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China’s trade surplus tops $1 trillion

HONG KONG (AP) — China’s exports rebounded in November after an unexpected contraction the previous month, pushing its trade surplus past $1 trillion for the first time, according to data released Monday. Exports climbed 5.9% from a year earlier in November while imports rose just under 2%. The customs data released on Monday also showed that shipments to the U.S. dropped nearly 29% year-on-year. But as trade with the U.S. weakens, China is diversifying its export markets throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. China’s exports had contracted just over 1% ...

IBM buys data streaming platform Confluent in $11 billion deal

The Associated Press IBM said Monday it’s buying data streaming platform Confluent in a deal worth $11 billion that will help bolster the technology company’s artificial intelligence strategy. The two companies said they signed a “definitive agreement” for IBM to acquire all of Confluent Inc.’s issued and outstanding common stock for $31 per share in cash, which represents an enterprise value of $11 billion. Confluent, based in Mountain View, California, is an open source data streaming platform that “connects, processes and governs” data and events in real time, the ...

What to know about Paramount’s hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

NEW YORK — Warner Bros. Discovery’s friendly agreement to sell itself to Netflix just got upended by a hostile actor — Paramount, which made Warner shareholders a higher offer and touched off what is likely to be a lengthy fight in the latest episode of media industry consolidation. The bid comes after Warner last week agreed to be bought by Netflix for $72 billion. The competing offers set the stage for combining some of the most beloved entertainment properties. Netflix’s vast library includes “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game,” while the much smaller Paramount owns ...

The future is now for holiday shopping

NEW YORK — Major retail chains and tech companies are offering new or updated artificial intelligence tools in time for the holiday shopping season, hoping to give consumers an easier gift-buying experience and themselves an augmented share of online spending. Although AI-powered purchases ...

The future is now for holiday shopping

NEW YORK — Major retail chains and tech companies are offering new or updated artificial intelligence tools in time for the holiday shopping season, hoping to give consumers an easier gift-buying experience and themselves an augmented share of online spending. Although AI-powered purchases are in early stages, the shopping assistants and agents rolled out by the likes of Walmart, Amazon and Google can do more than the chatbots of holidays past. The latest versions were designed to provide personalized product recommendations, track prices and to place some orders through unscripted ...

Business briefs

HATTON JOINS STAFF: Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell Ltd. has announced the addition of Jenna Hatton as an associate lawyer in its Warren office. She supports the firm in multiple practice areas, with a focus on business transactions and corporate law, as well as estate planning and probate matters. Hatton recently earned her Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wis., after completing her undergraduate degree in business administration at Ohio University. The Springfield Local Schools alumna is a Petersburg resident. Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell, Ltd. is ...