A predicted wave of new jobs in the drone industry may spread beyond the usual tech hotbeds, attached not just to research universities in wealthy areas but to delivery and logistics hubs, construction sites and big industrial installations.
Why it matters: It's not yet clear how much new work drones will create, but where new jobs are — and who will be equipped to do them — will help determine who will benefit from the Drone Age.
The top 1% of American households have almost as much wealth as the middle- and upper-middle classes combined, reports Bloomberg.
Why it matters: The richer the 1% becomes, the more opportunities they have, per Bloomberg. A large portion of their wealth comes from "huge returns in the stock market in the past decade, to the point that they now control more than half of the equity in the U.S. public and private companies," according to Federal Reserve data.
The dollar rose to its highest level in five weeks against the Japanese yen on Thursday, as currency markets also took their cue from seemingly reduced tensions between the U.S. and China.
The state of play: The yen's value against the dollar has declined along with gold, bond prices, and other safe havens this week as the world's two largest economies look poised to roll back tariffs and de-escalate the trade war.
The Senate may soon be taking on noncompete agreements, after a rare bipartisan bill to declare them illegal in most instances was introduced and has gained support.
What it means: The Workforce Mobility Act would ban the use of noncompete agreements except in connection with the dissolution of a partnership or the sale of a business.
China's economic growth has weakened to the slowest pace in nearly three decades this year, the result of a gradual shift to a new economy and a damaging trade war with the U.S.
Its mainland stock market, made up of largely domestic-facing companies, is having a banner year — in fact, it's been the best performing major stock index in the world.
Gap Inc. chief executive Art Peck announced plans to resign after 15 years with the retailer, the company shared on Thursday.
What we know: Peck, who served as CEO since 2015, will turn over his role to board member Robert Fisher, who will serve as president and chief executive on an interim basis. The company did not explain the reasoning for Peck's departure. The shift comes after a multiple quarters of low sales, largely brought on by declining foot traffic and excess inventory, Business Insider notes.
Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger said on the company's third quarter earnings call Thursday that Disney has reached a deal with Amazon to put Disney+ on Amazon Fire TV devices, as well as on Samsung and LG televisions.
Why it matters: A streaming distribution partnership between Amazon and Disney seemed uncertain after it was reported last month that the two companies were at odds over advertising terms. Amazon's Fire TV stick is the second-largest TV app distributor next to Roku. Disney needs that distribution outlet to hit its lofty subscriber goals.
