That’s how much Bank of America reported in earnings for the third quarter, up from the $2.3 billion reported during the same time last year. As reported by the New York Times, the bank saw expenses drop sharply, partly because litigation fees were down and partly because it has been working to cut costs in its legacy mortgage unit.
That’s how many international subscribers Netflix is expected to gain in 50 countries by the end of this year. But it wants more. Now, the company is setting its sights on China, where it will face competition with Alibaba’s recently launched streaming service. Netflix needs that focus on subscriber growth, as its increasingly expensive original content requires more and more funding to produce.
That’s about how much has been cut from the amount of money Pharrell Williams must pay to to Marvin Gaye’s family for his role in producing the hit “Blurred Lines.” Co-written with Robin Thicke, the song was found to have borrowed too liberally from Gaye’s hit “Got to Give It Up.” But don’t expect this to be the end of the line (blurred or not). As the BBC reports, Williams and Thicke are expected to appeal the decision yet again.
That’s about how much John Lupo, a wholesale baker in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, says he pays for what used to be a $26 pail of liquid eggs. Why the sudden spike in price? With bird flu hitting the commercial egg industry hardest, bakers like Lupo find themselves paying more for their usual supplies. Adding insult to injury, even though the price of cartons of whole eggs hasn’t spiked as high as that of liquid eggs, cracking the number of eggs needed to run a large-scale bakery isn’t a practical option.
That’s the age range of employees Starbucks is looking to hire at its first franchise in sub-Saharan Africa. Slated to open in 2016, the Johannesburg location is part of the company’s goal to cater to the growing middle class. But it won’t be without competition. As the BBC reports, Krispy Kreme also plans to open about 31 locations in South Africa over the next five years, not to mention the numerous local coffee shops that already exist in the area.
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