[Post 529] Clash of the chip titans: China versus the rest of the world? Part 2

Summary

Not a shot was fired.

And there was no blood.

But the battle for supremacy in semiconductor manufacturing in East Asia has always been brutal.

East Asia Tonight takes a look at the clash of the region's semiconductor titans.

[Post 528] Does bike-sharing have a future in Singapore? | Commentary

Summary

With SG Bike's exit, only two bike-sharing operators remain in Singapore. Cycling is up against a world-class public transport system, says SUTD Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities' Samuel Chng. Read his commentary: 

[Post 527] Inside Bras Basah Complex: How We're Keeping Our Family Businesses Alive | An Unfinished Portrait

Summary

Bras Basah Complex – Singapore’s unofficial Book City. While the buildings and streets in the vicinity have evolved into a modern and bustling commercial district, Bras Basah Complex continues to hold on to its identity as a bastion of book culture. In more recent times demand for books is waning and the veneer of Book City, fading. Many of the complex’s tenants have called it quits. Three family-run businesses - a Chinese art supplies business, a design bookstore and a Chinese bookstore – are still hanging on. What will keep them going on?

[Post 526] Tips On How To Calculate & Reach Your Long-Term Saving Targets | Money Mind | Savings

Summary

Young adults in Singapore told Money Mind that they think they'll need $5,000 a month for retirement. What savings and investment strategy would you need to hit that retirement target? 

[Post 525] East Asia Competes For Talent, Semiconductor Dominance & Audience Attention | CNA Correspondent

Summary

A battle is underway in East Asia – but one devoid of physical confrontation, as nations vie for talent to address a shortage of labour, seek dominance in semiconductor production and compete for attention – and shrinking attention spans – in the entertainment world. CNA Correspondent examines a different type of war unfolding in the region.

[Post 524] How To Grow Your Income: Tips For My Younger Self | Money Mind | Personal Finance

Summary

Financial tips from the Asia-Pacific Managing Director of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Why saving, is not the number one thing you should do with your money.

[Post 523] How To Hack Earning Airline Miles & Travel Business Class For Free: Bargain Hunters | On The Red Dot

Summary

One couple gets business class tickets for free. One executive gets free eats all the time. Another shopper regularly pays almost half price for her buys. Their secret? Earning redeemable points as they spend. From maximising credit card points to accumulating membership cards, coins and vouchers online, these bargain hunters will show you how to can travel, dine and shop for cheap or even for free.

Wenny Yee, a 28 year old nutritionist, is big on loyalty programmes. She earns points each time she orders food at her favourite joints. It saves her up to $80 dollars a month. Alison Lim often shares her best bargains and buys on an online community platform, Daiso and Lobang Lovers. She saves almost 40% from all her online purchases. How does she do it? Marilyn Chew and Low Jian Sheng travel up to seven months a year using the miles earned through credit card spendings to redeem some of their most lucrative travel expenses. 

[Post 522] Sharp Rise In Stock Prices: When To Worry, & How To Protect Your Portfolio | Money Mind | Investment

Summary

As global equity markets hit record highs, are we in a bubble - and how do you spot the signs?

[Post 521] Behind Bus Accidents In Malaysia: Should You Take An Express Bus? | Talking Point | Full Episode

Summary

Between 2022 and March 2024, there were at least 32 express bus accidents in Malaysia. Nine of these accidents involved passengers from Singapore. Just how safe are express buses in Malaysia? And what should you do if you find yourself caught in a bus accident across the causeway? Talking Point investigates. 

[Post 520] China’s Shrinking Population: Can Single Mothers By Choice Help Reverse Trend? | CNA Correspondent

Summary

In 2022, China’s population declined for the first time in six decades. China’s working-age population has also been shrinking since 2012, with the number of people aged 16 to 59 predicted to be 830 million in 2030, according to official estimates. This number is set to fall to 700 million by 2050. The economic consequences of the demographic shifts could be far-reaching.

But beyond a growing pension crisis and labour shortage, China’s changing demographic structure is also impacting its social fabric. From single mothers by choice to the ‘three-no’ generation, why are young Chinese choosing a different path from the generations before them? 

