One particular problem the recent Snap IPO news brought to light yet again is how few women sit on the boards of directors of major public companies. This, in light of the fact that recent findings from MSCI ESG , a global research firm, indicate that companies with strong female representation on boards generated a Return on Equity of 10.1% per year versus 7.4% for those without.
Month: February 2017
The Tech Geek’s Guide To Talking To Other People At Work
That blank stare from the CMO doesn’t mean she’s an idiot. It means you need to translate your tech speak into business speak.
Could The Way Unemployment Is Reported Change Under Trump?
The president doesn’t trust the unemployment numbers, but the stats he’s looking for have been a part of the report for 70 years. Take the gender wage gap.
This Is How Planned Parenthood Is Gearing Up For Its Hardest Fight Yet
Planned Parenthood has been battling to keep its doors open for 100 years. Here’s how it’s preparing for the latest threats.
7 Late-Breaking Signs You Should Rethink Taking That Job Offer
Getting a job offer is exciting, but don’t let your enthusiasm cloud your judgment. Run through this checklist before saying yes.
Separatist commander assassinated in eastern Ukraine
In this Nov. 2, 2014, file photo, a Pro-Russian rebel commander with the nom de guerre Givi casts his ballot during supreme council and presidential elections on the front line near Donetsk airport in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. Rebels’ Donets News Agency said on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, that Mikhail Tolstykh, better known under his nom de guerre Givi, died early Wednesday morning in what it described as a terrorist attack.
Renault-Nissan Nears GM Global Sales After Ghosn’s Japan Rescue
The Renault-Nissan Alliance came just short of matching General Motors Co. and joining the ranks of the three-biggest automakers by global sales, after Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn rescued a Japanese peer last year.
Maersk Slumps as Company Unveils Second Loss Since World War II
A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S unexpectedly lost money in 2016 as Denmark’s biggest company wrote down the value of some of the energy assets it plans to split off. Maersk shares fell as much as 7.1 percent as the Copenhagen-based conglomerate reported a 2016 net loss of $1.94 billion.
Singapore Air Extends Jet Fuel Hedging as OPEC Cuts Sway Oil
Singapore Airlines Ltd., Southeast Asia’s biggest carrier, extended some of its fuel-hedging contracts to as long as five years, betting on an upswing in crude oil prices amid OPEC production cuts and renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The marquee airline, which reported a 36 percent drop in profit for the three months through December, said Tuesday that it has entered into longer-dated Brent hedges with maturity extending to 2022.
‘Diversity – a buzzword because it’s common business sense’
Karen Blackett has been voted the UK’s most influential black person. Chair of the media agency Mediacom, she is a huge advocate for diversity. Speaking to Rachel Horne and Sally Bundock on Business Live, she says that more inclusive workforces bring both social and economic benefits.
Carlsberg Stock Stumbles on Russian Beer Market Outlook
Carlsberg says it expects to deliver mid-single digit organic operating profit growth in 2017 and a further reduction in financial leverage. Carlsberg A/S shares fell sharply in the opening hour of trading Wednesday after the brewer said it expected to deliver mid-single digit organic operating profit growth in 2017 as sales in its key Russian market suffer from a ban on larger bottles.
European Stocks Mixed, Single Currency Extends Declines Amid Cautious Trading
European stocks opened with a cautious tone Wednesday as ongoing political concerns in the region continued to offset underlying corporate and economic fundamentals. European stocks opened with a cautious tone Wednesday as ongoing political concerns in the region continued to offset underlying corporate and economic fundamentals.
SoftBank Doubles 9-Month Profit; Hails Ongoing Sprint Turnaround
SoftBank said its nine-month profit doubled from last year as the Japanese wireless carrier enjoyed boosts from its domestic broadband business and noted a turnaround at U.S. Sprint. SoftBank said its nine-month profit doubled from the same period last year as the Japanese wireless carrier enjoyed boosts from its domestic broadband business and a turnaround at is U.S. Sprint division.
Oil Falls on Bloated U.S. Fuel Inventories
Oil prices dropped on Wednesday to extend falls from the previous day, as a massive increase in U.S. fuel inventories and a slump in Chinese demand implied that global crude markets remain oversupplied despite OPEC-led efforts to cut output. International Brent crude futures were trading at 54.70 per barrel at 0758 GMT, down 35 cents, or 0.64 percent, from their previous close.
