New Fed Report Kicks Off Central Bank Digital Currency Debate | Robins Kaplan LLP

The Fed finally delivered on its promise to seriously consider a central bank digital currency with a report released Thursday that “examines the potential costs and benefits of the idea and opens[s] the door to public comment. The report takes a largely agnostic approach (for now) and instead lays out “cases for and against a digital currency” in hopes of shaping the debate ahead – NYTimes and WSJ and Bloomberg and Law360

Intel has pledged to invest some $20 billion in new chip factories in Ohio, “stepping up efforts to increase U.S. computer chip production as users grapple with a continuing shortage of vital computer components. “. The company is already in the midst of a similar size expansion of its existing complex near Phoenix – NYTimes and WSJ and MarketWatch

After rising at the start of the day, stocks fell precipitously as the day progressed, leading the three major indices to close around 1% – the third consecutive day of losses for Wall Street – NYTimes and WSJ and Bloomberg and MarketWatch

A panel of economists from the Fed, White House, Wall Street and universities takes a look at key readers’ questions about inflation. Worth Reading – NYTimes

Netflix added an additional 8.3 million subscribers worldwide in the fourth quarter, slightly below its forecast of 8.5 million. But the real problem came in its forecast for the quarter per head, in which the ‘Flix pegged its expectations at just 2.5 million (“down from the four million it added in the same quarter of This prediction helped push the streaming giant’s shares lower for the day – NYTimes and WSJ and Bloomberg and MarketWatch and TechCrunch

Legal fun ahead for Big Tech? Perhaps, if a bipartisan effort in the Senate that would prohibit “the largest technology platforms from favoring their own products and services” over their competitors” continues. The measure walked out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 16-6 vote, though some senators are already calling for changes before backing the effort in a full vote – WSJ and Bloomberg

Amazon this week released details of its first brick-and-mortar clothing store, an “Amazon Style” debut planned for Glendale, California. Amazon plans department store-like feel spread over approximately 30,000 feet and will incorporate technology that will allow customers to ‘ask for additional styles and recommendations’ in fitting rooms – NYTimes

Newly compiled housing data shows existing home sales in the United States topped 6.1 million in 2021, a 15-year high “fueled by low borrowing rates and intense buyer demand that is expected to maintain the hot market in the first months of 2022” – WSJ

That impulse to remake (or build) space that most of us felt during the pandemic slog? Yeah, so here’s what it looks like if it’s also your day job – NYTimes

Stay safe, boost yourself and have a great weekend,

MDR