[Post 518] Life As An ICU Advanced Practice Nurse: Advising Doctors, Examining Patients Like A Boss

Summary

Not many people know this - as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), Faith Hwang has a Masters degree and the training to diagnose conditions, order therapies and extra investigations, and perform more complex procedures like a bedside heart ultrasound. They have, in essence, the accreditation to perform as medical officers.

She is the first APN at the medical ICU of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and part of her job involves coming up with patient care plans that she discusses with doctors. 

[Post 517] What To Accomplish With Your Money By 40 (And How To Catch Up) | Money Mind | Finance

Summary

What are the key financial goals you should aim for before the age of 40 - and what can you do to catch up, if you're not quite on track?

[Post 516] What You Need To Know About SORA Before You Choose A Home Loan | Money Mind | Mortgage

Summary

Big changes are coming for home loans in Singapore. What do you need to know to save on your mortgage?

[Post 515] Buy Groceries With Others To Beat Inflation? How Group Buy Works: Bargain Hunters | On The Red Dot

Summary

Everything’s getting more expensive, but some have found a way to beat inflation. Banding together to buy in bulk gets better prices and helps defray delivery costs. This is the magic of group buy. From groceries and ready-to-eats to home fixtures, savings can be as much as 30% to thousands of dollars. Host Andrea Chong hunts down bargain hunters who rule the world of group buy.

Jazmine Ng regularly uses group buy to purchase groceries, snacks, and other household items, saving about 20-30% of her household expenses per month. Her group buy host, Kelly Sia, reveals her bargain hunting prowess. She manages two group buy groups while running her own home and managing her kids. But Candy Pan takes it to the next level. She manages several group buy groups that reach out to a network of 60,000 bargain hunters, tops it all. How does she do it and what is in it for her? 

[Post 514] Where's Bitcoin’s Price Headed After Halving In 2024? | Money Mind | Bitcoin

Summary

Bitcoin is halving for the 4th time. In previous cycles, there was a brief price correction following a halving event and then prices surged again. But there is something different this time. 

[Post 513] Ninja Van launches cold chain service to diversify from e-commerce

Summary

Logistics firm Ninja Van has launched a cold chain offering capable of delivering temperature-controlled goods like food and medicines. It's part of the company's effort to diversify beyond e-commerce as part of a new growth strategy. Ninja Van will use refrigerator trucks and outfit nearly one in five of its 1,000 vehicles with cooler boxes.

[Post 512] Teens With Chronic Conditions: Can We Still Realise Our Dreams? | On The Red Dot - Chronic - Part 4

Summary

Dominic dreams of becoming a Disney Imagineer, the designers of Disney theme parks. But he might have to work abroad to achieve this goal. Will his Haemophilia A condition pose challenges for him to afford the expensive treatment while pursuing his dream job?

Jue Ming found a passion for coding and aspires to join a company that creates technology for individuals with special needs. Meanwhile, the 15-year-old is learning to manage his Haemophilia B condition independently, so that he could lighten the burden on his parents.

At the same time, Venetia pursues her nursing career with renewed hope, having discovered a new exercise protocol that could assist her in managing her Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

[Post 511] When Beating Rising Food Costs Means Cutting Portion Sizes | Money Mind | Indonesia

Summary

Eat less or work more? Hard choices, as food prices spike in Indonesia. 

[Post 510] How Maersk Is Navigating The Volatile Shipping Industry

Summary

Each year, about 90% of world trade is transported by ship. While commodities like oil and grain make up 40% of that cargo, large steel containers, filled with appliances, smartphones, and couches, make up the remainder. Maersk, the world's second largest container shipping company, transports about one in five of those containers. 

In addition to its fleet of over 670 vessels, the Danish-based carrier also runs one of the globe's largest port terminal businesses, with 64 terminals. Maersk logged record profits of $29.3 billion in 2022 due in part to pandemic-induced buying and higher freight rates. 

But the company is flagging "high uncertainty" for the year ahead as a shift in consumer spending habits has brought revenue in line with pre-pandemic levels. Today, like its rivals, Maersk faces a range of challenges including attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, a drought at the Panama Canal, and the threat of higher tariffs related to a potential Trump presidency.

The company also chartered the vessel that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing the structure to collapse and the Port of Baltimore to close.

CNBC explores how Maersk’s business has evolved and how it is navigating the many challenges the shipping industry faces today.

