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Volga Baikal AGRO NEWS Update on the Russian Wheat Exports !!!
Export prices for wheat go down.
Importers are not ready for prices above $ 300 per ton.
According to the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (), by the end of last week export prices for Russian wheat with 12.5% protein decreased by $ 2 to $ 296 / t (FOB Novorossiysk), Reuters reported. “Numerous attempts to raise the price above $ 300 [per ton] have failed, meeting resistance from buyers,” the agency quotes the general director of Dmitry Rylko. According to Refinitiv, wheat of this class fell from $ 296 / ton at the beginning of the week to $ 295 / ton at the end, while on Thursday the price was at the level of $ 300 / ton.
“Export prices for grain in the first half of last week increased, but then the growth stopped. Such dynamics is associated with two factors: active sales on the world market in the second half of last week and cautious purchases from importers who are not ready for such a price level, commented toDirector of the analytical center Andrey Sizov. According to him, the story with the tender from Turkey last week was indicative: the buyer bought a much smaller volume of grain than planned, despite the fact that sellers have greatly reduced prices. At the tender on January 22, the Turkish Grain Agency purchased only 95 thousand tons of milling wheat with 12.5% protein with shipment on January 29 – February 26. Initially, it was reported that 400 thousand tons were contracted, but on Friday evening, amid news of a drop in quotations in Chicago, Turkey refused the ten most expensive contracts.
Domestic grain prices are growing, and quite actively, continues Sizov. Over the past week, they increased by 200-300 rubles per ton. “We think this is a good opportunity to sell wheat,” the expert noted. According toy the end of 2020, grain balances at agricultural enterprises were at the level of 24.5 million tons, which is 9.4% more than a year earlier. Including wheat stocks were estimated at 13.4 million tons – 21.2% higher than a year earlier.
Export prices for grain have grown by 20% or $ 50 per ton since the information about the introduction of the export duty appeared, the price increase was gradual and, in fact, today it has almost won back the duty, says the director of the analytics department of the( ) Elena Tyurina. “Now the price for milling wheat at EXW is $ 75 per tonne lower than the FOB price. Before the introduction of the duty, the difference was $ 20 per ton, she compares. “Of course, the change in prices is connected with the expectation of the introduction of the duty – exporters have included it in the export price in advance”.
At the same time, the rush demand for Russian wheat remains, says Tyurina. “From the beginning of the month up to January 21, the export of wheat from Russia amounted to 2.6 million tons, daily shipments for the past period were at the level of 125 thousand tons, which is almost twice as much as in January 2020. Realizing that changes in the market are possible soon, importers are increasing their purchases, – she comments. “Exporters, in turn, find it profitable to actively sell grain, since the intrigue of which companies will still receive a supply quota after February 15 has not yet been disclosed.”
ith reference to the FCS data, it clarifies that from the beginning of the season to January 21, grain exports from Russia reached 30.9 million tons, which is 22% more than in the same period of the last marketing year. Including the export of wheat amounted to 26.5 million tons – 22% more than last year, barley – 3.36 million tons (plus 52%), corn – just over 1 million tons (16% less). According to the forecast of analysts of the center, in January shipments of wheat abroad will reach 3.2-3.5 million tons.


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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is likely to cancel plans to export two million tons of surplus wheat in the wake of devastating floods, two food ministry officials said on Friday.
A decision not to export would add to weather-related cuts in wheat available to the international market, after Russia earlier banned exports after a drought there slashed output.
“Currently there are no talks of exporting wheat,” one ministry official, who is familiar with the discussions, told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “The plan to export 2 million tons of surplus wheat is likely to be shelved,” he added.
The second official said that the government was closely monitoring the situation and confirmed the likely cancellation of the export plans. Given the devastation of the floods, the government wants to ensure there are no shortages, especially in the flood-affected areas.
Pakistan, Asia’s third largest wheat producer, said in April it would export 2 million tons of wheat after a bumper crop of 23.86 million tons in 2009-10, and a carryover of 4.2 million tons from the previous crop. But it had held back on exports because of low prices in the international market.
The floods have damaged up to 600,000 tons of privately-stored wheat, according to initial estimates, and a food ministry official said on Thursday that another 125,000 tons of wheat in government stores had been washed away.
Wheat is a staple food in Pakistan with about 22 million tons consumed each year. Any shortages or steep price hikes would inflame public anger towards the government, which is facing mounting criticism over its handling of the catastrophe.
Pakistan banned wheat exports in 2007 because of shortages and high domestic prices.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2010.
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Tanzania: NBC Expands Islamic Banking Products in Zanzibar
Zanzibar residents have something to celebrate following the introduction of more than 10 Islamic banking products that fit to businessmen, government employees and other people.
Speaking during an Iftar organized by the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) to its customers during Holy Month of Ramadhan at the weekend in Zanzibar, NBC Bank Head of Islamic Banking, Mr Nassir Masoud said people in the Isles have reasons to celebrate.
He said the establishment of Islamic banking inside the NBC as a product have made them to adhere to their Islamic creed based on the Quran.
He said NBC established Islamic banking product at NBC five years ago and encouraged a number of new customers in the Isles who were seeking to have and purchase new Islamic products offered by the bank.
"NBC will continue to offer most and affordable Islamic banking products in Zanzibar in order to make sure that we meet customer satisfactions and to boost the growing financial market in the country", he said.
He underscored that NBC has taken into consideration all of its customers such as employees, small and other medium business people by also introducing Islamic Affluent Current Account.


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Citing people familiar with the situation, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Apple officials have shown some suppliers designs for a device with an 8-inch screen size. It was said that Apple is qualifying potential suppliers to manufacture the device.
"One person said the smaller device will have a similar screen resolution as the iPad 2," authors Lorraine Luk and Jessica E. Vascellaro wrote. "Apple is working with screen makers including Taiwan-based AU Optronics and LG Display Co. of South Korea to supply the test panels, the person said."
The report also came with a caveat, noting that Apple works with suppliers to test new designs regularly, but that such a device may never see the light of day.
While the Journal has a respectable track record with respect to Apple rumors, like most publications it is not spotless. One of the newspaper's biggest misses came before the launch of the first iPad in 2010, when it suggested the then-unnamed tablet could recognize individual users via a forward-facing camera and customize the system's user interface for them. It also claimed that Apple could partner with Microsoft to bring Bing maps to iOS devices.
Tuesday's report comes on the heels of an initial story from the publication, which claims that Apple plans to add 4G long-term evolution high-speed data connectivity to the third-generation iPad. The LTE iPad will reportedly operate on networks from both Verizon and AT&T in the U.S., and it would be the first 4G device from Apple.
Apple is expected to hold a media event on March 7 to announce its third-generation iPad. The new device is expected to sport the same 9.7-inch screen size as the current generation model, but will have a higher-resolution "Retina Display" similar to the pixel density found on the iPhone 4S screen.
Rumors of a so-called "iPad mini" are not new and have persisted for years. But Apple has long downplayed the prospect of such a device, calling the screen size too small to be functional and criticizing competitors who released 7-inch touchscreen tablets.
In October of 2010, late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs slammed rivals who were building 7-inch tablets, saying the screen size was too small for users. He said that manufacturers of those devices would need to ship sandpaper with their 7-inch tablets so users could file down their fingers to the point where they could hit smaller targets on the screen.


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SAN FRANCISCO, 31st Oct 2020– Global platform for online learning Udemy’s corporate learning solution, Udemy for Business scaled from $1 million to $100 million annual recurring revenue (ARR) in just five years.
On Udemy more than 57,000 instructors teach over 130,000 courses in over 65 languages. Udemy for Business curates 7,000 of the highest-rated courses from the marketplace covering the most in-demand professional skills that employees need to become better subject-matter experts, leaders, and collaborators.
“We’ve entered an era of continuous change, and companies and individuals need continuous learning to thrive,” said Stephanie Stapleton, Vice President of Customer Success at Udemy. “The pandemic has only accelerated the global movement toward online learning. We’re thrilled to partner with some of the most innovative companies in the world to help them build a culture of learning to drive business performance and results in a time of change.”
IDC found that for every dollar spent on Udemy for Business, organizations could realize an 869% return on investment in three years or nearly 9 incremental dollars for every dollar invested in Udemy for Business solutions.
When the pandemic resulted Udemy for Business experienced a 90% surge in enrollments as employees adapted to remote work.
Udemy for Business has dynamic and actionable courses taught by real-world experts. To date, nearly 2 billion minutes have been consumed by corporate customers which directly correlates to the sustained triple-digit growth of the business. In 2020, Udemy for Business has sustained a high customer retention rate while achieving a series of notable customer wins like the United States Air Force, Fandom, TIBCO Software, The Walt Disney Corp, Tata Inc., NTT, and Toyota Motors.
Following a $50 million funding round at a $2 billion valuation earlier this year, the company has been investing in markets around the world and expanding its local presence.
With a sharp focus on localizing the product experience, as a third of the corporate users are outside of the U.S, Udemy for Business expanded access to new course collections in French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese, taught by native instructors.
In India, Japan, Australia, and the broader APAC region, the company plans on increasing the capacity of the team by 50% to add new customer success.


