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FTC: Amazon Used An Algorithm To Essentially Raise Prices On Other Sites, The FTC Says

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According to newly unredacted portions of the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, the company used a secret algorithm that helped the company raise prices on other online sites and “destroyed” some internal communications while the agency was investigating the company.

According to the new extracts released on Thursday, Amazon officials purposefully destroyed correspondence by utilizing a feature on the popular app Signal that causes communications to vanish. The FTC said that by doing so, Amazon “destroyed more than two years’ worth of communications” from June 2019 to “at least early 2022,” despite directives to the contrary from the FTC.

Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle said in a prepared statement that the FTC’s claim was “baseless and irresponsible.”

“Amazon voluntarily disclosed employee Signal use to the FTC, painstakingly collected Signal conversations from its employees’ phones, and allowed agency staff to inspect those conversations even when they had nothing to do with the FTC’s investigation,” Doyle stated in a press release.

In September, the FTC and 17 states sued Amazon, alleging that the corporation was abusing its market position to inflate prices on and off its platform, overcharge vendors, and hinder competition. Amazon has been accused of breaking federal and state antitrust laws, but the corporation has defended its business practices vigorously.

The antitrust prosecution is the government’s most forceful endeavor to curb Seattle-based Amazon’s market clout, and it comes at a time when the FTC has been taking big swings against internet corporations.

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Amazon Used An Algorithm To Essentially Raise Prices On Other Sites, The FTC Says

The lawsuit’s unredacted extracts released on Thursday also gave new information on a much-discussed algorithm, originally published by The Wall Street Journal and former Vox reporter Jason Del Ray.

According to the FTC’s allegations, Amazon has utilized the program, nicknamed “Project Nessie,” to identify products that will allow them to make more money. The corporation utilized it to forecast where it may boost prices and have other shopping sites follow suit. According to the agency, Amazon activated the algorithm to raise prices on select products, and when other sites followed suit, it maintained the higher pricing in place. According to the FTC, Amazon’s usage of Nessie has resulted in more than $1 billion in excess profits.

“Aware of the public fallout it risks, Amazon has turned Project Nessie off during periods of heightened outside scrutiny and then back on when it thinks that no one is watching,” according to the complaint.

According to the agency, Amazon launched Project Nessie in 2014 and turned it on and off at least eight times between 2015 and 2019. According to the complaint, Amazon utilized the algorithm to establish pricing for items viewed more than 400 million times by shoppers in 2018.

ftc

Amazon Used An Algorithm To Essentially Raise Prices On Other Sites, The FTC Says

Though Amazon maintains the algorithm is “currently paused,” regulators say the corporation has considered launching studies in 2020 and 2021 to improve the effectiveness of Project Nessie. Doyle, an Amazon spokeswoman, described Nessie as an “old” pricing algorithm that the agency is “grossly” mischaracterizing.

“Nessie was used to try to stop our price matching from resulting in unusual outcomes where prices became so low that they were unsustainable,” he told reporters. “The project ran for a few years on a subset of products, but didn’t work as intended, so we scrapped it several years ago.”

The unredacted portions of the case, among other things, give new information on Amazon’s advertising operation.

According to the agency, then-CEO Jeff Bezos told executives to accept more trash ads — internally referred to as “defects” — because the company could generate more money through expanded advertising even though their existence annoyed consumers. In response, Doyle stated that Amazon “works hard to make it fast and easy” for customers to find items and other options “by providing a mix of organic and sponsored search results” based on characteristics such as relevance, reviews, availability, price, and delivery speed.

ftc

Amazon Used An Algorithm To Essentially Raise Prices On Other Sites, The FTC Says

Another unredacted section of the case revealed more information on the government’s claims that Amazon effectively forces merchants to utilize its logistics service, Fulfilment by Amazon, or FBA. One example is Amazon’s Seller Fulfilled Prime program, which allowed third-party sellers to show a Prime logo on their products without using FBA. Sellers seek the Prime badge because it denotes quick shipping, which can lead to more sales.

According to the agency, the corporation turned against the program in early 2019 after discovering rival fulfillment suppliers were advertising their services to vendors. Amazon discontinued membership in the program a few years ago, claiming that it was not providing the same high-quality experience that Prime customers expected. However, the agency stated that in 2018, vendors registered in the program satisfied Amazon’s “delivery estimate” criterion more than 95% of the time.

The lawsuit also included an email from an Amazon official stating that he was “losing (his) mind” after finding that UPS was promoting that it could fulfill Prime-eligible orders. According to the FTC, two “high-level” Amazon executives agreed in the same email chain that the business should consider shutting down Seller Fulfilled Prime in the United States.

NetChoice, an Amazon-backed industry association, said Thursday that the FTC was deceptive and that vendors, not Amazon, established the shipping estimates mentioned in the complaint. According to Doyle of Amazon, in 2018, sellers using the program were “promising deliveries within two days less than 16% of the time—far worse than the performance of sellers using Fulfilment by Amazon.” A few months ago, the corporation reopened enrollment in the program.

