Market Watch

8 MINUTE READ Applications deadline March 17, 2023 The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade announces an open competition for individuals and organizations to submit applications for Alumni Small Grants Program . Please check for information on other PAS funding opportunities here . Program Objectives: Funds for the Alumni Small Grants Program are specifically designated for use by past participants of U.S. Government (USG)-sponsored exchange programs (see below for a complete list of eligible programs). The Alumni Small Grants Program allows our alumni to leverage their experience in the United States to develop ideas and implement projects about how to give back to their home community, or to Serbian society more generally. These projects allow alumni to showcase their leadership and organizational skills, their creativity and innovative approaches to solving problems, and their ability to network and work with allies to achieve their goals. Grant activities may take any number of forms, including trainings, conferences, workshops, courses, academic competitions, summer camps (focused on language study, sports, etc.), cross-border exchanges, curriculum development, exhibits, hackathons or app development, online projects, mock trials or moot court competitions, simulations and role-playing activities (e.g., Model Congress, Model United Nations), film […]

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London CNN — Every year, business leaders, billionaires and politicians gather in Davos, Switzerland under the banner of forging ties that can help solve global problems. It’s a glitzy exercise often criticized as out of touch . It also looks increasingly out of date as the biggest war in Europe since 1945 turbocharges splits in the world economy. This year’s World Economic Forum, hosted in the Alpine ski town since the early 1970s, kicks off Monday. It’s expected to draw a record 2,700 attendees, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and US climate envoy John Kerry. Yet the WEF’s first winter meeting in Davos since 2020 comes as economic heavyweights are playing by different rules, with companies moving supply chains closer to home , strategic stockpiling picking up pace and corporate executives who once extolled free trade appearing increasingly wary of rising geopolitical risks . “I think Davos is totally irrelevant,” said Rana Foroohar, a Financial Times columnist, whose book “Homecoming” argues that a new shift toward localization is displacing the forces of globalization that have been dominant over the past half century. […]

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Two fifths fear company failure within decade, PWC poll finds Inflation, volatility and geopolitical conflict top risk list The Congress Centre of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Photographer: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting began in Davos with corporate executives and economists warning a global recession is likely this year. Of 4,410 business leaders surveyed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in October and November last year, 73% predicted global growth to decline over the coming 12 months. The reading was the worst since the consulting firm began polling in 2011. Two out of five even expressed concern their companies may not last a decade. A separate survey of chief economists, released by the Forum, found two-thirds expect a worldwide recession in 2023 as businesses cut costs; 18% viewed such a downturn as “extremely likely.” The concerns are likely to be rife this week as more than 2,700 executives, bankers and economists head to the Swiss ski resort of Davos for the first time in January since 2020. While recent data has raised hopes economies can still pull off a soft landing, last year’s surge in inflation and the subsequent hiking of interest rates by central banks have […]

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Brandpie, the company Dave Allen founded in 2008, turned over £10 million in 2022. Dave Allen, a consultant at WWP, had been saving for years to launch his own brand consultancy. He saw the 2008 financial crisis as a chance to recruit talent and clients looking to make a change. Allen started his company in 2008 and turned over $1 million in the first year of operation. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest stories in hedge funds, PE, fintech, and banking — delivered daily to your inbox. Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go. Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dave Allen, the CEO of Brandpie. It has been edited for length and clarity. Insider has verified his revenue with documentation. When I saw the financial crisis starting to develop back in 2008, it felt like the right moment to start my own brand-consultancy business. I needed to do something […]

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More companies are finding success with the four-day workweek. A recent trial of 33 companies had overwhelmingly successful results. A real-world experiment just proved that we should all shift to a four-day workweek The results are in: It’s time for your company to stop working on Fridays (or Mondays). The latest, perhaps most convincing evidence yet for the shift to a four-day workweek comes from a six-month trial which began in February 2022 in which 33 companies with employees in six countries decreased their employees’ workload to four days, or 32 hours, a week. Organized by 4 Day Week Global, the real-world experiment sought to see whether the employees could be just as productive in 80% of the time — all for the same pay. The results were overwhelmingly positive: Companies in the program reported increased revenue and improved employee health and well-being, and had a positive impact on the environment. And after the success, a hundred more companies that together employ thousands of people are considering or are already implementing the same approach. So if you’ve ever tried to persuade your boss to shift to a four-day workweek, this is the best evidence yet that it can work. […]