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VERNON - Cool, rainy weather over the past few weeks may have put a bit of a damper on tourism during the first leg of summer in the North Okanagan, but it appears most visitors were determined to stick to their vacation plans even if it meant packing a raincoat.
The Vernon Visitor Centre is reporting a slight dip in the number of visitors, down about 5.6 per cent for the month of July, although overall numbers are still up by 7.4 per cent year to date, says Vernon Tourism Manager Ange Chew.
“We’ve received some comments from outdoor activity operators that their business has been impacted by the lack of sunshine,” she says. “We’re hoping with the heat and sun coming it will turn that around.”
Lianne Marquis, with Kalavida Surf Shop, says the business is extremely weather-dependent and has definitely been affected by the cooler, rainier and windier weather over the past month.
“When it’s sunny and hot and nice and warm, the beach is busy and we’re busy,” Marquis says. “Business-wise, it’s been an up and down type year.”
She says the surf shop enjoyed a busy start to the year with unusually warm weather this spring.
“Back in April, we were busy at 9 a.m. with people renting boards. It’s definitely been a roller-coaster year,” she says.
And while the cooler weather might be dissuading people from a dip in the lake, it hasn’t seemed to keep too many people from the North Okanagan. According to Chew, municipal hotel tax revenue was pacing 19 per cent ahead of 2015 — a record year — as of April. Due to a three-month lag, the city doesn’t know yet know what the hotel tax figures will be for May, June and July, however Chew doubts it will be much lower.
“Our hotel partners said they are pacing on par or slightly ahead of July of last year, so it doesn’t seem like the weather is playing that much of an impact on visitation,” Chew says.
On average, hotels and full hook-up RV parks in Vernon are reporting an 85 per cent occupancy rate on the weekends, with slightly more availability on weekdays, she says, adding most visitors hail from the Lower Mainland, Calgary, Edmonton and Alberta.
Perhaps the hardest hit by poor weather in the accommodation sector is campgrounds, but even they are reporting minimal impacts.
Dwight Cousins owns Cedar Falls Campground in Vernon and says they’ve noticed a bit of a slow down due to the weather, but not much.
“We didn’t suffer too much at all,” he says. “We’ve had the odd cancellation, but people are determined to come. As long as people come prepared, they’re going to come camping.”
With lots of heat and sun in the forecast, he says business is really picking up.
“Our phone just doesn’t stop,” he says.
As Chew points out, there was a silver lining in all those rainclouds.
“I have to say, I went camping this weekend and I loved the fact we could have a campfire,” she says.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.


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Kia Motors has revealed new images of its Proceed Concept which will make its world debut at the 2017 Frankfurt International Motor Show on 12 September.
The concept presents a new body type for Kia – the extended hot hatch has a low, lean body; muscular proportions and compact footprint complemented by six-spoke aluminium 20-inch alloy wheels.
While the concept hints at a new design for upcoming road models there are also familiar design motifs, including the tiger nose grille and the sculpted island bonnet inspired by the Stinger.
The concept is finished in bespoke Lava Red paintwork. This has been created by combining multiple hand-applied layers of black, chrome-effect silver, and red-tinted lacquer for a glossy, lustrous paint finish.
“With many European drivers now seeking performance alternatives to the three-door hot hatch, we began thinking about a different halo model for the cee’d family,” said Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Europe for Kia Motors. “The Proceed Concept represents a bold new vision of how the vibrant soul of the Proceed could be reincarnated and revitalised for a new generation of performance-oriented drivers.”


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2 E. coli cases in Oklahoma connected with General Mills flour products
Two cases of E. coli in Oklahoma have been connected with certain General Mills flour products, health officials said.
Because of the cases, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has joined a nationwide investigation into an outbreak of 38 cases in 20 states as of May 31. The investigation has uncovered that flour produced at General Mills' Kansas City, Mo., facility is a likely source of the outbreak.
General Mills has recalled several sizes and varieties of Gold Medal flour, Gold Medal Wondra flour and Signature Kitchen flours because of possible contamination. Vendors are asked to check their pantries for the recalled flour products, which can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website.
Health officials are recommending people to do the following:
- Consumers should not use any of the recalled flour and should throw it out.
- Eating raw dough can make you sick.
- Clean up thoroughly after baking.


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The Wolong National Nature Reserve has officially opened their brand spanking new Panda Centre in southwest China and it’s pandamonium (sorry) for panda lovers.
The 200,000 hectare nature reserve is home to over 4000 animal species including the likes of red pandas, giant pandas and golden monkeys. Not surprisingly, the brand new panda enclosure is set to be one of the most popular because, well… reasons.
The Shenshuping Panda Centre in Sichuan is now home to 59 giant pandas, who will be kept in semi-natural enclosures in the 200,000 hectare nature reserve. These enclosures let the pandas play, sleep in trees and munch on heaps of bamboo, all while aiding in the repopulation of these endangered creatures.
Alongside the giant pandas there’s a fresh crop of year-old panda cubs to oogle at too. We can only assume the Shenshuping Panda Centre will be hiring a panda hugger as well, to keep the cubs company.
Oh god, so cute.
The centre is located about a day’s drive from Shanghai. Road trip?[qantas_widget code=PVG]Check out Qantas flights to Shanghai.[/qantas_widget]


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With Facebook set to reveal its fourth-quarter and full-year-2014 financial results Wednesday evening, Adobe, one of the social network’s Strategic Preferred Marketing Developers, offered its take on Facebook advertising in its latest research.
Adobe said in a blog post that it analyzed more than 400 billion Facebook post impressions during 2013 and 2014, and its findings included:
- Paid impressions on Facebook from retailers were up 53 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with the third quarter, and up 13 percent year over year.
- Organic impressions on Facebook fell 32 percent year-over-year.
- Video posts performed the best in terms of organic impressions, while text-only posts were casualties of the many changes to Facebook’s News Feed algorithm, dropping 60 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2013.
- Retailers were posting more on Facebook during the fourth quarter of 2014, up 31 percent quarter-over-quarter and 64 percent year-over-year.
- Interaction rates (comments, likes, shares and other interactions) for posts form retail brands were up 14 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with the year-ago period.
- TGIF: The day of the week with the highest share of Facebook posts, impressions and interaction rates was Friday.
What’s happening with marketers is that there are constant changes going on with Facebook’s algorithm that favor certain types of posts. A colleague recently pointed out to me that it used to take marketers six to eight months to respond to a Facebook algorithm change. Now marketers adjust their strategies much quicker to ensure they maintain their reach and capitalize on whatever the algorithm adjustment that is going to favor them in the Facebook News Feed.
Readers: Did any of Adobe’s findings surprise you?


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Porsche kicked off to construct the first factory for the production of eFuel. At the GP Ice Race in Zell am See, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS and its Clubsport version powered by renewable gasoline have caused a stir.
Porsche uses renewable synthetic fuels (eFuels) in its vehicles to lower carbon emissions. For example, during the recent ice race in Zell am See, Austria, the GT4 RS models were powered by biofuel made of food waste products.
The company will produce eFuels in almost a CO₂-neutral manner at the new plant in Chile to use them primarily in its motorsport activities, and in Porsche models with combustion engines, including classic cars, in the future. According to Porsche, eFuel is “a solution for the sustainable operation of existing fleets”.
The pilot plant is a joint project called Haru Oni which involves Porsche, Siemens Energy, and other partners.
Using electricity generated from wind power, they will make synthetic raw gasoline at the facility, and process it into a standard-compliant gasoline fuel that is good for all gasoline engines. The plan is to produce annually 130,000 liters (34,000 gallons) of eFuels starting from this year.


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LOS ANGELES, California - Green Globe Member, the Cardiff Hotel & Spa in St. Ann, Jamaica, has implemented a number of environmentally friendly initiatives, resulting in resource conservation and preservation of biodiversity. In line with the “Eco Movement” … May 30, 2013
UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization) welcomes Jamaica’s decision to waive visa requirements for Eastern European nationals and to extend indefinitely the current visa waiver system for some Latin American nationals. These important policy steps are … March 15, 2013
LOS ANGELES, California - Green Globe announced re-certification of the Half Moon Club - a Rock Resort - in Jamaica. For the past few years, this Caribbean Resort has been dedicated to protect and preserve the environment, incorporating the best possible … February 15, 2013
LOS ANGELES, California - Green Globe announced re-certification of the Tryall Club Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. For the past few years, Jamaica’s premier private club has taken a proactive role in preserving and protecting nature in all its forms. … November 2, 2012
“Tourism has grown over the years to become one of the world’s most powerful economic sectors – delivering jobs, income, and well-being around the globe,” said Prime Minister Miller.
“Having served as Minister of Tourism and Sports of Jamaica … June 18, 2012
LOS ANGELES, California - Green Globe today announced certification of the resort Half Moon on the northern coast of Jamaica. The resort achieved 82 percent compliance against the Green Globe Standard for Sustainable Travel and Tourism.
With a comprehensive … May 15, 2012
LOS ANGELES, California - Green Globe announced recertification of the Rockhouse Hotel Negril, Jamaica. Situated in the Caribbean Sea, Rockhouse Hotel’s objective is to responsibly and sustainably balance the interests of guests, the team, and the community … March 13, 2012
Melton Ernesta, based in Jamaica, and Maryvonne Pool, who is based in Tanzania, met this week in Dar es Salam, Tanzania, to strategize together plans for supporting actions by the island’s Tourism Ambassadors based in the four corners of the world. … January 26, 2012
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica - The Caribbean’s leading travel brands have walked off with top honors at a VIP gala ceremony hosted by World Travel Awards (WTA) in Montego Bay, Jamaica on October 19, 2011.
VIPs, senior tourism figures, captains of industry, … October 20, 2011
MANDEVILLE, Jamaica - Two community tourism leaders who lead active organizations have teamed up to offer visitors a novel, experiential educational vacation in Jamaica, “Home of Community Tourism.” The first innovative leader in community-tourism … October 10, 2011
LONDON, UK - St. Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica, and the Bahamas are among the nations that will compete head-to-head for the coveted title of “Caribbean’s Leading Destination” at a VIP World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony in Montego Bay, Jamaica on October … October 6, 2011
LONDON, United Kingdom - Jamaica’s role in spearheading the recovery of the Caribbean’s travel and tourism economy is to be acknowledged by World Travel Awards at a VIP ceremony in Montego Bay in October.The awards program, hailed as the "Oscars of … August 15, 2011
LOS ANGELES, California, USA - Green Globe Certification announced The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall, Jamaica has been certified for its sustainable operations and management, as well as its continued environmental conservation efforts. Green … February 22, 2011
Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa, located on Jamaica's beautiful south coast, is set to host travel and tourism’s biggest night of the year as the World Travel Awards brings The Americas Gala Ceremony to the Caribbean island resort on October … September 21, 2010


