Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Coinbase COIN (NYSE: COIN) began its publicly traded existence on April 14th, 2021 as a hot initial public offering that cryptocurrency freaks could not stop talking about. There was more than the usual amount of “this one’s going to the moon!” free and sometimes paid-for advice that typifies a certain type of IPO no matter what the era or the industry. The certainty of success seemed obvious to the many who participated. When the stock was issued at a price of $250 — which got filled, by the way, by few investors — an immediate at-the-open rally took it up to $381 within minutes and then to a quick blast up to $424, a peak never to be seen again. Coinbase since then is an example of almost relentless selling as the crypto world it represents entered what those enthusiastic about it took to calling “winter” — although some have noted that it’s lasted almost as long as an ice age, so far. This week’s news … [Read more...] about Coinbase: From Hot IPO To Cold Wells Notice
Meta stock
The 10 most innovative companies producing live events in 2023
Explore the full 2023 list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies , 540 organizations that are reshaping industries and culture. We’ve selected the firms making the biggest impact across 54 categories, including advertising , beauty , design , and more. How do four septuagenarian Swedish pop stars pull off a dazzlingly energetic 20-song set list before thousands of fans in a custom-built stadium? Easy: They get their holograms to do it. ABBA Voyage , a stunning marriage of art and technology architected by the visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), has been a critical and financial success. It’s also a symbol of how the live performance industry is being transformed by technology, as digital elements are deployed to deepen fan immersion while staying true to what makes a live music experience so irreplicable. With concerts becoming increasingly visual extravaganzas, artists have access to new mediums to explore their creative … [Read more...] about The 10 most innovative companies producing live events in 2023
From video games to Bad Bunny, this Argentinian studio is breaking new ground in AR and VR
3dar is No. 47 on Fast Company’s list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2023 . Explore the full list of companies that are reshaping industries and culture. 3dar, which started almost 20 years ago as an animation studio led by two filmmakers and brothers, has grown its profile and expanded its scope, growing into a leading production studio in virtual and augmented reality, using the technology to engage users and tell stories. The Buenos Aires, Argentina–based company was among Meta’s biggest AR filter partners in Latin America last year—creating selfie filters and social games for Instagram and Facebook throughout the year. It also earned a Lion at the 2022 Venice Film Festival in September for Eggscape , an immersive, mixed-reality game that turns a player’s environment into the backdrop for VR gameplay, in which players use the Meta Quest 2’s pass-through mode to guide an anthropomorphic egg through an AR obstacle course. 3dar’s mix of real-world … [Read more...] about From video games to Bad Bunny, this Argentinian studio is breaking new ground in AR and VR
Patagonia uses capitalism to save the planet with the Holdfast Collective
Holdfast Collective is No. 4 on Fast Company’s list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2023 . Explore the full list of companies that are reshaping industries and culture. In September 2022, Patagonia, renowned for being at the forefront of environmental advocacy, sustainable production, and progressive business practices, had a new declaration: Earth would be its only shareholder. What that actually meant was that founder Yvon Chouinard and his family had given up ownership, transferring the company’s voting stock to the Patagonia Purpose Trust and the other 98% of its ownership to the Holdfast Collective , a new 501(c)(4) organization. Holdfast’s mission is to preserve wildlands and pursue other nature-based climate solutions, fund grassroots environmental organizations, and support politicians working to fight the climate crisis. Although other companies have used this organizational structure for philanthropic ventures, Patagonia is taking a different … [Read more...] about Patagonia uses capitalism to save the planet with the Holdfast Collective
US to Take Years to Refill Its Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Refilling the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve may take years, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said this week, reversing plans the Biden administration announced late last year to repurchase at lower prices oil it sold from the reserve in 2022. However, the relatively limited size of the planned repurchases in proportion to global oil demand makes assessing the impact on U.S. crude oil markets somewhat difficult—especially amid current global economic trends and geopolitical challenges. KEY TAKEAWAYS U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said this week it may take years for the government to replenish its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It's a reversal of plans the government announced last year to repurchase oil it sold from the reserve at lower prices. Current global economic concerns and geopolitical conditions, however, present challenges in assessing the market impact of the decision. Granholm told a House panel Thursday that the U.S. likely would not … [Read more...] about US to Take Years to Refill Its Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Empowering Pinay microentrepreneurs
