Sales & Marketing news

• The 15 American cities where competition to buy a home is fiercest right now

  16-01-2019 22:49 via feedproxy.google.com
  The US housing market is finally starting to cool off, but competition among buyers is still fierce in some cities.
  Those in the best position to buy a home typically have mortgage financing in place, a credit score above 680, and a down payment above 15%.
  But many markets, like San Francisco and San Jose, have an oversaturation of these buyers, leading to heightened competition.It may get easier for some Americans to buy a home this year as prices finally level off, but several markets are stil
  
  Read more

• Federal prosecutors are leading a criminal investigation into Huawei and allegations that it stole trade secrets from US companies

  16-01-2019 22:41 via feedproxy.google.com
  Federal prosecutors are investigating the Chinese electronics giant Huawei for allegedly stealing trade secrets from US companies, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Wednesday. 
  One such incident includes Huawei supposedly stealing robotic technology that T-Mobile uses to test its smartphones, according to the report. 
  The report says that the investigation is advanced and may soon lead to an indictment.Federal prosecutors are investigating Chinese electronics giant
  
  Read more

• China's economy is slowing, and it's taking Hong Kong's once-booming housing market down with it

  16-01-2019 22:31 via feedproxy.google.com
  Hong Kong was ranked the most expensive housing market in the world for eight consecutive years.But property values have fallen sharply in recent months.
  A slowing mainland economy, trade tensions, and rising interest rates have helped drag prices lower.
  One of the world's most expensive housing markets is facing a major slowdown.
  Analysts at HSBC dimmed their outlook for Hong Kong's real-estate market on Wednesday, according to a research note. Previously forecasting activity would plateau, the
  
  Read more

• Evidence is mounting that we're hurtling head-first into a recession

  16-01-2019 20:35 via feedproxy.google.com
  An increasing amount of evidence is piling up to suggest we're headed for an economic recession.
  UBS estimated in September that there was a record $4.3 trillion in lower-quality corporate loans and high-yield bonds.
  Economic data is pointing downward and investor sentiment is turning negative.
  Driving the news: Perhaps most worrisome is the massive pile of highly leveraged debt that continues to grow. Bank of America-Merrill Lynch's monthly survey of fund managers finds that, for the firs
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• PG&E's imminent bankruptcy would put it in rarefied air alongside Enron and Lehman Brothers

  16-01-2019 20:29 via feedproxy.google.com
  PG&E's impending bankruptcy would put it in notorious company, at least in terms of size.
  The company would join the ranks of "failing angels," or companies whose debt goes straight from investment grade to default.
  If PG&E follows through on plans to file for bankruptcy before the end of the month, it will be the biggest utility bankruptcy since 2001...which was the first time PG&E filed for bankruptcy.
  By the numbers: PG&E's planned filing would be the ninth largest
  
  Read more

• The government shutdown is making life even harder for farmers already struggling from Trump's trade war

  16-01-2019 20:06 via feedproxy.google.com
  About a fourth of the government has been shut down since late December, making it the longest partial closure on record.
  The government shutdown has thwarted support programs for farmers hurting from tariffs.
  It has also cut off access to data on business and agricultural conditions.
  In July, Wisconsin soybean grower Brad Kremer told Sen. Ron Johnson he had lost tens of thousands of dollars as a result of tariffs.The Republican lawmaker had been holding a roundtable following backlash over trad
  
  Read more

• A turbulent market led to one 'big surprise' last quarter that gave the world's biggest asset manager a huge boost (BLK)

  16-01-2019 19:59 via feedproxy.google.com
  The record amount of new money BlackRock absorbed into its exchange-trade-funds platform, iShares, in the fourth quarter was driven in part by market volatility, chief executive officer Larry Fink said on Wednesday's earnings call. 
  Lower returns led investors to reallocate money from mutual funds to ETFs, which was a 'big surprise' last quarter. 
  The world's largest asset manager is betting on iShares as one of its growth businesses. A "big surprise" drove record assets to o
  