[Post 509] Why Tire Companies Love EVs

Summary

The tire business can be a brutal one - low growth, low margins and extreme competition. Tire makers are at the mercy of ups and downs of raw material prices. About half of customers are largely indifferent to the brand of tires they buy. Price is the main differentiator. But industry analysts say the rise of EVs provides tire makers with the biggest growth opportunity they have seen in decades. AlixPartners estimates that tires on EVs can cost 50 percent more and require replacement 20 percent more frequently. Watch the video above to learn more.

[Post 507] When should young couples have the money talk before buying a BTO? | Commentary

Summary

Build-to-Order (BTO) flats will soon become more affordable for some young couples, with the initial down payment being reduced to 2.5 per cent of the purchase price. How much should a young couple spend on their first home? And should parents help them out with the down payment? Finance blogger and licensed real estate advisor Dawn Cher weighs in.

[Post 506] Life in Changi Prison for the elderly or infirm | Behind Bars

Summary

A seated toilet instead of a squat pan, a plastic bed instead of a straw mat - here's a look at what life in Changi Prison is like for elderly inmates or those with mobility issues. Read the full story: https://cna.asia/43L39ZU

[Post 505] Rescuing Food To Help Feed Families During Ramadan | Money Mind | Malaysia

Summary

A Ramadan initiative in Malaysia helps to save on food bills – and save the earth at the same time. Now, it’s being extended across the country.

[Post 504] Bali's Love-Hate Relationship With Tourism On Indonesian Island Paradise | Insight | Full Episode

Summary

Last May, then-Bali Governor Wayan Koster mooted a cap on the number of tourists to the island. It follows a January proposal to ban activities on Bali’s sacred mountains, a ban that was put in place in June. But just four months later, the mountain ban was reversed, and talks of a visitor cap vanished. Instead, the island surpassed tourist targets for 2023. 

While some welcomed vacationers as Bali recovers from the pandemic, others are fed up with tourists behaving badly. What is behind the island paradise’s love-hate relationship with tourism, and what does it have to do with the island’s history? 

[Post 503] How I Make Money By Vintage Shopping With My Duit Raya | Money Mind | Gen Z

Summary

Meet the Gen Zs making the most of their duit Raya green packets. 

[Post 502] Advancing At Work: How A Personal Brand Helps | Money Mind | Career

Summary

What are the skills that young adults need, in order to stay competitive in the ever-changing world of work? Careers coach Chee Sze-Yen shares ways to stand out at work. Joining her at this special Money Mind adulting townhall are financial planner Christopher Tan and property expert David Baey. 

[Post 501] Deepfakes In India: Scammers Cloned My Nephew's Voice With AI | Cyber Scammed - Part 3/3

Summary

Every day, people in India are receiving face and voice calls from their loved ones.  Or so they think. Some of these calls are actually deepfakes. Cyber criminals are increasingly using Artificial Intelligence to create deepfakes in order to scam their victims.

From voice-cloning to face swaps, to deepfake nudes, deepfake scams are sweeping across India. We meet 3 victims who were targeted by criminals using deepfake technology and hear about the many more who were fooled. We also visit a village of scammers and hear why they do what they do. 

[Post 500] AirAsia Data Theft: How Your Personal Information Is Exploited | Cyber Scammed - Part 2/3

Summary

In 2022, hackers claimed to have committed a data breach against AirAsia and stolen records of all its employees as well as millions of passengers. This is not the only case of data theft in Malaysia, where such theft is becoming a growing underground economy. Both the private and government sectors are falling prey to cyber criminals harvesting data that is stored online.  

Sensitive information, including personal data, financial records and intellectual property are stolen as confidential networks are being breached. This has led to financial losses and reputational damage, affecting individuals, businesses, and even national security. What can be done to protect our data? 

[Post 499] Scammed In China: How Trojan Horses Launch Malware Attacks On Our Devices | Cyber Scammed - Part 1/3

Summary

In China, cyber attackers are taking advantage of the ubiquity of instant messaging platforms such as WeChat to launch trojan horses. The baits are disguised as all sorts of innocuous documents and links, such as free software, free games, or even celebrity gossip. Once the user clicks on the bait and the malware has been installed, the hacker can gain control of the device remotely. From there, they are free to perform a host of unauthorised actions – from observing one’s social interactions on various platforms for social engineering, to impersonating the victim or their bosses for monetary gain.  

