Netflix Beats Expectations With 34% Growth in Ad-Supported Subscribers
Business

Netflix Beats Expectations With 34% Growth in Ad-Supported Subscribers

Netflix reported its second-quarter earnings on Thursday, demonstrating its dominance in the streaming industry with a significant increase in global subscribers and significant growth in its ad-supported subscription model. The streaming giant saw a 34% increase in ad-supported subscriptions during this period compared to the same quarter last year. Advertising has become a crucial revenue stream for media companies looking to improve, or even achieve, profitability in streaming. Netflix shares have benefited recently from efforts to attract subscribers to its most affordable ad-supported tier, along with moves to limit password sharing. Here's a breakdown of Netflix's performance for the quarter ended June 30, versus Wall Street forecasts: Earning per share: $4.88 vs. $4.74 forecast by...
The Memphis Grizzlies trade Ziaire Williams to the Brooklyn Nets for Mamadi Diakite
Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies trade Ziaire Williams to the Brooklyn Nets for Mamadi Diakite

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded former lottery pick Ziaire Williams and a 2030 second-round draft pick (originally taken by the Dallas Mavericks) to the Brooklyn Nets. In exchange, the Grizzlies will receive forward Mamadi Diakite and the draft rights to Nemanja Dangubic, the teams announced Friday. Mamadi Diakite, who stands 6 feet, 9 inches, has played for five different teams since finishing his college career at Virginia in 2020. Most notably, he was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks’ roster during their 2021 championship run. Ziaire Williams, 6-foot-4, has played 150 games for the Grizzlies over the past three seasons. Drafted 10th overall out of Stanford in the 2021 NBA Draft, Williams has averaged 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game during his tenure in Memphis. Earli...
Small-Cap Stocks Rise: Diversification Strategy or Sustainable Trend?
Business

Small-Cap Stocks Rise: Diversification Strategy or Sustainable Trend?

The recent rally in small-cap stocks has sparked debate among market experts. While some see it as a simple diversification move by investors looking to spread risk across asset classes, others believe it could signal a more sustained shift in market sentiment. ETF reporter Dave Nadig suggests that the influx of money into small caps is part of a broader trend toward portfolio diversification. As investors navigate an uncertain economic and political landscape, they are increasingly looking to reduce concentration risk. The upcoming presidential election has further amplified this trend, with investors looking to protect their portfolios from potential volatility. However, Nadig cautions against prematurely declaring a sustained bull market for small caps. While the Russell 2000 has outpe...
Preparing for Paris: What to Know for Your Summer Visit
News

Preparing for Paris: What to Know for Your Summer Visit

Having lived in central Paris for six years, I have learned a lot about the ups and downs of being a Parisian. I would go back in a heartbeat. But I also empathize with international visitors who arrive with a romantic vision of perfection, only to face a severe shock, known as "Paris syndrome," when reality doesn't match their expectations. Don't let this discourage you from visiting. Just make sure you know what to expect before you go. Where are the Parisians? At the end of July, many Parisians leave for their summer homes, forcing bakeries to close and restaurants to display signs reading "Fermé" (closed). However, this summer is different. With 11 million visitors expected for the 2024 Summer Olympics, many businesses and restaurants will remain open until August 11, before taking a ...
Powell Suggests Fed Will Cut Rates Before Inflation Hits 2%
Business

Powell Suggests Fed Will Cut Rates Before Inflation Hits 2%

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced Monday that the central bank does not plan to wait for inflation to hit 2% before cutting interest rates. In a speech at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., Powell noted that central bank policies have “long and variable lags,” justifying why the Fed will not delay action until it reaches its target. “If you’re waiting for inflation to hit 2%, you’ve probably waited too long, as the current tightening could push inflation below that threshold,” Powell said. Instead, the Fed is aiming for “greater confidence” that inflation will return to 2%, he added. “The improved inflation data we’ve seen recently reinforces that confidence,” Powell said. He also said a “hard landing” for the U.S. economy is unlikely. Monday marked Powell’s first publi...
Other Sports Cash In on the Big Stage in Las Vegas
Sports

Other Sports Cash In on the Big Stage in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has transformed into a sports mecca, and the Super Bowl is just the jewel in the crown. While the NFL’s ultimate spectacle takes center stage, other sports are smartly capitalizing on the city’s newfound importance as a global entertainment hub. Boxing, golf, and even the unusual Power Slap have all taken the opportunity to showcase their events alongside the Super Bowl. The influx of sports fans, media, and industry insiders creates a perfect storm to generate buzz and attract new audiences. Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum has long recognized the value of aligning his events with the massive draw of the Super Bowl. By hosting a world title fight in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week, Arum taps into a large, attentive, and entertainment-hungry audience. LIV Golf has also joined ...
Global IT Outage Grounds Flights, Causes Major Delays
News

Global IT Outage Grounds Flights, Causes Major Delays

A large crowd is seen at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 19, 2024, due to a global cyber outage triggered by issues with Microsoft and CrowdStrike. Airlines around the world faced significant disruption on Friday, as a major cyber outage caused widespread flight delays and cancellations. The outage was caused by a major technology upgrade from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which led to a cascade of issues affecting Microsoft systems, leaving numerous organizations scrambling to restore critical applications and services. Airports around the world have been displaying the infamous “blue screen of death” on flight update and check-in screens, indicating serious system errors. Social media has been flooded with images of disrupted services, including handwritten boarding...
Pre-market moves: CrowdStrike, American Express, SLB, Travelers and more
Business

Pre-market moves: CrowdStrike, American Express, SLB, Travelers and more

This morning, several stocks are showing considerable movement in pre-market trading. These early changes can set the tone for the rest of the trading day, offering insights into investor sentiment and potential market trends. Crowd Strike (CRWD) CrowdStrike shares rose in pre-market trading after the release of its latest quarterly earnings report. The cybersecurity company beat Wall Street expectations for both earnings and revenue, citing strong demand for its cloud-native endpoint protection platform. Analysts are bullish on CrowdStrike’s future growth, especially as cybersecurity threats continue to grow globally. American Express (AXP) American Express also saw significant premarket activity, with shares rising after the company reported better-than-expected earnings. The f...
Tech rout eases as investors eye rate cuts, policy change
News

Tech rout eases as investors eye rate cuts, policy change

U.S. stock futures edged higher Sunday night, offering a reprieve from last week’s tech-led selloff. The S&P 500 suffered its steepest weekly decline since April as investors shifted from mega-cap growth stocks to more rate-sensitive sectors. Futures tied to the broader market index rose 0.2%, while those tracking the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq 100 added 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively. Market attention remains divided between economic indicators and political developments. Traders are increasingly confident in the Federal Reserve’s path to interest rate cuts, with a 93% chance of a reduction in September. This outlook has fueled a shift away from tech giants toward sectors such as small caps and industrials, which should benefit from lower borrowing costs. Meanwhile, President J...
Elliott Management Acquires Major Stake in Starbucks, Engages with Management
Business

Elliott Management Acquires Major Stake in Starbucks, Engages with Management

Elliott Management recently acquired a significant stake in Starbucks and is working with the company’s management to improve its stock, according to a report published Friday by the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. Elliott representatives declined to comment. As of its last statement on March 31, the hedge fund did not hold any Starbucks shares. A Starbucks spokesperson said the company does not respond to rumors or speculation. Despite that, Starbucks shares rose more than 6% on Friday. Elliott Management, known for its influential role in activist investing, is one of the world’s largest hedge funds. The firm has made several substantial investments in recent months, including positions in Southwest Airlines, SoftBank, Johnson Controls and Musical Instrument...