Today’s news: Trending business stories for September 28, 2023
The latest business news as it happens
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6:30 p.m.
BlackBerry loses US$42 million in second quarter
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Month: September 2023
Companies Can Unleash the Power of Business Credit Reports with MCB Business Credit
PRESS RELEASE
Published September 27, 2023
“MCB Business Credit offices are based in Augusta GA and they proudly serve clients across the US.”
In today’s fast-paced business landscape, making informed decisions is paramount to success. One crucial aspect of informed decision-making is understanding the financial health and creditworthiness of the businesses with whom a company interacts. This is where MCB Business Credit steps in, offering comprehensive business credit reporting solutions that empower businesses to make sound choices.
When it comes to forging partnerships, extending credit, or entering into any business transaction, knowledge is power. Companies can pull a business credit report to access vital information about a potential corporate interaction. Business credit reports – sometimes referred to as commercial credit reports – allow a company to evaluate another business’s creditworthiness, ensuring that the company is making informed decisions. MCB Business Credit gives companies across the United States powerful access to business information that supports informed decision making.
Risk Mitigation
Risk is an inherent part of business, but smart businesses aim to minimize it. By obtaining a business credit report, companies gain insights into the potential risks associated with another business. This knowledge empowers the company to take proactive measures to mitigate these risks, safeguarding its investments and interests.
Credit Decisions
For businesses that offer credit terms to their clients, a business credit report is indispensable. It helps them evaluate whether a potential customer or partner is likely to honor their financial commitments. This is essential for maintaining healthy cash flow and minimizing bad debt.
Financial Health
Understanding a company’s financial health is crucial for long-term partnerships and transactions. A business credit report reveals key financial metrics, such as revenue, profitability, and debt levels. This information enables businesses to gauge the financial stability and growth potential of the company in question.
Menendez scandal may stymie flood insurance, other Senate Banking business
Bloomberg News
WASHINGTON — The indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is an unwelcome wrinkle in the debate to renew flood insurance, and could hold up the work of the Senate Banking Committee in other areas, experts said.
Menendez, who was indicted on charges that he took bribes from New Jersey businessmen, including a former community bank executive, remains the No. 3 Democratic lawmaker on the Senate Banking Committee. He has, per Senate Democratic rules, stepped down as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Several Democratic senators have called for him to resign from the Senate, including Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who said that Menendez has “broken the public trust.”
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., also on the Senate Banking Committee, was the first senator to call for the resignation, saying that Menendez “cannot continue to wield influence over national policy, especially given the serious and specific nature of the allegations.” Along with Brown and Fetterman, the Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Banking Committee calling for Menendez to resign include Jon Tester of Montana, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Raphael Warnock of Georgia.
A central part of the Menendez indictment is his relationship with a former banker, Fred Daibes, who at the time he allegedly made gifts to Menendez faced federal bank fraud charges that could have come with a decade-long prison sentence. Daibes founded and was formerly CEO and chairman of the $414 million-asset Mariner’s Bank in Edgewater, New Jersey, which was bought by nearby Spencer Savings Bank in 2021 for an
China still a key market, US businesses say, but hope dims for improved prospects
The USCBC counts 276 members in its ranks, including influential companies like Nike and Amazon. The survey was carried out between June and July, and closed in early July before the two governments stepped up their economic diplomacy.
It was the first survey of members since China began to relax domestic Covid-19 restrictions in December, followed by a major loosening of travel restrictions in March.
US firms in China have worst outlook on record, AmCham Shanghai survey reveals
US firms in China have worst outlook on record, AmCham Shanghai survey reveals
But respondents said they had seen few tangible changes in the Chinese business environment, with only 19 per cent saying it had improved in the previous 12 months.
Only 2 per cent of respondents were more optimistic about the current business climate in China compared with three years ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, while 83 per cent said they were less optimistic.
China’s post-Covid rebound has fallen short of expectations. Its economy expanded by 6.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2023, accelerating from 4.5 per cent in the first three months of the year, but below the forecast growth of 7.3 per cent.
Compared with five years ago, confidence among US firms regarding their five-year outlook dropped from 75 per cent to just under 50 per cent this year.
The number of those with a “pessimistic” or “somewhat pessimistic” outlook reached an all-time high of 28 per cent, up 7 percentage points from last year’s survey.
More than half of companies surveyed attributed their outlook to geopolitical concerns and China’s regulatory and policy environment.
China’s data policies, which ranked fourth in the survey last year, were now the second biggest challenge, their highest-ever placement on the list.
In recent
Billions of dollars in western profits trapped in Russia
Western companies that have continued to operate in Russia since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have generated billions of dollars in profits, but the Kremlin has blocked them from accessing the cash in an effort to turn the screw on “unfriendly” nations.
Groups from such countries accounted for $18bn of the $20bn in Russian profits that overseas companies reported for 2022 alone, according to figures compiled by the Kyiv School of Economics, and $199bn of their $217bn in Russian gross revenue.
“The figures may have grown considerably since then, although it is not possible to assess exactly how much since most international businesses operating in Russia only disclose their local results annually,” said KSE deputy development director Andrii Onopriienko, who compiled the data.
Local earnings of companies from BP to Citigroup have been locked in Russia since the imposition last year of a dividend payout ban on businesses from “unfriendly” countries including the US, UK and all EU members. While such transactions can be approved under exceptional circumstances, few withdrawal permits have been issued.