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Following Tesla’s $1.5 billion investment in Bitcoin, Twitter may be the next company to add the cryptocurrency to its balance sheet. This was revealed by the company’s CFO, Ned Segal who said the company is considering adding Bitcoin to its balance sheet as well as use it to pay its staff.
Speaking on CNBC, Segal said:
“We’ve done a lot of the upfront thinking to consider how we might pay employees should they ask to be paid in Bitcoin, how we might pay a vendor if they asked to be paid in BTC and whether we need to have BTC on our balance sheet.”
This is a potentially major development that could impact the cryptocurrency industry as a whole in the near future. Interestingly, Twitter is not the first to take such a step and may not be the last in 2021.
Twitter Follows Tesla
Two days ago, the leading electric car manufacturer in the U.S, Tesla bought Bitcoin worth $1.5 billion. This created a lot of interest in cryptocurrency in the last 48 hours as Elon Musk the CEO of Tesla is the richest man on earth. Although he himself claims to hold no Bitcoin except that gifted to him by a friend, the crypto community has since anticipated that both he and his company would buy Bitcoin.
Since the expectation came true 2 days ago, Twitter is the next big company that has indicated an interest in buying Bitcoin. Its sister company, Square already has a lot to do with Bitcoin, not just because it has an arm, Square Crypto which is dedicated to Bitcoin development, but it also owns Cash App, a peer-to-peer payment app that allows sending and receiving of BTC in the U.S.
This makes Twitter’s interest in BTC unsurprising especially because its CEO Jack Dorsey has been very supportive of the digital asset. The investment from Tesla is likely to create confidence in Bitcoin and attract more investments such as this.
Bitcoin Could Go Higher
Following Tesla’s investment, Bitcoin regained momentum and rose to many new price levels. Yesterday, the price crossed $48,000 for the first time though it has retraced now. However, the rising interest that followed the investment announcement may hold the potential to push it back up soon. The price now hovers around $44,000 which is a support area from which it could bounce off if the bull market does not lose steam.
If Twitter eventually buys Bitcoin, a similar effect could follow and Bitcoin’s momentum may greatly increase and new price levels may be reached once again. Going forward may become usual for big companies. Recently, Fast Money anchor on CNBC, Jim Cramer said it has become almost irresponsible for any organization to not own Bitcoin on its balance sheet.


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Premium Instore Solutions Creates Positive Work Environment, We listen to what our employees need!
Premium Instore Solutions one of the best businesses to work for in Terre Haute Indiana when it comes to listening to their employees needs.
October 12, 2012 – OfficeTeam, a staffing service who collects and reports business data relevant to job searchers, releases new research information regarding employee requests and management’s responses to these requests. Their findings show that many exemplary employees are receiving corrective actions, more so during the summer months than any other time of the year. However, as FOX News reported earlier this year, companies who reported implementing flexible summer schedules (based on mass requests and shift coverage concerns) are showing favorable results. Employee-
The most requested summer-time attendance policy modifications are; flexible hours, early dismissal on Fridays, increased social company gatherings, and a less restrictive dress code. Companies nationwide are throwing money down the toilet by repeating training classes every few weeks because of their substandard employee retention. “They have trouble holding on to valuable workers because of the unfair input/output ratio that has become standard in society. Employers think that they can put the weight of three full time jobs on one employee, because of the recession and the lack of jobs. Workers everywhere are being intentionally prqob mistreated and after so long, they’ll reach a breaking point,” Jones advises.
Jones has experienced such positive results with this managerial approach and he adamantly maintains its effectiveness. “It’
According to FOX News, only 6% of companies take heed to their employees’ requests and suggestions regarding summer scheduling. The article states, “A majority of employers are giving workers what they want. Seventy-
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For more information on how you can prosper in the marketing industry, and soon become your own boss, visit us at: www.premiuminstoresolutions.com


