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January was a terrible month for stocks

Written By limadu on Sabtu, 31 Januari 2015 | 17.42

stock market down Stocks have been having a pretty bad 2015 so far.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Dow shed 3.7%, the S&P 500 has lost 3.1%, and the Nasdaq is over 2.1% lower.

Talk about a bad start to the year. A quick glance at the chart below shows what a whiplash ride 2015 has been so far with 7 days where the market swung up or down more than 200 points.

Related: Bears warn: A crisis could be near

There's an adage on Wall Street that the early days of the year are a good predictor of the full-year. Historically speaking, there's only about a 50-50 probability that the stock market will end the year on a positive note if January saw market declines, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac.

Dow January 2015 2

Dan Greenhaus, chief strategist at BTIG, points out that five of the last six down January's (2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014) have not prevented the S&P 500 from finishing higher for the full year.

The one exception was 2008, but that was the year of the financial crisis.

But investors might take comfort that January of 2014 was even worse and stocks rebounded significantly to hit record highs in December.

"In an effort to note something positive we can say that while the [S&P 500] index is down [3]% or so this year, the index finished January 2014 down by 3.6%!" Greenhaus wrote in a recent research note.

This time last year the market was worried about an emerging markets meltdown and the impact of the Federal Reserve pullback on so-called quantitative easing (aka bond buying). Those fears are mostly gone. This January investors are worried about cheap oil and the global economic slowdown.

The energy and financial sectors were the biggest losers for the month. Energy is easy to understand. Oil fell below $50 for first time in early January and acted as a psychological trigger that spooked investors. This was followed up by earnings reports and announcements from Big Oil showing major cutbacks in spending and operations. There's little doubt that it will be a leaner year ahead in the energy sector.

Related: America's No. 2 oil company cuts spending

Financials were a bigger surprise. The big bank CEOs blamed Washington regulations for sluggish performance, but the reality is many bank's core investment banking and trading have been suffering.

There was one bright spot in January: Bonds.

As the stock market gyrates, investors have been fleeing to bonds. Several European nations even have negative yields on their bonds, a sign of just how much demand there is for a so-called safe asset.

In the U.S., the 10-year government bond yield is now down to 1.66%, the lowest point since the spring of 2013.

First Published: January 30, 2015: 3:54 PM ET


17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Super Bowl tickets are most expensive ever

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The average ticket price so far is $3,554 -- about $1,000 more than last year, according to SeatGeek, which tracks online sales.

SeatGeek analyst Connor Gregoire said he does not expect the price for the few remaining tickets to come down before the Seahawks and Patriots face off on Sunday in front of 72,000 fans in Phoenix.

On Friday, the cheapest ticket was going for nearly $8,000 and the most expensive topped $24,000, according to SeatGeek.

And there are very few left -- only about 300 tickets on Friday. On the same day last year, there were about 4,000.

Related: Snickers cast Danny Trejo in Brady Bunch reboot

Getting a ticket to the Super Bowl is a tricky business. Only 1,000 are sold to fans at face value. The rest are divvied up among the league, which gives a lot to corporate sponsors, and the teams. Those tickets are either auctioned off to season tickets holders, or sold by brokers on the secondary market.

In the past few years, many buyers have held out until the last minute and, in fact, got a good deal as prices fell in the days leading to the game.

Game day is actually the busiest in the resale market, Gregoire said.

But this year prices have gone up. It's not entirely clear why. But there are fewer tickets than expected on the secondary market. That will leave some fans out of luck.

Related: Is a $45 million Super Bowl ad worth it?

First Published: January 30, 2015: 4:50 PM ET


17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Seahawks' Paul Allen is the NFL's richest team owner

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen is by far the richest in the league. The Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) co-founder is worth about $17 billion, according to various estimates.

The Seahawks head to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. This year they face off against the New England Patriots which are owned by Robert Kraft, who has a net worth of $4 billion, making him the sixth richest owner in the NFL.

The two men made their money in very different ways.

Related: NFL gets billions in subsidies from taxpayers

Allen helped Bill Gates start Microsoft when both were students at Harvard, and left the company with a chunk of its then privately-held stock in 1983 which translated in to the bulk of his wealth. Allen also made about $2 billion from the appreciation in value of the Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, both of which he bought decades ago.

nfl owners kraft allen Bob Kraft, left, and Paul Allen, right, owners of the two Super Bowl teams, made their fortunes in very different ways.

By contrast, Patriots owner Robert Kraft made most of his $4 billion fortune in football. He bought his team for a reported $172 million in 1994, and today it's worth an estimated $2.6 billion.

Related: Seahawks vs. Patriots - How do the fans measure up?

There's only one NFL team with owners that aren't worth billions. The Green Bay Packers is actually publicly owned by its fans, who hold a special issue of stock in the team that can not be sold or traded.

Related: NFL earns record profits despite ugly image

First Published: January 30, 2015: 4:05 PM ET


17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Seahawks' Paul Allen is the NFL's richest team owner

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen is by far the richest in the league. The Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) co-founder is worth about $17 billion, according to various estimates.

The Seahawks head to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. This year they face off against the New England Patriots which are owned by Robert Kraft, who has a net worth of $4 billion, making him the sixth richest owner in the NFL.

The two men made their money in very different ways.

Related: NFL gets billions in subsidies from taxpayers

Allen helped Bill Gates start Microsoft when both were students at Harvard, and left the company with a chunk of its then privately-held stock in 1983 which translated in to the bulk of his wealth. Allen also made about $2 billion from the appreciation in value of the Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, both of which he bought decades ago.

nfl owners kraft allen Bob Kraft, left, and Paul Allen, right, owners of the two Super Bowl teams, made their fortunes in very different ways.

By contrast, Patriots owner Robert Kraft made most of his $4 billion fortune in football. He bought his team for a reported $172 million in 1994, and today it's worth an estimated $2.6 billion.

Related: Seahawks vs. Patriots - How do the fans measure up?

There's only one NFL team with owners that aren't worth billions. The Green Bay Packers is actually publicly owned by its fans, who hold a special issue of stock in the team that can not be sold or traded.

Related: NFL earns record profits despite ugly image

First Published: January 30, 2015: 4:05 PM ET


15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

January was a terrible month for stocks

stock market down Stocks have been having a pretty bad 2015 so far.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Dow shed 3.7%, the S&P 500 has lost 3.1%, and the Nasdaq is over 2.1% lower.

Talk about a bad start to the year. A quick glance at the chart below shows what a whiplash ride 2015 has been so far with 7 days where the market swung up or down more than 200 points.

Related: Bears warn: A crisis could be near

There's an adage on Wall Street that the early days of the year are a good predictor of the full-year. Historically speaking, there's only about a 50-50 probability that the stock market will end the year on a positive note if January saw market declines, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac.

Dow January 2015 2

Dan Greenhaus, chief strategist at BTIG, points out that five of the last six down January's (2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014) have not prevented the S&P 500 from finishing higher for the full year.

The one exception was 2008, but that was the year of the financial crisis.

But investors might take comfort that January of 2014 was even worse and stocks rebounded significantly to hit record highs in December.

"In an effort to note something positive we can say that while the [S&P 500] index is down [3]% or so this year, the index finished January 2014 down by 3.6%!" Greenhaus wrote in a recent research note.

This time last year the market was worried about an emerging markets meltdown and the impact of the Federal Reserve pullback on so-called quantitative easing (aka bond buying). Those fears are mostly gone. This January investors are worried about cheap oil and the global economic slowdown.

The energy and financial sectors were the biggest losers for the month. Energy is easy to understand. Oil fell below $50 for first time in early January and acted as a psychological trigger that spooked investors. This was followed up by earnings reports and announcements from Big Oil showing major cutbacks in spending and operations. There's little doubt that it will be a leaner year ahead in the energy sector.

Related: America's No. 2 oil company cuts spending

Financials were a bigger surprise. The big bank CEOs blamed Washington regulations for sluggish performance, but the reality is many bank's core investment banking and trading have been suffering.

There was one bright spot in January: Bonds.

As the stock market gyrates, investors have been fleeing to bonds. Several European nations even have negative yields on their bonds, a sign of just how much demand there is for a so-called safe asset.

In the U.S., the 10-year government bond yield is now down to 1.66%, the lowest point since the spring of 2013.

First Published: January 30, 2015: 3:54 PM ET


15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Super Bowl tickets are most expensive ever

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The average ticket price so far is $3,554 -- about $1,000 more than last year, according to SeatGeek, which tracks online sales.

SeatGeek analyst Connor Gregoire said he does not expect the price for the few remaining tickets to come down before the Seahawks and Patriots face off on Sunday in front of 72,000 fans in Phoenix.

On Friday, the cheapest ticket was going for nearly $8,000 and the most expensive topped $24,000, according to SeatGeek.

And there are very few left -- only about 300 tickets on Friday. On the same day last year, there were about 4,000.

Related: Snickers cast Danny Trejo in Brady Bunch reboot

Getting a ticket to the Super Bowl is a tricky business. Only 1,000 are sold to fans at face value. The rest are divvied up among the league, which gives a lot to corporate sponsors, and the teams. Those tickets are either auctioned off to season tickets holders, or sold by brokers on the secondary market.

