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<ul><li>The <keyword id="8194701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refurbished-smartphone" source="Orion">refurbished smartphone</keyword> market has recorded rapid growth in India.</li><li>While the unorganised sellers dominate the market, the organised sellers are also growing.</li><li>Affordability and shorter upgrade cycles are among the factors fueling the refurbished smartphone market.</li></ul> India's refurbished smartphone market is experiencing significant growth, outpacing the new smartphone sector. This reflects a maturing market which is increasingly catering to consumers looking for affordable yet reliable options. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, unorganised sellers dominate the refurbished smartphone market, accounting for 77% of transactions. The Indian refurbished smartphone sector has traditionally been dominated by unorganised players, offering devices at a fraction of the cost of the new models. However, the introduction of value-added services like warranties, quality assurance, and after-sales support by emerging e-commerce platforms is beginning to formalise this market, enhancing consumer trust and driving further growth. <h2>What’s fueling the refurbished smartphone market</h2><h3>Affordability</h3><keyword id="2698558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refurbished-smartphones" source="Orion">Refurbished smartphones</keyword> offer consumers access to higher-end hardware at lower costs, making premium technology more accessible to a broader audience. This aspect is particularly appealing in a price-sensitive market like India. <h3>Shorter upgrade cycles</h3>With technology evolving rapidly, many users prefer to upgrade their phones more frequently. Refurbished devices provide an avenue for this without the high cost associated with new purchases. <h3>Environmental impact</h3>There's a growing awareness of the environmental benefits of using refurbished products, which reduces electronic waste and the demand for new manufacturing, which is resource-intensive. <h3>Consumer confidence</h3>The entry of organised players who provide guarantees and quality checks on refurbished devices has significantly boosted consumer confidence. These services add a layer of reliability to what was once a market fraught with uncertainty about product condition and longevity. Despite the growth in the unorganised sector, there's a noticeable trend towards formalisation. E-commerce platforms specialising in refurbished goods are expanding, providing consumers with the convenience of online shopping backed by credible service commitments. The report also notes that this growth is not just contained within India. Globally, the refurbished smartphone market is on an upward trajectory, with similar trends observed in markets like Latin America, suggesting a broader international shift towards sustainable consumption in electronics. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/moto-g35-5g-with-120hz-5000mah-battery-launched-at-9999/articleshow/116172283.cms">Moto G35 5G with 120Hz display, 5,000mAh battery launched at ₹9,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/redmi-note-14-pro-and-redmi-note-14-pro-launched-in-india-starting-at-24999/articleshow/116134415.cms">Redmi Note 14 Pro and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ launched in India starting at ₹24,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/vivo-x200-and-x200-pro-camera-centric-to-launch-in-india-on-december-12/articleshow/115930004.cms">Vivo X200 and X200 Pro camera-centric smartphones to launch in India on December 12</a>

India's refurbished smartphone market witnesses accelerated growth

<ul><li><keyword id="19895203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicles" source="keywords">Electric vehicles</keyword> (EVs) are gaining popularity worldwide</li><li>However, concerns remain about their environmental impact</li><li> <keyword id="21881868" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="alternative-fuel" source="keywords">Alternative fuel</keyword> vehicles like hydrogen fuel cells and biofuels are some more alternatives we can tap into</li></ul> Electric vehicles or EVs are in their prime right now, with the demand crossing an all-time high. A trend noticeable around the world, EVs are not only becoming increasingly popular but also fairly affordable. Slowly but surely EVs are overcoming the challenges that crossed them — design, features, safety, and most importantly range. A major credit to this trend can be given to consumer acceptance, policy backing, and improving infrastructure. However, there is a downside to EVs as well. Having featured multiple EVs with our series<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCR3PaYxcmk&amp;t=1s" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank"> Short Spin, </a>I developed a strong reference point. This made me wonder why are we so heavily reliant on them. Over its life cycle, EVs cannot be termed as particularly environmentally friendly, which has been their main selling point over the past few decades. <h2>The ‘Red’ side of EVs</h2> There is a bit of red within the go-green agenda that EV manufacturers push. EVs as a whole do come with benefits like low maintenance, improved efficiency and ultimately lower fuel emissions. However, <keyword id="21357488" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="EV-production" source="keywords">EV production</keyword> and disposal can have detrimental effects on the natural environment. Here are some socio-ecological concerns over EVs: 1. High carbon footprint in battery production: EV battery production is energy-intensive and often relies on electricity from fossil fuels, leading to a high initial carbon footprint. This is elaborated in a story recently published by Earth Org. 2. Resource constraints and ethical concerns: Particularly with the extensive mining of cobalt and other minerals for EVs, there has been a global outcry. Limited availability of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, shady mining practices long work hours, unsafe work environments, and use of child labour in underdeveloped parts of the world have raised several ethical issues around the sustainability of EVs. This issue can be explored further in this essay by Al Jazeera. 3. Recycling and end-of-life challenges: EV battery recycling is currently inefficient, costly, and poses significant environmental risks, with a huge amount of batteries ending up in landfills. 4. Manufacturing costs and economic barriers: High production costs, especially for batteries, make EVs more expensive than conventional vehicles and require significant investments in new manufacturing facilities and supply chains. 5. Supply chain and geopolitical risks: Critical mineral resources necessary for EV production are concentrated in a few countries. This leads to vulnerabilities in the complex supply chain and often risks disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, or natural disasters. China as of today controls 83% of EV battery production in the world, with a major stronghold on the supply chain. While I am in no way suggesting to drop out of EVs, I believe sticking to just one alternative risks replicating the same mistake we did for ICE vehicles. So, what are the alternatives? <h2>The alternates fuel vehicles (<keyword id="23193800" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AFVs" source="keywords">AFVs</keyword>)</h2> AFVs are a growing segment of the automotive industry that utilize fuels other than traditional gasoline or diesel. These vehicles offer similar potential benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. While EVs are also a form of AFVs, here we will list out other major alternatives like hydrogen fuel and biofuel options. Hydrogen fuel cells: Convert hydrogen gas into electricity, emitting only water vapour. Currently, <keyword id="19906788" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Toyota" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Toyota" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Toyota">Toyota</keyword> and Hyundai are the only hydrogen-based cars in the Indian market. Hydrogen internal combustion engines: These vehicles use hydrogen as a fuel in modified combustion engines. While road-legal vehicles for this fuel type aren’t out, BMW with hydrogen 7 is working on a prototype. Ethanol: This is a renewable fuel made from plant materials, commonly mixed with gasoline. In America, Ford F-150 Flex-Fuel and Chevrolet Silverado Flex-Fuel are utilizing this technology. Biodiesel and renewable diesel: Derived from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled grease, these fuel types can be used in diesel engines. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): Perhaps the most famous alternative for cabbies in Delhi, CNG is in popular demand. Technically it is used in specially modified internal combustion engines, primarily for lower emissions. Propane (Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG): A byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining, used in internal combustion engines. As technology continues to advance, these AFVs are becoming more accessible and affordable, making them a promising option for sustainable transportation. If you are an eco-conscious buyer in today’s auto market, bear in mind that there are options beyond EVs as well. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/mercedes-expands-bev-range-rolls-out-second-locally-produced-model-in-india/articleshow/113388002.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Mercedes expands BEV range; rolls out second locally produced model in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/electric-two-wheeler-adoption-in-india-rising-13-share-expected-by-2026-27-jefferies/articleshow/113361787.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Electric two-wheeler adoption in India rising, 13% share expected by 2026-27: Jefferies</a>

