*Bud Light signs a deal to become the official beer of the UFC.*

Bud Light has seen its branding fluctuate over the last year, but it's making a big bet now with one of the top sporting leagues in the world. Anheuser-Busch (BUDFF) - Get Free Report has signed a deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for Bud Light to become the official beer of the mixed martial arts promotion, according to a report by ESPN. The length of the deal has yet to be revealed, though it is for multiple years beginning on January 1, 2024.Related: What the Bud Light boycott means for Disney, Target, and Starbucks Bud Light is taking over the partnership that the UFC had with Modelo since 2017. Modelo had taken over from Bud Light prior to 2017. "Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light were UFC's original beer sponsors more than fifteen years ago," UFC CEO Dana White said in a statement. "I'm proud to announce we are back in business together." Bud Light will reportedly have "prominent branding" in the Octagon and will be present on television broadcasts and social media.Related: Pablo Torre is upending the norms of sports media — and his parents — with his new show The light beer brand has been under fire from conservatives throughout 2023 after it partnered with transgender TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney in April. Modelo took over the mantle as the top-selling beer brand in the country in May in the aftermath of boycotts from conservatives. For the UFC, the partnership with Bud Light comes just a month after the MMA promotion merged with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to form the publicly traded company Endeavor (EDR) - Get Free Report. Action Alerts PLUS offers expert portfolio guidance to help you make informed investing decisions. Sign up now.
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Bud Light signs a deal to become the official beer of the UFC.

Bud Light has seen its branding fluctuate over the last year, but it's making a big bet now with one of the top sporting leagues in the world. Anheuser-Busch (BUDFF) - Get Free Report has signed a deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for Bud Light to become the official beer of the mixed martial arts promotion, according to a report by ESPN. The length of the deal has yet to be revealed, though it is for multiple years beginning on January 1, 2024.Related: What the Bud Light boycott means for Disney, Target, and Starbucks Bud Light is taking over the partnership that the UFC had with Modelo since 2017. Modelo had taken over from Bud Light prior to 2017. "Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light were UFC's original beer sponsors more than fifteen years ago," UFC CEO Dana White said in a statement. "I'm proud to announce we are back in business together." Bud Light will reportedly have "prominent branding" in the Octagon and will be present on television broadcasts and social media.Related: Pablo Torre is upending the norms of sports media — and his parents — with his new show The light beer brand has been under fire from conservatives throughout 2023 after it partnered with transgender TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney in April. Modelo took over the mantle as the top-selling beer brand in the country in May in the aftermath of boycotts from conservatives. For the UFC, the partnership with Bud Light comes just a month after the MMA promotion merged with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to form the publicly traded company Endeavor (EDR) - Get Free Report. Action Alerts PLUS offers expert portfolio guidance to help you make informed investing decisions. Sign up now.
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*Подкаст Лайфхакера: как стать настойчивым и научиться защищать свои интересы в любой ситуации*

Пошаговое руководство к действию от психолога Джонис Уэбб.
[Read more...](https://lifehacker.ru/lifehacker-podcast-1101/)

*Microsoft CEO admits the company made a huge mistake*

With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard finally closed after over a year of being in the news, Microsoft (MSFT) - Get Free Report must be feeling pretty good about its future right now — not to mention its new status in the gaming industry. But like most major companies, Microsoft has made its share of devastating mistakes as well — and its CEOs, both past and present, are typically pretty open about them.Related: Report: Here's how much Microsoft employees make according to a leak CEO Satya Nadella recently admitted in an interview that one of his biggest business regrets was exiting the mobile phone business a year after taking on his role with the company by writing off $7.6 billion of Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia. More Technology:The company behind ChatGPT is now facing a massive lawsuitProminent EV company says latest deal will be the first of manyApple makes a big new move with Elon Musk's Twitter "In retrospect, I think there could have been ways we could have made it work by perhaps reinventing the category of computing between PCs, tablets, and phones," he told Insider. Nadella also expounded on his own personal mistakes as a leader, sharing one fascinating lesson learned from his many years as a leader. "I wish I could say there was one mistake, but I've made many, many mistakes. I would say that my biggest mistakes were probably all about people," he said. The timing of Nadella's comments, only a few days before the company's Q1 earnings call, could be interpreted as Nadella's way of saying that things could be very different today had he made a different choice. But with the company's recent moves going all-in on AI, as well as the boost from the Activision Blizzard acquisition, it seems as if Microsoft is doing just fine even without a mobile line of business. Get exclusive access to portfolio managers and their proven investing strategies with Real Money Pro. Get started now.
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Microsoft CEO admits the company made a huge mistake

