Sales & Marketing news

• Hedge funds loaded up on these 10 stocks last quarter

  20-11-2017 19:03 via feedproxy.google.com
  Tech stocks have been on fire this year, and institutional investors have taken note.
  According to data from Citi’s equity research group, tech stocks made up eight of the top 10 stocks held by the 50 largest hedge funds in the third quarter of 2017, with financials and healthcare close behind.
  Despite the astronomic gains of stocks like Alphabet and Facebook, the aggregated Equity Hedge Fund Index has underperformed the the S&P 500 by 8.6 percentage points so far this year, Citi
  
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• Here's what happened the last time America had a Steve Bannon

  20-11-2017 18:55 via feedproxy.google.com
  Breitbart News head Steve Bannon's ideology is a mix of paranoia, racism, populism, and fascism, and it has shocked many Americans.
  But this isn't the first time the US has seen this particular mix of politics propelled by media. Before there was Bannon there was Father Coughlin, a radio host in the 1930s.
  Coughlin had an epic rise and epic fall, having been veritably banished from the national discourse.
  Bannon has backed himself into a corner where he must show America that he's bigger than l
  
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• JPMORGAN: It's time for Tesla to live up to its Model 3 promises (TSLA)

  20-11-2017 18:38 via feedproxy.google.com
  Tesla has a habit of distracting itself from its main issues at hand with flashy product announcements.
  JPMorgan says that investors aren't likely to be distracted in 2018, as they will be focused on the company's Model 3 production.
  Watch Tesla's stock price move in real time.Last week, Tesla unveiled its new semi truck and second-generation Roadster in a flashy and entertaining launch event. It was the type of spectacle that investors have come to expect from Tesla, but one that som
  
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• Goldman Sachs has struck a deal with Bloomberg to help its stock trading business (GS)

  20-11-2017 18:29 via feedproxy.google.com
  Goldman Sachs will begin executing trades made on Bloomberg Tradebook, the brokerage arm of the financial-services and media giant. 
  The arrangement will allow the two firms to focus on their respective value proposition ahead of MiFID II, a European regulatory overhaul set to go live in January. Goldman Sachs announced on Monday that it'll begin executing stock trades for customers of Bloomberg Tradebook, the brokerage arm of the financial-services and media giant. 
  The arr
  
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• Kohl's Black Friday sales have begun, 3 full days before Thanksgiving (KSS)

  20-11-2017 18:23 via feedproxy.google.com
  Kohl's Black Friday sales started online at 12:01 a.m. CT Monday. 
  In-store sales kick off at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day — an hour earlier than last year.
  More and more retailers are starting Black Friday early. Kohl's is kicking off Black Friday before most people have even started preparing their turkeys. 
  The retailer's Black Friday deals went live online at 12:01 a.m. CT on Monday, November 20. It's offering discounts on everything from toys and electronics to kitchen a
  
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• Toyota on its plan to bring robots into the home

  20-11-2017 18:16
  With Google readying a fleet of driverless cars and Uber preparing for flying taxi trips in Los Angeles, the future sci-fi promised us is starting to become more and more of a reality. And Japanese car giant Toyota is hoping it can go on to become the brand most associated with robots.
  Back in November 2015, Toyota announced it was investing $1bn in a new company based in the Silicon Valley dedicated to developing robotics and artificial intelligence. The investment, which will be spread over fi
  
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• We asked a top hedge fund recruiter what it takes to get a senior-level job these days

  20-11-2017 17:57 via feedproxy.google.com
  Ilana Weinstein is the founder of The IDW Group, which focuses on recruiting investment talent for all kinds of investment strategies.  
  We asked Weinstein about the biggest trends in the hedge fund business, how to get a senior level job today, and 
  "As the industry has become more crowded and efficient, I would argue the definition of talent has gone up," she said. Ilana Weinstein is a force within the hedge fund industry, recruiting senior investment talent
  
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• At least 40% of the world's power will come from renewable sources by 2040 — here are the companies leading the charge