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Editorial Results (free)
1. Dinner to Go: Walmart to Expand Meal Kits to More Stores
- Tuesday, March 6, 2018
NEW YORK (AP) – Walmart wants a bigger slice of the crowded meal kits business, announcing Monday that it will offer easy-to-make dinners in more stores this year.
The move puts the world's largest retailer in direct competition with meal-kit companies such as Blue Apron and HelloFresh, which deliver boxes of raw meat and chopped vegetables to subscribers' doorsteps. After Walmart's announcement Monday, Blue Apron's stock tumbled 5 percent.
2. Walmart's Bruising Battle With Amazon Saps Its Q4 Results
- Wednesday, February 21, 2018
NEW YORK (AP) – Walmart is getting bruised in its battle with online leader Amazon.
The world's largest retailer on Tuesday reported a smaller-than-expected fourth-quarter profit as it wrestled with slower e-commerce sales during the busiest time of the year. The results underscore the company's challenges in a fiercely competitive retail landscape.
3. Grocer Albertsons Eyes Rite Aid Deal in Health Care Push
- Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The owner of Safeway and other grocery brands is buying the drugstore chain Rite Aid as retailers continue to plunge deeper into health care and adjust to swiftly changing shopping habits.
Albertsons Companies executives said Tuesday that their purchase of Rite Aid's more than 2,500 remaining stores will help the combined company become a "leader in food, health and wellness."
4. Fred’s Brings on New Board Members
- Thursday, March 16, 2017
Change continues to be the operative word at Memphis-based retailer Fred’s Inc., which has made some key additions to its board in recent days as the company continues pursuing a major turnaround that includes completing its acquisition of 865 Rite Aid stores.
5. Memphis-Area Leaders Unveil Five-Year Crime-Fighting Plan
- Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland is anticipating a “net increase” in the size of the Memphis Police Department a year from now, as officers complete training and the city can begin to address a department he says is “hundreds of officers short.”
6. Crime Commission Leaders Talk About Focused Five-Year Plan
- Friday, October 28, 2016
The new Operation: Safe Community five-year anti-crime plan should be released in November and it will likely be a more focused set of goals and objectives. That’s what we heard as The Daily News Editorial Board talked with Memphis-Shelby Crime Commission president Bill Gibbons and crime commission vice president for Social Engagement Harold Collins.
7. European Deal Creates US Grocery Giant
- Thursday, June 25, 2015
NEW YORK (AP) — The owner of Stop & Shop and Giant will tie up with the parent company of Food Lion, creating a $29 billion grocer that will be in a stronger position to compete with Wal-Mart and other discount retailers.
8. Goodwill Games
- Friday, April 24, 2015
When a group of elected leaders gathered a week ago at Goodwill Village apartments in North Memphis, they came to convey some sense of urgency about deteriorating conditions at the 47-year-old federally subsidized apartment complex.
9. Coke Bets on 'Premium Milk' to Boost Declining Category
- Wednesday, February 4, 2015
NEW YORK (AP) – Coke is coming out with premium milk that has more protein and less sugar than regular. And it's betting people will pay twice as much for it.
The national rollout of Fairlife over the next several weeks marks Coca-Cola's entry into the milk case in the U.S. and is one way the world's biggest beverage maker is diversifying its offerings as Americans continue turning away from soft drinks.
10. Kroger: Storm Response Helped Boost Sales
- Friday, March 7, 2014
NEW YORK (AP) – Kroger said its ability to keep its supermarkets open and well-stocked as customers rushed to hoard groceries ahead of winter storms helped boost its results in the fourth quarter.
11. White House: Stimulus Bill Was Good for Economy
- Tuesday, February 18, 2014
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — The costly $787 billion spending bill that President Barack Obama signed into law soon after taking office boosted the economy and helped avoid another Great Depression, the White House said in a status report on Monday's fifth anniversary of the law's enactment.
12. Wal-Mart Faceoff With DC Fuels Minimum Wage Debate
- Tuesday, July 16, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) – The bitter standoff between Wal-Mart and Washington, D.C. officials over the city's effort to impose a higher minimum wage on big-box retailers is fueling a wider debate about how far cities should go in trying to raise pay for low-wage workers – and whether larger companies should be required to pay more.
13. Harold Ford Sr. Buys Sycamore View Property
- Tuesday, April 16, 2013
1670 Sycamore View Road Memphis, TN 38134
Sale Amount: $1.8 million
Sale Date: April 8, 2013
14. Cordova Ridge Shops Sells for $1.8 Million
- Thursday, April 11, 2013
An affiliate of Norcross, Ga.-based Safeway Group Inc. has paid $1.8 million for Cordova Ridge Shops, a retail shopping center at 1204 Houston Levee Road in unincorporated Cordova.
15. Safeways Crime Program Goes for Long Haul
- Wednesday, April 3, 2013
When Pierce Ledbetter, the CEO of LEDIC Management, signed up his company’s Autumn Ridge apartment complex for the federally funded Safeways anti-crime initiative in 2009, he was nervous.
And his apprehension was soon borne out as residents in the crime-ridden apartment complex reacted to the new regime of police cameras and stricter regulations on trespassers and unannounced visitors.
16. Wal-Mart Opposed to $6B Card Fee Settlement
- Wednesday, July 25, 2012
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. urged retailers to reject a proposed $6 billion settlement that Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc. and major banks have agreed to pay retailers for alleged fee fixing.
17. Beat Poetry At its Finest
- Thursday, April 26, 2012
Last week we took a peek at the police blotter work of Sgt. Jennifer Shockley of the Unalaska, Alaska, police department.
18. Safeway Files $1.7M Loan for Winchester Retail Ctr.
- Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Norcross, Ga.-based Safeway Group Inc., working under the name Fairington Shopping Center LLC, has filed a $1.7 million loan through Bank of North Georgia for Memphis Retail Center located at 6743 Winchester Road and 6797 Winchester Road.
19. Target to Stock Only Sustainable Seafood by 2015
- Friday, October 14, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Target Corp. plans to sell only sustainable and traceable seafood in its stores by 2015.
20. Moody's: New Generics Will Aid Some Supermarkets
- Thursday, September 29, 2011
NEW YORK (AP) – Moody's Investors Service said Wednesday that supermarkets with big pharmacy sections will get a small boost to their profits in 2012 as low-cost versions of some of the world's best-selling pharmaceuticals reach the market.
21. 36M Lbs. of Turkey Recalled in Salmonella Outbreak
- Friday, August 5, 2011
WASHINGTON (AP) – Meat giant Cargill is recalling 36 million pounds of turkey after a government hunt for the source of a salmonella outbreak that has killed one person in California and sickened dozens more. The Agriculture Department says it is one of the largest meat recalls ever.
22. Grocery Chain Expands $1-a-Gallon Gas Discount
- Monday, May 30, 2011
CINCINNATI (AP) – The Kroger Co. is pumping up its fuel discount program, more than tripling the number of grocery stores where regular shoppers can get up to a $1-a-gallon discount on a tankful of gas.
23. Grocery Chain Kroger Pumps Up Gas Biz
- Wednesday, January 12, 2011
CINCINNATI (AP) – The Kroger Co. will open gas station No. 1,000 on Wednesday, a milestone that underscores the growing link between groceries and gas in the drive to build customer loyalty.
24. Kroger CEO Takes to the Checkout to Go Beyond Data
- Thursday, November 11, 2010
CINCINNATI (AP) – Dressed in blue jeans and and waiting patiently in line at the Starbucks kiosk, Dave Dillon blends in easily with the Saturday morning shoppers in a suburban Cincinnati supermarket.
25. Kroger Makes Push Into Store-Brand Beauty Products
- Monday, August 16, 2010
CINCINNATI (AP) – Grocery chain Kroger Co. is making a big push into the beauty business, this summer more than doubling its number of store-brand cosmetics, shampoos and other items while preparing to launch more products this fall and next year.
26. Service Sector Grows More Quickly in July
- Thursday, August 5, 2010
NEW YORK (AP) – Growth in the U.S. service sector picked up in July, according to a trade group's survey, in a good sign for the overall economy and the job market.
The Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday its service-sector index rose to 54.3 last month, up from 53.8 in June. Economists had expected a pullback to 53 for July.
27. Kroger, Shell Make Gas Discount Deal
- Monday, February 15, 2010
CINCINNATI (AP) – The Kroger Co. and Shell Oil are combining forces to offer gas discounts for grocery shoppers at Shell stations.
28. Grocer Kroger Cranks Up Food Manufacturing
- Thursday, October 8, 2009
SPRINGDALE, Ohio (AP) - Ice cream swooshes out of metal nozzles and swirls into 38,000 "party pails" per day here, one of many ways Kroger Co. is using its massive manufacturing capability to feed growing demand for low-priced store brands.
29. Grocery Aisle Relief as Food Prices Fall
- Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Grocery shoppers are finally seeing some reprieve from last year's steep price increases.
Food prices are dropping on some key items as retailers slash prices to better compete and food makers do more promotions and pass along savings from lower ingredient and gasoline costs.
30. GOP Senators Put Cost Control First In Health Care Reform
- Monday, August 31, 2009
The sign over a hospital toilet illustrated why health care costs are soaring in the United States, said U.S. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming after touring Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto.
31. GOP Senators Put Cost Control First in Health Care Reform
- Thursday, August 27, 2009
The sign over a hospital toilet illustrated why health care costs are soaring in the United States, said U.S. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, who toured Baptist Memorial Hospital Southaven today.
“Upstairs in this hospital, I went into the restroom and there’s a sign on the toilet, ‘Maximum weight of this toilet 350 pounds,” Barrasso said. “Think about that. There was a story that came out last week in USA Today, in the Wall Street Journal, in The New York Times about the cost of obesity to the health care system. It was $178 billion a year in added costs because of people who are eating too much and exercising too little.”
32. Wal-Mart Revamps Own Label Amid Store-Brand Boom
- Wednesday, March 18, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Wal-Mart is stepping up the competition to draw cost-conscious shoppers, promising that store-brand products from cereal to cookies will be tastier, smell better and look more attractive.
33. Wal-Mart's Sam's Club Names New CEO
- Wednesday, March 11, 2009
NEW YORK (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Monday that Brian C. Cornell, most recently chief executive at arts and crafts chain Michaels Stores Inc., will be the new president and CEO of its Sam's Club warehouse division.
34. Court Reverses Whole Foods-Wild Oats Ruling
- Wednesday, July 30, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) - Whole Foods' long-running effort to acquire its rival organic supermarket chain Wild Oats isn't completely out of the legal woods yet.
A three-judge federal appeals court panel overturned Tuesday a lower court ruling from last year that allowed Whole Foods Market Inc. to acquire Boulder, Colo.-based Wild Oats Markets Inc.
35. Safeway Group Buys Fourth Memphis Shopping Center
- Tuesday, November 6, 2007
6743-6797 Winchester Road
Memphis, TN 38115
Sale Amount: $2.5 million
Sale Date: Oct. 22, 2007
Buyer: Fairington Shopping Center LLC
36. Kroger Expands Personal Finance Business to Drive Store Traffic, Fee Income
- Tuesday, September 18, 2007
CINCINNATI (AP) - Weekend grocery shopping list:
- Milk, on sale at four half-gallons for $5.
- Cookies, two packages-for-one at $3.99.
- New $200,000 fixed-rate mortgage, 30 years at 6.2 percent.
37. Austin Peay PlazaSells for $3.6 Million
- Monday, July 30, 2007
Georgia investors have bought Austin Peay Plaza in Raleigh for $3.6 million. Merchants Walk LLC, affiliated with Norcross, Ga.-based Safeway Group Inc., bought the property from AP Plaza LLC, Walthour-Flake Co. Inc. and
38. Archived Article: Real Recap
- Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Rusco Plans Subdivision Near Houston Levee Road
Rusco Plans Subdivision Near Houston Levee Road
24.78 acres on
Houston Levee Road
Cost: $2.7 million
Borrower: Rusco Co.
Lender: Renasant Bank
Trustee: Michael J. McCarver
39. Archived Article: Real Estate Recap
- Tuesday, August 10, 2004
5389 Poplar Ave
Mercedes Benz Dealership Owner Buys Out Partner
5389 Poplar Ave.
Memphis, TN 38119
Cost: $20.6 million
Borrower: Autorama Inc. doing business as Mercedes-Benz of Memphis
Lender: First Tennessee Bank NA
40. Archived Article: Daily Digest
- Monday, July 26, 2004
Hickory Ridge Commons
Hickory Ridge Commons
Sells for $5.5 Million
Safeway Plaza Inc. has purchased Hickory Ridge Commons shopping center near Ridgeway and Winchester roads from Hickory Ridge Investment LLC for $5.5 million, according to Th...


