Latest news for VAT Group (OTC:VACNY) Stock

VAT Group AG manufactures and sells valves that are used in machines. The company has two segments. The Valves segment is focused on its core vacuum valve technology and consists of three business units aligned with its markets: Semiconductors, Display & Solar industries. The second segment, Global Service, supplies a growing range of service products and solutions to help customers. The company derives maximum revenue from the Valves segment. The company derives maximum revenue from China.

VAT Group AG

S64, the global alternative investments fintech and solutions partner to the wealth management industry, and Invesco Asset Management Limited (Invesco), the US$1.7 trillion global investment management firm, have announced a partnership to broaden access to Invesco Real Estate&#39;s European III Fund to the wealth management industry in Europe and Asia.
The new&nbsp;European Real Estate III Feeder Fund&nbsp;(Europe III Feeder) invests in Invesco&#39;s dedicated value-add and opportunistic strategy &ndash;&nbsp;Invesco Real Estate Europe III&nbsp;(Europe III). The Europe III Feeder follows Invesco&#39;s focus on enabling High Net Worth investors to invest in institutional quality real estate targeting high returns through an innovative digital distribution platform built by S64.
The Europe III Fund seeks to capitalise on an attractive entry point to fundamental, long-term value creation. The fund held its first close with EUR 400m, and is targeting up to EUR 1 billion of investor commitments, as it builds on Invesco Real Estate&#39;s European value-add track record and the success of two previous funds. Overall, the value-add strategies have completed 39 investments across six sectors in 10 countries, with 21 realised investments delivering a&nbsp;35%&nbsp;gross IRR and 1.7x gross EM.1&nbsp;Consistent with Invesco&#39;s ESG principles, more than&nbsp;80%&nbsp;of the invested capital from the last two capital raises has been allocated to investments achieving high ESG certifications.&quot;

Government

News

Regulations

S64 and Invesco Partner to Expand Access to European Real Estate Fund for Wealth Management in Europe and Asia

Speaking at an Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) financial analysts meeting, co-founder and CTO of the tech giant, Larry Ellison predicted that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence</a> will eventually power extensive law enforcement surveillance systems.
What Happened: &#8220;Every police officer is going to be supervised at all times, and if there&#8217;s a problem, AI will report that problem and report it to the appropriate person,&#8221; said Ellison.
He added that citizens would be on their best behavior due to constant recording and reporting.
Ellison believes that AI-driven continuous surveillance could significantly reduce crime rates. However, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/07/15/predictive-policing-algorithms-fail/">report</a> notes that police data in the U.S. has historical biases, which could lead AI models to suggest higher criminal activity in certain areas, creating racially and socioeconomically biased feedback loops.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40867076/laura-loomer-faces-republican-wrath-over-racist-posts-is-donald-trump-defending-her?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Laura Loomer Faces Republican Wrath Over Racist Posts</a>
Why It Matters: The conversation around AI&#8217;s role in law enforcement is part of a broader dialogue on AI&#8217;s impact on society. 
Recently, OpenAI launched its &#8216;o1&#8217; model, a significant step towards <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/09/40842891/openai-unveils-o1-model-a-step-closer-to-human-like-ai-but-not-without-flaws">human-like AI</a>, which can answer complex questions faster than a human. This advancement highlights both the potential and the limitations of AI technology.
Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates also discussed AI&#8217;s implications on the workforce in a podcast episode with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Gates questioned whether AI could support blue-collar jobs. Recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/05/39084794/will-ai-take-over-our-jobs-bill-gates-asks-if-ai-can-support-blue-collar-jobs-as-it-is-already-d">studies show that 37%</a> of companies have replaced staff with AI technology, and 44% predict AI will lead to layoffs in 2024.
Additionally, AI&#8217;s influence extends to personal finance, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40399303/is-ai-the-new-finance-expert-nearly-40-of-americans-use-ai-for-financial-planning">nearly 40% of Americans using AI for financial planning</a>, according to a recent Ipsos poll. 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40848034/warren-buffett-13b-bet-on-occidental-petroleum-turns-sour-as-shares-plunge-29-since-mid-april-an?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett $13B Bet On Occidental Petroleum Turns Sour As Shares Plunge 29% Since Mid-April — Analyst Says He Could Buy More</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Tech

