Canada January Trade Balance -3.65B vs -0.9B Expected
Canada’s merchandise trade balance posted a C$3.65 billion deficit in January, far worse than the C$0.9 billion shortfall analysts expected. Exports slipped 4.7% to C$62.48 billion while imports fell 1.1% to C$66.13 billion, with motor‑vehicle and parts shipments plunging 21.2% to $5.4 billion – the lowest level since September 2021. The full‑year 2025 deficit widened to C$31.3 billion, the largest since 2020, and the bilateral surplus with the United States contracted to C$81.6 billion from C$101.3 billion a year earlier.
US January Trade Balance -54.5B vs -66.6B Expected
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $54.5 billion in January, well below the $66.6 billion forecast and the revised $72.9 billion December figure. A surge in gold and other precious‑metal exports contributed roughly $9 billion of the improvement, while imports fell modestly. Capital‑goods exports,...
US Initial Claims 213K vs 215K Estimate
U.S. initial jobless claims came in at 213,000, modestly under the 215,000 forecast. The four‑week moving average slipped to 212,000, while continuing claims held steady at 1.85 million, matching expectations. Revised prior‑week figures show a small dip in both initial and...
Kelly Appoints Joel Leege as President of Kelly SETT
Kelly announced that Joel Leege will assume the role of President of its Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom (SETT) division effective March 16, 2026. Leege joins the senior leadership team, reporting directly to CEO Chris Layden, to accelerate profitable growth across life sciences,...
The USD Is Mixed as the Market Prepares for the North American Session
The U.S. dollar opened the North American session mixed, firming against the euro and pound while slipping against the yen after testing 2026 highs. Technical analysis highlights key support and resistance levels on EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY as traders brace...
Sony Music West Africa Is Celebrating Women’s Month With ‘Bloom & Bloom’
International Women’s Day 2026 finds Sony Music West Africa expanding its gender‑equity agenda with “Bloom & Bloom.” Aligned with the global “Give to Gain” theme, the initiative treats success as a collective effort, encouraging women to lift each other within...
US Energy Secretary Wright: Iran Operations to Take Weeks, Not Months
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Wright said Iran‑related naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz will last weeks, not months, and that a U.S. Navy escort for commercial tankers is expected by the end of the month. Washington is working with allied...
Adora Promotes Software Architect Rohil Bhansali to Head of Engineering
Adora has elevated its founding engineer, Rohil Bhansali, to Head of Engineering as the ad‑tech firm scales its AI‑powered platform for enterprise marketers. Bhansali, who helped build the company’s initial infrastructure since its 2024 launch, will now oversee the engineering...
Why Only 27% of Salespeople Hear the Voice That Matters
Sales trainer Dave Kurlan reports that only 27% of salespeople effectively hear their prospect’s voice during calls. The study shows just 37% can stay in the moment and only 17% possess strong consultative‑selling competencies. Without these skills, discovery suffers, leading...
Deutsche Bank Discloses $30bn Private Credit Exposure While Planning Expansion
Deutsche Bank disclosed a private‑credit exposure of roughly €25.9 billion (about $30 billion) in its latest annual report, as the $1.8 trillion market grapples with heightened investor caution. The bank’s loan book to technology firms surged to €15.8 billion, up from €11.7 billion, reflecting a...
Less Forceful Ways of Expressing Disagreement
Leaders often need to voice disagreement, but forceful tactics can erode trust and stifle innovation. The article outlines three indirect methods—engaging with curiosity, soliciting alternative options, and probing underlying evidence—to convey dissent without alienating team members. By shifting from outright...
A 'Special' Relationship? No, Let's Call It Coercive
The article argues that the long‑standing US‑UK "special relationship" has morphed into a coercive partnership under Donald Trump, characterized by threats, intimidation, and financial pressure. It cites Trump’s public insults toward Prime Minister Keir Starmer, his warnings about military action...
