to comment at CostCo when contacted by just-drinks today.
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NVDA: Nvidia Rides the AI Boom as Bold Outlook Boost Shares by 25% to an All-Time RecordThe US chipmaker’s stock sits at an all-time high after adding roughly $200bn to its valuation overnight on a revenue forecast far ahead of consensus.
- Nvidia, the world’s largest chipmaker by value, soared as much as 25% in after-hours trading on Wednesday. The company reported first-quarter earnings for the fiscal 2024 and added a hugely impressive revenue projection, far outpacing Wall Street expectations. Why? AI, AI, and more AI.
- Surging demand for AI-enabling chips has prompted Nvidia to raise its sales target for the current quarter to $11bn, or roughly 50% higher than the $7.2bn expected, and above this quarter’s $7.2bn revenue. As Nvidia is looking to position itself as a leader in chips for AI apps, its stock (ticker: NVDA) is now sitting on a record high of $960bn.
- If there’s a company that gets to ride out the short-term trends in tech, it’s Nvidia. Those that were around during the crypto boom know how difficult it was to revamp your gaming PC with a powerful graphics card – they were all scooped up by ambitious miners. The AI buzz has brought the company in the spotlight again.
Laineema / Flickr
Nvidia Investors Fear New Huawei Restrictions Could Endanger Sales
- Nvidia’s sales could suffer from proposed restrictions on US companies trading with Huawei.
- The restrictions could also impact other companies trading with Huawei like Qualcomm.
- The proposed restrictions are still in preliminary drafting and could be revised.
Nvidia has been having a stellar start to the year so far with its share price rising by over 60% since January 1st. Even over the past month alone, NVDA has seen a 21% increase. The chip maker has also been gaining serious ground against Intel – who’s market dominance has been slipping significantly in recent years. As such, it’s difficult to imagine how Nvidia’s rally could come to an end. But some investors are now worried that its proposed sales plan is about to be thwarted.
What are investors worried about?
Nvidia is planning on selling its tech to Chinese telecom giant Huawei, but the US government could be about to expand its current restrictions on the ability of US companies to trade with the company, due to concerns surrounding its collecting of US data. Analysts have suggested that if it is passed in its current form, it could represent a significant dent in revenue streams for not only Nvidia, but also other companies who trade with Huawei such as Qualcomm.
Is it set in stone?
It’s still possible that the bill will need to be revised, as it is still in a preliminary draft. Huawei has become one of the most restricted companies by the US government amid spying concerns. On top of that, Nvidia is in a strong position to be facing economic challenges. With an almost 70% gain over the past 6 months, it likely has room for its sales to be impacted to an extent. And for the time being, investors seem to be remaining level-headed while the restrictions are drafted.
Omid Armin / Unsplash
Nvidia stock pumps after earnings beat
- Nvidia stock rallied nearly 9% in after-hours trading on Wednesday, bolstered by the company’s better-than-expected revenue and net income. The US chipmaker generated revenue of $6.05B, vs expectations of $6.00B. Adjusted EPS landed at 88 cents a share, vs 81 cents expected.
- This quarter promises to be even better - Nvidia is betting that the rise of AI tech will drive more sales for its own graphics processors which are capable of running machine learning software. In numbers, Q1 revenue is expected to hit $6.5B, topping the Street estimate of $6.02B.
- Nvidia has been at the forefront of tech’s roaring comeback. Its stock has seen a massive inflow of capital, leading to a 45% rise since the turn of the year. Share price is still some ways away from its all-time high of $330 apiece. Let’s see if the AI buzz will help top that this year.
Illustration by TradingView
Sign of the semiconductor timesDwindling demand could mean there’s a difficult road ahead for the semiconductor industry.
- Nvidia has announced their Q3 earnings which didn’t paint the company in a great light. The semiconductor manufacturer posted an EPS of $0.58 which missed expectations of $0.69, and blamed a bloated inventory and China’s zero-covid policy for harming demand.
- The announcement had its share price sliding into the red – down by 4.5% today. The company’s been struggling to sell its graphics cards as demand for PCs continues to slow in the wake of the pandemic. Sales in its data center business were up 31% YoY, but is that enough to fuel revenue growth?
- Rival chipmaker Micron had a pretty bleak warning for the industry too, announcing they’re taking steps to limit the size of their inventory and cutting production of two kinds of memory chip by 20%. Demand will need to pick up for the sector to return to its pandemic success.
Anne Nygård / Unsplash
A sweeping setbackBiden adds to the woes of semiconductor brands with a sweeping set of export controls that look to increase competition with China.
- The fight for control of the semiconductor industry is intensifying as the Biden administration’s new curbs look to cut China off from some semiconductor chips made with US equipment with the aim of changing the way chip companies can do business with the region’s tech industry.
