Twelve startups selected for SKU accelerator

Twelve startups selected for SKU accelerator

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Twelve startups have been selected to participate in consumer packaged goods accelerator SKU’s upcoming cohorts in Austin and Atlanta.

Participating brands receive funding and mentorship from dozens of entrepreneurs, industry experts, executives and investors. Two concurrent 12-week programs will culminate in pitch events and include a curriculum covering such topics as mission and vision, branding, channel strategy, supply chain and innovation.

Businesses were chosen based on product innovation, market traction and founders’ strengths and coachability.

SKU Austin ’22 companies are based in Texas and the Midwest region and include:

  • Happy Moose, a maker of juices and functional wellness shots featuring upcycled, heirloom produce sourced directly from independent family farms
  • Mesa de Vida, a provider of chef-created meal starters and salt-free seasoning blends
  • Raeka Beauty, a brand of Ayurveda-inspired beauty products
  • Rollin’ n Bowlin’, a developer of make-at-home smoothie and acai bowl pouches
  • Tend, a brand of nutrition bars containing prenatal vitamins and minerals
  • Yips Yogurt Chips, a brand of snackable chips made from Greek yogurt

SKU Atlanta ’22 companies are based in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and include:

  • Beyond the Equator, a maker of pantry staples formulated with seeds, including chia, pumpkin, hemp, sunflower, flax, watermelon and cranberry
  • Holmes Applesauce, a brand of applesauce based on family recipes
  • Mocktail Club, a creator of sophisticated, ready-to-drink non-alcoholic cocktails
  • NoBull Burger, a maker of veggie burgers incorporating organic lentils and grains
  • Pulp Hot Sauce, a producer of small-batch fermented hot sauce featuring Georgia-grown peppers
  • Up to Good Energy, a brand of beverages created with cascara, the caffeinated fruit of the coffee berry that is typically discarded

A sponsor for SKU Atlanta is Coca-Cola North America’s New Revenue Streams division, formerly the Venturing and Emerging Brands unit, which spans Topo Chico, coffee, non-alcoholic mixers, home equipment, new business models and select mergers and acquisitions including Body Armor. Other SKU Atlanta partners include Atlanta-based Goods & Services and Craft Catalyst and Charlotte, NC-based Silver Falcon Capital.

Epic Provisions, Siete Foods and Peatos are among the more than 90 companies that have participated in SKU since it was established in 2011. Over the past three years, SKU has developed programs in additional cities, including Dallas, Minneapolis and New York. M/O, a track supporting minority-owned businesses in partnership with Naturally Austin, launched last year.

Stock market news live updates: January 25, 2022

Stock market news live updates: January 25, 2022

U.S. stocks staged another resurgence Tuesday but closed lower despite a momentous clawback from losses in midday trading as investors anticipate clues from the Federal Reserve’s policy-setting meeting on how quickly the central bank may move to tighten monetary conditions.

[Click here to read what’s moving markets heading into Wednesday, January 26]

The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw another massive rebound, recovering a drop of more than 800 points to end just 0.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} below its flatline at 34,297.67. The S&P 500 ticked up from session lows but also closed in negative territory, down 1.22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, while the Nasdaq remained deep in the red, rounding the day out 2.28{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} lower.

“The market is exhibiting withdrawal symptoms as it is dealing with the possibility of the removal of the Fed put,” Anu Gaggar, global investment strategist for Commonwealth Financial Network said in a note. “It almost feels like the market is behaving a little incoherently, not knowing which way to go – go down because the Fed is tightening or go up because the Fed is finally acting to rein in inflation and is loading up on ammunitions while economic growth remains strong.”

The downward momentum in equities has been fueled by escalating central bank worries as the Federal Reserve looks to intervene on rising inflation levels more aggressively than previously anticipated with tighter policy and rate hikes. Investors are bracing for a new monetary statement and press conference with Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday following the FOMC’s January monetary policy meeting. Although the policymakers signaled they would raise interest rates multiple times this year, an increase is not expected this week.

