Only Thing Not Flying This Thanksgiving Will Be the Turkey
Morning Money Memo…
Markets worldwide are mixed this morning, following a slew of economic and policy decisions out of Europe. The European Central Bank and the Bank of England both announced decisions to hold interest rates steady at current record low levels. European markets are lower on the news, while Asian markets are mixed for the day. Meanwhile, U.S. equities open this morning after record high closes on Wall Street Wednesday, with strong gains in the Dow and S&P following the results of Tuesday's momentum shifting change in Congress. Futures are down slightly this morning. Gold and crude oil are slightly lower.
Holiday travelers line up for one of the TSA security checkpoints at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington in this, Nov. 6, 2013, file photo. Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images
Nearly 25 million people will fly on U.S. airlines this holiday season, an expected 1.5 percent increase over last year's holiday travel numbers. Airlines have been implementing various measures, from adding seats to improving amenities, in order to stay competitive with the increased holiday demand. If you're travel plans include visiting loved loves for Thanksgiving, you may want to get an early jump on your flight this year. Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday will be the least congested days for travelers, while that weekend will be the busiest.
Mobile payments will get some fresh competition, with mobile giants AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon entering the increasingly innovative space. Softcard, a joint venture between the three cell providers, launched as a free mobile payment system for Windows phones and on Android devices. The app will allow users to pay by touch at many retailers, and is expected to compete with Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
Amazon is experimenting with a relatively low-tech delivery system. The Wall Street Journal reports that the tech giant has tested package delivery by taxi in major metropolitan locations, via the taxi-hailing app Flywheel. The move would further Amazon's push to enhance package delivery speed, and to compete more directly with brick-and-mortar retailers. The company has reportedly been developing several alternative delivery styles, including establishing its own physical retail locations and being at the forefront of drone delivery technology.