  Read more

• Nordstrom is seeing an early warning sign of an inventory problem, analyst says (JWN)

  16-01-2019 19:51 via feedproxy.google.com
  Nordstrom on Tuesday posted holiday comparable sales growth that were in line with Wall Street estimation.
  But the retailer's comparable sales in full-price only grew 0.3%, below its expectations. 
  "Softer full-price trends set the stage for higher 4Q markdowns and inventory worries," said Simeon Siegel, an analyst at Nomura Instinet.
  Watch Nordstrom trade live.
  Nordstrom's disappointing holiday-sales results indicated a bigger inventory problem ahead, an analyst says. 
  The retailer on
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• History shows the stock market may be setting up to rip higher once the government shutdown ends

  16-01-2019 19:11 via feedproxy.google.com
  The partial government shutdown is the longest on record, and economists say it's eating into economic growth right now.
  Still, the long-term economic impact is likely to be muted, and one new analysis suggests stocks could rally if a resolution is reached.
  The S&P 500 has climbed during 12 of the past 21 shutdowns. On average, it rose 13% in the year after the government was reopened, according to LPL Financial.
  It's becoming increasingly evident that the partial government shutdown is taki
  
  Read more

• 2019 was supposed to be a banner year for IPOs, but now it's turning into a 's---show'

  16-01-2019 18:59 via feedproxy.google.com
  This year was supposed to be the year of the unicorn initial public offering, with massively funded private startups like Uber, Lyft, and Slack all preparing to go public.
  Now, just two weeks into the year, bankers say it's turning into a "s---show."
  The federal-government shutdown has left the Securities and Exchange Commission closed, which means most companies cannot move forward with going public.
  Market volatility is also creating an unstable environment for soon-to-be-public companies.Ask
  
  Read more

• HSBC: These 5 market forces will determine whether stocks regain their footing or plunge into a free fall

  16-01-2019 18:22 via feedproxy.google.com
  There's ample uncertainty about whether stocks are on the cusp of a rebound to new highs or whether the December 2018 sell-off was part of a more sustained move lower.
  HSBC has compiled a list of five factors that will determine the market's next direction and what investors should be paying attention to.The question of how much longer the bull market in stocks will run is heavy on investors' minds.
  They recognize the danger of wrongly timing the market and missing out on late-cycle gains, but t
  
  Read more

• These haunting photos of the retail apocalypse reveal a new normal in America as Sears clings on after closing hundreds of stores (M, JCP)

  16-01-2019 17:38 via feedproxy.google.com
  Sears is avoiding liquidation, with chairman Eddie Lampert winning a bankruptcy auction with a plan to keep the retailer alive. 
  More than 3,800 stores were slated to close across the United States in 2018. 
  Retailers including Walgreens, Toys R Us, and Gap closed hundreds of stores each. 
  A retail apocalypse is ripping through the industry, leaving clearance sales and empty malls in its wake.
  The retail apocalypse has descended on America. 
  Department stores like Macy's, Sea
  
  Read more

• Goldman Sachs' retail bank Marcus took over £5 billion in UK deposits in just 3 months

  16-01-2019 17:38 via feedproxy.google.com
  Goldman Sachs launched its Marcus product in the UK in early October and has already raised $7 billion in deposits. 
  Marcus has been a big hit in the UK so far with over 100,000 people signing up.
  "We were the beneficiaries of hitting a nerve in the UK market where we were paying more than the high street banks and deposits came our way," said Stephen Scherr, Goldman Sach's CFO. Goldman Sach's Marcus launched in October last year in the UK and its performance to date has validated the
  
  Read more

• Chipotle is planning to add new items to the menu, but first it wants customers to figure out what 'sofritas' and 'barbacoa' are (CMG)

