1) How Amazon $AMZN Could Disrupt Health Care
"Amazon has been described has the “everything store, ” but it’s missing one major category - prescription medicines. That might soon change, in the wake of Amazon’s roughly $1 billion acquisition of PillPack, an internet pharmacy. Health experts told CNBC that it’s only a mater of time before Amazon starts selling prescription drugs on its online marketplace, and that it’s assembling a team to do just that. For Amazon, pharmacy represents a multibillion market opportunity, but it’s also highly complicated and will involve battling with some entrenched competition that has a vested interest in keeping drug prices high. But Amazon, with its scale, leverage, and supply chain expertise, could be the company to do it, the experts said. People buying medical supplies on Amazon, such as glucometers and cold medicine, can now use their flexible savings accounts or health savings accounts to get discounts. These programs, often referred to as an HSA or FSA, allow people with health insurance to set aside a portion of their salary before taxes to cover medical expenses that would have been paid for out-of-pocket, such as prescription medicines and medical supplies.
"In recent years, Amazon has started adding more health and wellness products, including medical devices and over-the-counter medicines. Amazon’s rival Walmart, which currently offers pharmacy services, also has a storefront for HSA and FSA products. To sell prescription medicines, Amazon will need to work with middlemen, known as pharmacy benefits managers, in order to take a customer’s insurance. Some health experts suggest that the move into adding HSA and FSA cards is a smart method for Amazon to learn more about people’s spending on health. “It’s a back end way for Amazon to learn about consumer purchasing behavior of health care products and services, as it moves more deeply into the space,” said Michael Yang, a health-tech investor with Omers Ventures.
"Some in the pharmacy world have speculated that Amazon will get into the space by initially focusing this segment of consumers that typically pays cash for their prescription medicine. That’s about 6 percent of the U.S. population, which is a chunk of the $450 billion pharmacy market."--CNBC.com video above published Apr 10, 2019.
2) Why Food-Delivery Apps Could Leave Restaurants Footing the Bill
America's love for take-out is spurring a boom in food delivery startups. But what's convenient for customers may not be good for restaurants reports the Wall Street Journal (wsj.com). Video above published Apr 5, 2019.
3) Investing
Cash Out, or Go All In: When Stocks Are Up 16% and It's Only April--bloomberg.com: “The first quarter’s rally would have been good enough to shut the whole year down and call it a day,” said Scott Colyer, chief investment officer at Advisors Asset Management. Even so, he says, “I’m paid to be a worrier. I look hard for signs that the markets are about to roll over every day. I don’t see them.”
S&P outperformance continues--bloomberg.com: U.S. investors are throwing in the towel on international stocks, diversification push fading.
Foreign investors sharply increased their holdings of US Treasury securities over December, January, and February, adding $185 billion, while ... American institutions and individuals are buying them at a ravenous clip--Who Bought the Huge $1.26 Trillion of New US Government Debt over the Past 12 Months?--WolfStreet.com.
Eurozone industrial production contracts for fourth straight month: Germany suffered 2% decline in February, Eurozone factories stuck in longest slump since debt crisis--telegraph.co.uk.
Brexit: “They’re all liars mate,” said my London cabbie. “May was a Remainer. How were we going to get a good deal when our negotiators don’t want to leave?” he asked. I shrugged. “They’ll stall until they can say it’s not what people want no more -- happened in every country that ever wanted a referendum or held one,” he said. “The EU paid to move a Land Rover factory from the Midlands to Slovakia where they earn 5 pound for every 25 we make – so our boys are out of work and the company makes more profit. How’s that right?,” he asked. “For every two pound we put into the EU, we get one back.” So I asked if Britain held another referendum, which way it’d go? “We’re split in two mate, we’re absolutely shattered.” --zerohedge.com.
Goldman Economists Say Trump Re-Election More Likely Than Not-- incumbency and state of economy help Trump’s chances--bloomberg.com. According to Nobel Prize winner, Robert Schiller, an election victory for President Donald Trump would not only boost the stock market but postpone the impending and imminent recession--zerohedge.com.
Global Migration of Millionaires | visualcapitalist.com: world’s wealthiest are the most mobile.
Biggest gainers: Australia +12,000; U.S. +10,000*; Canada +4000
*New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco all had inflows of over +1000
Biggest Losers: China -15,000; Russia -7000; India -5000; Turkey -4000.