With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard finally closed after over a year of being in the news, Microsoft (MSFT) - Get Free Report must be feeling pretty good about its future right now — not to mention its new status in the gaming industry. But like most major companies, Microsoft has made its share of devastating mistakes as well — and its CEOs, both past and present, are typically pretty open about them.Related: Report: Here's how much Microsoft employees make according to a leak CEO Satya Nadella recently admitted in an interview that one of his biggest business regrets was exiting the mobile phone business a year after taking on his role with the company by writing off $7.6 billion of Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia. More Technology:The company behind ChatGPT is now facing a massive lawsuitProminent EV company says latest deal will be the first of manyApple makes a big new move with Elon Musk's Twitter "In retrospect, I think there could have been ways we could have made it work by perhaps reinventing the category of computing between PCs, tablets, and phones," he told Insider. Nadella also expounded on his own personal mistakes as a leader, sharing one fascinating lesson learned from his many years as a leader. "I wish I could say there was one mistake, but I've made many, many mistakes. I would say that my biggest mistakes were probably all about people," he said. The timing of Nadella's comments, only a few days before the company's Q1 earnings call, could be interpreted as Nadella's way of saying that things could be very different today had he made a different choice. But with the company's recent moves going all-in on AI, as well as the boost from the Activision Blizzard acquisition, it seems as if Microsoft is doing just fine even without a mobile line of business. Get exclusive access to portfolio managers and their proven investing strategies with Real Money Pro. Get started now.
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*Meta sued over 'addictive' features targeting children*

TheStreet's J.D. Durkin brings the latest business headlines from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as markets close for trading Tuesday, October 24. J.D. DURKIN: I’m J.D. Durkin - reporting from the New York Stock Exchange. Here’s what we’re watching on TheStreet today. Stocks were in the green to close out today’s session. The Dow closed up over 200 points , the Nasdaq closed up almost a full percent and the S&P closed seven tenths of a percent higher. Investors are keeping a close watch on the crypto market after Bitcoin surpassed 35,000 dollars. This was the crypto’s largest single day jump in over a year. And Wall Street is also reacting to a batch of strong earnings reports… Coca Cola, Spotify and General Motors all reported better than expected results today. Investors are awaiting results from Google parent Alphabet and Microsoft later this evening. Other big tech names like Amazon and Meta are on deck for later this week. Speaking of Meta - the social media giant is once again in hot water. Mark Zuckerberg’s company is being sued by 42 attorneys general for allegedly having features on its Facebook and Instagram platforms that are addictive and purposefully aimed at kids. The lawsuit also claims Meta violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal data on users under the age of 13 without parental consent. New York Attorney General Letitia James called out Meta by saying “While Meta has publicly denied and downplayed these harmful effects, it cannot credibly plead ignorance. Meta’s own internal research documents show its awareness that its products harm young users.”But this isn’t the first time Meta has faced lawsuit from dozens of attorneys general. In 2020, along with the FTC, 48 states and territories sued the company over antitrust practices. That’ll do it for your daily briefing. From the New York Stock Exchange, I’m J.D. Durkin with TheStreet.
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Meta sued over 'addictive' features targeting children

