Five times/week

The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

Get smarter about the day’s news in tech, media and finance by following Silicon Valley’s most-read executive newsletter.

By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy

Recent Editions

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Curbing Tech Ambitions: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 6, 2020 6:13pm PDT
Today brought so many tech headlines it’s hard to know where to begin. Uber confirmed the layoffs Amir previously reported. And then there was more big news from Facebook, as well as first quarter updates from Lyft and Peloton. I've been wondering lately whether Silicon Valley companies, as they downsize, are going to pare back... Today brought so many tech headlines it’s hard to know where to begin. Uber confirmed the...
Disney's headquarters in Burbank, Calif. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Disney’s Dividend Symbolism: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 5, 2020 6:36pm PDT
Greetings!We got more evidence today that the pandemic is likely to accelerate the shift in economic power from entertainment to tech. Disney, the mightiest of the Hollywood giants, suspended its half-yearly dividend, symbolizing just how much entertainment has been devastated by the current crisis. Last week, when big tech companies reported... Greetings!We got more evidence today that the pandemic is likely to accelerate the shift in...
Apple CEO Tim Cook. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Silver Lake’s Expanding Portfolio: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 4, 2020 5:57pm PDT
Greetings!Financial crises are great opportunities for investors with cash to burn. They’re able to grab opportunities that others fear to touch. Exhibit A is Silver Lake, which on Monday spent another $750 million investing in India’s Jio Platforms, following closely Facebook’s investment in the same firm.Silver Lake’s... Greetings!Financial crises are great opportunities for investors with cash to burn. They’re...
Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Photo by Bloomberg
Elon the Stock Picker: The Information’s Tech Briefing
By Martin Peers · May 1, 2020 5:18pm PDT
Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Elon the Stock Picker: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 1, 2020 5:18pm PDT
Hello,Today, this study from a pre-eminent educational research group came across my screen, and it is too devastating not to share. Too many parents are skipping meals to feed their kids, or even pulling back on feeding them. As we follow all aspects of the crisis, I know many of you continue to think about the human toll. I hope you will... Hello,Today, this study from a pre-eminent educational research group came across my screen, and...
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

The Perils of Prospering From the Pandemic: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Apr 30, 2020 6:55pm PDT
Greetings!Businesses that are able to sidestep a recession are usually happy to shout that from the rooftops. But, as Amazon’s statement on Thursday reminded us, no company wants to be seen to be profiting from the pandemic.Not only did the company declare it would spend its entire $4 billion operating profit this quarter on Covid-related... Greetings!Businesses that are able to sidestep a recession are usually happy to shout that from...
Outside the New York Stock Exchange. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

The Wall Street-Main Street Disconnect: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Apr 29, 2020 5:40pm PDT · 1 comment
Greetings!It’s tough to remember a time when the disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street was so apparent. Quarantine orders are still in place in much of the U.S. Layoffs are continuing by the thousands—including 1,000 today at Lyft. People are still dying from the virus. And yet many stocks have recovered much of the ground... Greetings!It’s tough to remember a time when the disconnect between Wall Street and Main...
Instacart's Apoorva Mehta and Uber's Dara Khosrowshahi. Photos by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Tale of Two Gig Economy Stars: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Apr 28, 2020 6:30pm PDT
Greetings!You could call it a tale of two stars of the gig economy, Instacart and Uber. Earlier this week, Amir revealed that Instacart’s sales in April were up 450% compared with December and that the grocery delivery firm would turn its first profit this month, thanks to the pandemic.Today, Amir scored another scoop: that Uber is... Greetings!You could call it a tale of two stars of the gig economy, Instacart and Uber. Earlier...