“The Fed tightening monetary policy is not a great backdrop for equities,” Brian Levitt, Invesco global market strategist for North America, told Yahoo Finance. “It doesn’t mean we run for the woods. It doesn’t mean that the business or market cycles are over. It’s just investors should expect some volatility.”

MJP Wealth Advisors President Brian Vendig told Yahoo Finance Live the Federal Reserve is in a “tight spot.”

“They know history has shown that if they move too quickly on interest rates, it adds to the risk of moving the economy into a slowdown and the risk of a recession.”

The CBOE volatility index, or VIX, closed Tuesday at about TK after crossing above 37 on Monday, its highest level since November 2020. In their newsletter, Nicholas Colas and Jessica Rabe of DataTrek Research sounded the alarm on recent jumps by the so-called “fear gauge.” The VIX closed last week’s trading at 29 to pass the initial 28 level DataTrek deemed significant, or “the first statistically valid level of market panic.” On Tuesday, the VIX hovered near 36, the next level the firm said to watch for.

“If you are trading this market, we continue to advise caution,” the DataTrek founders said. “Clarity on Fed policy will not come until Wednesday’s FOMC meeting, and even then, commentary from the Fed and Chair Powell may be insufficient to calm investors.”

With corporate earnings underway, stock watchers looking to fourth-quarter reports for relief from inflation jitters have found little reason for optimism so far. Goldman Sachs chief U.S. equity strategist David Kostin pointed out that of 64 S&P 500 companies that have reported results since the season began, a slightly below average 52{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} have beaten analyst consensus earnings estimates.

More concerning, according to Goldman, is a lack of guidance from companies amid unpredictable inflation and COVID-related conditions.

“Investors are most interested in forward-looking guidance from management, and recent information on that front has been concerning,” Kostin said. “Five of the six S&P 500 firms that provided formal 1Q 2022 guidance following 4Q results lowered expectations.”

LPL Financial equity strategist Jeff Buchbinder had a more upbeat take: pointing out that despite supply chain disruptions, wage and other cost pressures, and the Omicron COVID-19 variant, with the S&P 500 constituents that reported so far, index earnings are still tracking to 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} upside, in line with the long-term historical average.

“The volatility we’ve seen this year is uncomfortable, but it is well within the range of normal based on history,” Buchbinder wrote in a note.

“The S&P 500 has averaged three pullbacks of 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} or more per year and one correction of at least 10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} per year over its long history,” he said. “After just one 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} dip last year, and huge gains off the 2020 lows, we were due for a dip.”

4:15 p.m. ET: Microsoft beats estimates on earnings and revenue

Microsoft (MSFT) reported fiscal Q2 earnings after the closing bell on Tuesday that surpassed expectations on the top and bottom lines.

Revenue came in at $51.7 billion, compared to the $50.9 billion forecasted in Bloomberg consensus estimates, with its cloud services revenue jumping 46{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. The software giant also reported earnings per share of $2.48 versus $2.31 expected.

The announcement comes just a week after the Redmond, Washington-based company made headlines with news that it will acquire troubled gaming behemoth Activision Blizzard (ATVI) for $68.7 billion.

Shares of Microsoft were down 3.15{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in post-market trading to $279.40 a piece as of 4:13 p.m. ET.

4:00 p.m. ET: Stocks close in the red despite stunning reversal from session lows

Here were the main moves in markets at close following another turbulent day:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -53.68 (-1.22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,356.45

  • Dow (^DJI): -67.76 (-0.20{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,296.74

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -315.83 (-2.28{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,539.29

  • Crude (CL=F): +$2.03 (+2.44{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $85.34 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$6.30 (+0.34{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,848.00 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +4.8 bps to yield 1.7830{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

2:22 p.m. ET: Markets claw back from losses heading into close

Here’s how U.S. stocks fared during afternoon trading in another whipsaw session:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -18.96 (-0.43{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,391.17

  • Dow (^DJI): +66.26 (+0.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,430.76

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -148.88 (-1.07{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,706.25

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.84 (+2.21{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $85.15 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$11.30 (+0.61{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,853.00 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +4.1 bps to yield 1.7760{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

1:25 p.m. ET: Coinbase shares plunge to record low

Shares of U.S. crypto exchange platform Coinbase (COIN) fell to their lowest price ever, deepening losses as the rout in tech stocks intensifies.