EVs are not the only options for alternative fuel — make way for hydrogen and bio-fuel

Amid the ongoing geopolitical tension, the <keyword id="19904988" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-sector" source="keywords">energy sector</keyword> will continue to face challenge while the <keyword id="20468174" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-goods" source="keywords">consumer goods</keyword>, automotive, healthcare is set to expand in 2025, highlighted a report 'Industry Outlook 2025' by <keyword id="20618515" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Economist-Intelligence-Unit" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Economist Intelligence Unit" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Economist Intelligence Unit">Economist Intelligence Unit</keyword>. The report noted that the Fossil fuel markets will continue to face risks from geopolitical conflicts, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine. However, investments in <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword> will remain strong, especially in China, as the world pushes toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. The report said "Fossil-fuel markets will continue to face <keyword id="20064250" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="geopolitical-risks" source="keywords">geopolitical risks</keyword> amid conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, but investment into renewables will remain strong, particularly in China." It also added that the financial sector faces a mixed outlook with falling interest rates anticipated to narrow bank profit margins, potentially leading to smaller dividend payouts for shareholders. Yet, regulatory easing could provide relief, with the Basel III endgame likely seeing further delays, softening the impact on banking institutions amid a challenging economic landscape. For the consumer goods and retailing the report added that the Global retail volumes are forecast to grow by 2.2 per cent in 2025, thanks to easing inflation. However, stricter regulations on online retailing will target high-volume, low-price retailers, to ensure fair competition and consumer protection. It said "Global retail volumes will expand by 2.2 per cent, helped by disinflation, but regulations around online retailing will tighten further" As per report, the <keyword id="20359760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="automotive-sector" source="keywords">automotive sector</keyword> is set for a record year, it said "After a difficult few years, annual new-vehicle sales will reach a record 97.2m units in 2025. This includes a 2 per cent rise in new car sales, a 4 per cent increase in commercial vehicle sales, and a significant 16 per cent growth in <keyword id="19963112" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicle-sales" source="keywords">electric vehicle sales</keyword>, reflecting the sector's recovery and the shift toward cleaner mobility. In technology the report added more countries will adopt satellite internet, although the primary users will be enterprise clients, including military and maritime sectors. Amazon's Project Kuiper will challenge the existing market dominance of Starlink and EutelSat OneWeb, offering more competition and potential growth in satellite connectivity. The resulting tensions will continue to affect investment into production and market entry, with companies taking advantage of government incentives to build out more flexible supply chains. <keyword id="23684177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investment-in-technology" source="keywords">Investment in technology</keyword>, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), will also be strong as projects gather pace. However, technology companies will face pressure from several directions as regulations tighten (particularly in Europe), investors become more impatient for profits and their energy usage comes under more scrutiny.

Consumer goods, auto and healthcare sector to expand but energy may face challenge in 2025: Report

A public interest litigation (<keyword id="19957723" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PIL" source="keywords">PIL</keyword>) has been filed in the <keyword id="19905533" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bombay-High-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bombay High Court" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bombay High Court">Bombay High Court</keyword>, urging the establishment of stringent guidelines to curb <keyword id="21811854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-marketing" source="keywords">black marketing</keyword> and <keyword id="23311384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ticket-scalping" source="keywords">ticket scalping</keyword> for major events. The PIL comes in the wake of widespread concerns over alleged irregularities during the online sale of tickets for the British band Coldplay’s upcoming concert in Navi Mumbai, scheduled for January 2025. Filed by advocate Amit Vyas, the PIL highlights the growing menace of ticket scalping and black marketing at large-scale events, including concerts, live shows, and sports matches. The plea calls for a thorough investigation into illegal ticket sales and the manipulation of online ticketing platforms, with specific reference to Coldplay's highly anticipated concert. The plea was mentioned on Monday for urgent hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. Noting that a police inquiry into the matter was already underway, the court adjourned the hearing to November, after the Diwali vacation. <h2>Allegations of <keyword id="23627270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ticketing-irregularities" source="keywords">ticketing irregularities</keyword></h2>The PIL specifically alleges foul play during last month’s sale of tickets for Coldplay's concert on the popular online ticketing platform, <keyword id="20215809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BookMyShow" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BookMyShow" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BookMyShow">BookMyShow</keyword>. According to the petition, many potential buyers were locked out of the website within minutes of the ticket sales opening, only to discover that the tickets had been sold out. Shortly thereafter, these same tickets appeared on secondary platforms at exorbitant prices, fueling suspicions of deliberate manipulation. Vyas, in his submission, noted that secondary websites were still selling tickets at inflated rates. He argued that this exploitative practice deprived fans of their right to fair access to entertainment, violating the <keyword id="20003683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-protection" source="keywords">Consumer Protection</keyword> (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, which mandate fair and non-deceptive practices by e-commerce entities. The PIL underscored that this problem extends beyond the <keyword id="22044624" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Coldplay-concert" source="keywords">Coldplay concert</keyword>, pointing to similar issues during other major events, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and concerts of global artists like <keyword id="19897184" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taylor-swift" source="keywords">Taylor Swift</keyword> and Diljit Dosanjh. In each case, fans were exploited through black market ticket sales, with prices soaring well above their official rates. According to Vyas, there is an urgent need for the government and judicial system to intervene, as ticketing platforms and event organisers are either complicit or failing to regulate secondary market sales effectively. <h2>Call for stricter guidelines</h2>The plea calls for the Bombay High Court to lay down stringent guidelines to prevent the black marketing and touting of event tickets. Vyas has asked for a framework that would ensure transparency and fairness in <keyword id="23627269" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-ticket-sales" source="keywords">online ticket sales</keyword> and reduce the exploitation of fans. The PIL emphasises that the lack of proper regulations in India’s ticketing sector has allowed platforms like BookMyShow to bypass rules, leaving consumers vulnerable to deceptive practices. It urges the court to consider the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, as the basis for implementing stricter regulatory measures in the ticketing industry. <h2>Ongoing police investigation</h2>Following last month’s irregularities, Vyas lodged a police complaint with the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police, which is currently conducting an inquiry. The PIL has highlighted the need for a more immediate judicial intervention to prevent further exploitation in upcoming events. As the Coldplay concert approaches, the spotlight remains on the High Court’s response to this plea and whether it will pave the way for reforms that will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to India’s ticketing industry. The court is expected to hear the matter again in November. (With inputs from agencies)

