Sales & Marketing news

• Consumer groups want federal regulators to recall the Google Mini after a glitch made it 'intercept and record private conversations' (GOOG, GOOGL)

  13-10-2017 23:55 via feedproxy.google.com
  A coalition of privacy advocacy groups are urging federal regulators to recall Google's new $50 smart speaker, after a malfunction in some early units caused it to secretly record conversations. 
  The Google Home Mini has not actually shipped yet — the device is slated to go on sale October 19 — but product reviewers at various media organizations have had early access to evaluation units for weeks. One reviewer from Android Police reported that a glitch in hi
  
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• From Corker to McConnell, here are all the Republican senators Trump has attacked on Twitter

  13-10-2017 22:55 via feedproxy.google.com
  Perhaps more than anything else, President Donald Trump is known for his bombastic and unconventional style of communication.
  A cornerstone of that unorthodox strategy is the use of the president's private Twitter account to do everything from conducting foreign policy to whipping votes for major legislation.
  Trump's Twitter has also been the venue of brutal attacks against political opponents, the media, and celebrities.
  On Twitter, Trump is also not shy about attacking members of his own party
  
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• HP's stock set a new 52-week high on Friday after delivering a strong profit forecast (HPQ)

  13-10-2017 22:28 via feedproxy.google.com
  Investors snapped up shares of HP Inc. on Friday after the company indicated that it expects to have a buoyant and profitable 2018.
  The stock was up as much as 7.8% and set a 52-week high of $22 a share in regular trading on Friday, and finished the session up 6.4%.  
  The bump followed HP's annual analyst meeting on Thursday, where the company delivered a strong profit forecast that topped Wall Street expectations.
  HP said it expects to
  
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• STOCKS CLIMB TO RECORD HIGHS: Here's what you need to know

  13-10-2017 22:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  Stocks climbed to a new record as a core reading of inflation slowed, showing that economic growth is continuing to grind along.
  The S&P 500 gained 0.1%. Meanwhile, the Dow increased 0.2% and the more tech-heavy Nasdaq also rose 0.2%.
  First up, the scoreboard:
  Dow: 22,873.83, +32.82, (+0.14%)
  S&P 500: 2,552.70, +1.73, (+0.07%)
  Nasdaq: 6,603.05, +11.34, (+0.17%)
  US 10-year yield: 2.28%, -0.04
  WTI crude oil: $51.36, +0.76
  1. Forget bitcoin, an $8 trillion bubble in global markets is waitin
  
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• A company just inked the first ever deal to supply US-grown hemp fiber to an apparel company

  13-10-2017 21:38 via feedproxy.google.com
  A Nebraska-based company signed Thursday the first contract to supply US-grown hemp fiber to a sustainable apparel company, according to an investor close to the deal. 
  Bastcore, LLC, purchases raw hemp grown by US farmers and has a proprietary process for converting hemp stalks into commercial materials, for textiles, composites, and energy production. 
  "This fiber supply contract marks a historic milestone in the U.S. Hemp Industry, and particularly for American-made hemp texti
  
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• The Weinstein Company will reportedly be sold off or shut down — but the company publicly denies it

  13-10-2017 21:26 via feedproxy.google.com
  The Weinstein Company seems to be on the brink of collapse. 
  The company once run by disgraced executive Harvey Weinstein, and currently watched over by his brother, cofounder Bob Weinstein, is no longer planning to be renamed and operate independently, according to The Wall Street Journal.  
  It was previously reported that the company was meeting with ad agencies to figure out how to rename the company and move forward, after allegations that Weinstein was sexually harassing and abusi
  
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• Jamie Dimon talks about bitcoin one day after saying 'I'm not going to talk about bitcoin anymore'

  13-10-2017 20:02 via feedproxy.google.com
  Jamie Dimon can't get bitcoin off his mind. 
  JPMorgan's CEO popped off about bitcoin one day after saying he was done talking about the red-hot digital currency, which Friday morning reached more than $5,800 per coin. 
  The billionaire banker, who in mid-September called bitcoin "a fraud" said on Friday "who cares about bitcoin" while speaking at a conference in Washington DC.
  He also said that governments "are going to crush it one day."
  "If you're stupid
  
