From blockchain to Amazon's dominance, look for last year's biggest business stories to carry into 2018. Fast Company's Noah Robischon joins Cheddar to preview the trends to watch for in the new year. He explains why the technology behind the rise of cryptocurrency is poised for even more headlines this year.
Next, we discuss how retail will continue to fight for its life given the Amazon threat. Robischon says "the cool factor" is one area where traditional retail has an edge over the e-commerce giant. The executive editor also explains why pop-up stores and showrooms are gaining in popularity.
Finally, we breakdown Amazon's year ahead. Robischon says Jeff Bezos is likely to be even more aggressive with his company's move into the pharmaceutical space. The executive editor also says whether he agrees with Gene Munster's prediction that Amazon will acquire Target in 2018.
The growth of the metaverse is bringing new challenges to managing safe, diverse communities. Helping Cheddar kick off Women's History Month, Tiffany Xingyu Wang, chief marketing officer for AI-powered content moderation company Spectrum Labs, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss how platforms can help create safer, more inclusive online communities in the metaverse and about her own experience as a woman in technology. "Trust is really the new digital transformation, and it should not be a siloed task solely belonging to chief security officers, to privacy officers, or the people who were given the task of trust and safety," she said. "It should be a priority for all the C suite and a whole company to rally around."
Stocks closed lower Friday, with the Dow shedding 200 points as stocks fell overall for the second week in a row amid rising Russia-Ukraine tensions. Investors are on edge as U.S. officials including President Joe Biden say they expect a Russian attack on Ukraine in the coming days. Aadil Zaman, Partner at Wall Street Alliance Group, joins Closing Bell to discuss today's close, how consumers are shifting their mindset around COVID-19, earnings season, geopolitical tensions, and more.