  20-11-2017 17:25 via feedproxy.google.com
  The explosive growth of renewable energy has shaken up the energy industry over the last decade.
  As the costs of solar and wind continue to fall and bottlenecks like storage capacity are diminished, the International Energy Agency predicts that renewable energy will comprise 40% of global power generation by 2040. In the next five years, the share electricity generated by renewables worldwide is set to grow faster than any other source. 
  Last week, Thomso
  
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• Alibaba is up after buying a big stake in China's largest grocer (BABA)

  20-11-2017 16:56 via feedproxy.google.com
  Alibaba is rising after buying a major stake in a Chinese grocer.
  The move echoes Amazon's purchase of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion earlier this year.
  Watch Alibaba's stock move in real time.Shares of Alibaba are up 2.33% to $189.45 on Monday after the company bought a $2.87 billion stake in China's largest grocery operator.
  Alibaba said on Monday it would make an investment in Sun Art Retail Group, which owns 8.2% of China's total grocery market.
  The move is reminiscent of Amaz
  
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• A legendary auto exec says Tesla is doomed — and he could be right (TSLA)

  20-11-2017 16:43 via feedproxy.google.com
  Former GM exec Bob Lutz has been skeptical about Tesla's future for years.
  He had a front-row seat for GM's 2009 bankruptcy.
  Tesla's cash position means that it could struggle to stay afloat amid a US sales downturn.
   
  Former GM executive Bob Lutz returned to Tesla-skeptic mode last week and said that the company is doomed. 
  This isn't the first time Lutz — who retired from General Motors after also working for Ford, Chrysler, and BMW — has foretold Tesla's demise.
  For the
  
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• Here's when US markets are open and closed during Thanksgiving week

  20-11-2017 16:19 via feedproxy.google.com
  It's always good to know when the markets are open and when you can take the day off.
  The New York Stock Exchange has a list of the days on which the biggest stock market in the world is closed for business.
  Bond and other securities markets are somewhat more decentralized, but the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) has a list of suggested holidays and half days.
  Finally, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange also provides information on when US equity and other futures mark
  
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• Bitcoin soars to new high above $8,200

  20-11-2017 15:41 via feedproxy.google.com
  Bitcoin hit a fresh all-time high of $8,222 per coin Monday morning, according to data from Markets Insider. 
  Bitcoin has been on a tear over the last week as more traditional financial services firms dive into the nascent market for digital coins. 
  Bitcoin, the red-hot cryptocurrency, continued its upward tear on Monday, hitting an all-time high above $8,200 per coin. 
  The digital coin was trading up 2.35% at $8,222 at 9:31 a.m. ET, according to data from Markets Insid
  
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• The market is nearing a crucial turning point that could crush stocks

  20-11-2017 15:29 via feedproxy.google.com
  Societe Generale warns that if 10-year Treasury yields climb above 2.5%, that could result in a US equity sell off.
  US stocks are close to the most expensive on record, and their position of strength is getting increasingly tenuous.While many stock bulls have focused for months on positive corporate fundamentals — most notably earnings growth — equities have also benefited from how appealing they look compared to other assets.
  Treasury notes issued by the US government are yiel
  
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• The breakneck speed of the Republican tax bill is angering Democrats and increasing its odds

  20-11-2017 15:26 via feedproxy.google.com
  Republicans have hastily moved their tax reform bill, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, through both the House and Senate.
  The speed of the battle has caused analysts to raise expectations for passage.
  It has also cracked open even more serious divisions between the GOP and Democrats.In just two weeks, Republicans in the House were able to introduce their massive tax bill, get it through the tax-writing committee, and pass it through the full chamber.
  Similarly, the Senate has moved its vers
  
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• The breakneck speed of the Republican tax bill is angering Democrats and increasing its chances

  20-11-2017 15:26 via feedproxy.google.com
  Republicans have hastily moved their tax bill, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, through the House and nearly through the Senate.
  The speed of the battle has caused analysts to raise expectations for passage.
  It has also cracked open even more serious divisions between the GOP and Democrats.In just two weeks, Republicans in the House were able to introduce their massive tax bill, get it through the tax-writing committee, and pass it through the full chamber.
  Similarly, the Senate has moved its version
  
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• Millennials are abandoning the suburbs for a new kind of neighborhood — see inside

  20-11-2017 15:19 via feedproxy.google.com
  A new type of housing community known as an "agrihood" is popping up around the US.
  Agrihoods combine the amenities of a rural farming community with the convenience of a modern, metropolitan neighborhood.
  Millennials and active retirees alike are flocking to the agrihood at Rancho Mission Viejo in Orange County, California.
   
