WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2024
Business
E-Commerce Saves Bricks and Mortar
Retailers are increasingly relying on their physical stores as fulfillment hubs for online orders, with nearly 42% of e-commerce orders last year involving stores, up from 27% in 2015, as the integration of online and in-store shopping has helped brick-and-mortar stores thrive despite the rise of e-commerce.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2024
Commodity
As Solar Panels Boom, So Does Silver
The booming solar power industry is driving a surge in demand for silver, which is a critical material for solar photovoltaic panels, leading mining companies to expand operations and ramp up production as silver prices climb to decade-highs, with demand for silver from the solar industry forecast to increase by almost 170% by 2030.
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024
Commodity
Dealing out sanitizer on cards
Charles Robinson, a philosophy student in the UK, started a hand sanitizer business called Gelcard during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was initially profitable but faced challenges as the pandemic waned, leading him to expand to markets in Japan and the Middle East where hygiene awareness is higher, with over 50% of his revenue now coming from those regions.
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024
Economy
Booming Profits Keep Economy Humming
Despite a slight slowdown in job growth, strong corporate profits and upbeat CEO sentiment suggest the U.S. economy is continuing to expand, with no major downturn in sight as companies remain optimistic about hiring and investing amid robust consumer spending.
FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
Economy
Buybacks Are Back, With Meta, Apple Leading Spending Spree
U.S. companies, led by tech giants like Meta and Apple, are ramping up stock buyback programs in the first quarter, signaling confidence in their financial outlook and providing a boost to the resurgent stock market despite persistent economic uncertainties.