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eNCA
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- eNCA
Lights, cameras, action at Eurovision Song Contest final
SWITZERLAND - In a blaze of laser lights, artists from 26 countries were preparing to rip the roof off at Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest final, the world's biggest live music television event. An estimated 160 million people across Europe and beyond are expected to tune in for the TV extravaganza, where kitsch, drama, pyrotechnics and histrionics take centre stage. Sweden has long been the bookmakers' hot favourite to win the 69th edition of the glitzy contest with the comedy trio KAJ's "Bara Bada Bastu" song on the delights of sweating it out in a sauna. But after two semi-finals and strong performances, Austria, France, Finland, the Netherlands and Israel are fancying their chances of causing an upset at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel. And there could always be a surprise in store, with Estonia, Albania and host Switzerland all thought to have an outside chance when the viewers' votes come in. Mystery also surrounds whether Canadian megastar Celine Dion - who won Eurovision in 1988 when competing for Switzerland - might make an emotion-drenched return, despite concerns around her struggles with Stiff Person Syndrome, a painful autoimmune disorder. - Adrenaline, poetry, booming beats - Hardcore fans snapped up the 6,500 highly coveted tickets for Saturday's showpiece final. AFP | Fabrice COFFRINI Eurovision director Martin Green said the excitement had built to a fever pitch. "The staff and crew are exhausted but super happy," he told AFP. "What energises us all is going to see those artists sing, and you just get this shot of adrenaline. Some of those performances just rip the roof off." The 26 songs in contention are a showcase of Europe's different musical scenes. They include Portuguese guitar ballads, Maltese divas, Lithuanian alternative rock, Austrian operatics, Italian singalongs, Greek power ballads, ethereal Latvian choral folk and German booming beats. "I find the final line-up quite diverse, with both up-tempo entries and ballads, and some slightly more poetic moments," said Fabien Randanne, a music journalist for France's 20Minutes newspaper and a Eurovision veteran. "It's very difficult to say which way the viewers' hearts will go," he told AFP. - Flames and hot coffee - Norway's Kyle Alessandro opens the show in a burst of flames, followed by Luxembourg's Laura Thorn in an LED dolls' house, and Estonia's wobbly-legged Tommy Cash, with his light-hearted cod-Italian "Espresso Macchiato". After a whirlwind tour around the continent, France, San Marino and finally Albania will be freshest in voters' minds as they make their final decisions. The TV spectacular starts at 1900 GMT, with two hours of performances, before the nail-biting drama begins as the votes come in from around the continent. Separate jury and viewer votes from each of this year's 37 participating countries - with equal weight - plus an extra vote from the rest of the world combined, will decide who wins the coveted microphone-shaped trophy. The juries' votes are already in, based on Friday's untelevised full dress rehearsal held in a packed St. Jakobshalle. AFP | SEBASTIEN BOZON Though sworn to secrecy on the numbers, Eurovision voting supremo Thomas Niedermayer said this week's semi-finals - when 20 countries progressed and 11 were eliminated - had been "really close". "It was even much closer than the points make it appear. So it has been an exciting race and it's going to be a close race for the winner." - Leather-clad lust - Israel's participation in Eurovision 2025 has drawn small-scale protests in Basel over the war in Gaza. Its entrant Yuval Raphael, singing "New Day Will Rise", survived the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war, hiding beneath bodies as Hamas gunmen attacked a music festival, killing hundreds. AFP | Fabrice COFFRINI Finland's leather-clad Erika Vikman has been gaining momentum during Eurovision week with the raunchy "Ich Komme", about falling into the trance of lust -- finishing with the singer hoisted in the air on a spark-emitting golden microphone, thrilling the audience. "I feel very loved when I'm in front of them and I want to give love to them also," she said. Ukraine won Eurovision in 2022 and trio Ziferblat are hoping the audience can inspire them to reclaim the trophy with "Bird of Pray". "It's very important to perform in front of a crowd because we need a response, we need to share emotions with them - and that will go through the television screen," guitarist Valentyn Leshchynskyi told AFP. AFP | Fabrice COFFRINI Malta's Miriana Conte is bringing diva vibes, with a giant pair of lips, leopard print, furs and fans. "It's not just the glitter and glam - you can see there's a lot of work behind it," she said. The winning country gets to host next year's Eurovision jamboree.
