Category: Uncategorized

In MACROECONOMIC & MARKETS NEWS, the EU tries to pitch to the US, China motors on, investors pile in and Tesla’s inclusion causes much head-scratching. In M&A AND IPO NEWS, UK M&A shoots up and S&P Global approaches IHS Markit while Airbnb and DoorDash aim high. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, Weight Watchers slims and Esports triumphs while preparations are made for vaccine rollout. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the UK cuts Huawei off quicker, Arcadia faces collapse and Black Friday underwhelms in shops. AND FINALLY, I bring you “spot the sniper” and unusual Christmas tree decoration…

In MACROECONOMIC & BITCOIN NEWS, Merkel suggests closing ski resorts, economic sentiment improves and Bitcoin suffers. In RETAIL/HIGH-STREET NEWS, hopes are high for Black Friday, Klarna benefits, Mulberry does better in Asia and UK pubs warn of more hurt. In TECH NEWS, social media pressures rise, the UK introduces a new digital watchdog and Salesforce/Slack gathers momentum. AND FINALLY, I bring you some impressive dad dancing (not me 😁)…

In TECH NEWS, France imposes the digital tax, Facebook makes an error, TikTok gets an extension, Salesforce eyes Slack and IBM announces job cuts. In M&A NEWS, Bertelsmann buys Simon & Schuster, Future buys GoCompare and AA agrees to takeover. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Netflix ups the budget, De La Rue is in talks about a Covid passport and AstraZeneca’s vaccine faces criticism. In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, Sunak outlines the latest response to an “economic emergency”. AND FINALLY, I bring you a Tom Kerridge Christmas…

In MARKETS, CRYPTO & VACCINE NEWS, US stocks rise, Bitcoin breaks $19k and Sputnik is looking good. In RETAIL NEWS, we look at the problems faced by global retailers as well as the fortunes of Best Buy, Debenhams, AO World and Pets at Home while Sainsbury’s offers in-store Patisserie Valerie and I bring you the latest retail catchphrase. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, we look at Peloton frustration, Camelot’s triumph and Compass’ thoughts on the effects of WFH. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, India bans more Chinese apps while Accor and Hoxton cosy up. AND FINALLY, I bring you something you might not have known about biscuits…

In PHARMACEUTICAL NEWS, we take a closer look at the impact of AstraZeneca/Oxford University’s vaccine, Merck buying OncoImmune and Amazon’s recent foray into pharmacy. In RESCUE NEWS, Cineworld gets a lifeline, the AA gets a private equity offer and JD Sports is the frontrunner for Debenhams. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, GM does a big recall and Danone cuts jobs. AND FINALLY, I bring you dishwasher veggies…

In CORONATRENDS NEWS, propane demand explodes in the US but in the UK, office projects stall, moves towards railway nationalisation continue, covid prompts reshoring, motor insurers await a nice bump, there’s an elephant in the room regarding house prices and Regeneron gets the green light. In ALTERNATIVE FUEL NEWS, Ineos signs a hydrogen deal with Hyundai as the UK EV charging network proves to be very skewed. In RETAIL NEWS, Black Friday is going to be even more crucial than usual and Sainsbury’s quits financial services. CHINA TECH NEWS, regulator crackdown prompts an investor rethink on tech. AND FINALLY, I bring you a novel way of flirting for baristas…

In CONSUMER/GOODS/RETAIL NEWS, UK consumer confidence weakens, the PS5 launch crashes sites, Frasers increases its stake in Mulberry, Peacocks and Jaeger go under and Naked Wines toasts more subscriptions. In CORONAVIRUS DRUG NEWS, the WHO dismisses Remdesivir but an arthritis drug looks promising. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, Royal Mail delivers more parcels and Cineworld seeks out a CVA. INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, GM pledges more money for EVs and Roblox heads for an IPO. AND FINALLY, I bring you a very clever dog…

In CONSUMER/RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, Inflation rises, wages freeze, Halford peddles well and British Land offloads retail while in the US, Target hits the spot and TK Maxx’s parent makes an online push. In ELECTRIC VEHICLE NEWS, Arrival aims for NY and Panasonic has European battery plans. In TECH NEWS, Nvidia sees higher demand and Apple relents. INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, the Pfizer/BioNTech solution looks even more promising, Norwegian Air files for bankruptcy protection and RSA accepts the takeover bid. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusually specialised estate agent and a life lesson…

