News

Retail
Cash-Strapped UK Shoppers Choose Chocolate Over Toys as Gifts
December 11, 2023

Nestle, the maker of Quality Street, and Mondelez, the owner of Cadbury, are experiencing increased sales of confectionery in the United Kingdom this holiday season. Cash-strapped shoppers, looking for more affordable gifts, are turning to chocolate instead of expensive toys and gadgets, Reuters reported Monday (Dec. 11). Despite price rises,...

Retail
Hasbro to Cut 900 Positions as Toy Industry Headwinds Continue
December 11, 2023

Toy company Hasbro will be laying off another 900 people, about a year after saying it would eliminate 1,000 positions from its global workforce. The latest job cuts will be made over the next 18 to 24 months, Hasbro said in a Monday (Dec. 11) filing with the Securities and...

IPO
Report: Investment Firm General Atlantic Considers Going Public Next Year
December 11, 2023

Investment firm General Atlantic has reportedly confidentially filed for an initial public offering (IPO). The firm, which is known for its successful investments in companies like Facebook and Airbnb, is considering listing as early as next year, depending on market conditions, Bloomberg reported Monday (Dec. 11), citing unnamed sources....

Cross Border Commerce
Swift Completes Successful Test of Global Trade Interoperability Solution
December 11, 2023

Swift has successfully tested a global trade interoperability solution in collaboration with BNY Mellon, Deutsche Bank and four electronic bills of lading (eBL) platforms. This solution has the potential to revolutionize the use of electronic trade documents, the provider of secure financial messaging services said in a Thursday...

Banking
Goldman Sachs Looks to Double Size of Private Credit Unit
December 11, 2023

Goldman Sachs is reportedly aiming to double the size of its $110 billion private credit business. That shift involves reshuffling senior executives in the unit, Marc Nachmann, global head of asset and wealth management, told Bloomberg News on Monday (Dec. 11). “We think it’s the biggest opportunity...

eCommerce
Ocado Doubles Down on Robotics as Grocery Delivery Competition Heats Up
December 11, 2023

As grocers look to drive digital sales while protecting their margins, Ocado is reportedly adding more robotic arms in an effort to boost fulfillment efficiency. The United Kingdom-based, multinational grocery technology company is soon to increase the number of robotic arms at its Luton facility...

Banking
JPMorgan’s First Republic Makeover Bucks Branch Closure Trend
December 11, 2023

JPMorgan is reportedly overhauling branches acquired in the collapse of First Republic Bank. The country’s largest bank is planning to open several new branches, Reuters reported Monday (Dec. 11), going against a nationwide trend as consumers shift to digital banking. “Branches have been a winning strategy...

Investments
Citi Provides Investment and Technology to Colombian FinTech Supra
December 11, 2023

Citi has led a strategic investment round in Supra, a Colombian FinTech that enables cross-border payments and treasury solutions. Supra provides these solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) involved in import and export activities, Citi said in a Monday (Dec. 11) press release. With...

Social Commerce
TikTok Surpasses $10 Billion in Consumer Spending 
December 11, 2023

TikTok has generated $10 billion in consumer spending, becoming the first non-game mobile app to do so.  The social video app has raised $3.8 billion this year, up from $3.3 billion in 2022, consumer and market data provider data.ai said in a Monday (Dec. 11) blog post.  “TikTok is...