In the past few years, many buyers have held out until the last minute and, in fact, got a good deal as prices fell in the days leading to the game.

Game day is actually the busiest in the resale market, Gregoire said.

But this year prices have gone up. It's not entirely clear why. But there are fewer tickets than expected on the secondary market. That will leave some fans out of luck.

Related: Is a $45 million Super Bowl ad worth it?

First Published: January 30, 2015: 4:50 PM ET


15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Uber sued in U.S. over alleged India rape

Written By limadu on Jumat, 30 Januari 2015 | 17.42

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco on Thursday, claims that Uber did not adequately screen its drivers, or implement other basic safety measures that would have kept the plaintiff safe.

"Opening the Uber app and setting the pick-up location has proven to be the modern day equivalent of electronic hitchhiking," the lawsuit says. "Buyer beware -- we all know how these horror movies end."

The alleged rape, which took place in December, sparked protests in India's capital city, and calls for reforms that would safeguard women against sexual assault.

The Uber driver accused of carrying out the rape was found to have a long rap sheet, including at least four pending criminal cases in his home state. City transport officials subsequently banned the transportation app.

Uber said in a statement that its "deepest sympathies remain with the victim of this horrific crime."

"We are cooperating fully with the authorities to ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice," the company said.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages on behalf of the plaintiff, and the addition of safety measures including tamper-proof cameras and GPS tracking systems in Uber cars.

The victim, who remains anonymous, is represented by Douglas Wigdor, a high-profile attorney who previously represented the hotel maid who accused former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault.

Related: Uber's global ambitions hit roadblocks

Uber restarted operations in Delhi last week after applying for a local Radio Taxi license, a concession to regulators who are pushing the company to behave more like a traditional taxi service.

A license has not yet been issued. On Tuesday, Uber said it was operating as a not-for-profit in Delhi and waving all fees until "regulatory ambiguity is resolved."

Related: Uber restarts in New Delhi

Following the alleged rape, Uber has committed to adding new safety measures in Delhi, including an additional layer of screening and independent background checks on all drivers.

The company is no stranger to regulatory roadblocks. It faces legal challenges in a number of other markets around the world, a byproduct of its aggressive expansion and controversial product.

First Published: January 30, 2015: 1:16 AM ET


17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Shake Shack set to shake up Wall Street

Shake Shack burger

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The upscale burger joint priced its initial public offering at $21 a share Thursday evening. That's above the price range Shake Shack set earlier this week, which it had already raised due to strong demand.

At $21 a share, Shake Shack is raising $105 million, making the company worth $745.5 million.

Shake Shack (SHAK) is set to debut on the New York Stock Exchange Friday morning.

To celebrate its first day as a public company, Shake Shack said it will turn the New York Stock Exchange into the New York SHACK Exchange. In other words, it plans to park a Shake Shack food truck in front of the exchange and dish up free food.

Restaurateur Danny Meyer, who is chairman of Shake Shack and founder of the Union Square Hospitality Group that started Shake Shack, owns a 21% stake in the company. His share is now worth $156.2 million.

Shake Shack, which started in 2001 as a hot dog cart in New York's Madison Square Park, has quickly become a Big Apple icon.

Expanding ... but not too quickly. The company currently operates just 63 restaurants worldwide -- but 16 of them are in the metropolitan New York City area.

And Shake Shack has already planted outposts in several global markets, such as London, Moscow, Kuwait, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Shake Shack has said that it wants to expand relatively slowly. It is targeting 10 new locations in the U.S. a year as well as more international locations.

Related: 8 of the world's craziest fast foods

The strategy has been extremely successful so far. Shake Shack reported revenue of $83.8 million in the first three quarters of last year, an increase of more than 40% from the same period in 2013.

Shake Shack is also profitable. But net income fell in the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to higher costs for paper, food and labor as the company opened more locations.

Profiting from the problems at Mickey D's? So will the stock be a big hit? Aren't consumers backing away from unhealthy burgers and fries? McDonald's (MCD) just announced its CEO is retiring after a period of weak sales.

That's true. But Shake Shack and other gourmet burger companies appear to be doing well at the expense of McDonald's.

Related: McDead? More lousy results from McDonald's

Shake Shack bills itself as a "fine casual" dining chain, a play on the fast casual term popularized by Chipotle (CMG) and Panera (PNRA).

In addition to having the backing of star chef Meyer, Shake Shack says in its IPO filing that it prides itself on using "sustainable ingredients, such as all-natural, hormone and antibiotic-free beef."

The proof is in the prices. A typical burger at Shake Shack can cost twice as much as a Big Mac.

Related: $7.54 for a Big Mac? Only in Switzerland

Shake Shack also differentiates itself from other burger restaurants by selling hot dogs, beer, wine and -- of course -- frozen custard shakes.

And investors are clearly hungry for restaurant IPOs.

El Pollo Loco (LOCO), Potbelly (PBPB), Noodles (NDLS) and Zoe's Kitchen (ZOES) are just a few chains that have gone public in the past two years that have soared on their first day of trading.

There is a lot of competition in the burger wars. But those four stocks are now well off their highs.

So is Habit (HABT), a popular California burger chain that went public last November and more than doubled in its debut.

Habit may not be as well-known to New Yorkers as Shake Shack. But its burgers were voted best in America by readers of Consumer Reports last year.

To that end, competition could prove to be the biggest risk for Shake Shack.

Related: White Castle now serving veggie burgers

Even though its burgers are delicious, so are ones made by privately held Five Guys, Smashburger, Bareburger, In-N-Out and many other regional and national upstarts.

Heck, Sonic (SONC)is doing really well lately thanks to strong demand for its burgers.

So Shake Shack may soar on Friday like other restaurant IPOs have done lately.

But the challenge is going to be staying at those lofty levels. The company now has to satisfy the fickle tastes of Wall Street as well as the palates of hipster burger gourmands.

CNNMoney's Ben Rooney contributed to this report.

First Published: January 29, 2015: 6:29 PM ET


17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stocks: 4 things to know before the open

s&p futures 0130 Click on chart for more premarket data.

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

Here are the 4 things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Even more earnings: Chevron (CVX), MasterCard (MA) and Mattel (MAT) will report earnings before the opening bell.

Chevron earnings will be a particular focus as investors look for signs of how rock-bottom crude prices are affecting the company's plans.

U.S. stock futures were sharply lower ahead of the open.

On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 1.3%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained 1.0%.

2. Amazon jumps: Online retail giant Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) reported earnings Thursday that beat Wall Street's expectations. Its shares soared by more than 11% in premarket trading. Google (GOOG) shares were also firmer premarket.

3. A little bit of data: The University of Michigan will report the final version of its January consumer sentiment index at 9:55 a.m. ET.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

4. International markets overview: European markets opened firmer on Wall Street's gains, but turned lower in morning trade.

Greek stocks were steady, with banks continuing to recover after slumping earlier this week on fears about the future of the country's international bailout. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will meet eurozone officials in Athens Friday for the first time since winning Sunday's election.

Russia's central bank meets to discuss interest rates. An announcement is due at 5.30 a.m. ET.

Asian markets ended mixed. The Shanghai Composite shed 1.6% and the Hang Seng lost 0.4%. Japan's Nikkei gained 0.4% as the yen weakened.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

First Published: January 30, 2015: 5:15 AM ET


17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Bible proves to be a big seller for Newsweek

newsweek christian themed Newsweek's much-discussed Bible issue was its best seller of 2014.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The magazine's provocative cover story this week -- "What Silicon Valley Thinks of Women" -- has prompted an avalanche of online criticism.

Sound familiar?

Flash back to just one month ago, when the publication sparked an uproar with a critical cover story on the Christian holy text.

"The Bible," reads the cover headline. "So misunderstood it's a sin." The story, written by the journalist Kurt Eichenwald, inspired a series of rebuttals from Biblical scholars and devout Christians alike.

It turns out the bestselling book of all-time also helped the magazine sell a lot of issues.

Newsweek's editor-in-chief Jim Impoco confirmed to CNNMoney that "early" and "conservative" estimates show that the Bible issue will end up as the magazine's bestselling cover of 2014.

He said the number of copies sold compared with the number of copies distributed on the news stand has been an "astounding" 40% thus far.

That's "more than double the average," according to Impoco. For good measure, he said the story also racked up 500,000 hits online.

Striking covers like that are nothing new for Newsweek (neither are Christianity-focused covers, for that matter). They were a hallmark of Tina Brown's reign as editor, such as its 2012 cover titled "Muslim Rage."

This week's controversial cover story examines sexism in America's tech hub. The cover shows a faceless woman holding a laptop while her red skirt is lifted up by a mouse cursor.

The cover image and accompanying story has been met with considerable derision in many corners of the Internet, but the issue itself hasn't even hit newsstands. The criticism began rolling in almost immediately after the cover surfaced on Twitter this week.

Impoco said that Newsweek aims to get people talking by employing a "one-two punch with social [media] leading the way."

"There is nothing we want more than to start a national conversation about important topics," Impoco said. "The Silicon Valley and Bible covers are good examples. In the old days, Newsweek would often 'validate' the news, but that role is gone. Today, we have to create our own weather but also remain topical."

"We don't do controversy just for the sake of controversy," he added.

