MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2024
Properties
Portable-Building Firms Near $3 Billion Deal
Willscot Mobile Mini Holdings is set to acquire McGrath RentCorp for over $3 billion, capitalizing on the demand for portable buildings and storage containers.
MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2024
Business
When Consumers Prefer Simple Packaging—and When They Don’t
Minimalist packaging increases the perceived purity and value of food items, except for generic store brands and junk food, where consumers prefer packaging with bright colors and bold designs.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2024
Retail
Retailers' Landlords Cut Rent Discounts
Landlords are ending rent discounts and concessions offered during the pandemic as competition for retail real estate increases, indicating the strength of the retail sector, with store openings surpassing closures for the second consecutive year in 2023 and vacancies at U.S. shopping centers reaching the lowest level in years.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2024
Properties
Weather Puts Heat Pumps to Test
Heat pumps are being tested in extreme cold weather conditions, with newer models proving to be efficient even at temperatures as low as 7 degrees Fahrenheit, offering an energy-efficient alternative to traditional furnaces.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2024
Properties
Borrowers Return to Debt Markets?
Credit markets are experiencing a rebound as falling rates and increased investor confidence spur a surge in debt sales by both highly rated and riskier borrowers, potentially signaling a positive outlook for the U.S. economy and avoiding a feared recession.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024
Labor Market
Workers Quit Less as Mood Shifted in 2023
Workers in the US quit their jobs less frequently in 2023 due to decreased confidence in the labor market caused by slower economic growth and longer job search durations, with fewer job openings and signs of substantial slowing in certain industries.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024
Properties
Real-Estate Turmoil Hits Office Towers
Rents at high-end office buildings are declining, leasing rates are slowing, and companies are opting for hybrid work schedules, leading to a decrease in demand for premier office spaces.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
Gas
Biden Gas-Export Decision Created Lots More Smoke Than Fire
The temporary pause on liquefied natural gas export terminal approvals by the Biden administration is seen as a win by environmental groups and domestic energy users but may not have a significant impact on the industry due to existing project overhang and global market dynamics.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
EV
Volvo, an EarlyElectric-Car Adopter, Cuts Off Funding for EV Affiliate
Volvo Cuts Off Funding for Electric-Car Maker Polestar as the auto industry faces setbacks in the electric vehicle market, Volvo Car announces it will no longer provide funding to its electric-car affiliate, Polestar, due to financial struggles and slow consumer uptake of electric vehicles.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
VC
Venture Capitalists Turn to Public Biotechs
Venture capitalists are increasingly investing in publicly traded biotech companies through private investments in public equities (PIPEs) as falling share prices create investment opportunities in the public markets.
SATURDAY/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3-4, 2024
Economy
Jobs Growth Defies Expectations
Employers added 353,000 jobs in January, surpassing expectations, leading to a surge in bond yields and indicating investor confidence in a sustained strong labor market.
SATURDAY/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3-4, 2024
Business
"How a (Nonalcoholic) Beer Came From Nowhere and Is Now Everywhere"
The article tells the story of Bill Shufelt and his company, Athletic Brewing Co., which has become the top-selling brand of nonalcoholic beer in the United States, offering a better-tasting and more enjoyable alternative to traditional nonalcoholic beers.
SATURDAY/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3-4, 2024
Economy
Lasting Lessons of Japan’s Lost Decades
The article discusses the dangers of extreme bubbles in the stock market, using Japan's "lost decades" as a cautionary example and highlighting the importance of economic policies, demographics, and technological leadership in long-term market performance.