What to watch for today
More Chinese dairy stocks in the market. YuanShengTai Dairy Farm, one of China’s major raw milk producers, lists on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today after pricing its $425 million IPO last week. China’s booming dairy industry has seen $4.6 billion of deals this year, including another IPO in September.
New Jersey takes a bet on online gambling. New Jersey becomes the third US state, following Nevada and Delaware, to legalize internet betting. The market could be worth up to $1.2 billion—but some are worried it could lead to increased addiction and financial struggles.
South Africa grows sluggishly. South Africa’s GDP is set to grow around 1% for the third quarter, down from 3% in the same period last year, on the back of strikes in the auto and mining sectors, two of the country’s key industries.
Barnes and Noble’s losses widen. The bookseller is set to report a loss of six cents a share, on revenues of $1.38 billion, up from four cents a share on revenues of $1.89 billion last year. Its e-reader, the Nook, has been losing money especially badly.
The world’s most valuable book goes on sale. The Bay Psalm Book, a 17th-century collection of Puritan-translated psalms, is thought to be the first book printed in what would later become the US. It goes up for auction at Sotheby’s and could sell for as much as $30 million.
Stormy weather on the US east coast. The nor’easter/tropical storm hybrid peaks today in the Atlanta and Charlotte areas, with heavy rain, chilly winds and icy road conditions. This should be the worst of it for these areas further south, as the storm makes it way up the east coast on Wednesday.
While you were sleeping
Protestors marched on Bangkok. Yingluck Shinawatra, prime minister of Thailand, empowered officials to impose curfews and close roads after tens of thousands of rioters took to the streets, calling for her government to step down.
Diageo might pour out some liquor. The British drinks giant offered to sell some of its stake in the Whyte and Mackay whiskey brand, which it acquired last year. The acquisition took its share of the blended whiskey market to about 40%, worrying the competition authorities.
Walmart picked a new boss but didn’t break the mold. The world’s biggest retailer named 47-year-old Doug McMillon to be the fifth CEO in its 62-year history, succeeding Mike Dukes. McMillon has spent his entire career at the company.
Two candidates claimed victory in Honduras. Juan Orlando Hernández, with 34% of the votes, and Xiomara Castro, with 28%, both declared themselves the new president of Honduras while votes were still being counted. Castro’s husband alleged electoral fraud and demanded a recount.
Quartz obsession interlude
John McDuling on why buyers are interested in the US’s least liked cable company, Time Warner Cable. “It’s being circled by rival cable companies including Charter Communications and Comcast. There’s even speculation that, to avoid antitrust concerns, it could be broken up into parts for the rest of the industry to feast on. Why so much interest in a poorly performing business that isn’t very popular with its own customers? The reason is simple: the fragmented nature of America’s cable industry is basically unsustainable, and Time Warner Cable has considerable strategic value.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
The period has a new meaning in punctuation. It’s become a symbol of passive aggression.
Goldman Sachs has got a sweet deal out of Venezuela. It’s lending it money for its gold on terms that look a lot better for the bank than for the country.
China faces an economic predicament. The model that led it to 10% yearly growth isn’t sustainable, but there’s no obvious new model.
The Iran nuclear deal is bad for the US’s oil boom. It could eventually lower oil prices enough to make a lot of the recent shale oil finds uneconomic.
Surprising discoveries
Fist bumping could save your life. It’s far more hygienic than shaking hands or high-fiving.
Long live the Nineties. Tamagotchis are coming back, and swankier than ever.
Only 25% of Yahoo employees use Yahoo email. Read the rather desperate corporate memo asking them to make the switch.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, passive-aggressive punctuation, and spruced-up Tamagotchis to hi@qz.com (but only via Yahoo mail). You can follow us on Twitter here for updates during the day.