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Meta Earnings: AI Push, Tariff Impact, & Ad Revenue Are In Focus
A photograph taken during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 19, ... More 2025, shows the logo of Meta, the US company that owns and operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) Meta Platforms scheduled to report earnings after Wednesday's close. The stock recently hit a record high near $740.91/share and is currently trading near $554. The stock is prone to big moves after reporting earnings and can easily gap up if the numbers are strong. Conversely, if the numbers disappoint, the stock can easily gap down. To help you prepare, here is what the Street is expecting: The company is expected to report a gain of $5.22/share on $41.27 billion in revenue. Meanwhile, the so-called Whisper number is a gain of $5.40/share. The Whisper number is the Street's unofficial view on earnings. The company has grown its earnings nicely over the last several years. In 2020 the company earned $9.78, in 2021 the company earned $13.77. In 2022, earnings fell to $8.59. Then, in 2023 earnings soared to $15.56. in 2024, earnings jumped to $23.86 and are expected to grow to $24.58 in 2025. In 2026, earnings are expected to grow again to $27.89. Meanwhile, the stock sports a price to earnings ratio of 23 which is near the S&P 500. Click on the chart to join Market Surge Technically, the stock is in a multi-month downtrend and trading below its important moving averages. Near term resistance is the 200 DMA line and then the 50 DMA line. On the downside, near-term support is 493-500. That said, the stock can easily gap up and that's what the bulls want to see after earnings are announced. Conversely, the bears want to see it gap down and fall. Meta Platforms, Inc. engages in the development of products that enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality headsets, and wearables worldwide. It operates in two segments, Family of Apps and Reality Labs. The Family of Apps segment offers Facebook, which enables people to share, discuss, discover, and connect with interests; Instagram, a community for sharing photos, videos, and private messages, as well as feed, stories, reels, video, live, and shops; Messenger, a messaging application for people to connect with friends, family, communities, and businesses across platforms and devices through text, audio, and video calls; and WhatsApp, a messaging application that is used by people and businesses to communicate and transact privately. The Reality Labs segment provides augmented and virtual reality related products comprising consumer hardware, software, and content that help people feel connected, anytime, and anywhere. The company was formerly known as Facebook, Inc. and changed its name to Meta Platforms, Inc. in October 2021. The company was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California From where I sit, the most important trait I look for during earnings season is how the market and a specific company reacts to the news. Remember, always keep your losses small and never argue with the tape. Disclosure: The stock has been featured on
Forbes
21-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Big Tech In Turmoil, The Challenges Confronting Meta And Google
This photograph taken on January 19, 2025, shows a sign of US technology company Google displayed ... More during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) Meta Platforms (META) and Alphabet (GOOGL), the parent company of Google, face mounting challenges. These issues have shaken investor confidence. Their stock prices are down 32.3% for Meta and 27.0% for Google from all-time highs, reflecting these challenges. Once unshakable pillars of the tech industry, these giants are contending with regulatory scrutiny, economic headwinds from tariffs, intense competition in AI, and internal restructuring efforts. Both Meta and Google are under intense regulatory pressure too. The tech giants are facing antitrust lawsuits that threaten their core business models. Meta is embroiled in a high-stakes trial with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The agency alleges the company maintains an illegal monopoly through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC seeks to force Meta to divest these platforms, a move that could dismantle its social media empire. Additionally, Meta faces scrutiny in the European Union under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), which impose strict data handling and competitive practice regulations. Google's core search business faces existential threats from AI-driven alternatives, and its cloud division has underperformed expectations. The antitrust ruling and potential Chrome divestiture add uncertainty. Despite its $75 billion AI investment, Google's stock has lagged, with analysts questioning its ability to adapt without disrupting its search monopoly. Google, meanwhile, is reeling from a federal judge's ruling that it illegally maintained a monopoly in online search. The U.S. Department of Justice has proposed forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser to restore competition, with Google planning to appeal, according to The Los Angeles Times. These legal battles create uncertainty, as potential breakups or fines could erode market dominance and profitability. The tech