ORCL

Oracle's Larry Ellison Predicts Police Officers Will Be Supervised 'At All Times' And Citizens Will Be On Their Best Behavior Thanks To Constant AI-Powered Surveillance

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cognizant (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTSH#NASDAQ">CTSH</a>) have announced a partnership which is set to offer recreational cricket fans, players and volunteers an improved digital experience as part of the national cricket governing body&#39;s ongoing digital transformation. New Cognizant Logo (PRNewsfoto/Cognizant) As the Official Digital Technology Transformation Partner and Official IT Consulting Partner, Cognizant will be the key strategic partner for the ECB&#39;s recreational game systems programme &ndash; aiming to develop integrated and user-friendly digital products that simplify numerous administrative tasks involved in running recreational cricket, and providing a streamlined and inclusive digital experience that facilitates a more meaningful engagement for all participants with the game. The first phase is due to become operational in 2025. Cognizant will also support the ECB with wider digital and technology initiatives to continue cricket&#39;s growth in England and Wales. A key part of this will be an annual innovation fund, which the ECB will utilize to test early-stage innovations that could grow the game across aspects such as commercial, fan engagement and infrastructure.

CTSH

Cognizant Teams Up with England and Wales Cricket Board to Drive Digital Innovation in Cricket, Launching New Tech in 2025

This partnership leverages the strengths of both CSG and Cellusys to deliver a unified solution portfolio that streamlines the roaming process, enhances customer experiences and unlocks new revenue streams. With real-time visibility of all roaming conditions and activity, mobile operators are empowered to turn subscriber insights into effortless customer experiences, without compromising roaming revenues. Key features of the CSG and Cellusys solution include:
<ul>
<li>Intelligent Roaming Steering:&nbsp;Data-driven network selection to optimize cost, quality and subscriber satisfaction, ensuring the best possible experience.</li>
<li>Proactive Testing:&nbsp;Active network quality monitoring that identifies and resolves issues before they impact subscribers, guaranteeing seamless connectivity.</li>
<li>Smart Settlement:&nbsp;Streamlined automated reconciliation to gain flexibility and control over roaming products and agreements while reducing costs and reliance on data clearing houses.</li>
<li>Comprehensive Analytics:&nbsp;In-depth reports and dashboards that provide actionable insights, so operators can make informed decisions and optimize their roaming strategies.</li>
</ul>