- There are bound to be a few casualties given these are some of the strongest actions taken so far to contain China’s dominance over the semiconductor market. Depending how widely the restrictions are enforced, the fallout could extend beyond semiconductors and impact any industry with a reliance on high-end computing like EVs and smartphones
- Nvidia shares dropped 3.3% on Monday to their lowest level since August 2020, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF sank 3.4% to its lowest level since November 2020 as the potential effects of these curbs dawned on chip investors, compounded by more subtle restrictions from earlier this year and existing supply chain snarls.
Anne Nygård / Unsplash
A chip in the balance sheetRegulatory restrictions are putting a crimp in Nvidia’s style while one of its old acquaintances causes trouble in chip-land.
- Nvidia is expecting a sales hit to the tune of $400m after the chipmaker was told by the US government to stop selling its tech in Russia and China so as to prevent them from building out their military power – they’ve filed for a license to continue with some Chinese exports but don’t know if they’ll be granted an exemption and the hit to the balance sheet is gonna be big.
- Shares fell just under 8% on Thursday on the back of the warning after closing August down 16.9% to take its YTD losses to an eye-watering 54% – a stark turnaround from a two-year bull run that saw prices add nearly 400% in 2020 and 2021. Chip rival AMD said the new laws may hurt their finances as well as it watched its stock drop 3%.
- It’s all drama in the chip world this week as Arm decides to sue Qualcomm. Arm, who had a drawn out will-they-won’t-they relationship with Nvidia, is coming for Qualcomm and its newly acquired Nuvia for a breach of licensing agreements – the pair have a long history of working together but have been at odds the last few years, and this could really hurt Qualcomm’s strategic plans for expansion.
Maxim Hopman / Unsplash
Gaming gets investors downNvidia perhaps needs to remind itself of the phrase “underpromise and overdeliver” as the chip maker misses even its own lowered forecast.
- Nvidia shares edged down around 3% in extended trading on Wednesday after reporting second quarter earnings that missed fairly dramatically on both ends with EPS of $0.51 vs the $1.26 expected, on revenues of $6.7bn that were in line with its own lowered forecast but below the $8.1bn analysts were estimating – so not an insignificant miss.
- Disappointing gaming sales driven by macroeconomic conditions were the core issue here, according to Nvidia anyway. Gaming department revenue was down 33% YoY to $2.04bn, a sharper decline than anticipated, and Nvidia said consumer demand has been quickly tapering – on the plus side, its data center business rose 61% YoY so it's not all bad.
- Near-term failures are overshadowing its long-term potential. Nvidia’s shares have lost 43% this year against a struggling economy, but many analysts still believe the best is yet to come. The GPU market is forecast to be worth around $201bn by 2027, and given Nvidia controls 21% of the current market, you can see the potential for success.
Nana Dua / Unsplash
Nvidia sounds the earnings alarmYou know when you’ve got bad news for someone and you can’t think of anything else until you get it off your chest? Yeah well, so does Nvidia.
- Nvidia shares dipped 6.3% on Monday for its worst day since mid-June after the chip-maker posted preliminary Q2 earnings that show early revenues missed expectations at $6.7bn and came in way below its initial outlook of $8.1bn thanks to less demand for electronic components – Nvidia seems confident its long-term gross margin goals are intact, but let’s wait and see.
- The miss was largely attributed to a major slowdown in its gaming segment, which saw revenues fall 33% YoY to $2.04bn and echoing the sentiment of other gaming hardware companies. It reflects an overall change in market mood and a general decline in consumer spending – worth noting AMD as a standout in the space, which increased its gaming revenue 32% YoY.
- The ‘crypto hangover’ ain’t going anywhere fast, much like all my real hangovers since I turned 27. Channel partners – who sell Nvidia GPUs – saw lower sales on the back of a decline in the value of mining-based cryptos, which meant fewer miners looking to buy cards and more cards on the second hand market. Will crypto’s current recovery help?
Javier Martínez / Unsplash
Inflation killed the Nvidia starWhen the chips are down, it looks like positive earnings reports mean nada.
- NVDA slid more than 6% in extended trading despite topping its Q1 earnings report with EPS of $1.36 on revenues that were up an impressive 46% to reach a record-breaking $8.29bn. Chip sales to computing cloud companies managed to outperform Nvidia’s gaming business, up 83% YoY to $3.75bn.
- What did Nvidia do next? Well, if its earnings report was one of its shiny microchips, it basically brandished that to investors, only to then shove it into a toaster like a pop tart. The company lowered its revenue estimates for Q2, now around $400m short of Wall St. expectations, while also admitting it is slowing down its hiring to curb costs.