The drop comes following a warning from Mizuho Bank of a potential sales miss by the company in first quarter.

Coinbase (COIN) was down 3.68{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to trade at $184.43 per share as of 1:25 p.m. ET.

12:04 p.m. ET: Stocks continue to falter as Federal Reserve meeting gets underway

Here were the main moves in markets in midday trading as of 12:04 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -95.04 (-2.16{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,315.09

  • Dow (^DJI): -456.95 (-1.33{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 33,907.55

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -406.32 (-2.93{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,448.81

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.77 (+2.12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $85.08 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$7.10 (+0.39{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,848.80 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +2.7 bps to yield 1.7620{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

10:43 a.m. ET: Consumer confidence slips, while spending conditions hold strength

U.S. consumer confidence dipped slightly in January, but more consumers reported plans to purchase homes, automobiles and other big-ticket items despite waining optimism around macroeconomic conditions in the near term.

The Conference Board reported its consumer confidence index ebbed to a reading of 113.8 this month from a slightly downwardly revised 115.2 in December. Economists forecasted the index declining to 111.1 from the previously reported reading of 115.8 in December, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates.

“The Present Situation Index improved, suggesting the economy entered the new year on solid footing,” the Conference Board’s senior director of economic indicators Lynn Franco said. “However, expectations about short-term growth prospects weakened, pointing to a likely moderation in growth during the first quarter of 2022.”

9:55 a.m. ET: IMF cuts world growth forecast, citing Omicron’s impact

The International Monetary Fund lowered its economic forecasts for the United States, China and the global economy on Tuesday, indicating uncertainty about the pandemic, inflation, supply disruptions and U.S. monetary tightening have placed a dent in the agency’s outlook.

“Our expectation is that growth will slow — as it should — to prevent the economy from overheating any more, but it should be a fairly well-behaved transition down,” IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath told Yahoo Finance in an interview Tuesday.

In its updated World Economic Outlook report, the IMF now expects the global economy to grow by 4.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in 2022, half a percentage point lower than its last round of forecasts in October.

9:34 a.m. ET: Futures muted after turbulent trading session

Here were the main moves in markets at the start of the trading session:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -66.22 (-1.50{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,343.91

  • Dow (^DJI): -364.86 (-1.06{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 33,999.64

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -236.63 (-1.71{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,618.50

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.10 (+0.12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $83.41 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$1.00 (-0.05{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,840.70 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +1.4 bps to yield 1.7490{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

9:07 a.m. ET: US home price growth slows for fourth straight month

Home price growth in the U.S. continued to moderate in the penultimate month of 2021.

Standard & Poor’s reported that its S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller national home price index posted a 18.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annual gain in November, down from 19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from October. The 20-City Composite posted a 18.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annual gain, down from 18.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} a month earlier. The 20-City results came in marginally higher than analysts’ expectations of an 18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annual gain, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates.

“Despite this deceleration, it’s important to remember that November’s 18.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} gain was the sixth-highest reading in the 34 years covered by our data (the top five were the months immediately preceding November),” said Craig J. Lazzara, managing director and global head of index investment strategy at S&P DJI, in a statement.

7:33 a.m. ET: Pfizer Inc and BioNTech commence research on Omicron-focused vax

Pfizer Inc (PFE) and BioNTech SE (BNTX) have began a clinical trial to test a new version of their COVID-19 vaccine specifically geared to target the Omicron variant, which has been reported to evade some of the protection provided by the original two-dose vaccine regimen.

