that while AI is indeed going mainstream, many shoppers preferred that more personal approach as Julie alluded to when it comes to things like shopping and gifting. So joining me now to discuss discuss this is Shika Jane. She's the lead partner for consumer and retail over at Simon Cusher.Uh this is interesting. Uh uh again the whole idea of agentic AI changing the paradigm by which we shop and spend money. Is it going to be revolutionary this holiday season. And if not this holiday season, when does it bec ...

Core Insights - The upcoming five days are critical for the retail sector, with expectations on consumer demand post-Black Friday [1] Retail Spending Trends - Adobe estimates that 17% of total online holiday spending will occur during Cyber Week, while the National Retail Federation predicts 186.9 million Americans will shop between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, marking a record high [2] - Shoppers plan to allocate approximately 60% of their budget to online purchases and 40% to physical stores during this period [3] - Black Friday is projected to remain the largest in-store shopping day of the year, with e-commerce sales expected to grow by 8.3% compared to last year [4] Consumer Behavior - Salesforce indicates that Black Friday sales have outperformed Cyber Monday sales in previous years and are expected to do so again this year [5] - Despite economic uncertainties, consumers are still making purchases, albeit more selectively, with retail CEOs noting a focus on perceived value [6] - Bank of America reports a 4.5% year-over-year increase in holiday spending, suggesting a positive outlook for consumer discretionary spending [8] Economic Context - There are indications of a bifurcated economy, with some consumers facing inflationary pressures that limit discretionary spending [12] - The consumer discretionary sector has shown resilience amidst recent market volatility, indicating potential for recovery [8][10] Sector Performance - The consumer discretionary sector has experienced mixed momentum, with some companies performing well while others struggle, highlighting the idiosyncratic nature of retail performance [15][16] - Companies like TJX are currently outperforming others in the sector, while brands like Burlington have reported disappointing results due to external factors like weather [16][18]

Market Overview - U.S. markets opened with modest gains, with Nasdaq Futures leading at +0.52%, followed by S&P 500 Futures at +0.33% and Dow at +0.22% [5][6] Economic Indicators - Chicago PMI for November reported at 36.3, significantly below the consensus of 44.3, marking the second lowest reading since the pandemic and the 24th consecutive month of decline [2] - U.S. jobless claims decreased to 216,000 for the week of Nov. 22, down from 222,000 the previous week and below expectations of 225,000, indicating potential stabilization in the job market [3] - Durable goods orders for September increased by 0.5%, surpassing the expected 0.3%, driven by a 30.9% rise in defense aircraft/parts, although this growth rate was slower than the 3% gain in August [4] Company Performance Winners - Petco Health saw a significant increase of 21.9% following strong earnings reported after the previous market close [5] - Other notable gainers included Autodesk (+7.7%), Bentley Systems (+6.7%), and Oracle (+6%) [5] Losers - Nutanix experienced a sharp decline of 11.3% after disappointing earnings results [7] - Zscaler fell by 7% due to conservative guidance, while Reynolds and Workday dropped by 6.3% and 6.2% respectively, with Workday providing a weak boost to its full-year guidance [7]

Core Insights - The logistics sector has seen significant engagement from investors, particularly in the ASEAN and US markets, highlighting its growth potential and diversification opportunities [1] - The popularity of insurance companies in the Philippines since 2014 indicates a shift in investment strategies among local investors, moving towards a more diversified portfolio [1] - The entry into the US market has provided additional avenues for investment, particularly in sectors such as banking, hotels, and logistics, reflecting a broader trend of globalization in investment strategies [1] Investment Strategies - Initial investments were focused on blue-chip companies, but there has been a diversification into various industries and market capitalizations over time [1] - The approach includes holding stocks for retirement as well as for trading profits, showcasing a dual strategy in investment [1] - The use of platforms like Seeking Alpha has facilitated knowledge sharing and comparative analysis between different markets, enhancing investment decision-making [1] Market Trends - The logistics and shipping sectors are highlighted as key areas of investment interest, particularly in the context of the US market [1] - The engagement in both ASEAN and NYSE/NASDAQ stocks indicates a trend towards cross-border investment opportunities [1] - The increasing awareness and participation in the stock market among investors in the Philippines reflects a growing trend towards financial literacy and investment diversification [1]

Financial Results Announcement - lululemon athletica inc. will release its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 on December 11, 2025, followed by a conference call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the results [1][2] Company Overview - lululemon athletica inc. is a company specializing in technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories for various activities, focusing on innovation in fabrics and functional designs [3] Recent Initiatives - lululemon has launched a new global impact initiative called lululemon Gives, aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing through movement and mindfulness, with a goal to equip 20 million people by 2030 [6] - The company unveiled its athlete kit for Team Canada for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, marking its third Games as the Official Outfitter [5]

Vietnam’s retail giant Mobile World is planning an IPO for its electronics and mobile store chain in 2026 https://t.co/F7UCzqOgoh ...

