Sales & Marketing news

• Concern about Trump's trade war has 'spiked tremendously' among America's largest companies

  02-08-2018 19:21 via feedproxy.google.com
  President Donald Trump launched a months-long trade war in March by imposing various tariffs.
  Companies in the S&P 500 are starting to take notice of the trade battles.
  According to analysts, mentions of the word "tariff" on S&P 500 earnings calls has skyrocketed to the highest in recent history.
  President Donald Trump's trade war has started to grab the attention of some of America's largest companies.
  Throughout the second-quarter earnings season, S&P 500 firms across the spectrum
  
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• There's a very good reason why Cisco shelled out $2.35 billion to buy hot startup Duo Security (CSCO)

  02-08-2018 18:53 via feedproxy.google.com
  After months of negotiating, Cisco has confirmed that it's buying Duo Security for $2.5 billion in cash.
  This was a smart and totally expected move by Cisco, who had been watching this company's fast growth from the inside as an investor.
  While Cisco is paying a hefty premium over Duo's last valuation of $1.17 billion, the price is not outlandish given how well these companies fit together, as well as Duo's strong growth.After months of negotiating, Cisco has confirmed that it's buying Duo Secur
  
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• The rise of Apple CEO Tim Cook, the leader of the first $1 trillion company in the US (AAPL)

  02-08-2018 18:44 via feedproxy.google.com
  In August 2011, Tim Cook took the job as CEO of Apple, leaving many wondering if he could fill the shoes left by his friend and mentor, Steve Jobs.
  Today, Apple hit a huge milestone, becoming the first $1 trillion company in the United States, ever. That leaves Cook looking pretty good.
  But when he was first announced for the role, he was a big question mark. He had come out of seemingly nowhere to lead such a big, important company. What a lot of people don't know is that Apple would never hav
  
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• Applebee's president: Millennials don't want 'trendy' food with names they can't pronounce — they want cheap booze (DIN)

  02-08-2018 18:34 via feedproxy.google.com
  Applebee's struggles to win over millennials have been well-documented, with the chain closing 99 locations in 2017. 
  Now, the chain has managed a turnaround by not trying to be "trendy," but instead giving millennials — and other customers — what they want: a pretty good meal at a pretty good price, with some very cheap drinks. 
  "If you can't pronounce a menu item, it's not making its way to Applebee's menu," Applebee's president John Cywinski told Business Insider. "Our g
  
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• One of the world's largest real estate companies just went public, and its stock is popping

  02-08-2018 18:08 via feedproxy.google.com
  Cushman & Wakefield shares jumped by as much as 7% in the company's initial public offering (IPO) on Thursday. 
  The company plans to use the bulk of the proceeds from its IPO to pay down debt. 
  It operates more than 3.5 billion square feet of commercial real estate and employs about 48,000 people in 70 countries.
  Shares of the commercial-real-estate giant Cushman & Wakefield rose by as much as 7% in their trading debut on Thursday. 
  In a regulatory filing on Wedn
  
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• Apple just became the first $1 trillion public company in the US (AAPL)

  02-08-2018 18:02 via feedproxy.google.com
  Apple is the first publicly-owned company to reach a $1 trillion market capitalization.
  The market cap is the company's total market value, calculated by multiplying the value of its stock times all shares outstanding. 
  Apple just became the first company to be worth $1 trillion on the public markets. 
  The milestone was crossed when Apple's stock hit $207.05 share, and comes  just days after Apple reported its third quarter fiscal earnings. Those earnings beat Wall Street expectat
  
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• IT'S OFFICIAL: Apple is the first US company worth $1 trillion (AAPL)

  02-08-2018 17:50 via feedproxy.google.com
  Shares of Apple climbed Thursday to hit the magic number of $207.05, making it the first US company to reach a market value of $1 trillion.
  The latest surge came after Apple's second-quarter results topped Wall Street's expectations and sent the stock climbing.Follow Apple's stock price in real time here. 
  Apple on Thursday become the first US company worth more than $1 trillion on a public stock market.
  The company on Tuesday reported second-quarter earnings that topped Wall Street's expec
  
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• US Steel is tumbling after third-quarter earnings guidance misses expectations (X)