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Tesla Stock Tumbles After Its Profit Plunged

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Tesla | CNN Image

Telsa second-quarter profit fell more than 40% from the previous year as the electric car business faced more EV competition from established automakers and a slowing in global EV sales growth.

The decline in income is a dramatic contrast to a corporation that developed to become the world’s most valuable automobile based on rising sales and profitability.

The findings highlight how Tesla, a pioneer in introducing electric vehicles to American drivers, is now facing more domestic and international competition. And as the EV market matures, customer interest in EVs has declined.

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Tesla | Auto Guide

Tesla Stock Tumbles After Its Profit Plunged

Tesla (TSLA) shares plunged almost 12% on Wednesday morning, pushing down the broader market. Tesla’s stock was down roughly 1% this year through Tuesday’s close after plunging as much as 44% earlier in the year.

Tesla announced adjusted earnings of $1.8 billion in the quarter or 52 cents per share. Analysts expected 61 cents per share earnings, down from 91 cents the previous year. Its crucial profit margin fell substantially as a series of EV price cuts took its toll.

From April to June, the company had its second consecutive quarter of year-over-year sales decreases and its first consecutive quarter of dropping sales volume. Tesla’s only previous quarterly sales decline since going public occurred early in the pandemic when stay-at-home orders caused its plants to close.

Tesla did not provide a new sales target for the full year. However, it stated: “In 2024, our vehicle volume growth rate may be notably lower than the growth rate achieved in 2023.”

On the investor’s call following the announcement, Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized the quality of EVs produced by other manufacturers, claiming that it was simply a short-term issue for Tesla and not a long-term one. He added that Tesla is still persuaded that the world is going towards fully electric transportation systems, not just for automobiles, planes, and ships.

Musk also stated that the business would provide more information on fully automated robotaxis in October rather than August as initially intended. The business calls its driver assistance feature “Full Self Driving,” but drivers must still be prepared to take control of the vehicle. According to the company’s earnings statement, Tesla still confronts regulatory and technical challenges before offering self-driving cars.

Musk stated that he still believes it is possible to reach by the end of this year and certainly by next year, but cautioned: “My predictions on this have been overly optimistic in the past.”

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Tesla | Top Gear Image

Tesla Stock Tumbles After Its Profit Plunged

The company faces government probes into several of Musk’s boasts about Full Self-Driving capabilities. The company has also been the subject of a Department of Justice investigation, though it is unclear what the current situation is.

However, he disclosed that Tesla’s plans to build an assembly factory in Mexico had been placed on hold. The plans were disclosed more than a year ago, but Musk said they have been halted until after the presidential election due to Republican contender Donald Trump’s vow to impose taxes on Mexican-imported vehicles. Musk is a big Trump booster, having endorsed him and reportedly pledged tens of millions of dollars to the former president’s re-election campaign. Trump promised comparable duties on Mexican-made autos in 2019 but has yet to follow through.

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SOURCE – CNN

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Bitcoin Surpasses $67,000 in Anticipation of Trump’s Keynote Address.

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The Block

(VOR News) – Over the Bitcoin course of the last twenty-four hours, the sum of money that has been liquidated in short positions for Bitcoin BTC +4.71% has increased to more than $34 million.

This is a significant increase from the previous state of affairs. The fact that Bitcoin, the digital asset with the highest market capitalisation, has broken beyond the barrier of $67,000 is the reason for this new development.

Nashville, Tennessee will host this year’s Bitcoin Conference.

According to the website of the conference, the former president of the United States is set to make an appearance on the Nakamoto Stage on July 27 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time for a session that will last thirty minutes.

This information is indicated on the website. Yesterday, on the final day of the conference, the session is scheduled to take place.

As a direct result of the increase in the price of bitcoin that took place during the course of the previous day, a total of holdings representing a value of 54 million dollars were sold off.

As a consequence of the increased volatility of the market, the cryptocurrency market as a whole went through liquidations that amounted to more than two hundred million dollars within the same time period. This is evidenced by the data that were provided by Coinglass.

The information that is provided by The Block’s Bitcoin Price Page reveals that the current value of Bitcoin is around $67,330 at the time that this article is being written and published.

This information is provided by The Block. Over the course of the past twenty-four hours, there has been an increase that is greater than five percent.

President Trump will invest in bitcoin by 2024.

Because of the keynote presentation that he will deliver at Bitcoin 2024, Donald Trump will create history by becoming the first candidate for the presidency of the United States of America to visit a conference of this kind that is sponsored by the industry.

This will be something that he will accomplish by attending Bitcoin 2024. In spite of the fact that there is a little amount of information available concerning the specifics of his discussion, the organisers have already claimed that it will be “historic.”

Throughout the course of his presidency, President Trump has adopted a variety of perspectives about a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin and others from the same category.

He voiced his disapproval of cryptocurrencies on Twitter in July 2019, saying, “I am not a fan of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are not money and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air.”

He was referring to the fact that certain cryptocurrencies are not money. His hatred for these cryptocurrencies has been made clear in his statements.

Specifically, he expressed his discontent with the bitcoin market.