First Published: January 29, 2015: 5:18 PM ET


15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Shake Shack set to shake up Wall Street

Shake Shack burger

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The upscale burger joint priced its initial public offering at $21 a share Thursday evening. That's above the price range Shake Shack set earlier this week, which it had already raised due to strong demand.

At $21 a share, Shake Shack is raising $105 million, making the company worth $745.5 million.

Shake Shack (SHAK) is set to debut on the New York Stock Exchange Friday morning.

To celebrate its first day as a public company, Shake Shack said it will turn the New York Stock Exchange into the New York SHACK Exchange. In other words, it plans to park a Shake Shack food truck in front of the exchange and dish up free food.

Restaurateur Danny Meyer, who is chairman of Shake Shack and founder of the Union Square Hospitality Group that started Shake Shack, owns a 21% stake in the company. His share is now worth $156.2 million.

Shake Shack, which started in 2001 as a hot dog cart in New York's Madison Square Park, has quickly become a Big Apple icon.

Expanding ... but not too quickly. The company currently operates just 63 restaurants worldwide -- but 16 of them are in the metropolitan New York City area.

And Shake Shack has already planted outposts in several global markets, such as London, Moscow, Kuwait, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Shake Shack has said that it wants to expand relatively slowly. It is targeting 10 new locations in the U.S. a year as well as more international locations.

Related: 8 of the world's craziest fast foods

The strategy has been extremely successful so far. Shake Shack reported revenue of $83.8 million in the first three quarters of last year, an increase of more than 40% from the same period in 2013.

Shake Shack is also profitable. But net income fell in the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to higher costs for paper, food and labor as the company opened more locations.

Profiting from the problems at Mickey D's? So will the stock be a big hit? Aren't consumers backing away from unhealthy burgers and fries? McDonald's (MCD) just announced its CEO is retiring after a period of weak sales.

That's true. But Shake Shack and other gourmet burger companies appear to be doing well at the expense of McDonald's.

Related: McDead? More lousy results from McDonald's

Shake Shack bills itself as a "fine casual" dining chain, a play on the fast casual term popularized by Chipotle (CMG) and Panera (PNRA).

In addition to having the backing of star chef Meyer, Shake Shack says in its IPO filing that it prides itself on using "sustainable ingredients, such as all-natural, hormone and antibiotic-free beef."

The proof is in the prices. A typical burger at Shake Shack can cost twice as much as a Big Mac.

Related: $7.54 for a Big Mac? Only in Switzerland

Shake Shack also differentiates itself from other burger restaurants by selling hot dogs, beer, wine and -- of course -- frozen custard shakes.

And investors are clearly hungry for restaurant IPOs.

El Pollo Loco (LOCO), Potbelly (PBPB), Noodles (NDLS) and Zoe's Kitchen (ZOES) are just a few chains that have gone public in the past two years that have soared on their first day of trading.

There is a lot of competition in the burger wars. But those four stocks are now well off their highs.

So is Habit (HABT), a popular California burger chain that went public last November and more than doubled in its debut.

Habit may not be as well-known to New Yorkers as Shake Shack. But its burgers were voted best in America by readers of Consumer Reports last year.

To that end, competition could prove to be the biggest risk for Shake Shack.

Related: White Castle now serving veggie burgers

Even though its burgers are delicious, so are ones made by privately held Five Guys, Smashburger, Bareburger, In-N-Out and many other regional and national upstarts.

Heck, Sonic (SONC)is doing really well lately thanks to strong demand for its burgers.

So Shake Shack may soar on Friday like other restaurant IPOs have done lately.

But the challenge is going to be staying at those lofty levels. The company now has to satisfy the fickle tastes of Wall Street as well as the palates of hipster burger gourmands.

CNNMoney's Ben Rooney contributed to this report.

First Published: January 29, 2015: 6:29 PM ET


15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Uber sued in U.S. over alleged India rape

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco on Thursday, claims that Uber did not adequately screen its drivers, or implement other basic safety measures that would have kept the plaintiff safe.

"Opening the Uber app and setting the pick-up location has proven to be the modern day equivalent of electronic hitchhiking," the lawsuit says. "Buyer beware -- we all know how these horror movies end."

The alleged rape, which took place in December, sparked protests in India's capital city, and calls for reforms that would safeguard women against sexual assault.

The Uber driver accused of carrying out the rape was found to have a long rap sheet, including at least four pending criminal cases in his home state. City transport officials subsequently banned the transportation app.

Uber said in a statement that its "deepest sympathies remain with the victim of this horrific crime."

"We are cooperating fully with the authorities to ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice," the company said.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages on behalf of the plaintiff, and the addition of safety measures including tamper-proof cameras and GPS tracking systems in Uber cars.

The victim, who remains anonymous, is represented by Douglas Wigdor, a high-profile attorney who previously represented the hotel maid who accused former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault.

Related: Uber's global ambitions hit roadblocks

Uber restarted operations in Delhi last week after applying for a local Radio Taxi license, a concession to regulators who are pushing the company to behave more like a traditional taxi service.

A license has not yet been issued. On Tuesday, Uber said it was operating as a not-for-profit in Delhi and waving all fees until "regulatory ambiguity is resolved."

Related: Uber restarts in New Delhi

Following the alleged rape, Uber has committed to adding new safety measures in Delhi, including an additional layer of screening and independent background checks on all drivers.

The company is no stranger to regulatory roadblocks. It faces legal challenges in a number of other markets around the world, a byproduct of its aggressive expansion and controversial product.

First Published: January 30, 2015: 1:16 AM ET


15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Average 401(k) balance hits record $91,300

Written By limadu on Kamis, 29 Januari 2015 | 17.42

chart average 401k balances

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

At Fidelity, the average 401(k) balance hit $91,300 by the end of 2014. While that's up just 2% from 2013, it's a jump of more than 30% from 2011's average balance of $69,100, Fidelity reported.

The increase was due in part to the stock market, which saw the S&P 500 climb by more than 10%-- its third year of double-digit gains. But a spike in worker contributions also played a significant role.

Workers and their employers contributed an average of $9,670 in 2014, up 4% from the year before.

"The 401(k) is the sole source [of retirement savings] for many," said Fidelity vice president Jeanne Thompson. "I think there is heightened awareness of the importance of putting money into the 401(k)."

On average, employees socked away 8.1% of their salary, the highest savings rate recorded by Fidelity since 2011. Including an employer match, workers saved around 12% of their salary, which falls within the 10% to 15% recommended by financial planners.

Thompson credited the increasing savings rate to a growing number of employers who are automatically enrolling workers into their 401(k) plans at a contribution rate of 5% or more.

Consistent savers are doing especially well. Savers in their 401(k) plan for 10 years or more had an average balance of $248,000 -- an increase of 11% from what similar savers had a year ago.

Related: My biggest retirement mistake

The bad news: most people will need far more than that for a comfortable retirement. The common 4% rule for example, dictates that $250,000 would provide only $10,000 a year in retirement income.

Of course, 401(k) balances are just a snapshot of the retirement savings landscape since savers often have multiple investments and accounts like Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and annuities. Fidelity, for example, found IRA holders had an average balance of $92,200 in 2014.

With the stock market starting out on rocky footing this year, Fidelity urged savers to ignore the market turmoil and instead to focus on long-term savings goals.

"The typical American worker will see markets go up and down many times during their career," Jim MacDonald, president of workplace investing at Fidelity, said in a statement. "Commitment to a long-term savings and investing strategy will put individuals in the best position."

First Published: January 29, 2015: 12:56 AM ET


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Samsung needs to reinvent itself (again)

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The fourth quarter results are troubling, but not unexpected. Samsung's profits have now declined for three consecutive quarters, a trend that has prompted some real soul searching at the South Korean electronics giant.

There were some bright spots: The company's smartphone business showed signs of stabilization, and chip sales were strong.

Yet there is no doubt: Samsung needs to reinvent itself.

For years, the company relied on its smartphone division to deliver major profits. Samsung had a iron grip on major markets including China, and huge margins helped turn the firm into one of the world's largest and most recognizable tech brands.

Related: Samsung's latest WTF phone

But intense competition at both the high and low ends of the smartphone market have reversed Samsung's fortunes. The company is now ranked third in China, behind Apple (AAPL, Tech30) and Xiaomi (a company that is only five years old). Analysts hold little hope for a return to dominance.

In response, Samsung is working to pare down its crowded smartphone lineup. It's also making a major move into India to capture more of the low-cost phone market.

Related: Apple just posted the best quarter in corporate history

But for a real turnaround, Samsung needs to identify its next silver bullet.

"With slowing growth and a huge revenue base, Samsung is in need of a new growth engine," Bernstein Research analyst Mark Newman wrote late last year.

Chances are, this new growth engine won't be a phone. It will be come from another sector of Samsung's sprawling business empire. Newman identified medical equipment -- where Samsung is already investing heavily -- as a promising area.

The good news for Samsung fans is that the company has transformation in its genes. Newman points to the "New Management Initiative" proposed by company leadership in 1993.

Responding to the threats of globalization and digitization, the new strategy allowed Samsung to become the company it is today. Newman argues the company needs to find "another 1993 moment."

But that, he notes, is no easy task -- especially with the health of Chairman Lee Kun-hee in question.

