• Warren Buffett will have lunch with you and up to 7 friends — but it’ll cost you at least $1.51 million

    The annual bidding for lunch with Warren Buffett is now open. 
    The highest bid on eBay hit $1.51 million. 
    You have to pre-qualify before bidding. 
    Bidding closes at 7:30 p.m. ET on June 1. 
    You can now bid for the chance to have Warren Buffett join you and up to seven friends for lunch. 
    Now in its 19th straight year, the Power Lunch with Warren Buffett auctions a meal with the Berkshire Hathaway CEO, with all of the proceeds going to charity.  
    Bidding on eBa
  • BANK OF AMERICA: The wildly turbulent market is only getting 'messier' — here are 7 ways traders can still smash benchmarks

    The market is experiencing turbulent conditions as worries over Italy's political issues spread globally amid fears they'll hurt the stability of Europe.
    Bank of America Merrill Lynch has formulated a seven-part game plan for active managers to continue adding to an already impressive run of performance in 2018.
    Conventional wisdom suggests that when the stock market is on rocky footing, that's when the best opportunities become available.
    Stocks break free of the herd-like trading that characte
  • Mark Ritson: The 10 LinkedIn profiles to avoid

    I love LinkedIn. Literally love it. It is my go-to social media first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and pretty much all the way through the day.
    Like many people I joined because it seemed like a very handy way to keep abreast of all my contacts. Twenty-something years of professorial life mean that more than 10,000 MBA students have endured me for one course or another. Staying in touch with this growing army was almost impossible until LinkedIn came along.
    But very soon it became
  • Global markets are in turmoil as Italy's political crisis deepens

    Global markets were shaken Tuesday by a deepening political crisis in Italy.
    Italian bonds sold off sharply, while demand for safer havens like US Treasurys and German bunds is rising.
    Stocks across the world also taking a hammering, with US stocks falling, following major losses in Europe earlier in the day.
    A deepening political crisis in the eurozone's third-largest economy, Italy, is wreaking havoc in global markets Tuesday as assets across the board take a pounding on fears of renewed turmo
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  • Maltesers on why marketing must be embedded from the start for innovation to succeed

    Maltesers always thinks about marketing “right from the start” of any innovation project to avoid unnecessary product extensions and “innovation for innovation’s sake”, according to brand director Rebecca Shepheard-Walwyn.
    She tells Marketing Week: “Maltesers has been so loved for so long that you don’t want to play with it in the wrong way. [As a result] we’re always looking at consumer insights and trends as there’s no point innovating
  • Ad of the month – US: John Deere

    This month, John Deere is the brand which has achieved the biggest uplift in its ad awareness in the US.The machinery giant is celebrating a century of tractors – in 1918, John Deere made its first one, and the company’s...
  • Ad of the month – UK: McDonald’s

    This month, McDonald’s is the brand that has achieved the biggest uplift in its ad awareness.The fast food chain has begun to release a series of heart-warming ads all titled ‘affinity’, which aim to promote its new...
  • Ad of the month – MENA: Vimto

    This month, Vimto is the brand that has achieved the greatest uplift in ad awareness in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.The brands current campaign, which is shown on Arab Satellite TV, focuses on the connection between the brand and the...
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  • Ad of the month – Hong Kong: Xiaomi

    This month, Xiaomi is the brand that has achieved the biggest uplift in its ad awareness in Hong Kong.The tech brand – which has previously been dubbed as the ‘Apple of the East’ – originates from China but...
  • MACQUARIE: The safest places investors usually flock to are getting wrecked — here's what to stick with when markets are in turmoil

    Traditional havens in equity markets, such as consumer staples, are struggling during periods of market stress.
    Viktor Shvets and Perry Yeung, two Macquarie analysts, wrote in a note on Tuesday that this implied there's nowhere to hide and that normal sector rotations that follow business and market cycles had become of little value.
    They have specific guidance on the best global-growth prospects as uncertainties such as central-bank policy and Italy's political situation continue to escalate.
    A
  • Crypto is making a comeback as Italy's political crisis mounts

