US stocks had an extremely positive year last year, but 2014 has already begun to shows signs of unpredictability. Reactions are mixed, with some claiming a correction is imminent while others believe the market can still improve. A more recent concern is of contagion from emerging markets. CIO at JP Morgan Private Bank Richard Madigan… Continue Reading
GoldieBlox, a small business that makes toys for young girls, is thrilled to have won the grand prize in a small business competition by Intuit. Now, the business is preparing to launch a 30-second Super Bowl commercial during the game’s third quarter. GoldieBlox toy sets include a book, blocks, wheels, cranks and additional parts for… Continue Reading
Cities across the United States have been struggling with frigid temperatures, snow and ice, and the unusually harsh weather has had an impact on numerous industries and markets across the continent. According to Morningstar‘s Jamie Katz, the weather may also have a negative effect on retail this spring if retailers are forced to offer discounts… Continue Reading
Intel, a long-time veteran in the personal computer industry, recently surprised analysts by missing their projections. The company’s apparent struggle is yet another sign that the traditional PC is being overshadowed by newer mobile devices such as tablets. Greg Bryant of Reuters.com recently discussed Intel’s approach for 2014: Continue Reading
Bitcoin is likely to experience a burst now that online retailer Overstock.com accepts the payment method. In fact, many speculate that Amazon may soon follow suit. According to Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, the company saw Bitcoin orders worth $130K on the first day alone. Byrne discussed the new development in an interview with CNN International:… Continue Reading
General Mills recently announced that its regular flavored Cheerios are soon to be free of genetically-modified ingredients. The decision comes after a particularly difficult year for the brand, during which Cheerio sales dropped nearly 7 percent. According to General Mills, the elimination of GMOs from their cereal would be “beneficial to the consumer.” They said:… Continue Reading
New Year’s is a time of new beginnings, and there is no better time to improve your business. Take advantage of the momentum and enthusiasm that generally come with new beginnings, and get your small business in gear with these five resolutions: File all legal paperwork. Go through the endless stacks of documents that have… Continue Reading
Consumers are showing some renewed enthusiasm and driving economic growth. In fact, stocks rose on Monday to record highs. The Dow is up 73, and the S&P 500 rose 9 alongside a 44 Nasdaq increase. The boost was supported by gains in Apple and Facebook, according to CNBC.com. Daniel Greenhaus, chief global strategist at BTIG,… Continue Reading
AT&T is selling its Connecticut operations to Frontier Communications as part of its plans to shift focus to its new 4G LTE network. The $2 billion dollar deal will include AT&T’s 415,000 data, 900,000 voice and 180,000 video residential connections, as well as its local business connections and carrier wholesale relationships in the region. According… Continue Reading
Jim Baer, a senior director of Data Science with LinkedIn, recently discussed what he considers the four keys to data-driven business. He explained that data today can and should have a tremendous impact on a company’s success. Though every business varies, and getting involved in the data world appears a daunting task, companies can benefit… Continue Reading