  02-08-2018 17:41 via feedproxy.google.com
  US Steel shares are tumbling on Thursday after the company provided guidance for third-quarter earnings that was weaker than analysts had expected. 
  Second-quarter earnings topped forecast, initially sending the shares higher in after-hours trading on Wednesday. 
  Watch US Steel trade in realtime here.
  US Steel shares are tumbling on Thursday, down 9% after the company's guidance for third-quarter earnings missed Wall Street's expectations. 
  Kevin Bradley, the chief financial offic
  
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• Tesla's surging stock has cost short sellers $1.1 billion in a single day (TSLA)

  02-08-2018 17:31 via feedproxy.google.com
  Tesla's stock surged as much as 11% on Thursday following the company's strong quarterly earnings report.
  The share spike has cost short sellers $1.1 billion in a single day, according to data from S3 Partners.
  The short squeeze marks a temporary victory for Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been locked in months-long battle with his company's skeptics.
  Watch Tesla trade in real time here.
  Score one for Elon Musk.
  The Tesla CEO, who has long been an outspoken critic of stock traders betting against h
  
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• Sonos surges 8% in its trading debut

  02-08-2018 17:24 via feedproxy.google.com
  Sonos opened for trading at $16 on Thursday, gaining more than 8%. 
  It had priced its initial public offering at $15, below the expected range of $17 to $19. 
  Sonos' IPO comes as the California-based company seeks to build market share in the voice assistant-enabled smart speaker market.
  Sonos shares opened for trading at $16 apiece on Thursday, gaining more than 8% during the trading debut. 
  The smart-speaker company had priced its initial public offering at $15 a share on T
  
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• A Chinese media mogul is building out a nearly $300 million crypto hub in an unlikely city, and it could include a college focused completely on fintech

  02-08-2018 17:07 via feedproxy.google.com
  A Chinese billionaire named Bruno Wu is building out a nearly $300 million crypto innovation hub in an unlikely place — Hartford, Connecticut. 
  Part of the plan includes a fintech college, according to documents reviewed by Business Insider. A little-known Chinese financial technology company is making a big splash in Connecticut's state capital with a plan for a nearly $300 million crypto innovation hub. 
  Seven Stars Cloud, a company led by China-born media-mogul-turned-tec
  
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• Mark Ritson: Targeting or mass marketing? The answer is both

  02-08-2018 17:00
  Mark Ritson debates Byron Sharp on mass marketing versus targeting at the Festival of Marketing 2017The ads for this year’s Festival of Marketing have sparked happy memories of last year’s event. The organisers asked me and my old arch nemesis Professor Byron Sharp from the Ehrenberg Bass Institute to close the conference with an animated debate about Sharp’s seismic impact on the field of marketing and, specifically, some of his more contentious evidence-based claims that I ha
  
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• 'Questions remain': Here’s what Wall Street is saying about Tesla’s earnings (TSLA)

  02-08-2018 16:39 via feedproxy.google.com
  Tesla reported earnings on Thursday that sent its stock flying higher by nearly 10%. 
  The electric-car maker said it slowed its cash burn and revenue topped Wall Street's expectations — but per share losses were more than anticipated.
  A number of analysts upgraded the stock and raised their price targets, but the remained concerned about its finances. 
  Follow Tesla's stock price in real-time here. 
  Tesla reported a mixed-bag in its earnings report on Wednesday, sending share
  
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• Tanya Joseph: Positive discrimination just levels the playing field for talent

  02-08-2018 16:24
  At a recent event, a fellow guest (a so-called senior figure in our industry, god help us) asked me what I thought about novelist Lionel Shriver and her tirade about Penguin Random House’s pledge to publish books by more diverse authors. Before I was able to respond, he declared that she was completely right and in his humble opinion (yes he did actually utter those words) the problem with the drive for diversity was that “women and other minority groups” would always feel the
  
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• WhatsApp to start making money from businesses

  02-08-2018 16:22
  Facebook-owned WhatsApp is finally going to start making some money with new pay-to-use tools that will let businesses talk to customers.
  Via the messaging app, companies will be able to send information about products and services, such as boarding passes and delivery dates, as well as providing real-time support to help resolve issues.
  WhatsApp – which Facebook bought for £11bn in 2014 – says users will continue to have full control over the messages they receive, and t
  
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• Blue Apron is crashing as customers ditch its meal-kit service (APRN)

  02-08-2018 15:55 via feedproxy.google.com
  Blue Apron says it saw a 24% year-over-year drop in customers during the second quarter.
  Shares are down about 20% Thursday morning.
  Watch Blue Apron trade in real time here.
  Blue Apron shares are crashing Thursday morning, down about 20%, after the meal-kit delivery service reported a big drop in customers.
  The company said total customers fell 8.8% quarter-over-quarter and 24% versus a year ago. Revenue per customer slipped to $250 from $251 last year. Blue Apron has struggled to retain c
  
