Tencent, the $370 billion Chinese tech giant, posts first ever revenue decline

In this article 700-HK Tencent posted its first ever quarterly year-on-year revenue decline as stricter regulations around gaming in China and a resurgence of Covid-19 in the world’s second-largest economy hit the technology giant. Here’s how Tencent did in the second quarter, versus Refinitiv consensus estimates:  Revenue: 134.03 billion Chinese yuan ($19.78 billion) vs. 134.6…

Fed sees interest rate hikes continuing until inflation eases substantially, minutes show

Federal Reserve officials at their July meeting indicated they likely would not consider pulling back on interest rate hikes until inflation came down substantially, according to minutes from the session released Wednesday. During a meeting in which the central bank approved a 0.75 percentage point rate hike, policymakers expressed resolve to bring down inflation that…

Mark Cuban’s advice for his younger self and anyone starting their career: Learn to ‘be a salesperson’

Everyone learns crucial lessons in the early stages of their career: when to leave a job, how to negotiate a raise, how to write a cohesive email. But Mark Cuban said his first jobs taught him the most important lesson of his career: the art of sales. In a TikTok posted in March, the billionaire…

Lawmakers call for safety upgrades as people face long lines ‘outside in the heat for hours’ at Social Security offices

People stand in line at a Social Security Office in Pasadena, California. Mario Anzuoni | Reuters People who face long waits for service at the Social Security Administration’s field offices have had to contend with one more complication this summer — intense heat. That prompted leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee to send…

FDA Ban on Flavored Cigars Could Cost $836 Million in Annual Excise Tax Revenue

The FDA’s proposal to ban flavored cigars would be a disruptive force in the cigar market and would carry significant revenue implications for many state governments. Flavored cigars make up between one-third and one-half of all cigar sales. We estimate that the aggregate effect of a ban on flavored cigar sales in the U.S. would…

Lowe’s reports mixed second-quarter results, citing shortened spring that hurt sales

In this article LOW A customer pushes a shopping cart towards the entrance of a Lowe’s store in Concord, California, on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Lowe’s on Wednesday reported second-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ expectations as the company said improved operations offset lower-than-expected sales that were hurt…

Target’s earnings take a huge hit as retailer sells off unwanted inventory

In this article TGT A sign outside of a Target department store on June 07, 2022 in Miami, Florida. Target announced that it expects profits will take a short-term hit, as it marks down unwanted items, cancels orders and takes aggressive steps to get rid of extra inventory. Joe Raedle | Getty Images Target on…

A high-profile meeting in China may have tipped off which provinces will have highest growth

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang headed an economic meeting Tuesday at which six leaders from “economically strong provinces” spoke via video. Pictured here is Li at a World Economic Forum virtual event in July 2022. Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images BEIJING — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called on six provinces…

Looking for an offbeat European holiday? This island has its own rules, language and vodka

It’s an island that is closer to France than to England — yet it is part of the British Isles.  It’s home to miles of tunnels built during World War II — but by German rather than British soldiers. And it has lower taxes than the U.K. and its own financial rules. The island of…

The Inflation Reduction Act caps costs for Medicare patients on insulin. Where the push for broader relief stands

The Good Brigade | Digitalvision | Getty Images A new legislative package signed into law by President Joe Biden on Tuesday is a big win for Medicare patients who struggle to cover the cost of insulin to manage their diabetes. But the bill, called the Inflation Reduction Act, falls short of applying those cost controls…

Dodge’s first electrified vehicle will be a new crossover called the Hornet

2023 Dodge Hornet GT Dodge DETROIT – The first electrified vehicle for the Dodge brand under Stellantis will be a plug-in hybrid crossover called the Hornet, a resurrected name most recently used for a 1970s station wagon. The compact crossover will be Dodge’s new entry-level vehicle, with a starting price of less than $30,000 for…