I hired jack when he was 15. A High School Student. Came to work for a company that i actually still have. Then he went off to college. We kept in touch. And then he got kicked out of twitter. The first time. And they showed him the door and he came back to st. Louis and we were hanging out talking. Decided wed start the company together. We then were kicking around ideas. So we started looking for problems we could solve. Came up with the problem of how got paid. You talk in the book about your work as a glassblower. Talk about that moment that you realize that payments were a problem for small merchants. As i said, jack had just been kicked out of twitter. He was sort of like a little brother to me. Someone i felt i needed to stand up for. What they did to him at twitter the first time was completely vile. So my first suggestion was lets go to San Francisco and get even with those guys. It was lex fight motivated. But jack, to his credit, said why dont we do something more positive a
Takeover bid by xerox saying it meaningfully undervalues hp. The ceo of hp will join me later this morning. Coronavirus fears hitting the Corporate Outlook and strategy southwest, apple, kroger, campbells among the Many Companies that are weighing in today. Well start with the futures, though, sharply lower amid this roller coaster week for stocks and wall street which saw the dow swing a thousand points or higher two times in the last three days, jim. Maybe were in for a couple of months of chop here . I think thats exactly right, carl yesterday was a very solid based on oversold relief rally the existential issue of whether a socialist would head the ticket a lot of people feel was finished because of the victory, multiple victories in states obviously by Vice President biden. But now were stuck with looking at earnings again and all that happens when you come in is you look at the 10year and then look at earnings it isnt like every company david, are you wearing those for the show i
From my going to your backyard or for better. Or for. A move. Into this it is. Starting to. Christmas is here and that means well big business for many will take a look at what retailers are expecting in europes biggest economy and all shoppers here in berlin to deal with the more frustrating parts of gift giving. Also on the show well look at chinas growing economic influence over the past year on its massive infrastructure spending. This is your Business Report im stephen bears in berlin thanks for joining us. Its one of the most important periods on the christian calendar and for the Business Books christmas time is critical for retailers above all who rely on strong sales to make up for slower parts of the year the good news in countries like the u. S. And germany is that fundamentally strong economies look to drive strong sales at the stores and online but there are also downsides clark wrapping presents 3 shifts a day thats all these employees do here at a Department Store in cen
A book. Or movie all over. It is that if theres. Something to. China theres a trade pact with the u. S. And continues its massive Infrastructure Project to ease access to Global Markets will have a closer look at the new silk road and talk to our correspondent about chinas ambitions. Also on the show christmas means well big business for many well take a look at how retailers did this Holiday Season. This is your Business Report im Stephen Beers in berlin thanks for joining us u. S. And china have signaled that theyre ready to submit their phase one trade deal beijing said wednesday its preparing for a signing ceremony that follows earlier statements by u. S. President donald trump and his trade negotiator robert light hisor who said the ceremony will take place in the 1st week of january the mere announcement of the deal has already encouraged markets which have rallied in recent weeks but uncertainty remains china has yet to confirm some details in the agreement. Ever more on this im
But. Hardly anyone knows how nontransparent this market really yes for that one tonne of charcoal requires 5 to 10 tons of wood. This has an enormous impact on the environment. Where the wood comes from theres often terrible human rights abuses and theres poverty theres deforestation theres deserts of occasional vices and. Its completely unacceptable that tropical rain forests are being destroyed just to produce cheeta charcoal should be happening its madness bongs in. Nigeria with 186000000 inhabitants its the most populated country in africa this is where most of the charcoal imported to the e. U. Comes from its a huge business not only in nigeria paraguay in south america is another big global player. According to the un over half the trees cut down worldwide are burnt to produce charcoal with severe effects to the climate. Nigerian merchants praised the high quality of charcoal derived from tropical wood its particularly durable and its embers last much longer but these traders don