Marc A. Ross works with clients to develop executive education lectures, speeches, presentations, workshops, and conferences to help demystify globalization, disruption, and American politics. Learn more here.
Caracal Business Insider | November 28, 2017
Indo-Pacific, Pocahontas, Pokémon, Uber, NHL, NFL
Caracal Business Insider | Daily
November 28, 2017
Curation and commentary from Marc A. Ross
Caracal Business Insider: Politics + Policy + Profits
Reporting from Alexandria, Virginia
GEOECONOMICS
Agustín Carstens urges US to maintain leadership in worldeconomy: FT reports, the outgoing Mexican central bank governor, a leading figure in global finance, has urged the US to maintain its "openness and leadership in the world economy" and warned that weaker international rules would hurt business in the US and worldwide.
A barrel of WTI Crude is trading near $60.
BOE says British banks could handle a ‘disorderly’ Brexit: WSJ reports, the U.K.’s largest banks could withstand Britain crashing out of the EU.
Nothing to see hear - all is well - extravagant prices for a Mayfair property still good.....
US indicts three Chinese for alleged cyberattacks on Moody’s, Siemens: WSJ reports, a GPS technology developer also targeted by employees of a technology company in Guangzhou, according to the indictment.
US charges three Chinese nationals over hacking: FT reports, DOJ and FBI allege information was stolen from Moody’s Analytics, Siemens, and Trimble.
Chinese general hangs himself after facing graft probe: AFP reports, Zhang Yang, the director of the state's Central Military Commission's political department, was being investigated over connections to two corruption-tainted former senior military officers when he committed suicide on November 23, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Brussels rattled as China reaches out to eastern Europe: Nikkei reports, concerns Beijing's closer ties with EU's poorer nations will influence bloc's policies.
The ‘Indo-Pacific’ has always been about containing the rise of China: The use of the term to describe an emerging India-Japan-US-Australia alliance as a balance against Beijing is not a distortion of the term’s original meaning; it is the fulfillment of it.
SCMP - Abhijit Singh
Japan detects radio signals pointing to possible North Korea missile test: Reuters reports, Japan has detected radio signals suggesting North Korea may be preparing another ballistic missile launch, although such signals are not unusual and satellite images did not show fresh activity, a Japanese government source said on Tuesday.
AFP: Bali paradise turns to tourist nightmare as volcano rumbles
AMERICAN POLITICS
At Navajo veterans’ event, Trump calls Warren ‘Pocahontas’: NYT reports, standing in the Oval Office alongside three World War II code talkers, Mr. Trump made the unscripted comment about Senator Elizabeth Warren after other officials praised the veterans’ history and contributions.
#ClownShow
NYT: Senators race to pass tax bill by sweetening gains for rich
"Republicans, who are pressing for a Senate vote this week, can afford to lose only two of their members if they hope to pass the bill on party lines."
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said on Monday he planned to vote for the tax bill.
Senate GOP making last-ditch changes to tax plan: Politico reports, McConnell still needs to win over key holdouts before a vote this week.
Tax reform good for moving trucks, possibly: Economists at Goldman speculate that the current tax proposals could prod about 2 percent to 4 percent of top earners in New York City to move elsewhere.
AP: FBI gave heads-up to fraction of Russian hackers’ US targets
"The FBI failed to notify scores of US officials that Russian hackers were trying to break into their personal Gmail accounts despite having evidence for at least a year that the targets were in the Kremlin’s crosshairs."
How tech is winning the Trump era: Politico reports, despite friction with the White House and furor over Russia, some of the president's initiatives would boost Silicon Valley's bottom line. https://goo.gl/rXi1UB
December 12: Alabama's special election with Roy Moore (R) and Doug Jones (D) on the ballot.
GLOBALIZATION EXPLAINED BY A MICHIGANDER
Marc A. Ross works with clients to develop executive education lectures, speeches, presentations, workshops, and conferences to help demystify globalization, disruption, and American politics. Learn more here.
ENTERPRISE
Death by Pokémon: The Verge reports, in the wake of the Pokémon Go craze, car crashes and fatalities jumped in physical regions associated with the augmented reality game.
Uber Japan’s chief departs for WeWork: Masami Takahashi is joining the co-working space company’s operations in Japan.
SoftBank to offer to buy Uber shares at roughly 30% discount: WSJ reports, SoftBank has told stakeholders in Uber that it will initially offer to buy shares at a nearly 30% discount to the company’s most recent valuation of $68 billion.
Lyft is raising an additional $500 million in funding. The additional funding round, led by Alphabet Inc’s CapitalG, is an extension of the $1 billion round announced in October.
Smartphone cargo: Yumanman and Huochebang, China’s two biggest Uber-like services connecting truckers with cargo, have agreed to merge, creating a company valued at more than $2 billion.
Tesla truck will need the energy of 4,000 homes to recharge: FT reports, the research raises questions about the viability of quick charging time for the new vehicle.
Toyota chairman wants to tap the brakes on electrics: Nikkei reports, automakers 'won't be able to turn a profit,' Takeshi Uchiyamada warns.
Net Neutrality: Airbnb, Pinterest, Reddit, Tumblr, Twitter and Vimeo were among over 200 businesses that signed a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai dated Monday, Nov. 27 (as in Cyber Monday), trying to dissuade him from his planned net neutrality rule rollback vote.
Scenes from Sears: 2 locations tell a story of struggle in a tight retail market https://nyti.ms/2i4Q634
Microsoft signed up SAP as a cloud partner in its latest effort to challenge Amazon’s dominance in the market for web-based resources.
NYT: What’s in that can of Chock Full o’Nuts? ‘No Nuts,’ can promises https://goo.gl/GKyUjj
"Chock full o’Nuts started as a company that sold nuts before switching to coffee and operating coffee shops."