CSGS

CSG And Cellusys Join Forces To Optimize Global Roaming For Mobile Operators

Palantir Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40837515/whats-going-on-with-palantir-stock-today">held its 5th AIPCon last week, </a>which was live-streamed on Thursday, and a bullish analyst came away from the conference impressed.
The Palantir Analyst: BofA Securities analyst Mariana Perez Mora reiterated a Buy rating and $50 price target for the stock, which suggests an upside potential of about 38%.
The Palantir Thesis: Palantir CEO Alex Karp kicked off the meeting by relaying excitement over Palantir&#8217;s inclusion in the prestigious S&amp;P 500 Index and stating that the event recognizes Palantir as an &#8220;actual serious&#8221; company, Perez Mora said.
Karp also highlighted all the success that has been built on top of &#8220;powerful products, strong values and the very best people and partners,&#8221; the analyst said. The partners are de facto the company&#8217;s clients, the analyst said. The CEO is convinced that Palantir could be 10 times larger than what is currently, she added.
&#8220;We see Palantir as a key enabler of their partners&#8217; acceleration, driving material results to strengthen their business and in turn Palantir,&#8221; Perez Mora said.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-artificial-intelligence-stocks"> Best AI Stocks</a>
The analyst noted that as has been customary of the previous FoundryCon and AIPCons, real customer use cases were a focal point. Executives from global corporations and organizations such as Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Aramark, Associated Materials, Lear, Trinity Industries, Mount Sinai, Komatsu and Tampa General Hospital demonstrated the capabilities and operational benefits achieved within AIP, she noted.
After the public presentation, other customers such as BP, Anduril, DTN, EllisDon, Department of State, L3Harris, Owens &amp; Minor and Selkirk Spor held demos to prospective customers, she said. The analyst expects AIPCon demos to expand the portfolio to customers, ranging from commercial businesses and hospitals to government customers, as well as use cases.
Delving into the other opportunities, Perez Mora noted that the recently launched &#8220;Warp Speed&#8221; product was pitched as a new tool for the American industrial base to re-industrialize their businesses with a digital marketing operating system. The analyst also said she sees an increasing sense of urgency in the U.S. to ramp up the dry powder of the military-industrial base, particularly in the efforts to deter the pacing threats from China.
Palantir Stock: Palantir ended Monday&#8217;s session up 2.02% at $$36.31, and in the premarket session on Tuesday, the stock edged up about 0.1%, according to<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174"> Benzinga Pro data.</a>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40871493/worried-about-staggering-tech-valuation-analyst-says-these-stocks-are-poised-to-go-higher-as-fed">Worried About Staggering Tech Valuation? Analyst Says These Stocks Are Poised To Go Higher As Fed Kicks Off &#8216;Rate-Cutting Cycle&#8217; This Week</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Spyro the Dragon on Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Equities

Long Ideas

Reiteration

Markets

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

PLTR

Palantir 'Key Enabler' Of Clients' Businesses, Says Bullish Analyst, As CEO Alex Karp Touts 10-Fold Growth From Current Levels

Accenture And Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Team Up To Accelerate Sovereign AI Cloud

In a surprising move, Michael Conway, Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) North America CEO, has resigned after only six months in the role.
What Happened: Conway, who took on the position in April, informed the company of his decision last week, as per a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. He will remain with the company until November 30 to assist with the leadership transition, concluding his 11-year tenure at Starbucks, Business Insider <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-north-america-ceo-retires-michael-conway-without-replacement-2024-9?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=business-sf&amp;utm_medium=social">reported</a> on Tuesday.
Before his North American CEO role, Conway served as group president of international and channel development and president of Starbucks Canada. His appointment was part of a reorganization effort by former CEO Laxman Narasimhan, Bloomberg noted in March.
Rather than appointing a new CEO for North America, Starbucks announced that Sara Trilling, the company&#8217;s North American president, will oversee retail operations across the region. Trilling has been with Starbucks for 22 years and previously managed 3,500 stores as senior vice president of its north division.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40874566/apple-shares-slide-in-monday-premarket-whats-souring-sentiment?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Shares Slide In Monday Premarket: What&#8217;s Souring Sentiment?</a>
The company aims to enhance decision-making efficiency by streamlining its leadership structure, The Wall Street Journal reported. Conway&#8217;s departure follows other significant leadership changes, including the recent appointment of Brian Niccol, former CEO of Chipotle, as Starbucks&#8217; new top executive.
Operational challenges have affected Starbucks&#8217; North American stores, with complex drink orders, rising prices, and varying foot traffic impacting staff and profitability. Niccol plans to revamp operations and focus on customer experience, he stated last week.
Why It Matters: This leadership change comes amid a series of strategic shifts at Starbucks. In March, the company announced a new geographic leadership structure to support global functions, appointing Conway as North America CEO <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/03/37824686/starbucks-stirs-up-leadership-for-worldwide-expansion-details">to spearhead this initiative</a>.
In August, the appointment of Brian Niccol as the new CEO boosted Starbucks&#8217; valuation by over $15 billion in just one day. Niccol, known for his successful tenure at Chipotle, aims to steer Starbucks through its current challenges <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/08/40396716/starbucks-new-ceo-brian-niccol-boosts-company-valuation-by-over-15b-in-one-day-whats-his-net-worth">and enhance customer experience</a>.
On his second day as CEO, Niccol outlined his vision to reconnect Starbucks with its community coffeehouse roots. He emphasized the need for comfortable seating and a clear distinction between "to-go" and "for-here" services <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40809142/brian-niccol-outlines-vision-to-reconnect-starbucks-with-community-coffeehouse-roots-on-his-2nd-day">to improve the in-store experience</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40828224/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-said-hed-fire-in-a-second-anyone-caught-trading-bitcoin-when-it-w?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Said He&#8217;d &#8216;Fire In A Second&#8217; Anyone Caught Trading Bitcoin When It Was At $4,000. 7 Years Later, The Investment Bank Holds Positions In Spot ETFs Tracking The Apex Crypto</a></li>
</ul>
Image by Şahin Sezer Dinçer from Pixabay.
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Pooja-Rajkumari" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pooja Rajkumari</a>