In BITCOIN & FINANCIALS NEWS, Bitcoin reaches new highs, Santander buys Wirecard’s European business and Co-Op Bank gets an approach. In CONSUMER/RETAIL NEWS, we look at US and UK sales trends and Walmart’s slowing rise. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Amazon takes on pharmacies, Airbnb marches towards its IPO and Nio sales shoot up. AND FINALLY, I bring you taekwondo vs judo…

In VACCINE-RELATED NEWS, Moderna’s news boosts markets. CORONATRENDS NEWS, Home Depot splashes out, the birth rate falls, Cinemark signs a historic deal and UK Lockdown 2.0 has less impact. In ELECTRIC VEHICLE-RELATED NEWS, Tesla is to join the S&P while EVs in the UK lag. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Walmart pulls out of Japan, Airbnb looks good ahead of its IPO, BBVA targets a smaller rival and UK house prices fall. AND FINALLY, I bring you a dodgy birthday cake and a busy Christmas tree…

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, a historic Asian trade deal is signed, Japan’s economy rebounds and BoJo self-isolates. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, Simon Property and Taubman agree on a lower price, the Supreme Court readies itself for an insurance battle and Johnson & Johnson launches a UK trial. In CONSUMER & UK HIGH STREET NEWS, US consumers pay down debt, Arcadia wobbles, Mitchells & Butlers cuts venues, the Post Office distances itself from Royal Mail and Nando’s rescues Wahaca. AND FINALLY, I bring you an idea for super-quick roasties and a blue dog…

In CORONATRENDS NEWS, WeWork burns even more cash, Emirates announces its first loss in over 30 years and Tui faces criticism. In RETAIL NEWS, WH Smith announces cuts and closures, Burberry wants tax-free to continue and B&M announces big profits. In MEDIA-RELATED NEWS, Disney is a mixed bag, ITV says ads are turning a corner, TikTok gets a reprieve and Roblox considers an IPO. AND FINALLY, I bring you a highly controversial cheesecake…

In CONSUMER/RETAIL NEWS, we see rising household debts, a hot residential property market into the end of the year and worries about retailers coping. TECH NEWS, China tech suffers, Alibaba has a stellar Singles Day and TikTok tries another delay. In PHARMACEUTICAL NEWS, we look at potential vaccine hurdles and Pfizer’s chief exec makes a handy bonus. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, we look at the effects of BoJo’s takeover rules and Flutter’s US success. AND FINALLY, I bring you one of my favourite ever music videos…

In REGULATION NEWS, China draws up antitrust rules, the EU accuses Amazon and UK takeover rules tighten. VACCINE NEWS, we look at who’s in the race as well as Pfizer and potential logistical challenges. In TECH NEWS, the sector gets sold but it can still win and Apple announces a new chip. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Spotify continues to invest in podcasts and Premier Foods benefits from more home-cooking. AND FINALLY, I bring you an apologetic tooth fairy and Bake-Off outrage…

In CORONAVIRUS NEWS, Pfizer’s revelation sparks a rally, optimism is tinged with caution and Eli Lilly gets approval. MACRO & TREND NEWS, the EU starts to impose tariffs on the US and the Turkish lira jumps while. In M&A NEWS, VF buys Supreme and Countrywide gets an approach. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Ant Group faces hurdles, Norwegian Air is refused a bailout and Nikola’s losses deepen. AND FINALLY, I bring you a tough coffee exam question…

In TRUMP/BIDEN NEWS, Trump kicks and screams his way out of the White House and we see what Biden has in store. In FINANCIAL NEWS, Buffett benefits, fund raising is about to increase, Scottish Widows gets a conscience and there’s a rush on UK bank loans. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, China drives demand for European luxury goods and private equity targets Reebok. AND FINALLY, I bring you a must-have Aldi product…

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, uncertainty continues over the US election while Sunak and the Bank of England give support. FINANCIALS NEWS, Ant Group looks at a long delay, SocGen profits on trading and RSA announces a takeover bid. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, AstraZeneca nears an announcement and Nintendo hikes up its profit targets while a Chinese escooter-maker, Peloton and pizza trend up and fast food breakfasts crash. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Uber and Lyft could set the example, Sainsbury’s cuts down on Argos and storm clouds gather over Ocado. AND FINALLY, I bring you Santa’s Yumnut and some tips on how to win Monopoly under lockdown…

In US ELECTION & MACRO NEWS, it’s all looking a bit tricky in the US as the UK heads for a double-dip recession. In NEWS ABOUT THE UK HIGH STREET, shoppers make a last minute dash – but jobs are cut, Mike Ashley pulls out of Debenhams talks and Clarks finds a rescuer. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Uber and Lyft get a major boost, BMW benefits from China, Qualcomm benefits from 5G smartphone sales and we look at Ant repercussions. AND FINALLY, I bring you some controversial shoes…