Hyundai may source car batteries from China amid political tension
Hyundai Motor said on Wednesday it may procure electric vehicle batteries from Chinese companies for a planned China model after South Korean battery makers failed to make a list of approved vendors last year. The decision comes at a time of growing concern in South Korea that Beijing may be retaliating over Seoul’s decision to deploy a U.S. anti-missile system.
Documents show Melania Trump still involved in branding
In this Jan. 20, 2017, file photo, first lady Melania Trump leaves the President’s Room of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington after President Donald Trump signed his first legislation. First lady Melania Trump expected to develop “multi-… million dollar business relationships” tied to her presence in the White House, according to a lawsuit she filed.
SoftBank quarterly profit soars on investment empire
Japanese telecommunications, internet and solar company SoftBank Group Corp. reported Wednesday that its October-December profit soared to about 40 times what it was a year ago. Tokyo-based SoftBank’s fiscal third quarter profit totaled 91.2 billion yen up dramatically from 2.3 billion yen in 2015.
Energy Transfer to Get Dakota Access Pipeline Approval From U.S.
The controversial Dakota Access pipeline is set to gain the final go-ahead for completion after President Donald Trump asked for a speedy approval. The U.S. Army said it will grant Energy Transfer Partners LP the easement it needs to finish the line that will ship almost half a million barrels of crude a day from North Dakota’s shale fields to refineries across the Midwest and on to the Gulf Coast.
Smearing Team Trump
This is bad for my health, because I get so mad at the smug socialist spin, but how can I not read it? It’s my hometown paper. My wife wakes me up with indignant questions like, “How can you say government is too big? The Times says … ” Wait a second.
Republicans vote to silence Elizabeth Warren for reading…
Republicans voted to silence Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on Tuesday night, during a Senate floor debate over Sen. Jeff Sessions’ nomination as President Donald Trump’s attorney general. Warren, who is among the Democratic senators opposing Sessions’ appointment, attempted to read from a 1986 letter written by Coretta Scott King, the wife of civil-rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stopped Warren, alleging her recitation of the letter violated Senate rule 19, which forbids conduct “unbecoming” of a senator.
Apple just poached an Amazon executive to save its struggling…
Apple has poached Timothy D. Twerdahl, former director and GM of Amazon’s Fire TV unit, in an effort to revive its struggling Apple TV business, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Twerdahl’s will oversee product marketing for Apple TV, the report said.
Review launched after Ohio inmate killed in transport van
This undated photo provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction shows David Johnson, who received an eight-year sentence for sexual battery. The Ross County, Ohio, Coroner’s Office identified Johnson as the inmate fatally strangled Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, while riding in a transport van to the Ross County Correctional Institution with other prisoners and guards, after Johnson had been taken to Columbus, Ohio, for medical treatment, according to Ross County Prosecutor Matthew Schmidt.
Richmond police officer tied to sex scandal to stay on force
One of the Richmond police officers tied to the sex scandal involving a teenager known as Jasmine will stay on the force, according to the city manager. One of the Richmond police officers tied to the sex scandal involving a teenager known as Jasmine will stay on the force, according to the city manager.
Saudi Aramco Said to Pick Moelis to Advise on Biggest IPO
Saudi Arabian Oil Co. hired Moelis & Co. to advise on its initial public offering, according to a person familiar with the matter, as it pushes ahead with plans to pursue the world’s biggest share sale.
Goldman Banker Diaspora Offers New Hiring Opportunity, Bok Says
Boutique investment banks are finding more opportunities to hire from giant U.S. rivals, said Scott Bok, the chief executive officer of Greenhill & Co. European banks remain “a relatively fertile ground” for recruiting as their leaders work to cut costs amid declining revenue, Bok said Tuesday at a conference held by Credit Suisse Group AG.
Hedge Fund That Made 56% in FX Backs New Trading Platform
The $5.1 trillion-a-day foreign exchange market’s newest upstart trading venue has big ambitions to bring more of the world’s currency transactions to Asia. It also has some big-name backers.
What the Net Neutrality Rollback Means for Netflix Users
Under President Donald Trump’s newly-minted chairman, the Federal Communications Commission is quickly working to eliminate regulations created to ensure internet service providers grant equal access to all web content – the rules commonly known as “net neutrality.” The shift is part of an unspooling of FCC policies from the Obama administration.
Moelis Wins Massive Mandate for Saudi Aramco IPO – Report
Moelis , a New York based boutique investment bank, has won the largest-ever equity advisory mandate for Saudi Aramco’s long anticipated initial public offering, The Financial Times reported Tuesday. Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, has been considering Moelis, founded by Ken Moelis during the 2007 financial crisis, among others including Rothschild and Lazard to advise on the complex deal since September, according to reports.