General

SBUX

Starbucks North America CEO Michael Conway Quits After Just 6 Months In The Position

LCAH expects to use the net proceeds of the Offering to redeem or repay indebtedness, which is expected to include&nbsp;$400.0 million&nbsp;of LCAH&#39;s outstanding&nbsp;2.30%&nbsp;Senior Notes due&nbsp;December 1, 2024&nbsp;and&nbsp;$1.0 billion&nbsp;of LCAH&#39;s outstanding&nbsp;3.60%&nbsp;Senior Notes due&nbsp;February 1, 2025. In addition, LCAH intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to repay&nbsp;$350.0 million&nbsp;of borrowings under its revolving credit facility, and, to the extent not used for such purpose, for other general corporate purposes.

Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings

Reported Earlier, Labcorp Prices $2B In Senior Notes Offering Across Three Tranches Due 2030, 2032, And 2034

The Canadian government wants its &#8220;own system&#8221; in place for providing connectivity around the country, instead of relying <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40851361/republican-fcc-commissioner-alleges-double-standards-after-fcc-chair-jessica-rosenworcel-says-spacex">on Starlink</a>, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Monday. 
What Happened: &#8220;&#8230;I think the reality is that they just want their own system,&#8221; Musk wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">But I think the reality is that they just want their own system
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1835862580969054387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Last week, the Canadian government announced a loan of C$2.14 billion ($1.58 billion) to Ottawa-headquartered satellite operator Telesat to help the company build its broadband satellite constellation in low Earth orbit. Musk then said that providing Starlink to every Candian household that doesn&#8217;t have high speed will cost &#8220;less than half the amount&#8221; or below C$1.07 billion.
Member of the House of Commons of Canada and Conservative Party Member Michael Barrett subsequently opined that opting for Starlink sounds like a &#8220;common sense solution&#8221; for Canada given the lower cost. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Less than half that amount <a href="https://t.co/tCS9ktUNuO">https://t.co/tCS9ktUNuO</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1835045977008619564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
However, Canada&#8217;s Minister of Industry François-Philippe Champagne slammed the exchange between Barrett and Musk as &#8220;Typical Poilievre "nonsense"…&#8221;
&#8220;They'd prefer giving money to foreign billionaires instead of supporting our industry and our workers. This loan will help build a world-class Canadian made satellite network and supports thousands of jobs in Quebec! Now that's common sense!,&#8221; the Liberal Party minister said.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Typical Poilievre "nonsense"… They'd prefer giving money to foreign billionaires instead of supporting our industry and our workers. This loan will help build a world-class Canadian made satellite network and supports thousands of jobs in Quebec! Now that's common sense! &#x1f609; <a href="https://t.co/t9ImYNkFIe">pic.twitter.com/t9ImYNkFIe</a>
&mdash; François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) &#x1f1e8;&#x1f1e6; (@FP_Champagne) <a href="https://twitter.com/FP_Champagne/status/1835114130379821506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Starlink is the satellite internet segment of Musk&#8217;s SpaceX. It aims to provide connectivity around the globe with a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit. As of today, SpaceX has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40744852/elon-musks-spacex-rockets-past-new-milestone-launches-7-000th-starlink-satellite">launched over 7000 Starlink satellites </a>to orbit for the service. 
Starlink service is currently also available in Canada.
In Quebec City, Starlink service is priced at around C$140 per month while the Starlink hardware required to avail the service at homes is priced at C$299. 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40849409/former-top-gear-host-james-may-thinks-a-vehicle-the-size-of-a-fiat-panda-but-styled-like-tesla-cyber?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Former Top Gear Host James May Thinks A Vehicle The Size Of A Fiat Panda But Styled Like Tesla Cybertruck Might Look ‘Fantastic&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