Related: Facebook is growing -- so are its costs

First Published: January 28, 2015: 9:59 PM ET


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Stocks: 5 things to know before the open

premarket stocks trading Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Here are the five things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Expecting earnings: Alibaba (BABA, Tech30), Ford (F), Coach (COH) and Time Warner Cable (TWC) will report earnings before the opening bell, as well as oil companies Valero (VLO), Phillips 66 (PSXP) and ConocoPhillips (COP).

Google (GOOGL, Tech30), Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) and Visa (V) will report after the close.

U.S. stock futures are holding steady but Thursday's direction will likely depend on how well those earnings are received.

All the major indexes fell on Wednesday. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 196 points, while the S&P 500 slid 1.4%. The Nasdaq fell by nearly 1%.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

2. Market movers -- Facebook, Qualcomm: Facebook (FB, Tech30) shares were edging down by 1% premarket after the social networking giant reported fourth quarter results.

Qualcomm (QCOM, Tech30) shares were dropping by about 8% premarket after the company cut its sales and earnings outlook. The company blamed the lower outlook on increased competition in China, among other things.

Shares in Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) fell by about 3.5% in London after the company said it would cut spending on oil projects by $15 billion over the next three years.

This "confirm[s] that many projects are indeed unsustainable and unfeasible [with] the currently low oil prices," said Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets.

Shares in Samsung (SSNLF) dipped by just over 1% in Asia after the company reported another set of disappointing results.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

3. Investors lovin' McDonald's news: Investors are bidding up shares in McDonald's (MCD) ahead of the open CEO Don Thompson announced his retirement. This comes a week after McDonald's reported awful financial results.

4. Greece markets steady: The main stock market index in Greece stabilized, trading up by about 2% after plunging Wednesday.

The index has fallen 12% since the start of the year as investors have grown increasingly worried about Greece's financial health following the election of a new government that wants to renegotiate the terms of its international bailout.

European markets were all edging down in early trading. Asian markets mostly closed with losses.

5. Economic announcements: The U.S. government will report weekly jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. ET.

At 10 a.m., new U.S. data on pending home sales will be released from December.

First Published: January 29, 2015: 5:01 AM ET


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Samsung needs to reinvent itself (again)

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The fourth quarter results are troubling, but not unexpected. Samsung's profits have now declined for three consecutive quarters, a trend that has prompted some real soul searching at the South Korean electronics giant.

There were some bright spots: The company's smartphone business showed signs of stabilization, and chip sales were strong.

Yet there is no doubt: Samsung needs to reinvent itself.

For years, the company relied on its smartphone division to deliver major profits. Samsung had a iron grip on major markets including China, and huge margins helped turn the firm into one of the world's largest and most recognizable tech brands.

Related: Samsung's latest WTF phone

But intense competition at both the high and low ends of the smartphone market have reversed Samsung's fortunes. The company is now ranked third in China, behind Apple (AAPL, Tech30) and Xiaomi (a company that is only five years old). Analysts hold little hope for a return to dominance.

In response, Samsung is working to pare down its crowded smartphone lineup. It's also making a major move into India to capture more of the low-cost phone market.

Related: Apple just posted the best quarter in corporate history

But for a real turnaround, Samsung needs to identify its next silver bullet.

"With slowing growth and a huge revenue base, Samsung is in need of a new growth engine," Bernstein Research analyst Mark Newman wrote late last year.

Chances are, this new growth engine won't be a phone. It will be come from another sector of Samsung's sprawling business empire. Newman identified medical equipment -- where Samsung is already investing heavily -- as a promising area.

The good news for Samsung fans is that the company has transformation in its genes. Newman points to the "New Management Initiative" proposed by company leadership in 1993.

Responding to the threats of globalization and digitization, the new strategy allowed Samsung to become the company it is today. Newman argues the company needs to find "another 1993 moment."

But that, he notes, is no easy task -- especially with the health of Chairman Lee Kun-hee in question.

Related: Facebook is growing -- so are its costs

First Published: January 28, 2015: 9:59 PM ET


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Zuckerberg has his Tim Cook moment

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

On a conference call with Wall Street analysts on Wednesday, Zuckerberg shot back against a question related to Facebook's efforts in poor, unconnected countries. The analyst asked why Internet.org and other Facebook initiatives to connect African countries should matter to investors.

"It matters to the kind of investors we want to have," Zuckerberg said.

The Facebook (FB, Tech30) CEO's comments are similar to remarks made by Apple (AAPL, Tech30) CEO Tim Cook at Apple's shareholder meeting in May 2014. After the National Center for Public Policy Research urged Apple to stop wasting money on green technology, Cook told them to find another company to invest in.

"If you want me to do things only for ROI reasons, you should get out of this stock, Cook said.

Related: Facebook is growing -- so are its costs

Zuckerberg echoed that sentiment Wednesday.

"If we were only focused on making money, we might put all of our energy in the U.S.," he said. "But that's not all we care about here."

Zuckerberg said connecting the unconnected could ultimately be a good investment opportunity for Facebook, though he conceded that he doesn't know when -- or if -- that would happen.

"This is why we're here," Zuckerberg said about Facebook's mission to connect everyone around the world.

In a decade, Zuckerberg said he hopes that Facebook's Internet.org division will succeed at getting millions more people online. The organization has already connected 6 million people who previously didn't have Internet access.

Facebook has also invested in drones to carry Wi-Fi signals to underserved areas, and it invested nearly $20 billion in WhatsApp to power connections to people who only have a phone connection.

First Published: January 28, 2015: 6:35 PM ET


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Average 401(k) balance hits record $91,300

chart average 401k balances

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

At Fidelity, the average 401(k) balance hit $91,300 by the end of 2014. While that's up just 2% from 2013, it's a jump of more than 30% from 2011's average balance of $69,100, Fidelity reported.

The increase was due in part to the stock market, which saw the S&P 500 climb by more than 10%-- its third year of double-digit gains. But a spike in worker contributions also played a significant role.

Workers and their employers contributed an average of $9,670 in 2014, up 4% from the year before.

"The 401(k) is the sole source [of retirement savings] for many," said Fidelity vice president Jeanne Thompson. "I think there is heightened awareness of the importance of putting money into the 401(k)."

On average, employees socked away 8.1% of their salary, the highest savings rate recorded by Fidelity since 2011. Including an employer match, workers saved around 12% of their salary, which falls within the 10% to 15% recommended by financial planners.

Thompson credited the increasing savings rate to a growing number of employers who are automatically enrolling workers into their 401(k) plans at a contribution rate of 5% or more.

Consistent savers are doing especially well. Savers in their 401(k) plan for 10 years or more had an average balance of $248,000 -- an increase of 11% from what similar savers had a year ago.

Related: My biggest retirement mistake

The bad news: most people will need far more than that for a comfortable retirement. The common 4% rule for example, dictates that $250,000 would provide only $10,000 a year in retirement income.

Of course, 401(k) balances are just a snapshot of the retirement savings landscape since savers often have multiple investments and accounts like Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and annuities. Fidelity, for example, found IRA holders had an average balance of $92,200 in 2014.

With the stock market starting out on rocky footing this year, Fidelity urged savers to ignore the market turmoil and instead to focus on long-term savings goals.

"The typical American worker will see markets go up and down many times during their career," Jim MacDonald, president of workplace investing at Fidelity, said in a statement. "Commitment to a long-term savings and investing strategy will put individuals in the best position."

First Published: January 29, 2015: 12:56 AM ET


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Diamonds are getting cheaper. Time to buy?

Written By limadu on Rabu, 28 Januari 2015 | 17.42

LONDON (CNNMoney)

This week, two British companies that mine for diamonds said prices for rough stones had fallen and will keep sliding.

One of them, Petra Diamonds, noted that prices of rough diamonds dropped by around 9% in the last half of 2014. The company cut its full-year price forecast for its South African diamonds from $152 per carat to $130.

Here's what's going on: Miners like Petra sell rough stones to companies that cut and polish them. But cutters and polishers are starved for cash. And their struggle to access the money they need to pay for diamonds is driving prices down.

A big part the funding shortage is due to the closure of the Antwerp Diamond Bank in late 2014. Belgium is one of the world's biggest diamond trading hubs and the bank was a major lender to the industry.

Falling rough diamond prices won't automatically translate to cheaper engagement rings.

Ben Davis, mining analyst at Liberum in London, likened it to the recent drop in crude oil prices: It takes time to bring relief to drivers at the gas pump.

However, retail prices could drop if stores have to start discounting because of an unrelated trend: increasing demand for colored stones over diamonds.

"As [retailers] try and become more competitive you might see some reductions," said Davis, adding that diamond demand is always at the mercy of fashion.

"It doesn't help when Kate Middleton gets a big sapphire," he said.

Jewelers across the U.S. are reporting an increase in couples looking for alternatives to diamonds for engagement rings, including gemstones and bands. People have also been more drawn to other precious stones to avoid conflict diamonds.

And the slowing global economy is another headache for high-end jewelers as consumers trim spending. Tiffany was an early victim of bleak economic conditions, registering disappointing holiday sales.

Related: Gold is sexy again. Prices jump above $1,300

First Published: January 28, 2015: 3:33 AM ET


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China issues scathing report on Alibaba

china alibaba Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has called counterfeits a "cancer."

