Week InReview
Friday | Jan 29, 2021
The future of meetings.
Is it time to rethink how meetings are conducted in more fundamental ways? The Journal spoke with management gurus, technologists, academics and startup founders to hear how technology has the potential to this essential and much-maligned fixture of work life. 

— The Wall Street Journal
let's recap...
Jerome Powell
Photographer: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg
Declaring that the battle against Covid-19 is not over, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell pledged to keep the monetary spigots wide open to aid the pandemic-hit economy, brushing aside concerns the super-easy stance will spawn a stock market bubble and too-high inflation. (Bloomberg Economics | Jan 28) see also Powell says no bond taper for 'some time' as recovery moderates (Bloomberg Economics | Jan 27)

Investors expect few fresh insights as companies roll out revamped disclosures about how they manage their most important asset: their employees. Newly required disclosures on human capital management mark an initial effort by the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide investors with more details about corporate environmental, social and governance factors (ESG) in annual financial reports. Under the new Democrat-led commission, the agency is expected to push through more mandatory reporting on diversity and climate risks facing companies. (Bloomberg Tax | Jan 27)

It won’t make the retail crowd any happier. But everything that had been making life miserable for institutional investors this week is reversing itself on Thursday. Bearish wagers beloved by hedge funds notched gains. Wall Street’s most-hated stocks plunged at last. The usual suspects from Amazon.com Inc. to Microsoft Corp. powered large-caps higher. (Bloomberg Markets | Jan 28)

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen highlighted the past coordination between her new department and her previous fiefdom, the Federal Reserve, as she sought to rally the agency’s staff in battling an array of crises besetting the nation. (Bloomberg Economics | Jan 26) see also Yellen takes charge at Treasury with economic rebound weakening (Bloomberg Politics | Jan 26)

Coronavirus restrictions hit the economy hard in the first half of last year, but economists expect it to recover most of its losses and pick up steam this year following its worst year since the 1940s. A strong rebound in the second half of 2020 wasn’t enough to overcome the economic shock created by the pandemic earlier in the year. (The Wall Street Journal | Jan 28)
SEC monitoring volatility in options, equities markets
(Jan 27) — The Securities and Exchange Commission said it is “actively monitoring the on-going market volatility in the options and equities markets.” In a joint Division of Examinations and Division of Trading and Markets statement regarding ongoing market volatility, the agency said “We are working with our fellow regulators to assess the situation and review the activities of regulated entities, financial intermediaries, and other market participants.”
the cyber cafe
Europol headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.
Photo: Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg
Emotet botnet disrupted by global law enforcement campaign
A law enforcement operation involving six countries, including the U.S. and U.K., disrupted one of the world’s most prolific botnets — a network of computers infected with malware and used in cyber-attacks. Emotet's malware has targeted a wide range of networks including global financial institutions.

CISA launches new ransomware campaign
As part of their Reduce the Risk of Ransomware Campaign, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency unveiled its new ransomware webpage, which includes CISA's recently-published ransomware guide, a comprehensive, customer-centered resource featuring best practices and ways to prevent, protect, detect, and respond to ransomware attacks.
— CISA

North Korea's hackers embark on sweeping intelligence gathering
Hackers from North Korea have embarked on a sweeping intelligence gathering campaign aimed at cybersecurity researchers who hunt for vulnerabilities in corporate networks. Essential to the attack were several research blogs, YouTube videos, LinkedIn profiles and chat groups used by the hackers to build credibility in the hopes of duping the researchers.
MORE CYBER SECURITY NEWS HERE:
binge reading disorder
Images: oatintro/iStock, PhonlamaiPhoto/iStock, cyano66/iStock, 3000ad/iStock
The office as we know it is over: 3 predictions for a post-office future
  1. Workplaces will become more equitable
  2. Cities and towns will become more livable
  3. Companies will become more resilient and productive

Face mask chains, anti-fog spray, and other useful travel accessories
We continue to look for ways to make wearing a mask, whether it’s on a plane or to a nearby museum, feel like less of a chore and a touch more comfortable. Here are some face mask chains, antimicrobial travel kits, mask pouches, and more travel accessories to add to your carry-on when regular travel resumes — and to keep in your day bag until then.

6 habits of the most innovative people
Forward-thinking individuals have a number of things in common. For one, they innovate — usually not once, but multiple times over. And while this might seem like “business as usual” for these types of individuals, the reality is, most people struggle to be innovative more than once.
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