Ulta Beauty Returns to TV Advertising After a Pandemic Pause
The beauty category is famously resilient during a recession, as consumers splurge on little luxuries. In the recession of 2009, global sales of lipstick grew 1% despite a broader pullback in consumer spending.
Car Sales Are Down Almost 20%, but Prices Are Setting Records
Don't look for blowout Labor Day weekend discounts. Tight inventory, cheap gas and easy credit have driven new-vehicle prices to records, even as many can't afford to buy.
Juul Shelves Plan for Feature That Counts Puffs
E-cigarette maker Juul Labs, facing budget cuts and regulatory scrutiny, has shelved the development of a puff-counting feature that some company employees say had the potential to help users wean themselves off nicotine.
Face It, Facebook Is the Picture of Politics
Despite its best efforts to the contrary, Facebook is now a political app and the majority of its users are "here for it."
Malaysia Drops Goldman Sachs Criminal Charges Over 1MDB
Malaysia has dropped criminal charges against units of Goldman Sachs over the bank's role in the alleged theft of billions of dollars from a government investment fund, a key step under the terms of a recent $3.9 billion settlement.
Bumble's Buzz Won't Sting Match
Dating app investors aren't monogamous: A potential Bumble IPO could bring a new swarm of interest to Match Group.
Courier Stocks Are a Sure Bet in a Pandemic, Right? Not So Fast
Another big investment in a Chinese courier company by Alibaba highlights the long road to industry consolidation-and profits-for investors, even in a pandemic.
Alice Lloyd George Launches Fund for Deep Tech, Internet Culture
The former RRE Ventures' investor plans to parlay her experience with creative online art and media projects to invest in gaming, virtual reality and other Gen Z-focused entertainment.
Transocean Restructuring Can Proceed Over Hedge Fund's Opposition
A federal judge authorized Transocean, the world's largest offshore oil-rig contractor, to proceed with a disputed restructuring of up to $2 billion of its $9 billion debt load amid a deeply painful period for deep-water drilling.
Apple Delays Privacy Change Amid App Publishers' Concerns
The change, which would give iPhone users control over whether they are tracked, will go into effect next year. Critics of the change say it would hurt app makers by making it harder to sell personalized ads.