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The Chinese government has released a report that accuses e-commerce giant Alibaba of turning a blind eye to illegal activity, and failing to police its online marketplaces. The company has been "far too lax" in its business operations, allowing some merchants to sell counterfeit goods, from designer bags to smartphones, according to the State Administration of Industry and Commerce.

Regulators said the scathing report, which stems from a July 2014 meeting between the company and government officials, wasn't released earlier to avoid interfering with Alibaba's landmark IPO in September.

Counterfeits have long been a problem for Alibaba, which operates popular online shopping sites such as Taobao and Tmall. Co-founder Jack Ma has even called fakes a "cancer" to the company.

Related: Alibaba has a major counterfeit problem

"Taobao has done a tremendous amount of work towards fighting counterfeits, but it is far from complete," said company spokesman Bob Christie. "We need more law enforcement agencies to join us in the fight and eradicate the cancer at the roots."

Alibaba (BABA, Tech30) took issue with the government review, saying the process was marred by misconduct and has "inflicted irreparable and serious damage to Taobao and Chinese online businesses." The company will file a complaint to the SAIC.

Fake goods were a concern for investors as Alibaba's market debut drew closer last year. Leading up to its IPO, the company signed a handful of anti-piracy agreements with luxury brands and industry groups. The company also launched a policy for some of its platforms that bans sellers after "three strikes."

Related: Chinese courts are selling seized assets on Alibaba's Taobao

In 2013, Alibaba removed 114 million product listings from Taobao over a period of 10 months. But major consumer brands, such as Columbia Sportswear, have said that they feel fighting fakes is a losing battle.

Alibaba shares closed on Tuesday at $102.94 in New York, up 51% from the IPO price.

Read next: Yahoo soars on Alibaba spinoff

First Published: January 28, 2015: 5:08 AM ET


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Stocks: 5 things to know before the open

premarket stocks trading Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Here are the five things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Big tech gets a boost: Shares in Apple (AAPL, Tech30) are expected to jump at the open after the company posted the biggest profit in corporate history in the last quarter, when it sold 74.5 million iPhones.

Apple's earnings are helping ARM Holdings (ARMH, Tech30) in London, a company that sells chip designs to Apple and other smartphone makers. Shares in ARM were rising by 2% in London.

Yahoo (YHOO, Tech30) shares are also expected to soar at the open after the company said it would spin off its remaining stake in Chinese e-retailer Alibaba (BABA, Tech30). The deal is expected to save shareholders $16 billion in tax, according to Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

2. Greek stocks and bonds plunge: Greek markets plunged again, with banks suffering the most after the country's new anti-austerity government was reported to have canceled a planned privatization -- one condition of its international bailout. The benchmark Athens index has now fallen nearly 10% already this year.

The yield on Greece 10-year government bonds jumped 60 basis points to more than 10%.

European markets were mostly weaker, while Asian markets ended mixed.

3. Tech results lift Nasdaq: The tech-heavy Nasdaq index is rising by about 1% premarket as it gets a lift from Apple and Yahoo.

Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average are relatively flat. The S&P 500 is bumping around.

Tuesday was a down day in the markets.

The Dow Jones industrial average plunged by 291 points, while the S&P 500 lost 1.3% and the Nasdaq shed 1.9%.

Investors were in a selling mood after Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30), Caterpillar (CAT) and Procter & Gamble (PG) all disappointed heavily with their quarterly results.

4. More earnings: Quarterly results are coming in thick and fast.

Boeing (BA), Hess (HES) and Fiat Chrysler (FCAM) are among the main companies reporting earnings before the opening bell.

Facebook (FB, Tech30) will report after the close.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

5. Focus on the Fed: At 2 p.m. ET, investors around the world will be focusing on the latest announcements from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The Fed is concluding its two-day meeting Wednesday and investors will be parsing through the Fed's new statement to guess when the central bank may be ready to raise interest rates.

First Published: January 28, 2015: 5:05 AM ET


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China crackdown makes it harder to get around the Great Firewall

china net China is boosting internet censorship to keep people from accessing sites like Google.

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The action, confirmed by state media, has affected VPN providers including Astrill, Strong VPN and Golden Frog, which have all reported trouble with connectivity in China, particularly on mobile devices.

China has long blocked access to what it deems as sensitive Internet content -- political commentary, foreign news outlets and sites like Google. Access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are also blocked in China.

Taken together, the restrictions constitute the world's largest -- and most effective -- state-sponsored censorship program. The effort, officially called "Golden Shield," is more than a decade old.

Using a VPN allows Chinese and foreigners alike to circumvent the Great Firewall. For around $10 a month, users are able to access blocked websites, Gmail and even Netflix.

Chinese state media described the crackdown as a "healthy development" for the Internet, and one needed to shore up cybersecurity. It follows a move to tighten access to Google's email service that began late last year.

Should the VPN blackout persist -- or expand -- it would be a real headache for companies that rely on the workaround to conduct business.

Related: The Great Firewall of China is nearly complete

Winger Chen, who owns a food and beverage consulting company in China, has always "felt some frustration with [spotty connectivity]," but considers it to be "just part of doing business in China."

Chen said he is "100% reliant" on various Google services that allow colleagues to sync data across the company.

"What happens if we have zero access to Google, and they cut off our VPN?" he asked.

Larger firms with proprietary VPNs are better protected. But more foreign companies are reporting that Chinese Internet restrictions are making it difficult to do business on the mainland.

In 2014, 56% of American companies operating in China said that Internet censorship was having a negative or somewhat negative impact on their ability to conduct business, according to a survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

That's up sharply from 2010, when only 39% of companies said censorship was problematic.

For now, the VPN companies say they're looking into the problem. Golden Frog has confirmed the problem "is not being caused by server issues," according to a company statement.

"It is rather a network issue specific to China that is not only impacting [our VPN service], but other VPN services as well."

Related: Banned! 8 things you won't find in China

Read next: This is how your Gmail account got hacked

First Published: January 28, 2015: 2:58 AM ET


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Did Fox and NBC get Bowe Bergdahl story wrong?

bowe bergdahl

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney)

Because of an inflammatory Fox News segment and an anonymously-sourced NBC News story that sent reporters scrambling for information.

The Fox and NBC stories prompted strong denials from Pentagon officials.

"The reporting from Fox News and NBC on Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is patently false," Army Major General Ron Lewis said in a statement Tuesday.

"Let me just put a fork in this right now if I can," Rear Adm. John Kirby said at a news conference Tuesday. "No decision has been made with respect to the case of Sgt. Bergdahl. None. And there is no timeline to make that decision."

Another official called the Fox News report "speculative in nature."

But the Fox guest who originally made it a story said Tuesday night that he stands by what he said.

Bergdahl, a prisoner of the Taliban for five years, was released last summer in exchange for five Guantanamo Bay detainees. He indeed may be charged with desertion, and CNN's Barbara Starr reported on Tuesday that a decision may come very soon.

But the Fox and NBC reports explicitly said that the decision had already been reached.

And the Fox segment strongly suggested that the White House was resisting the desertion charges.

On Monday's edition of "The O'Reilly Factor," guest Tony Shaffer, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, said he'd been told that "the Army has decided that they want to pursue Bergdahl for this violation."

Shaffer also claimed that Bergdahl's attorney has been given a "charge sheet." Starr's reporting has directly contradicted that: "Several military sources tell CNN that as of Tuesday morning," Gen. Mark Milley, "who is reviewing the case, has not signed or forwarded a charge sheet."

Host Bill O'Reilly said Monday "we hear that the White House has been stonewalling this information," spurring Shaffer to say "Bill, this is shaping up to be Titanic struggle behind the scenes."

Shaffer has been mired in controversy before. In 2012, he claimed on Fox that President Obama was "in the White House Situation Room in real-time watching" the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. That conspiracy theory has been thoroughly refuted.

Fox's morning show repeated Shaffer's assertions about Bergdahl on Tuesday morning. "Is the White House covering up?" co-host Steve Doocy asked guest Laura Ingraham, who answered, "Well, it certainly seems like it."

The race was on for other news organizations to confirm Shaffer's assertion.

NBC seemed to do that at 10:30 a.m.: "Bergdahl will, in fact, face charges of desertion after walking off his base," the network's veteran Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski said on MSNBC. He cited "senior defense officials."

The assertion was repeated on MSNBC right before a 2 p.m. Pentagon press conference. The channel didn't carry the press conference live, though. At the press conference, Kirby said "I think it is extraordinarily premature for anybody to say that they know" what Milley "is going to decide and when he's going to decide it."

By 6:30 p.m., the "NBC Nightly News" was sticking with "senior defense official" sources, but with a modifying word: the sources, Brian Williams said, are telling NBC that Bergdahl "likely will soon be charged with desertion."

Fox's 6 p.m. newscast "Special Report" included a story about the possibility of charges against Bergdahl and the Army's "swipe at the media," without explaining that it was "The O'Reilly Factor" that triggered that swipe.

O'Reilly returned to the story on Tuesday night. "They're calling you a liar," he said to Shaffer, who seemed to double down.

"I stand by all of those facts," Shaffer said, observing that military officials are "being very careful how they parse their words."