In CORONATRENDS NEWS, we see why Lockdown 2.0 may not be so bad and consider more winners and losers. In FIN/TECH NEWS, Ant Group’s IPO gets a kick in the teeth and Nvidia/Arm is getting Chinese resistance. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Ikea says it’s ready for lockdown, BNP benefits from trading revenues and Deloitte grows its legal arm. AND FINALLY, I show you why you need to put the lid down…

In CORONATRENDS NEWS, we take a look at what the forecasters are saying, long-term and short-term winners and losers and how coronavirus is changing behaviour. In RETAIL NEWS, Ocado lifts its forecasts while Alibaba makes a fashion investment. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Nexi buys payments rival Nets for €7.2bn, China Evergrande raises $2.2bn and Serco loses a big contract. AND FINALLY, I bring you a scary train incident…

In MACRO & OIL NEWS, we look at the US election and beyond, downbeat Eurozone forecasts, UK lockdown implications and an agreement with TfL whilst oil prices fall. In RETAIL NEWS, footfall slides, toyshops close, Sainsbury’s looks like getting a Christmas boost while Sweaty Betty proves popular. In GAMING NEWS, Sony and Microsoft go head-to-head and videogame popularity surges in the US. AND FINALLY, I bring you the right way to eat Jaffa Cakes…

In MACROECONOMIC & OIL NEWS, the US economy bounces back, oil hits a low and Exxon makes deep cuts. FAANG NEWS, Facebook’s revenues rise, Amazon aims to keep up with demand, Netflix ups its prices and Google’s ad sales return. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, Moderna collects deposits, Lloyds Bank benefits from the housing market frenzy, Kraft Heinz and Kellogg benefit from comfort eating, Hornby benefits from lockdown demand but Anheuser-Busch suffers from home drinking. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, VW gets back to profit, Starbucks sees customers return, Walmart stops gun sales and Juul settles for a more modest valuation. AND FINALLY, I bring you a method for making crispy roast potatoes…

In MACRO & MARKETS NEWS, India/China relations get testier, Germany and France impose new measures and markets wobble. CONSUMER/CONSUMER GOODS-RELATED NEWS, Visa and Mastercard point to a nervous US consumer (but US car sales are strengthening), UK estate agents push for a stamp duty holiday extension, LVMH/Tiffany is back on and Sony aims high for its PS5. In TECH-RELATED NEWS, Apple targets search but faces French privacy problems while Pinterest revenues climb. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Heineken announces cuts, Glaxo wanes, Next delights and John Lewis goes for mixed use at its flagship. AND FINALLY, I bring you an exploding dessert…

In M&A AND IPO NEWS, AMD buys Xilinx, LVMH and Tiffany renegotiate terms and Airbnb aims for a listing. TECH NEWS, Microsoft rides the cloud and TikTok turns to Shopify. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, Waymo does a deal with Daimler Trucks, Daimler buys into Aston and Jaguar Land Rover hits profit. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, BP profits but warns about the future, UK banks consider charging and Big Hit Entertainment slides. AND FINALLY, I bring you some “offensive” fusion…

In MARKETS & CORONAVIRUS TRENDS, US and European markets weaken and we see how Lockdown 2.0 could highlight different winners. In FINTECH & TECH NEWS, Ant Group aims to raise $34bn, Facebook moves into cloud-based gaming and SAP takes short term pain for long term gain. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Dunkin’ talks to an acquiror, DHL hires more staff and The Hut Group ups its sales forecasts. AND FINALLY, I bring you some sleep guidance…

In CORONATRENDS NEWS, private jets get popular, home workers seek refuge elsewhere, Lloyds tells staff to go home until spring and copper prices rise. In RETAIL NEWS, Debenhams’ suitors face a deadline while Cath Kidston returns online. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Apple faces Google fallout and the Oxford Covid trials go well. AND FINALLY, I bring you a dancer’s save and some dodgy handwriting…

In CONSUMER NEWS, Sunak gets more generous, consumer confidence takes a dent and take a bit wealth hit. RETAIL/CONSUMER GOODS NEWS, Gap considers European closures, Hermès and Kering show a recovery in luxury, Barbie sales take off, Coca-Cola fizzes and Guinness announces a zero alcohol version. In TECH NEWS, Intel weakens and we see that Microsoft might benefit from Google’s woes. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Gilead gets remdesivir approval and BA’s owner cuts capacity. AND FINALLY, I bring you a challenge – real house or dolls’ house? You decide…