- Nvidia’s outlook is one of a “challenging macroeconomic environment”, thanks to high inflation. With NVDA already down 43% since the start of the year, investors will be hoping to see the stock bottom out soon.
Matt Botsford / Unsplash
The SEC eyes crypto gainsTurns out Nvidia has been keeping its crypto gainz far too low-key for the SEC, which hands the chipmaker a hefty fine.
- Nvidia will have to pay $5.5m as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which says that the company failed to appropriately inform their investors about how crypto miners were fuelling heightened demand for its graphics cards. The stock lost around 1% on Friday, but is sitting at its lowest point since July.
- The drama goes all the way back to 2017, when Nvidia supposedly failed to say that crypto mining was responsible for a 52% uptick in its gaming segment – the SEC says investors should have known their profits were dependent on such a volatile market.
- Nvidia has sidestepped the concerns by creating its very own crypto mining chip, and added software that made its graphics cards impossible to use for mining – however, said chips aren’t actually doing very well, seeing sales revenue decline to $24m in its latest quarter from $266m in Q2 last year.
Alireza Khatami / Unsplash
Nvidia says the magic $1tn wordsChip makers managed to bring out the bulls despite fighting in Eastern Europe threatening supplies.
🔍 Key points:
- Nvidia got analysts excited with its investor-day presentation, where the chipmaker said that its exploration of the datacenter, automotive, and gaming markets offer a $1tn opportunity – and what investor doesn’t like the word “trillion”?
- Intel added to the optimistic view of semiconductor stocks. Its CEO appeared on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to argue that government subsidies for domestic manufacturing would boost national security and address the global chip shortage.
- Nvidia led the gains with a nearly 10% jump on Thursday, and Intel saw its biggest one day gain in over a year with a 7% increase. At the same time though, the invasion of Ukraine could derail production of neon (a key gas ingredient for semiconductors), threatening supply chains even further.
FLY:D / Unsplash
Analysts are chipper about the futureNvidia gets a boost from Wells Fargo, who thinks the stock has a future despite its Arm disappointment – but can the UK chip designer say the same?
🔍 Key points:
- Nvidia shares popped nearly 7% on Wednesday to hit a one-month high after Wells Fargo analyst Christopher Harvey added the stock to its “Signature Picks” list.
- Harvey thinks the chipmaker provides a great risk/reward opportunity and he expects a bunch of exciting developments from Nvidia’s upcoming investor day that would bring in some very big profits – he gave the company a $370 price target, a premium of over 50% on Wednesday’s close of $244.
- But British chip designer Arm isn’t feeling so hot after Nvidia’s $50bn takeover failed to get regulatory approval, and is having to cut up to 1,000 jobs as it prepares to possibly be taken public by Softbank.
Griffin Wooldridge / Unsplash
Another day, another hackThe online world is becoming a battleground of its own, with Nvidia and Samsung becoming the latest corporations to be hacked.
🔍 Key points:
- Hacker group Lapsus$ got access to hundreds of gigabytes of proprietary Nvidia data last week after sending out a phishing email, handing the chip maker some v niche demands – they wanted Nvidia to open source its GPU drivers forever and remove its Ethereum cryptocurrency mining nerf from its GPUs.
- But Nvidia made no moves to meet the threats. Now, the hackers have leaked the credentials of what they claim to be more than 71k Nvidia employees online and say that it's in discussions with someone who wants to buy the company’s source code for $1m.
- And Samsung has now been hit too, with what is suspected to be the same group of hackers releasing almost 190GB of confidential data and code from various Samsung projects.
Illustration by TradingView
Tough crowdNvidia smashes its first earnings since abandoning its Arm deal, but gets a meek reception from a market that has mile high expectations for the chip giant.
- Nvidia easily topped on both ends in its Q4 report with EPS that had jumped 69% y-o-y to $1.32, on top of revenue that was up 53% y-o-y to hit $7.64bn. It also delivered a guidance beat as the cherry on top, forecasting $8.1bn in the current quarter despite ongoing supply shortages.
- Its data center sales are popping off atm, seeing growth of 71% in the quarter to hit $3.26bn in sales. It comes as more cloud providers and tech companies like Meta (FB) turn to its GPUs to power their foray into artificial intelligence and the Metaverse – a trend that’s unlikely to slow down anytime soon.
- Despite all that, prices dropped 8% in Thursday morning trading. Given the stock is trading at 49x its projected profit, expectations for the chip giant are through the roof and a solid earnings may not be enough to wow. CEO Jensen Huang said himself: “We all have to recognize that the market size, our market footprint, is much larger than it used to be.”
Illustration by TradingView
The Arms race comes to an endAfter finding the regulatory gun power too much to conquer, Nvidia officially officially abandons its acquisition of chip firm Arm.