O'Reilly repeatedly said that he wanted to interview Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, on air.

"From a personal viewpoint," he said to Shaffer, "I hope you're right."

O'Reilly concluded, "We're in this for the truth."

First Published: January 27, 2015: 9:43 PM ET


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China vows to end gold medal obsession

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

Beijing will no longer reward provincial governments or officials for gold medals won by their representatives at the Asian Games and Olympics, according to a report prepared by the State General Administration of Sports.

The move away from a "gold medal fixation" is meant to satisfy regulators at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the anti-graft watchdog that has been working to eliminate corruption as part of an campaign spearheaded by President Xi Jinping.

According to sports officials, the gold medal obsession and associated financial rewards had spurred some athletes and trainers to "unscrupulously win games, betray sportsmanship, ethics and the law." China's sprawling sports apparatus will now shift its focus to increasing public participation in sports and advancing education efforts.

China has long been fixated on capturing more gold medals in international competition. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the country's athletes won a total of 100 medals, 51 of which were gold. In London, Chinese athletes won gold 38 times, only eight shy of the U.S. haul.

Related: Olympics money pit scares off cities

China's success is the result of a campaign conducted over the previous two decades to lift the country from athletic obscurity (China did not win its first Olympic gold until 1984).

To improve in international competition, the state constructed a centralized athletics program similar to those of the Soviet Union and East Germany. Critics complained about the cost, but the system produced champions -- especially in individual sports like speed skating and diving.

Related: World Cup won't lift Brazil's economy

But Chinese competitors were often put under immense pressure to win. Even silver and bronze-winning performances were dismissed as inadequate. In 2012, one silver medal winner, the weightlifter Wu Jingbiao, broke down and cried on national TV.

"I shamed my country, my team and all of those who cared for me," he said.

Related: Sport in China is about more than patriotism

China is unlikely to dismantle its sports system. But by eliminating some of the performance-based incentives that led to corruption, silver and bronze might become a more palatable result.

"[Some officials had] superficially looked for results, the number of the gold medals, and neglected the education, guidance and management of athletes and trainers," the State General Administration of Sports said in its report.

-- CNN's Vivian Kam contributed reporting.

First Published: January 28, 2015: 1:43 AM ET


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Boomerang home buyers are coming back

Written By limadu on Selasa, 27 Januari 2015 | 17.42

mortgage borrowers Potential home buyers talk with a loan officer in Florida.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

That's according to a new report from RealtyTrac, which estimates that 7.3 million so-called "boomerang buyers" will return to the U.S. housing market over the next eight years.

Foreclosures and short sales skyrocketed after 2007 during the darkest years of the financial crisis and Great Recession. But with the economy gaining momentum and hiring picking up, many foreclosed on homeowners are in a position to buy again.

Related: Old foreclosure debt coming back to haunt former homeowners

Half a million home buyers: Homeowners can recover from foreclosure in as little as three years, but seven years is the "conservative" amount of time it takes to rebuild a credit score, according to RealtyTrac. That means many homeowners who lost their homes in 2007 should be able qualify for a new home loan this year.

More than 500,000 people will fit this description in 2015, according to RealtyTrac. The number jumps to 1 million next year, peaks at 1.3 million in 2018, then tapers off by 2022.

Related: Was my home a good investment?

A home in Vegas: RealtyTrac identified several markets with the most potential for boomerang buyers.

They include cities that were hit hard by the foreclosure crisis, but now have home prices that are affordable for the median homebuyer.

Las Vegas is arguably the epicenter for boomerang buyers. Several hard hit cities in California, such as Merced, Stockton and Modesto, are also prime candidates.

Retirement cities: Boomerang buyers are likely to be from either Generation X or the Baby Boom generation, according to RealtyTrac.

So cities that attract people nearing retirement age, like those in Florida, or metro hubs with jobs such as Chicago and Atlanta are on their list.

First Published: January 27, 2015: 2:26 AM ET


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Can Apple live up to the iHype?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The popular tech company reports its results after the closing bell Tuesday. But will they be strong enough to satisfy fickle Wall Street traders?

Analysts are forecasting that Apple (AAPL, Tech30)'s earnings per share surged 25% and that sales rose 17%. The main reason? This was the first full quarter that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were on the market.

Apple's earnings are expected to be so iNormous that they are helping to distort the estimated growth rate for the tech sector and entire market.

If you exclude Apple, FactSet Research says that tech earnings will be flat. With Apple, the growth rate jumps to 4%.

For the overall S&P 500, analysts predict that earnings without Apple and biotech Gilead Sciences (GILD) would be down nearly 2%. With those two companies, earnings should rise slightly. Gilead, a maker of hepatitis C drugs, is expected to report a 300% jump in earnings per share.

Related: Smarter people use iPhones

Repeat success? Still, Wall Street wants Apple to do more than beat expectations, it wants the tech giant to crush them.

Apple has beaten consensus earnings estimates for the past eight quarters ... and by an average of 5%.

Apple's stock has pulled back a bit in the past few weeks. It's down 5% since hitting an all-time high in late November ... and exceeding $700 billion in market value for the first time in the process.

But could Apple hit a new record after reporting earnings? Hedge fund titan Carl Icahn has predicted the stock could go as high as $200 a share.

Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley has a $135 price target on Apple. That's 20% higher than current levels. (The average price target for the stock is $122.77 according to FactSet.)

He said in a recent report that his surveys of the top four wireless carriers in the U.S. -- Verizon (VZ, Tech30), AT&T (T, Tech30), Sprint (S) and T-Mobile (TMUS) -- show that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were "by far" the most popular smartphone models in the fourth quarter. He added that this has continued into January.

Walkley argues that demand should remain strong for the higher-memory models of the latest iPhones in the coming months as well. That's because the 64GB and 128GB versions were in limited supply following the phone's launch last September.

Related: Tim Cook was CEO of the year in 2014

What's next for Apple? Apple will also need to show Wall Street that there is life beyond the iPhone. Apple's smartphones accounted for 56% of its total revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter.

Sales of iPads are slowing and there are concerns that this product has peaked, especially since the iPhone 6 Plus has a screen size that's not too much smaller than an iPad mini tablet.

Mac sales are heating up, but they only make up about 16% of Apple's overall revenue.

That's why Apple CEO Tim Cook will have to prove to investors that newer products such as the upcoming Apple Watch and its new Apple Pay service can also become big revenue generators.

Cook will also probably be asked about what Apple plans to do to boost sales in China. Revenues in China rose only 1% in its fiscal fourth quarter and the company faces a tough challenge from upstart smartphone company Xiaomi.

But Apple is clearly in a good spot right now. Samsung (SSNLF) and other smartphone makers that use Google's (GOOGL, Tech30) Android have been unable to stop the iPhone juggernaut in the U.S.

Related: Xiaomi wants its new phone to be an iPhone killer

The company had $155.2 billion in cash on its balance sheet at the end of December. It invested more than $6 billion on research and development last year.

And Apple remains an attractive stock for both value and growth investors.

Shares trade at 14.5 times earnings estimates for this fiscal year -- a discount to Google and Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30). The company pays a dividend that yields 1.7%. That's only slightly lower than a 10-Year U.S. Treasury.

And earnings are expected to increase more than 20% this year and at a 13% clip for the next few years.

So if Apple winds up blowing away forecasts and also issues good guidance for this fiscal year, some investors may once again start wondering how long it might take before Apple is worth $1 trillion.

First Published: January 27, 2015: 5:29 AM ET


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Stocks: 5 things to know before the open

nyse premarkets 050514 Trading could be quiet Tuesday as a blizzard moves over New York.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Here are the five things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Snow won't stop markets: The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq plan to be open as usual on Tuesday, despite the blizzard that slammed into New York overnight.

However, volume may be lower than normal as many traders opt to stay home.

"Market liquidity may dry out a bit," warned Societe Generale currency strategist Sebastian Galy.

U.S. stock futures are all pointing slightly lower ahead of the open.

It's worth noting that natural gas futures are shooting up by about 3.5% in New York. Other major commodity markets were relatively quiet Tuesday.

2. Earnings season in full swing: Procter & Gamble (PG), American Airlines (AAL), Pfizer (PFE), Lockheed Martin (LMT), and Caterpillar (CAT) will report quarterly earnings before the opening bell.

Apple (AAPL, Tech30), Yahoo (YHOO, Tech30), and AT&T (T, Tech30) will report after the close.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

3. Market mover -- Microsoft: Shares in Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) are down nearly 4% in premarket trading after the firm reported a drop in quarterly profit, largely due to the ongoing restructuring of the company. But sales are growing for just about every product Microsoft makes, except for Windows.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

4. International markets overview: European markets are mostly dipping in early trading, though the Swiss stock exchange is up by 1.5%. Swiss markets are clawing back some of the losses endured earlier this month after the central bank allowed the currency to float freely instead of being pegged to the euro.

Asian markets ended with mixed results.

5. Monday market recap: The Dow Jones industrial average gained a mere 6 points on Monday, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both put on about 0.3%.

First Published: January 27, 2015: 5:08 AM ET


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NFL (officially) comes to YouTube

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

On Monday the NFL announced a new partnership with YouTube that will bring official content to the popular streaming video site.