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With the recent integration of Marriott International’s loyalty programs, hoteliers are feeling urgency to revamp loyalty to provide more value for guests, owners and hoteliers alike.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee—With the 18 August integration of Marriott International’s loyalty platforms, the hotel industry sees a perfect opportunity to re-examine loyalty and what it means to both guests and the bottom line, according to sources.
During a panel titled “Loyalty ROI—fact or fiction” at the recent Hotel Data Conference, Sloan Dean, COO of Remington Hotels, said the branded landscape in the U.S. means loyalty, however it’s viewed, remains essential.
“Seventy five of our hotels are branded. If we did not have loyalty, we’d been paying franchise fees for nothing,” he said, adding that eight of his assets are part of Marriott.
Jamie Russo, VP of loyalty programs and customer engagement at Choice Hotels International, said the question remains whether loyalty is a good proposition for customers.
“That’s the question. Choice seeks to be as friendly to our owners as possible as we are 100% franchise. The more value we provide to our guests, the more we provide to our owners,” he said.
“Guests always have a choice, and our owners have a voice. Our job is to work hard to put as many guests as possible into our hotels via the lowest-cost channels,” Russo added.
Panelists agree loyalty programs in general are shifting away from a focus on points systems and more toward providing guests experiences.
Nicole Lundin, head of loyalty and social engagement at Viceroy Hotel Group, said there is no loyalty points system at her company’s portfolio of 12 hotels. Viceroy partners with the Global Hotel Alliance, a network of independent hotels, for its Discovery loyalty program.
“It’s about memories that last a lifetime,” she said.
But while loyalty programs need to drive experiences, points-based systems remain important for a core group of guests, said Michael Bennett, SVP of global marketing and business development at Cendyn.
“There are lots of people who like their points, and they like the status and recognition, to know you’ll get any problem resolved,” he said.
More data, please
As hotels increasingly look to leverage guest data collected via loyalty programs, that data is often more forthcoming when loyalty is focused on experiences, Choice’s Russo said.
“Points can never catch up with the experience a hotel offers. Expectations have increased. People will give you their data if you provide something back, and (the industry) might be losing that. It is share of wallet versus hearts and minds. … Customers can shift their preferences,” he said.
Meeting those shifting preferences and expectations requires constant evaluation of loyalty programs and what they offer, panelists said.
“Brands do not want to have loyalty and experiences be the same, to be commoditized or become the OTAs of loyalty,” Dean said.
Russo agreed, adding: “If that happens, our value disappears.”
Panelists said some experiences might be as simple as allowing media to be streamed through app, the ability to control lighting via those apps and other tech-driven experiences.
“If you go direct, these are nice points of differentiation, but there will be backlash that will force brands to make some of these (benefits) agnostic,” Remington’s Dean said.
He added it’s increasingly important to provide guests immediate rewards, which he said particularly appeals to some age groups, notably millennials.
“Partnerships with Uber, for instance—a free ride immediately. The highest loyal guests will give you 10 times return, and are by far your most profitable revenue stream, so you have to continue to innovate. Like anything, our old loyalty schemes will die out,” Dean said.
Panelists pointed to loyalty programs outside the industry worth emulating, including Amazon, Apple, Nike, Starbucks and retail beauty firm Sephora.
“That all said, our guests are putting their heads on our pillows, so what better opportunity could you ask for,” Lundin said.
Marriott and OTAs
With the world’s largest hotel company, Marriott, overhauling its loyalty program, panelists said all others must adapt, too.
“(Marriott’s) program is simplifying things and starts reimbursements at 85% occupancy, with a sliding scale threshold, up again at 87%. It smooths redemption. I am hoping other brands follow suit, although I think (Marriott-Starwood) will eventually be a bad thing for owners,” Dean said.
He said he believes Marriott’s changes to loyalty eventually will be egregious in regards to property improvement plans and franchise fees.
“In the long term, Marriott’s loyalty, when it adds 7,000, 8,000, 10,000 hotels, it will lead to higher fees, less flexibility and renovation expectations. So, you might be paying less to (online travel agencies), but we will be paying more to Marriott,” he said.
He added, on a positive note: “The good is that it takes some of the OTA costs out of legacy.”
Russo said hotels need to continue educating guests on the value of loyalty, as well as booking direct.
“Book direct has worked. It has shown guests receive better content by going direct, and it is our fault if OTAs want to sell worse hotel experiences to guests,” he said.
Smaller brands need more non-OTA friends, Lundin said, who added Viceroy benefits greatly from its partnerships within the Global Hotel Alliance.
For example, “our alliance with Corinthia (Hotels) will give us greater exposure,” she said.
New direction for loyalty
Dean said initiatives throughout the industry are moving loyalty in the right direction for guests, hoteliers and owners.
“The upsides are happening right now. Group commissions have come down; the costs of redemptions themselves have been brought down; and (programs are) cheaper for owners in most cases,” he said.
“The questions are: Is it cost-neutral to owners. Is it beneficial? It might be a little bit of a profit hit for owners in the short run,” he said. “It will be a slight hit to (revenue per available room) but makes total sense to the larger companies as you will save in the long term on customer acquisitions costs … and at the moment, OTAs still dwarf brands.”
Panelists said other future moves for loyalty might be via consolidation with non-industry firms, which would also have the benefit of providing more customer-journey data, or via cryptocurrency that can be converted into whatever reward the guest chooses.
“In any one booking, several different entities will say they own that guest, and I think it’s this shared ownership that has driven the evolution of loyalty,” Dean said.
“That is why brands align with like-minded brands,” Russo said.


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JOHANNESBURG- JSE-listed ICT firm EOH Holdings on Wednesday announced that Zunaid Mayet had resigned as its chief executive to take up the same post at its newly-created subsidiary, Nextec, following a major reconfiguration and implementation of a new strategy.
Rob Godlonton has been appointed as chief executive of the EOH branded business while the board is in the process of finalising the appointment of a new chief executive for EOH Holdings.
EOH also made significant board changes, after six directors resigned, in a bid to further strengthen governance across the group and to support the new business model.
In March, EOH Holdings announced its new strategy which centred on reconfiguring the group into two distinct and independent businesses with specialised solutions for high-growth industries, each with its own chief executive, unique brand and identity, business model, growth and go-to-market strategies.
EOH's share price is under pressure this week and has fallen more than 10 percent since Monday.
- African News Agency (ANA)


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ISTANBUL, TURKEY -- One of the two biggest ceramics, bathroom and kitchen exhibitions in the world, Unicera, will take place on 160,000 square meters at CNR Expo from February 5 to 9, 2019, in Istanbul, Turkey, offering an export potential worth millions of dollars.
Unicera also carries the distinction of being Turkey's most comprehensive specialized exhibition, with a goal of receiving 100,000 professional visitors from four continents. Professional buyers from 128 countries, including the U.S., Germany, Italy, France, England, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Russia, Georgia, Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran and Israel will hold bilateral talks with the exhibitors.
Unicera, where new products and models will come together with the world ceramics industry, supplies the ceramics, bath and kitchen requirements of Europe, America, Africa, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States. CNR Expo, where Unicera is organized to unite more than 1,000 brands with international buyers each year, is known as the "Ceramics Trade Center" for Turkey and neighboring countries.
The exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Commerce, and also receives exhibitor and visitor support. CNR Holding company, Istanbul Trade Fairs, organizes Unicera in cooperation with Turkish Ceramics Federation (TSF) and the Trade Association for Sanitary and Building Supplies (TIMDER).
A wide range of product groups for bathrooms, kitchens, floor and wall coverings, packaging, storage and ceramics processing technology will be exhibited.
For more information, visit http://unicera.com.tr/index.aspx?ln=2.


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Facebook ad boycott is ready to go global
“The next frontier is global pressure,” says Jim Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media
The Stop Hate for Profit campaign will begin calling on major companies in Europe to join the Facebook ad boycott, per Reuters’ interview with Jim Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media.
In the interview, Steyer told Reuters the campaign hopes to compel regulators in Europe to take a stronger stance on Facebook.
The Stop Hate for Profit campaign was launched earlier this month. To date, more than 160 companies, including Verizon Communications and Unilever, have joined the campaign. Free Press, Common Sense, Color of Change and the Anti-Defamation League launched Stop Hate for Profit following the death of George Floyd and have called on companies to stop buying ads on Facebook for the entirety of July.
“The next frontier is global pressure,” Steyer told Reuters.
While the campaign has decided to approach companies outside the US, it will continue to call on US-based companies to join the effort. Jessica Gonzalez, co-chief executive of Free Press, shared she has been busy communicating with major US telecommunications and media companies about joining the campaign.
Expanding the campaign’s reach could lead to Facebook taking a bigger hit in advertising, though it’s not likely to have a major financial impact. Unilever, for instance, announced on Friday it would pause ad spending on Facebook through the rest of the year. According to Richard Greenfield of LightShed Partners, a media and tech research firm, that only accounts for 10% of the estimated $250 million it spends on Facebook advertising annually.
According to Steyer, the push for companies outside of the US to join the campaign goes to show just how frustrated groups are over Facebook’s lack of action on misinformation and hate speech on the platform.
In response to the campaign, Facebook acknowledged it has more work to do. The company also announced it would partner with civil rights groups and subject matter experts to develop additional tools to fight hate speech on Facebook.
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Dentists oppose tax on soft drinks
The country’s dentists have come out against proposals to levy a “sugar tax” on soft drinks.
But with a Government-commissioned report proposing a 10 per cent hike in tax on soft drinks, the Irish Dental Association (IDA) said some of the money raised should be used on improving oral healthcare.
It said that because 60 per cent of the population does not consume soft drinks, any measure aimed at taxing them would target a minority group. Such a tax would also have a disproportionate effect on lower income households, it claimed.
The report by the Institute of Public Health suggests that a tax on sugary drinks, equivalent to 20 cent per bottle, could help counter the rise in obesity. Prepared for the Department of Health’s special action committee on obesity, it may lead to budget proposals for such a tax.
Cutbacks to the medical card and PRSI schemes have had a negative effect on dental health so it was logical that a proportion of the money raised by a sugar tax should be reserved for this area, the association argues.
Michael Crowe, secretary of the IDA, said the issue of food taxes was complex and the association was “not persuaded” of the merits of such a tax to tackle obesity.
Data does not show a correlation between increased consumption of soft drinks and indices of obesity, he said. “We need to reduce our consumption of all sugary drinks. So reducing consumption is not the issue, finding the best way to achieve it is.”
Food and Drink Industry Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the food and beverage sector, said imposing a “discriminatory” tax on certain food and drink products would have no health benefits and would further hit consumers. It pointed out that Denmark has decided to withdraw a saturated fat tax after only one year and was scrapping plans for a sugar tax.