Shares of Pfizer were down 2.37{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in early trading at $51.54 a piece, while BioNTech was up 2.36{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $150.98 per share.

The companies are expected to test the immune response offered by the new Omicron-based vaccine both as a three-shot regimen in unvaccinated people and as a booster shot for people who have already previously received two doses of the original vaccine.

7:00 a.m. ET: Stock futures drop ahead of FOMC meeting

Here’s how futures tied to the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq fared in early trading:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -56.25 points (-1.28{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,347.50

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -249.00 points (-0.73{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 34,004.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -246.00 points (-1.82{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,237.00

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.21 (+0.25{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $83.52 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$3.90 (-0.21{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,837.80 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): 0.00 bps to yield 1.735{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

6:00 p.m. ET Monday: Futures muted after turbulent trading session

Here’s how contracts on Wall Street’s main indexes fared heading into the overnight session:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -2.50 points (-0.06{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,401.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +17.00 points (+0.05{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 34,270.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -17.25 points (-0.12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,483.75

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.76 (+0.91{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $84.07 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$1.80 (+0.10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,843.50 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -0.7 bps to yield 1.750{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc

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Wisconsin updating travel insurance regulations

Wisconsin updating travel insurance regulations
Wisconsin updating travel insurance regulations The legislation also establishes a limited strains travel insurance coverage producer license designed for coverage intermediaries and journey directors. (Credit score: Jareya Nualthong/Adobe Inventory)

Having impact March 1, 2022, Wisconsin’s vacation insurance legislation will classify travel insurance as component of inland marine strains as perfectly as incident and overall health traces if the plan involves illness and incapacity coverage, according to the state’s place of work of insurance coverage.

On top of that, the legislation states intermediaries with authority to promote a home and casualty line are not necessary to be appointed by an insurer to market journey insurance plan. Intermediaries accredited in any important line of authority can promote journey coverage, the Wisconsin Business office of the Commissioner of Insurance plan (OCI) reported.

The regulation also establishes a restricted lines vacation insurance coverage producer license developed for coverage intermediaries and journey directors, which Wisconsin defines as “a human being who immediately or indirectly underwrites, collects charges or premiums from, or adjusts or settles statements of inhabitants of this state in connection with journey insurance policy.”

The regulation also prohibits the use of “negative option” or choose-out processes that demand the purchaser to take an affirmative action to decline coverage when acquiring a trip, OCI documented.

Guidelines for ‘travel retailers’

Organization entities that give vacation products and services can now “offer and disseminate” travel insurance policy in Wisconsin beneath the licenses of a travel coverage producer if they adhere to the adhering to tips:

  • The purchaser of travel insurance policies is offered expected facts these kinds of as a description of the material conditions and the procedure for submitting a assert.
  • The minimal traces journey insurance policy producer keeps a sign-up of every single travel retailer that presents and disseminates vacation insurance on the producer’s behalf.
  • The restricted lines vacation insurance coverage producer designates an staff who is a accredited producer as the human being dependable for compliance with the statutes and guidelines of this condition.
  • The specified liable worker, the officers of the confined traces vacation insurance policy producer, and any other individual who directs or controls the constrained strains travel insurance policies producer’s coverage functions complies with coverage middleman fingerprinting specifications.
  • The constrained strains travel insurance policies producer pays all applicable licensing fees.
  • The limited lines vacation insurance coverage producer requires each staff and approved representative of the journey retailer whose duties contain presenting and disseminating vacation insurance coverage to acquire a software of instruction or instruction.

The law stipulates that journey stores, or their workers and approved reps, which are not accredited confined line travel coverage producers cannot choose the adhering to steps:

  • Evaluate or interpret technical terms, positive aspects, or situations of travel insurance coverage.
  • Assess or deliver advice regarding a future purchaser’s present coverage protection.
  • Maintain himself or herself out as an insurance company, a confined strains travel insurance producer or an insurance policy specialist.​

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EY to create 200 jobs, set up new finance hub in Calgary

EY to create 200 jobs, set up new finance hub in Calgary

Calgary’s affordable cost of living, well-educated workforce and quality of life were cited as key factors behind the company’s decision

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Calgary’s financial services sector is expanding, with global firm EY poised to set up its first Canadian-based finance centre of excellence in the city.

