Business Briefs – December 24, 2018

Will Stocks Rise in 2019? Maybe, But It’ll Be Stressful

NEW YORK (AP) – No matter which way the stock market goes in 2019 — and Wall Street has ample arguments for either direction — expect it to be another gut-wrenching ride. The market is facing a long list of challenges this upcoming year, from expectations for slower economic growth to rising interest rates to the global trade war. All those risks have market strategists along Wall Street forecasting another turbulent year for stocks.

Did 2018 Usher in a Creeping Tech Dystopia?

(AP) – We may remember 2018 as the year technology’s dystopian potential became clear. That ranges from Facebook’s role in enabling the harvesting of our personal data for election interference to all the revelations about the dark side of Silicon Valley’s connect-everything ethos. More awaits us in 2019, but there are also countermeasures afoot in Congress and state government.

Walmart Heirs Promote Charter Schools Among Black Community

(AP) – Amid fierce debate over whether charter schools are good for black students, the heirs to the Walmart company fortune have been working to make inroads with influential leaders in the black community. The Walton Family Foundation is one of the leading supporters of America’s charter schools, which are publicly funded and privately operated. An Associated Press analysis shows the Waltons are spreading financial support to prominent and like-minded black national and community groups.

Profiting Off Presidency? Trump Biz Takes Hit Since Election

NEW YORK (AP) – Prices for Trump condos are falling. Losses at his Scottish resorts are mounting. A rollout of two new hotel chains has stalled. Two years since the election, there are many signs Trump’s presidency has hurt his business more than helped it.