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• REPORT: Saudi Aramco is 'considering shelving plans for an IPO'

  13-10-2017 19:52 via feedproxy.google.com
  Saudi Aramco might be delaying its initial public offering.
  The Financial Times' Anjli Raval, James Fontanella-Khan, Arash Massoudi, and Simeon Kerr report that the state-oil behemoth "is considering shelving plans for an international public offering in favour of a private share sale to the world's biggest sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors."
  Five people familiar with the situation said that talks with foreign governments — including China — and o
  
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• Trump needs to make another key appointment as Janet Yellen's right hand man steps down

  13-10-2017 19:10 via feedproxy.google.com
  Today is Stanley Fischer’s last day as the Federal Reserve’s No. 2 official, leaving yet another open spot on the central bank’s powerful board of governors for President Donald Trump to fill.
  Trump has yet to name a replacement for Janet Yellen, whose term ends in February, although he is reported to be close to making a decision, and seems to be wavering between ex-Morgan Stanley banker and Fed governor Kevin Warsh and ex-Carlyle Group executive and current board member Jerom
  
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• SCOTT GALLOWAY: Bad behavior cost Uber $20-30 billion

  13-10-2017 18:52 via feedproxy.google.com
  Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at NYU and author of the new book "The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google," discusses Uber. He cites the company as the best example for how poor corporate governance can destroy market value. He estimates that the board's tolerance and excuses for bad behavior probably took Uber's valuation down $20 billion to $30 billion.Join the conversation about this story »
  
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• MORGAN STANLEY: Here are 20 companies that are best exposed to the growing space economy (QCOM, AMZN, AAPL, GOOG, FB, ADBE, MSFT, SHOP, BA)

  13-10-2017 18:46 via feedproxy.google.com
  Space.
  The final frontier is airless, cold, and full of harmful radiation. But, for some companies, it could also be full of profits.
  We, as a species, are starting to explore space more than ever. Titans of industry, like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, are developing new space technology for the transportation of humans and cargo. Spaceflight is getting cheaper, which is leading to more and more opportunity above the earth.
  By the year 2040, the space industry could reach $1.1 trillion, according t
  
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• Microsoft and Amazon struck a brilliant partnership to take on Google in the next big thing for cloud computing (GOOG, AMZN, MSFT)

  13-10-2017 18:41 via feedproxy.google.com
  Microsoft and Amazon announced a surprise partnership on Thursday in which they were jointly releasing for free a new software tool for developers called Gluon.
  Gluon makes it easier for developers to build AI/machine learning systems, aka apps that can learn. 
  But there's another, more important reason this partnership is interesting: it challenges Google in its one big area of dominance.
  Microsoft and Amazon have joined forces to help spread artificial intelligence across apps.
  
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• Brevan Howard, an $11 billion hedge fund, is betting on volatility in the world's most important market

  13-10-2017 18:38 via feedproxy.google.com
  Brevan Howard, the London-based hedge fund run by billionaire Alan Howard, is launching a new fund to bet on an increase in volatility in the US Treasury market. 
  The fund, called the Brevan Howard CMS Curve Cap Master Fund, will be led by senior trader Rishi Shah, who has been with the firm since 2010 in Geneva and New York, according to documents seen by Business Insider.
  The new fund will use what are called constant maturity swap curve caps to bet on both a steepening of
  
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• 2 protégés from billionaire Steve Cohen's investment firm are gearing up for a big hedge fund launch

  13-10-2017 18:11 via feedproxy.google.com
  A tech focused stock team from Steve Cohen's investment firm is readying for launch.
  KCL Capital, founded by Chris LaSusa and Kevin Cottrell, plans to open November 1 with 11 people on staff, people familiar with the situation said.
  The New York-based firm's name is a combination of the founders' initials, the people said. The firm, which has been making the rounds at hedge fund investor events, is expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars over the coming months, though an
  