  16-01-2019 17:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  Chipotle is testing new menu items including nachos, milkshakes, and quesadillas, the last of which is a top-requested item from customers, CEO Brian Niccol said.
  Following the launch of Chipotle's Lifestyle Bowls, the chain is looking for ways to launch more "new" menu items that use ingredients that are already available in stores, Niccol said.
  "Our No. 1-selling meat is chicken," Niccol told Business Insider. "When you ask people 'Did you know we had carnitas, barbacoa, or sofritas?' a lot of
  
  Read more

• One of Yelp's biggest investors says its patience has 'worn out,' and is urging management to make changes or sell the company (YELP)

  16-01-2019 16:58 via feedproxy.google.com
  One of Yelp's largest shareholders, SQN Investors LP, urged management to refresh its board of directors to create significant value for investors. If not, SQN says it should sell the company.
  Yelp traded above $90 a share back in 2014 when there were fewer business ratings and reviews platforms. But shares have since tanked more than 60%.
  SQN said the stock's underperformance is largely due to poor corporate governance, and said it is prepared to launch a proxy fight if the board doesn’t
  
  Read more

• Chipotle is considering raising prices as minimum wages rise, but the CEO says not to panic — they 'don't want to be like Whole Foods' (CMG)

  16-01-2019 16:56 via feedproxy.google.com
  Chipotle is considering raising prices as minimum wages increase and the labor market tightens. 
  "We have a model that we can invest in our labor," CEO Brian Niccol told Business Insider. "And, we will use sales growth coupled with some pricing to handle it."
  Niccol said that Chipotle wants to remain accessible, and that the chain will be careful to avoid raising prices to a degree that could scare away customers.ORLANDO, Florida — Your Chipotle burrito may get more expensive in 2019.
  
  Read more

• Citigroup says it pays women 29% less than men in report that the bank's HR chief calls 'difficult'

  16-01-2019 16:55 via feedproxy.google.com
  Citigroup's female employees earn 29% less than male ones in the latest report about the pay disparity among employees.
  Women make up just 37% of senior positions between the levels of assistant VP to managing director, despite their making up about half of Citi's workforce.
  “The numbers are difficult,” said Sara Wechter, Citigroup’s global head of human resources. “We should obviously be at 100% parity, and that’s what we’re striving for.”Citigroup says
  
  Read more

• Disney's Netflix competitor could hit 50 million subscribers in 5 years, but Wall Street sees 2 major risks to its strategy (DIS)

  16-01-2019 16:28 via feedproxy.google.com
  UBS analysts estimate Disney's upcoming Netflix competitor, Disney+, will hit 5 million subscribers in the first year after its launch and 50 million subscribers in its first five years.
  Disney's streaming aspirations could weigh on earnings in the short term, but the analysts think investors should consider the long-term positive growth.
  Still, UBS foresees at least two risks to Disney's direct-to-consumer strategy.Disney is expected to give reigning streaming champion Netflix some formidable c
  
  Read more

• Snap's CFO is bolting. Here's what Wall Street is saying about a 'clear negative' for the company (SNAP)

  16-01-2019 16:25 via feedproxy.google.com
  Snap shares plunged Wednesday after the company said CFO Tim Stone was leaving to "pursue other opportunities."
  The announcement marked the second CFO exit in eight months, and is the latest in a slew of key executive departures over the past year.
  The reaction from Wall Street analysts who cover Snap was largely negative. At least one firm lowered its investment recommendation on the stock.
  Watch Snap trade live.
  Snap said late Tuesday its CFO was leaving the company, an announcement that sent
  
  Read more

• Advertisers need educating on addressable TV

  16-01-2019 16:00 via warc.com
  Nigel Walley, managing director of media consultancy Decipher, is a big fan of addressable TV. UK advertisers, however, do not currently share his enthusiasm, and the reasons can be summed up in two words: distrust and confusion.
  