Coldplay concert chaos aftermath: PIL filed in Bombay HC to demand stricter controls over online ticket sales

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Good morning. Milton has strengthened once again into a Category 5 hurricane. Gas stations across Florida are already <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-gas-stations-out-of-fuel-before-hurricane-milton-landfall-2024-10">running out of fuel</a> as millions of people try to flee.In today's big story, we got our first interest-rate cut, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cuts-outlook-economy-recession-no-landing-borrowing-2024-10">but it doesn't feel like it for many consumers</a>.What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: Roblox is the latest target of <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/roblox-stock-price-short-seller-hindenburg-report-gaming-inflated-metrics-2024-10">short-seller Hindenburg Research</a>.</li><li>Tech: The DOJ is considering asking a judge to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-search-antitrust-case-doj-remedy-alphabet-2024-10">break up Google</a>.</li><li>Business: Walt Disney World will temporarily <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-world-shut-down-hurricane-milton-florida-orlando-parks-2024-10">close its doors</a> for Hurricane Milton.</li></ul>But first, we're canceling the landing.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3 id="7fa5f018-5b05-4a37-a8dc-d3f89138bcb3">The big story</h3><h2 id="5fd547b9-ec52-41fc-8e08-4f4b27dd8097">So much for the help</h2><div type="image" title="Business person in a suit holding scissors, preparing to cut strings suspending a stack of cash, with a group of people standing below" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114087130" hostid="261" sizebytes="264596"></div>The US economy is having an Instagram vs. reality moment.Last month's interest-rate cuts were supposed to kick off a new era. After two years of battling inflation, the Federal Reserve finally claimed victory. More rate cuts were coming, which meant lower borrowing costs for everyone.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cuts-outlook-economy-recession-no-landing-borrowing-2024-10">But the relief many were hoping for isn't materializing</a>, writes Business Insider's Jennifer Sor. Let's break down why.We finally got an interest-rate cut, but borrowing costs are still high. What gives? First off, last month's interest-rate cut wasn't going to provide immediate relief. It takes time for cuts to trickle down to consumers. The Fed also telegraphed the cut, so the market started pricing it in.That seems fair, but borrowing rates are still rising in some cases. Yes, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mortgage-rate-increase-since-federal-reserve-cut-interest-rates-housing-2024-10">has gone up 47 basis points since the Fed cut rates</a>, writes BI's Matthew Fox.So the Fed cut rates but borrowing costs went up? How is that possible? You can thank the 10-year Treasury yield, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economy-outlook-impact-of-rate-cuts-10-year-treasury-yields-2024-9">which is a key benchmark used by</a> lenders. It went above 4% this week for the first time since August.I'm confused. Why is there such a discrepancy between the two? The Fed's rate is focused on the short-term while the 10-year Treasury reflects a longer-term view (hence the name). As a result, the 10-year bond yield can diverge from the Fed's benchmark rate.Gulp So what does the 10-year Treasury rising mean for the economy? Big picture, it's a good thing. Thanks to a stellar jobs report, investors have a positive view of the economy's future. But the downside is we shouldn't expect the slew of rate cuts investors were banking on. The economy will likely avoid a recession and not need the help.Is this a soft landing or a hard landing? Neither. It's considered a "no landing" because the economy remains strong, but in a way that risks reigniting inflation, which would hamstring the prospect of future stimulative rate cuts.What's with all the aviation metaphors? I don't know.OK, so at this rate, will I ever be able to buy a house? It's honestly not as bad as it seems. BI's James Rodriguez, who's covered the housing market for a while, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-ice-age-homebuyers-mortgage-rates-spring-real-estate-2024-10">has a piece on why the industry's ice age is starting to thaw</a>. There was a 34% year-over-year increase in active listings in September. More inventory will help unstick the economy.<h3 id="77f31a4c-8462-4e3d-a71f-838cb79493fb">News brief</h3><h2 id="1fcd294b-3f53-425f-9f20-4093e8623b59">Top headlines</h2><ul><li>The Kremlin says <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kremlin-says-trump-sent-putin-covid-tests-pandemic-denies-calls-2024-10">Trump sent Putin COVID tests</a> during the pandemic, but denies subsequent calls.</li><li>Boeing's negotiations with union leaders <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-strike-negotiations-union-leaders-break-down-after-two-days-2024-10">break down 2 days after restarting</a>.</li><li>Exclusive: AI cloud startup Ori is in talks to raise up to $80 million in funding, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ori-gpu-ai-startup-talks-raise-funding-nvidia-2024-10">sources say</a>.</li><li>A surprising company <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robotaxi-ridesharing-tesla-waymo-uber-2024-10">might beat Elon Musk</a> in the robotaxi race.</li><li>Influencers are swiping a new black card at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/influencer-marketing-startup-oth-network-pays-creators-products-services-2024-10">restaurants, spas, and fitness studios</a>.</li><li>I don't allow Roblox in my house. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/roblox-not-allowed-my-child-kids-why-explained-2024-10">Here's why</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="8120060b-ae66-48dc-b149-f0489a30ffa2">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="Photo of wave hitting Florida park" height="1000" width="2000" msid="114087135" hostid="261" sizebytes="112966"></div><ol><li>The Hurricane Milton trade is in full effect, according to US natural gas futures. Energy traders are betting the storm barreling toward Tampa will cause power outages in multiple states. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/hurricane-milton-power-outage-florida-electricity-natural-gas-prices-futures-2024-10">Futures on US natural gas have dropped 8% over the past few days</a> as power plants are expected to be left idling as demand evaporates.</li><li>A short-seller takes aim at Roblox for "lying to investors." Hindenburg Research accused the online gaming platform of <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/roblox-stock-price-short-seller-hindenburg-report-gaming-inflated-metrics-2024-10">inflating its user numbers</a> by including bots and players with multiple accounts. It also called Roblox a "pedophile hellscape," claiming child users are exposed to grooming and pornography. A Roblox spokesperson said in a statement it "totally" rejected the claims made in the report.</li><li>Bank of America is bullish on stock gains ahead of this earnings season. "The bar isn't high," BofA analysts said in a Tuesday note. Stocks should rise as long as companies report they're <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stocks-q3-earnings-lower-rates-stocks-returns-outlook-bofa-2024-10">feeling good about lower rates</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="f4b54806-7f81-450c-ba32-92560d4fae9b">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="Vinod Khosla" height="900" width="1200" msid="114087136" hostid="261" sizebytes="76966"></div><ol><li>OpenAI's exec exodus might actually be a good thing, Vinod Khosla says. The legendary investor backing OpenAI has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-vinod-khosla-fixing-ai-image-2024-10">plenty of confidence in the startup</a>, even after multiple high-profile exits. He also thinks the AI industry is catching strays from "Luddites" — those who think the tech is a slippery slope into a Westworld-ian apocalypse.</li><li>The DOJ may seek to break up Google. After a major antitrust lawsuit against Google, a federal judge ruled that it illegally monopolized online search. Now, prosecutors are proposing "behavioral and structural remedies." If enacted by a judge, the changes could <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-search-antitrust-case-doj-remedy-alphabet-2024-10">force a major reorganization or even a breakup</a> of some of Google's basic businesses, including its search engine.</li><li>Where are the Gen Z Mark Zuckerbergs? Gen Zers, aged 13 to 27, haven't produced any big-name tech founders like previous generations. But don't just blame it on Zoomers' blasé attitudes toward work — <a target="_blank" href="https://businessinsider.com/gen-z-tech-founder-gap-zuckerberg-bezos-holmes-2024-10">there's a bigger reason</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9260fa45-d397-4b3c-b4f8-4bb193976216">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="A screenshot of zara.com" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114087133" hostid="261" sizebytes="93076"></div><ol><li>Zara's bizarre website is the secret to its success. The site, which feels more like a magazine spread than an online retailer, is routinely roasted for being "virtually unusable." But experts say <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zara-website-memes-mocked-secret-success-aspirational-luxury-consumers-2024-10">there's a method to Zara's madness</a>: It's meant to project an upscale image, distancing itself from other fast-fashion brands.</li><li>The "happiest place on earth" takes a rain check. There are literally storm clouds forming over Florida's family-friendly amusement parks, as the state braces for Hurricane Milton. It's a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-world-shut-down-hurricane-milton-florida-orlando-parks-2024-10">rare occasion for Disney World</a>, which has only closed its gates nine times in more than 50 years.</li><li>Tesla executives are hitting the exits. In the past week, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-loses-4-top-executives-ahead-of-robotaxi-event-2024-10">four of Elon Musk's direct reports have announced they're leaving</a>, or have already left, the company. Their departures come ahead of Robotaxi Day tomorrow, where Musk is tasked with convincing investors that Tesla is more than just a car company.</li></ol><h2 id="9f5d80ac-3466-429f-a50a-2ffbb70c65ff">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Hurricane Milton is projected to hit the west coast of Florida, including the Tampa Bay area.</li><li>Federal Open Market Committee's September meeting minutes and forecast published.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

