Month: August 2025

Corporate earnings are a key metric used to gauge the financial health of companies and broader economic trends. Earnings are a measure of all the money that a corporation brings in during a period, minus all the expenses it incurs.

A good or bad set of results can make or break a company and its stock price. It can also attract or turn away new investors and buyers. Trading based on corporate earnings is not without risk, however, and doing thorough research and spreading out investments across multiple industries and companies can mitigate some of the risks involved.

One of the main reasons people look at corporate earnings is to see if a company is spending too much or not enough, and whether its profits are growing or falling. However, some companies are able to boost their earnings by using accounting quirks that don’t reflect long-term value creation. For example, if they use an accounting method to overstate the wear and tear on their assets, it could give them the appearance of higher profits than they deserve.

Another reason why corporate earnings are important is because they are a leading indicator of broader economic trends. For example, if a large number of companies report great results, that might signal that the economy is doing well and could influence central bank decisions on interest rates and other policies that affect the country. Likewise, if a lot of companies report weak results, that might signal that the economy is struggling and could lead to lower stock prices.

Economic growth is when a country’s economy is expanding and people are earning more, spending more, and generally feeling better off than before. There are many reasons why economic growth is good, but one important reason is that it leads to higher living standards.

The most common measure of economic growth is gross domestic product (GDP). GDP is the total value of all finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a given period. It is typically adjusted to a per-capita basis so that it can be compared across countries and states.

One way to generate economic growth is through investment in physical capital. This includes things like building new factories or purchasing equipment, which will increase the long-term productive capacity of the economy. Another way to create economic growth is through an increase in human capital. This could include things like investing in STEM students or subsidizing coding academies, which will lead to a more skilled workforce that is capable of producing more output.

Finally, economic growth can be generated through population growth. This will increase the number of people available to produce economic output, though it will also require more goods and services to keep everyone fed. Economic growth can also be accelerated through technological progress. When new technology allows workers to produce more output with the same amount of labor, it will boost the rate at which economic growth occurs.

Cyber threats are a constant challenge for organizations and can lead to financial losses, lost customer trust, and reputational damage in the long term. Businesses have adopted new technologies to stay competitive and increase efficiency, but this has also increased the attack surface. Isolated point products from different vendors expand the attack vector, making it difficult to manage and secure systems efficiently.

Criminally motivated attackers target organizations for monetary theft, identity theft and extortion. These attacks may include hacking into a bank account to steal money, stealing credit card information to commit fraud and selling data on the dark web or holding an organization for ransom.

In addition, hackers attack companies to disrupt their operations. This can include tactics like denial of service attacks, where hackers flood a company’s systems to take them offline and stifle business activities. Attackers also seek to expose trade secrets, which can hurt a company’s competitive position and impact profitability.

Other cyber attacks are launched for political purposes, such as hacktivism or state-sponsored attacks. Famous hacktivists like Anonymous and WikiLeaks have raised awareness about issues like government surveillance, internet regulation and censorship and more.

Cyber threat actors are developing more sophisticated attack techniques and exploiting new vulnerabilities. Zero-day exploits, for example, are exposures in a software system that attackers exploit before a patch is released. Attackers can also leverage multiple tools and techniques, such as malvertising — embedding malware in advertising content that appears on websites — to target users and deliver phishing emails, banking trojans and more.

A news flash is a piece of information that is broadcast or published quickly to alert readers to something important. This can include breaking news, such as a terrorist attack or natural disaster, or it could be an announcement of a major event that will take place later in the day.

Like other types of writing, there are a few key components to making a news story compelling. The first paragraph, known as the lead or flash, is your chance to catch readers’ attention and keep them engaged. It should be powerful and enticing, using a narrative hook or anecdote to engage readers. It’s also a great opportunity to use the show, don’t tell approach to writing. For example, rather than telling readers that Johnny ran up a hill, you might describe his puffing cheeks and labored breathing to create a more vivid image for readers.

