Bharat Bhise on How Social Networking Companies Are Stepping in to Help Small Business Owners

Bharat Bhise applauds Facebook as it is once again lending a hand to small businesses. It has recently announced a $100 million grant dedicated to businesses affected by the pandemic. It has also rolled out a new application that enables Instagram users to feature online food orders, fundraisers, and gift cards in their stories or profile.

New Features Instagram users from Canada and the U.S. can now tap on food orders or gift cards to buy items through the company’s platform. Start-up owners can share fundraising stickers to campaigns created by supporters or by themselves. Users simply tap on the stickers, which will take them to Facebook. Bharat Bhise shares that users can then help share the cause by featuring the sticker in their Stories. The move is an effort to lend a hand to small businesses during these economically trying times.

Facebook has also launched gift cards for start-up businesses. These efforts are important because the coronavirus pandemic has put these mom and pop businesses on the line.

Around 7.5 million small enterprises are in danger of closing down over the next coming months if the economic lockdown and pandemic continue. This is the result of a survey published by Main Street America, a network that features more than 300,000 micro businesses.

Bharat Bhise notes that these entrepreneurial efforts are at the heart of Facebook’s business. The social networking giant says that about 140 million businesses are operating on Facebook apps, and 8 million of these are advertisers. A big chunk of them are start-ups or medium-sized companies.

These start-ups are also integral to Instagram. About 90% of the accounts follow at least one small or medium business. Consumers also appreciate having those brands on the site. According to a Facebook survey, 78% think that start-up brands on Instagram are popular, while 77% believe that these are creative.

Nonetheless, Bharat Bhise is appreciative of how social networking companies are stepping in to help bridge the gap between recession and supporting businesses.

Bharat Bhise on Coronavirus and the U.S. Economy

Despite everything that has been happening because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bharat Bhise is not surprised that stocks finished higher as investors reacted to the Federal Reserve’s plan to put in more than $2.3 trillion into the U.S. economy. As Wall Street weighed a leveling off of coronavirus infections in certain hot spots and efforts by the government to restart the economy, stocks recently finished sharply higher.

Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia and Russia had agreed in principle to cut on oil-production, which finally settles a month-long dispute. Saudi Arabia has agreed to cut its daily production of oil from 12 million to 8.7 million barrels, and Russia has decided to cut its production output from 10.4 million to 8.4 million.

The Federal Reserve announced that it would be using $75 billion in Treasury capital to purchase up to $600 billion in loans for small businesses and lend around $500 billion to states and cities. The four-year loans will be focusing on companies with 10,000 employees or less, the central bank said and will complement the Fed’s previous announcement of its intention to purchase municipal bonds. Bharat Bhise believes that these initiatives will make a significant impact, especially to those who cannot handle this worldwide crisis well, and that it will ensure the eventual recovery is vigorous and possible. He applauds the government’s efforts to put the highest priority into the public health crisis, providing care for the ill, limiting the further spread of the virus, and caring for those who are incapable.

Meanwhile, Bharat Bhise feels devastated because of the reports showing that more than 15 million American have already filed for unemployment benefits as unprecedented measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak by shutting down the economy continued to take their toll on the jobs market of the United States of America.

Bharat Bhise Lauds Dick’s Sporting Goods Decision To Pull Out Guns From 440 Stores as Shares Rise

Bharat Bhise expresses his approval of American retail company Dick’s Sporting Goods’ announcement Tuesday that it will pull out guns from an additional 440 stores this 2020. This is a continuation of its efforts stemming from the fatal Parkland, Florida school shooting last 2018.

The statement coincided with its holiday-quarter earnings report, which showed sales going beyond analysts’ expectations and that people patronized the stores for its athletic apparel and footwear. The company is one of the last brick and mortar stores standing in its industry with competitors Sport Chalet and Sports Authority having closed down due to bankruptcy.

On the news, its premarket trading shares rose to over 12%.