This includes the launch of the NFL YouTube channel, which will feature clips, news, analysis, and even fantasy football advice.

The new agreement will also make highlights easier to find via Google (GOOG), YouTube's parent company.

For example, a search for "New England Patriots" on Google returns scores and schedules along with highlights in a distinct box at the top of the search page on both desktop and mobile devices.

tom brady new england patriots

Unfortunately for NFL fans, this doesn't mean that the league will start live streaming actual games on YouTube. However, the league did say it would include "in-game" highlights from Super Bowl XLIX.

"We continue to see an insatiable appetite for digital video content," Hans Schroeder, the NFL's Senior Vice President of Media Strategy said in a statement. "This partnership further expands fans' ability to discover and access NFL content throughout the year."

The NFL is one of TV's most reliable and massive hits. With a lot of TV content shifting to digital platforms, it only makes sense to give the league's highlights a prominent presence online.

The partnership comes less than a week ahead of Super Bowl XLIX, slated for February 1 in Glendale, Arizona, airing on NBC.

Related: NBC launchees Super Bowl ad Tumblr

First Published: January 26, 2015: 6:00 PM ET


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This Chinese brand is worth more than Alibaba

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

Tencent (TCEHY)'s brand is estimated to be worth $66.1 billion, having nearly doubled in a year. Alibaba (BABA, Tech30), spurred on by its record-setting IPO, ranked second with brand value of $59.7 billion.

Both companies finished ahead of China Mobile (CHL), the massive wireless operator that has finished first in every previous edition of the rankings.

What is Tencent? The company has been spinning a web of mobile, telecom and online retail businesses that rank among the largest in the world.

Related: Why China's Tencent wants to own Beyonce online

Founded in Shenzhen 16 years ago, it's best known as the operator of QQ, a desktop messaging service, and mobile messaging app WeChat. The firm now boasts a market cap of $160 billion -- more than McDonald's (MCD), Boeing (BA) or American Express (AXP).

"Alibaba grabbed the world's attention with its IPO, but many other Chinese brands have global ambition and ability," the report said.

Related: Jack Ma: Alibaba is still a baby

Millward Brown, owned by WPP (WPPGY), said that more competition can be expected between Tencent, Alibaba and Baidu (BIDU, Tech30) -- China's top Internet search company.

"Through alliances and acquisitions, each attempted to become the default Internet ecosystem, the one-stop destination where customers could satisfy all their needs for search, news and entertainment, e-commerce, banking, email and myriad other services," the report said.

Here is a full list of the top 10 most valuable Chinese brands:

1) Tencent

2) Alibaba

3) China Mobile

4) Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)

5) Baidu

6) China Construction Bank

7) Sinopec

8) Agricultural Bank of China

9) PetroChina

10) Bank of China

First Published: January 26, 2015: 9:07 PM ET


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Boomerang home buyers are coming back

mortgage borrowers Potential home buyers talk with a loan officer in Florida.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

That's according to a new report from RealtyTrac, which estimates that 7.3 million so-called "boomerang buyers" will return to the U.S. housing market over the next eight years.

Foreclosures and short sales skyrocketed after 2007 during the darkest years of the financial crisis and Great Recession. But with the economy gaining momentum and hiring picking up, many foreclosed on homeowners are in a position to buy again.

Related: Old foreclosure debt coming back to haunt former homeowners

Half a million home buyers: Homeowners can recover from foreclosure in as little as three years, but seven years is the "conservative" amount of time it takes to rebuild a credit score, according to RealtyTrac. That means many homeowners who lost their homes in 2007 should be able qualify for a new home loan this year.

More than 500,000 people will fit this description in 2015, according to RealtyTrac. The number jumps to 1 million next year, peaks at 1.3 million in 2018, then tapers off by 2022.

Related: Was my home a good investment?

A home in Vegas: RealtyTrac identified several markets with the most potential for boomerang buyers.

They include cities that were hit hard by the foreclosure crisis, but now have home prices that are affordable for the median homebuyer.

Las Vegas is arguably the epicenter for boomerang buyers. Several hard hit cities in California, such as Merced, Stockton and Modesto, are also prime candidates.

Retirement cities: Boomerang buyers are likely to be from either Generation X or the Baby Boom generation, according to RealtyTrac.

So cities that attract people nearing retirement age, like those in Florida, or metro hubs with jobs such as Chicago and Atlanta are on their list.

First Published: January 27, 2015: 2:26 AM ET


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Second record weekend for 'American Sniper'

Written By limadu on Minggu, 25 Januari 2015 | 17.42

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Oscar-nominated Iraq War movie, starring Bradley Cooper as the legendary sniper Chris Kyle, earned $18.3 million at the box office on Friday.

For perspective, the next biggest movie in the United States this weekend is "The Boy Next Door," starring Jennifer Lopez. It is on track to make $16 million for the whole weekend.

"We continue to rewrite the record books," Dan Fellman, the president of Warner Bros. domestic distribution, said Saturday.

He said he'd make a projection for the whole weekend on Sunday morning. Outside analysts are predicting a haul of $61 million to $65 million. That would give "American Sniper" one of the top ten "second weekends" in Hollywood history.

Watch: Will 'Sniper' debate affect veteran's trial?

The movie has generated new conversation -- and controversy -- about the Iraq War and about Kyle, who was killed in 2013. On Friday night Bill Maher called Kyle a "psychopath patriot."

Movies make most of their money Fridays through Sundays. In its opening weekend, including the Martin Luther King Day holiday on Monday, "Sniper" made $105 million, setting a new record for a January movie release.

The movie continued to perform well all week long, invigorating Warner Bros., the studio division of Time Warner. CNN, the parent of this web site, is also owned by Time Warner (TWX).

"It feels like summer in January," Rentrak senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said earlier this week.

"This film is swimming in blockbuster waters and generating numbers generally reserved for super-heroes and summer movies," Dergarabedian said.

The movie may go on to beat 2004's "The Passion of the Christ," which currently ranks as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.

One sign of "American Sniper's" strength is the relatively small week-to-week drop-off in ticket sales. Movies like "Sniper" regularly see a 50% to 60% decline in week two. But the fall in ticket sales between the first and second Friday was only 40%.

Translation: "American Sniper' is still generating lots of interest.

Fellman said it was "the least percentage drop of any film that opened to an $85 million weekend or better."

sniper-bradley cooper The strong start for "American Sniper" was boosted by the Oscar nomination of star Bradley Cooper.

The movie was initially released in December to only two theaters in New York, one in Dallas, and one in Los Angeles.

The strategy, Fellman said, was to "get people to line up -- make it a hard ticket -- and have people see it in packed theaters."

The strategy worked, and there was widespread interest in the movie by the time it opened nationwide on January 16.

It wasn't a coincidence that the Academy Awards nominations were announced a day earlier. Cooper was nominated for best actor, and the movie was nominated for best picture. That gave "Sniper" even more momentum.

Controversies surrounding the movie have helped to sustain interest, even though some of the stories have been sharply negative.

Some people have celebrated the movie for its unflinching portrayal of combat in Iraq, while others have assailed it as war propaganda. The word "MURDER" was scrawled on one movie billboard near Hollywood.

Fellman, for his part, said the movie is open to interpretation: "Some people call it a war movie. Some people call it an anti-war movie."

--Molly Shiels and Frank Pallotta contributed reporting.

Related: Box office for 'Sniper' helps book sales

Related: Why it's a great time to be a filmmaker at Sundance

First Published: January 24, 2015: 2:51 PM ET


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2015: The global economy's 'sink or swim' moment

swimmer sink or swim The global economy is facing a 'sink or swim' situation now that central banks have done all they can to pump liquidity into the markets.

DAVOS, Switzerland (CNNMoney)

This week the European Central Bank unveiled a massive stimulus program -- worth $1.3 trillion -- to lift the region out of its economic malaise.

It was the latest in a long line of stimulus measures from central banks around the world. But it will only work if everybody else follows through.

European politicians and policy makers must now make decisive moves to increase productivity, investment and growth, which can involve reforming labor market rules, promoting entrepreneurship and tweaking tax codes.

"We all have a job to do," said ECB member Benoit Coeure during a panel discussion on Saturday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "We have done our part. Others have to do their part."

The stimulus certainly buys more time for European governments to press ahead with economic reforms.

But they had better move quickly! The head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, told CNN this week that "inaction" is currently the biggest global risk.

Related: See complete coverage from Davos

But as the ECB money starts sloshing around the financial system and flowing into other parts of the world, concerns have been raised about reckless risk taking and financial instability.

Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, warned that markets shouldn't assume central banks will always come to the rescue when asset prices fall.

Carney also said he was expecting more market volatility and cash crunches to emerge in different markets as diverging central bank policies in Europe, Japan and the U.S. lead to unexpected shifts in the flow of money.

In short, central banks are watching out for these risks, but investors had better be careful too.

Benoit Coeure Mark Carney ECB member Benoit Coeure (left) with Bank of England governor Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum.

There's also the distinct possibility that the new ECB program will fuel further wealth inequality, which could lead to growing social division.

Both Carney and Coeure recognized that central bank stimulus measures tend to benefit people who already have investments and assets, while hurting everyday savers.

"Monetary policy always has distributional consequences," said Carney.

