What’s Going On Here? Germany surprised economists by revealing its economy actually grew in the third quarter – but with weak economic data out of China, investors might worry Germany’s still headed for the fire. What Does This Mean? An ongoing effect of the US-China trade war is weaker economic growth than there otherwise would be, as purchases get deferred and…
Category: Daily News
Ep 73: Kwik-E-Walmart
What’s Going On Here? Walmart thanked investors and invited them to come again with third-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations. What Does This Mean? The retailer saw its stores’ third-quarter sales rise 3.2% from a year ago – more than predicted. That marks its 21st consecutive quarter of growth, a feat no other American retail chain has achieved. …
Ep 72: Disney Takes The Mickey
What’s Going On Here? Media giant Disney reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit growth late last week – and Enchanted investors sent its shares up 4%. What Does This Mean? Disney’s last quarter was definitely more Beauty than Beast. Revenue from its iconic theme parks and broadcast networks grew – but the real Aladdin’s cave was its movie studio….
Ep 71: Gold Ain’t Glittering
What’s Going On Here? Gold and silver just had one of their worst weeks since 2017 as investors sent the precious metals’ prices falling. What Does This Mean? Both Better-than-expected quarterly updates from big multinational companies Progress towards a tentative US-China trade deal (reducing import costs and therefore boost companies’ earnings and economic growth), appear to have encouraged…
Ep 70: OK Computer
What’s Going On Here? “Just” $40 billion separates the values of Apple and Microsoft – the world’s largest and second-largest public companies. So here’s hoping Microsoft’s better-than-expected quarterly update will help it become fitter, happier, and more productive… What Does This Mean? Microsoft’s revenue and profit was higher than forecast, and the sky was the limit for the company’s…
Ep 69: Charm Offensive
What’s Going On Here? P&G impressed investors with the soft sell when it reported quarterly results. What Does This Mean? Last week’s consumer staples love-in gave way this week when Germany’s Reckitt Benckiser said it had sold fewer health and cleaning products than it hoped, and lowered its sales forecast for the rest of the year. P&G’s sales of similar…
Ep 68: Channel-Chopping
What’s Going On Here? Telecoms companies often boost their earnings by merging with one another – growing in size while cutting costs. But Sunrise’s $6 billion plan to buy rival Liberty Global’s Swiss cable network was cut short. What Does This Mean? Sunrise announced the Liberty deal back in February. To cover the costs, it would’ve had to reorganize its…
Ep 67: How Pinterest Built One of Silicon Valley’s Most Successful Algorithms
Pinterest was built on assumptions and biases Unlike most social networks, Pinterest admits it. From the start, you tell the company how to profile you: The service asks two personal questions when you register — your age and gender — and how you answer them shapes everything that happens next. Based on your responses, along…
Ep 66: Golden Delicious
What’s Going On Here? Apple recently told its suppliers to increase their iPhone 11 production – suggesting that the company’s anticipating higher customer demand than previously for its $700-plus handset. What Does This Mean? Whenever Apple launches a new product, it forecasts how much demand it expects there’ll be and then places the relevant orders…
Ep 65: A Jobbing Economy
What’s Going On Here? US economy added 136,000 jobs in September; While that was fewer than economists predicted, the country’s unemployment rate also fell to 3.5%: a 50-year low. What Does This Mean? Investors largely ignored the disappointing job additions – perhaps because the official estimates for job growth in previous months were simultaneously increased; those that were added…
with HT 