- by Owen Stuart
- May 13 2019
- financial services
- money and finance
- services & miscellaneous
Fiduciary Quandary: States Rewrite the Rules on Who’s a Fiduciary
After the US Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Duty rule was struck down by a federal appeals court in 2018, the federal government has yet to issue another iteration of the rule. However, a handful of states are attempting to create a robust standard.
- by Owen Stuart
- April 30 2019
- services & miscellaneous
Consulting Services Face New Competitive Threat
Long dominated by massive firms cloaked in secrecy, the model and value of consultancy services delivered by the likes of McKinsey and EY is being challenged. Startups are competing with lower-tier consultancies by making consulting an option for companies that would otherwise be unable to afford it.
- by Leon Mengri
- April 22 2019
- banking
- economy
- money and finance
- services & miscellaneous
Waning Memory of Financial Crisis Brings Less Stringent Regulations
Legislators and regulators around the world strengthened financial regulations following the 2008 financial crisis that helped cause the 2009 global recession and contributed to the severity of the 2007-2009 US recession. However, as the financial crisis recedes from memory and as some participants in the banking industry voice complaints that regulations are preventing them from lending more aggressively, Congress and regulatory agencies have taken steps to curtail some regulations.
- by Owen Stuart
- April 22 2019
- Metals & Minerals
Three Reasons US Iron Ore Mining is Expected to Grow
Iron ore miners have suffered for a while. Cheap imports and global steelmaking overcapacity have dragged down prices for domestically manufactured steel, thereby reducing demand for iron ore. However, the industry is expected to see robust growth through 2023 for three reasons.
- by Chris Dyer
- April 22 2019
- Recreation
- services & miscellaneous
- Spectator Sports
How the NFL Survived a Boycott
The NFL was alarmed in August 2016 at the outset of a string of player protests, which resulted in declining viewership and boycotts by some consumers – both in support of and opposition to the protest. How have the NFL and the spectator sports industry as a whole fared through all this turmoil?
- by Leon Mengri
- April 15 2019
- Consumer Products
- Healthcare & Biotechnology
Looking for Solutions to Digital Eye Strain
As individuals spend more time facing computers and smartphones at home, work, school, and elsewhere, digital eye strain is becoming commonplace. Digital eye strain can be worse for eyeglass wearers due to potential reflections from the screen or other light sources onto the lenses. As a result, most major suppliers of eyeglass lenses to the US market – including EssilorLuxottica (via Essilor), Carl Zeiss (via Zeiss), HOYA, and Nikon (via Nikon Optical USA) – are marketing products specifically aimed at reducing eye strain for heavy users of digital devices.
- by Chris Dyer
- April 10 2019
- services & miscellaneous
Visualizing the Future of Architecture & Engineering
As virtual reality (VR) continues to improve, firms in the engineering and architectural services industries are finding novel uses for the technology in their day-to-day operations. From client communication and model presentations to cooperative design work, the list of applications continues to grow. How will the widespread use of VR impact the industries going forward?
- by Owen Stuart
- April 10 2019
- Metals & Minerals
- Trade
The Aluminum Industry is Looking Shiny, For Now
The aluminum industry is looking up. Historically low aluminum prices have finally risen due to the effect of the US government’s tariffs on imported primary aluminum. However, the future of the industry may not be quite so bright if the tariffs are repealed.
- by Leon Mengri
- February 22 2019
- cleaning supplies
- environment
- green cleaning
- services & miscellaneous
Cleaning Companies Increasingly Offer Environmentally Friendly Options
Organizations and households are increasingly paying attention to the types of cleaning chemicals they use due to concerns about toxicity and environmental impact. Contract cleaning firms are sensitive to client concerns about cleaning chemicals, because they have to compete strongly to win contracts in a fragmented industry with many participants.
- by Owen Stuart
- February 22 2019
- automotive
- Metals & Minerals
Four Reasons the CAFE Rollback is Meaningless
The July 2018 rollback of the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards has roused debate, but any change that occurs is likely to be minimal at best.