Like many of us, some companies' New Year's resolutions are pretty simple: to make it to the next new year in tact.
Why it matters: Although the U.S. economy looks poised to avoid a hard landing in 2024, a slew of businesses face potentially existential troubles of their own.
Like many of us, some companies'New Year's resolutions are pretty simple: make it to the next new year intact, Nathan writes.
Why it matters: Although the U.S. economy looks poised to avoid a hard landing in 2024, a slew of businesses face potentially existential troubles of their own.
Threat level: Business bankruptcies were up 30% in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, according to the federal court system, as spiking interest rates dragged down many wobbling companies.
Among those that filed were WeWork and Bed Bath & Beyond — the former of which has survived so far, the latter did not.
Looking ahead, here are five businesses that can't afford a misstep in 2024:
You have to look very closely, but stablecoin supply has started to gently tick back up since October.
Why it matters: Stablecoins — designed to provide holders with a steady value pegged to other assets like the dollar — are the dry powder of cryptocurrency markets.
Spain's Iberdrola on Tuesday terminated its $4.3 billion agreement to acquire Albuquerque-based utility PNM Resources, which it would have merged with U.S. renewables business Avangrid.
Why it matters: This is a reminder that state regulators can be just as thorny for dealmakers as are federal regulators.
Last month, the Fed cracked open the door to the possibility of interest rate cuts. This year, the stock market will want the central bank to make good on that.
Why it matters: The tension between a stock market that's fixated on getting lower interest rates and a Federal Reserve that's leery of giving them before fully killing off inflation seems set to dominate markets in early 2024.
The first Powerball drawing of the new year resulted in a ticket sold in Michigan matching all six numbers.
Why it matters: The jackpot, worth $842.4 million, was the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and the tenth-biggest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won, officials said Tuesday in a statement.
Grab your cardigans, take out your boxing gloves and get your disco on — 2024 has loads of new trends in store, according to a Pinterest predictions report.
Why it matters: With a new year comes new fads and fascinations, and this year'semerging trends in music, fashion, sports and hobbies have something in store for each generation.
The original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse entered the public domain on Monday, more than 95 years after first being introduced by Walt Disney in "Steamboat Willie."
Why it matters: The iconic duo could be in for some very different sorts of adventures, at least judging by what happened when Winnie the Pooh came out of copyright protection last year.
It's the only generation born fully in the 21st century: the oldest are about 13, and the youngest will be born in the coming year.
The big picture: EnterGeneration Alpha, the first entirely online cohort. Its members have grappled with a climate crisis and pandemic — and can spend money more easily at their age than even their savviest close elders.
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