Bharat Bhise shares a summary of how the retail store did financially on its fourth-quarter based on a survey of analysts made by Refinitiv:

 Same-store sales: Growth of 5.3% (3% was expected)
 Revenue: $2.61 billion (expected was $2.57 billion)
 Earnings per share: $1.32, adjusted (expected was $1.22)

There were growth in-store sales despite untimely warm weather and the compacted selling season during the holidays. The company looks to balance their optimism with some caution because of the effects of the coronavirus disease.

The sporting goods store made its first bold pronouncement on firearms in February 2018. This follows the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 14 students and three members of the staff where killed.

Bharat Bhise recalls that a little after the Valentine’s Day massacre, Dick’s stopped the sale of guns to minors under 21 years of age and pulled out high capacity magazines from their stores.

After eight months, the business pulled out all guns from 10 locations. It was such a good move that they did the same to 125 more branches. Since that bold move, their entire hunting section has been under review. Bharat Bhise lauds the business decision and wishes them well in the future.

Bharat Bhise on General Motors and Its Strategy: Pulling Out of Australia, Thailand, and New Zealand

Bharat Bhise reports on the latest news about General Motors.

The company, also known as GM, will be exiting three countries that haven’t provided them with enough return for their investments.

Countries that will be affected include Australia and New Zealand, where the iconic brand Holden will be discontinued in 2021. Another country involved is Thailand, where Chevrolet will be pulled out by the end of the year.

The Rayong plant in Thailand will also be sold to a Chinese automaker called Great Wall Motors. In total, the company has built around 1.35 million vehicles in the plant since it was first opened in 2000.

A Big Financial Hit Bharat Bhise notes that with the exit, the American automaker company is expecting to take a total hit of $1.1 billion, with roughly around $300 million cash loss.

Last year, GM also lost $200 million on its International Operations in Asia, which included China. This includes the $100 million loss during their fourth quarter.

GM’s Holden has seen its highest market share in 2002, where it reached a peak of 22.1%. However, it declined a year after, and since then, the numbers are getting lower.

Last year, they saw their lowest market share at 4.1%.

Eyeing Other International Operations Bharat Bhise says this wasn’t the first time General Motors is dropping off operations and selling their plants, as they have also sold off a few other international operations in the last few years. In 2017, GM sold European brands Vauxhall and Opel to PSA Group, which owned Peugeot, for $1.4 billion.

The automaker company has a total of 828 employees in both Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, they have around 1,500 employees in Thailand. Nevertheless, GM promises they will be helping their employees in these companies during the transition.

For now, Bharat Bhise notes that General Motors is focusing their strategies in countries in South America, South Korea, and the Middle East where they believe they can “drive robust returns.” They will also be keeping a small specialty vehicle business in New Zealand and Australia.

Bharat Bhise On Pinterest Stock: Is it too Late?

Bharat Bhise, always well aware of the on-goings in the online investment world, was asked this question this week: is it too late to buy stocks or shares in Pinterest?

The “bulletin board” website, which is ubiquitous for artists, planners, brides, and fashionistas, among others, is enjoying a boom as one of the hottest stock offerings of 2019. The hype was real: it was a vertical rise for Pinterest for several sessions from the moment it had debuted in the market. Though there was a disappointment in the third quarter of last year, there may still be potential for a comeback.  

The Social Media Grab

For Bharat Bhise, social media investments have certainly enjoyed their time in the light. Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), Twitter (NYSE:TWTR), and Snapchat (NYSE:SNAP) already took to the stratosphere when their shares went public. So there’s plenty of interest remaining for Pinterest, although some investors may still be a little wary.

Shares report for Pinterest (NYSE:PINS) has risen almost 20% in quarterly figures, with across-the-board gains. It soared over the expectations in revenue and earnings, proving that Wall Street’s hesitation on how well it would do was strongly misguided. Which begs the question: is it too late to get a piece of it?

