#7. Iceland is up

Iceland is booming. Since 2000, the country has seen its tourism - and hence the number of passenger flights - increase quite rapidly, the Financial Times reports. This, in turn, has led to a boost for Iceland’s fish exports.

Most boat journeys from Iceland to other countries are too long which means they aren’t a viable option to export the fish. Now, however, it can be sold at a premium and then carried in the belly of the passenger planes.


#6. Dell’s potential return

It looks like computer technology company Dell might return to the public market. Reuters reports that the company’s raised offer for subsidiary VMware’s tracking stock - which consists of a 10% price boost (to $120 per share, mostly in cash) as well as a board seat has already won over certain skeptics. 


#5. Levi’s plans IPO

Levi Strauss, the maker of the iconic first pair of blue jeans, is planning an initial public offering, CNBC reports. The 145-year old company aims to start with a valuation that exceeds $5 billion according to people who are familiar with the matter.

Levi’s is looking to go public in the first quarter of 2019 and hopes to raise between $600 and $800 million.


#4. Female investors are gaining ground

There are several reasons why women are a good choice when it comes to managing your money. Recent Morningstar data, for example, show that over a long-term horizon women tend to take less risk which means their losses are typically lower, Yahoo! Finance reports.

According to the same Yahoo! article, a survey from Fidelity Investments last year found that women investors save more than men and that their investments earn more annually. Women currently control 51% ($14 trillion) of personal wealth in the US, a number that’s expected to reach $22 trillion by 2020.  


#3. Life insurers target Fitbit & Apple Watch users

Certain life insurance companies want in on the health tracking device trend, Bloomberg reports. Some insurers have programs that reward their customers for healthy habits. Participants can, for example, earn points for tracking their daily jogs or yoga practice. In return, they receive points for Amazon purchases or they can save money on premiums.

The idea behind the insurance companies’ interest in people who wear wrist computers is simple: If someone uses a Fitbit or Apple Watch, they may be just a little more health-conscious-and thus less risky to cover, according to the same Bloomberg article.


#2. BlackBerry’s $1.4 billion purchase

Friday was a big day for BlackBerry. The company’s push into cybersecurity took a big step further forward with the acquisition of AI-based cybersecurity company Cylance for $1.4 billion, TechCrunch reports.

This is BlackBerry’s largest deal ever - fully paid in cash up front last week - and set to close before February 2019. Cylance will operate as a separate business unit within BlackBerry’s business. 


#1. The Brexit saga continues

Impossible not to mention the latest developments surrounding Brexit this week. More than two years after the Brexit vote, it is still unclear how or even if, the UK will leave the EU as planned on March 29, 2019.

Prime Minister Theresa May tried her best defending the freshly negotiated deal with the EU but so far, she doesn’t have much luck. On Thursday, a number of ministers and other lawmakers resigned over the deal and on Friday afternoon, it still wasn’t clear whether or not May would get the support she needs.

Story to be continued surely…  


There you have it, another week all captured in Tweets. As always, we’ll continue to track Twitter and bring you the top financial micro-messages from the web. See you back here next Friday.


Source: www.scoopnest.com.