[Post 498] Your First Property: What Not To Do In Singapore's Property Market | Money Mind | Property

Summary

Buying a home is the biggest financial decision most of us will have to make. So what are the dos and don'ts for first-timers in Singapore's property market? In this special edition of Money Mind, young adults share their pain points in the road to home ownership. Helping make sense of it all are financial planner Christopher Tan, property expert David Baey, and careers coach Chee Sze-Yen. 

[Post 497] Asia Builds Resilient Economies By Leveraging Technology For The Future | CNA Correspondent

Suummry

Asia is home to half the world’s population and also contributes to half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Amidst these challenges, the region aims to build resilient economies by leveraging technology for the future. How will it effectively address an ageing population, healthcare hurdles, climate change and global uncertainties in the years to come?

[Post 496] Building Wealth: How To Construct A Core Portfolio | Money Mind | Wealth

Summary

Being an adult with your money is hard. So how can we make adulting easier by making better financial choices? In this special edition of Money Mind, young adults look for the answers to these questions and more. Helping make sense of it all are financial planner Christopher Tan, property expert David Baey, and careers coach Chee Sze-Yen.

[Post 495] Why Gen Z Loves Dupes: Can Cheaper Also Be Better? | Talking Point - Dupes Revealed (Part 1/2)

Summary

From fashion to household products and even travel…you name it and someone online will have a ‘dupe’ for it. ‘Dupe’ short for the word ‘duplicate’, is now part of online lexicon. How did ‘dupes’, a less expensive alternative to a more costly product, become part of popular culture? Why is finding a good ‘dupe’ a point of pride for Gen Zs? The Talking Point team finds out as they make their way to China, where anything, and everything, can be made for cheaper, and perhaps even better.

[Post 494] YouTube Creator Inspires A Whole ‘YouTuber Village’ In Rural Indonesia

Summary

Indonesian Imam Januar has built and grown various YouTube channels such as RB Official which currently has over 10 million subscribers. 

Now, he’s teaching content creation and monetisation classes to aspiring YouTubers and even building a ‘creator house’ in the village of Tapen Bondowoso in East Java. 

[Post 493] Dating in Singapore: First dates, green flags & money | We Try First

Summary

What are the unspoken rules of first dates? Which green flags should we look out for when considering long-term relationships? How do we navigate difficult conversations like money?

Actor Munah Bagharib, entrepreneur Dew Francis and Money FM 89.3’s Zia-ul Raushan share their takes with Sue-Ann.

[Post 492] Pat Law of Goodstuph encourages her staff to moonlight | Lunch with Sumiko

Summary

Founder of social marketing agency Goodstuph, Pat Law, has no qualms letting her staff moonlight. They learn by doing something beyond work. 

[Post 491] How Chinese EV Giant BYD Is Taking On Tesla

Summary

Warren Buffett-backed BYD dethroned Tesla in the fourth quarter of 2023 as the world’s top EV maker, selling more battery-powered vehicles than its U.S. rival. BYD was founded by Wang Chuanfu and started making batteries for mobile phones in the 1990s. By 2003, it pivoted to autos and now has become the top car brand in China, as well as a major producer of batteries for electric vehicles. It’s now aggressively expanding globally, exporting over 240,000 cars across 70 countries last year. Elon Musk said in Tesla's Q4 earnings call that Chinese automakers will "demolish most other car companies in the world" unless regulators step in. With sights set on North America, BYD could try entering the U.S., but faces government opposition. CNBC explores whether BYD can sustain its relentless growth and what's next for this EV juggernaut.

[Post 490] Why The $183 Billion Video Game Industry Can't Quit Microtransactions

Summary

The video game industry cannot quit microtransactions. 

In fact, two of the largest video game companies in the United States — Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive — now make the overwhelming majority of their money from live-service games, subscriptions and in-game purchases, according to their recent earnings reports.

Microtransactions are purchases that users make inside a game using real money. They show up as subscriptions, virtual currencies, and character customization options, among other examples.