Consumers Paid for Trump’s Illegal Tariffs. These Companies May Profit.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, striking down most of his tariffs and opening the door to roughly $175 billion in refunds. A federal judge ordered Customs and Border...
The Generosity Advantage
The article frames generosity as the missing ingredient for greatness, presenting seven actionable practices and four core strengths that leaders should adopt. It argues that skill alone cannot compensate for a stingy heart, and that giving without expectation multiplies influence....
Working with the Salesforce Mobile App
Salesforce’s mobile app lets users stay connected on the go, but it requires careful configuration to deliver a usable experience. Page layouts collapse to a single column, so field order matters. Separate Lightning pages, branding, and navigation settings should be...
Blackstone and Hellman & Friedman Explore AI Joint Venture with Anthropic
Blackstone and Hellman & Friedman are negotiating a joint venture with Anthropic to embed the startup’s generative‑AI technology across their private‑equity portfolios. The partnership would follow a Palantir‑style model that blends software licensing with consulting services to accelerate AI adoption...
Planning an IPO? Don’t Miss Our March Webcasts
Compensation Standards and TheCorporateCounsel.net are hosting two free webcasts in March aimed at companies preparing for an IPO and newly public firms. The March 18 webcast, “Pre‑IPO Through IPO: Compensation Strategies for a Smooth Transition,” will guide executives through equity...
More on the New CDIs on Cross Border Tender Offers
The SEC issued new CDIs 166.02 and 166.03 that broaden exemptions for cross‑border tender offers. CDI 166.02 allows offerors to buy target shares after announcing a tender but before distributing offering documents, provided the purchases are disclosed and may continue...
Building an Agent that Coaches You as a Leader
Zapier’s chief people and AI transformation officer Brandon Sammut built an AI‑driven accountability agent using Cursor and Zapier MCP. The agent scans his Slack, Google Docs, calendar and other work apps each week, then produces a concise report comparing actual...
Connor Teskey: Inside Brookfield’s Culture, Capital Allocation, and Competitive Edge
Connor Teskey has been named chief executive officer of Brookfield Asset Management, the trillion‑dollar alternative‑investment firm spanning infrastructure, power, real estate, private equity and credit. Teskey, a long‑time insider, succeeds founder‑CEO Bruce Flatt and promises continuity with a fresh strategic...
Resident Loyalty Platform Bilt Acquires Travel Agency Business Sion
Resident loyalty platform Bilt announced the acquisition of travel‑advisor management firm Sion for $30 million. The deal gives Bilt access to Sion’s technology and a team that supports over 8,000 travel advisors and manages more than $7 billion in booking revenue. Bilt’s...
Omens of the 2022 Bust. Clues for the Next One?
U.S. M&A activity exploded from roughly 4,200 deals in 2020 to a record 10,600 in 2021, a 2.5‑fold jump. By 2023 the volume had slumped 42%, reflecting a sharp reversal. Analysts link the collapse to runaway inflation, soaring Fed rates,...
How To Build A Scalable HR And Safety System For Your Growing ECommerce Business
Growing eCommerce firms often outgrow informal HR and safety practices, creating operational risk. The article outlines a stage‑based framework—risk audit, centralized documentation, structured onboarding, data‑informed safety, regulatory alignment, and KPI integration—to build scalable workforce systems. By standardizing processes and leveraging...
Adriana Acosta on Costa Rica’s Strategy to Attract Sustainable, High-Value Investment
Costa Rica is leveraging its globally recognised sustainability record, highly educated bilingual workforce, and long‑standing institutional stability to attract high‑value, knowledge‑intensive investment. The "essential COSTA RICA" brand, coordinated across trade, tourism and foreign affairs agencies, underpins a data‑driven strategy that showcases measurable...
A Model for Growing the Next Generation of Developers
Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich and VP Scott Hanselman propose a software preceptorship model that pairs junior developers with senior mentors to work alongside AI coding assistants. Borrowing from nursing, the approach treats mentorship as a year‑long, equal partnership where...