  Farm life isn't what it used to be.
  A new type of housing community called an agrihood — short for "agricultural neighborhood" &m
  
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• 4 reasons why 'Justice League' has flopped at the box office (TWX)

  20-11-2017 15:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  The release of Warner Bros.’s latest DC Comics title, “Justice League,” was a decade-plus in the making and the payoff for the years releasing standalone movies — from “Man of Steel” (Superman) to “Wonder Woman.”
  But the mixture of poor execution and bad luck has led to a major disappointment in the movie’s opening weekend.
  “Justice League” opened over the weekend with a domestic box office total of $96 million. That’s the l
  
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• 4 reasons 'Justice League' has flopped at the box office (TWX)

  20-11-2017 15:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  The release of Warner Bros.'s latest DC Comics title, "Justice League," was more than a decade in the making and the payoff for the years of releasing standalone movies — from "Man of Steel" to "Wonder Woman."
  But the mixture of poor execution and bad luck has led to a major disappointment in the movie's opening weekend.
  "Justice League" opened over the weekend with a domestic box-office total of $96 million. That's the lowest opening of any DC Comics Extended Universe release. The movie w
  
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• Marvell Technology will buy rival chipmaker Cavium for $6 billion (CAVM, MRVL)

  20-11-2017 13:52 via feedproxy.google.com
  Marvell Technology has agreed to buy its rival Cavium for $40 a share in cash and 2.1757 Marvell common shares for each unit of Cavium stock in a deal worth about $6 billion.
  Cavium shareholders will own about 25% of the combined company.Marvell Technology has agreed to buy Cavium for about $6 billion as it tries to expand beyond semiconductors that control hard disk drives.
  Marvell will pay Cavium shareholders $40 in cash and 2.1757 Marvell common shares for each unit of Cavium stock, accordin
  
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• A fast-growing cannabis tech company just raised $17 million in a bid to dominate the market

  20-11-2017 13:52 via feedproxy.google.com
  LeafLink, a commerce platform for cannabis dispensaries, raised $17 million in an oversubscribed Series A round. 
  The company plans to expand into the lucrative California market, and launch in new states as more legal cannabis markets come online.  
  LeafLink, an online commerce platform for cannabis dispensaries, raised $17 million from venture capital firms to expand its business in California as the state prepares to allow sales of recreational marijuana, according t
  
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• A fast-growing cannabis tech company just raised $10 million in a bid to dominate the market

  20-11-2017 13:52 via feedproxy.google.com
  LeafLink, a commerce platform for cannabis dispensaries, raised $10 million in an oversubscribed Series A round. 
  The company plans to expand into the lucrative California market, and launch in new states as more legal cannabis markets come online.  
  LeafLink, an online commerce platform for cannabis dispensaries, raised $10 million from venture capital firms to expand its business in California as the state prepares to allow sales of recreational marijuana, according t
  
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• A Fed mistake could hurtle the economy into recession

  20-11-2017 13:05 via feedproxy.google.com
  Michael Collins, the senior investment officer at PGIM Fixed Income, discusses monetary policy. He sees the Fed continuing to be transparent with their plan, which he says will likely result in two rate hikes in 2018. He says that there's risk of the Fed hiking too much, too quickly, which would flatten the curve and cause a selloff — and possibly even a recession.Join the conversation about this story »
  
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• 10 things you need to know today (SPY, SPX, QQQ, DIA, IBM, AMZN)