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• How Trump's decision to end key payments throws a wrench into the heart of Obamacare

  13-10-2017 18:07 via feedproxy.google.com
  The Trump administration is ending so-called cost-sharing reduction payments under the Affordable Care Act.
  The payments were critical for insurers to help offset the cost of providing insurance to low-income Americans.
  Their end brings with it a cascade of effects on the federal budget deficit, individuals' health insurance, and more.
  Late Thursday evening in Washington DC, the Trump administration announced it would end so-called cost sharing reduction (CSR) payments under the Affordable Care
  
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• Here's how Trump's latest Obamacare attack could change the healthcare system

  13-10-2017 18:07 via feedproxy.google.com
  The Trump administration is ending so-called cost-sharing reduction payments under the Affordable Care Act.
  The payments were critical for insurers to help offset the cost of providing insurance to low-income Americans.
  Their end brings with it a cascade of effects on the federal budget deficit, individuals' health insurance, and more.
  Late Thursday evening in Washington DC, the Trump administration announced it would end so-called cost sharing reduction (CSR) payments under the Affordable Care
  
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• Cryptocurrencies are 'in the 3rd inning' — and Wall Street is just getting started

  13-10-2017 17:46 via feedproxy.google.com
  The rapid rise of bitcoin, the red-hot cryptocurrency up more than 400% this year, has Wall Street abuzz. 
  Still, despite its meteoric rise, bitcoin by many measures is still in its very early days. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are used, for instance, by a very small percentage of people and institutions are just starting to look at building out a sophisticated market around the space. 
  "We are in the third inning of a burgeoning new asset class," said BlockTower C
  
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• The bitcoin debate rages on

  13-10-2017 17:36 via feedproxy.google.com
  Business Insider CEO Henry Blodget and executive editor Sara Silverstein discuss bitcoin, which has seen mixed public comments from influential people lately. Blodget reiterates his long-standing view that bitcoin is the perfect example of a speculative bubble, because there's no plausible argument for how to value it. Silverstein mentions the future use of blockchain perhaps attracting a valuation, and says that bitcoin can be compared to gold.Join the conversation about this story »
  
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• Sign up to our webinar on behavioural insights of the connected consumer

  13-10-2017 17:23
  With consumers using an ever-increasing number of digital and social channels, brands looking for behavioural insights are moving past traditional Q&A research formats and into passive digital tracking. By measuring actual behaviours across multiple devices, they are able to build a stronger and more accurate reflection of consumers’ lives, media consumption, path-to-purchase and more.
  Discover how taking a more innovative, digital approach to research can allow you to measure actual
  
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• An upstart exchange just took a big swing at two of Wall Street's most powerful players (CBOE, ICE, NDAQ)

  13-10-2017 17:20 via feedproxy.google.com
  Bats, the stock exchange recently acquired by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, is proposing a new model for trading at the end of the day.
  The model represents a direct challenge to the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.
  In a letter to the SEC, Bats responded to the criticisms of its rivals, which say the model will fragment trading and hurt price formation. 
  The firm says the NYSE and Nasdaq are not providing their clients with the proper information about the issue. 
  Bats, the u
  
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• Traders are betting big against gun stocks (RGR, AOBC)

  13-10-2017 16:58 via feedproxy.google.com
  A strange and unexpected thing happens to gun stocks after a mass shooting: they go up.
  It adds a perverse twist to an already terrible situation, as firearm enthusiasts race to stockpile weapons out of fear that gun control legislation will hamper future purchases.
  It also exposes the dirty truth of gun stocks: rather than moving on more traditional fundamental factors, their direction is often largely dictated by developments in the ongoing gun control debate.
  That dynamic is playing out right
  
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• Traders are betting big against gun stocks after the Las Vegas shooting (RGR, AOBC)

