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A rare split opened between Musk and Trump over Tesla's plan to build its presence in India
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-20 14:27
Core Viewpoint - President Donald Trump expressed concerns that it would be "unfair" for Tesla to open a factory in India due to the country's high import tariffs on electric vehicles, which can reach up to 100% [1][2]. Group 1: Tariff Policies and Market Entry - Trump criticized India's tariff policy, stating that it makes it "impossible" for Tesla to sell cars in the country [2]. - He mentioned that if Musk were to build a factory in India, it would still be "unfair" to the US, highlighting the protectionist nature of India's tariffs [2][3]. - India announced plans to lower EV tariffs for companies willing to invest in local manufacturing, which could facilitate Tesla's entry into the market [4]. Group 2: Tesla's Expansion Plans - Tesla has been actively seeking to establish a presence in India, recently posting job advertisements for showroom positions in New Delhi and Mumbai [5][9]. - Speculation exists that Tesla may announce a significant investment in India, although plans were postponed due to recent layoffs [4][5]. Group 3: Political Dynamics - Musk's ambitions in India may conflict with Trump's advocacy for a tough tariff regime aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing [6]. - Trump noted that he is monitoring potential conflicts of interest regarding Musk's dual role as a business leader and political advisor [7].
Amazon makes Zoom the 'standard' app for internal meetings and starts using Microsoft 365 tools, internal memo shows
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-19 23:46
Core Points - Amazon is officially adopting Zoom as its primary meeting application, replacing its own Chime application [1][2][7] - The decision to replace Chime is attributed to its limited external use and the availability of better collaboration solutions from partners [2][3] - Amazon is also rolling out Microsoft's 365 productivity tools internally, committing to spend $1 billion over five years [4][7] Summary by Category Meeting Applications - Zoom will replace Amazon Chime as the standard meeting application for internal meetings at Amazon [1][2] - Chime, launched in 2017, had limited external use, prompting the shift to Zoom [2][7] - Microsoft Teams will be available for meetings requiring full integration with M365, while Cisco Webex will be used for meetings with Cisco customers [5] Productivity Tools - Amazon has begun implementing Microsoft's 365 tools, allowing employees access to applications like Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint [4][7] - The migration to Microsoft's cloud applications will occur on a rolling basis [4]
Amazon's retail CEO tells employees more cost cuts are needed to afford 'big investments in big new businesses'
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-19 16:37
Core Insights - Amazon's retail CEO Doug Herrington emphasizes the necessity of cost-cutting to fund new growth opportunities, indicating a dual focus on efficiency and innovation [1][10] - The company has been actively reducing its cost-to-serve metric, which measures the fulfillment cost of shipments, by eliminating inefficiencies in the delivery process [2][9] - Amazon's ongoing cost-cutting measures have led to record profits and cash reserves, allowing for significant investments in AI data centers and efficient delivery systems [4][3] Cost-Cutting and Investment Strategy - Herrington stated that cost reductions and new investments should be complementary, aiming for a balance that drives efficiency [5][6] - The company has laid off at least 27,000 employees since late 2022 and closed several less profitable services, which has contributed to its financial success [3][4] - Amazon plans to invest a record $105 billion in capital expenditures by 2025, focusing on areas like fast shipping and improved customer service [4][10] Operational Improvements - Herrington highlighted the importance of improving delivery efficiency, which has been achieved through investments in faster shipping options and better customer service [2][7] - Amazon's retail CFO Gale Carpenter noted that recent investments in warehouses have reduced transportation costs by serving smaller regions, thus enhancing overall efficiency [8][9] - The company has successfully improved its average cost-to-serve on a per-unit basis for two consecutive years and aims to maintain this momentum into 2025 [9][10]
KFC is shifting its US headquarters from Kentucky to Texas
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-19 04:48
Core Points - KFC is relocating its US headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky to two new locations in Plano, Texas and Irvine, California [1][2] - The move aims to enhance collaboration among brands and employees, while maintaining corporate offices in Louisville [2][3] - Approximately 100 KFC US corporate roles will be relocated over the next six months, with an additional 90 remote employees returning to the office over the next 18 months [3] Company Overview - Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, operates four major food and beverage chains: KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill [3] - KFC has over 4,100 stores in the US and more than 30,000 globally across over 145 countries [4] - The company reported an 8% global sales growth in the fourth quarter, with KFC's sales increasing by 6% [4]
Humane is shutting down service for a beleaguered AI pin after sale to HP. Some buyers won't get a refund.