TheStreet's J.D. Durkin brings the latest business headlines from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as markets close for trading Tuesday, October 24. J.D. DURKIN: I’m J.D. Durkin - reporting from the New York Stock Exchange. Here’s what we’re watching on TheStreet today. Stocks were in the green to close out today’s session. The Dow closed up over 200 points , the Nasdaq closed up almost a full percent and the S&P closed seven tenths of a percent higher. Investors are keeping a close watch on the crypto market after Bitcoin surpassed 35,000 dollars. This was the crypto’s largest single day jump in over a year. And Wall Street is also reacting to a batch of strong earnings reports… Coca Cola, Spotify and General Motors all reported better than expected results today. Investors are awaiting results from Google parent Alphabet and Microsoft later this evening. Other big tech names like Amazon and Meta are on deck for later this week. Speaking of Meta - the social media giant is once again in hot water. Mark Zuckerberg’s company is being sued by 42 attorneys general for allegedly having features on its Facebook and Instagram platforms that are addictive and purposefully aimed at kids. The lawsuit also claims Meta violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal data on users under the age of 13 without parental consent. New York Attorney General Letitia James called out Meta by saying “While Meta has publicly denied and downplayed these harmful effects, it cannot credibly plead ignorance. Meta’s own internal research documents show its awareness that its products harm young users.”But this isn’t the first time Meta has faced lawsuit from dozens of attorneys general. In 2020, along with the FTC, 48 states and territories sued the company over antitrust practices. That’ll do it for your daily briefing. From the New York Stock Exchange, I’m J.D. Durkin with TheStreet.
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*KFC menu brings wraps, a missing McDonald's fan favorite*

KFC likes to find ways to get media and social media attention. That has included a number of food stunts designed to get people talking and sharing images. Its most notable effort was KFC Double Down, a chicken sandwich that used fried chicken as the bun instead of conventional bread. In the fast-food world, that's not even that wacky a maneuver. Many chains have tried to get attention with over-the-top creations few would dare to eat. KFC, a Yum Brands (YUM) - Get Free Report chain has also tried non-food stunts like branded lip gloss and candles that smell like fried chicken.Related: A Chick-fil-A menu adds a once unthinkable item In recent years, however, the chain has gotten more subtle and focused on its food. It recently replaced its mysterious "popcorn" chicken with a higher-end chicken nugget. That's a subtle move aimed at competing with McDonald's (MCD) - Get Free Report, Burger King, and Wendy's but it's not an overly surprising one. Now, KFC has followed Restaurant Brands International's Burger King in putting an item on its menu that McDonald's fans have long been clamoring for. Burger King calls their entries the BK Royal Crispy Wrap while KFC just calls them Kentucky Fried Chicken Wraps. In both cases, they are new takes on McDonald's beloved Snack Wraps, an item that the fast-food giant dropped in 2016. Snack Wraps may literally be the only item in McDonald's history that fans have clamored for the return of — something the company's social media team is well aware of — only to have the company deny their request. KFC has brought back its Snack Wraps. Image source: KFC/Yum Brands. KFC adds a new Wrap While Burger King did not explicitly address McDonald's when it launched its wraps earlier this year, the message was implied. The chain clearly saw that its rival wasn't giving customers what they wanted, a lighter meal option that could be an add-on or just a snack. KFC also introduced its wraps as a limited-time offer earlier this year. This time it's bringing them back with two new takes on the format, Chewboom.com reported.The new Mac & Cheese Wrap features an extra crispy fried chicken tender topped with KFC’s rich and gooey cheddar mac & cheese and finished with a sprinkle of three-cheese blend.The Spicy Slaw Chicken Wrap covers an extra crispy tender in a flavorful mix of KFC coleslaw, spicy sauce and crunchy pickles. These two wraps join the Classic Chicken Wrap which tops a fried chicken tender with pickles and mayo, wrapped up in a warm tortilla. All three Wraps cost $5 for two and are available in combo meals for $8.49 (prices can vary regionally). KFC is a huge global brand While some may see KFC as a second-tier brand in the U.S., globally it rivals McDonald's. Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs talked about the brand's success around the world during his company's first-quarter earnings call. "First quarter system sales grew 15%, driven by 9% same-store sales growth and 7% unit growth, reflecting broad-based strength. Globally, KFC is consistently executing its winning recipe of core menu innovation, disruptive value, expanding category use occasions, and doubling down on digital initiatives," he said. The CEO also shared some information on the brand's U.S. strategy. "The focus at KFC U.S. is targeting new audiences and category use occasions by using relevant value and product innovation as demonstrated with the introduction of boneless offerings, including the return of the Double Down sandwich, and launch of two for $5 wraps in the first quarter, and the national launch of the much-anticipated chicken nuggets early in the second quarter," he added.
[Read more...](https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/kfc-menu-brings-back-missing-mcdonalds-fan-favorite)