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• Trump threatens to double down on his trade war with China — and the fight could be about to get ugly

  02-08-2018 15:34 via feedproxy.google.com
  President Donald Trump requested the US Trade Representative explore the option to hit $200 billion worth of Chinese imports to the US with a 25% tariff.
  Trump originally proposed only a 10% tariff on the goods.
  The move would be a major escalation of the next planned round of tariffs.
  The tariffs could go into effect within the next few months.
  President Donald Trump could be about to double down on the next phase of the trade war with China
  Senior administration officials told report
  
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• Tesla's stock has become an 'Elon sentiment gauge' (TSLA)

  02-08-2018 15:23 via feedproxy.google.com
  Tesla's stock has become 'somewhat of an Elon sentiment gauge," RBC Capital Markets told clients Monday.
  CEO Elon Musk has amassed a cult-like following on Twitter — and can often move the stock in 140 characters.
  Follow Tesla's stock price in real-time here. 
  Tesla on Wednesday managed to please anxious investors by posting a smaller-than-expected loss and burning less cash than Wall Street had anticipated.
  But also fueling the rise was an apology from CEO Elon Musk himself to analys
  
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• Trump's trade war reminds Morgan Stanley of a dispute that worsened the Great Depression — and the firm is sounding the alarm on an economic meltdown

  02-08-2018 15:15 via feedproxy.google.com
  As President Donald Trump's trade war ramps up further, Morgan Stanley just said the protectionist behavior being shown right now reminds them of the conditions surrounding the Great Depression of 1929.
  Morgan Stanley is also worried about the negative effect the trade war will have on foreign direct investment, a slowdown in which could crush global economic growth.
  President Donald Trump's latest attempt to strong-arm China appeared to fail on Thursday, as the nation's Ministry of Commerc
  
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• The first half of 2018 was a boom time for tech IPOs. Here's why bankers expect the good times to continue into next year

  02-08-2018 15:15 via feedproxy.google.com
  The number and value of tech public offerings jumped in the first half of this year, compared with last year.
  Investor demand and the eagerness of some startups to go public are driving the market for tech IPOs.
  The market should stay strong through the second half of this year and into 2019, according to tech bankers who spoke with Business Insider.The market for public offerings in the tech sector popped in the first half of this year and could get even better in the second half and on into ne
  
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• Dove: We will make mistakes but we aren’t going to lose the diversity game

  02-08-2018 15:10
  For nearly 15 years Dove has been committed to improving women’s self-esteem. Showcasing a diverse range of bodies and ethnicities it is a brand that has been on a journey to improve the way women are marketed to.
  However, it’s journey has not been without it’s criticisms – notably body shaped bottles and accusations of racism (after a social image showed a black woman turning into a white one) – and for many the brand has not always succeeded in representing women
  
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• Nintendo is just shy of reaching 20 million Switch consoles sold, but momentum is slowing

  02-08-2018 15:09 via feedproxy.google.com
  Nintendo's Switch game console is still doing very well, with nearly 20 million units sold worldwide.
  Second-year sales are down for the console — momentum has seemingly slowed with Switch sales.
  The Japanese game company's stock is also taking a hit, but it would be a mistake to count out Nintendo. It's a complicated time for Nintendo.
  The Japanese game giant's newest console, the Switch, is a hit — but it's losing momentum due to a lackluster second year line-up of major Ninte
  
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• What people get wrong about the market's favorite recession signal, according to a Wall Street strategist

  02-08-2018 15:02 via feedproxy.google.com
  David Kelly, Chief Global Strategist of JPMorgan Asset Management, expects the yield curve to be almost completely flat a year from now. But he says not to worry if it ends up inverted. Kelly calls the inverted yield curve a broken barometer that can no longer be trusted to predict economic trouble. He goes on to explain how an inverted yield curve can create income for consumers. Following is a transcript of the video. Sara Silverstein: What's your outlook for the Fed?
  David Kell
  
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• Tesla surges after slowing its cash burn and Elon Musk apologizing for 'bad manners' (TSLA)