BREADWINNER Teodora Vega inside her “sari-sari” store in Pasig —photos by Gillian Villanueva Nearly 20 years ago, Veronica Garcia used to hawk sili, kamias, sampalok and other spices in a pushcart. As her husband was not earning enough as taho and binatog vendor, she decided to start selling vegetables and other goods as well. Her sister, who had her own car, helped her buy products in Divisoria, Urdaneta, Pangasinan, and other provinces. Nowadays, she is able to relax at home while her children tend to her stalls at a nearby wet market in Pasig. Her husband helps with the household chores. “I was pushing around a kariton , until I was able to rent a stall, until the stall became my own,” the 51-year-old says. Part of the reason that she was able to succeed in growing her business was the financing she was able to get from ASA Philippines Foundation. Her sister, who used to be a member of ASA, introduced her to the microfinance company. At that time, Garcia was still … [Read more...] about Empowering Pinay microentrepreneurs
Tarriela earns her seat at the table
PLANTITA Flor Tarriela, a corporate leader, ex-banker, gardening aficionado —Flor’s Garden website Having made strides in the corporate world for over three decades, Flor Gozon-Tarriela proves that a woman can earn and hold her seat at the table dominated by men. She was recently installed as lead independent director at local mining giant Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), one of two female directors on the board who are able to offer truly impartial and independent insights when it comes to decision-making. Tarriela is joined by Maria Patricia Riingen, another female trailblazer who had held various executive positions at Western Union, Asian Development Bank and Citibank N.A. “Mining is actually close to my heart. My father (Benjamin M. Gozon) used to be the director for the Bureau of Mines for 14 years before he became the secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources,” says Tarriela. “I look at NAC and it’s doing very well, it’s very progressive,” she adds. … [Read more...] about Tarriela earns her seat at the table
Arlington, Virginia Passes Important Housing Reforms, But More Work To Be Done
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A few days ago, the board of Arlington County, Virginia voted unanimously to allow multi-family housing structures—often called “missing middle” housing—in neighborhoods that were exclusively zoned for single family homes. This is a great win for supporters of more housing, but there is more work to do. Arlington has some of the highest housing prices in Virginia. According to data from Zillow , the typical home in Arlington is valued at $747,335, which is the 17 th highest in the state. And it is not unique among Northern Virginia (NoVA) cities: The Washington D.C. metro area, where Arlington is located, has 28 of the 30 most expensive housing markets in Virginia. The only way to keep housing prices stable is to build enough housing to meet demand, and the only way to bring prices down is to expand supply faster than demand. Land-use regulations such as minimum lot sizes, height requirements, and density … [Read more...] about Arlington, Virginia Passes Important Housing Reforms, But More Work To Be Done
Student Engagement Matters More Than Attendance; Why Don’t Schools Track It?
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The importance of engagement in both workplace and educational success has been well illustrated over the last 20 years by the analytics company Gallup. Even though tracking engagement throughout the day can be quickly done in the traditional classroom, schools remain focused on attendance. But why should they when mental presence, more than physical presence, is the necessary precondition for learning? There is data supporting the importance of engagement engagement. In a meta-analysis of decades of corporate engagement data, Gallup found that high engagement consistently leads to more positive outcomes, such as higher productivity, lower absenteeism, higher quality work, and higher job satisfaction. Likewise, with in grades 5 to 12, Gallup found engaged students are 2.5 times more likely to say they do well in school and are 4.5 times more hopeful about their futures than their disengaged peers. Engagement correlates … [Read more...] about Student Engagement Matters More Than Attendance; Why Don’t Schools Track It?
Make Your Own Bank Run On These Blue-Chip Yields
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Is it time for us contrarians to “buy the dip” in bank stocks? We’re drowning in big bank-scare headlines. Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB VB ) knuckled under in days, Signature Bank (SBNY) wasn’t too far behind, and across the pond, Credit Suisse (CS) needed a buyout bailout from rival UBS (UBS) . The next bank run, however, won’t be with the big boys . Too big to fail, baby . Here, we’ll find not only government help but also secure yields of up to 5.1%—trading at a discount, no less. Why the big guys? Well let me show you. Last week, my software firm received this email from one of our vendors: “Brett, Just wanted to give you our new banking details. We’re out of SVB; we’re moving to JPM.” JPM for the win. And they’re not the only big bank benefiting. CNN recently reported that Bank of America BAC (BAC) , Wells Fargo WFC (WFC) and Citigroup C (C) “have all experienced a … [Read more...] about Make Your Own Bank Run On These Blue-Chip Yields