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Home Tags Anthem
Dispensed: Insurers will now cover a $2.1 million drug for kids, the pharma industry’s AI ambitions, and a caravan to Canada in search of cheape...
Welcome to Dispensed, our weekly dispatch of healthcare, biotech, and pharma news from Business Insider.
The 8 biggest tech disappointments in 2019 so far, from foldable smartphones to Apple’s canceled AirPower
From "Anthem" to LG's rollable TV, it's been a banner year so far for letdowns in the world of technology.
DOJ charges Chinese man over ‘one of the worst data breaches in history’ which took 79 million people’s personal data from Anthem he...
Prosecutors say Chinese national Wang Fujie used "spearphishing" emails which opened a "backdoor" to Anthem's servers.
Grueling, 100-hour work weeks and ‘crunch culture’ are pushing the video game industry to a breaking point. Here’s what’s goin...
Video game makers from all over the world are pushing back on extreme working conditions.
One of the most-anticipated blockbuster games of 2019 just crashed and burned — here’s what’s going on with ‘Anthem’
"Anthem" was supposed to be the first huge game of 2019. Instead, it's the latest reminder that hype is a hell of a drug.
For some PlayStation 4 owners, the new blockbuster game "Anthem" is crashing their consoles.
There's plenty of excitement to be had in "Anthem" — until the rest of the game gets in the way.
EA has a ‘Fortnite’ on its hands with its new game, ‘Apex Legends.’ So what does that mean for ‘Anthem’?
With EA on the verge of launching a huge new blockbuster in "Anthem," the game is being overshadowed by another EA blockbuster: "Apex Legends."
‘It’s been a long road to get here’: BioWare’s Mike Gamble on the launch of ‘Anthem,’ and what the team learned fr...
With just a few days until the launch of "Anthem," we spoke with lead producer Mike Gamble from EA's BioWare studio.
In a surprising twist, February is absolutely stacked with major video game launches.


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A Europol-led global effort to curb cybercrime resulted in 1,803 arrests and the identification of over 18,000 money mules.
Money mules were laundering profits from various online scams like sim-swapping and man in the middle attacks, e-commerce fraud, and phishing, Europol announced.
The operation codenamed EMMA 7 involved 27 countries, Eurojust, INTERPOL, the European Banking Federation, and the FinTech FinCrime Exchange.
According to Europol, countries from five continents contributed to the operation, with multiple private sector companies assisting in the effort.
The seventh iteration of the European Money Mule Action (EMMA) resulted in over 2,000 investigations and, according to Europol, prevented over $76 million in losses by reverting 7,000 fraudulent transactions across hundreds of financial institutions.
The program operates in tandem with private sector companies, encouraging them to report suspicious or possibly illegal financial activities to national law enforcement authorities.
Most of the investigation under EMMA 7 focuses on international muling where funds and mules operate in a cross-border manner. According to Europol, mules move between countries to set up bank accounts for money laundering purposes.
In some cases, mules might not be aware of the illegal activities they’re engaging in. That’s why organized crime groups recruit students, immigrants, and people in economic distress, offering easy money via ads on social media.
“Ignorance is not an excuse when it comes to the law and money muling; they are breaking the law by laundering the illicit proceeds of crime,” read Europol’s announcement.
The countries involved in the crackdown were Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, UK, and the USA.
How to protect yourself against phishing
- Use unique and complex passwords for all of your online accounts. Password managers help you generate strong passwords and notify you when you reuse old passwords.
- Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible.
- Beware of any messages sent to you, even from your Facebook contacts. Phishing attacks will usually employ some type of social engineering to lure you into clicking malicious links or downloading infected files.
- Watch out for any suspicious activity on your Facebook or other online accounts.
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CCR best performer for condo resale prices
THE Core Central Region (CCR) looks set to be the outperformer again this year for resale prices of private apartments and condos.
Based on flash estimates for November 2016 released by SRX Property on Tuesday, its price index for resale transactions of non-landed private
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NEW YORK (AP) — Travel website operator TripAdvisor said Monday that it has completed its purchase of Viator, a website that lets consumers review and book trip activities like tours, for $200 million in cash.
TripAdvisor agreed to buy Viator on July 24. The Cambridge, Massachusetts, company says Viator offers more than 20,000 bookable tours and travelers have submitted 600,000 reviews, photos and videos to its site. Travelers Can book trips through Viator ahead of time in 10 languages and 10 currencies. Once they have reached their destinations, they can book activities through the company's app.
TripAdvisor features reader-written reviews of hotels and other businesses on its own site and websites including Airfarewatchdog, BookingBuddy and SmarterTravel.
The company said Viator is headquartered in San Francisco and has 250 employees. President and CEO Barrie Seidenberg will continue to lead the company.
Shares of TripAdvisor closed at $95.29 on Friday. Its shares have risen 15 percent so far this year.
Original headline: TripAdvisor completes $200M purchase of Viator
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Yahoo Finance allows the users to follows the stocks and get the personalized news and updates. Today Yahoo Finance app for Android has received a major update which brings the user a refurbished User Interface and some additional features for the financial news and the information adicts to check out.
The newly update app is not material design, but the new design is more in line with the Android creative of new generation. The new app features the three tabs which offers the access to the user personal stocks, news, alerts, markets, trends, real time updates and more. This new update also brings the interactive graphs feature and the user can choose to get the push alerts for the big swings in the current market situation.
Yahoo has provided the quick summary of what all included in the v2.0
“For Android platform our team has updated the Yahoo Finance app from the ground, bringing you the new home experience organized around your stock quotes and the company alerts. The new update also delivers the push notifications about the relevant breaking news and provides the enhanced interactive charts for any quote”.
In addition, the new app now has the news tab which allows the users to get the quick access to stories from the Yahoo Finance. In addition to Android app, it also refurbished for the iOS also. Everything is fine, but only the odd thing about the app is the hamburger menu which seems to be used mainly to link the other Yahoo apps. Other than that, it is the better Financial app in the Google Play Store.


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The sale of skate culture fashion retailer Supreme was simply a matter of time.
The die was cast when private equity firm Carlyle Group reportedly shelled out $500 million for a 50% stake in Supreme in the fall of 2017. So the sale falls right within the typical three- to five-year deal time frame for an outfit like Carlyle, particularly when it comes to the cyclical consumer space.
The lack of surprise around VF Corp.’s Monday announcement that it was buying the burgeoning fashion brand for $2.1 billion reflects the recent alliances between Supreme and VF brands such as Vans and North Face. Those mashups surely figured into VF’s due diligence process before the offering was made.
Adding the brand to its apparel empire means VF was willing to pay roughly four times Supreme’s projected revenue for fiscal 2022, as well as a multiple of 15 times Ebitda (earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortization, which is a measure of cash flow). The deal equates to a significant pay day for Supreme founder James Jebbia as well as Carlyle.
The deal also poses a common question: How does a large conglomerate like VF Corp. integrate Supreme into its stable of brands while maintaining its new purchase’s “underground” and edgy streetwear cache? Supreme’s reputation as a pioneer of modern streetwear stems in part from its nimble nature. That stance may be harder to support once it’s no longer independent.
The answer can be found in Supreme’s product drops. Its latest items include a mix of skateboards, a folding knife and a fishbowl. The retailer’s advertising also makes bold moves—Supreme ads recently served as the cover wrap for an edition of the New York Post. Lastly, celebrities from rapper Travis Scott to Victoria Beckham and the Kardashian-Jenner clan are frequently seen sporting the brand’s looks.
VF’s Fashion Fails
The purchase of Supreme can be considered as part of VF’s continuing metamorphosis. It’s spun off or sold legacy businesses such as its denim division, which largely consisted of Lee and Wrangler. At the same time, VF has added brands such as Timberland to its roster. Supreme bolsters the parent’s “retail-centric, hyper-digital business model,” according to VF, with the potential to be a $1 billion brand globally via international and direct-to-consumer expansion.
“While the terms ‘lifestyle brands’ and ‘authenticity’ get used and abused a lot in our industry, a quick scan of the VF portfolio confirms that each of their acquisitions has been able to retain the integrity of their original brand DNA and yet still comfortably fit within VF’s family of active-wear/accessory products,” said Hayes Roth, a principal at HA Roth Consulting.
“Supreme certainly meets this threshold as an ‘activewear’ VF brand and, by all past indications, VF will celebrate and support its authenticity while arguably professionalizing its management and marketing— as they’ve done so well for their other brands,” he added.
Supreme is a purely fashion brand, rather than one that’s in part driven by utility, like the outdoor-oriented shoppers of North Face. That form instead of function aspect poses a wrinkle for VF. To stay successful, it must remain relevant from season to season.
VF’s success with its other fashion-focused acquisitions have been mixed. For example, in 2007, VF acquired 7 For All Mankind for $775 million. That brand, along with Splendid and Ella Moss, was was eventually jettisoned for a fraction of that deal’s cost nine years later due to faltering sales.