Popular live-service titles such as Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Clash Royale were built around this revenue model. Game publishers must provide updates throughout certain game life cycles to retain player attention, which is where the term "live service" comes from. Gamers pay for those updates through season passes or subscriptions.Gamer backlash from the early attempts at in-game purchases caused the video game industry to shift its approach to these subscriptions and bundling purchasable content.

"The industry is really moved to more of a what they call a battle pass system, or some kind of packaging of seasonal content," said Mat Piscatella, executive director of video games at Circana. "Those systems have found much warmer response because I think people are finding that they're getting more value, and more reliable value for their money."

In-game spending has become a high-stakes issue in addition to a lucrative business. Electronic Arts' live-services operations made the company $5.6 billion in its most recent quarter, according to the company's latest earnings report. Epic Games, which created the popular Fortnite franchise, took Apple to court over an in-game payment system that the developer released inside Fortnite in order to bypass Apple's App Store fees. In Europe, app stores and so-called loot boxes are a major focus of tech regulators.

Watch the video above to learn more about microtransactions, the backlash involved, and where the industry goes from here.

[Post 489] Disney’s Fight To Save ESPN From Cord Cutters | CNBC Documentary

Summary

For more than 40 years, ESPN has reigned supreme as the king of sports media. Growing its business by consistently raising the price of its fee to cable TV providers, ESPN now generates more than $16 billion in annual revenue. But the business of media is changing rapidly. In the past decade, about 40 million U.S. households have cut the cord on traditional cable TV. ESPN must adjust to find customers that aren’t subscribing to the cable bundle as new competitors including YouTube TV, Apple, Amazon, Peacock and perhaps Netflix bid on packages of live sports. This CNBC documentary examines ESPN’s strategy to fend off larger streamers and questions its sustainability in a digital-first world.

[Post 488] How Tesla Became The Most Popular Car Brand In Norway

Summary 

Norway has had massive success with EV adoption, with 82% of new cars sold in the country last year being electric. This high adoption rate can be attributed to the generous subsidies that Norway has offered to electric vehicle owners as well as the country’s investment in charging infrastructure. Tesla’s sales in Norway represent only a sliver of the 1.8 million vehicles the company delivered last year, but Norway’s importance to Tesla goes beyond cold hard cash. Tesla’s early foothold in the country has made Norway the perfect proving ground for the company and acted as a poster child for the EV transition as a whole. As a result, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has taken a number of trips to the small Nordic country and has often praised Norway’s support of electric vehicles. Norwegians were the first European customers to receive deliveries of the Model S in 2013 and it quickly became the country’s best-selling car. Today, that title has been transferred over to Tesla’s Model Y. But with competition from other EV cars from automakers including Toyota, Skoda, Volkswagan and BYD heating up, it remains to be seen if Norwegians will continue to choose Tesla in the future. To learn more about Norway’s success with electric vehicle adoption, check out CNBC’s documentary:   

[Post 487] Why The French Love American Fast Food

Summary

Despite its reputation for gastronomy, France has become an American fast-food mecca. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 1,300 fast-food restaurants opened in the country, and over the past decade, sales increased by 61%. McDonald’s has the biggest stronghold because of its first-mover advantage. But Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, KFC and Five Guys are expanding their reach. New players like Popeyes and Krispy Kreme moved in for the first time in early 2024 as French consumers continue to seek affordable and convenient food options.

[Post 486] How The Shadowy World Of Organized Retail Crime Works

Summary

CNBC goes inside the shadowy world of organized retail crime, revealing how a crime ring stole millions of dollars of beauty items that ended up for sale on Amazon, according to authorities. For months, we got exclusive access to major investigations by the California Highway Patrol, making arrests and serving search warrants. Ulta Beauty CEO Dave Kimbell, in a first in-depth interview by a corporate leader about organized retail crime, says more needs to be done by the online marketplaces to curb the sale of stolen items.

[Post 485] HR Insider’s Secrets: Here’s What Companies Aren’t Telling You About Layoffs

Summary

Shopback, PropertyGuru, Meta, eBay and Dell. These are just a handful of companies that carried out mass layoffs in the first quarter of 2024 alone.

What are the sure signs that a retrenchment is headed your way? How to tell if your job is safe? If you do get laid off, should you hide it from your next potential employer? We find out the answers from an HR professional who agreed to bare all the facts on condition of anonymity. 