SPACE

Global

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Says Canadian Government Is Funding Starlink Rival For Satellite Internet Despite His Offer To Do It For 'Less Than Half That Amount' As It Wants Its 'Own System'

CN plans to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include the redemption and refinancing of outstanding indebtedness, share repurchases, acquisitions and other business opportunities.
The debt offering is being made in the United States under an effective shelf registration statement dated April 2, 2024.

Reported Earlier, CN Announces $750M 4.375% Notes Due 2034 Debt Offering, Proceeds Target General Corporate Use

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to redeem and/or repay certain of its indebtedness, including, but not limited to, (i) to redeem all of its outstanding&nbsp;7.250%&nbsp;Senior Notes due 2030, after which the Company will have no remaining guaranteed or secured notes outstanding; and (ii) to repay in full all outstanding obligations under its&nbsp;Silver Dawn&nbsp;finance lease (including to pay fees and expenses in connection with each of the foregoing). Pending such uses, the Company may apply some of the proceeds to temporarily repay borrowings under its revolving credit facilities.

Reported Earlier, Royal Caribbean Prices Upsized Offering Of $1.5B 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2031 To Refinance Existing Indebtedness

APVO

Reported Earlier, Aptevo Therapeutics Raises $3M In Registered Direct Offering, Featuring 9M Shares And 18M Warrants

The gross proceeds from the offering are expected to be approximately&nbsp;$3.5 million, prior to deducting placement agent&#39;s fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company.&nbsp;The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes.

DRMA

Reported Earlier, Dermata Therapeutics Raises $3.5M Through Private Placement, Offering 1.9M Shares And Warrants

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

INDA

India Wholesale Price Index Inflation (YoY) For August 1.31% vs. 1.80% Est.; 2.04% Prior

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has banned RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and other Russian state media from its platforms. The ban, announced on Monday, marks an escalation in Meta&#8217;s efforts to combat foreign interference.
What Happened: The decision follows accusations that these outlets employed deceptive tactics for covert influence operations online, reported Reuters. 
This action represents a significant escalation in Meta&#8217;s efforts against Russian state media, which previously included blocking ads and limiting post reach.
Meta stated, &#8220;After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets. Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity.&#8221; 
The enforcement will roll out over the coming days across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, according to the report.
The ban follows recent U.S. money laundering charges against two RT employees for allegedly attempting to influence the 2024 election.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently urged countries to treat RT&#8217;s activities like covert intelligence operations. RT has criticized the U.S. actions, accusing the United States of trying to hinder its journalistic operations.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/09/40889522/draftkings-faces-major-league-baseball-lawsuit-over-usage-of-players-names-images-not-mere">DraftKings Faces Major League Baseball Lawsuit Over Usage Of Players&#8217; Names, Images: &#8216;Not Merely Informational – It Is Promotional&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The ban on Russian state media by Meta comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia, particularly in the digital space. 
In 2023, Russia&#8217;s restrictions on Western social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X led to a reported loss of over $4 billion from its economy. 
According to a study by Top10VPN, Russia <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/01/36604956/russia-restrictions-on-facebook-instagram-and-x-cost-economy-over-4b-in-2023">experienced 1,353 hours of internet shutdowns</a> during the first year of the Ukraine invasion, affecting 113 million internet users. 
Meta&#8217;s actions are part of a broader effort to combat disinformation and covert influence operations. Earlier this year, Meta took down numerous Facebook accounts linked to covert influence campaigns from countries including China, Iran, Russia, and Israel. 
These campaigns <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/39077408/meta-cracks-down-on-ai-generated-fake-news-campaigns-from-four-countries-including-china-and-russia">reportedly used artificial intelligence</a> tools to spread disinformation, as highlighted in Meta&#8217;s quarterly threat report.
Additionally, Meta has faced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40575260/mark-zuckerberg-reveals-biden-administration-pressured-meta-platforms-to-censor-certain-covid-19-">pressure from various governments</a> to regulate content on its platforms. In August, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that the company faced pressure from President Joe Biden administration&#8217;s officials to censor certain COVID-19 content. 
Zuckerberg expressed regret for not opposing the pressure sooner, as noted in a letter addressed to the House Judiciary Committee.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Social Media