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The Future of Healthcare
Anyone that has ever had to transfer medical records from one doctor to another knows the frustration that follows. And forget about trying to figure out expense sheets. Stress is damaging to the immune system. We don’t need more of it when we’re trying to heal.
Forbes contributor Chrissa McFarlane sees a light at the end of this tunnel, and it’s provided by blockchain. First off, she writes that blockchain offers much-needed layers of security, especially when dealing with personal information such as health history, prescriptions, and so on.
Given that blockchain is a distributed ledger technology and does not require third-party interventions, it allows institutions to decentralize their databases. Hence, by using blockchain, health care systems can significantly reduce their risk of being subject to cyber threats. It would take too much time and energy for hackers to access all of the nodes within the network and to infect the system.
By protecting both doctors and patients, trust can be ensured in a system that is currently tenuous and uncertain. McFarlane also believes blockchain addresses efficiency and coordination, which are extremely important in life or death situations.
By creating a unified ecosystem of data, distributed ledger software encourages cooperation between networks, improving payment processing, patient tracking, and enterprise workflow.
While she acknowledges the fact that current storage and transaction costs are still prohibitive, that will change as better platforms emerge. Private, permissible settings for users to truly control their data will be a key implementation in blockchain transforming healthcare—one that is hopefully closer than we think.
CBD and Crypto
Earlier this week, I attended a panel discussion at the DEW Expo in Marina del Rey, on cannabis on digital platforms. One ongoing complaint in the cannabis industry is the overpolicing of marketing efforts on social media. Some companies are continually booted from Instagram while others remain; organizations call out Facebook for burying marijuana-themed ads (or outright rejecting them).
Which makes cryptocurrency a natural fit for an industry with serious banking issues. Besides THC-heavy flower and edibles, CBD, which is often sold in non-psychoactive balms, drinks, and tinctures, is also being shuttled through blockchain. Fintech writer Gina Clarke believes CBD and crypto make for natural marriage.
It’s no surprise that the same kind of people who are attracted to the crypto market are also drawn to the CBD market, fighting an uphill battle against confusion and hysteria is a transferable skill set after all.
Considering the CBD industry is expected to be worth $22B by 2020, that’s a lot of transactions for blockchain to manage. While there are a number of blockchain start-ups hovering around the cannabis industry, someone is going to dial in a system that will be broadly employed. And whoever that is is going to cash in on one of the most exciting health and recreational industries of our day.
There’s the Beef
Another day, another use case. This one comes by way of the University of Wyoming, where a student tracked a shipment of local beef to Taiwan on a blockchain code he developed. The name of the company is perfectly named: Beefchain.
Raised on a farm in Powell, Wyoming, the shipment was tagged with RFID labels to travel to Taipei. The blockchain code allowed the protein to be tracked through the entire supply chain.
Given the issues we’ve experienced with food tracking in recent years, such as disease outbreaks in lettuce, eggs, and processed foods, a blockchain-based system will be necessary for identifying the source of the problem. That way consumers will be informed of what brands not to purchase, stores will know exactly what to pull from shelves, and suppliers will root out the issue without affecting supplies that are not tainted.
While impossible to avoid negativity and unwarranted skepticism in every industry, blockchain has received a large share of naysaying. Of course, the technology is still developing; healthy skepticism and existential questioning is needed.
The future looks bright, though, according to a recent TD Bank survey. A stunning 90 percent of treasury and finance professionals believe that blockchain will positively affect the payments industry. The survey included 406 attendees at the 2018 AFP Conference in Chicago.
Applications professionals are looking forward to
While good news for blockchain, there is a needed educational curve—another survey revealed that 63 percent of institutional investors do not understand blockchain. The advocates need to be teachers as well.
“Instead of focusing on beating the competition, you focus on making the competition irrelevant by creating a leap in value for buyers and your company, thereby opening up new and uncontested market space.” — W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, Blue Ocean Strategy


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Blueberries have become consumers' top berry, according to the Folsom, California-based U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council's (USHBC's) Consumer Usage & Attitude Study.
Victoria De Bruin, marketing manager for the USHBC, says the fruit has been rising in popularity for quite some time.
"The most recent long-term look at blueberries' success showed that U.S. per capita consumption grew 600% between 1994 and 2014 – more than any other fruit or vegetable," she says.
De Bruin says that blueberries have also transitioned from being featured as snacks or in yogurt to use in more savory dishes that are decidedly out of the norm.
"They're in baked goods and parfaits, but they're also in cocktails and meat glazes," she says. "This type of experimentation is a direct result of today's foodie culture, and the USHBC is tapping into that with the recipes we develop and the promotions we run."
Dollar sales of blueberries across the grocery store (including fresh and dried blueberries) hit $1.3 billion in the latest 52 weeks (ending Dec. 29, 2018), according to the latest data from New York-based Nielsen on total U.S. food stores.
Fresh blueberry dollar sales are up 8.8% and unit sales are up 2.8% from the previous year, says Sarah Schmansky, vice president of Nielsen’s growth and strategy fresh/health and wellness team. It also should be noted that fresh blueberry dollar sales have increased each year since the 52 weeks ending Jan. 2, 2016.
Nielsen data also showed that the average unit price of fresh blueberries in 2018 was $3.58 (which reflects a 5.8% increase in price over the previous year's average unit price of $3.38).
In terms of competitive fruit performance in 2018, Schmansky says that while apples, bananas and grapes continued to achieve the highest dollar sales in the produce department, fresh blueberry sales outperformed other fruit categories including cherries, peaches, pears, lemons, limes and watermelons.
As for why blueberry sales continue to rise, she says as consumers continue to prioritize health and wellness, they gravitate toward superfoods such as blueberries.
"Blueberries are nutrient dense and high in antioxidants," Schmansky says. "It's been a long-known superfood that has certainly influenced other categories and departments across the store."
De Bruin of the USHBC says that while the most popular uses for fresh blueberries continue to be alone as a snack, on yogurt, in cereal, in salads and on pancakes, there was a 29% increase in consumers using fresh blueberries in savory applications between 2013 and 2017.
Examples of non-traditional savory dishes include USHBC recipes for a "blueberry quinoa power bowl," blueberry balsamic dressing, and crispy chicken thighs with blueberry sauce, she adds.
Organic blueberries also are on the uptick. De Bruin says the USHBC has seen increased consumer interest in organic blueberries, and growers are meeting that demand with increased plantings.
"According to Nielsen data, organic blueberries are gaining in popularity," she says. "In 2017, their market share was 6.1% (in volume). In 2018, that volume share number jumped to 8.5%."
Jason Fung, director of category development for The Oppenheimer Group, Vancouver, British Columbia, says the company is expanding its organic blueberry offerings from both California and the Pacific Northwest during the springtime.
"The growth of the snacking category in general has certainly supported the North American consumption of blueberries, as well," he adds.
Brian Vertrees, director of business development – West region for Naturipe Farms LLC, Salinas, California, says the company offers both conventional and organic blueberries in various sizes ranging from a 6-ounce clamshell to a pint to a 2-pound clamshell.
"We see an increasing demand for organic blueberries and have increased acreage to meet this demand," he says. "In addition to organics, there is a trend for sustainable packaging. For blueberries specifically, we offer our Earth Cycle pulp-fiber pint that is completely compostable, which virtually eliminates plastic and resonates well with organic shoppers."
Fresh blueberries from South America have allowed U.S. growers and suppliers to extend the growing season so consumers can enjoy blueberries year-round, says De Bruin of the USHBC.
The domestic and Canadian blueberry seasons run from April to late September; blueberry imports from South America are available October through March.
As for the 2019 season, Cindy Jewell, vice president of marketing for California Giant Berry Farms, Watsonsville, California, says pricing has been stable so far.
"Weather is always a factor with pricing," she says. "We just need stable weather patterns in all regions to help the constant transition between districts."
With transitions occurring every couple of months from one region to another, Jewell says weather can adversely affect availability if one berry region transitions out and another starts late, creating gaps in shipments.
Franco Maggiore of Thomas Fruits et Legumes, Montreal, Quebec, says Chile has become an important producer and exporter to North America, as it has an ideal climate and rainfall to grow blueberries.
"The blueberries we presently offer to retail stores are highbush and rabbiteye varieties from Chile," he says.
South America, in general, supplies more than 25% of the world's fresh blueberries today, Maggiore adds.
When it comes to maximizing blueberry sales, Fung says as volumes peak, big-pack promotions with 2-pound clamshells will drive retail sales. Oppy offers a full line of blueberry pack styles in the Ocean Spray label.
He also suggests cross-promoting blueberries with strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.
Jewell of Cal Giant agrees that during the peak season in the summer, pints and 18-ounce containers should be promoted.
"We do a lot of consumer promotion of our brand of berries as we engage them and encourage purchases of our brand while providing recipe inspiration," Jewell says.