The Next Steps

The market certainly took advantage, says Bharat Bhise. As a serious contender in the social media race, Pinterest is building back and rallying after some lost momentum in December. Currently, it’s earning just under the January high of $24. It’s not too late to take the opportunity to get some of Pinterest’s power, however. The market projects that over 50% retracement can bring the shares up to $27.11, and 61.8% retracement takes it to $29.40. That makes the elusive $30 not out of the question.

Bharat Bhise explains that Pinterest can maintain its power if it keeps things simple and if the market cooperates with it.

Bharat Bhise Recommends Crypto Wallet Security Tips

As Bharat Bhise repeatedly reminds investors in cryptocurrency, your crypto wallet is your entire vault. This is where your holdings are kept, and should virtually be accessible no matter where you are in the world. But the trouble with handling a form of currency that is entirely virtual is that it gets exposed to digital threats. Much in the same way that we’re all concerned about getting our real-world wallets or valuables stolen, crypto traders, particularly ones just starting, must be vigilant about the safety and security of their crypto wallet.

Here are some ways to ensure that your wallet and your cryptocurrency holdings remain invulnerable. And especially to malicious threats in the digital world.

1. Go beyond the standard

Bharat Bhise reminds us that even in our homes, we hardly ever settle for the locks that come with the place. We add an extra security measure or two, like security cams or double bolts. The same needs to get done for your crypto wallet. Don’t just rely on the provided security of wallet providers. Some companies provide extra encryption as needed, including the use of private keys.

2. Always create backups

As they say, don’t put all your eggs into one basket. A backup of your cryptocurrency wallet will ensure that in case of hardware failure, corruption, or even human error, you’ll have a chance to get your holdings back. Bharat Bhise adds that it also helps if your PC or phone gets stolen; you’ll be able to restore your wallet.

3. Go into cold storage

Cold storage refers to taking a majority of your cryptocurrency and putting them in a safeguarded vault. This method is offline and done by storing the crypto coin’s private keys away from the internet. Leave only a small amount of coins in your wallet. So in case it gets stolen, you won’t have lost a lot.

Bharat Bhise reminds everyone to stay vigilant and protect their wallets the way we’d defend our real ones. No one wants to be robbed online or offline, after all.

Bharat Bhise Explains Litecoin

Bharat Bhise noticed that many people are getting more and more interested in a recent development in a cryptocurrency called Litecoin. Considered as Bitcoin’s little brother, one great way to interpret it is that if Bitcoin were a golden coin, Litecoin would be its silver.

But what are the differences between them? Is one better than the other, and which one should you invest in?

What is Litecoin?

Contrary to popular opinion, Litecoin isn’t new, even though it had just recently gained attention. Litecoin is one of the oldest of the coins on the market. Like Bitcoin, Bharat Bhise says that this coin is a form of digital payment. Founded eight years ago by former Google engineer Charlie Lee, his goal was to create a more “everyday” type of cryptocurrency compared to the heavyweight that was Bitcoin.

How It’s Made

Litecoin, like all other cryptocurrencies, is not government-issued. Like its big brother Bitcoin, you get Litecoins by mining. The mining is done by processing a list of Litecoin transactions, and there is a fixed supply of them. The whole world only has 84 million Litecoins forever. Also, unlike Bitcoin, which generates a block or an entry of transactions all over the world every ten minutes, Bharat Bhise says that the lighter Litecoin makes one every 2.5 minutes.

Mining Process

Both Bitcoin and Litecoin use “proof-of-work” consensus. Miners have to use powerful CPUs to solve cryptographic puzzles. These puzzles need to be extremely difficult; otherwise, the miners will end up draining the entire Bitcoin supply as they mine blocks. But the difference with the two is that Litecoin uses a Scrypt algorithm. While Bitcoin can solve two challenging puzzles (A and B) at the same time, Litecoin’s process only allows those two puzzles to be done serially. Memory is what limits Litecoin.

Being simpler than Bitcoin, Litecoin is seen as something ordinary people can get into with their day-to-day memory cards. But for Bharat Bhise and other experts, it remains to be seen whether this lighter load will make Litecoin any more viable a currency than Bitcoin has been.