KFC menu brings wraps, a missing McDonald's fan favorite

KFC likes to find ways to get media and social media attention. That has included a number of food stunts designed to get people talking and sharing images. Its most notable effort was KFC Double Down, a chicken sandwich that used fried chicken as the bun instead of conventional bread. In the fast-food world, that's not even that wacky a maneuver. Many chains have tried to get attention with over-the-top creations few would dare to eat. KFC, a Yum Brands (YUM) - Get Free Report chain has also tried non-food stunts like branded lip gloss and candles that smell like fried chicken.Related: A Chick-fil-A menu adds a once unthinkable item In recent years, however, the chain has gotten more subtle and focused on its food. It recently replaced its mysterious "popcorn" chicken with a higher-end chicken nugget. That's a subtle move aimed at competing with McDonald's (MCD) - Get Free Report, Burger King, and Wendy's but it's not an overly surprising one. Now, KFC has followed Restaurant Brands International's Burger King in putting an item on its menu that McDonald's fans have long been clamoring for. Burger King calls their entries the BK Royal Crispy Wrap while KFC just calls them Kentucky Fried Chicken Wraps. In both cases, they are new takes on McDonald's beloved Snack Wraps, an item that the fast-food giant dropped in 2016. Snack Wraps may literally be the only item in McDonald's history that fans have clamored for the return of — something the company's social media team is well aware of — only to have the company deny their request. KFC has brought back its Snack Wraps. Image source: KFC/Yum Brands. KFC adds a new Wrap While Burger King did not explicitly address McDonald's when it launched its wraps earlier this year, the message was implied. The chain clearly saw that its rival wasn't giving customers what they wanted, a lighter meal option that could be an add-on or just a snack. KFC also introduced its wraps as a limited-time offer earlier this year. This time it's bringing them back with two new takes on the format, Chewboom.com reported.The new Mac & Cheese Wrap features an extra crispy fried chicken tender topped with KFC’s rich and gooey cheddar mac & cheese and finished with a sprinkle of three-cheese blend.The Spicy Slaw Chicken Wrap covers an extra crispy tender in a flavorful mix of KFC coleslaw, spicy sauce and crunchy pickles. These two wraps join the Classic Chicken Wrap which tops a fried chicken tender with pickles and mayo, wrapped up in a warm tortilla. All three Wraps cost $5 for two and are available in combo meals for $8.49 (prices can vary regionally). KFC is a huge global brand While some may see KFC as a second-tier brand in the U.S., globally it rivals McDonald's. Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs talked about the brand's success around the world during his company's first-quarter earnings call. "First quarter system sales grew 15%, driven by 9% same-store sales growth and 7% unit growth, reflecting broad-based strength. Globally, KFC is consistently executing its winning recipe of core menu innovation, disruptive value, expanding category use occasions, and doubling down on digital initiatives," he said. The CEO also shared some information on the brand's U.S. strategy. "The focus at KFC U.S. is targeting new audiences and category use occasions by using relevant value and product innovation as demonstrated with the introduction of boneless offerings, including the return of the Double Down sandwich, and launch of two for $5 wraps in the first quarter, and the national launch of the much-anticipated chicken nuggets early in the second quarter," he added.
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*Kim K's newest venture is gearing up to rival Lululemon*