Why the interest-rate cut isn't delivering the relief consumers were hoping for

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Abaxx is a new commodities exchange that aims to stabilize prices and aid the energy transition.</li><li>"Trade and network keeps the world at peace," Abaxx's CEO told BI.</li></ul>The race to clean-up the global economy is on.Investment in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-renewable-energy-transition-solar-electric-vehicles-hit-records-2024-2">energy transition</a> — a broad shift from fossil-based energy production systems to renewable resources like wind and solar power — hit $1.8 billion in 2023, with countries like China and the United States leading the charge, according to BloombergNEF, an energy research company. The International Energy Agency says total investment in clean energy could reach $2 trillion by the end of the year.But the shift to a cleaner, lower-carbon world doesn't depend solely on the work of government officials, legislators, or even major businesses. It also hinges on players working behind the scenes to secure the prices of key commodities like liquefied natural gas, essential for electricity generation and heating, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fund-carbon-removal-corporates-avoid-bad-credits-2023-2">carbon offsets</a>, which help companies counteract the impact of their carbon emissions.A new Singapore-based commodities exchange called Abaxx, which launched in June, is working to do that by providing companies, governments, and project developers with a transparent marketplace for their trades. Commodities markets help stabilize prices by helping suppliers and consumers figure out fair prices, hedge against volatile price changes, and execute efficient and transparent transactions.Exchanges like Abaxx play a role in this because they help lock in prices and mitigate drastic fluctuations in the future. Abaxx deals in futures contracts, legally binding agreements to buy or sell commodities at a specified future date. Three regionally deliverable liquified natural gas contracts and two carbon offset contracts are already trading on the exchange. It's working on launching futures contracts for gold and battery metals, like lithium, a component in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-cheaper-electric-vehicle-battery-technology-lithium-shift-2023-3">batteries that power EVs like Tesla</a>.Josh Crumb, the CEO and founder of Abaxx, says unclear pricing can lead to higher and more volatile prices for consumers while also forcing commodity producers to navigate turbulent investment cycles."If we look at the battery supply chain, nickel sulfate, lithium, cobalt, these things have gone through huge swings of boom and bust over the last couple of years," Crumb told Business Insider. "The main reason why is we don't have a lot of market transparency so that people can forward plan, price, hedge, all of that."Crumb first realized that the commodity industry needed more innovation when he was working as a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rip-goldman-sachs-wall-street-investment-bank-dead-2023-11">strategist at Goldman Sachs</a> in the years following the 2008 financial crisis. That coincided with the end of the commodities boom of the 2000s, during which the prices of many commodities, from food to oil to chemicals, had drastically surged.Now, with trading in full swing, Crumb hopes Abaxx will play a role in stabilizing what he sees as the next commodity investment cycle — marked not just by a need for new commodities to facilitate the energy transition but also a surge in electrification."When people speak of the energy transition to a lower carbon economy, they are usually speaking of replacing internal combustion engines with electric vehicles, with electricity supplied by low carbon renewables, hydro, and nuclear power. This will lead to a dramatic increase in electricity consumption," a representative for Crumb wrote to Business Insider by email. Between 2022 and 2050, global electricity generation is expected to surge at a faster rate than it did over the past decade, according to a report from the International Energy Agency.Most importantly, though, exchanges like Abaxx could play a critical role in geopolitics, Crumb said. "You want more transparency; you want more markets because we think that leads to more peace," he said. "We think trade and networks keeps the world at peace."

Founder of new commodities exchange explains how it can fuel the green energy transition