sector is navigating a perfect storm. Trump's tariffs and recession fears have triggered a $750 billion market cap loss for the seven largest tech firms on March 10, 2025, per CNBC. AI spending, while transformative, raises concerns about the return of investments (ROI), especially with competitors like DeepSeek challenging U.S. dominance. Layoffs signal a shift toward efficiency, but they risk stifling innovation, according to the Times of India. Both companies are pouring billions into AI, but investor concerns about returns are growing. Meta plans to spend over $60 billion in 2025, focusing on AI to enhance ad targeting and develop tools like personalized assistants, per Business Insider. Google is investing $75 billion, aiming to bolster its cloud and AI capabilities. However, the emergence of China's DeepSeek, an open-source AI model built at a fraction of U.S. costs, has rattled investors, raising fears that cheaper competitors could undercut their investments, per the Economic Times. Business Insider reported Meta's CTO, Andrew Bosworth suggested that Google faces a 'business model challenge' in AI, as it may need to cannibalize its search dominance to innovate. Both companies are cutting jobs to streamline operations and prioritize AI. Meta eliminated 3,600+ positions in 2025, part of a strategy to recruit AI talent. Google is on its third round of layoffs, targeting its Platforms & Devices unit, including Android and Pixel teams, with the potential of hundreds affected. These cuts, while aimed at efficiency, signal instability, eroding employee morale and investor confidence. Meta faces fierce competition from TikTok, projected to surpass 1.8 billion users in 2024, challenging its social media dominance. Also, Meta is experiencing a decrease in advertising revenue due to the significant reduction in ad spending by major advertisers like Temu and Shein, reports Investor's Business Daily. Google's core search business is threatened by AI-driven tools that generate quick summaries, potentially reducing reliance on traditional search. Both companies are also navigating a broader tech selloff, with the Nasdaq dropping to a six-month low in March 2025 amid recession fears and tariff concerns, reports CNBC. Meta and Google face daunting challenges in 2025, but their scale and innovation offer paths to recovery. Meta can lean on AI-driven ads, Threads, and smarter Reality Labs investments, while addressing content moderation issues. Google must bolster search with AI, accelerate cloud growth, and monetize YouTube, while navigating antitrust and tariff hurdles. Shared strategies, countering DeepSeek, clear investor communication, and diversification, can stabilize both. With Meta's stock down 32.3% and Alphabet's 27.0%, executing these strategies is critical to restoring investor confidence and reclaiming market leadership.
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Corporate Activism & Portfolios: Here's What Investors Need To Know
An angry shareholder shouts out during the annual general meeting of Credit Suisse bank, in Zurich, ... More on April 4, 2023, following the takeover by UBS of Credit Suisse hastily arranged by the Swiss government on March 19 to prevent a financial meltdown. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) In today's polarized climate, politics is no longer confined to elections or legislation. It is also influencing how people invest. From rainbow logos during Pride Month to high-profile donations to advocacy groups, companies are increasingly taking public stances on controversial social issues. This trend, known as corporate sociopolitical activism (CSA), has grown rapidly in recent years, sparking consumer movements, shifts in brand loyalty, and as recent research shows, changes in investor behavior. But how exactly does CSA impact the average investor? Do personal political beliefs influence how we allocate capital? Researcher, Tim Sturr, and I published an experimental study in the International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility titled, How Corporate Sociopolitical Activism (CSA) impacts portfolio allocations: an experiment, that offers valuable insights and practical takeaways for working professionals, advisors, and investors who are navigating a financial landscape where social values and financial goals often intersect. It is important to understand the difference between Corporate Sociopolitical Activism (CSA) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR involves ongoing efforts to benefit all stakeholders, such as environmental sustainability initiatives, fair labor practices, and listening to the needs of the community. CSR acknowledges that natural resources, the community, the shareholder, and the employee all need to be taken care of well in order to create a sustainable business model. These efforts are generally viewed as inclusive and long-term in nature. CSA, on the other hand, involves highly visible, often partisan stances on divisive social and political issues. Examples include public support for organizations like Planned Parenthood, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, or religious freedom initiatives. These are issues where public opinion is sharply divided and where a company taking a position can create backlash (e.g., Target, Budweiser). In our study, nearly 1,500 participants were asked to