1) Mobile's Future Is 5G
5G is a new, faster network with the potential to completely transform the internet and the world.
What is 5G?
2) Amazon HQ2's Front-Runners
Amazon's search for its second headquarters, HQ2, has created a bidding war between cities and states worth billions. These kinds of tax incentives have a long history in the United States, but experts question their efficacy. Economic development experts say that wherever Amazon decides to bring its HQ2 will also bring along new businesses, skilled workers and higher real estate prices. Amazon has narrowed its list twice and is expected to deliver its decision by the end of the year.
Some locations, like Miami and Washington D.C.-area cities, have reportedly had follow-up visits from Amazon in recent months, while cities like Raleigh, N.C. have not, the Wall Street Journal has reported. Financial Times (ft.com) video above published Oct 25, 2018. CNBC.com video below published Oct 25, 2018. The shortlist of the 20 locations still in the running is at amazon.com/hq2.
UPDATE Nov 4: Amazon in late-stage talks with several cities including Crystal City, VA (Metro DC), Dallas, New York for HQ2, and may place smaller operations in runner-up cities--wsj.com.
Is Amazon HQ2 A Bad Gamble For Cities?
3) Investing
The Week: NASDAQ Composite +2.7% | S&P 500 Index +2.4% | DJIA +2.4%
Investing Notes: End of an Era in Germany.
Angela Merkel’s decision to stand down as leader of the Christian Democratic Union and not run again as chancellor in 2021 ushers in a new age in German politics. Video above published by FT.com Oct 30, 2018. See also Bill Blain: "Europe heads into a very dangerous 2019."
EU: Eurozone GDP Hits 4 Year Low, Italian Economy Flatlines, Euro Slides--zerohedge.com.
US: Jobs smash estimates with gain of 250,000, wage gains pass 3% for first time since recession--cnbc.com.
China: China's currency slips to weakest level in 10 years against the U.S. dollar--ft.com video.
Trade: Trump, Xi upbeat on trade after phone call; U.S. targets more Chinese firms--reuters.com.
3) Investing
“The [U.S.] economy is in great shape with lots of jobs and more money in workers’ paychecks"--Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG in New York.
"Apple is a ‘buybuybuy’ right now, and other FAANG stocks are bargains too"--MarketWatch.com Opinion, Nov 2, 2018.Wall Street's Charging Bull
Angela Merkel’s decision to stand down as leader of the Christian Democratic Union and not run again as chancellor in 2021 ushers in a new age in German politics. Video above published by FT.com Oct 30, 2018. See also Bill Blain: "Europe heads into a very dangerous 2019."
EU: Eurozone GDP Hits 4 Year Low, Italian Economy Flatlines, Euro Slides--zerohedge.com.
US: Jobs smash estimates with gain of 250,000, wage gains pass 3% for first time since recession--cnbc.com.
- POLL: TRUMP Approval 51% (Nov 2, 2018). The Trump Scoreboard--Editor's note: everything looks great except the trade deficit which can be attributed to an increase in imports before the new tariffs on China come into effect in early 2019. See also Peter Thiel Pledges to Support Trump’s 2020 Campaign--bloomberg.com.
China: China's currency slips to weakest level in 10 years against the U.S. dollar--ft.com video.
Trade: Trump, Xi upbeat on trade after phone call; U.S. targets more Chinese firms--reuters.com.
World:
4) ICYMI Tech News:While the second annual “Future Investment Initiative” conference in Saudi Arabia was lightly attended by US executives, it still seems to have been a successful event. Here's a recap of various press accounts: https://t.co/l8ov1QzmNK pic.twitter.com/qNYM7XP21U— DataTrek Research (@DataTrekMB) October 26, 2018
- Apple Store Expansion in China 'Hit Massive Brick Wall'--zerohedge.com. See also Apple $AAPL FY18 Q4 Earnings LIVE Webcast Nov 1. Apple said it will stop reporting unit sales data for its iPhone, iPad and Mac computer products--“Companies typically stop reporting metrics when the metrics are about to turn. This is not a good look for Apple”--Walter Piecyk, BTIG Research analyst.
Editor's note: Apple's focus is on high-end premium hardware and services. The hardware products (iPhones, iPads, iMacs, etc.) come with hefty profit-margins, positioned as high-quality products, with less need for frequent replacement. Its target consumer demographic is nearing market saturation. Accordingly, I expect Apple will increasingly focus on its services and subscriptions, to reach untapped potential within its core consumer markets. "Unit sales" are therefore of decreasing importance, as long as Apple's "market share" within those hardware and services categories is maintained.
- Baidu's fourth-quarter sales forecast misses estimates as regulation, trade fears bite--reuters.com. Also Ford and Baidu are collaborating on driverless vehicles. Ford's autonomous vehicles have been equipped with Baidu's autonomous driving system Apollo, and on-road testing is set to begin by the end of this year--cnbc.com.
- Amazon $AMZN: Should You Buy Amazon On The Dip?--SeekingAlpha.com. Editor's note: read the next item.
- Cloud: analyst firm Gartner.com says 10 percent of enterprises will have shut down their traditional data center by the end of 2018 -- and that's expected to rise to 80 percent by 2025.
- London-based 'app bank' Monzo (monzo.com) hits unicorn status--reuters.com.
- U.S. Department of Justice charges two of China's intelligence officers 'and their team of hackers' in connection with IP and confidential data theft from US and French aviation companies--zdnet.com.
- U.S. will restrict exports to China's state-owned Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit, as posing a national security threat, following claims by Micron Technology $MU of IP theft.--NYTimes.com. FT.com video on YouTube.com here.
- How to secure the US electoral system: Cris Thomas, global strategy lead at IBM.com's X-Force Red, details some of the steps that can be taken to shore up the American electoral system--techrepublic.com.
-- John Poole, Editor, Domain Mondo
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