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Officials with EY Canada will announce Tuesday the establishment of the new hub, bringing 200 jobs to the city over three years, including 50 new hires immediately.

The centre will support internal company operations from across the Americas, with new personnel coming from local hires, as well as roles moving from other locations, said Alison Jackson, EY’s Calgary office managing partner.

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The city’s affordable cost of living, well-educated workforce and quality of life were cited as key factors behind the company’s decision.

“We’ve been really impressed with the talent that we’ve been able to find, both in Calgary and people who are interested to move to Calgary,” Jackson said in an interview.

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“It’s another vote of confidence in our ability to diversify our economy and our ability to attract people to the city.”

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The consulting and accounting giant, which operates in more than 150 countries, has already started hiring staff for the centre.

It will employ financial professionals who perform a number of functions for the company, from data analytics and back-office support to controllership.

“We still like to say it’s cutting-edge internal finances services that will adopt new technologies,” Jackson added.

“There are a lot of people coming in … and they will be leveraging the kinds of technologies that we’re helping our clients get familiar with, whether that is robotic process automation or whether that’s data analytics. They will be applying all those tools.”

The company already has about 600 people working in the community, operating out of the Calgary City Centre building. EY Canada has not contracted out for additional office space, given the uncertainty with the pandemic, she said.

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The announcement follows a string of finance and innovation-related announcements in Calgary in recent years.

In 2019, Morgan Stanley acquired Solium Capital, a Calgary-based stock plan administration services firm, for $1.1 billion. The renamed company, Shareworks by Morgan Stanley, has continued expanding services and adding positions locally.

Last June, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) unveiled plans to open a Calgary Innovation Hub in the city’s downtown and expects to create 300 tech jobs by the end of 2023.

Located in Bankers Hall, the centre opened in September. RBC said Monday it’s made a number of hires for the centre in areas involving artificial intelligence, cyber security, data and site reliability engineering.

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“RBC chose Calgary for its newest innovation hub as it already had an established financial services sector, access to an existing talent pool … as well as a developed infrastructure,” Bernice Dunsby, a senior vice-president with RBC, said in a statement.

A study by Alberta Enterprise last year indicated there were 85 financial technology companies operating in the province, up from 28 in 2018.

Pictured is the Bankers Hall building on Stephen Avenue in Calgary on March 12, 2020.
Pictured is the Bankers Hall building on Stephen Avenue in Calgary on March 12, 2020. Photo by Azin Ghaffari/Postmedia

According to Calgary Economic Development (CED), more than 40 fintech firms are based in the city, such as online payments-processing company Helcim or Neo Financial, which doubled its staff last year to more than 400 and recently leased more than 100,000 square feet of downtown office space.

The broader financial services industry in Calgary has grown by more than 30 per cent in the past decade and is projected to expand by seven per cent by 2024, CED said.

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Decisions by large companies like RBC and EY highlight the city’s expertise in financial services, which has grown out of working with the oilpatch, said Patrick Mattern, CED’s vice-president of business development.

“This validates that we’re a great place for finance and financial administration. Every one of these investments is an incremental benefit to us,” Mattern said.

“The prospects for fintech and financial services in this community are terrific.”

Meanwhile, other technology companies have expanded or moved into the city in the past year, including Amazon Web Services, information technology firm Infosys, and IT outsourcing services provider Mphasis.

A study last year by CBRE identified Calgary as one of the top 50 “Tech Talent” cities in North America, climbing six spots to 28 th place, although trailing Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver.

Invest Alberta CEO Rick Christiaanse said the financial services industry has been identified as one of eight core sectors for the province as it looks to attract more businesses and jobs to Alberta.