Once you’ve captured your audience, follow the inverted pyramid style to convey the most important facts of your story. Then, add a nut graph that adds context to your story and explains why it matters. Finally, include quotes from experts or witnesses to lend credibility and provide perspective. Lastly, finish your article with a forward-looking element that shows how the story will remain relevant in the future.

Although most of us will never need to write this type of article for a newspaper or magazine, understanding how to do it well can help you be more persuasive in other kinds of writing. Whether you’re writing an op-ed, a blog post, or an essay, following this news reporting formula will ensure that your work is informative and engaging.

Wearable tech is one of the newest technologies in technology and it has already disrupted the business world. Many enterprises are looking to adopt this technology to increase efficiency and improve their workflow. However, this technology comes with a lot of concerns regarding data privacy and security. As a result, it is important to understand the risks and implications of using wearable tech.

Wearables enable new types of biomedical data collection and are widely used in healthcare for a variety of purposes, such as monitoring, screening, detection, and prediction. In the context of digital health, they are considered key tools for advancing towards person-centred medicine and more precise, personalised monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment.

The most common wearable devices are fitness trackers that help you keep a close eye on your physical activity and monitor your heart rate. Smartwatches are also popular and can track a variety of metrics including location, phone calls, and messages. Other wearables are incorporated into clothing, such as tights or shoes, or implanted under the skin (like pacemakers). There are also specialised devices designed for sportspeople, such as head mounted displays that provide virtual information straight to the eyes.

The most important challenge for the wearable industry is to create sustainable customer engagement. A large number of wearables have failed to achieve this, often due to poor quality, pain to sync with smartphones, battery life, discomfort and UX. Additionally, the data collected by wearables is often biased and underrepresentative, focusing on certain social, economic, and age groups more than others. This can lead to false knowledge claims and misguided health policy based on incomplete, inaccurate and outdated data.

Digital transformation is more than just upgrading to the latest technology. It’s a business strategy that includes shedding outdated processes and mindsets as well as adopting new technologies to improve productivity, increase customer satisfaction and drive sales.

Companies embark on a digital transformation strategy for several reasons, including the need to streamline production, expand distribution, create better workplaces and deliver an overall enhanced experience to customers. In the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses accelerated their digital transformation efforts because they saw the need to be more responsive to changing market conditions and customer expectations.

Some businesses, such as Patagonia, are using their digital transformation strategies to align with their environmental sustainability goals. The outdoor apparel maker uses AI to analyze marketplace data and customer feedback to speed up decision-making and optimize supply chain efficiencies, while also promoting reuse and recycling via its “Worn Wear” program.

Millennials, the largest generation in the workforce, are proponents of the digital-first mentality. They want to work with the same powerful, easy-to-use tools that they use on their personal devices in the office. And they expect the same from their employers, says Mercer’s Swift. As a result, companies must consider how to incorporate and integrate digital transformation into the employee experience to keep pace with millennial expectations.

The best way to ensure that a digital transformation initiative succeeds is to prepare the workforce for the change ahead. Managers should engage employees in a comprehensive way, with training and workshops to help them understand how to adapt to the new digital world. They should also encourage and support ideation and innovation by establishing an “idea charter” system, where employees can pitch their ideas and help prioritize those that meet company objectives.

If you’ve ever started a business or have a passion for entrepreneurship, you know that there are many factors to consider. You’ll need to decide whether the product or service you are creating is needed by others, how much financial reward it can potentially bring, and if you’re willing to take the risks that come with starting up your own company.

But a business can be many things, and not all of them are small. Generally, a small business is an independently owned and operated for-profit American company that falls within the Small Business Administration’s strict size standards. These criteria are based on number of employees and average annual receipts, but can vary by industry.

