Core Insights - The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) experienced a technical failure that impacted trading, potentially leading to the first monthly decline in the S&P 500 index since April [1] - The technical issue affected multiple markets, including crude oil and U.S. Treasury futures, and has lasted longer than a similar incident in 2019 [1] - Despite the trading disruptions, individual stocks like Alphabet Inc. and Amazon showed resilience, with Alphabet's stock rising over 1% [1] Market Impact - The S&P 500 index futures were relatively flat before the technical failure occurred [1] - Market participants are expected to pause trading due to risk considerations until the issue is resolved, as they may face losses otherwise [1] - The onset of the Black Friday shopping season may influence stock performance, with some traders looking to exploit potential price discrepancies [1]

Core Insights - iHerb has launched its annual Black Friday promotion, offering discounts of up to 20% for a month, with deeper discounts of up to 25% during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday week [1][7] - The global e-commerce transaction volume for Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2024 is projected to grow over 40% compared to the previous year, highlighting the significance of this shopping season [1][7] Group 1: Promotion Details - The promotion includes a wide range of products such as vitamins, nutritional supplements, beauty products, and groceries [1] - iHerb's Chief Revenue Officer emphasized that the shopping experience is designed to be enjoyable and allows customers to discover quality products at their own pace [2] - Weekly new offers and discounts will be introduced throughout November, with special gift guides and exclusive gift sets available [5] Group 2: Company Overview - iHerb reported a net sales figure of $2.4 billion in 2024 and operates in the health and wellness e-commerce sector [4] - The company serves 14 million active global customers across 180 countries, supported by a logistics network with nine climate-controlled centers [6] - iHerb's affiliate program has generated over $12 million in commissions for partners in 2024, with a conversion rate of 7.9%, which is among the highest in the e-commerce industry [4]