- Nvidia has officially given up its $66bn Arm takeover, which would have marked the biggest semiconductor deal in history – it’ll also have to pay Softbank $1.25bn for not going through with the transaction.
- The deal faced nonstop backlash from regulators in the U.K., U.S., E.U., and China; so instead of selling to Nvidia, Softbank is planning on taking Arm public in 2023.
- On the plus side, Nvidia is enjoying some bullish momentum after a bunch of chipmakers released positive earnings last week and led to a few analyst upgrades – Nvidia’s share price has been edging up and it’s now worth even more than Meta with a $618bn market cap.
Austin Loveing / Unsplash
Is Nvidia planning on throwing in the towel?A source told Bloomberg that Nvidia is sick of all the regulatory battles and is thinking about lifting its Arm to wave the white flag – but it seems investors are still willing to fight.
- The stock is trading at a three-month low after sinking 4.5% on Tuesday and seeing last week’s tech rout wipe 13% off prices for its worst week since March 2020.
- It’s apparently getting ready to dump its attempted $40bn Arm acquisition, according to Bloomberg's secret sources, who say Nvidia told its partners to not expect the deal to close.
- It's contending with severe anti-competition concerns from regulators in the U.S., U.K., Europe, and China; as well as from its competitors and popular figures like Elon Musk.
Bernard Hermant / Unsplash
Nvidia wants to kill the sparkNvidia is tired of Arm wrestling with regulators, arguing that U.K. has got its love goggles on.
- Nvidia takes on the U.K.’s CMA, who are considering blocking its $40bn Arm takeover, arguing that their concerns are “romanticizing” Arm’s history and current market power.
- The deal is set to miss its original deadline of March 2022 thanks to unconquered antitrust concerns from the U.S., Europe, and China.
- BofA still thinks Nvidia is a “top pick” in the semiconductor field for 2022, predicting growth of up to 30% this year and gains of nearly $100 for its stock price.
Jakub Skafiriak / Unsplash
Nvidia is losing its grip“The largest semiconductor chip merger in history” is one step closer to crumbling after U.S. regulators pile on.
- The FTC has sued to block Nvidia’s $40bn takeover of British chip designer Arm, saying the merger will “stifle competing next-generation technologies.”
- Regulatory clouds have been gathering since the deal was announced in September 2020. The E.U. are taking their time with approval, China remains a hurdle, and the U.K. is also investigating.
- Analysts and investors have pretty much written off the deal, saying it's now looking “highly unlikely” to go through.
Illustration by TradingView
Nvidia wakes up from its napNvidia rebounds as the Omicron drama dies down just long enough for investors to focus on Friday’s analyst upgrade.
- The stock was up nearly 6% on Monday after a new Covid strain gave the term “Black Friday” a new meaning last week and sent prices sinking.
- The drama overshadowed bullish coverage from BofA, which doubled down on its $381 price target and suggested that the persisting chip shortage would will mean solid demand and strong pricing power.
- Its CEO has big ideas for the future, with plans in motion to use its tech to build AI avatars for the real and meta worlds.
Luis Vasconcelos / Unsplash
Another investigation to the pileStrong earnings may be strengthening the share price, but trouble is brewing on yet another continent for Nvidia’s embattled Arm takeover.
- Nvidia ended Friday up 4%, adding to Thursday’s earnings-induced gains of 8%.
- But the U.S.'s FTC wants to ruin the fun. Nvidia confirmed that the regulator has joined the list of those concerned about the $40bn takeover – the EU and U.K. have already launched investigations, and China is looking into the deal.
- The deal won’t go through unless given clearance from all four countries, which is looking less and less likely.


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Super Mario Has Been Made Into A Broadway Musical And It Is Bonkers
This Mario-meets-La La Land number has to be seen to be believed.
Yep, that’s a CGI Mario dancing on the streets of New Donk City to the Odyssey theme tune, Jump Up, Super Star! with a full dance ensemble tapping along behind him. And yes, that’s Mario throwing his cap around at unaware strangers. I’m delighted to report that Super Odyssey’s T-Rex makes an appearance here, too. Yay!
“Before his grand journey in Super Mario Odyssey, launching exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 27th, Mario's leaping into our world for a real-life odyssey!” says Nintendo in the video description.
Super Mario Odyssey is out exclusively on the Nintendo Switch on October 27, 2017.
If you’re desperate for the latest info on Super Mario Odyssey, look no further - we’ve got you covered, including three all-new Odysessy levels shared at the recent Nintendo World Championships. Oh, and did you read this super cute story of a student achieving his dreams and working for Nintendo?
Wondering what’s new? Here’s our picks of the latest games!
- By Vikki Blake @_vixx
21 Secret Easter Eggs Hidden In 'The Legend Of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' That Will Blow Your Mind