Which was the subject of his expression. This viewpoint was reiterated by him in 2021, when he gave an interview to Fox Business in which he referred to the digital asset as a hoax and voiced his concern that it may compete with the United States dollar or other currencies. In addition, he expressed his concern that it could be used to compete with other currencies.

Nevertheless, throughout the course of the last six months, Trump has rebuilt himself as the “crypto president.” The fact that he chose Ohio Senator JD Vance, who is an investor in bitcoin, to be his vice presidential candidate lends credence to the notion that a Donald Trump presidency may be advantageous to cryptocurrencies.

This is an extra point of interest that is worth mentioning. Bitcoin is an investment that Vance has made.

During the course of the previous day, the dominance of Bitcoin increased slightly to 52.8%, as indicated by the data that were provided by Coingecko. On the other hand, the dominance of ether decreased slightly to 15.5%.

Indicative of the fact that Bitcoin’s dominance rose, both of these data are indicative of reality. After reaching its highest position, the GM 30 Index, which is comprised of a selection of the top 30 cryptocurrencies, witnessed a climb of 3.08% within the same time period, hitting 133.99.

This was after the index had reached its highest peak.

SOURCE: TBN

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Sanstar Stock Gains after Listing: Should you Buy, Sell, or Hold?

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(VOR News) – Sanstar shares made a quiet Dalal Street debut on Friday, which was less than market participants had anticipated as a consequence of their expectations.

However, the number of buyers rose significantly following the stock’s listing, suggesting that investors are interested in purchasing the company at reduced prices.

At Rs 109 per share, Sanstar shares were offered on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) at a premium of approximately 15%. The stock was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) at a premium of 12 percent over the issue price of Rs 95 per share.

Nevertheless, the stock attained a price of Rs 127.68, achieving a 20% upper circuit and bringing the cumulative profits to 34.4 percent over the price at which it was initially issued.

The majority of analysts continue to maintain a positive outlook on the company and suggest that investors remain invested in the stock for a period of time that varies from medium to long term.

On the other hand, there are some experts who suggest that investors record profits after achieving a respectable profit during the initial trading session.

A successful initial public offering (IPO) was achieved by Sanstar

The company’s shares are currently trading at Rs 109 per share, an increase of 15% from their issue price of Rs 95.

This performance is positive, according to Shivani Nyati, Head of Wealth at Swastika Investmart; however, it fails to satisfy the expectations that were established prior to the listing. The broader market volatility that ensued subsequent to the budget’s announcement was a contributing factor.

Sanstar has been listed, which is a fantastic development, despite the fact that it did not meet the initial hype.

The company’s future expansion is supported by the interest of investors and the company’s robust foundations. Investors have the option to maintain their stake at the issue price, according to her.

Sanstar’s initial public offering (IPO) had the potential to be subscribed between July 19 and July 23, as the business issued its shares at a price range of Rs 90-95 per share, with a lot size of 150 shares.

Sanstar’s follow-on offering yielded a total of Rs 510.15 crore in revenue. This offering comprises a wholly new share sale of up to 397.10 equity shares and an offer-for-sale of up to 1.19 crore equity shares.

Sanstar got a 15% premium because of demand.

Which contributed to the company’s successful launch on the bourses today. According to Prathamesh Masdekar, Research Analyst at StoxBox, Sanstar has established enduring relationships with its consumers and currently serves more than 525 customers, with 162 new customers joining during fiscal year 24.

“The company is committed to expanding its customer base by leveraging the relationships it has established with customers in India and around the world, while simultaneously actively seeking out opportunities to establish new relationships.

“”Because of this, we recommend to the market participants that they keep the shares for a period of time ranging from the medium to the long term,” according to him.

A total of 82.99 subscriptions were received from consumers worldwide for the Sanstar issue. The quota for qualified institutional vendors (QIBs) was satisfied 145.68 times during the auction.

A remarkable 136.50 percent of the quota that was designated for non-institutional investors was subscribed to. The portions that were specified for retail investors were only subject to requests for bids 24.23 times during the three-day bidding procedure.

Sanstar’s listing was lower than anticipated, despite the fact that markets were trending upward. Prashanth Tapse, Senior Vice President of Research at Mehta Equities, maintains that designated investors should record profits on the day of listing, despite the market’s optimistic outlook.

Compared to other listed peers, Sanstar’s valuations are a little higher.

Sanstar is a manufacturer in India that specialises in the manufacturing of plant-based products and ingredient solutions for industrial products, pet food, and food.

Pantomath Capital Advisors served as the exclusive book-running lead manager for Sanstar’s initial public offering (IPO), while Link Intime India served as the registrar.

According to Amit Goel, Co-Founder and Chief Global Strategist at Pace 360, the market volatility in the Indian markets resulted in Sanstar shares failing to meet pre-listing expectations. Sanstar shares were listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) at a price of Rs 109.

We strongly recommend that investors take profits in the near term following the completion of the listing. He continues, “It is advised that long-term investors maintain their positions in the company due to its strong fundamentals.”

SOURCE: BTN

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