  13-10-2017 16:58 via feedproxy.google.com
  A strange and unexpected thing happens to gun stocks after a mass shooting: they go up.
  It adds a perverse twist to an already terrible situation, as firearm enthusiasts race to stockpile weapons out of fear that gun control legislation will hamper future purchases.
  It also exposes the dirty truth of gun stocks: rather than moving on more traditional fundamental factors, their direction is often largely dictated by developments in the ongoing gun control debate.
  That dynamic is playing out right
  
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• There's a clear reason Democrats are so intent on saving the state and local tax deduction

  13-10-2017 16:57 via feedproxy.google.com
  The Wall Street Journal reports Republicans in Congress are looking for a way to partially preserve the federal income tax deduction for state and local taxes paid, after many Republicans from high-tax states reacted with alarm to their initial tax proposal, which called for abolishing it.
  Democrats are also highly defensive of the provision. The Journal characterizes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York as saying there is no acceptable compromise on the issue.
  "Rather than
  
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• One ad executive estimates that the entire state of Michigan could have been swayed in the 2016 election for $42,800

  13-10-2017 16:41 via feedproxy.google.com
  How far can $42,800 take you on Facebook? Far enough to swing an election, says one expert.
  Ben Kunz, the executive vice president of marketing and content at the media agency Mediassociates, says it could have cost at least this much to swing the 10,700 Michigan voters who tipped the scale in favor of Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
  "That's the scary power of Facebook. Its targeting is really, really powerful," he said. "People like to think they can't be persuaded, but the math
  
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• Here's how easy it is for anyone — including Russian operatives — to target you with ads on Facebook

  13-10-2017 16:40 via feedproxy.google.com
  Three media agencies modeled the cost of using Facebook to reach voters in Wisconsin and Michigan with the intention of swaying their vote. 
  The estimates range from as little as $50,000 for issue-focused ads to over $283,000 depending on a number of factors including intensity. 
  The agencies used tools that are available — legally — to marketers, politicians, and activists to show that even $100,000 can go a long way on Facebook.
  Facebook is currently embroiled in an inve
  
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• Goldman Sachs is reportedly exploring options for its stake in the Weinstein Company

  13-10-2017 16:26 via feedproxy.google.com
  Goldman Sachs is "exploring options" for its small stake in The Weinstein Company after more than two dozen women came forward with accusations of sexual harassment against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, according to Shannon Bond at The Financial Times.
  Andrew Williams, a spokesman for the bank, told the FT the firm is exploring options for its stake, which is valued at less than $1 million.
  Goldman Sachs helped finance the creation of The Weinstein Company back in 2005.
  E
  
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• Consumer confidence explodes to a 13-year high

  13-10-2017 16:22 via feedproxy.google.com
  US consumers haven't been this optimistic about the economy since the start of 2004, according to a survey conducted by the University of Michigan. 
  The consumer-sentiment index registered a preliminary October reading of 101.1, a monthly report showed Friday.
  The data suggest that consumer spending will likely continue to support the economy through at least mid-2018, at which time this economic expansion would become the second-longest since the 19th century. US economic growth
  
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• Teens say that Under Armour isn't cool anymore — and it's a huge crisis (UA)

  13-10-2017 16:21 via feedproxy.google.com
  Under Armour's brand perception among America's youngest consumers is falling.
  According to Piper Jaffray's newest Taking Stock of Teens survey, teens just aren't into Under Armour anymore. It was the No. 1 brand that upper-income male teens said they are no longer wearing for the full year, according to the survey.
  In a ranking of preferred apparel brands among upper-income male teens, Under Armour fell into 11th place, down from 8th place a year ago. It fell from 6th place into 9th p
  
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• Tesla's value is surging 'because the vision is so intoxicating'

  13-10-2017 16:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at NYU and author of the new book "The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google," talks about Tesla. He marvels at the market cap discrepancy between Ford and Tesla, saying that the latter company has painted an unbelievable vision, and that people are investing in the future, not anything tangible at the moment. Galloway calls it incredible storytelling, and marvels at how the company has been able to overpromise and under-deliver, all b
  
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• Goldman Sachs just issued the most bullish call yet on Netflix (NFLX)