In FAANG NEWS, Facebook launches its dating site in the UK and we look at why Netflix ain’t dead yet and what’s going on with Google. ELECTRIC VEHICLE NEWS, Tesla’s profits rises as it talks about mining and we see how EV development costs will fall. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, Ad demand falls, UK home sales rise and more people eat in with Nestlé. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Ericsson gets Huawei crumbs, PayPal accepts Bitcoin and Quibi shuts down. AND FINALLY, I show you how to make your own cola…

In TRANSPORT-RELATED NEWS, Cathay Pacific takes drastic action, airports lose £83m a week, the Trainline boss quits and TfL gets threatened by government. TECH-RELATED NEWS, Google gets sued by the Justice Department, Snapchat adds more users and Sweden is the latest country to ban Huawei. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, testing goes to the next level for some, Odeon’s owner AMC Entertainment raises cash, Netflix subscriber growth loses momentum and Reckitt Benckiser cleans up. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Pioneer buys Parsley Energy in another shale deal, Waitrose readies for a price war and Next has wage issues. AND FINALLY, I bring you a very unfortunate photo…

In M&A AND IPO NEWS, Conoco Phillips buys Concho, Alibaba takes control of Sun Art, Intel sells NAND business to SK Hynix and Ant’s $30bn gets the go-ahead. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, Landsec decides to sell a massive chunk of its properties and Heathrow offers rapid checks. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Universal offers up movies, EVs face fire risk and Boohoo loses its auditor. AND FINALLY, I bring you an astrologer’s predictions…

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, China GDP grows, Europe faces a double-dip and fund managers back Biden to win. TECH NEWS, it looks like Big Tech will suffer whoever wins the election and Facebook could get a big fine. In RETAIL NEWS, UK shops close at a record rate and Hamleys cuts jobs. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, the US appeals to developing nations to supply networks, increasing electric car adoption is leading to a tussle for charging control while Europe is set to decide on vegan “burgers” or discs. AND FINALLY, I bring you the latest trend in handbags…

In CONSUMER/RETAIL-RELATED NEWS, credit card borrowing costs are expected to rise and we’re spending money on Domino’s and AO World but not at Boots. Marston’s faces reality, the EG Group brothers face scrutiny and LVMH offers hope. FINANCIALS NEWS, Stripe buys into Africa, Morgan Stanley sees profits jump and more fund raising looks likely. In TECH NEWS, Google Chrome comes under the spotlight and Twitter goes down. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Ford leans on rivals, Ryanair makes tough choices and Big Hit Entertainment looks vulnerable. AND FINALLY, I bring you a VERY weird tattoo and some expensive underpants…

In BANKS NEWS, Goldman Sachs profits while falling interest rates take the shine off Bank of America and Wells Fargo. In PROPERTY NEWS, WeWork discounts rents, residential seems to be running out of steam but the top end is buzzing. In RETAIL/HIGH STREET NEWS, ASOS performs well but is cautious while Boparan buys GBK. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, BTS’s management company’s IPO proves to be “dynamite”, Zoom aims to cash in, Marshall Wace buys into IAG and Deloitte abandons EG Group. AND FINALLY, I bring you a Nigella pasta idea…

In MACRO/TRADE-RELATED NEWS, China grows, EU/US Boeing/Airbus tensions rise and Boeing’s orders hit a covid pocket. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, trials are halted for Lilly and J&J, UK unemployment rises and we spend on booze but not at cinemas. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, Apple does its reveal, Amazon pushes on, JPMorgan surprises on the upside and Cornish Lithium continues to garner interest. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusual depiction of Peppa Pig…

In MACROECONOMIC NEWS, India unveils a $10bn stimulus package and the Bank of England talks about negative interest rates. In TECH NEWS, digital tax reforms hit snags, Apple is about to unveil new phones and Samsung has BTS problems. In CORONATRENDS NEWS, PC demand hits new highs, Disney+ gets promoted, retail sales rise and Amazon readies itself for Prime Day. In INDIVIDUAL COMPANY NEWS, P&O takes delivery of a massive cruise ship, British Airways’ chief departs and Jaguar faces potential expense. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusual alternative to WFH and an unfortunate engagement announcement…

In TECH NEWS, EU targets Big Tech and Facebook puts out dodgy ads. In EMPLOYMENT NEWS, banks tell staff to come home and Silicon Valley companies look at pay cuts. In NEWS ON CONSUMER & CORONAVIRUS TRENDS, EV sales triple, Levi’s and Hilfiger get creative, McDonald’s and the like boom while your local eatery suffers, UK cinema admissions reach historic lows while vaccine recourse will be limited. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusual takeaway option…