“This is significant because we are building an ecosystem for tech and innovation … It’s just another piece in the puzzle,” Christiaanse said of the new EY financial centre.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about momentum.”

cvarcoe@postmedia.com

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    Average life insurance rates are steady entering 2022

    Average life insurance rates are steady entering 2022

    Every month lifetime insurance plan premiums were being secure coming into the new 12 months, in accordance to Policygenius information.  (iStock)

    The everyday living insurance plan sector has held price ranges secure coming into 2022, according to Policygenius. Most non-people who smoke noticed smaller amount raises of less than 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} between December 2021 and January 2022, whilst people who smoke failed to see any improvements in their month to month rates.

    Average lifestyle insurance policies rates have stayed continuous regardless of a rise in mortality connected to the coronavirus pandemic. Demise reward payouts rose 15.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in 2020, in accordance to the American Council of Lifetime Insurers (ACLI). On the other hand, Policygenius facts indicates that individuals really don’t have to worry about mounting daily life insurance policy rates at this time.

    Continue to keep reading to find out a lot more about the normal existence insurance charge for every thirty day period, as nicely as how lifestyle insurance coverage rates are determined. If you’re contemplating taking out a daily life insurance plan plan, stop by Credible to get absolutely free existence coverage rates.

    IS Long term Daily life Coverage A Good Strategy FOR YOU?

    Typical price tag of everyday living insurance by age and gender

    Monthly life insurance policies rates remained regular entering the new year, according to Policygenius facts, with a negligible raise from December 2021 to January 2022.

    Everyday living insurance plan charges are least expensive for younger policyholders with small well being threats, while costs are inclined to rise with a policyholder’s age. For case in point, it fees $25.56 for each month to insure a balanced 35-12 months-outdated female with a 20-12 months time period existence insurance policies plan truly worth $500,000. That same policy would value $152.23 monthly for a 55-12 months-outdated gentleman in good health and fitness.

    Average monthly life insurance rates by age chart

    Regular lifestyle insurance coverage rates are also noticeably larger for people who smoke than they are for non-people who smoke. The plan used in the example above would expense $224.46 per thirty day period for a 45-year-outdated person who smokes, in contrast to just $61.05 for a non-smoker of the same age.

    No matter a person’s age or overall health score, however, existence insurance coverage premiums have stayed somewhat stable into 2022. If you are shopping for existence insurance, you can look through guidelines and see regular prices personalized to you on Credible. 

    Life Insurance plan Value BREAKDOWN BY AGE, Time period Size AND Plan Size

    How are everyday living coverage premiums calculated?

    The monthly expense of existence insurance policy relies upon on a policyholder’s lifetime expectancy. Lifetime insurance companies take a quantity of factors into account, these as age, sexual intercourse, wellness, health care heritage and even leisure hobbies. Individuals who are riskier to insure ought to anticipate to shell out increased regular monthly rates, whilst very low-chance policyholders will price tag considerably less to insure.

    To figure out your wellness danger, life insurers may involve you to undergo a health care examination. Health and fitness situations like high blood stress or being overweight can component into the general price of a lifestyle insurance policy.

    Rates are also dependent on the form of lifestyle insurance plan you have. Lengthier plan terms will have higher month-to-month prices, even though shorter policy conditions with reduced coverage amounts will be less expensive. 

    It’s commonly encouraged to purchase lifestyle insurance plan with a protection total equal to 10-15 periods your yearly personal cash flow, in accordance to Policygenius. The plan phrase must be lengthy enough to cover you into retirement age. 

    For case in point, a 45-yr-previous mom who earns $65,000 yearly may want to think about a 20-calendar year time period policy with a $1 million protection amount. That is about 15 occasions her once-a-year earnings, which may be necessary to choose treatment of dependents if she dies unexpectedly.

