Newsletter Apr 20, 2022

3 things you must know

'Putin has already lost this war,' former ambassador claims
Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Mike McFaul said Russian President Vladimir Putin has already lost the war in Ukraine as the invasion enters its eighth week. McFaul said Putin lost the â€œbig battleâ€ after he failed to capture Kyiv, kill Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, or takeover Kharkiv. The former ambassador said Putin is pursuing the war in Donbas so he can attain â€œpeace.â€
GET THE LATEST DETAILS ON RUSSIA'S WAR IN UKRAINE

Lower profit margins, higher interest rates worry investors
Of all the factors that set the pace of Wall Street, two stand out -- profit margins and interest rates. Both variables are critical in equity valuation models, determining whether it's time to buy equities or head for the exits. For years, Wall Street enjoyed rising profit margins and falling interest rates, providing a double tailwind for stocks. However, the game has recently changed.
FIND OUT WHY THOSE FACTORS ARE SCARING WALL ST.

Some retail companies took advantage of COVID, inflation
While inflation has risen to record levels over the past year, some retailers have taken advantage of the situation. A new report shows some companies, in an effort to increase profits, engaged in price gouging and rose costs exponentially on consumers both during the COVID-19 pandemic and as inflation started to grow. The report named companies that engaged in the practice.
FIND OUT WHICH COMPANIES TOOK ADVANTAGE OF COVID

Markets

DJIA	34,911.20	1.45%
S&P 500	4,462.21	1.61%
Nasdaq Composite	13,619.66	2.15%
Japan: Nikkei 225	27,139.99	0.57%
UK: FTSE 100	7,601.28	-0.20%
Crude Oil Futures	103.50	0.92%
Gold Futures	1,947.00	-0.61%
Yen	128.79	-0.08%
Euro	1.08	0.17%
* As of market close

Mask mandate's end draws mixed reviews

Airlines, subways and bus services across the U.S. moved quickly Tuesday to remove mask requirements following a federal court ruling that struck down face-covering mandates on public transportation. Uber, Lyft and Amtrak were among the companies that announced an end to masking requirements hours after the decision was released, prompting a wide range of reactions from travelers on social media.

SEE WHAT DISNEY WORLD BROUGHT BACK TO CELEBRATE

Netflix shares plunge as subscriptions drop

Netflix shares lost a quarter of their value Tuesday after the company revealed its ranks of subscribers shrank in the first quarter of this year. It was the first time in a decade that the leading streaming TV service had lost subscribers. The company blamed the erosion to suspension of its service in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine. Netflix ended the first quarter of this year with 221.6 million subscribers worldwide.

SEE NETFLIX'S PLAN TO CHARGE FOR SUBSCRIPTION SHARING

Lifetime supply of Reese's Cups up for grabs

Hershey's is giving some lucky chocolate and peanut butter fans the chance to win a lifetime supply of its Reeseâ€™s Peanut Butter Cups. The giveaway is in addition to other delicious prizes that coincide with National Loverâ€™s Day on April 23 and the return of its Reeseâ€™s Peanut Butter Lovers Cups and Reeseâ€™s Ultimate Peanut Butter Lovers Cups.

FIND OUT HOW TO WIN A LIFETIME SUPPLY OF REESE'S CUPS

Sorry, not sorry

Where did Henry Burnett Reese, father of his namesake Peanut Butter Cups, work before he developed one of America's favorite candies?

Tuesday's answer: The first Taco Bell franchise opened in Downey, California in 1962 by founder and namesake Glen Bell.

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