Beyond television screens and social media, individuals within the greater Kardashian/Jenner family have inserted themselves into multiple ventures over the years that have influenced many different industries. Take Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila, or her sister Kylie’s ventures into makeup, skincare and swimwear. Related: Puma is partnering with an unusual icon for its Formula 1 campaign The underwear brand started by the most well-known of the bunch, Kim Kardashian’s Skims has enjoyed some success, as customers looked beyond the figurehead and flocked to buy its “solution-oriented” sculpting shapewear, as well as simple, minimally designed loungewear pieces such as bras, underwear, swimwear and sleepwear in a variety of neutral colors and a vast array of sizes. Though the brand is seeing some relative success at the moment, it is ready to make some moves to compete against rivals in the space.Skims' new move View the original article to see embedded media. In a statement, Skims announced that it will be releasing a line of men’s items on Thursday, October 26. Like its women’s counterpart, the Skims for men are meant to fit those beyond the athletic, well-toned bodies of Nick Bosa, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Neymar Jr. on the ads on social media, as they will offer their pieces in sizes up to 5X. Kim Kardashian told GQ that her brand “never had a bigger request than to launch men’s,” noting that it already had male customers who’d “hear their girlfriends or their wives or loved ones talking about Skims.” Skims CEO Jens Grede, who previously helped launch the men’s outpost Mr. Porter of high-end e-retailer Net-A-Porter, also told GQ that the data already had a considerable male skew. “Twenty percent of our traffic, and 10% of our customers, are already men,” Grede says. “That means we’ve had 50 million men coming to the site over the last few months.” Items in the new line will run from $16 to $54 and will come in three fabric-centric collections; Cotton, Stretch and Sport, each with a range of underwear, t-shirts and socks. Kim Kardashian visits the Skims Summer Pop-Up Shop in the Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center on May 16 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SKIMS) Kevin Mazur/Getty Images The announcement of Skims’ men's line comes after the brand’s was recently valued at $4 billion. Wellington Management led Skims’ latest fundraising round of $270 million this past July, while the company recently welcomed former Jordan Brand executive Andy Muir as its Chief Financial Officer. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Grede said that Skims is projected to reach $750 million in net sales by the end of 2023, and teased at the idea of an initial public offering. “I believe Skims deserves to be a public company when the time is right,” Grede told WSJ. More Retail:‘Too pretty’ Home Depot worker faces backlash after viral mirror postA classic kitchenware brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcyWho’s running The Gap? With no CEO, retailer hurtles towards crisisSkims' competition is tough Skims is not the only athletic or shapewear brand pushing a greater emphasis on menswear. Canadian yoga-wear giant and suburban mom staple Lululemon (LULU) - Get Free Report recently began advertising its men’s ABC pants squarely at a male audience with commercials featuring NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and YouTube superstar and filmmaker Casey Neistat. Get investment guidance from trusted portfolio managers without the management fees. Sign up for Action Alerts PLUS now.
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Kim K's newest venture is gearing up to rival Lululemon

Beyond television screens and social media, individuals within the greater Kardashian/Jenner family have inserted themselves into multiple ventures over the years that have influenced many different industries. Take Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila, or her sister Kylie’s ventures into makeup, skincare and swimwear. Related: Puma is partnering with an unusual icon for its Formula 1 campaign The underwear brand started by the most well-known of the bunch, Kim Kardashian’s Skims has enjoyed some success, as customers looked beyond the figurehead and flocked to buy its “solution-oriented” sculpting shapewear, as well as simple, minimally designed loungewear pieces such as bras, underwear, swimwear and sleepwear in a variety of neutral colors and a vast array of sizes. Though the brand is seeing some relative success at the moment, it is ready to make some moves to compete against rivals in the space.Skims' new move View the original article to see embedded media. In a statement, Skims announced that it will be releasing a line of men’s items on Thursday, October 26. Like its women’s counterpart, the Skims for men are meant to fit those beyond the athletic, well-toned bodies of Nick Bosa, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Neymar Jr. on the ads on social media, as they will offer their pieces in sizes up to 5X. Kim Kardashian told GQ that her brand “never had a bigger request than to launch men’s,” noting that it already had male customers who’d “hear their girlfriends or their wives or loved ones talking about Skims.” Skims CEO Jens Grede, who previously helped launch the men’s outpost Mr. Porter of high-end e-retailer Net-A-Porter, also told GQ that the data already had a considerable male skew. “Twenty percent of our traffic, and 10% of our customers, are already men,” Grede says. “That means we’ve had 50 million men coming to the site over the last few months.” Items in the new line will run from $16 to $54 and will come in three fabric-centric collections; Cotton, Stretch and Sport, each with a range of underwear, t-shirts and socks. Kim Kardashian visits the Skims Summer Pop-Up Shop in the Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center on May 16 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SKIMS) Kevin Mazur/Getty Images The announcement of Skims’ men's line comes after the brand’s was recently valued at $4 billion. Wellington Management led Skims’ latest fundraising round of $270 million this past July, while the company recently welcomed former Jordan Brand executive Andy Muir as its Chief Financial Officer. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Grede said that Skims is projected to reach $750 million in net sales by the end of 2023, and teased at the idea of an initial public offering. “I believe Skims deserves to be a public company when the time is right,” Grede told WSJ. More Retail:‘Too pretty’ Home Depot worker faces backlash after viral mirror postA classic kitchenware brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcyWho’s running The Gap? With no CEO, retailer hurtles towards crisisSkims' competition is tough Skims is not the only athletic or shapewear brand pushing a greater emphasis on menswear. Canadian yoga-wear giant and suburban mom staple Lululemon (LULU) - Get Free Report recently began advertising its men’s ABC pants squarely at a male audience with commercials featuring NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and YouTube superstar and filmmaker Casey Neistat. Get investment guidance from trusted portfolio managers without the management fees. Sign up for Action Alerts PLUS now.
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*Microsoft leaps as Azure, cloud gains power Q1 earnings beat with AI boost up next*

