Davos Is A Boys’ Club

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW, RIGHT NOW. #IBTPulse   Davos Is A Boys' Club If you're attending the World Economic Forum, which officially kicks off in Switzerland Wednesday, you're probably a man. Only 18 percent of participants at this year’s forum are female, a slight improvement from the 17 percent of attendees in 2015. Fears about the economic slowdown in China and the global terrorist threat are driving pessimism among the CEOs in attendance.  Goldman Sachs In The Q4 Earnings Spotlight The investment banking titan is expected to disclose earnings per share of $3.56 on $7.14 billion in revenue, down from $4.38 in earnings per share on $7.69 billion in revenue for the same period last year. Last quarter, weak revenues significantly affected Goldman’s results, resulting in a negative earnings surprise of 5.8 percent. Analysts will be keenly watching to see if the bank can beat the tough industry backdrop. US Economic Data Dropping Data on the U.S. Consumer Price Index and housing starts will be released Wednesday morning. Economists are predicting that the CPI rose 0.2 percent in December, and are expecting housing starts to have jumped by 2.3 percent in December after going up by nearly 11 percent in November. Both reports will be an indicator of how the broader economy is performing. Coalition To Discuss Intensifying Campaign Against ISIS Defense ministers from countries carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State group will hold a first-of-its-kind meeting in Paris Wednesday to discuss ramping up military activities against the militant outfit. Separately, U.S. Secretary Of State John Kerry meets his Russian counterpart in an attempt to overcome obstacles to mooted Syrian peace talks . HERE'S WHAT YOU MISSED LAST NIGHT. Global Unemployment Set To Rise The International Labor Organization reported Tuesday that it expects unemployment will rise by about 2.3 million this year to 199.4 million, and that 1.1 million will be added to the global tally in 2017, taking joblessness to more than 200 million for the first time on record. The body warned the rise could make existing jobs vulnerable and fuel social unrest. Shell's Profits Plunge As Oil Slump Deepens The company sees profit adjusted for one-time items and inventory changes of $1.6 billion to $1.9 billion, according to a preliminary earnings statement released Wednesday. That compares with the $1.8 billion average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, and profit of $3.3 billion a year earlier. Morgan Stanley Moving Jobs To Cheaper Cities The bank’s plan to shift jobs to lower-cost cities comes as part of an effort to slash more than $1 billion in annual costs by the end of 2017. Some of the bank’s rivals have been eyeing similar moves, with mooted expansions into Poland, to take advantage of the country's relatively inexpensive and skilled labor force. Japan's Nikkei Enters Bear Market The index closed down 3.7 percent in early trading, and has fallen 21 percent from its recent closing high in June last year. Markets across Asia registered losses Wednesday, and the IMF cut its forecast for global growth for a third time in less than a year.   7 Hanover Square, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004 © 2015 IBT Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please add pulse@ibt-mail.com to your contacts Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy