Luxury goods producers are slowly beginning to sell their wares on Amazon, but without firmer commitments form the e-commerce giant to fight counterfeits and deep discounting, some luxury manufacturers refuse to sign on. Matthew Dalton and Laura Stevens report: Amazon has won over some of the world’s biggest lifestyle companies by pledging action against unauthorized retailers and knockoffs. Earlier this year, Nike Inc. agreed to make some of its products available for sale directly from Amazon, in exchange for a promise of limited policing. But Amazon typically only does that for the biggest … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2017
Can Businesses Turn Millennial “Willie Wannabes” into “Eddie Experts?”
Millennials are now the dominant generation in American demographics. Those Millennials aged 26 this year are the largest group of any age cohort today. That makes them the most sought after customer group by businesses. But it turns out, some businesses are having to educate Millennials on how to use their products, because unlike the previously dominant Baby Boomer marketing cohort, Millennials haven't spent much of their time doing the things their forebears did. Gardening? Nope. Fixing things around the house? Not really. Assembling furniture? No. Millennials, it turns out, have spent more … [Read more...]
Weekends in the Mountains or on the Water
Over the weekend we were at our log cabin in New Hampshire. One of the best parts about being in the White Mountains is the change of pace. It breaks up the routine. Instead of heading to the office or off to school, we went to my parents’ house for coffee, drove around town, and just enjoyed being up there. I know a lot of you do the same thing whether it’s weekends away or an entire season. It’s important to change up your scenery. It allows you to breath, if you will, and to gather your thoughts for the next steps you’ll take in your life. … [Read more...]
Should you Freeze your Credit to Guard Against Equifax Breach?
Since the Equifax security breach was reported, consumer have been guided to a number of different actions to protect themselves from potential identity theft. Some of them, like checking credit reports, are familiar to most Americans. Others are less common. At The Wall Street Journal, Daisy Maxey explains the pros and cons of freezing your credit. She writes: Should consumers be concerned about freezing their credit at credit-reporting companies beyond Equifax, Experian PLC and TransUnion? There are more than 100 consumer-reporting companies that provide data on consumers, such as their … [Read more...]
Investors Building Risk by Blindly Pouring Money into Index ETFs
So says the boss of one of the largest ETF providers in the U.S. It is hard to argue with his point that blind inflows into market-cap weighted index ETFs aren't setting the table for an ugly unwind if market sentiment turns south. The FT has the story below. The head of the fourth-largest exchange traded fund provider has warned that investors are blindly pouring money into highly concentrated stock indices, putting them at risk of outsized losses if markets tumble. Martin Flanagan, president and chief executive of Invesco, an asset manager that bought Guggenheim’s suite of ETF’s in … [Read more...]
Are Warehouses the New Thing in Real Estate Investing?
Duke Realty Corp., a REIT that has a history of investing in offices and medical properties, is buying logistics facilities (warehouses) from Bridge Development Partners. The purchase solidifies a move to logistics properties that Duke began years ago. The strategy stems from the explosion of the online retail business. Peter Grant reports: Indianapolis-based Duke is buying the properties from Chicago-based Bridge Development Partners LLC in two stages. The first includes a 10-building portfolio with 3.4 million square feet in Southern California, northern New Jersey and South … [Read more...]
Where Will Amazon’s HQ2 Land?
Cities are going all out to attract Amazon's new second headquarters. The HQ2 as it is being called is attracting bids from cities around the country. The city council of Stonecrest, Georgia (just outside Atlanta) has even voted to de-annex a portion of its land to give to Amazon as a new "Amazon City" should the e-commerce company locate there. Mark Niesse of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes: The city’s resolution asks the Georgia General Assembly to form the city of Amazon on that land, located off Lithonia Industrial Boulevard and Coffee Road in DeKalb County. “There are several … [Read more...]
The Trouble with Balanced Mutual Funds and ETFs
In the past, when I thought about balanced mutual funds and ETFs I would think about a Swiss Army knife—a useful tool to have on hand. Today, with the ability to specialize a portfolio to your exact investment criteria and needs, I’m not sure if they’re the right tool for the average retirement investor. One half, for argument sake, of any balanced fund, is bonds. And it’s my belief a lot of these funds cater to a larger clientele, if you will. Institutions, pensions, foundations and trusts immediately come to mind. Their deep pockets assume a longer investment horizon than the average … [Read more...]
This is Why High Growth Stocks are Dangerous
FAANG stocks continue to dominate the performance of markets YTD. Netflix hit a new all-time high again today after announcing it would raise prices yesterday. Better now than in 2019 when Disney pulls its content from Netflix. Facebook is bordering on all-time highs as are Amazon and Tesla. Tesla isn't a FAANG stock, but the investors who buy it are of the same ilk as those who buy the FAANGs. High growth stocks are for sure exciting to invest in. They are innovators and disruptors and often on the cutting edge of new technologies. Everybody wants to invest in the next big thing, but far … [Read more...]
Thank You President Trump for Record Breaking Stock Market Streak
You can thank President Trump, a pro business and pro economy president, for the stock market's longest streak in 20-years. The S&P 500 closed at its sixth consecutive record Thursday, its longest streak of highs since 1997. The market hates uncertainty and wishy washy leaders--President Trump is neither. … [Read more...]
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