     Bitcoin is making a big comeback Tuesday morning as political uncertainty out of Italy grips financial markets. 
    The cryptocurrency was trading up 4.8% at $7,446 a coin.
    Watch bitcoin trade in real time here. 
    Crypto markets are making a big comeback as political uncertainty grips Italy and Europe. 
    At the time of writing, a number of major cryptos were sporting big gains, including ethereum and bitcoin cash. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, was
  • 'Solo' is the latest 'Star Wars' movie to bomb in China, and Disney has a big problem on its hands (DIS)

    "Solo: A Star Wars Story" had a bad Memorial Day weekend domestically but an even worse one in China.
    The latest "Star Wars" movie earned only $10.1 million in the world's second-largest movie market.
    This continues the consistent lackluster performance the franchise has had in the Middle Kingdom.
    There aren't many instances in which Disney is on the wrong end of a box-office story, but this Memorial Day weekend, that's exactly what happened.
    "Solo," the origin story of the legendary "Star Wars"
  • The owner of MoviePass spikes after Citadel Securities discloses a stake (HMNY)

    MoviePass owner Helios and Matheson is gaining ground after Citadel Securities disclosed a 5.4% stake. 
    Shares have been battered in recent weeks amid concerns the company is burning cash. 
    Watch Helios and Matheson trade in real time here. 
    MoviePass owner Helios and Matheson is doing something it haven't done in five days — gaining ground. 
    Shares are up more than 6% Tuesday morning after Citadel Securities disclosed a 5.4% stake in the embattled company. Citadel
  • George Soros warns the European Union is on the brink of collapse — and Trump is partly to blame

    The European Union is in the midst of an "existential crisis" and may cease to exist, billionaire investor George Soros said.
    "The European Union is mired in an existential crisis," Soros wrote in a blog for Project Syndicate. "For the past decade, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."
    President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal is partially to blame for the EU's problems.
    His comments come at a time when Italy is undergoing a major political crisis, which many
  • Trump just made a move that looks set to reignite trade tensions with China

    The Trump administration on Tuesday announced that it would move forward with trade restrictions on China.
    The White House said a final list of Chinese products subject to new tariffs would be announced June 15.
    The move comes despite a preliminary trade deal reached by the Trump administration and Chinese officials last week.
    Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is scheduled to head to China to continue trade talks on Saturday.
    The Trump administration on Tuesday moved forward with restrictions on Ch
  • Starbucks is closing all locations for 'racial-bias education' — and it is going to cost the company millions of dollars (SBUX)

    Starbucks is closing all locations nationwide for the afternoon of May 29 for "racial-bias education" training.
    Rough calculations indicate the closures will cost Starbucks $12.4 million in lost sales. 
    "I've always viewed this and things like this as not an expense, but an investment in our people and our company," Executive Chairman Howard Schultz said in an interview with CBS. 
     
    Starbucks is closing all of its 8,000 locations across the US for the afternoon of May 29
  • A European company you've never heard of has quietly acquired Panera, Krispy Kreme, and now Pret A Manger in its quest to build a coffee empire (PNRA)

    JAB is buying UK sandwich chain Pret A Manger.
    JAB Holdings already owns Panera, Au Bon Pain, Caribou Coffee, Krispy Kreme, and Keurig.
    The European firm apparently wants to be the "largest coffee company in the world." 
    The company that owns Krispy Kreme, Caribou Coffee, and Panera Bread, just announced a deal to buy Pret A Manger.
     JAB is acquiring Pret from private equity firm Bridgepoint. 
    “We’re very excited to partner with&
  • Tesco ‘absolutely concerned’ about the impact of GDPR on Clubcard