Updated at 4:14 pm EDT Microsoft (MSFT) - Get Free Report posted stronger-than-expected first quarter earnings late Tuesday, powered once again by gains it is cloud division, with the tech giant highlighting its first-mover advantage in AI to boost near-term profits. Microsoft said revenues for Azure, its flagship cloud division, rose 29% from last year over the three months ending in September, just ahead of the 26% to 28% Street forecast but slowing from earlier gains in the mid to high 40% range as companies continue to pull back on digital infrastructure spending amid global macro uncertainty. Overall group revenues, however, rose 12.7% to $56.52 billion for Microsoft's fiscal first quarter, coming in just ahead of analysts' estimates of a $55.47 billion tally. Intelligent Cloud revenues were pegged at $24.3 billion, up 19% from the same period last year and just ahead of the Street's $24 billion forecast. Microsoft's adjusted earnings rose 27.2% from last year to $2.99 per share, well ahead of the Street consensus forecast of $2.65 per share. Net income rose 20% to $20.1 billion. "With copilots, we are making the age of AI real for people and businesses everywhere," said CEO Satya Nadella. "We are rapidly infusing AI across every layer of the tech stack and for every role and business process to drive productivity gains for our customers.” Microsoft shares were marked 4.95% higher in after-hours trading immediately following the earnings release to indicate a Wednesday opening bell price of $3456.88 each. Productivity and business division revenues, which includes Office 365, were up 13% from last year to $24.3 billion, Microsoft said, while More Personal Computing revenues, which includes Windows, were up 3% to $13.7 billion. “Consistent execution by our sales teams and partners drove a strong start to the fiscal year with Microsoft Cloud revenue of $31.8 billion, up 24% (up 23% in constant currency) year-over-year,” said CFO Amy Hood.Action Alerts PLUS offers expert portfolio guidance to help you make informed investing decisions. Sign up now.
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Microsoft leaps as Azure, cloud gains power Q1 earnings beat with AI boost up next