  20-11-2017 12:40 via feedproxy.google.com
  Here is what you need to know.
  A key recession indicator is getting close to the danger zone. The spread between the two-year and 10-year yields is trading at 62 basis points, the tightest it has been since the period leading up to the financial crisis.
  3 things could destroy one of the greatest stock market rallies of all time. Extreme leverage, exuberant sentiment, and excessive policy tightening are the three things that could derail the third-longest bull market of all time, according to Mor
  
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• One chart shows how terrible a decision it has been to bet against Amazon (AMZN, FB, GOOGL)

  20-11-2017 12:06 via feedproxy.google.com
  Thousands of traditional retail stores are closing down as more people shop online.A chart from T. Rowe Price shows that investors who stuck with the sector are most likely badly burned.Amazon's stock performance has far outpaced a basket of traditional retailers and the broader stock market.
  Investors who stuck with traditional retail companies over the past few years were going against a ferocious tide.
  More than 6,400 store closings have been announced this year alone by chains including Rad
  
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• Leon’s co-founder on why more women should become entrepreneurs

  20-11-2017 11:00
  Allegra McEvedy could certainly be described as entrepreneurial. She is a chef, presenter, consultant, author of eight books, owner of a new restaurant called Albertine and mother of two “gorgeous girls” aged seven and 12 weeks. But perhaps one of her biggest successes is Leon, the healthy fast food chain that she founded alongside Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent in 2004.
  Leon’s sales jumped to £58.4m in the year to 25 December 2016, and it now has 52 restaurants includin
  
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• YouTube, Asos, gig economy: Everything that matters this morning

  20-11-2017 08:30
  YouTube under fire again as brands pull ads
  A number of brands have pulled their advertising from YouTube again after an investigation by The Times showed ads apppearing next to clips aimed at or featuring children that were “inappropriate” or “disturbing”. Iceland, O2 and Which? are among companies to have suspended advertising.
  YouTube has now shut down some of the offending channels including one, called Toy Freaks, that had attracted seven billion views.
  This latest n
  
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• Unilever, Uber, YouTube: Everything that matters this morning

  20-11-2017 08:30
  Unilever begins search for new CEO
  Unilever has begun work to a find a new CEO, with chief executive Paul Polman expected to step down in about 18 months, according to Sky News. While no date has been set for his retirement, Unilever is working with executive search firm Egon Zehnder International to help find a successor.
  Possible internal candidates include CFO Graeme Pitkethly. However, it is understood a substantial international search will take place.
  Under Polman, Unilever has focused on
  
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• Uber, Paperchase, AI: Everything that matters this morning

  20-11-2017 08:30
  Uber looks to buy 24,000 self-driving Volvo cars
  Uber plans to buy up to 24,000 self-driving cars from Volvo, marking a change from its long-standing business model where contractor drivers buy or lease and maintain their own cars.
  Volvo said in a statement on Monday (20 November) it would provide Uber with its flagship XC90 SUVs equipped with autonomous technology as part of a non-exclusive deal from 2019 to 2021. A Volvo spokesman said it covered up to 24,000 cars.
  Should Uber buy all 24,000 c
  
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• Uber, Ad spend, Samsung: Everything that matters this morning

  20-11-2017 08:30
  Uber concealed hack affecting 57 million people
  Uber concealed a data breach that affected 57 million customers and drivers. The ride-sharing firm hid the breach in 2016 by paying hackers $100,000 (£75,000) to delete the data.
  The hackers stole 57 million names, email addresses and mobile phone numbers, including the names and license plate details of 600,000 drivers. According to Bloomberg, Uber’s former chief executive Travis Kalanick knew about the breach over a year ago.
  Drivers
  
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• Stop Funding Hate, Thomas Cook, Aston Martin: Everything that matters this morning

  20-11-2017 08:30
  Advertisers condemn attempts by Stop Funding Hate to censor press
  The Advertising Association, ISBA and the News Media Association (NMA) have come together to reject attempts by lobby group Stop Funding Hate to get brands to boycott certain newspapers.
  Paperchase is the brand most recently caught up in controversy after the activist group and some consumers criticised the brand for running a promotion in the Daily Mail. It has since promised to stop advertising with the newspaper but the adverti
  