Reuters: Roark Capital to buy Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.9 billion
TRENDS
Cyber Black Friday: American consumers spent a record $5 billion on digital sales this Black Friday, a 16.9-percent increase in dollars spent online compared with last year
Shopping becomes a hybrid experience, as stores and smartphones intersect: CSM reports, even in era of rising e-commerce, consumers still want the physical-store experience. And mobile phones have become the bridge between both worlds. https://goo.gl/sh6vdt
Online = Offline | Companies need to excel in both formats to be successful
@FoxBusiness: Americans could be sitting on $33 billion of unused tech, report says
CULTURE
Grammy nominations this morning: The nominees for the 60th edition of the music awards will be announced at 8:30 am ET.
SPORT
Full NHL 100 Years documentary: Watch the entire film here: https://goo.gl/sGXhwq
Is this the end of the NFL?
NY Mag - Will Leitch
They used to wear Converse sneakers. How UNC’s long, close relationship with Nike began. https://goo.gl/9S3wKU
As sponsors shy away, FIFA faces World Cup shortfall: NYT reports, FIFA’s battered reputation is affecting its sponsorship program for next year’s World Cup. Several high-value slots remain empty with only six months to go.
AFP: Iran wrestler throws bout to avoid fighting Israeli
Caracal Business Insider | November 27, 2017
Catalonia, Germany, Canada, China, Russia, Prince Harry
Caracal Business Insider | Daily
November 27, 2017
Curation and commentary from Marc A. Ross
Caracal Business Insider: Politics + Policy + Profits
Reporting from Alexandria, Virginia
GEOECONOMICS
Puigdemont calls for Catalonia to leave EU: The Times reports, the ousted Catalan leader came under pressure from his own pro-independence party today after suggesting that Catalonia should be allowed a vote to quit the European Union.
Barely a quarter of Catalans want to pursue split from Spain according to a poll published in El Pais newspaper on Monday.
Germany edges towards new government: Bloomberg reports, the political stalemate in Berlin is showing signs of easing as the main opposition Social Democrats began haggling over the terms of a renewed coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc, rather than seeking to block an alliance between Germany’s two largest parties.
FT: Brussels rattled as China reaches out to eastern Europehttps://goo.gl/XQT1UW
Canada PM Justin Trudeau to visit China in December.
China's electric-car push sparks gold rush for lithium: Nikkei reports, companies chase deals with Chilean and Australian miners.
Trump, Xi and the siren song of nationalism: A new generation of world leaders is embracing nationalist themes.
FT - Gideon Rachman
Nikkei: Xi Jinping bids adieu to his fellow princelings: Obedience, not bloodline, is the currency that counts in the new team. https://goo.gl/d5Gk5p
Political football: For better or worse, the World Cup will put Russia in the global spotlight. https://goo.gl/yt6fTA
CNN Money: Next stop $10,000? Bitcoin's incredible surge hits new heights https://goo.gl/gpDLto
1 Bitcoin equals 9772.98 US Dollars
Ending NAFTA would hurt growth, competitiveness of United States, Canada: Reuters reports, terminating the North American Free Trade Agreement would harm the U.S. and Canadian economies and reduce their competitiveness versus Asia and Europe, a report issued by the Bank of Montreal said on Monday.
AMERICAN POLITICS
Congress confronts jam-packed agenda with shutdown deadline looming: WP reports, bitter divides over spending, health care and immigration threaten to set up an impasse with government funding set to expire on Dec. 8. Leaders of both parties are set to meet Tuesday with President Trump in a summit that could smooth the path — or inflame simmering fights.
US senators under pressure to back tax reform: FT reports, Trump to meet lawmakers as party tries to firm up numbers.
Senate Republicans are rushing to secure votes to push a tax plan through the Senate as early as this Thursday.
Some form of tax reform will pass in the coming months - probably not this calendar year but certainly before Election 2018.
LAT: Consumer bureau's deputy director sues to stop Trump appointee from taking temporary control of agency
WP: Official sues Trump to block his pick for head of consumer watchdog agency
@markknoller: Both Mulvaney and English are expected to start their day at @CFPB, each claiming to be Acting Director.
Bernie makes moves pointing to 2020 run: Politico reports, the Vermont senator is taking aggressive steps to address long-running political weaknesses, like his lack of foreign policy bona fides.
BRIGADOON SUNDANCE 2018 SPEAKERS
City Hall, Corner Kicks, Cannabis, Computers, Cryptocurrency, Congress = some of the speaker topics for Brigadoon Sundance 2018. You can see the current list of speakers here: http://thebrigadoon.com/speakers/
ENTERPRISE
Meredith and the Koch brothers buy Time Inc. for $2.8 billion deal. Meredith is the publisher of Family Circle and Better Homes and Gardens, will take over a roster that includes Time, Sports Illustrated and People.
Victoria Beckham lands £30 million private equity investment: FT reports, Neo Investment Partners will take an undisclosed stake in fast-growing fashion brand.
Uber in Israel: A court in Israel ordered Uber on Monday to halt a trial program in the Tel Aviv area.
Bloomberg: Why Tencent could become an advertising powerhouse like Facebook https://goo.gl/Nz1ECM
CULTURE
Prince Harry is engaged to his girlfriend Meghan Markle. The wedding will take place in the spring of 2018.
SPORT
China club taps Ajax to build 'best football academy': AFP reports, Dutch football giants Ajax announced a five-year partnership with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F on Monday that will attempt to build the best youth academy in China. The multi-million-euro deal is the latest in a series of football link-ups between Europe and China, as the Asian superpower -- under football fan President Xi Jinping -- throws money at developing football in the country.
Toronto Star: Argos stun Stamps with fourth-quarter comeback to win Grey Cup