    On the other hand, a 35-calendar year-outdated married gentleman with no youngsters who earns $50,000 per yr could look at a 30-12 months lifetime insurance plan term with a protection sum of $500,000. That policy is lengthy plenty of to get him to retirement age, and the demise reward amount might be enough to protect bills for his spouse.

    When it comes to selecting a life insurance plan, you can find no one particular-measurement-fits-all approach. You’ll will need to contemplate the greatest plan for your lifestyle and money predicament. Get in contact with a monetary professional at Credible to determine your life coverage demands. 

    Getting Everyday living Insurance policy Though You are Youthful AND Healthy CAN Preserve YOU Hundreds

    Have a finance-connected dilemma, but will not know who to ask? E mail The Credible Funds Pro at moneyexpert@credible.com and your issue may possibly be answered by Credible in our Funds Pro column.

    UK Government Holds Breath as It Awaits ‘Partygate’ Report | Business News

    UK Government Holds Breath as It Awaits ‘Partygate’ Report | Business News

    By JILL LAWLESS, Related Push

    LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson is bracing for the conclusions of an investigation into allegations of lockdown-breaching functions, a document that could help him conclusion months of scandal and discontent, or bring his time in business to an abrupt shut.

    Senior civil servant Sue Gray could flip in her report to the govt as shortly as Wednesday. Johnson’s office has promised to publish its findings, and the primary minister will address Parliament about it before long just after.

    Gray’s office wouldn’t comment on timing, and Overseas Secretary Liz Truss claimed the Conservative governing administration hadn’t still gained the report Wednesday early morning.

    “I be expecting we will not have much extended to wait around,” she told the BBC.

    Political Cartoons on Environment Leaders

    Political Cartoons

    Truss explained she couldn’t warranty the authorities would publish the entire report, stating there could be “security troubles that suggest areas of it are problematic to publish. But we will completely publish the results of the report.”

    Allegations that the primary minister and his staff members flouted constraints imposed on the state to control the unfold of the coronavirus have triggered public anger, led some Conservative lawmakers to simply call for Johnson’s resignation and induced extreme infighting inside the governing get together.

    Wednesday’s headlines offered a lot more terrible information for Johnson, whose recognition in feeling polls has plunged amid the scandal. The Guardian’s front-site headline spoke of “PM’s peril,” when the left-leaning Day by day Mirror reported bluntly: “Number’s up, PM.” The correct-of-center Day-to-day Mail differed, declaring Britain: “A country that has misplaced all feeling of proportion.”

    Johnson has urged his critics to wait for Gray’s conclusions, but his “wait and see” defense weakened Tuesday when police explained they had opened a legal investigation into some of the gatherings.

    London’s Metropolitan Law enforcement drive explained “a variety of events” at Johnson’s Downing Avenue business office and other governing administration buildings met the force’s standards for investigating the “most really serious and flagrant” breaches of coronavirus policies.

    Grey is investigating claims that government staff members held late-evening soirees, boozy parties and “wine time Fridays” although Britain was under coronavirus limitations in 2020 and 2021.

    The “partygate” allegations have infuriated many in Britain, who were being barred from assembly with buddies and family for months in 2020 and 2021 to curb the distribute of COVID-19. Tens of hundreds of persons were fined by police for breaking the principles.

    Johnson and his allies have tried out, without the need of significantly accomplishment, to calm a scandal that is consuming authorities energies that could be greater expended confronting the worldwide disaster above Russia’s military services construct-up in close proximity to Ukraine and a far-from-finished coronavirus pandemic.

    Johnson has apologized for attending 1 party, a “bring your have booze” gathering in the back garden of his Downing Road places of work in May 2020, but claimed he had regarded the bash a perform accumulating that fell within just the principles

    His place of work and supporters have also defended a June 2020 surprise birthday celebration for the prime minister within Downing Road.

    Loyal lawmaker Conor Burns said Johnson failed to know about the gathering in advance.

    “It was not a premeditated, organized party … He was, in a sense, ambushed with a cake,” Burns explained to Channel 4 News.

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