Updated at 4:14 pm EDT Microsoft (MSFT) - Get Free Report posted stronger-than-expected first quarter earnings late Tuesday, powered once again by gains it is cloud division, with the tech giant highlighting its first-mover advantage in AI to boost near-term profits. Microsoft said revenues for Azure, its flagship cloud division, rose 29% from last year over the three months ending in September, just ahead of the 26% to 28% Street forecast but slowing from earlier gains in the mid to high 40% range as companies continue to pull back on digital infrastructure spending amid global macro uncertainty. Overall group revenues, however, rose 12.7% to $56.52 billion for Microsoft's fiscal first quarter, coming in just ahead of analysts' estimates of a $55.47 billion tally. Intelligent Cloud revenues were pegged at $24.3 billion, up 19% from the same period last year and just ahead of the Street's $24 billion forecast. Microsoft's adjusted earnings rose 27.2% from last year to $2.99 per share, well ahead of the Street consensus forecast of $2.65 per share. Net income rose 20% to $20.1 billion. "With copilots, we are making the age of AI real for people and businesses everywhere," said CEO Satya Nadella. "We are rapidly infusing AI across every layer of the tech stack and for every role and business process to drive productivity gains for our customers.” Microsoft shares were marked 4.95% higher in after-hours trading immediately following the earnings release to indicate a Wednesday opening bell price of $3456.88 each. Productivity and business division revenues, which includes Office 365, were up 13% from last year to $24.3 billion, Microsoft said, while More Personal Computing revenues, which includes Windows, were up 3% to $13.7 billion. “Consistent execution by our sales teams and partners drove a strong start to the fiscal year with Microsoft Cloud revenue of $31.8 billion, up 24% (up 23% in constant currency) year-over-year,” said CFO Amy Hood.Action Alerts PLUS offers expert portfolio guidance to help you make informed investing decisions. Sign up now.
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*Revenge travel is coming to an end, says industry CEO — here's what will replace it*

Maybe revenge isn't so sweet anymore. Not so long ago the term "revenge travel" was making the rounds. The idea was that people were so fed up with the covid-19 pandemic lockdown that they packed their bags and took off for just about anywhere once travel restrictions started to ease.Related: Delta adds a route U.S. tourists have been begging for Last year, travel insurance company Allianz Partners projected that travel to Europe would soar 600% over 2021. “The pandemic made people realize you can't take travel for granted and many Americans are eager to visit Europe this summer,” Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA, said in an April 2022 statement.'Last stage of pent-up demand' The Summer of '23 was also pretty strong, according to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which found that almost a third, or 32.8%, of all U.S. households took a vacation between May and August, up from 28.5% in August 2022 and a record high in data going back to 2015. However, it looks like the revenge travel upswing is coming to an end. The Federal Reserve's Beige Book said in September that consumer spending on tourism was stronger than expected, "surging during what most contacts considered the last stage of pent-up demand for leisure travel from the pandemic era." Elie Maalouf also thinks that the revenge travel dish has gone cold. The CEO of Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) - Get Free Report said in an interview with CNBC that he believes pent-up demand is over. "People started traveling really by the end of 2020 as restrictions started to lift,” he said. “So we’re really past revenge travel — even in China.” Intercontinental Hotel Group operates hotels under several brand names, including Regent, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites. The company’s latest quarterly update showed travel demand remained strong during the close of the summer travel season. “We think we’re in a sustainable place,” Maalouf said. “Our bookings for groups and meetings going into 2024 and beyond are the strongest we’ve seen in a very long time.”Average room rates increase IHG’s third quarter trading update showed the company’s revenue per available room — or “revpar” — was up 10.5% compared to third quarter 2022, and nearly 13% higher compared with the third quarter of 2019, which was before the pandemic. This is despite a 3% drop in revpar, compared to 2019, in large cities in Greater China, which are more dependent on international travelers. Maalouf said that lack of “airlift,” or flight capacity, into China is below 50% of prepandemic levels, which is affecting travel recovery in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. “But if you look at the country as a whole, travel — which is mostly domestic in China — it’s recovered well above 2019,” he said, adding that more than 80% of IHG’s business in China is in mid-sized to smaller cities. Occupancy levels in the third quarter at IHG hotels was 72% — just 1% shy of pre-pandemic levels, according to the quarterly update. But average room rates have jumped well above 2019 levels — up nearly 6% in Greater China, 15% in the Americas, and 24% in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia. But rising rates are barely keeping up with inflation, said Maalouf. “Room rates have not really exceeded inflation in any of our markets,” he said. “I think people’s willingness to travel is exhibited by the fact they’re willing to pay.” Get investment guidance from trusted portfolio managers without the management fees. Sign up for Action Alerts PLUS now.
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Revenge travel is coming to an end, says industry CEO — here's what will replace it