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Banishes Russian State Media Globally To Counter Foreign Influence: RT And Related Entities 'Are Now Banned From Our Apps Globally'

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBRL#NASDAQ">CBRL</a>) will release earnings results for its fourth quarter, before the o<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CBRL/earnings">pening bell on Thursday, Sept. 19</a>.
Analysts expect the Lebanon, Tennessee-based company to report quarterly earnings at $1.10 per share, down from $1.79 per share in the year-ago period. Cracker Barrel projects to report quarterly revenue of $897.38 million for the quarter, compared to $836.73 million a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On July 18, Cracker Barrel named Sarah Moore as new Chief Marketing Officer.
Cracker Barrel shares rose 3.1% to close at $40.45 on Monday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TJX/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CBRL/analyst-ratings">the </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TJX/analyst-ratings">company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/589dc33d43eaaa000122c591/jake-bartlett">Truist Securities analyst Jake Bartlett</a> maintained a Hold rating and cut the price target from $46 to $42 on Sept. 5. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>Argus Research analyst Jim Kelleher downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold on Aug. 6. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/58f614b50bd9910001a77ada/sara-senatore">B of A Securities analyst Sara Senatore</a> maintained an Underperform rating and cut the price target from $48 to $46 on July 17. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%.</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst Jon Tower maintained a Sell rating and cut the price target from $48 to $42 on May 31. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/5df37c17bffdfc0001d738fc/brian-mullan">Piper Sandler analyst Brian Mullan</a> maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $75 to $70 on March 4. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 78%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying CBRL stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="498" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/17025513/image-124-1024x498.png" alt="" class="wp-image-551066" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/17025513/image-124-1024x498.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/17025513/image-124-300x146.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/17025513/image-124-768x373.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/17025513/image-124.png 1372w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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Earnings

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The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed an improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Monday.
U.S. stocks settled higher on Monday, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 200 points during the session. Major indices recorded gains last week, with the S&amp;P 500 gaining 4% and the Nasdaq adding 5.9%. The Dow also climbed 2.6% last week.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) shares fell 2.8% on Monday following reports suggesting that the company is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40872864/apple-staring-at-lower-than-expected-demand-for-iphone-16-pro-and-pro-max-in-the-fi">experiencing lower-than-expected demand</a> for the iPhone 16 series. Shares of Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) fell around 2% during the session.
The Fed is scheduled to meet Tuesday and Wednesday and is widely expected to cut interest rates.
On the economic data front, the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index rose to 11.5 in September, recording the highest level since April 2022, versus -4.7 in August and market estimates of -3.9.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with communication financials, energy, and materials stocks recording the biggest gains on Monday. However, information technology and consumer discretionary stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 228 points to 41,622.08 on Monday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.13% to 5,633.09, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.52% at 17,592.13 during Monday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Ferguson Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FERG#NYSE">FERG</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 50.7, the index remained in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Monday, versus a prior reading of 47.5.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
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Pre-Market Outlook

AAPL

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The agreement includes nearly 3,000 single-family and multifamily units across close to 90 sites in the Netherlands. The units will be managed and operated by the investor group, all of whom have significant local market resources and expertise.

