MARKET RECAP → Stocks closed broadly flat on Thursday after higher-than-expected December inflation data (around 3.4% year over year vs. 3.2% expected).
AMAZON CHECKOUT HITS HOSPITALS →?️ Amazon’s (AMZN) Just Walk Out tech debuts in hospitals, offering badge-based, line-free shopping for healthcare staff and visitors, marking a new frontier in retail convenience. GOOGLE TRIMS TEAMS → ? Google (GOOG) streamlines its workforce, slashing hundreds of jobs in engineering and hardware, while pivoting towards AI innovation in a competitive tech landscape. TANKER TROUBLE IN OMAN →? In a maritime plot twist, Iran seized the St. Nikolas tanker in the Gulf of Oman, escalating tensions in a high-stakes game of ‘Capture the Crude’ amid a backdrop of U.S. sanctions and regional rivalries. |
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| Sean Horgan Head of Investor Relations @ MoneyLion
$shorgan |
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AMAZON CHECKOUT HITS HOSPITALS |
? Expanding to Healthcare Facilities: Amazon (AMZN) is introducing its cashierless checkout technology, Just Walk Out (JWO), to hospitals and healthcare facilities. The latest version allows healthcare employees to pay for items at on-site cafes using their work badges, while hospital visitors can use credit and debit cards or mobile wallets. The technology is being rolled out at St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia.
? Seamless Shopping Experience: JWO technology enables shoppers to enter a store by scanning an app and exit without waiting in checkout lines. Cameras and sensors track selected items, charging customers upon exit. Newer versions of the technology use RFID tags instead of ceiling-mounted cameras, further streamlining the shopping process. ? Widespread Adoption and Sales: Since debuting its first cashierless store in 2018, Amazon has implemented JWO in its convenience stores, Fresh supermarkets, and Whole Foods locations. The company also sells this technology to third-party retailers in various venues, including airports, college campuses, and stadiums. |
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? Widespread Job Cuts: Google (GOOG) cut several hundred jobs across its hardware and central engineering teams, including workers in Google Assistant. These layoffs are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency and focus on major product priorities. ? Continued Cost-Cutting Measures: This move follows a series of cost-cutting efforts by Google, including a significant workforce reduction of 12,000 people in January 2023. The company has also made cuts in its recruiting and news divisions, reflecting a broader strategy to rein in the rapid headcount growth experienced during the pandemic.
? Shifting Focus to AI: Amidst these layoffs, Google is prioritizing developments in artificial intelligence, launching products like the chatbot Bard and the Gemini language model. This shift indicates Google’s race to keep up with competitors like Microsoft (MSFT) and Amazon (AMZN) in the AI space.
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? Seized at Sea: Iran captured the oil tanker St. Nikolas in the Gulf of Oman, a vessel previously entangled in a U.S.-Iran dispute over carrying U.S.-sanctioned crude. The ship, managed by Empire Navigation and crewed mostly by Filipinos, was rerouted to Iran after allegedly surrendering Iranian oil to U.S. authorities – a move Tehran labeled as theft.
? Maritime Mystery: The U.K. Marine Trade Operations initially reported the hijacking of an unnamed tanker by armed individuals, leading to lost communication and a suspicious course change towards Iranian waters. TankerTrackers.com later identified this vessel as St. Nikolas, adding another layer to the ongoing geopolitical drama in these crucial shipping lanes.
⚖️ Sanctions Saga Continues: The St. Nikolas, previously known as Suez Rajan, had a history of sanctions violations, including loading Iranian oil near Singapore. This incident adds to the tension in the Middle East, particularly in the Red Sea region, where Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has targeted commercial vessels, escalating risks in a vital trade route. |
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Microsoft briefly tops Apple as most valuable public company (CNBC) How KFC won over China (CNBC) Haley, DeSantis clash over Disney and government’s role in business (CNBC) Amazon cuts hundreds of jobs in Prime Video and MGM Studios: Read the memo to employees (CNBC)
From transparent TVs to ChatGPT-powered companions, here’s some of the buzziest tech of CES 2024 (CNN)
Netflix’s ad-based plan hits 23 million active monthly users (CNN) FC Barcelona Legend Gerard Pique Announces Return To Soccer (Forbes) Rabbit sells out 10,000 units of its R1 pocket AI companion in one day (The Verge) |
And if you want more, be sure to check out the MoneyLion blog for tips, hacks and all things money. (MoneyLife) |
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