  Read more

• Sears set to stay open after last ditch bid prevents liquidation, sending shares surging

  16-01-2019 15:47 via feedproxy.google.com
  126-year-old retailer Sears has grabbed a lifeline after billionaire hedge-fund manager Edward Lampert won a bankruptcy auction. 
  The result means that around 400 stores will stay open following a $5.2 billion bid. 
  Sears filed for protection from creditors in October and has been in a battle for its future ever since.
  Sears was trading up 53% to $0.75 following the news.A last ditch effort from billionaire hedge-fund manager Eddie Lamper is set to keep Sears alive after beating off co
  
  Read more

• Ellen Hammett: Jamie Oliver’s defence of his Shell deal suggests an over-inflated view of the power of his ‘brand’

  16-01-2019 15:43
  It’s quiz time. When Jamie Oliver said: “If this was a film, this would be like getting it into lots of cinema screens. This is where people go.” Was he talking about:
  A) His upcoming film debut, ‘The Hypocritical Chef’B) His £5m deli food deal with ShellC) Rubbish
  Of course the answer is B, which could lead to A, which would probably be C.
  From the end of January, 500 Shell service stations will begin selling Jamie Oliver’s new ‘healthy’ de
  
  Read more

• Why Bupa overhauled its marketing to focus on just five postcodes

  16-01-2019 15:20
  When Bupa Global was established as Bupa’s international health insurance offering in 1971, it was originally conceived as a provider to expatriates living abroad. But as with many industries, globalisation has prompted some unexpected changes for the brand.
  In the past two years, Bupa Global has completely reframed the way it thinks about who its customers are, what they are looking for and how to communicate with them. Principally that has been driven by the discovery of new insights abo
  
  Read more

• Six years of marketing budget growth ends as Brexit uncertainty bites

  16-01-2019 01:01
  Six years of growth in UK marketing budgets came to an end in the fourth quarter of 2018 as economic and political uncertainty caused marketers to “lose confidence” and pull back spend.
  According to the IPA’s quarterly Bellwether report, there were no changes in marketing budgets in Q4, with 16.4% of marketers reporting they plan to increase spend and 16.4% that they plan to cut it, leading to a net balance of 0%. The last time the report showed marketing budgets were not in g
  
  Read more

• Marketers still planning to hire despite economic uncertainty

  16-01-2019 01:01
  Marketers are still planning to hire despite ongoing concerns about the economic and political outlook caused by Brexit, but hiring levels have fallen to an all-time low.
  According to the IPA’s quarterly Bellwether report, 27.7% of marketers surveyed are planning to increase hiring levels over the next three months, the lowest level since the IPA began asking the question in the third quarter of 2018. And 17.3% expect staffing levels to be lower, the highest number on record. That means a
  
  Read more

• Reports: UK ad industry faces recession under no-deal Brexit

  16-01-2019 01:00 via warc.com
  Six years of continuous growth in marketing spending came to an abrupt end in Q4 2018, the latest IPA Bellwether report shows, while Enders Analysis study explores the harsh impact of Brexit on the UK ad industry.Continued political and economic...
  
  Read more

• PepsiCo leverages 'augmented intelligence'

  16-01-2019 01:00 via warc.com
  PepsiCo, the food and beverage giant, is tapping into the power of “augmented intelligence” as it seeks to generate powerful consumer and strategic insights.A key driver of the company’s efforts in this area is Ada, an in-house...
  
  Read more

• 'Multisensory retail' – the key to saving bricks and mortar shopping?

  16-01-2019 01:00 via warc.com
  A major survey of 10,000 shoppers around the world appears to have come up with a possible answer to breathing life into old-fashioned bricks and mortar retail – the “multisensory” in-store experience.The study by Mood Media...
  
  Read more

• Marketers need to rethink search

  16-01-2019 01:00 via warc.com
  Search marketing has proved to be very effective for brands, which spend more than $100bn a year here, but they need to rethink how they deploy search spend and how they can use it across the path to purchase, a WARC report suggests.The search...
  
  Read more

• India's Paytm turns to content to rival Amazon Prime

  16-01-2019 01:00 via warc.com
  E-commerce service Paytm is reported to be finalising plans to launch a video service to take on rivals Amazon and Flipkart.According to sources
  
  Read more

Follow @sales_mrktinguk on Twitter!