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Lenovo owned Motorola finally sending out Nougat update to Moto X Pure Edition. The new update rolling with Android 7.0, though not the latest one, but should be satisfactory for a more than a two-year-old device. The new update currently hitting to U.S. device with build number NPH25.200-22.
However, the company hasn’t announced officially, but multiple users have been reported for getting new update as per XDA Developer. Apart from the upgraded OS, the update brings better multitasking features, Duo video calling app added, a better Settings menu, more control over notifications, and more. Before getting this update, the device was running on Android 6.0, Marshmallow.
As usual, the update being pushed via OTA, therefore you should be popped up a new notification message. If somehow you feel impatient, you can manually check, heading to Settings > Software Updates.


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TOUR Championship announces elevated partnership with Uber
Fans encouraged to utilize Uber for efficient transportation to and from East Lake
ATLANTA – As the top 30 players in the world prepare to head to East Lake Golf Club, it couldn’t be easier for fans to get in on the action. The TOUR Championship has once again joined forces with Uber to offer fans easy access to safe rides throughout the tournament. With Uber, fans will enjoy an exclusive way to access the tournament grounds – the Uber Gate – when the world’s best golfers return to Atlanta to compete in the FedExCup finale event from August 21-25.
“Uber is helping us achieve the goal of giving our fans additional options to attend the TOUR Championship in a convenient manner,” said TOUR Championship Executive Director Allison Fillmore. “The Uber Gate and rideshare lounge allows fans to arrive safely and be dropped right in the heart of the back nine.”
In addition to an expanded Uber pick-up/drop-off area, the TOUR Championship has partnered with Uber to ensure each rider is dropped off at the correct location. This year, fans can simply type in “TOUR Championship” or “East Lake Golf Club” as their destination, and they will be automatically dropped off at the Uber Gate.
Fans can also use this address as their drop-off location: 307 2nd Ave Southeast, Atlanta, GA 30317.
The Uber Gate is located just paces away from the 13th fairway and near the 17th green and 18th tee, providing Uber riders with quick and convenient access to all of the back-nine drama and popular venues like the Grey Goose 19th Hole and Back Nine Brews.


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The former CEO and co-founder of Revolution Beauty has agreed to pay a settlement of £2.9 million to the cosmetics brand.
Revolution, which floated in July 2021 with valuation of almost £500m but is worth around £94m today, had alleged that Minto breached his fiduciary duties to the company.
Minto will pay Revolution in six annual instalments, with the first payment of £483,333.35 due on 28th March 2024.
No admission or acceptance of liability has been made by either party.
After Revolution failed to file its FY22 accounts and concerns were raised by auditors BDO over the state of its books, its shares were suspended from trading on 1st September 2022. An independent investigation then found the founders had made personal loans or other investments worth £1m without the board’s knowledge and that sales had been overstated by £9m.
It also criticised the terms of the acquisition of haircare and skincare products manufacturer Medichem, owned by Minto’s fellow co-founder Tom Allsworth. The report led to the resignation of Allsworth as executive chair and Minto as CEO.
In December, Allsworth agreed an amended timetable with Revolution for deferred payments owed to him for his stake in Medichem.
“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Adam,” said Alistair McGeorge, non-executive chairman. “This, together with the revised payment schedule agreed in December 2023 for the acquisition of Medichem, means we can now focus on the future.”
On Friday Revolution confirmed it had received a pre-action claim from one-time shareholder Chrysalis Investments Ltd, which accused the cosmetics retailer of “negligent misstatement and/or misrepresentation”.
Last year fast fashion giant Boohoo – a shareholder in Revolution – effectively forced a further boardroom shakeup at the company in a chaotic series of events.


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Mobile shopping may not have any great age barriers.
It turns out that older shoppers are comfortable using their phones to shop, with a fourth (25%) of mobile shoppers in the U.S. being 55 or older, based on a new study.
The only other age group that accounts for a larger share of mobile shoppers are those between the ages of 25 and 34, according to a report by Business Insider Intelligence.
Aggregating various research studies, BI Intelligence analyzed the buying patterns by various factors, such as age, with males 18-34 among the most active. Here’s that breakdown:
The data showed that a smaller percentage of females were involved in the same activities.
The report found that 43% of men 18 to 34 typically shop on online auction sites and that men of all age groups are more likely than women to look for lower prices on their phones.
For overall online purchasing, 40% of males 18-34 said they would buy everything online, compared to a third (33%) of females.
The report noted that there’s a disproportionate share of middle-aged adults who shop online relative to the percent of the population who are that age. For example, 23% of online shoppers fall between 34 and 44 while only 18% of the population is that age.
While going to physical stores is still the main shopping choice, mobile activity is growing across the board, no matter the age.


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Wonderful Pistachios is heading to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year, and is taking Emmy-award winning host and executive producer of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert, with it.
Worldwise, a leading consumer pet products company, has entered into a long-term, exclusive licensing agreement with kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW). Kathy Ireland will develop a line of pet products with the Worldwise team and market the collection under the brand kathy ireland Loved Ones.
Procter & Gamble’s Old Spice has revamped its lineup of men’s body sprays with new, first-in-category Re-fresh Technology, which promises to eliminate the need for guys to overspray or reapply throughout the day.
When U.S. retailers launch global e-commerce efforts, they often start with countries that have a long-standing trade history with America. Shipments to Canada are soon followed by expansion into the United Kingdom, Australia or other English-speaking areas.
Micro Center, a leading consumer electronics retailer, has entered into a multi-year agreement with the Warranty Group, a leading global provider of warranty solutions and underwriting services, which will allow the retailer to enhance its national Protection Plan program.
GE has launched a sweepstakes featuring its Dalmatian mascot, Artie, giving participants a chance to win a GE Artistry Series suite. The sweepstakes, which ends Tuesday, Jan. 7, is hosted on the manufacturer’s website and is designed to introduce Millennials to the brand.


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- By the end of the year, the Fed will decide between the economy and its inflation target, said Mohamed El-Erian.
- The central bank will decide whether it can tolerate inflation of 3% or more – above its 2% target.
- Or the Fed will choose to “break up” the economy to achieve its longstanding goal, he told CNBC.
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According to top economist Mohamed El-Erian, the Federal Reserve must make a crucial decision at the end of the year that will determine whether the US economy collapses.
In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Allianz’s chief economic adviser pointed to the market’s overly optimistic stance on inflation, even though August’s inflation report came in hotter than expected and consumer prices rose 3.7%.
However, El-Erian warned that the decline in inflation will be “much more complicated,” predicting that headline prices would rise another 60 to 70 basis points, while core inflation would also likely be “less subdued” than expected.
“At the end of the year, the Fed will face a choice: live with inflation of 3% or more or destroy the economy,” he said, adding that he hopes the Fed doesn’t put pressure on the economy.
The U.S. can live with inflation above 2% as long as it is stable, El-Erian said, calling the 2% target “completely arbitrary.”
He expects the Fed to push its timeline for reaching 2% inflation further and further into the future until it eventually moves to a higher target.
In the meantime, the stock market will have to cope with the prospect of interest rates staying higher for longer, he added.
“The market has assumed that the Fed will cut interest rates early next year. I don’t think that will happen,” El-Erian said.
Markets are currently pricing in a 37.8% chance that interest rates could be above current levels by June 2024, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
Meanwhile, the New York Fed has priced in a 61% chance that the economy could slip into recession by August next year.
Although central bankers are officially aiming to lower inflation to a long-term target of 2%, this could trigger a severe downturn for the US economy, El-Erian previously warned.
Source : www.businessinsider.com


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Retail investors find well-established stocks and bond markets to be more arcane than the wild world of cryptocurrencies, a survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF) showed on Thursday.
The privately-funded WEF's survey, in collaboration with BNY Mellon and Accenture, showed that 29% of investors said they did not understand the nascent cryptocurrency market, whereas nearly 40% of investors noted that they didn't understand stocks or bonds.
The survey also revealed that 70% of retail investors were under 45 years of age.
"With global adoption and trading volumes of crypto rising substantially over the last few years, there has been a lot of buzz about it, which is likely influencing investors' product awareness," said Meagan Andrews, investing lead at WEF.
"Less coverage of more traditional products, like stocks and bonds, may also have the opposite effect on awareness."
The cryptocurrency market value ballooned to as much as $3 trillion last year, according to data platform CoinMarketCap.com, but it has lost nearly two-third of its value amid surging inflation and tightening financial conditions.
Crypto market's peak, however, was miniscule in comparison to the $124.4 trillion global equity market and the even bigger $126.9 trillion bond market in 2021, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.
The survey comes as retail investors become a force to be reckoned with, after they banded together on social media forums last year to drive eye-watering rallies in GameStop and squeezed bearish hedge funds.
A poll by Gallup published in May showed 58% of Americans said that they own stocks.
The WEF survey of more than 9,000 individuals across nine countries also revealed that a majority of investors were looking to build long-term wealth.
But, about 40% of those surveyed did not invest and said they did so because they didn't know how to invest or found investing too confusing.
(Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V)


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