    The biggest shake-up to data laws is finally under way after the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on Friday (25 May). And the UK’s largest supermarket is worried about the impact it will have on how it uses Clubcard data.
    Speaking to Marketing Week, Tesco’s chief customer officer Alessandra Bellini says only “time will tell” whether the new data laws will have a detrimental effect on what is undoubtedly one of Tesco’s greatest assets, g
  • A risky part of the market has swelled beyond financial-crisis levels — and it could make the next meltdown a whole lot worse

    Moody's Investors Service recently published a report warning against an increasingly untenable situation brewing in the bond market.
    The ratings agency argues that both companies and investors are engaging in risk-taking activities that leave the market vulnerable to a shock.
    For companies, the allure of cheap financing can trump common sense.
    At least that's what seems to be happening in the speculative-grade bond market, where the debt burden for nonfinancial firms is now above its previous p
  • The pressure on Italy is just getting started

    Italian President Sergio Mattarella rejected the euroskeptic economist and former banker Paolo Savona for finance minister, an action that may set up a new election.Italian bond yields are surging amid the political uncertainty.
    Citi says yields could go a lot higher from here.
    Italian yields surged Tuesday morning amid growing political turmoil in Italy after President Sergio Mattarella rejected the euroskeptic economist and former banker Paolo Savona for finance minister. Now Mattarella must f
  • The euro is sliding amid political uncertainty in Italy

    The euro was down more than 0.5% versus the dollar early Tuesday.
    A tumultous political scene in Italy is rattling the currency.Follow the euro in real time here.The euro fell against the dollar on Tuesday as political uncertainty in Italy roiled markets. 
    The euro had shed more than 0.5% to trade at 1.156 versus the dollar at 8:30 a.m. ET. It had spiked to 1.1728 on Monday, as President Sergio Mattarella blocked the nomination of euroskeptic Paolo Savona as finance minister. 
  • The most disproportionately high-paying job in every state

    Some jobs are paid better in one part of the US than in other parts.
    Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we found the job in each state that pays the highest relative to the typical national median salary for that job.
    For instance, bartenders earn more in Hawaii than they do in most other states.
    Some careers are more lucrative in one part of the US than another.
    Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics program, Business Insider found t
  • Nissan’s top marketer on why specialist agencies for digital or data are ‘nonsense’

    The future of the big five holding companies is in question unless they stop operating as separate businesses with specialist units for digital and data, according to Nissan’s global head of marketing, communications and brand strategy, Roel de Vries.
    He says working with different agencies with these specialisms is damaging because both digital and data should be “at the core” of everything brands do. Instead, he believes single units with one P&L should be set-up.
    Talking
  • Investors with trillions at stake are 'gorging like pigs at the trough' — and the smallest misstep could make a painful crash even worse

    As US borrowing costs rise, it will be more important to track debt levels and how easily people are able to repay their obligations.Investors in the stock market are borrowing at record levels to buy, also using their portfolios as collateral for other lines of credit.
    A market drop, which may require them to meet margin calls by selling stocks and reducing their overall levels of debt, could have a snowballing effect on the next bear market, according to Brad Lamensdorf, a portfolio manager at
  • Treasury yields plunge as Italy's political turmoil sparks safety bid

    Italy's president rejected euroskeptic economist and former banker Paolo Savona for finance minister.
    He must now form a new government or call for another election.
    US yields are sharply lower as money pours into safety.
    US Treasury yields are sharply lower Tuesday morning as traders have awakened to growing political turmoil in Italy after President Sergio Mattarella rejected euroskeptic economist and former banker Paolo Savona for finance minister. Now Mattarella must form a ne
  • MORGAN STANLEY: Salesforce poised to clear 'low bar' in Tuesday's earnings, with 37% stock gains by 2020 likely (CRM)

