💼 From Coffee Highs to Tech Lows

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☀️ Good Morning! Here's Your Daily Brew

Start your day with the freshest market insights, the latest business buzz, and a dose of industry trends—all served with a side of wit. From Microsoft outages to Macy’s holiday hustle and soaring coffee prices, we’ve got your morning covered. Let’s dive in!

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🚨 Microsoft 365 Meltdown: A Worldwide Wake-Up Call

Disruptions ripple through key services like Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.

If Monday felt a little less productive, Microsoft 365 users weren't alone. Millions across the globe faced outages, with many unable to view emails, load calendars, or access tools like Teams and PowerPoint. The culprit? A system update gone awry.

Microsoft swiftly deployed a fix, but recovery wasn’t immediate. While most users saw restored functionality by late afternoon, some environments continued to lag. Exchange Online and Teams calendar features were particularly affected, leaving businesses scrambling for alternatives.

Outage reports peaked midday before subsiding, highlighting the growing pains of cloud-based services. Despite the hiccup, Microsoft is committed to ensuring long-term stability.

💡 Stock check: Microsoft (MSFT) shares trade at $418, offering a 0.79% dividend yield (83 cents/share).

🛍️ Macy’s Accounting Glitch: Holiday Prep Hits a Snag

Retail giant delays earnings report amidst a multi-year delivery expense investigation.

Macy’s has hit the pause button on its Q3 earnings report as it investigates discrepancies in delivery expense records. The issue, traced back to improper entries by a former employee, has been resolved without impacting cash flow or vendor payments.

Preliminary results showed declining sales, though bright spots include stronger-performing brands like Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury. Additionally, stores receiving focused investments reported better-than-expected performance. Macy’s continues to optimize operations by closing underperforming locations and enhancing key stores.

Asset sales provided a financial cushion, while the company’s advertising business grew. However, credit card revenues dipped year-over-year, and executives are sharpening strategies for the all-important holiday season.

💡 Stock check: Macy’s (M) trades at $16, yielding a robust 4.36% (17 cents/share).

☕ Coffee Lovers, Brace for Impact: Prices Hit Record Highs

Global supply chain woes push coffee futures skyward.

Coffee prices are brewing trouble for your wallet. Arabica futures have surged to decades-high levels, fueled by adverse weather in Brazil (drought) and Vietnam (dry spells and heavy rains). This supply crunch has major players adjusting prices and packaging strategies.

The ripple effect? Rising costs for your morning cup of Joe. While some producers are holding out for even higher prices, robusta beans — the instant coffee staple — have also spiked.

With speculative trading driving further volatility, expect more price hikes and shifting consumer habits in the coming months.

🕵️ FTC vs. Microsoft: The Antitrust Investigation Heats Up

Regulators dig into cloud bundling and AI dominance.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a formal antitrust probe into Microsoft’s business practices. At the heart of the investigation: whether bundling cloud services with tools like Excel and Teams violates fair competition rules.

This follows a similar ruling from the European Union, which found Microsoft guilty of antitrust breaches earlier this year. Regulators are also scrutinizing Microsoft’s expanding footprint in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

As Microsoft navigates these challenges, its dominant market position remains a focal point for watchdogs worldwide.

🚀 Charted: Drones Soaring to the Moon

Trump Jr. joins Unusual Machines’ advisory board, and shares skyrocket.

Unusual Machines saw its stock soar 85% after announcing Donald Trump Jr. as a new advisor. The drone maker, which reported modest $3.6M revenue in the first nine months of 2023, is poised to benefit from potential U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made drones.

Trump Jr. emphasized the need for domestic manufacturing, stating, "We must stop buying Chinese drones and parts." The announcement comes amid his growing investment focus, including a recent role with conservative investment firm 1789 Capital.

Shares closed at $9.89, adding $38M to its market value, as investors bet on a future free of foreign reliance.

Accomplish More. Juggle Less.

Your business is growing, and so are your responsibilities. So what do you do?

You do more.

You see a chance to expand your reach and increase your impact.

You do more.

You take on more hours, juggle more deadlines, and wear more hats. You miss a ball game here and there. Come home late a few more nights. You spend a holiday or two in your inbox. And you tell yourself,

This season just requires more.

But what if growing your business isn’t about doing more things — but instead doing the right things?

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Whether it’s administrative, accounting, or marketing support that you need, BELAY’s highly vetted professionals have the more you’re looking for.

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📰 Other News You Can’t Miss

• 💻 Dell disappoints on guidance: Q4 revenue forecast ($24B-$25B) fell short of Wall Street’s $25.57B expectations. Despite an 86% YTD gain fueled by the AI boom, the stock dropped 12.3% Wednesday as management warned of non-linear AI growth ahead.

• 💼 BlackRock's $12B acquisition in the works: The asset management giant is closing in on a handshake deal to buy HPS. Details are expected post-holiday season.

• 🏦 Jefferies faces scrutiny: The firm’s ties to Adani Group — under fraud allegations — are raising eyebrows. Jefferies has rapidly expanded in India and previously helped Adani secure financing.

• 💰 Bitcoin boost for Rumble: Video platform Rumble announced plans to invest $20M in Bitcoin as part of its treasury strategy, showcasing confidence in the cryptocurrency’s long-term potential.

• 📈 Ramp's valuation hits $11B: The business card and expense software startup achieved this milestone following a secondary shares sale, reflecting robust demand for its offerings.

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🌟 Thanks for Starting Your Day with Us!

That’s your Nuts of market buzz, industry trends, and breaking news. Whether you're sipping Nuts or powering through emails, we’re here to keep you informed and entertained.

Have a fantastic day ahead!

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