4) ICYMI Tech News:
Qualcomm hands Apple a stunning defeat--seekingalpha.com: Qualcomm has the only working 5G modem, and will be first to market this year, plus Qualcomm's rich 5G patent portfolio.
Intel to Exit 5G Smartphone Modem Business, Focus 5G Efforts on Network Infrastructure and Other Data-Centric Opportunities--newsroom.intel.com.
Apple: App Store Q1 downloads reportedly drop 5% YoY, first decline since 2015 --9to5mac.com.
Pinterest Inc IPO:
Zoom Video Communications Inc IPO:
.Uber Discloses 3-Yr $10-Billion Loss from Operations, Stalling Rideshare Revenue & 50 Pages of “Risk Factors” that Are Not for the Squeamish--wolfstreet.com.
Amazon: retailers and Amazon.com-- major brands increasingly distribute clothing and accessories directly through Amazon.com, attracted by more than 100 million Amazon Prime members and Amazon logistics.
Microsoft A Better Buy Than Amazon? Microsoft's valuation is reasonable given its historical performance, growth potential, brand, and recession resilience.--seekingalpha.com.
Cable TV Cord-Cutting Is Quickly Picking Up Pace, while SVOD (subscription or streaming video on demand, e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.) has reached 69% penetration of the US market.
College is Broken: Reflections and Predictions--hackernoon.com.
Personal Tech: Quitting social media liberated me--cbc.ca: 'I put down my phone and picked up my life.'
-- John Poole, Editor, Domain Mondo
feedback & comments via twitter @DomainMondo
Follow @DomainMondo
DISCLAIMER
Eurozone industrial production contracts for fourth straight month: Germany suffered 2% decline in February, Eurozone factories stuck in longest slump since debt crisis--telegraph.co.uk.
‘Flash Boys’ Trading Bots Are Running Wild on Crypto Exchanges-- Cornell Tech detects front running at decentralized exchanges. Researchers suggest impact could be in billions of dollars--bloomberg.com.
Brexit: “They’re all liars mate,” said my London cabbie. “May was a Remainer. How were we going to get a good deal when our negotiators don’t want to leave?” he asked. I shrugged. “They’ll stall until they can say it’s not what people want no more -- happened in every country that ever wanted a referendum or held one,” he said. “The EU paid to move a Land Rover factory from the Midlands to Slovakia where they earn 5 pound for every 25 we make – so our boys are out of work and the company makes more profit. How’s that right?,” he asked. “For every two pound we put into the EU, we get one back.” So I asked if Britain held another referendum, which way it’d go? “We’re split in two mate, we’re absolutely shattered.” --zerohedge.com.
Goldman Economists Say Trump Re-Election More Likely Than Not-- incumbency and state of economy help Trump’s chances--bloomberg.com. According to Nobel Prize winner, Robert Schiller, an election victory for President Donald Trump would not only boost the stock market but postpone the impending and imminent recession--zerohedge.com.
Global Migration of Millionaires | visualcapitalist.com: world’s wealthiest are the most mobile.
Biggest gainers: Australia +12,000; U.S. +10,000*; Canada +4000
*New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco all had inflows of over +1000
Biggest Losers: China -15,000; Russia -7000; India -5000; Turkey -4000.
4) ICYMI Tech News:
Intel to Exit 5G Smartphone Modem Business, Focus 5G Efforts on Network Infrastructure and Other Data-Centric Opportunities--newsroom.intel.com.
Apple: App Store Q1 downloads reportedly drop 5% YoY, first decline since 2015 --9to5mac.com.
Pinterest Inc IPO:
 |
| NYSE: PINS Thursday, April 18, 2019 |
 |
| NASDAQ: ZM Thursday, April 18, 2019 |
Amazon: retailers and Amazon.com-- major brands increasingly distribute clothing and accessories directly through Amazon.com, attracted by more than 100 million Amazon Prime members and Amazon logistics.
Microsoft A Better Buy Than Amazon? Microsoft's valuation is reasonable given its historical performance, growth potential, brand, and recession resilience.--seekingalpha.com.
Cable TV Cord-Cutting Is Quickly Picking Up Pace, while SVOD (subscription or streaming video on demand, e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.) has reached 69% penetration of the US market.
College is Broken: Reflections and Predictions--hackernoon.com.
Personal Tech: Quitting social media liberated me--cbc.ca: 'I put down my phone and picked up my life.'
-- John Poole, Editor, Domain Mondo
feedback & comments via twitter @DomainMondo
Follow @DomainMondo
DISCLAIMER