Week InReview
Friday | Jul 23, 2021
|
|
Do you feel like meetings are something that just happen to you? Like you have no control over your calendar? Are your days dotted with performance check-ins, general life catch-ups with your boss, meetings to prep for meetings? How often do you think, "This could have been an email?"
If you've reached peak meeting burnout, you're not alone. The pandemic has thrown many of us into digital communication overdrive, as managers try to keep tabs on far-flung workers and teams are forced to coordinate projects remotely.
Some workers – 70% in a recent poll – think going back to the office will help with meeting overload. But if your company is going hybrid, expect things to be messy.
— The Wall Street Journal
|
|
Housing expenses are quickly emerging as a pivotal indicator for officials at the Federal Reserve, within the Biden administration, and among private economists. So far this year, the shelter component of the consumer price index has shown smaller increases compared to the soaring expense of items such as used cars, airfares, and energy. But housing costs have nonetheless been edging up. (Financial Times | Jul 22)
The imminent return of the U.S. debt ceiling is causing angst for money-market traders once again. While the risk that Uncle Sam might default by missing a payment on a bill or two is minuscule, investors are wondering if and how the Treasury can slash its giant cash pile to the level the department has indicated would be consistent with its policies and the 2019 act that suspended the limit. And they’re concerned about the impact any moves could have on short-term funding markets, which underpin much of the global financial architecture. (Bloomberg Markets | Jul 21) see also Money-market funds buckled in two crises in a row. Regulators look to fix them again. (The Wall Street Journal | Jul 19)
Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler has a warning about the synthetic stocks popping up on blockchains: Firms selling the tokens to U.S. investors are likely to end up in trouble with regulators. In a Wednesday speech, Gensler made clear that tokens that mirror the performance of Amazon, Tesla, and other well-known companies are probably still covered by U.S. securities laws. He also pledged to use all the resources in the SEC’s “enforcement toolkit” to go after those who might be offering such assets without registering them. (Bloomberg Cryptocurrencies | Jul 21) see also U.S. SEC chair says agency to restart swaps regulation effort (Reuters | Jul 21)
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will have to manage two separate sets of delicate negotiations this fall around a global corporate-tax accord, each with clashing deadlines that could threaten the ultimate success of the deal. Group of 20 nations plan to finalize the details of a landmark global minimum tax and a rewrite of international tax rules at a summit in late October. (Bloomberg Taxes | Jul 21)
Active fund managers still favor stable growth stocks over cheap ones and are avoiding economically sensitive shares like banks and energy, just as they did during the market’s tumble in March 2020. Except for a growing aversion to industrial firms, managers’ preferences across sectors are almost identical to what they were almost 16 months ago, data compiled by Bank of America Corp. show. In fact, almost three-quarters of the same beloved stocks remain in their portfolios. (Bloomberg Markets | Jul 17)
|
|
Save the Date
Cybersecurity Community Capacity Building Webinar
Join experts from government and industry to explore models for building resilient cyber systems, case studies on public-private information sharing, and best practices for distributed and community-based cyber capacity building.
Date: Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Time: 2-3 pm ET
|
|
Cyberwar, how nations attack without bullets or bombs
Russia, Iran, China, and the U.S. are among the world’s leading practitioners of cyberwarfare — state-on-state hacking to gain strategic or military advantage by disrupting or destroying data or physical infrastructure. Unlike combat with bullets and bombs, cyberwarfare is waged almost entirely with stealth and subterfuge, so it’s hard to know when and where it’s occurring, or whether full-scale cyberwar is on the horizon.
Apple under pressure over iPhone security after NSO spyware claims
Apple has come under pressure to collaborate with its Silicon Valley rivals to fend off the common threat of surveillance technology after a report alleged that NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware was used to target journalists and human rights activists.
|
|
Peppa Pig, a pandemic favorite, has American children acting British
Children across the U.S. are emerging from the pandemic with an unusual vocabulary and a British accent, thanks to a cartoon about a young pig named Peppa.
Your brain has limits
In order to think the intelligent, informed, original thoughts we’re capable of, we can’t rely on the brain alone. Here are some simple ways to extend your mind, according to science.
Move over private equity
Trading platforms are helping investors tap pre-IPO companies. Nasdaq’s joint venture with large financial institutions is the latest entrant into the private share trading business.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