  13-10-2017 15:59 via feedproxy.google.com
  One of the biggest banks on Wall Street just made a wild prediction about Netflix.
  Goldman Sachs raised its 12-month price target for the streaming company by 17.5% to $235, the highest rating among analysts tracked by Bloomberg. Netflix is trading 1.74% higher after Goldman released the new target.
  Netflix is scheduled to report earnings on Monday, and Goldman says the rest of Wall Street is underestimating the company's potential.
  "We believe consensus subscriber estimates for
  
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• Trump just made a move that could make Obamacare implode — here's which states have the most to lose

  13-10-2017 15:54 via feedproxy.google.com
  The Trump administration made a decision that could help the Affordable Care Act implode.
  On Thursday, President Donald Trump said he will stop payments to insurers that help offset healthcare costs. 
  The payments, known as cost-sharing reductions, are paid to insurance companies to help offset the cost of discount health plans they provide to Americans making 200% of the federal poverty limit. Without them, it could lead to higher premiums and fewer insurance plan choices in the
  
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• Diageo, TSB, Jigsaw: 5 things that mattered this week and why

  13-10-2017 15:17
  Diageo reveals details of its drive for marketing effectiveness
  The focus on marketing effectiveness keeps increasing, so imagine being in a role where you are actually able to measure the impact of every penny invested to work out what delivers the best possible outcome. That is what Diageo claims its marketers can now do.
  It has revealed for the first time details of its ‘Catalyst’ tool – a digital interface that provides instant data to help its 1,200 marketers across 55 cou
  
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• Tesla recalled 11,000 Model X SUVs — and it shows how the company is leading the industry (TSLA)

  13-10-2017 15:15 via feedproxy.google.com
  On Thursday, Tesla issued a voluntary recall for Model X SUVs built between October 2016 and August 2017, to address a potential second-row seat malfunction.
  The timing of a recall for a Model X seat issue isn't great, for two reasons. First, Tesla has been dogged by seat problems with its SUV every since the vehicle launched in 2015. Second, the company is struggling to ramp up production on its Model 3 sedan, but failing to meet its own expectations — the seat issue with the X suggests t
  
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• Brands urged to end the stigma of mental health in the workplace

  13-10-2017 15:15
  Marketers are used to using their influence to drive customer centricity within their organisation and their communications skills to nudge customers into changing their behaviour. Now they are being asked to use their talents to help achieve something of huge societal significance – removing the stigma of mental health in the workplace.
  The Marketing Society has unveiled an initiative that places mental health at the heart of its agenda. The global network has partnered with the Time To C
  
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• Gary Shilling says stop treating the market like a person with feelings

  13-10-2017 15:03 via feedproxy.google.com
  Famed financial analyst Gary Shilling is best known for bold predictions as wide-ranging as $10 oil, wage inflation  and the war between Alibaba and Amazon. He recently spoke to Business Insider about how many investors wrongly apply interpersonal skills to the whims of the stock market. Following is a transcript of the video.
  Gary Shilling: Don't get antrhopomorphic about this. The market is not a human being. It is not going to react in human ways, in human emotions. You talk ab
  
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• FORGET BITCOIN: An $8 trillion bubble in global markets is waiting to pop

  13-10-2017 15:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  For all the hype about bitcoin, far more investors are exposed to an $8 trillion bubble in financial markets.
  It's all the government and corporate bonds that still have negative yields eight years after the financial crisis, according to Torsten Sløk, the chief international economist at Deutsche Bank.
  This is not normal, and it is a legacy of the amount of stimulus that global central banks had to pump into their economies after the recession, partly by buying massive amounts of govern
  
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• SCOTT GALLOWAY: Facebook could screen its advertisers, but it doesn't want to hurt profits

  13-10-2017 14:55 via feedproxy.google.com
  Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at NYU and author of the new book "The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google," discusses Facebook. He says the company has embraced many aspects of a media company, but seems allergic to many of the associated responsibilities. He worries that the youthful management at Facebook doesn't have the historical context for the importance media plays in our society, citing Russia's manipulation of it during the 2016 presidential election. He
  