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Microsoft, Oracle, and Amazon are venturing into nuclear power for data centers.</li><li>Nuclear power is reliable and carbon-free, crucial for AI-driven energy demands and climate goals.</li></ul>Nuclear power's stock is rising thanks to artificial intelligence's insatiable appetite for electricity.Tech giants including Microsoft, Oracle, and Amazon have struck deals in nuclear power this year in hopes of supplying their data centers with carbon-free electricity. The deals have buoyed the confidence of global financial institutions, 14 of which on Monday <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nuclear-power-banks-support-boost-output-microsoft-larry-ellison-2024-9">endorsed a goal to triple nuclear energy</a> by 2050. Bank of America and Goldman Sachs are among the signatories.It's a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nuclear-power-diablo-canyon-california-newsom-germany-japan">remarkable shift</a>, given that just five years ago the nuclear plant at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania shut down in part because it couldn't compete with cheap natural gas. The site was also a symbol of the risks of nuclear energy after one reactor partially melted down in 1979. Now Constellation Energy, the owner of Three Mile Island, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/three-mile-island-nuclear-plant-reopens-power-microsoft-ai-push-2024-9">plans to spend $1.6 billion over three years to reopen one reactor</a> that had safely operated for decades. Microsoft agreed to buy the electricity <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-plan-double-triple-data-center-capacity-2024-4">for its growing fleet of data centers</a>."It's only recently that people have come to appreciate the importance of [nuclear power] from a reliability perspective," Kathleen Barrón, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Constellation, told Semafor during an event at Climate Week in New York City. "But even more so, that there just are no other resources on the grid that can operate when customers need it, consistently, without any air pollution or carbon emissions."All those factors make nuclear attractive to Big Tech companies, which made lofty climate promises but are still generating more emissions as they aggressively invest in electricity-hungry data centers. Earlier this year, <a target="_blank" href="https://l.businessinsider.com/e/evib?_t=c8e10479a20f45bba5aad6c5f6fbb009&amp;_m=0dbc78003e564580b4e87c95698d0e02&amp;_e=8U4bXw3HX8KDYSsPzOolGOCYuGSttGyuSAzwaclc6RLhG88pp5ZvENg7wFUaiGhas0CJQxM0PQO-UKfMbE1JyA%3D%3D">Microsoft reported a 30% spike in carbon emissions</a> between 2020 to 2023, blaming AI and all the carbon-intensive cement, steel, and microchips needed to build data centers. Google reported a nearly 50% increase in emissions since 2019, citing similar drivers.That climate dilemma isn't slowing the AI boom. Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Apple are on track to spend a combined <a target="_blank" href="https://l.businessinsider.com/a/click?_t=c8e10479a20f45bba5aad6c5f6fbb009&amp;_m=0dbc78003e564580b4e87c95698d0e02&amp;_e=wWZA5Xoinj0sH2ZX3ugl_OzAKGrCiaQhI0tCdnLiYoGrY2K9XAQ9DXH1nfuXy-AVxR1I2cM5WdV4N__NEHyRgYfxy7pVcK_RoGnlzbfAMw0peO387D2ee0ZCHzEGiY5546lzxSGycKFUCR40aeM1KaciKqift090lKwLtQ-AzllnLeaMvGjH2Szgt7qYcBgSDAgaI_Mdcc7iH_aEDW-Bgh1nvCAEJ7ASTgU-RZ0dP8JOjrfM1r3GFWQ2YdecsSNiiMOGH1mQj_CO9LoLsPhlRawPXj44fGS-XAxiJXAiO3DhIdN0_A7HQjBdVIFETbbhh0ciFuWaBCHhWzClc4RKuys42wiLQFOopc9nCjwKVz5SFVkf_agp-59KZ3ilLlt162SzG2LHLnyVB6tPBRUdSpzM4IhgspSGtjURjCI2Cd8%3D">$200 billion</a> on fixed assets this year, with the majority of that money going toward data centers to support AI, according to a Bernstein research note from earlier this year. In the next five years, that spending could surpass $1 trillion.All the growth risks taxing an already-stressed power grid that uses a lot of dirty natural gas. The pipeline of data centers in places like Virginia and Arizona has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/data-centers-energy-demand-utilities-green-renewable-2023-10">already slowed the green energy transition</a>. The Electric Power Research Institute, an energy think tank, forecast that data centers could consume up to 9% of US electricity annually by 2030, compared to an estimated 4% today. And while tech companies are the largest buyers of solar, wind, and battery storage, it still isn't enough to meet the 24/7 needs of data centers.<h2 id="a02dd0e8-7117-4d44-8d2a-36fd9deff1d0">Delayed and over budget</h2>While nuclear power is around the clock, critics warn that it isn't a realistic solution to the data center problem. Hyperscalers need energy now and restarting a mothballed nuclear plant — let alone building new ones — can take years or even a decade. It's also an expensive gamble. Nuclear projects have a track record of going over budget. The most recent new US nuclear plant, built by Georgia Power, <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-nuclear-power-plant-vogtle-rates-costs-75c7a413cda3935dd551be9115e88a64">arrived seven years late and $17 billion over budget</a>.Three Mile Island could run into similar problems, said Tim Judson, executive director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, which advocates against nuclear power and for renewables like solar and wind. He noted that the plant needed licensing approvals from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and that reviving an old reactor that's been idle for five years could prove technically challenging.Barrón of Constellation Energy acknowledged that even with new federal tax breaks for nuclear energy, Three Mile Island wouldn't be economical to run without Microsoft, which agreed to pay a premium for electricity. Restarting the plant requires NRC approval following a safety and environmental review, as well as permits from state and local agencies. Constellation Energy said it will pursue a separate license renewal that extends operations to at least 2054.Judson is also concerned that Constellation Energy is talking to a regional grid operator, PJM, about putting the nuclear plant in front of a long queue of solar, wind, and battery storage projects waiting to be connected to the grid. He argued there'd be no need for a nuclear revival if renewable projects cleared those roadblocks faster.Nuclear's supporters disagree, including Arshad Mansoor, president and CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute. He told BI that no amount of renewables and battery storage will be enough to bring the economy to net-zero emissions. Data centers aren't the only driver of power demand. Electric vehicles and new manufacturing plants need electricity, too.Mansoor thinks the AI boom will actually accelerate a greener economy, noting that tech companies sparked greater deployment of wind and solar power."Now they've created a second spark, and it will not just be nuclear," Mansoor said.He predicted greater buy-in for geothermal, long-duration battery storage, and carbon capture and storage at gas plants — many more of which will be built in the coming years, Mansoor said.He also echoed what many tech executives said when defending AI's energy consumption: It will reduce emissions in the long run, such as by helping utilities manage the grid more efficiently and deploy renewables at peak demand times.However, it still isn't clear whether such benefits can offset soaring emissions.