[Post 484] Can The Sony PlayStation Remain The Top-Selling Gaming Console?

Summary

The Sony PlayStation changed the gaming industry’s landscape when it was introduced to players 30 years ago. The PlayStation 2 went on to become best-selling console of all time, a title it still holds today. But the company has its fair share of challenges ahead with the ever-changing gaming sector. Just last year, Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard threatened the landscape of gaming exclusivity. And Sony faces some headwinds with lower demand and industry-wide layoffs. Sony has continually adapted and evolved over the span of the past three decades, but can it continue to hold strong in the console wars? CNBC spoke with Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan, former SIE Worldwide Studios chairman Shawn Layden and other experts to find out.

[Post 483] How Athletic Brewing Co. Became The King Of Non-Alcoholic Beers

Summary

Athletic Brewing Co. is a mid-sized craft brewing company based out of Milford, Connecticut. Like most craft brewing operations Athletic Brewing pumps out IPAs, Dark Beers, Lite Beers, Hazy, some special edition, maybe even a fruity offerings during the summer. Like other breweries you’ll find huge industrial barrels of hops and wheat, maybe a couple brewing awards displayed. But, the one thing you won’t find at Athletic Brewing is alcohol.

[Post 482] Why Fisker Can't Compete With Tesla

Summary

Fisker, the EV startup founded by renowned Danish car designer, Henrik Fisker, is struggling. The Fisker name became a cautionary tale for much of the automotive world after his first company, Fisker Automotive, ended in bankruptcy. Now, he is trying again, with a new company bearing an almost identical name and logo. The company and its founder are taking steps to strengthen the financials and reputation by selling cars through dealers, by licensing technology, and negotiating a potential investment from an unnamed large automaker. But so far, executive turnover, delivery bottlenecks, cash burn and other challenges have hampered the growth the EV maker was hoping for.

[Post 481] Why EV Sales Are Falling | CNBC Marathon

Summary

CNBC Marathon explores the decline of electric vehicle sales and its implications.

In August 2023, it took about twice as long to sell an EV in the U.S. as it did the previous January. Prices of EVs are down 22% year-over-year and that's mainly driven by Tesla. About two thirds of EVs sold are Elon Musk's brand. Companies like Ford have ramped up hybrid production as demand has leveled off.

Used EV prices are falling. Studies show that used EV prices fell somewhere around 30 percent in September and October 2023 from the same period in 2022. Used overall vehicle prices including internal combustion engines (ICE), hybrid and EVs declined by only around 5 percent.

In October 2021, Hertz publicly announced it intended to buy 100,000 Tesla vehicles. Newly emerged from bankruptcy, Hertz had a bold plan to lead the EV revolution in car rental. Shares of Hertz soared, as did Tesla’s - its market value hit $1 trillion. First mover advantage aside, it would help Hertz distinguish itself in an industry plagued by commoditization. But only a couple of years in, the rental company’s EV strategy is facing some serious challenges: pricing troubles, skyrocketing repair costs and low resale values. Meanwhile big rental rivals are holding back on EVs.

[Post 480] Why China, Japan And The Fed Are Shaking Up The $26 Trillion U.S. Treasury Market

Summary

When investors think of the financial markets, the first thing that likely comes to mind is the stock market.

But there is a bigger, less-flashy counterpart to the equity market: the bond market. At the heart of the fixed income space lies U.S. Treasurys, one of the safest investments in the world.

"We have not paid attention to the Treasury market because it was a market for foreigners or for the Fed," said Priya Misra, fixed income portfolio manager at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "Now it's a market for all of us, and it's giving you better yield. So it's something which we should not ignore."

Buyers of U.S. Treasurys have been changing, with major players including China, Japan and the Federal Reserve seeing their respective holdings decline in recent years. The shift could have broad implications for the U.S. economy.

"What we're observing is that [the new buyers] are a lot more price sensitive," said Anders Persson, global fixed income chief investment officer at Nuveen. "They're just not quite as sticky."

Watch the video above to find out more about why major buyers are fleeing the U.S. Treasury market, the impact on yields and the economy at large, and how investors can best navigate the market going forward.

[Post 479] Why Airline Perks Are So Disappointing | CNBC Marathon

Summary

CNBC Marathon explores the business of airline amenities and how airlines are working to improve them. 

