John Attanasio is the CEO of Toonstar. I can’t recall the exact moment. It might have been during an AI event that I attended last summer where a top union exec proclaimed that she “prefers candles to electricity” in front of a cheering crowd…or it might have been last fall, post-writer’s strike resolution, when I warned that the challenges for Hollywood were not over and someone on X (formerly Twitter) thoughtfully responded with “Die AI Scum.” Or perhaps it was last month when the audience at a SXSW panel with OpenAI loudly and frequently booed speakers who professed any benefit of AI. But I…
Author: insighter
Aldi stores are simple by design — there are no add-ons like pharmacies or check cashing, and the layout is small, to help expedite grocery shopping. But a no-frills shopping experience doesn’t mean skimping on premium offerings — the food products in Aldi’s exclusive brand are free of certified synthetic colors and added trans fats. And Aldi’s weekly finds section features deals on premium items like seasonal apparel, outdoor furniture and home goods.The affordable prices at Aldi make it so that you can stock up a lot of groceries, without sticker shock. “It’s a store that takes away guilt,” says…
Waystar shares slid about 3% in their Nasdaq debut on Friday, after the health-care payment software vendor priced its IPO in the middle of the expected range.The stock opened at $21 per share, below the IPO price of $21.50 late Thursday. Waystar said its expected price would be between $20 and $23 per share in May. Shares closed down more than 3% to $20.70 on Friday.The IPO market has been largely dormant since late 2021 when the extended bull market turned and investors began to worry about a weakening economy. Few technology companies have been willing to try and go…
Jelena McWilliams, chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021.Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThere is an $85 million shortfall between what partner banks of fintech middleman Synapse are holding and what depositors are owed, according to the court-appointed trustee in the Synapse bankruptcy.Customers of fintech firms that used Synapse to link up with banks had $265 million in balances. But the banks themselves only had $180 million associated with those accounts, trustee Jelena McWilliams said in a report filed…
If you’re looking to travel to Paris or beyond, there’s a good chance Air France has popped up in your airfare searches. Maybe you’ve even found a great price for an overseas flight, but between your work schedule and other commitments, you’re not sure you’ll be able to make the trip. Here’s what you need to know about cancelling Air France flights before you click purchase. Can you cancel an Air France flight?Air France allows ticket cancellations on some fare types, such as Flex fares, but nonrefundable flights aren’t eligible for cancellation. Depending on the booking class, you might even…
Like any true shark, Mark Cuban gets that everyone in the food chain has to eat. But he isn’t looking to swim alone. While he’s amassed a massive fortune as a billionaire, he also believes in sharing his wins with his employees. It’s just what you should do, Cuban says. No man, or shark, is an island after all. On Tuesday, Cuban noted that each time he’s sold a company he makes sure that he’s not the only one walking away with heavy pockets. “In every business I’ve sold I’ve paid out bonuses to every employee that was there more…
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during afternoon trading on June 03, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty ImagesMay’s surprising pace of job growth along with a rise in wages added to conviction that the Federal Reserve will stay on hold through this summer and possibly beyond.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that nonfarm payrolls increased by 272,000 for the month, considerably higher than the Wall Street consensus of 190,000 and well above April’s comparatively muted gain of 165,000. In addition, average hourly earnings rose 4.1% over the past 12 months,…
Back in December 2023, when the market was pricing in six or so rate cuts, Apollo Asset Management Co-President Scott Kleinman had a more contrarian view: He said he’d be betting against any rate cuts in 2024. That call so far has paid off. But higher-for-longer rates haven’t necessarily been a tailwind for the private equity industry as they keep financing costs higher.The buyout deal count in the year through May 15 is tracking down 4% globally on an annualized basis compared with the already-muted activity from 2023, according to a report from Bain & Co. And the lack of investing has left a mountain…
From Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways in the United States to Norse Atlantic Airways and Play Airlines in Europe, budget airlines have recently been popping up like mushrooms after a rainstorm. These carriers allow flyers to stretch their budget further by offering no-frills flights at a lower price with fewer amenities than full-service airlines.For travelers seeking a thrifty transatlantic trip, Norse Atlantic Airways operates several budget flights between select European and U.S. airports. Here’s everything you need to know about this low-cost airline.What is Norse Atlantic Airways?Norse Atlantic Airways is a Norwegian low-cost long-haul carrier headquartered in Arendal, Norway. It…
America’s employers added a vigorous 272,000 jobs in May, accelerating from April and a sign that companies are still confident enough in the economy to keep hiring despite persistently high interest rates. Last month’s strong job growth reflected the durability of America’s consumer-driven economy. With the nation’s households continuing their steady spending, many employers have had to keep hiring to meet their customer demand. The unemployment rate edged up to a still-low 4%, from 3.9%, ending a 27-month streak of unemployment below 4%, the Labor Department said Friday. That had matched the longest such run since the late 1960s. President…
B2m Productions | Digitalvision | Getty ImagesThe U.S. far outpaced the rest of the world in minting millionaires last year, adding 600,000 new millionaires and powering record fortunes at the top, according to a new study.America’s millionaire population grew 7.3% in 2023 to 7.5 million people, according to a report from Capgemini. Their combined fortunes grew to $26.1 trillion, up 7% from 2022. Capgemini defines millionaires as those with investible assets of $1 million or more not including primary residence, collectibles or consumer durables.While interest rates remain higher, the stock rebound at the end of 2023 combined with trillions of…
Apple’s new Vision Pro virtual reality headset is displayed during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, on June 5, 2023.Josh Edelson | Afp | Getty ImagesFor years, Apple avoided using the acronym AI when talking about its products. Not anymore.The boom in generative artificial intelligence, spawned in late 2022 by OpenAI, has been the biggest story in the tech industry of late, lifting chipmaker Nvidia to a $3 trillion market cap and causing a major shifting of priorities at Microsoft, Google and Amazon, which are all racing to add the technology into their…