“Tens of billions in dollar terms are stuck in Russia,” said the chief executive of one large company domiciled in a country not designated as unfriendly. “And there is no way to get them out.”
The size of the revenues and profits reflects not only the enduring importance of western companies to the Russian economy but also the dilemma such businesses face over what to do with their operations in the ostracised nation.
Many foreign businesses have been trying to sell their Russian subsidiaries but any deal requires Moscow’s approval and is subject to steep price discounts. In recent days British American
Business intelligence technology and e-commerce
Business Intelligence (BI) plays a critical role in assisting organizations to make informed decisions and gain a competitive edge in today’s dynamic business environment. With the increasing significance of e-commerce as a business medium, BI has undergone continuous transformation to meet the evolving needs of the industry. The evolution of BI started from its roots in Management Information Systems (MIS) and progressed to the integration of external data and advanced analytical capabilities. The goal is to provide current and relevant information for businesses to thrive in challenging economic times.
A Business Intelligence process involves transforming data into information and subsequently into knowledge that can be used for decision-making. Technology and human capital both played pivotal roles in leveraging data to gain a competitive advantage. BI is a diverse field encompassing data analysis, data mining, querying, and management reporting. Its primary purpose is to support a wide range of business applications and aid strategic decision-making in organizations.
Four major forces driving e-commerce success:
Personalized Marketing: Customer segmentation is essential for delivering tailored marketing strategies that result in higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction. BI tools like Tableau, Power BI, Quik Sense, Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, RapidMiner, and Domo allow businesses to segment their audiences based on buying behaviour, demographics and preferences.
Inventory Management: Effective inventory management is essential for ensuring that a business has the right amount of inventory on hand to meet customer demand while minimizing carrying costs and preventing overstock or stockouts. By analysing previous sales data and market patterns, BI solutions like as Microsoft Power BI, Oracle BI, Looker, Sisense, and Zoho Analytic aid with future trends and demand forecasting.
Conversion Rate Optimization: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel, Heap Analytics, Crazy Eggs, and Hotjar are some of the most popular tools for identifying bottlenecks in the purchasing process
Financial Markets Wall Street | West Virginia Business News
World Leading Companies involved in The Radiology Information Systems (RIS) with PACS Market
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Furthermore, The report provides a detailed understanding of the market segments which have been formed by combining different prospects such as types, applications, and regions. Apart from this, the key driving factors, restraints, potential growth opportunities, and market challenges are also discussed in the report.
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Scope of the Radiology Information Systems (RIS) with PACS Market:
The Global Radiology Information Systems (RIS) with PACS Market is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period, between 2023 and 2030. In 2023, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption of strategies by key players, the market is expected to rise over the projected horizon.
The report covers extensive competitive intelligence which includes the following data points:
Business Overview Business
What is Financial Modeling and Why Should Your Small Business Use It?
Planning for the future of your small business is an important part of success. Financial modeling takes different shapes, but basically, it’s about plugging different numbers and scenarios into a formula very often on an excel sheet and seeing the effect they have.
Financial Modeling in Action
Small Business Trends spoke with various business experts about this useful tool and how it works for small business.
Healy Jones from Kruze Consulting clarified how these tools can help a startup get rolling or an established business move forward when they are considering expansion.
Understanding Costs and Profits
“A well built financial model will help a business owner understand the costs and profits from their management decisions. What will it cost to open a new location, hire a new employee, and how does that impact the bottom line?” he says.
He went on to say that a good financial model can answer questions like whether your small business should buy a new piece of equipment or pay down debt too.
“These can even tell businesses they have enough customer service people to take on the number of customers they want to next year.”
Using Real World Starting Points
Although you can pick some numbers out of the air and plug them in (what happens if we price our widgets at $400 dollars and sell 6000?) more accurate results come with more real world starting points.
That’s why using financial statements and market research will give you more accurate results. It’s even a good idea to consider a professional consultant to get an objective base to start from.
Daniel Feiman from BuildItBackwards.com explains how to use base line once you’ve put one together.
Establishing Extreme Outcomes
“Frequently you want to establish the most extreme possible outcomes by modeling the best and worst case,
Fly business class to Cancun from multiple US cities for less than $800 on American
If you live in Chicago, New York City, Seattle or Washington, D.C., you can escape the cold weather this winter with discounted business-class flights to Cancun. Or, plan ahead for a discounted trip next spring and summer.
These flights are operated by American Airlines, and right now, there is plenty of availability.
Deal basics
Airlines: American
Routes: Chicago, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C., to Cancun
How to book: Browse Google Flights and book directly through the airline
Travel dates: Scattered dates from September 2023 through August 2024
Book by: As soon as you can
Blackout dates: Around Thanksgiving and Christmas
Thanks to FareDrop for alerting us of this deal. FareDrop notifies users of cheap flights in the U.S. and around the world, and it’s currently free to sign up for a Domestic membership. If you want to see international flight deals or first-class deals, sign up for FareDrop’s Global Plan for $49 per year or its Global Pro Plan for $99 per year.
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Sample flights
- Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Cancun International Airport (CUN), starting at $787
- New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to CUN, starting at $702
- Seattle-Tacoma International AIroort (SEA) to CUN, starting at $840
- Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD), starting at $825
If you’re flying from O’Hare, there are plenty of options below the $800 mark. For a six-day trip as soon as November, you would spend just $787.
Prices are similar from New York City to Cancun on the same dates. The best part is these are all nonstop options.
American’s business class comes with premium seating, priority boarding, free