Over the past couple of years, airlines and credit card companies like American, United, Chase and Capital One are investing millions into expanding their airport lounge networks for customers. However, lounges have become so popular that some face overcrowding, and companies like Delta are making it harder to get airline status.

Airlines have been spending big to add more space and comfort to seats on board planes. According to AeroDynamic advisory, airplane seats were a $2.6 billion dollar market globally in 2022, almost half of $6.2 aircraft interiors market. U.S. airlines like American, Delta and United have been adding more premium seats to their fleets. Delta estimates its premium revenue will be 35% of total revenue this year compared to 24% in 2014.

Food service on domestic airlines has drastically changed in recent years. Nearly 3 million passengers fly every day in the U.S. Post pandemic, airlines have seen an increase in passengers buying up to premium seats - putting pressure on airlines to offer better food options and more of them.

Airplane Wi-Fi has been around for decades but its reliability and speeds can vary widely depending on the airline, the route and the type and age of the aircraft. American Airlines, United and other U.S. airlines have been updating their fleets to provide better Wi-Fi. Delta has spent over $1 billion retrofitting its planes to bring free wifi to its customers.

[Post 478] How Hyundai Became The Third Largest Automaker In The World

Summary

Hyundai Motor Group is the 3rd largest automaker in the world by volume. In the 1990s, it suffered low sales and a reputation for low quality. Now its three auto brands - Hyundai, Kia and Genesis - are nipping at the heels of well established competitors, and winning award after award. While Tesla still dominates the EV industry, Hyundai and Kia are inching closer. But the company also wants to revolutionize manufacturing, invest in robotics, autonomous driving and flying taxis, ambitions that many rivals have abandoned. But the company has also faced setbacks: a plague of thefts, millions of vehicles at risk of catching fire, a looming union push and a snub from the U.S. government.

[Post 476] Why Widespread Tech Layoffs Keep Happening Despite A Strong U.S. Economy

Summary

The tech sector is having a big 2024. Nvidia just crushed earnings expectations. The AI boom remains in full swing. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index is up more than 8 percent year-to-date.

The U.S. economy is also doing surprisingly well, adding 353,000 jobs in January, well ahead of economists' forecasts. Hotter-than-expected inflation data may also keep the Fed from cutting rates as soon as the market expects, a sign that the economy remains strong enough to support higher interest rates for longer. It's a different story for tech workers, though.

"The layoffs to the start of 2024 signal a dramatic shift in the tech industry," said Jeff Shulman, professor at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business. "We're going to continue to see layoffs happen as the future of work has changed, as the future of technology has changed, and as investors appetite for risk and growth versus profitability has dramatically changed as well."

The number of tech sector layoffs in 2024 has been outpacing the number of terminations in 2023. So far, about 42,324 tech employees were let go in 2024, according to Layoffs.fyi, which tracks layoffs in the tech industry. That averages out to more than 780 layoffs each day in 2024. In 2023, nearly 263,000 tech employees got laid off, averaging about 720 firings each day that year.

There are several factors behind the churn. Artificial intelligence is at the forefront. Companies need to free up cash to invest in the chips and servers that power the AI models behind these new technologies. There's also the stock market effect. Companies that conducted layoffs haven't been punished for it, either by investors or on their bottom lines.

Watch the video above to find out more about why tech workers may be poised to endure another rough year of layoffs, and why the surprising strength of the U.S. economy may not be coming to their rescue.

[Post 475] How Nescafé Instant Coffee Is Made

Summary

With annual sales of $11.6 billion as of December 2023, Nescafé is Swiss-based food giant Nestlé’s largest coffee segment. Sold in over 180 countries, one in seven cups of coffee consumed worldwide is a Nescafé. Globally about 3 billion cups of coffee are consumed each day and that number is expected to rise. To keep up with demand Nescafé works with over 100,000 farmers and buys more than 13 million bags of green coffee annually. It also has two dozen factories globally. But producers are facing a number of challenges including fluctuating coffee prices and higher labor costs . So how is Nescafé instant produced? CNBC traveled to Vietnam to get a behind the scenes look at Nestle’s operation to find out.