Why Your RTO Strategy Needs Purposeful In-Person Experiences (Not Mandates)
New research reveals that forward‑looking leaders are reshaping return‑to‑office (RTO) strategies by embedding purposeful in‑person experiences rather than imposing attendance mandates. These activations—ranging from purpose‑driven days and inclusive cultural events to skill‑building workshops—strengthen employee connection to mission, foster belonging, accelerate...
Executive Housekeepers in the Spotlight at Halekulani
Audrey Goh has served as Executive Housekeeper at Halekulani in Honolulu since 1991, overseeing a team of more than 160 room attendants. The pandemic forced the department to lose 50 staff members, prompting a broadened recruitment strategy and intensive training...
Assertiveness Part 1: Why Every Breakthrough Leader Masters This Trait
Assertiveness is a learnable communication language that separates confident clarity from aggression. A pharmaceutical VP’s assertive intervention added €50 million in revenue by reshaping a product launch timeline. Harvard and industry studies show assertive leaders outperform peers, earn more promotions, and...
The “Iran Shock” Hits Multi-Strategy Giants:
Geopolitical tensions with Iran triggered a rare, coordinated drawdown across the world’s largest multi‑strategy hedge funds. Citadel’s Wellington fund fell about 2%, Millennium Management incurred roughly $1.5 billion in losses, and Coatue saw a 3.8% decline. The episode exposed how broad...
Tearing Down the Paper Ceiling
AI-driven skill assessments could replace degree requirements, offering faster, merit‑based hiring. The article proposes a Department of Labor challenge to create portable, job‑specific AI tests for high‑demand roles. Successful tools would lower hiring costs, improve labor mobility, and reduce reliance...
Grocery Prices Continue to Rise
Grocery prices are climbing faster than last year, according to recent CPI‑food‑at‑home data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a year‑over‑year increase of about 5% in the first quarter of 2024, outpacing the 2023 rate. The Economic Research Service’s forecast...
FINANCIALS: Black & Blue Owl
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has launched a historic 400 million‑barrel emergency oil release, the largest in its 52‑year history, after the Strait of Hormuz closure removed roughly 20 million barrels per day from global supply. Brent crude rose $6.50 to $98.68,...
The Federal Budget Wins From War but You Lose
Alex Joiner, chief economist at IFM Investors, argues that the recent surge in energy prices is boosting Australia’s federal budget while simultaneously eroding household purchasing power. Higher gas prices are expected to lift export earnings and improve the nation’s terms...
GEOPOLITICS DOESN'T CHANGE PRICES IN THE LONG-RUN?
The piece argues that geopolitical shocks, while capable of causing short‑term commodity price spikes, do not alter the long‑run pricing trajectory, which is anchored in supply‑demand fundamentals, technological progress, and investment cycles. It cites historical data showing oil, copper and...
How Smart Shopify Brands Are Using AI Personalization to Grow AOV Without Spending More on Ads
Shopify merchants earning $200K‑$5M are turning to Rebuy’s AI‑driven personalization to lift average order value by 11‑25% and subscription revenue by up to 63% without extra ad spend. The platform layers recommendation widgets across five key touchpoints—homepage carousel, product detail...
Private Credit Is Officially Fucked
The author predicts an imminent run on private credit, forecasting that liquidity pressures will materialize by the end of the week or early next week. A recent appearance on the Thoughtful Money podcast confirms the prediction, indicating that investors are...
Cursor Weighs Fresh Fundraise as Debate Rages on Coding Firm's Prospects
Cursor, the AI‑powered coding assistant, is reportedly exploring a fresh financing round as the startup navigates mixed signals about its long‑term viability. The company, backed by investors such as Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia, aims to capitalize on surging demand for...
One Billion Lost Packages
In September 2024 Hurricane Helene flooded Baxter International’s Marion, NC plant, halting 60% of U.S. IV‑fluid output and triggering nationwide shortages. The same month, 85 million U.S. packages arrived damaged—a 30% jump that cost roughly $4 billion. To address the chronic fragmentation...