Billionaire investor George Soros also warned about the issue this week.

"My main concern is that [the ECB stimulus] will make the divergence between the rich and poor bigger," he said, during a separate Davos event.

But growing inequality isn't a sure thing.

"You can have the best of both worlds" if countries implement programs to support the unemployed and improve the labor market, said Coeure.

But then again, these financial heavyweights don't have crystal balls to see the future.

In fact, as they try to predict what to expect in 2015, they are humbled by the fact that they did not predict falling oil prices, a crisis in Ukraine, a fall-out with Russia and a rise in the extremist group ISIS in 2014.

"I hope we're going to be a little better [with our predictions] this time," said Laurence Fink, CEO of BlackRock (BLK), who moderated the Davos panel on Saturday.

When it comes to expecting the unexpected, the panelists agree that technology has the power to reshape global dynamics.

For example, fracking technology created a glut of oil supplies and drove crude prices below $50 per barrel, causing a range of knock on effects around the world that no one could have predicted.

"Technology ... is under appreciated, at least by politicians, as to how [it's] transforming their societies," said Fink.

First Published: January 24, 2015: 2:48 PM ET


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#HeForShe campaign goes corporate

emma watson heforshe Emma Watson is a celebrity spokesperson for the HeForShe campaign.

DAVOS, Switzerland (CNNMoney)

The United Nations-backed campaign went viral last year on Twitter (TWTR, Tech30) after actress Emma Watson made an impassioned speech calling on everyday men and women to work towards a fairer society where males and females are treated as equals.

Three major companies pledged to support the movement this week at an event in Davos: Consumer goods giant Unilever (UL), Tupperware Brands (TUP) and global professional services firm PwC.

Political leaders, including the president of Sierra Leone and the prime ministers of Sweden and the Netherlands, also signed on.

The UN said it is making a point of signing up corporates and government leaders because women are underrepresented in the upper echelons of the workplace and in politics.

In her September speech, Watson noted that it is expected to take 75 years for the gender pay gap to close, unless action is taken.

Universities are also being encouraged to join the campaign.

Related: Try our Global Wage Calculator

Gender inequality was a big theme in Davos this week during the World Economic Forum, a high-brow event that's known for being overrun by political leaders and billionaires. Only 17% of attendees were female, up from 15% in the previous year, according to reports.

Facebook's (FB, Tech30) chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg was among the women who attended the World Economic Forum. During a panel discussion, Sandberg outlined the importance of providing Internet access to women in developing nations, saying it can empower them and help improve their lives.

"The benefits of getting women connected often ... outweigh the benefits of men getting connected because they will put those investments back into the education and health care of their children," she said.

According to recent statistics from McKinsey and Facebook, women are 25% less likely to be connected to the Internet than men.

Japan's top central banker, Haruhiko Kuroda, also discussed gender issues at the event.

Kuroda reported that the ratio of women participating in the Japanese labor market has hit an all-time high, though it's still well below the average for developed nations.

Japan has been encouraging female participation in the workforce in an effort to boost economic growth. While Kuroda didn't say what the new ratio was, CNNMoney has reported that Japan's female employment rate is around 60%, far below the 80% rate for men.

Japan's male-dominated corporate culture and inflexible maternity leave policies have been known to discourage educated women from pursuing jobs.

First Published: January 24, 2015: 5:55 PM ET


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Second record weekend for 'American Sniper'

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Oscar-nominated Iraq War movie, starring Bradley Cooper as the legendary sniper Chris Kyle, earned $18.3 million at the box office on Friday.

For perspective, the next biggest movie in the United States this weekend is "The Boy Next Door," starring Jennifer Lopez. It is on track to make $16 million for the whole weekend.

"We continue to rewrite the record books," Dan Fellman, the president of Warner Bros. domestic distribution, said Saturday.

He said he'd make a projection for the whole weekend on Sunday morning. Outside analysts are predicting a haul of $61 million to $65 million. That would give "American Sniper" one of the top ten "second weekends" in Hollywood history.

Watch: Will 'Sniper' debate affect veteran's trial?

The movie has generated new conversation -- and controversy -- about the Iraq War and about Kyle, who was killed in 2013. On Friday night Bill Maher called Kyle a "psychopath patriot."

Movies make most of their money Fridays through Sundays. In its opening weekend, including the Martin Luther King Day holiday on Monday, "Sniper" made $105 million, setting a new record for a January movie release.

The movie continued to perform well all week long, invigorating Warner Bros., the studio division of Time Warner. CNN, the parent of this web site, is also owned by Time Warner (TWX).

"It feels like summer in January," Rentrak senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said earlier this week.

"This film is swimming in blockbuster waters and generating numbers generally reserved for super-heroes and summer movies," Dergarabedian said.

The movie may go on to beat 2004's "The Passion of the Christ," which currently ranks as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.

One sign of "American Sniper's" strength is the relatively small week-to-week drop-off in ticket sales. Movies like "Sniper" regularly see a 50% to 60% decline in week two. But the fall in ticket sales between the first and second Friday was only 40%.

Translation: "American Sniper' is still generating lots of interest.

Fellman said it was "the least percentage drop of any film that opened to an $85 million weekend or better."

sniper-bradley cooper The strong start for "American Sniper" was boosted by the Oscar nomination of star Bradley Cooper.

The movie was initially released in December to only two theaters in New York, one in Dallas, and one in Los Angeles.

The strategy, Fellman said, was to "get people to line up -- make it a hard ticket -- and have people see it in packed theaters."

The strategy worked, and there was widespread interest in the movie by the time it opened nationwide on January 16.

It wasn't a coincidence that the Academy Awards nominations were announced a day earlier. Cooper was nominated for best actor, and the movie was nominated for best picture. That gave "Sniper" even more momentum.

Controversies surrounding the movie have helped to sustain interest, even though some of the stories have been sharply negative.

Some people have celebrated the movie for its unflinching portrayal of combat in Iraq, while others have assailed it as war propaganda. The word "MURDER" was scrawled on one movie billboard near Hollywood.

Fellman, for his part, said the movie is open to interpretation: "Some people call it a war movie. Some people call it an anti-war movie."

--Molly Shiels and Frank Pallotta contributed reporting.

Related: Box office for 'Sniper' helps book sales

Related: Why it's a great time to be a filmmaker at Sundance

First Published: January 24, 2015: 2:51 PM ET


15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

2015: The global economy's 'sink or swim' moment

swimmer sink or swim The global economy is facing a 'sink or swim' situation now that central banks have done all they can to pump liquidity into the markets.

DAVOS, Switzerland (CNNMoney)

This week the European Central Bank unveiled a massive stimulus program -- worth $1.3 trillion -- to lift the region out of its economic malaise.

It was the latest in a long line of stimulus measures from central banks around the world. But it will only work if everybody else follows through.

European politicians and policy makers must now make decisive moves to increase productivity, investment and growth, which can involve reforming labor market rules, promoting entrepreneurship and tweaking tax codes.

"We all have a job to do," said ECB member Benoit Coeure during a panel discussion on Saturday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "We have done our part. Others have to do their part."

The stimulus certainly buys more time for European governments to press ahead with economic reforms.

But they had better move quickly! The head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, told CNN this week that "inaction" is currently the biggest global risk.

Related: See complete coverage from Davos

But as the ECB money starts sloshing around the financial system and flowing into other parts of the world, concerns have been raised about reckless risk taking and financial instability.

Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, warned that markets shouldn't assume central banks will always come to the rescue when asset prices fall.

Carney also said he was expecting more market volatility and cash crunches to emerge in different markets as diverging central bank policies in Europe, Japan and the U.S. lead to unexpected shifts in the flow of money.

In short, central banks are watching out for these risks, but investors had better be careful too.

Benoit Coeure Mark Carney ECB member Benoit Coeure (left) with Bank of England governor Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum.

There's also the distinct possibility that the new ECB program will fuel further wealth inequality, which could lead to growing social division.

Both Carney and Coeure recognized that central bank stimulus measures tend to benefit people who already have investments and assets, while hurting everyday savers.

"Monetary policy always has distributional consequences," said Carney.

Billionaire investor George Soros also warned about the issue this week.

"My main concern is that [the ECB stimulus] will make the divergence between the rich and poor bigger," he said, during a separate Davos event.

But growing inequality isn't a sure thing.

"You can have the best of both worlds" if countries implement programs to support the unemployed and improve the labor market, said Coeure.

But then again, these financial heavyweights don't have crystal balls to see the future.

In fact, as they try to predict what to expect in 2015, they are humbled by the fact that they did not predict falling oil prices, a crisis in Ukraine, a fall-out with Russia and a rise in the extremist group ISIS in 2014.

"I hope we're going to be a little better [with our predictions] this time," said Laurence Fink, CEO of BlackRock (BLK), who moderated the Davos panel on Saturday.

When it comes to expecting the unexpected, the panelists agree that technology has the power to reshape global dynamics.

For example, fracking technology created a glut of oil supplies and drove crude prices below $50 per barrel, causing a range of knock on effects around the world that no one could have predicted.

"Technology ... is under appreciated, at least by politicians, as to how [it's] transforming their societies," said Fink.

First Published: January 24, 2015: 2:48 PM ET


15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More
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