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• The dollar is slipping

  13-10-2017 14:54 via feedproxy.google.com
  The dollar slipped after inflation data came in below expectations.
  The US dollar index was down by 0.3% at 92.77 at 8:53 a.m. ET after trading higher ahead of the Consumer Price Index report.
  CPI rose 0.5% month-over-month in September, according to the Labor Department. That was above the prior month's reading of 0.4%, but below expectations of a 0.6% print.
  On a year-over-year basis, CPI rose by 2.2%, which was above the prior month's reading of 1.9%, but below expectation
  
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• Mattel's Barbie campaign wins APG Grand Prix

  13-10-2017 08:45 via warc.com
  LONDON: Imagine the Possibilities, a campaign devised by BBDO New York / San Francisco for Mattel’s Barbie doll brand, has won the Grand Prix at the 2017 APG Creative Strategy Awards.A total of 26 campaigns were shortlisted at the Account...
  
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• Nationwide’s Anna Bentham on bridging the gap between manager and CMO

  13-10-2017 08:30
  Bridging the gap between middle management and CMO level can prove a challenging path for any marketer to negotiate as they looking to take their career to the next level.
  Following a number of product management and ecommerce roles at DSG International (formerly the Dixons Group), Anna Bentham joined Nationwide in 2009 as digital sales manager. Since then she has moved into marketing and strategic planning positions, bringing her analytical skills to her current role as director of strategic pl
  
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• Helen Tupper: Make a big impact with career diversity

  13-10-2017 08:00
  We are all, I hope, familiar with the benefits of diverse workforces. From improved understanding of your customer base to greater innovation and creativity, diverse workforces are proven to deliver greater organisational value and are something we can all play a role in contributing to.
  You may be less familiar, however, with the benefits and practicalities of developing a diverse career.
  A diverse career enables an individual to join the dots between their own unique set of experiences, r
  
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• Snapchat is top social site for US teens

  13-10-2017 02:00 via warc.com
  MINNEAPOLIS: Almost half (47%) of American teenagers regard Snapchat as their favourite social media platform, or almost twice as many as those who prefer Instagram (24%), a new survey has revealed.That is according to Piper Jaffray, the...
  
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• Micro-location messaging helps Sainsbury's steal share

  13-10-2017 02:00 via warc.com
  LONDON: Sainsbury’s, the UK supermarket, is seeing “sustained sales uplift” as a result of in-store messaging offers based on micro-location data.James Moir, Managing Director of the Nectar loyalty scheme which partners with...
  
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• Industry groups aim to ‘banish' bad ad formats

  13-10-2017 02:00 via warc.com
  NEW YORK: The 4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies), Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) have jointly called for industry self-regulation to help “banish” the most...
  
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• How pricing affects app engagement

  13-10-2017 02:00 via warc.com
  NEW YORK: It will be no surprise to marketers that consumers like receiving products and services at no cost, but a new examination of free and paid-for apps has found that pricing in the mobile ecosystem can yield counter-intuitive results.A...
  
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• Flipkart and Amazon ring up strong Indian sales

  13-10-2017 02:00 via warc.com
  NEW DELHI: As Indian consumers prepare for Diwali, the country’s biggest festival which starts on 19 October, e-commerce giants Flipkart and Amazon are reported to have already rung up strong sales from their promotions in September. ...
  
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• Chinese tourists become more adventurous

  13-10-2017 02:00 via warc.com
  SHANGHAI: Destinations in Asia remained the most popular for Chinese tourists during last week’s Golden Week holiday, but there is growing evidence that more travellers are seeking out holidays in new and sometimes surprising locations.It is...
  
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• Amazon beats Google for the advertising dollar

  13-10-2017 02:00 via warc.com
  NEW YORK: Almost two-thirds (63%) of brands in North America who currently advertise on Amazon are planning to increase their budgets dedicated to the e-commerce platform over the next 12 months.That is a significantly higher proportion than the...
  
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