  02-08-2018 13:59 via feedproxy.google.com
  Tesla on Wednesday reported second-quarter losses that were greater than Wall Street's expectations.Shares dipped immediately after the release, before rallying back into the green in after-hours trading.
  Revenues beat expectations, and cash burn slowed. 
  Follow Tesla's stock price in real-time here.
  Shares of Tesla rose as much as 3.8% in after-hours trading Wednesday following the electric car maker's second-quarter earnings report that showed a greater loss than what Wall Street had expe
  
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• Tesla surges after it slows its cash burn and Elon Musk apologizes for 'bad manners' (TSLA)

  02-08-2018 13:59 via feedproxy.google.com
  Tesla on Wednesday reported second-quarter losses that were greater than Wall Street's expectations.Shares dipped immediately after the release, but they rallied into the green in after-hours trading.
  Revenue beat expectations, and cash burn slowed.
  Follow Tesla's stock price in real-time here.
  Shares of Tesla rose as much as 3.8% in after-hours trading Wednesday after the electric-car maker's second-quarter earnings report showed a greater loss than what Wall Street had expected on better-than-
  
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• Bank of England hikes rates for the 2nd time since the financial crisis

  02-08-2018 13:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  The Bank of England increased interest rates for just the second time since the financial crisis on Thursday.
  Britain's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate to 0.75% from 0.5%.
  Members of the rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to raise rates.
  The Bank of England raised interest rates for just the second time since the financial crisis on Thursday, in a move widely expected by commentators and market participants alike.
  Britain's central bank raised its
  
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• 10 things you need to know before the opening bell (SPY, SPX, QQQ, DIA, TSLA, CI, ESRX)

  02-08-2018 12:40 via feedproxy.google.com
  Here is what you need to know.
  The Fed holds, says the economy is growing at a 'strong' pace. The US central bank left its key rate in a range between 1.75% and 2% and said economy activity was "rising at a strong rate."
  Chinese stocks got smoked. China's Shanghai Composite slid 2% on Thursday amid US trade tensions and as regulators were ready to impose even tougher restrictions on property purchases. Elsewhere, Germany's DAX (-1.78%) leads the losses in Europe, while the S&P 500 is set to
  
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• The stock market is seeing abnormally large moves this earnings season — Goldman Sachs explains why, and how traders can capitalize

  02-08-2018 12:03 via feedproxy.google.com
  Single-stock price fluctuations have been more extreme this earnings season than at any other point in the past eight quarters, Goldman Sachs says.
  The firm attributes this to poor forecasting from Wall Street analysts that has been driven by unpredictable macro developments.
  Goldman also offers four single-stock trades for the remainder of earnings season.
  If you've noticed that stock prices have been swinging more than usual this earnings season, it's not just your imagination playing tricks o
  
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• Something in the air: Will Lion and Lilli English on context and leadership

  02-08-2018 12:00 via warc.com
  To mark the launch of the Future of Strategy 2018, we are reposting a series of pieces on leadership from former heads...
  
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• The London Stock Exchange is triggering its no deal Brexit contingency plan

  02-08-2018 10:28 via feedproxy.google.com
  London Stock Exchange is triggering it contingency planning around a no deal Brexit.
  "The Group is executing contingency plans to maintain continuity of market function and customer service in the event of a hard Brexit," the exchange said in a statement.
  The plans include creating new entities in the EU.
  London Stock Exchange Group also reported a 21% jump in profits in the first half of 2018.LONDON — Europe's biggest single trading venue, the London Stock Exchange, is putting into motion
  
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• A pick-up at the investment bank helped Barclays' second-quarter profits pop by 44%

  02-08-2018 09:45 via feedproxy.google.com
  Barclays Q2 pre-tax profits rise 44%, while income climbs 10%.
  The bank had a strong performance at its investment bank and also benefitted from lower impairment costs.LONDON — Barclays reported a strong set of second-quarter results on Thursday, including solid numbers from its under-fire investment banking unit.
  Here are the top-line numbers from Barclays results for the three months to June:Income: Up 10% to £5.6 billion
  Pre-tax profit: Up 44% to £2 billion
  Costs: Down 3% to
  
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• How Estée Lauder is rethinking customer engagement to drive innovation

  02-08-2018 08:30
  Estée Lauder started with just four brands in 1946, it now employs 46,000 employees and has more than 25 prestige brands under its umbrella. But Lesley Crowther, the company’s first president of consumer engagement and retail, says that despite the diverse portfolio Estée Lauder feels like “one family.”
  She explains: “As a family-run company, the warmth and the heart that has existed since our inception still remains at our core. Certainly, w
  