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Moses Rashid, founder and CEO of The Edit LDN , is a man in a hurry. Three years after he launched his high-end sneaker marketplace, Rashid is today announcing that the company has closed a $4.8 million seed funding round. He expects that to drive further rapid growth – he is targeting a $150 million valuation by 2026, and $1 billion within three years of that. “We have been laser focused on providing a premium service and doing this super fast for anyone buying limited edition sneakers globally,” Rashid says of the company’s progress. That has seen the company’s revenues grow at a rate of more than 500% a year – to around $12 million in 2022. The Edit LDN specialises in sourcing and selling premium fashion products – limited-edition sneakers and other streetwear from designer labels such as Yeezy, Jordan, Louis Vuitton and Dior. Some customers buy the goods because they want to wear them; the company’s client base includes a string of celebrities, as well as other affluent buyers, who are keen to be fashion leaders and trend setters. Others buy as an investment; the resale price of in-demand sneakers can increase very significantly, netting a tidy […]

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The UK has become the third-most important country in the world for chief executives trying to expand their businesses, according to a prominent survey, the first time it has broken into the top three. The 26th annual poll of business leaders conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP found that the UK was behind only the US and China, and equal with Germany, having never previously ranked higher than fourth. It cited the UK’s strengths in technological sectors and underlying business-friendly conditions. This was despite the survey — published Monday to mark the start of the World Economic Forum in Davos — being conducted in October and November, shortly after the pound and UK gilts had been hammered by investors following a botched budget from Kwasi Kwarteng, chancellor of the Exchequer at the time. PWC said 18% of chief executives said the UK was important to revenue growth, double the 9% proportion who said the same in 2020. “CEOs don’t expand and invest on a whim — they’re choosing the UK as that’s where they expect to see returns,” said Kevin Ellis, PWC’s chairman and senior partner in the UK. “That choice will be based on sector strengths in areas like AI […]

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Chastity Moore Over Earth Media LLC, Bryson MuDrow Chastity Moore is a business owner who wanted more collaborative spaces. After months of searching, she created the perfect collaborative space herself. Chastity opened The Business Owner’s Emporium (TBOE), Georgia’s first and only corporate solutions center. TBOE is a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs, with over 7,000 square feet of beautifully designed and furnished office that allows entrepreneurs to gather and co-work and includes amenities such as podcast recording spaces, conference rooms, and café space. This innovative solution allowed Chastity to build a successful business and become an inspiration to other entrepreneurs. Chastity began designing her workspace from scratch, focusing on creating a warm and welcoming environment without being too crowded or chaotic. She incorporated comfy chairs, cozy couches, natural light, and open space for people to collaborate in small groups or larger teams. The result is a high-end office space where other entrepreneurs could use state-of-the-art technology and be comfortable yet productive in a workspace that provides everything needed for collaboration and networking opportunities. Once she had created her perfect workspace, Chastity began building her business around it. She structured services that her company offers, such as business building services and […]

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MarketWatch Some predictions and advice for small business owners This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, small-business owners have faced ever-changing regulations, cash flow shortages and general economic uncertainty. And 2022 brought its own challenges: inflation, rising interest rates and staffing shortages, among others. Entrepreneurs, however, remain resilient and optimistic about the year ahead. In fact, 66% of small-business owners expect their revenue to increase over the next 12 months and 52% plan to expand their operations, according to an annual report by Bank of America in late 2022. So, what will 2023 bring for business owners? NerdWallet’s small-business writers offer their predictions and advice as we begin the new year. 1. Banks go all-in on customer experience Kelsey Sheehy: Expect online banks and neobanks to up their game — offering higher interest rates on checking and savings accounts and more business-friendly features — as they compete for customers in an increasingly crowded space. Business owners should shop around for an account that goes beyond the basic deposit account and find one that adds value to their company. Takeaway Consider whether your bank can be doing more for your business. You […]

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More state lawmakers are introducing bills to keep their state governments from doing business with financial institutions that take environmental, social or corporate governance into consideration when making investment decisions. Critics say these bills are designed to boost fossil fuel companies and will end up costing taxpayers. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Republican state policymakers’ efforts to boost fossil fuels by prohibiting their governments from doing business with companies that take sustainability into consideration has the potential to cost states millions, according to a study released Thursday. Researchers looked specifically at the possible effects on Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and West Virginia if they passed Texas-like legislation limiting investment options on municipal bonds and found it could cost them between $264 million and $708 million in additional interest payments. The study noted that the states had not passed such broad legislation. The six states are among two dozen that last year issued proposed or passed legislation prohibiting state government entities from doing business with financial firms that take environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) into consideration when making investment decisions as anti-ESG efforts spread from state treasurers and attorneys general to governors and lawmakers. Republican policymakers refer to ESG as […]

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