There are 33 million small businesses in the United States, accounting for 46% of all private companies with paid employees. Most small businesses have one or fewer employees, and 85% don’t pay taxes, according to the Census Bureau. Small businesses also play a vital role in our economy and impact the country’s GDP. In a recent Pew Research Center survey, the public said small businesses have more positive effects on society than large corporations, government agencies, schools, and religious institutions.

While the idea of having more personal time and being your own boss can be a driving force for some entrepreneurs, many find that work hours increase, not decrease, after they launch their companies. Still, there is no question that small business drives economic growth and has the power to transform our society in ways big enterprises cannot.

App launch is a key milestone for any mobile app, but it’s not something to rush. Aim for a smooth and bug-free release that will keep users coming back and recommending your app to others.

Prioritizing speed without sacrificing quality can be challenging, especially if you’re working with a tight deadline. To get ahead of this challenge, use an app builder that handles all the heavy lifting for you. BuildFire’s easy app maker is perfect for DIYers, making it simple to create and publish apps for iOS and Android. It takes just seconds to create a free preview and add features using our feature marketplace.

Setting a specific launch date can create excitement and hype, and it will give you a solid timeline to work against. This will ensure your app is ready for when it gets published, and it will help your team stick to a well-defined plan.

The launch timeline should include a buffer period to conduct rigorous testing, fix any bugs, and polish your app before it’s released to users. This is non-negotiable for a successful app launch.

Identifying and reaching out to media contacts is essential for promoting your app at launch. Creating connections with publications that cover your app’s industry or solve related problems positions you as an expert and amplifies your reach through trusted third-party endorsements. Similarly, forming partnerships with influencers who have established audiences that align with your target audience also helps spread the word about your app.

Business news is a type of journalism that covers economic and financial activities and changes in societies. It focuses on commercial and industrial sectors of the economy. Journalists who specialize in business news gather, research and disseminate information about businesses and the economy to readers through all types of media.

The term business describes an organized set of interrelated activities that produce goods or services and earn money in exchange. The primary goal of any business is to make a profit. Businesses may be for-profit entities, with profit distributed to owners or investors, or not-for-profit organisations that invest all profits back into the company to achieve stated goals or improve infrastructure.

Writing compelling business news requires constantly monitoring fresh developments across industries, identifying stories with broad appeal and structuring articles clearly. Business journalists must be able to explain complex topics in ways that are engaging and understandable for non-experts. They need to develop trusted industry sources, optimize their publishing cadence and promote their work on social media. With strong news judgment and an engaging style, business writers can inform, inspire and influence readers.

For many people, financial news can feel intimidating and confusing. It’s important for journalists to break down complex topics into their basic components and avoid using jargon. Visual aids can also help explain complex data, and can be particularly effective in business news stories where the audience might not have a lot of prior knowledge or understanding.

Investing in stocks can be an important part of your financial strategy. It’s also a way to help support the economy. For example, tax cuts can increase consumer confidence and boost stock prices. On the other hand, high unemployment may cause stock prices to fall.

Companies raise capital by selling parts of their business to investors. The oldest way of doing this is by offering shares in an initial public offering (IPO), but newer methods include private placements, debt offerings, and other ways that a company can sell pieces of itself. Investors trade these securities in the secondary market, either on exchanges or over the counter. More than 58,000 companies are publicly traded today.

Investors can be individuals, such as 401(k) owners, or institutions, including pension funds, insurers, mutual fund companies, exchange-traded funds, and hedge funds. Companies themselves can also be direct participants in the market by trading their own shares. Others use derivatives and other instruments to indirectly participate in the market.

Investors often look at market indexes like the Dow Jones Industrial Average or S&P 500 to get a sense of how the market is performing overall, or in specific sectors. They can also track the performance of individual stocks, such as Apple or Tesla, using their investment account. In general, stocks rise or fall in price based on supply and demand, with supply outweighing demand when the market is optimistic or negative about a company’s future. This dynamic process, known as “price discovery,” helps to allocate resources in an efficient way and promotes economic growth.