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-19 03:54
HP is acquiring parts of Humane's business for $116 million.Humane said it was discontinuing its AI Pin "effective immediately."The company said the devices will stop connecting to their servers at the end of the month.AI startup Humane said on Tuesday that it was discontinuing its AI Pin and selling parts of its business to HP for $116 million. The transaction, which is expected to close at the end of February, will see HP acquire Humane's employees, software, patents, and patent applications, Humane said ...
Paul Singer's Elliott Management bets against Nvidia after calling it a 'bubble' and saying AI is 'overhyped'
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-18 16:23
Elliott Management bet against Nvidia using put options last quarter, filings show.Paul Singer's firm had "at least $600 million in downside exposure" to the chip maker, one analyst said.Elliott told clients last year that Nvidia was in a "bubble" and AI was "overhyped."Elliott Management bet big against Nvidia after telling clients the chipmaker's stock was in a "bubble" and artificial intelligence was "overhyped." Billionaire investor Paul Singer's firm bought put options last quarter on 1.45 million Nvid ...
Meta plans to build the world's longest subsea cable that will connect the US to India
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-18 12:18
Meta plans a multibillion-dollar global underwater cable project spanning 31,000 miles.The project will ramp up data transmission and connect the US to India, Brazil, and South Africa.Meta says it aims to improve global connectivity and support innovation in artificial intelligence.Meta has unveiled plans to spend billions of dollars as part of its multi-year ambition to build the world's longest subsea cable and accelerate AI innovation. In a blog post on Friday, the company said its new Waterworth Project ...
Almost a decade after Tesla first launched preorders for its cars in India, it's staffing up in the country
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-18 07:52
Tesla is hiring for roles based in Mumbai, India.The recruitment efforts come just days after Elon Musk met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Tesla has long sought to break into India, the world's third-largest auto market.Tesla is amping up its recruitment efforts in India just days after the country's prime minister, Narendra Modi, met with Elon Musk. Tesla listed 13 roles based in Mumbai on its careers page. The positions were also advertised on the company's LinkedIn page on Monday.The roles rang ...
Meta's global affairs chief highlights Trump as its possible new defender against EU regulators
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-17 19:27
Meta's policy chief said the company would loop in Trump when it feels targeted by regulators abroad.The company believes Trump would defend US companies he views as being treated unfairly.Meta has previously faced billions of dollars in fines from European Union regulators.The European Union has been a huge pain for Meta over the years as it's faced billions of dollars in fines from its regulators. The Facebook owner may now have a new weapon in its artillery to defend itself from future enforcement abroad ...
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway slashed its Bank of America stake and dumped bank stocks last quarter
Business Insiderยท 2025-02-17 13:34
Core Insights - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway reduced its investments significantly in the last quarter, indicating challenges in finding attractive investment opportunities in a strong market [1][6][9] Investment Adjustments - Berkshire Hathaway cut its stake in Bank of America to 680 million shares, down from over 1 billion, resulting in a decrease in ownership percentage from over 13% to below 9% and a decline in value from approximately $41 billion to under $30 billion [2][3] - The company also sold 74% of its Citigroup stake, 18% of its Capital One holding, and 54% of its Nu Holdings position, along with trimming positions in Charter Communications, Louisiana-Pacific, and T-Mobile US [3][4] Exits and New Investments - Berkshire exited its position in Ulta Beauty, which was established only in the second quarter of the previous year, and sold its holdings in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF [4] - The company established a new $1.2 billion stake in Constellation Brands, the producer of Corona and Modelo beer, while increasing its investment in Domino's Pizza by 86% and Pool Corp. by 48% [4][5] Portfolio Value and Cash Position - Despite the reductions, the total value of Berkshire's US stock portfolio increased to $267 billion due to gains in several positions [6] - The company sold $133 billion of stocks in the first nine months of 2024 while acquiring less than $6 billion, and spent less than $3 billion on share buybacks, leading to a cash pile exceeding $300 billion for the first time [6][7] Market Conditions - Buffett has noted that high company valuations have made it difficult to find compelling investment opportunities, leading to a preference for holding cash and Treasurys due to higher interest rates [8]