A BC Consulting Group Acquired by Microsoft Partner Gestisoft
Gestisoft, a Microsoft partner specializing in Dynamics 365 ERP and CRM, announced the acquisition of Montreal‑based A BC Consulting Group, a Business Central specialist founded by Microsoft MVP Shannon Mullins. The deal adds A BC Consulting’s ten‑person team to Gestisoft’s more than...
The Big Stay: Lawyers Reluctant to Move in 2026
Australia’s legal market is entering a “Big Stay” phase in 2026, with lawyers opting to remain at their current firms rather than pursue new opportunities. Gartner’s Q4 2025 talent monitor shows confidence at a three‑year low of 55.7, and SEEK...
I Was Inconsiderate but Now I’m Everywhere
Derek Sivers announced that he is expanding his personal content beyond his own website to a suite of social and video platforms. He likens his previous single‑site approach to a record producer who forced everyone to travel to a remote...
Sorry for Your Glossier
Glossier is set to launch a new fragrance called Soie in the coming weeks, marking its latest attempt to gain traction in the crowded perfume market. The brand’s recent history includes three perfume releases within a five‑month span, a rollout...
Delta Launches Euro Summer 2026 Travel Inspiration Campaign With Interactive Destination Quiz
Delta Air Lines has rolled out a digital campaign called Delta Destinations to inspire European summer travel for 2026. The initiative pairs curated city guides—starting with Amsterdam, Malta, Porto and London—with an interactive “Euro Summer Destination Match Quiz” that aligns...
Stop Rescuing Your Team: How to Ask for Help and Make Everything Better
The article warns that high‑performing leaders often rescue their teams by taking on work that should be shared, which unintentionally suppresses team growth. It outlines a four‑step framework: make workload visible, clarify ownership, replace rescue with explicit agreements, and tolerate...
Informa TechTarget Promises Growth; EBITDA Higher Amid Goodwill Loss
Informa TechTarget, the 2024 merger of Informa and TechTarget, reported full‑year revenue of $486.8 million and an adjusted EBITDA of $87.3 million for 2025, surpassing its $85 million guidance. The company projected 2026 adjusted EBITDA between $95 million and $100 million, signaling a return to...
Metals Acquisition Corp. II (MTAL.U) Prices $200M IPO
Metals Acquisition Corp. II priced a $200 million initial public offering and will begin trading on the NYSE under the ticker MTAL.U on March 12, 2026. The SPAC’s mandate is to pursue acquisitions across the natural‑resources value chain, focusing on metals and mining...
Part 2: AI Data Center Construction, CIP, All the Cash Flows and Concentration
AI‑driven data center projects are reshaping tech capital spending, pushing construction‑in‑progress (CIP) balances and accounts payable to unprecedented levels. Companies adopt varied structures—joint ventures, SPVs, sale‑leasebacks—that affect how liabilities appear on balance sheets. The surge in days‑payable‑outstanding signals supplier financing...
Why Restaurants Should Embrace the Inner Kidult
The article highlights the growing "Kidult" trend—adults, especially Gen Z, who gravitate toward nostalgic, child‑like experiences—as a low‑cost, high‑impact lever for restaurants. Data from Placer.ai shows that promotions such as McDonald’s Grinch Meal and Starbucks’ Bearista generated the largest traffic spikes...
Explainer: How Global Shipping Is Financing China’s Navy without Knowing It
Global shipping’s reliance on Chinese Tier‑1 shipyards is simultaneously financing the People’s Liberation Army Navy. CSIS data shows these yards produce 40% of China’s commercial tonnage while building virtually every major warship, generating $165 billion in export revenue from 2019‑2024. Freight‑rate...
What Happens When a Company Wants to Go Into Voluntary Liquidation?
When a company faces insolvency, directors can opt for voluntary liquidation, either a Members' Voluntary Liquidation (solvent) or a Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation (insolvent). The first step is appointing an experienced insolvency practitioner who halts trading, prepares a directors' report, and...