Tech bros and bankers rally around nuclear power to fuel AI's rapid rise

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hurricane Helene has caused price-gouging complaints to surge in southeastern states.</li><li>Price gouging involves hiking prices excessively on essential goods, often during emergencies.</li></ul>As <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-helene-destroyed-safe-haven-maples-coffee-shop-north-carolina-2024-10">Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc</a> across southeastern US states, complaints of price gouging have surged.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grocery-costs-inflation-kamala-harris-ban-price-gouging-election-trump-2024-8#:~:text=Price%20gouging%2C%20in%20which%20companies,high%20grocery%20prices%2C%20as%20well.">Price gouging</a> is when businesses <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-dynamic-pricing-surge-cost-fatigue-2024-7">hike prices on goods or services</a> to excessive levels, often during emergencies, like a natural disaster, taking advantage of high demand and limited supply.Business Insider contacted the states worst hit by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/before-after-satellite-photos-hurricane-helene-destruction-florida-2024-10">the hurricane</a> — North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia — and found that several of them were either inundated with complaints of price gouging or had to issue warnings against it.In South Carolina, which had about 36 storm-related deaths, the Attorney General's office told BI it had documented at least 142 price-gouging complaints since the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-helene-electric-vehicles-evs-owners-fire-risk-safety-tips-2024-10">start of Hurricane Helene.</a>"Of these, most of the complaints are about hotels, gasoline, gas cans, generators, ice, and eggs," said Robert Kittle, communications director for South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, in an email.He added that more complaints were expected, noting that they still had 246 voicemails and emails to review.However, Kittle said not all of the complaints would warrant further investigation or meet the legal definition of price gouging under the state's law.Wilson, the AG, announced on Thursday that the state's price-gouging law was in effect.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-announces-state-s-price-gouging-law-in-effect-because-of-hurricane-helene/">The announcement</a> said that while the state could expect normal price fluctuations, which are legal, it also anticipated "businesses and individuals looking to unfairly take advantage of the situation," which would violate the law.Kittle said that most of the complaints were coming from upstate South Carolina.In neighboring <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-helene-hits-asheville-beer-microbreweries-north-carolina-floods-2024-9">North Carolina</a>, which experienced the highest death toll of about 56, there were also dozens of price-gouging complaints.A spokesperson for the North Carolina Attorney General's Office said the state's Department of Justice had received 64 complaints alleging price gouging in western North Carolina.Most complaints were about hotel rates as well as grocery and fuel prices, which they said the AG's office was investigating.In <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://ncdoj.gov/attorney-general-josh-stein-provides-update-on-price-gouging-after-hurricane-helene/">a statement</a> provided to BI, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said: "North Carolina has an anti-price gouging law to make sure that no bad actors try to take advantage of people's desperation.""My team and I aggressively enforce that law and won't let them," he added.Stein noted that more complaints might emerge as residents in western North Carolina, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-damage-port-strike-could-hurt-us-economy-2024-9">heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene,</a> could be facing difficulties connecting to phones or the internet.Florida, which had about 14 storm-related deaths, also received multiple complaints, though the state did not specify how many.Kylie Mason, communications director for Attorney General Ashley Moody, told BI they had received complaints "mostly about fuel and water."On Monday, Moody <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/consumer-alert-attorney-general-moody-warns-floridians-affected-hurricane-helene-about">issued a warning</a> urging Floridians to be "vigilant" for price gouging.The warning urged anybody suspicious of price gouging on storm-essential items to report it, noting that violators are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation.The attorneys general of Tennessee, which had about eight deaths connected to Hurricane Helene, and Georgia, with about 25, did not immediately respond to BI's request for data. But both states have issued warnings on price gouging.Georgia's Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://consumer.georgia.gov/business-services/emergency-price-controls">warned </a>that "although competition and demand drive prices in our free-market economy," Georgia law prohibits businesses from "taking advantage of the situation" during a state of emergency.It said price increases are only allowed if they reflect legitimate cost increases in stock, transportation, or the retailer's typical markup from the 10 days before the emergency.Similarly, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti condemned price gouging <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2024/10/1/pr24-70.html">in a statement on Tuesday</a>, urging victims to contact the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs."Price gouging and scamming vulnerable people after disasters is not only repulsive, it's illegal," he said.In Virginia, which had about two storm-related deaths, there were no complaints of price gouging at the time of reporting."While it is still early, we do not have any reports yet," said Shaun Kenney, director of communications for Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, in an email Tuesday.Kenney added: "The Virginia Attorney General's Office is doing everything we can to inform the public and make them aware of both their rights and the pathways available to move forward on any complaints or concerns."The issue of price gouging has become a political hot topic in the presidential election cycle, with Vice President <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-lower-grocery-prices-inflation-harris-price-gouging-proposal-2024-8">Kamala Harris pledging to stop it</a> in the food and grocery industries if she is elected president.Harris said she plans to pursue the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grocery-costs-inflation-kamala-harris-ban-price-gouging-election-trump-2024-8">first federal ban on price gouging</a> in response to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-prices-inflation-soaring-corporate-greed-profits-margins-wages-jobs-2023-4">painful inflation</a> in recent years — a plan that has received <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-price-gouging-ceiling-policy-inflation-krugman-oleary-ramsey-2024-8">mixed reviews from economists.</a>

Price-gouging complaints about the cost of fuel, water, and hotels are surging in states hit by Hurricane Helene    

<ul class="summary-list"><li>China's oil demand growth has slowed this year.</li><li>That's due to China's big shift to EVs and natural gas, Goldman Sachs analysts said. </li></ul>Oil demand in China has slowed markedly this year amid the country's shift to electric vehicles and natural gas, Goldman Sachs analysts said.The firm estimates that oil demand growth in the country is down to 200,000 barrels per day for 2024 compared to last year, with overall consumption down by 300,000 barrels a day. The shift from gas-fueled cars to electric and hybrid vehicles alone has reduced demand by 500,000 barrels a day, the analysts said. China's EV sector has expanded rapidly, with three of its biggest electric car makers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-electric-vehicles-byd-selling-record-cars-tesla-competition-deliveries-2024-7">hitting record sales in June</a>. A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-ev-makers-outpacing-tesla-in-one-key-area-2024-7">report</a> from last month finds Chinese EV companies are catching up to — and even beating — industry leader Tesla when it comes to innovation.In an earlier report, the analysts predicted the surge in electric and hybrid sales will cause China's road oil consumption to peak in 2025, years ahead of most emerging market economies.The analysts say the oil demand slowdown also indicates broader concerns around China's dependence on manufacturing."While oil data now send a too pessimistic message about China economic activity (fuel switching does not lower GDP), overcapacity highlights the fragility of China's manufacturing bet," the analysts wrote.The oil slowdown comes as China's economy faces a slowdown across the board, with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-housing-market-real-estate-crash-investors-outlook-construction-2024-3?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;_gl=1*1i3p3gk*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyNDE3MTUxMi41My4wLjE3MjQxNzE1MTQuNTguMC4w">struggling property sector</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-weak-domestic-demand-factory-activity-amid-strong-export-2024-7?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">weak consumer sentiment</a>.On Monday, the country's two main stock exchanges <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/chinese-stocks-sentiment-indicator-flows-foreign-investors-china-economy-2024-8#:~:text=China's%20economy%20is%20facing%20headwinds,first%20half%20of%20the%20year.">stopped reporting daily data</a> on flows from foreign investors, part of a greater move away from reporting real-time data as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-growth-consumer-spending-demand-real-estate-debt-crisis-2024-8">economy remains stuck in a rut</a>.