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• Blockbuster ads fight product promotions for shrinking Christmas spend

  20-11-2017 08:30
  Rising inflation, interest rates and credit card use, balanced with the falling value of the pound, means it hasn’t been the brightest year for Britain’s economy. And at the start of the fourth quarter, the retail environment couldn’t be more uninspiring.
  Last week, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported UK retail sales fell by 0.3% in October from a year earlier – this marks the first annual fall since March 2013. And it claims all the signs point to consumers
  
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• Colin Lewis: Creativity is just collecting other people’s ideas

  20-11-2017 08:22
  A lot of people tell me I am creative and innovative. In general, marketers are supposed to be seen that way, appearing to conjure ideas out of thin air. Perhaps the creative directors I have worked with in agencies do that, but definitely not me.
  We have all been seduced by the notion of creativity. Given the number of column inches devoted to creativity in every marketing, advertising and design publication since the year dot, you could argue that it is not something you should really admit. T
  
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• Hack your commute: Have a go at ‘if-then’ planning

  20-11-2017 08:00
  Even the highly effective among us are occasionally – perhaps even frequently – frustrated by wasted efforts, plans that come to nothing or missed opportunities that occur. Not because they were impossible dreams, but because the conditions for success did not fall into place.
  Sometimes the stars just don’t align, but often the cause is down to the way we frame objectives. You may know the individual steps required to make progress on a given project, but unless you also know w
  
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• Weight Watchers wins with Oprah and real-life stories

  20-11-2017 01:00 via warc.com
  FLORIDA, FL: Weight Watchers, the weight-loss brand, has enjoyed marketing success through mixing the star power of Oprah Winfrey with telling real-life consumer stories.Maurice Herrera, SVP/Head of Marketing at Weight Watchers International,...
  
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• Tech defeats advertisers, benefits agencies

  20-11-2017 01:00 via warc.com
  GLOBAL: Two thirds of advertisers claim to have only “some understanding” of the role of their tech stack, while four in ten admit to using media technology ineffectively, according to research which highlights their dependence on their...
  
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• Tapping telcos for mobile micro-insurance

  20-11-2017 01:00 via warc.com
  ACCRA: Insurance providers looking to target the mass market in Africa need to think outside the box, according to the founder of MicroEnsure, which has developed an innovative approach to selling insurance products on the continent.The standard...
  
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• Soft drinks brands can tap 'moments' in China

  20-11-2017 01:00 via warc.com
  SHANGHAI:Chinese drinks brands need new and exciting creative to keep brands fresh for consumers as they take on the dominance of Coke and Sprite in the country, according to research by Publicis Media China in partnership with the Ehrenberg Bass...
  
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• India's Reliance eyes e-commerce

  20-11-2017 01:00 via warc.com
  KOLKATA: Reliance Retail is reported to be preparing to move into e-commerce with the aim of overtaking the current market leaders within a few years.“Reliance Retail has plans to compete with Amazon and Flipkart by offering a wide selection...
  
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• 'Engaged enthusiasts' can sway purchase decisions

  20-11-2017 01:00 via warc.com
  HONG KONG: Almost one quarter (23%)of internet users in Asia merit the description “engaged enthusiasts”, who exert a disproportionate influence on their peers in matters such as spreading brand awareness and swaying purchase...
  
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• Connected TV devices multiply

  20-11-2017 01:00 via warc.com
  NEW YORK: Well over half of US TV households now own at least one internet-enabled device capable of streaming content to a TV set, a development which is reducing the amount of time spent with live TV, new research suggests.According to the...
  
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• A biotech startup is trying to end poaching by flooding the market with fake rhino horns

  20-11-2017 00:36 via feedproxy.google.com
  Rhino horns can fetch up to $60,000 per pound on the black market, more than the price of gold
  A startup called Pembient is taking a novel approach: 3D printing rhino horns to flood the market and undercut black-market businessRhinos are among the hardest hit by the illegal wildlife trade. The horns fetch high prices on the black market — up to $60,000 per pound, far more than the price of gold.They're used to make elaborate carvings across East Asia and are
  
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