Why it matters: There is perhaps no more visible a champion of “enterprise blockchain” than IBM. A company that once trotted out a slate of TV commercials on the promise of more efficient supply chains has now cut up to 90% of its blockchain headcount.
American labor has long been stratified into blue collar and white collar, although the hues have never shone so brightly as they have during the pandemic.
Axios Re:Cap digs into our changing relationship with work, and what might come next, with Sarah Jaffe, author of a new book titled "Work Won't Love You Back."
Researchers at New York University have released a new study that dispels the allegations made repeatedly by conservative lawmakers and members of the conservative media that Big Tech companies intentionally censor their viewpoints.
Why it matters: For years, Republicans have used unproven allegations of censorship as a threat to regulate tech companies or demonize them as enemies of conservatives.
Ford will install Google's Android operating system on all new vehicles starting in 2023, giving passengers access to more personalized services and potentially unlocking new lines of business for the automaker.
Why it matters: Ford's decision, part of a broader technology partnership with the tech giant, is an acknowledgment that carmakers need Silicon Valley's help to adapt to seismic changes in the transportation industry.
A House panel is launching an investigation into meatpacking giants JBS, Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods regarding the coronavirus outbreaks at their plants — plus OSHA's oversight of industry working conditions.
Why it matters: It's among the first congressional inquiries into the meatpacking industry and the spread of the coronavirus among its front-line workers — which researchers say also impacted surrounding communities.
Wheels Up, a New York-based private jet subscription service, agreed to go public at a $2.1 billion valuation, via a reverse merger with Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp. (NYSE: ASPL), a SPAC formed by LVMH and L Catterton.
Why it matters: This is a reminder to not pay much heed to a SPAC's size when it comes to its potential targets. ASPL only raised $240 million in its IPO, representing 11.4% of the total deal value.
Private equity has once again found itself in the crosshairs of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), this time for "treating the stock market like a casino."
What she said: Warren's broadside was part of a letter sent Friday to the SEC, asking it to investigate and provide more information on how it plans to address the recent stock market volatility, related to shares of GameStop, et al.
Facebook is testing a notification that notifies Apple iOS users about ways the tech giant uses their data to target personalized ads to them.
The big picture: The test is happening in light of upcoming changes to Apple's privacy settings that will make it harder for Facebook and others to collect data on Apple users for ad targeting.
A Reddit post from "noted commodities expert" RocketBoomGo has markets abuzz about a big move coming in silver prices.
What he's saying: "Think about the Gainz. If you don't care about the gains, think about the banks like JP MORGAN you'd be destroying along the way," he wrote on Reddit last week.
The number of new homes sold in the U.S. reached its highest since 2006 last year, at 811,000, which is an 18.8% increase over 2019, the Commerce Department estimated.
The big picture: In December, new-home sales rose for the first time in five months, with the median price of a home reaching an all-time high of $355,900.
The Biden administration plansto review the phase one U.S.-China trade deal, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday. Based on publicly available data, it's hard to imagine they'll find anything other than a debacle.
Driving the news: China isn't even close to fulfilling its end of the deal — having come up 42% short of its commitment, Chad Bown, a fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, reported late last week.
ForFORTUNE, Korn Ferry polled 5,250 executives, directors and analysts on which CEOs deserve more attention:
Microsoft's Satya Nadella, for "his ability to steer the company through a major reinvention while generating shockingly little drama. Tech analysts believe (though Microsoft won’t confirm) that the Azure cloud business Nadella has championed now accounts for as much revenue as ... Windows."
GM's Mary Barra: "Last spring, GM was making PPE for health care workers; by fall, it was posting healthy profits."
Apple's Tim Cook: "The pandemic barely slowed Apple’s rollout of new phones, watches, and services."
Walmart's Doug McMillon: "Walmart has been a bulwark against COVID, keeping stores open and hiring widely."
Because of the pandemic, more people than ever are seeking out life insurance — just as insurers seek ways to identify people who have had COVID-19, and in some cases deny them coverage.
Why it matters: If the coronavirus makes it harder for people to get life insurance — or to collect on existing policies — it could diminish access to an essential financial safety net.
The meteoric rise in GameStop's stock price is being called a short squeeze by most but that's not what's happening, says an expert on short interest and the market.
Why it matters: That could mean that if and when the short squeeze does come, GameStop's price could soar significantly higher than its current levels.