    Salesforce is set to report its first-quarter earnings on Tuesday, but Wall Street isn't sweating it.
    Instead, analysts are curious how Salesforce will be affected in the long run by its $6.8 billion MuleSoft acquisition, which officially closed May 2.
    Morgan Stanley has high hopes and sees a good chance of Salesforce meeting its $22 billion revenue goal by 2022.
    Best-case scenario: Morgan Stanley thinks Salesforce could see stock gains of 37% by next year.
    Wall Street has high expectations for
  • 10 things you need to know before the opening bell (SPY, SPX, QQQ, DIA, DB)

    Here is what you need to know.
    Italy's political crisis deepens. Italian President Sergio Mattarella rejected the euroskeptic economist and former banker Paolo Savona for finance minister, and he must now form a new government or face another election.
    Peripheral yields surge. Italy's two-year yield is up almost 150 basis points near 2.30%, while its 10-year is higher by 42 basis points at 3.08%. Elsewhere in Europe, Greece's 10-year is up 34 basis points, while Spain's and Portugal's 10-year yi
  • Marketoonist on shifting priorities

    Tom Fishburne is founder of Marketoon Studios. Follow his work at marketoonist.com or on Twitter @tomfishburne
    See more of the Marketoonist here
    The post Marketoonist on shifting priorities appeared first on Marketing Week.
  • Virgin Media, Carluccio’s, Barclaycard: Everything that matters this morning

    Usain Bolt stars in new Virgin Media campaign
    Virgin Media is launching a new campaign today, starring Usain Bolt as an animated superhero, to promote its super broadband speeds and super entertainment offering.
    The multi-million pound ‘Switch to Super’ campaign, created by BBH London, will run for eight weeks across TV, video-on-demand, press, radio, online and social, starting with a prime time TV ad this evening just before ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.
    The TV ad feature
  • Virgin, Carluccio’s, Barclaycard: Everything that matters this morning

    Usain Bolt stars in new Virgin Media campaign
    Virgin Media is launching a new campaign today, starring Usain Bolt as an animated superhero, to promote its super broadband speeds and super entertainment offering.
    The multi-million pound ‘Switch to Super’ campaign, created by BBH London, will run for eight weeks across TV, VOD, press, radio, online and social, starting with a prime time TV ad this evening just before ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.
    The TV ad features Richard E
  • UKTV, Pret, Coca-Cola: Everything that matters this morning

    ITV mulls £1bn BBC joint venture to buy UKTV
    ITV is reportedly considering entering into a £1bn joint venture with the BBC by acquiring half of fellow broadcaster UKTV.
    The Telegraph reports that the rivals are mulling over a deal aimed at securing the future of British broadcasting by creating a homegrown competitor to Netflix. UKTV is an attractive prospect with its mixture of 10 free-to-air and pay-TV channels, alongside a free streaming service.
    The BBC already has a stake in UKT
  • Sorrell, Carphone Warehouse, Pret: Everything that matters this morning

    Former WPP chief Sorrell set to make comeback
    Former chief executive of WPP, Martin Sorrell, is to become executive chairman of new marketing company.
    Sorrell, who stepped down just six weeks ago, is planning to announce becoming chairman of a small financial holding company which he intends to build a “next generation marketing services group”,  Sky News reports.
    The ad industry veteran is understood to be committing £40m of his own money to the new venture, with institut
  • Sir Martin Sorrell, Carphone Warehouse, Pret: Everything that matters this morning

    Former WPP chief Sorrell set to make comeback
    Former chief executive of WPP, Sir Martin Sorrell, is to become executive chairman of a new marketing company.
    Sorrell, who stepped down from his role at WPP six weeks ago, is set to become chairman of a small financial holding company, which he intends to build into a “next generation marketing services group”,  Sky News reports.
    The ad industry veteran is understood to be committing £40m of his own money to the new venture, w
  • Coca-Cola, Ocado, Viagogo: Everything that matters this morning