China's EVs are fueling a big oil demand slowdown

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US stocks traded mixed as traders reacted to a mixed inflation report.</li><li>Core consumer prices rose more than expected, reducing chances of a 50 basis-point rate cut.</li></ul>US stocks traded mixed on Wednesday, with investors staging a recovery after taking in a mixed inflation report. Major indexes pared their losses to end the day mostly flat, while bond yields moved higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/inflation-report-stock-market-today-fed-rate-cuts-economy-outlook2024-9">down as much as 600 points</a> earlier in the day before reversing course to end with a slight gain. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-report-stock-market-today-fed-rate-cuts-economy-outlook2024-9">Traders were rattled</a> after core consumer prices came in hotter-than-expected in the month of August, causing markets to take bets for a 50 basis point rate cut this month off the table.Markets are now pricing in an 85% chance the Fed will cut rates just a quarter-point at their policy meeting next week. Odds for a 50 basis-point cut have been slashed by more than half to just 15%, according to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">CME FedWatch tool</a>."The Fed will see the CPI report as another pebble on the scale for a quarter percentage point rate cut at next week's decision," Bill Adams, chief economist at Comercia Bank, said in a note. "The stickiness of service-price inflation makes the Fed likely to cut rates slower than financial markets currently assume," he later added."It is too early to declare victory on inflation: current levels of housing inflation are not consistent with the Fed's 2% core PCE inflation mandate," Bank of America strategists said in a note, reiterating their prediction for a 25 basis-point rate cut in September. "As long as a soft landing remains in play, we think that the Fed cannot take its eye off the ball on inflation."Investors will be tuned into other economic data points this week, which could also serve as input ahead of the Fed's policy decision on September 18. Markets will assess August producer price inflation data and weekly jobless claims on Thursday and fresh retail sales data next Tuesday.Tech shares were led higher by Nvidia, which jumped more than 8% as CEO Jensen Huang looked to assuage investors' concerns about how its customers were seeing a return on their massive AI investments. The executive addressed questions at an event hosted by Goldman Sachs on Wednesday. Here's where US indexes stood at the 4 p.m. closing bell on Wednesday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,554.11, up 1.07% </li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 40,861.71, up 0.31% (+124.75 points)</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 17,395.53, up 2.17%</li></ul>Here's what else is going on:<ul><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/nvidia-stock-price-jumps-as-jensen-huang-addresses-biggest-ai-question-2024-9">Nvidia stock jumped after CEO Jensen Huang looked to address key investor concerns</a>.</li><li>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-harris-debate-winner-djt-stock-election-bitcoin-trump-media-2024-9">market is acting like Harris won the presidential debate</a> last night.</li><li>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ai-stocks-overcooked-nvidia-seminconductors-morgan-stanley-mike-wilson-2024-9">AI theme in stocks is "overcooked,"</a> according to Morgan Stanley's CIO.</li><li>This corner of the stock market is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-mid-caps-outperform-rate-cuts-goldman-sachs-2024-9">bound to outperform once the Fed starts cutting rates</a>, according to Goldman Sachs.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price">West Texas Intermediate</a> crude oil rose 2% to $67.07 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, rose 1.7% to $70.40 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price">Gold</a> was lower by 0.25% to $2,510.16 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury yield ticked higher one basis point to 3.655%.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">Bitcoin</a> fell 0.6% to $57,574.</li></ul>

Stock market today: Indexes rise as stocks whipsaw after inflation-fueled decline     

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The market for pets, sports, and cultural IP are poised for huge growth in Chin, BofA says.</li><li>With demand outpacing supply in those sectors, greater investment could boost consumption.</li></ul>A family dog, tennis, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-duffy-friends-franchise-revenue-sales-asia-disneyland-linabelle-shanghai-2023-9">Disney Shanghai's LinaBell</a> character have one thing in common — they might end up pulling China out of a long slump in consumer demand. Those rapidly growing areas are poised to drive a rebound in China's anemic consumer spending, Bank of America analysts say."Despite aggregate demand remaining sluggish, structural changes in consumption patterns have led to rapid growth in select areas where supply has yet to catch up to demand," the analysts said in a Friday report.They point to pets, sports and cultural IPs as the most promising sectors."Expanding supply in these sectors, through either direct government investment or policy-guided private investment, could prove to be useful in boosting consumption," the analysts said.China's pet economy is seeing outsize spending as pets come to occupy a greater place of prominence in households. That means people are willing to spend more beyond basic necessities, buying pet services like skill training, insurance, travel, and photo shoots.Those services lack market penetration, and once supply catches up, could see further growth, the analysts say.The size of China's pet economy increased 40% from 2019 to 2023, and is projected to gain another 29% by 2026, the analysts say."For these owners, especially those in higher tier cities, pets are increasingly treated as key family members that offer important emotional support and companionships. Such pattern will likely become even more common in the future, especially as marriage rates and birth rates continue to tumble," the analysts said.China's sports economy also has room for growth amid rising demand, with just under 70% of the country's residents participating in sports at least once a week. That trumps the EU's 40% participation rate, the analysts say.Tennis, in particular, has picked up steam in the last few years, especially since a Chinese player won gold in the sport for the first time in history at this year's summer Olympics.China accounts for 23% of tennis players globally, but has under 9% of the world's tennis courts, the analysts say."This to us suggests that China can at least double the amount of existing courts to be on par with international levels," the analysts said. "Tennis also has a bigger multiplier effect to overall consumer spending given that fees across coaching, venue and equipment tends to be much higher than that for badminton and table tennis."They add that there's an opportunity, too, for China to host sporting events to take advantage of the growing interest and to attract more tourism.Finally, the analysts see significant growth potential in the country's "cultural IP" economy — spending on books, movies, and experiences based on fictional characters or storylines.That spending is especially pronounced in Disney Shanghai's LinaBell character, a pink fox introduced in 2021 that's seen huge popularity.The character Wukong from the Chinese classic tale Journey to the West is a source of big spending, too, especially with the recent release of Black Myth, a video game based on the tale. It sold over 10 million copies globally in the four days following its release."Consumers have ever growing demand for unique emotional values. This can come in the form of a quirky Disney character that is stress relieving or in the form of a video game with traditional Chinese symbols, such as the Black Myth, which provides cultural pride," the analysts said.China's economy has been stuck in the doldrums amid <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-weak-domestic-demand-factory-activity-amid-strong-export-2024-7">weak consumer spending</a>. Retail sales grew just 2% in June before jumping to 2.7% in July, even as disposable incomes have grown.China's economic slump has also been fueled by a collapsing property market, with property sales tumbling and much of the country's available housing supply remaining vacant.