Reported Earlier, TPG Angelo Gordon, Dream Unlimited, And Stadium Capital Partners Acquire €695M Dutch Residential Portfolio

Former <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33616852/former-microsoft-executive-reveals-four-employee-mistakes-to-avoid">vice president of the human resource</a> department at Microsft Corporation, Chris Williams, has shared some valuable insights on differentiating between imposter syndrome and actual job incompetence.
What Happened: Williams suggests employees focus on three key areas to gauge their job competence: feedback from their boss, the type of&nbsp;meetings they&#8217;re invited to, and&nbsp;the results of their work.
The former VP, who boasts over four decades of experience in the corporate world, advises employees to meticulously read their performance reviews, looking&nbsp;for objective statements about their work quality and their interaction with others.
He also recommends paying heed to unsolicited comments about their work from trusted colleagues. 
&#8220;Most allies would stay silent rather than speak untruths. If you&#8217;re hearing good words spoken to your face, you&#8217;re probably good at what you do,&#8221; he stated in a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/how-to-tell-if-its-imposter-syndrome-or-if-youre-just-bad-at-your-job-from-the-ex-vp-of-hr-at-microsoft/articleshow/113394119.cms">blog</a> written for Business Insider which was published on Monday.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40864530/mark-zuckerberg-says-he-is-done-apologizing-reveals-one-of-the-biggest-mistakes-of-his-career?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg Says He Is Done Apologizing, Reveals One Of The Biggest Mistakes Of His Career</a>
Another area to consider is one&#8217;s role in meetings. Williams proposes a ranking system, where employees assess their necessity in the meeting&nbsp;on a scale of one&nbsp;to five. 
If an employee frequently finds themselves ranking as a four or five, they are likely competent at their job. This assessment of scale one to five ranges from simple observers as the lowest rank and people who call the meetings as the highest.
Lastly, Williams advises employees to objectively evaluate their work results, comparing them to peers, especially those outside their company. This can provide a more accurate assessment of their performance.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Williams concludes by reminding employees that they are often their own harshest critics, and that self-doubt is a common occurrence, even among top executives.
&#8220;When that voice in your head screams, &#8216;They&#8217;re just being nice to me,&#8217; think that through. Do you often see the company or your manager being charitable,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;So wallow in your thoughts for a moment. Allow yourself time to ponder: am I really good at what I do? Then move on promptly.&#8221;
Why It Matters: Imposter syndrome, a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a &#8220;fraud,&#8221; is common, even among successful leaders and entrepreneurs.
Popular names like English singer-songwriter David Bowie, Tennis star Serena Williams, comedian, actress, and author Tina Fey, Nobel Laureate Maya Angelou, singer-songwriter and actress Lady Gaga, and many others have also previously shared their struggles with imposter syndrome.
Image Generated With DALL_E 3
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Media

Imposter Syndrome Or Just Plain Old Incompetence? Microsoft HR VP Has Tips On How To Overcome These Conflicting Emotions

Highlights:
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<li>Bank Mandiri is using FICO&reg; Falcon&reg; Fraud Manager and the FICO&reg; Falcon&reg; Intelligence Network to prevent fraudulent activities</li>
<li>The bank experienced an&nbsp;80%&nbsp;decrease in card payment losses,&nbsp;85%&nbsp;on Digital App</li>
<li>Bank Mandiri rapidly integrated and secured 13 new banking channels with FICO</li>
<li>Bank Mandiri has won a 2024 FICO&reg; Decisions Award for Fraud Management</li>
</ul>

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Reported Earlier, FICO Solutions Help Bank Mandiri Slash Fraud By Over 80% Across Digital Channels As E-Commerce Booms In Indonesia

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VAT Group AG (VACNY) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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Benzinga's Top Ratings Upgrades, Downgrades For August 3, 2021

Berenberg downgrades VAT Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VACNY#OTC">VACNY</a>) from Buy to Hold.

Berenberg Downgrades VAT Group to Hold

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Tuesday, August 03, 2021