    Viagogo under investigation for continuing to flout ad rules
    Consumers have been warned not to use ticket resale site Viagogo, as Trading Standards and the Advertising Standards Authority launch an investigation into the company.
    Viagogo been rapped by the ASA previously for failing to make all charges clear in its advertising.
    Trading Standards got in contact with the ad watchdog in relation to the brand yesterday (30 May), and a spokesperson for Trading Standards confirmed it has “launch
  • Inside the sports fashion group launching a brand building academy to unleash cross-functional creativity

    The Pentland Brands office in Sunderland.Pentland Brands is launching an in-house brand building academy focused on growing its portfolio of brands by harnessing the cross-functional talent across its 1,700 strong global workforce.
    The family-owned British business behind brands such as Speedo, Mitre, Ellesse and Berghaus, will offer employees access to new development workshops, toolkits and events, designed to develop a connected approach that makes brand building the responsibility of every
  • Market to travellers' emotions, research indicates

    SINGAPORE: New research indicates that a deeper understanding of travellers’ emotional responses could offer new opportunities for travel marketers.UM Worldwide, the media and advertising agency, examined the travel markets of Japan,...
  • How Unilever nudged its way to a successful relaunch

    BANGKOK: Brand relaunches carry a significant risk of losing existing customers to rivals and it can take a long time to win them back, but Unilever found the use of nudge theory can help make the change almost seamless.In an
  • Five steps to better digital media management

    LONDON: Brands grappling with the complexity and fragmentation of the digital media supply chain might do better to think in terms of analytics than audits if they want to improve their digital media communications.Writing in the May issue of...
  • CNN calls for new definition of brand safety

    NEW ORLEANS: CNN, the news provider, believes the concept of brand safety should be expanded in a way that more clearly demarcates trustworthy content sources from purveyors of fake and misleading material.Meredith Artley, SVP/editor-in-chief of...
  • 28% of all media time will be mobile by 2020

    GLOBAL: The rapid expansion of mobile internet usage in recent years means that a quarter (24%) of all media consumption around the world is expected to be on mobile this year, up from just 5% in 2011, according to a new global study.In addition,...
  • Strategic partnerships are helping the world’s most valuable brands accelerate growth

    Adidas has partnered with Parley for the Ocean to launch a range of trainers made from recycled plastic found in the seaAs technology advances at a quicker pace than ever before, giving people access to an infinite number of services and products at the click of a button, it is no longer enough to simply exist in people’s pockets.
    As such, brands are forging savvy partnerships to connect with new audiences in innovative and meaningful ways, with Kantar Millward Brown’s BrandZ rankin
  • Revealed: The world’s most valuable brands

    Brands that are using technology to make people’s lives easier in new and innovative ways are winning in 2018, according to Kantar Millward Brown’s latest BrandZ report of the world’s top 100 brands, with technology and tech-related names accounting for 92% of the overall ranking.
    Tech behemoths Google and Apple lead the way, both of which break the $300bn brand value threshold for the first time – the only brands in the ranking to do so. Google again takes first place wi
  • Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Gucci: The world’s most valuable luxury brands

    A booming Chinese economy and a willingness to embrace pop culture is helping luxury brands increase their global value, with Kantar Millward Brown’s latest BrandZ rankings revealing significant growth in the sector.
    French fashion house Louis Vuitton has seen its value rise by 41% to $41.1bn in 2018, making it the best-performing luxury brand in the top 100 at number 26 and one of this year’s top 20 fastest risers.
    Meanwhile, Gucci’s 66% increase sees the Italian brand climb a
  • Adidas, Instagram and Uber enter the BrandZ top 100 for the first time

    Adidas, Instagram and Uber are now three of the world’s top 100 brands in terms of value, according to Kantar Millward Brown’s latest BrandZ report, with technology and partnerships playing a crucial role in their growth.
    After stealing the crown as 2017’s fastest riser, Adidas finally makes it into the ranking at number 100, having increased its value by 50% year-on-year to $12.5bn.
    Integral to this growth has been a renewed focus on the US, where Adidas says it has put a lot

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