Core Insights - The company has experienced significant stock price growth, increasing by over 80% in the past year, indicating strong market performance and investor confidence [1] - The company reported a 90% same-store sales growth for its cohort of stores, outperforming competitors by 30-35% in sales per square foot (SPSF) [2] - The company’s quarterly revenue reached approximately 709 crore, while a major competitor, Reliance Retail, reported revenue of about 79,000 crore, highlighting the competitive landscape [3] Sales and Growth Strategy - The company has seen a substantial increase in per store revenue per month, rising from approximately 65 lakhs to over 1 crore in the last three years [1] - The fast fashion trend, particularly among Gen Z and millennials, has led to increased purchase frequency, benefiting the company's sales strategy [4] - The company aims to expand its store network in India, with a potential target of 2,000 to 2,500 stores, and is considering global expansion [5] Competitive Advantage - The company has established a strong competitive advantage by leveraging the changing landscape of value fashion, as evidenced by the success of brands like Shein and Fashion Nova [3][4] - The company is benefiting from a shift in orders from exporters who are losing business in Europe and America, allowing for increased capacity in its domestic operations [5] - Negotiations are ongoing with exporters to convert potential deals, with two already secured, indicating a proactive approach to expanding supply chain partnerships [6]

Troubled retail chain Homeplus, in court receivership, didn’t receive any final bids by a deadline on Wednesday https://t.co/0QxswjJNaW ...

Market Performance - The Shenzhen Component Index and the ChiNext Index both opened lower but rose significantly, with the ChiNext Index increasing by over 3% at one point [1] - By the end of the trading day, the Shanghai Composite Index fell by 0.15%, while the Shenzhen Component Index rose by 1.02% and the ChiNext Index increased by 2.14% [1][2] - The total trading volume in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets was 1.78 trillion yuan, a decrease of 28.8 billion yuan compared to the previous trading day [1] Sector Performance - The computing hardware sector saw a collective surge, with Dongxin Co. hitting the daily limit and Zhongji Xuchuang reaching a historical high [2] - The consumer sector experienced a late surge, with stocks like Hai Xin Food and Guangbai Co. hitting the daily limit [2] - The anti-influenza concept stocks were active, with Guangji Pharmaceutical achieving three consecutive limits and Peking University Medicine achieving two consecutive limits [2] - Conversely, the military industry sector weakened, with Jiu Zhi Yang dropping over 12% [2][3] Index Details - The Shanghai Composite Index closed at 3864.18, down 0.15% [2] - The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 12907.83, up 1.02% [2] - The ChiNext Index closed at 3044.69, up 2.14% [2]

Core Insights - Strauss Group Ltd. reported significant growth in profitability, primarily driven by its Coffee International segment, particularly the coffee joint venture in Brazil, which saw a 27% increase in sales and a 171% increase in operating profit [1][5][11]. Financial Performance Summary - Group sales for Q3-2025 reached NIS 3,277 million, a 9.6% increase year-over-year, with a pro-forma growth of 16.3% [5][11]. - Gross profit for Q3-2025 was NIS 960 million, reflecting a 5.3% increase, while the gross margin decreased to 29.3% from 30.5% [4][11]. - EBIT for Q3-2025 increased by 40.1% to NIS 312 million, with an EBIT margin of 9.5% compared to 7.4% in Q3-2024 [4][11]. - Net income attributed to shareholders rose by 42.7% to NIS 146 million, with a net margin of 4.4% [4][11]. - Free cash flow improved to NIS 245 million, compared to a negative free cash flow of NIS 98 million in Q3-2024 [4][11]. Segment Performance - **Strauss Israel**: Sales increased by 2.7% to NIS 1.41 billion in Q3-2025, but EBIT decreased by 7.7% to NIS 146 million [20]. - **Health & Wellness**: Sales reached NIS 821 million, down 0.6%, with EBIT decreasing by 15.5% to NIS 101 million [23]. - **Fun & Indulgence (Snacks and Confectionery)**: Sales grew by 12.9% to NIS 365 million, with EBIT increasing by 61.7% to NIS 15 million [23]. - **Fun & Indulgence (Coffee Israel)**: Sales were stable at NIS 221 million, with EBIT increasing by 4.3% to NIS 30 million [23]. - **Strauss International Coffee**: Sales surged by 30.0% to NIS 1.6 billion, with EBIT increasing by 139.8% to NIS 163 million [23]. - **Strauss Water**: Sales increased by 4.1% to NIS 234 million, but EBIT decreased by 11.5% to NIS 23 million [23]. Strategic Developments - The company inaugurated Michael's Campus in Northern Israel, which includes a new plant-based dairy facility, representing a strategic investment of approximately NIS 270 million [2]. - New product launches included the 'Tami4 Shabbat' water bars and the Cow-Free category, showcasing innovation in the dairy alternatives market [2].