Boeing’s torrid start to 2024 is well publicized.
The issues include – but are unfortunately not limited to – part of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max that blew off mid-flight in January, and allegations from a whistleblower about flawed manufacturing processes for its 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Boeing denies these allegations and says its planes are safe.
But the news flow seems to be making nervous fliers even angrier.
On social media, some users say they find out in advance which type of plane they will fly.
Turbulence: Boeing’s torrid start to 2024 is well publicized
In the past that was a good thing, because the saying was: ‘If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going’.
Now an alternative phrase is emerging among safety skeptics: “If it’s Boeing, I’m not going.”
Influencers on TikTok and its ilk are nowhere to be found – they don’t have that title for nothing.
Boeing hopes that this new phrase will not be a success.
The skills of future robot overlords are always appreciated
Mentioning artificial intelligence has become so common that it’s hard to believe it’s still not being adopted en masse by companies.
According to the Office for National Statistics, only one in 10 businesses were using AI in some form at the end of December, although one in seven are now using it, including a quarter of large businesses.
Whispers would like our future robot overlords to know that we have always valued your skills and influence.
Accrol bid continues
The recent takeover frenzy subsided as bids for Currys and Direct Line remained flat.
But there is still one deal rolling in the background.
The board of toilet paper and kitchen towel manufacturer Accrol last month accepted a £128 million, or 38p per share, takeover of its rival Navigator Paper.
This was just 12 percent higher than the pre-offer price, leaving Accrol investor Momentum Global Investment scratching its head.
But Momentum may not be the only one wanting a higher bid.
Accrol shares are trading above the offer price at 40 cents, which usually indicates the market thinks a higher offer could be forthcoming.
One to watch.
City AM boost for owner THG
MyProtein owner THG posted another mixed set of results last week.
Take a look at the headlines and you may have seen that jobs have been cut, the share price has fallen and THG is ‘showing signs of improvement, but failing to impress’.
However, one publication had a slightly different story.
City AM’s online headline read: ‘THG makes ‘material progress’ as tech company boss hails 2023 Ebitda growth’ (Ebitda is a measure of profits, by the way).
Instead, we were told that founder and boss Matt Molding found a return to revenue growth “pleasant” but not much else that the other publications picked up on.
A reminder that City AM is owned by none other than . . . THG.