[Post 473] How Ghost Kitchens Went From $1 Trillion Hype To A Struggling Business Model

Summary

Food delivery is a booming business in 2024. There's one food delivery trend, however, that hasn't gone along for the ride: ghost kitchens.

Once a pandemic darling that raised more than $3 billion in venture funding, the ghost kitchen industry is falling short of lofty expectations. Euromonitor International estimated that the ghost kitchen industry could reach a market size of $1 trillion by 2030.

Big brands wanted a piece of the pie. Companies such as Wendy's, Ruby Tuesday, TGI Fridays and Wingstop all joined the wave of ghost kitchens."It is clear that the impact of ghost kitchens was overestimated," said Evert Gruyaert, restaurant food and service leader at Deloitte. "And we see that today with the decline in ghost kitchens."

Consumers complained about the clandestine nature of ghost kitchens, and food delivery apps shuttered thousands of the virtual kitchens. Then consumers shifted back to brick-and-mortar restaurants in droves, forcing investor pullback and mass closures of ghost kitchens.

Now the smaller businesses left in the industry are pivoting to a new business model to survive. Some hope to diversify the food business to expand to events and catering, not just delivery. One such business is New York City-based Nimbus Kitchen, a co-cooking space hoping to shed the negative connotation of ghost kitchens.

"Shared kitchens and co-cooking infrastructure like Nimbus is here to stay," said Camilla Opperman, Nimbus Kitchen co-founder. "We believe that the future of the industry is catering towards not only the delivery concepts, but to all of these different kinds of food businesses that ultimately need the kitchen space to legally sell to the end consumer."

Watch the video above to find out more about the rise, fall and future of ghost kitchens and if the business can pivot to return to its pandemic highs.

[Post 466] Chomps: How We Turned $6,500 Into A Business Bringing In $244 Million A Year

Summary

Looking to make a healthier-for-you meat snack, friends Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali together put forth $6,500 to launch their "side hustle" back in 2012. After four years, Trader Joe's began selling their products and sales significantly grew. In 2023, Pete and Rashid's once side-hustle has brought in nearly $250 million in retail sales.

[Post 461] I Make $220K A Year - And I Live With My Parents

Summary

Sal Khan, 31, moved from California to Texas to live with his parents during the 2020 pandemic. They insisted on not charging him rent. He saw this as an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with his parents, save money, and potentially purchase some properties for his future. Now, almost four years later, he has been able to save over $200,000 and has a real estate portfolio consisting of four properties across the U.S.

This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

[Post 460] Americans Bought Abandoned $1 Homes In Italy — Was It Worth It?

Summary

In the late 2010s, towns around Italy started going viral for selling off crumbling properties for 1 euro, or roughly $1.05. How much does it really cost to buy and renovate a 1-euro home in Italy? And is it worth it? CNBC Make It spoke to several Americans who have bought a 1-euro home in Sicily, Italy.

[Post 458] My Side Hustle Brings In $400K A Year—Here’s How I Spend My Money

Summary

Chisom Okwulehie was gifted at drawing from a young age. She decided to turn her artistic instincts toward a more profitable line of work, studying architecture and public planning in college. Today, the 35-year-old mother of two earns about $163,000 a year working as an architectural designer for the Port of Authority for New York and New Jersey and running her own interior design side business for private clients, Juntero.

This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

[Post 455] This Tiny Island Is the Most Densely Defended Country in the World | WSJ

Summary

Singapore, a city state around the same size as New York City, has built one of Southeast Asia’s most advanced militaries. Despite being at peace with its neighbors, Singapore’s defense budget was over $11 billion in 2022, ranking it per capita among the highest in the world. 

Singapore has ordered 20 F-35 jets and its navy is increasing its number of submarines to eight, more submarines than both its larger neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia combined. 

WSJ takes a closer look at why this small nation is pouring billions into its armed forces.

[Post 452] More banks in Singapore to offer money lock feature, but take-up rate low among young adults

Summary

At least three more major banks in Singapore including HSBC, Maybank and Standard Chartered are set to offer a money lock feature as early as June this year. Banks that already started offering the function last November say that while the number of people choosing to protect their savings is growing, most of them are older customers. Young adults make up as little as 15 per cent of the safety feature users. CNA’s Nasyrah Abdul Rohim reports.