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• How Estée Lauder is rethinking consumer engagement to drive innovation

  02-08-2018 08:30
  Estée Lauder Companies UK started with just four brands in 1946, it now employs 46,000 employees and has more than 25 prestige brands under its umbrella. But Lesley Crowther, the UK vice president company’s first president of consumer engagement and retail, says that despite the diverse portfolio Estée Lauder feels like “one family.”
  She explains: “As a family-run company, the warmth and the heart that has existed since our inception still re
  
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• How marketing can help brands build an export strategy post Brexit

  02-08-2018 08:00
  The Government remains in turmoil over its strategy for negotiating the UK’s exit from the European Union, yet with Brexit’s fixed date of 29 March 2019 rapidly approaching, marketers in businesses large and small need to turn their attention to markets outside Europe.
  Becoming an exporting business, whether the company is large or small, is theoretically easier now than it has ever been. From innovations in cross-border payments to a wide variety of fulfilment options, customers an
  
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• The Bank of England is ready to raise interest rates today — it could be an 'unnecessary risk'

  02-08-2018 07:30 via feedproxy.google.com
  The Bank of England is set to hike interest rates for just the second time since the financial crisis later on Thursday.
  Britain's central bank is expected to raise rates from 0.5% to 0.75%, taking the UK's base rate of interest to its highest level since March 2009.
  Markets are pricing a more than 90% chance of a hike but UBS strategist John Wraith says a hike on Thursday is an "unnecessary risk."
  UPDATE: The Bank of England has increased interest rates as expected. You can find the full story
  
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• Elon Musk's apology distracted everyone from Tesla's ongoing problems — and that's the danger of Tesla's cult of personality (TSLA)

  02-08-2018 03:12 via feedproxy.google.com
  Investors bid up Tesla's stock Wednesday after the company reported its second-quarter results.
  At least on the surface, there didn't seem to be much to cheer, given the company's large loss and big cash outflow.
  But CEO Elon Musk apologized to an analyst on the company's earnings call, and investors seemed to lap that up.
  The move seemed to restore the faith of investors and fans in Musk — and faith is what Tesla lives on.
  All seems to be well again with the Elon Musk personality cult.
  Te
  
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• Walmart, Amazon uncertain over India's draft e-commerce law

  02-08-2018 01:06 via warc.com
  NEW DELHI: E-commerce in India could become a point of diplomatic conflict between the US and India as both Amazon and Walmart criticise a Modi administration draft e-commerce policy.Ironically, the draft policy, which seeks to put Indian...
  
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• Superfood label shines on Africa's baobab

  02-08-2018 01:06 via warc.com
  MANGOULE: Senegal’s baobab sellers are reaping the rewards of the continent’s most iconic fruit becoming a “superfood” to European and American audiences, as major international brands, including the Coca-Cola Company and...
  
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• P&G Results: Where strategy must go next

  02-08-2018 01:06 via warc.com
  GLOBAL: Procter and Gamble, the world’s largest advertiser, hinted at some strategic changes during an earnings call that saw the FMCG giant miss forecasts, amid news of price increases.Though the company missed forecasts, bringing in $16.5...
  
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• How Diageo drives marketing effectiveness

  02-08-2018 01:06 via warc.com
  CANNES: Diageo, the alcoholic drinks manufacturer, has seen impressive results having built a marketing effectiveness tool that offers granular insights into the impact of its communications.Andrew Geoghegan, Diageo’s global consumer...
  
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• Chatbots offer personalization options

  02-08-2018 01:06 via warc.com
  KUALA LUMPUR: Brands using chatbots should focus on utility: qualifying leads, always-on customer service, and personalized offerings based on customer data, according to an expert.“To scale your business, you need both a messaging strategy...
  
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• Tesla could make it through 2018 without running out of money (TSLA)

  02-08-2018 00:06 via feedproxy.google.com
  Tesla reported Q2 earnings on Wednesday, with a wider loss than expected but a beat on revenue.
  Tesla ended the quarter with $2.2 billion in cash and expected total capex for 2018 to be less than $2.5 billion, roughly $1 billion less than in 2017.
  "Ultimately, our capital expenditure guidance will develop in line with Model 3 production and profitability," Tesla said in its Q2 investor letter.Tesla reported second-quarter earnings on Wednesday after the close of market. The company lost more tha
  
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