Maybe revenge isn't so sweet anymore. Not so long ago the term "revenge travel" was making the rounds. The idea was that people were so fed up with the covid-19 pandemic lockdown that they packed their bags and took off for just about anywhere once travel restrictions started to ease.Related: Delta adds a route U.S. tourists have been begging for Last year, travel insurance company Allianz Partners projected that travel to Europe would soar 600% over 2021. “The pandemic made people realize you can't take travel for granted and many Americans are eager to visit Europe this summer,” Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA, said in an April 2022 statement.'Last stage of pent-up demand' The Summer of '23 was also pretty strong, according to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which found that almost a third, or 32.8%, of all U.S. households took a vacation between May and August, up from 28.5% in August 2022 and a record high in data going back to 2015. However, it looks like the revenge travel upswing is coming to an end. The Federal Reserve's Beige Book said in September that consumer spending on tourism was stronger than expected, "surging during what most contacts considered the last stage of pent-up demand for leisure travel from the pandemic era." Elie Maalouf also thinks that the revenge travel dish has gone cold. The CEO of Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) - Get Free Report said in an interview with CNBC that he believes pent-up demand is over. "People started traveling really by the end of 2020 as restrictions started to lift,” he said. “So we’re really past revenge travel — even in China.” Intercontinental Hotel Group operates hotels under several brand names, including Regent, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites. The company’s latest quarterly update showed travel demand remained strong during the close of the summer travel season. “We think we’re in a sustainable place,” Maalouf said. “Our bookings for groups and meetings going into 2024 and beyond are the strongest we’ve seen in a very long time.”Average room rates increase IHG’s third quarter trading update showed the company’s revenue per available room — or “revpar” — was up 10.5% compared to third quarter 2022, and nearly 13% higher compared with the third quarter of 2019, which was before the pandemic. This is despite a 3% drop in revpar, compared to 2019, in large cities in Greater China, which are more dependent on international travelers. Maalouf said that lack of “airlift,” or flight capacity, into China is below 50% of prepandemic levels, which is affecting travel recovery in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. “But if you look at the country as a whole, travel — which is mostly domestic in China — it’s recovered well above 2019,” he said, adding that more than 80% of IHG’s business in China is in mid-sized to smaller cities. Occupancy levels in the third quarter at IHG hotels was 72% — just 1% shy of pre-pandemic levels, according to the quarterly update. But average room rates have jumped well above 2019 levels — up nearly 6% in Greater China, 15% in the Americas, and 24% in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia. But rising rates are barely keeping up with inflation, said Maalouf. “Room rates have not really exceeded inflation in any of our markets,” he said. “I think people’s willingness to travel is exhibited by the fact they’re willing to pay.” Get investment guidance from trusted portfolio managers without the management fees. Sign up for Action Alerts PLUS now.
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*Poured this for a customer and he cussed me out saying “I didn’t want a fucking platform or stage, I wanted a patio”*

Only charged $5k for this. What do you guys think? I think it’s a customer who just doesn’t want to pay. submitted by /u/Separate_Sky_2278 to r/Concrete [link] [comments]
[Read more...](https://www.reddit.com/r/Concrete/comments/17f3a7q/poured_this_for_a_customer_and_he_cussed_me_out/)

Poured this for a customer and he cussed me out saying “I didn’t want a fucking platform or stage, I wanted a patio”

Only charged $5k for this. What do you guys think? I think it’s a customer who just doesn’t want to pay. submitted by /u/SeparateSky2278 to r/Concrete link comments
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*Poor guy was just doing his job…*

submitted by /u/5andcastl3 to r/ImTheMainCharacter [link] [comments]
[Read more...](https://www.reddit.com/r/ImTheMainCharacter/comments/17f58qa/poor_guy_was_just_doing_his_job/)

Poor guy was just doing his job…

submitted by /u/5andcastl3 to r/ImTheMainCharacter link comments
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*I turned on the heat for the first time this season and a condom wrapper popped out of the duct. We’ve been in this house since 2011.*

submitted by /u/yesackchyually to r/Weird [link] [comments]
[Read more...](https://www.reddit.com/r/Weird/comments/17fa78l/i_turned_on_the_heat_for_the_first_time_this/)