Apple’s market value at the end of Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported, making it the first U.S. company to pass a $700 billion market cap. WSJ attributes the growth to Apple’s sales in China, which grew a whopping 70 percent during the last quarter alone.
How much it can cost to develop a multiple-choice question for new tests tied to Common Core standards that will be rolled out next week. The hefty price tag can come from paying for the rights to copyrighted text, outsourcing to a third-party company the writing of the question, and several layers of vetting. The cost works out to around $24 per test-taking student. But many say the weight these tests carry merits the costs.
What Disney-owned Marvel Studios reportedly paid to “lease” Spider-Man for its movies while Sony Pictures keeps the rights to the Marvel Comics character. The arrangement benefits both parties: Sony has struggled with diminishing box office returns and hopes Marvel will give it a boost, while Marvel still holds merchandising rights to the character, and stands to make a mint if “Spider-Man” movies do well. The Hollywood Reporter also cites insiders who say Disney is getting its ducks in a row to potentially buy Sony Pictures.
How much the NFL agreed to pay toward care and neurological testing for retired players in last year’s settlement over concussions sustained during game play. In its efforts to improve player safety, the league has recruited a prominent physician, Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, as its first chief health adviser. In her new role at the NFL, she will have broad oversight over internal and external medical staff. The job is expected to consume about one day a month of her time.
How many supercenters Wal-Mart says it will build in Canada. Wednesday’s announcement comes not long after Target announced it would exit the country after launching its own Canadian expansion in 2013. As reported by the WSJ, Wal-Mart says the expansion will create nearly 5,000 construction, store and distribution center jobs in Canada.
How long you have to up your earnings before things start to stagnate, the Washington Post reported. A new report from the New York Fed shows wages rise mostly during the first 10 years of a career, when workers start in their 20s. The only people who keep making more over their whole career are the top earners, according to the Fed data.
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