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Wells Fargo introduces Autograph Journey card for travel enthusiasts

Wells Fargo & Company recently announced an expansion to its Autograph rewards cards with the introduction of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa card. This new addition is designed for frequent travelers, offering accelerated rewards in popular travel categories.

US P&C Q4'23 earnings recap – Allstate logs 1st net profit since Q1'22

The Allstate Corp. reported a significant turnaround in its financial performance, with the company marking its first positive pretax net income since Q1'22. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Allstate recorded a net income before taxes of $1.83 billion, a stark improvement from a net loss of $410 million in the same period of 2022. This positive result was driven by rate increases and enhanced property-liability underwriting income and ratios.Analyst Meyer Shields from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods highlighted the effectiveness of the rate increases, stating, "We're still seeing...

Should my business use Generative AI?

Businesses are increasingly intrigued by the possibilities offered by Generative AI technology. The potential applications of this innovative technology across various aspects of the value chain have sparked significant interest. However, the decision to integrate Generative AI into business operations requires careful consideration and evaluation.Nationwide’s Chief Innovation and Digital Officer, Chetan Kandhari, sheds light on the crucial factors that companies contemplating the adoption of Generative AI must take into account. Kandhari emphasizes the importance of...

Flying Food Group’s inflight catering meals praised for quality and taste on STARLUX flights

Flying Food Group recently won praise for their catered meals from the toughest audience on Earth: the internet.

Nationwide Leaders Drive Critical Discussions on Finance and Economics

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company and a prominent player in the financial services and insurance sector, has been actively engaged in critical discussions centered around finance services and economics. In recent engagements, Nationwide's thought leaders have shared valuable insights on various platforms.Jim Fowler, Nationwide’s Chief Technology Officer, recently participated in a panel discussion on Nasdaq TV where he discussed the impact of generative AI on customer service. Fowler highlighted how Nationwide has strategically invested in AI over the past decade to...

Nationwide and Annexus Celebrate 10-Year Partnership with NYSE Bell Ringing

Nationwide and Annexus marked a significant milestone in their collaboration by ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on March 7. The event celebrated a decade-long partnership that has brought innovative solutions to the financial services marketplace, benefiting American retirement savers.Mike Morrone, vice president of Nationwide Annuity business development, highlighted the impact of the partnership, stating, "Our partnership with Annexus has enabled us to take our product innovation to the next level." This collaboration allowed Nationwide to enter...

Pump It Up – Gas Prices Rise Ahead of Daylight Saving Time

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 7, 2024)—Pump prices have maintained a steady march higher, rising eight cents since last week to $3.39. More expensive oil is a likely culprit, as crude accounts for nearly 60% of pump prices. The cost for a barrel of oil is edging closer to $80, about $10 more per barrel than a few months ago."Spring is nearly here, with longer days, better weather, and more opportunities to hit the road," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "And we are seeing this reflected in rising gasoline demand. But remember, we see this trend every year."For the...

Apple has been fined $2 billion by European Union for antitrust policy

The European Union (EU) has imposed a $2 billion fine on Apple for breaching antitrust policies. The EU alleges that Apple prohibited app developers from fully informing iOS users about more affordable music subscription services.

State Farm® Collaborates with SiriusXM for Listen Next Initiative

SiriusXM has unveiled a new initiative called Listen Next, aimed at nurturing diverse audio talent and fostering inclusivity in podcasting. The program will be supported by State Farm as its first launch sponsor and is set to work with leading, diverse-led production companies to assist up-and-coming creators in establishing successful podcasting careers. The inaugural season of Listen Next will kick off with the show "Stars and Stars with Isa," a collaboration between SiriusXM and Futuro Studios, scheduled to debut on March 19.State Farm's Marketing Director, Brent Malik...

Root CEO eyes nationwide presence after best-ever quarter

Root Inc., an insurance technology company, is planning to expand into new markets with the goal of establishing a nationwide presence for its car, home, and renters lines of business. The company recently reported its best-ever quarter, with CEO Alex Timm expressing confidence in their path to profitability.In an interview with S&P Global Market Intelligence, Timm discussed the company's expansion plans and the key role of technology in enhancing underwriting results and improving unit economics. He mentioned, "We're in 34 markets today and we don't see a reason Root...

