Venture capital (VC) funding activity seems to be heading towards pre-recessionary mark. The VC activity recorded robust growth phase for over seven years. The sluggish financial markets are discouraging VC funding and raising money.
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Google Approaches One Step Ahead Towards VR, Plans For Headset As Successor To Cardboard
All the tech giants are investing heavily in the research and development of virtual and augmented reality products. Google has been reportedly planning a successor to the cardboard VR viewer. The smart phone based headset incorporating improved sensors and lenses will be housed in a solid plastic casing instead of a cardboard.
Wall Street strategists lower S&P 500 estimates
Contrary to earlier bullish predictions for 2016, several Wall Street strategists have started lowering their forecasts on S&P 500 stocks. The Chinese economy slowdown, volatile oil prices and interest rates are the major reasons for drop in forecast. The gap between highest and lowest forecast has been widening.
China's foreign exchange stocks decline to trillions
China's foreign exchange reserves had declined reaching to trillions. However, the government made efforts to support the local currency from dropping further.
Wiper, alternative messaging app for costly movies
Messaging app Wiper has raised a total of $4.5 million seed funding from its investor Michael Choupak adding $2 million dollars. The service launced $4.99 monthly subscription fee to preview and watch thousands of original short and long, inexpensive indie films that can be compared to expensive Hollywood movies.
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Mexico is receiving $400-loan from World Bank for rural development and will formally sign an agreement. Mexican government will utilize the funds for extending financial lending to farmers and fishermen in rural areas. The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will also get financial support from the Mexico's national agricultural financing agency FND.
The Los Angeles-based fashion retailer Nasty Gal is reducing the number of employees by 10 percent as part of its strategic restructuring. The increasing market competition and uncertainty in financing aspects are forcing the company to reduce the costs. Several former employees moved court against Nasty Gal against layoffs.
Terming the daily fantasy sports as illegal gambling, the New York Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against DraftKings and FanDuel. While the lawsuit proceeds in its own pace, banking giant Citigroup has imposed a ban on transactions to the DFS sites by the New Yorkers. Some US states express reluctance while some declare the sites as legal.
Samsung has released 4K Blu-ray player, UBD-K8500/ZA at selective stores of Santa Monica. The product has been expected to get released sometime in March. The new video player for $399 is believed to offer a superb content viewing experience.
The social media site, Twitter has disclosed for the first time removal of more than 125,000 accounts on allegation of aiding terrorism. ISIS has been using Twitter and other social media sites as platforms for spreading their ideologies and recruiting new members. Facebook is also adopting special measures in this regard due to growing concerns over poor policing by the sites against terrorism.
Tax identity theft to conduct further fraudulence in claiming fake tax returns. Many identity thefts related fraud claims have been detected in 2015. The fraud efforts have prompted IRS to reshape fraud prevention measures. Though the new measures are invisible to taxpayers, but they too feel the unprecedented cooperation from IRS.
The UK Green Investment Bank Financial Services ties up with world’s largest asset manager BlackRock to purchase GLID Wind Farms. The farms located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and Lincolnshire are capable of producing 220 MW clean powers. With the acquisition, GIBF will produce 3,970 GWh of clean power each year. Meanwhile, BlackRock will own and manage 66 wind and solar projects in Europe and North America on behalf of its clients.
Reorient Group Ltd. has reportedly formed a $3 billion yuan ($457 million) joint venture with partners. The Shanghai based proposed Joint Venture (JV) firm, Yunfeng Securities Co., will have a registered capital of 1 billion yuan. The JV entity will go operative subject to receipt of approval from China Securities Regulatory Commission.
The increasing output in Brazil and falling prices are posing a major challenge to African coffee producers. Coffee exports revenues are a major source of income for several African nations. The coffee production in Brazil is forecast to reach 52 million of bags in 2016 from 43.2 million bags in 2015.