Pets, sports, and Disney might end up rescuing China's ailing consumer economy

After reporting <keyword id="21767878" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="record-profits" source="keywords">record profits</keyword>, state-owned <keyword id="20459282" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="fuel-retailers" source="keywords">fuel retailers</keyword> <keyword id="19908045" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Oil-Corporation" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Oil Corporation" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Indian Oil Corporation">Indian Oil Corporation</keyword> (<keyword id="6354733" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IOC" source="Orion">IOC</keyword>), <keyword id="19908646" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BPCL" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BPCL" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="BPCL">BPCL</keyword> and <keyword id="20052221" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HPCL" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="HPCL" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="HPCL">HPCL</keyword> posted up to 90 per cent slump in their June quarter earnings as margins fell and they booked under-recovery on the sale of domestic cooking gas LPG at government-controlled rates. IOC, the nation's largest oil firm, reported 81 per cent drop in standalone net profit in April-June - the first quarter of current 2024-25 fiscal year - to Rs 2,643.18 crore as opposed to a profit of Rs 13,750.44 crore a year back, according to a company filing. Net profit also declined sequentially, when compared to an earning of Rs 11,570.82 crore in March quarter. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) posted 90 per cent drop in profit to Rs 633.94 crore as compared to an earning of Rs 6,765.50 crore in April-June 2023 and Rs 2,709.31 crore in the preceding March quarter. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) net profit dropped to Rs 2,841.55 crore in April-June from Rs 10,644.30 crore a year back and Rs 4,789.57 crore in January-March, its filing showed. The three fuel retailers made extraordinary gains from holding petrol and diesel prices despite a drop in cost. The price freeze was justified in the name of recovering losses they had suffered in the previous year when they did not raise retail prices despite a surge in cost. The gains arising from the price freeze were eroded with petrol and diesel prices being cut by Rs 2 per litre each just before general elections and a fall in refining margins. Also, the three had uncompensated <keyword id="20866844" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="LPG-subsidy" source="keywords">LPG subsidy</keyword> - IOC booking under-recovery of Rs 5,156.23 crore in April-June, BPCL Rs 2,015.10 crore and HPCL Rs 2,443.71 crore, according to the filings. As per an order of the oil ministry, when market determined price (MDP) of LPG cylinders is less than its effective cost to customer (ECC), oil marketing companies (OMCs) have to retain the difference in a separate buffer account for future adjustment. However, as on June 30, 2024, the three firms had a net negative buffer as the retail selling price was less than MDP. The three retailers IOC, BPCL and HPCL had reported record profits totalling about Rs 81,000 crore in FY24 (2023-24), which was far more than their annual earnings of Rs 39,356 crore in pre-oil crisis years. This is because they resisted calls to revert to daily price revision and pass on softening in rates to consumers on grounds that prices continue to be extremely volatile - rising on one day and falling on the other - and that they needed to recoup losses incurred in the year, when they kept rates lower than cost. IOC in 2023-24 posted a standalone net profit of Rs 39,618.84 crore compared to Rs 8,241.82 crore in 2022-23. While the company could argue that FY23 was impacted by the <keyword id="21626914" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="oil-crisis" source="keywords">oil crisis</keyword>, the FY24 earnings are higher than even the pre-crisis years - Rs 24,184 crore net profit in 2021-22 and Rs 21,836 crore in 2020-21. BPCL posted a net profit of Rs 26,673.50 crore in FY24, higher than Rs 1,870.10 crore earnings in 2022-23 and Rs 8,788.73 crore in FY22. HPCL's 2023-24 profit of Rs 14,693.83 crore is compared with a Rs 8,974.03 crore loss in FY23 and a profit of Rs 6,382.63 crore in 2021-22, according to the filings. The losses in FY23 had led to the finance minister announcing Rs 30,000 crore equity infusion in the three firms. Mid-way through the year, that support was halved to Rs 15,000 crore. The support was to happen by way of equity infusion via a rights issue. But after the record profits of 2023-24, the equity infusion plan has now been scrapped. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had on February 1 last year, while presenting the annual Budget for the 2023-24 fiscal (April 2023 to March 2024), announced an equity infusion of Rs 30,000 crore in IOC, BPCL and HPCL to support the three state-owned firm's energy transition plans. In the interim budget that the finance minister presented in February this year ahead of the general elections, the capital support to the three oil companies was halved to Rs 15,000 crore. In the full budget for 2024-25, both plans have been scrapped. While other state-owned oil companies like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and GAIL (India) Ltd too have lined up billions of dollars of investment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, the equity support was limited to the three fuel retailers, which had suffered huge losses in 2022 when they held retail petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) prices despite a spike in raw material (crude oil) prices, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The board of IOC and BPCL had last year approved rights issues to raise to Rs 22,000 crore and Rs 18,000 crore, respectively. The government was to participate in the rights issue. The three companies, which control roughly 90 per cent of India's fuel market, 'voluntarily' have not changed petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) prices, resulting in losses when input costs were higher and profits when raw material prices were lower. They posted a combined net loss of Rs 21,201.18 crore during April-September 2022 despite accounting for Rs 22,000 crore announced but not paid LPG subsidy for the previous two years. Subsequent softening of international prices and government giving out LPG subsidies helped IOC and BPCL post annualised profit for 2022-23, but HPCL was in the red. In FY24, things changed dramatically, and the three firms posted record earnings.

After record profits, state-owned fuel retailers Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL see profit slump in Q1

New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI): Oil marketing companies have announced a significant increase in the prices of commercial Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) gas cylinders, effective from March 1. Sources reveal that the rate of 19 kg commercial LPG gas cylinders has been raised by Rs 25.50, impacting consumers across various metro cities. The revision in prices comes amid ongoing fluctuations in fuel costs and market dynamics. According to the latest updates, the retail sales price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi will stand at Rs 1795 from March 1 onwards. This adjustment reflects the evolving landscape of fuel pricing and its implications for consumers. Comparing the revised prices with previous rates offers insights into the extent of the increase. In metro cities like <keyword id="19896626" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kolkata" source="keywords">Kolkata</keyword>, <keyword id="19895282" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai" source="keywords">Mumbai</keyword>, and <keyword id="19895758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chennai" source="keywords">Chennai</keyword>, the prices of 19 kg <keyword id="20787104" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indane" source="keywords">Indane</keyword> gas cylinders have also been revised upwards. Kolkata will witness a price hike to Rs 1911, while Mumbai and Chennai will see prices rise to Rs 1749 and Rs 1960.50, respectively. The escalation in prices follows a series of consecutive revisions in recent months. Previous prices of 19 kg Indane gas cylinders on January 1 and February 1, highlight the upward trajectory of fuel costs. On February 1, the prices of Indane gas cylinders varied across metro cities, with Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai each having distinct rates. In Delhi, the price stood at Rs 1769.50, while Kolkata recorded Rs 1887, <keyword id="20787105" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai-rs" source="keywords">Mumbai Rs</keyword> 1723.50, and Chennai Rs 1937. These prices served as the baseline for consumers at the beginning of the month. However, with the advent of March 1, consumers witnessed a notable increase in the prices of Indane LPG gas cylinders across all metro cities. In Delhi, the price surged by 1.44 per cent (Rs 25.5), reaching a new rate of Rs 1795. Similarly, Kolkata experienced an increase of 1.27 per cent (Rs 24), resulting in a revised price of Rs 1911. Mumbai saw a rise of 1.48 per cent (Rs 25.5), bringing the price up to Rs 1749, while Chennai witnessed an increase of 1.21 per cent (Rs 23.5), setting the new rate at Rs 1960.50. The impact of these price hikes is felt across various segments of society, highlighting the broader economic ramifications of fluctuations in fuel prices. The increases underscore the challenges faced by consumers amidst fluctuating fuel prices and economic uncertainties. While the precise reasons behind the price hike remain undisclosed, various factors such as changes in international oil prices, shifts in taxation policies, and supply-demand dynamics likely contribute to such adjustments. The consecutive revisions emphasize the volatile nature of the energy market and its implications for households and businesses reliant on commercial LPG cylinders. (ANI)

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