The Commerce Department has revised down its growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 2.7 percent. Its previous estimate was 2.9 percent, which was still down from the 3.2 percent growth rate from July through September, suggesting that economic growth is slowing but remains steady.
FED MINUTES UPDATE
The minutes from the latest Federal Reserve FOMC meeting shows officials acknowledging that inflation is coming down but not enough to reverse course on more interest rate hikes.
SHRINKING MORTGAGE FEES
The Biden administration is lowering insurance premiums for borrowers who take out loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The move will save an estimated 850,000 homeowners an average of $800 on home financing costs. The annual premium will drop from 0.85 percent to 0.55 percent.
BILL GATES BUYS HEINEKEN STAKE
Bill Gates has purchased a $902 million stake in Heineken, according to the Netherlands Financial Markets Authority. He bought the shares, which represent 3.8 percent share of the company's value, from Mexico's FEMSA. Gates bought 6.65 million shares in an individual capacity, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust bought 4.18 million shares.
TESLA STAYING IN CALIFORNIA
Elon Musk says Tesla is staying in California for the foreseeable future. The electric vehicle maker will make the Golden State its global engineering home, while its corporate headquarters will remain in Texas. Tesla's plant in Fremont, California, will increase production this year to more than 600,000 vehicles.
MERCEDES BENZ-GOOGLE PARTNERSHIP
Mercedes-Benz and Google have announced a long-term partnership to bring supercomputers into automobiles. The automaker will use Google technology to develop a branded navigation experience based on in-car data and Google's Maps platform. The deal essentially gives Mercedes-Benz access to the latest Google geospatial technology.
The former chief executive of Japanese beverage giant Suntory has acknowledged he was investigated on suspicion of possessing an illegal drug but has asserted his innocence despite resigning from his position.
Kellie Romack, Chief Digital Innovation Officer at ServiceNow, reveals the company’s latest announcement and how it’s shaping the future of work and tech.
Raina Moskowitz, CEO of The Knot Worldwide, unpacks the 2025 Global Wedding Report, from Gen Z trends to how Taylor Swift's wedding could reshape the industry.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