The Quiet Killer Stalking Our Roads – Drowsy Driving

A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has shed light on the dangers of drowsy driving, revealing that the impact of this behavior is greatly underestimated. The research points to sleep loss as a significant factor in drowsy driving crashes, with the upcoming Daylight Saving Time potentially exacerbating the issue.According to the AAA Foundation's study, drowsy driving is responsible for far more traffic fatalities than official government statistics indicate. The study, based on crash investigations and national fatal crash data, estimates that drowsy...

North American Insurer M&A Sees Value Increase Despite Overall Decline

The aggregate value of insurance underwriter M&A in North America increased in 2023, marking a positive trend amidst a wider decline in overall dealmaking. According to an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence, while the level of deal activity in the insurance sector decreased by 2% with 96 transactions in 2023 compared to 98 in 2022, the aggregate transaction value saw a significant uptick to $16.23 billion, a 16.8% increase from the previous year's $13.89 billion.The largest deal of the past year involved Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd.'s planned acquisition of...

Google Cloud is utilizing Artificial Intelligence to create better cyber defense systems

Google Cloud is enhancing its cyber defense systems by incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their infrastructure. The company announced the AI Cyber Defense Initiative at the Munich Security Conference, which took place from February 16 to February 18, 2024.

Dell Technologies released fourth-quarter earnings for 2023

Dell Technologies has reported its fourth-quarter earnings for 2023, surpassing expectations with a revenue of $22.32 billion against the projected $22.16 billion. This positive outcome led to a more than 15% increase in the stock price of Dell shares.

Lemonade Stock Plummets After Earnings Release

Lemonade's stock took a significant hit this week following the release of its earnings report. "What's transpiring here is they still were losing a lot of money," said Kaenan Hertz, Managing Partner at Insurtech Advisors, expressing investor disappointment with the results.In response to the market reaction, Lemonade CFO Tim Bixby stated, "In the company's view, its fourth-quarter 2023 results were arguably one of the best quarters we've had since going public three years ago." Bixby also highlighted that revenue, gross profit, and in-force premium were up year over...

Proceed With Caution in Protecting American Data From Foreign Adversaries, ITIF Warns

Following the White House announcement that President Biden has issued an executive order to protect Americans’ sensitive personal data from exploitation by countries of concern, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy

Forge Industrial Staffing premiering season 2 of business podcast 'Forging the Future'

Forge Industrial Staffing has announced the upcoming release of season 2 of its podcast, "Forging the Future", scheduled for March 1. The podcast will maintain its focus on local entrepreneurs and personalities, offering their insights into the industrial sector.

Gas Prices Creep Ahead of Potential Leap

WASHINGTON, DC (February 29, 2024) – Drivers saw gas prices creep up the final week of February. The national average for a gallon of gas is $3.31 on this leap day, 4 cents higher than it was one week ago. The upward trend is likely to continue as travelers start heading out of town for Spring Break."We’re entering Spring Break season, and historically, March and April bring higher gas prices as demand rises," said Aixa Diaz, AAA spokesperson. "With milder temperatures come more road trips, and this time of year tends to be a precursor to the summer driving season."For...

UFCU earns fourth consecutive 'Best Place for Working Parents' recognition from EMGA

The University Federal Credit Union (UFCU) has announced its fourth consecutive recognition as the "Best Place for Working Parents" by Early Matters Greater Austin (EMGA). The evaluation by EMGA was based on UFCU's adherence to 10 family-oriented policies and initiatives, which include healthcare coverage, paid leave, flexible work arrangements, and childcare support.

Rising from the Ashes: How One Small Business Managed a Mass Scale Ransomware Attack Webinar on March 19th, 2024

Imagine waking up to find out the very tools you rely on for your business have been hijacked, and hackers are threatening to bring down everything you have worked so hard to build.