allocate a hypothetical $100,000 retirement portfolio among four different corporate stocks. Each company had identical financial metrics. The only difference between the companies was in how they engaged with their communities. Some supported neutral causes like food pantries or mobile health clinics, while others were aligned with politically charged issues such as LGBT diversity programs or Planned Parenthood. Our two key findings from this study are: The study found that Democrats were significantly more likely to allocate funds toward companies supporting progressive causes, such as LGBT rights or Planned Parenthood. Republicans, by contrast, preferred companies aligned with conservative values, including those supporting religious freedom organizations. In some cases, portfolio allocations differed by more than seven percentage points depending on the political orientation of the investor. These differences are meaningful enough to influence capital flows and could impact both company valuations and the cost of capital. The findings confirm what many people have sensed: values-based investing is no longer limited to ESG or faith-driven funds. It has become a highly personal and increasingly political activity. In general, participants tended to under-allocate to companies involved in political stances, regardless of their political affiliation. Democrats allocated nearly nine percent less to a company supporting the Religious Freedom Institute, which was expected. But they also allocated less to a company supporting LGBT causes than to one supporting a non-political cause. Similarly, Republicans under-allocated to conservative-leaning CSA firms relative to neutral ones. This suggests that while political identity plays a role, investors may still view CSA activity (i.e., companies taking political stances) as a potential risk. Prior research supports this notion, indicating that CSA can signal a shift in focus away from profitability toward more unpredictable ventures. Whether you are managing your personal investments, participating in a workplace retirement plan, or making strategic decisions for your firm, firms taking highly polarized political stances (i.e., CSA) introduces new variables into the decision-making process. Here are three ways to respond: Many investors evaluate companies based solely on earnings, growth, and valuation. But in an environment where public perception matters, CSA activity can affect long-term outcomes. Use investing platforms that offer transparency around a company's values, partnerships, and community involvement. Several screening tools now provide filters to identify companies based on social or political engagement, which can help align your investments with your personal principles or avoid risks associated with partisan backlash. A few examples of this include: MSCI ESG Manager, Inspire Insight Pro, and Invest Your Values. CSA forces investors to confront a deeper question: Should your investments reflect your values? For some, financial return is the only goal. For others, investing creates culture and it is important for investors to be thoughtful about what type of culture they are creating through their investments. However, unlike traditional ESG investing, CSA often favors one political constituency over another. Investors must weigh the emotional reward of value alignment against potential financial volatility. Understanding where you stand (and how much weight you place on ideology) will help you make more intentional choices. If CSA-related risk is becoming a growing concern, diversification remains your best defense. Avoid concentrating investments in companies that are heavily involved in sociopolitical activism, regardless of whether you agree with their views. For professionals overseeing retirement plans or advising clients, consider including investment options that emphasize neutrality or long-term CSR practices rather than activism. This approach promotes broader appeal and reduces the likelihood of controversy-driven volatility. Our research makes one thing clear: political affiliation now plays a significant role in how people invest. As companies increasingly step into the public sphere on contentious issues, the effect on capital allocation cannot be ignored. For corporations, the message is sobering. CSA may strengthen brand loyalty with one group but drive away another. In fact, the study found that firms could face an under-allocation of up to nine percent in portfolio investments because of CSA activity. That is a real financial cost—and one that should be carefully considered in the boardroom. For investors, the implications are just as important. Your political identity and emotional response to social issues may be influencing your financial decisions more than you realize. In some cases, this alignment may bring a sense of satisfaction. In others, it could introduce unnecessary risk. Ultimately, the decision of where to place your money is not just a matter of strategy. It is also a reflection of who you are and what you value. As the boundaries between personal belief and professional investing continue to blur, thoughtful reflection and intentional diversification will become more essential than ever. Because in a world where every dollar can be a statement, it is important to be clear about what you are saying—and what it might cost.