Futures Lower, Asia Mixed as Investors Seek Guidance
Futures for U.S. markets were negative late Tuesday despite an up day on Wall Street, highlighting the schizophrenic trading environment where investors are worried about the current administration but pleased with earnings season so far. The S&P 500 slipped 0.12%, Nasdaq 0.01% and the Dow Jones Industrials Average 0.03% at 9:18 p.m. EST.
ALA denounces recent FCC Lifeline revocations, report retractions
On February 3, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission revoked all of the designations of Lifeline Broadband Providers and ordered the retraction of multiple reports, including the ” E-rate Modernization Progress Report ” and ” Improving the Nation’s Digital Infrastructure .” ALA is dismayed by these actions to reduce digital opportunity and revise the public record.
Disney boss warns China trade war would be damaging
Walt Disney’s chief executive has warned that a trade war between the US and China would be bad for business. And it says Disneyland Shanghai – its first theme park in mainland China – was one of its “biggest success stories in 2016.”
Snap IPO: Millennials Love It, Should Investors?
Form S-1 is used to register securities with the SEC and provides prospective investors the first glimpse at a company’s financials and other data the company wishes to disclose. Snap’s S-1 has the standard balance sheet and income and cash flow statements, but it includes a lot of juicy details, as well.
Nuance Boosts Bookings on Healthcare, Automotive Demand
Increasingly, Nuance has sought to make many different tasks easier, whether it’s transcribing doctors’ notes into electronic medical records or having automobile entertainment systems understand commands from drivers. Coming into Tuesday’s fiscal first-quarter financial report, Nuance investors were prepared for slight declines in revenue and earnings per share, but the company managed to score a slight sales gain on big gains in new bookings.
FedEx just launched a new service that takes on Amazon’s super…
FedEx is making an aggressive play to grab some of Amazon’s most valuable customers, as competition between the two longtime partners heats up. FedEx Fulfillment, which the shipping giant launched on Tuesday, is an effort by FedEx to cater to the small and medium sized companies whose businesses increasingly rely on online sales.
Lobbying world
Capitol Counsel hired Stacie Aman as a principal within its healthcare team. Aman comes from Golden Living, a provider of home health, hospice, rehabilitative therapy and assisted-living care services, where she served as the company’s top lobbyist and public affairs strategist.
Gilead’s Biggest Blockbusters Are Fading Fast, Biotech Warns
Gilead Sciences Inc.’s massive hepatitis C franchise is fading, the company warned Tuesday, projecting that sales this year could be just two-thirds of what investors had been expecting. Revenue from the company’s drugs for the viral infection will be $7.5 billion to $9 billion in 2017, Gilead said in a statement.
Overnight Tech: Dems vow to fight for net neutrality | FCC chief…
DEMS DRAW THE LINE ON NET NEUTRALITY: Democrats on Tuesday vowed to stand firm against any efforts by Republicans to roll back the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules. “The big broadband barons and their Republican allies want to turn back the clock and make big cable and big cellphone companies the gatekeepers for internet access,” Sen. Ed Markey said at a press conference in the Capitol.
Orbital ATK sues Pentagon over plans to award a space robots contract to a Canadian-owned firm
Orbital ATK, a Dulles-based aerospace manufacturer, is suing the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency over plans to award a Canadian firm a $15 million contract to build a fleet of space-faring robots capable of repairing government and commercial satellites. Orbital argues the federal program, called the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites, would unfairly compete with its own privately funded effort, a system called the Mission Extension Vehicle 1, backed by at least $200 million from investors.
Iger ‘Open’ to Staying at Disney, Bullish on ESPN Digital Distribution
Disney CEO Bob Iger says he’s “open” to postponing his retirement, while he’s confident new digital pay-TV platforms will help declines in cable-TV subscriptions to the sports network. When asked on the company’s quarterly conference call Tuesday about a recent The Wall Street Journal report that he might extend his contract beyond a previously planned retirement date of June 2018, Iger demurred, and then read a carefully prepared statement.
Uber Fighting to Stay Ahead in Flying Car Initiative
Uber shows how tech companies are continuing to innovate sectors at a faster rate than traditional industries, futurist Jim Carroll told TheStreet. Uber’s concept of flying cars that take off and land vertically.